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ACLU sues to block Missouri rule on transgender health care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri ACLU on Monday sued to block new state restrictions on both adults and children seeking gender-affirming health care, which are set to kick in Thursday. ACLU, Lambda Legal and Bryan Cave Leighton LLP attorneys representing transgender Missourians and health care providers asked a St. Louis County judge to stop the first-of-its-kind rule from taking effect.They argue that Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has no authority to use a state consumer-protection law to regulate gender-affirming care through emergency rule-making. The rule is “a baseless and discriminatory attempt to limit the healthcare options for transgender individuals, who already face several barriers accessing necessary and life-saving medical care,” said Dr. Samuel Tochtrop of plaintiff Southampton Community Healthcare, in a statement. Before gender-affirming medical treatments can be provided by physicians, the regulation requires people to have experienced an “...

Conservation authority says province didn’t consult on Ontario Science Centre move to Ontario Place

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

Ontario’s largest conservation authority says it was not consulted on the decision to move the Ontario Science Centre, despite owning the land it currently sits on.The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority says it has not had any conversations with the province or the City of Toronto about Ontario’s decision to move the Science Centre, build housing on the lands or cancel the museum’s lease agreement set to expire in 2064.The authority says it owns approximately 32 hectares of land at the area in Toronto’s west end under a management agreement with the city.The TRCA says those lands include portions of the Science Centre, and that they’re also home to ravine lands, greenspace and sensitive habitats considered hazardous to develop on.The authority says provincial, municipal and TRCA policies require future development to happen in areas outside of the hazardous lands.It says it has reached out to the Ontario government for clarification and looks for...

Alabama and Mississippi mark Confederate Memorial Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama and Mississippi closed most government offices Monday for Confederate Memorial Day as efforts have stalled to abolish state holidays that honor the old Confederacy. Legislation has been introduced in the ongoing Alabama legislative session to remove, alter or rename Confederate-related holidays, but the effort has so far gained little traction. Camille Bennett, the founder of Project Say Something, an organization that has worked for the removal of Confederate monuments in Alabama, said the determination to keep Confederate holidays comes at the same time Alabama lawmakers push legislation banning so called “ divisive concepts” from being taught in state classrooms and diversity training for state workers. “On one side, you have white conservative men defining what divisive is and what it means. … At the same time, you are honoring the Confederacy, which in itself is a divisive concept. It’s really hypocritical, quite tone deaf,” Bennett s...

Amazon driver allegedly tried to hit dogs after chase, company apologizes: family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio (WJW) — Joe Hama has no problem admitting that his three bulldogs have made becoming an empty nester easier.“They are a part of my family, he told Nexstar's WJW, describing them as being "like my kids."The Hama family says they receive packages on a daily basis. Every time, the delivery driver is met with at least one of the three Hama family dogs.The encounter has always gone well. That is, until this past weekend. “The outcome could have been horrifying, so thinking about what could have happened does make me frustrated,” Hama explained. Northern lights could be visible in US Monday: Here’s where On Saturday morning, the Hama family’s Ring camera captured an encounter that has left them frustrated.The video shows a delivery driver dropping off a package to their home before being chased back into his car by one of the bulldogs. All three dogs appeared not to be restrained, and two others can be seen following closely behind the first.Hama admits his d...

Walmart to give away free Walmart+ memberships to new moms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Walmart announced it is giving away up to 20,000 free one-year Walmart+ memberships to new moms who give birth during the month of May. The membership, valued at $98 each, will be distributed nationwide in hospitals.According to a April 24 media release, the Walmart+ membership giveaway is in conjunction with Pampers Hospital Gift Program, which provides a gift bag for patients who have recently delivered a baby. Judge tentatively OKs $725M Facebook settlement: How to apply for a payout “Walmart+ brings together benefits that will help save moms precious time,” said Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Walmart. “Whether it's getting diapers delivered straight to their door or saving on gas for the carpool, we’ve got their back. To celebrate moms we’ve committed to gifting 20,000 Walmart+ memberships to some of our most important customers, making life a little easier for them.”Walmart+ offers a series of perks a...

Louisiana high school senior awarded record-breaking $9M in scholarships, 125 college offers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A New Orleans student has broken the record for the most scholarships received by a college-bound high school senior.Dennis Barnes, a student at the International High School of New Orleans, is celebrating his success after being accepted into 125 colleges and universities and receiving more than $9 million in scholarships. The Marrero native's achievement tops that of the previous record holder, who is also from Louisiana. In 2019, a senior from Lafayette, Louisiana cashed in with $8.7 million from colleges across the nation, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. The school is now working with Guinness officials to confirm the record. Louisiana woman sets Guinness World Record for largest Afro for the 4th time With a cumulative GPA of 4.98, Barnes is dually enrolled at Southern University of New Orleans where he is also earning college credit while still in high school. His plan is to earn a dual degree in both computer science and criminal justic...

1 dead, 4 injured in 3-vehicle crash in west Travis County, ATCEMS says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- One person is dead, and four others were injured after a three-vehicle crash in west Travis County Monday, Austin-Travis County EMS said on Twitter.ATCEMS medics responded to the crash at approximately 2:30 p.m. at 8647 W U.S. Highway 290 with a total of five people involved, the tweet said. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, medics said.First responders were on the scene of a deadly crash Monday on Highway 290 in west Travis County. | Frank Martinez KXAN NewsFirst responders were on the scene of a deadly crash Monday on Highway 290 in west Travis County. | Frank Martinez KXAN NewsFirst responders were on the scene of a deadly crash Monday on Highway 290 in west Travis County. | Frank Martinez KXAN NewsAnother person was taken by Travis County Star Flight to Dell Seton Medical Center with potentially serious injuries. The remaining three patients were all taken to St. David's South Austin Medical Care with potentially serious injuries, medics...

Texas House initially passes school safety 'panic alert' legislation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas House gave initial approval Monday to a bill that would change technology requirements for how public school campuses initiate lockdowns and alert authorities in the case of emergencies.The bill, which introduced by Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, would require Texas schools to have alert devices with technology that immediately notify EMS, law enforcement and other first responders in the case of an emergency. Her legislation is modeled after Florida's "Alyssa’s Law," which was named after one of the victims of the Parkland high school shooting in Florida, which left 17 people dead. The goal of the law is to address lagged law enforcement response due to slowed, secondary communication between teachers and administrators and 911 operators and first responders. Florida, New York and New Jersey have adopted these laws.When presenting the bill, the Houston Democrat noted that legislators and many state agencies already have this type of technology for their...

TCEQ moves forward in approval process for East Austin rock-crushing plant, despite push back

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— A state agency is moving forward in the approval process for a rock-crushing plant, despite push back from neighbors who feel it's way too close to homes.Neighbors are worried about air quality. Some who have lived in the area for generations, said they've been dealing with dusty air for years, just from temporary plants. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates permits for the plants. "Sometimes, depending on the wind, it can be so thick, you can barely see through it," David Sides, a neighbor said.Christopher Lupone fears the prolonged exposure to dust could really make people sick. "It's a big health risk," Lupone said. Sides and Lupone live on opposite sides of where the plant would go—less than a mile or so away from the site. Both are worried what will happen now that a company has applied for a permit to have a permanent rock-crushing plant. "There are 250 homes within a mile less than a mile of this," Lupone said. "It's ridiculous to think that ...

U2 creating immersive experience with Sphere Las Vegas concerts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:45 GMT

LOS ANGELES — U2 is familiar with rocking out in major sporting arenas and stadiums, but the legendary band will soon hit the stage to create a new immersive concert experience inside a high-tech, globe-shaped venue in Las Vegas.Live Nation and Sphere Entertainment announced Monday the dates for U2’s upcoming “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere” shows starting Sept. 29. The rock band’s special five-night run of shows will be held until Oct. 8 at The Venetian’s Sphere with a state-of-the-art audio and visual system designed for each concertgoer.“This is a venue designed for entertainment, not sports,” said U2 guitarist The Edge in a recent interview. He first learned about the cutting-edge venue after lead singer Bono sent him a link about the concept. He said the screen is 20 times bigger than the one during the band’s Joshua Tree tour in 2019 — the last time U2 performed live in a concert setting.“Sports is a simple formula. You want to see the action,” he continued. “But no one rea...