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Penticton Winter Recreation Guide set to drop this week (Penticton)

PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Related Articles National News | Abandoned mines in the US pose dangers to people and property when land gives way National News | Dog food recalled in 7 states for salmonella risk after puppy litter gets sick, FDA says National News | White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign National News | Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions National News | United Healthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website.

Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the DEA, withdraws name from considerationSpecial teams miscues prove costly for Bears in overtime loss to Vikings

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Colorado hands No. 2 UConn second straight loss in MauiA dramatic finish to an historic night in north Wales saw Ollie Rathbone’s stoppage-time winner strengthen Wrexham’s grip on second place in League One . The Athletic picks out the main talking points, as the promotion chasers once again found a way to win on home soil as the EFL joined the shared reality TV revolution for the first time by beaming the Barnsley game live to fans watching in Los Angeles and Dallas. Defensive masterclass has an unlikely inspiration It didn’t need the hi-tech cameras installed around the SToK Cae Ras for the benefit of those watching from the USA to highlight just what Wrexham’s promotion push is built on. Solid defence has been a major feature of Phil Parkinson’s reign, particularly on home soil, and this season has proved no different with just 11 goals conceded in 18 league outings. No other club in the third tier can match such a miserly record: the next best defences are Birmingham City , Huddersfield Town and Wigan Athletic , who have all let in 15. Advertisement As was again evident against a lively Barnsley side who pressed superbly all night, this defensive solidity is very much a team effort with Wrexham remaining watertight at the back despite losing a second goalkeeper to injury inside a month. Callum Burton , with two clean sheets to his name in three appearances since replacing Arthur Okonkwo , was forced out of the action midway through the first half with a thigh strain that will be scanned on Wednesday morning. The injury was a huge blow for the summer signing from Plymouth Argyle, whose assured performances had been reflected in his expected goals against (xGA) standing at 3 when, in reality, he had been beaten just once — and Louie Barry’s winner for Stockport County was such a stunning strike it’s hard to imagine any goalkeeper keeping it out. Step forward 38-year-old Mark Howard , who showed no sign of rustiness despite not having featured in the league for almost a year. His handling was excellent throughout, while the reflex save to deny Fabio Jalo in the second half was superb. “How well he came in is just a mark of him as a person and a professional,” says Eoghan O’Connell , again exemplary in the middle of the back three. “He’s about 100 years old and we travel to training together. “We have to pull him off the pitch to get back in the car. It shows what he is all about as a person.” Wrexham ’s 11th clean sheet of the season was hard won against a visiting side who pinged the ball around well. Max Cleworth set the tone with a last-ditch tackle to dispossess Davis Keillor-Dunn , just as the former Wrexham man looked to be about to race clear in the fourth minute. George Dobson did something similar early in the second half, while the near telepathic understanding between O’Connell, Cleworth and Lewis Burnt was much to the fore as striker Ollie Palmer also played his part with umpteen clearing headers to repel dangerous Barnsley set-pieces. Advertisement What perhaps makes Wrexham’s defensive record all the more impressive is how the back three has changed several times already with Tom O’Connor and Dan Scarr having had lengthy runs in the team. “A willingness to keep the ball out,” says O’Connell, by way of an explanation for that miserly record. “No matter who is playing. Everyone wants to run for each other, everyone wants to do their bit. The strikers and the midfielders work hard in front of us and that allows us to get on with our job. “If one of us makes a mistake, we’re there for each other. Especially in the back three. To me, that’s the best thing about this. The lads either side of me know if they are going to go tight (with a striker), I’m there for them. Same if I go tight, they are there for me.” Go west to watch Wrexham.. Judging by his post on X just a few minutes into Tuesday’s game, McElhenney is already a big fan of the shared reality coverage that gave those watching in Cosm’s immersive entertainment centres in Los Angeles and Dallas a flavour of what it’s like to be inside The Racecourse. “This is incredible,” he messaged, along with video footage of the Barnsley match being shown on a bank of giant screens. No doubt Rathbone’s late, late winner will only have added to the actor’s enjoyment when watching alongside It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star Danny DeVito in the LA sports bar. Danny Devito giving out high fives as Wrexham nick it against Barnsley. What a world we live in 😍🌎 #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/7EeBhTgTco — RobRyanRed – Wrexham AFC Podcast (@RobRyanRed) December 3, 2024 For Wrexham to be chosen for the EFL’s first foray into the immersive sports market was no surprise. The Welsh club are a huge draw in the U.S. thanks to the success of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary. So much so they are the only one of the 72 EFL clubs to have had every league fixture broadcast live as part of the new four-year CBS Sports TV deal. By the time the latest TV live picks in the States come to an end over the first weekend of January, Parkinson’s side will have been shown live 25 times. Advertisement A remarkable tally for a League One club, with Birmingham set to have the next highest tally of live appearances among their peers with just seven. As for the ground-breaking shared reality coverage, Wrexham will appear in at least three of the scheduled half dozen EFL games with Birmingham’s trip to Wales on January 23 also selected along with the away game at Huddersfield Town on March 4. This is incredible @CosmLosAngeles 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WiD2lWfRfV — Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) December 3, 2024 Long-term recruitment is reaping rewards A remarkable feature of Wrexham’s rapid rise from non-League to chasing a place in the Championship is how so many players have been part of the entire journey. Take the starting XI against Barnsley. Cleworth, O’Connell, Ryan Barnett , Elliot Lee and Ollie Palmer had all been part of the National League title-winning campaign in 2022-23, as had substitutes Howard and Paul Mullin . In the season’s opening weeks, O’Connor and Andy Cannon had swelled the numbers further to underline the value of the club’s far-sighted recruitment in those days when escaping the fifth tier was the be all and end all. Who’s next? A trip to bottom club Burton Albion on Saturday. (Top photos: Ollie Rathbone and Danny DeVito; Getty Images)

Rivals focus on different chips

College Football: Northern Iowa hires Drake coach Todd Stepsis as new football coach

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here . Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There’s no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley’s historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He’s not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP’s first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren’t QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn’t. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP’s new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It’s not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. “I don’t think that’s crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left,” Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven’t reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team’s struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflWhile it really is nice to be wanted in life, the same cannot be said in Starfield . If you have a bounty on you from any of the factions, a whole lot of bounty hunters will show up trying to cash in. The good news is that you can get rid of the bounties without too much issue if you know where to go. Starfield bounty kiosk location guide The future is largely controlled and organized through kiosks in Starfield . This applies to bounties as well as almost everything else. Below, you can find an ever-growing list of bounty clearance kiosk locations where you can wipe away your sins for just a handful of credits. You might even find The Hunter chilling out near one of them. If you wish to avoid a bounty in the first place, then make sure nobody sees you stealing, assaulting an NPC, hacking doors or safes, pickpocketing goods from people, or trespassing somewhere you shouldn’t be. You should also be incredibly careful with your abilities. I used the anti-gravity ability in New Atlantis by accident, and it ended up costing me over 160,000 Credits. So, don’t have any fun, basically. You can check if you have a bounty on you by opening your star map and looking at the top right of the screen. Any bounty in that space will be listed there, along with the value of it. It should also be noted the new Shattered Space DLC doesn’t seem to have any bounty kiosks available, meaning you’ll have to clear them out elsewhere. During your travels, be wary of any hostile environments like Serpentis and Kryx, as they will most likely attack on-site. I recommend avoiding these pathways altogether if you’re looking for easy access t o bounty kiosks in Starfield . But, if you don’t mind a little trouble, come prepared with the best weapons and tools for your ship . When you touch down on Jemison’s landing pad, go forward to the central area filled with various shops. Look to the left of the spiral structure to spot the Viewport building. Head inside the Viewport Bar’s main entryway on the left side of Jemison Mercantile. The Self-Service Bounty Clearance machine will be right next to the bar. The good news about Akila City is that it really is just like the old west, and a bit of cash can solve all your problems. From the landing pad, head straight into town, and you will see a bright red sign for the Hitching Post bar. It’ll be across from the Shepherd’s General Store. Go inside to find the Bounty Clearance Kiosk next to the bartender and a small “Bar” sign. In orbit near Akila, you can find the Trident Luxury Lines Staryard. Approach the ship and look for its port to begin docking. Head right down the corridor after you board, and you will find the bounty kiosk on the right side near the main reception area. Also, keep in mind that Trident doesn’t sell any parts or ships at the Trident Staryard. Make your way into Cydonia, down the main corridor through the hanging barrier, and then look to the right to find the Broken Spear Bar. Once you go through the bar entryway, you’ll see another kiosk station to the left. Go to the Deimos Staryard in orbit above the Deimos moon of Mars. Head inside, down the first corridor, and then to the left to find the bounty kiosk. It’ll be right next to the Deimos Sales Computer. This is also a pretty solid shipyard to build at if you are at a high enough level, providing better ship weapons in the game. Make your way to Neon and then head to the elevator to reach the upper floor. After going up, take a right and continue going forward until you get to the very end. Here, you’ll see the Astral Lounge. Go up the stairs and enter the Trade Tower: Astral Lounge doorway. The bounty kiosk will be easy to spot, right by the entrance. At the landing pad, look for the Trade Authority Kiosk. Just beyond that, with one of the worst signs ever, is the Pit Stop Bar. Head inside to find the Bounty Clearance kiosk on the left, near a poster with the words, “Shut up and Drink.” If all your factions are hostile due to bad behavior, your best bet is to use a Civilian Outpost bounty kiosk. These outposts can pop up on various planets, such as the far side of Jemison. They will often have a bounty board and a mission board for you to use if you want to grab a mission or pay off a bounty on your way through. Planets with Civilian Outposts seem to be randomly generated, so not everyone will have the exact coordinates. Before landing on a planet, you can check to see if it has an outpost with its house icon. You’ll likely find a bounty kiosk somewhere within this facility. Explore the galaxy to find more Civilian Outposts, giving you additional kiosks to utilize. How to clear bounties in Starfield To remove a bounty, all you need to do is find one of the kiosks and interact with it. If you have an active bounty, you will be prompted to pay the fine. For example, when I first tried out the machine, I was greeted with a 350 credit bounty for Neon. Those who cause havoc in multiple places will need to pay bounties off individually with each Faction. You’ll have a choice on which ones you want to pay off when on the ‘Which Faction would you like us to contact on your behalf?’ page. Keep in mind that you will need to be in a system that is not controlled by the faction that has placed a bounty on you. They won’t let you pay it off in their own territory. Extra charges may also apply to completely clear your bounties. In particular, my bounty for Neon was listed for 350 credits, but the total cost came out to 385 credits. It’s not a whole lot of extra cash, so it shouldn’t be too overwhelming with this small convenience fee. However, you should still be prepared as they can get expensive depending on your crimes. After you’ve paid it off, your criminal record with a specific region will be cleared. You may even see a message from the Starfield bounty kiosks that states, “Our records indicate that you are not wanted by any Faction within the Settled Systems at this time.” Hats off to you for being such a good citizen. If you don’t want to spend the credits, you can go to jail, although this will slightly reduce your current XP level. You also lose any stolen goods you have on you, and considering I stole my precious cowboy hat , that is just not an option for me. Additionally, you can try to bribe your way out of any situation, which is usually pretty cheap. That won’t actually get rid of the bounty; it just leaves you free to get arrested another day.CHICAGO (AP) — Cairo Santos had a field goal blocked — again. DeAndre Carter muffed a punt in the second half. And those were just the special teams mistakes for the struggling Chicago Bears. Santos' blocked field goal and Carter's turnover were part of another sloppy performance for Chicago in its fifth consecutive loss. The pair of miscues helped set up two of Minnesota's three touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime victory . The Bears (4-7) closed out a miserable three-game homestand after they won their first three games of the season at Soldier Field. They were in position to beat Green Bay last weekend before Santos' 46-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the final play of the Packers' 20-19 win . “It’s tough. ... When things just aren’t going your way, you gotta put your head down and just keep going to work,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “It’s not easy to do but that’s kind of where we’re at.” Chicago and Minnesota were tied at 7 when Caleb Williams threw incomplete on third-and-4 at the Vikings 30 early in the second quarter. Bears coach Matt Eberflus sent Santos out for a 48-yard attempt, but it was knocked down by defensive lineman Jerry Tillery. “I think it was the penetration with the trajectory of the ball,” Santos said. “Had the ball started 3 or 4 inches to the right of both those guys' hands, I think it still goes in through the uprights.” Brian Asamoah returned the blocked kick 22 yards to set the Vikings up with good field position. Sam Darnold then capped a six-play, 53-yard drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Jalen Nailor for a 14-7 lead with 6:29 left in the first half. It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. Santos also had a 43-yard try blocked in the fourth quarter of a 35-16 victory over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. The Bears became the first NFL team to allow three blocked field goals in a season since the Browns and Ravens each had three blocked in 2022. Story continues below video “Whenever that happens two games in a row we’ve got to make sure we take a hard look in terms of the protection, the technique and who we have in there,” Eberflus said. “So it's going to be a big thing to look at.” Chicago trailed 17-10 when it forced a Minnesota punt midway through the third quarter. Carter warned his teammates to get out of the way, but it hit the ground and bounced off the inside of his right leg before it was recovered by Bo Richter at the Bears 15. The Vikings turned the mental error into Aaron Jones' 2-yard touchdown run and a 24-10 lead. “Gotta get out of the way of the ball. That’s on me,” Carter said. “I let the team down today. Game shouldn’t have been in the situation it was in. I felt bad for the guys.” Santos and Carter both played a role in a late rally for Chicago. Carter had a 55-yard kickoff return, and Santos got an onside kick to work before making a tying 48-yarder on the final play of regulation. But the Bears stalled on the first possession of overtime, and Darnold drove the Vikings downfield to set up Parker Romo's winning 29-yard field goal. “We're losing in the most unreal situations,” Bears receiver DJ Moore said. “Now it's like the luck's got to go in our favor at some point.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

AMARILLO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 3, 2024-- Xcel Energy is increasing its wildfire detection and mitigation efforts in the Texas Panhandle by introducing artificial intelligence to spot fires early. We are partnering with Pano AI to install more than 50 camera stations across the region. Carson, Gray, Roberts, Hutchinson, Wheeler, Hemphill, Garza, Cochran, Moore, Potter and Yoakum counties are currently being considered. First responders and firefighters will have immediate access to this data, shortening response times. “We want to better safeguard our neighbors and reduce the risk of future wildfire loss by investing in advanced wildfire detection capabilities,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “So many of our friends, families and communities have been impacted by the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle and we remain committed to supporting them. Providing this technology to our first responders with the information they need to act swiftly and safely to respond to wildfires will improve public safety.” The company is currently identifying strategic locations for the initial camera stations in areas with the highest fire risk, which will be complete in 2025. This is a five-year program and underscores Xcel Energy’s commitment to protecting our communities, fortifying grid resilience, and providing situational awareness for first responders in Amarillo and surrounding areas. Pano AI’s system combines 360-degree high-definition cameras, AI-driven smoke detection and satellite data integration to continuously scan for smoke. When a potential fire is detected, Pano immediately verifies it through human analysts, triangulates the location and notifies the 911 call center to activate the closest fire department. Fire departments will have access to these live streams for critical, real-time intelligence. “Early detection of wildfires is critical, especially in high-risk areas like the Texas Panhandle,” said Arvind Satyam, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Pano AI. “We are proud to support Xcel Energy’s commitment to community safety and resilience through cutting-edge technology that empowers first responders with the real-time information and enhanced situational awareness they need to act decisively.” Each Texas camera station will perform a 360-degree sweep every minute. This initiative builds on Xcel Energy’s existing measures, including power line inspections, vegetation management and aerial surveillance. The company plans to install more cameras in Texas and expand the program into our New Mexico service territory in the future. As camera stations are added and their reach overlaps, their accuracy will improve, helping firefighters respond more quickly. These efforts follow Xcel Energy’s successful deployment of Pano AI camera stations in Colorado. Our comprehensive wildfire mitigation strategy also includes collaborations with other technology providers and thorough equipment inspections, reinforcing our commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and infrastructure. We are one of the most reliable energy companies in the industry and we are taking proactive steps to safely meet the needs of our growing region. Xcel Energy is building the energy grid of the future by following our investment plan to modernize and harden our grid for increased resilience. While we make these investments, we will work efficiently to provide energy to our customers and keep their bills as low as possible. About Xcel Energy Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on X and Facebook . About Pano AI: Pano AI is the leading AI-driven solution for active wildfire detection. The fully integrated solution combines ultra-high-definition cameras, wireless connectivity, satellite feeds, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based software to provide its customers and partners with real-time actionable intelligence and situational awareness to coordinate an informed rapid response to wildfires before they escalate. Governments, utilities, private landowners, and fire agencies use Pano's technology and services in 16 states or provinces throughout the U.S., Australia and British Columbia, Canada. It covers over 20 million acres of land, helping better safeguard infrastructure, communities, and lives against catastrophic fire incidents. To learn more, visit www.pano.ai or follow the company on LinkedIn . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203302899/en/ CONTACT: Xcel Energy Media Relations 790 S. Buchanan St. Amarillo, TX 79101 (806) 679-7773 www.xcelenergy.com mediainquiries@xcelenergy.com KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGY NATURAL DISASTERS UTILITIES PHOTOGRAPHY PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT ENERGY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PUBLIC SAFETY SOURCE: Xcel Energy Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/03/2024 03:00 PM/DISC: 12/03/2024 03:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203302899/en

BY MELISSA GOLDIN Social media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. But the ruling by Vermont’s high court is not as far-reaching as some online have claimed. In reality, it concluded that anyone protected under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP, Act is immune to state lawsuits. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that schools can vaccinate children against their parents’ wishes. THE FACTS: The claim stems from a July 26 ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court, which found that anyone protected by the PREP Act is immune to state lawsuits, including the officials named in the Politella’s suit. The ruling does not authorize schools to vaccinate children at their discretion. According to the lawsuit, the Politella’s son — referred to as L.P. — was given one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic held at Academy School in Brattleboro even though his father, Dario, told the school’s assistant principal a few days before that his son was not to receive a vaccination. In what officials described as a mistake, L.P. was removed from class and had a “handwritten label” put on his shirt with the name and date of birth of another student, L.K., who had already been vaccinated that day. L.P. was then vaccinated. Ultimately, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that officials involved in the case could not be sued. “We conclude that the PREP Act immunizes every defendant in this case and this fact alone is enough to dismiss the case,” the Vermont Supreme Court’s ruling reads. “We conclude that when the federal PREP Act immunizes a defendant, the PREP Act bars all state-law claims against that defendant as a matter of law.” The PREP Act , enacted by Congress in 2005, authorizes the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a declaration in the event of a public health emergency providing immunity from liability for activities related to medical countermeasures, such as the administration of a vaccine, except in cases of “willful misconduct” that result in “death or serious physical injury.” A declaration against COVID-19 was issued on March 17, 2020. It is set to expire on Dec. 31. Federals suits claiming willful misconduct are filed in Washington. Social media users described the Vermont Supreme Court’s ruling as having consequences beyond what it actually says. “The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that schools can force-vaccinate children for Covid against the wishes of their parents,” reads one X post that had been liked and shared approximately 16,600 times as of Tuesday. “The high court ruled on a case involving a 6-year-old boy who was forced to take a Covid mRNA injection by his school. However, his family had explicitly stated that they didn’t want their child to receive the ‘vaccines.’” Other users alleged that the ruling gives schools permission to give students any vaccine without parental consent, not just ones for COVID-19. Rod Smolla, president of the Vermont Law and Graduate School and an expert on constitutional law, told The Associated Press that the ruling “merely holds that the federal statute at issue, the PREP Act, preempts state lawsuits in cases in which officials mistakenly administer a vaccination without consent.” “Nothing in the Vermont Supreme Court opinion states that school officials can vaccinate a child against the instructions of the parent,” he wrote in an email. Asked whether the claims spreading online have any merit, Ronald Ferrara, an attorney representing the Politellas, told the AP that although the ruling doesn’t say schools can vaccinate students regardless of parental consent, officials could interpret it to mean that they could get away with doing so under the PREP Act, at least when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court appeal seeks to clarify whether the Vermont Supreme Court interpreted the PREP Act beyond what Congress intended. “The Politella’s fundamental liberty interest to decide whether their son should receive elective medical treatment was denied by agents of the State and School,” he wrote in an email to the AP. “The Vermont Court misconstrues the scope of PREP Act immunity (which is conditioned upon informed consent for medical treatments unapproved by FDA), to cover this denial of rights and its underlying battery.” Ferrara added that he was not aware of the claims spreading online, but that he “can understand how lay people may conflate the court’s mistaken grant of immunity for misconduct as tantamount to blessing such misconduct.”A Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021Article content The new purchasers of the former General Hospital property have been given the nod to begin abatement and start clearing out the old hospital contents, despite the fact the property is still in the city’s name. Last-minute agreements were inked to protect the city from liability if a contractor was to work on city property, city council was told. “This is not the usual scenario where we have a contract in place for work, so an agreement needed to be drafted.” Council unanimously approved the agreement which would allow GIP to begin abatement and clear out the former hospital contents. Under the original plan, it was expected the sale of the property to GIP would close before demolition of the building began. GIP had requested that they be allowed to move equipment onto the property pending the closing of the sale and a licence to occupy was approved that would allow them to do that. However, that licence did not permit demotion to take place before the sale closes. City solicitor Karen Fields says in her report that a sale cannot be concluded until the property is certified by the Local Registry Office from the purchase transactions – something that can take weeks after closing. “We are also still waiting on a plan to denote the easements to be acquired by the city,” Fields writes. “Should the city allow GIP to commence work without an agreement, it opens the city to liability. The city does not require GIP to commence this work, but at GIP’s request to be on-site, this agreement was prepared. The agreement prepared for these purposes allows GIP to be the constructor of the work until the sale closes. It then would become the property owner, and the city would not be responsible for what takes place on GIP property. The agreement identifies the agreed to roles and obligations for health and safety of the parties during this limited period and seeks to reduce any health and safety liability to the city. Fines under the OHSA for a conviction of a corporation carry a maximum fine of $2 million per conviction,” the report states. A draft agreement between the parties allows GIP to be the ‘constructor’ and follow all Occupational Health and Safety Act regulations on behalf of the city as owner. GIP would be required to produce documentation for safety prequalification to the city for work on the property. GIP will also agree it does not hold the city responsible in any way under occupational health and safety law for work done at the site. GIP is also required to ensure no demolition occurs until asbestos-containing materials are removed, obtains liability insurance of at least $10 million per occurrence and secure contractor’s pollution liability insurance for at least $5 million. Earlier this month city council unanimously approved the sale of the property to GIP Inc. and Ruscio Masonry and Construction Ltd. The partnership will acquire two of the properties – the former hospital and the vacant waterfront land parcel – and Ruscio Construction will purchase the former renal site property. The partnership will see GIP or an affiliated company demolish the former General Hospital building in exchange for full ownership of the site and the waterfront property for $1 each. It’s now anticipated that process will start almost immediately with the first step by emptying the contents left behind in the former hospital. Share this Story : GIP given the nod to begin demolition of former General Hospital Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr