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A look at restrictions on LGBTQ+ people in the US, and the pushback

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida law banning transgender youth from getting medical treatment is temporarily on hold after a surprise decision Tuesday by a federal judge. The ruling comes amid a bevy of legislation sweeping state houses this year restricting gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Meanwhile LGBTQ+ communities and their allies are organizing Pride events and calling for pushback against what they say are discriminatory laws. Here’s a look at the latest developments:___WHAT’S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA?A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers.“Gender identity is real,” Judge Robert Hinkle said, ruling that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment. Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction saying three transgender children can continue receiving treatment.The lawsuit brought by the three children’s parents challenges the law Republican...

NYC prosecutor drops over 300 convictions tied to officers found guilty of crimes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan’s top prosecutor on Tuesday disavowed over 300 convictions tied to police officers who were themselves found guilty of crimes, the latest in over 1,000 dismissals citywide of cases connected to officers who were charged or convicted.The latest abandoned convictions, almost all misdemeanors, date back as far as 1996. Each involves one of nine officers who were later convicted of on-the-job offenses — among them taking bribes, illegally selling guns, lying under oath and planting drugs on suspects — and are no longer on the force. The cases put more than 50 people behind bars and imposed fines on 130, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.“We cannot stand by convictions that are built on cases brought by members of law enforcement who have violated the law,” Bragg, a Democrat, said in a statement after 308 misdemeanor cases were thrown out Tuesday. A similar proceeding was planned for eight felony cases Wednesday. Since the start of 2021, Bragg a...

Mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher faces federal charges over marijuana use, gun possession

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia is now facing federal charges that allege she used marijuana while also possessing a gun, which is illegal under U.S. law. Deja Taylor, 25, is also accused of lying about her marijuana use on a federal background check form when she bought the 9 mm handgun. Her son used it in the shooting that seriously wounded first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner in the city of Newport News. When Taylor bought the gun last year, federal authorities allege that she denied on the form that she used marijuana when she knew “she was an unlawful user,” court documents stated. While marijuana use was recently legalized in Virginia, it remains illegal under federal law. The new charges, filed in federal court Monday, are in addition to the criminal counts Taylor faces on the state level. Those charges allege felony child neglect and reckless storage of a firearm. A trial for the state case is set for August. Taylor is scheduled to plead gui...

Quebec provincial politicians vote to increase base pay by $30,000

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

QUEBEC — The members of Quebec’s national assembly have voted to increase their base salaries by $30,000.The government bill was supported by the governing Coalition Avenir Québec and the Opposition Quebec Liberal Party.The province’s two smaller opposition parties, the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire, voted against the increase.With the increase, the base salary of provincial legislators will rise from $101,561 to $131,766.Those with additional duties, including ministers and opposition leaders, will receive larger increases.Premier François Legault, for example, will see his salary rise from $208,200 to $270,120, while the salaries of ministers will rise to $230,591.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2023. The Canadian Press

Man accused of supporting foiled plot to kidnap Michigan governor set to change not-guilty plea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A man accused of supporting a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor plans to change his not-guilty plea, records show.Shawn Michael Fix, 40, of Belleville, is one of five men charged with providing material support for an act of terrorism in the scheme to abduct Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 at her northern Michigan vacation home. Police broke up the plan and Whitmer was not physically harmed.Fix is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday in Antrim County Circuit Court in Bellaire. He also is charged with possessing a firearm while committing a felony.His lawyer and the state attorney general’s office, which is prosecuting the case, did not immediately respond to phone and email messages Tuesday.Another man, Brian Higgins, pleaded guilty in March to the lesser charge of attempting to provide material support for terrorism. Three others — Eric Molitor and brothers Michael and William Null — await trial in August. They were accused of p...

Eligible travellers from 13 more countries can skip visa to come to Canada

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

It’s about to get easier to visit Canada. The federal government announced passport holders from 13 countries will now be able to travel to Canada without requiring a temporary residence visa.Travellers from these countries who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa can now apply for the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air.The 13 countries are:Antigua and BarbudaArgentinaCosta RicaMoroccoPanamaPhilippinesSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSeychellesThailandTrinidad and TobagoUruguay “Today’s announcement is going to help facilitate the opportunity for people to come and visit in the tourism sector, to be reunited with loved ones more effectively, and it will have a very important and positive impact on immigration processing as well,” said Sean Fraser, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship.Canada introduced th...

Peruvian judge affirms extradition to US of chief suspect in Natalee Holloway disappearance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A Peruvian judge on Tuesday affirmed this week’s planned extradition to the U.S. of the main suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of American student Natalee Holloway.The judge’s ruling came less than 24 hours after the attorney for Dutchman Joran van der Sloot filed a writ of habeas corpus in an attempt to stop the custody transfer. Magistrate Elmer Morales informed the suspect of his decision in writing.Law enforcement authorities scheduled the extradition for Thursday. Van der Sloot’s attorney, Máximo Altez, filed the challenge Monday after his client changed his mind and decided to fight the government’s decision to send him to the U.S. to be prosecuted on wire fraud and extortion charges. Van der Sloot earlier had indicated he wouldn’t challenge the extradition, but Altez said his client changed his mind after a meeting with Dutch diplomats. The lawyer argued in the habeas corpus challenge that van der Sloot hadn’t bee...

Heavy police presence at River Oaks Shopping Center after pursuit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

CHICAGO -- A heavy police presence can be seen at River Oaks Shopping Center on Chicago's Far South Side after a pursuit ended at shopping center Tuesday.Skycam9 witnessed police pursuing a minivan that ended at the River Oaks Shopping Center in Calumet City. The minivan was seen going south on the Bishop Ford Expressway Tuesday evening. Body of woman found in car on South Side Three people were seen jumping out of the minivan and ran into the River Oaks Shopping Center.No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Protestors rally against judge's decision to allow operation at General Iron metal recycling plant

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

CHICAGO -- Protestors vowing to fight a judge's order to a controversial metal recycling plant on the Southeast side rallied against the ruling Tuesday.In 2022, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration denied a permit application for General Iron, a metal recycling plant on the city's Southeast side,General Iron's parent company, RMG, cleared a major hurdle after an administrative judge ruled in the company’s favor."We want equal environmental protection, just like any other neighborhood in the city of Chicago," Environmentalist Activist Cheryl Johnson said.Johnson and a coalition of environmental groups, aldermen, state legislators, and concerned Southeast side residents feel that they are in an all-too-familiar position.  “Sad to say once again, we’re here again fighting General Iron," Samuel Corona of the Alliance of the Southeast said.“We should have the equal rights to clean air, clean water, clean land. Just like Lincoln Park.”The metal recycling facility no longer...

Cooler Tuesday night as a mostly sunny Wednesday arrives

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:19 GMT

TUESDAY NIGHT:  A good deal of cloudiness, a bit cooler. Mid 50s normally cooler inland locations.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog WEDNESDAY: Becoming mostly sunny following some early clouds. Comfortable temperatures and humidity levels. Highs near 80 well inland but a breeze off the lake keeps area beaches in the middle 60s again.