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Florida school board reverses decision nixing access to children’s book about a male penguin couple

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Months after access to a popular children’s book about a male penguin couple hatching a chick was restricted at school libraries because of Florida’s “ Don’t Say Gay law,” a central Florida school district says it has reversed that decision.The School Board of Lake County and Florida education officials last week asked a federal judge to toss out a First Amendment lawsuit brought by students and the authors of “And Tango Makes Three” in June. Their complaint challenged the restrictions and Florida’s new law prohibiting classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels.The lawsuit is moot since age restrictions on “And Tango Makes Three” have been lifted following a Florida Department of Education memo that said the new law only applied to classroom instruction and not school libraries, according to motions filed Friday by Florida education officials and school board members of the district located ou...

A proposed constitutional change before Ohio voters could determine abortion rights in the state

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio concludes a hastily called and highly charged special election Tuesday, a contest that could determine the fate of abortion rights in the state and fuel political playbooks nationally heading into 2024.On the ballot is Issue 1, a proposal to raise the threshold for passing future changes to the state’s constitution from a simple majority to 60%. But more passionately in the sights of the proposal’s backers — including Republican officeholders — is a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that calls for enshrining access to reproductive care in the state’s foundational document.The measure was clearly resonating with voters, who turned out in huge numbers during the early voting period, which ended Sunday. The number of advance ballots cast — a combination of mail and early in-person ballots — hit nearly 700,000, more than double the early vote during the state’s two previous midterm primary elections in 2022 and 20...

Greece’s coast guard heads to overcrowded migrant sailboat anchored off remote uninhabited island

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s coast guard was mounting a rescue operation Tuesday for dozens of people crammed onto a sailing boat anchored off the coast of an uninhabited island far from the country’s mainland, authorities said. A private vessel had spotted the sailing boat off the small island of Falconera, officials said. The island is located between Milos and the Peloponnese in an area known for strong currents and rough seas. About 50 people were believed to be on board. A coast guard helicopter was already on the scene, while four coast guard vessels were heading to the island.Separately Tuesday, 19 people were picked up from a dinghy that had lost steering northeast of the eastern Aegean island of Samos.In June, a battered trawler smuggling up to 750 people from Libya to Italy sank southwest of Greece in one of the worst Mediterranean migrant disasters in years. Only 104 people survived, while Greek authorities were criticized for failing to intervene in time.Greece h...

Kenya police say dead bodies were planted to accuse officers of excessive force during protests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan police official said Tuesday that dead bodies were planted to accuse police officers of using excessive force during recent anti-government protests, which rights groups say left dozens of demonstrators dead.Japhet Koome, the national police inspector general, told reporters that “people were hiring dead bodies and parading them to the media to taint the police’s image.”He did not provide evidence or details to support the claim.Rights groups say police killed a varying number of people during a series of protests in July led by the opposition coalition demanding that President William Ruto repeal a law that raised taxes and strained the already high cost of living. The opposition has said it plans to file cases against individual police officers at the International Criminal Court in a move that Koome described on Tuesday as “intimidation.”“Police will not be intimidated by threats to file cases against them at the International Criminal Court,”...

Millennial Money: Issuer closing your credit card? Act fast to preserve credit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

It’s not uncommon for credit card issuers to close accounts. Sometimes they do so to lessen their risk when the economy is in distress, generally as a reaction to your spending activity — or lack thereof.After all, issuers make money from every tap or swipe, so inactive cards aren’t fruitful for them.“If you’re not paying an annual fee and you’re not using the card, you’re below the zero revenue line, you’re actually costing the card issuer money every month,” says John Ulzheimer, a credit expert formerly with FICO, a credit-scoring company, and Equifax, a major bureau that provides consumer reports. “Eventually they’re going to close your account because you’re not generating any swipe-fee income.”An account closure can harm your credit, but if you’re fortunate, a credit card issuer might send you a notice as a courtesy beforehand. That can provide you time to make some moves to counter any negative impact to your credit scores. Regardless, if you take no actions, it could take lon...

All lanes shut down on Dan Ryan near 83rd Street for police investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Police activity has shut down all lanes of the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway Tuesday morning.According to Illinois State Police, a driver called and reported that their vehicle had been struck by gunfire.As of 6 a.m., all lanes are blocked on the outbound Dan Ryan near 83rd Street as ISP canvasses the area. All traffic is being forced off at 83rd Street.Major delays are reported on the inbound Dan Ryan, IB I-57 and IB Bishop Ford due to this investigation. Allow extra time for your morning commute.This is a developing story. Check back for details.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Man charged with first-degree murder of 9-year-old girl in Portage Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A 43-year-old man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 9-year-old girl in the city's Portage Park neighborhood.Michael Goodman faces one felony count of first-degree murder. He is expected in court Tuesday.According to police, Serabi Medina was shot in the head in the 3500 block of North Long Avenue around 9:40 p.m. Saturday. The 9-year-old was transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead. Police said Goodman was arrested moments later after being identified as the shooter. Girl, 9, fatally shot in head in Portage Park; offender in custody The offender sustained a gunshot wound, after an apparant struggle with the girl's father, and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.A weapon was recovered on scene. Serabi Medina was going to start 4th grade at Reinberg Elementary School this fall.

Mom sues Southwest Airlines, claiming racial profiling after she was accused of trafficking biracial daughter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) - A mother has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, claiming racial profiling after she was accused of human trafficking.The incident happened in 2021 after a white mom said she was accused of trafficking her biracial daughter while on a commercial flight.   Mary MacCarthy and her 10-year-old daughter, Moira, were traveling from San Jose to Denver to attend a funeral, but when they stepped off the plane they were greeted by police.  MacCarthy told police they flew to Denver to arrange and attend the funeral of her brother.Body camera video shows the encounter between Denver police and MacCarthy and her daughter after a Southwest employee reported what she said was suspicious behavior. The employee told police Moira might not be MacCarthy's daughter and could be a human trafficking victim.  Police investigating ‘incarceration room’ at Denver middle school MacCarthy recorded most of the conversation, and within minutes, the two were allo...

Storm in eastern US leaves 2 dead, 1.1 million without power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — At least two people died, thousands of U.S. flights were canceled or delayed, and more than 1.1 million homes and businesses lost power Monday as severe storms, including hail and lightning, moved through the eastern U.S.The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater D.C. area, lasting until 9 p.m. A special Weather Service statement warned, “There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.”The storms' spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The National Weather Service said more than 29.5 million people were under a tornado watch Monday afternoon.In Anderson, South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy who arrived at his grandparent’s house during the storm was struck and killed when a tree fell on him as he got out of a car, according to the Anderson Count...

MAP: What's the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Texas?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When you think of earthquakes in the U.S., Texas is probably not the first state that comes to mind.But data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows more than 2,800 earthquakes have been reported in the Lone Star State since 1900.The vast majority of those are small quakes, but around 60 have been magnitude 4 or greater. Five earthquakes have been greater than magnitude 5.What's the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Texas?Texas' strongest earthquake in history struck around 5:40 a.m. on Aug. 16, 1931. The magnitude 5.8 earthquake was centered about 7.5 miles southwest of Valentine, a small community in Presidio County, between El Paso and Big Bend.Here's how the USGS describes the earthquake in its impact summary:"The most severe damage was reported at Valentine, where all buildings except wood-frame houses were damaged severely and all brick chimneys toppled or were damaged. The schoolhouse, which consisted of one section of concrete blocks and another section of ...