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Supreme Court: Affirmative Action Is OK — if the Students Are Getting Sent to Die in Wars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

Affirmative action supporters and counterprotesters shout at each outside of the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023, in Washington, D.C.Photo: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesIn what is being described as a victory for a merit-based and colorblind approach to college admissions, the Supreme Court Thursday struck down affirmative action as a tool to redress race-based inequalities. The ruling by the court’s conservative majority dealt with affirmative action programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, but would apply across the country.The precedent set by the court’s decision is primed to transform college admissions standards around the country, yet there is one area where the law mandating diversity in recruitment is remaining conspicuously unchanged: U.S. military academies.When it comes to national priorities, the defense establishment has long been treated with kid gloves and afforded its own perks and protections. Think of the way fisca...

Spurs’ Devonte Graham pleads guilty to 2022 DWI and awaits sentencing next month

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte’ Graham has pleaded guilty to a driving while intoxicated charge stemming from a July 2022 speeding stop. The Wake County (N.C.) District Attorney’s office confirmed the deal Thursday, adding the speeding charge was dismissed. A spokeswoman at the DA’s office said the deal was made earlier in the week but she did not know the exact day.Graham faces sentencing on July 27.The plea deal was first reported by TMZ.According to the police report, Graham was pulled over at 2:39 a.m. on July 7, 2022 for driving 63 mph in a 40 mph zone. During the traffic stop, Graham displayed signs of impairment and was taken into custody and transported to the Wake County Detention Center.Graham submitted to a breath test for alcohol and results indicated a 0.11 BAC (breath alcohol concentration), above the state limit of .08.The DWI charge is a misdemeanor. Graham, 28 and a Raleigh native, was playing for the New Orleans Pelicans at t...

NHL draft wraps up with 11 picks for Chicago, dearth of trades ahead of free agency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks acquired their latest generational talent along with a big dose of speed in one of the NHL’s largest draft hauls.They also made another big move for their future Thursday by adding veteran Corey Perry to help teach No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard how to be the leader the Blackhawks need to contend for a Stanley Cup.“I couldn’t be happier with how this worked out,” Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson said after wrapping up an 11-player class on a day that included trading a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft to acquire the 38-year-old Perry.The Anaheim Ducks added a big Swedish center to their young, talented offense in Leo Carlsson at No. 2 overall.The reigning Presidents’ Trophy champion Boston Bruins made the most of their five selections. They bulked up with each player at least 6 foot or taller, capped by 6-5 Swedish defenseman Kristian Kostadinski at No. 220 overall in the seventh round.Now comes the...

Gauff powers past Pegula to reach semifinals at Eastbourne

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

EASTBOURNE, England (AP) — Coco Gauff powered past her doubles partner Jessica Pegula to reach the semifinals at the Eastbourne International on Thursday.Wet weather delayed the start of play at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament before Gauff wasted little time in beating third-seeded Pegula 6-3, 6-3 in an all-American match.The 19-year-old fifth seed is the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament. Gauff next plays compatriot Madison Keys. It will be the third semifinal appearance of the year for Gauff after Auckland and Dubai.Keys won five games in a row during a 6-4, 6-1 victory in the quarterfinals over Croatian lucky loser Petra Martic.Second-seeded Caroline Garcia’s right shoulder injury caused her to retire while trailing Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 2-1. Camila Giorgi awaits Kasatkina in the semifinals. The Italian also benefited from a retirement, with Birmingham champion Jelena Ostapenko pulling out of their match after losing the opening set 7-6 (8).In the me...

Marlins’ Gurriel scratched from Red Sox game after being hit by a ball in batting practice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Miami Marlins first baseman Yuli Gurriel was scratched from Thursday night’s game against the Red Sox after being hit in the face with a ball during batting practice.Gurriel was taking grounders at first base when he went down. People rushed out to help him, and he was escorted off the field with a towel covering his face.Luis Arraez moved over to first base, and Jean Segura took Gurriel’s No. 5 spot in the batting order.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving among top players to watch as NBA free agency set to open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

Some of the players to watch in NBA free agency, which starts Friday evening:Kyrie Irving, DallasThis one will be interesting. Irving is one of the best players in the NBA. He also tends to be a challenge, and evidently got unhappy over time at his previous stops — Cleveland, Boston and Brooklyn. It seems unlikely that Irving will want a short-term deal, but there aren’t many teams that can afford him, either.Fred VanVleet, TorontoIf Houston doesn’t land James Harden — who opted in to his $35.6 million contract with Philadelphia on Thursday as a likely prelude to a trade — then maybe the Rockets take a swing at VanVleet and throw a ton of money his way. The Raptors need to decide on a direction; the next few days will show if the plan is to win right now, or take some time to reset. What they offer VanVleet will likely tell the tale. He may be moving on.Austin Reaves, Los Angeles LakersTalk about a success story. Reaves was undrafted, averaged 7.3 points per game as a ro...

Florida agency appeals ruling blocking anti-drag show law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

Days after a federal judge temporarily blocked a new Florida law targeting drag shows, the state has appealed that decision.The Florida agency that regulates businesses asked the judge who ruled against it last week to allow the law’s enforcement while its appeal is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The request was made Wednesday in federal court in Orlando.U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell last week granted a preliminary injunction — stopping the law from being enforced until a trial is held to determine its constitutionality — and he denied the state agency’s request to dismiss it.Attorneys for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation asked that the injunction only apply to the business that challenged the law, saying that the judge’s injunction “sweeps beyond Plaintiff to nonparties who may wish to expose children to live obscene performances in violation of the statute.”The complaint was brought by the owner o...

Brewers shake up their infield by sending Luis Urías to minors and recalling Brice Turang

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Urías’ frustrating season took another turn Thursday when he was demoted to the minor leagues.The Brewers announced before their game with the New York Mets that Urías had been optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Rookie second baseman Brice Turang rejoined the Brewers after serving his own stint in Nashville.Urías hit .145 with a .299 on-base percentage, .236 slugging percentage, one homer and five RBIs in 20 games since returning from a hamstring injury. The 26-year-old has just three extra-base hits in 68 plate appearances.After getting 23 homers and 75 RBIs during the Brewers’ 2021 NL Central championship season, Urías hit .239 with a .335 on-base percentage, 16 homers and 47 RBIs in 119 games last year.Urías injured a hamstring in the Brewers’ opener and didn’t return until June 5. He hasn’t been able to find his rhythm at the plate.“I feel like the confidence is not where maybe it needs to be,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell sa...

Denver weather: Pinpoint Weather Alert Day for Thursday storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Thursday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day for severe storms that will be capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts, an isolated chance for tornadoes and heavy rain that could lead to flooding. A tornado watch was issued for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Washington and Weld counties until 9:00 p.m. at 1:20 p.m. by the National Weather Service.Weather tonight: Storms exit Thunderstorms will continue through the evening and will start to clear out overnight as temperatures fall to the mid-50s. As rain continues to fall on very saturated ground, there will be an isolated risk of flooding. Weather tomorrow: More showers and thunderstormsWet and cooler weather is in the forecast for Friday. Highs will reach the lower 70s, which will limit the severe risk. Looking ahead: Storm chances for weekendWarming temperatures, morning sunshine and a chance for a few afternoon thunderstorms will move in...

Major Back Bay streets to be reduced to one lane amid bike lane controversy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:59 GMT

People in Back Bay are pushing for the city to pause on a new bike lane design on Boylston Street where part of the street would change to one lane of traffic for cars.Residents have gathered at Berkeley Street Thursday to express their concerns on whether the plan will cut down on congestion, while bicyclists say the bike lane infrastructure needs to be built up. With this plan, adding bike lanes to these streets among others means some of the busiest streets in the city will be turned into one lane roads for cars.The Mayor’s Office released in a statement that Boylston will become one lane, with turning lanes and a bus lane between Ring Road and before Dartmouth Street. The single lane road turns to two through travel lanes for cars between Exeter and Dartmouth Streets with a left turn lane.Berkeley Street and Boylston Street are two of the roadways the city is looking to add these bike lanes to, turning three lanes of traffic for cars to one to expand the bike lane that bike...