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Minnesota governor signs paid family and medical leave act to give workers up to 20 weeks off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota workers will be entitled to paid time off when they’re seriously ill or to care for newborns and loved ones starting in 2026 under a bill that Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed Thursday, making his state the 12th to require those benefits.The paid family and medical leave program will allow Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks a year off with partial pay to care for a newborn or a sick family member, and up to 12 weeks to recover from their own serious illness. Benefits will be capped at 20 weeks a year for employees who take advantage of both.Business groups fought to block the proposal, warning that it would impose heavy costs and regulatory burdens on employers and aggravate their staffing problems. But it was hailed by supporters who said it would bring equality and fairness to the workplace.“Everyone deserves paid time away from work, to heal, to grow, and to live,” Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said at the signing ceremony. “This time is not optional...

Putin reports progress in talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying only technical issues remain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that “strictly technical” issues remain in resolving one of the main disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, neighbors that fought a war over a contested territory.Putin met in Moscow with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, discussing a dispute over a winding road called the Lachin Corridor. That’s the only authorized connection between Armenia and the contested territory, Nagorno-Karabakh, and it’s a lifeline for supplies to the region’s approximately 120,000 people. Aliyev and Pashinyan, in a broader regional summit meeting Putin hosted in Moscow, lashed out at each other for their positions regarding the land corridor. But Putin said that on the “principal issues, there is an agreement,” and later said all that remained were “surmountable obstacles,” calling them differences in terminology and “strictly technical.” He said representatives of Russia, Armenia and A...

‘Romeo & Juliet’ stars’ lawsuit over 1968 film’s teen nude scene tossed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

A Los Angeles County judge on Thursday said she will dismiss a lawsuit that the stars of 1968’s “Romeo and Juliet” filed over the film’s nude scene, which they said involved them being subjected to fraud, and sexual abuse and harassment when they were in their teens.Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie ruled in favor of a motion from defendant Paramount Pictures to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet at age 15 and is now 72, and Leonard Whiting, who played Romeo at 16 and is also 72. Mackenzie determined that the scene didn’t amount to child pornography and was protected by the First Amendment, finding that the actors “have not put forth any authority showing the film here can be deemed to be sufficiently sexually suggestive as a matter of law to be held to be conclusively illegal.”In her written decision, she also found that the suit didn’t fall within the bounds of a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of...

UN peacekeeping on 75th anniversary: successes, failures and challenges ahead in a divided world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — On the 75th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping, the United Nations chief said Thursday that peacekeepers are increasingly working in places where there is no peace and praised the more than 4,200 who have given their lives to the cause of peace since the U.N. authorized its first military deployment in 1948.It was a day to look back at the successes of peacekeeping from Liberia to Cambodia and its major failures in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, but also to the challenges ahead, including dealing with more violent environments, fake news campaigns, and a divided world that is preventing peacekeeping’s ultimate goal: successfully restoring stable governments.And it was a day to honor the more than 2 million peacekeepers from 125 countries who have served in 71 operations since the U.N. Security Council sent those first military observers to supervise implementation of Israeli-Arab armistice agreements following their war.At a ceremony honoring the fallen peacekeepe...

Victims’ families settle wrongful death suit against quadruple killer, his parents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The families of four young men killed and buried on a Pennsylvania farm have settled their wrongful-death lawsuits against the man who confessed in the killings and his parentsCosmo DiNardo, who was 20 at the time, admitted luring four young men ages 19 to 22 to the family’s farm in July 2017, saying he would sell them marijuana. He then killed them and buried them on the farm. He’s serving four consecutive life sentences.The lawsuits alleged DiNardo’s parents, Sandra and Antonio DiNardo, should have stopped him from having access to guns since he was barred from possessing firearms due to an involuntary commitment to a mental health facility.Citing court records, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday that the agreements were reached earlier this month. Jeffrey Ogren, the DiNardo family’s attorney, declined comment Thursday, noting the settlements are confidential.The Associated Press

Navy SEALs training plagued by pervasive problems, according to investigation after death of sailor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The training program for Navy SEALs is plagued by widespread failures in medical care, poor oversight and the use of performance-enhancing drugs that have increased the risk of injury and death to those seeking to become elite commandos, according to an investigation triggered by the death of a sailor last year.Medical oversight and care were “poorly organized, poorly integrated and poorly led and put candidates at significant risk,” the nearly 200-page report compiled by the Naval Education and Training Command concluded.The highly critical report said flaws in the medical program “likely had the most direct impact on the health and well being” of the SEAL candidates and “specifically” on Kyle Mullen, the sailor who died. It said if the shortcomings had been addressed, his death may have been preventable.The investigation also dug deep into the longstanding problem of sailors using steroids and similar banned drugs as they try to pass the SEAL qualification course...

'The Henry Puffer Podcast': Downers Grove elementary school students host podcast after dismissal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

There are thousands of podcasts to choose from, but how about a podcast where the hosts are still in elementary school?A group of third to sixth graders in Downers Grover are pulling big names to their podcast table. The kids running "The Henry Puffer Podcast" are between 8 and 11-years-old.Third grade teacher, Miss Christine Reynolds came up with the idea as a way to introduce the kids to people giving back to their communities ‘Faces of Parkinson’s’: Mother, daughter highlight patients battling degenerative disease using photography Four years and countless guests later, The Henry Puffer Podcast went from a small microphone to a full fledged podcast nestled among giants on Apple and Spotify.Sure, there are hiccups and some days, it goes off script. But, the beauty of this podcast doesn't lie in it's perfect delivery, instead the lessons learned behind the mic that even the smallest can do big things.Watch the full coverage of The Henry Puffer Podcast in the video player above.

Illinois family's Taylor Swift-StubHub ticket trouble finally resolved

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN-TV) — One Chicago-area family has been frustrated after spending the past six months trying to secure tickets for seats they purchased via StubHub for next week's Taylor Swift concert.“They state: ‘Your order guarantees a ticket valid for entry in the event,’” Diana Finnegan told WGN-TV's investigative team, reading off the confirmation email she received after purchasing four tickets last November. RELATED: BBB warns of Taylor Swift ticket scams ahead of Chicago shows When the electronic tickets didn’t arrive, Finnegan embarked on a six-month ordeal that included dozens of phone calls, emails, and messages to StubHub customer service.“We’re here to make sure you get your tickets in time for the event,” StubHub reps wrote in multiple emails. “We will provide you all the help that you need to receive the tickets for the event.” However, the fine print of StubHub’s “Fan Protect Guarantee” says the company promises to get buyers the tickets they ordered, comparable ...

Best Memorial Day deals to shop this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Low prices on summer must-haves are already available in preparation for the beginning of the summer seasonIN THIS ARTICLE:LG Wash Tower Laundry CenterSol 72 Outdoor Seven-piece Outdoor Sectional Seating GroupMilwaukee M18 18-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Tool KitThe most important part of Memorial Day is remembering members of the United States Armed Forces who died in service of the country. Over the years, the May holiday has also become the unofficial beginning of summer. Retailers have responded by offering deals on items you’ll need throughout the summer season and beyond. From furniture to tools, there's something for everyone at impressive discounts. When do Memorial Day sales begin?Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday in May, which is May 29 this year. The long holiday weekend typically begins on the preceding Friday, at which time many merchants offer savings during ...

Skilling: Cool temps Thursday night with beautiful start to Memorial Day weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

A swath of the Chicago area, including portions of Cook, DuPage and northwest Will counties have been categorized as in a state of severe drought by the new NWS/USDA "drought monitor"---which is those agency's official measure of U.S. drought. Little wonder this assessment has been made. May has seen 0.42" --just 12% of the normal to date of 3.54".With little prospect of additional rain the remainder of May 2023 (which ends at midnight CDT next Wednesday, the month is well on its way to becoming the 2nd dries May over the 153 year official weather record here in Chicago dating back to 1871. This follows the paltry 2.02" April tally which was just 54% normal. The current dry spell is being categorized as a developing "flash drought" by the National Weather Service.8 of the past 12 months have finished with less precipitation than normal. The current dry spell follows a series of wetter than normal months from Dec through Jan, Feb and March.It was cool today!! The high of 60 degrees e...