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Minnesota college head to retire after Islamic art dispute

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The president of a private university in Minnesota that was criticized for firing a professor who showed a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in an art history class announced Monday that she is retiring next year.Hamline University President Fayneese Miller said at a news conference that although the school has been in the headlines, journalists were “reporting on a false narrative.” Issues arose in October when Erika López Prater showed a 14th-century painting depicting the Prophet Muhammad to her students as part of a lesson on Islamic art, after warning them beforehand and giving them an opportunity to opt out. In Islam, portraying the Prophet Muhammad has long been taboo for many, and a Muslim student in the class complained to the university.López Prater has since sued the liberal arts school in St. Paul over Miller’s decision not to renew her contract. Her attorneys didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Miller previously conceded that ...

Alberta premier says she will no longer comment on Crown prosecutor controversy

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will no longer speak about her involvement in how COVID-19 court cases are being prosecuted.Smith says her United Conservative Party government is considering a defamation lawsuit and, because of that, she has been advised by counsel not to comment. A notice of defamation letter dated Sunday says lawyers for the premier want the CBC to retract and apologize for its story in January that stated a member of her staff sent emails to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service challenging how it was handling cases from COVID-19 protests at the United States-Canada border crossing at Coutts, Alta.The CBC repeated Monday that it stands by its reporting.“I have been clear that neither I, nor anyone within my staff, have contacted any Crown prosecutors as has been alleged. Indeed, Alberta’s Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed this to be true. To continue saying or suggesting otherwise is malicious,” Smith said Monday at a news conf...

Biden pushes econ policy as Trump indictment gets attention

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

FRIDLEY, Minn. (AP) — President Joe Biden ventured to suburban Minneapolis on Monday to talk about factory jobs and contrast his agenda with “the last guy who had this job.” The “last guy,” as Biden calls Donald Trump, was simultaneously touching down in New York to become the first former president to be arrested. The Biden White House, which has shied away from involvement in the legal spectacle surrounding Trump, hoped to turn the split-screen moment into a chance to showcase the president’s accomplishments and relatively drama-free administration. It represented a rehash of the choice that voters made in 2020 — and might have to make again in 2024 — as both men intend to seek the White House. Biden offered himself as a veteran policymaker while Trump, ever the showman, aimed to use Tuesday’s arraignment on criminal charges to generate campaign donations and fire up Republican voters.Biden sought to highlight job growth and investments nationwide while pushing clean energy ...

North Side concert venue staffers robbed moments after leaving work

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Two employees of a popular concert venue on the North Side were robbed moments after departing work, leaving staffers and the owner stunned by the incident."We’re just glad everyone is safe," said Ray Quinn, the owner of Martyrs' on Lincoln Avenue in the city's North Center neighborhood.  A popular place to enjoy live music, the venue had been closed for nearly three hours before the alleged robbery. Unifying Chicago on the minds of Johnson, Vallas as mayoral runoff election approaches A couple of the employees – a man and a woman - left the premises around 4 a.m. Sunday after helping clean up after a concert. The man and woman were walking around the corner onto Byron Street when a sedan pulled up. As the man and woman headed east on Byron Street, four guys from inside the vehicle exited with guns drawn. WGN News was told that one of the armed men struck one of the victims with the weapon before stealing everything the pair had on them. “They took their cellphones, a pu...

Train derailment spills cases of Coors, Blue Moon beer along Montana river

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

PARADISE, Mont. (AP) — Crews could face a difficult cleanup task after a 25-car train derailment spilled powdered clay and cases of beer beside a scenic western Montana river, leaving some cars off the tracks in a narrow, century-old tunnel with limited access, officials said.“It’s a terrible spot to get in and out of,” Bill Naegeli, manager for Sanders County Disaster and Emergency Services, said of the derailment on the Clark Fork River. “The biggest issue is the cars derailed inside the tunnel” with little clearance.Montana Rail Link has said nobody was hurt and no hazardous materials spilled Sunday morning in the derailment that left some cars precariously close to the banks of the river and some slightly dipping into the water in an area where the railroad tracks run between the base of the mountain and the river. McDonald’s offices to close briefly ahead of layoffs: report Seven cars are believed derailed in the narrow tunnel where it will be hard to extricate them, Naegeli ...

Machine gun switches will become illegal under Indiana bill

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana lawmakers have given final approval to a proposal that would it illegal for anyone to possess devices for adapting a firearm into a machine gun.The Indiana House voted 71-23 on Monday in favor of a bill expanding state law to include so-called Glock switches that are already illegal under federal law. Police officials say such switches can convert a semi-automatic gun into one that shoots continuously while the trigger is pressed, firing dozens of bullets within a few seconds.The state Senate previously approved the proposal, which now goes to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for a decision on whether to sign it into law.SEE ALSO | Chicago area law enforcement sees rise in machine gun conversion device recoveriesSupporters said the broader state law was needed so local police don’t need to rely on federal prosecutors pressing charges in such cases. If it takes effect, people with such gun switches could face felony charges under the state ...

TEA report: AISD waited up to 9 months to evaluate some kids suspected of needing special needs services

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Texas Education Agency investigators allege Austin Independent School District has repeatedly missed strict state and federal deadlines on evaluating kids suspected of needing special education services, according to its final investigative report published Friday.The district is now facing state intervention in the form of a management team taking over district operations that pertain to special education. Austin ISD to discuss possible appeal of TEA conservatorship Monday night The report alleges that TEA investigators substantiated allegations submitted over the last three years showing the district has sometimes waited as long as nine months to evaluate students who needed special education evaluations.State law requires school districts to evaluate students within 45 days of parental consent.“I would tell you that as an organization we have made tremendous progress over the last several months, but it has been an ongoing challenge for this organization for yea...

Albany PD investigating threats against Hackett MS

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Albany police are investigating threats of violence made against one of the city's schools last week. The district superintendent said multiple threats have been made against Hackett Middle School since Friday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! All the threats were unfounded, but investigators believe they all may have been related. Superintendent John Yagielski said police executed a search warrant at a home connected with the investigation and said those responsible will face criminal charges.Investigators said the threats against Hackett were separate from swatting calls made on March 30. Law enforcement agencies received hoax calls that falsely reported a shooting at dozens of schools around the state.The search for those responsible for the hoax calls is ongoing.

Annual pinwheel planting brings awareness to child abuse

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and New York State officials are working to build awareness to protect children from mistreatment.The New York State Office of Children and Family Services held its annual pinwheel planting in Rensselaer on Monday. Pinwheels are a universal symbol of a childhood free of fear and trauma. This year's campaign focuses on strengthening and supporting families. The goal is to prevent abuse before it happens. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "The shift from what we have commonly thought about as straightforward child abuse reporting to how do we support these families in real time is revelational," Prevent Child Abuse NY Exec. Dir. Tim Hathaway said.State buildings were also lit in blue Monday evening in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

RPI graduate named commander of Artemis II mission

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:19:41 GMT

HOUSTON (NEWS10) -- NASA is taking the next major step to eventually put people back on the moon. Four astronauts have been selected to man the upcoming Artemis II mission. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The team consists of three Americans and one Canadian: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The crew is set to make history. Koch and Glover will become the first woman and the first person of color to eventually step foot on the lunar surface.The Capital Region is playing a small role in the return to the moon. Wiseman, the mission's commander, is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. NASA chooses Artemis II crew to fly to the moon "He is just a marvelous person, and it is really thrilling to know he has been given this opportunity," RPI Pres. Martin Schmidt said. "Reid really personifies and embodies much of the student body here today, a huge curiosity and passion for science and e...