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3M agrees to pay $6 billion to settle earplug lawsuits from service members

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Chemical and consumer product manufacturer 3M said Tuesday it has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries after using faulty earplugs made by the company.The settlement, consisting of $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in 3M stock, will be made in payments that will run through 2029.Hundreds of thousands of veterans and current service members have sued 3M and Aearo Technologies, a company that 3M acquired in 2008, over their Combat Arms Earplugs. The service members alleged that a defective design allowed the products — which were intended to protect ears from close-range firearms and other loud noises — to loosen slightly and allow hearing damage, according to Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, & Overholtz PLLC, one of the law firms representing plaintiffs.In an online summary about the litigation, the Florida-based law firm notes that 3M previously agreed to pay $9.1 millio...

Cause of house explosion that killed NFL player Caleb Farley's father released

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (WJZY) – North Carolina authorities have identified the cause of a catastrophic house explosion that killed NFL player Caleb Farley's father.Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management announced Tuesday that a natural gas explosion with unknown origin leveled the Mooresville home.Dominion Energy tested the regulator in the gas meter that was recovered from the scene at its facility in Gastonia, and the regulator was normal.Authorities could not read the hour-by-hour usage because of an issue with the software, Director Kent Greene explained. Authorities are unsure if they'll be able to read it in the future. 911 calls released in Mooresville house explosion that killed NFL player’s father Robert Matthews Farley, 61, was killed in the house explosion while staying in the home, which was owned by his son, who plays cornerback for the Tennessee Titans. Farley's body was recovered around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, as crews searched the debris.A friend of C...

Pence outlines Day 1 executive actions if elected president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday outlined a slew of executive actions he would take on Day 1 if he is elected president in 2024, making clear he would seek to roll back federal support for abortion and for transgender youth.Pence detailed his plans on a call with reporters, arguing numerous executive actions would be needed to unwind the Biden administration’s agenda.“As I’ve said since I launched my campaign, I'm running for president because I think this country is in a lot of trouble,” he said.“Our Day 1 executive action plan is an attempt to lay out a vision for those initial actions that we believe would begin to set our nation aright,” he added.Here’s a look at some of the executive actions Pence said he would take upon assuming the presidency:Repeal federal support for abortionPence said he would rescind any executive actions taken by the Biden White House to promote abortion and provide resources to those looking to get the procedure, as well as drop all federal l...

Austin officials working on 'path forward' amid Nixta Taqueria permitting issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — City of Austin officials said they are working on a "path forward" for Nixta Taqueria amid permitting issues identified at the restaurant, according to a city memo released Monday.City leaders said in the memo there are "life safety and permitting challenges" at the restaurant, located at 2512 E. 12th St. On Aug. 16, an Austin Energy high heat alarm was triggered due to an electric meter overheating at the restaurant, per the memo. The building is divided up into two suites, using two meters. Nixta Taqueria asking for community’s help after city permitting issues "The AE technician found burned wires on the business owners' side of the meter and determined that the business was using too much amperage," the memo read in part. "This presents a severe risk of fire or explosion and a threat to public safety. Therefore, AE disabled one of the meters and left a Notice of Electrical Hazard with the business owner."The memo said Nixta Taqueria's owners submitted an electr...

Kyle Police Chief: Large quantity of fentanyl found in the region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) --- Less than a month into the new school year and Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said his police department is finding fentanyl in the hands of teenagers yet again. This comes as a man police arrested in the area for distributing fentanyl to a minor last year was re-arrested on similar charges this June. The previous arrestBack in September 2022, KXAN reported on a joint press conference with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kyle Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff's Office announcing the arrest of Anthony Jean Perez Rios. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Arrests made in Hays County fentanyl investigation, initiatives announced Rios was arrested in San Marcos and charged with the following:Manufacture and delivery with intent to distribute a controlled substanceDelivery of a controlled substance to a childPossession of a controlled substance“He had nearly 400 counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl,” Barnett said during the press conference.Ch...

Deputies association says it's understaffed by 400 officers, blames Williamson County for inaction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The Williamson County Deputies Association accused county commissioners of inaction that's led to understaffing in the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. The WCDA also said the WCSO does not have adequate manpower to keep up with the rapidly growing population.Deputy Charles Duvall, president of the WCDA, addressed a small crowd on the steps of the historic county courthouse, flanked by Sheriff Mike Gleason, WCSO detectives and other WCDA affiliates.Duvall said national data from the FBI says county agencies reported an average of 2.8 officers per 1,000 inhabitants. He said Williamson County right now has .78 deputies per 1,000 residents, highlighting a large disparity between WCSO's ranks and the national average."We need an additional 445 new deputies to meet the national average number of deputies. To be clear, there is only one opening on patrol and that opening is about to be filled," Duvall said.These comments come as the Williamson County Commissi...

Q&A: Gophers AD Mark Coyle on football team success, USC job and what he needs from Ben Johnson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

Gophers Athletics Director Mark Coyle had a letter sitting his desk Tuesday from a long-time season-ticket holder. He was preparing a personalized response, but first sat down with the Pioneer Press to address hot topics at the U of M, the Big Ten Conference and across college sports.Coyle shared what success might look like for head coach P.J. Fleck’s football team with one of the most challenging schedules in the country this fall, the expanding Big Ten Conference and how the U is doing with name, image and likeness (NIL) programs. Plus, Coyle responds to how he was linked to the open AD job at the University of Southern California and what he needs to see from men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson in his third season this winter.Here’s a condensed version of the interview:P.J. Fleck has won nine or more games in every full season since 2019. The standard has been raised, but obviously the schedule is much more difficult this year. What does success look like for th...

Powwow in Mendota to highlight Native American culture, education

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

The Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community is hosting a powwow Friday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 10 at St. Peter’s Church in Mendota.What started as an event with two drums, Indian tacos and fried bread to help rediscover Native heritage has grown to an attraction that brings in several thousand.Sharon Lennartson, chairwoman for the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community, has been running the event for 18 years.“We figure that’s the first powwow in 100 years. We don’t know that for a fact but we couldn’t do any of our ceremonies. We’d go to jail or get a $10,000 fine in our own indigenous land,” Lennartson said.From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday there will be an “educational hour” with two professors who are honorary members of the tribe — Chris Mato Nunpa, of Southwest Minnesota State University, and Mike Klein, of the University of St. Thomas.Klein and some of his students interviewed elders of the ...

Vikings finalize their initial 53-man roster. Who’s in? Who’s out?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

Like every team in the NFL, the Vikings submitted their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday ahead of the 3 p.m. deadline.This came after the Vikings cut 15 players on Monday.Here’s a look at where things stand as of right now. This could change in the coming days depending on if the Vikings decide to make trades or sign free agents.Quarterback (3)In: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Jaren HallOut: N/ARunning Back (3)In: Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, Kene NwangwuOut: DeWayne McBride, Aaron DykesFullback (1)In: C.J. HamOut: N/AReceiver (6)In: Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, Jalen Reagor, Jalen NailorOut: Trishton Jackson, Thayer Thomas, Blake Proehl, Lucky Jackson, Jacob CopelandTight End (4)In: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick MuseOut: Ben SimsOffensive Line (8)In: Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O’Neill, Oli Udoh, Blake Brandel, Austin Schlottmann, Chris Reed (NFI)Out: Jack Snyder, Alan AliDefensiv...

Kalsada, modern Filipino restaurant from Cafe Astoria owners, will close next month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:56 GMT

Kalsada, the modern Filipino restaurant that was one of Pioneer Press readers’ favorites last year, is closing after less than 18 months.The restaurant quietly served its last brunch over the weekend, and the last day for dinner will be Friday, Sept. 15.The outside of Kalsada in St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)“We’re very thankful to the neighborhood, the community,” chef and owner Leah Raymundo said on Tuesday. “And especially to my team. They shared so much love to the neighborhood.”Raymundo and business/life partner John Occhiato also run Cafe Astoria and Stella Belle just off West 7th Street, and they opened Kalsada in spring 2022 in the former Augustine’s spot on Selby Avenue.Both personally and professionally, the couple had an especially tough winter, they said, and the economics of the restaurant were becoming tenuous.Filipino food still feels niche in the Twin Cities, Occhiato said, so some people saw the menu as a one-time experience rather than a regular hangout. ...