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State agency accuses southern Minnesota meat processor of child labor violations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

A meat processing company in southern Minnesota employed children as young as 13 to work in hazardous conditions, such as operating meat grinders, while they worked overnight shifts and longer hours than allowed by law, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry said Wednesday.The state agency is asking a district court to issue a temporary restraining order against Tony Downs Food Co., based in Mankato, while it investigates the allegations.According to the complaint, the meat processing company employed at least eight children ranging from 14 to 17 at its plant in Madelia. Investigators also have identified other employees who were hired before they were 18 years old, the department said.The young employees, one of whom was 13 years old when hired, operated meat grinders, ovens and forklifts on overnight shifts and also worked in areas where meat products are flash frozen with carbon monoxide and ammonia, according to the complaint. They also allegedly worked longer hours than...

Class 4A girls basketball state quarterfinal: Thompson’s late bucket helps Stillwater survive Lakeville North

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

Williams Arena was deafening during the second half of a thrilling Class 4A quarterfinal tilt Wednesday between Lakeville North and Stillwater.Just ask the players.“I was trying to talk, and I couldn’t even hear myself,” Panthers senior guard Haley Bryant said.Stillwater teammates attempted to communicate with Ponies forward Lexi Karlen to no avail.“I was like, ‘I can’t hear you,’ ” she said.“We have to learn sign language or something,” Stillwater guard Amy Thompson said.Two raucous fan bases brought the juice to the No. 4-No. 5 quarterfinal that came down to the wire. Stillwater led 65-51 with just more than five minutes to play, only to have Lakeville North claw its way back.Gabby Betton poured in eight points over the final five minutes, Bryant hit a clutch triple, Aduke Ojullu banked home a three. Then Trinity Wilson — who finished with 18 points — knocked down a free throw to cap a 14-0 run and knot the game with 28 seconds to play.“I just said it’s one possession ...

New York leads nation in fire deaths in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New data from the Firefighters Association of New York (FASNY) found that the Empire State leads the country in fire deaths. So far in 2023, 45 people died in fires in New York state.Fire officials said the fatal fires are more common in New York for multiple reasons. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "No. 1, New York has a large population. No. 2, much of that population is in dense, urban areas. And No. 3, those areas have old building stock," FASNY Secretary John D'Alessandro said.The firefighters association is now pushing Albany lawmakers to adopt at least two pieces of legislation. One would require that fire insurance fees help fund increased building inspections and code enforcement. Another bill would offer a sales tax holiday one month each year on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as fire extinguishers.

Push to ban all smoking in Schenectady public parks moves forward

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A proposal to ban all forms of smoking in Schenectady's public parks has taken another step forward. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! City leaders are now considering public comments on the plan, which would ban marijuana and e-cigarettes. Tobacco products were already prohibited.Supporters of the plan said adding additional substances to that list is necessary to improve public health and quality of life. The city council is expected to vote on the proposal on March 27.

Florida ride dismantled after Missouri teen's fatal fall, mother calls it 'bittersweet moment'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — The mother of the Missouri teenager who fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall attraction at ICON Park last year visited the site for the first time Wednesday.Tyre Sampson, 14, died while on vacation in Orlando on March 24, 2022.An autopsy showed that Sampson suffered numerous broken bones and internal injuries in the fall, which was ruled an accidental death. It showed Sampson weighed 383 pounds, well above the ride manual’s weight limit of 287 pounds.Now, the Orlando FreeFall is in the process of being demolished as part of an agreement made between the company and the Florida Department of Agriculture. Top story: Report details fatal encounter between accused cop killer, Hermann police Orlando Slingshot, the ride operator, told Nexstar's WFLA in a statement it retained the amusement park, Ride Entertainment, to coordinate the deconstruction, which began this week.“That activity is expected to continue into the following week because of the ...

Pritzker hints at tax cuts as Illinois' financial health improves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) -- The good financial news for the state keeps coming. Governor J.B. Pritzker said if these trends continue, tax cuts are on the table. "I think we're seeing a few years in a row now of the stability of that revenue, that we should be talking about whether there are tax cuts that we can implement," Pritzker said Wednesday.This week, the state received its eighth credit upgrade of the past two years. This time, Moody's credit rating agency bumped Illinois to the stable rating of A3. It's the first time the state has been at that threshold since the budget impasse. Top story: Report details fatal encounter between accused cop killer, Hermann police New revenue estimates also show a much larger influx of tax dollars than the Governor initially expected. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability upped their projections by an additional $575 million. Revenue estimates were already high going into the next fiscal year, and state forecasters...

Authorities rescue person trapped in Los Angeles River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

Authorities rescued a person swept into the Los Angeles River on Wednesday afternoon.Officials received reports of a person in distress just south of Washington Boulevard in Boyle Heights around 5 p.m.Air and ground units with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene.Sky5 video showed a man hanging on to a large berm on the side of the riverbank as a rescue team member hoisted down toward him amid the rushing waters.After a few attempts, the rescue member successfully got ahold of the man and lifted him out of the river.Moments later, they landed safely onto solid ground. The man was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.Details remain limited and it's unclear what initially caused the man to fall into the river.Sky5 was overhead.

Water rescues spike as storm flood Southern California roads, rivers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

As rainfall hit Southern California, the wet weather created treacherous conditions including flooded roads, destructive mudslides and a spike in water rescues.Despite countless warnings and barricades blocking rivers and flooded roads, authorities say many drivers still ignore the signs and continue driving through submerged streets.As heavy rainfall also flooded nearby streams and rivers, some residents became trapped by the rushing waters.One couple recalled the terrifying moment they were swept into the Santa Ana River in Jurupa Valley on Wednesday morning. They were left stranded on an island, with seemingly no way out to safety.“The water just came out of nowhere,” recalled Casey Roberts, a man who was rescued. “We saw people on the other side and we waved for help from them."Roberts eventually required the help of Riverside’s technical rescue and swift water teams.Drivers rescued from flooded Santa Ana River in Jurupa Valley.(Inland News)Driver traveling through completely fl...

Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland reopening after extended refurbishment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

Disneyland guests will soon be able to venture into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye once again.The famed Indiana Jones ride is scheduled to reopen on March 17 after a monthslong refurbishment, according to Disneyland officials. The resort initially said the ride would reopen during the spring but didn’t give a specific reopening date.Prior to its extended closure, fans speculated if any new additions from the upcoming fifth Indiana Jones movie “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” will be added to the ride. However, Disney has not announced any such changes. The last time the ride underwent a significant refurbishment was in 2014, according to MousePlanet.The 28-year-old ride opened on March 3, 1995, and allowed guests to be immersed into the world of Indiana Jones.The fast-paced thrill ride allows guests to join Jones on an adventure through the Temple of the Forbidden Eye to find the coveted treasure; however, explorers should avoid looking into the eyes of Mara.According to the...

Public’s help sought in identifying suspect in San Jose hit-and-run

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

SAN JOSE – Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying a driver in a hit-and-run that left a pedestrian with life-threatening injuries last week in San Jose.The collision was reported just after 7 p.m. on March 9 near Tully Road and Flint Avenue.In a statement Wednesday, San Jose police Officer Steve Aponte said a man was crossing Tully to help a family in a disabled vehicle when he was hit by a driver turning westbound onto Tully from southbound Flint. The driver kept going after the collision.The pedestrian was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, Aponte said.The driver’s vehicle was described as a possibly white or light-colored, four-door truck.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | San Jose: Student stabbed at Sunrise Middle School Crime and Public Safety | Employee charged with lying about Stanford University rapes that shook campus Crime and Public Safety | San Mateo County sued again over jail...