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In Florida, Harris announces $562M for climate resilience

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

Returning to Florida to discuss climate change, Vice President Kamala Harris announced Friday that $562 million will be spent on 149 projects around the country aimed at improving resilience to threats such as rising seas and the kinds of coastal flooding that recently slammed the southeast part of the state.Harris outlined the funding plan during an appearance at the University of Miami, where she also toured a lab immersed in coral restoration work and a hurricane simulator capable of generating Category 5-strength winds of more than 157 mph (253 kph).Harris, who appeared in March at a Miami Beach climate summit, said the projects, which are spread across 30 states, are an example of how climate investments boost job creation and manufacturing while tackling a major environmental issue.“When we invest in climate, we not only protect our environment, we also strengthen our economy,” Harris said in a tweet during her Miami visit.The funding is part of what the Biden admi...

3rd ex-NC State athlete sues school in sexual abuse case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

A third former North Carolina State athlete has sued the school alleging he was sexually abused by the Wolfpack’s former director of sports medicine under the guise of treatment.The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court roughly nine months after the first complaint, accuses Robert Murphy Jr. of improperly touching the plaintiff’s genitals during two massages for hip and groin pain in early 2021 at the school in Raleigh, North Carolina. As with the second athlete to sue earlier this year, the plaintiff’s name is listed as “John Doe” to protect anonymity and doesn’t specify which sport he played.The Title IX lawsuit alleges the school failed in a “duty of reasonable care” to protect the plaintiff and was “deliberately indifferent” in acting on concerns about Murphy’s conduct. The complaint states the third athlete came forward after learning of similar allegations through the previous lawsuits.Former Wolfpack soccer player Benjamin Locke was the first to sue in late August. He ...

St. Michael’s College student, 18, stabbed by ‘unknown’ man on lunch break

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

An 18-year-old stabbed in a random attack earlier this week in Toronto’s midtown is a current student at St. Michael’s College, the school confirmed.Toronto police were called to the St. Clair Avenue West and Tweedsmuir Avenue area around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday for reports of a person with a knife.When authorities arrived on the scene, they located a victim with stab wounds, and a male suspect was arrested in the area.A spokesperson at St. Michael’s College school confirmed with CityNews on Friday that an 18-year-old student was the victim stabbed in the incident. The teen was treated at a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Initial information from Toronto police indicated that the stabbing happened outside of a Loblaws on St. Clair Avenue, but the school spokesperson says the 18-year-old was stabbed inside the store when students were out on lunch break.A 32-year-old man was taken into custody on Wednesday. Police have not identified the accused, but a s...

Rescued alligator that was recovering at NYC zoo has died

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — An abandoned and emaciated alligator that was found in a New York City lake and sent to the Bronx Zoo for recovery has died in a “tragic case of animal abuse,” zoo officials said. The zoo provided extensive medical treatment and nutritional support for the debilitated gator, but she succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, the zoo said in a statement. “This alligator suffered and died because its owner decided to dump her in a frigid lake, in an extremely debilitated state rather than provide her with the veterinary care that could have saved her,” Bronx Zoo officials said. “Wild animals are not pets.”An autopsy showed chronic and severe weight loss, extreme anemia and infections in the gator’s intestine and skin, the statement said. The gator, estimated to be 5 to 6 years old, also had a chronic ulcer in her stomach caused by a rubber bathtub stopper she had ingested while illegally kept as a pet.That rubber stopper was later successfully removed.When the gator wa...

Minn. Senate protects gender-affirming care, abortion rights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate waded into the culture wars Friday by passing bills to make Minnesota a refuge for youth seeking gender-affirming care, out-of-state abortion patients and providers seeking protection, and to ban so-called conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth.All three bills passed the Democratic-controlled House earlier this session. While Democrats hold just a one-seat majority in the Senate, bill sponsors were confident heading into the emotional debate. First up was the conversion therapy ban, which passed 36-27 with two Republicans voting “yes.” The abortion refuge bill passed 34-29 on a party-line vote, and the trans refuge bill won similar approval 34-30.The conversion therapy ban and trans refuge bills now go straight to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for his signature. Meanwhile, the bill expanding abortion rights was headed back to the House for its agreement with adding pharmacists to the list of shielded medical providers.“The through-thread in all of...

Delaware governor says he won’t block marijuana legalization

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Delaware Gov. John Carney said Friday that he will allow bills legalizing recreational marijuana use by adults in the state and authorizing the establishment of a state-licensed and regulated cannabis industry to become law without his signature.The Democratic governor’s move marks a turnaround from last year, when he vetoed a legalization bill championed by fellow Democrats. That led to a failed veto override attempt by House Democrats.Just last month, Carney’s office said he continued to have strong concerns about the unintended consequences of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, including the effects on young people and highway safety.“I want to be clear that my views on this issue have not changed. And I understand there are those who share my views who will be disappointed in my decision not to veto this legislation,” Carney said in a prepared statement Friday. “I came to this decision because I believe we’ve spent far too much time focused...

Veterans warned of longer wait times due to federal public service strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

OTTAWA — Ill and injured veterans were being warned to anticipate longer-than-normal wait times and delays as federal public servants — including hundreds of Veterans Affairs Canada employees — remained on the picket lines heading into the weekend.The Union of Veterans Affairs Employees is part of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, whose more than 100,000 members walked off the job on Wednesday after failed labour negotiations with the federal government.To ensure former service members struggling with mental and physical injuries weren’t unduly affected by a labour disruption, the union and government agreed in December to classify about 400 positions at Veterans Affairs as essential.Those essential staff are continuing to provide critical support and services to veterans, which includes the provision of financial and medical benefits as well as assistance in accessing various treatments.They work alongside Veterans Affairs employees who are not members of UVAE or PSAC bu...

Migrants sleeping on floors of Chicago police districts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's City Hall is facing criticism for its efforts in handling migrant refugees as migrant families are forced to sleep on the floor at many police districts.Chicago is historically known as a city of immigrants and a sanctuary city welcoming newcomers, but the reception for mostly Venezuelan and Cuban immigrants has been a mixed bag with not enough shelter capacity or available migrant housing. Lightfoot calls for nearly $54M in state aid to support migrants "We are sleeping recently on the floor because we don't have anywhere to go," Kae Bay, a Venezuelan migrant said. Bay is with his wife, two kids and his cousin's family. The children are struggling to deal with this unusual confinement."They're practically locked in and they want to play, go outside. But we can't because we are awaiting a response," Bay said.As instructed, he called the city's 311 helpline and is waiting to be transferred to a shelter by city drivers and private relief organizations that are...

Cicero man arrested after crashing into Indiana trooper's car at crash scene

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. — A man from Cicero was charged after he crashed into an Indiana State Police trooper's car at a crash scene while he was intoxicated, according to state police.The 37-year-old man crashed into the trooper's car around 9 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 65 southbound in Tippecanoe County. Man gets 2 life sentences in Gary bank robbery where retired Cook County deputy was killed The trooper was blocking another lane for a previous crash when the man crashed into the back of his car, Sgt. Jeremy Piers said.During the investigation, troopers found the man had a BAC of .181%, Piers said. President Biden approves Indiana disaster declaration after recent tornadoes According to online court records, he has been charged with Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person and Operating a Vehicle with an Alcohol Concentration Equivalent to at least .08 but less than.15.No injuries were reported.

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson hires Chief of Staff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:47 GMT

CHICAGO -- The mayor-elect's incoming Chief of Staff is a familiar face with a background in public safety in Chicago.Rich Guidice, the former Head of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, announced his retirement after the incoming Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson was elected following the April 4 runoff election."It was not a part of the plan," Guidice said. "I fully planned on retiring, but I’m truly excited about the opportunity to continue to do what I do."Guidice didn't say if he voted for Johnson, but he will become the Mayor-elect's Chief of Staff."I’ve had conversations with the mayor I feel were very passionate and sincere and I feel he is open to conversation in my opinion on public safety and relationships and how to make relationships better within public safety and also to entrust CPD to do the job they’re supposed to do."Dr. Cristina Pacione-Zayas will also act as First Deputy Chief of Staff to the Johnson administration. She has been an Illinois State S...