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Union Pacific sued after firing rail worker on medical leave

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific routinely hires private investigators to check out employees’ medical leave claims and then fires anyone who happens to leave their house while out on leave, according to a lawsuit filed against the railroad.The lawyer who last month filed one of the first lawsuits in a case like this in Texas said this practice is another example of how the railroads keep the pressure on train crews to remain on call 24-7 while making them afraid to take unpaid time off they’re supposed to get under the Family Medical Leave Act.Now that the Texas case is moving forward in the courts, the lawyer, Nick Thompson, said he plans to look into the claims of several other UP employees who have contacted him with similar concerns that could turn into additional lawsuits.“Ultimately, this has the effect Union Pacific wants: It scares people from using FMLA,” Thompson said.Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific says it didn’t do anything wrong when it fired De’Ron Rut...

Belize, Guatemala reaffirm Taiwan ties during Tsai visit

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Belize on Monday reaffirmed its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the second country to do so in a week as Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen travels across Central America in an effort to shore up a dwindling number of allies. “Together we can promote our shared values like democracy, the right of the people to self determination and respect for international law,” Johnny Briceño, Belize’s prime minister, said in a speech before the country’s National Assembly.Belize follows in the footsteps of Guatemala, another ally of Taiwan, whose leader declared its relationship with the self-governed island “unchangeable” during a visit by Tsai.The two Central American nations represent two of Taiwan’s 13 formal allies across the world, a number that has dipped as China has put pressure on and funneled money into isolating the island.The trip came just a week after Honduras announced it would cut allegiances with Taiwan in favor of China, potentially prompted by ...

Navy sailor charged in Capitol riot was stationed on carrier

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

A Navy sailor charged with storming the U.S. Capitol was stationed on an aircraft carrier in Virginia when he joined a mob’s attack on the building, according to a court filing Monday.The FBI arrested David Elizalde on Sunday in Arlington, Virginia, on misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, according to a court filing.Elizalde told the FBI that he was stationed on the USS Harry S. Truman when he drove alone from Norfolk, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021. Then-President Donald Trump addressed a crowd of supporters before the mob attacked the Capitol, disrupting the congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.Videos show a man matching Elizalde’s description holding a flag when he entered the Capitol through the Senate wing doors and leaving the building about three minutes later through the same doors. Elizalde said he heeded a police officer’s ...

Minnesota college head to retire after Islamic art dispute

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The president of a private university in Minnesota that was criticized for firing a professor who showed a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in an art history class announced Monday that she is retiring next year.Hamline University President Fayneese Miller said at a news conference that although the school has been in the headlines, journalists were “reporting on a false narrative.” Issues arose in October when Erika López Prater showed a 14th-century painting depicting the Prophet Muhammad to her students as part of a lesson on Islamic art, after warning them beforehand and giving them an opportunity to opt out. In Islam, portraying the Prophet Muhammad has long been taboo for many, and a Muslim student in the class complained to the university.López Prater has since sued the liberal arts school in St. Paul over Miller’s decision not to renew her contract. Her attorneys didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Miller previously conceded that ...

Alberta premier says she will no longer comment on Crown prosecutor controversy

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will no longer speak about her involvement in how COVID-19 court cases are being prosecuted.Smith says her United Conservative Party government is considering a defamation lawsuit and, because of that, she has been advised by counsel not to comment. A notice of defamation letter dated Sunday says lawyers for the premier want the CBC to retract and apologize for its story in January that stated a member of her staff sent emails to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service challenging how it was handling cases from COVID-19 protests at the United States-Canada border crossing at Coutts, Alta.The CBC repeated Monday that it stands by its reporting.“I have been clear that neither I, nor anyone within my staff, have contacted any Crown prosecutors as has been alleged. Indeed, Alberta’s Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed this to be true. To continue saying or suggesting otherwise is malicious,” Smith said Monday at a news conf...

Biden pushes econ policy as Trump indictment gets attention

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

FRIDLEY, Minn. (AP) — President Joe Biden ventured to suburban Minneapolis on Monday to talk about factory jobs and contrast his agenda with “the last guy who had this job.” The “last guy,” as Biden calls Donald Trump, was simultaneously touching down in New York to become the first former president to be arrested. The Biden White House, which has shied away from involvement in the legal spectacle surrounding Trump, hoped to turn the split-screen moment into a chance to showcase the president’s accomplishments and relatively drama-free administration. It represented a rehash of the choice that voters made in 2020 — and might have to make again in 2024 — as both men intend to seek the White House. Biden offered himself as a veteran policymaker while Trump, ever the showman, aimed to use Tuesday’s arraignment on criminal charges to generate campaign donations and fire up Republican voters.Biden sought to highlight job growth and investments nationwide while pushing clean energy ...

North Side concert venue staffers robbed moments after leaving work

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

CHICAGO — Two employees of a popular concert venue on the North Side were robbed moments after departing work, leaving staffers and the owner stunned by the incident."We’re just glad everyone is safe," said Ray Quinn, the owner of Martyrs' on Lincoln Avenue in the city's North Center neighborhood.  A popular place to enjoy live music, the venue had been closed for nearly three hours before the alleged robbery. Unifying Chicago on the minds of Johnson, Vallas as mayoral runoff election approaches A couple of the employees – a man and a woman - left the premises around 4 a.m. Sunday after helping clean up after a concert. The man and woman were walking around the corner onto Byron Street when a sedan pulled up. As the man and woman headed east on Byron Street, four guys from inside the vehicle exited with guns drawn. WGN News was told that one of the armed men struck one of the victims with the weapon before stealing everything the pair had on them. “They took their cellphones, a pu...

Train derailment spills cases of Coors, Blue Moon beer along Montana river

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

PARADISE, Mont. (AP) — Crews could face a difficult cleanup task after a 25-car train derailment spilled powdered clay and cases of beer beside a scenic western Montana river, leaving some cars off the tracks in a narrow, century-old tunnel with limited access, officials said.“It’s a terrible spot to get in and out of,” Bill Naegeli, manager for Sanders County Disaster and Emergency Services, said of the derailment on the Clark Fork River. “The biggest issue is the cars derailed inside the tunnel” with little clearance.Montana Rail Link has said nobody was hurt and no hazardous materials spilled Sunday morning in the derailment that left some cars precariously close to the banks of the river and some slightly dipping into the water in an area where the railroad tracks run between the base of the mountain and the river. McDonald’s offices to close briefly ahead of layoffs: report Seven cars are believed derailed in the narrow tunnel where it will be hard to extricate them, Naegeli ...

Machine gun switches will become illegal under Indiana bill

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana lawmakers have given final approval to a proposal that would it illegal for anyone to possess devices for adapting a firearm into a machine gun.The Indiana House voted 71-23 on Monday in favor of a bill expanding state law to include so-called Glock switches that are already illegal under federal law. Police officials say such switches can convert a semi-automatic gun into one that shoots continuously while the trigger is pressed, firing dozens of bullets within a few seconds.The state Senate previously approved the proposal, which now goes to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for a decision on whether to sign it into law.SEE ALSO | Chicago area law enforcement sees rise in machine gun conversion device recoveriesSupporters said the broader state law was needed so local police don’t need to rely on federal prosecutors pressing charges in such cases. If it takes effect, people with such gun switches could face felony charges under the state ...

TEA report: AISD waited up to 9 months to evaluate some kids suspected of needing special needs services

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:51:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Texas Education Agency investigators allege Austin Independent School District has repeatedly missed strict state and federal deadlines on evaluating kids suspected of needing special education services, according to its final investigative report published Friday.The district is now facing state intervention in the form of a management team taking over district operations that pertain to special education. Austin ISD to discuss possible appeal of TEA conservatorship Monday night The report alleges that TEA investigators substantiated allegations submitted over the last three years showing the district has sometimes waited as long as nine months to evaluate students who needed special education evaluations.State law requires school districts to evaluate students within 45 days of parental consent.“I would tell you that as an organization we have made tremendous progress over the last several months, but it has been an ongoing challenge for this organization for yea...