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MLB pays $185 million in settlement of minor leaguers’ minimum wage lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has paid its $185 million settlement of a lawsuit by minor leaguers alleging violations of minimum wage laws.Under terms of the settlement agreed to last year, about 24,000 players from 2009-22 were potentially eligible to share the money, with estimated payments to players averaging in the $5,000 to $5,500 range. MLB said Monday it had transferred the money to JND Legal Administration, which is expected to make the payments by Aug. 14. Minor leaguers unionized last September and agreed this spring to a five-year labor contract that more than doubled player salaries.The settlement covers all players with minor league contracts who played in the California League for at least seven straight days starting on Feb. 7, 2010, through the settlement’s preliminary approval last Aug. 26; players who participated in spring training, extended spring training or instructional leagues in Florida from Feb. 7, 2009, through last Aug. 26; and players who partic...

Leading anti-abortion group rips DeSantis for not pushing for national ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A leading anti-abortion organization criticized Republican Ron DeSantis on Monday for not supporting a national ban on the procedure, calling the Florida governor’s position “unacceptable” as he seeks the GOP nomination for president. The president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an influential player in conservative politics, took issue with DeSantis’ statements in a recent interview in which he declined to back a national abortion ban. SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser said the anti-abortion movement and Americans across the U.S. deserve a president who will “boldly advocate” for a ban on abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy. “A pro-life president has a duty to protect the lives of all Americans. He should be the National Defender of Life,” she said. “Gov. DeSantis’s dismissal of this task is unacceptable to prolife voters. A consensus is already formed. Intensity for it is palpable and measurable. There are many pressing legislative issues fo...

Xplore to offer faster rural satellite internet following Jupiter 3 launch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

Canadian rural internet provider Xplore Inc. plans to offer faster satellite internet to those in remote locations this fall following the launch of the Jupiter 3 satellite into space.The New Brunswick-based telecommunications company said the technology will provide a homegrown alternative to broadband internet service offered to rural Canadians through SpaceX’s Starlink low-earth orbit satellites.Xplore president and chief commercial officer Rizwan Jamal said his company’s new broadband service will include speeds of 100 megabits per second, which is double the maximum speed it currently offers for satellite internet.Other perks include professional installation, no upfront hardware costs and 24/7 Canada-based customer support.“This brand new satellite … is going to be like a superhighway that is ready to take on traffic,” said Jamal.“There’ll be no cars on the highway at the beginning, so I think that the first customers that get on board...

Colorado teen pleads not guilty to trying to join Islamic State group

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado teenager pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of attempting to support a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State group.Davin Meyer, 18, sat handcuffed at his arraignment in a federal courtroom in Denver and didn’t say anything about the allegations. Earlier this month, Meyer was arrested when he tried to board a plane to Turkey, where prosecutors say he planned to become a fighter for IS.David Kaplan, Meyer’s attorney, declined to comment on the case. The trial is not yet scheduled. In November, after he turned 18, Meyer began communicating over the internet with someone he believed was an IS facilitator, and another who presented themselves as an ISIS travel facilitator, according to the arrest affidavit, but both were actually undercover informants. In a previous court hearing, Meyer’s mother, Deanna Meyer, testified that her son wouldn’t have tried traveling to the Middle East if not for the support of people h...

A pair of new hazing lawsuits have been filed against Northwestern

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

CHICAGO — More lawsuits were filed on behalf of former Northwestern football players in the wake of the hazing scandal that surrounded the athletics program the entire month of July.On Monday, attorney Ben Crump along with Chicago-based Levin and Perconti announced that they've filed suit on behalf of former Wildcats running back and linebacker Warren Miles Long and a "John Doe 2". In these lawsuits, Northwestern University is named as the defendant with three counts of negligence, willful and wanton disregard for player safety and well-being, and a violation of Illinois' Gender Violence Act. This brings the number of lawsuits from this pair of attorneys to five since hazing allegations emerged about the football program earlier this month. Both Crump and Levin intended to file more lawsuits later this week, per a news release. Northwestern’s new head football coach thrust into spotlight at Big Ten Media Day According to the complaint, both allege that they were "subjected to ong...

WATCH LIVE | Hundreds of Loretto Hospital workers on strike Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

CHICAGO — At least 200 workers at Loretto Hospital on the city's Southwest Side walked off the job Monday morning."The strike will start tomorrow (Monday) morning," said Erica Bland-Durosinmi, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare, the union representing the workers who are prepared to strike. "We've been at the table … proposals have gone back and forth, but we've been unable to reach an agreement at this time." Mental health workers, radiology technicians and housekeepers make up the bulk of the group. The workers claim they're underpaid and understaffed, which is reflected by the turnover rate at Loretto Hospital — a number that stands at nearly 60%."People don't stay because they're not investing in the staff in a real way," Bland-Durosinmi said. "It’s unfortunate that we’ve gotten here, where management is unwilling to bargain in good faith." More from Bronagh: Local Chicago leaders advocate for immigration, work permit reform Bland-Durosi...

VIDEO: Foxes seen playing on trampoline in Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A KXAN viewer said she saw baby foxes, also known as kits, playing on a trampoline in her garden Sunday in the north Austin, Texas, area.That was only a couple of weeks after another viewer said she saw a family of foxes playing on the St. Edward’s University campus in Austin.According to the Humane Society of the United States, it's not unusual to see foxes in cities and towns, where food sources are easily found, including in your garbage. While foxes live around the world in many different types of habitats, according to the Texas Wildlife Association, including the Arctic, the desert and even in trees, some foxes have also adapted to life in such urban environments as neighborhoods."Next time you are outside in a park, remember to look up, because if you are lucky, you might see a fox up in the trees," TWA said. VIDEO: Foxes spotted near St. Edward’s University TWA said three types of foxes live in Texas, including the swift fox, the red fox and the gray fox. T...

These are the 5 best states to retire in, study finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – When it comes to retirement, where you live can greatly affect just how golden your post-career years actually are.A new study from Bankrate ranks all 50 U.S. states when it comes to affordability, overall well-being, healthcare quality/cost, weather and crime. With soaring inflation and a volatile stock market, affordability was given the most statistical weight, with the others decreasing respectively.Iowa is the best state in which to retire, the study found, thanks to its affordability (3), quality/cost of health care (11) and crime (12). Map shows which areas of the US will be underwater in 2050 “Choosing where to retire is deeply personal, but Iowa’s affordable cost of living, inexpensive but high-quality health care and low crime make it a compelling option for retirees looking to stretch their retirement income in this economy,” said Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey. “In our overall ranking, the best and worst states for retirees are split geographically. The Midwe...

Lori Vallow Daybell given 5 life sentences in prison for murders of her two children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (KTVX) – Lori Vallow Daybell, convicted of murdering her children, among other crimes, was sentenced to five life sentences in prison Monday with no possibility of parole. This sentencing brings closure to nearly four years of investigation and a trial.Daybell, 49, was found guilty of murder, and conspiracy to commit murder of her children Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. She was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy Daybell, the former wife of her husband, Chad Daybell. Additionally, Lori was found guilty of grand theft. READ: A complete timeline for the Daybell, Vallow murders Lori was sentenced to five life sentences without the possibility of parole, three of which will run consecutively, for her involvement in their murders and the conspiracy to commit murder. While many called for the death penalty, it was ruled out by a judge in March 2023 prior to her murder trial.The case began in 2018 when Lori and Chad met at a religi...

LIVE: APD officers who stopped kidnapping attempt provide details

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five officers who helped stop a kidnapping attempt and reunited a child with her family last week will provide details on the incident Monday afternoon. Five officers with the Austin Police Department were able to stop a kidnapping attempt last Tuesday, according to a social media post from APD Chief Joseph Chacon. RELATED: APD officers stop kidnapping attempt in north Austin A child told an employee at a north Austin store she had been kidnapped, and the kidnappers were still in the building. Officers responded to an urgent check welfare call in the 8000 block of Shoal Creek Boulevard.APD said officers were able to locate and detain multiple suspects based on the information provided in the 911 call. According to police, one suspect was arrested, and charges are pending on the others."This story was on its way to becoming every parent's worst nightmare but thanks to these brave officers and their quick response to the situation, we were able to reunite t...