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Negotiators finalize details of bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — House and Senate negotiators wrapped up work Tuesday on the details of a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota, setting the stage for final votes in the closing days of the legislative session.It will still take staffers a day or two to prepare the final bill language, the Democratic chairs of the cannabis conference committee, Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, and Sen. Lindsey Port, of Duluth, said as they closed out their final meeting. The bill can then go to the House and Senate floors, where final approval is expected.“It has been an incredible journey,” Stephenson said, recalling the more than 30 committee hearings held between the both chambers this year to get the bill into its final shape. “Minnesota will be better because of it.”Conference committees are finishing work on the major budget bills of the 2023 session this week as the adjournment deadline of Monday approaches. House Democratic leaders hope to finish earlier,...

YouTube sends gun videos to 9-year-olds: ‘It’s not the kids. It’s the algorithms,’ study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — When researchers at a nonprofit that studies social media wanted to understand the connection between YouTube videos and gun violence, they set up accounts on the platform that mimicked the behavior of typical boys living in the U.S.They simulated two nine-year-olds who both liked video games, especially first-person shooter games. The accounts were identical, except that one clicked on the videos recommended by YouTube, and the other ignored the platform’s suggestions.The account that clicked on YouTube’s suggestions was soon flooded with graphic videos about school shootings, tactical gun training videos and how-to instructions on making firearms fully automatic. One video featured an elementary school-age girl wielding a handgun; another showed a shooter using a .50 caliber gun to fire on a dummy head filled with lifelike blood and brains. Many of the videos violate YouTube’s own policies against violent or gory content.The findings show that d...

Parliamentary committee calls for modernized Safe Third Country Agreement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

OTTAWA — A parliamentary committee is calling for Canada’s Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States to include new exemptions allowing some asylum seekers to make claims in Canada after arriving south of the border.The agreement, first signed in 2004, means asylum seekers must make their claim wherever they arrive first — and they are turned away if they try to cross the border to make a claim in the other country.But the House of Commons immigration committee tabled a report today that calls for Canada to negotiate exceptions to that rule, particularly when it comes to people who have experienced gender-based violence. Immigration lawyer Maureen Silcoff told the committee in November that claimants who seek asylum due to female genital mutilation, domestic violence or the fear of sexual assault face more-restrictive laws in the U.S. and are more likely to be offered protection in Canada.U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to restore asylum provisions for domestic viol...

Former DuPage County corrections officer accused of having sex with inmate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — A former DuPage County deputy corrections officer is accused of having sexual contact with an inmate. Prosecutors allege that Ricardo Hardy, 52, of Elgin had inappropriate sexual contact with a female inmate at the DuPage County Jail on at least two occasions, from March 13 through April 26.SEE ALSO: Second man charged in robbery, shooting that critically injured Dakotah Earley last yearRicardo Hardy, 52, of ElginHardy, who was assigned to the Corrections Bureau but dismissed from his role on Monday, allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts in the prisoner’s cell as well as a shower and bathroom area, according to authorities.Hardy also arranged for $300 to be put on the prisoner's commissary, prosecutors added. Prosecutors charged Hardy with 10 felony counts, including five felony counts of custodial sexual misconduct and five counts of official misconduct. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesHardy was issued a $300,000 bond. His next ...

After a year out, White Sox get one of their best young pitchers back Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the White Sox best young pitchers is ready to return to the major league team for the first time in a year and a half.Pitcher and 2020 White Sox first round pick Garrett Crochet is back on the team’s major league roster after rehabbing in Birmingham and Charlotte..He had Tommy John surgery on April 5, 2022 and will pitch for the first time with the White Sox since the 2021 season. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/BZYxoTG4xz— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) May 16, 2023Garrett Crochet was called up to the team on Tuesday, 13 months after he underwent Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire 2022 season. The left-handed pitcher, who was used as a reliever in his first two seasons, joins the White Sox as they start a three-game series with Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday.After a full year out of the team's system to recover from his ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery, Crochet made six rehab appearances with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charl...

Citizens urge passage of Healthy Illinois for All bill as deadline looms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Several groups in Illinois are pushing for an expansion of a healthcare program approved by state lawmakers last year. In 2022, every person in Illinois ages 42 and up, became covered by a Medicaid-like program. Most of the money comes from the federal government, with a smaller portion from the state.The Healthy Illinois Initiative is heading down to Springfield on Wednesday to ask lawmakers and Governor JB Pritzker to expand the program to cover all age groups, including about 116,000 low-income residents, ranging from 19 to 41, who are not covered. Pritzker, state health officials call attention to Medicaid change Advocates say the expansion would cost a maximum of $200 million annually.Healthy Illinois says uninsured people now cost upwards of $800 million a year to the healthcare system in the state. Expanding Medicaid-like coverage would save money in the long run and help get those with illnesses back on their feet and able to work, supporters added."We need to sa...

IRS will launch test run of free online tax-filing system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

(The Hill) -- The IRS announced Tuesday it will launch a test run of a direct, free online tax-filing system for the 2024 tax season, citing high levels of taxpayer interest in such a system and relatively low cost. In a highly anticipated Tuesday report, the IRS announced it forged ahead and built a prototype of a system that will be deployed in a pilot program.The pilot program will involve a select number of taxpayers and have a limited scope and functionality to allow the Treasury Department to gauge how taxpayers would interact with it, IRS and Treasury officials said Tuesday.“Dozens of other countries have provided free tax filing options to their citizens, and American taxpayers who want to file their taxes for free online should have an acceptable option,” said Laurel Blatchford, who heads the Treasury Department’s office for implementing the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act boosted IRS funding by $80 billion and ordered that agency to issue a report on t...

Teens can work out for free at Planet Fitness: Here's how

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

(WHTM) -- Planet Fitness has officially kicked off its program to let high school students work out for free for the summer. Starting on May 16, the company says, any student between ages 14-19 can work out at any of the 2,400+ locations until Aug. 31 during their High School Summer Pass Program. “We’re excited to officially open our doors to high school students today and provide a safe and Judgement Free space for teens to focus on their mental and physical health this summer as part of our High School Summer Pass program,” said Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer at Planet Fitness. “At Planet Fitness, we’re proud of our commitment to give teens free access during the summer so they can develop long-lasting, healthy habits and experience all the benefits of fitness.” What is the literal meaning of Pennsylvania? Visit the Planet Fitness website to sign up. Participants can also enter a contest for a chance to be one of 10 teens each awarded $10,000 academic scholarships by Pla...

Transgender pop star Kim Petras on cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

(The Hill) -- Pop musician Kim Petras is one of the four cover models for Sports Illustrated (SI) swimsuit editions, becoming the second openly transgender model to appear on the cover. In an interview with Sports Illustrated published Monday, Petras explains that she felt pressure to represent the trans community due to the climate the U.S. is currently in when it comes to the issue. “It’s definitely a scary time to be transgender in America, but there’s also so much more representation than there’s ever been, and there’s so many things on the bright side,” Petras told the magazine. “I do feel a pressure sometimes to represent the trans community with everything I do, because I feel very blessed that I am at this point where I have all these amazing opportunities that I’ve worked really hard for, and feel so happy when I hear from trans people in general that they’re inspired by me.”  Obama says leaving White House helped his marriage The “Alone” singer also shared th...

Rare raccoon spotted in Ohio park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:50 GMT

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — A rare raccoon was spotted in Cleveland Metroparks over the weekend. Olmsted Falls, Ohio, resident Tammy Stevens said she saw the critter, which appears to be an albino raccoon, on Mother's Day.According to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, only 1 in every 10-20,000 raccoons is born with albinism, an inherited genetic condition that lacks pigment in the hair, skin, and eyes.  Blake Shelton’s successor announced on ‘The Voice’ Courtesy: Tammy Stevens of Olmsted FallsCourtesy: Tammy Stevens of Olmsted FallsCourtesy: Tammy Stevens of Olmsted FallsWhile albino animals are certainly unusual to see, their presence in and around northeast Ohio has been documented across social media and by local news outlets. Particularly, albino deer.Millcreek Metroparks in Youngstown has been home to several white deer over the years.Just last year, WJW reported on three baby deer born just outside of Millcreek Metroparks, including one that was albino.Other animals ...