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Nebraska passes abortion, gender-affirming care ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

(The Hill) — Nebraska lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to legislation that bans gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and prohibits abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy, sending the measure to Republican Gov. Jim Pillen.Pillen is expected to sign the bill — which state lawmakers passed by a 33-15 party-line vote — into law on an emergency clause, which means the measure will take effect immediately.Abortion and medical care for transgender youth are two of the most hot-button issues in state legislatures this year, and conservative lawmakers in the unicameral legislature merged both into a single bill. Contaminated eyedrops now linked to 4 deaths, 14 cases of blindness: CDC The abortion ban was added as an amendment to Legislative Bill 574, a bill that would restrict access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender young people, in the final days of Nebraska’s legislative session.Democrats were rejoicing late last month when a bill to ban abortion ...

In viral video, man says Tampa owes each Black resident $3M in reparations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A local resident told Tampa City Council members Thursday that every Black resident in the city is owed "at least $3 million in reparations.""All this nonsense y’all talk about — this nonsense homelessness, and all this other garbage y’all talk about, police violence and all this stuff — don’t nobody real care about that," resident Tony Daniel said during his time allotted for public comment. Parents of transgender kids seek to block DeSantis ban on gender-affirming care for minors "We care about our reparations and we have to put white people on notice that we want our reparations," he added. "Our fore-parents and us, we didn’t work for free and underpaid and all this nonsense and the white folks get away with it.”Video of Daniel's public comments trended on Twitter Friday.“They talk about the great city they’re building. No! We want our reparations," Daniel said. "Three million dollars per person — $3 million per person right here in this city, that’s the on...

Contaminated eye drops linked to another death, 81 infections: CDC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An outbreak linked to recalled eye drops has infected 81 people in Florida and in 18 other states, according to a recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC said it is investigating the strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Health officials said the strain, called VIM-GES-CRPA, had never been reported in the United States prior to the outbreak. It has been reported in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Target recalls nearly 5 million Threshold candles due to burn hazard Four deaths have been linked to the drug-resistant bacterial infection traced to the contaminated eye drops.“Most patients reported using artificial tears,” the CDC said. “Patients reported over 10 different brands of artificial tears and some patients used multiple brands. EzriCare Artificial Tears, a pre...

Beach Park bicyclist struck, killed by vehicle in North Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — A crash in North Chicago claimed the life of a suburban bicyclist, police said Friday. On Thursday, around 10:50 p.m., authorities responded to Route 41, north of Casimer Pulaski Drive, for a crash with injuries involving a bicyclist. The bicyclist was pronounced dead a the scene. Girl charged as adult in high-speed police chase with man on hood of car The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the bicyclist as 36-year-old Kyle Summy of Beach Park.The crash remains under investigation by the North Chicago Police Department and Lake County's Major Crash Assistance Team of Lake County. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThe driver involved remained at the scene.

Boy injured, apartment damaged in shootout in Irving Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

CHICAGO — A boy was injured and several businesses, including an apartment were damaged after a shootout in Irving Park early Friday morning.According to police, a black Infiniti truck and red sedan were driving westbound near the 2800 block of West Irving Park Road around 3:05 a.m. when an anonymous witness said people in the vehicles began firing shots at one another. A 17-year-old boy was dropped off at a local hospital by the red sedan with a graze wound to the head. He is listed in good condition. Pedestrian fatally struck on Stevenson Expressway Police say the boy refused to answer questions. A neighbor described the shots going through his window."I heard gunshots and ran to my daughter's room and while I'm running, the shots go through my window." Aleksandra Matejevic, an Irving Park resident, said she is scared. "I'm really scared because of the situation," Matejevic said. "This is really serious."Aaron Koppeo was jolted out of bed when he heard the gunshots. "I was in b...

CapMetro van crashes, sends 7 to the hospital, ATCEMS says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- At least seven people were taken to the hospital after a CapMetro access vehicle crashed in southeast Austin Friday, Austin-Travis County EMS said on Twitter.Shortly after 3 p.m., four ambulances responded to the crash, located at Nuckols Crossing Road and South Pleasant Valley Road, medics said.Austin-Travis County EMS responded to a bus crash in southeast Austin Friday, May 19. (KXAN photo/Andy Way)The ambulances transported seven patients, five to St. David's South and two to Seton Hays, for non-serious injuries.No further information was available, and the incident remained under investigation Friday.

Austin ISD plans to pull millions from reserve funds to give educators 7% raise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin ISD Board of Trustees on Thursday approved using up to $53 million of the district's reserve funds to give teachers and school employees a raise next school year.It comes as the legislature has yet to get a bill addressing teacher pay to the governor’s desk after months of promising solving the state’s teacher shortage was a top priority.In a statement to KXAN, the district’s Chief Finance OIfficer Ed Ramos said it could not wait on legislative decisions because educators were making employment decisions now. Why this Texas teacher stayed amid an education vacancy crisis “These raises projects we will have to use our savings based on current state funding. It is a much-needed investment in our employees who struggle with inflation and cost of living increases,” Ramos said. “We hope the state also chooses to invest in our students and teachers.”Round Rock ISD Trustees also approved a 3 percent raise for its teachers and librarians this week.The most recen...

Walz signs public safety bill, with ‘red flag law,’ expanded background checks on gun transfers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed two gun safety measures into law Friday afternoon, aligning his battleground state with others nationally that have taken steps to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis and criminals.Gabby Giffords — a former Democratic congresswoman who became a gun safety campaigner after she was shot in the head in 2011 in Tucson, Ariz. — gave a short speech to the cheering crowd at the ceremony. Because of the severe brain injury she suffered, she had to relearn how to walk and talk.“Stopping gun violence takes courage,” Giffords said. “Now is the time to come together. Be responsible. Democrat, Republican, independent — we must never stop fight!”Moments later, Walz signed a broad public safety bill that included the two gun measures: a “red flag law” and expanded background checks for gun transfers. The red flag law allows authorities to ask courts for “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily take guns away from people deemed to be...

U.S. Energy Secretary announces $1.67 million for 10 electric vehicle carsharing hubs for St. Paul’s East Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

By the end of this summer, the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis will have installed 70 electric car-charging stations that serve as pick-up sites for HourCar’s nonprofit car-sharing services.Mayors of both cities call the burgeoning Evie Spot network a strong start toward encouraging carbon-free transportation, but they’re aware that the existing network favors some of the more densely populated areas of the Twin Cities, leaving out some diverse and high-poverty neighborhoods at the edges.With underserved communities in mind, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm arrived in St. Paul on Friday to announce a $1.67 million grant to the American Lung Association and the Minnesota Clean Cities Coalition, who together will fund an additional 10 Evie Spot charging hubs throughout St. Paul’s East Side by 2025.Several of those stations will be situated along Metro Transit’s future Gold Line bus rapid transit corridor, while other East Side locations will be det...

33 take part in naturalization ceremony in Rensselaer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:27 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Thirty-three people became U.S. citizens on Friday. A naturalization ceremony was held at Rensselaer Junior-Senior High School.More than a dozen different countries were represented, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Mexico. Students had the chance to watch the ceremony. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Organizers said while it's meant to be a celebration for the new citizens, it's also a chance for everyone to learn something about themselves."They've come here today for many of the things that we take for granted," Magistrate Judge Christian Hummel said. "They come here for a better life for their children. Economic opportunity. For religious freedom. For the right to vote."The new citizens had to take a citizenship test and took an Oath of Allegiance. Many have been living in the U.S. for several years.