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Supporters of silenced Montana transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr won’t face trespassing charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana prosecutors are declining to pursue misdemeanor trespassing charges against seven people who were arrested in the state House gallery for protesting after Republicans denied transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr the right to debate bills near the end of the 2023 legislative session.The Lewis and Clark County Attorney’s Office filed motions in Justice Court to dismiss the charges “in the best interests of justice.” A justice of the peace signed three of the seven motions on Tuesday, court officials said. The remaining four were signed Wednesday.Zephyr’s silencing drew scores of protesters to the state Capitol and renewed nationwide debates about manners in politics. It also took place as conservative lawmakers nationwide have introduced a flurry of anti-LGBTQ+ bills this year.One of the defendants, Paul Kim of Missoula, said his attorney told him the county decided to drop the charges. Phone messages seeking comment Tuesday from County Attorney Ke...

North Dakota Gov. Burgum will participate in the GOP primary debate stage after injuring leg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says he plans to participate in the Republican presidential debate on Wednesday after he was injured playing basketball on Tuesday and his campaign wasn’t sure he would be able to appear on stage. The Burgum campaign posted a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, of Burgum entering the stage on crutches during a candidate walkthrough earlier Wednesday. “I’m in,” he posted. Burgum hurt his Achilles tendon playing basketball with members of his campaign staff on Tuesday and was taken to the emergency room. Campaign spokesman Lance Trover said earlier Wednesday that it was “unclear if he will be able to stand at the debate,” set for Wednesday night in Milwaukee. The injury was first reported by CNN.Missing the two-hour debate would have been a major setback for Burgum, who is the least known of the eight candidates expected to take the stage at Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee, home to the Milwaukee Bucks basketb...

North Korea says its 2nd attempt to launch a spy satellite has failed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said its second attempt to launch a spy satellite failed Thursday and it will make a third attempt in October, the country’s state media reported. The North’s state news agency said Thursday’s launch ended in a failure because of an error that happened during a three-stage flight of the rocket.It cited the country’s aerospace agency as saying that North Korea will conduct a third attempt in October after finding what caused a failure.The announcement followed a statement by South Korea’s military that North Korea had launched a long-range rocket. In late May, a North Korean rocket carrying a spy satellite plunged into the sea soon after liftoff, posing a setback to leader Kim Jong Un’s push to establish a space-based surveillance system to better monitor the U.S. and South Korea. North Korea had since vowed to make a second attempt.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea launch...

Beverly's 'Bike Whisperer' teaching kids how to ride bicycles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

CHICAGO —Aa man from Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood has single handedly taught hundreds of kids how to ride a bikeErin Ivory first read about him in Block Club, and as a parent who has struggled to teach their own kids how to take off on two wheels she was intrigued.So she found Louie Burrel, who is also known as the “Bike Whisperer.”He said he figures he puts in at least a mile of running for each lesson and says there's really no secret, just sweat equity and two rules: he won’t let them crash and he won’t let them fall."I can't let them fall. So I'm serious about that. When you prove it and a kid wobbles, or leans a little bit and you catch them,” he said. "After a while the kid becomes comfortable and realizes, ‘Wow he's not going to let me fall.’"Find him on Instagram hereThere hasn't been one person he hasn't been able to teach how to stay upright on two wheels.This fall, Burrel returns to his full time job as a varsity basketball coach and P.E. teacher, but still plans to kee...

Lauryn Hill, Fugees to perform in Chicago this fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

CHICAGO -- One of the queens of R&B will head back to the Windy City this October.Ms. Lauryn Hill will take her "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour" to Chicago's United Center on Saturday, Oct. 28.The eight-time Grammy Award winning artist has over 12.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, including almost 374 million plays for her hit song "Doo Wop (That Thing)" from her debut solo album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill."Hill received 10 Grammy nominations for the 1998 album, including winning Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Rhythm & Blues Song, Best R&B Album, and Album of the Year. Chicago & House Music: A relationship over four decades in the making Wyclef Jean and Pras Michael will also join Hill on tour as they will bring the Fugees back on the road.The hip-hop group from New Jersey broke into the main stream following the release of the Grammy Award Winning song "Killing Me Softly With His Song," from their 19...

Yan Gomes' single breaks an 8th-inning tie as the wild card-contending Cubs beat the Tigers 6-4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Yan Gomes hit a tiebreaking, two-out single in the eighth inning, and the playoff-contending Chicago Cubs beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Wednesday.Detroit's Kerry Carpenter hit a grand slam in the sixth inning off Jameson Taillon that tied the game at 4-all, but his teammates didn't do much else at the plate.The Cubs have won 24 of their last 34 games and took two of three from the Tigers, improving to 9-1-1 in their last 11 series. They currently hold the second NL wild-card spot and are trying to challenge first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.Julian Merryweather (5-1) struck out three in 1 1/3 innings. Adbert Alzolay pitched the ninth, striking out Jake Rogers with runners on second and third for his 19th save — converting on his 15th straight opportunity.In the eighth, Ian Happ had a one-out infield hit against Beau Briske (0-2), who walked Seiya Suzuki with two outs and then yielded Gomes' single to left.Nico Hoerner's sacrifice fly in the ninth gave the Cubs a...

Justice Department announces charges against hundreds of alleged COVID-19 fraudsters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of people have been charged with the theft of more than $830 million in COVID-19 emergency aid following a nationwide operation conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday.More than 60 of the defendants have alleged connections to organized crime, the department said, including members of a criminal gang accused of using stolen pandemic aid to pay for a murder.“This latest action, involving over 300 defendants and over $830 million in alleged COVID-19 fraud, should send a clear message: the COVID-19 public health emergency may have ended, but the Justice Department’s work to identify and prosecute those who stole pandemic relief funds is far from over,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. COVID hospitalizations jump again: Maps show where it’s worst The three-month operation, which ended in July, resulted in more than 300 people being charged,, underscoring the pervasiv...

GOP debate: What to watch for as Republican presidential candidates face off

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – There will be eight presidential candidates on stage Wednesday night at the Republican debate and Donald J. Trump won't be one of them – but there's a good chance the former president will be a popular topic.The debate will take place in Milwaukee from 9 to 11 p.m. EST, with live broadcast coverage on Fox News Channel. Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the debate.The candidates include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.Burgum, 67, is reportedly using crutches after suffering an Achilles tendon tear during a game of basketball with his staff Tuesday, tweeting Wednesday afternoon, "I've played lots of pick-up games in my day! This isn't the first time one has sent me to the ER. Appreciate all the well-wishes." ...

Death investigation continues after police identify man found dead off Ben White

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, Austin Police identified a man who was found dead earlier this month off East Ben White Boulevard in south Austin, according to a APD news release.Shortly after midnight, Aug. 4, officers responded to the scene in the westbound service road of Ben White near Burleson Road, according to police. When police arrived, officers found a man with obvious trauma to the upper part of his body. It’s unclear if there was a weapon found at the scene at this time.Police identified the man as Skylee Williams, 26, the release said. APD launches homicide investigation after body found off Ben White According to police, the body was found by a woman, but it’s unclear what the relationship is between the two. The man’s body was found in a wooded area off the side of the road that is right next to Saint Peter Apostle Church. Police did not know if the man was homeless.Anyone with any information should contact the Austin Police Department at (512) 974-TIPS. You may sub...

Crews contain brush fire caused by unapproved burning on private property

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:34 GMT

Editor's Note: The location of the brush fire has been updated.MANOR, Texas (KXAN) -- Crews have contained a two-acre brush fire in Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. Travis County Emergency Services District No. 12 and Travis County Fire Rescue responded to the fire.According to Travis County ESD 12, the fire started due to unapproved burning on a private property and quickly spread due to winds. The fire grew to around two acres. Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflugerville near Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. | Courtesy Travis County ESD No. 12Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflugerville near Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. | Courtesy Travis County ESD No. 12Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflugerville near Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. | Courtesy Travis County ESD No. 12Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflu...