The city of Lincoln is asking a judge to throw out the jury’s $1.2 million verdict in favor of a Lincoln firefighter, in part because of how jurors arrived at the amount.
Last month, at the end of a two-week trial, a federal jury in Omaha awarded Troy Hurd, a Lincoln fire captain, $1,177,815.43 for retaliation after he reported discrimination against a female firefighter trainee born in Iraq. - PUB DATE: 3/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Journal Star
A veteran Philadelphia firefighter has died after suffering a medical emergency while on duty with the engine company assigned to Philadelphia International Airport.
Firefighter Michael Bernstein died at the hospital around 1:50 Wednesday morning after being found unresponsive while on duty at Engine 78, "C" Platoon at PHL, the fire department and fire union said. - PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC 10 Philadelphia
State Reps. Ryan Berman, Brandt Iden and Jeff Yaroch have introduced a plan to stiffen penalties for criminals who threaten or carry out targeted attacks on first responders and corrections officers in Michigan.
Berman, who serves as a reserve police officer, said attacks on law enforcement officers and other first responders have increased over the past few years, creating a need for stronger protections. - PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox 47 News
VIDEO: First responders are on the front line of New Hampshire's drug epidemic every day, and the trauma they experience dealing with the victims often follows them home.
Manchester police, firefighters and EMTs described the consequences of compassion fatigue Tuesday to U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan.
"Certainly in my 35 years on the job, I've never seen this much death," Manchester Fire Chief Dan Goonan said. - PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMUR-TV ABC 9
A first responders' advocacy group is pushing for a new benefit for retired firefighters and rescue squad workers — one currently enjoyed by retired police officers — but municipal officials across the state, including in Elizabeth City, warn it will be hard to pay for.
The Parity For First Responders legislation, House Bill 278, and its companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 179, would grant a separation allowance to firefighters and emergency medical services personnel who retire with 30 years of service. - PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: DailyAdvance.com
In a move described as “generational change,” Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a $4.6 million plan to reorganize volunteer fire departments and boost staffing at four tax-supported fire districts.
The approval followed positive comments from a dozen fire agency representatives in the audience, a sharp contrast from an earlier proposal that generated animosity within the fire services network. - PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Petaluma360 & Petaluma Argus Courier
VIDEO: Overcoming opioids is difficult for our neighbors struggling with drug addiction.
First Responders are taking a new approach to help people who have recently overdosed, find a new life.
“I started using heroin when I was 16. I'm 51 years old now. Last month was my first overdose and I think that was my wake up call,” said Abel Martinez. - PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KENS5.com San Antonio
Country music legend Dolly Parton on Saturday donated $200,000 to firefighters to wrap up a fundraising drive that she started shortly after the 2016 wildfires that destroyed large swaths of forest in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding area.
On behalf of the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund, Parton presented the check to the fire chiefs of the eight volunteer fire departments located in Sevier County. - PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AL.com
Less than three years after state officials concocted a plan to boost payments for ambulance services, emergency medical administrators say they're still struggling to keep their doors open.
Leaders of ambulance organizations from across Vermont converged on the Statehouse Friday to talk about insurance reimbursement and workforce issues that continue to cause problems in the increasingly expensive business of emergency treatment and transport. - PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: VTDigger.org
The New Carlisle Town Council and Olive Township Board voted Tuesday to establish a joint fire territory in 2020.
By increasing taxes, the move will enable several firefighters to be hired so that residents don’t depend solely on volunteers for service.
The vote was 3-2 from the town council members, and the Olive Township representatives voted 2-1 on the measure. - PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: South Bend Tribune
A planned $9 million firehouse for the 60 or so firefighters at the 182nd Airlift Wing could be eliminated to help fund a proposed border wall.
That’s according to a list released Monday by the Pentagon of military construction projects that could be delayed in order to pay for the wall along the country’s southern border. - PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Journal Star
VIDEO: The Hamilton Fire Department has announced major safety improvements following an internal investigation into the line of duty death of one of their own.
Firefighter Patrick Wolterman died in December 2015 after responding to a fire believed to have trapped people inside a home.
Wolterman was the first firefighter to enter the home. - PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLWT-TV NBC 5 Cincinnati
VIDEO: The newest part-time employees at Gaston Emergency Medical Services walk on four legs and work for treats.
Bijou, her son Knox, and a Danish import named Macy Mae serve as the first responders’ therapy dogs. Their presence was the idea of Maj. Jessica Ross, who reflected on tough times at the department and her past career as a certified nursing assistant for a way to help her co-workers. - PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Gaston Gazette
The city's fire union is asking a judge to halt newly codified rules that direct firefighters to clean up blood and bodily fluids at accident and medical scenes.
The Detroit Fire Fighter Association is asking a Wayne County Circuit judge to grant an injunction to halt the practice until an unfair labor complaint is resolved. - PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Detroit News
The Baltimore City Fire Department is paying overtime to fill nearly a third of its firefighter and medic shifts every day, blowing through its overtime budget.
The department is relying heavily on volunteer “callbacks,” in which firefighters or medics who have just finished a shift are asked to work another, said a department spokeswoman. - PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun - Metered Site
VIDEO: An election forum Monday allowed voters to hear from both sides of Ballot Issue 1, which residents will vote on as part of the Colorado Springs municipal election April 2.
The measure would allow collective bargaining for all uniformed firefighters, which means firefighters would be guaranteed an opportunity to negotiate pay, benefits and equipment concerns with the city. - PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox21 News
The city’s fire chief is firing back after an alderman announced on social media over the weekend his intent to make a motion this week to shut down the Safe Station program.
On Friday, Alderman at Large Joe Kelly Levasseur posted a message on his personal Facebook page, stating that 61 percent of those accessing Safe Stations in Manchester “are from somewhere else. - PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Union Leader
A swath of Interstate 15 that runs through Escondido was dedicated Saturday in honor of Cory Iverson, a North County Cal Fire firefighter who died battling the Thomas Fire in 2017.
“Corey Iverson is a hometown hero,” said California Assemblymember Marie Waldron, who started the effort to get the freeway naming approved by the Legislature. - PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The San Diego Union Tribune - Metered Site
Starting April 1, it will be illegal to sell smoke detectors with removable, replaceable batteries in New York state.
The law was adopted in 2016 but it gave retailers three years to comply.
The law requires that battery-powered smoke detectors sold in the state must come with batteries that last at least 10 years and cannot be removed. - PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Syracuse.com
Lieutenant Barry Narrin has a challenge for area fire departments.
Narrin’s part of the Otter Lake Fire Dept., and he and his fellow volunteers will be spending their free time installing fire safety kits in 36 homes in the Otter Lake area, completely free for both the homeowners and the department itself. - PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Lapeer County Press
