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Black lawmaker who was expelled to return to Tennessee House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

By JONATHAN MATTISE and TRAVIS LOLLER (Associated Press)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the GOP-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashville’s governing council voted to send him straight back to the Legislature.The unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council restores Rep. Justin Jones to office just four days after Republicans stripped him of his seat. Moments after the decision, Jones began marching to the Capitol.Republicans banished the two lawmakers over their role in a gun-control protest on the House floor in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting.The other lawmaker, Justin Pearson, could be reappointed Wednesday at a Wednesday of the Shelby County Commission.The expulsions on Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy and propelled the ousted lawmakers into the national spotlight.Jones’ appointment is an interim basis. Special electio...

Border Patrol deploys facial recognition at Port of Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has announced they will use facial recognition technology to screen passengers entering the country at the Port of Boston.“Facial biometrics adds an extra layer of security and further enhances the travel experience by utilizing safe, touch-free technology that streamlines entry procedures,” Jennifer B. De La O, director of field operations for CBP’s Boston field office, said along with the announcement.According to CBP, facial recognition technology is already deployed at more than a dozen other U.S. ports of entry where it is being used to screen debarking passengers. On Monday, the agency responsible for securing the nation’s borders said they have partnered with Norwegian Cruise Lines to bring the controversial security protocols to the city’s port for the first time.“With the return of cruise ships to Boston, CBP is working diligently with Norwegian Cruise Lines to make travel safer and more efficient,” De La O said.According to CBP the proc...

Biden administration to push stricter emissions rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will propose strict new automobile pollution limits this week that would require at least 54% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2030 and as many as two of every three by 2032, according to industry and environmental officials briefed on the plan.The proposed regulation, to be released Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency, would set greenhouse gas emissions limits for the 2027 through 2032 model years for passenger vehicles that would be more even stricter than goals the auto industry agreed to in 2021.The EPA will offer a range of options that the agency can select after a public comment period, the officials said. They asked not to be identified because the proposal hasn’t been made public. The proposed regulation isn’t expected to become final until next year.Environmental groups are applauding the ambitious numbers, which were first reported over the weekend by The New York Times. But the plan is likel...

JetBlue announces new Worcester routes to Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey and other Bay State elected officials are celebrating new air service plans that will make it easier for people to get to and from Florida from central Massachusetts.JetBlue and the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Worcester Regional Airport, announced plans Monday for new nonstop flights to Orlando and Fort Myers.The daily year-round service to Orlando International Airport is scheduled to launch June 15 and winter seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is expected to start on Jan. 4, 2024. The Fort Myers route will initially launch with twice-weekly service, and will increase to daily service starting in mid-February through the end of spring training for the Boston Red Sox, who have their pre-season base in Fort Myers.Fort Myers is a new route for JetBlue out of Worcester, while the airline is bringing back service to Orlando from Worcester.“We are proud to introduce even more options to connect our Massachusetts ...

Mets face tough test with Padres, West Coast trip ahead this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

The Mets will be tested this week with a rematch of the 2022 NL Wild Card series on tap.So far this season, the Mets have played seven of their 10 games against the lowly Miami Marlins, a team that has some good starting pitching but not much else. The only other team the Mets have faced in 2023 was the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Mets in a three-game series last week and might be better than some thought at 7-2 on the season.So now the 6-4 Padres come to town. Another team with World Series aspirations and a deep-pocketed owner who is sparing no expense for his club, operating in much the same fashion as the Mets. Since they last saw the Mets, they have added Xander Bogaerts and Nelson Cruz. The Mets have added pitchers Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga and a bevy of other relievers.The two teams have had similar starts to the season, with injuries to pitchers and some inconsistent play. The Padres lost their first two games to the Colorado Rockies — the Marlins of the NL We...

‘Try slow’ on the North Shore of Kauai, where regenerative tourism is the way

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

I don’t want to be an invasive species.I kept thinking this as I made my way up old stone steps into the lushness of Kauai’s Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Never have I experienced so many shades and forms of the color green, all in one place. This 1,000-acre valley teams with precious flora and fauna that include plants and birds on the verge of extinction – extinction largely caused by non-native species pushing aside what belonged here first.It felt appropriate that my first day on Kauai, the “Garden Isle” of the Hawaiian archipelago, should be spent at Limahuli learning about ahupua’a, an indigenous resource management system used by native Hawaiians for hundreds of years. This was going to be a different kind of vacation.I’ve visited Oahu many times over the years and love it, but that island experience has been molded around the tourism industry – Hawaiian culture packaged and made easily digestible. Here though, the rugged, largely rural landscape of Kauai’s North Shore – fram...

U.S. ‘allies, partners’, including Canada, briefed by U.S. after intelligence leaked

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

WASHINGTON — U.S. government officials spent the weekend briefing impacted allies and partners, including Canada, following reports detailing a leak of sensitive U.S. intelligence about Russia’s war with Ukraine and its potential ramifications. The trove of documents reportedly included an assessment of claims that Russian-backed hackers managed back in February to access the systems controlling part of Canada’s natural gas infrastructure.The Canadian Press has not independently verified those claims. Some of the material — discovered Friday after it had been posted to online forums and social media channels — appeared to have been altered. “We’re still working through the validity of all the documents that we know are out there,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. “U.S. officials have … communicated with relevant nations, relevant allies and partners as appropriate, at very high levels.” Federal officials in Ottawa acknowl...

Knies to make NHL debut vs. Panthers, Maple Leafs sign another goalie to ATO

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

One day after signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, top prospect Matthew Knies will make his NHL debut on Monday against the Florida Panthers.The Leafs signed Knies to a three-year, entry-level deal on Sunday, one day after his Minnesota Golden Gophers lost to Quinnipiac in the NCAA Frozen Four final in Tampa.Monday’s game can be seen live on Sportsnet or SN NOW beginning at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.With three games left in the regular season, the Leafs will get the opportunity to see if he can be a factor in their playoff lineup.Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Sam Lafferty would come out of the lineup after suffering an injury in practice and that Knies will start on a line with Noel Acciari and Alexander Kerfoot.Still trying to figure out “exactly” why, but TOR was not ruled to be eligible for an emergency recall in tonight’s game. https://t.co/hUkmE1V0yI— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 10, 2023Additionally, Keefe said with Matt Murray still unavailable, the Maple Le...

Blue Jays return to Rogers Centre good for Toronto’s tourism and hospitality sectors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

TORONTO — It’s not just baseball fans that are excited to see the Toronto Blue Jays return to Rogers Centre — local businesses are happy too.After a 10-game road trip to start the season, Toronto hosts the Detroit Tigers in their home opener on Tuesday. Significant off-season renovations to Rogers Centre forced the Blue Jays to start the year south of the border but team president Mark Shapiro believes the changes will improve the fan experience at the ballpark and be a boon to the local economy.“Toronto is an incredibly dynamic city and strong entertainment market,” said Shapiro in a statement to The Canadian Press. “The recent Rogers Centre renovations created differentiated experiences that appeal to a broader audience, driving greater economic impact in Toronto through job creation and increased activity in the downtown core. “More than 1,000 Canadian workers were involved in the ballpark renovations over the last six months, and we anticipate increased e...

Montana abortion proposal met with preemptive lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:03 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Planned Parenthood of Montana filed a preemptive lawsuit Monday seeking to stop legislation that would ban the abortion method most commonly used in the second trimester, arguing the proposed law is unconstitutional.The nonprofit organization filed the complaint over the proposal to ban dilation and evacuation abortions before the bill has been forwarded to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. The organization asked for the court to at least temporarily block the legislation because it would take effect immediately upon being signed, causing irreparable harm to its patients.The lawsuit came on the same day that the U.S. Justice Department appealed a Texas court ruling that would halt approval of the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S., calling the decision “extraordinary and unprecedented.”The request to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone put...