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Suit contests University of Wyoming trans woman in sorority

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The nationwide battle over the places where transgender people may belong has flared at the University of Wyoming, where a lawsuit filed by seven sorority members challenges the induction of a transgender woman into their local chapter.The woman, identified only by the pseudonym “Terry Smith” in the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne, made residents of the Kappa Kappa Gamma house uncomfortable in part by sitting on a common-area couch for hours and staring at them without talking, the lawsuit alleges.“One sorority member walked down the hall to take a shower, wearing only a towel. She felt an unsettling presence, turned, and saw Mr. Smith watching her silently,” the lawsuit alleges.The lawsuit against the national Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, its national council president and Smith claims national sorority officials pressured the local chapter to violate sorority rules, including those for voting to induct new members.The lawsuit asks for a...

How California reparations proposals could become law

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Reparations for Black residents in California will move to the state Legislature once a first-in-the-nation task force submits its recommendations and findings by July 1. But the task force will not propose a cash restitution amount for individuals, opting instead to leave it to lawmakers to figure out how much descendants of U.S. chattel slavery are owed. The panel on Wednesday endorsed calculation methodologies showing that California could owe African American residents more than $800 billion just for discrimination in policing and housing loans. California’s annual budget is nearly $300 billion.WHAT WILL LAWMAKERS DO NEXT?Two task force members are also state lawmakers and will spearhead efforts to turn the panel’s recommendations into legislation that can pass the Assembly and Senate and get the support of Gov. Gavin Newsom.State Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer said they aim to introduce reparations legislation in January. Legislation usually ...

Funerals set for 3 of the Nashville school shooting victims

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Funeral arrangements were disclosed Thursday for one of the adults and two of the children who were killed in this week’s school shooting in Nashville, as the grieving city mourns the victims of the horrific attack that transformed what should have been a normal day of school on a bright, sunny morning into wrenching tragedy.Heartbreaking new details continued to emerge about the lives of the three adults and three 9-year-old students who police say were killed during the shooting Monday at The Covenant School. The children have been identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. Also killed were Katherine Koonce, 60, the head of the school; Mike Hill, 61, a custodian; and Cynthia Peak, 61, a substitute teacher.A funeral service for Evelyn was scheduled for Friday at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville, with a private reception to follow, according to an obituary provided to The Associated Press by a family friend. Funeral guests ...

Non-profit organizations call on government to protect Muslim charities

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

OTTAWA — Several members of the non-profit sector, including the United Way and Imagine Canada, are calling on the federal government to take immediate steps to shield Muslim-led charities from potentially discriminatory federal audits.More than a dozen organizations issued a statement urging Ottawa to act following the release this week of the taxpayers’ ombudsperson’s report on the fairness of the audit process for registered charities.In his report, François Boileau recommended improved unconscious bias training for employees of the Canada Revenue Agency’s charities directorate. However, Boileau said that due to obstacles in accessing relevant information, he could not examine the issues “deeply enough” to assess the existence of bias in how the revenue agency applies its processes. Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier had asked the watchdog to conduct a systemic review of the concerns of Muslim-led charities, paying particular attention to concerns ...

Kentucky House gives final passage to medical marijuana bill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Medical marijuana advocates achieved a long-sought victory Thursday, when Kentucky lawmakers gave final passage to a measure to legalize access to medical cannabis for people suffering from a defined list of debilitating illnesses.In the waning hours of this year’s legislative session, the Republican-dominated House voted 66-33 to send the measure to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Supporters pushed the bill over the finish line after years of setbacks, when other versions to open Kentucky to legal medical cannabis died.“This is a truly historic day here in the commonwealth and one that many people deserve — especially the constituents who’ve approached me over the years to share their stories,” Republican Sen. Stephen West, the bill’s lead sponsor, said in a triumphant statement after the House vote. Kentuckians with qualified medical conditions will have to wait to gain access to medical cannabis under the bill. Senate Bill 47 specifies that the med...

Turpel-Lafond returns honorary degree granted by Simon Fraser University in B.C.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

Officials at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., have accepted the return of an honorary degree awarded to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the former judge and law professor whose claims of Indigenous ancestryhave been discredited.A statement from SFU president Joy Johnson says Turpel-Lafond opted to return the 2016 award after the university told her it was under review.Johnson says the school had received requests to review the degree in relation to “the importance of Indigenous identity and alleged false claims of Indigenous ancestry,” and its senate committee on university honours had decided to proceed.She says the university gave Turpel-Lafond an opportunity to either relinquish the degree or “make representations on the issues at hand,” and she chose to return it.A letter from the group Indigenous Women’s Collective signed by retired Cree Senator Lillian Dyck, among others, says the university’s decision allowed Turpel-Lafond to evade sanct...

READ: Trump's response to indictment in hush money case

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

Former President Trump on Thursday afternoon issued a lengthy statement in response to his indictment in a case involving alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.The historic indictment is the first time a president has been charged in a criminal matter and comes as Trump is mounting his third bid for the White House.Here is Trump's statement:“This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history. From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower, and even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Radical Left Democrats - the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country - have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement. You remember it just like I do: Russia, Russia, Russia; the Mueller Hoax; Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine; Impeachment Hoax 1; Impeachment Hoax 2; the illegal and unconstitutional Mar-a-Lago raid; and now this.“The Democrats have lied...

Man charged with DUI after being ejected from speeding vehicle in Waukegan

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A North Chicago man injured in a high-speed crash last December while allegedly under the influence faces multiple charges.D’Andre Moton, 35, of North Chicago is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana and driving with a suspended license following a crash on Dec. 17, 2022. Around 2:30 a.m., police responded to the 12700 block of West Crescent Avenue in Waukegan for a traffic crash with injuries. Lake County Sheriff's deputies found Moton ejected about 30 feet from the wrecked vehicle.Moton was driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer at a high rate of speed eastbound on West Crescent Avenue, deputies said. As the car approached Adelphi Avenue, Moton crossed an oncoming traffic lane and drove into a ditch.The Chevrolet struck a utility pole and rolled over onto its side. Moton was not wearing a seat belt, deputies added. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesMoton, who deputies said is paralyzed from the waist down, will be taken into custody...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Baby movements could be an early indicator of autism

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

For Thursday, March 30, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Researchers from Uppsala University found changes in the brain's cortex lead babies to have an altered perception of their surroundings, affecting their development and learning. How boosting immunity may block the most common signs of aging.Why body mass index can alter recovery from surgery

Newcomers deliver in Twins’ Opening Day victory

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:30 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hours before his eighth Opening Day in a Twins uniform began, center fielder Byron Buxton sat by his locker, and took a second to answer the question posed to him.The gist: Is this the highest expectations he’s had since he’s played for the Twins?“Probably so,” he said.Because while many on the outside have projected a second-place finish for the Twins in the American League Central division, Buxton has been talking all spring about the pursuit of a shiny, diamond ring.“We’ve got the right pieces to do what we want to do — and that’s win a ring,” Buxton said.That belief is in part because of the offseason work the front office put in — and on Thursday, in the Twins’ season opener, they got a good look at their newcomers, who played a big role in their 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.That started with right-handed pitcher Pablo López, who took the ball on Opening Day for the first time in his career, and showed exactly why the Twins trad...