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Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old can proceed with $40 million lawsuit, judge rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A teacher who was shot by her 6-year-old student in Virginia can press forward with her $40 million against a school system over claims of negligence by school administrators, a judge ruled Friday.The surprise decision by Newport News Circuit Court Judge Matthew Hoffman means that Abby Zwerner could get much more than just workers compensation for the serious injuries caused by January’s classroom shooting. Lawyers for Newport News Public Schools had tried to block the lawsuit, arguing that Zwerner was eligible only for workers compensation. It provides up to nearly 10 years pay and lifetime medical care for injuries.Hoffman disagreed with the school board, concluding that Zwerner’s injuries “did not arise out of her employment” and therefore did not “fall within the exclusive provisions of workers’ compensation coverage.” The judge wrote: “The danger of being shot by a student is not one that is peculiar or unique to the job of a first-grade tea...

2 killed as flooding hits Kenya, sweeping away homes and destroying roads, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Heavy rains and flooding ravaged parts of Kenya on Friday, sweeping away homes and livestock and destroying roads and electric transmission lines, authorities said. At least two people were killed and at least one was missing.One of the victims died after a house collapsed under heavy rains in the coastal city of Mombasa, police said, while the second was swept away by floods in Meru County in central Kenya. Emergency workers were searching for a third person believed to have drowned in Isiolo, in the country’s north.Kenya’s Meteorological Department had earlier warned of above average rainfall until Monday. “Flood waters may appear in places where it has not rained heavily especially downstream. Residents are advised to avoid driving through, or walking in moving water or open fields and not to shelter under trees and near grilled windows when raining to minimize exposure to lightning strikes,” read the alertIn Mombasa, heavy rains caused flash floods, w...

Slight change to Dakota Access pipeline comment meeting format, Army Corps says after complaints

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in the wake of complaints, changed the format of oral testimony for public comments on a draft environmental review of the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline.The Corps held two meetings in Bismarck, on Wednesday and Thursday, for public comments on the document that will help determine whether the federal government grants the easement for the pipeline’s crossing under the Missouri River near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation. The tribe has long opposed the pipeline due to the risk of an oil spill.Pipeline opponents had criticized the Wednesday meeting because oral testimony was only accepted in private to stenographers in a curtained area in a hotel ballroom. Many people spoke to the room outside of the curtained area, but what they said was not included as official testimony. For example, one man made a demonstration of challenging Corps officials to drink from a cup in which he had poured oil and ...

Can Trump be on the ballot in 2024? It can hinge on the meaning of ‘insurrection’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Can former President Donald Trump run for his old job again after his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol? The answer may depend on the definition of insurrection.Liberal groups have filed lawsuits in Colorado, Minnesota and other states to bar Trump from the ballot, citing a rarely used constitutional prohibition against holding office for those who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution but then “engaged in insurrection” against it. The two-sentence clause in the 14th Amendment has been used only a handful of times since the years after the Civil War.Because of that, there’s almost no case law defining its terms, including what would constitute an “insurrection.” While people have argued about whether to call Jan. 6 an insurrection ever since the days following the attack, the debate in court this week has been different — whether those who ratified the amendment in 1868 would call it one.“There’s this very public fight, in all these co...

Judges toss lawsuit targeting North Dakota House subdistricts for tribal nations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal three-judge panel in North Dakota has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Republican district officials who alleged that the consideration of race was unconstitutional in the creation of state House subdistricts that included ones encompassing tribal nations.The lawsuit filed early last year by the two GOP legislative district officials targeted the two subdivided districts the Legislature drew in 2021, which included subdistricts for the Fort Berthold and Turtle Mountain Indian reservations. The lawsuit alleged that the “racial gerrymandering” was a violation of the equal protection clause.The ruling issued Thursday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter Welte, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ralph Erickson and U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland granted motions for summary judgment made by the state and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, and denied the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, dismissing the case.The judges said th...

Barrie GO line to be suspended tonight until Monday: Metrolinx

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

It will be a weekend of riding the bus for anyone who was hoping to take the GO Train out of Barrie.GO Rail service on the Barrie Line will be temporarily suspended as of 9 p.m. Friday night until the end of service on Sunday.Regular service will resume on Monday, November 6.Metrolinx says the temporary closure will allow for ongoing track maintenance as well as platform upgrades at Maple GO, and switch upgrades near Aurora GO.Shuttle buses will be replacing the trains between Allendale Waterfront GO and Union Station.Downsview Park GO will not be served by any GO bus replacements, Metrolinx added, advising customers to use the TTC instead.“Buses do not have the same capacity as trains and shuttle buses may experience longer than normal travel times,” Metrolinx warned.

Brighton Park residents file lawsuit against city, mayor over proposed migrant camp site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

CHICAGO — Some southwest side residents are taking legal action against the city and Mayor Brandon Johnson over a proposed migrant camp site.As the city searches options to house migrants, several sites are being considered for future use.According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the vacant lot at 38th and California in Brighton Park will be used as a tent basecamp and could house up to 2,000 migrants.The Sun-Times also reports the city signed a lease with the property owners on October 26 and will pay them $91,400 a month to use the land.In a statement, the 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez said, “The city did not inform me that a lease had been signed. I continue to be frustrated and disappointed in the administration’s lack of transparency with my community and am deeply concerned that a lease would be signed prior to a full environmental assessment taking place. The city owes 12th Ward residents an explanation.”Controversy over the site has sparked numerous protests. Now, some Bright...

Texans to vote on funding boost for 'emerging' state universities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — In this election, Texans will vote on a proposition to enhance funding of select higher education institutions to elevate them to leading research universities.Texas Proposition 5, stemming from H.J.R 3, is a proposed constitutional amendment seeking authorization for the creation of this new endowment, called the Texas University Fund. The TUF aims to address the challenges posed by Texas’ increasing population that has put pressure on the state’s infrastructure and public resources. The goal of the fund would be to empower universities to create "research-driven solutions" regarding this issue. Voter Guide: What you need to know ahead of the November 2023 election University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have stood as Texas's top two public research institutions for years, drawing prestige from a $32 billion endowment that supports faculty recruitment, research funding, and infrastructure development. It's why lawmakers are hoping voters appr...

Preparing your house for winter saves money, heat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cold temperatures have arrived in Central Texas, and an unprepared home can waste money trying to keep warm. Or in a worst-case scenario, pose a health risk to occupants. NOAA’s winter forecast released: What to expect The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) recommends taking steps to prepare well ahead of inclement weather. Sometimes, the tools and parts required for winterization can fly off shelves and out of giveaways quickly — last year, a City of Austin giveaway of meter keys and outdoor spigot covers saw huge demand.TDI's tips start with inspecting your home: chimney, furnace, smoke detectors and attic insulation. The seal around doors and windows should not have any gaps; these can be sealed with foam insulation strips. GUIDE: How to prepare your pipes for a freeze. The Travis County Office of Emergency Management shared a series of tips in September (National Preparedness Month) focused on getting ready for winter storms. In one of the posts, the office...

Vikings rookie quarterback Jaren Hall was made for this moment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:44 GMT

The pass sailed out of the back of the end zone, and pandemonium ensued in Provo, Utah.As students flooded the field in response to BYU upsetting Baylor in double overtime, quarterback Jaren Hall wasn’t ready to join in the celebration.Not yet. Not until he hugged kicker Jake Oldroyd. The heartwarming moment on the sidelines lasted about 20 seconds, with Hall embracing an emotional Oldroyd, who had missed a pair of field goals that would have won the game in regulation.“He could’ve been celebrating with everybody else and he’s over there making sure his teammate is OK,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said of Hall. “That’s who he is. He’s such a good leader. It comes naturally to him.”That’s exactly what the Vikings need right now as they navigate uncharted waters without franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins. The reality of the situation started to set in this week at TCO Performance Center as Cousins had successful surgery to r...