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Panel to probe allegations of a toxic workplace at Minnesota veterans homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

There is growing evidence that allegations of a toxic workplace extend beyond the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings and the state Department of Veterans Affairs has been slow to address them.New complaints have surfaced since workers first spoke publicly about problems in March. Altogether, at least a dozen current and former caregivers have filed official complaints with state and federal agencies over their treatment by superiors.They contend that their workplaces have a toxic atmosphere where bullying, intimidation and reprisal are common. This poor treatment of staff, they say, can lead to inadequate care and even endanger veterans.Next week, a special panel created by the Legislature to probe the level of care provided to veterans at the state’s two assisted-living-style homes — called domiciliaries — is required to hold its first meeting. In addition, state lawmakers hope the panel will look deeper at allegations of toxic work environments at state Departme...

Literary calendar for week of Sept. 10

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

C.M. ALONGI: Graduate of Hastings High School and Hamline University introduces her debut adult sci fi novel “Citadel,” about the only city on a planet, which has a holy mission to exterminate demons from the Flooded Forest. When a 19-year-old nonverbal, autistic woman meets one of the “demons,” she realizes these are not vicious animals, or unholy, but sentient people. She embarks on a hazardous journey into the Flooded Forest where she faces flesh-eating predators, telekinetic zealot-warriors and demons of her own past. What the author didn’t reveal to anyone, until her five-figure contract was signed, is that her mother is bestselling Minnesota author MaryJanice Davidson. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, SubText Books, 6 W. Fifth St., St. Paul.Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison introduces his new book, “Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence,” Sept. 19, 2023 at Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis. (Courtesy of Hache...

Skywatch: The celestial teapot is steaming

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

(Mike Lynch)Right around 9 p.m., when evening twilight has faded, cast your eyes toward the low southern sky, and without too much difficulty, you’ll see a teapot hanging diagonally by its handle. A distinct triangle of three bright stars makes up the spout on the lower right side, and a trapezoid of four stars on the upper left makes up the handle. A single star marks the top of the teapot between and above the handle and the pot. This celestial teapot is more formally known as Sagittarius the Archer. By the way, I love the star’s name on the upper left corner of the handle. It’s Nunki, pronounced nun-key. It’s a star 228 light years, or 1,300 trillion miles, away. If you put Nunki side by side with our sun, it would be over 3,000 times brighter than our sun, with over four times the diameter of our home star.According to Greek and Roman lore, the constellation Sagittarius is supposed to outline a half-man-half-horse flinging an arrow to the west. With a bit...

Ask Amy: Close cousin determines DNA disclosure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

Dear Amy: I am very close with my first cousin “Landon.”Landon is a robust and healthy older man. Unbeknownst to him, we are not actually cousins, in fact, we’re not related at all.Years ago, I asked Landon to submit a DNA sample with the results coming to me, the family historian.That sample revealed that his mother’s husband was not Landon’s biological father.I should note that Landon always had a strained relationship with his “father,” and I remember him as a difficult man.I’m an amateur genealogist and have been able to identify his biological father and relatives.Those still living are a short drive from Landon’s house.Even though he is quite proud of our family history (there’s nothing notable about our tree), he’s paid no attention to the DNA results, assuming they only prove what he’s long believed to be true.I’ve gone to great lengths to protect his privacy while using public databases to research his biological family. But Landon’s children or grandchildren could test the...

Bridge: Sept. 10, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

“I bid the fourth and final diamond.” — a player whose partner had bid clubs four times while he had bid diamonds.It’s typical of newer players that when they hold a hand they find attractive, they may grab the auction and not let go, like a toddler clutching a favorite toy.In today’s deal, the first four calls were fine, as was South’s second-round jump to three hearts. But West’s three spades was questionable; North should have doubled for plus 500. When he passed, South’s four hearts could be explained only by “I’m-declaring-come-what-may” syndrome.West led the king of spades, and South took dummy’s ace and let the nine of trumps ride. West took the king and got out with his last trump. South next led the king of clubs, but West won and returned a club. Then South lost a diamond to West’s king and another club. Down one.Players often get carried away with strong hands — and he who overbids is like...

Word Game: Sept. 10, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — GARDENIA (GARDENIA: gar-DEEN-yuh: A shrub with fragrant white flowers.)Average mark 52 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 67 or more words in GARDENIA?TODAY’S WORD — GARDENIA gain gainer gander garden gear gird gnar grad grade grain grand grid grin grind adage again agar aged agenda ager aide aired anger area arena aria arid radian rage raid rain rang range rani read reading regain reign rein rend ride ridge rind ring dang danger dare daring darn dean dear deign dine diner ding dinge dire dirge drag drain drainage dreg earn engird nadir near ideaTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but ...

Ashton Kutcher y Mila Kunis dicen que son “conscientes” de que sus cartas de apoyo a Danny Masterson causaron dolor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

(CNN) — Ashton Kutcher y Mila Kunis compartieron un video en el que dicen que son “conscientes del dolor” que causaron al escribir cartas en apoyo a Danny Masterson antes de su sentencia por violación.Kunis y Kutcher, quienes coprotagonizaron con Masterson la serie “That ’70s Show”, estuvieron entre las casi 50 personas que abogaron por indulgencia para el actor antes de que fuera sentenciado el jueves a 30 años de prisión a cadena perpetua por violar a dos mujeres en 2003.Masterson ha mantenido su inocencia y planea apelar su caso.Danny Masterson, estrella de “That ’70s Show” recibe una condena de 30 años de prisión a cadena perpetua por violaciónEn su video compartido en Instagram este sábado, Kutcher dijo que la familia de Masterson les pidió que escribieran cartas caracterizadas que describieran a “la persona que conocíamos durante 25 años para que el juez pudiera tomar eso en plena consideración en relación con la sentencia”...

West goes easy on Russia to save the G20

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

NEW DELHI — G20 leaders wrapped up two days of high-level talks in India accomplishing what they had set out to achieve — a final summit declaration that all sides could endorse. But many were left asking — at what cost?As the ink dried on the 35-page summit communiqué hashed out over weeks of negotiations by the world’s most influential countries, G20 members were battling a chorus of criticism about the omission of any specific reference to Russia’s role as aggressor in the war on Ukraine.  The G20 had “nothing to be proud of” when it came to the failure to denounce Russia specifically in the joint statement i New Delhi, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko. Svitlana Romanko, founder and director of the pro-Ukraine group Razom We Stand, called the communiqué “weak” and “cowardly by not even mentioning Russia or its ongoing war crimes.”But Western officials defended the result, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak touting the do...

Elon Musk’s social media site X sues California over the state’s content moderation law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

Elon Musk’s social media platform formerly known as Twitter has sued the state of California over a law requiring social media companies to publish their policies for removing offending material such as hate speech, misinformation and harassment.The first-of-its-kind legislation was signed into law a year ago by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In a lawsuit filed Friday against state Attorney General Robert Bonta, X Corp. challenges the “constitutionality and legal validity” of the law, saying it violates the First Amendment.The California law requires social media platforms to post their content moderation policies — which they already do — and twice a year submit a report to the state on how they address hate speech, racism, misinformation, foreign political interference and other issues.The law, “compels companies to engage in speech against their will, impermissibly interferes with the constitutionally-protected editorial judgments of companies such as X Corp.” and has pr...

US Open women’s final: American Coco Gauff rallies to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in dramatic finish

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:11 GMT

Queens, New York (CNN) — Coco Gauff, the world No. 10 women’s singles player, has defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 with a dramatic comeback in the women’s US Open final.The star-studded crowd erupted with applause after Gauff’s home-turf victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. The win is 19-year-old Gauff’s first career grand slam and makes her the first American teenager to win the US Open since 23-time major champion Serena Williams took the title in 1999.“I feel like I’m in shock at this moment,” said an emotional Gauff after her win. “God puts you through tribulations and trials, and that makes this moment sweeter than I would have imagined.”She thanked her family, her team, and “the people who didn’t believe in me.”Bidding for her second major title of the year, the soon-to-be women’s world No. 1 Sabalenka made quick work in the first set, breaking Gauff’s serve three times to win 6-2 in dominant fashion.However, with the packed crowd chanting “L...