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Stellantis to offer buyouts amid electric vehicle transition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Another automaker is trying to cut its workforce to trim expenses and stay competitive as the industry makes the long and costly transition to electric vehicles.Stellantis on Wednesday said it’s offering buyouts to groups of white-collar and unionized employees in the U.S., as well as hourly workers in Canada.The cuts are “in response to today’s increasingly competitive global market conditions and the necessary shift to electrification,” the company said in a prepared statement.Stellantis said it’s looking to reduce its hourly workforce by about 3,500, but wouldn’t say how many salaried employees it’s targeting.The company has about 56,000 workers in the U.S., and about 33,000 of them could get the offers. Of those, 31,000 are blue-collar workers and 2,500 salaried employees. Another 8,000 union workers in Canada also will get offers, the company said. Stellantis, formed in the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Groupe, says in a s...

Farmers plan biggest wheat crop in more than two decades due to war in Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

Statistics Canada says farmers are expecting to plant the largest wheat crop in more than two decades in 2023.Canadian farmers anticipate planting 23 million acres of wheat, up 6.2 per cent from the previous year. The data agency says this is possibly due to favourable prices and strong demand for wheat. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago drove up global wheat prices, as Ukraine has been one of the world’s largest wheat exporters. Prices have since declined significantly from last year’s double-digit highs but remain relatively strong from a historical perspective. Chicago benchmark wheat futures were trading for around US$6.49 per bushel midday Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023.The Canadian Press

World Food Program adds hot meals to Venezuela operations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The food assistance agency of the United Nations announced Wednesday that it is expanding operations in Venezuela by providing hot meals to 16,000 children and adults in more than 100 schools.The U.N. World Food Program, which began delivering food to needy Venezuelans in 2021, will offer the hot meals as a pilot program in public schools whose cafeterias have been equipped and upgraded. The schools are in the northwestern state of Falcón, where economic activity is heavily dependent on government-owned oil refineries whose production has tanked since last decade. Remaining workers cannot afford food on their monthly $5 paycheck. “School meals are more than a plate on the table,” Laura Melo, the agency’s director in Venezuela, said in a statement. “A plate of fresh, tasty food is an important incentive for children to attend and stay in school, where they belong. Everything from there is a win: better learning, better health and nutrition, better opportunities for...

3 high schoolers arrested in deadly rock-throwing crime spree in Colorado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Three 18-year-olds have been arrested in connection to a rock-throwing crime spree in Colorado that killed a 20-year-old woman. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) said they arrested Joseph Koenig, Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, and Zachary Kwak. The three men, all 18 years old, were taken into custody at their homes in Arvada, Colorado.According to a sheriff's office spokesperson, all three men were seniors at three different high schools in Jefferson County. Investigators do not believe they had any relation to the victims in the crime spree.The three suspects were arrested in connection to the rock-throwing crime spree that killed Alexa Bartell on April 19. Bartell, of Arvada, was driving when she was hit by a large rock. All three are accused of throwing rocks, and all are facing charges of first-degree murder - extreme indifference. Additional charges are expected to be filed at a later date. Out-of-town couple watches armed home burgla...

Disney sues DeSantis, alleging harm to its business

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

The Walt Disney Company is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other state officials, alleging that DeSantis is harming the company’s business operations. The lawsuit comes after months of Disney and DeSantis sparring over legislation that DeSantis has signed and steps the governor has taken to increase the state’s control over Disney. "A targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech—now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,” the lawsuit states.The lawsuit comes after the board that DeSantis appointed to oversee Disney voted Wednesday to void development contracts that Disney made.Disney said in its complaint that the action from the board was the "latest strike" leading to the lawsuit.DeSantis signed legislation at the end of February to end Disney's power over the Reedy Creek Improvement Dis...

Nico Hoerner's late hit keeps a streak alive in Cubs' win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

CHICAGO — It was a moment that gave the Cubs a little breathing room in a tight game to start a three-game set with the Padres at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. It also helped to keep a streak going for one of their young players who is enjoying a great 2023 so far. With the Cubs leading by three in the eighth inning and the bases loaded, Nico Hoerner slapped a triple down the left field line to bring in three insurance runs. It was the highlight of a four-run frame and a 6-0 victory over San Diego to start the series at home. The second baseman was able to extend his on-base streak to 20 games thanks to a hit in his last at-bat since he'd gone 0-for-4 before the eighth inning. At the moment, it's the third-longest in Major League Baseball, with Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts extending his 27-game on-base streak to 27 at Wrigley Field Tuesday.Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who is dealing with a neck injury, currently has a 24-game streak of reaching base at least once i...

LIVE: Travis County leaders to give details on 2022 overdoses, fentanyl deaths

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Travis County leaders will gather Wednesday morning to give the public an update on what they call a drug overdose public health crisis in the county, and discuss details from the county medical examiner's 2022 report, which has not yet been released.The update will cover the status of overdose deaths in the county from 2022, including those which were fentanyl-related, according to a release from the county. Travis County leaders -- including Judge Andy Brown, Sheriff Sally Hernandez and Medical Examiner J. Keith Pinckard -- will hold the press conference at 11:30 a.m. It will be streamed in the video player at the top of this page. Background on the fentanyl crisis, combating itPreliminary data released in November 2022 showed in the first six months of the year, there were 118 fentanyl-related overdose deaths, meaning someone died of an overdose and had fentanyl in their system. It’s the exact same number Travis County saw in all 12 months of 2021. ...

Talks to avoid school bus driver strike in Forest Lake continue Friday; union plans Monday meeting for members

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

School bus drivers in Forest Lake and Forest Lake Area School District officials will meet Friday morning to continue negotiations with the help of a mediator, as the possibility of a strike looms nearer.If an agreement isn’t reached, the district’s 76 school bus drivers and special education bus aides plan to strike on Tuesday.“We have all cleared our calendars for the weekend,” said Amy Perusse, negotiator and business agent for Teamsters Local 320, the union that represents the drivers and aides. “We can stay as late as we need to on Friday and we’re willing to work through the weekend, so we have something to take back to the membership on Monday.”Citing low wages and long work days, the union notified district officials on April 15 that they had filed an intent to strike with the state Bureau of Mediation Services. “The main sticking points continue to be wages, and the ability to recruit and retain drivers,” Perusse said.Union officials have called for a meeting at 4:30 ...

Supreme Court seems to favor woman who got $0 in condo sale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed likely Wednesday to give a 94-year-old Minneapolis woman another day in court to try to recoup some money after the county kept the entire $40,000 when it sold her condominium over a small unpaid tax bill.The justices seemed in broad agreement with arguments by the lawyer for Geraldine Tyler that Hennepin County, Minnesota, violated the Constitution’s prohibition on the taking of private property without “just compensation.”“At bottom, she’s saying the county took her property and made a profit on her surplus equity. It belongs to her,” Justice Clarence Thomas said.Tyler, who now lives in an apartment building for older people, owed $2,300 in unpaid taxes, plus interest and penalties, when the county took title to the one-bedroom apartment in 2015. The county said she did nothing to hold onto her one-time residence. The apartment sold the next year.Justices Elena Ka...

Columbia County issues overdose spike alert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:00 GMT

HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In response to several overdoses being reported in the last 24 hours, Columbia County has issued an overdose spike alert. There have been no fatalities reported at this time. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Columbia County Department of Health says the overdoses could be indicative of a contaminated drug supply and is providing the following tips:If you use, use safely and always assume your supply is contaminated.If you or a loved one is in active addiction, take the following precautions:Use safely by using less than usual or seek help for your addictionTest your supply with Fentanyl Test Strips - available by texting TESTSTRIPS to 77948Call the Never Use Alone Hotline at (800) 997-2280 and someone will stay on the phone with you. Have access to Narcan - text NARCANKIT to 21000 to request itLet a friend or loved one know where you are at all timesIn an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. Caller...