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Former Minnesota employee sues BNSF for employment discrimination after her gender transition

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

A former BNSF worker from Minnesota who was named one of the railroad’s employees of the year in 2021 for her work in supporting LGBTQ+ workers is now suing the railroad where she worked for 30 years, saying that after being promoted regularly earlier in her career she was denied advancement opportunities after her gender transition.Randi Berghorst sued the Fort Worth, Texas-based railroad in federal court recently, arguing BNSF discriminated against her.“I’m extremely disappointed that this is where it had to go,” she said.BNSF declined to comment directly on Berghorst’s lawsuit, and it hasn’t yet responded formally in court. But railroad spokesperson Lena Kent defended BNSF’s hiring practices and said the railroad doesn’t discriminate against people based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Kent cited the PRIDE+ employee group that Berghorst helped form as evidence that BNSF “is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.”“Once hired, our employees are entitled to...

St. Paul teen faces adult charges in fatal shooting of motorist on East Side

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

A 16-year-old St. Paul boy has been certified to stand trial as an adult in last year’s murder of Yuliya (Julia) Li, a 34-year-old businesswoman shot in the head while driving on the East Side in what police described as a random and unprovoked killing.Ramsey County District Judge Robyn Millenacker made the decision Monday about Melvin Dump Williams, whose name was not released in last year’s juvenile complaint because he was 15. St. Paul police officials said at the time the teen suspect had an extensive and violent criminal history.Melvin Dump Williams (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)A criminal complaint filed Tuesday in adult court charges Williams, of St. Paul, with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree murder-drive-by shooting in connection with the Feb. 16, 2022, attack.The complaint provides details not previously released by police, but does not mention an apparent motive. At the time, a police spokesperson said Lia was “going about her bus...

High school comedy taking the stage in Picture Butte

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsStudents at Picture Butte High School have been busy rehearsing getting ready to put on this year’s play called “30 Reasons Not to be in a Play.” Written by Alan Haehnel, the play is being directed by teacher Mark Ogle and will feature 16 talented students ranging in age from grades 7-12. The production, which will run at the high school from May 16-18 promises to be a memorable night for audience members.The comedy, “30 Reasons Not to be in a Play” pokes fun at stereotypes and tropes which are often associated with high school productions. The play features a series of satirical sketches and monologues which consider 30 reasons why someone might not want to get involved with a school play. Some of the reasons include stage fright, being forced to wear a costume you don’t like, or “because your older sister was in a play and she loved it, so you have to hate it.” The play is bound to have audiences howling with laughter from start to finish.According ...

CAPTURE to go to Inter-municipal Committee

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsCoalhurst will be continuing speaking with neighbouring municipalities on implementing the CAPTURE Program.During their regular May 2 meeting, Coalhurst town council received an update into their inquiry about the CAPTURE Program.The CAPTURE, or Community Assisted Policing Through Use of Recorded Evidence, program is an initiative that establishes a directory of cameras, such as doorbell and external cameras, in a community. The rationale behind it is that if there is an incident in the community, the RCMP could then look up in the database who has a camera in the area that may have captured the incident, and can contact the individual/business to ask if they would be willing to volunteer to share their footage. It is a voluntary program that people can sign up for, and everyone has the option of whether to provide the recorded information. The database would only have the camera owner’s contact information and not the information on the camera itsel...

Coalhurst makes budget adjustments

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsA number of adjustments have been made to the Town of Coalhurst’s 2023 budget.During their regular May 2 meeting, Coalhurst town council discussed a series of amendments to the 2023 budget.The first budget motion pertained to the addition of $2,000 for Online Facility Booking Software in the 2023 budget. The software would allow facility users to be able to easily access and book facilities in Coalhurst, helping to increase office efficiencies and free up staff time. Council passed a motion that Budget Motion 74-A (Online Facility Booking Software) for $2,000 be included in the 2023 budget.The second budget motion was for an adjustment for extraordinary meetings.An extraordinary meeting would be a meeting that was not planned for. While members of council can attend these meetings if they so choose, there is no budget for attending. According to administration, no extraordinary meetings have taken place so far this year.Coun. Heather Caldwell asked i...

Missouri bill could help high school athletes land endorsements

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri lawmakers approved a bill Tuesday that could open the door for high school recruits to earn endorsements, even before they begin their journeys in college athletics. The Missouri House approved HB 417 on Tuesday afternoon, though with a key amendment that allows high school students to land endorsements under certain conditions. It also allows college coaches to get more involved with helping enrolled athletes profit off their name, image and likeness. Morgan Wallen cancels 6 weeks of shows, taking vocal rest Mizzou Football coach Eli Drinkwitz shared a photo from the Missouri Capitol on Tuesday, suggesting that the legislation would be a "game changer." The NCAA first allowed college athletes around the United States, including Missouri, to legally earn money from their name, image and likeness in 2021. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Henderson (R-Bonne Terre) looks to expand upon that. The amendment to HB 417 would allow high school athletes plan...

Hundreds of fentanyl capsules seized in rural Missouri, three arrested

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

STEELVILLE, Mo. - Three people are behind bars after authorities seized hundreds of fentanyl capsules and other illegal drugs last week in rural Missouri. Crawford County prosecutors have charged Brendan Snodgrass, 28; Brent Sands, 30; and Mercedes Weiler, 30, in the investigation. Family mourns siblings struck and killed on I-170  According to the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, task force agents conducted a search warrant last Wednesday at a Steelville home on Sanke Road. When they arrived, agents found 250 capsules of fentanyl, one-eighth of an ounce of methamphetamine and one gram of suspected raw fentanyl. Snodgrass, Sands and Weiler all face various drug charges from possession to delivery of a controlled substance. All three are jailed without bond. "I appreciate the great work and dedication provided by our deputies and the partnership with LANEG [task force] for preventing these dangerous drugs from making their way into our community," said Crawford County Sheriff Dar...

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis hints at veto of bill that could delay gray wolf reintroduction

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Expect Colorado’s wildlife officials to begin releasing gray wolves back into forests along the Western Slope by the end of the year now that Gov. Jared Polis seems ready to clear any potential delays.Polis suggested that he would veto Senate Bill 23-256 after noting that Colorado Department of Natural Resources officials, and other state representatives, opposed the measure and warned that it could delay the plan to begin releasing wolves by December.“There shouldn’t be a lot of suspense on that one,” Polis told reporters Tuesday morning, noting that his office is still analyzing the measure, which legislators passed to his desk earlier this month.Since voters narrowly – and controversially – approved the reintroduction effort outlined in the 2020 measure Proposition 114, state wildlife officials have been developing their plan to bring the predators back and expected to begin capturing and releasing them by December. But Senate Bill 23-256, proposed late in the legislative session...

Tucker Carlson bringing show to Twitter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Tucker Carlson has announced his return to broadcasting, though it won't be on television.Instead, Carlson is bringing his show to Twitter.In an announcement posted to the social media platform Tuesday afternoon, Carlson excoriated the news industry as peddling in "at the most basic level ... a lie of the stealthiest and most insidious kind." Defamation suit produced trove of Tucker Carlson messages Carlson added that the news business has limits, "and if you bump up against those limits often enough, you will be fired for it.""That's not a guess; it's guaranteed," he added. Carlson was likely referring to his April 24 dismissal from Fox News, which reached a $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems after the company claimed Carlson and others aired falsehoods, including that Dominion rigged the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump. Five possible reasons Tucker Carlson and Fox News are parting company Carlson, who was fired from Fox News o...

Victoria's new secret: Streaming video

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

After catching heat for objectifying women with its pencil-skinny models parading around with angel wings in their unmentionables, Victoria's Secret is reinventing its lingerie fashion shows.The semi-nudie extravaganzas disappeared five years ago after critics said (correctly) that the bouillabaisse of bras and panties glorified unrealistic body types.Now Victoria's Secret is making another go of things. But this time the angel wings are adios, the event will be packaged as a feature film and it will be available on streaming services."This film is the ultimate expression of the Victoria's Secret brand transformation," Raúl Martinez, the company's head creative director, said in a statement."It will be driven by fashion, glamor and entertainment, with a nod to beloved iconography from the past but in a bold, redefined way," he said.Those are pretty high-falutin' words for what's essentially soft-core porn (at least in the eyes of many males who watched past Victoria's Secret fashion...