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A three-judge panel has blocked Alabama’s congressional districts, ordering new lines drawn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Federal judges said Tuesday that they will draft new congressional lines for Alabama after lawmakers refused to create a second district where Black voters at least came close to comprising a majority, as suggested by the court.The three-judge panel blocked use of the state’s newly drawn congressional map in next year’s elections. A special master will be tapped to draw new districts for the state, the judges said. Alabama is expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.The Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature hastily drew new lines this summer after the U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the panel’s finding that the map — that had one majority-Black district out of seven in a state where 27% of residents are Black — likely violated the U.S. Voting Rights Act.The three-judge panel, in striking down Alabama’s map in 2022, said the state should have two districts where Black voters have an opportunity to elect their pref...

Book Review: Comedian Maria Bamford details her mental health issues with compassion and humor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “Sure I’ll Join Your Cult,” by Maria Bamford (Simon & Schuster)Comedian Maria Bamford has been a comic and actor for more than two decades, her high voice and quirky persona gracing countless stand-up stages and the occasional TV show such as “Arrested Development” and her own “Lady Dynamite.”Her long journey with mental health serves as the backbone of her comedy and now her memoir, “Sure I’ll join Your Cult.” While Bamford hasn’t joined any bona fide cults, she describes the different groups she’s joined throughout her life — everything from her family to the Suzuki violin method, as well as Overeaters Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous and how they’ve helped — or not helped — her along the way.“I love groups,” she writes. “I love social orders that I can push against while still being held by snug boundaries of membership.”Bamford’s first experience with mental illness came when she was a child in t...

Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown celebrates 90th anniversary (the Hot Brown is popular)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

Martin’s Tavern, the oldest family-owned and operated restaurant in D.C., marks its 90th anniversary this month, and will bring back dishes from its original 1933 menu for a few days, along with the original prices.Martin’s Tavern has been at its prominent spot at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and N Street in Northwest since it opened.It’s currently helmed by Billy Martin, the fourth-generation owner of the restaurant, who spent nearly two decades as a bartender at Martin’s before he and wife Gina Martin took over ownership. The transition was not entirely expected.“I came to work here in 1982 and I got right behind the bar, and I ended up bartending here for 18 years. In 2001, in February my parents returned from Florida and said they were going to put the restaurant up for sale. That kind of caught me off guard and I was not prepared for that. But I did make it happen,” Martin said.Martin’s was founded by William Solomon Martin and his so...

DC woman dies in apparent drowning at North Carolina beach on Labor Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

A D.C. woman died in an apparent drowning at a beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Labor Day, authorities said.The National Park Service said a 911 call came in about 2:30 p.m. Monday about an unresponsive person in the water in front of the village of Avon along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.According to a witness, the 28-year-old woman — who hasn’t been identified yet — was “overtaken by strong waves” and disappeared in the surf, according to a news release.She was later seen facedown in the water in rough ocean conditions, according to officials. NPS said the woman was brought to shore with the help of a bystander and a person with a body board.She was pronounced dead after unsuccessful attempts to revive her.“The Seashore’s thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends after this tragic event,” National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac said in a release.At the time of the drowning, ocean condition...

Dos distritos escolares cierran mientras se amplía la búsqueda del asesino brasileño que escapó de prisión en Pensilvania

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

(CNN) — La persecución del asesino brasileño Danelo Cavalcante prófugo se amplió después de que se le avistara fuera de la zona que la Policía había estado registrando intensamente desde que escapó de prisión el pasado jueves, informaron las autoridades de Pensilvania.Una gran presencia policial había estado buscando en la zona densamente arbolada en Pocopson Township y el condado de Chester, en un radio de 3 kilómetros de la prisión.La Policía amplió ahora el área después de que una cámara de seguridad avistara al recluso en Longwood Gardens este lunes por la noche, al sur de donde estaba el perímetro establecido anteriormente, dijo el teniente coronel George Bivens en una conferencia de prensa este martes.Asimismo, las autoridades señalaron que dos distritos escolares de Pensilvania cerraron este martes.El distrito escolar consolidado de Kennett, que está a unos 15 kilómetros de la prisión, y el distrito escolar de Unionville-Chadds Ford, a unos 8 kilómetros de la prisión, a...

A three-judge panel has ordered a special master to draw new congressional districts for Alabama

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A three-judge panel has ordered a special master to draw new congressional districts for Alabama.Source

Miami man arrested after stabbing and robbery spree in Florida Keys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

A 29-year-old Miami man is behind bars following a series of violent incidents that unfolded in Stock Island on Monday. The altercation left two victims with stab wounds and another robbed at knifepoint. Fortunately, there were no life-threatening injuries.Henry Fernando Galeano-Amador now faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and armed robbery.According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the chain of events began around 5:55 p.m. at the Key West Golf Club fence line along U.S. 1, where Galeano-Amador engaged in a heated argument with other homeless men. The dispute escalated into a physical confrontation, resulting in one victim being stabbed in the back and arm, and another suffering a stab wound near the ribs. Galeano-Amador fled the scene on foot.He then targeted a third victim in close proximity, robbing him of his bicycle at knifepoint. After the robbery, Galeano-Amador discarded the stolen bicycle near U.S....

Late summer snow provides diverse experience at Snowbird Oktoberfest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah (KSTU) — Some Utahns and visitors spent Labor Day enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of Snowbird’s Oktoberfest, while others took a ride through the clouds on the Snowbird tram to see snow after seeing posts displaying the fresh powder on the resort’s social media platforms.“We saw that they posted about it, so we hopped in the car, had to come up and see it for ourselves,” Brenley Hansen said. “We always chase the first snow of the season and we’re so happy.”One family got to experience snow for the first time on Monday.“We’re from Jacksonville, Florida, and we were not expecting it at all,” said Drew Gardiner.“I couldn’t believe it when my feet sunk in. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,'” Savannah McGowan added.The September snow didn’t just impress first-timers; it also impressed locals.“So excited that it’s snowing and the winter is here, even if ...

Car, box truck collision on NB Florida Turnpike causes traffic delays in Miramar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

A crash on Florida’s Turnpike near Miramar Parkway has caused traffic delays in Broward County.The incident occurred in Miramar just after 10 a.m. Tuesday when a car collided with a box truck on the northbound lanes of the highway. Hollywood Fire Rescue and Miramar Fire Rescue responded to the scene to extinguish the blaze. Live video footage showed the traffic in the area while firefighters continued to monitor the aftermath of the blaze.Thankfully, both drivers exited the motor vehicles before they burst into flames. As a result of the crash, drivers are getting by on one right lane of the northbound Florida Turnpike. Commuters traveling on Interstate 95 to enter the northbound turnpike are urged to find an alternate route. Authorities are on the scene as they clear the wreckage. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

6 takeaways on incoming EU innovation chief’s parliament grilling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

BRUSSELS — Iliana Ivanova played to the crowd and stuck to the script. The Bulgarian nominee for European commissioner faced just under three hours of questioning by the European Union’s parliamentary committees for industry and culture in Brussels on Tuesday. She landed strikes and dodged punches from lawmakers on topics ranging from questions on the EU’s poor record in supporting startups to problems with Europe’s flagship education program Erasmus. But she did so by playing it safe, sticking to non-controversial answers and explanations, at times pandering to members of the EU’s chamber and — above all — avoiding taking clear positions on issues that had the potential to backfire, like the sexual harassment debate that has raged in Spain in recent weeks. On others, like the United Kingdom’s role in EU research funding, lawmakers refrained from seeking a definite answer, because they knew it’s not up to Ivanova to call the final shots anyway. Th...