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DeSantis appointees reach deal with Disney World’s firefighters, capping years of negotiations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — After years of contentious negotiations, the board of Walt Disney World’s governing district now made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees approved a contract for its firefighters on Wednesday and also proposed reducing property taxes.The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to approve the three-year contract that covers 200 firefighters and paramedics in the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters’ Association.The contract, among other provisions, would increase wages by 5%, including raising the starting annual wage for firefighter and paramedics from $55,000 to $66,000. It also would provide $5,000 signing bonuses for workers with three or more years working for the department and $2,500 bonuses for everyone else.“This issue has been around for some time … and there have been some contentious negotiations,” Martin Garcia, chairman of the oversight district’s board, said at a meeting. “We feel this is a fair, generous and ...

Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa talks Herbert’s record-breaking contract, expectations for this season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — As the NFL quarterback market continues to surge, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa knows that his pay day is coming.Justin Herbert became the latest signal-caller to ink a record-breaking deal when he agreed to a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday. Herbert is the second member of the 2020 draft class — which includes Tagovailoa — to sign a big extension, after Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts signed a five-year extension worth $255 million in April.“It’s really good for the quarterback market,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday after Miami’s first full-team practice of training camp. “It gets me excited, gets me going. But at the same time, they got what they deserve.”Even after setting career-highs in passing touchdowns, passing yards and passer rating in a breakout 2022 season, Tagovailoa said he wants to continue to earn a big contract extension.“I’m always a person that wants to prove to myself that I de...

Judge orders North End restaurant owner be held for 120 days following shooting arrest, dangerousness hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

A Boston restaurant owner accused of shooting at a man in the North End was ordered to be held in custody for 120 days, according to officials.A spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said Patrick Mendoza, 54, was found to be a danger to the public by a judge during his dangerousness hearing on Wednesday.Mendoza, the owner of Monica’s Trattoria in the North End, faces multiple assault charges in connection with a July 12 shooting on Hanover Street in which prosecutors say the 54 year old rode a bicycle up to another man and opened fire.“[He] fired multiple shots at this individual, stating ‘it’s going to be quick, I’m going to kill you,” prosecutor Daniel Nucci told the court during Mendoza’s arraignment on Friday, July 21.No injuries were reported, but the shooting ended up leaving a bullet hole in the window of the business, Modern Pastry. It also led to a warrant being issued for Mendoza’s arrest. The suspect was later taken into custody after ...

Sinéad O’Connor, Irish singer behind ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ and more, dead at 56, Irish media says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

(CNN) — Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, who became as well known for her remarkable music as her personal life, has died, according to RTE, Ireland’s public broadcaster. She was 56. The news of her death was confirmed by RTE, who shared a family statement:“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”No cause of death was immediately available. CNN has reached out to representatives and family members for O’Connor.Her first album, “The Lion and the Cobra,” was released to critical acclaim in 1987, but it was O’Connor’s 1990 sophomore album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” which broke her through as a well-known artist.Her rendition of the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” shot to No. 1 in 1990, buoyed by the music video which featured O’Connor, with close-cropped hair and a dark turtleneck. The song was nominated for multiple Grammys and...

114th NAACP National Convention kicks off in Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

The NAACP’s National Convention kicks off in Boston this week, running from July 26 to Aug. 1 as it features speakers that include Vice President Kamala Harris and Former First Lady Hillary Clinton.Held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the convention is being held in the city for this first time since 1982, bringing NAACP members and supporters to the city for numerous panels, discussions and receptions focused on the work of the NAACP, its members, and more.“The NAACP National Convention is an empowering and immersive experience held each year to celebrate our community’s collective power,” the organization said on its website. “We gather, collectively, to foster our intergenerational approach to advocacy.”Other speakers during the week-long convention will include Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, rapper and activist Meek Mill and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.A full s...

Tyson Foods to distribute 40,000 pounds of meat to Vermonters dealing with flood damage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

BRATTLEBORO, Vermont (WPTZ) — Tyson Foods is donating 40,000 pounds of meat to help Vermonters affected by recent flooding.The Arkansas-based company will donate the food, which they said is equivalent to 160,000 servings, to the Vermont Food Bank in Brattleboro on Thursday, July 27.Tyson is the world’s second-largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork.The donation is the latest in a string of corporate donations to help Vermonters affected by catastrophic flood waters, including a recent donation of box fans and dehumidifiers from Amazon that were distributed by the Vermont National Guard earlier this month.

Patrice Bergeron a classy leader by example until the end

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

For 20 years, Patrice Bergeron met the physical demands of a brutal sport with grace, dignity and an unparalleled professionalism.He retired pretty much the same way.In a press availability at the Garden’s Legend club that was of the no-frills variety by request of the guest of honor – no tearful opening statement, no teammates ringing the room, no bon voyage cake – Bergeron nevertheless grinded through it in workmanlike fashion. He answered questions in English for nearly a half hour. He went almost as long in French. Then he took care of various broadcast hits. In fact, Bergeron was one of the last stragglers left in the cavernous room, shaking hands with long-time media acquaintances and various team personnel.One could almost get the sense he was already missing it all, but he was just doing his job, to the very end. Bergeron was more than convincing when he said he knew the time was right for him to hang ’em up.That 2022-23 was to be Bergeron’s last season see...

Mitch McConnell briefly leaves news conference after freezing up mid-sentence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference on Wednesday after stopping his remarks mid-sentence and staring off into space for several seconds.McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh.”He then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the p...

State Auditor asks AG to weigh-in on legal action against Legislature in pursuit of audit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio threatened to pursue legal action against the state Legislature Wednesday as she tries to audit that branch of government, escalating a feud with Democratic lawmakers who have refused to participate and setting up a complicated legal dispute.But whether DiZoglio, the House, and Senate actually end up before a judge remains unclear.The issue appears to hinge at first on a sign-off from Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who is responsible for representing state agencies before the courts. That could be the Auditor’s office, or it could be the Legislature. It likely can’t be both.DiZoglio sent a legal memo earlier Wednesday asking for the state’s top prosecutor to “support our effort.”A former member of both the House and the Senate, DiZoglio said state law, historical precedent, and an “informed analysis” of the Constitutional separation of powers doctrine backs an audit of the Legislature that goes beyond just finances and spending.DiZoglio is also lookin...

Stellantis CEO dangles a potential factory relaunch as autoworkers say a strike is possible

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:43 GMT

By COLLEEN BARRY (AP Business Writer)MILAN (AP) — Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares on Wednesday dangled a potential relaunch of a shuttered Illinois factory if it can be made more competitive as the United Auto Workers Union says a strike is possible.UAW President Shawn Fain is looking for major gains, including cost-of-living pay increases, in talks with Stellantis — along with Ford and General Motors — and has warned that workers at all three automakers could walk off the job. Fain’s campaign to become UAW’s president leveraged the fate of the Jeep assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, whose 1,350 workers were laid off. Tavares told reporters during an earnings conference call that the Belvidere factory, which was shut down indefinitely in the spring, could get a new production line depending on factors like the success of Stellantis’ launch of fully electric vehicles in the U.S.“So far the decision is not made,” Tavares said, adding t...