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Report: Record money spent lobbying Colorado lawmakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — New data analysis from the Colorado Sun found the state legislature saw a record amount of money come in from lobbying. According to the report, lobbyists spent $51 million last fiscal year. The report found 14 of the 20 most expensive bills lobbied for last session did become law, despite a split in lobbying in support of and against the measures. Polis: Catholic schools that want universal pre-K must not discriminate The political experts on "Colorado Point of View" weighed in this week on whether state laws are being bought and paid for.Colorado lobbyists spend big on 2 billsThe two pieces of legislation that drew in the most money did not pass. The first was the land-use measure, which was originally introduced to address affordable housing, but it was drastically changed before it failed on the last day of the legislative session. More than half of the clients lobbying on this bill were opposed to it.The next measure, which brought in the most clients lob...

‘It was like a tidal wave’: Plumber rescued after rushing water leaves him trapped underground at Fort Lauderdale condo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

A South Florida worker is speaking out and sharing his story after danger on the job left him trapped underground, and rainy weather may have been to blame.Plumber Stanley Hightower spoke with 7News about Thursday afternoon’s frightening ordeal in Fort Lauderdale.“It was like a tidal wave when it came in there. It was scary,” he said.7News cameras captured the victim just minutes after his risky race-against-time rescue.“I didn’t know how much air he had left. I didn’t know the condition of the tunnel,” said a co-worker, “so that was worrying me the most: how much time he has left.”The incident happened just off Federal Highway, near Northeast 21st Avenue.The owner of Bob Smith Plumbing said his workers were doing underground work on a condominium building when the rain and lightning forced them to shut down operations.Hightower, who was still feet underground, said he was climbing out of a man-made tunnel when water started gush...

Sánchez’s polyglot promise: Bringing Spain’s other languages to Brussels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez became an unlikely champion of multilingualism on Thursday by requesting Basque, Catalan and Galician be recognized as official languages of the EU.The proposal, which was outlined in a letter sent by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares to the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union and the body’s secretary-general, Thérèse Blanchet, argued “Spanish languages ​​other than Castilian that enjoy official status in Spain” should be added to the EU’s 24 official languages.Albares proposed the General Affairs Council take up the matter when it meets in September.The seemingly sudden desire to have Basque, Catalan and Galician recognized in Brussels is linked to Sánchez’s will to placate the Catalan separatists whose support he needs in order to remain in office.After last month’s inconclusive national election, Spain’s parliament is in a technical tie, with the country’s left-win...

Here’s Larry! Why Westminster’s political cats matter more than you think

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

LONDON — In the last 12 years Britain has cycled through five prime ministers, six home secretaries and seven chancellors — but only one chief mouser. Amid a flurry of elections, Brexit and a sizable dose of scandal, a cat called Larry has remained one of the few consistent figures in British political life. And his impressive staying power shows how Westminster’s cats have gone from essential pest controllers of crumbling buildings to useful PR tools for unpopular politicians.Brought in by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011, Larry’s unofficial Twitter account now boasts three times as many followers as the country’s top finance minister Jeremy Hunt. The 16-year-old mouser attracts attention from pundits all over the world, and is a familiar sight to global leaders heading through the famous 10 Downing Street door.Social media has undoubtedly thrust Larry — along with his Cabinet Office counterparts Eevie and Ossie, a mother and son mouse-catching duo — into th...

Everything Everywhere All at Arles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

Mark Porter is a travel writer and publisher who lives in Cannes.Arles, FRANCE — Lying on the banks of the river Rhône, at the northern edge of wild and beautiful marshland, Arles — the sleepy capital of Caesar’s France — hosts what is arguably the world’s greatest photo exhibition every summer: Les Rencontres d’Arles. And with exhibits crammed into every available corner, even just a casual stroll around the sunbaked town offers more than anyone could wish for.Running until the end of September, Les Rencontres comprises 45 exhibitions — as well as a large space in the ancient vaults of the Eglise des Frères Prêcheurs that’s brimming with new discoveries — all spread across town, from its Roman crypts and churches to its fringe venues, and even a branch of the Monoprix supermarket chain.Arles has a long connection with the visual arts. Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh spent time here with French artist and close friend Paul Gauguin, and it was here that he lost his ear — as well as hi...

Pete Alonso, Jose Quintana lead the way as Mets grab series-opener against Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

Pete Alonso continued his stretch of hero ball Thursday night in St. Louis. The slugger hit his third homer in the past three games to lead the way for the Mets to grab a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals.Alonso’s two-run homer in the fourth inning gave the Amazins the only offense necessary to add to the win column thanks to Jose Quintana’s tremendous performance.The southpaw tossed six innings allowing being charged two runs — one being a solo shot off the bat of Tyler O’Neill in the seventh. Quintana racked up five strikeouts while walking four.The veteran gave Buck Showalter much-needed length against his former team being short on options in the bullpen.Quintana’s counterpart, Adam Wainwright, was also somewhat effective. The right-hander has had an abysmal season entering the night with an 8.78 ERA, however, he kept the Cards in the ballgame. The 41-year-old allowed three runs over six innings of work with just two strikeouts. Thursday was the second...

Hurricane Hilary headed toward Southern California: What we know

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

All eyes are on Hurricane Hilary, which was upgraded from a tropical storm on Thursday as it churns off the Pacific coast of Mexico.The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Hilary will hit Southern California as a tropical storm or perhaps a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday into Monday.Satellite-radar composite showing Hurricane Hilary and the storm's projected path on Aug. 17, 2023. (KTLA) “This could develop into a major deal,” says KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo. “It looks like it’s going to slide right through Southern California, so we’re going to get a couple of inches of rain out of this, if not more.” Track with interactive radarWhile the forecast models will likely change, the National Weather Service is currently predicting rainfall amounts of one to four inches along the Southern California coast, including San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.Heavier amounts, four to ten inches or more, are expected in the inland deserts.“Bor...

City of San Diego opens Emergency Operations Center ahead of Hilary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

SAN DIEGO --The City of San Diego has opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) ahead of the potential rain from Hurricane Hilary. “Be aware that the storm is coming, take is seriously,” said Chris Heiser, the executive director for the City of San Diego Office of Emergency Services. The center is opened at a Level 3 status, which means the center is tracking the storm. "It's what we call command and general staff. It’s just four of five key positions,” Heiser said.  Inside the center, there are vests on empty chairs with the names of each command center position. The chairs could be filled if that specific support is needed.   Preparing for Hilary: Free sandbags at these locations For example, Heiser said if the city’s fire department requests the center’s help with shelter for flood evacuees. “We go to our care and shelter branch, reach out to park and rec who is a partner in that, and say ‘we are going to open up these two park and rec centers.’ We start facil...

What to do on the roads if you have to drive during Hilary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With Hurricane Hilary aimed to make its way toward San Diego County this weekend, expect the roads to be hazardous while driving.If you can't stay at home, you should stay alert and take precautions on the roads, according to county officials. Hilary upgraded to hurricane: What does this mean for San Diego? County Emergency Services and Public Works provided the following tips for driving in heavy rain conditions:Slow down and allow yourself extra time to arrive at your destination to adjust for slower traffic.Turn on your headlights for better visibility and for others on the road to see you.Try to stay in the middle lanes as the outside lanes tend to gather water.Defog your windows and check your windshield wipers before it rains to see if they need replacing.Avoid driving in flooded roadways if you cannot see the pavement because the water can impact your breaks, so be sure to test them after if you do end up driving through the water.Give yourself extra distance ...

Justice Department seeks 33 years in prison for ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio in Jan. 6 case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:44 GMT

The Justice Department is seeking 33 years in prison for Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader convicted of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases to emerge from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to court documents filed Thursday. The sentence, if imposed, would be by far the longest punishment that has been handed down in the massive Jan. 6 prosecution. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in a separate case, has the received the longest sentence to date — 18 years. Tarrio, who once served as national chairman of the far-right extremist group, and three lieutenants were convicted by a Washington jury in May of conspiring to block the transfer of presidential power in the hopes of keeping Republican Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election. Tarrio, who was not at the Capitol riot itself, was a top target of what has become the largest Justice Department investigation in Ameri...