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Democrats in Minnesota Senate hold firm to pass contentious gun control measures

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

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democratic Minnesota senators held firm despite only a one-vote majority Friday to pass gun control legislation strongly supported by the governor that would align the battleground state with others nationally that have taken steps to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis and criminals.The proposals include a “red flag law” that would allow authorities to ask courts for “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily take guns away from people deemed to be an imminent threat to others or themselves. The provision is part of a broad public safety budget bill that also contains expanded background checks for gun transfers.The bill passed 34-33 on a party-line vote late Friday after around nine hours of debate. “What we are going to be providing — finally — is a path forward for families and law enforcement who know that someone’s exhibiting signs of crisis and danger,” said Democratic Sen. Rob Latz of St. Louis Park, chairman of the Senate p...

Elon Musk sparred with new CEO Linda Yaccarino in on-stage interview: 3 takeaways from the exchange

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

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — On Friday, Elon Musk announced that NBC Universal’s Linda Yaccarino will serve as the new CEO of Twitter. Yaccarino is a longtime advertising executive credited with integrating and digitizing ad sales at NBCU. Her challenge now will be to woo back advertisers that have fled Twitter since Musk acquired it last year for $44 billion.Since taking ownership, Musk has fired thousands of Twitter employees, largely scrapped the trust-and-safety team responsible for keeping the site free of hate speech, harassment and misinformation, and blamed others — particularly mainstream media organizations, which he views as untrustworthy “competitors” to Twitter for ad dollars — for exaggerating Twitter’s problems.In April, the two met for an on-stage conversation at a marketing convention in Miami Beach, Florida. Here are some highlights of their conversation:MUSK AND YACCARINO SPAR OVER CONTENT MODERATIONThe Miami discussion was cordial, although both participants ...

‘Why can’t there be a system?’: Tribe pushes to ease US border crossings for Native Americans

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

For four hours, Raymond V. Buelna, a cultural leader for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, sat on a metal bench in a concrete holding space at the U.S.-Mexico border, separated from the two people he was taking to an Easter ceremony on tribal land in Arizona and wondering when they might be released.It was February 2022 and Buelna, a U.S. citizen, was driving the pair — both from the sovereign Native American nation’s related tribal community in northwestern Mexico — from their home to the reservation southwest of Tucson. They’d been authorized by U.S. officials to cross the border. But when Buelna asked an agent why they were detained, he was told to wait for the officer who brought him in.“They know that we’re coming,” said Buelna, who has made the trip for a variety of ceremonies for 20 years. “We did all this work and then we’re still sitting there.”Now, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe is trying to change this — for themselves and potentially dozens of other tribes in the U.S. Tr...

Unusually early heat wave in Pacific Northwest could break records

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

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Temperatures are expected to start climbing significantly Saturday in parts of the Pacific Northwest as an early heat wave takes hold, possibly breaking records and worsening wildfires already burning in western Canada.The historically temperate region has grappled with scorching summer temperatures and unprecedented wildfires fueled by climate change in recent years.The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory lasting from Saturday through Monday for much of the western parts of both Oregon and Washington state. It said the temperatures could raise the risk of heat-related illness, particularly for those who are dehydrated or don’t have effective cooling.Temperatures in Portland, Oregon, are expected to hover around 94 F (34.4 C) throughout the weekend, according to the weather service. The current daily temperature records for May 13 and 14 stand at 92 F (33.3 C) and 91 F (32.8 C), dating from 1973 and 2014, respectively.Temperatures in the Seattle are...

ALERT: Heavy rain with a flash flood risk moving through Central Texas

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

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Heavy rain and strong thunderstorms are pushing through the Hill Country into the Austin Metro Counties. NEW BLOG: HOW TO PREPARE FOR FLASH FLOODING While our main concern overnight and this weekend is flash flooding, the leading edge of the heavy rain may bring a brief severe risk for damaging winds.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Blanco and Gillespie Counties until 2 a.m. to account for the wind damage threat initially posed by the storms.Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 2 a.m.A Flood Watch has been issued for all of Central Texas through Saturday 8 p.m. with the potential this could get extended into Sunday. A Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for flash flooding or stream, creek or river flooding during the watch period.Flood Watch until Saturday eveningTHROUGH SATURDAY MORNINGA line of strong storms had congealed into a mass of rain with the leading edge bringing both the risk for damaging winds and especially flash flooding. Rainfall r...

NBA playoffs: Lakers, Heat advance to conference finals with Game 6 victories

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

By The Associated PressLOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors with a 122-101 victory Friday night in Game 6 of the second-round series.The seventh-seeded Lakers will face Nikola Jokic and the top-seeded Nuggets in the Western Conference finals starting Tuesday night in Denver.Anthony Davis had 17 points and 20 rebounds for the Lakers, who never trailed in a closeout victory that punctuated their increasingly incredible late-season surge.Austin Reaves scored 23 points, highlighted by a 54-footer from midcourt at the halftime buzzer for the Lakers. They improved to 7-0 at home since the regular season ended with three wins in seven days over the Warriors. Los Angeles also snapped Golden State’s streak of 28 playoff series with at least one road victory – an NBA-record run encompassing Stephen Curry’s entire career.James, Davis and the La...

Elderly woman fatally struck by vehicle in Chino

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

An elderly woman was found dead after she was fatally struck by a vehicle in Chino.On Wednesday, officers responded to reports of a collision on Euclid Avenue, just south of Pine Avenue around 8:23 p.m.When they arrived, they found Karin James, a 79-year-old Ontario resident, dead at the scene. Man arrested, escaped West Hollywood apartment standoff after neighbor was shot through wall James was walking on Euclid Avenue when she was struck by a vehicle driving southbound on the 16700 block, police said.The driver called police and stayed at the scene until officers arrived, authorities said.The case remains under investigation. Officials are seeking witnesses, security camera footage, or any additional information about the deadly crash.Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Baas at [email protected] or call 909-334-3148.

A’s rock Rangers on Rooker’s blast in 10th

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

OAKLAND — Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer off Brock Burke in the bottom of the 10th inning, rallying the Oakland Athletics to a 9-7 win over the Texas Rangers that snapped a five-game losing streak Friday night.Esteury Ruiz homered and drove in four runs for Oakland. Kevin Smith and Carlos Pérez also connected for the major league-worst A’s (9-31), who won on a walk-off hit for the third time this season.This one came after Texas pinch-hitter Adolis García delivered a go-ahead single off Zach Jackson in the top of the 10th. Former A’s shortstop Marcus Semien followed with an RBI single to give Texas a 7-5 lead before Oakland came back.Related ArticlesOakland Athletics | Oakland A’s rookie made history with homer binge at Yankee Stadium, but defense could be key to staying in lineup Oakland Athletics | A’s prized pitcher seeking second opinion for elbow pain Oakland Athletics | A’s rookie Medina shines, but Bochy’s...

Four homers, two firsts and a Jolly Rancher (?) help Oakland A’s top Texas

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

OAKLAND — Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer off Brock Burke in the bottom of the 10th inning, rallying the Oakland Athletics to a 9-7 win over the Texas Rangers that snapped a five-game losing streak Friday night.Esteury Ruiz homered and drove in four runs for Oakland. Kevin Smith and Carlos Pérez also connected for the major league-worst A’s (9-31), who won on a walk-off hit for the third time this season.This one came after Texas pinch-hitter Adolis García delivered a go-ahead single off Zach Jackson in the top of the 10th. Former A’s shortstop Marcus Semien followed with an RBI single to give Texas a two-run lead before Oakland came back.Robbie Grossman, the veteran Texas outfielder who spent two seasons with the A’s, homered and had an RBI double in front of another small crowd of 6,575 at the Coliseum. Jonah Heim added two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Ezequiel Duran doubled twice.Ruiz’s RBI single off Burke (2-1) drove in Nick Allen, who began the 10th ...

Ahead of big offseason, Draymond Green says ‘I want to be Warrior for the rest of my life’

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

LOS ANGELES — This isn’t the end of the Warriors’ dynasty.At least, not according to Draymond Green.“We’re not done yet. Lost this year, we’ll be back next year,” Green said Friday moments after the Lakers beat the Warriors in six games, effectively ending their hopes of repeating as championships.But one of the biggest question marks surrounding the core is Green’s future, which is in balance.Green has a $27.6 million player option for next season, his 12th in the league. Green wasn’t ready to share his plans in the wake of defeat.The Athletic reported there is mutual interest in keeping Green in the Bay long-term, either via Green opting out and making a new deal from scratch or by Green opting in for $27.6 million next year and extending from there. ESPN’s Marc Spears added that Green is concerned about the future about Warriors general manager Bob Myers, whose contract expires next month, and that Myers’ decision could be a factor ...