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Nashville council to vote on restoring ousted state lawmaker

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville officials are poised to vote Monday to reinstate one of the two Black Democratic lawmakers expelled by Republican colleagues for their gun control protest on the Tennessee House floor after a deadly school shooting — essentially, sending him back after a long weekend.Nashville’s metro council has called the meeting to address the vacancy left by the expulsion on Thursday of former Rep. Justin Jones. Many councilmembers have publicly commented that they want to send Jones back to the statehouse. The vote will happen as state lawmakers hold their first floor sessions since last week’s expulsion votes.Expelled Memphis Rep. Justin Pearson, meanwhile, could be reappointed at a Wednesday meeting of the Shelby County Commission.Special elections for the seats, which have not yet been set, will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they want to be reappointed and plan to run in a special election.At the Statehouse, meanwhile, it’s unc...

Guilty or not? Jury to hear claims in Idaho slain kids’ case

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The investigation started roughly 29 months ago with two missing children. It soon grew to encompass five states, four suspected murders and claims of unusual, doomsday-focused religious beliefs involving “dark spirits” and “zombies.” On Monday morning, an Idaho jury will begin the difficult task of deciding the veracity of those claims and others in the triple murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell. Prosecutors charged Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow Daybell’s two youngest children: 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and big sister Tylee Ryan, who was last seen a few days before her 17th birthday in 2019. Prosecutors also have charged the couple in connection with the October 2019 death of Chad Daybell’s late wife, Tammy Daybell.The investigation garnered worldwide attention and was closely followed in the rural eastern Idaho community where the bodies of the...

As India’s population soars above all, fewer women have jobs

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

MUMBAI, India (AP) — Sheela Singh cried the day she handed in her resignation.For 16 years, she had been a social worker in Mumbai, India’s frenetic financial capital, and she loved the work. But her family kept telling her she needed to stay at home to take care of her two children. She resisted the pressure for years, but when she found out her daughter was skipping school when she was at work, it felt like she didn’t have a choice. “Everyone used to tell me my kids were neglected … it made me feel really bad,” Singh, 39, said.When she resigned in 2020, Singh was earning more money than her husband, an auto-rickshaw driver whose earnings fluctuated day to day. But nobody suggested he quit.“His friends used to taunt him that he was living off my salary,” Singh said. “I thought that clearly there was no value in me working so what’s the use?” India is on the cusp of surpassing China to become the world’s most populous country, and its economy is among the fastest-growing...

A look at bills passed in the Maryland General Assembly

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland General Assembly is wrapping up its 90-day legislative session at midnight Monday. Here’s a look at some of the legislation that lawmakers passed:ABORTIONLawmakers approved a constitutional amendment that will go on the ballot next year to enshrine the right to abortion in the Maryland Constitution. Lawmakers passed legislation to protect patients and providers from criminal, civil and administrative penalties relating to abortion bans or restrictions in other states. They approved a separate data-privacy bill to protect medical and insurance records on reproductive health in electronic health information exchanges that can be shared across state lines. Legislators also passed a bill to ensure public colleges and universities in Maryland have a plan for student access near campuses to birth control, including emergency contraception and abortion pills.BUDGETLawmakers approved a $62.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year. The General Assemb...

Maryland lawmakers work toward midnight session end

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

HANNAPES, France — Maryland lawmakers head into the last day of their 90-day legislative session with some loose ends to resolve before Monday’s midnight adjournment.Lawmakers will be working to bridge some differences between the House and Senate on a bill to expand Maryland’s commitment to offshore wind as part of the state’s efforts to address climate change. It sets a goal for Maryland to generate 8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2031. Maryland is now working toward building 2 gigawatts, pending final federal approval of two projects off the coast of Ocean City.The bill also aims to modernize the electricity grid to transmit offshore wind energy from the ocean to land.The General Assembly also will be working toward final passage of a bill that creates a nine-member Maryland Thoroughbred Operating Authority that would oversee delayed plans for infrastructure improvements at Pimlico Race Course — home of the Preakness Stakes — and Laurel Park. In 2020, the legislature appr...

Trump’s response to criminal charges revives election lies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were “not guilty.” But, politically, the most significant may be “election interference.”Trump’s repetition of those words, which have been taken up by other top Republicans, show how he is trying to turn his historic position as the first former president charged with crimes to his advantage. It’s another example of what’s been a consistent refrain throughout his political career — claiming without evidence that an election is being rigged against him.After his initial court appearance in the New York case, the first of several in which he is in legal jeopardy, Trump ticked through the varied investigations he was facing and branded them as “massive” attempts to interfere with the 2024 election.“Our justice system has become lawless,” Trump said as he appeared before supporters as his Florida home, ...

Proud Boys leaders’ Jan. 6 sedition trial inches to a close

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After almost three months of testimony, dozens of witnesses and countless legal fights, a jury will soon decide whether the onetime leader of the Proud Boys extremist group is guilty in one of the most serious cases brought in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.Closing arguments could be as early as this week before jurors decide whether to convict Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a plot to forcibly stop the transfer of presidential power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden after the 2020 election. In a trial that has lasted over twice as long as expected, little new information has emerged about the Jan. 6 attack that halted Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory or the far-right extremist group’s role in the Capitol riot. But a guilty verdict against Tarrio, who wasn’t even in Washington, D.C., when the riot erupted, would affi...

Here are the winners of the 2023 Pioneer Press Peeps Diorama Contest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

"Peep Blossom Bonsai" by Jessica Doody of St. Paul."GoodEgg Thrift Store" by Katherine Rose of St. Paul."We Give a Peep About History!" by father-and-daughter team of Meg Duhr of St. Paul and Felix Schultz of Green Lake, Wis."Peep Family Fun Game Night" by Martha Sohn."Peeployment" by Olivia Noland.Carolann Akervik with her duck pond diorama."I Peep Getting Stuck in the Alley!" by Alisa Lein and Jeff Miersch of St. Paul."Reality Chick" by Kelsey Nesenson and Sage Waki, age 5, of St. Paul -- with Marsha and Mello as models. (Courtesy photo.)"An Outdoor Movie Date" by Kinley Braun."The Lorax" by Jillian Braun, age 8, of Eagan: "Inspired by my favorite book and movie. I even dressed up as the Lorax for school book character day!""Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Peep" by Ava Doody, 14, of St. Paul."Philadelphia Peeples vs. the Kansas City Chieps at Super Bowl 57" by sibling...

Fallece a los 81 años Michael Lerner, actor de “Barton Fink” y “Elf”

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

(CNN) — Michael Lerner, un veterano actor de carácter que recibió una nominación al Oscar por su interpretación de un prepotente jefe de estudio en la película de 1991 “Barton Fink”, falleció a los 81 años, anunció su sobrino, el actor Sam Lerner, en un publicación en las redes sociales.“Anoche perdimos a una leyenda”, escribió Sam Lerner en Instagram este domingo. “Es difícil expresar con palabras lo brillante que era mi tío Michael y lo influyente que fue para mí. Sus historias siempre me inspiraron y me hicieron enamorarme de la actuación. Era la persona más genial, seguro de sí mismo y con más talento, y el hecho de que fuera mi sangre siempre me hará sentir especial. Todos los que le conocen saben lo loco que estaba, en el mejor sentido. Tengo mucha suerte de haber pasado tanto tiempo con él, y todos tenemos suerte de poder seguir viendo su trabajo por el resto de los tiempos. QEPD Michael, disfruta de tus ilimitados puros cubanos, de tus cóm...

Avalanche fight back for critical 5-4 OT win over Ducks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored his second power-play goal of the game with 44.3 seconds left on the clock in overtime, and the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.Mikko Rantanen had two goals and two assists, and J.T. Compher also scored to help Colorado move two points ahead of Dallas atop the Central Division. The Stars hold the potential tiebreaker with more regulation wins, which made MacKinnon’s one-timer from the left circle in the extra period that much more important. “Well, it’s a good spot to be in with three games left or whatever, but there’s still work to be done because we’ve seen the standings flip flop all year long,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.Pavel Francouz made 19 saves in his first start in nearly two months. He had not played since Feb. 7 because of a lower-body injury.Frank Vatrano had two goals, Adam Henrique and Brett Leason also scored, and the Ducks picked up a second point in two nights to ...