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MoDOT turns the tide: More workers joining than leaving for the first time in years

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - For the first time in more than a decade, the Missouri Department of Transportation is gaining staff instead of losing it.Within the last month, through a new strategy of hiring events, MoDOT has hired 100 new people. At one point, the state’s transportation department was short 1,000 employees."We were digging a hole that keeps getting deeper," said Patrick McKenna, director for the Missouri Department of Transportation. "The first thing we had to do was stop digging, and I feel like we’ve done that." St. Louis Airport expansion would see conversion to single terminal For the first time in years, things are looking up for MoDOT. Within the last four months, McKenna says MoDOT has had more people joining than leaving. That hasn't been the case often over the last few decades.McKenna says MoDOT was dealing with a 20 percent turnover rate at one point and tasked by the board that governs the department to stop the bleed. "I brought our team in and said, 'O...

Broncos’ Pat Surtain II, Jets’ Sauce Gardner are in early stages of their careers and already have made major impacts

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

In a conference call with reporters last month, former cornerback Richard Sherman’s eyes widened, and the excitement in his voice rose when the topic of the Broncos’ Pat Surtain II came up.Sherman, a Super Bowl champion and three-time All-Pro, called Surtain’s technique “textbook.”“From a technical standpoint, he’s one of the best in the last decade or two, up there with (former New York Jets cornerback) Darrelle Revis in terms of his poise,” Sherman said. “It always looks like he’s in control (and) anticipating everything.”For Sherman, Surtain and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, who will share the field Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High, represent the next generation of great cornerbacks. Both have established themselves as among the best at the position just a year or two removed from college — and they aren’t alone either.Across the NFL, young corners are emerging as plug-and-play players capable of making an immediate impact.“It’s cool to see kids co...

Man who worked as Glendale elementary school coach, aide charged with molesting at least 6 boys

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

A man who worked as an after-school coach for football and other sports and as an aide for disabled students in Glendale is facing charges after allegedly molesting at least six boys, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.Pedro Antonio Tellez, aka Pedro Antonio Hernandez Llamas, 29, faces eight felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14. Man who worked at Glendale elementary school accused of lewd acts on a minor Tellez worked at John Muir Elementary School and worked part-time in the city’s One Glendale After School Youth Sports Program and Summer Day Camp Program since March, police said.An investigation found that between 2018 and 2023, while working at other elementary schools in Glendale, Tellez allegedly molested the victims “by touching them inappropriately and with a sexual intent,” officials said.Authorities indicated that there are more possible victims who have come forward and are being interviewed.“Those we entrust with ou...

Dying wish of former U.S. Marine may come true after emotional public appeal

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

The final wish of a former United States Marine who is suffering from terminal cancer may be fulfilled after making a public appeal to be buried next to his beloved wife who is also nearing her last days.  War veteran Samuel Leon and his loving wife, Marta, who is also terminally ill with liver disease and dementia, made their emotional plea in a family video just a few weeks ago.  On Thursday, the couple’s son, Samuel Leon Jr., along with his mother, rushed to Torrance Memorial Medical Center after doctors alerted them Leon may only have days to live.  Leon Jr., an only child and a veteran himself, has been fighting to fulfill his parents’ wishes to share a final resting place, even starting a GoFundMe to help raise funds as their time runs out.  This is because Leon Jr. learned none of California’s veteran cemeteries would take his mother since she was not married to his father while he was in the service. He told KTLA 5 Reporter Kareen Wynter that his onl...

SoCal woman guilty of $359 million fraud scheme targeting federal healthcare program

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

A Glendale woman was convicted of a $359 million fraud scheme targeting federal healthcare programs.The woman was identified as Lourdes Navarro, 64, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Navarro pleaded guilty to collecting millions by fraudulently submitting claims to government and private insurance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, her claims involved “expensive and medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests,” officials said.From June 2020 to April 2022, Navarro and an accomplice, Imran Shams, conducted screening tests to identify patients infected with COVID-19. They obtained nasal swab samples from staff and residents at a variety of places including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and students and staff at local schools.With those collected samples, Matias Clinical Laboratory, dba Health Care Providers Laboratory, performed RPP tests on the samples, despite only being ordered to test for COVID-19. Navarro ...

Trump allegedly discussed nuclear secrets with Mar-a-Lago member

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

By Kaanita Iyer | CNNFormer President Donald Trump allegedly discussed potentially sensitive information about US nuclear submarines with a member of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, following his presidency, ABC reported Thursday.Sources told ABC that the member is Anthony Pratt, an Australian billionaire who allegedly went on to share the information he received from the former president during an April 2021 meeting with “more than a dozen foreign officials, several of his own employees, and a handful of journalists.”ABC also reported that according to sources, a former Mar-a-Lago employee told investigations that he was “bothered” by the former president disclosing such information to someone who is not a US citizen. He added that he heard Pratt sharing potentially sensitive information minutes after his meeting with the former president, sources told ABC.These allegations were not included in special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump over his handling of clas...

Kaiser health care strike: Driven by and likely to boost a labor-action surge

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

A massive strike by Kaiser Permanente workers, including 23,000 in the Bay Area, is part of a surge in union activity this year from Detroit to Hollywood and likely will bring greater bargaining power to workers in health care and other industries, experts say.Kaiser’s strike followed the Sept. 30 expiration of the union contract for tens of thousands of workers. Other high-profile strikes, including a successful labor action by Hollywood writers and an ongoing strike among auto workers — and even a threatened strike by UPS employees that was a key tactic in negotiating a favorable contract — likely gave confidence to Kaiser workers, said John Logan, chair of the Labor and Employment Studies department at San Francisco State University.“When they see things like that, they think, yes, now is the time to do this. We can do it, too,” Logan said.The job action over wages, understaffing and other issues that took 75,000 Kaiser workers across the U.S. off th...

Rodeo 2-year-old died from 'prolonged abuse,' not drowning: DA

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

(KRON) -- A 2-year-old boy who died in Rodeo on Monday was killed by injuries from prolonged abuse, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said. The county previously reported that the child drowned, but two people were arrested for murder in connection with the death. The DA's office also said that a second child in the care of the arrestees suffered life-threatening injuries from abuse. Destiny Deboe, 22, and Tyshawn Haywood, 21, remain in custody awaiting arraignment. Suspect arrested in fatal Union City mobile home park stabbing "The loss of a young life is a tragedy that deeply impacts us all," said DA Diana Becton. "Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of the victim during this incredibly difficult time. We are committed to seeking justice and holding those responsible accountable for their actions." Contra Costa County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 300 block of California Street at about 8:50 p.m. Monday for the report of a chil...

New clinic offering HIV, STI testing opening in Montgomery Co.

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

Montgomery County will begin offering HIV and STI testing at a new clinic in Germantown, Maryland, starting Monday.Beth Beck, HIV/STI Preventive Program Manager with Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services, said she knows it’s not easy for anyone to walk into a clinic setting to get tested for sexually transmitted infections.A sign outside the clinic which opens on Oct. 9, 2023. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)Patients, she said, “are scared to go into a clinic setting, especially when you have something that’s itching and scratching in a place you don’t want to talk about!”But staff at the new Germantown clinic want people to feel comfortable about getting tested, she said.“That’s why we try to be as welcoming, and try to reduce those barriers, as much as possible,” Beck said.The Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic opening at the Upcounty Services Center in Germantown will be the second facility to offer HIV and STI testing. The other is at the county’s Dennis Avenue ...

Hadley battling for a PGA Tour card again and opens with 64 in Mississippi

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Chesson Hadley played bogey-free Thursday in the Sanderson Farms Championship and posted an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead in his latest bid to secure his PGA Tour card.This is the third straight year Hadley has been on the bubble to finish among the top 125 in the FedEx Cup. At least now he has time on his side, and faith in swing that he tweaked at the start of the year.He had two stretches of three straight birdies on a day of ever-shifting weather at the Country Club of Jackson to move past Henrik Norlander, who had a 65 in the morning, and Brandon Wu, who made an 18-foot birdie putt on his final hole in the afternoon for a 65.Ludvig Aberg, the 23-year-old Swede who made his Ryder Cup debut last week at Marco Simone, had a 67 that left him a little frustrated. He missed three birdie putts from 7 feet or closer on the back nine.Aberg was the No. 1 in the PGA Tour University ranking, and thus is assured his PGA Tour card for 2024. Hadley isn’t so fortun...