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Executive Director of Texas sheriff's association accused of misappropriation of funds, AG's office investigating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – The executive director of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas has resigned in lieu of termination after being accused of misappropriation of funds.Smith County Sheriff and President of SAT Larry Smith announced on Thursday that Executive Director Steve Westbrook is accused of misappropriating the association’s funds after receiving two tips from employees on Nov. 16. On Nov. 17, Smith received confirmation that the Texas Attorney General’s Office was investigating the case and secured documents. Smith said the association is fully cooperating. Once it was determined that the Attorney General’s Office had been in contact with Westbrook, the Board of Directors of the association unanimously decided to put Westbook on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Based on additional information that the association received in the past several days, the association’s board of directors met in the Austin office and accepted Westbrook’s resignation...

After winning a pair of awards in Italy, these Marine on St. Croix chocolates are among the best in the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

St. Croix Chocolate Company’s macadamia bon bons sit in a tray on May 11, 2023. The chocolates earned the highest score in the “fillings” category and a gold award in the Americas division of the 2023 International Chocolate Awards and won bronze in the global finals. (Photo courtesy St. Croix Chocolate Company)St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix took home high honors at the recent International Chocolate Awards world finals.The company, run by Robyn Dochterman, won a silver award for its burnt cinnamon and bourbon bar, which consists of — get this! — layers of real bourbon caramel and a ganache filling made by infusing flame-charred cinnamon sticks into cream, all inside brown butter milk chocolate.They also won bronze for macadamia bon bons, which include macadamia blossom honey and brown butter macadamia shortbread cookies along with Venezuelan chocolate.In the Americas division of the chocolate awards, announced in September, the bon bons earned the highest ...

St. Paul firefighter raises coming after arbitrator called in to settle contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

A long-simmering dispute over the St. Paul firefighters’ contract has been resolved by an arbitrator, who recently decided they should receive 11 percent raises during a three-year contract.The city proposed wage increases of 9.5 percent during the term of the contract, while the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 21 sought pay raises of 15 percent.The firefighters’ contract expired Dec. 31 and they’ve continued working under its terms. The City Council is scheduled to take up the new contract Wednesday and vote on it Dec. 13, which are routine steps.Local 21 made its frustrations public in August, when they held an informational picket to bring attention to their labor contract being unsettled for more than 200 days at that point. Off-duty firefighters marched on Snelling Avenue with signs saying “Firefighters, paramedics need your help,” along with signs reading “Understaffed. Overworked,” and “Without contract. Still responding.”The St. Paul fire d...

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 13

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

Chiefs at Packers (+6½)Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce has taken to openly flirting with gal pal Taylor Swift through social media posts. It’s now apparent that the Chiefs’ star is rapidly becoming the most obnoxiously overexposed NFL star … not counting the Packers’ previous quarterback. Pick: Chiefs by 7Taylor Swift performs on stage during The Eras Tour at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday, July 28, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)49ers at Eagles (+2½)Former Niners hall of famer Deion Sanders has been named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year. The Colorado coach, who led the Buffaloes to a 4-8 record, was picked by SI’s panel of artificial intelligence experts consisting of young white male with blue eyes, middle aged brown male with bald spot and elderly black female with bifocals.Pick: 49ers by 3FILE – Colorado head coach Deion Sanders looks on in the first half of the team’s spring practice NCAA college football game, April 22, 2023, ...

Toys for Toys hits the rails to help kids

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) — It's not the Polar Express, but it might be just as magical. Toys for Tots partnering with Amtrak and Norfolk Southern to make sure kids in need have a present to open this Christmas. ‘Stuff the Bus’ toy drive 2023 in Colonie The gifts and necessities will be transported via train to children in need in five cities between Rensselaer and Binghamton.Toys for Tots is run by the US Marine Corp and today’s event was run like a military support operation. Volunteers led by a Staff Sergeant, loading bags onto a train car.Patrick Lurenz the US Marine Coordinator for Toys for Tots is rather humble about the military branch’s role in all of this.“This is a community program. It's here to support the community and it's being assisted by the community the Marine Corps. We’re just here driving this crazy bus to make all of this stuff happens” said Lurenz. Levi Pascher is the Field Marketing Manager for Dunkin, a long time sponsor of the event.“The holidays there's ...

Legislation would push elections to even years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — This week on Empire State Weekly, new proposed legislation would change when several local elections take place. The bill would push some elections held on odd years to even years. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! State Senator James Skoufis, representative for District 42, sponsored the bill to move local elections to even years, the same years that larger statewide federal elections and national elections are held. He argued the move would increase voter turnout in a "broken" system."We need to fix it because it is broken. And you just have to go back three weeks to see how broken it is, where you had 20-30% turnout, per usual, in these odd-year elections, so a small minority of eligible voters coming out and choosing who should be running the town's offices, the county's offices for the entire community, 100% of the community" Said Skoufis.Also this week Tomoko Udo, an associate Professor at UAlbany's ...

Remington Arms to close in March

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

ILION, N.Y. (WUTR) — Remington Arms, the oldest gunmaker in America, has announced that they will close their doors in March 2024. The United Mine Workers Union, which represents workers at the Ilion plant, confirmed the closing. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Eli Remington created the company in 1816, and it has operated its plant in Ilion for nearly two centuries. It has not always been smooth sailing. Twice in this century, the company went into bankruptcy. In July 2020, it was broken up in an auction.The Roundhill Group acquired the Ilion operation, which manufactures shotguns and rifles. Roundhill operated the Ilion operation under the name of RemArms. This past summer, the union and RemArms reached an agreement on a new three-year contract. Looking at Remington Arms as they relocate headquarters to Georgia United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil Roberts released a statement about the Ilion situatio...

Holiday Marketplace returns to Indian Ladder Farms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

ALTAMONT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont announced the return of their Holiday Marketplace. The events will be held every Saturday through December 23. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The marketplace will feature a plethora of local vendors and businesses offering their crafts at the farm. Indian Ladder will also host several special events during the season, with their full schedule detailed below: Indian Ladder Farms Holiday Schedule 2023December 1: Holiday Tree Lighting - 6 p.m. December 2: Holiday Marketplace - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.December 4: Breakfast with Santa* - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.December 8: Fused Glass Holiday Tree Making Class* - 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.December 9: Holiday Marketplace - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.December 10: Breakfast with Santa* - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Howliday Ugly Sweater Party and Contest with Santa* - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.December 16: Holiday Marketplace - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wassailing in the Orchard - 4:...

Police investigating alleged concealed dead body case in Schoharie County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

SCHOHARIE COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Law enforcement is currently investigating the alleged concealment of a dead body in Schoharie County. Walter Fahrenkopf, 39, was arrested on Friday on charges of concealment of a human corpse. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Details are limited at this time. The Schoharie County Sheriff's Office is working with New York State Police to investigate. Stick with NEWS10 as more information becomes available.

Health insurer Anthem plans to add 250 new St. Louis jobs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Health insurer Anthem plans to add 250 new jobs at its offices in downtown St. Louis. The company will hire for a variety of positions, including pharmacists, nurses, and benefits agents, by mid-2024. The new jobs will add to 1,700 already based at Anthem's Chestnut Street offices.