Man charged with killing former Minnesota House speaker is due back in court after delay
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Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
7 People Missing After 'Tragic' Explosion at California Fireworks Facility
Seven people remain unaccounted for following an explosion at a fireworks facility in Esparto, California, officials have said "First responders and investigators are working diligently with the property owner to determine the whereabouts of those individuals," a Yolo County government news release confirmed The "cause of the explosion remains under investigation," the county's sheriff's office said on FacebookMultiple individuals remain unaccounted for following an explosion at a fireworks facility in northern California, authorities have confirmed. On Tuesday, July 1, at approximately 6 p.m. local time, the Esparto Fire Protection District and the Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal (OFSM) responded after an "explosion at a pyrotechnics facility in Esparto," a news release shared by Yolo County officials noted. "Seven individuals remain unaccounted for. First responders and investigators are working diligently with the property owner to determine the whereabouts of those individuals," the post shared on Wednesday stated of the incident, which occurred on County Road 23 and County Road 86A. "We have investigators monitoring the area remotely utilizing unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to assess hazards and further the investigation," the release added. The Yolo County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post late on Tuesday, "As many of you are aware, there was a significant explosion earlier today near the Esparto/Madison area, specifically around County Road 23 and County Road 86A. A warehouse storing fireworks exploded and continues to burn." Video footage shared by NBC News showed the moment the warehouse burst into flames, before the blaze triggered a huge fireball. The outlet identified the fireworks company as Devastating Pyrotechnics. The company said in a statement on its website, "Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel. Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation." In a separate Yolo County news release shared on Wednesday, Yolo County Board of Supervisors Angel Barajas, District 5, extended officials' "deepest concern to those impacted and our thoughts remain especially with the families of the seven individuals still unaccounted for." "This is a tragic and evolving situation, and we want to express our profound gratitude to the first responders, fire personnel, law enforcement agencies, and supporting partners from across the region who worked through the night to contain the fire, secure the scene, and protect residents,' Barajas said, per the post. The release stated that county authorities' focus was now "on supporting the ongoing response including search efforts and the active investigation being led by Cal Fire – Office of State Fire Marshal. We are committed to working closely with all involved agencies to ensure the investigation is thorough, transparent, and maintains its integrity." 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy. We stand with the Esparto community and will continue to support the response and recovery in every way possible,' Mary Vixie-Sandy, Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and District 3 Representative, stated, per the post, which added that residents in the area had been "strongly urged to avoid evacuation zones to ensure their safety." Esparto Fire Protection District and local first responders "have been prioritizing efforts to gain access to the facility to mitigate hazards with the use of firefighting equipment," a further release shared later on Wednesday added, stating that efforts would continue throughout the evening. "The scene currently remains active and hazardous with explosions continuing to occur throughout the afternoon and evening," the latest news release update confirmed. Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence told reporters on Tuesday that firefighters had discovered "a few commercial buildings well-involved, as well as numerous explosions and numerous spot fires throughout the area" while responding to the scene, per NBC News. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Yolo County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that "the cause of the explosion remains under investigation." Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence, the Yolo County Sheriff's Office and a spokesperson for Devastating Pyrotechnics didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. Read the original article on People
Fox News
25 minutes ago
- Fox News
Wisconsin ski park faces lawsuit after allegedly firing employee for sharing Bible verses on social media
A Wisconsin snow park is facing a federal lawsuit that accuses it of firing a Christian employee for posting Bible verses on his personal social media account. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a complaint against Crystal Ridge Ski Area, LLC, formerly known as The Rock Snowpark, a winter sports park and summer events venue in Franklin, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. Their complaint alleges the park discriminated against a former employee who worked there from January 2, 2022 to June 12, 2023. During his time of employment, the Rock Snowpark employee "frequently posted religious messages" including Bible verses, on his personal social media account, the suit states. On June 9, 2023, Rock Snowpark's Operations Manager met with the individual and expressed concern that his posts "were discriminatory to gay people," and asked him to refrain from posting these statements. When the employee asked if he could still post Bible verses, the manager gave approval, the suit says. Three days later, the employee posted another Bible verse on his personal social media and was terminated the same day. The EEOC complaint states the employee did not identify his workplace or claim to be representing the views of his employer on his social media account. His posts were not directed at any employee of Rock Snowpark and the park did not receive any complaints about the posts, the complaint claims. The employee had worked for the company for a year and a half before his termination, during which time he received bonuses and was promoted for his excellent performance, according to the lawsuit. The EEOC filed the suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement, the complaint explains. The park is accused of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. The commission is asking the court to issue a permanent injunction restricting Crystal Ridge from engaging in "any employment practices which discriminate on the basis of religion in violation of Title VII." The commission asks the court to order the park to implement new policies to ensure equal employment opportunities "regardless of religion." The complaint also asks for the employee to receive backpay and compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged harms caused. The commission is requesting a jury trial in the case. "All employees have the right to earn a living free from discrimination based on their religious beliefs," EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas said in a press release. "While employers must remain alert to potential harassment in the workplace, religious statements made outside of work that do not reference or impact anyone in the workplace do not constitute unlawful harassment." Crystal Ridge Ski Area told Fox News Digital it had not yet been served the legal complaint but rejected the allegations. "First, we want to make clear that we, as an employer and member of the community, treat all of our employees and customers equally and with respect, regardless of who they are and what they believe," the park said. "We also expect all of our employees to similarly respect each other and the customers that we are here to serve." "Second, we want to make clear that the internal employment decision that apparently led to the EEOC's lawsuit was not made on the basis of the employee's religious beliefs. Rather, it was a business decision based on performance issues and policy violations," they added, saying they had no further comment on the matter.
Wall Street Journal
29 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
How Hunter Biden Helped Derail His Father's Reelection
June 2024 was going to be a momentous month for Joe Biden's presidency: trips to France and Italy, a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles with Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and the first debate against Donald Trump. But there was another matter at the top of the president's mind. As Biden confided to a close friend, 'The only thing I care about is that my son is not convicted.' On June 3, Hunter Biden reported to a federal courthouse in Wilmington, Del., to face three felony charges for lying on a federal firearms application and possessing a gun while abusing drugs. Beyond the danger to Hunter's liberty, the trial was sure to embarrass the Biden family, airing sordid secrets from the painful years after Hunter's brother Beau Biden died of cancer.
