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Employers must use caution amid workplace power dynamics, experts say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

TORONTO — NHL coach Mike Babcock thought he was just trying to get to know his players better, but experts say he may have crossed a line that’s sometimes hard to see.After joining the Columbus Blue Jackets, Babcock was called out this week for allegedly asking some players to show family photos off their phones — raising questions of privacy and misusing his position as a head coach.Experts say it is important for senior-level employers to remember that positional power is a real thing.“From a positional power perspective, because it is someone in a higher position asking you a question, you worry about your job security or how you’re going to be treated at work,” said Muneeza Sheikh, an employment lawyer with Levitt Sheikh LLP.“You might be inclined to say, ‘Sure, go ahead and look at my phone,’ even though you’re completely uncomfortable with it.”Sheikh said employees face a genuine dilemma when they find themselves responding...

Former Spanish soccer federation chief Rubiales given a restraining order, denies wrongdoing to Spanish judge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish soccer federation, has been given a restraining order and is prohibited from contacting the player he kissed on the lips last month at the Women’s World Cup, Spain’s National Court said Friday.Rubiales appeared in front of Judge Francisco de Jorge and denied any wrongdoing when questioned about kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony, the state prosecutors’ office said.After hearing Rubiales, the judge issued the restraining order that prohibits Rubiales from being within 200 metres of Hermoso. The state prosecutors had asked for that ban to reach 500 metres.The judge rejected the prosecutors’ request to also oblige Rubiales to check in with a court every 15 days as well as the request by Hermoso’s lawyer to freeze assets belonging to Rubiales.Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain beat England to win the Women’s World Cup title Aug. 20 in Sydney, Australia. He sai...

Searchers look for more than 10,000 missing in flooded Libyan city where death toll eclipsed 11,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

DERNA, Libya (AP) — Libyan authorities limited access to the flooded city of Derna on Friday to make it easier for searchers to dig through the mud and hollowed-out buildings for the more than 10,000 people still missing and presumed dead following a disaster that has already claimed more than 11,000 lives.The staggering death toll could grow further due to the spread of waterborne diseases and shifting of explosive ordnance that was swept up when two dams collapsed early Monday and sent a wall of water gushing through the city, officials warned. The disaster has brought some rare unity to oil-rich Libya, which after years of war and civil strife is divided between rival governments in the country’s east and west that are backed by various militia forces and international patrons. But the opposing governments have struggled to respond to the crisis, and recovery efforts have been hampered by confusion, difficulty getting aid to the hardest-hit areas, and the destruction of DernaR...

Portable generators recalled over serious fire and burn hazards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

(WHTM) – Around 64,000 portable generators made by Generac have been recalled due to serious fire and burn hazards, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).The CPSC says the generators' fuel tanks may fail to properly vent from the rollover valve, risking a buildup of pressure in the tanks. The pressurized tanks may then "expel fuel when opened, posing fire and burn hazards," the CPSC says.Recalled Generac GP17500E Portable GeneratorRecalled Generac GP15000E Portable GeneratorThe company that makes the generators had received 27 reports of incidents concerning overheating, pressurizing or expelling fuel. Three of those incidents resulted in severe burns, according to the CPSC.The USCPSC also states that three incidents occurred that resulted in severe burn injuries. What are the lights placed above traffic signals in Pennsylvania? The generators were sold between April 2011 and June 2023. The following unit types and model numbers are affected by t...

White Sox want to prevent one thing from happening at the end of lost 2023 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

CHICAGO — About the only thing left for the White Sox to fight for when it comes to their record is to avoid infamy.Thanks to a struggling September, it's a very real possibility that the team could pull off a rare feat in team history for the wrong reasons. With 15 games remaining, the White Sox have 91 losses, which puts them in danger of reaching 100 in a season. That's something that's rarely happened in the 123 seasons that the club has been playing in Major League Baseball.In fact, there are only four times in team history when they've reached triple-digits in losses. What hurts White Sox fans is that one of those seasons came as the front office was trying to construct the team that's currently in place. In 2018, the White Sox lost the final five games of their season to finish 62-100 in what was then general manager Rick Hahn's second year of the rebuild. While that led to a playoff appearance in 2020 and an AL Central title in 2021, the team has come well short of reaching ...

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter 'coming to the end,' grandson says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

(The Hill) -- The grandson of former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter said the couple is “coming to the end” but remain together and in love. The former president entered into hospice care earlier this year, his charity, The Carter Center, announced in February. In May, the former first lady was diagnosed with dementia. Jason Carter, the couple's grandson, is the chairman of The Carter Center and told USA Today on Thursday that they are happy. “They are together. They are at home. They are in love, and I don’t think anyone gets more than that,” he said. “I mean, it’s a perfect situation for this time in their lives.” Jason Carter said President Joe Biden still communicates with his grandfather “just to let him know that he’s continuing to think about my grandfather, pray for him.”  Former NBA player Brandon Hunter dies after collapsing during workout The former president’s grandson said he believes Biden and his grandfather sh...

Young fisherman, mom find stolen car in Virginia pond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) – A young fisherman casting his line in a Virginia pond managed to find a stolen car on Tuesday.Rachel Jones, the fisherman's mother, told Nexstar's WRIC she was accompanying her son Chase at the Hanover County pond when they spotted something sticking out of the water."We watch like true crime, and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, this could be a car,'" Jones said. "I just didn't think that it was real."Jones called the Hanover County Sheriff's Office to report the find. The department's Underwater Forensic Dive Team was sent to investigate, and ultimately found a submerged Nissan Altima that had been reported stolen in 2018.No bodies were found inside the vehicle. Shark found on bank of landlocked Idaho river; official offers possible explanation Officers rigged "lift bags" to free the car from the mud below. Investigators said the car appeared to have been soaking "for quite some time," though officials are still working to determine how the car ended up in the...

WATCH LIVE: Closing arguments in historic impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The House board of impeachment managers and defense attorneys for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton will give closing arguments in the historic trial Friday, making their final cases to the 30 eligible senators who will decide whether Paxton can keep his elected title.Closing arguments started at 9 a.m. Friday. Watch in the video player at the top of this story, on air on KXAN, or on KXAN's Facebook page. Paxton appeared in the Senate chamber Friday morning for the first time since his impeachment trial began. He'll listen to the prosecution and defense deliver their closing arguments. The near-end of the trial comes after senators — functioning as a jury — heard from more than a dozen witnesses testifying about their firsthand experience with Paxton, who is accused of abuse of office, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Paxton defense rests its case in impeachment trial; closing arguments Friday morning KXAN's Monica Madden is covering the trial and p...

Catholic Charities hosts block party in Austin, puts packages together for refugee children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — People gathered Thursday at a volunteer event to put together packages of school supplies for refugee children living in Austin.Catholic Charities of Central Texas hosted a block party at its Austin campus, which featured live music, food trucks and volunteers coming together to assemble the school supply kits.The event was part of its Refugee Resettlement Services program. The program provides services to help guide refugees through their resettlement experience."When families walk through our door in their darkest hour, we want them to leave with hope for the future, because those who have hope look at life differently,” Sara Ramirez, the executive director of Catholic Charities of Central Texas, said.Catholic Charities of Central Texas also celebrated 25 years of helping the community.

$1 billion for tree plantings spread among US cities to reduce extreme heat and benefit health

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:34 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of communities around the country will share more than $1 billion in federal money to help them plant and maintain trees under a federal program that is intended to reduce extreme heat, benefit health and improve access to nature.U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the $1.13 billion in funding for 385 projects at an event Thursday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The tree plantings efforts will be focused on marginalized areas in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and some tribal nations.“We believe we can create more resilient communities in terms of the impacts of climate,” Vilsack told reporters in previewing his announcement. “We think we can mitigate extreme heat incidents and events in many of the cities.”Separately, the USDA's Forest Service allocated $250 million to most state and territory forest agencies to benefit urban tree canopies and access to nature. That money was grant...