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Colorado deputies fired for using Taser on handcuffed man, falsifying reports about incident

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Two Las Animas County sheriff’s deputies who shocked a handcuffed man with a Taser as he tried to watch a traffic stop were fired in late August after an independent investigation found they had no legal basis to detain the man, used excessive force and wrote false reports, according to a report made public Monday.Nathanial Espinoza, accompanied by his attorney Kevin Mehr, speaks to members of the media outside the Alfred A Arraj United States Courthouse on May 2, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. Espinoza’s father, Kenneth Espinoza, was shocked with a Taser multiple times in the body and face by officers with the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office (LACSO) during a traffic incident in Trinidad, Colorado. The attorney and Espinoza announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office and the deputies involved in the Nov. 29, 2022 assault. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)The 69-page internal affairs report also recommen...

Todd Helton teams up with organization to eliminate $10 million in medical bills for Colorado residents

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

DENVER — Retired Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is teaming up with the organization RIP Medical Debt to help eliminate $10 million in medical bills for residents around the state.The program is set to start later this month, with recipients around Colorado receiving letters that notify them their medical bills have been paid in full. Medical expenses have been among the leading causes for bankruptcy in the United States.Helton, who retired in 2013 and is the franchise’s all-time leader in many statistical categories, said in a release Monday that he drew inspiration from his friend and philanthropist Ryan “Jume” Jumonville.“(He) recently took care of $100 (million) in medical debt for the people in his home state of Florida,” Helton said. “I … wanted to do something similar for the people of Colorado.”Helton worked with Jumonville in 2004, when the tandem donated money to health care programs in order to help University of Tennessee system employees.RIP...

Dusting of snow on high peaks a reminder that skiing may be only a month away

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Several high peaks in Colorado received noticeable dustings of snow overnight including Pikes Peak, the peaks of the Tenmile Range in Summit County, the Arapahoe Basin ski area and Capitol Peak, a fourteener near Aspen.Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park was closed for about two hours Monday morning due to snow and ice.The peaks of the Tenmile Range received a dusting of snow Monday, as seen from Copper Mountain. (Provided by Copper Mountain Resort)Breckenridge ski resort received snow across its five peaks, according to spokeswoman Sara Lococo, as did Bald Mountain, a 13,700-foot peak just east of town. Elsewhere in the Tenmile Range there was snow on Crystal Peak and Pacific Peak, a pair of prominent thirteeners that are visible from Copper Mountain resort.Overnight low temperatures in Summit County this week will be in the 30s, according to the National Weather Service.Monday’s snow came 38 days before the 10-year average date for Colorado’s first ski are...

Fred Leon Black Jr Pronounced Dead Following Pedestrian Crash on Herndon Avenue [Fresno, CA]

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident on Blackstone Avenue Left 59-Year-Old Man DeadFRESNO, CA (September 11, 2023) – Sunday evening, a pedestrian crash on Herndon Avenue claimed the life of Fred Leon Black Jr.The incident happened on August 27th, at around 10:00 p.m., near the intersection of Herndon and Blackstone Avenues.According to reports, Black tried to cross Blackstone in the center of the street while using a wheelchair. He ran into a car that had stopped him as he approached the northbound lanes.Upon arriving at the scene, officials found a 59-year-old man down on the highway with life-threatening injuries. Paramedics later pronounced him dead due to the extent of his injuries.Meanwhile, the driver stayed and cooperated with the officers at the scene.Furthermore, emergency crews closed off the surrounding area briefly during cleanup and preliminary duties.The police have ruled out drugs and alcohol as factors in the collision.Sweet James sends out their warm and sincerest sympat...

Aaliyah Renee Gil Killed in Rollover Incident near Cesar Chavez Park [Phoenix, AZ]

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

20-Year-Old Woman Dies and Two Hospitalized Following a Deadly Rollover CrashPHOENIX, AZ (September 11, 2023) – Early Saturday morning, officers were dispatched to a rollover crash that killed Aaliyah Renee Gil.The incident took place near Cesar Chavez Park at 35th Avenue, just south of Baseline Road, shortly after 1:15 a.m., September 2nd.According to the investigation by the Phoenix police, the collision involved two vehicles, one was driven by 20-year-old Aaliyah Renee Gil.Furthermore, the police stated that Gil was headed northbound on 35th Avenue when she veered over to the southbound lanes and struck a vehicle. Also, one of the vehicles overturned as a result of the collision.Unfortunately, Gil succumbed to her injuries and authorities pronounced her dead. Two other people were transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening wounds.Both directions of the roadway were temporarily shut down to allow for cleanup and preliminary duties.Moreover, the authori...

In India, Vietnam, Biden looks past Russia to imperfect partners

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

By Josh Boak | Associated PressHANOI, Vietnam — President Joe Biden on Monday wrapped up a five-day diplomatic sprint through Vietnam and India that put a spotlight on imperfect partners that he believes will be crucial for global stability in the years to come.The whirlwind visit demonstrated that as Russia’s war on Ukraine plods on with no end in sight, Biden appears to have become more willing to look past differences with complicated allies that he badly needs to keep close for the sake of stability in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East and beyond.Biden closed out his Asia trip in Hanoi on Monday by spotlighting new business deals and partnerships with Vietnam after celebrating the Communist government’s elevation of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.“My message today is quite simple: Let’s keep it up,” Biden said of his desire to keep strengthening the nations’ partnership during a meeting with CEOs. “We ...

Pac-12 chaos: Judge sides with WSU and OSU, brings board business to temporary halt

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Washington State and Oregon State scored a major victory in court on Monday when a Whitman County (Wash.) judge agreed to their request for a temporary restraining order preventing the Pac-12’s presidents and chancellors from meeting until the court determines the makeup of the board of directors.“That makes everybody equal,” Superior Court Judge Gary Libey said in issuing his ruling a few minutes after 12 p.m.A preliminary injunction hearing to determine which schools have voting rights — all 12, or only the Beavers and Cougars — is expected to be scheduled in the next few weeks.“I am pleased with today’s decision,” Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy said on social media. “As the two remaining Pac-12 members, Oregon State and Washington State must be able to chart a path forward for the Pac-12 — not the members that have chosen to leave it.”Washington State president Kirk Schulz called the decision “a step in the right direct...

Piedmont: Carjacking suspects allow mom to remove infant child from vehicle before stealing it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

PIEDMONT — Carjacking suspects allowed a woman to remove her infant child from the vehicle Sunday morning before stealing it, police said.The vehicle was later recovered in East Oakland and a 19-year-old Rodeo man was jailed, police said.The carjacking happened about 9 a.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of Grand Avenue.Police said a 38-year-old woman was putting her 5-month-old child into a 2018 BMW near her home when two men approached her and demanded her purse, keys and mobile phone.The suspects allowed the woman to remove the child from the BMW before driving it away, police said. No one was injured.Police said officers worked with BMW representatives and were able to track the stolen car. It was traced to several different locations in Oakland throughout the day but was not found by police at any of them.A California Highway Patrol helicopter was brought in to assist officers in the search. About 4 p.m. Sunday the helicopter officers located the BMW at a tire shop in the 8300 ...

At least 2K people feared dead in flooded region of Libya

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

By Samy Magdy | Associated PressCAIRO — Mediterranean storm Daniel caused devastating floods in Libya that swept away entire neighborhoods and wrecked homes in multiple coastal towns in the east of the North African nation. As many as 2,000 people were feared dead, one of the country’s leaders said Monday.The destruction appears greatest in Derna, a city formerly held by Islamic extremists in the chaos that has gripped Libya for more than a decade and left it with crumbling and inadequate infrastructure. Libya remains divided between two rival administrations, one in the east and one in the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments.The confirmed death toll from the weekend flooding stood at 61 as of late Monday, according to health authorities. But the tally did not include Derna, which had become inaccessible, and many of the thousands missing were believed carried away by waters.Video by residents of the city posted online showed major devastation. Entire residen...

Massive sinkhole forms in Pacific Heights after water main break

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A water main break in the area of Fillmore and Union Streets in Pacific Heights has led to the formation of a sinkhole in an intersection, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. PG&E is on the scene attempting to isolate a gas main inside the work area. Once that work is complete, crews will resume work on the water mains, SFPUC said.The sinkhole is disrupting bus service, according to SF Muni. The 22 Fillmore and 45 Union/Stockton lines are rerouting buses around the area, Muni said. Sailboat stuck at Stinson Beach must be removed today Muni is replacing trolley buses with motor coaches, which could result in inbound delays near UCSF, the transit agency advised. City staff are on site at the location and conducting outreach to businesses and homes impacted by the water main break, according to District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani. The water main, which was installed in 1949, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commis...