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CORE Electric Cooperative wins $26.4M in suit against Xcel Energy over power plant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

The state’s largest electric cooperative has won $26.4 million in a lawsuit against Xcel Energy-Colorado over losses it said it sustained during long outages at a coal power plant in Pueblo.CORE Electric Cooperative, formerly the Intermountain Rural Electric Association, sued Xcel Energy in 2021, saying the utility had lost tens of millions of dollars because Xcel Energy-Colorado’s chronically malfunctioning Comanche 3 coal plant couldn’t deliver power as expected.A Denver District Court jury agreed with some of CORE’s arguments Wednesday, awarding the cooperative $14.6 million for the loss of energy when the coal plant wasn’t working and $11.85 million for damages.Xcel Energy intends to ask the court “to correct some significant errors of law that impacted the trial and, if necessary, appeal,” Xcel spokeswoman Michele Aguayo said in an email. Aguayo said although CORE sought more than $250 million, the jury largely rejected its claims.CORE, based in Se...

Investigation of Boulder County coroner finds evidence of favoritism, antagonism and micromanagement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

Boulder County Coroner Emma Hall said she’s taking time away from the office following a third-party investigation that affirmed workplace complaints from employees.The investigation found reason to support employee allegations including favoritism, antagonism and micromanagement, according to the investigation report. There were 12 employees who participated in the investigation, and 10 of them raised similar concerns about Hall’s leadership and management, the report said.The Boulder Reporting Lab was first to report and obtain the investigation report through a public records request.There were 11 allegations reported by Hall’s employees and six were redacted from the investigation report. According to the Boulder Reporting Lab, redacted parts of the report included claims of sexual harassment. However, the report did not conclude that Hall was culpable of any act of sexual harassment.Hall said she’s chosen to take some time away from the office to empower the coroner staff and a...

Colorado man who planned “white private community” pleads guilty to federal weapons charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

A Colorado man who planned to build a “white private community” in the mountains in order to offer anti-Semitic curriculum and weapons training pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.Chad Edward Keith pleaded guilty in federal district court on Oct. 17 to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, according to court records.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Former Colorado NSA employee pleads guilty to attempting to sell secrets to Russia Crime and Public Safety | Telluride man pleads guilty to felony in Jan. 6 Capitol breach Crime and Public Safety | Grisly discoveries at Colorado funeral homes fuel push for tougher state regulation Crime and Public Safety | At least 189 bodies have been recovered from Colorado funeral home, authorities say Crime and Public Safety | This Colorado family wanted a green cremation for their mother. Now they wonder if they really received her ...

2% of kids and 7% of adults have gotten the new COVID shots, US data show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

By MIKE STOBBE (AP Medical Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot. One expert called the rates “abysmal.” The numbers, presented Thursday at a meeting held by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, come from a national survey of thousands of Americans, conducted two weeks ago.The data also indicated that nearly 40% of adults said they probably or definitely will not get the shot. A similar percentage of parents said they did not plan to vaccinate their children.In the late summer, government health officials made the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign more like the annual flu campaign. Officials approved updated shots that have a single target, an omicron descendant named XBB.1.5. They replaced vaccines that targeted the original coronavirus strain and a much earlier omicron version. Last month, the CDC recommended the new shots ...

China Media Group signs agreement with Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

China Media Group (CMG) and the Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Monday.Shen Haixiong, president of CMG and Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, jointly signed a memorandum of cooperation on behalf of the two sides in Paris, France. Both agreed to deepen cooperation in the promotion of the Paris Olympics and the production of related programs.Shen Haixiong (L), president of CMG, and Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, jointly signed a memorandum of cooperation on behalf of the two sides in Paris, France, October 23, 2023. /CMGAccording to Shen, as a main broadcaster of the Paris Olympic Games, CMG will put together a 2,000-member team to ensure top-notch quality of production and broadcasting, assisted by cutting edge technology in 5G+4K/8K+AI format. CMG will produce public signals of four sports, inc...

Millions of fruit flies will be dumped on Los Angeles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

It’s fly vs. fly in the skies over Los Angeles.Earlier this month, the California Department of Food and Agriculture quarantined 69 square miles of metro L.A. after invasive and destructive Mediterranean fruit flies were found at a home in Leimert Park.Now, officials are planning to use small planes to drop millions of the insects on the area in an effort to eradicate them, SFGATE reports.So how does it work? In short, through birth control.Jay Van Rein, a spokesperson for the CDFA, told SFGATE that officials plan to dump 250,000 sterile male fruit flies per square mile in the quarantine area every week for six months, or perhaps longer.The quarantine radius includes areas of downtown and South L.A., Hyde Park, Baldwin Hills, Culver City, Inglewood, Pico-Robertson and Mid-Wilshire.Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine radius. Oct. 2023 (CDFA)Those who live within the zone are urged not to move any fruits or vegetables from their property and double-bag them in plastic before throw...

Serial retail robber arrested with stolen merch, guns, cash, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

A man who robbed Nordstrom stores in Los Angeles and businesses on El Paseo in Palm Desert was arrested Sunday and faces 11 felony charges, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.Nickolas Mallory, 25, was arrested at a Los Angeles home by officers, including some from the LAPD Organized Retail Crime Task Force, police said in a news release.In addition to the thefts from Nordstrom stores and El Paseo businesses, Mallory was "also responsible for multiple Felony crimes in the Los Angeles Area and Riverside County resulting in a loss in excess of $100,000 in merchandise," police said.Police said they found stolen property, as well as evidence linking Mallory to the thefts, including two guns — one of which was modified to be fully automatic — two high-capacity magazines, ammunition and more than $2,000 cash.He was initially booked on a robbery charge, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged him with 11 felonies: two counts of robbery, three counts of burg...

Disneyland's legal fight against Anaheim wage law nears conclusion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

The lowest-paid cast members at Disneyland could be getting a wage increase after the California Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from Disney regarding whether an Anaheim wage law applied to certain employees at the theme park.As first reported by the Los Angeles Times, the state’s 4th District Court of Appeal ordered raises and back pay for Disney employees, known as cast members, over the summer after a class-action lawsuit was filed.“Disney’s at the end of the road in terms of appeals,” Sarah Grossman-Swenson, an attorney representing Disney workers, told the L.A. Times. “The appellate decision is clear that Disney is required to comply with the law. The only issue left is the amount of damages.” Disneyland announces opening date for Adventureland Treehouse after extensive refurbishment In 2018, Anaheim voters passed a law requiring a $15 minimum wage for companies in Anaheim’s resort area who enjoyed “tax rebate” agreements with the city. The measure, known as Measure L...

Gronk says Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce NFL coverage is 'too much'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

Are you tired of the Taylor Swift- Travis Kelce romance headlines?Well, so is Rob Gronkowski The four-time Super Bowl champion appeared on Kay Adams' show, "Up and Adams," and shared his thoughts on the couple. Donna Kelce and Taylor Swift are seen during the first half of a game between the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)"@RobGronkowski says there is TOO MUCH Taylor Swift on TV during NFL games," the show posted to X, formerly Twitter.When Adams reasoned that the game of football doesn't change much and Swift sort of brings a breath of fresh air, Gronk wasn't having it. "I would just say ‘Bye, bye, bye.’ It’s just a little bit too much," he explained about the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's relationship with the singer.Rob Gronkowski arrives for the NFL Honors in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)"Yes, you can show her. ...

Psychedelic Innovation Will Be In The Air at Wonderland Miami

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:02 GMT

The Psychedelic World is preparing to converge on Miami to discuss another year of major progress, and a couple of hiccups, at Microdose’s annual Wonderland conference. In the last couple of years, Wonderland has become a top-tier psychedelic conference. We’ve covered the last two, and both times we were amazed by the psychedelic innovations and progress. One thing we certainly appreciate is Wonderland’s level of inclusiveness — you’ll have a shaman from deep in the Amazon sitting next to a scientist from London who didn’t have any Miami-appropriate clothes. It’s pretty great. Wonderland’s CEO, Connor Haslam, is thrilled for the third installment. “At Wonderland, we’re catalyzing the future of medicine by bringing together the world’s foremost leaders in psychedelic science, mental health, and longevity,” Haslam said. “Now in our third year, I’m thrilled to host our largest and most ambitious event yet, showcasing over 250 visionary speakers and 150 sessions designed to educat...