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Judge blocks law that drag performers fear would shut them down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

By Juan A. Lozano | Associated PressHOUSTON — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a new Texas law that drag show artists fear will be used to shut them down or put them in jail.The law, approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, would expand the legal definition in the Texas criminal code of what is considered to be an illegal public performance of sexual conduct in front of children. It is part of a broader effort in Texas and other conservative states to crack down on drag shows and limit LGBTQ rights.Critics argued that the definition is so broad, it could include the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.U.S. District Judge David Hittner in Houston issued the temporary restraining order after a group of drag performers and LGBTQ+ rights advocates sought to keep the law from taking effect on Friday. During a two-day court hearing earlier this week, drag performers and advocates said the new law threatened their livelihoods and would censor their freedom of expression.In...

SF Giants miss out on waivers extravaganza, but it’s not all bad news

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Finally on the other side of a three-week gauntlet against contender after contender, the Giants weren’t sure when their charter flight touched down here Wednesday night whether possible reinforcements might be on the way. The answer came the following morning: They fared too well to be in position to scoop up a surprise late-season gift.Close to a dozen veterans were placed on irrevocable waivers this week, including nearly a quarter of the Angels’ roster, but none of them were claimed by the Giants as the deadline came and passed Thursday morning.The good news: San Francisco didn’t have much of a chance at any of them because its position in the standings — a half-game advantage on the third and final wild card spot entering Thursday.Another silver lining: Of the teams chasing them in the wild card race, only one, the Reds, was able to boost its roster. The greatest goods went to the American League, where the Cleveland Guardians blocked the most soug...

Volpe becomes 20-20 player as Yankees lose to Tigers 4-3 in 10-inning series finale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Anthony Volpe, one of the few bright spots in the worst Yankees season in three decades, became the 15th rookie with a 20-homer, 20-stolen base season as New York lost to the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Thursday in the finale of a four-game series,With New York trailing 3-0 in the ninth, Volpe hit a three-run, opposite-field homer to right off Alex Lange to become the Yankees’ first 20-20 rookie. Volpe has 21 steals in 26 tries.“I guess it’s pretty crazy,” Volpe said. “I never really had goals or anything like that going into the season numbers-wise.”Volpe is the second 20-20 rookie this year after Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, who has 23 homers and 41 steals.“It’s been fun watching him play the game. He’s gotten a lot of big hits for us today included,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Volpe. “With all that’s come with him and the expectations, he just managed everything so well, and I’m excited to see what he continues to do throughout his career … It’s pretty ...

John Isner’s US Open and tennis career end in a 5th-set tiebreak loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — John Isner’s career fittingly ended with a final-set tiebreaker.Isner put a volley into the net to end the match and what he had announced would be his final singles tournament, falling in the U.S. Open second round to fellow American Michael Mmoh 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (7).“It’s tough. I like to think I work as hard as I can,” Isner told a Grandstand crowd that erupted in cheers as he trailed off into tears.The 38-year-old Isner, who needed a wild card to get into the draw at Flushing Meadows, blasted 48 aces and won 86% of his first-serve points in a match that also included 63 unforced errors. Several times, the 6-foot-10 (2.08-meter) Isner fell to the ground while diving to make volleys.Isner reached a career-best ranking of No. 8 in 2018, shortly after reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon. He won 16 singles titles and hit 14,470 aces, an ATP Tour record. That includes 113 in the longest match in tennis history, a first-round Wimbledon win against Nicolas Ma...

Activists prepare for yearlong battle over Nebraska private school funding law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Activists declared a victory this week in their fight to repeal a new Republican-backed law allowing Nebraska taxpayer money to be used for private school tuition. But both sides acknowledge that the battle is just beginning.If the law is repealed, Nebraska would join North Dakota as the only states not offering some type of public payment for private school tuition. Opponents said Wednesday that they’d gathered nearly twice the roughly 60,000 signatures needed to ask voters for repeal. “If this initiative makes it onto the 2024 ballot, I can promise you the fight will not be over,” Gov. Jim Pillen said.Both Nebraska and North Dakota passed bills earlier this year to fund some private school tuition. North Dakota’s bill set aside $10 million in taxpayer dollars for private school tuition reimbursement. The legislation was later vetoed by the governor.The effort to protect Nebraska’s law has drawn conservative support nationally, including from th...

No se presentarán cargos por la muerte a tiros de un estudiante universitario de Carolina del Sur que intentó entrar a la casa equivocada, dicen las autoridades

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

(CNN) — La muerte de un estudiante de la Universidad de Carolina del Sur que intentaba entrar a una casa que no era la suya en su propia calle fue considerada un homicidio justificado y no se presentarán cargos, dijo la policía.“La determinación se basa en varios factores que incluyen evidencia reunida en el lugar, revisión del video de vigilancia que capta momentos antes del tiroteo, evidencia de audio y declaraciones de testigos”, dijo el Departamento de Policía de Columbia en un comunicado de prensa.La decisión se tomó tras consultar con la Oficina del Procurador del Quinto Circuito, según el comunicado.Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, un estudiante de segundo año de Connecticut de 20 años, murió en el tiroteo la madrugada de este sábado, de acuerdo a la policía.“La información preliminar indica que Donofrio, que residía en South Holly Street, intentó entrar a la casa equivocada cuando recibió un disparo mortal”, indicó la policía en el comunicado.“E...

Federal judge temporarily blocks Arkansas law requiring parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Federal judge temporarily blocks Arkansas law requiring parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.Source

Iowa teen on trial for killing of 2 fellow students says he feared for his life

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teenager feared for his life when he fatally shot two fellow students at an alternative educational program for at-risk youth, his lawyer said Thursday, rebutting a claim by prosecutors that the shooting was a premeditated attack on rival gang members.Preston Walls, 19, is one of two students charged in the shooting at the Starts Right Here program on Jan. 23, which killed 18-year-old Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Rashad Carr. The victims’ families have denied they were involved in gangs. The school’s founder Will Keeps, himself an ex-gang member, was wounded trying to intervene to stop the violence. He still has lingering injuries. As Walls’ trial began Thursday, attorney Glen Downey said his client admits he pulled the trigger but did so because “he didn’t want to die.” “Preston decided he didn’t want to go home to his family in a pine box,” Downey said.Prosecutor Stephanie Cox told jurors they would hear testimo...

Retired Denver officer has a cop car collection in the thousands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A recently retired Denver Police officer now has time to pursue his passion full-time. That would be collecting diecast police cars. He has turned his home into a museum.These days, you will find Henry Jones continuing his ongoing investigation — into where he'll purchase his next diecast cruiser, that is. Jones retired from the Denver Police Department last year after 33 years of service. High-tech wheelchair allows police officer to pursue his passion Every single room, except the bathroom, in his 3,800-square-foot home is an homage to law enforcement and the military. Jones started collecting when he was 5 years old."So here’s my very first car. It is a Corgi. This is over 60-some some years old," Jones said.9,000 cop cars in the collectionJones has diecast police cars from just about every country on earth. If you were lucky enough to be an "FOH" — a friend of Henry — you will see model cop cars, motorcycles and helicopters, over 9,000 of them in his hom...

Hang gliding lets man fly like a bird

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:52 GMT

GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — It's the closest thing to flying like a bird. No engine, no runway — just a pair of wings and a little bit of courage.The cooler temperature and cloudless sky were simply too much for Jim Yokom and Kevin Carter to ignore. The conditions were perfect for them to fly. Retired police officer has a cop car collection in the thousands High atop Lookout Mountain has been a popular spot to catch the wind for over 50 years."It’s very magical," Carter said. "We are so lucky to have this," Yokom said.Man has wanted to take flight since he gazed up into the sky with envy, watching other creatures soar the heavens. Thanks to Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright, now he can.Jim Yokom hang glides from Lookout Mountain in Colorado. (KDVR)'Spreading my arms and flying'Yokom has been hang gliding since 1978."All my life, I've had dreams about flying. Since I was a little kid, I would have dreams about spreading my arms and flying," Yokom said. "The dissecting, the invisible en...