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'Head-spinning hypocrisy': Democrats renew calls to expand Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Democrats are renewing their push to expand the U.S. Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices, saying it would be a more accurate reflection of the country.Senator Ed Markey and Representative Hank Johnson are leading the effort to expand the high court.“Let's start with undoing the Republican’s thievery and adding four seats to the court,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) said.“A six-three far-right super majority on the United States Supreme Court threatens our rights our democracy and our planet,” Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) added. “Republicans captured the court against the will of most Americans.”Democrats say expanding the court would restore balance.In 2016, Republicans blocked President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court because it was an election year but didn't use the same standard for President Trump's nominee in 2020.“With head-spinning hypocrisy, Senate Republicans and Donald Trump stole the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat, forcing Amy Coney Barrett on...

MedWatch Digest: The effects of cannabis products on pregnancy, plus more headlines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

Med Watch Digest News for May 16, 2023Study looks at pregnancy and cannabisA new study says if you're pregnant, consider not taking any cannabis product.The study was done by the College of Medicine at Central Michigan University.It found that even in the first trimester, there was a significant birth weight loss, about a third of a pound to the fetus.Even such a slight decrease the study reports, can be linked to health problems as the child grows.Continued use of marijuana after the first trimester can result in a smaller head circumference and could mean the brain didn't develop properly.New drug approved to treat hot flashesThe Food and Drug Administration approved a new medicine to help treat menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.Veozah is the first drug of its kind to be approved.It blocks receptors in the brain that influence body temperature regulation.The drug offers an alternative to traditional hormone replacement therapy, which can increase the risk of blood clots and ...

New Mexico police ID victims, suspect in 'purely random' mass shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico investigators have identified the three deceased victims, the shooter, and the two officers injured in Farmington during a mass shooting Monday. Farmington Police said the shooter killed three elderly women and wounded six others in what they believe was a “purely random” attack. Farmington community in mourning after deadly shooting Police identified the three women as Shirley Voita, Melody Ivie and Gwendolyn Schofield. Two of the women were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting and the third died at the hospital. Two of the victims were in their 70s, while the third victim was in her 90s.Farmington Police Sergeant Rachel Discenza and New Mexico State Police Officer Andreas Stamatiadis are among the wounded victims expected to survive their injuries. Stamatiadis has been treated and released from the hospital, while Discenza is still said to be hospitalized with a wound to her pelvis. Four other victims who survived their inju...

APD Chief Joseph Chacon on DPS halting partnership: 'Unfortunate but understandable'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) increased patrols in Austin "has been critical given the staffing shortages APD is experiencing."DPS ceased its partnership with APD over the weekend so troopers can focus their attention on border cities in the wake of the expiration of Title 42, according to law enforcement sources. The initiative, called the Austin Violent Crimes Task Force (AVCTF), began on March 30 as a way to assist APD, as the department faces a staffing shortage. APD currently has about 300 vacancies."This impacts operations, including slower response time to emergency calls," Chacon said about the temporary split in an email. "APD officers are working hard to provide the highest level of service possible, and we ask for the community's understanding and patience as APD works to build back its ranks."Since the program began, there have been “significant decreases in violent crime, response times, and ca...

Isolated heavy downpours this evening, then drier weather returns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are now enjoying above-normal May rainfall after more than a week of on-and-off showers and thunderstorms.A cool front moving through the area this evening interacting with plentiful humidity in place may spark a few additional heavy downpours early this evening. While some areas will remain dry, others may see up to an inch of rainfall.Clouds/radar forecast showing a few heavy downpours Tuesday eveningDrier, hotter weather comingA ridge of high pressure and drier northwesterly flow kicks in Wednesday and Thursday, removing rain chances from the forecast. Seasonably hot afternoons return with highs in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees.Temperatures warm Wednesday and ThursdayNext severe thunderstorm riskA cold front moves southeast across our area late Friday night into Saturday morning, leading to our next chance of rain and thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center's Day 4 outlook is suggesting possible strong to severe thunderstorms during this time. The chance...

With its licenses in the balance, Billy’s on Grand seeks to rebrand as Gather Eatery and Bar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

Days away from a June 1 public hearing that could determine the future of his liquor and entertainment licenses, Wesley Spearman has made a pitch to the Grand Avenue community. Billy’s on Grand, the iconic neighborhood bar that critics have called a magnet for police calls, will close for six weeks this summer for renovations, including freshly painted walls and new flooring and bar and patio furniture.When it reopens in early September, Spearman said Billy’s will be no more, replaced instead by the Gather Eatery and Bar. Led by an award-winning mixologist and veterans of the restaurant industry, Gather will feature creative cocktails, small bites, live music and theme nights such as Karaoke, Latin and country, and ultimately a reservation-only “speakeasy”-style side room and family gathering space.Spearman, a co-owner of the DWD Group, presented a slideshow to a crowd of invited guests in the future speakeasy space on Monday, and was scheduled to do the same...

Soul Asylum and Kevin Bacon’s band among the acts booked for Minnesota State Fair’s free stages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

Local favorites Soul Asylum, Kevin Bacon’s band the Bacon Brothers and “America’s Got Talent” vet Drake Milligan are among the artists set to play the Minnesota State Fair’s largest free stage.The lineup of evening shows at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell includes the Bacon Brothers (Aug. 24-25), Naturally 7 (Aug. 26-27), Drake Milligan (Aug. 28-29), Nikki Lane (Aug. 30-31), Celebrating Meat Loaf (Sept. 1-2) and Soul Asylum (Sept. 3-4).In all, the State Fair’s free stage entertainment lineup features more than 900 shows throughout the Great Minnesota Get-Back-Together’s 12-day run. The full lineup with showtimes is online at mnstatefair.org.Highlights at other Minnesota State Fair stages:West End at Sunset at the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater: Mike Hosty (Aug. 24-25), Kiss the Tiger (Aug. 26-27), Heatbox (Aug. 28-29), Gully Boys (Aug. 30-31), First Avenue Goes to the Fair (Sept. 1-2) and Petty Comes Alive (Sept. 3-4).Bazaar After Dark at the...

Legislature poised for final votes to legalize recreational marijuana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

House and Senate negotiators wrapped up work Tuesday on the details of a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota, setting the stage for final votes in the closing days of the legislative session.It will still take staffers a day or two to prepare the final bill language, the Democratic chairs of the cannabis conference committee, Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, and Sen. Lindsey Port, of Burnsville, said as they closed out their final meeting. The bill can then go to the House and Senate floors, where final approval is expected.“It has been an incredible journey,” Stephenson said, recalling the more than 30 committee hearings held between the both chambers this year to get the bill into its final shape. “Minnesota will be better because of it.”Conference committees are finishing work on the major budget bills of the 2023 session this week as the adjournment deadline of Monday approaches. House Democratic leaders hope to finish earlier, but much work lies...

PGA Championship: Stillwater native Alex Beach is due

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

Everything was seemingly working against Alex Beach early on at the PGA Professional Championship a couple of weeks back.The Stillwater native was part of featured group coverage, meaning the added pressure of cameras was constantly present. He couldn’t catch a break, as every bounce went against him to leave himself in a tough spot. He was on the wrong end of the draw, which left him playing in the more difficult end of the conditions in each of the first two rounds.All that added up to a first-round score of 4-over 76, leaving him in danger of missing the two-round cut that trimmed the field to the top 90 players with ties. He went out in Round 2 thinking he needed to play good golf. And he did. The problem was, nothing went in the cup.“I’m hitting it pin high, I’m hitting great putts,” Beach said, “they’re just not going in.”He still turned in a solid 1-under round, but that left him around 130th in the standings as he exited the course with many golfers still to play Round 2. He...

Trudy Rubin: Meet the Israeli military reservists who are fighting to preserve democracy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:50 GMT

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — Ofir Korazim, an Israeli air force pilot with 30 years of F-16 experience, hardly has the profile of a protester.The community leader of a small village in central Israel, head of a parent-teacher association, and a military reservist who has done 50 to 60 days of reserve duty yearly, he was galvanized when an extremist cabinet minister named Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to “wipe out” a West Bank town.During a long conversation in a Tel Aviv office, Korazim recalled his initial upset over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to end the Supreme Court’s independence. That unease turned to dismay when Netanyahu tried to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant — for asking him to listen to the concerns of reservists over the judicial overhaul. It became pure anger over Smotrich’s illegal demand.At that point, Korazim (who no longer flies but serves at headquarters) joined a growing movement of reserve pilots, navigators,...