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North Dakota House passes school gender pronoun prohibition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

Public schools and state agencies in North Dakota would be prohibited from referring to students and employees by any pronouns that don’t reflect the sex assigned to them at birth, under a bill approved by the legislature. The House approved the bill 60-32 on Wednesday. It passed the Senate last month and now awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Doug Burgum. In 2021, Burgum vetoed a bill that would have restricted transgender students from participating in public elementary and secondary school sports. But Burgum has not said publicly if he supports this latest measure. The bill is among hundreds nationwide that are taking aim at nearly every facet of transgender existence, from pronouns to bathroom use to health care to athletics. In North Dakota, similar bills to restrict transgender athletes have passed the House this session with veto-proof majorities. The Senate has not yet voted on them. Last week, Wyoming became the 19th state to ban transgender athletes from playing...

Former prime minister Stephen Harper says Canada needs a ‘Conservative renaissance’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada needs a “Conservative renaissance,” former prime minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday, but he cautioned that Pierre Poilievre should wait until an election before telling Canadians how he might run the country.  Harper delivered a speech that evening to a room of party faithful staged by the Canada Strong and Free Network, formerly called the Manning Centre. His public appearance is a rare one for Harper, who exited political life after losing the 2015 election to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals after nine years in power. Poilievre’s election as party leader last September appears to have changed that, with Harper throwing his endorsement behind Poilievre, which was the first time he had done so for a Conservative leader. Introduced as a “statesman” of the party, Harper mounted a defence of the term “populism,” which he said is often portrayed in a negative or imprecise light by what he called the “liberal media.&#...

Police: 21-year-old Navy sailor missing in Waukegan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The Waukegan Police Department is looking for the public's help in finding a 21-year-old man who is an active Navy member stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base.Police said Seamus Gray left the Ibiza Bar on North Genesee Street by himself around 1:35 a.m. on March 18 and was last seen on camera in the area of Sheridan Road and Washington Street.Police described Gray as 6-foot-3-inches, weighing around 170 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a light pink/red long-sleeve shirt and pants. Gray also has multiple tattoos on his left arm and a script tattoo on his ribcage.Anyone who has information on Gray's whereabouts is asked to call Waukegan Police Investigations Division at (847) 599-2673 or leave an anonymous tip by clicking here or here.

Much cooler weather on tap for Thursday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

Much cooler weather on tap for Thursday, following three consecutive days with highs in the 50s and early morning showers and thunderstorms. Expect temperatures to hold steady much of the day in the upper 30s and lower 40s with a brisk northerly wind 6-17 mph.Another storm system is set to arrive later Friday into Saturday bringing in a colder environment and boosting the potential for wet snow across at least parts of the metro area, especially areas north and northwest of the city. Current model projections suggest there’s a 70-80% chance of seeing 1”+ of slushy snow accumulation across northern sections of the Chicago metro area.Partial sunshine returns later this weekend along with temperatures closer to seasonal norms Sunday afternoon around 50 degrees, before another slug of chilly air moves in early next week bringing the next chance of rain and or mixed wet snow.

Kane County deputies warn of court scam through Zoom

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

KANE COUNTY, Ill. — The Kane County Sheriff’s Office is warning locals of a scam in which a person claiming to work on behalf of a county judge seeks their victim's personal information. The offender sends a message to its victims through a Zoom court call feature, requesting that they contact them by phone. Once the victim complies, the offender requests that the caller provide photocopies of their driver’s license, bank statements and paystubs. The victims are also instructed to pay fees to resolve their cases through banking applications such as Cash App, Zelle Pay, Apple Pay, and gift cards. What the Fed rate increase means for your credit card bill No Kane County court employee or judge would request this information by phone, deputies added. Deputies used the incident to remind residents:Always verify who you are talking to. Scammers often pretend to represent an organization you know.Scammers instruct you to pay in a specific way.Scammers rush and demand immediate payment.T...

DuPage County launches new initiative to help victims of domestic violence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — Domestic violence victims in DuPage County will soon have a new way to seek critical resources quickly, safely, and securely. County officials on Wednesday announced the launch of a QR code to help victims. The DuPage County State's Attorney and the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council created the QR code."This is yet another example of when all of our agencies work together, we come up with something that truly helps victims and helps protect our communities," said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. ALDI launching clothing Wednesday for $10 or less The code will take victims to an alternate website where police will instruct them on what link to click to access the information. The alternate site is designed to protect victims if someone takes a phone with a stored code. The site will provide links to resources to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, the YWCA, Family Shelter Services, the Illinois Department of Children and Family...

'Rick and Morty' creator has domestic abuse charges dropped

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California prosecutors on Wednesday dropped domestic violence charges against Justin Roiland, who created the Cartoon Network animated series “Rick and Morty” and provided the voices of the show’s two title characters.Orange County district attorney’s spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said the two felony counts involving a former girlfriend were dropped “due to a lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.”Roiland responded to the dismissal on Twitter. Previously: Adult Swim splits with ‘Rick and Morty’ co-creator, voice actor Justin Roiland “I have always known that these claims were false — and I never had any doubt that this day would come,” he said. “I'm thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I'm still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process.”He added that he is “disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of a bitter ex tr...

Tornado damages buildings near Los Angeles, NWS confirms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

(KTLA) - The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down in the Los Angeles suburb of Montebello on Wednesday, causing damage to multiple buildings. In a Wednesday evening tweet, NWS Los Angeles said a damage survey team was able to confirm a tornado hit around 11:20 a.m. PT. Because the damage was still being surveyed, and the EF rating wasn't available. The Verdugo Fire Communications Center initially reported the "weather incident" in an area along South Vail Street. Photos: Possible tornado touches down near Los Angeles, leaves damage in its wake Images from the scene show ripped-off parts of roofing on what appear to be commercial buildings and debris strewn about the area. Damage spread over more than one city block but the extent of the perimeter was still being determined.A reported tornado damaged buildings in Montebello on March 22, 2023. (Anthony Ortiz)A video shared with Nexstar's KTLA shows what appears to be a funnel cloud descending from the c...

DPS patrols Texas School for the Deaf after 'threatening' call

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 22, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety patrolled the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in south Austin Wednesday after a "threatening call" from a 1-800 number, TSD told KXAN.TSD said DPS was "immediately" called and the patrols were done as a precaution.An "alert was then sent through the Texas DPS mass notification app prior to officers arriving on campus to assess the situation," the spokesperson said.The school said there wasn't an active threat and the school wasn't in lockdown. Students have not returned to the campus following spring break.

'It's an honor': Texas Longhorns savor first trip to Sweet 16 in 15 years

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns junior Dylan Disu was 7 years old the last time Texas went to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.He's witnessed a great deal of that 15-year drought up close, graduating from Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville before spending two seasons at Vanderbilt. Disu has been on a tear averaging 18 points per game in Texas' five post season games, including 28 in Saturday's win over Penn State."It's cool and it's an honor to be part of the team that puts Texas back on the map," Disu said on Tuesday. "We're still focused on more, we want it to continue, we don't want it to be over yet."Veteran Texas squad cherishing momentFifth-year forward Timmy Allen is taking this time to embrace every aspect of his final college journey. "I am taking it to heart because I'm not getting this again," said Allen. "I'm not naïve to that, I just think I'm mature enough to know how special this is. There was a moment after we beat K-State on the road and we walked out and I ...