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Attacks on delivery drivers add to gig workers’ fears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

By Alexandra Olson and Wyatte Grantham-Philips | Associated PressNEW YORK — A homeowner fired shots at a couple’s car when they mistakenly turned onto his property while making an Instacart delivery. A Florida man was charged with killing and dismembering an Uber Eats delivery driver who brought food to his home. A woman was kidnapped and sexually assaulted while making a DoorDash delivery to a hotel.Ride-hailing and food delivery companies say such violent episodes are exceedingly rare among the millions of trips completed each week, and point to numerous safety measures they have taken over the years.But the three attacks, which occurred within days of each other in Florida last month, sent new ripples of fear among some app-based drivers, who say company safety policies are still better geared toward customers than workers.Winifred Kinanda, who sometimes drives for Instacart in the San Francisco Bay Area, said she had never felt unsafe making deliveries for the grocery app ...

California state patrols begin to fight fentanyl crisis in San Francisco

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Monday marks the first day that California Highway Patrol and the California National Guard assisted the San Francisco Police Department with tackling the sale and use of illegal drugs.The California National Guard has assured the public that there would not be boots on the ground with their work. Instead, it's more of a behind-the-scenes network of criminal analysts tracking drug cartels. The CHP officers assisting SFPD were already based in the city and the California National Guard has dedicated 14 criminal analysts. A big part of the job for both agencies will be finding and stopping illegal drug cartels. Oakland teachers union to strike if no deal is reached by Thursday “They’re reviewing reports. They are helping to put together flow charges, identifying who the mid-level dealers are, who the top-level dealers are, possible transportation routes, how’s the fentanyl getting into San Francisco,” said Global Director of Counter-Narcotics Technology Micha...

Braves slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. exits game after HBP vs Mets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from the second game of Monday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets with a bruised left shoulder after getting hit by a 93 mph fastball from Tylor Megill.Leading off the game, Acuña was drilled with an 0-2 pitch. He sat on the ground for a while holding his shoulder in obvious pain while receiving attention from an athletic trainer.Acuña then walked back to the dugout and was replaced by pinch-runner Kevin Pillar, who took the slugger’s spot in right field.Initial X-rays were negative, but Acuña was undergoing more testing at a hospital before joining the Braves for their trip to Miami.“We’ll know more when he gets back here,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said after the Mets won the second game 5-3 to split the twinbill.Acuña finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored three times as the Braves took the opener 9-8 after the teams were rained out the previous two days. He launched a 448-foot home run ...

Yanks put Judge on IL, blow late lead to Guardians, lose 3-2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Naylor hit a two-run single and Mike Zunino drew a go-ahead, bases-loaded walk in a three-run, ninth-inning rally that lifted the Cleveland Guardians over the reeling New York Yankees 3-2 on Monday night.After AL MVP Aaron Judge became the latest in a string of Yankees stars on the injured list, Domingo Germán took a one-hitter and a 2-0 lead into the ninth. But New York lost for the sixth time in eight games and dropped to 15-15, the Yankees’ first time at .500 since they were 1-1.Steven Kwan singled with one out, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone was booed when he went to the mound to bring in Clay Holmes.The reliever bobbled Amed Rosario’s dribbler to the third-base side for an error and allowed a single to José Ramírez that loaded the bases.Naylor, taunted by Yankees fans during last year’s Division Series, singled to right for Holmes’ second blown save in six chances.Wandy Peralta relieved and walked Josh Bell, reloading the bases, then struck out André...

No-knock warrant restrictions advance in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Across the nation, policies were formed following America's confrontation with racism in the summer of 2020.A case that sparked protests and calls for change then is the force behind a proposal getting ready for a vote now at the Colorado Capitol. Lawmakers and law enforcement have been working on a policy regarding no-knock warrants for years. Their compromise is now steps away from the governor's desk. Bill to extend Medicaid, child health coverage heads to Polis’ desk Back in 2020, the death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor spurred calls for reform from across the nation, even right here in Colorado. "Breonna Taylor should be turning 30 soon. We should be celebrating her for that. She is absolutely a central and essential reason for the existence of this bill," said House sponsor Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver. A study group looking into no-knock warrants and forced entry by police was created through the follow-up measure to Colorado's sweeping police accountabili...

These are the last days to access free COVID tests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If people are hoping to access free at-home COVID-19 tests, there are just a few days left to do that.When the public health emergency ends on May 11, patients will likely have to pay for the tests.For two years, private insurance companies have been required to cover up to eight tests each month per household. Plus, the federal government set up a website so that people could order free tests to be delivered to their homes.But those benefits are set to expire."Having a few on hand is a good idea. COVID is still going around," said Dr. Carrie Horn, chief medical officer at National Jewish Health in Denver. Bill to extend Medicaid, child health coverage heads to Polis’ desk Horn said the tests will still be available at pharmacies, stories and doctor's offices, but people will have to pay for them, or perhaps there could be a co-pay."I do recommend people still get the test if they can. Having a co-pay I realize is going to be a big problem for some people, an...

Pipe burst forces road closures in Miami Springs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

South Royal Poinciana Boulevard between Coolidge and Sheridan Drive is closed after a pipe burst.While crews fixed the pipe Monday, they need to resurface the road.Drivers should see the road reopen just in time for the Tuesday morning commute. Just after 5 p.m., the leaking pipe forced street closures.

Police need public’s help to find 17-year-old boy missing from Liberty City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

Joseph Brownlee, 17, has been missing since Sunday.He was last seen in the area of Northwest 75th Street and 11th Avenue in Liberty City. Brownlee was last seen wearing gray short pants and a pink sweater with a hoody.If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact police.

Defending democracy requires a free civil society

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

Eleanor Brooks is a communications specialist at Liberties, a Berlin-based human rights organization. Israel Butler is the head of messaging and framing at Liberties.Civil society organizations (CSOs) are vital to the European Union’s efforts in defending democracy.As representatives of issues of public interest, the EU acknowledges that civil society plays an essential role in helping safeguard the values vaunted by the European Union, and that they facilitate citizen participation in public life. However, in her 2022 State of the Union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new initiative, called “The Defence of Democracy package” — its centerpiece being rules that would subject CSOs to reporting and registration restrictions if they receive funding from third-country donors.But in copying the narrative spun by authoritarians, the Commission’s plan risks undermining trust in such organizations — and it threatens their survival.The Commission’s...

UK ministers lock horns with WhatsApp over threat to break encryption

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:32 GMT

LONDON — Britain’s tough new plan to police the internet has left politicians in a stand-off with WhatsApp and other popular encrypted messaging services. Deescalating that row will be easier said than done.The Online Safety Bill, the United Kingdom’s landmark effort to regulate social media giants, gives regulator Ofcom the power to require tech companies to identify child sex abuse material in private messages.But the proposals have prompted Will Cathcart, boss of the Meta-owned messaging app, whose encrypted service is widely-used in Westminster’s own corridors of power, to claim it would rather be blocked in the U.K. than compromise on privacy.“The core of what we do is a private messaging service for billions of people around the world,” Cathcart told POLITICO last month when he jetted in to London to lobby ministers over the upcoming bill. “When the U.K., a liberal democracy, says, ‘Oh, it is okay to scan everyone’s private communication for illegal content,’ that emboldens co...