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North Dakota governor signs law banning abortion at 6 weeks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

North Dakota on Monday adopted one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country as Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation banning the procedure at six weeks of pregnancy, even in cases of rape or incest.“This bill clarifies and refines existing state law … and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,” Burgum said in a statement.The law is designed to take effect immediately, but last month the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled a state abortion ban will remain blocked while a lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds. Last week, lawmakers said they planned to pass the latest bill to send a message to the state’s high court signaling that the people of North Dakota want to restrict abortion.Supporters have said the measure signed Monday protects all human life, while opponents contend it will have dire consequences for women and girls.Republican Sen. Janne Myrdal, of Edinburg, had sponsored the bill.“North Dakota has always been pro-life and believed in v...

Montana trans lawmaker silenced 3rd day; protestors arrested

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — As Republican leaders in the Montana legislature doubled down on forbidding Rep. Zooey Zephyr from participating in debate for a second week, her supporters interrupted proceedings in the House by chanting, “Let her speak!”Zephyr, a first-term Democrat from Missoula, had aimed to speak on a proposal that would have restricted when children could change the names and pronouns they use in school and required their parents’ consent.When lawmakers voted to continue subjecting Zephyr to a gag order, denying her the chance to speak, the gallery made up mostly of her supporters erupted, forcing legislative leaders to pause proceedings and clear the room.The ordeal is the latest development in a three-day fight over Zephyr’s remarks against lawmakers who support of a ban on gender-affirming care. Zephyr, who is transgender and a first-term Democrat from Missoula, hasn’t been allowed to speak on the statehouse floor since Thursday because she told her Republi...

Ginnie Newhart, wife of comedy legend Bob Newhart, dies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ginnie Newhart, who was married to comedy legend Bob Newhart for six decades and inspired the classic ending of his “Newhart” series, has died. She was 82.Publicist Jerry Digney said Newhart died Sunday in Los Angeles after a long illness. No further details were available. The couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.Ginnie Newhart is credited with providing the idea for the 1990 “Newhart” finale that included a clever callback to her husband’s “The Bob Newhart Show.” The later show, which featured Newhart as a Vermont innkeeper, ended with him waking up in Chicago next to his on-screen wife from “The Bob Newhart Show,” revealing the second series to be dream.Ginnie Newhart suggested the idea to her husband at a Christmas party that was also attended by Suzanne Pleshette, his on-screen wife in “The Bob Newhart Show.” That series ran for six seasons from 1972 to 1978 and helped cement Bob Newhart’s status as a legend of television come...

B.C. court decision a ‘significant win’ for parental rights, commissioner says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

VANCOUVER — A recent court decision about workplace discrimination involving the mother of a young child is “a significant win for gender equality,” British Columbia’s human rights commissioner said.Kasari Govender said Monday the decision from the B.C. Court of Appeal on the case between Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and welder Lisa Harvey “is an important step forward” in gender equality in the workplace, since employer discrimination against a worker’s “family status” inevitably affects more women than men.“We know that in many families, women continue to be disproportionally responsible for caregiving, for caring for children, caring for seniors and other dependants in their households,” Govender said. “And this decision, ultimately, will ensure that employers treat them with more equality than we had before.”The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled Friday that cases of employer discrimination against a worker’s “f...

ACLU sues to block Missouri rule on transgender health care

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri ACLU on Monday sued to block new state restrictions on both adults and children seeking gender-affirming health care, which are set to kick in Thursday. ACLU, Lambda Legal and Bryan Cave Leighton LLP attorneys representing transgender Missourians and health care providers asked a St. Louis County judge to stop the first-of-its-kind rule from taking effect.They argue that Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has no authority to use a state consumer-protection law to regulate gender-affirming care through emergency rule-making. The rule is “a baseless and discriminatory attempt to limit the healthcare options for transgender individuals, who already face several barriers accessing necessary and life-saving medical care,” said Dr. Samuel Tochtrop of plaintiff Southampton Community Healthcare, in a statement. Before gender-affirming medical treatments can be provided by physicians, the regulation requires people to have experienced an “...

Conservation authority says province didn’t consult on Ontario Science Centre move to Ontario Place

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

Ontario’s largest conservation authority says it was not consulted on the decision to move the Ontario Science Centre, despite owning the land it currently sits on.The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority says it has not had any conversations with the province or the City of Toronto about Ontario’s decision to move the Science Centre, build housing on the lands or cancel the museum’s lease agreement set to expire in 2064.The authority says it owns approximately 32 hectares of land at the area in Toronto’s west end under a management agreement with the city.The TRCA says those lands include portions of the Science Centre, and that they’re also home to ravine lands, greenspace and sensitive habitats considered hazardous to develop on.The authority says provincial, municipal and TRCA policies require future development to happen in areas outside of the hazardous lands.It says it has reached out to the Ontario government for clarification and looks for...

Alabama and Mississippi mark Confederate Memorial Day

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama and Mississippi closed most government offices Monday for Confederate Memorial Day as efforts have stalled to abolish state holidays that honor the old Confederacy. Legislation has been introduced in the ongoing Alabama legislative session to remove, alter or rename Confederate-related holidays, but the effort has so far gained little traction. Camille Bennett, the founder of Project Say Something, an organization that has worked for the removal of Confederate monuments in Alabama, said the determination to keep Confederate holidays comes at the same time Alabama lawmakers push legislation banning so called “ divisive concepts” from being taught in state classrooms and diversity training for state workers. “On one side, you have white conservative men defining what divisive is and what it means. … At the same time, you are honoring the Confederacy, which in itself is a divisive concept. It’s really hypocritical, quite tone deaf,” Bennett s...

Amazon driver allegedly tried to hit dogs after chase, company apologizes: family

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio (WJW) — Joe Hama has no problem admitting that his three bulldogs have made becoming an empty nester easier.“They are a part of my family, he told Nexstar's WJW, describing them as being "like my kids."The Hama family says they receive packages on a daily basis. Every time, the delivery driver is met with at least one of the three Hama family dogs.The encounter has always gone well. That is, until this past weekend. “The outcome could have been horrifying, so thinking about what could have happened does make me frustrated,” Hama explained. Northern lights could be visible in US Monday: Here’s where On Saturday morning, the Hama family’s Ring camera captured an encounter that has left them frustrated.The video shows a delivery driver dropping off a package to their home before being chased back into his car by one of the bulldogs. All three dogs appeared not to be restrained, and two others can be seen following closely behind the first.Hama admits his d...

Walmart to give away free Walmart+ memberships to new moms

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Walmart announced it is giving away up to 20,000 free one-year Walmart+ memberships to new moms who give birth during the month of May. The membership, valued at $98 each, will be distributed nationwide in hospitals.According to a April 24 media release, the Walmart+ membership giveaway is in conjunction with Pampers Hospital Gift Program, which provides a gift bag for patients who have recently delivered a baby. Judge tentatively OKs $725M Facebook settlement: How to apply for a payout “Walmart+ brings together benefits that will help save moms precious time,” said Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Walmart. “Whether it's getting diapers delivered straight to their door or saving on gas for the carpool, we’ve got their back. To celebrate moms we’ve committed to gifting 20,000 Walmart+ memberships to some of our most important customers, making life a little easier for them.”Walmart+ offers a series of perks a...

Louisiana high school senior awarded record-breaking $9M in scholarships, 125 college offers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:05:51 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A New Orleans student has broken the record for the most scholarships received by a college-bound high school senior.Dennis Barnes, a student at the International High School of New Orleans, is celebrating his success after being accepted into 125 colleges and universities and receiving more than $9 million in scholarships. The Marrero native's achievement tops that of the previous record holder, who is also from Louisiana. In 2019, a senior from Lafayette, Louisiana cashed in with $8.7 million from colleges across the nation, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. The school is now working with Guinness officials to confirm the record. Louisiana woman sets Guinness World Record for largest Afro for the 4th time With a cumulative GPA of 4.98, Barnes is dually enrolled at Southern University of New Orleans where he is also earning college credit while still in high school. His plan is to earn a dual degree in both computer science and criminal justic...