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DC-area leaders propose ways to address Metro’s budget gap without causing ‘transit death spiral’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

D.C.-area leaders are responding to Metro’s proposed budget released last week that would significantly slash service while raising fares, offering up an alternative plan to address the transit system’s major budget deficits.The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments put together a work group to develop strategies to address the transit system’s $750 million deficits without making the “drastic” level of service cuts and layoffs suggested in Metro’s proposed budget.“Metro is running great service right now and they’re tightening their belt, and they need to continue to do that,” Clark Mercer, the executive director of COG, told WTOP.The work group, which is comprised of leaders from D.C., Maryland and Virginia, released a report Tuesday including near-term recommendations to Metro such as transferring some capital funding to cover operating costs, increasing fares and implementing targeted service reductions.Part of addressing the deficit ...

Hunter Renfroe and Kansas City Royals finalize $13 million, 2-year contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hunter Renfroe and the Kansas City Royals finalized a $13 million, two-year contract Tuesday, filling the biggest offensive hole for a club that has spent heavily in free agency in an attempt to go from worst to first in the AL Central.The power-hitting outfielder, who turns 32 next month, will get a $5.5 million salary from Kansas City for the upcoming season. Renfroe’s deal also includes a $7.5 million player option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout.“They talent they’ve brought through the minor leagues and who they have in the major leagues right now is pretty spectacular,” Renfroe said, “and the guys they added this offseason made it a no-brainer for me. The way the Central is now, there is no doubt that we can contend in it.”The Royals lost 106 games last season, when injuries punched holes in their lineup and their pitching staff was among the worst in baseball. General manager J.J. Picollo has spent heavily over the past few weeks in an att...

Blackhawks D Kevin Korchinski rejoins team after father’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Kevin Korchinski has rejoined the Chicago Blackhawks following the death of his father, Larry.The 19-year-old Korchinski was on the ice for Chicago’s morning skate ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. Coach Luke Richardson said the rookie defenseman is going to need some time before he is ready for games again.“It was great to see him,” Richardson said. “The guys really responded well having him back in the dressing room and he had a big smile in there this morning. So it was good to see him out on the ice.“He hasn’t skated much, I think once when he was at home, so we’re just going to just let him have a couple of practices and see where he’s at and let him tell us when he’s ready to go.”Korchinski has two goals and five assists in 25 games in his first NHL season. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft hasn’t played since he skated for more than 18 minutes during a 1-0 victory over Anaheim on Dec. 7.Larry Korchinski...

Frosinone stuns Napoli 4-0 to reach Italian Cup quarters for first time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Frosinone’s best cup run continued as it stunned defending Serie A champion Napoli by winning 4-0 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday to reach the Italian Cup quarterfinals.Frosinone, which had never even reached the round of 16 previously, will next face either Juventus or Salernitana.Napoli rested a number of its key players, including Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, although it brought on the key duo in the 63rd minute, with the score 0-0.Frosinone took the lead just two minutes later when Enzo Barrenechea was left relatively unmarked to head Luca Garritano’s corner into the far top side of the net.It was Barrenechea’s first goal for Frosinone after joining on loan from Juventus — the team the 22-year-old Argentine could now face in the quarterfinals.An even worse defensive error saw the visitors double their advantage five minutes later as a woeful pass from Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo saw Giuseppe Caso race through one-on-one w...

Trump banned from Colorado ballot in historic ruling by state Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A divided Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday declared former President Donald Trump ineligible for the White House under the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause and removed him from the state’s presidential primary ballot, setting up a likely showdown in the nation’s highest court to decide whether the front-runner for the GOP nomination can remain in the race.The decision from a court whose justices were all appointed by Democratic governors marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate.“A majority of the court holds that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment,” the court wrote in its 4-3 decision.Colorado’s highest court overturned a ruling from a district court judge who found that Trump incited an insurrection for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, but said he could not be barred from the ballot because...

Douglas County commissioners to challenge state board on property values

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — As the year comes to a close, Colorado property taxes continue to garner attention as leaders seek solutions to reduce the tax burden for homeowners. One county's plan to curb the high cost just took a major hit from the state.After the special legislative session, Gov. Jared Polis called on local governments to try to lower property taxes at the local level. One county along the Front Range tried to do that by lowering property values. A state board rejected their efforts. Trump banned from Colorado ballot in historic ruling by state Supreme Court "The state property tax system is broken. A five-person political board just stole $28 million in tax relief from homeowners like you by acting outside of the law," Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon said. To lower property taxes, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and the county assessor moved to lower the property values for all owners in the county by 4%. The State Board of Equalization rejected that move o...

Defense rests in paramedics' trial over Elijah McClain's death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The defense rested Tuesday in the trial of two Aurora paramedics charged in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain.Closing arguments are set to begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. It's possible the jury could begin deliberations before the end of the day. Judge in Elijah McClain case tightens media coverage rules Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper are both being tried on counts of reckless manslaughter and other charges. They took the stand in their own defense on Monday.McClain died after being stopped by police while walking home from a convenience store, then forcibly restrained and injected with ketamine by the paramedics.The paramedics testified that they witnessed agitated behavior as officers dealt with McClain, and they followed agitated patient “excited delirium” protocols, which at the time called for the use of ketamine for de-escalation, FOX31's Kim Posey reported from the trial.Prosecutors questioned the dosing of the ketamine and the characterization of excited ...

VOA Colorado, Denver break ground on 5-story shelter for veterans, families

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Denver joined Volunteers of America Colorado on Tuesday for the groundbreaking of a five-story shelter serving families and veterans who are homeless.The shelter is replacing the VOA Colorado Theodora Family Hotel non-congregate hotel at 4855 W. Colfax Ave. The replacement shelter will have more capacity and services to meet the growing community needs and is expected to be completed in early 2025. Denver partners with Archdiocese, uses Mullen Home for migrant housing “The Theodora is dedicated to solving the most urgent problem of family homelessness,” Mayor Mike Johnston said in a press release. “Today we are delighted to know that when this project comes to fruition, there will be 60 more families who will now have that special place that is safe, stable and warm.”The reconstruction is expected to cost about $28 million. Denver is providing $17.7 million in financing, including $13.2 million in RISE Denver General Obligation Bonds and another $4.5 mi...

Zac Efron hits the ring in wrestling film ‘The Iron Claw’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

No doubt about it, “The Iron Claw” will get its hooks in you. It’s a deep dive into one of pro wrestling’s most famous families.Deco sat down with two of the film’s stars and emerged unhurt.“The Iron Claw” might have a familiar ring to it, especially if you’re a wrestling fan.The film tells the true story about the professional wrestling family, the Von Erich’s. Zac Efron: “The physical preparation for the movie, needless to say, was intense.”Zac Efron plays Kevin Von Erich and had no idea the training would be so crazy.Zac Efron: “For about seven months, I didn’t realize it at the time, but that became the most informative thing that I had on on Kevin, I felt the way that I imagine he felt, which was sore, tired, and tight and like a warrior man.”Jeremy Allen White says he didn’t need to do much research when it came to the role of Kerry Von Erich.Jeremy Allen White: “These men were so l...

Southwest Airlines, pilots union reach tentative labor deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:31:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Southwest Airlines and its pilots reached a tentative labor agreement after three-and-a-half years of negotiations, the last of the four major airlines to reach a deal with pilots.The Dallas-based carrier said Tuesday it was pleased to reach the agreement in principle, which it called a “key milestone.”Specific terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, but pilots at American, United and Delta have won raises of roughly 40% over five years.The Southwest pilots opened a “strike center” in Dallas last month and twice asked federal mediators for permission to begin a 30-day countdown to a strike, but they were rejected both times.The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said its 25-member board of directors will evaluate the agreement and if approved, will present it to the roughly 11,000 pilot members.The tentative deal come just weeks after flight attendants at Southwest rejected a tentative deal after five years of talks during which the group didn...