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Louisiana lawmakers pressed to resurrect bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state.State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press Friday that he stands by his decision. But state Attorney General Jeff Landry — who is a GOP gubernatorial candidate — and the Republican Party of Louisiana are pressing lawmakers to resurrect the bill and pass it. Mills’ decisive vote Wednesday poises Louisiana to be one of the few southeastern states that hasn’t enacted a ban or restrictions on gender-affirming care. Proposals are pending in North Carolina and South Carolina’s legislatures, and federal judges have temporarily blocked bans in Arkansas and Alabama.“While the topic of transgender rights is immensely complicated and socially polarizing, the bill before me was not,” Mills, a pharmacist, said in a written statement Friday. Mills is also the chai...

New York City mayor signs ban on weight and height discrimination

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation Friday that will ban discrimination based on body size by adding weight and height to the list of protected categories such as race, sex and religion.“We all deserve the same access to employment, housing and public accommodation, regardless of our appearance, and it shouldn’t matter how tall you are or how much you weigh,” said the mayor, who joined other elected officials as well as fat-acceptance advocates at a City Hall bill-signing ceremony.Adams, a Democrat who published a book about reversing his diabetes through a plant-based diet, said the ordinance “will help level the playing field for all New Yorkers, create more inclusive workplaces and living environments, and protect against discrimination.”Exemptions under the ordinance, which the city council passed this month, include cases in which an individual’s height or weight could prevent them from performing essential functions of a job.Some business leaders expr...

Most unique ice cream treats for your Chicago summer

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

CHICAGO — There is no shortage of ice cream options throughout the City of Chicago, so how does one choose where to indulge? One way to narrow it down is seeking out some of the more unique cream-based creations.WGN has compiled a dozen such shops through the collective effort of readers' suggestions, digital team experiences and old fashioned research. We've organized them into four categories of uniqueness: presentation, combination, ingredients, and flavor(s).Use the following to choose your experience du jour, or perhaps plan a full-out ice cream crawl. Top 5 Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago area — according to Chicagoans Unique PresentationEli's ArkThis Wicker Park gelato shop first opened summer 2018 and is known for crafting cones of cuteness. Eli's Ark's cool critters can help you beat the heat and are a hit with kids and adults alike.Address: 1843 W. North Ave., ChicagoHours (change throughout the year): Tue-Fri 3-8 p.m. | Sat 1-9 p.m. | Sun 1-8 p.m.Website: Eli's Ark C...

Liam Hendriks gets closer & closer to a White Sox return

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

DETROIT — He's finished his rehab stint in Triple-A, rejoined the White Sox, and has thrown a few sessions. Now all that's left for Liam Hendriks to do to get officially activated onto the team's active roster, doing so after beating cancer this winter and early spring. When that's going to happen, however, is still a little bit up in the air, just as it was when he first joined the club in Chicago last week. Hendriks throws during White Sox batting practice at Guaranteed Rate Field As they continue a four-game series with the Tigers in Detroit, which included a 7-2 loss to the open on Thursday, the closer continued to get closer to a return to the White Sox bullpen. Hendriks threw another batting practice session at Comerica Park on Friday afternoon, with Chicago Sun Times writer Daryl Van Schowen capturing the session on video. It's one of a few that he's had since joining the big league club after his stint in Charlotte.This could open the door for Hendriks to get activated wh...

This is the sport most commonly linked to lightning deaths

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

(KDVR) — Did you know lightning is considered the most dangerous type of weather in several states? And some activities are more closely associated with lightning deaths. An analysis of 2006-19 data by the National Lightning Safety Council and the National Weather Service found the activities most associated with lightning deaths in the U.S. Passenger opens airplane door mid-flight; 12 slightly hurt Fishing takes the top spot with 40 deaths nationwide. Beach activities and camping take the second and third spots.Activities with the most lightning deaths:Fishing: 40Beach: 25Camping: 21Farming/ranching: 20Motorcycle/ATV: 19Boating: 18Social gathering: 16Walk to/from home: 16Roofing: 15Construction: 13Soccer: 12Yardwork: 12When breaking down the victims by gender, 79% were male, while only 21% were female.Lightning can strike from up to 10 miles away. Anytime you can hear thunder, it's a sign that lightning is close enough to strike.The safest places to be when storms with lightning ...

Casa Bonita: New photos give a look inside ahead of reopening

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Casa Bonita, known to some as the "Disneyland of Mexican Restaurants" and to others for its role in the TV series "South Park," is set to reopen in May.And while the official reopening date has yet to be announced, Casa Bonita released new photos from inside the restaurant on Friday.Here is a look at the photo gallery:Casa Bonita's Lagoon, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's Black Bart's Cave, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Construction work at the Dia de los Muertos Bar at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Construction work at the Mayahuel Bar at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Lighting work at the Bridge at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's Lagoon, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita, which first opened around 1974, hasn’t been open since the spring of 2020 – first due to CO...

Supreme Court: EPA can no longer regulate some wetlands

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A new decision from the Supreme Court could have major implications for the country's waterways.On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency can no longer regulate pollution in certain wetlands.Environmentalists across the country are up in arms.Jim Murphy, director of legal advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation, said the decision will impact millions of Americans."Wetlands are very, very important in protecting people's drinking water," Murphy said. "They're the kidneys of our water system. They're the sponges of our water system. There's no better natural system to protect you from flooding."Even conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh acknowledged this while joining the three liberal justices in dissent.But the 5-4 decision said only wetlands with a surface connection to a larger body of water are subject to the Clean Water Act."Great day for rural America, a great day for agriculture," said Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kan.Mann ...

Flags-In Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery honors fallen servicemembers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) —A Memorial Day tribute is now on display at Arlington National Cemetery. Each year the Flags-In Ceremony honors the fallen heroes buried there. On Thursday, before dawn hundreds of soldiers took part in the ceremony. They placed flags at more than 250,000 graves in the cemetery.Staff Sergeant Gerald Morgan said it was a privilege for him to be part of the event. "Placing the flag and honoring them is letting them know hey, look, we still think about you, we love you, we thank you for serving this nation," Morgan said. Democrats, advocates demand action on gun control For Captain D.J. Taylor, the ceremony took on special significance."My great uncle Richard O'Morey is buried in section 60," Taylor said.He made sure to personally place the flag at his great uncle's headstone. But he says he tries to take a personal approach with each one."You get to take a moment and think about that person and say thank you in a very small way as you plant that flag," Taylor s...

Judge approves mistrial motion for APD officer murder case

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A judge granted the defense's motion Friday for a mistrial for an Austin police officer accused of murder in a 2020 deadly shooting, according to a defense attorney involved in the case. The trial was supposed to begin Wednesday, but there were several snags with the jury selection process. Christopher Taylor, 31, is accused of shooting and killing Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot in April 2020. Taylor is on administrative leave with the department. Moving forward, the court will conduct jury selection differently, according to Ken Ervin, one of Taylor's attorneys. The court will order three panels of 100 potential jurors and move to a bigger courtroom for jury selection.This week, the court chose from jury pools of 80 and 50. "What you're looking for are 12 people who are gonna be fair. It could be that due to pre-trial publicity, there are a number of people who have already heard about the case,...

What do the 20 Articles of Impeachment against Ken Paxton mean?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Late Thursday night, lawmakers received their copies of 20 articles of impeachment. Chairman Andrew Murr said he will put the articles to a vote on Saturday, May 27, at 1:00 pm.The House General Investigating Committee, which has a conservative majority, presented the articles after adopting a formal recommendation that Attorney General Ken Paxton be impeached and removed from office. MORE: What we know about possible impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton The committee has been quietly investigating Paxton since March, following a proposal of his emerged to use state funds to settle a $3.3 million whistleblower lawsuit filed by four former employees who accused Paxton of wrongdoing.Per HR 2377, here are 20 accusations the committee found in their investigation:Favors for wealthy donorArticle 1 accuses Paxton of violating his duties by harming a charitable organization to help a donor, Nate Paul, a wealthy Austin real estate developer. The...