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Federal judge throws out Boston’s redistricting map

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

A federal judge ruled that the City Council likely violated the Constitution when factoring race into the establishment of Boston’s new redistricting map, and issued a preliminary injunction to bar the map’s use in the November election.U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris said in a Monday ruling that the council likely violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which bars laws requiring segregation of the races, when compiling the redistricting map that was approved last fall, by a 9-4 council vote.“The court allows the motion for preliminary injunction,” Saris wrote. “Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success in showing that race played a predominant role in the City Council’s redrawing of Districts 3 and 4 in the enacted map, and defendants have not demonstrated that the enacted redistricting map is narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling interest.”“The ball is back in the City Council’s court,” Saris continued, later adding, “In my view, the City C...

Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch will be open longer this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Haven't gotten a chance to visit the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch? Well, you're in luck as the dazzling sight will stay open for another week.The 50-acre field of Tecolote Ranunculus flowers can be seen through May 21 as opposed to the original end date of May 14, the North County flower organization said in a press release Monday.There's still around 30 acres in bloom, including "The Sea of Sunflowers," which stretches five acres, according to officials. May Gray continues with light rain, gusty winds arriving in San Diego The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch features The American Flag of Flowers, Tractor Wagon Rides, Sweet Pea Maze, Demonstration Garden, The Artists Gardens, Carlsbad Mining Company, Historic Poinsettia Display and more.Tickets are on sale, starting at $23 for adults, $21 for seniors 60+ and military, $12 for children 3-10 and free for children under three.

Biden calls for ‘fair deal’ for striking Hollywood writers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden called for a “fair deal” for Hollywood’s striking writers on Monday as he hosted a White House screening of the the upcoming streaming series “American Born Chinese” to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.Biden made his first public comments on the strike, which hits the one-week mark Tuesday, in remarks ahead of the pilot’s screening. He was joined by an overflow crowd of hundreds of community leaders, elected officials and cast members and producers from the show in the East Room and the State Dining Room.“Nights like these are a reminder of stories and the importance of treating storytellers with the dignity, respect and the value they deserve,” Biden said. “I sincerely hope the writers strike in Hollywood gets resolved and the writers are given a fair deal they deserve as soon as possible.”He added: “This is an iconic, meaningful American industry. And we need the writers and all the workers ...

AP News in Brief at 9:09 p.m. EDT

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

Prize-winning AP team served as world’s eyes in MariupolNEW YORK (AP) — Instincts about the strategic significance of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol led a team of Associated Press journalists there just as Russians were about to lay siege. It proved to be a fateful decision.For nearly three weeks last year, Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka and Vasilisa Stepanenko were the only journalists in Mariupol, serving as the world’s eyes and ears amid the horrors of the Russian onslaught.Together they helped expose the extent of the suffering Ukrainians endured, served as a counterweight to Russian disinformation and contributed to the opening of a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol. They also had to elude capture by Kremlin forces that were hunting for the team.On Monday, Pulitzer Prize judges cited the work of the three Ukrainian journalists, along with Paris-based Lori Hinnant, in giving The Associated Press the prestigious award for public service.Seven AP photogra...

‘Persona non grata’: Canada expelling Chinese diplomat after threats to Tory MP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

OTTAWA — The Liberal government moved Monday to expel Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, who Canada’s spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly wrote in a statement Monday that Canada has declared the Toronto-based diplomat as “persona non grata.”“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs,” she wrote.“Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home.”Joly’s statement came just as MPs were voting in favour of a Conservative motion calling for certain diplomats to be expelled and for the government to call a public inquiry into foreign interference.Calls for Zhao to be expelled began last week after a report in the Globe and Mail that CSIS had information in 2021 that the Chinese government was looking at ways to intimidate Chong and his rela...

Anti-abortion group aligns with Trump, weeks after criticism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — The leader of a major anti-abortion group aligned herself Monday with former President Donald Trump on the issue, just weeks after raising questions about his commitment to restricting access to the procedure.Calling her meeting Monday with Trump “terrific,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group, said in a statement that he “reiterated that any federal legislation protecting these children would need to include the exceptions for life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest.” The characterization of the meeting — which Dannenfelser’s group said happened at Trump’s Florida home — marked a turnaround from more than two weeks ago. Then, Dannenfelser called Trump’s contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, a “morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.” Dannenfelser’s group has said it would not su...

Driver accused of deadly Texas bus stop crash has extensive criminal history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (KVEO) — The Brownsville, Texas man accused of ramming into a group of 18 people, killing eight and injuring nearly a dozen, has an extensive criminal history.George Alvarez, 34, was arrested on eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Brownsville police announced at a news conference on Monday. Police name suspect accused of hitting 18 at Texas bus stop, killing 8 At the conference, police showed Alvarez’s previous arrests, which included:2 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon1 count of assault against elderly or disabled4 counts of assault causing bodily injury to a family member1 count of assault of a public servant2 counts of burglary of a vehicle1 count of assault causing bodily injury2 counts of criminal mischief1 count of driving while intoxicated1 count of evading arrest/detention1 count of interference with public duties1 count of obstruction or retaliation1 count of possession of marijuana3 cou...

First trooper-involved shooting in Central TX since DPS started increased patrols in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Texas Department of Public Safety troopers shot and killed a man after the agency said he fired at troopers first.According to a statement from DPS, they tried to pull him over on U.S. Highway 183 in Austin just before 10 p.m. Sunday. As the man drove up through Williamson County, he fired shots as the troopers chasing him - and pointed his weapon at troopers when he eventually got out of the car. Where DPS is patrolling in Austin and why US 183 is one of the areas the Austin Police Department asked DPS to help patrol to curb dangerous driving as part of a partnership between the two agencies that launched March 30.DPS body camera video policyDPS and APD treat incidents like this differently when it comes to policies regarding releasing body camera video to the public.In Austin, police release that footage within 10 business days. Upon that release, the department also typically provides additional information about the investigation. You can access APD...

Thruway Authority looking for feedback on proposed toll hikes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) -- For roughly the next month, people across New York State will have the opportunity to weigh in on proposed toll hikes for the Thruway.The Thruway Authority has revealed plans to keep tolls on I-90 unchanged through the remainder of this year but bring them up starting in 2024. They say it would be the "first toll adjustment for system-wide NY E-ZPass customers since 2010." Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "These are modust increases to help us maintain and operate and build on the thruway. It is modust increases compared to any other state in the Northeast," Frank Hoare, interim executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, explained. "No tax dollars go toward supporting the thruway. It all comes from our toll revenue."Here's how they broke it down: System-wide toll rate adjustments would take place on January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2027. NY E-ZPass rates would increase by five perce...

Dean at Denver’s East High rushed to help his friend in a school office. Then he was shot.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:33 GMT

Wayne Mason was stationed at the front desk of Denver’s East High School on March 22 when Austin Lyle walked into the building.The 17-year-old student, who required daily patdowns as part of his student safety plan, called for an assistant principal. Mason tried them on the radio. No answer.So Eric Sinclair, another school dean, escorted Lyle to Room 129, where he and Mason shared an office. Sinclair radioed the assistant principal again. No answer. He tried a school safety officer. No answer.His next call went to Mason.“Wayne. Wayne. Help me, help me!” Sinclair yelled into the radio.Mason, a retired probation officer and East’s restorative practice coordinator, for the first time Monday publicly detailed how he and Sinclair were shot inside an office at Denver’s largest high school while struggling to disarm a troubled student.The dean called out Denver Public Schools for safety policies that allowed Lyle to be searched by a single, untrained administr...