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Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver remembered in a memorial service as fighter for those in need

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, the first Black woman elected to statewide office in New Jersey history, was remembered in a memorial service Saturday as a trailblazer who fought to help those in need.The Rev. Al Sharpton and a host of New Jersey officials addressed mourners Saturday in the packed Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Mourners included Oliver’s 95-year-old mother and other family members as well as five current and former governors of the state.Sharpton told mourners that Oliver, also the first Black woman to lead the state Assembly, “never forgot why she was in the room.”“She never backed down, she never sold out, she never turned her back on the people that made her. She was and is ours and always will be,” he said, drawing thunderous applause and bringing many in the crowd to their feet. Gov. Phil Murphy praised Oliver, 71, who died Aug. 1 following a hospital stay for an undisclosed medical issue, as a “first-rate fighter for every...

Afghan universities ready to readmit women but not until Taliban leader says it’s ok, official says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s universities are ready to readmit female students, but the ruling Taliban’s leader has the ultimate say on when that might happen — if it happens at all, an education official said Saturday. The Taliban barred women from campuses last December, triggering global outrage. Girls had been banned from school beyond sixth grade soon after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Afghanistan is the only country in the world with bans on female education.Afghanistan’s higher education minister, Nida Mohammed Nadim, said at the time the university ban was necessary to prevent the mixing of genders and because he believed some subjects being taught violated the principles of Islam. He said the ban, issued from the southern city of Kandahar by the Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, was in place until further notice.An adviser at the Higher Education Ministry, Molvi Abdul Jabbar, said universities were ready to readmit female students...

3 unaccounted for after house explosion that destroyed 3 homes, damaged at least 12 others

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

PLUM, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say three people are unaccounted for following a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others.Allegheny County officials said three people were taken to hospitals after the blast that happened shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the borough of Plum.County spokesperson Amie Downs said emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after one house apparently exploded and two others were engulfed in flames. Crews from at least 18 fire departments were working to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, Downs said.George Emanuele, who lives three houses down from the home that exploded, told the Tribune-Review that he and a neighbor went to the home before the fire got out of control and found a man laying in the backyard and dragged him away from the scene.Jeremy Rogers, who lives two doors down, told the paper that he had been out sh...

Beyoncé has a prenup − but do you need one if you're not a millionaire?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

(The Conversation) - A prenuptial agreement can seem like something only high-profile people like Jeff Bezos – with his $138 billion fortune to protect – actually need.But prenups – contracts entered into before marriage that detail how assets will be divided in the case of divorce – can be a good idea for anyone going into a marriage, according to lawyers and marriage counselors. They have been in regular use since 1983, when a group of attorneys and law professors drafted the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, a set of rules regulating prenups that 28 U.S. states have since adopted.A recent poll showed that the percentage of couples with prenups has risen from 3% in 2010 to 15% in 2022. Nearly 40% of married or engaged couples between the ages of 18 and 34 have signed prenups, while just 13% of couples between 45 and 54 have done so.As a law professor who specializes in family law, I teach my students what prenups are and how to mak...

Printer's Row Art Fest returns to Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

The Printer's Row Art Fest returns to Chicago for its fifth year this weekend.The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the historic Printer’s Row neighborhood.Visit the event's website for details on what to expectThe event will take place on South Dearborn Street, from West Polk Street to West Harrison Street, and will feature 90 juried artists and artisans.Ella Walker, Communications and Social Media Manager for the event, shared details during WGN Weekend Morning News.

Austin firefighter labor contract negotiations end without reaching agreement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the City of Austin said it did not reach an agreement with the Austin Firefighters Association (AFA) and Austin firefighters regarding labor contract negotiations, according to a city memo.The city said management had been working with the AFA for several months to achieve a mutually agreeable labor contract for the city’s firefighters.“Within the past week the parties had arrived at mutually agreeable language for all of the contract articles, which included a wage package that would keep our firefighters the overall best paid fire department in Texas by a significant margin, a reduction in scheduled work hours that directly addresses the AFA’s request, and other enhancements to the firefighters’ working conditions,” said Austin interim assistant city manager Bruce Mills in a memo.Mills said after agreeing on the contract language, management asked the AFA leadership to recommend the contract terms to its members; however, on Wednesday, AFA told the cit...

Moms group names the '10 best family-friendly activities' in St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Whether you're visiting St. Louis or a homegrown resident looking for your next adventure, the Gateway City offers a variety of attractions for people of just about any age. An online moms advocacy group known as Momtastic is looking to help families plan their next big St. Louis excursion. Earlier this month, Momtastic released a list naming the "10 best family-friendly activities" in St. Louis. Strong storms likely overnight into Saturday morning "Family adventures are waiting to unfold around every corner," said the recent Momtastic report. "With its rich history, vibrant culture, and an array of attractions designed for all ages, St. Louis promises an unforgettable vacation full of fun and discovery."There are undoubtedly some considerations to keep in mind when planning an activity. Will it be a good choice for the size of your family? Will the weather be good enough to plan something outdoors? Can you visit multiple St. Louis sweetspots in a day? Once you've mad...

Longtime Branson entertainer dies at age 79

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

BRANSON, Mo. — Branson entertainers are mourning the death of a fellow artist.Shoji Tabuchi, a beloved Branson fiddler and showrunner, has passed away at age 79 on August 11.Tabuchi was best known for The Shoji Tabuchi Show, a family variety show featuring Tabuchi, his wife Dorothy and his daughter Christina.He began playing violin at age seven, according to an article by Explore Branson, and fell in love with bluegrass music.His show expanded over its 30-year run to include dancers, love ballads, 50s and 60s music, gospel music, and much more. In 2020, Tabuchi was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame. The City of Branson would go on to declare August 31, 2021 as Shoji, Dorothy and Christina Tabuchi Day. A Facebook post from the city says in part, "Prayers from people all throughout our City, and beyond, go to the family of one of Branson's all-time greatest gems."

One person injured, hospitalized in Northglenn residential fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

A residential fire in Northglenn on Saturday morning injured a resident and damaged two homes.The fire started around 9:45 a.m. at the corner of Lou Drive and Fred Street near an unattached garage, according to an 11:09 a.m. tweet by North Metro Fire Rescue District. Propane tanks caught fire and exploded, flames and black smoke filled the air.(1/3) North Metro Fire responded to a structure fire at 9:45 am at the corner of Lou Dr. and Fred St. in Northglenn. The fire began outside near the unattached garage. Nearby propane tanks caught on fire causing explosion sounds. #northglenn pic.twitter.com/g0Mz7oQTgQ— North Metro Fire (@NMFirePIO) August 12, 2023The fire damaged two residences and two people were medically treated and cleared at the scene, North Metro Fire said. One person was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. Nearby fire departments aided North Metro in putting out the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Sediment pours into Butte Creek, threatening salmon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:23:28 GMT

CHICO — Brown and orange colored sediment polluted salmon-bearing and crop-irrigating waters of Butte Creek beginning Thursday morning, caused by a breach along the Butte Canal near Lovelock.Around 7 a.m. Thursday, a breach towards the bottom side of the Butte Canal — which carries water to the De Sabla Powerhouse — led water to go downhill which brought sediment into Butte Creek, according to Paul Moreno, marketing and communications principal for PG&E.Moreno said PG&E confirmed turbid water in Butte Creek by helicopter patrol, stopped flows into the damaged section of the Butte Canal by opening a side spill gate, and notified state and federal agencies.Sediment polluted water runs through Butte Creek seen around 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 near Helltown, California. (Allen Harthorn/Contibuted) “The turbidity was caused by the beach where water came out and it ran down the hillside,” Moreno said. “The spill gates are located at natural drainages … rocky drainages — an...