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Pronoun change proposed for state constitution, ‘his’ no longer applies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

The state’s constitution needs to get with the times, according to lawmakers who are proposing a change to the official manner of address for His Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, now that the duly elected executive is a “her.”“History has blown by the Massachusetts constitution,” 8th Essex state Rep. Jenny Armini said during a hearing before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary this week. “Clearly, the Constitution’s existing language had little impact on the recent electoral fortunes of women. But words matter.”According to the state’s founding document, as written by John Adams, the Governor of Massachusetts should be referred to as “His Excellency” and the Lt. Governor as “His Honor.”This has worked, mostly, over the hundreds of years since the state’s constitution was adopted, but it has grown a bit cumbersome in the era of Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.The pair are the first two women to lead the state, and so f...

China can’t get US data under TikTok plan, ByteDance attorney says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

Under intense scrutiny from Washington that could lead to a potential ban, the top attorney for TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance defended the social media platform’s plan to safeguard U.S. user data from China.“The basic approach that we’re following is to make it physically impossible for any government, including the Chinese government, to get access to U.S. user data,” said general counsel Erich Andersen during a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press at a cybersecurity conference in Sausalito, Calif., on Friday.ByteDance will continue to develop its new app called Lemon8, Andersen said.“We’re obviously going to do our best with the Lemon8 app to comply with U.S. law and to make sure we do the right thing here,” Andersen said, referring to the new social app that resembles Instagram and Pinterest. “But I think we got a long way to go with that application — it’s pretty much a startup phase.”ByteDance’s best-known app, TikTok, is under intense scrutiny ove...

Ukrainian court puts Orthodox leader under house arrest

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Kyiv court ordered a leading priest to be put under house arrest Saturday after Ukraine’s top security agency said he was suspected of justifying Russian agression, a criminal offense. It was the latest move in a bitter dispute over a famed Orthodox monastery.Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Ukraine’s most revered Orthodox site, has denied the charges and resisted the authorities’ order to vacate the complex. After the court’s ruling, a monitoring bracelet was placed around his ankle, despite his objections that he has diabetes and should not wear it.“I am accepting this,” he said shortly before the bracelet was attached. “Christ was crucified on the cross, so why shouldn’t I accept this?”In a court hearing earlier in the day, the metropolitan said the claim by the Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, that he condoned Russia’s invasion was politically driven.“I have never been on the side of ...

Israelis still protest legal overhaul despite suspension

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against a controversial plan to revamp the country’s legal system, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suspension of the changes earlier in the week.The protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial hub on the Mediterranean, for the 13th weekly demonstration, raising Israeli flags and banners against what they said were plans to weaken the Supreme Court. Several smaller rallies took place in other towns and cities.The protests have been going on since Netanyahu’s government, the most right-wing in the country’s history, introduced the changes.But on Monday, Netanyahu delayed the overhaul plan that deeply divided the Israelis, saying he wanted “to avoid civil war” by making time to seek a compromise with political opponents. Protest organizers, however, vowed to keep up the pressure, calling for the plans to be scrapped.The proposal has plunged Israel into its worst domestic crisis in decades. ...

Kaley Cuoco has 1st child, a daughter, with Tom Pelphrey

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kaley Cuoco is flying high after giving birth to her first child. The star of “ The Flight Attendant ” and “ The Big Bang Theory ” said on Instagram Saturday that she and fellow actor Tom Pelphrey now have a daughter named Matilda Carmine Richie Pelphrey. “The new light of our lives!” Cuoco posted, along with a series of pictures of the baby, who was born Thursday. “We are overjoyed and grateful for this little miracle.” Cuoco has been married twice before, most recently to equestrian Karl Cook. The two split in 2021. Last year she began dating Pelphrey, and in October they announced they were expecting a child together. Cuoco, 37, appeared for 12 seasons on the CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” She has played the title role in “ The Flight Attendant ” on HBO Max for two seasons, and was nominated for an Emmy for each. It’s also the first child for Pelphrey, 40, who has acted primarily in soaps, including “Guiding Light” and “As The World Turns.” The A...

Kaley Cuoco welcomes first child, reveals baby's name on Instagram

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kaley Cuoco is flying high after giving birth to her first child.The star of “The Flight Attendant” and “The Big Bang Theory” said on Instagram Saturday that she and fellow actor Tom Pelphrey now have a daughter named Matilda Carmine Richie Pelphrey.“The new light of our lives!” Cuoco posted, along with a series of pictures of the baby, who was born Thursday. “We are overjoyed and grateful for this little miracle.” Did you know these actresses were from California? Cuoco has been married twice before, most recently to equestrian Karl Cook. The two split in 2021. Last year she began dating Pelphrey, and in October they announced they were expecting a child together.Cuoco, 37, appeared for 12 seasons on the CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory." She has played the title role in “The Flight Attendant” on HBO Max for two seasons, and was nominated for an Emmy for each.The couple's baby is also the first child for Pelphrey, 40, who has acted primarily in soaps, including ...

AISD has until April 17 to appeal TEA conservatorship decision over special education services, what's next?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— We're getting somewhat of a better idea of what a conservatorship would look like, for the Austin Independent School District's special education programs.The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced late Friday, it's planning to implement this, because it said AISD hasn’t done enough to help its students with special needs. TEA plans to implement conservator team for Austin ISD special education department As some families might be concerned by this news, AISD said it is doing everything it can to keep the line of communication open.There will not be any immediate changes. That’s if the conservatorship gets implemented.According to AISD, it has until April 17 to appeal the decision. Interim Superintendent Matias Segura and AISD School Board President Arati Singh said the administration and board are considering that. If conservators do get assigned to help out, the state would select those people. Segura said he expects between two to three assigned conservators, who...

New Study says people in these 2 Texas cities are the most unfaithful

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

DALLAS (KDAF) — In Dallas and Fort Worth, people don't seem to want to be tied down, at least not according to a new study. They would rather be "Texas two-steppin'!"On a new list of the most unfaithful cities in America, Dallas, and Fort Worth topped the list.MyDatingAdviser.com has a thing it calls the Infidelity Index. The study looked at divorce, separation, and marriage rates in 200 U.S. cities. In addition, it took into account the number of places to meet for an affair, Google searches for the word "affair," and Ashley Madison searches."While most would assume that bigger cities probably produce more cheaters per capita, this data shows us what we were already aware of; cheaters are everywhere, and infidelity can happen anywhere – in large cities and small ones," said MyDatingAdviser.com. You can check out the full report on the Dating Adviser website.

Structure fire under investigation in Gloversville

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Gloversville and Johnstown fire departments were dispatched to a report of a structure fire on April 1 around 12:15 p.m. Fire dispatch reported three individuals were on the third floor of the three-story apartment building with fire on the second floor. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Gloversville fire explains when units arrived at 207 North Main Street in Gloversville around 12:16 p.m., there was a working fire on the second floor and firefighters stretched a handline to the second floor to contain the fire. After confirming everyone was out of the building, the fire was declared under control around 12:27 p.m. with no injuries. Gloversville fire reports the fire is under investigation.

Albany recognized as a Tree City USA

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:26:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Albany has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Foundation for the 21st consecutive year. The program that has a vision for a greener, healthier America started with 42 communities and 16 states. The program now includes more than 3,000 communities from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Tree City USA recognition requires cities to have a tree board or forestry department, a tree care ordinance, a forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and proclaim and observe Arbor Day, all of which the city of Albany maintains. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “The Tree City USA program provides Albany with a framework to maintain and revitalize the City’s urban forest. It also gives Albany an avenue to celebrate our work, showing residents, visitors, and the entire country that we are committed to sustainability."