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Top Aurora VA leaders reassigned amid internal investigation into concerns about oversight, workplace culture

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

Two of the federal Department of Veteran Affairs’ top health care leaders in Colorado have been reassigned following concerns over operational oversight, organizational health and workplace culture.In an all-staff email to the VA’s Aurora-headquartered Eastern Colorado Health Care System, the regional director, Sunaina Kumar-Giebel, said “recent developments” on these matters have been referred to the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of the Medical Inspector, which investigates health care issues raised by veterans.She did not specify the exact issues that led to the leadership changes.“Concurrently, VA is making temporary leadership adjustments to facilitate this review and expedite the necessary changes to meet our obligations to the veterans we serve,” Kumar-Giebel wrote in the email, which was reviewed by The Denver Post.Effective Nov. 6, Michael Moore will take over as interim director, while Dr. Matthew Talarczyk will serve as a...

Central Coast real estate developer accused of bribing county supervisor

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

LOS ANGELES - A Central Coast real estate developer with a violent criminal record has been arrested again, this time on charges that he bribed an elected official.Ryan Wright, 37, who goes by “Ryan Petetit,” was arrested Monday on a three-count federal indictment, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.He faces charges of conspiracy, falsification of records and obstruction of justice.From at least June 2014 to May 2017, federal prosecutors say Wright conspired with his business partner to bribe an unnamed San Luis Obispo County supervisor to win approval for his real estate projects.The money and gifts totaled more than $95,000 and included a trip for the supervisor to see a Major League Baseball playoff game involving the San Francisco Giants, prosecutors allege.“To conceal the scheme, in response to a federal grand jury subpoena served on his development company, Wright allegedly caused the company to produce falsified records to the FBI,” the U.S. Attorney's Office sa...

Riverside County resident tests positive for tuberculosis; 150 people may have been exposed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

A Riverside County resident has tested positive for tuberculosis, the county's Public Health Department announced Monday.That person is currently undergoing treatment and is expected to recover.Public health officials have contacted members of the public who may have come in contact with this person, who could have been exposed between Sept. 5 and Oct. 16.The individual is affiliated with California Baptist University in Riverside and is believed to have come in close contact with about 150 people at the school, which has more than 15,000 faculty, students and staff.Those who may have been exposed will be receiving an electronic notice from the Riverside County Department of Public Health. Tuberculosis is spread through "prolonged, repeated and close contact with someone who is infected," health officials said. Symptoms can include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. Most people infected with TB often experience a latent infection, that does not prog...

'Sorry, I had to tee-tee,' Britney Spears tells CHP trooper during traffic stop

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

It was a strange case of too much information, and too little, when Britney Spears got pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer near her home in Thousand Oaks earlier this month.The traffic stop occurred on Oct. 6 and was the second time she was pulled over in the area within a month.In a body camera video obtained by TMZ, the officer approaches Spears in her white Mercedes coupe to accuse her of crossing double yellow lines. But before he could say anything, the pop star immediately apologized and blamed her poor driving on her urgent need to use a restroom.“Sorry, I had to tee-tee. My house is right there. I’m so sorry,” she tells the officer.When asked to produce her driver's license -or any form of picture identification- Spears couldn’t.“Do you have any photo ID or anything with your name on it? I know who you are, but, uh…,” the officer says. “Is there a reason you don’t carry it with you?”Spears tried to explain that her security team typically holds onto her identi...

Celebrate Halloween in Southern California with these events

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

From haunted house walkthroughs to spooky movie screenings, there are various activities Angelenos can do to celebrate the “spookiest day of the year.”For those who still need plans ahead of Halloween, here are some activities across the SoCal region expected to be “scary fun.”West Hollywood Halloween Costume CarnavalThe streets of West Hollywood will transform into the Halloween Carnaval, a free public event filled with live entertainment, food and thousands dressed in their best Halloween attire.Local businesses will also get in on the Halloween fun with limited-time offerings, the city announced. These California cities named as the ‘safest’ for trick-or-treating, study says The event will take place beginning at 6 p.m. until 11 p.m.Halloween Organ & FilmOn Halloween, The Walt Disney Concert Hall will continue its annual tradition of showing a classic silent horror film accompanied by a live orchestra. A live soundtrack performance will accompany “The Phantom of the Opera” ...

School Bus Driver Injured in Solo-Vehicle Crash on Permian Drive [Odessa, TX]

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

One Sustained Minor Wounds in Car Crash on Melody LaneODESSA, TX (October 30, 2023) – on Friday morning, a school bus driver was left injured after a solo-vehicle crash on Permian Drive.The accident happened around 10:49 a.m. on September 28th, at Permian Drive and Melody Lane.According to OPD, a school bus, carrying 24 students, heading west failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign and collided with a red Ford Escort, which was heading south.Responders took the driver of the bus to a nearby hospital and reported to have sustained only minor injuries. Moreover, no other people were injured.Further details regarding the circumstances of the accidents and the conditions of those involved have not been provided at this time.If you’re behind the wheel, pay full attention to the road and your surroundings. Maintain focus on the road and avoid distractions that could easily lead to dangerous collisions. If you are feeling unable to drive, call an Uber or Lyft. By doing so, yo...

MLB star Frank Howard dies at 87; slugger hit 382 home runs in storied career

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

By Stephen Whyno | Associated PressFrank Howard, a four-time All-Star who slugged 382 home runs during a lengthy major league career that included a World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963, has died. He was 87.A spokesperson for the Washington Nationals said the team was informed of Howard’s death by his family Monday. A cause of death was not provided.“He was the ultimate teammate, always,” Dick Bosman, who played six-plus seasons with Howard with Washington and Texas and remained friends with him for decades, told The Associated Press by phone Monday. “Next to my dad, he’s the greatest guy I know.”Howard played seven seasons with the Washington Senators after earning NL Rookie of the Year honors with the Dodgers in 1960 and helping them win the World Series three years later. He was with the Senators when they relocated to Texas and became the Rangers and finished his playing career with the Detroit Tigers.“Growing up a baseball fan in Washington D.C., Frank ...

Ivanka Trump’s NY testimony pushed back to Nov. 8

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

By Michael R. Sisak | Associated PressNEW YORK — Ivanka Trump’s testimony at her father’s New York civil fraud trial is being delayed until next week so there is sufficient time for her to be questioned, a judge said Monday.Former President Donald Trump’s eldest daughter had been set to take the witness stand on Friday, when the Manhattan trial typically meets for a half-day session, but lawyers in the case said her testimony is likely to take a full day, if not longer.Judge Arthur Engoron, who last week rejected Ivanka Trump’s bid to avoid testifying, said she will now appear on Nov. 8. The judge had floated the idea of making Friday a full-day court session, but Donald Trump’s lawyers said they couldn’t do that because of other commitments.“I think we’re all OK with Ivanka on Wednesday the 8th,” Engoron said in court after discussing the matter with state lawyers and Donald Trump’s defense team.The scheduling change now p...

Purdy OK after scare, but 49ers ‘slow and tired’ entering bye, trade deadline

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Coach Kyle Shanahan kicked off the 49ers’ bye week with a film review of their third straight loss and it showed some alarming things.That included the scary way Brock Purdy’s head bounced off the Levi’s Stadium grass with 1 1/2 minutes to go, and only a day after the quarterback had cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol from the previous game.“It was a scare when you see the tape, or when I saw the tape, but in talking to him after the game and today, he’s been totally fine,” Shanahan said Monday in the wake of a 31-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.When it came to the 49ers’ defense, Shanahan found something that factored into the toxic combination of missed tackles, blown coverages and a pass rush that couldn’t stop the Bengals’ Joe Burrow from entering halftime with 19 consecutive completions on his 28-of-32 day that featured three touchdowns.“What sticks out the most on tape was how slow and tired I thoug...

Ex-officer on trial again over deadly Breonna Taylor raid

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:32 GMT

By Dylan Lovan | Associated PressLOUISVILLE, Ky. — A former Louisville police officer who fired into Breonna Taylor’s apartment the night she was killed is going on trial in federal court this week for violating Taylor’s civil rights during the botched 2020 raid.The trial will mark a second attempt by prosecutors to convict Brett Hankison for his actions on the night Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was shot to death by police after they knocked down the door of her apartment. Hankison was acquitted in a state trial last year.Jury selection lasted all day Monday and will continue Tuesday morning. Lawyers are working to select 16 from a pool of about 50 potential jurors.Taylor was shot to death by officers who were executing a drug search warrant, which was later found to be flawed. Taylor’s boyfriend fired a single shot that hit one of the officers as they came through the door, and officers returned fire, striking Taylor in her hallway multiple times. The other ...