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California investigates school district’s parental notification policy on children’s gender identity

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s attorney general said Friday he was investigating whether a local school district infringed on students’ civil rights by adopting a policy that requires teachers to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender or wants to use a name or pronoun different from what’s on their birth certificate.Rob Bonta said the policy, approved by the Chino Valley Unified School District in July, could force schools to “out” their students, increasing a student’s risk of being bullied or committing self-harm or suicide. The policy also requires parents to be notified within three days if their child asked for access to gender-based sports or wants to use a different bathroom or changing rooms that do not match their assigned gender at birth.“Students should never fear going to school for simply being who they are,” Bonta said in a statement, adding that the “forced outing policy threatens the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ students vulner...

'It's a game changer': Wounded veteran celebrates new airplane bathroom accessibility rule

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Advocates are celebrating a new rule from the Department of Transportation that will make airplane bathrooms more accessible. However, they're hesitant, because travelers won't see these changes immediately.As a wounded veteran who uses a wheelchair, Charles Brown knows that for those with disabilities, flying often means going without access to a bathroom."It's demeaning, it's degrading. You have to dehydrate yourself so you don't have to urinate," Brown said.Brown used to be the president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. He and the group have spent years advocating for accessibility on airplanes. ‘That’s unacceptable’: Lawmakers call out State Department for persistent passport problems  Now that's happening. Under the new DOT rule, starting in three years, new planes will be required to have accessibility features like bathroom grab bars and call buttons. In 2033, new planes must expand their bathrooms."It's a gamechanger. It allows more people with disa...

ACLU sues to block Texas restrictions on drag

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas is challenging an impending state law restricting drag performances, arguing in a lawsuit filed this week in federal court that the measure unconstitutionally violates the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in June signed legislation restricting certain drag performances that take place in public or where they could be viewed by a minor. Similar laws have been enacted this year in Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, Montana and Tennessee.The Montana and Florida measures, however, are currently unenforceable due to federal court orders, and Tennessee’s drag ban was ruled unconstitutional in June. The state has appealed that decision.The Texas law, which is set to take effect Sept. 1, prohibits businesses from hosting “sexually oriented performances” in which someone is nude or appeals to the “prurient interest in sex” in the presence of minors. The law also applies...

Texas judge issues injunction in lawsuit over exceptions to state abortion laws

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 4, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, a Texas district judge issued a temporary injunction blocking elements of Texas’ abortion ban for people with severe pregnancy complications. 5 Texas women suing state over abortion ban, say their lives were at risk In March, the Center for Reproductive Rights sued the state on behalf of five Texas women after they said they were denied abortion access, despite having pregnancy complications that risked their lives or the life of their baby. "The Court finds that there is uncertainty regarding whether the medical exception toTexas’s abortion bans... permits a physician to provide abortion care where, in the physician’s good faith judgment and in consultation with the pregnant person, a pregnant person has a physical emergent medical condition," the ruling states.The judge found that the women each had emergent medical conditions that risked their health and they were "delayed ...

Dick's House of Sport hosts ribbon cutting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The new Dick's House of Sport in Latham held its official ribbon cutting on Friday. This is the tenth Dick's House of Sport to open in the country. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In addition to selling sports essentials, it's also an interactive experience where you can try out the gear in batting cages, golf simulators, or trying the climbing wall. The store's executive director also said they have more events coming up for the community to look forward to.The new store is located in the Latham Farms Plaza.

Building permit issued for ongoing repairs at Harbour Point

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Repair work at the Harbour Point Gardens apartment complex in Troy can move forward after the city's bureau of code enforcement issued a building permit. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The permit cancels the stop work order that was previously issued after city leaders said proposed construction was not in compliance with building codes. Dozens of people were displaced from their homes in June after they were forced to evacuate because of concerns about falling bricks.Twenty-two of the 58 units that were evacuated have been deemed safe to live in.

St. Louis County man sentenced for sex crimes involving foster child

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis County will spend decades behind bars for sex crimes involving a foster child. A federal judge has sentenced Edward Wiseman, 43, to 27 years in prison after he pled guilty to felony charges earlier this year. According to a federal indictment, Wiseman impregnated a minor and sexually abused her when she was in foster care. This happened for multiple years and the victim was pregnant at the age of 14. Prosecutor dropping child abuse charge despite daycare video The indictment further states that Wiseman sent her naked pictures of himself, requested the same from her and again arranged to meet her for sex when she was 16. Wiseman is also accused of sexually abusing the victim's sister and authorities once found child pornography on his phone, per the indictment. A federal judge deemed Wiseman's conduct “horrendous” and said he represented a “continuing threat.” Wiseman pled guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and solicitation of child pornography ch...

Kiszla: Don’t expect CU’s Deion Sanders to shed tear at Pac-12’s funeral. “Everybody’s chasing a bag,” Coach Prime says.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

As harsh changes in the economic climate wreak havoc on the college football landscape, Neon Deion Sanders burns hotter than the sun, chuckling as the Pac-12 Conference crumbles into the ocean.These are crazy times to be alive in the college football world.And the new CU coach was born to thrive in the madness.“What craziness you talking about?” Sanders asked.Well, a week after the Buffs bolted for the plains and returned to the greener pastures of the Big 12, the league that was recently their home is on its deathbed.The earth quaked under the Pac-12’s feet again Friday, when Oregon and Washington got out while the getting was still good, running hat in hand to those long, ever-loving arms of the Big Ten.“Yeah,” said Sanders, laughing at his detractors as hypocrites, “the same teams that talked about us, right?”To these untrained eyes, it now seems all over for the Pac-12 except the crying by the last of those poor lost souls  abandoned to fend for themselves. Call me a sentimental...

Southern California gymnastics coach arrested for sexual assault

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

A Los Angeles-area gymnastics coach is accused of sexually assaulting children and investigators are seeking additional alleged victims.Jose De Jesus, 47, was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Service on Friday morning in Jurupa Valley, authorities said.He faces charges of committing lewd and lascivious acts with children under 14.Police say De Jesus coached children at community centers in West Covina. He was being held on a $900,000 bail. Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar stabbed by another inmate at federal prison “The West Covina Police believe there may be additional victims that have yet to come forward,” West Covina Police said in a statement.Anyone with information was urged to contact police at 626-939-8500.

'Extremely friendly' humpback entertains whale watching tour (video)

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

Passengers aboard a whale watching tour off the coast of Newport Beach were treated to a rare and breathtaking sight after a humpback whale gave them the show of a lifetime.The humpback spent about 30 minutes Friday investigating and entertaining those on board, in a practice called "mugging."Mugging happens when a curious whale decides to get up close and personal with a boat and interact with the people on board, according to the Pacific Whale Foundation.Mark Girardeau, a photographer with Newport Coastal Adventure, said the whale circled the boat for about half an hour while the engines were shut off. Passengers aboard a whale watching vessel in Newport Beach got the show of a lifetime on Aug. 4, 2023. (Newport Coastal Adventure)Video shared by the whale watching tour company showed the whale get within feet of the people on board, turning underwater and even blowing bubbles toward the surface.Girardeau said the experience showcased very rare behavior and this particular whale wa...