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Missouri’s GOP attorney general sues school for closed-door debate on transgender bathroom use

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican attorney general on Tuesday sued a school district for allegedly secretly discussing transgender students’ bathroom access, in violation of the state’s open-meeting law. The lawsuit by Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who is campaigning to keep his seat in 2024, claimed a suburban St. Louis school board went into a closed session to talk about a student’s request to use a different bathroom. Debate during the closed portion of Wentzville’s June 14 Board of Education meeting veered from legal advice and details on the student request to broader policy discussions, board members Jen Olson and Renee Henke wrote in affidavits provided by Bailey’s office. Olson and Henke claimed members considered whether there should be exceptions for notifying parents when students request bathroom accommodations, such as in cases of parental abuse.Missouri’s Sunshine Law requires school board meetings to be open to the ...

Kingston healthcare employees join anti-privatization rally at Queen’s Park

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

Members of the Kingston Health Coalition and several hospital unions were part of a large protest at Queen’s Park on Monday afternoon.Three full busses left Kingston on Monday morning to gather outside of Ontario Legislature as it made its’ return from summer break. In total, close to 80 busses travelled from around Ontario bringing thousands of hospital employees to rally on the lawns in front of Queen’s Park. Erica Benn, President of OPSEU Local 4106 said that the resounding message was a continuation of that which was carried through rallies in the spring: that healthcare workers aren’t happy with the Ford government’s privatization plan and have no plans of stopping their fight against it.“We’re fighting to win this, we’re not going to back down,” Benn said.“We’re in this to win public healthcare for Ontario.”Benn added that both Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP and John Fraser, interim leader of the ...

Former Denver hotel now housing dozens after homeless camp cleanup

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Fencing went up at Eighth Avenue and Logan Street Tuesday as cleanup of the homeless camp there continued.Dozens of people who were living on the street across from the governor's mansion are now in a new shelter called New Directions, a former hotel in Northeast Denver.The city gave one week's notice of the cleanup, telling FOX31 there were problems with trash, discarded needles, human waste and the blocking of sidewalks.The city bussed 59 people to the shelter on Monday and at least 10 more on Tuesday. Aurora police warn of card-tapping scam "I think it's a really good option to get people off the street," said Laura Lindquist, who moved into the new shelter earlier this month."I really like it here. I think they will too," she said.The building, run by the Salvation Army, can shelter 250 people admitted by referral.This is part of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's initiative to house 1,000 people experiencing homelessness by 2024. If people stay at the she...

Uber driver killed in random shooting sought haven from war-torn Ethiopia

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — There was an emotional funeral service Tuesday for the Uber driver killed in a random shooting in Denver last week.Goitom Hagos came to the Denver metro years ago to join his family. He was driving for the rideshare company to support his family when he was killed in the shooting on 17th Avenue in City Park West. Rideshare murder suspect wasn’t supposed to own a gun The funeral service took place at the Hamere Noah Kidane Mehret Cathedral, also known as the Tigrayan Orthodox Church, in Aurora. A close-knit community of Ethiopians gathered for a final farewell for Hagos.The 51-year-old was remembered as a fun-loving, bright and charismatic person whose life was cut all too short.“It was a horrible tragedy, and we are essentially in shock that this happened suddenly and in such a tragic way,” his niece, Abrehet Gebremedhin, said.Goitom Hagos was driving for Uber when he was shot and killed in what police say was a random shooting in Denver. (KDVR)Ethiopian sou...

Wet Stretch continues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

We’re still in the thick of a soggy weather pattern. A deep moisture flow is streaming out of the Caribbean Sea. It’s large plume of moist air that expands north across all of Florida. It’s this situation that’s contributing to our wet and unsettled weather days. On Tuesday, we saw some repeated rains over saturated grounds in western Broward County. That soaking brought the return of Street Flood alerts into the areas around Weston and Southwest Ranches. Trying to determine exactly when thunderstorms might ramp up continues to be challenging. We rely on guidance from forecast models that often don’t jive with one another. That’s still a big dilemma, at the moment! The daytime heat sometimes plays a role, as well as sea breeze boundaries. There are other “triggers” too so it’s best to be prepared to face an anytime downpour (as long as this pattern holds). On Wednesday, watch for scattered to numerous showers and storm...

Dania Beach Vervet Project once again seeking public’s help in locating missing monkey

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

A primate on the loose in South Florida is evading capture and, experts said, that’s because it’s looking for love.The Vervet monkey, named Ninja Joe, left his group in Dania Beach last month and is on a mission to find love.But he seems to have gotten lost.“Not going to have much luck out here,” said Dr. Missy Williams, founder of the Dania Beach Vervet Project. For years she’s been helping the monkeys stay safe and healthy.Ninja Joe is sure healthy; He just turned five years old and has reached his sexual maturity.Love is the only cure but he’s not going to find it if he continues his northward trek. “If he would’ve just ran across the street, he would’ve found another social group,” continued Williams. “But instead of that, he seems to have the urge to travel Broward County.”The monkey has been seen in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and most recently, Lighthouse Point.“I turn to the left and I see this...

Poland seeks extradition of Ukrainian SS veteran who was applauded in Canada

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

Poland’s Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek said Tuesday he has “taken steps” toward extraditing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi veteran who was honored by Canadian parliamentarians last week.During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada last Friday, House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced Hunka as a Canadian-Ukrainian war hero, prompting a standing ovation from parliamentarians.But the tribute triggered a wave of criticism from Jewish organizations, advocacy groups and leaders across the world, because Hunka fought with the First Ukrainian Division — also known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division, which served under command of the Nazis in Adolf Hitler’s World War II fight against Russia’s Red Army.“In view of the scandalous events in the Canadian Parliament, which involved honoring, in the presence of President Zelenskyy, a member of the criminal Nazi SS Galizien formation, I have taken steps towards the possible extrad...

State lawmakers unveil new tax relief plan

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers unveiled a tax relief package Tuesday aimed at delivering $561 million in reductions to taxpayers and companies during the current fiscal year through a slew of tax credits and other steps aimed at lowering tax burdens.The proposal — which would top $1 billion in tax relief by the 2027 fiscal year when fully phased in — includes more than a dozen specific tax proposals, from eliminating the tax for estates under $2 million to increasing the child and dependent tax credit from $180 to $330 per child or dependent in the current tax year to $440 for the 2024 tax year.Lawmakers say the increased child tax credit will benefit 565,000 families and will be the most generous universal child and dependent tax credit in the country.The bill would also increase the cap on the rental deduction from $3,000 to $4,000, reduce the tax rate on short-term capital gains from 12% to 8.5% and allow cities and towns to adopt a local property tax exemption to encourag...

Baseball Hall of Famer and Baltimore Orioles legend Brooks Robinson dies at age 86

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

(CNN) — Baltimore Orioles legend Brooks Robinson, a third baseman who won 16 consecutive Gold Glove awards and is considered by many to be the greatest fielder at that position ever, has died, according to a statement from the Robinson family and the Orioles organization.He was 86. No cause of death was given.“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Brooks Robinson,” the statement read. “An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball.”Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Robinson made his debut for the Orioles in 1955 and manned the hot corner in Baltimore for the next 23 seasons.Robinson was named American League MVP in 1964 and helped the Orioles bring World Series championships to Baltimore in 1966 and in 1970, when he was also named World Series MVP.He set the standard for third basemen during his career, with 18 All-Star Game selections...

Menendez co-defendant Wael Hana pleads not guilty in alleged bribery scheme

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:20 GMT

(CNN) — Wael Hana, an alleged co-conspirator indicted in a bribery scheme with New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, pleaded not guilty and was released on bail in federal court Tuesday.Hana was arrested Tuesday morning at John F. Kennedy International Airport upon his return from Egypt, his attorney Larry Lustberg told reporters after the hearing. His wife and children remain in Egypt where they all live much of the year. Hana returned to the US to face the charges, Lustberg said.Hana was charged in an indictment last week with Menendez and others and faces one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, which carry maximum prison sentences of five and 20 years respectively.Prosecutors allege that he facilitated an agreement to provide bribes to the senator and his now-wife in exchange for the senator’s influence in matters benefiting himself, the Egyptian government and others. The couple has denied wron...