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Metro Transit workers authorize potential strike in advance of next contract bargaining session

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

Bus and light rail operators, mechanics, call center workers, farebox collectors, station cleaners and other front-line staff employed by Metro Transit voted this week to authorize a strike for higher wages, a salvo in advance of bargaining sessions with the public transit authority scheduled for Sept. 22 and Oct. 5.That does not mean a strike is imminent: under state law, an actual strike would first require mediation and a 10-day strike notice.Members of Amalgamated Transit Union 1005 approved the strike authorization by 94 to 6 percent, according to ATU 1005 President Ryan Timlin. The union represents some 2,000 Metro Transit employees whose contract expired a month ago.“We are not anticipating any immediate service impacts at this time,” said Terri Dresen, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Council, the metro’s regional planning agency, which oversees Metro Transit. “Our employees are integral to serving those who rely on transit and we look forward to r...

Charges: St. Catherine student physically and sexually assaulted by boyfriend over three days in dorm room

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

A St. Catherine University student was beaten, “waterboarded” and raped in her dorm room by her boyfriend over three days last week, charges say.Keanu Avery Labatte, 19, of Granite Falls, Minn., was arrested Sunday in the woman’s dorm room and charged Monday with three counts of first-degree sexual conduct, domestic assault by strangulation and threats of violence in connection with the alleged assaults at the St. Paul university.Keanu Avery Labatte (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Labatte appeared in Ramsey County District Court on the charges Tuesday, when a judge set his bail at $80,000. Labatte, who remains jailed, was granted a public defender, who has not returned a call for comment.According to the criminal complaint:The woman reported to campus security at 10:50 a.m. Sunday that she had been physically and sexually assaulted multiple times Thursday, Friday and Saturday in her room by Labatte, her boyfriend of two months. She said he was...

Man arrested in connection with Forest Lake runaway case faces new kidnapping, solicitation charges

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

The Dalbo man accused of helping a Forest Lake teen run away this summer and hiding her in a tent in rural Pine County now faces felony charges of kidnapping and soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct.Prosecutors in Pine County have amended a criminal complaint against Shawn Bellach, 37, to include the more serious charges; Bellach was originally charged with a felony count of deprivation of parental rights-causing a child to be a runaway.Shawn Patrick Bellach. (Courtesy of the Pine County Sheriff’s Office)Bellach was arrested on July 21 after the girl, 14, was located on a property north of Grasston, Minn., where she had been living in a tent. The girl, who was found on July 21, had been missing since May 19. She left her Forest Lake house that morning on her bicycle that had a yellow bike trailer attached to it and took her cat and $3,000 in cash from her babysitting money, according to the criminal complaint.The girl’s mother told the Pioneer Press that the girl lef...

Creditors, Diocese at odds over motion to probe Fidelis sale

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- NEWS10 has been closely following the struggle of the former St. Clare’s hospital workers, who have been fighting to secure all of the pension funds they were promised – whether it be from the state, or the Albany Catholic Diocese. An upcoming hearing in bankruptcy court could be the next step for the pensioners as they search for answers. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! The Catholic church sold the Fidelis Care insurance company in 2018. Billions of dollars from that sale were put into the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, and the pensioners’ lawyers are questioning the fact that the proceeds didn’t instead go toward millions of dollars in liabilities to the former hospital workers, as well as hundreds of survivors of child sexual abuse. Attorneys for the St. Clare’s pensioners filed a motion for discovery and testimony about the sale of Fidelis. Attorneys for the Diocese claim while they have sympathy for the petit...

Free paint recycling event announced in Albany

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Honest Weight Co-op is partnering with GreenSheen Paint to host a community paint recycling event on Saturday, September 16. The event will be held in the Harriet Gibbons School parking lot at 81 Watervliet Ave from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Participants are asked to book a time slot on Eventbrite. Arrive at the parking lot during your 30-minute time slot and staff will be on-site to retrieve the items from your vehicle.Everyone who drops off paint will also receive a $5 coupon to enjoy at the co-op. GreenSheen will accept the following items:Interior and exterior architectural paints: Latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamelDeck coatings, floor paints (including elastomeric)Primers sealers, undercoatersStainsShellacs, sealers, varnishes, urethanes (single component)Waterproofing concrete/masonry/wood sealers and repellants (not tar or bitumen-based)Metal coatings, rust preventativ...

'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan out of surgery in Glens Falls

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Last Friday, a wrestling icon came to Glens Falls - and ended up sticking around longer than he anticipated. On Monday, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan took to Facebook to announce the end of his three-day stay at Glens Falls Hospital."Out of the HOSPITAL," wrote Duggan's wife, Debra Haynes Duggan, in a post on the official Hacksaw Jim Duggan Facebook page. "Big thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Glens Falls Hospital! You made a rough few days much easier!!"Duggan visited the city on Friday, and was signing autographs at Glens Falls Fire Department on Ridge Street when he experienced severe pain and high temperatures. Duggan was transported to Glens Falls Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a perirectal abscess with high white blood cell count, and underwent emergency surgery on Saturday. The condition can lead to sepsis and other complications if left untreated.“It was an honor to care for Mr. Duggan and to be able to show him the kind of care every...

Troy man arrested following stolen wallet investigation

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

BRUNSWICK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 41-year-old man from Troy was taken into custody on Saturday following an investigation into a wallet stolen from a business on August 5. Police determined that Victor M. Vazquez stole the wallet and used multiple stolen credit cards to make unauthorized purchases at stores in Brunswick and Colonie. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Vazquez was arrested at his home and processed at SP Brunswick. He was charged with:Two counts of Grand Larceny in the fourth degreeIdentity Theft in the second degreeThree counts of Identity in the third degreeCriminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degreeFive counts of petit larcenyVazquez was issued appearance tickets to the Brunswick Town Court on September 13 and the Colonie Town Court on September 20. State Police were assisted by the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center.

Future of NYS ethics commission up in the air

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government was created just last year to replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics group. However, a new ruling said the independent oversight group has too much power and not enough oversight."His basic argument is that the governor cannot cede authority to other people. That the commission has to stay under her thumb unless there is a constitutional amendment which would change the whole system," explained Blair Horner, Legislative Director of NYPIRG.The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Andrew Cuomo after J-COPE, the previous ethics commission he created, charged him with violations over his pandemic published book "American Crisis.”“What triggered the lawsuit is the former governor’s efforts to protect his $5 million dollar book deal what has been under scrutiny by the previous ethics commission and the current ethics commission because there is an allegation that the governor violated the rules of the book de...

Traffic stop yields four arrests in North Greenbush

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

NORTH GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- At around 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on Church Street in North Greenbush. The four occupants of the vehicle were arrested, including a 16-year-old who was reported missing from Albany. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Police investigations determined that the driver, a 17-year-old, did not possess a valid driver's license. One passenger, Menelik T. Brumell, 20, of Albany, was found to be in possession of an illegal "ghost" handgun. The gun was loaded and Brumell also had an illegal high-capacity magazine in his waistband. Further investigation determined that the vehicle was reported stolen from Albany hours earlier. The fourth passenger, an 18-year-old, was also arrested.The 16, 17, and 18-year-olds were arrested for criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree. The 16 and 17-year-olds were issued appearance tickets to the Rensselaer County Youth Part Court at ...

Albany man arrested for impersonating a State Trooper

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:34:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State Police arrested Keshawn M. Bacchus, 22, for impersonating a State Trooper on August 19. A Colonie business reported that Bacchus had contacted them and falsely accused an employee of a crime while identifying himself as a law enforcement officer. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Bachus was arrested at his residence and charged with criminal impersonation in the first degree, aggravated harassment in the second degree, and falsely reporting a crime in the third degree. He was issued an appearance ticket to the Colonie Town Court on September 13 and released.