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Toxic heavy smog in eastern Pakistan makes tens of thousands sick

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Toxic gray smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore, forcing authorities to shut schools, markets and parks for four days, officials said Thursday.The decision came after the country’s second-largest city, with a population of 11 million, was repeatedly ranked the world’s most polluted city. Doctors advised people to wear face masks and stay at home. Residents said many people were coughing and having breathing problems.“Wearing of marks and staying at home are the two easiest solutions to avoid getting rushed to hospitals with respiratory-related diseases, infections in eyes and skin diseases,” said Salman Kazmi, a doctor at Lahore’s main Mayo Hospital, where thousands of people were treated for such ailments this week.On Thursday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air approached 450, considered hazardous. Experts say the burning of crop residue at the start of the winter...

Denver to sweep third encampment for mayor's House1000 initiative

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Denver is preparing to sweep another homeless encampment, this time at 24th and Arapahoe streets, near Triangle Park.The encampment cleanup is part of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's House1000 initiative, which established a goal for the city to house 1,000 people by the end of 2023. The city told FOX31 that indoor units have been identified to offer anyone at the encampment as part of the process. ‘Bursting at the seams’: Influx of migrant students squeezing DPS resources Outreach teams will also be present for the sweep to provide support and offer wraparound services to eligible individuals. Trash service and portable toilets also will be on hand.The sweep is scheduled for Nov. 16-17. The city has announced it will remove "all items encumbering or obstructing" the area, which will include both sides of Arapahoe Street, along with 24th Street to the northeast and Broadway to the southwest.The city of Denver is preparing to sweep another homeless encampme...

Denver Police officer arrested on assault in Adams County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Denver Police officer was suspended with pay after he was arrested Wednesday in Adams County.According to the Denver Police Department, Anthony Guzman Jr. was placed on modified duty on Aug. 14 when the department was notified Guzman was under investigation for an Aug. 8 incident in Thornton.DPD did not say what the incident was but said he was accused of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and so was not fired.Guzman worked in the Patrol Division before Aug. 14 after joining the department in 2022. Loveland officer arrested, accused of off-duty juvenile assault DPD said it takes "any allegations of misconduct or law violations involving officers seriously," and said the Denver Department of Safety and the Office of the Independent Monitor, a civilian oversight agency, would be involved in any disciplinary process."That disciplinary process is on hold until the case is adjudicated in the courts, per standard protocol," the department stated in its release.Guzm...

Kaiser Permanente workers ratify contract after strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tens of thousands of health care workers have ratified a new four-year contract with industry giant Kaiser Permanente following a strike over wages and staffing levels, the parties announced Thursday.Of the 85,000 members in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, 98.5% voted in recent weeks to ratify the contract, the coalition said in a press release. It runs retroactively from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2027. Hospitalized Native American’s waist-length hair cut without permission The deal includes setting minimum hourly wages at $25 in California, where most of Kaiser’s facilities are located, and $23 in other states. Workers will also see a 21% wage increase over four years.The agreement also includes protective terms around subcontracting and outsourcing, as well as initiatives to invest in the current workforce and address the staffing crisis. The workers’ last contract was negotiated in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.The three-day strike last mon...

How much time does Colorado have to pass property tax relief?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Gov. Jared Polis is calling lawmakers back to the state Capitol next week to address rising property taxes after Colorado voters shot down Proposition HH. Republican lawmakers laid out a plan weeks ago, where they urged for a special session ahead of the election. Hospitalized Native American’s waist-length hair cut without permission Lawmakers are offering three alternatives to Prop HH, including tax exemption for seniors and veterans, lowering the residential property assessment rate and changing the way local governments are designated and backfilled for reductions in property tax revenue. A final bill would reduce the state income tax rate to 4%.Still, Democrats haven’t released their plan to lower property taxes.Lawmakers are on a tight deadline because tax bills go out in the mail in January. That means mill levies will need to be set by Dec. 15.How much property tax relief is possible?Because relief needs to pass soon, Senate Minority Whip Barbara Kirkmeyer ...

Former football coach at Carol City High arrested over alleged sexual conversations with students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

Police arrested a man who coached football at a high school in Miami Gardens over what they said was illicit contact with students.According to investigators, Jahvon Brown engaged in unlawfully sexual conversations with students at Miami Carol City High School.Police said the 25-year-old contacted two teens on social media and tried to send naked pictures to one of them, but she refused.Brown faces charges of offenses against students by authority figures and using a computer to engage a child in sexual conduct.The suspect also served as a security guard at the school. The district said he has been fired and is ineligible to be hired again.

50 become US citizens in 1st naturalization ceremony held at Opa-locka USCG station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

A citizenship ceremony in Opa-locka welcomed new Americans in light of Veterans Day.Fifty people from 15 different countries became naturalized U.S. citizens at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Opa-locka, Thursday.People came from near and far, and some were full of emotion when describing what they had to overcome to reach this milestone.“It’s very emotional to me because we were lost at sea,” said Carlos Valdez as he broke down in tears. “The Coast Guard found us and saved our lives.”Thursday’s event marked the first time a naturalization ceremony has been held at the USCG station.

More than a dozen displaced after fire in Cambridge apartment building

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

More than a dozen people were displaced Thursday after a fire broke out in a residential building in Cambridge, officials said. Emergency crews responded to the scene on Gore Street Thursday afternoon. Video later shared with 7NEWS showed the fire at its strongest, with flames seem billowing from third-floor windows.While the fire had been largely knocked down as of around 5 p.m., crews remained on scene monitoring hotspots. By 6:30 p.m., emergency crews still on scene had largely shifted their efforts toward helping building residents impacted by this fire. “It’s just sad,” said Maureen Sullivan, a witness to the fire. “I feel really sad for them.” Area resident Rick Maher said he saw flames and smoke as the fire burned. Fellow area resident Darcy Delaney similarly said she looked out her front door and spotted “just a ton of fire trucks” racing to the scene.”“I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to stay or go because there was a lot of smoke outside,” said...

Substitute teacher shortages forces Brockton High School students to spend class time in cafeteria

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

Some students at Brockton High School have recently been spending class time in their school’s cafeteria as the public school district deals with a shortage of substitute teachers. On any given day, school officials said, there are between 17 and 29 teachers absent. Without enough substitutes, students have been left with no place to go, leaving parents frustrated. One such parent, Mary Lacivita, said her 16-year-old son is also frustrated after spending hours each school week without a teacher. So far this school year, Lacivita said, one of her son’s AP class teachers has been absent for nearly 30% of classes. District officials told 7NEWS students without a teacher or a substitute on a given day are asked to go to the cafeteria where Lacivita’s son said there is little to no supervision.“There’s a fight every day, at some point, whether it’s during lunch or whether it’s the group of students in the cafeteria because their teachers are absent,” Lacivita said.“Th...

Suspicious letters with white powder sent to election offices in several states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:42 GMT

(CNN) — Federal law enforcement officials are investigating reports of suspicious letters sent to election offices, a Justice Department spokesperson said Thursday.“We are aware of the reports and the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter,” the department spokesperson said in response to an inquiry from CNN. The official said the DOJ would not comment further.Election officials in Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington state reported receiving suspicious mail.In a statement Thursday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Fulton County, Georgia – which includes large swaths of Atlanta – had been among the election offices in multiple states targeted with suspicious letters.Officials in Georgia said the letter received by Fulton County was suspected to contain fentanyl.“We’re working with our state and federal partners to determine if any additional Georgia officials are being targeted,” Raffensperger said. “Domestic terrori...