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Some want to grant temporary House speaker more power as Republican gridlock stalls Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Rep. Patrick McHenry took the House speaker’s gavel for the first time, he slammed it down with such force at adjournment that it gained viral internet attention as the defining image of a House in turmoil.But since his abrupt appointment as speaker pro tempore last week following the unprecedented ouster of Kevin McCarthy from the top spot, the North Carolina Republican has wielded the gavel with extreme care, making no attempts to test the limits of his unusual role.Day after day, McHenry, in his signature bow tie, follows a standard routine — gaveling the House into session, receiving a prayer from the chaplain and having a lawmaker recite the Pledge of Allegiance, before quickly gaveling out again. In doing so, he is technically keeping the House active but in a suspended state as both parties wait for Republicans to reach consensus on who will be the next new speaker. But as the House nears a second week stuck on pause, and Republicans struggle to unite a...

The Supreme Court avoided disaster when a hunk of marble fell in a courtyard used by justices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court avoided a catastrophic accident last year when an enormous piece of marble at least two feet in length crashed to the ground in an interior courtyard used by the justices and their aides, according to several Supreme Court employees.The incident, which the court still fails to acknowledge publicly, took place in the tense spring of 2022, as the court already was dealing with death threats and other security concerns and the justices were putting the final touches on their stunning decision overturning Roe v. Wade.Justice Elena Kagan and her law clerks had been in the courtyard earlier in the day, the employees said. No one was injured when the marble fell, the employees said. The piece was easily big enough to have seriously injured someone, they said. It was much larger than the basketball-sized chunk that fell near the court’s front entrance in 2005.The weight of the marble that fell is unknown, but the Georgia marble used in the courtR...

After years of erasure, Black queer leaders rise to prominence in Congress and activism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — On the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington this summer, a few Black queer advocates spoke passionately before the main program about the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. As some of them got up to speak, the crowd was still noticeably small.Hope Giselle, a speaker who is Black and trans, said she felt the event’s programming echoed the historical marginalization and erasure of Black queer activists in the Civil Rights Movement. However, she was buoyed by the fact that prominent speakers drew attention to recent efforts to turn back the clock on LGBTQ+ rights, like the attacks on gender-affirming care for minors.And despite valid concerns around the visibility of Black queer advocates in activist movements, progress is being made in elected office. This month, Sen. Laphonza Butler made history as the first Black and openly lesbian senator in Congress, when California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her to fill the seat held by the late Dianne Feinste...

Live updates | Day 7 of the latest Israel-Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

The Israeli military prepared for a possible ground invasion in Gaza on Thursday as it pounded the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas. In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Suffering in Gaza, meanwhile, rose dramatically with Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine and the territory’s only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. The morgue at Gaza’s biggest hospital overflowed Thursday as bodies came in faster than relatives could claim them. Israel said Thursday that a complete siege would remain in place until Hamas freed 150 hostages taken during its incursion. Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing poin...

High school volleyball: East Ridge claims conference title with sweep over Stillwater

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

East Ridge laid claim to the outright Suburban East Conference volleyball crown in impressive fashion, sweeping its closest challenger Stillwater on Thursday night in Woodbury.East Ridge carried a 7-0 league mark into the match and Stillwater was 6-1, but the match seemed well in hand from start to finish for the hosts, who won 25-12, 25-11, 25-19. Stillwater held a lead in the third set until about the midpoint but couldn’t hang on long enough.East Ridge head coach Steve Anderson said his players did not come into the game underestimating their opponents.“I think we came into the game confident in ourselves, but I also think we respected Stillwater,” Anderson said. “They’ve had a great season, they’re very capable. It usually comes down to us and them, for the last however many years. I mean, we were confident, but there’s also a lot of respect. we don’t take them lightly.”Anderson said the conference title was a team goal, but the Raptors still have challenges ahead as the playoff...

High school football: In the rain, Centennial unleashes passing game and clinches Metro-North title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

The Centennial offense has had a lot of success running the ball this season.But even in miserable conditions Thursday night, the Cougars showed they’re pretty good at throwing it as well.Senior quarterback Daylen Cummings rushed for one touchdown and threw for two more as Centennial rolled past Champlin Park 35-7 on the road in the pouring rain.“We can throw the ball when we want to,” said Cummings after the Cougars, tied for sixth in the most recent Class 6A poll, improved to 6-1 this season.The victory, combined with Maple Grove’s 14-13 loss to St. Michael-Albertville, wrapped up the Metro-North title for Centennial.“Our motto is we’re physical,” Cummings said. “When we can keep driving and picking up four yards or five yards every single play, that works. But tonight goes to show we can throw the ball when we need to.”The two teams punted the ball back and forth throughout much of the first quarter. But on their third punt of the night, the Rebels — who struggled with handling t...

Broncos grades: Defense bounces back just as Russell Wilson, Denver offensive productivity tanks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

Offense — FThe Broncos offense picked a heck of a day to go in the tank. Perhaps there’s some logic in the fact that neither offense — led by coaches with a combined 400-plus NFL wins — looked particularly sharp. But Denver was more than a little bit funky at Arrowhead Stadium. Russell Wilson threw for 95 yards. The Broncos turned the ball over three times. They’ve got a dangerous run game but went 53-plus minutes without scoring and had to bail on it altogether. After a hot start to the season, Wilson’s cooled considerably the past two weeks. But this was by far his worst outing of the season. It’s going to have to turn around quickly for him.Defense — A-Yeah, you’d like a stop after the offense gets within eight points. But you hold Patrick Lavon Mahomes II to 19 points on his home turf? That’s got to be enough to win a game here. It just has to be. Denver’s defense, historically bad through the first five games, has held opponents without a touchdown on nine of their past 10 trip...

Israel's military orders civilians to evacuate Gaza City, ahead of a feared ground offensive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military directed the evacuation on Friday of all of the hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City ahead of a feared Israel ground offensive. The directive came on the heels of what the United Nations said was a warning they received from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in the north of Gaza within 24 hours.The Israeli military order, which comes on the seventh day of a war declared by Israel following an unprecedented Hamas incursion and deadly attack, directs residents of Gaza City to flee deeper south into the Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal territory. Israel’s directive charged that Hamas militants were hiding in tunnels under the city.“This is chaos, no one understands what to do,” said Inas Hamdan, an officer at the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza City while she grabbed whatever she could throw into her bags as the panicked shouts of her relatives could be heard around her. She said all the U.N. staff in Gaza City and nor...

2 hospitalized after crash involving L.A. police cruiser

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

Two men were taken to the hospital after an apparent crash involving a police officer Thursday night in East Hollywood, officials with the Los Angeles Police Department told KTLA.  The incident occurred at the intersection of Vermont and Lexington avenues at around 7 p.m. Details are limited and it’s unclear what led up to the accident, but authorities with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and took a man in his 30’s, who was conscious and breathing, to the hospital in unknown condition. A man his 40’s complaining of pain in his arm was also taken to the hospital.  L.A. Fire Department on the scene of a crash involving an LAPD officer on Oct. 12, 2023. (KTLA)Video of the scene showed first responders loading a person into the ambulance behind an area that was cordoned off. There was also visible damage to the passenger’s side front end of the police cruiser, which appeared to be partially on the sidewalk.   VIDEO: Man dragged down street by LAPD vehi...

Half Moon Bay man arrested on suspicion of molesting child

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:42 GMT

HALF MOON BAY – A 25-year-old Half Moon Bay man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of molesting a child, authorities said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Redwood City: Case of mistaken identity ends in assault, four arrests Crime and Public Safety | 5-time convicted Bay Area bank robber sentenced to 11 years in prison Crime and Public Safety | San Mateo construction worker allegedly stabs co-worker during argument Crime and Public Safety | Man shot and robbed Monday night in South San Francisco Crime and Public Safety | 12-year-old boy arrested in connection with San Mateo park stabbing Detectives launched an investigation in March after receiving a report of a sexual assault involving a child, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.The suspect was identified as Luis Antonio LaraPlancarte, the sheriff’s office said.LaraPlancarte was arrested Wednesday in Half Moon Bay and...