Scammers drain money from sealed gift cards

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Scammers drain money from sealed gift cards DENVER (KDVR) — Customers in two different parts of the metro area reported buying sealed gift cards that turned out to be worthless.The stores that sold the cards include a Safeway in Denver and a King Soopers in Centennial. Gregory Miller told FOX31 he uses gift cards to purchase things he needs to buy online. “You don’t need a bank account. You can just use the card,” Miller said. 11 new Colorado laws go into effect in July After purchasing two gift cards for $250 at the Safeway store near 20th and Park Avenue, he was shocked to learn they could not be used.“I open the package and I got online and I tried to activate them. They said they couldn’t be activated,” Miller said. One of the cards was issued by eBay. “I found out that someone had completely removed all the money on my eBay card,” Miller said.In April, Alice Boswell bought useless cards at a King Soopers store at 7575 S. University in Centennial. She had paid $100 for each card.“The first card only gave me $1.78 and th...

Bike computer calls 911 after cyclist crashes during 3,000-mile race

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Bike computer calls 911 after cyclist crashes during 3,000-mile race DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado cyclist is in the hospital after a serious crash during a cross-country race for charity. Jeff Conaway lives in Littleton but is part of a Pennsylvania-based cycling team called ZOE International. The eight-man team is competing in Race Across America to raise money to help end child trafficking."The Race Across America is a race that starts in California, ends in Annapolis, Maryland. And what’s unique about this race is once it starts, it never stops until you reach the end. It’s a 24/7 race,” ZOE International general manager Brad Ortenzi said.  Man dies after falling out of boat in Royal Gorge Teams are scheduled to cross the finish line on Friday, just six days after starting. “Each cyclist sprints for about 15 minutes and then the next cyclist takes over and that’s how we go as fast as we do,” Ortenzi said.On Monday, the team was crossing Colorado when Conaway crashed on Highway 160 east of Trinidad.“With the mountains of Colorado, it...

2 shot in SW Miami-Dade, 1 in critical condition; 3 subjects detained

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

2 shot in SW Miami-Dade, 1 in critical condition; 3 subjects detained Two people were hospitalized after they were shot in Southwest Miami-Dade. One of the victims is now in critical condition. Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue arrived at the scene at 10532 SW 176th St., Tuesday afternoon after receiving reports of an active shooter in the area. 7Skyforce hovered over the scene where a large police presence was seen near the homes. According to MDPD, the shooting stemmed from an argument between to groups across the street from each other, along Southwest 177th Street. “Somehow, there was some type of dispute among the two groups, shots rang out, said MDPD Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.People in the neighborhood heard the shots at around 4:14 p.m.“We heard about 15, 16 shots, it could be more,” said a witness. A man and his family ran towards their home when they heard the shots being fire.“When I first got here, they already had the street blocked off,” the man said. “The tape was already up.”According to detec...

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau goes dark in violent “God is a Bullet”

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau goes dark in violent “God is a Bullet” To say that Denmark’s Nikolaj Coster-Waldau embraced the monumental darkness that is Friday’s extremely violent, intentionally disturbing “God is a Bullet” is an understatement.“God,” based on Boston Taran’s acclaimed 1999 debut novel, charts the lengths Detective Bob Hightower is willing to go to rescue his teenage daughter who was kidnapped by a merciless cult after they murdered her mother, his ex-wife.“God,” Coster-Waldau, 52, made clear in a Zoom interview this week, was not chosen merely to do something different after his romantic role opposite Jennifer Garner in the popular AppleTV+ hit series “The Last Thing He Told Me.”“I wanted to do this because of Nick Cassavetes. I really admire him as a person, as a director. We did a movie 10 years ago, which was also so different to ‘God,’ called ‘The Other Woman.’“He showed me back then the script he’d written,” an adaptation of “God.”  “I thought it was the darkest thing I’ve ever read.”It took Cassavetes, best known for “Th...

Vallante: Legal issues loom over health care staffing apps

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Vallante: Legal issues loom over health care staffing apps As the Associate Administrator of the federal Small Business Administration, I learned about the challenges facing entrepreneurs. Among the most pressing concerns were liability and lawsuits. The emergence of the health care apps and the resulting issue of worker misclassification will make those problems worse for many small businesses.Small businesses are the backbone of the United States economy but their limited resources makes them more vulnerable to legal entanglements. The costs associated with legal battles can be overwhelming, potentially closing the business altogether.Health care apps revolutionized how individuals manage their medical needs. Venture capitalists poured hundreds of millions of dollars into a new health care gig economy — health care staffing apps.Health care staffing apps match workers to opportunities. Health care workers upload their certifications, educational information, and areas of expertise, while health care facilities post staffing needs. Workers...

Moore: GOP must be the party of small business

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Moore: GOP must be the party of small business A recent Wall Street Journal lead story reported that “Republicans and big business broke up.” The amount of corporate donations to Republicans was cut sharply in the last election cycle to a lower amount than in nearly a decade. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has backed many Democrats running for Congress in close and competitive races, which puts the GOP slim majority in jeopardy.The writing is on the wall: Corporate America is increasingly aligning itself with liberal Democrats, not Republicans.Some of this shift in corporate allegiances is due to some bad decisions by Republicans. The GOP has shortsightedly pursued a “break up Big Tech” campaign, and the party’s slide toward tariffs and away from free trade, one of the pillars of prosperity, is worrisome to any free marketeer. We should have free trade with countries, unless they are like China, threats to American security.The real question is whether the GOP should want or even need support from the...

Marchand: Postal Service fails to protect workers from rising crime

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Marchand: Postal Service fails to protect workers from rising crime Recently, mail delivery has proven a risky endeavor. In early June, New York Post contributor Allie Griffin reported that a “pair of masked muggers violently attacked and robbed a New Jersey postal worker on just his second day on the job.”Two weeks before, two mail carriers were robbed in Portsmouth, Virginia.These are not isolated incidents.  In fact, there were an astounding 500 mail robberies in 2022, and there’s little indication that security is improving. Yet, the U.S. Postal Service refuses to allow the postal police force to conduct patrols and protect mail carriers, instead sequestering them around agency buildings. Postal leadership must protect its workforce and ensure a safe, secure mail system.Amid soaring postal theft, lawmakers have vented their frustration to postal leadership that mail carriers don’t have anyone watching their backs. During a May House Oversight and Accountability subcommittee hearing, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, asked Postmaster General Louis D...

Sweet/tart blueberries stars of luscious parfait

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Sweet/tart blueberries stars of luscious parfait There are so many reasons to include blueberries in recipes. Not only are they plentiful in supermarkets and at fruit stands, blueberries often perfectly balance the sweet with the tart in flavor. These little berries also are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits you can find, plus they are very high in fiber. That makes eating blueberries – whether they’re nestled in pancakes or served atop a slice of cheesecake – a little less indulgent.“Honey-Laced Blueberry Parfaits” can be enjoyed any time of day. Made with tasty layers of blueberries, yogurt and angel food cake, these parfaits are light, flavorful and refreshing. To tailor them for patriotic celebrations, add a few red berries, such as raspberries or strawberries, to embrace a red, white and blue theme. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of “Cooking Light¨ Fresh Food Superfast” (Oxmoor House) by The Cooking Light Editors.TAG GOES HEREHoney-Laced Blueberry ParfaitsINGREDIENTS1 6-ounce carto...

Fresh berries add taste of summer to salads

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Fresh berries add taste of summer to salads I love this time of year when there’s a plentiful display of colorful berries. I decided to create a summer salad dinner, adding them to cooked turkey strips.Here are a few tips on selecting and using berries. Strawberries don’t ripen off the vine. Look for bright red ones when buying them. The sweetest raspberries are the darker red ones. Although you won’t be able to tell until you get them home, blueberries should be firm to touch. Look to make sure there is no mold on the berries. They should be washed just before using them.Helpful Hints:You can use any type of berries can be used.You can use any type of salad greens can be used.If cooked turkey breast isn’t available in the meat case, use cooked turkey breast from the deli.TAG GOES HERESummer Berry and Turkey SaladINGREDIENTS4 cups washed-ready-to-eat salad greens3/4 pound cooked turkey breast1/2 cucumber washed, skin on, cut into 1-inch cubes (1 cup)1 cup sliced celery1 cup fresh strawberries cut in half1 cup fresh blueberrie...

Fire up the grill – for pizza

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:04:17 GMT

Fire up the grill – for pizza Grilling can and should be a year-round endeavor. But summer seems to be when we up the ante, becoming self-proclaimed barbecue masters seemingly overnight. We get saucy with new marinades and rubs, boost burgers by experimenting with different meats and accompaniments, and work in our farmers market finds, putting everything from berries and stone fruits to vegetables and cheese over hot coals.This vegetable-heavy pizza recipe uses a pizza pan on the grill. A pizza stone also works great, and we’ve also cooked pizzas (with pre-baked crusts) right on the grates. From “The BBQ Companion” by Oscar Smith (Smith Street, 2023; $24.95), a handy 50-recipe deck that covers everything from seafoods to sides with vegan options, too.TAG GOES HEREBarbecued Mediterranean Pizza with Basil Oil and RicottaINGREDIENTSFor the basil oil:1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil1/2 c. basil leaves2 cloves garlic, thinly slicedFor the pizza:2 zucchini, cut diagonally into 1/2-in. slices1 yellow be...