Letters: It’s a free country. Let’s keep it that way.

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Letters: It’s a free country. Let’s keep it that way. Free country, let’s keep it that way“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is a quote commonly attributed to Voltaire. Similarly, as I grew up in the shelter of the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech” I’d hear and say “Hey, it’s a free country. You can say what ever you want, I just don’t have to agree with it.”Oh how I wish that that was universally accepted, but it is evidenced that it is not.As exampled by the apparent “doxxing” action at Harvard. The publishing of the names, faces and often addresses of those who express an unpopular point of view as a punishment for their having the temerity to state it. It’s as if to goad some un-American loony into an act of violence against these individuals. Hey Harvard, it’s a free country, say what you want, without fear, and in turn, I’m free to tell you, if I think it’s stupid, short-sighted or just plain wr...

Saratoga re-launches addiction treatment based Family Court

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Saratoga re-launches addiction treatment based Family Court BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The re-launched Saratoga County Family Treatment Court aims to help litigants going through the system, especially those struggling with addiction, get the services they need to come out better on the other side.Man credits Albany facility in his addiction recoveryLitigants — or Program Graduates (as the court calls them) like Mary. The rough-and-tumble road of addiction caused her to lose custody of her son, and eventually her daughter. Mary’s court appointed parent advocate Karen, spoke on her behalf:“When I had my court date on zoom in that small hospital room, the judge said I could not keep her, and this broke my heart. Then a wonderful thing happened in my life. Family treatment court, or FTC, was offered to me, and I accepted.”Mary says that made all the difference. Aided by Schenectady County's FTC, she was able to overcome addiction and get one of her kids back. Now she wants to support the court model’s Saratoga re-introduction. Assemblywoman ...

Saratoga BLM activists react to wrongful death lawsuit

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Saratoga BLM activists react to wrongful death lawsuit SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - After 10 years, a verdict has been reached in the Darryl Mount civil case. After just about three hours, the six-person jury voted in favor of the City of Saratoga Springs. Following the end of the trial, NEWS10 spoke with the plaintiffs and local activists about what comes next for the family.  Official report released on DocGo provided services Back in 2013, Darryl Mount was involved in a police chase that left him comatose. Unfortunately, Mount died a year later. The jury’s ruling has cleared the city and police department from any liability in his death. “We took the case. We called all the witnesses we could have. I have no apologies for what we did, and I don't think we left any stone unturned,” said attorney Steve Coffey. Coffey represented Darryl’s Mother, Patty Jackson and he says this decision delivered some closure. “For Patty, it is the end of the road.” Despite the civil case being over, he says it could still have an impact on t...

Proposed prescription drug fee causes debate

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Proposed prescription drug fee causes debate ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The state has proposed pharmacies receive a fee for filling prescriptions. The Department of Financial Services said the changes would create protections for consumers and small business owners while increasing supervision over one of the most unregulated sectors of the healthcare industry. Those opposed said it creates unnecessary additional costs.Zarina Jalal is the supervising pharmacist at Lincoln Pharmacy, which her family owns, and she welcomes the proposed $10.18 fee that would be paid by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to pharmacies.“Using ‘new’ to describe this dispensing fee is not actually accurate. There’s always been a dispensing fee for the services that a pharmacy provides,” said Jalal.She said the dispensing fee has always been rolled into the prescription drug costs but what’s new is the proposed regulation would set a baseline minimum of $10.18 that would need to be paid by PBM’s. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment del...

FBI St. Louis breaks up online scheme to fund North Korea weapons programs

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

FBI St. Louis breaks up online scheme to fund North Korea weapons programs ST. LOUIS – Federal agents in the FBI St. Louis Office say they’ve disrupted a scheme that North Korea has been using to raise money for its ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.“North Korea has been making IT workers available by obfuscating their identities and then having American companies hire them, with the vast majority of those wages not going to the workers but instead to fund these programs,” said Jay Greenberg, FBI St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge.The FBI has seized a number of domains that were being used as part of the scheme. Now, a splash screen is on display instead.Authorities also seized $1.5 million in funds.“More likely or not, if you are hiring IT workers for mobile application development or specific software development at point of need and don’t have a robust process to ensure who they are, more than likely you might have some of these North Korean IT workers on your contractor payroll,” Greenberg said. Close ...

Rockies’ Gold Glove finalists: Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar, Ryan McMahon

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Rockies’ Gold Glove finalists: Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar, Ryan McMahon The Rockies struck rookie gold in 2023.Confirmation arrived Wednesday when rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle and rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar were named finalists for the Rawlings National League Gold Glove Award.Also, veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon was named a finalist for the third consecutive season.During the last third of the season, Colorado manager Bud Black frequently lobbied for all three players to win a Gold Glove, but Black was particularly adamant that Doyle deserved the honor.“When I watch him run balls down, it tells me he’s got range,” Black said late in the season. “When he dives and makes a great play it tells me he’s got athleticism and aggressiveness as a defender. He’s making his mark as a major league defender. On that side of the ball, he’s doing awesome, he’s doing remarkable.”Doyle’s competitors are Atlanta’s Michael Harris II and Arizona’s Alek Thomas. Doyle led all outfielders in St...

Murder charges upheld against 3 suspects in rock-throwing spree that killed Alexa Bartell

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Murder charges upheld against 3 suspects in rock-throwing spree that killed Alexa Bartell Alexa Bartell, 20 (Provided by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department)It’s still not clear which of the three men charged in a fatal Denver-area rock-throwing spree last spring is responsible for hurling the objects in each incident, but prosecutors argued in court Wednesday that all three were complicit in Alexa Bartell’s murder and the attempted murder of six other drivers.Defense attorneys for Joseph Koenig, 19, Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, 18, and Zachary Kwak, 18, challenged prosecutors’ evidence during a preliminary hearing Wednesday, but First Judicial District Judge Christopher Zenisek ruled the prosecution had enough evidence to proceed to trial on all counts.Prosecutors said the three young men each were complicit because there was “excitement” in the truck as they drove around the night of April 19 and the teens cheered after the rock hit Bartell’s vehicle, Jefferson County sheriff’s Detective Dan Manka testified, referencing...

Football: CU Buffs take break before stretch run

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Football: CU Buffs take break before stretch run BOULDER,CO October 13:Colorado’s Anthony Hankerson runs through Stanford’s defense during the Pac-12 football game with Stanford and Colorado on October 13, 2023. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)After a few days of work, the Colorado Buffaloes are taking some time off to refocus and gear up for the final five weeks of the season.Following a disappointing, 46-43 double-overtime loss to Stanford last Friday at Folsom Field, the Buffs practiced for a few days, wrapping up their work week on Tuesday.CU (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) is taking a four-day break before gathering again to practice on Sunday as it prepares for a visit to No. 25 UCLA (4-2, 1-2) on Oct. 28 (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC).Head coach Deion Sanders addressed the team before Tuesday’s practice, telling them, “Come back with the right attitude and work habits that’s gonna propel us to where we wanna go. That’s undefeated in these next several games.”In Sanders’ first season as the Buffs’ head coach, they’ve exceeded expectations in man...

Southbound Interstate 25 reopens following fatal train derailment north of Pueblo

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Southbound Interstate 25 reopens following fatal train derailment north of Pueblo Southbound Interstate 25 north of Pueblo reopened Wednesday after a fatal train derailment and bridge collapse closed the roadway in both directions for three days.Gov. Jared Polis announced the reopening after touring the derailment site with federal, state and local officials on Wednesday. The interstate reopened at approximately 3:15 p.m.Southbound I-25 is now open to Pueblo! Don't cause another crash by being distracted by watching the cleanup on the other side. pic.twitter.com/7lF8WyBxtj— Colorado State Patrol (@CSP_News) October 18, 2023Colorado Department of Transportation crews are working to make available at least one lane of northbound I-25 by Thursday evening, according to a news release from Polis’ office.Today, I toured the site of the train derailment North of Pueblo and heard directly from leaders and engineers on the ground about the state of the investigation and cleanup. pic.twitter.com/GVCmGqortG— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) October 18, ...

Driver accused of killing 4 Pepperdine students released from custody hours after deadly crash

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:38 GMT

Driver accused of killing 4 Pepperdine students released from custody hours after deadly crash A driver is facing manslaughter charges after authorities say he struck and killed four Pepperdine University students on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Tuesday night. The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. in the 21600 block of PCH, near La Costa Beach and east of the Malibu Pier, authorities said. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials identified the driver as Fraser Michael Bohm during a Wednesday afternoon news conference.Bohm, 22, had been released from custody pending further investigation, Deputy Roger Schalkx said.The victims' identities were not immediately released.Pepperdine, a private Christian university, is located roughly four miles north of where the crash occurred."No day is more devastating to a tightly knit university community than the day that forces us to come together in grief and sorrow," Pepperdine President Jim Gash said in a statement. "One of the greatest mysteries of life is when and why our time on this earth is cut short. In such t...