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Minnesota Democrats have deal on new gun control — red flag laws, expanded background checks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

Minnesota Democrats believe they have agreement on two gun control laws that can win approval in the state Senate where they have a one-seat majority.Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members, who won a trifecta of control of state government in November, have said addressing gun violence was a top priority. But until Wednesday there were a lot of doubts DFLers could win approval of substantial changes in the Senate, where several members won close races and are politically vulnerable on the issue.Now both expanded background checks and a red flag law appear to have the support to pass. They were inserted Wednesday into the judiciary and public safety budget bill being finalized by a bicameral committee of lawmakers.The gun control measures have already passed the House once along party lines, but they have not been debated in the full Senate.“I am so proud the Legislature is finally getting this done,” said Sen. Bonnie Westlin, DFL-Plymouth, who is in her first term and has...

Starbucks debuts two new limited-time summer beverages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

Starbucks is getting a jump start on this year’s warmer months, introducing two new summer beverages that will be available in U.S. stores for a limited time starting on Tuesday.The new menu additions are the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino blended beverage and White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew.The new Frappuccino is a blend of coffee, chocolate, mint, and Frappuccino chips, topped with mocha sauce, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of mint-chocolate cookie crumble, the coffee shop chain says.“With the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino, we wanted to take a new approach to the classic combination of mint and chocolate to create a blended coffee beverage that elicits nostalgia for one of our favorite summer treats,” Maureen Matthews of Starbucks beverage development team, said in a press release.“The new white chocolate mint sauce is subtle and creamy, and when paired with the crunch of Frappuccino chips and a swirl of rich mocha, is reminiscent of mint chocolate chip ice cream pool...

Defiant Santos says he won’t resign amid criminal indictment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) told reporters Wednesday that he will not resign despite facing a 13-count criminal indictment.Federal prosecutors charged Santos earlier Wednesday with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives, a significant escalation of the months-long controversy surrounding his biography and finances.Shortly after entering a not guilty plea at a Long Island courthouse — and being released on a $500,000 bond — the congressman delivered a full-throated defense.“I will not resign,” Santos told reporters outside the courthouse, later adding, “I believe I’m innocent.”“I’m gonna fight my battle, I’m gonna deliver, I’m gonna fight the witch hunt, I’m gonna take care of clearing my name and I look forward to doing that,” he said.Santos has been the subject of scrutiny for months — since before he was sworn into the House — amid question...

Missouri lawmakers send legislation restricting transgender health care, athletes to governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Legislation to restrict gender-affirming care for minors and require transgender athletes from playing on the team aligned with the sex on their birth certificate is headed to Governor Mike Parson's desk.Missouri is joining more than a dozen states in restricting or banning access to puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or gender-affirming surgery. Senate Bill 49 would also affect Medicaid patients due to the state prohibiting any funds from covering gender-affirming care in Missouri, and surgery will no longer be available to inmates and prisoners.Minutes after the House approved to restrict gender-affirming care, representatives took up another bill aimed at the transgender community, by requiring transgender athletes from playing on the team that matches the sex on their birth certificate from kindergarten through college, both at public and private schools. Any school district that does not follow this law could jeopardize its funding.Following Wednesday's...

Juvenile charged in violent O'Fallon home invasion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - A St. Louis teen is facing charges for his suspected involvement in a violent home invasion in O'Fallon earlier this year.St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph McCulloch on Tuesday charged Marcell Hamilton, 15, with first-degree accessory to robbery, first-degree accessory to burglary, and first-degree accessory to assault. Hamilton is in custody on a $100,000 bond.According to court documents, the break-in occurred in January in the Winghaven subdivision.The victims were awakened by a noise in the middle of the night and, when investigating the sound, were confronted by four young men armed with handguns. Circuit Attorney refuses charges to woman arrested in Cherokee St. shooting The suspects demanded money and forced the homeowner to hand over their car keys. After the victim turned over their keys, one of the suspects struck the person in the face with a gun. Another suspect fired a shot in that victim's direction.The suspects fled in the home...

Huge number of asylum seekers at US-Mexico border as COVID-19 restrictions end, new rules begin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

By MARIA VERZA, COLLEEN LONG and MORGAN LEE (Associated Press)CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday will begin denying asylum to migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. It marks a fundamental shift in immigration policy as the U.S. readies for the end of a key pandemic restriction.Asylum seekers have been showing up at the border in huge numbers in anticipation of this week’s end of the use of a restriction known as Title 42. That rule has allowed the government to quickly expel migrants to Mexico. U.S. officials warned of difficult days ahead as the program tied to the COVID-19 pandemic expires this week.The rule announced Wednesday is part of new measures meant to crack down on illegal border crossings while creating new legal pathways. Families who cross the border will face curfews and monitoring; the head of household will wear an ankle bracelet as...

New law requires Colorado’s nonprofit hospitals to explain their “community benefit” in greater detail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

BOULDER — Next year, nonprofit hospitals in Colorado will have to report more specific information about how they spend their “community benefit” dollars, following criticism that they weren’t meeting public needs.In his State of the State address, Gov. Jared Polis said he wanted to see nonprofit hospitals held “accountable” for meeting local needs. On Wednesday, he signed a scaled-down bill mandating that they report their spending to the state in greater detail.The original HB23-1243 would have set a floor for community benefit spending, among other changes.The bill was among a number of health care measures the governor signed Wednesday.“What they are supposed to do with their immense profits, since they don’t pay taxes, is invest that in the community,” Polis said in a brief statement before signing the bill at Out Boulder County, a nonprofit serving the LGBTQ community. “We don’t know if it’s going to the c...

After betting on himself, Zach Blackwood relishes opportunity with CU Buffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

New Colorado transfer commit Zach Blackwood, who played at Garden City (Kan.) Community College. (Courtesy of Zach Blackwood)Even when he wasn’t getting opportunities to play big-time college football, Zach Blackwood believed he was capable of reaching the big-time.Last week, he finally got that opportunity and on Tuesday, he committed to Colorado as a transfer.“It’s exciting for me,” said Blackwood, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive lineman from Garden City (Kan.) Community College. “I always knew that I could be where I’m at now. I played at schools that were always under-looked and stuff like that.”After recording 123 tackles and 10 tackles for loss during his time at Desert Edge (Ariz.) High School, Blackwood went to Northern Arizona as a freshman in 2021, but wasn’t there long. Blackwood spent that year at NAU dealing with some things off the field and didn’t play a game for the Lumberjacks before he left for Garden City.“I just knew that I could go bigger, so I bet it on myself,...

MVP Joel Embiid leads All-NBA team; runner-up Nikola Jokic lands on 2nd team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

By TIM REYNOLDS (AP Basketball Writer)Denver’s Nikola Jokic now knows how Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid felt during two previous NBA award seasons.Second in the MVP race — but only second-team All-NBA.Embiid — the newly crowned MVP — headlined the All-NBA team unveiled Wednesday night. He was the first-team center, while Jokic was the second-team pick at that position. It was a reversal of the results from 2021 and 2022, when Jokic was MVP over Embiid, who then had to settle for the second-team All-NBA center spot.And this should be the final time such a quirk happens. Starting next year, the All-NBA team will no longer be broken down by position — meaning the presumed second-best player in the NBA one season, such as Embiid in 2021 and 2022 and Jokic now, will not have to be relegated to second-team anything.Joining Embiid on the first team were Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo at forward, and Dallas’ Luk...

Border Patrol dealing with huge influx of flowers at LAX

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:25 GMT

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists are working overtime to ensure that imported flowers arrive on time for Mother’s Day, but they must be free of pests and diseases first. According to industry statistics, around 80% of cut flowers sold in the United States are imported from across the world. CBP says that the weeks that lead up to Mother’s Day are some of the busiest of the year, when millions of cut flower shipments arrive from Ecuador, Colombia, the Netherlands, Thailand and Australia. “It is critically important not only to consumers, but to the vitality of the U.S. economy that cut flower imports are carefully inspected by CBP agriculture specialists,” said Carlos Martel, the CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “Some of these flowers may carry hitchhiking pests and diseases that could cause millions of dollars in damage to the U.S. agriculture sector.” U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at L...