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Disney warns that if DeSantis wins lawsuit, others will be punished for ‘disfavored’ views

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wins a federal lawsuit in which Disney claims its free speech rights were violated by the Republican leader, the company won’t be the last entity to be punished over supporting a “disfavored viewpoint,” Disney said in court papers on Monday.The First Amendment protects the right of free speech even if it goes against government powers, Disney said in court documents asking a judge to reject DeSantis’ motion to dismiss the entertainment giant’s First Amendment lawsuit in Tallahassee.The Disney lawsuit says DeSantis unconstitutionally revamped and took over Walt Disney World’s governing district in retaliation after Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. The law was championed by DeSantis, who currently is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.Before the takeover by DeSantis appointees earlier this year, the district had been contro...

21-year-old charged in connection with deadly Melrose stabbing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

The man charged in connection with a deadly stabbing in Melrose on Friday night appeared in court on Monday.21-year-old Nathan Baldi of Melrose is charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. He did not show his face in court.Officers responded on Friday to a reported disturbance at a home on Ledge Street around 7 p.m. where they found James Percent, 47, of Melrose, suffering from apparent stab wounds, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Both Percent and Baldi lived in the same resident, the DA’s Office said.

Webb telescope spots never-before-seen feature in Jupiter’s atmosphere

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

(CNN) — Jupiter was one of the first targets observed by the James Webb Space Telescope when it initially turned its infrared gaze on the universe in July 2022. After capturing stunning images that surpassed the expectations of astronomers, the space observatory has now revealed a never-before-seen feature in the gas giant’s atmosphere.Researchers used Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera, or NIRCam, to take a series of images of Jupiter 10 hours apart, applying four different filters to detect changes in the planet’s atmosphere. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye, and the Webb telescope’s unprecedented capabilities have been used over the past year to spot many newly observed celestial features, such as megaclusters of young stars and unexpected pairs of planetlike objects.The astronomers spied a high-speed jet stream in Jupiter’s lower stratosphere, an atmospheric layer about 25 miles (40 kilometers) above the clouds. The jet stream, which sits over ...

Ticker: Google defends search dominance; Pharmacists start sick-out

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

Testifying in the biggest U.S. antitrust case in a quarter century, Google CEO Sundar Pichai defended his company’s practice of paying Apple and other tech companies to make Google the default search engine on their devices, saying the intent was to make the user experience “seamless and easy.”The Department of Justice contends that Google — a company whose very name is synonymous with scouring the internet — pays off tech companies to lock out rival search engines to smother competition and innovation.According to court documents the government entered into the record last week, the payments came to more than $26 billion in 2021, a year in which operating expenses for Google’s parent company, Alphabet, were nearly $68 billion.Google contends that it dominates the market because its search engine is better than the competition’s. “We are working very, very hard for any given query we provide the best experience,” Pichai said. “ThatR...

3 tips for saving money on your next vacation, according to a frequent flyer

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

Deanna Taylor | (TNS) The Charlotte ObserverAdmit it, you’re long overdue for a vacation. But saving money in the process makes the reward even sweeter.As a frequent flyer out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport myself, I’m proud to say I’ve mastered the art of finding deals on travel.From the best websites to catch flight-and-hotel-deals to taking advantage of mileage programs and more, here are three of my top tips for saving money on your next vacation.Take advantage of flight deal websitesI first learned of flight deals a decade ago. A few of my social media friends posted a link to a website advertising flights from New York City to Dubai for $189 round trip. Of course, I thought it was too good to be true initially, but after doing my research — and biting the bullet to purchase the deal — I found that there were several websites solely created to post similar travel deals.A few of my old faithfuls and most trusted websites for deals are:—The Flight Deal—Air Fare Spot—S...

FDA makes warning of infection risk from eyedrops

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

WASHINGTON — U.S. health regulators are warning consumers not to use more than two dozen varieties of over-the-counter eyedrops because of the risk of infections that could lead to blindness.The Food and Drug Administration advisory applies to lubricating drops sold by six companies, including CVS Health, Target, Rite Aid and Cardinal Health. Consumers should stop using the products immediately and avoid purchasing any that remain on pharmacy and store shelves, the FDA said in a statement Friday.The agency asked the companies to recall their products last week, because FDA inspectors found unsanitary conditions and bacteria at the facility producing the drops. The FDA did not disclose the location of the factory or when it was inspected.No injuries related to the products had been reported at the time of the announcement, but the FDA encouraged doctors and patients to submit cases through the agency’s online reporting system.Earlier this year, federal officials linked an outbr...

Mary Lou Retton says she’s ‘overwhelmed’ with love and support as she recovers from rare pneumonia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

By The Associated PressAmerican gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton says she is “overwhelmed with all the love and support” she has received and is slowly recovering with family after being hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia earlier this month.Retton, 55, posted a statement Monday on Instagram in her first public comment since being in intensive care in a Texas hospital. Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, said then that the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title in 1984 was “fighting for her life” and unable to breathe on her own.Retton said she was “beyond blessed for the opportunity to make this statement” and is staying positive through what she knows is a long and slow recovery process. She requested privacy and added that she will share more information about her health when the time is right and hopefully help others facing the same battle.Retton ended the post saying, “I love you all. – MLR.”Kelley start...

Biden fast-tracks AI safeguards 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed an ambitious executive order on artificial intelligence that seeks to balance the needs of cutting-edge technology companies with national security and consumer rights, creating an early set of guardrails that could be fortified by legislation and global agreements.Before signing the order Monday, Biden said AI is driving change at “warp speed” and carries tremendous potential as well as perils.“AI is all around us,” Biden said. “To realize the promise of AI and avoid the risk, we need to govern this technology.”The order is an initial step that is meant to ensure that AI is trustworthy and helpful, rather than deceptive and destructive. The order — which will likely need to be augmented by congressional action — seeks to steer how AI is developed so that companies can profit without putting public safety in jeopardy.Using the Defense Production Act, the order requires leading AI developers to share safety t...

Bruins notebook: Danton Heinen finally in the fold

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

Danton Heinen was forced to wait a while, but the Bruins finally rewarded his patience with a one-year deal worth $775,000 on Monday.The deal was announced at 5 p.m., but there were some obvious signs a deal was in the works at the morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena. Heinen took the first shift as the fourth line left wing in the morning skate with John Beecher and Oskar Steen and, at the end of the skate, he was awarded with the center stretch to stick taps all around.Heinen had been with the B’s on a tryout agreement since the start of training camp but, because of some salary cap constraints, the club had not been able to sign him. That appears to be changing, and a Heinen addition should give coach Jim Montgomery a player he could plug in throughout the lineup.“His versatility is really important, he can play both wings adeptly as well and he understands whatever line he’s put on, what the expectation is of the role he’s going to play,” said Montgomery, who coa...

Two killed in El Cajon shooting; suspect remains on the loose

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:38:42 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- Two teenagers were killed in an overnight shooting in El Cajon, authorities confirmed. According to the El Cajon Police Department, a series of calls came in around 11:57 p.m. Saturday reporting a loud house party and multiple gunshots in the 700 block of Mahogany Drive.Responding officers witnessed numerous people fleeing from the area. After further investigation, ECPD said a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old, both males, were found critically wounded. Three wounded in shooting at Chula Vista mall One of the victims was found in the street and the other was found in the front yard of a residence. Despite medical attention, police said both victims succumbed to their injuries after being transported to local hospitals.Detectives conducting the investigation discovered that the incident occurred during a large house party hosted at a short-term rental property on Mahogany Drive. According to ECPD, preliminary findings indicate that both victims were tar...