RTD can’t seem to overcome its labor shortages — a problem that’s affecting bus and train riders

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

RTD can’t seem to overcome its labor shortages — a problem that’s affecting bus and train riders Shortages of bus drivers, train operators and some other key workers at the Regional Transportation District are just as large or worse than they were before a new union contract last year significantly raised wages, along with hopes for a turnaround.The metro Denver transit agency was short 184 bus drivers as of last month — a 19% vacancy rate that’s improved since last summer, but is still slightly higher than it was in January 2022, according to RTD employment data. RTD has backslid when it comes to light rail train operators, with vacancies in that position growing from 8% to 19% since early last year.And while some maintenance, technician and service categories have notched big improvements, others still are stuck with 30% or more of jobs empty.RTD leaders point to an encouraging surge in applications after it began offering $4,000 hiring bonuses and the new union contract initially boosted wages at least 16%, with more raises to come. Total hiring more than doubled...

Denver losing out to Kansas City in another area – apartment searches

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Denver losing out to Kansas City in another area – apartment searches Midwestern apartment markets are now some of the most popular in the country as people place affordability over the hipness associated with one-time draws like Austin, Texas, Seattle and Silicon Valley, according to a report from RentCafe.com.Kansas City, Mo., was the nation’s most searched apartment market for the second month in a row in June. And up next was Overland Park, a nearby suburb in Kansas, which shot up 78 spots in its ranking to No. 2.Five of the top 10 most searched cities are in the Midwest, including Minneapolis, Cincinnati and Detroit. Four of the top 10 are in the southeast: Atlanta; Orlando, Fla.; Raleigh, N.C., and Arlington, Va.Albuquerque, N.M., came in at fifth, marking the third month it has managed to hold a spot in the top five.Denver is still high on the radar screen of apartment hunters, showing up in the 15th spot, down from No. 6 in May. It was sandwiched between the Bronx and Washington, D.C., in the rankings. Given that there were 150 cities st...

Billions in new funding for fires, floods, heat waves heading toward California ballot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Billions in new funding for fires, floods, heat waves heading toward California ballot Massive forest fires. Deadly floods. Record heat waves. Historic droughts.Over the past decade, California has repeatedly experienced the destructive impacts of climate change — “weather on steroids” — costing billions of dollars in damage and claiming dozens of lives.Now, in what may be the largest environmental measure ever placed on a state ballot in California, lawmakers in Sacramento are drafting a $15 billion “climate bond” for next year’s elections to test whether voters are willing to open their wallets to harden the state’s defenses.Two similar bills are moving forward in the Legislature, with broad support from the Democratic majority and Gov. Gavin Newsom.Both would provide significant new funding to thin forests, boost flood control projects, plant trees to cool cities, expand renewable energy, and take other steps to deal with a climate that scientists say will continue to warm for generations to come.“This is a first-of-its-kin...

Chris Paul has never come off the bench, will he with the Warriors?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Chris Paul has never come off the bench, will he with the Warriors? Chris Paul has started every single one of his 1,214 regular season games and 149 playoff games in 18 seasons as an NBA player. His best-suited role with the Golden State Warriors, though, will have him coming off the bench.Strip ego and history away and the logic is simple. The 38-year-old Paul was swapped in for 24-year-old Jordan Poole largely because he can transform the role Poole played over the last two years into something that will make the Warriors more competitive and mistake-free next season.Poole moved from the starting lineup — a stretch in which the Warriors went 18-2 last season — to the bench after Klay Thompson’s return from his Achilles injury in mid-2022 and largely struggled with the second-unit point guard job. Last season, it became clear Poole didn’t fit the role of a second-unit decision-maker and felt more comfortable as a microwave scorer. He often turned the ball over and the second unit made plenty of mistakes throughout the seaso...

Me & My Car: ’78 Porsche definitely a keeper for Danville owner

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Me & My Car: ’78 Porsche definitely a keeper for Danville owner Ferdinand Porsche was born in 1875, died in 1951 and in between led a very interesting 75-year life. He created and manufactured the first gas-electric hybrid called the Lohner-Porsche in 1900 and built them until 1905. He attended some college but never completed a formal engineering education. He was a Czechoslovakian citizen until 1934, when either Adolf Hitler or Joseph Goebbels made him a naturalized German citizen.Related ArticlesLocal News | Me & My Car: Martinez man keeping his ’37 Buick in state of ‘arrested decay’ Local News | Me & My Car: 1927 Ford Model T ‘meant to be’ Fremont man’s Local News | Me & My Car: ’57 Chevy 150 could easily become a show model In 1934, Hitler awarded a contract to Porsche to design and build “the people’s car” or Volkswagen. He also was a major contributor to the German war effort in World War II, including tanks and other weapon systems. Porsche was a member o...

Trump's “Final Battle”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Trump's “Final Battle” Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Dayton International Airport on Nov. 7, 2022, in Vandalia, Ohio. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesSince Donald Trump left the White House, he’s been developing some new material that reached its apogee in a speech he delivered soon after his indictment for mishandling classified documents. Take a listen to this part, as the former president of the United States — and current frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination — tells us that “at the end of the day, either the Communists destroy America, or we destroy the Communists.”At another point in the same speech, Trump proclaimed, “This is the final battle. With you at my side … we will drive out the globalists, we will cast out the communists.”He’s made similar remarks on many occasions. Here he is haranguing us about the Marxists and communists: Screenshot: The InterceptLast November he was musing about how “the problem we have is that we are headed toward communism. … ...

La revuelta en Rusia terminó, pero persisten las dudas sobre el poder de Putin

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

La revuelta en Rusia terminó, pero persisten las dudas sobre el poder de Putin El mayor desafío para el presidente de Rusia, Vladímir Putin, en sus más de dos décadas en el poder se desvaneció después de que el comandante mercenario rebelde que había ordenado a sus tropas que marcharan sobre Moscú alcanzara un súbito acuerdo con el Kremlin para irse al exilio y dispusiera la retirada.Sin embargo, la breve revuelta dejó a la vista las vulnerabilidades en las fuerzas del gobierno ruso, ya que los soldados del Grupo Wagner al mando de Yevgeny Prigozhin llegaron sin oposición hasta la ciudad rusa de Rostov del Don y avanzaron centenares de millas en dirección a Moscú. Las fuerzas armadas rusas se apresuraron a defender la capital rusa.Según el acuerdo que el portavoz del Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, anunció el sábado, Prigozhin se exiliará en la vecina Bielorrusia, que ha apoyado la invasión de Rusia en Ucrania. Los cargos contra Prigozhin de organizar una rebelión armada serán retirados.El gobierno también dijo que no enjuiciará a los combatientes de Wagner que hayan ...

Emilia Clarke dice que casi atropella a Samuel L. Jackson en el set de ‘Secret Invasion’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Emilia Clarke dice que casi atropella a Samuel L. Jackson en el set de ‘Secret Invasion’ (CNN) — Emilia Clarke estaba encantada de unirse al Universo Cinematográfico Marvel, pero un casi accidente con Samuel L. Jackson casi la hace tambalearse.“Casi le atropello”, reveló la estrella de “Game of Thrones” a Yahoo Entertainment en una entrevista en video publicada este viernes, en referencia a un percance en el rodaje de la nueva serie del MCU “Secret Invasion”.Clarke describió cómo le ordenaron conducir un Lada –que, según explicó, “es como un automóvil ruso muy antiguo”– para una escena de la serie de suspense de ciencia ficción, en la que se suponía que tenía que conducir hasta la cámara, y Jackson, y detenerse en seco.Sin embargo, la transmisión y la palanca de cambios eran confusas, ya que el Lada tenía algo así como seis mandos y 10 pedales, parecido a “un tractor”, explicó Clarke.Sin embargo, la producción iba con retraso y había presión para conseguir la toma, así que Clarke se lanzó.“Me equivo...

Zucchini Lasagna, Belkys

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Zucchini Lasagna, Belkys It’s a different kind of lasagna that will have your mouth watering.Ingredients:2 medium zucchini1/2 cup bread crumbs1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese3/4 tsp. parsley flakes1/2 tsp. each, garlic powder, onion powder and paprikasalt to taste6 thin slices prosciutto8 oz. shredded mozzarella1-2 tbs. olive oilMethod of Preparation:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 X 5 loaf pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with olive oil.Trim then slice your zucchini into thin pieces lengthwise. (Use a mandolin for perfect slices) Discard the outer skin slices. In a small bowl, whisk together the bread crumbs, grated parmesan, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt to taste.Start off by sprinkling 1-2 tbs. of the breadcrumb mixture on the bottom of the pan. Layer in a few slices of zucchini, overlapping each other. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture on top. Next, add three crinkled slices of prosciutto to cover and then add the shredded mozzarella. Repeat the process until al...

Tina Turner to be honored by Patti LaBelle during the BET Awards on Sunday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:34:05 GMT

Tina Turner to be honored by Patti LaBelle during the BET Awards on Sunday (CNN) — The legendary Tina Turner will receive a posthumous tribute this weekend as part of the 2023 BET Awards.Patti LaBelle is set to honor the late icon with a performance during the awards show that will capture “the essence of Turner’s unparalleled legacy,” according to a release from BET.Turner died last month at the age of 83 at her home near Zurich, Switzerland.This year’s BET Awards will also honor several other landmark entertainers. Busta Rhymes will receive the lifetime achievement award at the event, with Bia, Coi Leray, Cutty Ranks, Dexta Daps, M.O.P., Rah Digga, ScarLip, Spice, Supercat, Swizz Beatz and others set to take the stage to celebrate Rhymes and his career.Past lifetime achievement award recipients have included Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Samuel Jackson, Lionel Richie and New Edition.The BET Awards 2023 will air live on Sunday on BET at 8 p.m. ET/ PT from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The show will also stream on BET+ and ...