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Missouri school board that previously rescinded anti-racism resolution drops Black history classes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — A conservative-led Missouri school board has voted to drop elective courses on Black history and literature, five months after the same board rescinded an anti-discrimination policy adopted in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd.The Francis Howell School Board voted 5-2 Thursday night to stop offering Black History and Black Literature, courses that had been offered at the district’s three high schools since 2021. A little over 100 students took the courses this semester in the predominantly white suburban area of St. Louis.In July, the board revoked an anti-racism resolution and ordered copies removed from school buildings. The resolution was adopted in August 2020 amid the national turmoil after a police officer killed Floyd in Minneapolis.The resolution pledged that the Francis Howell community would “speak firmly against any racism, discrimination, and senseless violence against people regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, immigrat...

Seattle hospital says Texas attorney general asked for records about transgender care for children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked a Seattle hospital to hand over records regarding gender-affirming treatment potentially given to children from Texas, according to court filings that appear to show the Republican going beyond state borders to investigate transgender health care. Seattle Children’s Hospital filed a lawsuit in Austin, Texas, this month asking a court to invalidate or narrow the requests from Paxton, a staunch conservative who has helped drive Republican efforts that target the rights of trans people. His office sent similar letters earlier this year to Texas hospitals.Texas is among more than 20 states that have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. On Friday, court records showed there been no decision yet on the Seattle hospital’s lawsuit. The hospital argued Paxton’s office was overstepping its jurisdiction and had no authority to request the records. “Additionally, t...

A British sea monitoring agency says another vessel has been hijacked near Somalia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Another vessel has been hijacked near the coast of Somalia, a British sea trade monitoring agency said Friday, raising more concerns that Somali pirates are active again, nearly a decade after they caused chaos for international shipping.A dhow trading vessel was seized by heavily armed people near the town of Eyl off the coast of Somalia, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. It cited military authorities as the source of the information.The agency did not offer any details on who the hijackers were but said an investigation is underway.The European Union’s Naval Force reported that a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel was hijacked in the nearby Arabian Sea last week and moved to the same area off Somalia’s coast. The bulk carrier Ruen had 18 crew onboard when it was hijacked near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometers (150 miles) off Somalia.One crew member was evacuated to an Indian navy ship for medical care, the ...

Truck carrying gas hits railroad bridge and explodes as a train passes overhead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

GLENVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A tractor-trailer loaded with what authorities believe were gas containers slammed into the bottom of an overhead railroad bridge in upstate New York and exploded Thursday night as a freight train was traveling on the tracks above.The crash seriously injured the truck driver and briefly knocked out power to local homes and businesses. At about 6:30 p.m, the truck hit the bridge in Glenville, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Albany. Police said the driver apparently failed to heed signs warning that the height clearance was 10 feet (3 meters).Video and news photos from the scene showed flames shooting into the sky as the wrecked truck was stuck under the bridge and nearly tipped over. Officials believe it was carrying containers of compressed natural gas. Authorities said there was no major damage reported to the train, which did not stop.“The first thought was ‘god forbid if there is a fatality here,’” Christopher Koetzle, the Glenville town s...

RCMP union seeks boost to cadet training allowance to compete with other forces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

OTTAWA — The union representing rank-and-file Mounties has asked the federal government for $24 million annually to boost the RCMP cadet training allowance to help attract the best recruits.The National Police Federation says the RCMP must appropriately compensate cadets while they attend training to remain competitive with other forces.The federation notes cadets are not considered RCMP employees until they have completed their 26-week training, and therefore are not covered by a collective agreement.During this period, cadets receive an allowance of $525 per week, and the RCMP covers the cost of accommodation, meals, uniforms, training courses, insurance and limited travel.The federation says that since 2008, the $525 allowance has not changed or been adjusted to match inflation.It says at the current rate, cadets are making less than what minimum-wage workers earn in most provinces.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2023.The Canadian Press

Trump says he’s eager to debate Biden in 2024, even if controversial commission plans events

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump says he is eager to debate President Joe Biden, even if the debates are sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. And he says he is open to debating a single Republican rival if a serious challenger emerges after the New Hampshire primary.Trump, who has skipped all of the primary debates so far citing his commanding lead in the polls, was asked if he will debate Biden if named his party’s nominee during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Friday.“Oh will I look forward to that,” Trump responded. “How about 10 debates?” That’s even, he said, if the debates are sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which he and fellow Republicans have railed against for years.“They are totally corrupt and they’re terrible. With that being said, I would do 20 debates, even if it was organized by them. I would do as many debates as they want,” he said. “I’d do a debate every nigh...

TSA urges holiday flyers to keep their presents unwrapped

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) – Transportation Security Administration officials are urging the millions of people who are expected to fly this holiday season to keep their presents unwrapped until they reach their final destination.Holiday travelers are encouraged to put presents in gift bags, unwrapped, in case TSA employees need to inspect them, according to the agency. Everyone you know sick? 9 states reach CDC’s highest level for respiratory illness "That way, if the item triggers an alarm, our officers can easily resolve the alarm without needing to unwrap the gift,” said TSA Federal Security Director Thomas Carter. Baked goods such as cakes, cookies, pies, brownies, and other solid foods are allowed through the security checkpoint, according to the TSA. But some other festive liquids or beverages like maple syrup, champagne, and eggnog need to be packed in a checked bag. TSA: Peanut butter 'is a liquid' This holiday season is expected to be the busiest on record with 7.5 mill...

Man stole live tarpon from Bass Pro Shops in Florida, deputies say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida officials are searching for a man who allegedly stole a large fish from a Bass Pro Shops in Fort Myers.The unidentified suspect is accused of entering the Bass Pro Shops location with a net and scooping a tarpon out of the store's indoor pond, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.Part of the incident, which unfolded Wednesday, was also caught on camera. Bystander video provided by the sheriff's office showed the man carrying the flopping animal through the sales floor, followed by another man who appeared to be filming. What’s the deal with the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis? The sheriff's office is working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to investigate the alleged theft. According to FWC, tarpon are a protected species and, if caught in the wild, must be released. "We’re #FishingForInformation and would love nothin’ more than to chum it up with this guy," the sheriff's office wrote in its pun-filled so...

1 dead, 1 in critical condition following rollover in SE Travis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Friday, Dec. 22, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A person died Friday afternoon and another person has critical, life-threatening injuries following a single-vehicle rollover crash in southeastern Travis County, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.ATCEMS said there were four patients involved, and three ambulances were called to the scene, according to ATCEMS.Officials responded to the 11200 block of South State Highway 130 service road at approximately 1 p.m. in connection with a vehicle rescue.ATCEMS said to avoid the area and expect delays and closures in the area.

Austin Energy: Rate increasing 5% beginning New Year's Day; future increases possible

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Friday, Dec. 22, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Effective Jan. 1, Austin Energy (AE) said it would implement a 5% increase to the Power Supply Adjustment (PSA) rate.The utility said the impact of the increase would be approximately $2 a month for the typical residential customer.The utility company most recently applied a 5% rate increase that began Dec. 1. Austin Energy rate increasing 5% in December Per Austin Energy’s policy, the utility can only adjust the PSA in increments of up to 5%.“The increase is required to continue making progress on recovering power supply costs in order to position Austin Energy for an anticipated PSA under-recovery during the summer months,” AE said.In November 2022, AE said it had an under-recovered PSA balance of $102 million, so it began planning to recover the balance over the next three years.As of Nov. 30, 2023, AE said the current under-recovered balance was $78 million.Read the full mem...