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North Dakota governor signs 6-week abortion ban into law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

North Dakota’s Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed an abortion ban at six weeks of pregnancy — even in cases of rape or incest — into law on Monday.“This bill clarifies and refines existing state law … and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,” Burgum said in a statement.The law, one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, takes effect immediately, according to the bill’s sponsor. Supporters have said the measure protects all human life, while opponents contend it will have dire consequences for women and girls.___Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15Source

Mexico finds 11,520 tequila bottles with liquid meth at port

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican Navy inspectors have intercepted 11,520 tequila bottles bound for export that actually contained nearly 10 tons of concentrated liquid meth, the Navy said Monday.The discovery was made Sunday at the Pacific coast seaport of Manzanillo, the Navy said. It said the bottles contained approximately 8,640 kilograms (about 19,000 pounds) of meth. Photos of the seizure show a sniffer dog alerting inspectors to cardboard boxes of glass bottles full of a brownish liquid, consistent with the color of “añejo” or aged tequila. The labels on the bottles were not visible.Mexico is the world’s only producer of authentic tequila. While there have not been any reported instances of such bottles reaching consumers, ingesting the mixture would be immensely dangerous.Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council, a trade and certification group, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether anything similar had occurred before.Mexico has become a major produ...

Bengals’ Zac Taylor set for 5th draft as head coach

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — “Draft Day” isn’t on the list of Zac Taylor’s all-time favorite movies.“I saw it a long time ago. Very unrealistic,” the Cincinnati Bengals coach said Monday.The 2014 film, which stars Kevin Costner as Sonny Weaver Jr., the fictional general manager of the Cleveland Browns, gives viewers a dramatic look inside an NFL team’s room during the draft.“It’s like anything about your job, when it’s that unrealistic, it’s hard to accept,” Taylor said. But what about a movie focused on the Bengals’ draft day experience?“I’d watch it,” he said.Taylor will experience his fifth draft with the franchise when the first round of the NFL draft kicks off Thursday night in Kansas City, Missouri. Cincinnati has seven total picks in this year’s draft, including the 28th overall selection.Taylor wouldn’t reveal where the Bengals are leaning with their first pick, but he said he’s looking forward to making that first phone call.“It’s a great moment when you get a chance to make the selec...

ACLU asks Missouri judge to block rule that places restrictions on adults, minors seeking gender-affirming health care

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — ACLU asks Missouri judge to block rule that places restrictions on adults, minors seeking gender-affirming health care.Source

Hawks G Murray suspended for Game 5 vs Celtics

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks guard Dejounte Murray has been suspended for Game 5 of the playoff series against the Boston Celtics with Atlanta facing the end of its season.The NBA announced Monday that Murray will have to sit out one game without pay for making inappropriate contact with an official, as well as verbal abuse.The incident occurred after the Hawks’ 129-121 loss in Game 4, which pushed Boston to a 3-1 lead in the series. The suspension was handed out by Joe Dumars, the league’s head of basketball operations and chief disciplinarian.After the horn sounded to end the game, Murray was captured on video bumping official Gediminas Petraitis with his chest while walking off the court. The player then turned to yell something at the referee before he was pulled away and directed toward the locker room.The Celtics can advance to the second round with a victory at home Tuesday night.Murray scored 23 points in Game 4, but it was his worst outing of the series. The Hawks were ...

Indiana bill on trans student name changes goes to governor

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana schools would be required to notify parents if their child requests a name or pronoun change at school under a bill approved Monday by the state House despite worries that the step could out young transgender people to their families.The Republican-dominated House voted 63-28 largely along party lines to send the bill to GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb for his consideration after it won the Senate’s endorsement two weeks ago.The proposal would require school officials to provide written notification to a child’s parent or guardian within five business days of the child asking to be called a different “pronoun, title, or word,” according to the bill. Supporters argued the approach would empower parents. Republican state Rep. Michelle Davis, a lead sponsor of the bill, said it would put parents in control of “introducing sensitive topics to their children.”Opponents derided the proposal during legislative hearings as an attack on the state’s LGBTQ+ students, especial...

RBB: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LOS ANGELES (AP) — RBB Bancorp (RBB) on Monday reported net income of $11 million in its first quarter.The Los Angeles-based bank said it had earnings of 58 cents per share.The bank holding company posted revenue of $56.1 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $36.5 million, falling short of Street forecasts._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RBB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RBBSource

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez out of lineup with neck pain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has returned to Houston with neck discomfort, Houston manager Dusty Baker announced before Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He said Alvarez has had the problem for about a week.“We decided to send him to go get examined,” Baker said. “Hopefully it’s not too bad. So, we’ll see.”Baker is hopeful that Alvarez can avoid going on the injured list.“We don’t think so,” Baker said. “We hope not. We just have to see after he sees the doctor.”Alvarez is hitting .253 with six homers and 27 RBIs. He hit late go-ahead homers in the first two games of the Astros’ weekend sweep of the Atlanta Braves. Alvarez, who has eight multi-RBI games, added a game-tying two-run single in the eighth inning of Sunday’s series finale.Baker said it has not been determined if Alvarez will return for the final two games of the road series with the Rays.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and ht...

Lawsuit: Mississippi violates rights by appointing judges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi is violating its own constitution with a new law that requires some judges to be appointed rather than elected in the state’s capital city and its surrounding county, civil rights groups said in a lawsuit filed Monday.It is the second lawsuit since Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed bills Friday to expand state policing in Jackson, to establish a lower court with an appointed judge and to authorize four appointed judges to work alongside the four elected circuit court judges in Hinds County, which is home to Jackson.About 83% of residents in Jackson and 74% in Hinds County are Black, and both the city and the county are governed by Democrats. The new laws were passed by the majority-white and Republican-controlled state House and Senate over the objections of most Jackson lawmakers and many local residents.The new lawsuit was filed Monday in Hinds County Chancery Court on behalf of three residents by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Mississip...

Denver weather: Heavy snow, rain starts Tuesday, a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will turn soggy on Tuesday and Wednesday as an incoming storm system brings heavy rain and snow to most of Colorado. Weather tonight: Rain beginsThere is a chance for rain showers moving through overnight into early Tuesday morning. Clouds will continue to build over the Front Range. Overnight lows in Denver will drop to the upper 30s. What to expect from the Tuesday-Wednesday snowstorm Weather tomorrow: Rain to snowThe Front Range and plains will see rain showers Tuesday morning that will become heavier into the afternoon. The mountains will see scattered snow showers throughout Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, rain showers will start to change to snow, especially in the higher elevations above 6,000 feet. A winter storm warning has been issued for areas south and west of metro Denver Tuesday into Wednesday. Denver's temperatures will fall to the 40s on Tuesday. Looking ahead: Dry conditions return late Wednesday Rain and snow showers will linger int...