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What's on the docket this U.S. Supreme Court term

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Gun rights for domestic abusers, free speech on social media and voting rights are among the major issues before the U.S. Supreme Court as it begins another consequential term.Doug Letter of Brady, which works to prevent gun violence, said that though the court expanded certain gun rights last term, the group is "optimistic" it will strike down a lower court's decision allowing domestic abusers to own guns."Because otherwise a whole lot of women and children are going to die," Letter said.Later this month, the justices will consider a racial gerrymandering case that asks if South Carolina's congressional maps discriminate against Black voters."We do have cases that are active in Florida and Georgia and many other states, and in a lot of ways, we're looking at what happens in South Carolina," Kathay Peng of equal rights advocacy group Common Cause said.The court is also expected to take on its first abortion case since overturning Roe v. Wade. This time, it wil...

Few in new poll say conservatives can speak freely on college campuses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

(The Hill) -- Americans in a new survey said they believe college campuses are more likely to be open to liberals than conservatives when it comes to free speech.Forty-seven percent of adults questioned said liberals on college campuses have “a lot” of freedom to express their opinion, while only 20 percent said conservatives do, according to the poll from the University of Chicago and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs. While Republicans are more likely to report a bias against conservatives on college campuses, the poll found Democrats do as well. After 3 years, student loan payments are back Only 9 percent of Republicans said conservatives can speak freely on campus, while 58 percent said liberals can speak their minds. The poll found that about 4 in 10 Democrats said liberals can express their views freely, while about 3 in 10 Democrats said conservatives can.The poll comes after a handful of students at U.S. colleges held protests against conservative guests ...

'No one above the law': Trump on trial in NY fraud case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- Moments before entering a New York courtroom to begin a bench trial on business fraud, former President Donald Trump defiantly called the fraud case against him part of "the single greatest witch hunt of all time."The fraud charges could cost Trump control of some of his prized properties and as much as a $250 million fine.Trump also lashed out at New York Attorney General Leticia James, who brought the case against him for lying about his wealth in financial statements to banks, insurers and others."We have a racist attorney general who's a horror show," Trump said.And he blasted Judge Arthur Engoron, who ruled on part of the case last week that Trump committed fraud for years by overvaluing or undervaluing his assets."He's a Democrat operative," Trump said of the judge.This is a high stakes civil trial that could strip Trump of control of Trump Tower and other properties. In 2018 Trump valued his Mar-a-Lago estate at about $739 million. Prosecutors say that...

More Texas Black mothers die while giving birth, so an HBCU looked for solutions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's historically Black university is launching a new doula-midwife training program.Huston-Tillotson is partnering with Black Mamas ATX and Blue Cross Blue Shield. The university set out to add more culturally competent people to the maternal health workforce through Boldly B.L.U.E. BCBSTX, Huston-Tillotson announce collaboration for culturally-aligned maternal, infant healthcare in Texas State data shows Black women die while giving birth at a higher rate compared to other women in Texas.Right in the thick of this task is Nakeenya Wilson. She's a mom of three, an entrepreneur and now a certified doula who will be consulting key leaders in HT's new program."It's being that support being a source of information, education, for both the birthing person and their partner," Wilson said.Wilson wants to help mothers cherish precious birthing moments. A calling, if you will, after she herself had major labor complications with her son."Him being born, not breathing.....

Williamson County burn ban lifted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell approved Monday lifting its burn ban for unincorporated areas within the county's jurisdiction. The ban officially lifted at 3:30 p.m., according to an updated county news release.Residents are still advised to exercise caution when it comes to any outdoor burning activity, which must be done under state regulations outlined in Texas Administrative Code Section 30 TAC 111.219.Anyone conducting control burns are advised to contact the local fire department, with county officials noting some departments require a burn permit before a control burn is done. The county also stressed calling and reporting the controlled burn to Williamson County Communications at (512) 864-8282, with the office available to provide information on any burning restrictions countywide.

Man killed on St. Paul street was 36-year-old from Milwaukee, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

A man found fatally shot on a street in St. Paul’s Battle Creek neighborhood was a 36-year-old from Milwaukee, police said Monday.No one was under arrest in the killing of Khoua Yang as of Monday afternoon.Officers were called about 2:10 a.m. Sunday to a shooting in the 2100 block of Scenic Place, which runs between Pederson and Winthrop streets. They found Yang had been shot and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.Investigators asked on Sunday for anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Man fatally shot on St. Paul street in Battle Creek neighborhood Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul high school coach charged with sexual contact with 15-year-old student Crime & Public Safety | ‘There really is just no justice,’ brother says after motorist pleads guilty to Falcon Heights criminal vehicular homicide Crime & Public Safety | White Bea...

Jury chosen in Darryl Mount wrongful death civil trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

BALLSTON, SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A jury was chosen today in the Darryl Mount wrongful death civil trial. There will be 8 jurors consisting of 5 men and 3 women all of whom are white. Initially 16 people were screened but ultimately the jury was narrowed down to 8.Darryl Mount remembered 10 years laterMount was left comatose in 2013 after falling from scaffolding while being chased by police. He died in 2014.The defendants from Saratoga Springs were seeking a summary judgment in the case and cited his fall as the sole cause of his eventual death. Mount’s family’s lawsuit claims that was not the case. In reviewing the case, the judge reviewed officer testimony and ruled the case cannot be resolved by summary judgment.Race is a factor in this case, in that all of the officers involved are white, all of the jury members are white, and Daryl Mount, the man who died, was biracial.Mount’s mother, who is white, interjected that Mount was Biracial in response to the defense consistently refer...

New charges for Missouri inmate who escaped Mercy South Hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A convicted inmate who walked out of Mercy South Hospital last month, prompting a brief manhunt in the St. Louis area before his capture, is facing new charges in connection with the escape.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Tommy Boyd on Monday with escape from the Department of Corrections, unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of stealing. He's being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.Boyd, 45, was serving a decades-long sentence at the Potosi Correctional Center for statutory sodomy. He’d been taken to Mercy South Hospital for an undisclosed treatment on Sept. 20. Boyd walked out of the main entrance at the hospital shortly before 4 a.m. on Sept. 21. Short-term rental property owner shares concerns about proposed regulations Boyd was taken back into custody just before 8 p.m. that same day in the Dierbergs parking lot on Old Route 66 (Watson Road) in Shrewsbury. He was wearing a corrections officer's jacket and had the ...

Aldermen, advocates introduce unhoused bill of rights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Homeless advocates met at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Soulard on Monday morning to discuss bringing forward an unhoused bill of rights to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.“As a community, we cannot complain about encampments while also opposing the creation of homeless shelters to help our most vulnerable neighbors break the cycle of homeless,” Board of Alderman President Megan Green said.Green did not have copies of the board bill proposal Monday morning, but her group says there are not enough beds for the city’s unhoused population, which has set up tents along the riverfront, outside businesses, and city hall recently.Green says she’s familiar with homelessness. In the mid-2000s, she worked at the now-closed Shalom House shelter.Under the current system, Green says new shelters must get the signatures of 51% of homeowners living within 500 feet of a proposed community shelter. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inb...

Unseasonably high temperatures as fall festivities begin at Thies Farms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – While the weather may say something different, it’s October, and that means pumpkin season.With these temperatures near 90, it’s a little hard to get into the spirit of Halloween. But with those two cold fronts on the way later this week, we’ll be experiencing that fall feeling just around the corner. And fall is already in progress here at Thies Farms.Dave Thies, owner of Thies Farm and Greenhouses, says they’ve had a good growing year. Yes, it’s been dry, but they can water easily. And the weather is, as usual, up and down, but overall, they’ve had a successful harvest.“The pumpkins that we have that we’re growing here look excellent,” Thies said. “In fact, the vines are so green and luscious you can’t see the fruit. But there’s quite a few pumpkins in there.” Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News ...