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Dispute over human remains part of battle between North Dakota medical waste facility, health system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Human remains are at the center of tangled litigation involving a major regional health care system and the company contracted to dispose of its medical waste. Monarch Waste Technologies sued Sanford Health and the subsidiary responsible for delivering the health care system’s medical waste, Healthcare Environmental Services, saying the latter “brazenly” deposited a human torso hidden in a plastic container to Monarch’s facility in March. Monarch discovered the remains four days later after an employee “noticed a rotten and putrid smell,” according to the company’s complaint. Monarch rejected the remains and notified North Dakota’s Department of Environmental Quality, which is investigating. An agency spokeswoman declined to comment during an active investigation.The Texas-based company also claims an employee of Sanford Health’s subsidiary deliberately placed and then took photos of disorganized waste to suggest that Monarch had mismanaged medical ...

Chicago flooding is stark reminder of vulnerability of major cities during extreme weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

Heavy rains that flooded Chicago neighborhoods, rendered freeways impassable and wreaked havoc on NASCAR street races downtown Sunday are serving as stark reminders of urban centers’ vulnerability during extreme weather events.Warmer air over metropolitan areas combined with many square miles of impermeable concrete add up to intensifying storms that generate billions of gallons of run-off rainfall with nowhere to go, stressing cities’ sewer systems, experts say. In major cities, extreme weather causes water and debris to flow into homes, businesses, and underground train systems.After a historic deluge in April in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, residents had to wade through knee- and chest-high water, and navigate the streets on canoes and kayaks. In Texas, heavy rains across the drought-stricken Dallas-Fort Worth area last August led to hundreds of high-water calls.With projections calling for more frequent and powerful storms as climate change continues, cities like Chicag...

Mayor Brandon Johnson tours damages after heavy rains flood Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

Cleanup is underway around Chicago after a deluge of nearly nine inches of rain flooded streets and basements all around the City Sunday.Among those out and about in the aftermath of the torrential rainfall, Mayor Brandon Johnson was making his rounds in Austin, checking in with residents and working to leverage City resources to help address the damages left behind.“That’s why we’re here today. That’s why I ran for office,” Johnson told WGN News. “When government is not doing its part—creating jobs, redoing infrastructure, these are the ideas I ran on. I know what it feels like when there’s not enough to go around.”City officials said the Department of Streets and Sanitation, along with other agencies, will be out and about as well, distributing dumpsters across communities impacted, while helping remove larger items that were washed out into the streets during the flooding.Tara Stamps, a newly elected Cook County Commissioner in the 1st District, said there are a lot of people who...

Two arrested after Elmhurst police recover large amount of fireworks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

ELMHURST, Ill -- Two people were arrested after Elmhurst police found a large collection of fireworks Sunday night.According to the Elmhurst Police Department, multiple reports of large commercial-grade fireworks were being detonated in a public street on Sunday. Upon arrival, officers discovers a large amount of fireworks with launch tubes. WATCH: Animals snack on 4th of July treats at Brookfield Zoo Due to the size of the fireworks, the DuPage County Sheriff Bomb Squad responded to safely remove them from the scene."(The) use of large fireworks in dense residential neighborhoods is dangerous and against the law in Illinois," Elmhurst police wrote on a Facebook post.The Elmhurst Police Department charged two adults with violating the Illinois Pyrotechnic Use Act. The pair could face fines up to $2,500 per offense if found guilty.

6 dead in South Carolina murder, fire; family member charged

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Bond was denied Monday for a man accused in a Colleton County, South Carolina murder and fire investigation.Agencies responded to a house fire on Folly Creek Lane in the Green Pond community around 11:00 a.m. Sunday after a neighbor reported seeing the home on fire, according to Colleton County Fire Rescue.Fire Rescue officials said the roof had already collapsed on one end and fire was visible from the remaining roof and several windows when crews arrived.A 13-year-old with cuts and stab wounds was found outside of the home and airlifted to an area hospital for treatment.“The injured [party] advised that there were victims inside the home. During extinguishment and overhaul, Firefighter-Paramedics discovered six victims inside the home. All six were deceased,” said officials with Colleton County Fire Rescue. During the investigation, Colleton County deputies said they obtained information that led to the arrest of Ryan L...

TDCJ correctional officers burning out in Texas heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- For years, Michael Webber would sweat in the searing metal attics above Texas' state prisons as he powered through electrical maintenance trips minutes at a time. That was all the time the oppressive heat would allow."We'd see temperatures as high as 130, 140. You'd work in that for a couple of hours, and you can only be up there for so long," Webber said. "Then you'd have to come back down into that 105, 110 degree weather that everyone lives in so you could cool off. The conditions there could be really grueling. It becomes just like a pressure cooker filled with heat."Webber remembers witnessing other staff members succumb to the pressures to stay conscious and hydrated through long summer days. Staff would pass out from the heat at least once a week, he said, overheating from the physical demands of pacing through stifling cellblocks, climbing stairs, patrolling the yard and staying vigilant under a stab-proof vest."To put them in that environment is a recipe...

City of Bee Cave City allows HOAs to pay for extra police patrols

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — You could soon see police officers patrolling private neighborhoods in Bee Cave.In a recent meeting, the Bee Cave City Council approved a resolution to allow homeowners associations to pay for overtime so officers can patrol neighborhoods.Bee Cave City Manager Clint Garza says speeding and drivers not stopping at stop signs are causing issues in the Falconhead neighborhood."We can put them in the neighborhoods, but outside the normal patrol hours, so I think it is a good idea because the neighborhood wanted the additional patrol, but they offered to step up and fund it themselves," said Garza. City of Austin overtime pay soars over $112 million in 2022 Travis Lowe says people are cutting through his neighborhood to get to FM 620 or SH 71, and they aren't driving the speed limit, which is 25 or 30 mph, depending on the area."I am seeing cars go 50 to 60," Lowe said. "We love it over here. We love the neighborhood. The traffic, not so much."The patrol would operate f...

Severe storm damage still plagues Metro East

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. – Days after Saturday’s severe storms ripped through the Metro East, and debris from neighborhoods and homes still litters streets, and hospitals and city halls remain without power.For one resident in Madison, Illinois, it’s been days since the storm uprooted a tree from their front yard on Harris Street before toppling over their front porch."I grew up here," said Savannah Faith. She says it's been 65 years since her grandfather, Billy Butler, has lived in his home in Madison. To see it in this state, nearly dilapidated at the doorstep, has her feeling the childhood memories are on the brink of collapsing. Her biggest concern being: what could come next. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW "If it pulls the front of the h...

Cardinals sign right-hander Chen-Wei Lin, their first player ever out of Taiwan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals on Monday signed right-handed pitcher Chen-Wei Lin, the franchise’s first player signed out of Taiwan.The 21-year-old Lin is a native of Tainan City, Taiwan, and played college baseball at Chinese Culture University in Taipei. He pitched in nine games for the Kenosha, Wisconsin, Kingfish last summer in the collegiate league in his United States debut.Lin was also an invited college player for the Taiwanese World Baseball Classic team earlier this year in their preparation camp.He will soon report to the Cardinals' facility in Jupiter, Florida.Lin, who is 6-foot-7, made four starts and had a 3.24 ERA this summer for the Frederick Keys, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League.Lin's uncle, Hong-Chih Kuo, pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers for seven seasons from 2005-2011. He had a 3.73 ERA in 218 career appearances after signing as an international free agent with the Dodgers in 1999.

Rockies’ Peter Lambert looking for chance to help struggling rotation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:09 GMT

Despite injuries, surgery, demotions and failures, Peter Lambert never lost touch with his quest.Now, more than four years after his glittering major league debut, the Rockies’ 26-year-old right-hander is looking for another chance. The organization is bereft of starting pitching, not just this season, but in 2024 as well. Could Lambert help fill the void?“Definitely,” Lambert said. “I would love for that to happen.”Why is he so optimistic?“I have a little experience starting in the big league and I think that’s important,” he said. “Although I’ve struggled, sometimes that’s what a pitcher needs.”Saturday night, with Colorado utilizing a bullpen game, Lambert, the usual long reliever, opened the game. It was his first big-league start since Sept 29, 2021, vs. Washington — a span of 641 days. Before that, he went 736 days between starts, from Sept. 20, 2019, to Sept. 24, 2021, as he battled through persiste...