Month: May 2023

Councilor Andrew Faulkner believes the debate over hiring eight additional firefighters is “100% political”. He explained that the aim of the council is to determine an economically responsible way to increase public safety and hire more firefighters. Pictured, from left, are City Councilman Andrew Faulkner, R-Ward VI, and City Councilwoman Kim Ecklund, R-At Large. PJ photo by Timothy Frudd City Councilman Andrew Faulkner, R-Ward VI, believes the debate over the adequate fire and emergency response staffing grant is “100% political” as City Council members have been criticized for considering the city’s financial responsibility instead of approving the SAFER grant at…

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Rep. David Trone announced Thursday that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat that will open with the retirement of Sen. Ben Cardin. Trone, a Democrat, has focused on issues including opioid addiction, mental health, medical research and criminal justice reform while in office. The MP said he would continue to advocate for these issues in the Senate. “Ben Cardin was a great U.S. senator, and we’re looking forward to following in his huge shoes,” Trone said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But we have a lot of challenges facing Maryland and…

Two Georgia men stealing copper wire at a power plant were electrocuted and killed by the force of a transformer explosion, the Gainesville Police Department told CBS News. Around 3 a.m. Monday, police received a call from someone at a nearby business saying there had been an explosion at the old mill’s electrical substation, Lt. Kevin Holbrook told CBS News . The thieves were trying to steal copper wiring and electrical components, police said. Suspected thieves electrocuted, killed in an overnight robbery at the electrical substation. pic.twitter.com/xlKUTiGosE — Gainesville Police (@COGPolice) April 3, 2023 Both the fire and police departments…

EIU-UPI Lead Negotiator Billy Hung speaks to union members after the strike was announced Tuesday evening at the Union in the Charleston/Mattoon Room. Hung said he was overwhelmed by the union’s support for the strike. (Rob Le Cates) The University of Illinois Professionals chapter of Eastern, EIU-UPI, will strike starting Thursday morning after a year-long bargaining period with Eastern. The union held a membership meeting on Monday to discuss the new contract proposal from the Eastern Administration bargaining team. EIU-UPI and the administration have been negotiating a new contract for more than a year. EIU-UPI bargaining had the power to…

Apopka Transit published Wednesday, April 5, 2023 12:30 p.m From the Florida Highway Patrol and the Apopka Police Department Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded to a vehicle-pedestrian crash on State Highway 429 north of CR-437 (Plymouth Sorrento Rd). According to the FHP statement, the pedestrian died at the scene and was possibly hit by more than one vehicle. All southbound lanes were closed while investigators processed the scene. No other details were available at the time. The FHP eventually turned the crash scene over to the Apopka Police Department after it was determined to be within their jurisdiction. On Tuesday,…

A few years ago, the historic arrest of a former US president — especially one as polarizing and bombastic as Donald Trump — would have been a moment for Twitter. The platform is known as the first place people go to find and comment on breaking news with witty commentary and unfiltered reactions. But on Tuesday, the reaction to Trump’s accusation on the social media platform was a bit of a dream. “When Trump got Covid in October 2020, people were glued to Twitter and clinging to every moment and the schadenfreude was off the charts,” writer and activist Chip…

By Reggie Connell, Editor-in-Chief At the end of an eight-hour Apopka City Council meeting, two non-binding votes with big implications sent shock waves through Apopka. The Council voted 3-2 that they have no confidence in Fire Chief Sean Wylam and recommended that Mayor Bryan Nelson change leadership at the Apopka Fire Department. In a second motion, the Council voted 3-2 to remove City Attorney Michael Rodríguez from his position. Both motions would still require Nelson to make the decision as mayor to remove either Wylam or Rodriguez. “I hope you take this into consideration, the will of this Council,” Commissioner…

ISM non-manufacturing (services) PMI misses estimate The second of two measures assessing the health of the US economy added to concerns that the relatively strong US economy is showing signs of concern. The ISM non-manufacturing PMI data came in at 51.2 versus expectations of 54.5 and a prior print of 55.1 in February. Customize and filter live economic data using our DailyFX economic calendar Worrying signs are emerging for the US economy The disappointing US services data comes after ISM manufacturing data slipped further into contractionary territory (46.3 from 47.7 in February), ADP employment data declined (145k vs. 242 in…