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Florida Senate OKs easier path to imposing death penalty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Senate on Thursday passed a bill repealing a law requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty, a reaction to the life sentence handed to the man who massacred 17 people at a Parkland high school.The bill passed on a 29-10 vote and will allow the death penalty with a jury recommendation of at least 8-4 in favor of execution. The House still needs to approve the bill. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis supports the proposal.The bill was proposed after a divided 9-3 jury spared Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz in November from capital punishment for killing 17 at the school in 2018. The Parkland school shooter instead received a life sentence. “What happened in Parkland was abhorrent. What happened in Parkland was a tragedy that will forever stain this state,” said Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, the bill sponsor. “That verdict shocked the conscience not only of the people of Parkland, not only the people in Fl...

Guardians complete deals with All-Star 2B Giménez, Stephan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians locked up two more key players to long-term contracts before opening another season.The AL Central champions signed All-Star second baseman Andrés Giménez to a seven-year contract and completed a four-year deal with reliever Trevor Stephan on Thursday before facing the Mariners in their first game of 2023.Giménez’s $106.5 million deal, which was previously reported by the AP, runs through the 2029 season and includes a $23 million club option for 2030. Stephan’s contract goes through 2026 and includes club options for 2027 and 2028.“It was special. I told my wife, my mom, my grandma, and they were they were extremely happy,” Giménez said. “That was one moment we were expecting, not this soon, but we were kind of ready. The excitement was a lot.”The 24-year-old Giménez was one of the league’s best all-around players last season, batting .297 with 17 homers and 69 RBIs while winning a Gold Glove. Giménez, who finished sixth in M...

Bill to criminalize help for Idaho minors’ abortions passes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill that would criminalize helping minors obtain an abortion without parental consent won final passage in Idaho’s legislature on Thursday and is headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Brad Little. The measure would be the first of its kind in the U.S. It seeks to restrict travel by creating the crime of “abortion trafficking” and would bar adults from obtaining abortion pills for a minor or “recruiting, harboring or transporting the pregnant minor” without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. Anyone convicted of breaking the law would face two to five years in prison, and could also be sued by the minor’s parent or guardian. Parents who raped their child would not be able to sue, though the criminal penalties for anyone who helped the minor obtain an abortion would remain in effect. To sidestep violating a constitutional right to travel between states, Idaho’s law would make illegal only the in-state segment of a trip to an out-of-s...

52 years after capture, orca Lolita may return to Pacific

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — More than 50 years after the orca known as Lolita was captured for public display, plans are in place to return her from the Miami Seaquarium to her home waters in the Pacific Northwest, where a nearly century-old, endangered killer whale believed to be her mother still swims.An unlikely coalition involving the theme park’s owner, an animal rights group and an NFL owner-philanthropist announded the agreement during a news conference Thursday.“I’m excited to be a part of Lolita’s journey to freedom,” Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said. “I know Lolita wants to get to free waters.”Lolita, also known as Tokitae, was about 4 years old when she was captured in Puget Sound in summer 1970, during a time of deadly orca roundups. She spent decades performing for paying crowds before falling ill. Last year the Miami Seaquarium announced it would no longer stage shows with her, under an agreement with federal regulators. Lolita — now 57 years old and 5,000 po...

San Diego County supervisor to resign after assault lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The chair of San Diego County’s board of supervisors said he will resign amid accusations that he sexually assaulted a government employee, completing a swift and shocking fall for a decorated Marine combat veteran whose star rose with his Democratic Party’s ascendancy in the nation’s eighth-largest city. Nathan Fletcher, who defected from the Republican Party in 2013, was elected to a second term with 65% of the vote in November, two years after Democrats won a board majority that eluded their grasp for decades. Fletcher, 46, was the face of the San Diego region’s muscular response to COVID-19 at daily news conferences. He became half of San Diego’s most powerful political couple after his 2017 marriage to Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, a well-known liberal Democratic state assemblywoman who became a top California labor leader last year. Fletcher’s progressive positions and telegenic presence made him a solid favorite to succeed another prominent California politician,...

Jury decides Gwyneth Paltrow is not at fault for 2016 Utah ski collision that left man who sued with broken ribs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Jury decides Gwyneth Paltrow is not at fault for 2016 Utah ski collision that left man who sued with broken ribs.Source

Small town northeast of Colorado Springs evacuated due to wildfire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

SIMLA, Colo. (KDVR) -- A wildfire burning northeast of Colorado Springs has prompted mandatory evacuations of the entire town of Simla. Elbert County said the fire is burning south of Simla threatening approximately 500-700 acres. There is a shelter located at the Elbert County Fairgrounds at 95 Ute Ave. in Kiowa.Elizabeth Fire said that Elbert County Road and Bridge cleared 25 feet of vegetation to help stop the fire from getting into Simla.Red flag warnings are in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday night as winds have been high with low humidity. This is a breaking story and updates will be added as received.

Wildfire forces evacuations in Park, Teller counties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

PARK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Evacuations have been ordered for a wildfire in Park and Teller counties.The grass fire was burning more than 70 acres around 4:45 p.m., according to the U.S. Forest Service. Structures were threatened.High winds meant air resources could not fly to help with the fire response.Evacuations in Park CountyIn Park County, evacuation orders were issued for:the 1-mile area of County Road 403 and Alpine Meadow LaneAn emergency shelter was opened at the Lake George Community Center located at 39141 U.S. 24, Lake George.For large animals and livestock, a shelter was opened at the Lake George Fairgrounds located at 37371 U.S. 24 in Lake George.Residents were advised to call the evacuation line at 719-836-4200 for updates.Evacuations in Teller CountyThe Teller County Sheriff's Office said evacuation orders were issued for: Wilson Lakes Forest Glenn County Road 46 to Wilson Drive.The closest major intersection is County Road 46 and Blue Mountain Drive, the Sheriff's ...

Jurors: Gwyneth Paltrow not responsible for 2016 ski crash, awarded $1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (ABC4) -- Jurors in Park City, Utah, ruled in favor of Gwyneth Paltrow in the eight-day trial over a 2016 ski crash at Deer Valley Ski Resort, awarding her $1 this afternoon, March 30.The jurors ruled that plaintiff Terry Sanderson, 76, was 100% responsible for the crash, despite his claims that Paltrow crashed into him on the slopes, resulting in his four broken ribs and a possible concussion. Paltrow's $1 award for damages came from her countersuit to Sanderson's. Paltrow's defense team argued that Sanderson actually crashed into Paltrow and that any injuries he sustained were his own fault.The verdict came only three hours after closing arguments wrapped.Jurors had to rely on the testimony of expert witnesses who were not on the scene and conflicting eyewitnesses who were. Either way, very scant evidence exists from the actual crash. While there was a lot of discussion about possible GoPro camera footage floating around, possibly on the internet, it never surfaced...

Orioles outlast Red Sox 10-9 on Opening Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:28 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Adley Rutschman became the first catcher in major league history with five hits on opening day, and the Baltimore Orioles survived a wild ninth inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 10-9 on Thursday.Playing in his first season opener after starring for the Orioles as a rookie last year, Rutschman homered in his first at-bat and finished 5-for-5 with a career-best four RBIs and a walk on a chilly day at Fenway Park, with temperature of 38 degrees at first pitch.Ramon Urias hit a two-run homer for Baltimore, which finished with 15 hits, nine walks and five stolen bases.Kyle Gibson (1-0) allowed four runs and six hits over five-plus innings to earn his first opening-day victory since his 2021 All-Star season with Texas. Gibson gave up an RBI groundout in the first inning before retiring nine straight Red Sox hitters.The Orioles nearly gave away the game in the ninth.With Baltimore leading 10-7, closer Félix Bautista walked pinch-hitter Raimel Tapia. Alex Verdugo followed with...