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Florida expands ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ OKs 3 more anti-LGBTQ bills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE and BRENDAN FARRINGTON (Associated Press)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added more wins to his agenda targeting the LGBTQ+ community as a state board approved an expansion of what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” law Wednesday, and the House passed bills on gender-transition treatments, bathroom use and keeping children out of drag shows.The Board of Education approved a ban on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the law that bans those lesson up to grade 3 at the request of DeSantis as he gears up for an expected presidential run.The rule change would ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades 4-12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take. That’s the time when students are becoming aware of their sexuality.The proposal will take effect af...

Magic’s Franz Wagner stepped up while adapting in second season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

The signs of what it’d look like if Franz Wagner took on a larger role for the Orlando Magic in 2022-23 appeared last year during his rookie season.When the Magic were dealing with multiple injuries and COVID-19-related absences in December 2021, Wagner put together an Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month campaign that showcased his offensive on-ball versatility and playmaking ability.As the Magic got healthier last season, especially in the backcourt, Wagner’s on-ball usage went down. But the seeds of a significant part of his development were planted.This past season, those seeds sprouted, with Wagner stepping up in the roles the Magic needed him to play.“Obviously, there’s always stuff to improve but I’ve improved a lot not just on the court but my focus level,” Wagner told the Orlando Sentinel before the season ended. “The game has slowed down a little bit for me. I don’t think I was as consistent as I would’ve loved to be....

Ticker: Extra COVID-19 booster now open to some; Tesla 1Q income, profit margins to fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

Older Americans and people with weak immune systems can get an extra COVID-19 booster dose this spring.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday signed off on a more flexible booster schedule for people who remain at the highest risk from COVID-19 — giving them the choice of a second “bivalent” Pfizer or Moderna booster, the most up-to-date formula.“Many in the population are experiencing vaccine fatigue but there is a subset who are eager to receive additional doses,” CDC’s Dr. Sara Oliver told an agency advisory panel that expressed support for the change.Price cuts cause Tesla 1Q income, profit margins to fallPrice reductions across the model lineup cut into Tesla’s first-quarter net income, causing it to fall 24% from a year ago.The Austin, Texas, electric car and solar panel company said Wednesday it made $2.51 billion from January through March, down from $3.32 billion a year ago. Revenue rose 24% to $23.33 billion, but the company’s operating pro...

Alleged classified document leaker Jack Teixeira’s federal detention hearing postponed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

The scheduled federal detention hearing for the Massachusetts man charged with leaking military secrets to friends on a gaming-dominated social media platform has been postponed.Jack Teixeira, 21, an E-3/Airman First Class stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod, was arrested in North Dighton last week and charged in Boston federal court with unauthorized removal and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or materials.He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bail pending his full detention hearing, which was continued from Wednesday to an unspecified future date.Teixeira is the leader of a Discord server, which is what the gaming-dominated social media platform calls individual groups or forums, with about 50 members. The feds allege that in this group he posted more than 40 images of classified documents. The images were said to have been posted to the group between December 202...

Mets pull out 5-3 victory against Dodgers after umpires eject Max Scherzer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The story through the first three and 1/2 innings into the series finale between the Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon was about a former Mets ace. It very quickly turned into a story about the club’s current ace.There was no score in the bottom of the fourth at Dodger Stadium when Max Scherzer was ejected shortly before the inning began. The umpires questioned him for the second time about illicit substances on his glove and he had even been asked to switch gloves earlier in the game. An argument ensued between Scherzer and two umpires, Dan Bellino and Phil Cuzzi, and the Mets’ right-hander was tossed.The Mets went on to win 5-3 to take the series, thanks to a timely two-run homer by Brandon Nimmo in the top of the fifth. His first of the season, it came right after Jimmy Yacabonis, who came into the game to replace Scherzer in the fourth, gave up the first run of the game to put the Mets down 1-0.Nimmo went 5-for-5 to log the f...

Sugar-sweetened drinks tied to a higher risk of premature death for people with type 2 diabetes: Harvard researchers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

Those with type 2 diabetes who regularly drank sugar-sweetened beverages like soda or lemonade had a higher risk of dying prematurely than those who routinely consumed drinks like coffee, tea, low-fat milk and water, according to Harvard researchers.The sugar-sweetened beverages were also tied to an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease among people with type 2 diabetes, the scientists at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found in the new study.Each additional daily serving of a sugar-sweetened beverage was linked to an 8% higher all-cause mortality among those with type 2 diabetes. Replacing one daily serving of a sugar-sweetened beverage with a healthier beverage was associated with up to an 18% lower risk of all-cause death.“Beverages are an important component of our diet, and the quality can vary hugely,” said lead author Qi Sun, associate professor in the Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology.“People living with diabetes may especia...

Supreme Court extends access to abortion pill to Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving women’s access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Friday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug mifepristone to take effect.The court is dealing with a new abortion controversy less than a year after its conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.At stake now is whether to allow restrictions on mifepristone ordered by a lower court to take effect while a legal challenge to the medication’s Food and Drug Administration approval continues.The justices had at first given themselves a Wednesday evening deadline in a fast-moving case from Texas in which abortion opponents are seeking to roll back FDA approval of mifepristone, which is used in the most common method of abortion in the United States. But on Wednesday afternoon, Justice Samuel Alito issued a one-sent...

Boston police officer shoots, kills dog after a cop was attacked and bitten: Police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

A Boston police officer shot and killed a dog after a fellow cop was attacked and bitten while arresting a suspect on Wednesday afternoon in Mattapan, according to police.Police officers at the time were at 28 Michigan Ave., arresting a suspect who had multiple arrest warrants.“After placing the suspect in custody, one of our officers was attacked by two dogs inside the house and bitten,” Boston Police said in a statement. “A second officer discharged their weapon striking both dogs.”One of the dogs died, and the other dog was injured.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Police find six loaded weapons at Dorchester gunshot scene Crime & Public Safety | 10 years after the Boston Marathon bombing, how has public safety changed: ‘People are very vigilant’ Crime & Public Safety | Boy shot in leg while walking in his living room in Mattapan Crime & Public Safety | Boston Mara...

Mormon temple off I-5 set to close for renovations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Everyone knows the eye-catching, castle-like structure off the Interstate 5.The temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormon church, located right off the freeway in La Jolla is an iconic sight in San Diego that's hard to miss.While most people can't go inside unless they're a member of the faith, pretty soon the building will be closed for all, as the church undergoes "extensive renovations."The temple's temporary closure will begin sometime in July 2023, according to a press release from the church, and likely go through the end of the year -- although the exact date of completion has not been announced.The church encourages members of the Latter-Day Saints to attend other temples in the area during the closure. The closest one to San Diego is in Newport Beach. More information about other Mormon churches can be found here. What is that castle-like building off I-5? The roughly 72,000-square foot temple was consecrated in 1993...

Comedian Nate Bargatze to perform in San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze has added 28 shows for his The Be Funny Tour, including a stop in San Diego.Bargatze, who is known for his clean and relatable brand of comedy, will perform at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Sept. 8, a news release said. Jo Koy to stop in San Diego on world tour The new 2023 show dates come on the heels of the comedian's sold-out headline show Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.Tickets for the 28 new dates, including the San Diego show, go on sale April 21 at 10 a.m. Presale tickets will be available at 10 a.m. on April 20 with the code 'GREATEST', the news release said. Laugh it up with comedian Ali Wong in San Diego You can purchase tickets and get information on additional tour dates and locations here.Bargatze, who was nominated for Best Comedy Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards, has released two stand-up specials on Netflix and performed on the first episode of The Standups.