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Business lobby attacks as New York nears a noncompete ban, rare in the US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — When people think of noncompete agreements, they usually think of corporate executives with knowledge of prized trade secrets, whose lavish pay packages often come with a condition that if they quit or get fired, they can’t go work for an industry rival.More and more, though, employers are requiring regular workers to sign those deals. About 1 in 5 American workers, nearly 30 million people, are bound by noncompete agreements, according to the Federal Trade Commission.Horror stories about companies using noncompete agreements to trap workers in middling jobs or punish them for taking their skills elsewhere for better pay prompted New York legislators to pass a bill last June that would ban noncompete agreements.Five months later, though, Gov. Kathy Hochul hasn’t said whether she intends to sign the legislation, which has come under a fierce attack by business groups.The Public Policy Institute of the State of New York, an affiliate of the Business Cou...

Reports: David Braun to be permanently hired as Northwestern's head football coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

EVANSTON — Northwestern University interim head football coach David Braun will be named the team's permanent head coach, according to multiple reports.According to The Inside Zone's Matt Fortuna, NU Athletics let the football team's staff know Wednesday that the interim tag on Braun is being removed.ESPN's Pete Thamel and Adam Rittenberg later corroborated Fortuna's report on Braun becoming Northwestern's permanent head coach.A year after a disastrous 1-11 season put the Wildcats at the bottom of the barrel in the college football landscape, controversy rocked the program as a hazing scandal made its rounds, and led to the firing of former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was the longest tenured head football coach in the Big Ten at the time. Among Big Ten’s first-year coaches, Northwestern’s David Braun looks like biggest winner Braun took over with no previous head coaching experience and has led the program to a 5-5 record with two games remaining — which is more wins t...

'Beauty and the Beast' attraction closing at Disney California theme park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

(KTLA) — Beast’s Library, an attraction that allowed guests to explore the “Beauty and the Beast” character’s secret library, will permanently close on Dec. 10, Disneyland officials announced Tuesday.Disney’s Imagination Campus, an educational program that teaches students how to use their imagination to solve various challenges, will take over the space.“Our plan is for Imagination Campus to use the Beast's Library space moving forward and the final day for guests to experience Beast's Library will be Dec. 10,” a Disneyland official told Nexstar's KTLA. Disneyland’s ‘Fantasmic!’ expected to return in May 2024 The Beast's Library attraction is tucked away inside the Sorcerer’s Workshop, located in Hollywood Land at Disney’s California Adventure Park. The famous Prince portrait hangs in the middle of the room and guests can watch as it changes to the clawed version, just like it did in the 1991 animated film.The enchanted book in the library also asks guests a series of questions t...

Frito-Lay recalls 16,000 crisps sold in 26 states — including Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – Frito-Lay issued a voluntary recall of more than 16,000 bags of veggie crisps that may contain undeclared milk, an allergen.According to the Food and Drug Administration, Frito-Lay said some of its Off the Eaten Path Chickpea Veggie Crisps may contain milk ingredients due to the unintended presence of caramel seasoned crisps. The recall comes after an investigation into a customer complaint, FDA officials said.The recall covers the snacks sold in 6 ¼ oz bags with a use-by date of March 12, 2024. The affected products have manufacturing codes 55432514MH, 55432516MH or 55432517MH. Family Dollar recalls dozens of products sold in 23 states Costumers would have been able to purchase the products as early as Sept. 13. The products were distributed to retail stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, P...

Devon Wylie, former NFL player for Chiefs and Titans, dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE) – Devon Wylie, a former NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans, has passed away at 35.Wylie's death was confirmed by family members in a social media post shared Monday. Devon Wylie, then of the Kansas City Chiefs, returns a kickoff during a game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Colorado, on December 30, 2012. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)The former NFL player was also mourned earlier this week by the Fresno State football team, of which he was a member between 2007-2011."Forever a Bulldog," reads an X post shared to the team's official page. "Our thoughts are with the Wylie family during this difficult time." Super Bowl bonus: How much extra money do the winners and losers make? During his time with Fresno State, Wylie returned 41 punts for an average of 13.5 yards, and went All-American as a punt returner in 2011. He also played wide receiver for the Bulldogs, catching 98 passes for 1,327 yards and eight touchdown...

Republicans renew calls for TikTok ban over Israel-Hamas posts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A handful of Republican lawmakers are renewing calls for a ban on TikTok in the U.S., saying content on the app is inflaming divisions surrounding the war between Israel and Hamas."This is a huge problem," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said.He said the Chinese-owned platform is amplifying hate as it surges antisemitic and pro-Hamas content."It's is like an ocean of propaganda," he said.Last week, he tried to push through a federal ban on the Senate floor, but the measure was blocked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who called it censorship."This is not a subject we should entertain likely," Paul said. "A ban on TikTok is what they do in China. You're worried about Chinese communism and Chinese authoritarianism and you want to ban speech in our country."TikTok denied it is intentionally promoting anti-Israel content to its more than 1 billion users."People in regions such as the Middle East and South East Asia account for a significant portion of views," it said in a state...

APD provides more details in Bernoulli Drive officer-involved shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department provided more details about names of the victims of suspect in the officer-involved shooting that happened on Bernoulli Drive over the weekend.The shooting occurred in the 9300 block of Bernoulli Drive on Saturday, Nov. 12, according to police.Officer Jorge Pastore was killed while trying to rescue two people being held hostage in Austin, Texas, police said. (KXAN Photos/Sarah Al-Shaikh)APD Officer Jorge Pastore died during the shooting, and another office was injured but was released from the hospital on Tuesday, according to police. ‘A man of service’: Officer remembers Jorge Pastore, talks how community can help Two other victims were found inside the home and were pronounced dead on the scene, according to APD.A neighbor said the funeral for the three people who died in the home during the shooting, which escalated to a SWAT situation, was held Tuesday. Neighbor attended funeral for two victims, suspect in hostage situation KXAN...

Buc-ee's partners with Mercedes-Benz to build new EV charging ports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

HOUSTON (KXAN) -- The gas station known for having clean amenities and beaver nuggets is expanding with a new feature for electric vehicles, according to a news release from Buc-ee's.Buc-ee's is partnering with Mercedes-Benz HPC North America to launch a network of premium charging stations for electric vehicles at the majority of Buc-ee's travel centers across the country. Already breaking ground on some locations, Mercedes-Benz HPC NA plans to open the key markets by the end of the year and a total of 31 hubs by the end of 2024."Buc-ee's values people and partnerships," said Buc-ee's General Counsel Jeff Naldo in the release. "Our new collaboration with Mercedes-Benz HPC North America will continue our traditions of elevated customer convenience and excellent service that have won the hearts, trust and business of millions in the south for more than 40 years." The majority of Buc-ee's locations are in Texas, however since 2019 the gas station has spread to 12 other locations acros...

High school football: Thursday state semifinal predictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

Class 6A: Lakeville South (10-1) vs. Centennial (10-1), 7 p.m.Centennial is making its first state tournament semifinal appearance since 1984. The Cougars got here by playing their traditional brand of physically dominant football, only at a higher level than they’ve achieved in the past. The thought here is Centennial will control the trenches in this game, as well. But Lakeville South has a championship pedigree and the ability to out-execute at critical junctures, even if the eye test suggests it is being outplayed. OUR PICK: Centennial 20, Lakeville South 13Class 4A: Byron (10-1) vs. Rocori (9-2), 4 p.m.In its past four games, Rocori has beaten Orono twice, Detroit Lakes and Becker. The Spartans are as battle-tested as they come. OUR PICK: Rocori 31, Byron 17Related ArticlesHigh School Sports | State football: Mahtomedi puts scare in No. 1 Chanhassen but falls late   High School Sports | State football: Savion Hart runs wild as St. Thomas Academy downs...

Reimagining I-787 efforts continue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The work to reimagine I-787 continues as Albany leaders navigate the next steps. “It’s just not about creating access to the Hudson River," Corey Ellis, Albany Common Council President, said. "It’s about creating a community and healing a community that’s been cut off for so long.” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Reconnecting and reinvesting in Albany's South End, and other communities impacted by the I-787 bridge, is a key driving factor in the reimagining initiative. “Because of the redlining, because of the neighborhoods that have been cut off for years, the disinvestment because of a highway going through their neighborhood, we want to make sure those wrongs are right this time around," Ellis said. Ellis and Scott Townsend, President of the Albany Riverfront Collective, are current meeting with other small cities and towns with similar development goals, as part of the Community Connectors grant, to...