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Judge: DeSantis spread false information while pushing trans health care ban, restrictions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON (Associated Press)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge hearing a challenge to a transgender health care ban for minors and restrictions for adults noted Thursday that Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly spread false information about doctors mutilating children’s genitals even though there’s been no such documented cases.The law was sold as defending children from mutilation when it is actually about preventing trans children from getting health care, Judge Robert Hinkle said to Mohammad Jazil, a lawyer for the state.“When I’m analyzing the governor’s motivation, what should I make of these statements?” Hinkle asked. “This seems to be more than just hyperbole.”Hinkle said he will rule sometime in the new year on whether the Legislature, the Department of Health and presidential candidate DeSantis deliberately targeted transgender people through the new law. He raised some skepticism about the...

Ex-Red Sox OF Alex Verdugo takes jab at Alex Cora in first remarks since trade

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

Former Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo spoke publicly Thursday for the first time since being traded to the New York Yankees, and while expressing his excitement over getting to play for Yankees manager Aaron Boone, he took a swipe at his former Red Sox manager, Alex Cora.“I’m very, very excited to work with Aaron,” Verdugo said. “I’ve seen the way he has his players’ backs. The one that really gets out to me is he’s like ‘these guys are savages and he’s yelling at the umpire.’ That’s something I want to see out of my head coach, I want to see some fire and fight of the guys, and instead of airing people out have their backs.”Verdugo is likely referring to the numerous times he was called out publicly by Cora during his tenure in Boston. During the 2022 year-end press conference Cora singled out Verdugo as a player he wanted to see more out of, and this past year Verdugo was twice benched due to lack of effort. ...

Fire erupts at Valencia Park apartment building

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Firefighters on Thursday are battling an apartment building fire in the Valencia Park neighborhood.Around 4:15 p.m., SkyFOX was over the blaze at 5510 Dream St, where a white plume of smoke could be seen spewing from the structure. Hundreds of rideshare drivers protest near San Diego International Airport There have been no reports of any injuries at this time.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Australia batter Khawaja gets ICC reprimand over black armband to support Palestinians in Gaza

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia batter Usman Khawaja has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for wearing a black armband in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the first cricket test against Pakistan.ICC regulations prevent cricketers from displaying messages of political, religious or racial causes during international matches, although Khawaja has argued his is a “humanitarian appeal.”Khawaja was born in Pakistan and is the first Muslim to play test cricket for Australia.An ICC spokesperson confirmed the charge in breach of the clothing and equipment regulations to Australian media on Thursday.“Usman displayed a personal message (armband) during the first test match against Pakistan without seeking the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it, as required in the regulations for personal messages,” it said. “This is a breach under the category of an ‘other breach’ and the sanction for a first offense is a reprimand.”The charge means Khawaja c...

Kansas attorney general urges county to keep ballots longer than is allowed to aid sheriff’s probe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Republican attorney general in Kansas has urged the state’s most populous county to postpone a legally required destruction of old ballots because the sheriff there says his investigation of possible election crimes remains open even though it’s led to no criminal charges in two years.Attorney General Kris Kobach, an early supporter of former President Donald Trump who has for years described election fraud as a serious issue, sent a letter Wednesday to the election commissioner in Johnson County in the Kansas City area. Kobach said officials should preserve ballots from 2019, 2020 and 2021 even though state law required all of them to be destroyed by the fall of 2022. “Allowing the Sheriff’s Office to complete its investigation is in the interest of justice and provides the public with confidence in the integrity of their electoral system and election outcomes,” Kobach wrote in his letter, which became public Thursday.The county has yet to destro...

Pharmacist refused emergency contraception prescription. Court to decide if that was discrimination

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Attorneys for a woman who was denied emergency contraception in 2019 told the Minnesota Court of Appeals Thursday that the pharmacist who refused to fill the prescription discriminated against her on the basis of her sex.But an attorney for George Badeaux, the pharmacist at Thrifty White in central Minnesota, said his refusal to provide the drug due to his religious beliefs was not a violation of state and federal law.A jury ruled last year that Badeaux did not discriminate against Andrea Anderson, a mother and foster parent, when he refused to fill her prescription for Ella, a drug that is used to stop a pregnancy before it starts. The jury also awarded Anderson $25,000 due to emotional harm — money she can’t collect because there was no finding of discrimination, said Jess Braverman, one of Anderson’s lawyers.Gender Justice, an advocacy organization for gender equity, and other lawyers for Anderson appealed the jury’s ruling this year. “This was preg...

PM Trudeau vows to continue ‘fighting’ for Canadians despite signs of slumping popularity

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

In a year-end interview with CityNews on Thursday, a reflective Justin Trudeau vowed to forge on into the next election despite signs that he’s become increasingly less popular with Canadians burdened by a barrage of financial pressures.Trudeau said he would stay on as Liberal Leader, with hopes of defeating a surging Pierre Poilievre when Canadians once again head to the polls.“I think this is the kind of job that you’ve always got to ask whether you’ve got the energy for it, whether you’re still committed to it, whether you’re the right person for the job,” Trudeau, who turns 52 on Christmas day, admitted.“But there is so much more at stake right now … because what I owe Canadians, and mostly what I owe my kids in fighting every day for a better future, means I am here to stand with Canadians and fight for them every day.”Despite his vows of unwavering commitment, recent polls have shown Canadians have grown increasingly skeptical of his leadership.A recent survey foun...

France to close its embassy in Niger for an ‘indefinite period,’ according to letter to staff

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — France will close its diplomatic mission in Niger following this summer’s coup d’etat in the West African nation and a souring of relations between the two countries, according to a letter sent to embassy staff and seen by The Associated Press.The news that the embassy in Niger’s capital Niamey is to close comes as France prepares to withdraw its last remaining military forces from the Sahel state this month.“The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic is regretfully forced to close the embassy for an indefinite period of time,” said a document sent to Nigerien employees of the French embassy dated Dec. 19, 2023, and signed by the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté.French diplomatic sources acknowledge the authenticity of the letter, which notifies Nigerien employees that they will be dismissed as of April 30, 2024.The French embassy in Niger was attacked by demonstrators on July 30, 2023, and the military junta rul...

Pornhub agrees to pay $1.8M to resolve sex trafficking-related charge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

The owner of Pornhub, one of the world’s largest adult content websites, has admitted to profiting from sex trafficking and agreed to make payments to women whose videos were posted without their consent, federal prosecutors in New York announced Thursday.Aylo Holdings, the website’s parent company, reached a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve a charge of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions involving sex trafficking proceeds, according to the office of Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.The deal calls for the Montreal-based company to pay more than $1.8 million to the U.S. government, as well as make separate payments to the individual women harmed by the trafficking. It also requires appointment of an independent monitor for three years, after which the charges will be dismissed.“It is our hope that this resolution, which includes certain agreed payments to the women whose images were posted on the company’s platforms and an independent mo...

First permitted bus of migrants arrives Thursday in Chicago

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The City of Chicago is expecting seven more buses to arrive Thursday at the landing zone. On Thursday, the city said it received its first permitted bus arrival after city council passed an ordinance last month. ‘We are not all bad’: Migrants stuck waiting at O’Hare, facing uncertain future in latest kick of ‘political football’ from Texas "We are a sanctuary city and we want to be able to take care of everybody here," 33rd Ward Ald. Rosanna Rodriguez said. "But we can’t do it on our own we need resources."The Latino Caucus demanded more help from the federal government in the form of funding and work permits for all undocumented asylum seekers."That is essential," Decomractic Rep. Chuy Garcia said. "It's critical for Chicago. It's critical for New York, for Houston, all the other cities seeking to do everything they can. They cannot do it alone."The calls come as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vows to continue bussing and flying migrants to Chicago.On Tuesday night, a private p...