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Virginia Republicans roll out early and absentee voting push ahead of legislative elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Republicans on Tuesday launched an early and absentee voting push ahead of this fall’s legislative elections, an initiative intended to boost ballot access measures that GOP lawmakers in the state have sought to roll back in recent years. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin described the program during an appearance on Fox News and in subsequent video announcement, saying it would help voters understand their options for casting a ballot and increase turnout. Every seat in the General Assembly will be up for grabs in November in an election cycle that will determine party control of the currently divided Legislature for the final two years of Youngkin’s term. “Republicans got to stop sitting on the sidelines and allowing the Democrats to do a better job of voting early. I’m tired of us going into elections down thousands of votes,” Youngkin, who also advocated for early voting during his winning 2021 campaign, said on Fox.The initiative dubbed “S...

‘I could die today’: Casino employee recalls armed heist at trial of Las Vegas police officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — At the trial of a Las Vegas police officer accused in a trio of casino heists, an employee said Tuesday that she had never been more afraid in her nearly 40-year gaming career than when she came face to face with a robber.“All I kept thinking in my head was: I could die today,” said Sherry McGrath, who was supervising the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino’s sportsbook the day that authorities said Caleb Rogers stormed the sportsbook while armed with a weapon issued by the police department.Prosecutors for the federal government are expected to paint Rogers, 35, as a gambling addict whose debts were snowballing when he allegedly stole nearly $165,000 from casinos off the Las Vegas Strip between November 2021 and February 2022.Dressed in a gray suit with his hair pulled back into a low bun, Rogers showed no emotion Tuesday as McGrath and three more Rio hotel-casino employees described that morning as the “worst” and “scariest” day of their careers.At the time of the he...

Saints’ Kamara pleads no contest to misdemeanor in man’s beating at Las Vegas club

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara pleaded no contest Tuesday to a misdemeanor and agreed to pay medical costs for a man who was beaten into unconsciousness at a Las Vegas nightclub the weekend before the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl, authorities said.Three other men, including Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chris Lammons and co-defendants Darrin Young and Percy Harris, also entered pleas to reduced charges Tuesday in an agreement that avoided a trial and possible prison time.None of the defendants was in court for the written plea agreement. Each was represented by their attorney before Clark County District Court Judge Tara Clark Newberry. The court action was confirmed by Kamara’s attorney, David Chesnoff.Kamara, 27, pleaded no contest to breach of the peace and was sentenced to 30 hours of community service, which he can complete in New Orleans, Chesnoff said.“Alvin is pleased that this matter is behind him and looks forward to a successful NFL season,” Chesnoff a...

‘Long days ahead,’ says Eby as B.C.’s wildfire evacuation orders and alerts climb

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

Escalating wildfires and worsening drought across British Columbia signal challenging times ahead, with the province and nation facing the worst fire season in 100 years, said Premier David Eby.Evacuation orders and alerts were expanded Tuesday near several wildfires in B.C.’s northern regions as communities try to keep residents safe and the BC Wildfire Service battles an increasing number of fires.Eby, in Winnipeg for a meeting of premiers Tuesday, said help is on the way for fire-threatened communities, but the coming months could see conditions not experienced in a century.The Regional District of Bulkley Nechako ordered more properties evacuated late Monday near two out-of-control fires in the Burns Lake area of central B.C., including a 3.5-square-kilometre blaze just east of the village, not far from Highway 16.The district says the evacuation is mainly to protect infrastructure and to close surrounding recreational trails, while the other evacuation, along the north sh...

Ticketmaster halts Taylor Swift ticket sales in France, cites issue with third-party provider

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The trouble between Ticketmaster and Taylor Swift’s“Eras” tour isn’t over — with the latest snafu impacting fans hoping to score tickets in France.On Tuesday, after some fans reported issues with accessing Ticketmaster’s site, sales for six of Swift’s upcoming shows in Paris and Lyon were abruptly postponed. An explanation wasn’t immediately clear, but in posts on Ticketmaster’s French Twitter several hours after the pause began, the ticket seller cited a problem with a third-party provider.Ticketmaster directed The Associated Press to the Twitter statement. In the posts, Ticketmaster maintained that tickets to the France shows are still available and that the provider was “working to resolve this matter as soon as possible.”The company added that any codes that were not used for ticket purchases on Tuesday will remain valid — and that impacted fans “will be notified directly of the new onsale date and time.” The new times have yet...

Dripping Springs woman charged with pretending to be a Texas lawyer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN)—A woman in Dripping Springs was recently arrested and charged with pretending to be an attorney licensed to practice law in Texas. Nichole Humes — who worked for the Dorothy Butler Law Firm — was formally charged with 'Falsely presenting oneself as a lawyer,' based on alleged misrepresentations in November 2022.The law firm's owner, Dorothy Lawrence, denies being aware of any wrongdoing.Dororthy Lawrence sits down with Reporter Jala Washington to discuss arrest of former employee (KXAN photos/Frank Martinez)."I was aware that Nichole was not a licensed attorney in the state of Texas," Lawrence said. "This isn't the notario situation that people see down on the border where somebody just decided one day, I'm going to open up shop and call myself an attorney. This woman holds a JD, she is an attorney, she practiced law for over a decade.Humes was arrested on July 4, after an investigation, according to Hays County court records. Lawrence said Humes worke...

‘Mission Impossible’? No, it’s an electrical worker dangling from that copter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

If you see someone rappelling out of a helicopter onto a St. Paul transmission line, don’t mistake it for a scene from “Mission Impossible.”Xcel Energy contractors on Monday began replacing shield wires on existing transmission lines between the Merriam Park substation and the High Bridge substation, according to an announcement this week from St. Paul Emergency Management. The shielding protects against lightning strikes.The project is expected to last four weeks — sometimes using the helicopter to lift parts and people from a landing site near the Linwood Recreation Center.Xcel Energy contractors sometimes using a helicopter began replacing shield wires on transmission lines between the Merriam Park substation and the High Bridge substation on Monday, July 10, 2023, according to St. Paul Emergency Management. Workers are shown here on Tuesday. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Xcel Energy transmission line upgrades that began Monday, July 10, 2023, were expected to las...

Twins cap last day of draft by selecting eight more pitchers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

The Twins began the baseball draft on Sunday night by getting high school outfielder Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick. They ended the draft on Tuesday by selecting another high school outfielder, Ashton Larson.In between, they took a whole lot of pitchers. Of the Twins’ 21 picks, 15 of them were pitchers — and all but two are right-handed.  The Twins started Tuesday’s third and final day of the draft selecting eight straight pitchers before grabbing a pair of outfielders to cap off the draft.Fifteen of the 21 players they selected are coming from college. Six are from high school, including their top two picks, Jenkins and Charlee Soto, whom they picked 34th overall.The Twins have a bonus pool amount that tops $14 million, fourth most in the majors. The deadline for teams to sign their draft picks is July 25.Related ArticlesMinnesota Twins | John Shipley: As currently composed, Twins are going nowhere fast Minnesota Twins | Twins go p...

St. Peter's Health Partners to conduct impact study on Burdett Health Center closure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- St. Peter's Health Partners (SPHP) has agreed to complete an impact study on the proposed closure of the Burdett Birth Center. A spokesperson said they will work with the New York State Department of Health to hire a firm to conduct the study and will work closely with the community to ensure transparency. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! SPHP filed a notice to close just days before a state law took effect that requires healthcare companies to complete an impact study before moving forward with a closure plan. Advocates have criticized the proposal saying it will hurt patients and put further strain on emergency departments.St. Peter's said it has been operating the center at a financial loss and doesn't have enough staff to keep it running.

1 dead after SUV plunges off cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:59:17 GMT

At least one person is confirmed dead after a vehicle plummeted over a cliffside in Rancho Palos Verdes Tuesday afternoon, authorities announced.  Rescue personnel responded to the scene near Palos Verdes Drive West and Calle Entradero around 2:45 p.m. according to L.A. County Fire. It is unclear what led to the crash, but when crews arrived, they found what appeared to be a white sport utility vehicle 150 feet over the cliffside.  Aerial video from Sky5 showed the vehicle’s front end completely flattened with debris strewn across the cliffside.  One person died after their vehicle plummeted 150 feet off a cliffside in Rancho Palos Verdes on July 11, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities have not said if there were any other passengers in the vehicle.