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Military moves to cut suicides, but defers action on guns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a number of improvements in mental health care on Thursday to reduce suicides in the military, but held off on endorsing more controversial recommendations to restrict gun and ammunition purchases by young troops, sending them to another panel for study.An independent committee in late February recommended that the Defense Department implement a series of gun safety measures, including waiting periods for the purchase of firearms and ammunition by service members on military property and raising the minimum age for service members to buy guns and ammunition to 25.In a memo released Thursday, Austin called for the establishment of a suicide prevention working group to “assess the advisability and feasibility” of recommendations made by the initial study committee — which would include the gun measures. And he asked for cost estimates and a description of any “barriers” to implementing other changes. At no point did he specifica...

El Salvador’s congress extends anti-gang crackdown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

El Salvador’s congress has voted to approve yet another extension of emergency rules allowing police to round up suspected members of street gangs. The vote late Wednesday was widely expected, and marks the 12th such one-month extension granted to President Nayib Bukele since the measure was first approved on March 27, 2022.The crackdown has resulted in over 65,000 arrests and thousands of alleged rights abuses, but remains popular in a country where gangs once demanded protection payments with impunity. Opinion polls suggest that about 9 out of 10 Salvadorans approve of the government’s anti-crime strategy.The extension came on the same day the government sent 2,000 more suspects to a huge new prison built especially for gang members Wednesday, and the justice minister vowed that “they will never return” to the streets.The government announced the mass inmate transfer with a slickly produced video posted on social media. It showed prisoners forced to run barefoot and handcuff...

Mets’ Díaz expected to miss entire season after freak injury

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has a torn patellar tendon and is expected to miss the entire season after hurting his right knee while celebrating a victory in the World Baseball Classic.Mets general manager Billy Eppler said Díaz would undergo surgery Thursday. Without going into specifics, Eppler said a general timeline for recovery from this type of injury is about eight months.The Mets signed Díaz to a five-year, $102 million contract — the largest ever for a closer — after he produced a spectacular 2022 season. All player contracts are covered by insurance through the WBC that spans the length of time the player is out with an injury suffered during the tournament.Díaz went 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 35 opportunities while striking out 118 batters in 62 innings last season. He made his second All-Star appearance and finished ninth in the Cy Young Award voting.Díaz, who turns 29 on Wednesday, retired the side in order in the ninth inning of ...

MATCHDAY: Newcastle at Forest, Gladbach eyes landmark win

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Friday:ENGLANDNewcastle will look to move a point off the Premier League’s top four when it visits relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. Newcastle is currently in fifth place, four points behind Tottenham in fourth but with two games in hand. The northeast team ignited its push for Champions League qualification by beating Wolverhampton on Sunday to end a four-game winless run in the league. Forest is in 14th place in the 20-team league but only two points above the relegation zone in what is shaping up to be a tight race to avoid dropping into the Championship. The bottom five is separated by five points. SPAINAthletic Bilbao visits Valladolid in the Spanish league looking to create some winning momentum in the buildup to its decisive Copa del Rey semifinal match. Bilbao has not won in five consecutive games, despite playing well in last week’s 1-0 loss to leader Barcelona. Bilbao is in ninth place and will have a hard time ...

How do Colorado property taxes stack against the rest of the US?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado has one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country, depending on the city. Legislators are currently considering ways to keep residents from being stuck with unmanageable property tax burdens. The average assessed value of a property will balloon by 26.5% this year, according to a state economic forecast. Potentially, this could add hundreds or thousands to the yearly property tax bill, which would especially endanger Coloradans on fixed incomes. Colorado has higher than average rate of DUIs Property taxes in Colorado are some of the lightest in the nation, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the Tax Foundation.In 2020, Colorado homeowners paid 0.54% of their home's value in property taxes. This is the nation's third-lowest percentage. Only Alabama and Hawaii homeowners paid lower percentages of their home value in taxes. Most of the western U.S. has similarly low tax rates. Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico are each in the b...

Investigation underway after police-involved shooting at medical complex in North Miami Beach

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

An investigation is underway after a police-involved shooting happened at a medical complex.7Skyforce hovered over the scene at the complex, located at Northeast 168th Street and 68th Avenue, Thursday afternoon. According to police, there was no threat to the community.No injuries were reported.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Abortion ban after 6-weeks moves forward in Florida

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A proposed six-week abortion ban received overwhelming approval from a Florida House committee Thursday as even Democrats acknowledged there’s nothing they can do to stop it from eventually becoming law.The proposal is moving along while a 15-week abortion ban signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last year is still being challenged. The new proposal would only go into effect if the current law is upheld and would would make it a crime to provide an abortion past six weeks’ gestational age.“It’s a bill that recognizes the importance and value of the life of innocent, unborn human beings,” said Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka said of her proposal. “The bill that’s before you is not solely a reflection of my personal beliefs, but a result of listening in an attempt to build consensus around a policy that supports life.”The measure could give DeSantis, who is widely expect to run for president, additional fodder to woo conservat...

FedEx delivers hundreds of sneakers to students at Earlington Heights Elementary in NW Miami-Dade

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

Hundreds of South Florida students got off on the right foot thanks to FedEx. FedEx employees on Thursday were at Earlington Heights Elementary School in Northwest Miami-Dade to give out 200 pairs of free shoes to students. “All throughout the United States, between the months of March and April, we’re going to be at 28 different schools, and we’ll have been delivering 8,400 pairs of shoes for children across the country,” said Stephanie Seberg, FedEx spokesperson for Operation Warm. FedEx partnered with the non-profit called Operation Warm, which provides shoes and coats to kids in need across the country. “What we can get, we’re grateful for it and we take it, so as long as we have people on the outside that are willing to come in, the doors of Earlington are always open,” said Jackson Nicolas, principal of the school.The diverse international baccalaureate school welcomed the volunteers with open arms.The students looked for the perfect f...

In rare rebuke, Germany’s Scholz voices ‘great concern’ over Israel’s judicial reforms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued rare criticism of the Israeli government Thursday, expressing “great concern” over planned judicial reforms that have sparked protests. Scholz made the remarks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was visiting the German capital, urging the Israeli leader to reconsider a compromise proposal on the reforms.“As democratic value partners and close friends of Israel, we are following this debate [over the planned judicial reforms] very closely and — I will not hide this — with great concern,” Scholz said. “The independence of the judiciary is a high democratic good.”Since the end of World War II and Berlin’s reckoning with the atrocities the country committed during the Holocaust, German leaders have traditionally been cautious about making critical remarks about the Israeli government. But the judicial reforms have raised concerns both at home and abroad.Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, which i...

Barking mad? Commission chews over bring-your-pet-to-work policy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:26 GMT

BRUSSELS — Is the European Commission going to the dogs?It soon might be as top management are considering letting staffers bring their four-legged friends — and other pets — to work.“Regarding the presence of dogs in its premises, the Commission is exploring pet-related presence and will organise pilot actions where staff could come with their pets,” Budget and Administration Commissioner Johannes Hahn wrote to MEPs in a note published on Wednesday. A cross-group pack of MEPs embarked in late November 2022 on a dogged quest to improve the mental health of Eurocrats, formally asking the Commission if it would consider allowing pets in its buildings. “Despite their undeniable contribution to improving people’s well-being, pets are not allowed into any of the EU institutions’ buildings,” yelped Alexis Georgoulis (The Left), Francisco Guerreiro (Greens), Karen Melchior (Renew), Monica Semedo (Renew) and Loucas Fourlas (EPP).The EU institutions “are considered to be at th...