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Kinzie Hotel workers stage protest, accuse business of retaliation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

CHICAGO —  On a day dedicated to labor, some workers protested at the Kinzie Hotel in River North, accusing the business of retaliation upon demonstrating for a new contract. "They locked us out on Labor Day," said Karen Kent, a Unite Here Local 1 member, representing just 23 workers at the boutique Kinzie Hotel in River North. Union members feel the hotel’s management is breaking federal labor laws by locking out half of its unionized employees. "I am here to tell you that every single person counts," said Bob Reiter of Chicago Federation of Labor. "I’m here to say every person counts." Chicagoans hit the beaches on a hot and humid Labor Day The contract between the union and the hotel expired on Aug. 31. Some union employees staged an informational picketing outside the hotel before coming into work the following day. Kinzie Hotel worker José Sanchez has worked at the business for 16 years and said he was one of the staffers picketing. Thus far, Sanchez and 11 others have been g...

Airplane crashes during gender reveal party, killing pilot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

SAN PEDRO, Mexico (The Hill) — A pilot died during a gender reveal party when his plane crashed after dispersing pink smoke in the air above the gathering.A video posted online shows a couple standing in front of a large lit up sign reading "Oh Baby," before capturing the pilot flying low to the ground while releasing the pink smoke above the pair in San Pedro, Mexico. Just after flying over the couple, the plane's left wing quickly snapped and the aircraft spiraled out of control and crashed in a nearby field. Burning Man attendees allowed to start their ‘exodus’ Monday afternoon Partygoers were seemingly unaware of the accident, heard screaming and cheering for the expecting parents as the plane went into a tailspin.The pilot, identified as 32-year-old Luis Ángel “N,” was rescued from the wreckage of the aircraft by Red Cross paramedics who transported him to a hospital in serious condition, according to local news outlet Línea Directa. He later died in the hospital.The reason f...

Burning Man revelers begin exodus from flooded desert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

BLACK ROCK DESERT, Nev. (AP) — Muddy roads that left tens of thousands of partygoers stranded for days at a counterculture festival had dried up enough by Monday afternoon to allow them to begin their exodus from the northern Nevada desert.Burning Man organizers said they started to let traffic flow out of the main road around 2 p.m. local time — even as they continued to ask revelers to delay their exit to Tuesday to ease traffic. As of Monday afternoon, they said about 64,000 people remained at the festival site.Organizers also asked attendees not to walk out of the Black Rock Desert about 110 miles north of Reno as others had done throughout the weekend, including celebrity DJ Diplo and comedian Chris Rock. They didn't specify why.The festival had been closed to vehicles after more than a half-inch of rain fell Friday, causing flooding and foot-deep mud.The road closures came just before the first of two ceremonial fires signaling an end to the festival was scheduled to...

ATCEMS has 3 times more heat-related calls this Labor Day weekend than last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said it rescued and transported a hiker from a trail near Lake Travis on Labor Day after they experienced heat cramps. This was one of dozens of heat-related calls the agency said it responded to over the holiday weekend.ATCEMS Special Operations Commander Craig Smith said between Friday and Sunday, responders received 25 heat calls. During the same timeframe last year, he said EMS only had six heat-related calls. ATCEMS transports fans from UT game for probable heat-related incidents These heat calls come the same weekend as the University of Texas at Austin's first home game, where ATCEMS said more than 40 people received help for heat-related symptoms inside the stadium. Six patients were also transported to emergency departments for probable heat-related incidents."The biggest thing that happens is people who come from states that aren't this hot, and they don't have the level of humidity, and they get themselves ...

Commission to begin its work to redesign Minnesota’s state seal and flag

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

After years of discussion and debate, Minnesota is beginning the process of changing its state flag, which has long been criticized for its unmemorable design and depiction of white settlers driving out Native Americans.The State Emblems Redesign Commission is scheduled to hold its first meeting on choosing a new seal and flag for Minnesota on Tuesday. It’ll be livestreamed on Zoom.A large state government bill signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz earlier this year created the commission, which is tasked with exploring new design options for the state seal and flag and must produce a report by Jan. 1, 2024. The commission must take public input on the new flag and can seek the service of experts to help with the design. The state has to adopt the new flag by May 11, 2024.According to the bill, proposed designs “must accurately and respectfully reflect Minnesota’s shared history, resources, and diverse cultural communities.” Any emblem representing a single community or person may not be...

Jordan Addison knows his role in rookie season with Vikings: ‘All I’ve got to do is make sure I win 1-on-1’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

Though rookie receiver Jordan Addison claims it took him about a week to feel comfortable at Vikings training camp, he made a spectacular catch on Day 1 that served as a preview of what was to come.Since then, Addison has proved why the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, establishing himself as an unquestioned starter alongside fellow receivers Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn,Now the next step for Addison is getting ready for Sunday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium.“This is game week, so we’re starting to handle business,” he said. “The best part is we get to go out there and show what we’ve been working for.”Maybe the biggest thing Addison has working in his favor is the fact that Jefferson will see his fair share of double teams. That should leave Addison singled up no matter where he lines up on offense. He’s salivating at the thought of that.“That’s what ...

Nurses ready to strike at Saint Louis University Hospital for better standards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Labor Day is meant to recognize the hard work people do every day. But for some, Labor Day doesn’t mean a day off.Frontline health care workers routinely step up whenever duty calls. But now, nurses at SSM Saint Louis University Hospital are ready to strike if proper terms of work are not reached between the union and the hospital.Every day looks different inside the emergency room. But what happens when those who are taking care of you are the ones in need of help?“I got a call from my charge nurse saying, ‘Hey, is this patient stable? We have another trauma coming in.’ I was like, ‘This patient is not stable; you’ll need to find somebody else,’” said Hadas Becker, an ER staff nurse with almost eight years of experience.Emergency nurses are among those deciding whose life needs to be saved and by whom. Becker has been faced with that scenario on more than one occasion. Labor Day events continuing today across bi-state area “It’s full. It’s just full. There’s no beds. ...

After devastating fire, what's next for SK8 Liborius?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Taking stock of what's still standing. Members of the skate community moved forward with an engineering assessment of the burned out remains of an old Catholic church turned skate park.On June 28, a fire in the rectory kitchen at the former St. Liborius Church spread embers to the roof, causing extensive damage to the St. Louis Place neighborhood landmark.“Last year, we put a whole new roof on the tower there, and it took a long time for that to burn off,” said Bryan Bedwell, co-founder of SK8 Liborius.This community of artists and skateboarders that make up the Liborius Urban Art Studios say their nonprofit wants to try and save what they’ve built.“We hired a company—an SSC engineering and architectural firm,” Bedwell said. “Also working with B3 Studios, another architectural firm here in St. Louis, and they’re trying to help us assess what we can save and keep. We have to find out the way to go from here and we have to have a starting place. They’re going to help us fi...

Missouri's education department wants feedback on social-emotional learning standards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The state's top educators want to curb bad behavior in the classroom by implementing social-emotional learning standards for all students.For the past few months, a group of teachers, school counselors, and mental health experts have been researching what would help improve student behavior in the classroom. The reason behind this study is to not only help with teacher recruitment and retention but also to have an effect on the business community."We're not advocating that everyone has to change their values to meet the same values," Missouri State Board of Education member Kim Bailey said. "We're advocating for basic human dignity."It's a plan to improve the current climate of education in the state. Back in December, the Board of Education asked the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to form a working group to create social and emotional learning (SEL) standards starting in kindergarten through 12th grade."What we heard from teachers all ...

Giant bounce park outside Galleria celebrates big opening weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:09 GMT

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Tickets sold fast during the opening weekend of the World’s Biggest Bounce Park in Richmond Heights. The 25,000-square-foot inflatable playground is bringing new entertainment for visitors at the Saint Louis Galleria.“We sold out faster than we ever thought we would,” said Kyle McElhaney, co-owner of the attraction.McElhaney has been happy with opening weekend.“The crowd has been excellent. We’ve had great feedback. A lot of positivity. People were excited to be here. Excited to bring their kids,” he said.And the size is what makes this bounce park unique. Labor Day events continuing today across bi-state area “It’s 25,000 square feet inside. Which is hard to wrap your head around unless you actually go in there. And it’s over 250-feet wide. It is a massive bounce castle,” McElhaney said.The inflatable castle was packed with kids of all ages getting in on the action.Alana and Iiyana Wilson—18 and 16 years of age, respectively—were enjoying themselves despit...