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Federal judge again rules that California's ban on assault weapons is unconstitutional

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge who previously overturned California's three-decade-old ban on assault weapons did it again on Thursday, ruling that the state's attempts to prohibit sales of semiautomatic guns violates the constitutional right to bear arms.U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego conceded that powerful weapons like AR-15 rifles are commonly used by criminals, but said the guns are importantly also owned by people who obey the law and feel they need firearms to protect themselves.“The State of California posits that its ‘assault weapon’ ban, the law challenged here, promotes an important public interest of disarming some mass shooters even though it makes criminals of law-abiding residents who insist on acquiring these firearms for self-defense,” Benitez wrote. “Nevertheless, more than that is required to uphold a ban.” 2 California Hells Angels sentenced to prison in case involving murder, illegal cremation The judge's ruling is nearly identical to a 2...

Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost, and Greg Casar Join Call for Ceasefire in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

On Friday, Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost announced he had signed on to a resolution calling on the White House to push for a ceasefire in Gaza. He joins a small but growing list, now 18 House Democrats, urging President Joe Biden to help ensure hostages can be safely removed and humanitarian aid can enter the besieged territory. The move from Frost is notable given his political trajectory. The first Gen Z member of Congress, Frost had been a strong supporter of Palestinian rights ahead of his run for office, participating in a protest for Palestinian rights and supporting the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel. But after he got in the race, he became the subject of an intense lobbying campaign by the groups Democratic Majority for Israel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. When his position paper on Israel–Palestine was ultimately released, his supporters in the Florida Palestine Network saw he had flipped on many of the issues.AIPAC and DMFI resh...

All Blacks crush Argentina 44-6 to reach fifth Rugby World Cup final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

PARIS (AP) — New Zealand bulldozed through Argentina 44-6 on Friday to reach the Rugby World Cup final for a record fifth time.The All Blacks will bid for a record fourth title against defending champion South Africa or England, who play their semifinal on Saturday.Right winger Will Jordan scored three of the All Blacks’ seven tries to become the tournament leading scorer with eight, while flanker Shannon Frizell grabbed two tries in a clinical demonstration.The first-half tries came from Jordan, center Jordie Barrett and Frizell at Stade de France. Scrumhalf Aaron Smith, Frizell again, and Jordan twice more completed a lopsided contest.New Zealand got here the hard way, making 226 tackles to see off Ireland 28-24 in a cliffhanger quarterfinal last weekend. Los Pumas rallied to beat Wales 29-17.Argentina’s early lead through Emiliano Boffelli’s penalty was not a sign of the close semifinal to come. The Pumas succumbed to their 34th defeat in 37 meetings against the All B...

Trump asks judge to pause gag order in 2020 election case while he pursues his appeal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

Donald Trump’s lawyers asked a federal judge on Friday to lift a narrow gag order imposed on him in his 2020 election interference case while the former president pursues a challenge to the ruling aimed at reining in his incendiary rhetoric. Trump’s legal team wants U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to pause her gag order ruling issued earlier this week, pending review by higher courts. Trump’s lawyers said they will seek an emergency stay from the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit if Chutkan denies their request. Chutkan’s order bars the Republican from making statements targeting prosecutors, potential witnesses and court staff. Trump’s lawyers, who quickly appealed the ruling to the D.C. Circuit Court, wrote in court papers Friday that neither prosecutors nor the judge have “come close” to justifying the gag order, adding that the former president “has not unlawfully threatened or harassed anyone.” “By restricting President Trump’s ...

Head of auto workers union says strikes will continue in drive to gain better offers from companies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said Friday that while Detroit’s automakers have increased their wage and benefit offers, he believes the union can gain more if it holds out longer in its contract talks.In a Facebook Live appearance, Fain didn’t announce any more factories to add to those that have been on strike for up to five weeks. But he warned that the UAW could announce such an expansion of its strikes at any time, depending on how much progress it makes in its negotiations with the automakers.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DETROIT (AP) — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is to update members Friday afternoon on progress in contract talks with Detroit’s three automakers as General Motors increased its offer to the union in an effort to end a strike.In a statement, GM said it made an offer Friday with “substantial movement in all key areas in an effort to reach a final agreement with the UAW and get our peop...

A jury ends the day without a verdict in the case of a man accused of killing a New Hampshire couple

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A jury on Friday ended its first day of deliberations without issuing a verdict in the case of a man charged with fatally shooting a retired New Hampshire couple on a hiking trail, with prosecutors saying he lied to police to cover up his crimes and defense attorneys saying authorities arrested the wrong person. Logan Clegg, 27, is charged with second-degree murder for what prosecutors described as “knowingly and recklessly” causing the deaths of Stephen and Djeswende “Wendy” Reid. The couple, who had done international development work, had recently retired and were shot multiple times after going for a walk on the trail near their apartment in the city of Concord on April 18, 2022.The jury will resume deliberations Monday.The Reids’ bodies, found several days later, had been dragged into the woods and covered with leaves, sticks and debris, police said. Clegg was living in a tent near the trail at the time. His trial began Oct. 3 and lawyers delivered cl...

The Orionids are here as is Observe the Moon Night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

Saturday night is the predicted peak for the D.C. region’s view of the Orionid meteor shower. The best time to look for these bits of Comet Halley debris hitting our atmosphere is after midnight, especially in the hours before dawn.“In 2023, the Orionid meteor shower should rain down its greatest number of meteors on the mornings of Oct. 21 and 22. The morning of Oct. 22 might bring the richest display of meteors,” according to EarthSky.The Orionids are expected to produce about 10 to 20 meteors an hour. Check out tips on how to view them.You do not need any equipment or know-how to enjoy the show. Just find a place where you can put a lounge chair or blanket to see the sky. Starting at about 1 a.m. EDT in the East, the constellation for which this meteor shower is named — Orion the Hunter, which hangs low above the horizon — will rise higher as the night progresses. A meteor that is part of the shower can be traced back to Orion, though some sporadic meteors that are no...

Borussia Dortmund beats Werder Bremen 1-0 thanks to Julian Brandt in his 300th Bundesliga game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Julian Brandt celebrated his 300th Bundesliga appearance with a goal Friday to lead Borussia Dortmund to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Werder Bremen.Dortmund’s relief when referee Felix Brych blew the final whistle was evident given what had happened on Bremen’s last visit in the league. Last season, Dortmund was 2-0 up in the 89th minute before the visitors scored three late goals to win 3-2.Niclas Füllkrug joined Dortmund from Bremen in the summer transfer window, but the Germany forward went off in the 77th after a quiet performance against his former teammates.There was a moment of silence before the game for all “innocent victims” of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as for the two Swedish victims of a shooting in Brussels on Monday before a European Championship qualifying game. One fan shown on TV was holding a sign with a dove promoting peace.Dortmund dominated the first half, albeit while struggling to create chances against the visitors’ well-organiz...

Deputies find 5-year-old twins dead after recovering body of mother who had jumped from bridge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — Deputies in central Florida investigating a woman who had jumped to her death into a lake from a highway bridge later found her 5-year-old twins dead at her home, authorities said Friday.Deputies were called to a highway bridge in Seminole County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, Friday morning after motorists witnessed the 31-year-old woman exiting the passenger side of a car and jumping into the lake below.The woman was pronounced dead after her body was pulled from the water with the help of nearby boaters, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.Deputies went to the woman’s house after learning her identity and that she had 5-year-old twins who weren’t in the car. At the home in Sanford, Florida, deputies found the twins dead.“The manner of death for the twins is unknown at this time, with no apparent signs of trauma, and is pending autopsy results,” the sheriff’s office said.No further details were released Friday af...

The Supreme Court allows the White House to continue work to combat controversial social media posts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday said it would indefinitely block a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security.The justices said they would hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing administration officials of unconstitutionally squelching conservative points of view. The new case adds to a term already heavy with social media issues.Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have rejected the emergency appeal from the Biden administration.“At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate,” Alito wrote in dissent.White House communications staffers, the surgeon gener...