Latest news with #Express-News
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Factory worker wins nearly $100K after taking Tesla to court: 'Blue-collar guy who took on a ... Tesla attorney and won'
Paul Janikowski said he had been working at a manufacturing plant in Fremont, California, for many years before Tesla moved in, altering his life forever. According to an article by the San Antonio Express-News, Janikowski faced devastating injuries nearly six years ago after three tons of steel fell onto his legs and dragged him while he was working on the Tesla production line. The Tesla facility had been manufacturing GM and Toyota products for years before the EV company moved in, and Janikowski had only been working under Tesla for a few months before his legs were crushed. While he was cleaning the steel skids used to carry cars down the line, they became unstable, knocked him over, and pushed him down the assembly line. The incident report from Tesla said, "Paul was yelling for help the whole time," as cited by the Express-News. The incident left Janikowski with serious injuries, requiring four surgeries on his legs, though he was advised not to sue, as he would lose his job. He returned to work, only for a year later to be let go. The Express-News said Janikowski "now has a metal plate and screws in his right leg, lost muscle and tissue in his left leg, suffers chronic pain and has a permanent limp." Tesla is a leader in the electric vehicle manufacturing world, and its work has served as a cornerstone of environmental consciousness and technological advancement. As gas-powered cars contribute much more to greenhouse gas pollution, which cause air quality and health issues and lead to increasing temperatures, the developments by companies like Tesla are key in making a positive change. But situations like Janikowski's come at great alarm. Unsafe conditions, problematic behavior, and even death at Tesla factories have occurred over the years and led to legal trouble, with the Express-News reporting that "Occupational Safety and Health Administration records show Tesla has had at least 152 safety violations at its U.S. production facilities since 2018." For better or worse, problems like these are not uncommon at companies operating major factories, but such examples help to show why it's valuable to have governmental regulations and legal recourse — something Janikowski recently pursued. The operation Janikowski was part of — called Job 1911 — was dismantled soon after he and others faced injuries. One of Paul's coworkers, who discovered him with the steel atop his legs, explained, "The company suddenly canceled the operation, knowing how insane it was," according to the Express-News. What do you think of Tesla and Elon Musk? Elon is the man Love the company; hate the CEO I'm not a fan of either I don't have an opinion Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The courts ruled in favor of Janikowski's case, and while not yet final, he hopes to get $95,000 from the ruling, on top of the $62,350 he previously received for a workers' compensation claim. The Express-News reported that Janikowski said the ruling was satisfying, particularly for a "blue-collar guy who took on a high-ranked, high-paid Tesla attorney and won." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Can you spot what caught the attention of ICE agents in this Texas backyard tree?
An undocumented immigrant spent nearly nine hours hidden in a backyard tree in Texas, desperately trying to evade arrest by ICE agents. Raul Ical, a 29-year-old Guatemalan native, climbed into a tree on San Antonio's West Side on Tuesday morning, triggering an hours-long stand-off drawing the attention of neighbors, relatives and activists in the neighborhood. The tense showdown ended with Ical's detainment, and he is now facing criminal charges for illegal re-entry after first being deported in 2013. 'You can run, but you can't hide,' Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a statement to X following the situation. 'Whether in a tree or harbored in an activist judge's house, if you are here illegally, ICE will find you, arrest you, and you will be deported.' At around 10:30 am Tuesday morning, San Antonio deportation officers and state police pulled over a car with Ical as the passenger, attempting to serve him with what the agency described as a 'criminal warrant'. Ical, who was on his way to work at the time, frantically texted a relative that he was being 'chased' by ICE agents, San Antonio Express-News reported. Just minutes later, the 29-year-old man bolted - racing into a nearby backyard and climbing a tree to evade arrest. There, he remained perched in the branches for hours. The agency said that Ical illegally entered the US in March 2013 and was deported the very next month. He ended up returning to the country, though the exact date remains unknown. A relative said that Ical had been living in San Antonio for more than two years, according to Express-News. It does not appear as though he has a violent criminal history. 'Like every other immigrant, he's here trying to have a better life for his family,' the unnamed relative told the outlet, adding that he was single and worked both landscaping and construction jobs to support himself and his parents. News of the standoff rapidly spread throughout the neighborhood as agents tried to persuade Ical to climb down with a ladder they propped up on the trunk - all while dozens of concerned community members began to gather around. 'This is something that concerns me,' Gabriel Rosales, director of Texas chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, told The New York Times about his experience at the scene. 'They are coming into our communities and coming after people that look like us.' Joel de la Roja, 61, grew worried when he saw a large presence of law enforcement officials around the neighborhood. 'A lot of people in this neighborhood are from Mexico, and they are probably scared, too,' Roja told NYT. 'It seems a bit too much. One man does not need all of these officers after him.' Chris Rodriguez, 38, heard a helicopter roaring above the neighborhood. He followed the noise on his bicycle. 'It's a sad situation,' he told the outlet. 'This is the first time I see something like this. If it's something where he's a danger to the community, then you understand it. But I think that if he's just undocumented, that's overkill.' During the hours-long standoff, many residents shouted advice to Ical as agents continued to swarm the backyard on the hot, 89-degree Texas day. Addressing Ical in Spanish, Express-News reported, one man was heard shouting: 'No te bajes, Raul', or 'Don't come down, Raul'. Later, that same man asked if he wanted an attorney, to which Ical signaled yes. At around 6:45 pm, Ical began to descend down the ladder but quickly changed his mind - climbing back up after bystanders urged him to stay away from authorities. 'You don't have to sign anything,' Jose Montoya, an activist, yelled to Ical, according to NYT. Defeated, Ical ultimately surrendered at about 7 pm. He was swiftly handcuffed by authorities, loaded into a white truck and taken away as the crowd watched on. 'Treat him well,' one woman yelled upon his departure, NYT reported. 'Don't sign anything. Don't say anything.' Tuesday's intense showdown is the latest high-profile example of the Trump administration's aggressive crackdown deportations of undocumented immigrants across the nation. Early Sunday morning, a total of 114 illegal migrants were dramatically arrested after police officers busted a nightclub in Colorado during a multi-agency enforcement operation with The Rocky Mountain Division of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The operation itself was part of a probe into drug trafficking, prostitution and crimes of violence taking place in the club, the DEA said. Authorities made their way to the underground nightclub in Colorado Springs, where Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua is based. Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and Hell's Angels gang members are known to frequent the underground club. It is unclear how many members were there at the time of the raid, DEA Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen said. More than a dozen active duty service members were also in the building, some as patrons and others working security. The United States Army Criminal Investigation Division is now a part of the investigation into those individuals, Pullen said. Dramatic video revealed the massive bust operation - including the moment a slew of officers surrounded the building before one of them smashed through a glass window. Officers were seen with their guns out as they instructed people to put their hands up and surrender. Many of those detained were not in the country legally and taken into ICE custody. Drugs and weapons were also seized during the operation, the agency said. Meanwhile, ICE agents arrested nearly 800 illegal immigrants following a statewide crackdown in Florida. Operation Tidal Wave - a joint effort by ICE agents, Homeland Security and local law enforcement - resulted in officers arresting 780 migrants. As part of the massive sweep, 275 people were arrested with final orders of removal, meaning a court has mandated that they leave the country already. A total of 65,682 illegal immigrants were removed within Trump's first 100 days, a Department of Homeland Security official revealed to the Daily Mail.
Axios
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Why food is the "real attraction" of Fiesta San Antonio
Fiesta is a food lover's dream, and for many, it's the reason for the confetti-covered season. Why it matters: For 11 glorious days, eating chicken-on-a-stick — and other party favorites — for breakfast, lunch and dinner is socially acceptable. "Let's get real, the real attraction of Fiesta is the food," Edmund Tijerina, longtime food writer and former Express-News food critic, tells Axios. "The parades are nice and it's always fun to reconnect with friends, but Fiesta is an excuse to romp on food that you don't normally enjoy the rest of the year." State of play: Food is available at most — if not all — Fiesta events, official and unofficial. But the epicenter of iconic Fiesta eats is a Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA), held April 29 through May 2 at La Villita, NIOSA chairperson Lisa Pierce tells Axios. Tijerina agrees: "If you're going to do only one event for the food, eat your way through NIOSA." Some of the most popular eats are chicken-on-a-stick (fried, skewered chicken patty), Bongo-K-Bobs (beef shish kebabs) and Maria's Tortillas (fresh corn tortilla with melted cheddar). Flashback: Chicken-on-a-stick, arguably Fiesta's most recognizable food, got its start at NIOSA 77 years ago, Pierce says. The original idea was to make everything handheld for easy partying. "Everything at NIOSA is on a stick. They wanted it to be easy to carry and still stack those cups," Pierce says. Back then, the chicken breasts were hand-battered and fried onsite. By the numbers: NIOSA said 22,000 chickens-on-a-stick, 11,500 Bongo-K-Bobs and 6,600 Maria's Tortillas are gobbled up on average throughout the four days. Behind the scenes: NIOSA is entirely volunteer-run. Last year, 10,318 volunteers participated. Pierce says the level of volunteer dedication often surprises organizers throughout the events industry. Many booths are passed down through generations of Fiesta families. "They've always been taught, 'Never let that booth go,'" she says. "This is something that's bred into these people. It's a generational thing, and no one can redo what we're doing."
Axios
11-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Texas is a data center job hotspot in the tech boom
Texas continues to lead the charge in data center employment, with the second-highest number of jobs nationwide, new data shows. Why it matters: Companies, investors and the government are pouring tons of money and resources into data centers to help power AI and other next-gen tech. But there's debate over how many jobs they'll create and whether they're worth the energy required to run them. Driving the news: California, Texas, Florida, New York and Georgia collectively make up more than 40% of U.S. data center employment, per the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Workforce Indicators. At 17%, California has the highest share in the nation, followed by Texas, with 10% (47,856 jobs). By the numbers: Texas has seen a 38% increase in data center jobs from 2018 to 2024. Travis, Dallas, Collin, Harris and Bexar counties accounted for nearly 76% of the state's total data center employment in the second quarter of 2024. Caveat: These numbers include data centers as well as web hosting and a few other related fields. Zoom in: Microsoft is expanding its Texas data center footprint with two new facilities in Medina County, west of San Antonio. The $765 million project will span 489,400 square feet, the Express-News reported in February. Construction is set to begin in June and finish in July 2027. Another $700 million project, also in Medina, will add 490,000 square feet of data center space. Microsoft also has a cluster of data centers on over 300 acres on the far West Side of San Antonio. The big picture: This expansion is in line with the broader surge in data center investments by Big Tech, as the industry faces mounting demand to support AI's growing energy needs, Axios recently reported. The boom has led CPS Energy to invest $1.3 billion to upgrade its infrastructure to meet demand. ERCOT forecasts that electricity demand from major users like data centers will jump nearly 60% from 2024 to 2025. What to watch: Microsoft is addressing its environmental impact. It recently signed a 25-year deal with Chestnut Carbon to restore 60,000 acres in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana by planting over 35 million trees to offset its carbon emissions.
Axios
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
The best places to cry in public in San Antonio
Valentine's weekend can be tough, whether you got ghosted or are just feeling out a prolonged situationship. If you're feeling down and out, here are a few places in San Antonio where you can have a good public cry. Wonderland of the Americas: This old-school mall, with its shiny floors and overly bright fluorescent lighting, often feels sad itself. Six Flags Fiesta Texas: There's usually a kid crying somewhere here — maybe they didn't get that expensive ice cream cone, or got scared by a ride. You'll fit right in. The Magic Time Machine: This restaurant has a surreal atmosphere that's perfect for children's birthday parties during the day and adult-only comedy shows at night. The Express-News thinks it's a great restaurant to break up in — we'd definitely cry there, too. The bottom line: We hope you don't need this list, but keep it close to the vest.
