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After school shooting, Tenn. gun laws likely to remain lax

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — As Nashville residents reeled from a fatal grade school shooting that left six dead, a federal judge quietly cleared the way to drop the minimum age for Tennesseans to carry handguns publicly without a permit to 18 — just two years after a new law set the age at 21.The move marked yet another relaxation of gun laws in ruby red Tennessee, where GOP leaders have steadily chipped away at firearms regulations and lambasted those who have warned that doing so comes at a cost. It’s a familiar scene playing out across the United States, with Republican-dominant states rebuffing calls to strengthen gun safety laws in the wake of violent tragedies and Democrats in blue states championing gun control proposals. “This isn’t freedom. Our families don’t deserve this. I am sick of living in fear that our loved ones won’t make it home because of gun violence,” said state Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Democrat from Memphis, shortly after Monday’s shooting. “...

Final week as Vallas, Johnson close in on Election Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- Jammed packed schedules for the Chicago mayor candidates with one week to go.Tuesday morning, Paul Vallas secured the backing of a former Feb. 28 mayoral rival.Alderwoman Sophia King, chair of City Council’s Progressive Caucus, says Vallas won her support because of his proven leadership skills.  WGN Poll: Vallas leading Johnson in Chicago Mayoral runoff election "The city cannot take four more years of fighting while moving backwards, descension or someone learning the office while leading the office," Alderwoman Sophia King (4th Ward) said."I think that this is just further evidence of my ability to build a broad coalition," Paul Vallas said. "We don’t agree on everything, but I think we agree on most things."After the endorsement, nine members of City Council’s Progressive Caucus supporting Brandon Johnson released a statement saying King doesn’t speak for them.   Rewatch the entire WGN Chicago Mayoral Debate here By early afternoon, Vallas was playing defense...

Look up! 5-planet palooza could be visible in the night sky

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

(WJW) — Look out the window Tuesday night! Five planets could be visible March 28, including Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Uranus.Venus and Mars will be the easiest to identify. Venus will be the biggest and brightest and will be located west after sunset while Mars will appear bright red and high in the southwest sky. Jupiter, the second brightest planet, won't be as easy to spot. It was higher in the sky earlier this month but has been slowly descending. To view Jupiter, you'll need to have a clear and unobstructed view of the western horizon. Mercury will be close to Jupiter. An Ohio astronomer, Jay Reynolds, told Nexstar's WJW that March and April are the best times of year to easily see Mercury. Amazon delivery driver walks into North Carolina police standoff to drop off package Uranus might be the most difficult to identify without a telescope. It will appear faint, looking very similar to a star."(Uranus) is too dim and the Sun is too bright in the Western sky to easily...

Adnan Syed murder conviction reinstated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

(The Hill) – Maryland’s second-highest court reinstated the conviction and sentence of Adnan Syed, the man whose murder investigation and trial was the center of the hit podcast “Serial,” saying a lower court violated the rights of the victim’s family when it vacated his conviction last year.The Maryland appellate court ruled in a 2-1 decision that the circuit court that vacated Syed’s conviction did not give the family of Hae Min Lee, the teenage girl that Syed was previously convicted of killing, ample notice to appear at the hearing.It was unclear whether Syed would be ordered back to prison after the appellate court asked that a “new, legally compliant and transparent hearing” on the conviction take place. Charges dropped against Adnan Syed in ‘Serial’ podcast case: report Syed was 17 when he was arrested for the killing of Lee, his ex-girlfriend, in 1999. He was sentenced to life in prison after his 2000 conviction. But supporters of Syed maintained his innocence and campaign...

Republicans accuse Democrats of 'politics' amid gun reform calls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The shooting at an elementary school in Nashville has reignited the debate over gun laws in the U.S. Following yet another school shooting, the Senate Chaplain prayed for Congress to take action.“When babies die at a church school, it is time for us to move beyond thoughts and prayers,” said Senate Chaplain Barry Black.Democrats say that action should be renewing the federal ban on assault style weapons and high-capacity magazines, which they argue would save the lives of victims and law enforcement officers.“We're asking law enforcement to run towards AR-15 weapons. You cannot support weapons of war on our streets and support law enforcement at the same time,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said.Rep. Lieu bashed Republicans for blocking gun reform efforts and for postponing a hearing about gun regulations.“They're hiding because they know that the talking points they're spewing are simply not true,” Lieu said.But Republicans, like Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagarty, accuse De...

Drunk drivers could pay child support in Texas if a parent is killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas legislature is considering a new bill this session that would require convicted drunk drivers to give child support payments if a parent of a minor is killed in the crash. House Bill 393, filed by Texas Rep. Craig Goldman, has bipartisan support and already passed in the Criminal Jurisprudence committee. Next, it will likely go to the House floor for a vote. The idea for the law came from an initiative in Missouri, where their legislature considered Brentley’s Law – named after Brentley, whose two parents and infant brother were killed in a drunk driving incident in 2021, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The bill in Missouri did not pass but sparked a national consideration.Tennessee became the first state to pass it in 2022, and now 12 other states, including Texas, are considering adding the law, according to MADD.“Often we see many grandparents that are in a position now to raise the children considering that, due to a DWI crash, the parents a...

Which players sit whenever the Wild finally get fully healthy?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

Though he won’t make the upcoming road trip with the Wild, it sounds like Kirill Kaprizov is close to getting back on his skates. Meanwhile, it seems like only a matter of time before Gustav Nyquist is ready to make his team debut as he has been cleared to practice.In other words, the Wild are on the verge of being fully healthy, meaning it won’t be long before coach Dean Evason has some very tough decisions regarding his lineup.Asked about potentially having to sit a player that doesn’t deserve to sit, Evason emphasized how the Wild have fostered a culture in the locker room where teammates support teammates regardless of playing time.No player personifies that mentality that more than Sam Steel. After serving as the No. 1 center for a good chunk of this season, Steel now spends most of his nights as a healthy scratch. He has fallen out of the lineup over the past month or so, slotting in only when other players are hurt.Minnesota Wild center Sam Steel (13) in the...

Twins expect Jose Miranda at third on Opening Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

In his first game back at third base this spring, Jose Miranda didn’t have any groundball opportunities. In his second game, just one, so the infielder hasn’t had much of a chance to really test out his sore right shoulder in game action.Minnesota Twins first baseman Jose Miranda scoops a grounder off the bat of Los Angeles Angels’ Matt Thaiss for an out in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept 25, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)But it’s gotten progressively better this spring to the point where manager Rocco Baldelli thinks the 24-year-old will be at his natural position come Opening Day on Thursday. Miranda spent most of the spring serving as the team’s designated hitter before only recently starting to play the field again.“Obviously I’m not going to say it feels incredible, 100 percent right now, but it’s going to keep improving,” Miranda said. “As of right now, it feels pretty good.”It’ll take daily maintenance and work in the trainer’s r...

St. Paul, Minneapolis to lift parking restrictions Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

The cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis will lift winter parking restrictions at 8 a.m. Wednesday.As a historic winter snowfall began narrowing streets and making passage for emergency vehicles difficult-to-impossible, Minneapolis implemented one-sided parking on Jan. 25, and and St. Paul did the same on March 10.St. Paul Public Works officials said milder weather has allowed the snow pack to melt, returning streets to closer-to-normal conditions.“We realize that putting in place additional parking restrictions was a challenge for many residents who need on-street parking,” said Sean Kershaw, St. Paul Director of Public Works, in a written statement. “Our plow and emergency vehicle drivers appreciated residents’ compliance so they could continue to safely access and clear our streets this winter.”This is Minnesota, and a surprise late-season snowfall could yet trigger a new snow emergency. St. Paul officials encourage residents to sign up for text and email alerts and use the snow em...

Dollar General opens Latham location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:52 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Dollar General has officially opened a new location at 638 Columbia Street Extension in Latham. The store is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Dollar General stores include food, cleaning supplies, paper products, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products, baby items and more. The new Latham location also includes new home décor and an expanded party preparation selection.“At Dollar General, we believe the addition of each new store provides positive economic growth for the communities we proudly serve, and the addition of our new Latham store highlights our commitment to deliver a pleasant shopping experience that includes great prices on quality products in a convenient location,” said Matthew Simonsen, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development. PDT Market opens in Saratoga Springs To honor the opening of the new location, Dollar...