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Aurora nears full staff for mental health, crisis response teams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) -- The City of Aurora has been developing teams to respond to lower-level 911 calls for years, and now they're one position away from having a full staff."We believe in giving people the right response at the right time because that's what the citizens of Aurora deserve." said the city's Crisis Intervention Program Manager, Courtney Tassin. "For us, by having all these responses, we're making sure people are safe."The city recently struck a deal with UCHealth to provide mental health clinicians for two key programs to tackle lower-level calls.Aurora Mobile Response TeamThe city's mobile response team launched in the Fall of 2021. While it currently consists of a single unit, with one UCHealth mental health clinician and one EMT from Falck Rocky Mountain Inc., the city is conducting interviews to hire a second clinician full-time to double their force.In 2022, AMRT responded to 500 low-level 911 calls. The team focuses on behavioral health issues that don't rise ...

How much more yearly income does it take to go from a condo to a house in Colorado?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Upsizing from a condo to a house is not a huge difference in annual income in Denver, thanks in part to condo prices being already some of the nation's highest. Real estate news and analysis site Point2Home crunched housing data in 200 U.S. cities to find which cities have the lowest bar for condo owners to jump into a detached single-family house. Researchers calculated the "price difference to income ratio," or the number of years worth of income that it would take to match the difference between a condo and a detached home. Colorado had a bigger share of movers than any other state in 2021 Depending on the city, condo-owning Coloradans could need anywhere between two and four years' worth of income to afford a single-family home.In Lakewood, it takes an income of 3.9 years more to afford a single-family home than a condo, which is in the top 25% nationwide and about $303,000. How much could Denver area renters save if they bunked with a roommate? It takes a ...

Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston reunite to play detective couple in ‘Murder Mystery 2’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

It’s always nice when old friends get back together, especially if they make good movies for us to check out. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston put on their detective hats once again in their latest comedy whodunit.Adam Sandler (as Nick Switzer): “The Maharaja’s been kidnapped, and all of you are suspects.”Jennifer Aniston (as Audrey Switzer): “We’re not gonna be invited anywhere ever again.”Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler have returned as a husband-and-wife amateur detective team in “Murder Mystery 2.”: “You must be the Switzers.”Jennifer Anistin and Adam Sandler (as Audrey and Nick Switzer): “Yes.”Mark Strong (as Miller): “Your reputations precede you.”Adam Sandler (as Nick Switzer): “There you go.”Mark Strong (as Miller): “Not in a positive way, I’m afraid.”Adam Sandler (as Nick Switzer): “OK.”Jennifer Aniston (as Audrey Switzer): “OK.”Their intentions may be good, but their skills leave something to be desired.Jennifer Aniston (as Audrey Switzer):...

Savor SoFlo Festival returns to Hollywood Beach this Friday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

Hollywood Beach might not have movie stars, but this weekend, it has something better: food and wine. Savor SoFlo Festival is back for the third time. This all-inclusive dining experience promises to loosen your belt a notch or two, so let’s dig in.Sip. Savor. Repeat. This is exactly what you’ll be doing at this year’s Savor SoFlo Festival.Tammy Gail, festival organizer: “Tons to taste, tons to drink — mixology, the whole nine yards. Everything’s going on for the weekend. That’s all things food and fabulous.”All the fab eating will start this Friday.Tammy Gail: “If you’re a foodie and you like an experience, we have some great chefs that are partnering with us at the event, wonderful stage demos with visiting chefs and local chefs.”Chefs Like Juan Mateo at Toro Latin Kitchen Restaurant in Dania Beach.Juan Mateo: “Toro serves a Pan Latin cuisine, with a fusion of Japanese and Chinese food. We make everything from scratch.”And he’s comin...

Two people taken to hospital after fire in Eastham

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

Two people were taken to a hospital after a fire tore through their house on Bridge Road in Eastham early Wednesday morning, officials said. Officials with the Eastham Fire Department said a report of a fire came in around 4:20 a.m. Police officers arriving first at the scene were able to help get residents out of the home, including one person in a wheelchair, officials said. Firefighters from several area communities aided in the fire response, which continued for several hours. Officials said the two people who were hospitalized were taken to Cape Cod Hospital for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remained undetermined as of Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond misses LA Lakers game after writing about his mental health: ‘It’s okay to ask for help’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond missed Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers after opening up about his mental health on social media.Drummond posted on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon outlining a plan to delete all social media apps, change his phone number and hand over control of his accounts to his management team.“Time to focus on my mental health,” Drummond wrote. “If you too are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. It’s okay to ask for help.”Drummond shared the same post to his Instagram account, adding, “It’s never too late to ask for help.” He received an immediate outpouring of support from current and former NBA players, including Isiah Thomas, Danny Green and Kevin Love.A venerable rebounder and 11-year veteran, Drummond has been stalwart as a backup center in his first season with the Bulls, averaging 6.7 rebounds and 6.1 points in 12.8 minutes off the bench.Coach Billy Donovan offered su...

Owner of Boston-area chain Stash’s Pizza indicted on charges of forced labor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

The owner of the Greater Boston chain Stash’s Pizza, who was arrested earlier this month on a criminal complaint charging him with forced labor and both physically and verbally abusing his workers has now been indicted on the charges by a federal grand jury.Stavros “Steve” Papantoniadis, 48, of Westwood, was indicted Wednesday on four counts of forced labor and three counts of attempted forced labor.“Papantoniadis’s Stash’s Pizzerias was a forced labor operation,” the indictment document alleges.“He targeted and recruited undocumented, foreign national employees. He hired the victims to work at the Stash’s Pizzerias and forced them to continue working long hours, often refusing to pay overtime and overdue wages, while subjecting the victims to threats of deportation and violence and to actual violence to prevent them from quitting, demanding their overdue wages, overtime pay, and better pay and working conditions.”A criminal complaint alleging the charges was filed March 15 and Papa...

Jalen Brunson returns from injury; Tom Thibodeau provides no insight on guard’s sprained hand

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

Jalen Brunson didn’t miss this important one.After sitting the previous two contests with what the Knicks labeled  a “sprained right hand,” the point guard started Wednesday versus the Heat while sporting a brace.Luckily for Brunson, he shoots lefty and Tom Thibodeau claimed he didn’t notice any hindrance.“He’s looked fine when he’s practiced,” the coach said. “Doesn’t look any different.”Thibodeau offered no further insights into whether Brunson underwent tests before the diagnosis, why he missed the previous game despite going through practice a day earlier, or how long the pain might affect one the Knicks’ most important players.Per usual, Thibodeau produced canned answers about leaning on the medical staff.“Go through practice,” Thibodeau said. “Go through the rehab part of it and do everything you need to do. And then everyone do their job. That’s the way I approach that. Our do...

Magic’s emphasis on attacking the paint put to test in loss to Grizzlies

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

At this point in the season, the Orlando Magic’s offensive desires are clear.They want to attack the rim with the hopes those paint touches will lead to efficient shots: free throws, layups/floaters or kick-out passes for feet-set 3s.These desires were put to the test in Tuesday’s 113-108 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies, who have one of the league’s stingiest paint defenses.The Grizzlies won the matchup in large part because they blocked off the paint, disrupted Orlando’s shots near the rim and forced the Magic to take jumpers.The Magic’s 36 points in the paint were their fewest since they scored a season-low 32 in their Jan. 27 loss to Miami.Orlando, which shoots 57.7% inside the paint, shot 50% Tuesday.The Magic, who averaged 30.6 3-point attempts before Tuesday, took a season-high 49, making just 14 (28.6%).Orlando’s high volume of 3-point attempts was partially skewed by the Magic looking for 3s late to reduce the deficit. The Magic took 7 3s in...

Massachusetts State Police union pushes new bill for ‘equal pay for equal work’ for troopers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:51:53 GMT

The union for State Police troopers is pushing a bill in the Legislature that they say will mean “equal pay for equal work.”“When you call 911, it’s because you need help … You need the most trained, most professional people to show up,” State Police Association of Massachusetts President Patrick McNamara told the Herald. “Right now, there is little incentive to become educated in the Massachusetts State Police.”This, he said, is because the Police Career Incentive Pay Program, also known as “The Quinn Bill,” came to an end for new State Police hires in 2009. That program included incentives for education among troopers, from a 10% pay boost for those with an associate’s degree to a 25% jump for those with a master’s or law degree, according to a SPAM summary.Companion bills in the state House and Senate — respectively, H.2353, sponsored by Rep. Michael Kushmerek, a Democrat of Fitchburg; and S.1608, sponsored by Sen. John Velis, a Democrat representing Hampden and Hampshire countie...