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Supreme Court term preview: abortion, gun cases and social media free speech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

The Supreme Court is returning to a new term to take up some familiar topics — guns and abortion — and concerns about ethics swirling around the justices.The year also will have a heavy focus on social media and how free speech protections apply online. A big unknown is whether the court will be asked to weigh in on any aspect of the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump and others or efforts in some states to keep the Republican off the 2024 presidential ballot because of his role in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.Lower-profile but vitally important, several cases in the term that begins Monday ask the justices to constrict the power of regulatory agencies.“I can’t remember a term where the court was poised to say so much about the power of federal administrative agencies,” said Jeffrey Wall, who served as the deputy solicitor general in the Trump administration.One of those cases, to be argued Tuesday, th...

Orioles All-Star closer Félix Bautista to undergo Tommy John surgery, miss postseason and likely all of 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

In the month since Félix Bautista flexed his right hand and walked off the Camden Yards mound, the Orioles have held out hope their All-Star closer would be able to return this season despite the partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.Saturday, that possibility came to a public end as executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias announced that Bautista is done for the year and will undergo Tommy John elbow reconstruction. The procedure has a typical recovery time of 12 to 18 months, meaning Bautista will likely miss the 2024 season, as well.Elias added the Orioles have also agreed to a two-year deal with Bautista, covering next season and 2025, which would have been his first year of arbitration eligibility.“We’re going to miss the hell out of the guy,” Elias said.Bautista, 28, was baseball’s best reliever before the injury, with a 1.48 ERA, 33 saves and 110 strikeouts in 61 innings. His 46.4% strikeout rate led the sport an...

Bishop Feehan airs it out with Owen Mordas, talented receivers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

ATTLEBORO — A year ago, behind a massive offensive line and running back Nick Yanchuk, Bishop Feehan coach Bryan Pinabell chose to run, run, and run some more.What a difference a year makes.Behind sophomore quarterback Owen Mordas and a talented group of pass catchers, Pinabell went with his passing game in a 31-6 romp over Archbishop Williams on Saturday.“Air Pinabell this year,” the Feehan coach joked after the game with a big grin on his face.“It’s funny, in my 18 years now as a head coach, there’s a system,” Pinabell said. “I understand. As I’m getting older, I’m just taking the kids we got and trying to build a system that best exemplifies their talents. If that means we have to throw the ball, we throw the ball. If we run the ball, we run the ball. But you’ve got to gear your systems toward what you have. That’s what we have.”The aerial assault proved explosive for the Shamrocks (3-1). Mordas completed 10 ...

House passes stopgap bill that would avert shutdown: live coverage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

With less than 10 hours before a government shutdown would start, the House passed a Republican stopgap measure that funds the government for 45 days. The measure passed with overwhelming Democratic support; dozens of Republicans voted against it. It now heads to the Senate.The Senate had been set to vote Saturday afternoon on its proposed stopgap, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in midafternoon, as the House bill was moving its way through, that Republicans would not allow it to come to the floor for a vote.Follow along with live updates below.

Government shutdown threat eases after House passes a 45-day funding plan, sending it to Senate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The threat of a federal government shutdown was suddenly easing Saturday after the House quickly approved a 45-day funding bill to keep agencies open, once Speaker Kevin McCarthy dropped demands for steep spending cuts and relied on Democratic votes for passage. The rushed package would leave behind aid to Ukraine, a White House priority opposed by a growing number of GOP lawmakers, but increase federal disaster assistance by $16 billion, meeting President Joe Biden’s full request. It goes next to the Senate, which was meeting late in the evening, hours to go before the midnight deadline to fund the government.“We’re going to do our job,” McCarthy said before the House vote. “We’re going to be adults in the room. And we’re going to keep government open.”It’s been a head-spinning turn of events in Congress after days of House chaos pushed the government to the brink of a disruptive federal shutdown.With no deal in place before Sunday, federal workers would face furl...

Businesses targeted in string of South Side burglaries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are offering a warning to businesses on the South Side after a string of burglaries over the past two weeks.According to Chicago police, seven businesses were burglarized in the city's Englewood neighborhood between Sept. 17 and Sept. 29. ‘We are all in shock’: 3 dead after being found unresponsive in Edgewater apartment Police say in each instance, between two and six men were able to gain entry to the businesses through the front door, rear door or roof before stealing property from inside. Officers say the men are believed to be between 30 and 35 years of age and all were wearing black clothing during the burglaries. Chicago police provided the following timeline of the burglaries that took place in Englewood between 9/17/23 and 9/29/236100 block of South Ashland Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 2:25 a.m. 6900 block of South Ashland Avenue on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 12:30 p.m. 1500 block of West Marquette Road on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 4:45 a.m.&nb...

Charley Walters: Twins aren’t fixated on 18-game playoff losing streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

The Minnesota Twins have enough pitching to finally end their ignominious 18-game postseason losing streak.Thirteen of those losses were to the New York Yankees, who this season did not make the playoffs.MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 06: Matt Wallner #38 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates his walk-off two-run home run with teammates after the 5-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Target Field on August 06, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)During a chat with the Pioneer Press outside the Twins’ clubhouse at Target Field last week, chief baseball executive Derek Falvey pointed to the clubhouse.In reference to a question about the 18 straight losses, Falvey said, “That room, very few of those guys played a role in a lot of those games. There might be only three players from 2019 in that room.“Everyone’s heard it, everyone knows it — the facts are facts. But I think what this group does really well is every night when they come to the bal...

Opera review: ‘Dark Sisters’ a bold tale of life in a fundamentalist commune

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

Journey North Opera Company takes a piercing look at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) in the Minnesota premiere of “Dark Sisters,” performing at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis this weekend. The high notes — performed by soprano Sarah Kuhlmann and flute/piccolo player Eun Cho — pierce as well, punctuating the docudrama opera with notes that keep the listener at attention.Composer Nico Muhly, based in New York, might be familiar for Twin Cities audiences. His work has been heard at presentations by Liquid Music, the Walker Art Center, VocalEssence, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and more. He collaborated with librettist Stephen Karam (author of the Tony Award-winning “The Humans”), whose text in this production is projected elegantly in a concrete poetry style with the help of supertitle designer Ben Litzau.“Dark Sisters” received its world premiere in 2010, two years after the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch was raided by the state of Texa...

Man dies in overnight Ferguson shooting, suspect arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

FERGUSON, Mo. - A homicide investigation is underway after a man died in an overnight shooting in Ferguson. Police say the suspect is behind bars. The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Friday in the 1600 block of Northwinds Drive. Police have not yet identified the victim or disclosed what led up to the shooting. Wainwright gets at-bat, huge ovation in series opener of grand sendoff Authorities arrested Max Jones in connection with the investigation. Ferguson police obtained warrants for second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges against Jones. Investigators say they found Jones in possession of a gun linked to the crime scene. "The Ferguson Police Department is seeking any additional information that may aid in the investigation, including eyewitness accounts, surveillance footage, or other relevant information," said the department in a news release. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ...

RTD bus involved in fatal crash in Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:52 GMT

An RTD bus was involved in a crash with “serious injuries” in north Denver Saturday. A passenger in the other vehicle has died, police said.Update: A passenger of the vehicle that was transported to the hospital, was later pronounced deceased. The identity of the deceased passenger will be released by the medical examiner’s office. The investigation is ongoing.— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) September 30, 2023The crash between the bus and a motorist happened near 49th Avenue and Race Street, The Denver Police Department reported at 1:04 p.m. on X.Three people were taken to a hospital.In a 3:07 p.m. update, police said one of the people taken to the hospital has died.Police said they are still investigating the crash.Race Street was closed between 48th and 49th avenues for about an hour but has reopened.