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Federal judges in Kentucky and Tennessee block portions of transgender youth care bans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Federal judges in Kentucky and Tennessee blocked portions of bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, handing down the rulings just days before the statutes were set to go into effect.The ruling is similar to roadblocks that federal courts have thrown up against Republican-dominant states in their pursuit to prevent young people from receiving transgender health care.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge temporarily blocked Kentucky’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youths on Wednesday, taking the action shortly before the measure was set to take effect.In issuing the preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge David Hale sided with seven transgender minors and their parents, who sued the state officials responsible for enforcing the provisions banning the use of puberty blockers and hormones.“Justice is served today as the most egregious parts of Kentucky’s anti-trans l...

NYC’s ex-school food chief convicted in bribery case tied to icky chicken tenders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who oversaw food service for New York City schools was convicted Wednesday in a bribery case that picked apart how chicken tenders riddled with bone and bits of metal were served for months in the nation’s biggest public school system. Former city Department of Education official Eric Goldstein and three men who founded a school food vendor — Blaine Iler, Michael Turley and Brian Twomey — were found guilty of bribery, conspiracy and other charges after a monthlong trial. It delved into school menus, from yogurt parfait to ravioli. And the trial gave jurors a stomach-churning look at what some students and school staffers encountered when a brand called Chickentopia turned up on their plates in 2016 and 2017. “Our children depended on nutritious meals served in schools and, instead, got substandard food products containing pieces of plastic, metal and bones,” Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement Wednesday. He called the case “a text...

Tennessee State ready to make history as the 1st HBCU to add ice hockey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee State University for so long has been best known in athletics as the place where Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph and the Tigerbelles made track history and produced NFL talent like Super Bowl champ Ed “Too Tall” Jones.Now the university that’s also the alma mater of Oprah Winfrey is taking a big step as the first historically Black college and university to introduce ice hockey.The school on Wednesday announced plans to have a men’s team playing at the club level in 2024, with a goal of fielding Division I men’s and women’s teams “in the near future.”“It is our hope that while TSU is the first HBCU to start an ice hockey program, we certainly won’t be the last,” university president Glenda Glover said at a news conference before the NHL draft.The Tennessee State program has been created in partnership with the National Hockey League, the National Hockey League Players’ Association and the Nashville Predators. NHL Commissioner Gary Be...

North Carolina lawmakers give final OK to ban gender-affirming care for trans children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers finalized legislation on Wednesday that would prohibit certain gender-affirming care for children and prevent state funds from being used to provide such therapies and procedures. The House voted 67-46 to accept a version of the measure approved by the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation would bar any medical professional from providing hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgical gender transition procedures to anyone under 18, with some medical exceptions. Young people who begin treatment before Aug. 1 could continue receiving such care if it’s considered medically necessary and their parents consent.The bill, written by Republicans, now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, whose veto is likely. Cooper has expressed opposition to bills that target trans youth. The GOP holds narrow veto-proof majorities in both chambers. If the bill is enacted into law, critics have already signaled litigation. Most of the 20 or so states with laws res...

Relatives of man who died during admission to psychiatric hospital seek federal investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Lawyers for the family of a Virginia man who died of asphyxiation after he was pinned to the floor for about 11 minutes while being admitted to a psychiatric hospital have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. In letter to federal officials that was dated June 26 and made public Wednesday, prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Virginia attorney Mark Krudys said the state prosecutor’s office that brought second-degree murder charges against sheriff’s deputies and hospital workers does not have the staff or resources to prosecute the case adequately. Irvo Otieno, 28, died March 6 as he was being admitted to Central State Hospital. Video from the hospital showed Henrico County sheriff’s deputies and hospital staff attempting to restrain Otieno — who was in handcuffs and leg shackles — for about 20 minutes. For most of that time, Otieno was on the floor being held...

Blackhawks select Connor Bedard with No. 1 overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

NASHVILLE — What everyone thought was going to happen for nearly two months finally did on Wednesday night.With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks selected center Connor Bedard at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. General manager Kyle Davidson, who started a full rebuild of the team in March 2022 with the hopes that he could get a high pick in this draft, now has one of the centerpieces of the new era of the team. Bedard is the second No. 1 overall pick in Blackhawks history, with the team taking future three-time Stanley Cup champion and NHL MVP Patrick Kane with the top selection in 2007. Many have argued that he's one of the best prospects in the history of the draft. The 17-year-old center comes to Chicago with a great resume both in North America and internationally. He's won three junior gold medals with Team Canada, one for the U18 World Championships in 2021 and the World Junior Championships in 2022 & 2023.With the Regina Pats of the Western Hock...

WGN-TV to air WGN News Special 'From the Border to Chicago'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

Chicago’s Very Own WGN-TV will air “From the Border to Chicago” on Wednesday, June 28 at 6:30pm CT, reported by WGN’s Lourdes Duarte.The WGN News special covers the recent influx of migrants into the Chicago area and spends time with newly arriving families along with Chicagoans who are helping.  The special also examines the costs associated with these changes, the impact on struggling communities in Chicago and the suburbs, and what happens next.The half-hour special will be seen on WGN-TV; the WGN+ TV streaming app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV; online at WGNTV.com/Live and the WGN News mobile app. WGN-TV is Chicago’s Very Own source for news and entertainment and is owned and operated by Nexstar Media Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc.  WGN News programs more local news than any other Chicago TV station and can be seen on WGN-TV; the WGN+ TV streaming app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV; online at...

Mary Meg McCarthy, Congressman Mike Quigley discuss what migrants face when looking for a job

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

Thousands of asylum seekers living in Chicago are having a difficult time retaining work due to federal regulations that require a work permit. As part of our "From the Border to Chicago” special, Lourdes Duarte was joined by Mary Meg McCarthy with Heartland Alliance and Congressman Mike Quigley.They discussed the complexities facing migrants when it comes to finding a job.

From the Border to Chicago: Migrants seek Shelter at Police Stations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

More than 600 asylum seekers are sleeping at police stations across Chicago.  Many of them are waiting for asylum hearings which could take months.In our special report "From the Border to Chicago," our cameras were allowed inside the 20th police district where new arrivals shared their stories of survival.   

Video shows alleged baby gator abuse; teen charged in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:47 GMT

PLANT CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — A case of alligator abuse has led to a criminal charge being filed in Plant City, Florida. Wildlife officials said a video began circulating around social media on Thursday, which shows a teen chugging what appears to be an alcoholic beverage with a baby alligator gripping the can. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission caught wind of the video and opened an investigation, which led to one of the teens seen in the video being charged for taking the alligator without a permit. Why are teens pretending to die from McDonald’s Grimace Shake? "The lack of respect and responsibility shown toward this animal was disappointing to see….this serves as a strong reminder of the consequences of such behavior," the FWC said in a statement. Nexstar's WFLA showed the video to Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation president Vernon Yates."I could see multiple things in there that are just wrong," he said. "Wrong possession of it [and] wrong to just drop it ...