Latest news with #RichTemplin
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
'Mother Nature at it's worst:' Death toll from flash floods climbs to 6 in West Virginia
WHEELING, (AP) — The death toll from weekend flooding in West Virginia rose to six as residents tried to clean up with the threat of more rain on the way. At least two people remained missing in the state's northern panhandle after torrential downpours tore through the region Saturday night, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Monday. As much as 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of Wheeling and Ohio County within 40 minutes. Among the six dead was a 3-year-old child, the governor said. About an hour to the southeast, heavy rains battered the Marion County community of Fairmont on Sunday, ripping off the outer wall of an apartment building and damaging bridges and roads. No injuries were reported. Morrisey has declared a state of emergency in both counties. He said at least 60 homes, 25 businesses and an estimated 30 roads were impacted by the floods. "It's just Mother Nature at its worst," Morrisey said. In the northern panhandle, vehicles were swept into swollen creeks, some people sought safety in trees and a mobile home caught fire. Morrisey toured the small community of Triadelphia on Sunday. 'That was just pure devastation,' he said. 'That was brutal.' Rich Templin, his wife, Michelle, and a family friend, Chuck Ullom, were cleaning out two storage garages Monday across the street from their Triadelphia home. The garages on lower ground along Little Wheeling Creek were nearly destroyed by flash floods. Templin's home is on elevated ground and was not damaged. Templin was at work when his wife called him. When he did not answer, she texted him to say their street was flooded, a trailer they owned had washed away and that 'cars were floating by with people in them.' Templin said he received the text messages within 15 minutes after it started to rain. 'I've talked to numerous people, they said it was like a tsunami. They saw water coming down the road like two or three feet high,' he said. Templin used the garages to store tools used in a trucking service company formerly operated by his father. 'We're trying to see what's salvageable and what's not and just start the rebuilding process,' he said. Most of West Virginia was under a flood watch through Monday night. The region around Wheeling, about an hour southwest of Pittsburgh, has seen its share of flooding. Saturday's floods occurred 35 years to the day after more than 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain in less than three hours killed 26 people and destroyed 80 homes in nearby Shadyside, Ohio. Last year, severe storms washed out about 200 tombstones at a Wheeling cemetery. There were deadly floods in the region in 2017 and 2022. And in 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan sent floodwaters to the tops of lamp posts and trees in Wheeling's park and amphitheater along the Ohio River. ___ Associated Press writer John Raby in Charleston contributed.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
'Mother Nature at it's worst:' Death toll from flash floods climbs to 6 in West Virginia
The death toll from weekend flooding in West Virginia rose to six as residents tried to clean up with the threat of more rain on the way. At least two people remained missing in the state's northern panhandle after torrential downpours tore through the region Saturday night, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Monday. As much as 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of Wheeling and Ohio County within 40 minutes. Among the six dead was a 3-year-old child, the governor said. About an hour to the southeast, heavy rains battered the Marion County community of Fairmont on Sunday, ripping off the outer wall of an apartment building and damaging bridges and roads. No injuries were reported. Morrisey has declared a state of emergency in both counties. He said at least 60 homes, 25 businesses and an estimated 30 roads were impacted by the floods. "It's just Mother Nature at its worst," Morrisey said. In the northern panhandle, vehicles were swept into swollen creeks, some people sought safety in trees and a mobile home caught fire. Morrisey toured the small community of Triadelphia on Sunday. 'That was just pure devastation,' he said. 'That was brutal.' Rich Templin, his wife, Michelle, and a family friend, Chuck Ullom, were cleaning out two storage garages Monday across the street from their Triadelphia home. The garages on lower ground along Little Wheeling Creek were nearly destroyed by flash floods. Templin's home is on elevated ground and was not damaged. Templin was at work when his wife called him. When he did not answer, she texted him to say their street was flooded, a trailer they owned had washed away and that 'cars were floating by with people in them.' Templin said he received the text messages within 15 minutes after it started to rain. 'I've talked to numerous people, they said it was like a tsunami. They saw water coming down the road like two or three feet high,' he said. Templin used the garages to store tools used in a trucking service company formerly operated by his father. 'We're trying to see what's salvageable and what's not and just start the rebuilding process,' he said. Most of West Virginia was under a flood watch through Monday night. The region around Wheeling, about an hour southwest of Pittsburgh, has seen its share of flooding. Saturday's floods occurred 35 years to the day after more than 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain in less than three hours killed 26 people and destroyed 80 homes in nearby Shadyside, Ohio. Last year, severe storms washed out about 200 tombstones at a Wheeling cemetery. There were deadly floods in the region in 2017 and 2022. And in 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan sent floodwaters to the tops of lamp posts and trees in Wheeling's park and amphitheater along the Ohio River. ___
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
'Mother Nature at it's worst:' Death toll from flash floods climbs to 6 in West Virginia
WHEELING, (AP) — The death toll from weekend flooding in West Virginia rose to six as residents tried to clean up with the threat of more rain on the way. At least two people remained missing in the state's northern panhandle after torrential downpours tore through the region Saturday night, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Monday. As much as 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of Wheeling and Ohio County within 40 minutes. Among the six dead was a 3-year-old child, the governor said. About an hour to the southeast, heavy rains battered the Marion County community of Fairmont on Sunday, ripping off the outer wall of an apartment building and damaging bridges and roads. No injuries were reported. Morrisey has declared a state of emergency in both counties. He said at least 60 homes, 25 businesses and an estimated 30 roads were impacted by the floods. 'It's just Mother Nature at its worst,' Morrisey said. In the northern panhandle, vehicles were swept into swollen creeks, some people sought safety in trees and a mobile home caught fire. Morrisey toured the small community of Triadelphia on Sunday. 'That was just pure devastation,' he said. 'That was brutal.' Rich Templin, his wife, Michelle, and a family friend, Chuck Ullom, were cleaning out two storage garages Monday across the street from their Triadelphia home. The garages on lower ground along Little Wheeling Creek were nearly destroyed by flash floods. Templin's home is on elevated ground and was not damaged. Templin was at work when his wife called him. When he did not answer, she texted him to say their street was flooded, a trailer they owned had washed away and that 'cars were floating by with people in them.' Templin said he received the text messages within 15 minutes after it started to rain. 'I've talked to numerous people, they said it was like a tsunami. They saw water coming down the road like two or three feet high,' he said. Templin used the garages to store tools used in a trucking service company formerly operated by his father. 'We're trying to see what's salvageable and what's not and just start the rebuilding process,' he said. Most of West Virginia was under a flood watch through Monday night. The region around Wheeling, about an hour southwest of Pittsburgh, has seen its share of flooding. Saturday's floods occurred 35 years to the day after more than 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain in less than three hours killed 26 people and destroyed 80 homes in nearby Shadyside, Ohio. Last year, severe storms washed out about 200 tombstones at a Wheeling cemetery. There were deadly floods in the region in 2017 and 2022. And in 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan sent floodwaters to the tops of lamp posts and trees in Wheeling's park and amphitheater along the Ohio River. ___ Associated Press writer John Raby in Charleston contributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida minimum wage: Lawmakers move forward with bill to lower pay for trainees
The Brief Florida lawmakers are advancing bills that would allow employers to pay certain workers in training below the minimum wage for up to 12 months. Supporters argue it will help small businesses attract skilled workers, while opponents warn it could lead to exploitation. The bills are still under review in both the House and Senate. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida lawmakers are advancing bills that would allow employers to pay certain workers in training below the minimum wage for up to 12 months. What we know On Tuesday, both the Florida House and Senate advanced bills that would exempt certain workers in on-the-job training from the state's voter-approved minimum wage law. he House Careers & Workforce Subcommittee voted 12-4 along party lines to support HB 541, while the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee approved a similar measure, SB 676. The bills would allow employers to pay workers involved in work-study, internships, or other training programs below the minimum wage, but only for up to 12 months. What we don't know The specifics of how the exemption would be implemented in various industries remain unclear. It's also uncertain how widespread the program could become if the bills pass, especially if business owners were to take advantage of the exemption by categorizing many employees as "interns" or "work-study" participants. The overall impact on workers' income and the number of workers who would voluntarily accept sub-minimum wage pay for training is also uncertain. The backstory The proposal is a response to concerns that the state's current minimum wage law, which gradually increases to $15 an hour by 2026, makes it difficult for employers to provide adequate job training. Under current law, certain exemptions already exist, such as allowing employers to pay sub-minimum wages to workers under age 20 during their first 90 days of employment and students in vocational programs. This new proposal seeks to extend these exceptions for employees involved in work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships. Big picture view The proposal reflects ongoing tensions between workers' rights and the needs of businesses in a post-pandemic economy. Supporters argue that the ability to pay below the minimum wage would help small businesses attract and train skilled workers, while opponents fear it could lead to widespread exploitation of workers. The larger debate centers on how to balance fair compensation with opportunities for job training, especially for younger and entry-level workers in a competitive labor market. What they're saying House bill sponsor Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, argued, "The answer to why people would choose this is if they see value outside of the pay. They see an opportunity to gain some experience that they otherwise would not be able to gain." Florida AFL-CIO lobbyist Rich Templin voiced concerns: "You literally would be allowing business owners to make all of their employees an intern or a work-study... and anybody that wants to work there would have to sign this (minimum wage) waiver." Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, defended the bill. "It's not open to the McDonald's of the world, as I see it... And we still have the baseline of the federal minimum wage. So they won't be working for nothing." Tim Nungesser, legislative director for the National Federation of Independent Business in Florida, explained, "States are looking for ways to get more skilled workers, and one of the ways that we can do that is with this voluntary program." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by The News Service of Florida.
