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Florida Legislature passes 6-week abortion ban, DeSantis supports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Republican-dominated Florida Legislature on Thursday approved a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a proposal supported by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis as he prepares for an expected presidential run.DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law. Florida currently prohibits abortions after 15 weeks.A six-week ban would give DeSantis a key political victory among Republican primary voters as he prepares to launch a presidential candidacy built on his national brand as a conservative standard bearer.The policy would also have wider implications for abortion access throughout the South in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade and leaving decisions about abortion access to states. Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Georgia forbids the procedure after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks.Democrats and abortion...

Rescue crews work to save residents affected by severe floods in Fort Lauderdale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

Residents in Fort Lauderdale were pulled to safety after severe floods affected Broward County. Most South Florida residents had never faced a flooding emergency like this one.“We were hit last night with a deluge of rain,” said Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Chief Michael Kane.Parts of Fort Lauderdale woke up under several feet of rain Nearly a third of the year’s worth of rain fell only on Wednesday. Entire neighborhoods are now under water.Residents were trapped in their homes as firefighters use boats in the rush to rescue the most vulnerable ones, which included kids and dogs.Traffic was also a big problem for residents who tried to resume their lives Thursday morning..This road near Atlantic Shores Boulevard looked more like a parking lot and flooding along Marina Mile Boulevard just off of Interstate 95 in made for a traffic nightmare for morning commuters.Official have an important call.“Please continue to stay off the roads,” Fort Lauderdale Mayor...

Gov. DeSantis issues State of Emergency for Broward County following severe rainfall and flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

Hours after South Florida was hit with unprecedented showers and thunderstorms, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for Broward County.As a result, the Florida Department of Emergency and Management deployed staff to support local officials throughout the county. https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1646599973876781059?s=20Rainfall totals of 4-8 inches have fallen over southeastern Broward County and northeastern Miami-Dade County, with the heaviest rainfall amounts of 15-25 inches estimated through the Fort Lauderdale metro area.Other state efforts include:Department of TransportationFDOT is pumping flood waters at multiple locations including the New River Tunnel (US 1).FDOT is providing maintenance of traffic for roadway closures and working with Broward County on traffic signal outages.FDOT has posted messaging to digital signage advising of the airport closure and road closures caused by flooding in downtown Fort Lauderdale.FDOT is activating damage assessment ...

Drug busts in Mass. & RI lead to 13 arrests, seizure of massive amounts of methamphetamine, other substances

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

Authorities executing nearly 20 search warrants across Massachusetts and Rhode Island Thursday morning arrested over a dozen suspects as local and federal officials busted a “large scale” drug trafficking operation, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.The DA’s office announced the arrests of 13 suspects as part of a multi-agency investigation involving federal, state and local authorities over the course of two years.According to a news release from the office, the investigation culminated in 19 search warrants being executed Thursday in communities that included Framingham, Worcester, Lawrence, Ashland, Peabody, Northbridge and Woburn, Mass., as well as North Smithfield, Rhode Island.Arrested were 13 suspects across eastern and central Mass. who now face numerous drug-related charges. The arrests and charges include:Sandy Marte-Caraballo, 34, Woburn, charged with: Trafficking Fentanyl, Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Methamphetamine...

Protest, counter protest expected in Newton around planned drag performance 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

A protest and a counter protest are expected in Newton Thursday afternoon as a guest invited for an LGBTQ awareness day at Newton North High School has left some people upset.Students at Newton North High School invited drag performer Missy Steak to take part in the school’s annual Transgender, Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Day on Friday. As word has spread, though, several Newton School Committee members said they were contacted. “A lot of the students are very glad we have this safe space to talk about LGBTQ issues and kind of show their pride for being in the community,” Newton North Senior Olivia Schpeiser said.Speaking this week, Newton School Committee member Cove Johnstone Davis said she received “many, many emails.”He continued, saying she received, “quite honestly some threatening emails and texts as well, which I didn’t appreciate from the community.”At a meeting Monday, the school district’s interim superintendent explained the event was planned by student...

Edna Kiplagat officially named as new winner of 2021 marathon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

Just days before runners hit the road for the 2023 Boston Marathon, officials on Thursday officially named a new winner of the 2021 marathon. Edna Kiplagat was in town to officially take the title two years after she initially came in second place behind Diana Kipyokei. Kipyokei was later involved in a doping scandal that resulted in her losing her 2021 title. Kipyokei was also banned for six years.The Boston Athletic Association announced Kipyokei’s suspension in October of last year. The Associated Press later reported a urine sample from Kipyokei taken after the 2021 Boston Marathon had traces of triamcinolone acetonide, described as an anti-inflammatory substance banned at races unless an athlete has permission to use it as a medication.Kiplagat said it is critical for athletes to have a fair competition. “All athletes now are appreciating the system because it’s working well,” she said.Kiplaga is now a two-time Boston Marathon winner, having previously won t...

Biden administration declares fentanyl laced with xylazine ‘an emerging threat’ in the US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

(CNN) — The White House has declared that the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl combined with xylazine — an animal tranquilizer that’s increasingly being used in illicit drugs — is an “emerging threat” facing the United States due to its role in the ongoing opioid crisis.Administration officials call the threat FAAX, for fentanyl-adulterated or -associated xylazine.The move, announced Wednesday, marks the first time in history that any administration has declared a substance to be an emerging threat to the country, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The SUPPORT Act of 2018 established that the office has authority to declare such “emerging threats,” and no administration has used it until now. Last year, Congress declared methamphetamine an emerging drug threat but none have been declared by an administration previously. Under other agencies or in separate circum...

Red Sox outclassed by Rays in four-game sweep, lose finale 9-3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

We knew going in this series would tell us a lot about both the Red Sox and Rays.For Boston this week was an opportunity to prove it could hold its own against a real contender. For Tampa Bay it was a chance to show its hot start wasn’t just a flash in the pan.Well, we sure know where the teams stand now.Facing their first big test against a playoff-proven division rival, the Red Sox got splattered like a bug on a windshield. The Rays completed the four-game sweep Thursday afternoon, riding a seven-run fifth inning to a 9-3 victory.The Rays are now 13-0, matching the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers for the best start in MLB history, while the Red Sox limp home last in the AL East and facing serious questions.“Right now they’re playing great baseball, playing good defense, running the bases, pitching well, they are who they are right now,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Obviously disappointing for us to come here and get swept but weR...

Patriots sign ex-Ravens, Cardinals backup QB

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

The Patriots signed backup quarterback Trace McSorley, the team announced Thursday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots announce Mike Vrabel, Logan Mankins and Bill Parcells as Hall finalists New England Patriots | Guregian: Patriots pre-draft roster projection New England Patriots | NFL executive assesses Patriots’ offseason, 2023 odds: ‘The talent gap is still pretty significant’ New England Patriots | NFL notes: Is it possible for Bill Belichick and Mac Jones to mend fences? New England Patriots | Ex-Patriots assistant Dante Scarnecchia entering Patriots Hall of Fame McSorley is a four-year backup with plus mobility and previous stops in Baltimore and Arizona. Over his career, he’s appeared in nine games and completed 51.6% of his passes for 502 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. During his only career start, McSorley went 24-of-45 for 217 yards against the...

FAA: 250 cases of unruly passengers sent to FBI

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:51 GMT

Federal officials said Thursday they have referred more than 250 unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution since late 2021, including one as recently as last month, when a man tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken-off spoon.The pace of the criminal referrals is slowing, however. The Federal Aviation Administration identified 17 cases it has sent to the FBI in the first three months of this year — mostly for incidents that happened last year but took time to investigate.Airlines have reported fewer cases of unruly passengers since last April, when a federal judge struck down a requirement that people wear masks on planes and public transportation. Before that ruling, about two-thirds of all incidents on planes involved disputes over masks.The FAA can levy civil fines but lacks authority to file criminal charges, so it asks the FBI to step in for the most serious cases.“If you act out on a plane, you should just stay at home because we will ...