Tag Archives: Denverbrown
At Least Give It Some Thought
Thom Says It All
If ever you aren’t sure why elections matter, just take a look at our court system. Earlier this week, three judges – all appointed by Democrats – stood up for voting rights in North Carolina. Only days earlier, the most conservative members of the Supreme Court issued a stay to slash early voting in Ohio.
The three-judge panel on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed North Carolina’s new voting laws, and put a stop to two of the provisions that would have disenfranchised many voters in the upcoming election. While the democratic appointees declared “the right to vote is fundamental,” the right-wing justices on the Supreme Court allowed Ohio’s restrictive voting laws to stay in effect this November.
To make matters worse, our nation’s highest court didn’t even hear arguments in the Ohio case, or provide any justification for their ruling. The distinction is clear. Judges appointed by Democrats understand that voting is a fundamental right in our nation. Judges who were appointed by Republicans see no problem with limiting our ability to participate in the democratic process.
Elections matter for many reasons, but the effect they have on our judicial system may be the most important reason why we have to get out and vote this November.
-Thom
Fired UPS worker accused of stealing $160K diamond, trading it for $20 worth of marijuana
PHOENIX – A one-time UPS worker is accused of stealing a package containing a $160,000 diamond, and trading the valuable jewel for $20 worth of marijuana.
Walter Earl Morrison, 20, was working for UPS while unloading a plane in the cargo section of Sky Harbor Airport when he stuffed a package under his shirt, according to court documents.
Morrison thought the package contained cash, but instead he found a diamond.
“Any single stone over $100,000 is an expensive stone,” House of Diamonds owner Brent Taubman said when asked about pricey diamonds.
Morrison allegedly traded the diamond for the drug, before being caught.
The stolen diamond was recovered and delivered to the intended customer, a UPS spokesperson said.
UPS fired Morrison, the spokesperson added.
Authorities charged Morrison last week with felony theft.
A man who would not open the door at Morrison’s home said he had no comment on the matter.
Birmingham UPS shooter identified: Family member calls him ‘one of the best men I’ve ever known’
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama –Three people are dead — including the gunman — after a shooting this morning at a UPS facility in Inglenook, according to Birmingham officials.
The incident happened just before 9:30 a.m. as police received multiple calls of an active shooter at 4601 Inglenook Lane, the customer service center and warehouse. “Patrol units responded quickly; they rallied and made entry,” said Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper. “They were able to clear the building and, of course, during the shooting, multiple employees exited the facility.”
Once the officers arrived and entered the building, they found three dead people inside the business. “It appears it was the shooter, still wearing his UPS uniform, and two other employees,” the chief said.
Police officials have not publicly named the shooter, but law-enforcement sources, family and church members identified him as 45-year-old Joe Tesney. He is married, and the father of two daughters.
When they came to work today they had no idea it would be their last day alive on earth,” A.C. Roper.
The gun used in the shootings was still underneath his body when police arrived on the scene.
Police this afternoon confirmed the shooter was fired from his job. “He received his final papers Monday,” said police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards. “Today he was not expected to return to work because he was no longer employed there.”
Tesney reportedly was fired within the past month and appealed the firing. He lost his appeal in recent days.
What led to his firing wasn’t immediately available. Court records show an auto repair, design and testing shop, filed a lawsuit in November 2012 against Tesney and UPS in Jefferson County District Civil Court.
The lawsuit claims that on Nov. 5, 2010, Tesney came to the business to pick up packages. Along with the marked packages for shipment Tesney negligently, recklessly or intentionally took an unboxed custom one-of-a-kind radiator for a race truck that TSA Motorsports had shipped to HESCO for testing. The radiator was not marked or otherwise designated for shipment, the lawsuit claims. The radiator was valued at approximately $4,000.
The radiator was never returned or replaced by UPS or Tesney, the lawsuit states. Jefferson County District Judge Jack Lowther found in favor of Tesney and UPS after a bench trial on Sept. 10, 2013.
Tesney’s mother-in-law, Wanda Binney, told AL.com today the family is shocked. “He was one of the best men I have ever known,” she said. “He was a kind husband and a wonderful father.”
Asked if anyone would predict this from Tesney, Binney said, “Anybody but Joe. He’s never hurt anyone in his life.”
“He was just a wonderful person and we’re shocked,” she said. She said the children have not been notified of their father’s death.
Tesney was a member of Northpark Baptist Church in Trussville. The church released the following statement today to AL.com: “We are praying for the employees of UPS and the families of the victims of today’s tragedy. Our hearts are grieved. We pray that the peace of our Lord would be near to those who have been devastated.”
All three deceased were adult white males, and their names have not been publicly released. The two victims were supervisors at UPS, and police said they believe at least one was specifically targeted in the shooting. The other, sources tell AL.com, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Billionaires Like These
UPS to hire up to 95,000 seasonal workers
UPS plans to hire up to 95,000 workers to help with package delivery during the holiday season, the company said Tuesday.
The positions will include package sorters, loaders, delivery helpers and drivers, according to The Associated Press.
Last year, UPS underestimated the number of deliveries during the holiday shipping season, which peaked several days later than the company expected as shoppers jumped at free shipping offers, right up until a few days before Christmas.
UPS originally planned to hire 55,000 seasonal workers in 2013 but ended up adding 30,000 more to handle the surge in deliveries, which drove up costs and reduced earnings.
Even with the additional hiring last year, UPS couldn’t handle all the volume, and some last-minute deliveries were delayed until after Christmas.
Since last year’s holiday season, UPS has implemented several measures to help prepare for this year’s onslaught of deliveries. This includes making improvements to schedule planning, installing temporary mobile sorting and delivery centers and adding thousands of new or leased delivery vehicles, trailers, aircraft and portable loading aids. It’s also adding operating days and shifts, according to AP.
Company officials said much of the sharp increase in package deliveries this year will be driven by e-commerce, and the surge will begin in October and continue through January 2015, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Individuals interested in applying for the seasonal positions, starting at $10 an hour, may do so online at UPSjobs.com.
Back when trucking was competitive…
No Fun
The Greenhouse Effect
