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Other voices: Federal government wastes billions on empty offices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

“Office Space” may be a comedy classic, but the government’s version is no laughing matter.Last month, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on how federal agencies use — or don’t use — their headquarters. It examined 24 agencies, including the departments of Justice, Education and Transportation.It found that 17 of the 24 agency headquarters buildings “were at 25 percent capacity or less in the first three months of 2023.” Among the bottom quartile of agencies, the usage was a mere 9 percent. Even among the agencies that used their headquarters’ space the most, none topped 50 percent occupancy.This is an issue with a large footprint. The federal government owns more than 460 million square feet of office space. Maintaining it costs taxpayers billions every year. It’s wasteful to have so much unused space.One might assume this is a new problem. Perhaps the federal government has been slow to adjust to ...

DOJ: New Paltz business owner to pay $300K+ for false tax returns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A New Paltz business owner received two years of probation and must pay $307,665 in restitution for filing false tax returns. Susan Salanitri, 60, owned two restaurants in New Paltz. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Salanitri previously pleaded guilty to five counts of filing false tax returns. She admitted that from 2015 to 2019, while filing taxes, she intentionally underreported her restaurants’ revenues on her individual tax return filed with the IRS, ending in a total underpayment of taxes in the amount of $307,665.

RPI and Union set for 73rd playing of Dutchman Shoes Trophy Game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A week after Union and RPI renewed its rivalry on the ice, they'll do so again on the gridiron this weekend. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Dutchman Shoes Trophy will be on the line for the 73rd time Saturday in a rivalry that dates back to 1886 - the oldest college football rivalry in New York State. And there's more than just pride and bragging rights on the line in this year's matchup.At 8-1, Union can solidify a potential NCAA playoff bid under first-year head coach Jon Poppe, who's being introduced to the Dutchman Shoes game this week.The trophy currently resides with RPI after last year's 23-13 victory in Troy. The Engineers have won two straight meetings, and seven of the last nine; they want to continue their recent dominance in this matchup.Those factors add even more significance to an already revered rivalry."The alumni, the players made it clear during the interview process that th...

Duanesburg basketball's O'Hanlon, Moses sign Division I National Letters of Intent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

DUANESBURG, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A number of high schools held National Letter of Intent signings Wednesday, and out at Duanesburg, a pair of girls basketball standouts are headed to the Division I level. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Senior guard Allison O'Hanlon, Duanesburg's all-time leading scorer, will stay at home and attend Siena College. Alex Moses will continue her playing career at Canisius College.It's a rarity for Duanesburg to have two D-1 commits in the same class, but it was a day the girls said has been over 10 years in the making."I've been playing basketball with Allison since first grade; she's been my best friend since," said Moses. "We've always dreamed of being on a big stage. And luckily for us, we get to play against each other now on the big stage, so I'm really looking forward to it.""It's kind of a full-circle moment for both of us," added O'Hanlon. "Just to be able to go through all the ups and downs -...

Roman Bürki honored as MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Roman Bürki takes home a big award in his first year with St. Louis CITY SC. The MLS has named Bürki as the 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Bürki becomes the first-ever CITY SC player to earn an individual MLS Year-End Award honor. Bürki’s 17 wins are the most of any goalkeeper in their first MLS season. He is the first goalkeeper to win the award on an expansion team since in 1998. Have a $2 bill? It could be worth thousands A Switzerland native, Bürki is the first goalkeeper to produce at least 120 saves and eight clean sheets in a season since 2019. He had the second-highest save percentage of all goalkeepers to keep at least eight clean sheets this season.Bürki started all but one game between the regular season and playoffs in St. Louis CITY SC's inaugural campaign, which ended last weekend with a Wild Card series loss to Sporting Kansas City in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Bürki is one of four from St. Louis CITY SC nominated for Year-End awards. St. Louis head ...

Woman hits park ranger with car at Creve Coeur Lake Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

OVERLAND, Mo – Colleen Bzdyl, 45, from St. Louis County, is facing charges of attempted assault after hitting a park ranger with her car. Bzdyl insisted that the park ranger had no authority to pull her over, and when she attempted to drive away, she hit the ranger with her car. A cash bond of $75,000 has been set. On November 7, Bzdyl confronted a St. Louis County Park ranger who had pulled her over for traffic violations at Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park.  She ignored the officer's request to stay in her car. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim Bzdyl confronted the ranger before eventually getting back into her car as directed. While the ranger spoke to her at her window, Bzdyl insisted that the ranger had no right to pull her over. She abruptly turned her car around, striking the ranger and nearly knocking him to the ground. The police traced the vehicle to a nearby apartment, where Bzdyl was found. She claimed feeling threatened based on the ranger...

Wind-driven brush fire prompts closure of 15 Freeway through Jurupa Valley

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

A wind-driven brush fire erupted near the 15 Freeway in Jurupa Valley, prompting officials to close the northbound and southbound lanes Thursday morning.The blaze, dubbed the Landon Fire, was first reported at 5:30 a.m. in the 11000 block of Landon Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Firefighters were at the scene of the 7-acre blaze, which prompted the freeway to be closed between Limonite Avenue and Cantu-Galleano Ranch road, the fire department tweeted just after 6:30 a.m.Sky 5 was over the scene before the full closure, where smoke could be seen blowing into the cars as they were still traveling on the freeway. The fire eventually started burning under the freeway, where flames were coming through some type of ventilation or drainage hole that was opened up near the center divider on the southbound side.Fire vehicles and cones were placed around the hole as flames burned in the open grass field underneath.It was unclear when the freeway lanes would reopen.

Woman faces hate crime charge for ramming synagogue gate with car, LAPD says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

A woman faces a hate crime charge after she allegedly crashed her car through the gate of a Tarzana synagogue.Tikvah Mottahdeh, 54, rammed her vehicle into the gates of ERETZ Synagogue & Cultural Center, located in the 6100 block of Wilbur Avenue, early Thursday morning, according to Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson Officer Moran.Mottahdeh was arrested at around 2:10 a.m. and faces a charge of hate crime vandalism at a house of worship, Moran said.Footage from the scene showed the broken gate lying in the synagogue's driveway.It is unknown if the synagogue structure sustained any damage.

LASD, county to pay wrongfully arrested LAist reporter $700K

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

Three years ago, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies forcefully arrested LAist reporter Josie Huang while she was covering a protest.The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to charge Huang, noting that the reporter for LAist — an NPR affiliate then known as KPCC — was "in a public area filming a protest.""When asked to back up, she is almost immediately grabbed by deputies and taken to the ground, giving her little if any time to comply,” prosecutors wrote at the time.While then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva defended the arrest, there's a new sheriff in town, as Villanueva lost his reelection bid to Sheriff Robert Luna.The county and LASD have reached a $700,000 settlement with Huang, according to a Monday statement from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.The RCFP said to their knowledge, the payout is "the largest award to an individual journalist whose rights were violated in connection with protest coverage in 2020.""The settlement ... sets a new...

Police: Man riding stolen motorcycle dies in fiery Oakland crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:57:42 GMT

OAKLAND — A 31-year-old man died Wednesday after he was engulfed in flames when the stolen motorcycle he was riding caught fire after a collision with an SUV in the Fruitvale district, police said.The man’s name has not yet been released pending notification of his family.  Authorities said he was an Oakland resident.The fiery collision happened about 3:13 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of 39th Avenue and International Boulevard.Police said the man was riding a stolen motorcycle eastbound on International at high speed when he failed to stop for a red light at 39th Avenue and collided with an SUV  making a southbound turn onto 39th Avenue from International.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Fremont man arrested in connection with October homicide Crime and Public Safety | Another Bay Area child dead from fentanyl, another parent behind bars. ‘They don’t mean for their kid to die.’ Crime and Public Safety | ...