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Mediators propose deal in German public sector pay dispute

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A panel mediating between German public sector employers and labor unions put forward a compromise proposal Saturday to avert further strikes over pay.Mediators proposed a raise of 5.5% on top of a fixed 200-euro monthly increase for the millions of people that work in the public sector. The overall increase should result in employees getting at least 340 euros ($378) more every month under the proposal, which would run until December 2024, the panel said. The mediators also recommended a one-off payment of 3,000 euros ($3,331) — with lower sums for trainees — to balance out the inflation workers in Germany and elsewhere have suffered from recently.The non-binding proposal is intended to serve as the basis for further negotiations between employers and unions representing some 2.5 million workers.A 24-hour walkout over pay paralyzed trains, planes and public transit systems in Germany last month.The Associated Press

Starving followers found at Kenyan pastor’s property; 4 die

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Police in coastal Kenya found 15 emaciated parishioners on the property of a church pastor, and four of the people died after the group was rescued and taken to a hospital, authorities said. Police officials said investigators received a tip that dozens of people were starving to death after their pastor told them it was a way to meet Jesus. Most of the followers could not walk or talk when officers found them.The pastor of Good News International Church, Paul Makenzi, surrendered Friday to police in the town of Malindi. Makenzi was arrested and charged last month in the deaths of two children whose parents were members of his church. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond while proceedings in the case continued. The people who died Friday have not been identified, and their bodies were taken to a morgue in Malindi. Residents had complained to local authorities about the pastor, accusing him of fostering growing cultism in the area. Cults are common in ...

Christian faithful flock to ‘Holy Fire’ under restrictions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Christian worshippers thronged the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on Saturday to celebrate the ceremony of the “Holy Fire,” an ancient, mysterious ritual that has sparked tensions this year with the Israeli police.In the annual ceremony that has persisted for over a millennium, a flame — kindled in some miraculous way in the heart of Jesus’ tomb — is used to light the candles of fervent believers in Greek Orthodox communities near and far. Little by little, the darkened church is irradiated by tiny patches of light, which eventually illuminate the whole building as the resurrection of Jesus is proclaimed. Chartered planes then ferry the flickering lanterns to Russia, Greece and beyond with great fanfare. Many trying to get to the church — built on the site where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected — were thrilled to mark the pre-Easter rite in the city where it all started. But for the second consecutive ...

Guitarist Mark Sheehan of Irish band The Script dies at 46

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Ireland’s president has led tributes to Mark Sheehan, guitarist with Irish rock band The Script, after his death at the age of 46.The band said Sheehan died in a hospital on Friday after a brief illness. In a statement, The Script called him a “much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend.”Formed in Dublin in 2001 by Sheehan, singer Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power, The Script topped U.K. and Irish charts with its self-titled debut album in 2008. It included the hits “We Cry,” “Breakeven” and “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved,” which reached No. 1 in five countries.The band’s pop-inflected rock sound made it one of Ireland’s biggest bands in the 2010s. The Script went on to have six Top 10 albums in the U.K. and one top three album in the U.S.Irish President Michael D. Higgins praised the band’s “originality and excellence” and sent condolences to Sheehan’s family.“Through their music, Mark and The Script have played an outstanding part in continuing and ...

2 teens shot, 1 fatally, in Bronzeville

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Two teenagers were shot, one fatally, by a group of unidentified men in Bronzeville Friday night.According to police, two boys, 15 and 16, were walking on the street near the 3700 block of South Wabash Avenue when a group of five to six men approached and fired shots at them. Police said the 15-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the left foot and was transported to Comers Hospital in good condition. Driver dies after falling out of Jeep, being struck by 2 vehicles on Dan Ryan Expressway The 16-year-old was shot in the abdomen and transported to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Forecast: Saturday's storms may bring high winds and hail

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A storm system is approaching the St. Louis area from the west today. Another day with temperatures climbing into the upper 70s to low 80s. A few showers or even storms will be possible later this morning. Some of these storms could produce some small hail, but the threat is low compared to what’s to come this evening.  St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Storms are going to develop ahead of a cold front this afternoon to our west and then merge into a line and race eastward across the St. Louis area Saturday evening into tonight. Timing looks to begin impacting our western counties between 5-6pm and be out of our viewing area by about 11pm. The overall tornado threat with this system is not zero, but lower compared to our last few severe weather events. Today’s severe risk begins as large hail while we see individual supercells develop, then transition to more of a wind threat as the storms merge into a line. Hail could be very large initially, think ...

Prosecutor resigns from Gardner's office citing toxic work environment

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- One of the few prosecutors left handling St. Louis City's most violent crimes abruptly resigned. Natalia Ogurkiewicz was the prosecutor in the Daniel Riley case. He's the man accused in the tragic crash which caused Janae Edmondson to lose both her legs.Ogurkiewicz resigned Friday. Her resignation letter detailed a toxic work environment, an unbearable workload, and a lack of support. Top Story: Witness: Woman pumping gas seriously hurt chasing after stolen purse The departure marks the latest example of chronic staffing issues for Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. The sudden resignation comes days before a court hearing in Attorney General Andrew Bailey's fight to remove Gardner from office.

Large emergency training exercise in Monroe County, Saturday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

COLUMBIA, Ill. -- Monroe County Emergency Management, and all first responding agencies there will conduct what they call a full-scale training exercise. It is going on from eight until noon.The training will take place in the northwest section of Columbia. They will be at the city park on Evergreen Lane, Columbia Middle School, Sand Bank Road, D-D Road, and Bluff Road.You might hear some loud noises, including pyrotechnics. Police are saying not to worry about the increased number of emergency personnel in these areas.

Colorado pitches park in Golden as global hub of energy innovation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

Government officials, leaders in business and finance and representatives from research institutions mingled at the governor’s mansion Thursday as part of the state’s promotion of a business and research park devoted to accelerating the transition to a renewable-energy future.Global Energy Park, or Glo Park, is planned for about 10 acres next to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. Gov. Jared Polis unveiled plans in 2021 for the park, which will be built on a site put together through a series of land swaps with various parties, including Jefferson County.The state, NREL and the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory sponsored a three-day conference this week with about 150 people to discuss Glo Park. They discussed ways that government, businesses, investors and academia can expedite the move to renewable energy and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to tackle climate change.Denver-based NexCore Group will develop the two buildings that will house startups, ...

Grading the Week: It’s been 2,167 days since Kris Bryant last hit a home run at Coors Field

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:16:22 GMT

It’s two weeks into his second season in purple pinstripes, and we’re still waiting for the USS Kris Bryant to dock at Coors Field.Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt signed Bryant to a seven-year, $182 million contract in the winter of 2022 with the idea the one-time NL MVP would serve as an “aircraft carrier” for Colorado’s lineup.Right now, however, he’s looking more like a pedal boat.Kris Bryant — D+Through 12 games and 54 plate appearances entering Friday night’s game in Seattle, the Rockies outfielder’s home run total this season was the same as the Grading the Week staff’s (0).Sure, it’s still early. Just mid-April in a long, 162-game slog. But go all the way back to the start of last season, and Bryant still has only five home runs in 54 games with Colorado. And none of those have come at Coors Field.For a little perspective: Nolan Arenado has hit three home runs at Coors as a member of the St. Louis Cardinal...