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New Jersey failed veterans in state-run homes hit by dozens of COVID-19 deaths, federal report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Widespread dysfunction at New Jersey’s two state-run veterans homes left them unprepared to keep residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, violating their constitutional rights to reasonable care while in state custody, a scathing report by the U.S Justice Department found Thursday. The 43-page document paints a disturbing picture of failures at the homes in Menlo Park and Paramus where dozens of deaths occurred early in the outbreak. It said poor communication, lack of staff competency and other issues led to the coronavirus spreading “virtually unchecked throughout the facilities.” Among the findings: The homes failed to group residents into cohorts according to their exposure to COVID-19, resulting in the commingling of infected and uninfected people; they didn’t properly use personal protective gear; they failed to communicate effectively internally and did not maintain improvements achieved after the U.S. Veterans Affairs Departments came in ...

After 25 years behind bars, a Black man walks free; attorneys raise concerns about police racism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — In the predawn hours of March 20, 1998, a neighbor heard screams coming from the home in Salem of Harriet “Sunny” Thompson and then saw a white man run from the house, leaving Thompson inside dead of stab wounds.Yet a Black man, Jesse Johnson, was convicted by a jury in 2004 of aggravated murder and sentenced to death. He walked free this week after 25 years behind bars when prosecutors decided to drop retrial efforts, two years after the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed Johnson’s conviction.The jury never got a chance to hear neighbor Patricia Hubbard testify to what she saw and heard that night. After Johnson was convicted, Hubbard told investigators that when she began describing what she had seen to a police detective, he responded, twice using a racial epithet: a Black woman got murdered and a Black man “is going to pay for it.”Johnson’s trial attorney never sought out Hubbard, a fact that the appeals court cited when it reversed the convict...

Lowry, McIlroy and Meronk make solid starts at Irish Open as Sharma takes first-round lead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) — Shane Lowry needs a good week at the Irish Open to justify getting picked for the Ryder Cup.Adrian Meronk wants one to show Europe captain Luke Donald was wrong to leave him off the team.Both got off to a decent start on Thursday.Lowry made seven birdies and shot 4-under 68 at The K Club to lie three shots off the lead held by Shubhankar Sharma of India after the first round of the European tour event.Aggrieved at being overlooked by Donald, Meronk began birdie-birdie and shot 69 in a solid start to his title defense.On a day when Rory McIlroy — the big draw this week along with home favorite Lowry — felt the love of the crowds and also shot 69, Sharma produced a bogey-free round of 65 in sweltering conditions in the afternoon to finish with a one-stroke lead over five players: Englishmen Jordan Smith and Ross Fisher, Marcel Schneider of Germany, Kristian Krogh Johannessen of Norway and 52-year-old Dane Thomas Bjorn, who knows all about the joy and pain of R...

Eagles visit Patriots as QBs and former college teammates Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones square off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (16-4) at NEW ENGLAND (8-9)Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, CBSOPENING LINE: Eagles by 4, according to FanDuel SportsBook.SERIES RECORD: Eagles lead 8-7.LAST MEETING: Patriots beat Eagles 17-10 on Nov. 17, 2019, in Philadelphia. EAGLES OFFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (5), PASS (9), SCORING (3).EAGLES DEFENSE: OVERALL (2), RUSH (T-16), PASS (1), SCORING (8).PATRIOTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (26), RUSH (24), PASS (20), SCORING (17).PATRIOTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (8), RUSH (6), PASS (16), SCORING (11).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Eagles plus-8; Patriots plus-7.EAGLES PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Jalen Hurts. He went 14-1 as a starter last season and since 2021 has the the second-best winning percentage (.733, 22-8) among NFL quarterbacks, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (.765, 26-8). Hurts is coming off a 2022 season in which he completed 66.5% of his passes for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s also a threat to run, having notched 760 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs last season. PATRIOTS PLAYER...

Convocan elecciones en las que Nayib Bukele buscará la reelección en El Salvador

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

(CNN Español) — El Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) convocó este miércoles a elecciones generales en El Salvador, que se desarrollarán el 4 de febrero y el 3 de marzo de 2024.En febrero, según el TSE, se realizarán las elecciones presidenciales, para las que el presidente Nayib Bukele ha dicho que se inscribirá como candidato, y también se elegirán 60 diputados de la Asamblea Legislativa.En marzo se elegirán 44 gobiernos locales y diputados al Parlamento Centroamericano. Hasta el 19 de agosto se contabilizan un poco más de 6.202.780 salvadoreños inscritos en el padrón electoral, según cifras recientes del Tribunal Supremo Electoral. El registro se cerrará el 6 de octubre.“Los salvadoreños deben estar seguros que, una vez más, nuestro trabajo garantizará el absoluto respeto a la libre, voluntaria y soberana decisión del pueblo”, dijo Dora Esmeralda Martínez, presidenta del Tribunal Supremo Electoral durante un mensaje transmitido en cadena de radio y televisión este...

Los Angeles judge sentences ‘That ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for rapes of 2 women

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles judge sentences ‘That ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for rapes of 2 women.Source

FBI: Denver bank robbery suspect wore wig, possible fake mustache

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Can you help the FBI find a man they say robbed a bank in Denver at the end of September?The ENT Credit Union at 5620 Tower Road was robbed at 4:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Not a ‘peachy’ morning after a semi spills fruit all over I-70 The suspect is described as a man in his late 40s or early 50s who was wearing a gray wig and a dark-colored mustache that "appeared to be fake." He also had an NYPD baseball hat and aviator-style sunglasses.Photos from the bank also show his blue striped shirt and blue jeans with high visibility reflective cuffs at the bottom.Do you recognize this disguised man? He's wanted for robbing an ENT Credit Union in Denver on Aug. 30, 2023. (Credit: Metro Denver Crime Stoppers)MetroDenver Crime Stoppers is working with the FBI's Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force to catch the suspect.A $2,000 reward is being offered for help solving the crime. Anyone with a tip can call 720-913-7867 to remain anonymous and be eligible for the rewar...

T Faulted for Unmet, Unclear Track Inspection Responsibilities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

A lack of clarity around the roles and responsibilities of positions within the MBTA, especially those in charge of track inspections, is the first and primary cause of issues that have plagued the troubled transit system in recent years, according to a new report.“Contributing to the situation is the limited track maintenance experience of individuals with track inspection responsibility, inadequate training for these individuals, the absence of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the visual and vendor inspections and a vendor inspection process that does not adequately engage the MBTA individuals with front line responsibility for timely verification and action associated with track defects,” the independent audit by Carlson Transport Consulting, LLC says.The secondary root cause, the review says, is that individuals were not “completely fulfilling the responsibilities” of track maintenance and safety standards for the Blue, Orange, Red and G...

Tobago a warm and friendly solo travel destination

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

Lacey Pfalz | (TNS) TravelPulseWhen traveling to Tobago, you’ll find that the Caribbean ocean and the balmy tropical temperatures aren’t the only warm things on the island. The people are, too.Solo travel can be a tricky thing to plan, but Tobago offers a small enough place to get around easily, with enough attractions to ensure you will have enough to do by yourself.Crown Point is the village closest to the airport, where travelers will find hotels, cozy bed and breakfasts or apartment rentals to suit whatever travel style you’re looking for. The village also has convenience stores within walking distance for travelers who choose to stay somewhere with a kitchen, while those looking to get in touch with local cuisine and culture can enjoy the various bars and restaurants around town.For visitors looking for wellness and seclusion opportunities, to get in touch with themselves or the world around them, the Kariwak Village hotel is a great choice. It offers daily yoga sessions and lu...

Lawsuit filed against SeaWorld San Diego for failure to pay rent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- SeaWorld San Diego was pushed in the deep end Thursday after being handed a lawsuit by the very city in which it operates.The legal action claims that the theme park owes $12.23 million in unpaid rent, penalties, and interest on the nearly 200-acres of city-owned property.City attorney Mara Elliott announced the lawsuit around 11 a.m. on behalf of San Diego taxpayers who she says are owed by the corporation. The Forum Carlsbad adds three new stores “SeaWorld owes San Diego taxpayers more than $12 million -- a delinquency they acknowledged in their annual report,” Elliott stated. “Their efforts to shift their financial obligations to hard-working San Diegans is repugnant and will not be tolerated. ”SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. earned $1.7 billion in revenue last year, according to its annual report. Elliott says the theme park must pay a minimum of $10.4 million per year, plus a 3% surcharge, under the terms of its lease agreement with the city.The suit comes after the...