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Texas Supreme Court pauses lower court’s order allowing pregnant woman to have an abortion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on Friday night put on hold a judge’s ruling that approved an abortion for a pregnant woman whose fetus has a fatal diagnosis, throwing into limbo an unprecedented challenge to one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S. The order by the all-Republican court came more than 30 hours after Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two from the Dallas area, received a temporary restraining order from a lower court judge that prevents Texas from enforcing the state’s ban in her case. In a one-page order, the court said it was temporarily staying Thursday’s ruling “without regard to the merits.” The case is still pending.“While we still hope that the Court ultimately rejects the state’s request and does so quickly, in this case we fear that justice delayed will be justice denied,” said Molly Duane, an attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing Cox.Cox’s attorneys have said they will not share h...

UN takes no immediate action at emergency meeting on Guyana-Venezuela dispute over oil-rich region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations Security Council took no immediate action at a closed emergency meeting late Friday requested by Guyana after Venezuela’s referendum claiming the vast oil- and mineral-rich Essequibo region that makes up a large part of its neighbor.But diplomats said the widespread view of the 15 council members was that the international law must be respected, including the U.N. Charter’s requirement that all member nations respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every other nation — and for the parties to respect the International Court of Justice’s orders and its role as an arbiter.A possible press statement was circulated to council members and some said they needed to check with capitals, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the consultations were private.At the start of Friday’s meeting, the diplomats said, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the council on the dispute.In a letter to the Security Council...

Latest Blue Jays, Ohtani frenzy shows dangers of unchecked gossip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

In an information vacuum, when people are so susceptible to being lured into believing whatever they want to believe, it’s so easy to end up with the fevered, fact-free frenzy that surrounded Shohei Ohtani and the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.First, a speculative decision-timing post, quickly reinforced by a private charter between the appropriate airports found on an online flight tracker. The connection of B to A makes C, a post from an opera singer with details of a large dinner-party reservation made by Yusei Kikuchi at a downtown sushi restaurant, suddenly seem somewhat plausible. Eager anticipation of the two-way superstar’s fateful call now ratcheted up, D, a report from Dodgers Nation claiming the deal is done, makes so many people fully buy-in.Only this was a case of putting two, two, two and two together and getting nine.Ohtani is thought to be nearing a decision and the Blue Jays very much remain in play, but nothing is set as of yet, an industry source told me and Ben Nic...

Nikki Haley looks for a strong showing, not necessarily a win, in Iowa caucuses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — For Nikki Haley, a win in Iowa doesn’t necessarily mean a win in the state’s Republican presidential caucuses.“The way I look at it, we just need to have a good showing in Iowa,” the former South Carolina governor said Friday in response to a question during a town hall event in Sioux City. “I don’t think that means we have to win necessarily, but I think that means we have to have a good showing.”The comments stand in stark contrast to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who declared decisively that “we’re going to win Iowa” on NBC’s “Meet the Press” last Sunday. DeSantis wouldn’t say whether he would end his campaign if he didn’t finish first or second.DeSantis and Haley are likely battling for a second-place finish, since former President Donald Trump continues to sit comfortably atop the field in polls of Republicans in Iowa and nationwide.The DeSantis campaign has largely focused on Iowa, hoping to deny Trump a big win in the caucuses. A super PAC supportin...

Saint Sabina hosts tree decorating for Chicagoans who have lost loved ones to gun violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Friday evening, Chicagoans affected by gun violence gathered at Saint Sabina Church on the city's South Side, where they took part in an event to remember their loved ones who were gone too soon."We're all kindred spirits in this and during the Christmas holiday," said Gloria Moore. "No matter how long it is you have, you've still got that pain."Those kindred spirits hung ornaments with pictures of their loved ones who have died as a result of gun violence on a Christmas tree outside the church. More from Alyssa: Chicago officer relieved of police powers after deadly pedestrian accident in River North Zenobia Carmel was one of those kindred spirits as well. Carmel lost her son — then-36-year-old Michael Octavius Bell — five years ago, and has attended the event at Saint Sabina every year since."I'm out here supporting all the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers," Carmel said.The tree decorating is put on by the non-profit organization Purpose Over Pain, who said the g...

Women’s hockey: Abbey Murphy spearheads Gophers to 5-3 win over Wisconsin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

It had been nearly nine months since the Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers last saw each other. Absence did not make the heart grow fonder.Friday night at Ridder Arena, with the sting of losing to the Badgers in the Frozen Four last March very much on their minds, the Gophers got the upper hand in another contentious “Border Battle,” beating the Badgers 5-3 before an announced crowd of 2,794.Gophers coach Brad Frost spoke afterward about how the high-intensity, highly skilled matchup was good for women’s hockey. Beating the defending national champions was good for the Gophers’ psyche, and as right winger Abbey Murphy said, “There’s nothing like beating them twice.”The Gophers will get their shot at doing just that on Saturday afternoon.The No. 3 Badgers began the season 12-0 but have since lost four of their past five. They were swept at Ohio State, when they were limited to a total of one goal in the two games. The Badgers split their series with Minnesota-Duluth last weekend.Murphy o...

Deadline passes for expunging Missouri pot convictions, 100K cases wiped clean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Friday marks the deadline in Missouri for processing all non-violent marijuana-related misdemeanors and felonies. “It was exactly one year ago today that anyone over 21 gained the right to possess, consume and cultivate cannabis,” says Dan Viets, Missouri coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NORML.More than a year has passed since Missouri voters passed Amendment III, which required the courts to expunge convictions for anyone guilty of possession of marijuana in the amount of 35 grams or less prior to this year. Win Big This Holiday Season! Enter the Home For The Holidays $15K Giveaway! June 8th was the deadline for misdemeanors, and Friday, December 8th was the deadline for felonies to be wiped clean. Just how many convictions have been expunged? "[Friday] is a very important anniversary, and it is also coincides with the week that we have more than 100,000 marijuana cases expunged from government records," said Viets. A lawyer...

St. Charles County police upgrade with cutting-edge 'Red Dot' system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - The St. Charles County Police Department is introducing a new aiming system for sidearms that officers carry to protect themselves and the public.A system called Red Dot intends to sharply reduce the chances of an officer hitting the wrong target when he’s forced to open fire. ”With this new Red Dot system, we are not focused on the target, so we can see what's in their hands, so it eliminates the mistake of target-shooting that guy holding a cell phone or a bottle of water.” Missouri’s top educator warns of ‘domino effect’ with four-day school weeks Captain David Cathey says it’s good for the officer and the public. "It keeps them safer too because if I’m accurate, and I hit my target, I’m not hitting something else, if I shot into a vehicle or something like that. I know I’m hitting what I need to hit." The police department is spending about $79,000, but the system is from Aim Point USA. A Red Dot actually appears inside the weapon, and the officer fo...

K-SHE 95 hosts blood drive, expects around 2,000 weekend donors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

GODFREY, Ill. - St. Louis classic rock radio station K-SHE 95 kicked off its weekend-long blood drive on Friday. Organizers are expecting more than 2,000 donors over the next few days. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. K-SHE and ImpactLife partnered up to help tackle this national problem.“It's really important to have blood available when a patient needs a transfusion," said Kirby Winn, public relations director with ImpactLife. "They need it right now. They can’t wait until the second week of the year when more donors might be coming out." Missouri’s top educator warns of ‘domino effect’ with four-day school weeks “It’s important that we give what we can, and this is just one small way to give," said Betty Thompson, a first-time blood donor. "It's not hard at all.”All donors will receive a K-SHE winter blood drive t-shirt and be automatically entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets to see "El Monstero" at The Pageant in December. The majority of t...

Thomas scores twice, but Blues fall 5-2 to Blue Jackets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:30 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Yegor Chinakhov scored twice in the third period, and Jet Greaves stopped 41 shots for his first NHL victory, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2 Friday night to snap a three-game skid.Kirill Marchenko had a goal and an assist, and Adam Fantilli scored for his 16th point, putting him second behind Connor Bedard’s 21 for the league lead among rookies this season. Alexandre Texier had an empty-netter, Dmitri Voronkov added two assists and Chinakhov also had one.Robert Thomas scored twice and Joel Hofer stopped 17 for the Blues, who have lost three of their last four games.Columbus’ first goal was a team effort, as three players traded the puck in front of the net before Marchenko buried his ninth of year at 1:42 of the opening period. The goal was his 30th in 86 games, a franchise record for the fewest games to reach the milestone.Thomas pulled the Blues even with 5:25 remaining in the period, grabbing an outlet pass along the boards and be...