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US: Unjustified force, bias still plague New Orleans police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Unjustified use of force, dangerous vehicle pursuits and racially biased policing continue to be problems for the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Justice Department said in a Friday court filing, opposing the city’s move to terminate a decade-old court-backed reform agreement.The city has made progress in turning itself around, Justice Department lawyers said. “But progress towards compliance is not the same as full and effective compliance that has proven durable,” Friday’s court filing said.The pact, known as a “consent decree,” was negotiated in 2012, after a harshly critical Justice Department review of the long-troubled police department. It came after the deaths of unarmed civilians in the chaotic aftermath of levee failures during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan approved the decree in 2013. It is one of nearly two dozen such consent decrees in cities around the country.Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administrat...

US states consider ban on cosmetics with ‘forever chemicals’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

A growing number of state legislatures are considering bans on cosmetics and other consumer products that contain a group of synthetic, potentially harmful chemicals known as PFAS.In Vermont, the state Senate gave final approval this week to legislation that would prohibit manufacturers and suppliers from selling or distributing any cosmetics or menstrual products in the state that have perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as well as a number of other chemicals.The products include shampoo, makeup, deodorant, sunscreen, hair dyes and more, said state Sen. Terry Williams, a Republican, and member of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare.“Many known toxic chemicals are used in or found as contaminants in personal care products, including PFAS, lead and formaldehyde,” Williams said in reporting the bill to Senate colleagues. California, Colorado and Maryland passed similar restrictions on cosmetics that go into effect in 2025. Other proposals are under consideratio...

How Tennessee GOP’s majority used power to expel Democrats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The expulsion of two Tennessee Democrats over a gun control protest is an extraordinary showcase of how the levers of single-party power in America’s statehouses can be pulled not only to shut down opponents, but to also punish them. On any given day in Tennessee, Republicans have the commanding majority to pass just about any law they want. The lopsided dynamic is common in many U.S. statehouses — including where Democrats are in charge — and it has widened under gerrymandered voting maps that redraw legislative district boundaries to dilute the opposition party’s votes.But in ousting Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson altogether from the Tennessee Legislature on Thursday, Republicans went beyond their typical ability to steamroll Democrats. They instead maximized their parliamentary power to exact retribution. Not only did Republicans have the votes to oust the lawmakers — one of the few times such drastic action has been taken since the Civi...

Suspect in custody after SWAT call in southeast Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department's SWAT team was called to a scene in southeast Austin Friday morning for a disturbance. The disturbance call came in at 7:11 a.m., according to police.At 3:05 p.m. Friday, APD said a suspect was in custody and the scene was no longer active.According to Austin Police, when officers arrived near the 4600 block of Nuckols Crossing Road, a disturbance between a man and woman could be heard inside an apartment unit. APD said officers also heard objects breaking.When officers called out for the two people to come down, only the woman left the apartment.According to police, the man who stayed inside was a criminal with an active warrant out of Hays County for an aggravated assault.APD said the man refused to come out after officers instructed him to, so SWAT was requested to respond.Nuckols Crossing was shut down in both directions between Maufrais Lane and Viewpoint Drive, and adjacent apartment units were evacuated. APD said roads in the are...

Attack on sleeping homeless man highlights violence faced by homeless Austinites

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The recent assault of a sleeping homeless man on March 28 highlights the violence faced by Austin's population of homeless people.Chris Davis, communications and public policy director at the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), said that homeless people are more vulnerable to violence."Someone who doesn't have the security of being able to lock the door behind them is going to be an easy target," Davis said.Survey data of homeless people gathered by ECHO in 2022 revealed that 56.6% of respondents reported "being attacked or beaten up since they became unhoused." Where to find homelessness resources in Austin Further data from the Austin Police Department between 2014-2019 shows:5.2% of violent crimes included a homeless victim and suspect; 2.4% included a homeless suspect and non-homeless victim; and,3.9% included a homeless victim and non-homeless suspect.The vast majority of violent crime in that period does not involve homeless people (88.4%)."We s...

Rainy, chilly Friday evening, much nicer Easter weekend ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Patchy, but persistent light rain will continue well into Friday evening, but much drier and warmer weather will return just in time for Easter weekend.Live radarLive traffic conditionsRepeated batches of showers and storms are expected to impact most of our area through this evening. Additional rainfall totals will remain under 1" for most, but a few isolated spots could top 1" by the end of the day today.Central Texas rainfall totalsRemember, if you ever come across a water-covered roadway, "Turn Around, Don't Drown!"Cooler temperatures and breezy winds will have a lot of us keeping jackets on all day. But milder weather and drier skies move in for the weekend.Outside of a few spots of leftover rain early Saturday, expect a mix of sun and clouds, drier skies and a gradual warming trend to get underway over the holiday weekend.Dry and cool for Easter egg hunts Sunday morningFIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our wea...

Ojibwe woman makes history as North Dakota poet laureate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

By TRISHA AHMED (Associated Press/Report for America)North Dakota lawmakers have appointed an Ojibwe woman as the state’s poet laureate, making her the first Native American to hold this position in the state and increasing attention to her expertise on the troubled history of Native American boarding schools.Denise Lajimodiere, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band in Belcourt, has written several award-winning books of poetry. She’s considered a national expert on the history of Native American boarding schools and wrote an academic book called “Stringing Rosaries” in 2019 on the atrocities experienced by boarding school survivors.“I’m honored and humbled to represent my tribe. They are and always will be my inspiration,” Lajimodiere said in an interview, following a bipartisan confirmation of her two-year term as poet laureate on Wednesday.Poet laureates represent the state in inaugural speeches, commencements, poetry readings and educati...

Disability rights advocacy groups file complaint against Metro Transit for cutting Call-A-Ride service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A controversy over transportation for those with disabilities is going to the Department of Justice.Paraquad, a disability advocacy group, has filed a complaint against Metro Transit's plans to cut Call-A-Ride service.Aimee Wehmeier, president of Paraquad, has been with the company for at least 10 years. She said she knows firsthand how Metro Call-A-Ride's plan to cut services in some areas will have an impact on riders who need it the most.“Folks with disabilities have not been receiving the services they need to be independent in the community," Wehmeier said. "We all want to live a typical life, so we can go to work, go to the doctor, recreation, and see friends, and that's not possible with the current transportation system." Top Story: Fenton clerk recounts terrifying gunpoint robbery and assault On Friday, leaders of several organizations serving people with disabilities and additional community allies also filed a complaint regarding Metro's Call-A-Ride paratran...

Historic low inventory continues to push Denver metro home prices up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

Although the number of homes for sale at the end of March increased 19.5% from February and doubled the number of homes available a year ago, at 4,516 active listings, that number is about 67% below the historical average number of listings for the month, according to the March report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.The continued limited supply pushed prices up again in the 11-county Denver metro. At $620,000, the median sale price for a single-family home increased by 3.3% in March over February, although prices remained about 6.1% below March 2020.“At the start of the year, gloomy predictions for the real estate market were broadcast far and wide,” says Michelle Schwinghammer with RE/MAX Alliance, a DMAR Market Trends Committee member. “Everyone was waiting to see what would come in spring. The latest numbers are in and confirm, perhaps to the surprise of many, that the luxury market in the Denver metro area is alive and well.”Sellers received...

Avalanche navigating Cale Makar’s health again with Norris Trophy winner day-to-day as NHL playoffs near

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:07 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The downside of a world-class defenseman logging NHL-leading minutes isn’t difficult to figure out.More ice time means more wear and tear. More opportunities to sustain injuries.The Avalanche are navigating Cale Makar’s health again as the NHL playoffs near. The defending Norris Trophy winner has missed Colorado’s last two games with a lower-body injury and didn’t skate with the team here Friday at the Kings’ facility. The Avs (47-24-6) are preparing for a back-to-back Saturday (8:30 p.m. MT) at Los Angeles and Sunday (6:30 p.m.)  at Anaheim.“I would consider him day-to-day at this point,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told The Post when asked if there’s any long-term concern. “But we’re just going to wait for him to feel good before he plays, so I don’t have a timeline.”This is the fifth time Makar has missed a string of games due to an injury this calendar year. He was out four games in Janu...