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North Carolina lawmakers give final OK to ban on gender-affirming care for trans children

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers finalized legislation on Wednesday that would prohibit certain gender-affirming care for children and prevent state funds from being used to provide such therapies and procedures. The House voted 67-46 to accept a version of the measure approved by the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation would bar any medical professional from providing hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgical gender transition procedures to anyone under 18, with some medical exceptions. Young people who begin treatment before Aug. 1 could continue receiving such care if it’s considered medically necessary and their parents consent.The bill, written by Republicans, now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, whose veto is likely. Cooper has expressed opposition to bills that target trans youth. The GOP holds narrow veto-proof majorities in both chambers. If the bill is enacted into law, critics have already signaled litigation. Most of the 20 or so states with laws res...

RoseAnne Archibald voted out as Assembly of First Nations national chief

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

OTTAWA — RoseAnne Archibald has been voted out as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations after more than a year of turmoil involving her leadership.The vote took place during a special chiefs assembly that was convened in part to address the implications of a human resources investigation related to complaints that AFN staff had filed against Archibald.The resolution to oust her as national chief, just over two years after she became the first woman to serve in the role, passed with support from about 70 per cent of those who took part in the virtual meeting.The infighting at the national advocacy organization for more than 600 First Nations played out in public last July at a gathering in Vancouver, when Archibald showed up despite having been temporarily suspended.After chiefs voted down an emergency resolution to affirm her suspension, Archibald expressed her gratitude, alleging she was unfairly suspended because she had been trying to investigate corruption within the a...

Salty, gritty tap water has residents of Uruguay’s capital fuming as drought empties reservoir

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Residents of Uruguay’s capital are increasingly exasperated after two months of salty-tasting tap water that has damaged water heaters, boosted demand for bottled water and reportedly caused stomach ailments.The water “comes out saltier and saltier so you can’t drink it, but you’re thirsty and so you need to drink it,” said homemaker Natalia Moreira, 33, who lives in one of Montevideo’s poorer neighborhoods. She added that she and her children have been suffering stomach aches and diarrhea. “Now I have a coffee and go straight to the bathroom. Before, that didn’t happen to me,” Moreira said.People in Uruguay have always been able to safely drink the water that comes from their taps, unlike in some other Latin American countries. But the country is now suffering its most severe drought in 44 years, following decades without investment in freshwater reservoirs. The reservoir behind Uruguay’s largest dam, Paso Severino, is only 2.6% filled. The Sa...

Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed, who says he’s innocent, asked for a new trial. A court said no

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — An appeals court on Wednesday denied a new trial request from longtime Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed, whose supporters say there is evidence to back his claims of innocence.The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals accepted a 2021 recommendation from a lower court judge, who had ruled against several claims made by Reed, including that he’s not guilty.Despite the ruling, Reed’s execution is not expected anytime soon. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April that he should have a chance to argue for testing of crime-scene evidence that he says will exonerate him. The following month, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ordered that additional legal briefs be filed on whether Reed should be granted additional DNA testing.Reed was condemned for the 1996 killing of 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Prosecutors say he raped and strangled Stites as she made her way to work at a supermarket in Bastrop, a rural community about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southe...

More than 50 percent of Americans report facing online harassment, hate: survey 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

(The Hill) - More than half of American respondents said in a new survey that they have faced online harassment and hate.An Anti-Defamation League (ADL) release published Wednesday found that reports of online hate and harassment have reached a record high since 2020. ADL's 2023 research shows 52 percent of respondents have experienced online harassment or hate, a significant increase from the 40 percent recorded in last year's report.“We’re confronted with record levels of hate across the internet, hate that too often turns into real violence and danger in our communities,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement. “The time for talking, and for planning, is long over. It’s time to execute on the priorities set out by the White House and other policymakers, and it’s time for big tech companies to deliver on their promises to reduce hate online.”The ADL also found that the reports increased across all demographics — but especially those in the LGTBQ community, particular...

Have the sun, moon looked different lately? Blame Canadian wildfire smoke

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

GRAFTON, Ohio (WJW) -- Have you noticed the sun and moon have had some unique colors amid hazy skies this summer?The more dramatic hues of orange for the sun and yellow for the moon is due to the current wildfires in Canada, WJW meteorologist Alexis Walters explains.The sun is especially affected during sunset when it's lower on the horizon as the light has to pass through more haze caused by smoke from the wildfires. 16 states, DC currently under poor air quality alerts – here’s when things will change The smoke ultimately acts like a filter on the shorter wavelengths of light created by the sun, WKBN meteorologist Paul Wetzl explains. This lets through only longer wavelengths, which are red and orange on the color spectrum. Sun over Grafton, Ohio. Photographer Ron Jantz said the background appears dark because he adjusted the camera's aperture to focus solely on the true color of the sun as it appeared in the haze Sunday. (Ron Jantz)The smoke can have a similar effect on the mo...

ERCOT announces new board member starting July 1

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Board Selection Committee announced Linda Capuano will serve on the board of directors and will join the agency beginning July 1, ERCOT said in a news release.Capuano is an experienced corporate director and business leader who brings broad commercial, government, and academic experience to the role, having held leadership positions in large and small businesses, startups, universities, and within the U.S. Department of Energy, according to ERCOT."We would like to welcome Ms. Capuano to her new role on the ERCOT Board and look forward to working with her on the important work of overseeing a rapidly growing and changing electric grid. Texas is at the forefront of the global energy transition and Linda’s deep energy expertise will be of great value as we continue to strive towards industry leading reliability and efficient markets," ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas said.Capuano earned a doctorate degr...

3 men charged in connection with weekend fatal stabbing in Bemidji

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

BEMIDJI, Minn. — Three men have been charged with second-degree aiding and abetting following the fatal stabbing of a man early Saturday morning in Bemidji.According to the criminal complaint, at 3:30 a.m. Saturday, Bemidji police officers responded to a report of a physical altercation between several people at 1804 Minnesota Court N.W., near J.W. Smith Elementary.Upon arrival, officers observed a man lying on the ground face-up next to a vehicle. The victim, later identified as 18-year-old Andrew Lee Fisher, of Bemidji, was bleeding profusely from multiple puncture wounds throughout his torso, and he was not breathing, the release said.First responders arrived at the scene, and Fisher was pronounced dead.According to the complaint:Officers also met with another male at the scene, identified as J.L., who stated that he had followed Fisher to the home to meet with a person he described as “K-Dog.”J.L. stated that Fisher walked up to the home in search of “K-DogR...

Future Gophers forward Oliver Moore picked 19th overall by Chicago Blackhawks 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Before he headed to Nashville for the NHL Draft, future Minnesota Gophers forward Oliver Moore admitted it would be a dream to bump into his favorite country musicians like Morgan Wallen or Luke Combs while visiting Music City.Instead, Moore got to meet his pro hockey future on Wednesday evening, when he was picked 19th overall in round one by the Chicago Blackhawks.Moore, 18, was projected as one of the top 20 picks by NHL Central Scouting in the run-up to the draft, where seeing Gophers selected in round one is happening more often lately.Some had him going in the top 10, but the Moore family heard 18 other names called before he headed to the stage at Bridgestone Arena.“Honestly, I was holding back tears, sharing that moment with my family,” Moore said. “My mom and dad were so excited and I think they were pretty anxious to hear my name called just like I was.”When school starts and he moves on campus later in the summer, Moore will be r...

Deputies help distressed swimmers out of Hudson River

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

CORINTH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Warren County Sheriff's Office recognized one of their own for helping swimmers in need.According to a Facebook post, Patrol Sgt. Pasquale "Rocky" Girard was driving across the Corinth Bridge on Wednesday when he noticed two swimmers in distress. He jumped in the Hudson River to help them get out of the currents. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! He called 911, and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office came to help. Deputy Nikk Milligan also got in the water in his uniform to help rescue the swimmers.No one was injured in the incident.