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How Mike Johnston won the race for Denver mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

Denver Mayor-elect Mike Johnston’s ability to consolidate progressive endorsements and attract big-money donors that supported huge media buys in the final days and weeks of the campaign helped propel his candidacy to defeat Kelly Brough in Tuesday’s runoff election.In the end, the vote was not particularly close. Johnston led nearly 7 percentage points when initial results were released at 7 p.m Tuesday. By the time final unofficial results were posted on Wednesday afternoon, that lead grew to more than 10 points, a gulf of more than 16,700 votes.  From the perspective of Robin Kniech, the at-large City Councilwoman who did not endorse either candidate, the key to the race started with Johnston’s messaging and strategy.“Mike ran as a Democrat in a Democratic city and he had a Democratic record,” Kniech said. “I think it’s that simple.”City races are nonpartisan but both Brough and Johnston are aligned as Democrats. The two had plenty ...

Despite sheriff’s plea, ban on ICE lockup agreements becomes Colorado law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

A bill preventing Colorado county jails from holding people over suspected civil immigration violations will take effect after Gov. Jared Polis signed off on it Tuesday, despite a plea for a veto from the Teller County sheriff.HB23-1100 prevents state and local governments from entering into or renewing any contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold immigrants in county jails when immigration detention centers are at capacity or not easily accessible over allegedly violating civil immigration laws. Through these intergovernmental service agreements, known as IGSAs, ICE pays county jails a daily rate to hold the inmates. Only two counties in the state have such agreements with ICE: Teller and Moffat counties, and those agreements have to be terminated by Jan. 1.The new law also prevents state and local governments from facilitating the opening of new immigration detention facilities run by private prison companies. However, it does not apply to current facilities...

Elderly woman stabbed to death in Baldwin Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

A homicide investigation is underway after a woman was stabbed to death at a Baldwin Park home Wednesday night, authorities said.The incident was reported around 8 p.m. in the 13600 block of Palm Avenue.Arriving officers found the victim on the ground suffering from at least one stab wound. Paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim, described by family as an elderly woman, dead at the scene. A homicide investigation is underway after a woman was stabbed to death inside a Baldwin Park home on June 7, 2023. (KTLA)Investigators said she was stabbed by a man, but no further details about the suspect were provided. Authorities did not say if the victim and suspect knew each other.It was also unclear if a suspect was in custody or on the run Thursday. Family members gathered outside the home said they have not been told who the suspect is. 

Where the smoke from Canadian wildfires is headed next

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

(CNN) — Around 75 million people in the US are under air quality alerts directly related to the wildfires raging across Canada, as officials urge people to limit time spent outdoors and mask up for enhanced protection. Forecasts show the dangerous air conditions could last for days. The weather pattern of low pressure funneling smoke into the US is forecast to linger through the weekend, meaning the Northeast could continue to see smoke for the next couple of days. That pattern could break by next week.Colossal clouds of heavy smoke from more than 430 active wildfires raging across Canada have descended on parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, enveloping neighborhoods, parks and school grounds in an orange haze filled with possible pollutants. New York, Charlotte, Detroit, Indianapolis, Delaware, Rhode Island as well as other areas are included in the air quality alerts. LIVE UPDATES: Millions in US under air quality alertsLate Wednesday night, the air quality index in New ...

Is California facing a home insurance crisis like hurricane-ravaged Florida?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

Farmers Insurance had covered Don Baker’s light-gray house with powder-blue trim since he and his family moved to Boulder Creek 13 years ago. A few weeks ago, he got notice his policy won’t be renewed after it expires in August.Baker looked around and got an offer from State Farm to cover his home nestled among redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But the agent withdrew it the next day, just before the nation’s largest insurer issued its stunning May 26 announcement that it won’t write new home policies anywhere in California.“It was just out of the blue,” the 56-year-old roofer said. “I’m definitely in a pinch. Now I’m just kind of scrambling to get quotes.”Baker is among millions of Californians seeing their home insurance rates rise sharply — if they can keep their policies at all. And it isn’t just affecting people who live in areas scorched by fires or inundated by floods.Sharon Reeves said State Farm...

‘I screamed ‘orca!’: At least 20 killer whales spotted off San Francisco coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — An uncommonly large grouping of orcas for Northern California — roughly two dozen killer whales — were spotted by a whale watching tour off the coast of San Francisco last month, likely gathered together to celebrate a successful hunt for sea lions or seals.“I screamed ‘orca!’” recalled Michael Pierson, a Oceanic Society naturalist leading the tour, after noticing “those distinct dorsal finds poking out of the water.”“It was really, really special,” Pearson said in an interview Wednesday.The big group of whales was seen on May 7 near the Farallon Islands, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) west of San Francisco. Killer whales are more commonly found around the deep ocean canyon beneath Monterey Bay — about 75 miles south of the city — and can be spotted anywhere from the coastline to just 5 miles off shore, according to Nancy Black, a marine biologist and owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch.It’s easier for whale-watching tours to see them in Monterey Bay because the canyon...

Editorial: Migrant flights reveal DeSantis’ lack of compassion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

We already knew Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ social skills leave something to be desired.Now we can confirm that he lacks compassion, as well.How else to categorize his administration’s decision to charter two flights that dropped 36 Latin American asylum-seekers in Sacramento and left them to fend for themselves? It’s shameful.DeSantis has expressed outrage over the influx of migrants from South America and Central America into Florida. It creates a major challenge for every state along the southern U.S. border, including California. But if this is a sample of how DeSantis would tackle the complex immigration issue on a national level, it would be better for all if he continues toiling in Tallahassee.The Florida governor has remained personally quiet about the two charter flights, but DeSantis administration officials on Tuesday admitted responsibility, insisting that the migrants’ trip to Sacramento was “voluntary” and “through written and v...

Opinion: Consumer convenience is key to making bottle bills work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

Since the 1970s, when the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” campaign was born, we’ve all been taught that if we put our food and beverage containers and cardboard in a special bin, these materials will receive new life.Unfortunately, as single-use containers have become more popular, this just hasn’t been the case. But the good news is that policymakers in California (and beyond) are exploring additional ways to increase recycling and decrease the need to manufacture packaging out of virgin materials.Consumers want to do the right thing, but recycling the right way can be difficult for even the most astute environmentalists. This is especially true when consuming products such as bottled and canned drinks on the go.Enter recycling refunds or bottle bills.The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, implemented in 1987, has generally proven to be a success story. According to CalRecycle, in 2021 consumers recycled 68% of eligible beverage conta...

GameStop slumps after it fires former Amazon executive brought in to modernize the gaming retailer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

Shares of GameStop are plunging before the opening bell after the company fired CEO Matthew Furlong, the former Amazon executive that was brought in two years ago to turn the struggling video game retailer around. The company gave no reason for the dismissal and named Ryan Cohen, the company’s biggest investor, as executive chairman. Cohen sent a cryptic tweet that read “Not for long” around the time the company announced Furlong’s firing. GameStop said Cohen will oversee investment and management for the company. GameStop briefly addressed the changes in a regulatory filing for its quarterly earnings.“We believe the combination of these efforts to stabilize and optimize our core business and achieve sustained profitability while also focusing on capital allocation under Mr. Cohen’s leadership will further unlock long-term value creation for our stockholders,” the company said. Shares tumbled more than 22% in premarket trading Thursday. In another regulatory filing, Game...

Very young children among 3 people critically wounded in French Alps knife attack; suspect detained

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:42 GMT

PARIS (AP) — As bystanders screamed for help, a man with a knife stabbed several very young children, including at least one in a stroller, and also assaulted adults in a lakeside park in the French Alps on Thursday. The savagery left at least two children and one adult with life-threatening injuries, authorities said. A suspect, identified by police as a 31-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker, was detained.Video appearing to show the attack in a children’s play park in the Alpine and lakeside town of Annecy was posted on social media. The horrific scenes showed a man in dark glasses and with a blue scarf covering his head brandishing a knife, as people screamed for help. He first circled the playground, slashing at a bystander, and then clambered over its barriers to attack people and children inside. He appeared to stab one child in a stroller repeatedly. French President Emmanuel Macron described the assault as an “attack of absolute cowardice.” Of the victims, he said “children ...