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Florida Republicans pass pronoun, diversity bills

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republicans on Wednesday approved two bills that will restrict the use of preferred pronouns in schools and ban diversity programs in colleges, building on key priorities of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ahead of his expected White House candidacy.The proposals were given final passage by the Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate. The governor is expected to sign the bills into law.DeSantis, who is expected to announce a presidential campaign in the coming weeks, has driven a hardline conservative agenda as he seeks to bolster support of Republican primary voters ahead of his White House run.The state’s Legislative session, scheduled to end this week, has been dominated by divisive cultural issues, with Republican allies of DeSantis approving bills on sexual orientation, gender identity, race and education that are expected to aid the governor in his presidential bid.The Senate on Wednesday voted to expand the law critics call ...

1 dead, 4 hurt in shooting inside Atlanta medical facility

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Police said a shooter opened fire inside the waiting room of an Atlanta medical facility, killing one woman and injuring four others Wednesday as authorities swarmed the city’s bustling midtown neighborhood in search of the 24-year-old suspect.Atlanta police said there had been no additional shots fired since the initial shooting unfolded inside a Northside Medical building on West Peachtree Street in a commercial area with many office towers and high-rise apartments.https://twitter.com/Atlanta_Police/status/1653800971384881155?s=20Atlanta police said the suspected shooter is believed to be Deion Patterson and that he was considered armed and dangerous.Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters that a 39-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The four injured victims were also women, aged 25, 29, 56 and 71.The four injured women “are fighting for their lives at Grady Hospital,” Atl...

Moran, MacGregor Poised To Take Boston-Based House Seats

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

Democrats John Moran and Bill MacGregor are slated to represent parts of Boston on Beacon Hill following their special election primary wins Tuesday — in races that featured no Republican or independent candidates to fill two vacant House seats. Moran, who ran uncontested and with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s endorsement, won the 9th Suffolk District seat with 1,751 votes — or nearly 86 percent of all ballots cast — according to unofficial election results on the city’s website. A South End resident and housing advocate, Moran ran to replace Jon Santiago, who resigned in February to become secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services. “I like to say I became an ‘accidental activist’ but deep down, it’s always been in my heart to serve and I look forward to being your champion on Beacon Hill,” Moran said in his victory speech, as he vowed to focus on the housing crisis, mental health and the addiction “e...

April Revenue Collapse Swings State Budget Into Red

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

State tax revenues collapsed well below expectations in April, shifting the year-to-date performance from about $870 million in the black to, by one measure, $703 million in the red.The Department of Revenue announced Wednesday it brought in $4.782 billion in April, typically the strongest month of the year for tax collections. That’s $2.163 billion less than in April 2022, a drop of 31.2 percent, and $1.435 billion or 23.1 percent below the most recent monthly benchmark projection.“That’s a pretty substantial shortfall, and it really does change the tax trajectory for the fiscal year,” said Evan Horowitz, executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University. “I don’t think it imperils state spending or the solvency of the current fiscal year, but I do think it means there’s not going to be a lot of money to play around with at the end of the year. It really does tighten the rings of this fiscal year.”The deve...

Jets WR Garrett Wilson says everyone excited to go to work with Aaron Rodgers: ‘That’s a legend right there’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

Having Aaron Rodgers at the Jets facility has been an adjustment for everyone in the building.Not just for Rodgers himself after being with the Packers organization for 18 years, but also for the current players who grew up watching him play.“I ain’t going to lie to you, I was kind of star-struck at first,” Jets linebacker Quincy Williams said. “We warm up right next to each other, so I was like, ‘let me take a minute to take this in.’”Rodgers officially became a Jet last week after the long-awaited trade from the Packers became official. Following his introductory press conference with the media, Rodgers quickly got to work with his new teammates during OTAs.The next day, the Jets posted a video on social media of Rodgers throwing the ball to new Jets receiver Allen Lazard. Currently, on Twitter, that video has 1.8 million views.“Everyone has been going to work with a smile on their face, knowing there’s a lot of learning to do,...

‘Other People’s Children’ review: The delicate art of blending a family, French style

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

Michael Phillips | Chicago Tribune“Other People’s Children” treats its adults like adults, and the story’s central child like a human being, not a plot device. Those factors alone make it an exception to the usual movie rules.This French import, which is being distributed in the U.S. by Music Box Films, boasts charm as well as insight. If it cuts some corners and ducks some complexity, the actors make it more than merely agreeable.Writer-director Rebecca Zlotowski sees to that. We meet the story’s 40-ish Parisian schoolteacher Rachel, played with effortless, easy charm by Virginie Efira, not long after she has begun seeing a new man. He is car designer Ali, a bit older, portrayed by Roschdy Zem. Their mutual attraction preoccupies them both (lots of come-hither texting goes on, while Rachel’s in faculty meetings) and things develop nicely.At Ali’s apartment, she sees photos of his 4-year-old daughter, Leila (Callie Ferreira-Goncalves). It’s time we meet, Rachel tells Ali. From there...

As public education push heats up on Beacon Hill, advocates eye ‘adequate’ funding

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

Sophia Garcia, a Boston-area student, worked full time, took a full course load to maintain financial aid, and pulled out a loan so she could attend a local private university during the Spring 2021 semester.Arriving on campus — she declined to say which institution — in January 2021 felt “like the moment my life will begin,” she told a group of rally-goers in front of the State House Wednesday afternoon.“The university doesn’t know what they did by accepting me. I’m running through all their resources like a tomb raider. Sorry to anybody behind me, because I’m taking it all,” said Garcia, a Revere-raised daughter of immigrants from Ecuador and Puerto Rico.But by the time April rolled around, Garcia said she did not recognize herself in the mirror. Days were turning into a blur. She was barely sleeping for more than two hours. And she was living off energy drinks and fruit snacks.Difficulties were arising at work and she started to fall behind on her classes all because ...

Patriots Hall of Fame inductee announced for 2023 class

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel has been selected to the Patriots Hall of Fame by a fan vote, the team announced Wednesday.Vrabel will become the 34th member of the Patriots Hall of Fame. He was one of three finalists for this year’s honor, along with former head coach Bill Parcells and offensive guard Logan Mankins. Vrabel will be enshrined with former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia at a later date and time to be determined.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Guregian: JuJu Smith-Schuster already loves being a Patriot New England Patriots | How does the Patriots’ depth chart look post-NFL Draft? New England Patriots | NFL Notes: Bill Belichick continues to march to the beat of a different drummer New England Patriots | Patriots reportedly sign athletic QB, new tight end after NFL Draft New England Patriots | Patriots target O-line, special teams on Day 3 of the NFL Draft Ov...

Ticker: Fed hikes key rate, hints pause ahead; CVS beats Q1 expectations, cuts outlook 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

The Federal Reserve reinforced its fight against high inflation Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point to the highest level in 16 years.But the Fed also signaled that it may now pause the streak of 10 rate hikes that have made borrowing for consumers and businesses steadily more expensive.In a statement after its policy meeting, the Fed cut any reference to potential future rate hikes and instead said it will consider a range of factors in “determining the extent” that future hikes might be needed.The Fed’s rate increases since March 2022 have more than doubled mortgage rates, elevated the costs of auto loans, credit card borrowing and business loans and heightened the risk of a recession.Home sales have plunged as a result. The Fed’s latest move, which raised its benchmark rate to roughly 5.1%, could further increase borrowing costs.CVS beats Q1 expectations, cuts outlookCVS Health turned in a better-than-expected first quarter as reve...

Historic, spirited Blairsville offers an endless supply of Georgia’s mountain culture

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:39 GMT

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Spring had come to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The rhododendron and mountain laurel were popping out in unreal shades of pink, and the massive hardwoods of birch and maple only recently bare-leafed in winter had begun their seasonal metamorphoses with emerald-green new growth. Somewhere in those forest-covered North Georgia mountains, slumbering bears were just waking from their hibernation.With drowsy bears foremost in mind, one of the first questions that my husband and I asked when we checked into Misty Mountain Inn and Cottages near the Blue Ridge town of Blairsville was if any of the ursine beasts lurked around.Bill Walsh, who owns the inn and cottages with his wife, Sarah, said that a few bears are sometimes seen around the property but they were small, with the further explanation, “They’re nothing like the larger bears in the higher elevations. You have nothing to worry about.”The view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest mounta...