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Alabama and Mississippi mark Confederate Memorial Day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama and Mississippi closed most government offices Monday for Confederate Memorial Day as efforts have stalled to abolish state holidays that honor the old Confederacy. Legislation has been introduced in the ongoing Alabama legislative session to remove, alter or rename Confederate-related holidays, but the effort has so far gained little traction. Camille Bennett, the founder of Project Say Something, an organization that has worked for the removal of Confederate monuments in Alabama, said the determination to keep Confederate holidays comes at the same time Alabama lawmakers push legislation banning so called “ divisive concepts” from being taught in state classrooms and diversity training for state workers. “On one side, you have white conservative men defining what divisive is and what it means. … At the same time, you are honoring the Confederacy, which in itself is a divisive concept. It’s really hypocritical, quite tone deaf,” Bennett s...

Amazon driver allegedly tried to hit dogs after chase, company apologizes: family

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio (WJW) — Joe Hama has no problem admitting that his three bulldogs have made becoming an empty nester easier.“They are a part of my family, he told Nexstar's WJW, describing them as being "like my kids."The Hama family says they receive packages on a daily basis. Every time, the delivery driver is met with at least one of the three Hama family dogs.The encounter has always gone well. That is, until this past weekend. “The outcome could have been horrifying, so thinking about what could have happened does make me frustrated,” Hama explained. Northern lights could be visible in US Monday: Here’s where On Saturday morning, the Hama family’s Ring camera captured an encounter that has left them frustrated.The video shows a delivery driver dropping off a package to their home before being chased back into his car by one of the bulldogs. All three dogs appeared not to be restrained, and two others can be seen following closely behind the first.Hama admits his d...

Walmart to give away free Walmart+ memberships to new moms

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Walmart announced it is giving away up to 20,000 free one-year Walmart+ memberships to new moms who give birth during the month of May. The membership, valued at $98 each, will be distributed nationwide in hospitals.According to a April 24 media release, the Walmart+ membership giveaway is in conjunction with Pampers Hospital Gift Program, which provides a gift bag for patients who have recently delivered a baby. Judge tentatively OKs $725M Facebook settlement: How to apply for a payout “Walmart+ brings together benefits that will help save moms precious time,” said Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Walmart. “Whether it's getting diapers delivered straight to their door or saving on gas for the carpool, we’ve got their back. To celebrate moms we’ve committed to gifting 20,000 Walmart+ memberships to some of our most important customers, making life a little easier for them.”Walmart+ offers a series of perks a...

Louisiana high school senior awarded record-breaking $9M in scholarships, 125 college offers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A New Orleans student has broken the record for the most scholarships received by a college-bound high school senior.Dennis Barnes, a student at the International High School of New Orleans, is celebrating his success after being accepted into 125 colleges and universities and receiving more than $9 million in scholarships. The Marrero native's achievement tops that of the previous record holder, who is also from Louisiana. In 2019, a senior from Lafayette, Louisiana cashed in with $8.7 million from colleges across the nation, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. The school is now working with Guinness officials to confirm the record. Louisiana woman sets Guinness World Record for largest Afro for the 4th time With a cumulative GPA of 4.98, Barnes is dually enrolled at Southern University of New Orleans where he is also earning college credit while still in high school. His plan is to earn a dual degree in both computer science and criminal justic...

1 dead, 4 injured in 3-vehicle crash in west Travis County, ATCEMS says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- One person is dead, and four others were injured after a three-vehicle crash in west Travis County Monday, Austin-Travis County EMS said on Twitter.ATCEMS medics responded to the crash at approximately 2:30 p.m. at 8647 W U.S. Highway 290 with a total of five people involved, the tweet said. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, medics said.First responders were on the scene of a deadly crash Monday on Highway 290 in west Travis County. | Frank Martinez KXAN NewsFirst responders were on the scene of a deadly crash Monday on Highway 290 in west Travis County. | Frank Martinez KXAN NewsFirst responders were on the scene of a deadly crash Monday on Highway 290 in west Travis County. | Frank Martinez KXAN NewsAnother person was taken by Travis County Star Flight to Dell Seton Medical Center with potentially serious injuries. The remaining three patients were all taken to St. David's South Austin Medical Care with potentially serious injuries, medics...

Texas House initially passes school safety 'panic alert' legislation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas House gave initial approval Monday to a bill that would change technology requirements for how public school campuses initiate lockdowns and alert authorities in the case of emergencies.The bill, which introduced by Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, would require Texas schools to have alert devices with technology that immediately notify EMS, law enforcement and other first responders in the case of an emergency. Her legislation is modeled after Florida's "Alyssa’s Law," which was named after one of the victims of the Parkland high school shooting in Florida, which left 17 people dead. The goal of the law is to address lagged law enforcement response due to slowed, secondary communication between teachers and administrators and 911 operators and first responders. Florida, New York and New Jersey have adopted these laws.When presenting the bill, the Houston Democrat noted that legislators and many state agencies already have this type of technology for their...

TCEQ moves forward in approval process for East Austin rock-crushing plant, despite push back

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— A state agency is moving forward in the approval process for a rock-crushing plant, despite push back from neighbors who feel it's way too close to homes.Neighbors are worried about air quality. Some who have lived in the area for generations, said they've been dealing with dusty air for years, just from temporary plants. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates permits for the plants. "Sometimes, depending on the wind, it can be so thick, you can barely see through it," David Sides, a neighbor said.Christopher Lupone fears the prolonged exposure to dust could really make people sick. "It's a big health risk," Lupone said. Sides and Lupone live on opposite sides of where the plant would go—less than a mile or so away from the site. Both are worried what will happen now that a company has applied for a permit to have a permanent rock-crushing plant. "There are 250 homes within a mile less than a mile of this," Lupone said. "It's ridiculous to think that ...

U2 creating immersive experience with Sphere Las Vegas concerts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

LOS ANGELES — U2 is familiar with rocking out in major sporting arenas and stadiums, but the legendary band will soon hit the stage to create a new immersive concert experience inside a high-tech, globe-shaped venue in Las Vegas.Live Nation and Sphere Entertainment announced Monday the dates for U2’s upcoming “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere” shows starting Sept. 29. The rock band’s special five-night run of shows will be held until Oct. 8 at The Venetian’s Sphere with a state-of-the-art audio and visual system designed for each concertgoer.“This is a venue designed for entertainment, not sports,” said U2 guitarist The Edge in a recent interview. He first learned about the cutting-edge venue after lead singer Bono sent him a link about the concept. He said the screen is 20 times bigger than the one during the band’s Joshua Tree tour in 2019 — the last time U2 performed live in a concert setting.“Sports is a simple formula. You want to see the action,” he continued. “But no one rea...

Thai woman sentenced role in international sex trafficking ring

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

A Thai woman who helped run an international sex trafficking ring that operated in the Twin Cities was sentenced Monday in federal court for her role in the organization.Sumalee Intarathong, 62, was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank in St. Paul to time served since her arrest in 2016 and $500,000 in restitution to the victims. She also agreed to be removed from the U.S. to Belgium or Thailand and will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to carry out the court’s order.Intarathong is the last of 38 defendants sentenced in the sprawling case, which was first announced in 2016, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for Minnesota.Intarathong pleaded guilty last year to one count each of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. She was a member of a criminal organization that recruited hundreds of impoverished young women from Bangkok, Thailand, to move to the U.S. and serve as sex workers.The victims wer...

Gov. Walz to move into St. Paul mansion after UMN President Gabel moves out

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:24 GMT

The riverside St. Paul mansion that has housed University of Minnesota presidents for the last 62 years is being converted to a rental.Gov. Tim Walz and his family plan to move into the 10,000 square-foot Eastcliff mansion on July 1 while the Governor’s Residence is renovated.The U’s Board of Regents on Monday unanimously approved the arrangement, in which the state will pay the U just $4,400 per month. The lease runs through September 2024, with three one-month options for extension, in case the renovation takes longer than expected.“This is an opportunity to serve the public interest, support the University’s mission and foster positive relationships with our state partners,” said Myron Frans, senior vice president of finance and operations.The state previously arranged for Walz to rent a home on Sunfish Lake for $17,000 a month, a number criticized by some lawmakers. It’ll cost the state $51,000 to break that lease, but they’ll save money over the life of the Eastcliff deal.Eastc...