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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston faces new pressures as neighbors react to public list of homeless community sites

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

Pressure is building on Denver Mayor Mike Johnston as the city’s new leader barnstorms neighborhoods to sell his plan for temporary “micro-communities” as part of an initiative to house 1,000 homeless people by year’s end.The pushback isn’t just from the neighbors of potential sites, who fret over perceived problems ranging from drug use to depressed property values. Advocates for the homeless argue that investing in shelters that fall short of long-term housing would be a misuse of precious resources.And City Council members, worried about the cost of Johnston’s initiative, are pushing to make more information public about his administration’s funding plans.Johnston’s town hall meetings in recent weeks have drawn some big crowds from residents curious about the new mayor’s approach. But since the release of a list of potential sites for micro-communities and other facilities in late August, suspicions have grown. Opponents of so...

Denver airport’s $40 million “equity center” is novel, but will it help close hiring gaps in the aviation industry?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

If a new industry forecast is right that North American airlines will need to hire 127,000 new pilots and nearly as many aircraft technicians in the next 20 years, they’ll have to search far and wide.Right now, some of those recruits just might be middle school students in metro Denver who haven’t yet developed a passion for aviation. Others might be working at an airport restaurant or be frustrated with another career.Denver International Airport’s leaders hope to spark their interest — and they’re betting roughly $40 million on a project that will establish what they call a first-of-its-kind outpost at a U.S. airport for outreach, talent development and innovation in the aviation industry.Construction is set to begin late this year on DIA’s new Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation, a small component of the ongoing $2.1 billion Great Hall terminal renovation project. It will occupy most of 66,000 square feet of unused space on a lower leve...

Sick leave in Colorado now available for bereavement, power outages and wildfire evacuations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

Colorado didn’t see big, sweeping changes this year in its labor laws, at least compared to recent years, like 2020, when the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplace Act and FAMLI Act, which provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave, both passed.But a few new labor laws were passed and a bunch of smaller tweaks kicked in last month, with more changes coming at the start of next year. For the most part, they broaden the protections that workers already have and rise to the level that employees and employers alike need to be aware of them.“I didn’t appreciate until it was almost the end of the legislative term, how many changes there had been,” said Kayla Dreyer, a shareholder at the Denver law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.Brownstein and other Colorado law firms have been posting bulletins and holding seminars to help employers get up to speed. Here are some of the more notable changes that have taken effect or are coming.Time off for funerals, weather emergencie...

Flames engulf boat in Marina Del Rey: video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

A boat fire was caught on video in Marina Del Rey late Sunday night.The fire was reported around 11:35 p.m. in the area of Bason B and Tahiti Way, a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson confirmed. Arriving firefighters found the 40-foot vessel engulfed in flames.A boat fire in Marina Del Rey was captured on video on Sept. 3, 2023. (Karen Pappas)The marina was packed with people for the holiday weekend and many had to evacuate from nearby boats. Video showed the fire rising several feet above the burning boat. Seth Bernon, who witnessed the fire, said the owners were not on the boat. Arrest made in stabbing death of 84-year-old man in Whittier "They were actually in the middle of remodeling and refinishing the interior … It’s really sad for them,” Bernon said.Firefighters knocked down the blaze shortly before midnight, the spokesperson said. No injuries were reported and no other boats caught fire in the incident.

San Jose’s Art Boutiki offers local bands, artists a place to hang out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic Vision, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists. Mia also created a podcast about Art Boutiki. https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Art-Boutiki-20230706.mp3Walking into Art Boutiki on Race Street in San Jose, visitors immediately can sense a warm and friendly atmosphere, as if they’ve come home. The walls are lined with cases of music CDs and plastered with posters of bands and artists. Comic books fill the shelves.A South Pacific tiki theme surrounds visitors to Art Boutiki — an art space, neighborhood hangout and concert venue. Throughout the store statues and posters of tikis — Polynesian statues of humans — along with Hawaiian flowers and imagery transmit the theme.To describe the experience of being in Art Boutiki: cool, creative, and laid-back.Here in this fun vibe, Art Boutiki offers live music by loc...

‘It’s either this place or a tent in a field’: San Jose evicts homeless squatters from city-owned house

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

Orrin Carr peered through dark lace curtains from inside the lone house at the end of an orchard-lined street in San Jose’s Northside neighborhood, expecting authorities to arrive any moment. He’d taken a hot shower that morning — pretty sure it would be his last for a while.Soon, a fleet of white trucks, animal control vehicles and a police cruiser rolled up the drive. Carr and the rest of the half-dozen homeless people who’d been squatting for months at the city-owned property were given a few hours to pack up their belongings. Public works crews began sawing sheets of plywood to board up the seven-bedroom, single-story building shaded by tall palm trees beside a garden of shrubby pink rose bushes.Outreach teams promised the squatters spaces in tiny homes. But some, including the 70-year-old Carr, turned down the shelters, unsure whether the nonprofit workers would follow through on the offer and worried about having to part with their possessions.“Maybe I ...

CHP motorcycle officer, sedan driver injured in crash in SF

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

(KRON) -- A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer and the driver of a sedan were injured in a crash Sunday afternoon in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, officials said. A report of a crash at 3rd and Harrison streets involving a CHP motorcycle and a sedan was called in around 3:09 p.m. Two Bay Area schools crack Top 5 in Forbes’ best colleges list Both the officer and driver of the sedan were taken to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.It is currently unknown if there were passengers in the sedan at the time of the crash. The cause of the collision is currently under investigation.This is developing news. Stick with us for updates.

Pedestrian killed in San Jose collision over the weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

(KRON) -- One person is dead after being struck by a car early Sunday morning in the Castlemont neighborhood, according to the San Jose Police Department. CHP motorcycle officer, sedan driver injured in crash in SF The crash occurred on Winchester Boulevard near the Winchester Plaza around 3:20 a.m. The City of San Jose has seen more than a dozen pedestrian deaths in 2023.The cause of the collision is currently unknown. This investigation remains open and active.

Alleged suspect steals car from apartment complex in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department is investigating a car theft that occurred at an apartment complex on Aug. 19. near Snow Park.According to police, this incident occurred on the 1800 block of Harrison Street. Two Bay Area schools crack Top 5 in Forbes’ best colleges list Surveillance video shows the alleged suspect moments before they broke into and stole a car. The owner of the car, a single mother, told KRON4 her car is the only source of transportation. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department.

Jeremie Frimpong and Leverkusen are thriving with coach Xabi Alonso. Now to take the next step

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:53:24 GMT

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen’s perfect start to the season has rivals taking notice.Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel, whose team is the only other one to have started the Bundesliga with three wins, says Leverkusen could even challenge his Bavarian powerhouse for the title.For that to happen, much depends on Jeremie Frimpong, a defender who has started every Leverkusen game this season and already set up three goals in the Bundesliga. He also scored in both the league and German Cup.Speeding up and down the right flank in a wing-back role, Frimpong is a key part of the eye-catching style coach Xabi Alonso favors at Leverkusen. It took the team to the Europa League semifinals last season and has produced 11 goals in three Bundesliga games so far. The aim is to “keep the fire burning” this season, Frimpong told The Associated Press in a recent interview. Leverkusen’s recent form has raised expectations about what the team can achieve this season. Next up is...