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No jail time for Colorado police officer who locked woman in SUV struck by train

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

The Fort Lupton police officer who locked a handcuffed woman in a police vehicle that was hit by a freight train was sentenced to probation Friday.Jordan Steinke, 29, was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation during an hour-long hearing in Weld County District Court. The former officer was convicted in July of reckless endangerment and assault after the Sept. 16, 2022, crash on railroad tracks near U.S. 85 and Weld County Road 38.That night, Steinke and then-Platteville police Sgt. Pablo Vazquez stopped driver Yareni Rios-Gonzalez after a reported road-rage incident, took her into custody and locked her in a police SUV parked on railroad tracks. The officers then failed to move the SUV as a train barreled down the tracks, horn blaring, and crashed into the SUV.Rios-Gonzalez survived but suffered serious injuries.Both officers were criminally charged; Steinke was the first to go to trial. She opted for a bench trial before Weld County District Court Judge Timothy Kerns, who ...

Coach Prime, CU Buffs ready for Rocky Mountain Showdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

Never one to miss a business opportunity, Deion Sanders handed out pairs of Blenders brand sunglasses to the hosts of ESPN’s First Take and the Pat McAfee Show on Friday morning.And, of course, the head coach of the 18th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes handed out glasses to each player on the football team.“I just wanted to see how you look in them. You look good,” said Sanders, who endorses Blenders.The gifts were, of course, in response to a comment made by Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell earlier this week, when he took a shot at Sanders, who often wears sunglasses and hats in public appearances.“When I talk to grownups, I take my hat and my glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me,” Norvell said on his radio show Wednesday.Sanders also isn’t one to miss an opportunity to throw material on the bulletin board, as he and the Buffs have taken Norvell’s comments and run with them this week in preparation for Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Showdown at Folsom Field.BOULDER,CO SEPTEMBER 1...

Mount Evans, named for disgraced Colorado territorial governor, officially has a new name

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

Mount Evans, the Colorado fourteener named after the state’s disgraced territorial governor, now has a new name: Mount Blue Sky.The U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted 15-1 on Friday afternoon to accept the proposal for the new name, which was one of six suggestions for the Front Range peak in Clear Creek County that’s prominently visible from across metro Denver. Three board members abstained.Territorial Gov. John Evans was forced to resign following the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, when U.S. soldiers attacked and killed Cheyenne and Arapaho people in southeastern Colorado territory, even after they had tried to broker peace.Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Governor Reggie Wassana called the renaming vote “a huge step” in a statement issued after the vote. Wassana credited several tribes and allied groups “who worked diligently to begin the healing process, bringing honor to a monumental and majestic mountain.”“We must better face the dark hist...

Why rush hour isn't as bad in post-pandemic L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

Traffic congestion in Los Angeles and other metropolitan areas is simply a way of life, but a new study finds that the usual rush hour traffic jams aren't as bad in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.The study, conducted by the University of North Carolina, found that, while traffic plunged to record lows during the height of the pandemic, overall traffic has returned to its pre-pandemic levels.But even with the same number of drivers on the road, rush hour traffic isn't as bad as it was prior to the pandemic. The 110 and 101 freeways are shown nearly empty on March 19, 2020, hours before California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an order to stay home to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. (Getty Images)The reason, researchers found, is that heavy traffic is being spread out throughout the day, rather than concentrated around specific times.The study utilized the thousands of California traffic sensors located on freeways and highways across the state, scouring data over a six-y...

Red panda cub, 1st born at San Diego Zoo in nearly 20 years, is named 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

A red panda born at the San Diego Zoo is seen in an undated photo. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)A red panda cub born at the San Diego Zoo — the first since 2006 — has been named just in time for International Red Panda Day on Saturday.The 3-month-old cub will now be called Pavitra, which means “sacred” in Nepali, zoo officials said in a news release.She was born June 9 to parents Adira and Lucas.Red pandas are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species because of their dwindling population. Threats include habitat loss, global warming and degradation related to increased human encroachment, officials said.“San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance collaborates with multiple partners to identify unprotected red panda habitats, train teams to monitor the health of the forest and provide awareness-building workshops in communities in Nepal where red pandas live,” the news release read. “San Diego Zoo guests may be able to catch a...

Police investigate officer-involved shooting in South Los Angeles 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

The LAPD is investigating an officer-involved shooting in South Los Angeles Friday afternoon.It is unclear when the shooting was reported and what led up to it, but it occurred in the area of 32nd Street and Central Avenue, police said in a post on X, formally Twitter.It is unclear if anyone was shot, hospitalized or killed in the shooting.Streets in the area are expected to be impacted for several hours, police said.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Indulging in Mikia Aivaze’s Passion for Culinary Excellence: A Taste of Ferraro’s on the Hill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

Step into Ferraro’s on the Hill, and you’re not just dining — you’re embarking on a journey through Mikia Aivaze’s lifelong love affair with food. As the man behind this Italian haven, Mikia has transformed Ferraro’s on the Hill into more than just a restaurant.From a young age, Mikia’s infatuation with the art of cooking was evident. He took over Ferraro’s on the Hillat just 18, changing Compton’s food scene forever. Yet, cooking was not merely a hobby for Mikia. “I believe in telling stories through my dishes,” he shares, his eyes lighting up with the excitement of a storyteller. Each plate that emerges from his kitchen carries the essence of his commitment and the stories he aims to convey.Mikia’s journey resonates deeply with those who savor the enchanting blend of passion and creativity that he infuses into every dish. “Food is about connection,” Mikia reflects. His creations deeply resonate with with...

Tory Lanez denied bail while appealing shooting conviction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

By Lisa Respers France | CNNTory Lanez has lost an attempt to be free on appeal while he seeks to overturn his conviction for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.He was sentenced in August to 10 years in prison for the 2020 shooting of the “Savage” artist, who was his friend at the time.Lanez’s request for bail was denied on Thursday, with the judge citing his conviction for a “violent felony” and possible flight risk, according to Unite the People CEO and co-founder Ceasar McDowell, a nonprofit organization representing Lanez in his appeal.Lanez had pleaded not guilty to assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, according to prosecutors.But a jury found him guilty in December 2022.“Mr. Peterson’s case has been a challenging one from the beginning,” McDowell said in a statement to CNN. “Despite the hurdles we have faced, we firmly believe in his innocence and will continue to advocate for his...

Ashton Kutcher resigns from nonprofit board, admits ‘questioning victims’ in his glowing character letter for Danny Masterson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

Ashton Kutcher has resigned as board chairman of Thorn, the anti-sex-trafficking organization he co-founded with his first wife Demi Moore, a week after the actor and his current wife, Mila Kunis, were publicly excoriated for writing glowing character letters for their friend Danny Masterson, after he had been convicted of two counts of rape.Kutcher, who also is a technology investor, submitted his resignation in a letter that was obtained by Time. Explaining his resignation, Kuctcher expressed regret for writing his letter for Masterson, his co-star on “That ’70s Show.” Kutcher called his letter for Masterson, before Masterson was sentenced Sept. 7 to 30 years to life in prison, an “error in judgement.”“Victims of sexual abuse have been historically silenced and the character statement I submitted is yet another painful instance of questioning victims who are brave enough to share their experiences,” Kutcher wrote in the resignation later. ...

Which companies in California emit the most pollution? A bill on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk would force the list to be made public

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:46 GMT

In what is being described by environmental and industry groups as the most significant environmental legislation this year in Sacramento, state lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom that would require corporations doing business in California add up how many tons of greenhouse gases they emit each year, and make the information public.The bill, the first of its kind in the nation, is being closely watched in other states and other countries.If Newsom signs it into law, the measure would require about 5,300 companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue — brand names from McDonalds to Walmart, Chevron to Home Depot — to issue the annual reports, verified by outside auditors, starting in 2026.The data could potentially be used by researchers, advocacy groups, media outlets and others to issue “biggest polluter” lists showing which companies emit the most carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases that scientists say are contributing to...