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LGBTQ group speaks out against proposed state legislation targeting flag displays at government buildings and schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

The LGBTQ community is speaking out against a proposed legislation in the Florida legislature targeting flag displays at government buildings and schools. It would prohibit flying flags related to political topics, including sexuality, gender orientation and race.“I currently do not support HB901,” said Compass LGBTQ Community Center CEO Julia Seaver.The bill, sponsored by state Rep. David Borreo who represents Sweetwater, would limit where certain flags can be flown at government buildings and schools including pride or progressive flags.A rainbow flag of just inclusion is to me just a beautiful thing but at the same time there are those that support that positive messaging and in fact want to bring us back to darker time in my opinion,” said Maxwell Chapman at Lake Worth BeachFlag waving, raises an issue of heated discussion for many across the state, including Palm Beach County parent Frank Deliu.Last year Deliu sued the county’s school district over pride...

Man accused of drugging, raping minor at Dolphin Mall; suspect arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

A 33-year-old man is behind bars, accused of drugging and raping an 11-year-old girl at Dolphin Mall.Police said David Rivero was at the mall, located at 11401 NW 12th St in Sweetwater, on Dec. 10 when he allegedly gave the minor an edible, took her to a family bathroom, and raped her. Rivero was a stranger to the victim and had met her at the mall, officials said. According to the report, mall surveillance video shows Rivero and the victim entering the family restroom and then exiting. That same day, arrest records show that the victim told her mother about the incident and the mother took her to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to get physically examined. The victim then told the story to a doctor. Rivero is charged with sexual battery on a minor by an adult. He is being held with no bond.

Serbian opposition protest election fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

BELGRADE ― Opponents of Serbia’s illiberal President Aleksandar Vučić, who claimed a win in Sunday’s elections amid allegations of major irregularities and voter fraud, have declared a hunger strike and have set up camp inside the central election commission building.Since the vote, opposition parties and independent election observers have claimed that electoral fraud occurred despite claims by Vučić, the former head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), to have won the snap ballots, especially in Belgrade, the country’s capital.“We cannot and must not recognize the stolen Belgrade elections,” Marinika Tepić from the opposition Serbia Against Violence party announced Monday night before joining the protest inside the building. Several thousand Serbs rallied in the center of the city and blocked one of its main thoroughfaresThe ruling SNS clinched about 47 percent support on the national stage, giving the party a commanding majority in parliament that...

Day of drama ends with France and Germany confident of EU spending rules deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

PARIS AND BRUSSELS ― France and Germany said they are confident that last-ditch talks on an overhaul of the EU’s public spending rules will result in a deal ― despite lingering disagreement between the bloc’s biggest governments.On the eve of a virtual meeting of all 27 finance ministers on Wednesday, France’s Bruno Le Maire and his German counterpart, Christian Lindner, said they hoped to wrap up a compromise in the hours that followed, which would pave the way for looser targets allowing countries to be given more time to rein in spending.Their dinner in Paris on Tuesday night came after a day of back-and-forth between Brussels and EU capitals that at one point left diplomats believing that negotiations were about to collapse. The ambition had always been to find agreement before the end of the year.“I am sure we will have a deal tonight,” Le Maire said before Tuesday’s talks. Standing next to him, Lindner clarified the word should be “solution”...

Restoration efforts ongoing along South Shore after high winds bring down trees, power lines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

Restoration efforts continued on the South Shore Tuesday, one day after the region was hit hard by Monday’s major storm. Ramping up overnight into Monday morning, powerful wind gusts sent debris flying, knocking down trees and leaving nearly all residents in Scituate in the dark. As of around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, 34% of Scituate energy customers were still without power, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Sixty-six percent of customers in Norwell were impacted, while more than 50% of customers in Hanson, Pembroke and Duxbury were in the dark. Elsewhere, 62% of energy customers in Rochester were without power.National Grid said it brought in crews from New York and Canada to support restoration efforts. Crews were then visible around town in Scituate Tuesday making repairs. Still, officials said it could take until Thursday to fully restore power.Scituate schools were closed Tuesday, as were schools in Cohasset, Duxbury, Marshfield, Norwell, and Pembr...

From the Beatles and Maria Callas to Thelonious Monk and Eric Clapton, new 2023 box sets run the gamut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

George Varga | The San Diego Union-TribuneAny CD or vinyl box sets worth releasing are worth rereleasing, ideally in expanded, more lavishly packaged and more expensive form.That is not an official business model for the record industry, but it certainly could be with regards to new 2023 box sets by everyone from the Beatles to opera icon Maria Callas. Their new releases affirm that any box set done once is worth doing again, the bigger the better.This seems to be the best way to entice music fans who want to ensure their collections are complete, even — make that, especially — if it means buying a box set they already have. Or, rather, a box set they already have that is now lacking compared to the newly expanded version of that set, which boasts songs not included in prior iterations, spiffy new audio mixes, accompanying books with extensive essays and artist interviews, memorabilia and more.Consider the recently released updated versions of “The Beatles 1962-1966” and...

Stumped for tech gifts as the shopping season winds down? We’ve got you

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

If you’re stumped for tech gifts as the holiday season winds down, I’ve got a few suggestions for your final gadget-shopping push.I’ve tried all of the following, and I like them enough to recommend them — though I’ve noted where I see potential issues.Amazon has most of these products and will get them to you before Christmas Eve — but you will have to pay for delivery, in most cases, unless you are a Prime subscriber.With a couple of products, you’ll need to order directly from the manufacturer.What gadgets are you giving or hoping to receive this Christmas? Email me at the address above.Safety-focused earbudsRockin’ your tunes with traditional earbuds that lodge in your ear canals is great … except when you’re running, jogging or driving, and you need to keep your wits about you.JVC’s HA-NP50T Nearphones solve this problem because they are positioned just above and outside your ear canals, not inside them. This means you can hear your podcasts and music clearly without blocking o...

Cyclist dies after being struck by garbage truck driver in Allston: Boston Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

A man has died from injuries he suffered riding a bicycle after a driver of a garbage truck struck him in Allston Tuesday morning, according to authorities.The cyclist had been traveling near the intersection of Hano and Cambridge streets, near Union Square, minutes after 10 a.m., when the garbage truck driver crashed into him, Boston Police Sgt. Det. John Boyle said.The victim’s identity has not been released.Police responded to the scene at about 10:08 a.m., and emergency responders took the cyclist to a nearby hospital with what authorities described as life-threatening injuries.The truck driver stayed on scene and cooperated with authorities.— Developing

Quick Fix: Ginger and Scallion Steamed Tilapia over Chinese Noodles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News Service (TNS)I found this delicious and very easy way to steam fish. It’s in the oven instead of over boiling liquid. It helps retain moisture and flavor. The combination of ginger, scallions and garlic form a flavorful sauce for steamed tilapia. It takes a few minutes to prepare ingredients, but then the oven does the rest of the work.Serving the fish over Chinese noodles makes a perfect pairing for the sauce. These are very thin noodles. There are several types. I use wheat-based noodles which take only 3 minutes to boil. You can also use angel hair pasta for this dinner.HELPFUL HINTS:A small sheet pan with sides can be used instead of a 10-by-8-inch baking dish.Sole, snapper, mahi mahi or flounder can be used instead of tilapia.Sesame oil can be used instead of toasted sesame oil.Fish broth can be used instead of dry sherry.COUNTDOWN:Preheat oven to 450 degrees.Prepare ingredients.Make steamed tilapia.While tilapia steams in the oven, boil water ...

Save some eggnog for breakfast; it works in French toast, too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:59 GMT

Beth Dooley | (TNS) Star TribuneAt some point during the holidays, regardless of your religious or family traditions, a lovely breakfast will be added to the already busy schedule.Because there’s plenty to do in the kitchen this time of year, I have no delusions about setting a fancy table early in the morning. But I do believe it’s worth giving this meal some thought a day or two before.In our home, overnight French toast is the winning dish, especially when there’s eggnog leftover from earlier festivities. Making this one-pan dish sure beats standing over the stove, cooking slice after slice of French toast or ladling pancake batter onto the griddle. It is easily scaled up to feed a crowd with very little effort, as all of the servings bake simultaneously.Everything can be assembled the night before, so all you need to do when you wake up is pop it in the oven. It will fill the house with a warm, toasty scent as it rises into an impressive golden puff. This is th...