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North Carolina’s new voting rules challenged again in court, and GOP lawmakers seek to get involved

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Another federal lawsuit has been filed in North Carolina challenging provisions of a new wide-ranging state elections law that critics contend will discourage young adults from voting through a popular method. The complaint filed on Tuesday by voter advocacy and civil rights groups marks the third such lawsuit in central North Carolina federal court against portions of a voting bill that became law Oct. 10. That’s the day the Republican-controlled General Assembly overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the measure. The lawsuits combined are fighting changes to the process by which someone can both register to vote and cast a ballot during 17 days of early in-person voting, as well as the deadline to turn in completed mail-in absentee votes and the role of partisan poll observers. The three lawsuits are likely to be consolidated and proceed in court as one case, according to a news release from the plaintiffs in Tuesday’s lawsuit. Republicans s...

Jada Pinkett Smith says revealing separation from Will Smith is a ‘weight off my shoulders’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jada Pinkett Smith is feeling free these days. She’s no longer hiding that she’s been separated from megastar husband Will Smith for seven years.“It’s a weight off my shoulders, honestly,” said Pinkett Smith whose new memoir, “Worthy,” is out now. “Ever since the Oscars, it’s so interesting how such an intense event can bring you closer together, and I would say that after that, we really dove in and dug in and got to this beautiful place we are now.”The actor, who first revealed the bombshell news to NBC’s Hoda Kotb last week, details her much-gossiped about marriage throughout the biography. Through the years, the couple has faced rumors — of having an open marriage, a swinging lifestyle and questions about their sexual orientations — all while wearing smiles, seemingly portraying a picture-perfect life. The daytime Emmy award winner briefly thought about scrapping the project; she started writing the 400-plus page book, co-written with Mim Eichler Rivas, at ...

Student groups hold vigils as violence continues to sweep Middle East

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

Two separate vigils were held on Monday night on Queen’s campus, with two communities mourning the tremendous losses that have accumulated over several weeks of heightened violence in the Middle East. After a brutal and bone chilling assault by Hamas -a militant group sworn to Israel’s destruction- on October 7 left at least 1,400 Israeli citizens dead and more taken hostage, Israel’s government promised a swift and merciless response.That response, including the reported use of white phosphorus gas in the densely populated Palestinian territory of Gaza, has resulted in over 2,500 dead Palestinians and hundreds of thousands displaced as Gaza as a whole crumbles under the unrelenting Israeli air assault and the ever looming threat of a ground assault. The heightened conflict has left people around the world connected to Palestine and Israel feeling helpless, and in light of that both the vigils hoped to provide a space for people in Kingston to come together in comm...

Dive team called to Bowles Reservoir for reported missing kayaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) -- West Metro Fire Rescue is responding to Bowles Reservoir, near Marston Lake, in Lakewood, on the report of a missing person and overturned boat.According to authorities, a person is missing from the neighborhood and a boat is visibly overturned in the water. No witnesses have reported seeing anyone enter the water. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The West Metro Fire Rescue dive team is reported to be searching the water. The South Metro Fire Rescue team is assisting.

Jefferson County mailing TABOR refund checks to property owners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you're a property owner in Jefferson County, you might soon find a check in the mail addressed to you.According to the county, 210,000 property owners will receive an extra TABOR refund check. Ballot guide: Everything you need to know about the upcoming election The total refund, which amounts to around $39.4 million, is for funds the county got from 2022 that were above the TABOR revenue limit. The county legally cannot use these funds due to TABOR. Jefferson County said it decided that mailing refund checks to property owners was the best and most transparent way of giving out the refund.How much will the refund be?It depends, but everyone who pays property taxes in Jefferson County will receive the refund, including homeowners and business owners. The average check amount was $185, according to the county, and 95% of people will receive checks of less than $250. What is Prop II? Voters to decide on preschool and nicotine taxes Additionally, the median chec...

Blast kills hundreds at Gaza hospital; Hamas and Israel trade blame, as Biden heads to Mideast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter Tuesday, killing hundreds of people, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants.The health ministry said at least 500 people had been killed. Video that The Associated Press confirmed was from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital’s grounds strewn with torn bodies, many of them young children. Around them in the grass were blankets, school backpacks and other belongings.The carnage came as the U.S. tried to convince Israel to allow the delivery of supplies to desperate civilians, aid groups and hospitals in the tiny Gaza Strip, which has been under a complete siege since Hamas’ deadly rampage in southern Israel last week. It also came a day before President Joe Biden was due to visit the ...

1 hospitalized after shots fired at busway in Naranja

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

Shots were fired at a South Florida busway, which sparked transit trouble.7Skyforce hovered from above as police and rescue units treated a person that was hit by gunfire under the overhang in Naranja, Tuesday morning.The victim was taken to the hospital but there’s no word on their condition. Police have not arrested anyone in regards to the shooting.

20-year-old Israeli soldier among new arrivals at MIA as war continues in Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

More Israeli-Americans arrived in South Florida after evacuating from the war-torn country.On Tuesday, more flights arrived from Israel as families started to reunite at Miami International Airport. 7News cameras captured the arrivals as one parent was smiling as she held her daughter. Among the arrivals, was a real-estate agent who told 7News that when he was in Israel, he helped soldiers and citizens by buying and donating clothing and other essentials. Amit Dayan, 20, also arrived at MIA. She is a soldier in the Israeli army. “It’s been horrifying, horrifying and shocking and unbelievable,” she said. “I’m so hurt. My family and friends are not OK.”Dayan said that her family booked her a ticket back to South Florida because they were worried. “I wanted to stay, I wanted to stay near my friends who are now being burned,” she said. “I wanted to be there and say my last goodbyes.”Dayan told 7News she plans on staying in Sou...

Tyreek Hill, other NFL stars might get an opportunity to play flag football in the 2028 Olympics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — If Tyreek Hill and other NFL players want to switch to flag football for a summer and compete in the Olympics, the possibility is becoming more real.NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said Tuesday the league will work with the players’ union on allowing current and former players to participate after flag football was among five sports officially added to the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee.“It is the pinnacle of sport globally,” O’Reilly said at the league meetings. “Ultimately, that decision on the makeup of Team USA is a decision of USA Football and the national governing body or the governing bodies around the world in similar roles because we are thinking about Team USA, but there are also a lot of other passports in the NFL — 113 foreign-born players on NFL rosters as of Week 5.“So, that opportunity for athletes to represent their countries, we understand the desire, what they have spoken out about and what we will continue to do i...

Franco-German power grab finally ends in compromise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:47 GMT

EU countries at last resolved a monthslong feud over a reform of the bloc’s electricity market on Tuesday, ending a fierce standoff between France and Germany over the use of subsidies for clean energy projects.The tug of war turned into a high-stakes political battle over economic competitiveness, risking an upending of EU plans to revamp its power market to turbocharge investment in green energy and slash consumer bills after last year’s energy crisis tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine.Berlin’s concern was that the new rules would allow France to skim huge profits from its mammoth nuclear fleet and redistribute these to its own industries, giving it a competitive edge. Paris insisted energy policy is a sovereign choice and the bloc benefits from its cheap — and clean — atomic-powered electricity.The European Commission first presented the proposal in March amid pressure from EU capitals reeling from sky-high energy prices that came as Russia cut gas supplies to the bloc amid te...