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Pittsburgh synagogue attack survivors testify about overcoming wounds both physical and emotional

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Officer Tim Matson described in federal court Wednesday how he has tended a weed growing on his porch in the years since his body was shattered by bullet wounds in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, saying the hardy plant helped to restore his will to live.Matson was shot in his head and body on Oct. 27, 2018, when he and other police officers charged into Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue to halt the massacre that left 11 worshippers dead. The SWAT police officer was hospitalized for months, endured off-the-charts pain and underwent 25 surgeries. He had to relearn how to walk on his wounded leg. And the wounds were more than physical. “I was in a pretty dark place,” he testified.Robert Bowers was convicted in June for the killings that Sabbath morning, as well as for injuring Matson, other officers and worshippers — 63 counts in total. Jurors last week found him eligible for the death penalty and must next consider whether to put him to deat...

Denver's mayor plans to house 1,000 homeless. Will it work?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's new mayor has declared a citywide state of emergency for homelessness. It's his first significant policy move since he took office on Monday.As part of the effort, Mayor Mike Johnston pledged to house 1,000 people by the end of the year. But it's going to take buy-in from the people he's aiming to help. How homelessness in Denver compares to other cities "If he really, really wants to do this, he needs to have us at the table, and I mean a variety of everyone," said Ana Gloom, one of the dozens of people who could lose housing when the Rodeway Inn emergency shelter closes next month. "We need BIPOC representation," Gloom said, using the shorthand for Black, Indigenous and people of color. "We need queer representation, we need elderly, we need disabled, because every community has their own unique struggles within being houseless."Johnston acknowledges that getting everyone housed will take a team effort."Our goal will be to bring together the nonprofit co...

Fines for I-70 Mountain Express Lane violations to begin July 21

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A month after tolling was implemented on the Interstate 70 Mountain Express Lanes, the Colorado Department of Transportation will begin issuing tickets for violators.According to CDOT, more than 5,000 warnings were emailed during the grace period, which began on June 21. Surveillance tech to monitor I-70 express lanes for violators Violations include using the express lanes when they're closed, driving an oversized vehicle and crossing the solid yellow line."The number of warnings issued during the grace period is extremely concerning," Tim Hoover, a CDOT spokesman, said in an emailed release. "We don’t want to see so many people get fines — we just want roadway users to follow the Express Lane rules so everybody can get to their destinations safely."CDOT said the warnings will cease, and on July 21 violators will begin getting fines mailed to them.The fines will start at $75 per violation and increase to $150 if not paid within 20 days of being issued.Federal reg...

Denver's young adults among nation's most marriage-dodging

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver's young adults are some of the nation's most marriage averse, despite Colorado having some of the nation's highest marriage rates. Denver ranks 12th for the share of unmarried couples living together, according to a Thriving Center of Psychology analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Coloradans are evidently relationship types, considering the state also has one of the higher marriage rates and lower divorce rates in the U.S. Colorado women are some of most likely to be married, least likely to have kids The data speaks to a broader trend among young adults in the U.S. - more and more of them think marriage has no real value for the relationship. The center surveyed 906 Gen Z and Millennials who are currently in a relationship but not married, ranging in age from 18 to 42 with an average age of 29. Two out of five Gen Z and Millennials think marriage is an outdated tradition. A lot of the aversion has to do with economics, but more of it has to do with simpl...

Two injured in shooting inside Florida City Walmart, investigation underway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

Authorities are investigating a reported shooting inside a Walmart store in Florida City. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon at 33501 S Dixie Highway. According to 7Skyforce’s Ralph Rayburn, two individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, with one person injured in the foot and the other in the abdomen. Additionally, a third person required medical attention for a panic attack resulting from the incident. Rayburn reports that one of the individuals involved is believed to be a Walmart employee.Law enforcement officers are diligently working to gather more information and secure the scene for further investigation.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Council Approves All Seven of Healey’s Pardon Recommendations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

All seven pardons Gov. Maura Healey recommended won approval from the Governor’s Council on Wednesday, cementing the first pardons awarded by a Massachusetts governor during their first elected year in office in three decades.Healey in June proposed the pardons, which had earned the support of the Parole Board before Gov. Charlie Baker left office in January, when she also announced that she is planning to reform the clemency process to make it fairer, more timely and minimize racial disparities.The Governor’s Council, which reviews and approves the governor’s clemency recommendations and judicial nominations, voted unanimously in favor of all seven pardons.“I think our next seven items are pretty exciting for all of us,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, who chairs the Governor’s Council, said to councilors ahead of the pardon votes on Wednesday. “The opportunity to move forward with affirming pardons proposed by the administration — an adm...

Dracut school resource officer resigns amid investigation into alleged inappropriate contact with student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

A school resource officer has resigned from the Dracut Police Department as authorities continue to investigate an allegation of inappropriate contact made between him and a high school student.Officer Sunny Nguyen resigned from his post effective Wednesday, July 19, according to an announcement made by Dracut Chief of Police Peter Bartlett.The announcement came two days after officials said Nguyen was put on paid administrative leave while authorities investigated an allegation that the school resource officer had made inappropriate contact with an 18-year-old Dracut High School student.“An investigation into that allegation remains ongoing, and will be completed despite Nguyen’s resignation,” Bartlett said in a news release.Additional details have not yet been released.

Burger chain bans employee masks in 5 states

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

NEW YORK — The In-N-Out burger chain will bar employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media.In the memo announcing new guidelines for Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah workers, the fast food chain pointed to “the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates’ smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals.”The policy, which goes into effect Aug. 14, applies to all In-N-Out employees in those states, except for those who need to wear masks or other protective gear for job duties that require it, like painting. Employees could face disciplinary action, including being fired, if they do not comply, the memo says.California and Oregon both have laws in place preventing employers from banning masks.It is not the first time that the chain, based in California, has clashed with health experts ove...

From the Archives: Looking back at ‘heat waves’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

The term “heat wave” first appeared in the Herald on June 9, 1885. That’s what our archives tell as this summer turns up to boiling temperature.The term again popped up on July 22, 1886, and July 17, 1894, and July 27, 1894. I’m sure it kept on going after that too.The term has stuck like your shirt does on a day like today. Here’s all those clips from way back when:HERALD -June 9, 1885HERALD_July 17, 1894HERALD_July 22, 1886HERALD_July 27, 1894Here’s an item plucked off the AP wire today:Death Valley hit a temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.3 degrees Celsius) on July 16, 2023 – not quite the world’s hottest day on record, but close. Phoenix broke a record heat streak with 19 straight days with temperatures above 110 F (43.3 C), accompanied by a long string of nights that never got below 90 F (32.2 C), leaving little opportunity for people without air conditioning to cool down. Globally, Earth likely had its hottest week on modern record in...

Electrical fire at Massachusetts State House was ‘accidental,’ investigators say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:17 GMT

An electrical fire at the State House Tuesday that forced the evacuation of the building was “accidental,” state police said in a Wednesday afternoon statement.The fire started from “electrical faults” in two lines that run from an electrical vault near a guard shack to a pull box in the sub-basement of the building, a group of investigators determined. Building management shuttered the State House Tuesday afternoon and kept it closed Wednesday because of concerns about high levels of carbon monoxide.“There is no information or evidence to suggest the fire was intentionally set,” State Police spokesman Dave Procopio said in a statement.Firefighters responded to the historic state capitol just after 2 p.m. Tuesday when the electrical fire was discovered in the sub-basement. Lawmakers, staff, and members of the public poured out of the building at the direction of authorities, congregating on nearby streets as firetrucks pulled up to the building.The fire followed a false ...