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California lawmakers vote to become first state to ban caste-based discrimination

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Tuesday voted to outlaw discrimination based on caste, adding protections for people of South Asian descent who say they have been left out of traditional American safeguards for fairness in employment and housing.The bill — the first of its kind in the U.S. — now heads to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who must decide whether to sign it into law.Caste is an ancient, complex system that regulates people’s social status based on their birth. It’s primarily associated with India and Hinduism, but caste-based divisions are also found in other faiths and countries. State and federal laws already ban discrimination based on sex, race and religion. California’s civil rights law goes further by outlawing discrimination based on things like medical conditions, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigration status and ancestry.Tuesday, the state Senate voted 31-5 to approve a bill that would redefine “ancestry” to inclu...

Joliet man sentenced to 15 months for crash that injured Illinois state trooper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

WILL COUNTY, Ill. — A Joliet man will spend more than a year in prison for a Scott’s Law violation that resulted in a crash that left an Illinois State Police Trooper gravely injured, according to Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.Glasgow announced Tuesday morning that 23-year-old Angel Casillas was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the crash, which resulted from a Scott’s Law violation, that left Trooper Brian Frank disabled and confined to 24-hour care. ‘Want this for my parents’: Reward increased in 1979 murders of Niles West students as families want answers Scott's Law mandates that drivers approaching stopped emergency vehicles along the roadway must change lanes if able, or greatly reduce their speed if unableAccording to Glasgow, on February 15, 2021, Trooper Frank was working a crash in the left lane against the center median wall along I55, just north of Route 30. At the time the trooper had emergency lights activated and had three emergency flares burning be...

Carnival Cruise passenger reported missing after ship returns to Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

MIAMI (WFLA) — Officials in South Florida said they are searching for a missing man who was last seen on a Carnival Cruise ship.The Miami-Dade Police Department said Kevin McGrath, 26, was reported missing Monday after the Carnival Conquest returned to Port Miami.According to Carnival Cruise Line, McGrath was last seen at about 7 a.m. Monday by his cabinmate, just around the time that guests were supposed to be getting off the ship.After an "extensive search," McGrath was nowhere to be found on the ship, officials said.The U.S. Coast Guard was called in to do a search in the surrounding waters, but he was not found there. Delta flight returns to Atlanta after alleged diarrhea incident "The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process," the Carnival Cruise Line statement said. "Miami Dade police eventually cleared the ship to sail."McGrath is described as being 5' 9" tall and weighing 170 pounds, with brown ...

Why are Nature Valley granola bars so messy?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — They're the snappy, crunchy and nutty snacks you're likely to see in just about any vending machine anywhere — the green-wrapped Nature Valley granola bars. Maybe they got you through an early morning college class or helped tide you over before lunch at work — whatever the situation, you can bet it probably made a mess.Why is that? Three-legged bear breaks into Florida home, drinks White Claws One needn't look far to find ranting and raving about the bars online. Just a few of the Reddit threads dedicated to them include "These Nature Valley bars need to come with an ashtray" and the slightly more aggrieved "F--- Nature Valley bars."But it turns out the company isn't unaware of how crumbly the bars can be. In fact, General Mills, which owns Nature Valley, sees the mess as a signature feature.The mess created by taking a few bites from one Nature Valley granola bar (Russell Falcon/NEXSTAR)“It’s no secret that enjoying one of our delicious Nature Valley C...

5 takeaways from the first day of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The impeachment trial for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton is underway at the Texas State Capitol. Ken Paxton impeachment trial starts in Texas Senate Here are five takeaways from the first day of the trial.1. Paxton pleaded not guilty to all articles of impeachmentPaxton's lead lawyer Tony Buzbee spoke on Paxton's behalf and pleaded not guilty to each article of impeachment. In May, the Texas House voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton on 20 articles of impeachment. These range from making false statements to obstructing justice to accepting bribes from a campaign donor. The Senate will consider 16 of these articles in the trial. READ MORE: A comprehensive guide to Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial Here's a closer look at each article of impeachment. 2. Paxton not compelled to testifyLt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is also the impeachment trial judge, ruled that Paxton does not have to testify. House prosecutors sought to compel his testimony, but Patrick said they will...

'Addressing needs before gentrification': Travis County approves pilot program, investing in northeast Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)—Travis County has a new plan to put more resources and even money into northeast Austin.It passed a resolution brought forth by Travis County Commissioner Jeffrey Travillion, of Precinct 1. "On June 1, 2023, EDSI briefed the Commissioners Court on the idea of creating aMarshall Plan for eastern Travis County. A Marshall Plan identifies quality publicinvestments and funding mechanisms to support communities in East Travis Countythat have faced displacement and systemic racism that has left people of color fallingfurther behind economically; made them more likely to be in a generational cycle ofpoverty; and less resilient to natural disasters, weather events, and national or personaleconomic or health crises.Travis County Commissioners' Court, Resolution backgroundTravis County is now taking real action to make sure those who call northeast Austin, can not only stay, but thrive."What we're trying to construct is a policy framework," Travillion said. "The idea is that the...

Wisconsin judicial disciplinary panel rejects complaints lodged against Protasiewicz

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — A state judiciary disciplinary panel has rejected several complaints lodged against Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz that alleged she violated the judicial code of ethics for comments she made during the campaign. It’s a setback to Republicans who argued those remarks could warrant impeachment.Protasiewicz on Tuesday released a letter from the Wisconsin Judicial Commission informing her that “several complaints” regarding comments she had made during the campaign had been dismissed without action.The commission’s actions are private unless released by one of the parties involved. Protasiewicz received permission from the commission to release its May 31 letter to her, which she then provided to the Associated Press.Protasiewicz’s win in April flipped majority control of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court from conservative to liberal for the first time in 15 years. Democrats heavily backed her campaign, during which Protasiewicz criticized Republi...

Former St. Thomas student gets 3 years in prison for sex trafficking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

A former University of St. Thomas student was sentenced Tuesday to three years in federal prison for her role in a sex trafficking scheme.Between May and December 2020, 21-year-old Gisela Castro Medina conspired with Anton “Tony” Lazzaro to recruit and solicit six minors to engage in sex acts for cash and gifts, according to court documents.Anton Lazzaro and Gisela Castro MedinaU.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said at sentencing that Castro Medina helped Lazzaro at “every step of the way.”Castro Medina in December pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and obstructing the investigation.Castro Medina admitted she knew the victims were underage when she recruited them through social media and other ways. She admitted she knew Lazzaro paid them money and gifts, such as alcohol, vapes, high-end purses and hotel rooms, in exchange for sex acts.Meanwhile, Lazzaro paid Castro Medina in cash and over Venmo, and by paying her rent and tuition at St. Thomas, wh...

At first meeting, panel says it might need more time to select new Minnesota state seal, flag

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

A panel tasked with coming up with a new design for Minnesota’s state flag and seal by the end of 2023 has appointed its leadership and work schedule, though there’s a chance they’ll need more time to complete their work.Minnesota’s flag has long been criticized for its unmemorable design and depiction of white settlers driving Native Americans off their lands. After decades of discussion, the process of adopting new symbols has started.At the first meeting of the State Emblems Redesign Commission on Tuesday in St. Paul, members agreed to meet weekly with the goal of finishing their business by the end-of-year deadline. Under the state law calling for the new flag, members of the panel have to take input from experts and the public and create a new design by Jan. 1, 2024.But even with weekly meetings, there’s a chance the emblems commission will ask the Legislature for an extension to complete their work, according to Allison Ortiz, a spokesperson with the Minnesota Historical Socie...

Twins’ Carlos Correa on playing season through foot injury: “Sitting out was never an option”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:52 GMT

CLEVELAND — Carlos Correa wasn’t about to shut it down in May when his plantar fasciitis flared up for the first time.The pain in his left foot forced him out of a few games initially, but taking a prolonged period of time to see if it would heal was out of the equation entirely for the shortstop.“I don’t want to be sitting out if I can at least be at 50 percent and go out there and play. Sitting out was never an option,” Correa said. “It’s ‘Let’s try to manage this. Let’s try to contain it and try not to get worse.’ Some days it’s better than others. Some days it sucks.”There’s no way to actually quantify how the heel pain has affected Correa, who began Tuesday hitting .230 with a .309 on-base percentage, .400 slugging percentage and .709 OPS — all lower than his career norms. But Correa, who has heated up on this road trip, is quick to not blame his results on that.“The kinetic chain gets affected in so many ways. It goes from the ground up. So I’m sure it has something to do with...