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Rockies’ Bill Schmidt: Acquiring power bat “down the list” of priorities for Colorado

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

NASHVILLE — Acquiring more starting pitching, finding bullpen depth, building a better bench and possibly adding a backup catcher top the Rockies’ to-do list this offseason.But adding a power bat to fuel what’s been an anemic offense is “down the list,” general manager Bill Schmidt said Monday as Major League Baseball’s winter meetings began at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center.“Eventually, given our young kids, and how soon our young kids are ready, they will dictate our (direction on offense),” Schmidt said, adding that his priority is to build a better bench for manager Bud Black.Last season, the Rockies’ 163 home runs were tied for the fourth-fewest in baseball, and their .249 average and .310 on-base percentage were each the lowest in franchise history, while their .405 slugging was better than only the 2022 team (.398). But Schmidt and Black are counting heavily on more production from Gold Glove center fielder B...

Frontier Airlines settles pregnancy, breastfeeding discrimination lawsuit with Colorado pilots

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

Frontier Airlines will settle a federal lawsuit filed by five pilots who accused the Denver-based airline of discriminating against them during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.Through the settlement, Frontier will allow pilots to pump breastmilk in the cockpit during noncritical phases of a flight and will update or comply with existing policies that impact pregnant and lactating employees.It is one of the first airlines to allow pilots to pump during flights, according to a Monday news release from the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Colorado, Denver-based legal nonprofit Towards Justice and the firm Holwell Shuster & Goldberg.Settling the lawsuit filed in December 2019 “does not admit any liability” by Frontier, according to the news release.In a statement, ACLU Center for Liberty staff attorney Aditi Fruitwala said the organization is proud to come to an agreement that will benefit pregnant and lactating workers now and in the future.“This settlement should serve as...

This dying lake could be the site of California's next gold rush

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

The Salton Sea, once a resort destination and now largely overlooked, could be the site of California's next gold rush – this time involving lithium.A new study from the U.S. Department of Energy shows the dying lake, which sits between the Coachella and Imperial valleys in California's southern desert, is brimming with lithium: enough to build batteries for 375 million electric vehicles.This makes it one of the largest lithium brine deposits in the world.Analysts from the University of California, Berkeley measured lithium concentrations in the Salton Sea’s rocks and created computer models to estimate its potential production over the next 30 years. They also looked at scenarios for recovering the metal, which powers everything from EVs to cell phones and tablets, laptops, tools and vaping devices.Their analysis found that, with technological advances, the region could produce more than 3,400 kilotons of lithium and create an economic boom for the region where, according to the U....

Toppled crane crushes portion of family's home

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

A family in Loma Linda narrowly escaped injury after a crane tipped over and fell onto their home, causing extensive damage Friday.  The incident reportedly happened as a company contracted by SoCal Edison was working to replace some of the power poles in the area.  The homeowners, who have lived in the residence for 37 years, said that the power company sent out notification about the work and possible power outages in the area late last week.  Damage done to a home in Loma Linda after crane tips over on Dec. 4, 2023. (KTLA)Damage done to a home in Loma Linda after crane tips over on Dec. 4, 2023. (KTLA)Damage done to a home in Loma Linda after crane tips over on Dec. 4, 2023. (KTLA)Video of the scene shows heavy damage to the home, with the crane nearly splitting off a portion of the home over the garage.  City officials have yellow-tagged the structure, meaning it is not safe to stay in. The homeowners told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson that they are now forced to stay in a hote...

Target to give away $500 to 500 Target Circle members

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

Target is targeting customers with a holiday shopping spree offer.The retail corporation announced Monday that it's offering 500 Target Circle members the chance to win a $500 shopping spree. Winners will also receive a free, one-year membership of Shipt, Target’s same-day delivery service. Annual memberships typically cost $99. Target to close 9 stores, including 3 in the San Francisco Bay Area, citing safety concerns “Guests who win will receive $500 in Target Circle earnings to be used like cash at any Target store or Target.com, plus a year-long subscription for Shipt, our same-day delivery service. It's a fun way for guests to stock up on toys, gifts and all the essentials for the busy holiday season,” Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Target, said in a statement.Target partnered with actress Hilary Duff to announce the giveaway. The extra “cash” will be welcomed by many families as they grapple with high-cost merchandise due to inflation...

Johnny Lucero Dead following Three-Vehicle Crash on Interstate 10 [Tucson, AZ]

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

60-Year-Old Driver Dies after Being Rear-Ended by Reckless VehicleTUCSON, AZ (December 4, 2023) – On Friday evening, police were dispatched to a crash that claimed the life of Johnny Lucero.The deadly incident occurred on November 24th in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 involving a GMC Yukon, and two other vehicles.Investigation showed that 21-year-old Jose Avelardo Garcia-Arredondo was traveling along the area when he crossed over to the westbound and struck a GMC Yukon from behind.Unfortunately, the GMC driver, later identified as 60-year-old Johnny Lucero was pronounced dead at the scene.Furthermore, a passenger of Lucero and a juvenile passenger of Garcia-Arredondo were transported to the hospital for treatment.Consequently, the authorities arrested Garcia-Arredondo where he faces second-degree murder, manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and aggravated DUI charges.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment. Deepest condolences and...

Oakland Unified pushes back against unsanctioned “teach-in” on Palestine

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

The Oakland Unified School District is pushing back against what it has called an “unsanctioned” teach-in centered on the “Palestinian struggle for liberation,” on Wednesday, and organized by Oakland educators.“I want to make clear that the District does not authorize this action,” said Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell, the superintendent of Oakland Unified, in a message shared with the school community Monday morning. “Our schools are sanctuaries for learning, and I am deeply disappointed by the harmful and divisive materials being circulated and promoted as factual.”The teach-in is planned for Wednesday, Dec, 6. In a 12-page lesson plan prepared for the teach-in, resources were compiled for children aged 4 to 18. The lessons range from a Palestinian-themed alphabet book with the letter i representing intifada, a word typically used to describe armed uprisings against Israeli occupation; to an Amnesty International article titled Israel’s Occupation: 50 Years of Dispossession. The lesson ...

Wreckage, remains located after Osprey crash in Japan

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

By Colin McCullough | CNNWreckage and remains from a United States Air Force CV-22B Osprey that crashed off the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan, last week were discovered on Monday, according to a statement from Air Force Special Operations Command.“During a combined U.S.-Japanese search and rescue dive in the vicinity of Yakushima, Japan on Dec. 4, 2023, remains were discovered along with wreckage from the CV-22 mishap that occurred on Nov. 29, 2023,” a statement from AFSOC said.The identities have yet to be determined at this time, according to the statement.The AFSOC said their main priority is “bringing the Airmen home and taking care of their family members.”The remains of one airman aboard, 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Jacob M. Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, were recovered last week. The remains of five other airmen aboard were found, AFSOC said Monday. The identities of the five crew members have not yet been determined.Two of the five crew members have been recovered from...

Federal Glover, a Contra Costa supervisor since 2000, won’t seek re-election

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

MARTINEZ — Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover announced Monday that he won’t seek re-election in 2024, ending his 24-year career on the board and paving the way for a new politician to take his place.Glover, a Democrat and the first and only Black person ever to serve as a Contra Costa supervisor, announced his “retirement” from the board on social media Monday afternoon. He did not say what he’s planning to do next. He will finish his current term, set to expire in December 2024.For Glover’s final year, he will serve as chair of the board, which he has done four times previously.In 2015, Glover’s serious health concerns sparked speculation that he would end his political career. But after two months of waiting on an organ donor list, he underwent kidney and heart transplant surgery, recovered and returned to work.Glover’s current district includes Pittsburg, Martinez, Hercules and Rodeo and portions of Antioch and Pinole as...

Fetterman trolls Menendez with Cameo message by Santos

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:41:00 GMT

By Betsy Klein, Morgan Rimmer and Melanie Zanona | CNNSen. John Fetterman commissioned expelled Rep. George Santos to unwittingly make a video on the celebrity video message platform Cameo telling Sen. Bob Menendez – whom Fetterman has called on to resign over charges he acted as a foreign agent to Egypt – to “stay strong.”“I thought my ethically-challenged colleague @BobMenendezNJ could use some encouragement given his substantial legal problems. So, I approached a seasoned expert on the matter to give ‘Bobby from Jersey’ some advice,” Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, tweeted Monday.In the video, Santos, the New York Republican who last week became only the sixth lawmaker to be expelled from Congress after a damning ethics report, says, “Hey, Bobby! I don’t think I need to tell you, but these people that want to make you get in trouble and want to kick you out and make you run away, you make them put up or shut up!”Santos adds, “You stand your ground, sir, and don’t get bogged d...