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Union Pacific hires CEO favored by hedge fund as profit falls 15% last quarter on weakening demand

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific has hired the CEO candidate favored by a hedge fund that’s been pressuring the railroad to improve amid disappointing results driven by weakening consumer demand and higher labor costs. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said its former chief operating officer Jim Vena will take over as CEO next month. Soroban Capital Partners, a hedge fund that holds a $1.6 billion stake in Union Pacific, had been urging the railroad to hire Vena because of his expertise in streamlining operations.The hedge fund said that UP lagged behind its peers during Lance Fritz’ 8-year tenure in all key measures. Soroban declined to comment on the hire Wednesday, but investors resoundingly endorsed it by sending Union Pacific’s stock soaring more than 10% to $238 Wednesday.“I am excited about returning to Union Pacific and look forward to the journey to be the safest, most reliable and most efficient railroad in the industry,” Vena said in a statement. “Worki...

Kenny Pickett arrived for his second Steelers training camp with confidence … and a foot massager

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Kenny Pickett is an NFL veteran now. The proof is in the luggage the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback packed for his second training camp at Saint Vincent College.Crammed in with all the usual bevy of creature comforts needed for three-plus weeks in somewhat cramped quarters was a piece of equipment Pickett forgot last summer: a foot massager.“My feet kill me in cleats every day,” Pickett explained with a laugh Wednesday just outside Rooney Hall. “That (massager) was probably the big piece that I brought this (time).”Pickett spoke with the ease of someone who knows where they stand, a marked departure from his indoctrination into the NFL last summer when he walked onto Chuck Noll field buried — at least briefly — on the depth chart behind Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.This time around there will be no parsing of his snap counts during practice. No breaking down of every throw of every drill. No doing everything in his power to stay out of the spotlight while he...

Broncos camp under Sean Payton has entirely different vibe from Nathaniel Hackett’s ‘Camp Cupcake’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Judging by the vibe at Wednesday’s “ramp-up” workout, the Denver Broncos are in for a much tougher training camp under new head coach Sean Payton than the infamous “Camp Cupcake” they took part in under Nathaniel Hackett a year ago.“We all saw it in the intensity and the sense of urgency from OTAs and minicamp and it just carried over into the practice that we just had,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. “… I was just talking to one of the guys in the weight room about how we do anything is how we do everything.”Players appear to have steeled themselves for a much more rigorous training camp and preseason slate than they had under Hackett, who was canned after just 11 months and four wins.“You can see it with their weights and the workouts we did yesterday, I think they’re in good shape,” Payton said after the spirited 90-minute practice that officially kicked off his first training camp in Denver.Payton instilled a culture in which...

What to know about new updates to workers' rights in Colorado

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A number of laws strengthening worker protections are poised to go into effect in Colorado on Aug. 7.These protections cover a variety of facets including discrimination and job applications.Another workplace-related law regarding sick leave will also go into effect in August.Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ActSB23-172 regards workplace discrimination.One major thing the law does is change the definition of "harassment" in the workplace. Before, harassment had to be "severe and pervasive" in order for someone to prove a hostile work environment. Renters will have a few extra rights starting in August However now, that harassment only needs to be unwelcome to create a hostile work environment. The law also adds "marital status" as a protected class for which discrimination is not allowed.Job application changesThe main thing SB23-058, the Job Application Fairness Act, does is stop employers from asking about a prospective hire's age, date of birth and ...

Colorado opposes 3M settlement on 'forever chemicals' in water systems

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Twenty-two attorneys general urged a federal court Wednesday to reject a proposed $10.3 billion settlement over contamination of U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially dangerous chemicals, saying it lets manufacturer 3M Co. off too easily.Colorado is among the opposition. 6 malnourished horses rescued from Parker home The deal announced in June doesn't give individual water suppliers enough time to determine how much money they would get and whether it would cover their costs of removing the compounds known collectively as PFAS, said the officials with 19 states, Washington, D.C., and two territories. In some cases the agreement could shift liability from the company to providers, they said.“While I appreciate the effort that went into it, the proposed settlement in its current form does not adequately account for the pernicious damage that 3M has done in so many of our communities," said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leader of the...

Celestial Seasonings to resume tours after 3-year hiatus

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- It's been more than three years since Celestial Seasonings stopped tours and closed most of its campus at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the company recently announced that will soon change.Beginning Aug. 12, the Boulder-based company will reopen its tea shop and resume tours. 6 malnourished horses rescued from Parker home According to the website, the Celestial Seasonings tour will show people how raw ingredients became the tea that's available in grocery stores across the country."You'll never look at tea the same way again," the website said.Celestial Seasonings tour detailsThe tour, which lasts about 45 minutes, costs $5 per person and includes an introduction at the theater and a walk through the factory. There are also complimentary tea samples available at the tour center before or after the tour.For people with mobility issues, the tour website said wheelchairs and walkers are welcome. Is the ‘Great Resignation’ over in Colorado? Hairnets and be...

Caught on camera: Female allegedly kidnapped at shopping center

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Police are looking for information on a kidnapping and assault after a video showed a female possibly being forced into the backseat of a car. It was previously described as a suspicious incident.At around 8:45 p.m. on July 21, the incident was caught on camera in the parking lot of the Cornerstar Shopping Center in the 15700 block of E. Briarwood Circle.The video provided by the Aurora Police Department shows four males arriving at the shopping center in a black Mercedes Benz sedan. The group waits in the parking lot next to a silver Nissan SUV when one of the males walked off and approached two females. Woman shot, killed by Westminster officer In the video, the male grabs one of the women by the arm and appears to pull her to the Nissan. He then pulls the female over to the Mercedes and places her in the backseat.APD said the other female is recording the video on her cellphone. All four males get into the Mercedes and drive away.Police said they also obtained s...

Denver Animal Shelter criticized for euthanasia decisions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver metro area was relieved once a local dog named Watson was saved from euthanasia on Sunday. But it's not easy for the Denver Animal Shelter to make the decision.The Denver Animal Shelter is one of the only shelters in Colorado that will take an animal no matter the condition, and the shelter takes every single animal brought in. Because of this, it isn't a no kill shelter. For every eight dogs that come into the Denver Animal Shelter, one of them is euthanized, according to a state document provided by Tammy Vigil, Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. But those rates include animals that are abused and severely aggressive."No kills have the luxury to pick and choose what animals come into their system. Our door's open. We serve the most vulnerable animals in the community," Melanie Sobel, director of Denver's Department of Animal Protection. Denver family fighting to save dog from being euthanized after biting child The shelter ...

Good Samaritans rescue group of divers from sinking boat off Fort Lauderdale

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

Several good Samaritans with a water sports company came to the rescue of a group of divers that found themselves stranded off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. Anthony Burg with Aqua Flight said he, along with his captain and crew, rushed to the aid to the divers, who were taking advantage of the Lobster Sport mini-season, early Wednesday morning. “I was standing on the boat, and I looked to my left, and there’s this guy, like, waving his arms like, freaking out,” said Burg, “and you just see the boat angled like this, and immediately, I got – I grabbed my phone and I called the police.” Burg immediately shot a flare and alerted Sea Tow Fort Lauderdale. “So, the boat was anchored and it just – the bilge pump failed, and they just started taking out water, and it seemed like I saw them, like, pumping pockets and putting life vests on,” said Burg. “I was like, ‘OK, like, this is serious.'” Burg said the Aqua Flight ...

72-year-old Ipswich man drowns in Plum Island Sound, police investigating

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:36 GMT

A 72-year-old Ipswich man drowned in Plum Island Sound on Wednesday afternoon, according to police who are investigating the man’s death.Ipswich Police received a report at around 3 p.m. that Ipswich Bay Yacht Club workers had spotted a person in the water around the Yacht Club’s mooring area just offshore.Police then launched their marine unit and found a man in the water, who was brought to shore at the Yacht Club’s dock.Ipswich first responders performed CPR and other lifesaving measures before the man was taken to Beverly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The man is a 72-year-old Ipswich resident from the Great Neck section of town.Police said in a statement, “The death appears to be an accidental drowning, but remains under investigation by the Ipswich Police Department and Massachusetts State Police detectives attached to the Essex District Attorney’s Office.”