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In post-Roe era, House Republicans begin quiet push for new restrictions on abortion access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the Supreme Court issued its abortion ruling last June overturning Roe v. Wade, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said “our work is far from done.” He didn’t say what might come next.A year later later, McCarthy is the speaker, Republicans are in the majority and the blanks are beginning to be filled in.In a flurry of little-noticed legislative action, GOP lawmakers are pushing abortion policy changes, trying to build on the work of activists whose strategy successfully elevated their fight to the nation’s highest court. In one government funding bill after another, Republicans are incorporating unrelated policy provisions, known as riders, to restrict women’s reproductive rights. Democrats say the proposals will never become law.“This is not just about an attack on women’s health,” Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Friday. “I view it as an attempt to derail the entire proce...

Belarus deal to take in leader of Russian rebellion puts him in an even more repressive nation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was notorious for unbridled and profane challenges to authority even before the attempted rebellion that he mounted Saturday. The reported agreement for him to go into exile in Belarus would place him in a country where such behavior is even less acceptable than in his homeland.Prigozhin on Sunday was uncharacteristically silent as his Wagner private army forces pulled back from Russian cities after a Kremlin announcement that he agreed to depart for Belarus; it remains unclear whether he’s actually there.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko reportedly negotiated the deal. But Prigozhin’s maverick ways are at odds with Lukashenko’s harsh repression of dissent and independent media. In power since 1994, the leader often called “Europe’s last dictator” launched a brutal crackdown on 2020 protests against his rule; hundreds were sentenced to lengthy prison terms, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.Under Lukashenko, Belarus...

When wealthy adventurers take huge risks, who should foot the bill for rescue attempts?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

When millionaire Steve Fossett’s plane went missing over the Nevada range in 2007, the swashbuckling adventurer had already been the subject of two prior emergency rescue operations thousands of miles apart.And that prompted a prickly question: After a sweeping search for the wealthy risktaker ended, who should foot the bill?In recent days, the massive hunt for a submersible vehicle lost during a north Atlantic descent to explore the wreckage of the Titanic has refocused attention on that conundrum. And with rescuers and the public fixated first on saving and then on mourning those aboard, it has again made for uneasy conversation.“Five people have just lost their lives and to start talking about insurance, all the rescue efforts and the cost can seem pretty heartless — but the thing is, at the end of the day, there are costs,” said Arun Upneja, dean of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration and a researcher on tourism.“There are many people who are going to say, ‘...

Multiple victims hit in 2 early morning shootings in Kansas City, Missouri, news report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police in Missouri were investigating two shootings with multiple victims in the same area of Kansas City early Sunday morning, although the number of dead or wounded was not immediately known, a news report said.The Kansas City Police Department responded to shootings on Prospect Avenue around 3 a.m. and again around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, KSHB-TV reported.One of the shootings involved multiple fatalities, the station reported.The number of victims from each shooting was not immediately available, but police told KSHB that some victims with gunshot wounds transported themselves to a hospital.There was no immediate information about any arrests being made, KSHB reported.The Associated Press

GOP state legislatures seek greater control over state and local election offices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers in several Republican-led states have been looking to exert more authority over state and local election offices, claiming new powers that Democrats warn could be used to target left-leaning counties in future elections.The moves range from requiring legislative approval of court settlements in election-related lawsuits to creating paths for taking over local election offices.In North Carolina, a Republican proposal working its way through the General Assembly would change the composition of state and county election boards and give lawmakers sole authority to appoint board members.Republican lawmakers in Texas recently approved legislation that not only eliminates the top election official in the Democratic stronghold of Harris County, which includes Houston, but also permits the state’s chief election official — the secretary of state — to take over the county’s election office. The secretary is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, both n...

Ideology underpinning conversion therapy has foothold despite ban: LGBTQ advocates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

OTTAWA — Despite a federal ban on conversion therapy being in place for more than a year, advocates fear the broader ideologies underpinning the practice continue to have a strong foothold in Canada. New Criminal Code offences came into effect in January 2022, but it appears no charges or prosecutions have yet taken place.Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual or to change their gender identity to match the sex they were assigned at birth.Nick Schiavo, executive director of No Conversion Canada, said he is worried about the possibility that those who wish to influence a person’s sexual orientation may use “coded language” to avoid falling under the law.Florence Ashley, an incoming assistant professor at the University of Alberta’s law faculty, said it’s common for organizations to use broader terms, such as: “We’re not actually changing sexual orientation. We’re kin...

Woman, 26, stabbed in chest in Loop: Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

CHICAGO -- A man is in custody after a 26-year-old was stabbed in the chest after an altercation in the city's Loop Saturday evening, police said. According to police, the woman a=was outside near the 1100 block of South Michigan Avenue around 7:50 p.m. when a 44-year-old man approached her. Bicyclist, 68, dead after being hit by vehicle on Southwest Side Police reported that he two began to argue when the man then produced a knife and stabbed the woman in the chest. The man fled the scene but was located by officers and placed into custody. She was transported to Northwestern memorial Hospital where she is listed in critical condition. Charges are pending.

Bicyclist, 68, dead after being hit by vehicle on Southwest Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 68-year-ld man was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in the city's Garfield Ridge neighborhood Saturday night.According to police, a 32-year-old man was making a left turn in a car near the 6500 block of South Natchez Avenue around 9:30 p.m. when he struck the bicyclist. The man was transported to Christ Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating the incident and citations are pending.

1 person dead after auto-pedestrian crash on SH 71

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One adult died in an auto-pedestrian crash in southwest Austin late Saturday night, according to Austin-Travis County EMS. It happened around 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of State Highway 71 and US 290. The adult was pronounced dead at the scene, according to ATCEMS. No other information was available at the time.

Where and when are lightning deaths most common?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The third full week of each June is designated as National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.Since 2006, almost 500 people have been killed by lightning strikes, according to the National Lightning Safety Council. Only five states have not recorded a lightning death during that time: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire and Washington.Fatal lightning strikes are most common in Florida, with 86 deaths reported since 2006. Texas ranks second nationwide, with 39 deaths, ahead of Colorado (24), Alabama (21) and North Carolina (21).When adjusted for population, Wyoming has the highest fatality rate, with 5.16 lightning deaths for every 1 million people. The District of Columbia is second, with a rate of 4.47 per 1 million, ahead of Montana (4.45), Alabama (4.14) and Colorado (4.11).Who is most likely to get killed by lightning?The number of deaths per year has fallen since the mid 2000s. Both 2006 and 2007 saw more than 40 deaths nationwide, compared to fewer than 20 eac...