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GOP state legislatures seek greater control over state and local election offices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers in several Republican-led states have been looking to exert more authority over state and local election offices, claiming new powers that Democrats warn could be used to target left-leaning counties in future elections.The moves range from requiring legislative approval of court settlements in election-related lawsuits to creating paths for taking over local election offices.In North Carolina, a Republican proposal working its way through the General Assembly would change the composition of state and county election boards and give lawmakers sole authority to appoint board members.Republican lawmakers in Texas recently approved legislation that not only eliminates the top election official in the Democratic stronghold of Harris County, which includes Houston, but also permits the state’s chief election official — the secretary of state — to take over the county’s election office. The secretary is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, both n...

Ideology underpinning conversion therapy has foothold despite ban: LGBTQ advocates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Despite a federal ban on conversion therapy being in place for more than a year, advocates fear the broader ideologies underpinning the practice continue to have a strong foothold in Canada. New Criminal Code offences came into effect in January 2022, but it appears no charges or prosecutions have yet taken place.Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual or to change their gender identity to match the sex they were assigned at birth.Nick Schiavo, executive director of No Conversion Canada, said he is worried about the possibility that those who wish to influence a person’s sexual orientation may use “coded language” to avoid falling under the law.Florence Ashley, an incoming assistant professor at the University of Alberta’s law faculty, said it’s common for organizations to use broader terms, such as: “We’re not actually changing sexual orientation. We’re kin...

Woman, 26, stabbed in chest in Loop: Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- A man is in custody after a 26-year-old was stabbed in the chest after an altercation in the city's Loop Saturday evening, police said. According to police, the woman a=was outside near the 1100 block of South Michigan Avenue around 7:50 p.m. when a 44-year-old man approached her. Bicyclist, 68, dead after being hit by vehicle on Southwest Side Police reported that he two began to argue when the man then produced a knife and stabbed the woman in the chest. The man fled the scene but was located by officers and placed into custody. She was transported to Northwestern memorial Hospital where she is listed in critical condition. Charges are pending.

Bicyclist, 68, dead after being hit by vehicle on Southwest Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 68-year-ld man was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in the city's Garfield Ridge neighborhood Saturday night.According to police, a 32-year-old man was making a left turn in a car near the 6500 block of South Natchez Avenue around 9:30 p.m. when he struck the bicyclist. The man was transported to Christ Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating the incident and citations are pending.

1 person dead after auto-pedestrian crash on SH 71

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One adult died in an auto-pedestrian crash in southwest Austin late Saturday night, according to Austin-Travis County EMS. It happened around 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of State Highway 71 and US 290. The adult was pronounced dead at the scene, according to ATCEMS. No other information was available at the time.

Where and when are lightning deaths most common?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The third full week of each June is designated as National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.Since 2006, almost 500 people have been killed by lightning strikes, according to the National Lightning Safety Council. Only five states have not recorded a lightning death during that time: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire and Washington.Fatal lightning strikes are most common in Florida, with 86 deaths reported since 2006. Texas ranks second nationwide, with 39 deaths, ahead of Colorado (24), Alabama (21) and North Carolina (21).When adjusted for population, Wyoming has the highest fatality rate, with 5.16 lightning deaths for every 1 million people. The District of Columbia is second, with a rate of 4.47 per 1 million, ahead of Montana (4.45), Alabama (4.14) and Colorado (4.11).Who is most likely to get killed by lightning?The number of deaths per year has fallen since the mid 2000s. Both 2006 and 2007 saw more than 40 deaths nationwide, compared to fewer than 20 eac...

Hang out with the aliens this summer in Texas - Here's how

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

DALLAS (KDAF) — Texas has been known to have its fair share of alien sightings in the state. So it's not surprising that Marfa, Texas, has an official viewing area for sights of the unknown ie; dancing, floating orb-colored lights. Marfa Lights Viewing Center is open and free to the public, many have said they have encountered firsthand unexplained mystery lights at the center. Which has caused more people to attend events centering around the mysterious lights. The city has even gone as far as to embrace the paranormal phenomena than sweep it under the rug, by hosting a weekend-long Marfa Lights Festival annually in the city's downtown. For more information on the center and Marfa's mysterious lights visit here.

Drunk drivers in Texas will have to pay child support if parents killed in crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A new law in Texas will force drunk drivers who kill a parent in a crash to pay for the victim's child support.House Bill 393 states that a defendant convicted of intoxication manslaughter will be ordered to pay restitution for a child whose parent or guardian was the victim of the offense.The bill, which was filed by Texas Rep. Craig Goldman, goes on to say that a court will determine the amount to be paid monthly until the child reaches 18 years old, or graduates high school. The payment amount will be determined by several factors, including the standard of living the child is accustomed to, physical and emotional condition, educational needs and other financial needs.The law will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date. The law will go into effect on Sept. 1.

Late goals allowed haunt Minnesota United this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

Justen Glad isn’t the only player to score a 98th minute goal against Minnesota United this season.The Real Salt Lake defender blasted a shot into the back of the net on Saturday to stifle MNUFC in a 2-2 draw in Sandy, Utah; It was similar to Simon Becher’s very late goal to stick the Loons with a 1-1 draw with Vancouver at Allianz Field on March 25.It’s a bad habit for MNUFC this season. The Loons have now dropped nine points from winning positions this season and are now 4-1-3 when scoring the first goal in matches. They have conceded six goals late in games (after the 75th minute) in 2023.These are the type of results that can haunt a club scratching to get into the MLS Cup Playoffs. MNUFC (5-7-6, 21 points) now sit in 12th place, while nine clubs make the Western Conference field.“We took a point from a game we should have taken three and that’s disappointing,” manager Adrian Heath said via conference call with reporters. “We have some work to do with certain people.”The pain do...

Obituary: Nel Schweiss, the East Side’s Flower Lady, ‘saw the worth of everyone’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:52 GMT

When Annelda “Nel” Schweiss moved into her apartment on St. Paul’s East Side about 10 years ago, she immediately started planting flowers on the mangy piece of land next door.Schweiss cleared out weeds, rock and trash from the site, located near the Bruce Vento Regional Trail, and transformed it into “a pocket of beauty on Maryland Avenue,” said Marie Grimm, a longtime East Side resident. “It started out small. Each year, she would dig just a little bit more … adding more and more beautiful flowers, rocks arranged in small beds and a white bird bath.”Nel Schweiss, 84, of St. Paul, died June 11, 2023. (Courtesy of Robert McNamara)Schweiss, known around the East Side as “The Flower Lady,” died June 11 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul of complications related to cancer, eight days after she was diagnosed, family members said. She was 84.Schweiss spent countless hours working in the garden and would chat with “anyone and everyone” who walked by, said Robert McNamara, a ...