Construction contractors agree to giving more than $1M in back pay for denying overtime, other wages

By Esme Murphy

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — More than $1 million will be repaid to construction workers in one of the largest settlements of its kind in Minnesota history.

The consent decree spells out the back pay 26 workers will get for work they should have been paid between 2019 and 2023.

“When wages are stolen, it hurts the families of the workers. The taxes that are not paid on those wages hurts taxpayers who have to pick up the tab and it hurts workers who play by the rules,” attorney Burt Johnson said.

One construction company owner explained how wage theft hurts her business, saying she loses out on contracts that are underbid because the company plans to cheat.

“When contractors commit wage theft or misclassify workers, what many of us call employment fraud, they are not competing on skill. They are competing on whether they can get away with breaking the law,” Katie Kunshier, CEO of Crossroad Construction, said.

There were 19 projects investigated, including the development of the Viking Lakes project in Eagan.

“Advantage Construction Inc. agreed to pay full back wages in the amount of $1.24 million,” said Nicole Blissenbach, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. “They were the first-tier contractor that hired PMC. PMC agreed to pay $39,000 in liquidated damages.”

The most common methods of wage theft include not paying overtime and misclassifying employees as contractors, so they earn less.

More recent laws will hold not just contractors but developers responsible. Several people at Monday’s press conference on the settlement say they are optimistic there will be more large settlements in the future because of those laws.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

5 bald eagles found dead in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, prompting DNR investigation

By Paula Wethington

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    Michigan (WWJ) — State wildlife officials are seeking information on why multiple eagles were recently found dead in an area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says a total of five deceased eagles were found between April 3 and April 17 in Garden Peninsula, an area that includes part of Delta County. It is bordered by Lake Michigan to the east and Big Bay de Noc to the west.

“We can confirm that the eagles did not die from natural causes, predators or vehicle collisions,” said First Lt. Mark Zitnik, a DNR law enforcement supervisor in Newberry.

The question remains: what killed the birds?

Michigan was home to about 900 breeding pairs of bald eagles in 2023, according to Bird Chronicle. They can be seen in areas such as Pointe Mouille State Game Area in South Rockwood and Maple River State Game Area in East Lansing.

Hazards to the species that were previously documented in Michigan include poisoning via mercury-contaminated fish, along with lead-related poisoning.

State officials ask that anyone who has information about the series of Upper Peninsula eagle deaths send those tips via the DNR’s poaching tipline, call or text 800-292-7800. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with local tribes, is assisting the DNR in the investigation.

Eagles are a federally protected species, the DNR says. Penalties for interfering with the birds can include 90 days in jail, fines of up to $1,000, and a reimbursement of $1,500 per eagle.

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Car slams into home on Detroit’s west side, bursts into flames

By Gino Vicci

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    DETROIT, Michigan (WWJ) — Detroit police said a reckless driver lost control and slammed into a home on the city’s west side, causing the vehicle and the home to erupt in flames on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the fiery crash happened at a home on the corner of Puritan and Harlow avenues.

“When I heard the second boom, I thought, ‘Oh, this is serious, cause we felt it,'” said Anthony Harris, who lives next door.

Harris captured footage from his Ring doorbell camera moments after the crash occurred.

After hearing the loud crashes, Harris said he ran outside to see what it was.

Detroit police said a man in his 20s sideswiped an oncoming vehicle on Puritan and then lost control, crashing into the home. Seconds later, Harris said the car and the house erupted in flames.

“I was looking to see had anybody gotten hurt, but the flames were just tremendous, ’cause you could feel the heat from here,” Harris said.

On Monday afternoon, crews from DTE Energy, the Detroit Fire Department and contractors worked to secure the structure of the home and turn off utilities.

Detroit police said the family living there was not home at the time, and the driver of the vehicle suffered only minor injuries.

“This is totally unbelievable,” said Stephen Grady Muhammad, a community activist with Detroit 300.

Grady Muhammad said he stopped by the home to check on the family and to offer any support they need. He also said what happened is unacceptable and drivers have to be more responsible, especially in neighborhoods with lots of children.

“Think about what you’re doing; it’s ok to have fun out here, but you got to be careful in everything you do because your fun can end up harming somebody else,” Grady Muhammad said.

Moving forward, Harris said something has to be done about speeding here on Puritan and is making a plea — a plea for everyone to slow down.

“Speed kills. You got to come through here like you got some sense; people be flying through here,” Harris said.

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Philadelphia Eagles exercise 5th-year options for Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith

By Tom Ignudo

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — The Philadelphia Eagles exercised the fifth-year options for Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith on Monday, the team announced. The former Georgia Bulldogs are now under contract through the 2027 season.

The deadline for the Birds to exercise Smith and Carter’s fifth-year options on their rookie contracts was on May 1. Carter will earn $27.1 million in 2027, while Smith is set to receive $13.7 million, according to Spotrac.

Carter and Smith were both first-round picks by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft out of Georgia, where they won back-to-back national championships. They each played pivotal roles on Philadelphia’s defense en route to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title in 2024.

Carter, who was picked 9th overall in the 2023 NFL draft, earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2024 and has been named to the Pro Bowl twice, including in 2025.

Last season, Carter dealt with injuries to both of his shoulders and played in 11 games. He had 33 tackles, 29 pressures, 12 quarterback hits and three sacks.

Nolan Smith, the 30th overall pick in the 2025 draft, also dealt with an injury in the 2025 season. He reinjured his triceps, an injury he played through and had surgery on after the team’s Super Bowl LIX win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 11 games last season, Smith had 31 tackles and three sacks. Smith owns the franchise record for the most sacks in a single postseason with four in the season the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX.

Earlier this offseason, the Eagles signed fellow former Georgia Bulldog Jordan Davis to a three-year contract extension after he had a career year in 2025.

The Birds primarily focused on offense in the 2026 NFL draft, but they added a key piece to their pass rush when they acquired edge rusher Jonathan Greenard in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

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NCAA Tournament first round matchups are set for UCSB Tennis and Cal Poly Beach Volleyball

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Women’s Tennis: The No. 50 UC Santa Barbara Women’s Tennis team concluded the Big West Tournament as Big West Champions for the second straight season. Earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, the Gauchos will take on No. 11 Pepperdine with the Waves as the regional hosts. The Gauchos and the Waves will meet in the first round on Friday, May 1st at 1 p.m.

For the third time in the last five years, the Gauchos will be on the national stage. The Gauchos defeated No. 39 Rice in the first round last year, before falling short to No. 2 ranked Texas A&M in the second round.

Men’s Tennis: The No. 36 UC Santa Barbara Men’s Tennis team wrapped up the Big West Tournament as Big West Champions after taking the broom out against Irvine in the championship match. The Gauchos will head to the NCAA Championships, and will take on No. 15 San Diego with the Toreros as the regional hosts. The Gauchos and the Toreros will meet in the first round on Friday, May 1st at 1 p.m.

For the second straight season and for the fourth time in the last six years, the Gauchos will be on the national stage in May.

(Article provided by UCSB Athletics).

Beach Volleyball: After winning its fourth Big West Championship title, the Cal Poly beach volleyball team earned the No. 6 seed Sunday into next week’s NCAA Championship in Gulf Shores, Ala.

The Mustangs (30-8) will face No. 11 seed GCU in the first round on Friday at 2 p.m. PT/4 p.m. in Gulf Shores. The match will be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The winner will move on to play in the second round Saturday at 10 a.m. PT/12 p.m. in Gulf Shores against the winner of No. 3 seed UCLA and No. 14 seed Tulane.

The second round and semifinals will both be played on Saturday. Cal Poly’s semifinal match would take place at 12:30 p.m. PT. The championship match will take place Sunday, May 3 at 9:30 a.m. PT.

Friday and Saturday’s matches will be on ESPN2 while Sunday’s national championship match will air on ESPN. All the matches and specific courts can be streamed on ESPN+ as well.

This will be Cal Poly’s sixth trip to the NCAA Championship and third in a row. The Mustangs previously made it in 2019, 2021, and 2022, 2024, and 2025. In each of the last two seasons, the Mustangs have reached the NCAA Championship Semifinals.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics).

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Nuclear medicine being called new frontier in cancer care: “A new era”

By Stephanie Stahl

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Nuclear medicine is being called a new frontier in cancer care, and new research shows potential new uses for it in treating gastric and pancreatic cancers.

Nuclear medicine that uses radioactive material is becoming much more popular, and doctors say it can be a lifesaver.

Lori Canzanese is used to getting shots of radioactive material at Penn Medicine.

“When you hear nuclear medicine or radioactive, it can feel pretty ominous,” Canzanese said, “but the actual treatment was pretty calm.”

The 54-year-old mother of two was diagnosed with advanced neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer 10 years ago.

“It was overwhelming when I got that diagnosis,” Canzanese said.

After surgery, Penn’s Department of Nuclear Medicine took over Canzanese’s care. First, with advanced imaging to pinpoint the tumors, and then radioactive material to destroy cancer cells.

“After each treatment, I was considered hot with radiation,” Canzanese said, “and so I had to be in isolation for three days.”

Dr. Phil Mulugeta said Canzanese’s tumors were significantly reduced.

“Nuclear medicine is in a new era,” Mulugeta said. “We can individually pick what kind of radioactive medication is the best for each individual patient.”

Mulugeta says several important research advances are expanding the horizons of nuclear medicine.

“[Nuclear] is a scary word, but there’s no need to be afraid,” Mulugeta said. “These are special kinds of radioactive molecules. No patient has ever been harmed.”

Canzanese says the routine scans at Penn show her tumors are stable, giving her quality time with her family. She’s working to help others with the annual Run for the Stripes, an event at the zoo that raises money and awareness for neuroendocrine tumors.

“I feel fortunate that this treatment was available,” Canzanese said.

Doctors say nuclear medicine can also be helpful in treating prostate and thyroid cancer.

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Inside Atlanta’s Apex Museum, Gen Z interns help bring history to life for a new generation

By La’Tasha Givens

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — The Apex Museum, Atlanta’s oldest African American museum, is buzzing with a new energy from a group of Gen Z interns.

One of them is Kyler Hendricks, a Georgia State University student who spends her days suited in white gloves as she cleans, catalogs, and captures photos for the museum’s digital archive.

One of the standout exhibits where Hendricks works is the Yates and Milton drugstore, a replica of one of the first Black-owned pharmacies in Georgia. Originally located on Auburn Avenue, the exhibit is filled with authentic artifacts not modern props.

Hendricks points out decades-old medical records and prescription pads that belonged to prominent local families, including the King family.

She explains that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his relatives were frequent visitors to the original store, which functioned much like a modern-day CVS or Walgreens by providing a wide variety of essential goods to the community.

Kendricks gives us a tour of the exhibit.

“This one actually specifically was on Auburn Avenue. Everything that you see in here is authentic. These are not props that we got from like Temu or Amazon. She then shows decades-old medical records and a prescription pad. “These are medical records and some of them we did have to give back to the families, like for example, the King family,” she said.

Apex Museum co-founder Dan Moore Jr. expresses great pride in the program.

“Each intern follows a specific track tailored to their scholastic abilities and career goals.”

Under Moore’s direction, interns like Hendricks are learning the intricate work of curating exhibits, such as the Invention Corridor. This hands-on experience allows students to cultivate new skills while deepening their understanding of the past.

The partnership is also proving beneficial for the museum’s outreach efforts, as the interns help translate historical milestones for a younger audience.

Moore highlights how the museum connects the technology of today, such as TikTok, Instagram, and video games, to the work of pioneers like Dr. Valerie Thomas. By explaining how Thomas’s work with concave mirror transmitters laid the foundation for modern 3D technology and gaming, the museum makes historical achievements feel relevant to the “Oculus” generation.

While this year’s cohort includes a diverse mixture of future archivists, conservators, anthropologists, researchers, and archaeologists, they all start with the same foundational task.

Regardless of their final career path, every intern’s first assignment is learning to be a docent, mastering the art of guiding visitors on a tour.

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Winds blows By-The-Wind-Sailors ashore in Ventura

Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) Large numbers of marine organisms have washed ashore in Ventura.

They are called Valella Vallela and they are related to jellyfish

Their common name is By-The-Wind-Sailor.

Wind pushed thousands of them onto South Jetty Beach by the Ventura Harbor and other they have shown up on other beaches as well.

It’s best to leave them alone.

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Fire Chief seeks kidney donor as genetic disease worsens, highlighting disparities for Black patients

By Rashad Williams

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    DOUGLAS COUNTY, Georgia (WUPA) — Douglas County Fire Chief Miles Allen has spent decades answering emergency calls—now, he’s making one of his own.

At 57 years old, Allen wears many titles: firefighter, Air Force veteran, husband, and father. But today, he’s also a patient fighting for his life.

“Tomorrow’s not promised,” Allen said. “But it’s very important for me to be around for my family.”

After more than 20 years living in Douglas County — and stepping into the role of fire chief in 2023 — Allen is now facing a deeply personal battle.

Years ago, a routine checkup following knee surgery led to a life-changing diagnosis: polycystic kidney disease, or PKD—a genetic condition that runs in his family.

“My nephrologist recognized that I had cysts on my kidney… and that I had polycystic kidney disease,” Allen said. “My family members have it — cousins, uncles, aunts. It’s something that my family has to deal with.”

Over time, those cysts have enlarged, slowly limiting his kidney function. Now, doctors say he’s nearing a critical point.

Allen faces two options: begin dialysis or find a living kidney donor.

A transplant—especially from a living donor—could significantly extend his life. But time is running out.

“Fighting fire has always been in my blood,” Allen said. “But as you get older, you can’t do the things the young kids do… It’s a blessing to know that you can give to someone to extend their life.”

His story also reflects a broader health crisis.

Christin Cerda with the National Kidney Foundation says PKD can be especially aggressive in Black patients.

“Black patients with PKD often experience faster disease progression, leading to earlier kidney failure—and higher mortality rates,” Cerda said.

Nationally, the numbers are stark.

Roughly a dozen people die each day in the U.S. while waiting for a kidney transplant. Tens of thousands more remain on the waiting list—many growing too sick before a match is found.

Black Americans are disproportionately affected, making up nearly a third of transplant waitlists despite representing a much smaller share of the population—and they are far more likely to experience kidney failure.

Chief Allen is currently registered on two donor lists—through Piedmont Hospital and the National Kidney Registry—hoping someone will step forward.

For now, the man who has spent a lifetime saving others is asking for the chance to keep living—for his family, and for the future he once wasn’t sure he’d have.

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Columbia Office of Violence Prevention gives update to analysis report during meeting with Collegiate Advisory Board

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

During Monday’s Columbia Collegiate Advisory Board meeting, Office of Violence Prevention Administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown detailed his department’s efforts and gave an update on the progress of an anticipated violence analysis report.

In January, city leaders started collaborating with the National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform to curb violent crime in the community. NICJR is expected to deliver a “Gun Violence Problem Analysis” and a “Community Violence Landscape Analysis.” The study is being conducted in partnership with the Columbia Police Department.

At the time, city leaders said the final report was expected to be ready in four-to-six months. As the deadline nears, Thomas-Brown said at Monday’s meeting that the report will show where “gaps” in the community are and provide suggestions for how to fill them.

Despite nothing official, Thomas-Brown discussed one area in Columbia lacking support.

“Hospital-based violence intervention prevention, we don’t have any of that here and it could be that we don’t necessarily need that, but it’s a huge gap,” Thomas-Brown said. “So being able to work with other entities to make sure that gap is filled through collaboration.”

Thomas-Brown said the NICJR report will also help keep city leaders accountable, as it should also provide the staffing and funding needs for his office to meet the national standard of success in the violence prevention sphere.

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