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Can affluence and affordable housing coexist in Colorado’s Rockies?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

By Talmon Joseph Smith, The New York TimesIn the recreation-fueled, amenity-rich economy of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain region, there are two peak seasons: summer, with its rafting, hiking, fishing and biking, and the cold months filled with skiing and other winter activities.And then there is “mud season” — a liminal moment in spring when the alpine environment, slowly then suddenly, begins to thaw and only a trickle of tourists linger.It’s a period that workers in other places might bemoan. But for much of the financially stretched workforce serving the assemblage of idyllic mountain towns across the state, a brief drop-off in business this spring was a respite.During a slow shift on a 51-degree day at the Blue Stag Saloon — a nook on Main Street in the vacation hub of Breckenridge — Michelle Badger, a veteran server, half-joked with her co-workers that “this winter was hell.”Crowds were larger than ever. And workers in the old Gold Rush town still enjoy the highs of the...

Tropical Storm Hilary arrives: are you prepared?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

As Tropical Storm Hilary hits Southern California, officials are urging Californians to be prepared for a number of scenarios, most notably power outages and evacuations.According to Red Cross Los Angeles Chief Operating Officer Gerald Thomas, trained responders are actively planning recovery efforts and have opened several shelters in Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, plus partner shelters that have opened in Los Angeles County. “It’s not too late...to take this storm seriously,” Thomas said. “You want to have a kit; you want to have a plan and you want to make sure you stay informed.” The kit, Thomas said, should contain at least one gallon of water per person in the household per day. Additionally, flashlights, batteries and nonperishable food are recommended items to put in the evacuation kit. “If you’re going to evacuate, you want to make sure you take items that will help make your little ones or furry friends comfortable,” he said. “[That could b...

1 dead, many structures lost as wildfire threat grows in Washington state, officials say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

(CNN) — Two wildfires in Spokane County, Washington have burned more than 20,000 acres and left at least one person dead, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.As of Sunday morning, the Oregon Road Fire has burned more than 9,200 acres and the Gray Fire has burned more than 10,800 acres, the department said. Both fires have been burning since Friday and are at 0% containment. Portions of both areas remain under evacuation orders and alerts.The Gray Fire, which resulted in one casualty, is burning near the area of Medical Lake and Four Lakes. The department says it “does not appear there will be more fire growth” in those areas, though it warned hazards within the burned areas remain.“Problematic weather” on Saturday hindered firefighting efforts for the Gray Fire, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources said.The fire caused two medical facilities to shelter in place, and some residents were asked to evacuate.The blaze damaged at least 185 str...

Man killed in Hyattsville hit-and-run

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

A man is dead in Hyattsville, Maryland, after a pedestrian hit-and-run collision, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department.Officers responded to the 2000 block of University Boulevard around 3:20 a.m. Sunday morning, where they found a man unresponsive in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.A police spokeswoman told WTOP that it is not clear exactly how long the victim had been in the roadway at the time responding officers arrived.The driver of the striking vehicle did not remain on the scene, and investigators are working to determine the circumstances leading up to the collision. Police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact them at @PGCrimeSolvers or by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS.Below is a map of the approximate area where the victim was found: Source

USA Basketball pulls off big rally, Edwards scores 34 and Americans top Germany 99-91

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — USA Basketball dug deep to head to the World Cup with an unbeaten exhibition record.Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, Austin Reaves and Tyrese Haliburton each added 16 and the U.S. rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to beat Germany 99-91 on Sunday night in its final tuneup game before heading to the Philippines for the World Cup.An 18-0 run in the final minutes saved the Americans, who finished the exhibition season 5-0.Franz Wagner scored 17 points for Germany, which got 16 points and 10 assists from Dennis Schroder, and 14 points from Moritz Wagner. It became the first team this summer to take more than a four-point lead on the U.S. but couldn’t finish the win off.Moritz Wagner’s 3-pointer with 6:58 left put Germany up 86-77. The Germans missed their next eight shots — and the Americans scored the game’s next 18 points.The U.S. team has been together for only 2 1/2 weeks yet has had very little trouble clicking to t...

Tropical Storm Hilary makes landfall in Mexico’s Baja California, pushing torrential rains on northward path (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert erroneously reported that Hilary was still a hurricane)

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

ENSENADA, Mexico (AP) — Tropical Storm Hilary makes landfall in Mexico’s Baja California, pushing torrential rains on northward path (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert erroneously reported that Hilary was still a hurricane).Source

Guardians present Tigers’ slugger Miguel Cabrera with guitar as retirement gift

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Miguel Cabrera has owned Cleveland’s pitching staff during his career.The Guardians presented the Detroit slugger with a guitar as a retirement gift before his final game at Progressive Field on Sunday in which he batted cleanup for only the second time this season.The guitar, honoring Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame connection, had the name “Miggy,” plus Cabrera’s picture and his No. 24 on the front. Manny Ramirez and Guardians third baseman José Ramírez helped present the guitar to Cabrera behind home plate. Cabrera held it high in the air and went through a playing motion before heading to Detroit’s dugout. Cabrera, 40, is retiring at the end of the season. The teams finish the season with three games in Detroit. It’s easy to see why no one connected with the Guardians will be unhappy their days facing Cabrera are almost over.Cabrera is batting .308 (282-for-917) with 50 homers and 176 RBIs in 248 career games against Cleveland. He’s hitting .297 (145-fo...

Ward-Prowse has 2 assists as 10-man West Ham beats Chelsea 3-1 in Premier League

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

LONDON (AP) — James Ward-Prowse had two assists on his West Ham debut to help his new team beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Premier League on Sunday despite playing with 10 men for 30 minutes, leaving Mauricio Pochettino still looking for a first win as Blues manager. Ward-Prowse set up the first two West Ham goals to upstage Moises Caicedo, who gave away a clumsy penalty for the third goal in injury time after coming on as a second-half substitute for his first Chelsea appearance since his record-breaking $146 million move from Brighton.Ward-Prowse, who joined from relegated Southampton this week, delivered a perfect corner that was headed in by Nayef Aguerd to give West Ham the lead in the seventh minute. Carney Chukwuemeka equalized for Chelsea in the 28th and Enzo Fernandez — who cost Chelsea about $130 million last season — then missed a penalty for the Blues just before the halftime break. West Ham retook the lead when Ward-Prowse played a ball over the top for Michail Antonio to run o...

Ticker: Starbucks told to pay $2.7M in lost wages; Robotaxi fleet cut after crashes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

A judge has ordered Starbucks to pay an additional $2.7 million in lost wages and tax damages to a former regional manager who was earlier awarded more than $25 million after alleging she and other white employees were unfairly punished following the high-profile arrests of two Black men at a store in 2018.In June, Shannon Phillips won $600,000 in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages after a jury in New Jersey found that race was a determinative factor in Phillips’ firing, in violation of federal and state anti-discrimination laws.The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that U.S. district judge Wednesday ordered Starbucks to pay Phillips another $2.73 million in past and future lost earnings and benefits as well as compensation for tax disadvantages due to the lump sum, according to court documents. The company opposed paying any amount, saying Philipps had not proven she couldn’t have earned the same or more in the future.Robotaxi fleet cut after crashesGeneral Motors...

3-year labor pact approved at Bath Iron Works

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:51 GMT

BATH, Maine — The largest union at Navy shipbuilder Bath Iron Works in Maine overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract, the union said Sunday, averting another strike like the one three years ago that contributed to delays in delivering ships.The contract, which takes effect Monday, raises pay a range of 2.6% to 9.6% in the first year with differences due to a mid-contract wage adjustment that already took effect for some workers, and will be followed by a 5% increase in the second year and 4% increase in the third. Workers are receiving an increase in contributions to their national pension plan while health insurance costs will grow.Machinists’ Union Local S6, which represents about 4,200 production workers, touted the biggest pay raises by percentage since the union’s founding in the 1950s.“Local S6 would like to thank you for your vote and support as we continue to advocate for our members’ best interests and uphold the contract with the utmost de...