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Florida parents of transgender youths sue state over gender-affirming care bans

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

(The Hill) -- Four Florida families with transgender children have filed a federal lawsuit challenging new rules set by the state’s medical boards that prevent minors from accessing gender-affirming health care.Florida’s Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine in February approved a set of rules that prohibit health care providers from administering gender-affirming health care to minor patients, conflicting with guidance set by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society and the recommendations of most major medical organizations.In a lawsuit filed late Thursday in the Northern District of Florida, the families argue that the new rules, which only apply to youth who have not begun treatment, violate the rights of parents to make decisions about the health and wellbeing of their children.“The transgender medical bans violate this fundamental right by preventing the parent plaintiffs from obtaining medically necessary care ...

Philadelphia may pay some pregnant women $1,000 per month

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

(NewsNation) — The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is reportedly raising money to give $1,000 monthly payments to some expectant mothers living in certain areas of the city.The health department plans to make this possible for approximately 250 pregnant Philadelphians through the Philly Joy Bank, with the goal of reducing racial disparities in birth outcomes.The payments are “no-strings-attached,” according to a news release.Of the top 10 most populated cities across the country, Philadelphia has the highest rate of infant mortality, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health says, and Black infants in the city are more than four times more likely to die before their first birthday than white infants. Bagels & drug testing: Moms file complaint against hospitals “Infant mortality in Philadelphia is a solvable crisis,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. “We know that being able to better support pregnant people and new parents helps keep babies alive. As t...

Quick clearing and heating this afternoon

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rain has moved through most of the area and will continue to exit our eastern counties by early afternoon. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS Sunshine will continue to come out quickly from west to east. West winds will help to accelerate the warming today. Temperatures will jump into the middle and upper 80s as compressional heating dries out the air and allows highs to soar.Forecast highs Friday afternoonA bright and warm weekend is ahead for all of the area. Highs will be in the upper 70s to low 80s both days. Saturday will be sunny. Sunday will feature a mix of sun and clouds. A spotty storm or shower is possible Sunday afternoon east of I-35, but most of us stay dry.Weekend forecastLow rain chances will be in the forecast most of next week. Highs will average the middle 70s Monday to Wednesday before warming into the low to mid 80s Thursday.The Climate Prediction Center's updated second-week forecast (March 31st to April 6th) gives a glimmer of hope of getting th...

Mower County Sheriff was allegedly drunk at work while armed. Police never investigated it as a crime. Why?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

AUSTIN, Minn. — Steve Sandvik has been the sheriff for Mower County since 2018 and has been with the sheriff’s office for almost three decades.“My experience with Sheriff Sandvik is that he holds himself to high standards. He works long hours and would give the shirt off his back for anyone,” Mower County Administrator Trish Harren wrote in a November 2022 email to Post Bulletin. “Perhaps to the detriment of taking care of his own health and well-being.”He won re-election on Nov. 8, 2022.Less than two weeks later, he would be accused of being intoxicated at work, setting off a series of events where legal action has been threatened against the county administrator, a police force has refused to answer why the sheriff was given a free pass, and a county attorney has simultaneously commended the police and expressed a wish that police had done more.Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik (Forum News Service)This story is based on a series of interviews and documents obtained from public da...

Old Doane Stuart School damaged in fire: "We lost a treasure here."

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A fire burnt through one of Albany’s most historic landmarks, the old Doane Stuart school. The fully involved fire began around 6:30 p.m. and took just under four hours to get under control. The building was extremely damaged with the steeple collapsing during the fire.  Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Albany Fire Chief Joseph Gregory said there were challenges getting enough water to fight this fire and preventing the wind from spreading it to nearby buildings. “With the wind factor and the embers that were flying we were very lucky to prevent any issues with that," Gregory said. Mayor Kathy Sheehan said city and county representatives met with a potential developer as recently as Mar. 14, 2023 to discuss the future of the site and have encountered several problems with the current owner Kenwood Commons, LLC declaring bankruptcy with over $5 million in overdue taxes. “This was a priority build...

Schenectady man pleads guilty to rape

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Keith Solana, 28, of Schenectady has pleaded guilty to f Rape in the First Degree. The Schenectady County District Attorney announced the plea on Friday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Solana admitted to having sex with a child under the age of 13. Police said that he knew the victim. The victim was interviewed at the Schenectady Child Advocacy Center where they disclosed the sexual assault. The plea satisfies a three-count indictment against Solana.Solana will be sentenced to between 15 and 19 years in prison at the time of sentencing, with 20 years of post-release supervision and a full stay-away order of protection in favor of the victim. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

Plan for MetroLink line from north to south St. Louis City gains support

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A plan to expand MetroLink services in St. Louis with a line from north to south city has gained support to proceed with development and funding efforts. The Bi-State Development transportation agency is now authorized to plan, design, and develop a route through the Jefferson Alignment MetroLink Expansion project. The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners approved a resolution and memorandum of understanding Friday during a special board meeting. Trending: Missouri’s top barbecue joint is in St. Louis, according to Yelp Through the latest agreement, Bi-State Development officials will be able to recruit a consultant, apply for funding and oversee the Program Management Consultant phase of the expansion project. According to a news release from Bi-State Development, officials say the first phase of expansion could cost around $850 million. The Bi-State Development expects to submit an application for the federal government’s New Starts program this summer or nex...

4 ex-cops charged in Tyre Nichols’ death barred from police

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

By JONATHAN MATTISE (Associated Press)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Four of five former Memphis police officers charged in the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who was handcuffed, brutally beaten and ignored by first responders for crucial minutes despite being barely conscious, can no longer work as law enforcement in Tennessee.The Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission, or P.O.S.T., voted Friday to decertify Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith. The state panel also approved the decision by Desmond Mills to surrender his certification.The former officers have 30 days to appeal.The beating of the 29-year-old Black man happened during a late night traffic stop Jan. 7. The commission subsequently released documents showing that Haley dragged Nichols from his vehicle and never explained why he was stopped, and that he also took photos of Nichols slumped against the car after he was pummeled by officers and sent the pictures to colleagues.Nichols died at a ho...

More rain, snow in the forecast for metro Los Angeles next week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

Meteorologists say we can expect mostly clear skies across the Southland Friday through Sunday with high temperatures in the upper 50s to mid-60s before more precipitation arrives.“There is increasing confidence that another strong Pacific storm system will move into the forecast area Monday night and Tuesday with rain and mountain snow spreading across the area,” the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said. Early estimates show rainfall of .50 to two inches across metro L.A. Monday night into Thursday, with the highest amounts on south-facing slopes and the northwest Santa Lucia Mountains, NWS said. There is also the potential for six to 12 inches of snow in the mountains above 4,000 feet.Gusty southerly winds should affect the area Tuesday into Thursday night as well, NWS said.

Much of West Coast faces ban to fish salmon amid low stocks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:11:54 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — As drought dried up rivers that carry California’s newly hatched Chinook salmon to the ocean, state officials in recent years resorted to loading up the fish by the millions onto trucks and barges to take them to the Pacific.The surreal and desperate scramble boosted the survival rate of the hatchery-raised fish, but still it was not enough to reverse the declining stocks in the face of added challenges. River water temperatures rose with warm weather, and a Trump-era rollback of federal protections for waterways allowed more water to be diverted to farms. Climate change, meanwhile, threatens food sources for the young Chinook maturing in the Pacific. Now, ocean salmon fishing season is set to be prohibited this year off California and much of Oregon for the second time in 15 years after adult fall-run Chinook, often known as king salmon, returned to California's rivers in near record-low numbers in 2022.“There will be no wild-caught California salmon to eat unless ...