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Judge rejects Donald Trump’s request to toss out defamation claims by columnist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s claims that absolute presidential immunity and free speech rights shield him from the defamation claims of a New York columnist were rejected Thursday by a federal judge.The writer, E. Jean Carroll, can continue to press claims that Trump owes her at least $10 million in damages for comments he made before and after she won a $5 million sexual abuse and defamation verdict against him last month, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said in a written opinion.Trump tried to dismiss the lawsuit on grounds that he is entitled to absolute presidential immunity, his statements were not defamatory and that his statements were opinion protected by free speech rights.Kaplan said Trump surrendered absolute presidential immunity as a defense by failing to assert it years ago when the lawsuit was filed. The lawsuit was delayed until recently as appeals courts considered legal issues surrounding it.Trump countersued Carroll this week, claiming that she has libele...

California’s historic work on possible Black reparations moves to the Legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Members of California’s Black reparations task force handed off their historic two-year report to state lawmakers Thursday, beginning the next chapter in the long struggle to compensate the descendants of slavery. The first U.S. panel of its kind met one last time Thursday, urging supporters to press lawmakers into action on more than 100 recommendations. State legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom must agree for any money to be paid or for any policy changes to be adopted.“This book of truth will be a legacy, will be a testament to the full story,” said Lisa Holder, a civil rights attorney and task force member. “Anyone who says that we are colorblind, that we have solved the problem of anti-Black animus and racism, I challenge you to read this document.”The mood was buoyant, but tinged with frustration and anger that hours earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education, programs that have disproportionately helped Bla...

How an airport gets a boost from NASCAR's Chicago Street Races

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

GARY, Ind. — The arrival of NASCAR in downtown Chicago is having a positive impact on one business that's located in Northwest Indiana.That's Gary/Chicago Regional Airport, which will play a major role in the arrival and departure of the teams in the Xfinity and Cup Series races this weekend. According to executive director Dan Vicari, a "majority of the participating teams" will be using their airport this weekend. Along with avoiding the congestion of the bigger airports - O'Hare & Midway - the location is an advantage that works in their favor.Gary/Chicago Regional Airport is located 27 miles from Grant Park, where the 2.2-mile street course will be located for the Xfinity Series race on Saturday and the Cup Series race on Sunday."It means a lot," said GCIA executive director Dan Vicari of NASCAR teams using the airport to arrive and depart Chicago. "We've been spending a lot of energy in expanding our airport, proving more accommodations to make sure our airport can be used ...

'Extreme threat': Large swathe of southern US at dangerous 'wet bulb temperature'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Readings of a key indicator of heat exposure danger have reached the highest possible threat level in multiple southern states, as well as in a few states in the Midwest.When it comes to the "wet bulb temperature," nearly all of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas are under "extreme threat." The wet bulb temperature measures multiple stressors on the human body in direct sunlight, not in the shade, as the heat index does.(Credit: NWS) 16 states, DC currently under poor air quality alerts – here’s when things will change Thursday's soaring temperatures marked yet another day under a deadly, oppressive heatwave across the South. A heat dome over Texas that shows no signs of abating has been tied to 13 deaths in the state, including another in Louisiana, according to The Associated Press.Forecasters said temperatures could rocket up to 20 degrees above average in parts of the region as a heat dome that has taxed the Texas power grid spread eastward. O...

Dylan Mulvaney: Bud Light not standing by me worse 'than not hiring a trans person at all'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

(The Hill) — Transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney addressed in a video posted to TikTok Thursday the ongoing anti-trans controversy over her partnership with Bud Light, accusing the company of not supporting her or even reaching out after the conservative backlash.“For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse in my opinion than not hiring a trans person at all because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want,” Mulvaney said in her TikTok video. “And the hate doesn't end with me.” Why are teens pretending to die from McDonald’s Grimace Shake? Bud Light, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch, partnered with Mulvaney in April on an Instagram ad that included her posing with a personalized beer can. The ad immediately drew criticism from conservatives who accused the beer company of pushing a pro-LGBTQ agenda and resulted in boycotts of the beer, which recently fell from its spot as the top-selling beer brand in the U...

One person suffers life-threatening injuries after stabbing call in southeast Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person suffered life-threatening injuries after authorities responded to a call about a stabbing in southeast Austin Thursday.Shortly after 12:45 p.m., APD officers and Austin-Travis County EMS medics responded to the 2000 block of Kenneth Avenue.An Austin-Travis County EMS spokesperson said an adult patient, who was not identified Thursday, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.It was not immediately clear what led to the incident, which remained under investigation by police Thursday.This is a developing story. Checks back for updates.

NBC News: Travis Scott will not be criminally charged in Astroworld concert deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, a Texas grand jury determined rapper Travis Scott was not criminally responsible for the Nov. 5, 2021, Astroworld festival crowd crush that left 10 people dead and thousands more injured, NBC News reports.The Harris County grand jury weighed criminal charges against Scott and others related to fans' deaths, said District Attorney Kim Ogg, according to NBC.Scott's attorney, Kent Schaffer, said the rapper and his action have been inaccurately portrayed, adding Scott stopped the show three times and was unaware of the events as they unfolded."Today’s decision by the Harris County District Attorney confirms what we have known all along — that Travis Scott is not responsible for the AstroWorld tragedy," Schaffer said in a statement after the decision to NBC. "This is consistent with investigative reporting by numerous media outlets and federal and state government reports that have squarely placed the onus for event safety crises on organizers, operators and ...

Heat wave eases over the 4th of July weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin hit 100° for the 14th time this summer on Thursday, though temperatures remained several degrees "cooler" than recent days. As the oppressive ridge of high pressure moves farther away and weakens, temperatures cool a bit further.A Heat Advisory expires at 7 p.m. in our eastern counties, though will be in effect again Friday in Fayette County. In these areas east of Austin, heat indices may reach 110°.As the highly-talked about "heat dome" continues to drift east and weaken, our temperatures will come down a bit and our atmosphere will become less hostile for storm development in the days to come. Afternoon highs stay just below 100° - closer to normal for this time of year - and low rain chances will return Sunday through the July 4th holiday. Although a few storms may develop, rain will not affect many plans as coverage appears quite limited.Summer Fan DriveOur Summer Fan Drive is underway! Please click here to find out how you can make an online donation an...

Man charged with manslaughter for White Bear Lake fire that killed mother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

A man was charged Thursday with manslaughter and negligence for a townhome fire that killed his 79-year-old mother last month in White Bear Lake.Christian Thomas Dahm, 45, originally was charged with one felony count of starting a negligent fire that caused great bodily harm. The fire was May 14 blaze at his parent’s fourplex in the 2600 block of Aspen Court, just off Glen Oaks Avenue and County Road D.Christian Thomas Dahm (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Firefighters located Dahm’s mother, Patricia Dahm, inside her townhome unit in critical condition. She died four days later in the burn unit at Regions Hospital, according to Thursday’s charges.Patricia Dahm taught in the White Bear Lake Area School District for 34 years, according to her obituary. In addition to her son, she is survived by her husband of 54 years, Les, and four grandchildren.Earlier this month, Christian Dahm was sentenced to five years in prison for violating his probation relating to ...

New indoor firearms training facility in Schenectady

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The Schenectady Police Department unveiled, on Thursday, a new state-of-the-art indoor firearms training facility. The department also announced medics are now embedded with its S.W.A.T. team.Sergeant Zachary Weakly is in charge of training officers. He says having the on-site, multi-use tactical range means they can more easily train officers.“This gives us an area where we can conduct reality based training, not even with firearms,” Weakly said. Police Chief Eric Clifford says it will enhance the de-escalation training they already conduct, which includes Brazilian jiu jitsu.Weakly says they’ve incorporated jiu jitsu training just in the last 6 months and estimates about 40 percent of officers voluntarily participate in it. He says part of their de-escalation training teaches officers to create discretionary time so they can pre-plan before responding to a call. That time can be used to call in outside resources and get others on the scene, w...