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After landmark legislation, Indiana Republican leadership call for short, ‘fine-tuning’ session

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Keep it short. That has been the directive from leadership in Indiana leading up to the 2024 legislative session.But with the approaching 2024 general election and following landmark conservative legislation in recent years, including a near-total ban on abortion, a wide expansion on school vouchers and a law restricting the use of students’ preferred pronouns in schools, that might not take place. It’s likely legislation on similar social issues will reach the floor again, even while leaders of the state’s Republican trifecta say they want a session of “fine-tuning” policy.“We’ll have a more limited and focused agenda,” House Speaker Todd Huston, a Republican, told reporters in November.Here is what is and isn’t expected this year.The session beginning Jan. 8 must adjourn by March 14 and will be closed to items with a fiscal impact. Indiana holds longer, budget-making sessions during odd years.The consistent top priority across the statehouse and pol...

Laws banning semi-automatic weapons and library censorship to take effect in Illinois

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — With the calendar-page turn to 2024 on Monday comes 320 new state laws that Illinois residents will need to navigate.Some will have a widespread effect, including a law banning semi-automatic rifles and another requiring paid time off. But others won’t have an immediate or noticeable impact, including a law that lets county governments consider a potential contractor’s participation in an approved apprenticeship program in determining the winning low bid for a project. One law that took effect in 2019 but is still impacting tens of thousands of workers is an increase in the minimum wage. It increases to $14 an hour on Jan. 1 for non-tipped workers and will reach $15 in a year.Here are some of the other major changes to Illinois state law as of New Year’s Day: BAN ON SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONSThe U.S. Supreme Court has failed to take up the case of Illinois’ ban on the sale, possession or manufacture of automatic weapons like the type used...

Mask mandate reinstated at Los Angeles County healthcare facilities

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

Amid a significant rise in respiratory illnesses, all Los Angeles County healthcare facilities have reinstated a mask mandate.The order is in direct response to a rising number of COVID-19 infections leading to hospitalizations and deaths, officials said Saturday.The county’s number of COVID hospital admissions officially entered the CDC’s “medium level” on Friday, Dec. 29.The agency’s levels are determined by data reflecting new COVID hospital admissions, hospital beds being used by COVID patients and the total number of new COVID cases in the community.“We're starting to see the effects of gathering during the holidays, a variant that is likely to be more contagious, more easily infecting people, low rates of immunization," explained Dr. Annie Rimoin, professor of epidemiology at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. "And the weather's been cold so people are gathering inside."Licensed healthcare facilities that are subject to the mask mandate include:General Acute Care Hospitals...

Judge allows CA concealed weapons law to temporarily go into effect after initially blocked

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

(FOX40.COM) — Weeks after a judge temporarily blocked a state law that bans Californians from carrying guns in most public spaces, a federal appeals court reversed that decision on Saturday. The ruling allows for the law to temporarily go into effect at the start of the new year. Video Above: Multiple Gun Control Bills Signed Into California Law By Governor Gavin Newsom (September 2023)Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill-2 in September. The law would ban Californians from carrying firearms in 26 types of public places including parks, sports stadiums, amusement parks, and houses of worship. The law also implements new guidelines for Californians seeking to obtain a concealed carry weapons permit. Tesla Cybertruck involved in San Mateo County crash: CHP According to the legislation, CCW permit applicants are required to have previous firearms training, be 21 years old, provide character references, and go through a background check. On Dec. 20, U.S. District Judge ...

Jaylin Williams scores 21, Auburn beats Chattanooga 101-66, wins 5th straight

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Jaylin Williams had 21 points on perfect shooting, Johni Broome scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half and Auburn never trailed in its 101-66 win over Chattanooga on Saturday night. The Tigers, who were just outside the Top 25 in the latest poll, have won five games in a row — by an average margin of 28.8 points per game — and 10 of their last 11. Broome scored eight points in a 12-0 run to open the game before Chaney Johnson, Chad Baker-Mazara and K.D. Johnson each hit a 3-pointer as the Tigers scored 11 straight to make it 25-8 with 11:51 left in the first half and Chattanooga (8-5) trailed by double figures the rest of the way. Williams made 9 of 9 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and 1 of 1 from the free-throw line and Broome was 9-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds and four blocks. Baker-Mazara added 13 points, including three 3-pointers, for Auburn (10-2)Honor Huff scored 15 points, including four 3-pointers, for Chattanooga and Sam Alexis ad...

Bulls take advantage of NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s absence to beat 76ers, 105-92

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, Coby White added 20 and the Chicago Bulls took advantage of NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s absence to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 105-92 on Saturday night in the opener of a home-and-home set.Sidelined by a sprained right ankle, Embiid could return when the teams meet again Tuesday night in Philadelphia.Andre Drummond had 15 points and 23 rebounds for the Bulls, They’ve won five of seven and have taken both meetings with Philadelphia.Tyrese Maxey had 20 points and seven assists for the 76ers. Tobias Harris added 15 points.Chicago never trailed in the second half and gave itself some breathing room midway through the final quarter with a 13-2 run that turned a five-point game into a 95-79 lead. DeRozan scored five points during the spurt.“The season didn’t start how we wanted it to start,” White said after the Bulls turned in a 9-5 December to come close to evening out a 4-14 start. “Everybody’s ready to contribute when the opportunity presents i...

Aneesah Morrow and Flau’jae Johnson score 20 points each to lift No. 7 LSU over Jacksonville 110-68

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Aneesah Morrow and Flau’jae Johnson scored 20 points each as No. 7 LSU had six players score in double figures in a 110-68 win over Jacksonville on Saturday night.Angel Reese had 17 points and a season-high 20 rebounds and Morrow had 10 rebounds. Mikaylah Williams added 17 points, Aalyah Del Rosario scored 14 and Hailey Van Lith had 11.The Tigers finished the nonconference portion of their schedule 13-1 after the defending national champions lost their season opener to then-No. 20 Colorado on Nov. 6.Guard Edyn Battle led Jacksonville (4-9) with 17 points.A well-rested Van Lith, who missed four straight games nursing a plantar fasciitis injury, sparked the Tigers early and often. In the game’s first 6 1/2 minutes, the junior lefty Louisville transfer swished a trio of 3-point attempts and threw almost a full-length court pass to Johnson who swished a 3-pointer for a 23-2 lead.LSU led 29-13 at the end of the first quarter but could only outscore the Dolphins 22...

Knicks trade RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Raptors for OG Anunoby

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks traded RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday and got back OG Anunoby, dealing two of their top offensive players but likely getting a boost to their defense with last season’s NBA leader in steals.The Knicks also acquired Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, while sending the Raptors a 2024 second-round pick belonging to Detroit.The deal, which sends Barrett to his hometown team, left both clubs short-handed for their games Saturday night. The Raptors lost in Detroit, where the Pistons snapped their NBA record-tying losing streak at 28 games, while the Knicks fell in Indiana.“Immanuel is a young, talented playmaker who we believe will provide a spark on both ends of the court. RJ is a versatile wing who is, of course, well-known in his hometown, and seeing him in a Raptors uniform will be a special moment for our fans and for all Canadians,” Toronto vice chairman and president Masai Ujiri said in a statemen...

Luka Doncic returns to score 39 points in Mavericks’ 132-122 victory over Warriors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 25 of his 39 points in the second half in his return to the lineup and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Golden State Warriors 132-122 on Saturday night.Doncic added 10 assists and eight rebounds after sitting out Thursday night at Minnesota because of soreness in his left quadriceps.Dante Exum scored 19 points to help Dallas improve to 19-14. Josh Green had 18 and Dereck Lively II added 12 points and 14 rebounds.Stephen Curry led Golden State with 25 points and seven assists. Chris Paul had a season-high 24 points and became the 37th player in NBA history to surpass 22,000 career points. The Warriors have lost three straight to fall to 15-17.Trayce Jackson-Davis scored a career-high 17 points for Golden State. Jonathan Kuminga had 16 and nine rebounds for his 12th straight game with at least 10 points.Dallas used a 13-0 run early in the second quarter to open a 49-33 lead. Golden State responded with a 12-0 spurt to get within four.Doncic scored ...

10 de los mejores lugares para disfrutar de fuegos artificiales, fiestas y más de Nochevieja

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:40 GMT

(CNN) — ¿Estás listo para lucir con gallardía, brillante y audaz la última noche del año?Si es así, estos destinos de todo el mundo tienen una merecida reputación de organizar una gran fiesta de Nochevieja. La música, la vida nocturna, las fiestas y las tradiciones gastronómicas de Año Nuevo son definitivamente parte de esto, pero los fuegos artificiales son los que roban la escena en estos lugares.Asegúrate de planificar con anticipación cada año si deseas disfrutar de las mejores fiestas y conseguir las mejores áreas para ver los fuegos artificiales. Algunos lugares cobran entrada y las entradas a veces se agotan con meses de antelación.Así que sigamos la medianoche alrededor del mundo, aquí hay 10 lugares fantásticos a los que puedes ir para pasar una Nochevieja que nunca olvidarás:SydneyFuegos artificiales sobre la Ópera de Sydney durante las celebraciones de Nochevieja el 1 de enero de 2021. Crédito: Brook Mitchell/Getty ImagesSydney, Australia, es una de las primeras gra...