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Two top leaders dismissed after allegations of a ‘toxic’ workplace at the Hasting Veterans Home

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

Two top officials at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs have been fired two weeks after current and former caregivers spoke out publicly about allegations of a long-standing toxic work environment at the Hastings Veterans Home.Larry Herke, commissioner of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, said Sunday in a message to workers that Saturday was the last day for Doug Hughes, deputy commissioner for veterans health care, and Mike Anderson, administrator of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings.Doug Hughes, left, deputy commissioner of veterans health care for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and Mike Anderson, administrator of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings, testify to the Minnesota House veterans committee in St. Paul Monday, March 6, 2023. Lawmakers are considering a request for $78 million to cover the state’s share of a $220 million project to replace the aging campus in Hastings where about 150 veterans live. (Christopher Magan / Pione...

Literary pick of the week: “Duet in the Little Blue Church”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

From working-class family life to the grueling history of pioneers who arrived on the Midwest prairie, Sharon Chmielarz’s poetry spans time and place. After four decades and 13 poetry collections, she presents a representative selection of her wide-ranging poetic interests and imagination in “Duet in the Little Blue Church: New and Selected Poems” (Nodin Press, $19.95).Chmielarz will host a launch party for the book at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at Open Book, 1022 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. It’s free and open to the public.This South Dakota-born poet has been applauded by literary stars, including Joyce Carol Oates (“Quite lovely poetry”).Sharon Chmielarz (Lost Lake Photography)Chmielarz’s publisher points out that her poems are often related “in a wry and enigmatic conversational style” that bears comparison to such modern Polish masters as Szymborska and Milosz. The European element is strong, but so is the immigrant experience of...

Twins return from ‘very special’ World Baseball Classic experience

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Had Venezuela beaten the United States on Saturday night in Miami, Pablo López would have been in line to pitch in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on Sunday.Instead, Trea Turner’s grand slam led to Venezuela’s elimination, and the starter found himself pitching the ninth inning of an exhibition game against the Braves, then five more innings on a backfield against a handful of Twins minor leaguers.“I was excited. I was looking forward to pitch today at the WBC,”  López said. “But regardless of it happening, I’m glad that I was able to get my work in today and feel the same way I’ve been feeling. I feel like the ball’s coming out well. My timing, my rhythm has been good with all the pitches. So, it was good to make the drive here and still get my work in and feel good.”Venezuela made a 4-0 run through the hardest pool, defeating the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in the process before losing a back-and-forth game to the United States in the qu...

Funeral for fallen Hermann officer Mason Griffith

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

HERMANN, Mo. - A procession, public visitation and funeral services were held Sunday in memory of Hermann officer Mason Griffith, who was fatally shot in the line of duty last weekend. A public visitation and funeral was held for Griffith Sunday at Owensville High School. Order of ServiceGreeting - Pastor Keith MorrisonEulogy - Pastor Keith MorrisonSong & Video - Officer Down, John HallChief Marlon WalkerMayor Shannon GrusSheriff Scott EilersDeputy Jonathan StackSgt. Kent KreftmeyerTribute to First RespondersSong-Same God, Zion Church BandPastor Keith MorrisonSong - Psalm 23, Zion Church BandSong - Amazing GraceClosing Prayer - Pastor Keith MorrisonA procession to a local cemetery is planned. Police offered the following directions on the procession:The group will leave from Owensville High School Gymnasium. The procession will continue down Hwy 19 S to Hwy 28 E to Hwy 50 E to Reserve St. After those turns, the procession will end at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Rosebud, Misso...

Michael Porter Jr., Nikola Jokic’s triple-double lead Nuggets over Nets

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

BROOKLYN — For a moment late Sunday afternoon, Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center was alive.The Nets, down 22 midway through the fourth quarter, were flirting with a comeback. Michael Porter Jr. snuffed that miracle out with a corner 3-pointer with 3:23 remaining, and the Nuggets hung on to beat the Nets, 108-102. After dropping five of their last six games, it was a needed win.Porter buried a game-high 28 points on five 3-pointers, Nikola Jokic registered his 28th triple-double of the season, and Jamal Murray, after a scorching start, poured in 25 points. Jokic ended Sunday’s back-to-back with 22 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.After a dispiriting showing on Saturday against the Knicks, the Nuggets headed across the bridge and responded. Now 48-24 on the season, and 18-18 away from Denver, the Nuggets will cap their five-game road trip with a visit to Washington on Wednesday. There, they’ll have a chance for their third win of the road trip.Mikal Bridges paced the Nets with 23 po...

Watch a replay of the 2023 Los Angeles Marathon

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

Kenyan’s Stacy Ndiwa (2:31:00) and Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer (2:13:13) were the winners of the 2023 Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS on Sunday.See full L.A. Marathon resultsThe race began before sunrise with wheelchair and handcycle athletes embarking on the 26.2-mile course from Dodger Stadium. The Elite Women started at 6:45 a.m. followed by Elite Men and the full field of approximately 22,000 runners at 7 a.m.Francisco Sanclemente won the wheelchair race by crossing the finish line in Century City with a time of 1:43:52. Owen Daniels (1:13:03) won the handcycle race. The course took athletes on a tour of L.A.’s most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks including Chinatown, Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, Route 66, and Avenue of the Stars.By participating in the Los Angeles Marathon, athletes are supporting The McCourt Foundation's mission to help find a cure for neurological diseases and build a healthier world.

Review: ‘Resident Evil 4’ remake improves and keeps spirit of the classic

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

Capcom is no stranger to making the same game twice. The publisher has done multiple takes on its “Street Fighter” games and it has revamped past franchises such as “Bionic Commando,” but its most successful remake franchise has been “Resident Evil.”Its teams have performed magic with a series that began on the PlayStation in 1996. The updates offer more than improved textures and a bumped-up resolution. Capcom has done full-scale rebuilds, where developers have reimagined the series. They’ve added new wrinkles to the design, improved the gameplay and fleshed out story beats.THE BEST IN THE SERIESThe latest remake is “Resident Evil 4.” The 2005 original rewrote what was possible for the survival-horror genre, and its influence can be seen in games such as “Dead Space” and the latest “God of War” titles. Remaking such a beloved classic presents plenty of challenges and adds plenty of pressure on the develop...

Banking giant UBS acquiring Credit Suisse to rein in turmoil

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

By JAMEY KEATEN and KEN SWEETGENEVA, Switzerland (AP) — Banking giant UBS is buying its smaller rival Credit Suisse in an effort to avoid further market-shaking turmoil in global banking, Swiss President Alain Berset announced on Sunday night. Berset, who did not specify a value of the deal, called the announcement “one of great breadth for the stability of international finance. An uncontrolled collapse of Credit Suisse would lead to incalculable consequences for the country and the international financial system.”The Swiss president said the council had agreed to guarantee a total of 150 billion francs of liquidity to the 167-year-old bank, well beyond the 50 billion (54 million Swiss francs) figure that had been announced publicly. But that didn’t appear to be enough.“We noted that the outflows of liquidity and the volatility of the markets demonstrated that necessary confidence could no longer be restored, and a rapid solution guaranteeing stability...

Indiana, Miami preparing for Holmes’ return in March Madness

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Top-seeded Indiana needs All-America center Mackenzie Holmes to carry a heavy burden — if the team intends to fulfill its championship hopes.It appears the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year will be back Monday night.One day after watching her teammates roll past Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion Tennessee Tech, Holmes made it through most of Sunday’s practice and appeared ready to go for the Hoosiers’ second-round women’s NCAA Tournament game against ninth-seeded Miami.“She’s more than ready to be in the lineup (Monday) and see playing time,” coach Teri Moren said. “Whether that will be limited, probably, but we’re prepared for that.”Getting any minutes from Holmes would be a huge boost for the Hoosiers (28-3). She did not play in Saturday’s 30-point rout of the much-smaller Golden Eagles.That decision gave Holmes extra time to recover from a sore knee, an injury Moren said dated to Holmes’ prep ...

AP source: Rockies sign Profar to shore up outfield

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:49:22 GMT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free-agent outfielder Jurickson Profar, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.Profar will get $7.75 million in the deal. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract was pending a physical. The former Rangers, Athletics and Padres outfielder batted .231 for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic this spring. He hit .243 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs for San Diego last season and opted out of the final year of his three-year, $21 million contract with the Padres.___AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource