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RTD adding more sworn officers in effort to improve safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — RTD is closer to making a major change in how the public transit service plans to keep riders safe.FOX31 reported in February about a proposal by RTD's police chief to increase the current force of sworn RTD police officers from 21 to 70 by the end of the year, doubling that to a total of 140 by 2025. Safety remains top concern for RTD bus and train operators FOX31 spoke to riders who said they are relieved to learn of the updated security plan.“Seeing a lot, what’s happening around Denver, especially Union Station area, I’m going to definitely feel a lot safer,” said Ryan, who commutes to work by train.The Problem Solvers found at least 178 passenger reports of assault or injury during 2021 and the first two months of 2022. RTD reports a drop in crimes in 2022 at Union Station. Riders who depend on the service to ride between home and work tell FOX31 they are growing more concerned about becoming victims of crime on platforms and inside buses and trains.“It is th...

Denver Public Schools superintendent 'encouraged' by new annual report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Public Schools has just released its annual report covering everything from student learning and progress to student and parent experiences. FOX31 spoke with the district superintendent about the report and goals for the district moving forward.The superintendent said he is satisfied with the progress the district has made over the last year, and he’s hopeful about their plans moving forward. Deputy SRO’s counseling helps teen avoid suicide "I'm incredibly encouraged," Dr. Alex Marrero said when asked about this year's report.The superintendent said he is optimistic about the future of DPS."Considering the year that it has been, the year 2022 and 2023, the academic school year. Also, we're still recuperating from the pandemic like many, many school districts, so the fact we're showing progress in spite of all of the distractions is incredibly encouraging as a superintendent," Marrero said.Air conditioning in Denver schools in focusIt was a school year where ...

What is the Colorado slopper burger, and where to get one?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Many states are famous for a fruit or a vegetable; like Idaho and its potatoes, California's avocados and Iowa's seemingly endless fields of corn. While there's no official food of Colorado, many Coloradans say the state is known for Pueblo green chiles.Those chiles have inspired dishes also famous in Colorado, like green chili and the Colorado-style burger known as the slopper. Top spots to drink local hard cider around Denver A slopper is typically served as two open-faced cheeseburgers, smothered in green chili, with occasional toppings like onions and French fries. The Colorado State Fair's slopper recipe includes Colorado Beef, salad and pepper, buns, pepper jack cheese, and Pueblo green chili. (And just a couple of weeks ago, FOX31's very own Greg Nieto won the slopper eating contest at the fair.)The slopper hamburger (KXRM)Where did the slopper originate?Its official origin is debatable, but Gray's Coors Tavern and Star Bar are often credited with the slopp...

Habitat For Humanity of Broward breaks ground on new community in Coral Springs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

First time owners in Broward County received some housing help.Habitat For Humanity of Broward broke ground on a new community in Coral Springs, Monday.The focus for the organization was on affordability for the working class.“Soon, we’ll be standing on a vibrant, beautiful townhome community that will fulfill the American dream of home ownership and the empowerment that it’s going to provide for almost 100 neighbors,” said Nancy Robin, CEO of Habitat For Humanity of Broward. The land for the homes is being donated by the City of Coral Springs.Construction is slated for November and is expected to be complete by next summer.WSVN is a proud sponsor and supporter of Habitat For Humanity.

Beachgoers from Texas help beached shark in Pensacola

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WSVN) — A group of beachgoers raced to save a shark after it gos stuck on the sand.The tourists spotted the ocean predator struggling on shore, so they took matters into their own hands to get it back where it belongs.The group were visiting from Texas and were taking a swim at Pensacola Beach Thursday when they spotted a Mako shark washed ashore.They initially thought the shark was just chasing some prey, but it kept inching closer to shore until it beached itself.After lifeguards told the vacationers there was nothing they could do to help the struggling fish, the group decided to take matters into their own hands.Video captured three people initially pulling on the shark’s tail fin as the creature thrashed in the shallow water, which scared the group.A couple seconds later, they tried once again to pull the shark back into the ocean as it made an even bigger splash.After nearly two minutes, one man was able to turn the shark around and get it into deep eno...

Moving Company using her home address

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

Mail started showing up at South Florida woman’s house for a moving company that listed her home as their headquarters. Her fear: An angry customer would come after her, and so she turned to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.Way before most of us were born, back in 1925, Victoria Park was created.Denise Toupin: “It’s very nice, very quiet and it’s well located.”Many beautiful old homes, away from crowded noisy Fort Lauderdale.Denise knows, shes been her awhile.Denise Toupin: “Yeah, since 1977, actually.”A good address, which Denise is now sharing.Denise Toupin: “In shock. In shock because I couldn’t believe it.”In shock because the company using her home address is a moving company.Denise Toupin: “Adam Moving Fort Lauderdale Movers. That’s the entire name.”When the generic mail started coming for Adam Moving, Denise Googled the company. Up popped her home address with the logo of Adam Moving over a pictur...

City hall parking space revoked after arrest of Miami Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

No parking for a Miami commissioner following his arrest.Alex Diaz de la Portilla’s name has been removed from his city hall parking space.Diaz de la Portilla was arrested last week on charges of bribery, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, and official misconduct. He’s denied the allegations.Governor DeSantis suspended him from office last week.Commissioners may consider a temporary replacement to hold the seat until the November election — at a special meeting scheduled for Monday.

Madrid and Barcelona team up in effort to make Catalan an EU language

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

The EU’s General Affairs Council on Tuesday is set to decide whether to green-light Spain’s proposal to make Catalan, Galician and Basque official EU languages.In an unusually united stance, the national government in Madrid and the Catalan regional government in Barcelona are pushing the bid jointly. It is entirely linked to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s quest to remain in office after last July’s inconclusive national election.Socialist leader Sánchez needs the support of Catalan separatists to form a government and getting Catalan recognized as an EU language is one of the conditions. EU nationals have the right to use any of the bloc’s 24 official languages to communicate with the institutions and receive replies in that language. Moreover, all EU laws, proposals and decisions — past, present and future — must be translated into the languages given official recognition. However, winning recognition requires unanimous backing of all 27 m...

Poland’s ruling party publishes top secret plan as a campaign stunt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

WARSAW — Poland’s ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has set off a security storm by publishing parts of a top secret defense plan as part of a campaign spot aimed at discrediting the opposition ahead of the October 15 general election.“Attention! The Tusk government was ready to give up half of the country in the event of a war,” Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said in a video published by PiS on social media on September 17 — the 84th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s attack on Poland in 1939.The minister was referring to a 2011 strategic defense plan prepared by the former government of then Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The former European Council President is now head of the Civic Coalition alliance that’s trying to prevent PiS from winning an unprecedented third straight term in power.“The plan assumed … that Poland could only defend itself for two weeks and the enemy will reach the right bank of the Vistula after seven days,” Błaszczak ...

Italy’s Meloni plans a geopolitical Queen’s Gambit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:32 GMT

Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and adviser at Gallos Technologies and a regular columnist for POLITICO.In the 17th century, the Italian chess player Gioachino Greco created the world’s first chess handbook. One of the moves he recorded was the Queen’s Gambit, an ingenious opening in three parts.  Almost exactly 300 years later, his compatriot Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is about to launch a Queen’s Gambit of her own — in foreign policy. And much like Greco’s move, it involves several interlinked steps that, if executed successfully, could yield great dividends.  When Greco began his pioneering manuscript detailing entire chess matches, he was already considered one of the world’s best players. By contrast, Meloni was hardly a household name outside of Italy before leading her party to victory in the country’s parliamentary elections last year.  The world didn’t really know what to expect — especially when it came to fo...