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Arkansas House OKs social media age verification requirement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas children would need their parents’ OK to access social media sites under a bill Arkansas lawmakers advanced Wednesday, moving the state closer toward becoming the second to enact restrictions that critics say raise privacy and enforcement concerns.The majority-Republican House approved by an 82-10 vote the restrictions, which have the support of GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The proposal goes back to the Senate, which approved an earlier version of the bill, for one more vote before it can head to Sanders’ desk.“It is a bill designed to create a level of protection for our young people,” Republican Rep. Jon Eubanks, the bill’s House sponsor, said before representatives approved the measure without any debate.The proposal is similar to a first-in-the-nation law that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed last month. Several other states are considering similar measures, touted by supporters as a way to protect children.Sanders last month a...

‘Explosion’ at Yorkdale Mall deemed vehicle mechanical issue

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

Toronto police say an explosion heard in a parking lot outside Yorkdale Mall was nothing but a mechanical issue with a vehicle.Officers were called to the mall on Dufferin Street around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.No injuries were reported, but police confirmed that the bomb squad would respond after an explosion was heard underneath a vehicle.In an update, police said it wasn’t an explosion, and reports of a loud noise had come from a vehicle experiencing a mechanical issue.The scene has been cleared, authorities said. The mall was not evacuated following initial reports.POLICE INVESTIGATION: (UPDATE)Yorkdale Mall Parking Lot7:25pm– determined no explosion occurred– sound was mechanical issues with the vehicle#GO751908^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) April 6, 2023

City should permanently close landfill where women were found: First Nations leader

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

WINNIPEG — The leader of a First Nations advocacy group wants to see the Winnipeg landfill where the remains of two Indigenous women were found permanently shut down.“I think given the circumstance, that it should be. It’s not an isolated issue,” Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said in a phone interview Wednesday.“I know there are lots of (Indigenous women) that have been missing throughout time, and I’m pretty sure that some of those women are in the Brady landfill.”The Winnipeg homicide unit started an investigation after staff at the Brady Road landfill south of the city found the body of 33-year-old Linda Mary Beardy on Monday.The cause and time of her death have not been released.The landfill has been closed as police investigate. The city said contingency plans for garbage and recycling are in place.Merrick said the city should look at opening a new landfill that would include measures to help with police investi...

Coal use climbs worldwide despite promises to slash it

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

The burning of coal for electricity, cement, steel and other uses went up in 2022 despite global promises to phase down the fuel that’s the biggest source of planet-warming gases in the atmosphere, a report Wednesday found.The coal fleet grew by 19.5 gigawatts last year, enough to light up around 15 million homes, with nearly all newly commissioned coal projects in China, according to a report by Global Energy Monitor, an organization that tracks a variety of energy projects around the globe. That 1% increase comes at a time when the world needs to retire its coal fleet four and a half times faster to meet climate goals, the report said. In 2021, countries around the world promised to phase down the use of coal to help achieve the goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). “The more new coal projects come online, the steeper the cuts and commitments need to be in the future,” said Flora Champenois, the report’s lead author and the project manager for ...

Chicago girls boxing program looks to change perceptions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Girls are fighting outdated stereotypes, poor self confidence and preconceived ideas with a right hook at Saint Thomas School in Hyde Park."I just want every girl to know how much strength and power she has inside herself," says Box United Founder, Mary Kate Vanecko.Vanecko founded Box United in 2019, the only all girls boxing program in Chicago."Anytime someone looks at a young girl boxing really well it can instantly transform or change perceptions about what you think is possible in terms of how strong girls are or what you think girls can do," says Vanecko. ‘Let’s show them’: Elmhurst mother starts sports program for special needs children More than 350 girls have found new inner strength through the ten week boxing program, finding their power and voice through a set of pink gloves.A two punch approach, teaching fundamentals, followed by a second hit of self love. The second half of every session is dedicated to building mental health and wellness, through...

Maryland AG accuses Baltimore’s Catholic Church of widespread sexual abuse 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

(The Hill) - Maryland’s Attorney General on Wednesday released a report accusing Catholic priests and others at the Archdiocese of Baltimore of decades of sexual abuse against more than 600 children, following a multi-year grand jury investigation.“The incontrovertible history uncovered by this investigation is one of pervasive and persistent abuse by priests and other Archdiocese personnel," a 463-page, partially redacted report, released by Attorney General Anthony Brown, said. "It is also a history of repeated dismissal or cover up of that abuse by the Catholic Church hierarchy."Investigators interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses, whose stories “reveal themes and behaviors typical of adults who sexually abuse children, and of those who enable abuse by concealing it,” according to the report. “What was consistent throughout was the absolute authority and power these abusive priests and church leadership held over victims, their families, and their communities,” it con...

Why you can stream these canceled HBO shows for free

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – If you never quite got around to watching the HBO smash hit "Westworld" when everyone was talking about it in late 2016, there's good news.Thanks to a deal between HBO and streaming platforms Roku and Tubi, the hit show starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton and Jeffrey Wright, along with several other canceled HBO shows, are now streaming on 14 new free, ad-supported channels. Don’t use the front passenger seat in these 140K recalled vehicles, Volkswagen says The decision to axe "Westworld," which garnered 54 Emmy nominations, came abruptly in late 2022, just weeks after showrunners were talking about possibly extending the show for a fifth and final season.Another highly acclaimed HBO show, "Raised by Wolves," is also streaming now on WB TV Watchlist, one of the 14 channels. The sci-fi series was canceled in 2022 after two seasons, despite excellent ratings on Rotten Tomatoes."Please someone swoop in and save this freaking show!" one person commented after the in...

What does Texas DPS' forensic artist do?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Jorge Molina, the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) forensic imaging specialist, ultimately landed his role after applying to be a police officer."Then I found an opening in the digital imaging section," he said. He's the only full-time forensic artist for the department and said other agencies across the state have officers who can do composite sketches — but do so part-time in addition to their other law enforcement duties.Molina is officially with the Texas Rangers division. He works by request for local, state and federal agencies across Texas. The sketch below - done by Molina - helped with an Austin Police Department arrest of Octavio Contreras-Guzman. APD linked him to an incident in a string of burglaries and attempted sexual assaults in northeast Austin in January. Police tell KXAN the department made the arrest in February.KXAN reached out to an attorney connected with Contreras-Guzman. This story will be updated when we receive a response.This ske...

Top in-state prep prospect Daniel Freitag headed to California for senior year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

Daniel Freitag, one of the best two-sport athletes in the state of Minnesota, will finish his high school career in California.Freitag said Wednesday he will transfer from Bloomington Jefferson High School to Southern California Academy in Northridge, Calif., for his senior year in 2023-24.Freitag, who plays point guard in basketball and wide receiver in football, has received scholarship offers in both sports from the Gophers and many other major programs.Listed at 6 foot 2 and 175 pounds, Freitag is considered a four-star basketball prospect and the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota for the 2024 class, per 247Sports. He is a three-star football recruit and the fourth-best player in the state for next year’s class.Southern California Academy has a basketball team but no football team. Despite that, Freitag told KSTP-TV that football “is still very much in play at the next level.”Related ArticlesCollege Sports | Gophers men’s basketball got transfer win but still ha...

Twins expect pitch clock to reduce wear and tear

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:22 GMT

MIAMI — Twins catcher Christian Vázquez was still catching his breath Tuesday night when he met the media to talk about Kenta Maeda’s first pitching start in 19 months.“That’s why I’m tired,” Vázquez said of the game, which lasted just 1 hour, 57 minutes. “It was quick. Under two hours.”Yes it was, even for the pitch clock era. The clock, introduced this year, has sped games along, testing players’ conditioning. But in shortening games by about 26 minutes — that per spring training data —  the Twins expect the clock will also provide physical benefits for players.There is a 15-second pitch timer now for pitchers with the bases empty. It bumps up to 20 seconds when there are runners on base. If a pitcher has not begun his motion by that point, he will be charged with an automatic ball. Batters must be in the box and facing the pitcher at the eight-second mark. A violation means an automatic strike is added to the count.“It’s pretty drastic,” catcher Ryan Jeffers said. “Ye...