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Biden tells Asia-Pacific leaders that US ‘not going anywhere’ as it looks to build economic ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday made America’s case to national leaders and CEOs attending the Asia-Pacific summit that the United States is committed to high standards in trade and to partnerships that will benefit economies across the Pacific.“We’re not going anywhere,” he declared.Fresh off his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden also told business leaders that the U.S. was “de-risking and diversifying” but not “decoupling.” from Beijing. But he did not mince words in suggesting the U.S. and friends in the Pacific could offer businesses a better option than China.“This is not all kumbaya but it’s straightforward,” Biden said. “We have real differences with Beijing when it comes to maintaining a fair and level economic playing field and protecting your intellectual property. ”Biden sought to send a clear message about American leadership as business leaders grapple with the risks of doing businesses in the midst of wars in ...

Milwaukee Brewers’ Pat Murphy grateful for opportunity to return to managing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

Pat Murphy didn’t know if he’d ever get the chance to manage again.He certainly never thought it would happen in Milwaukee.Yet here he was putting on a Brewers jersey Thursday during the introductory news conference for his first managerial opportunity since 2015. The media session came one day after the Brewers announced they had signed Murphy to a three-year contract and had made former infielder Rickie Weeks their associate manager.“You realize how lucky you are to be part of something,” Murphy said. “What we have growing here was unbelievable. I never thought it would be here. These things happen, and all of a sudden I’m here.”Murphy, who turns 65 on Nov. 28, has three decades of experience running teams at the college and minor-league level. His only previous stint managing in the majors came in 2015, when he went 42-54 as the San Diego Padres’ interim manager after the firing of Bud Black. When the Padres hired Andy Green as their full-time manager after the 2015 season, Murph...

Lawyers for religious leaders challenging Missouri abortion ban say law imposes beliefs on everyone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

FILE - Clergy who filed suit seeking to overturn Missouri's abortion law and other opponents of the law hold a March through downtown St. Louis on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. A St. Louis judge on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 will hear arguments in a lawsuit challenging Missouri's abortion ban on the grounds that lawmakers who passed the measure imposed their own religious beliefs on others who don't share them. The lawsuit was filed in January on behalf of 13 Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist leaders who support abortion rights. (AP Photo/Jim Salter, File)(AP/Jim Salter) FILE - Clergy who filed suit seeking to overturn Missouri's abortion law and other opponents of the law hold a March through downtown St. Louis on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. A St. Louis judge on ...

Canadian man convicted of murder for killing 4 Muslim family members with his pickup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) — A Canadian man was found guilty Thursday of four counts of first-degree murder for deliberately using his pickup to kill four members of a Muslim family two years ago.The jury also convicted Nathaniel Veltman, 22, guilty of one count of attempted murder for injuring a fifth family member in the incident in London, Ont.Veltman, who had pleaded not guilty, quietly looked straight ahead as the verdict was delivered after the jury deliberated for roughly five hours. Members of the Muslim community hugged relatives of the victims in the courtroom.Prosecutors argued that Veltman purposely ran his truck into the Afzaal family while they were out for a walk on June 6, 2021, to intimidate Muslims into leaving Canada. The defense sought to show he wasn’t criminally liable because of the mental health problems.Killed were Salman Afzaal, 46; his wife, Madiha Salman, 44; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and 74-year-old grandmother Talat Afzaal. The couple’s 9-year...

Quarterback Hartman to take on former team when his No. 20 Notre Dame hosts Wake Forest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson has prepared for Saturday’s matchup against No. 20 Notre Dame (7-3) with a heavy heart.When he turns on the tape, he sees former Demon Deacon quarterback Sam Hartman, who transferred to the Fighting Irish in the offseason.“I think the world of Sam,” coach Dave Clawson said. “Quite honestly, it’s hard for me to watch Notre Dame football because that’s the Wake Forest quarterback playing for them. He spent five years here and did a lot for our program. We’re still close.”The Wake Forest offense was prolific in Hartman’s hands, including scoring 41.0 points per game (4th out of 130 FBS teams) in 2021 and carrying the team to a division title in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the league championship game in 2021. He departed as the program’s career passing leader with 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns.The Demon Deacons (4-6) have taken a noticeable step back without him under center. They are 1-6 in the ACC and have lost their last...

Oregon State, Washington State working to keep Pac-12 open, align with Mountain West, AP sources say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

Oregon State and Washington State are moving toward keeping the Pac-12 alive as a two-team conference for as long as two years while entering an agreement with the Mountain West that will allow the Pacific Northwest schools to fill out their sports schedules, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.The agreement could set the stage for a long-term deal between Oregon State and Washington State and the Mountain West. What that looks like is unlikely to be determined soon, said the people, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because neither the schools nor the Mountain West were making their negotiations and internal discussions public.In the short-term, Oregon State and Washington State would get the clarity about conference affiliation they need to give their coaches, athletes and recruits. The Mountain West would get a payout from the schools and alignment with programs that have been competitive at the Power Five level.Oregon State is ...

Denver Auditor decries city's lack of safe, habitable spaces

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver is failing to provide sufficient low-income housing for its residents, according to a report from the City and County of Denver's Auditor Timothy O'Brien.In a release, O'Brien says the audit shows the government is not doing enough to ensure safe, habitable spaces at affordable housing properties and also failing to ensure taxpayer-funded affordable housing projects are delivering on promised units. One dead after shooting at El Paso County Courthouse In particular, the audit said that the Department of Housing Stability's "lack of oversight" has caused the DHA Delivers for Denver Program not to deliver the required units.Specifically, the audit showed the program fell short by 32 units for very low-income households and 301 units for moderate-income households. Additionally, 203 units have been reported for rent at market rates, which the Denver Housing Authority claimed as part of the agreement to develop affordable housing. The 203 units were rented for...

The Supreme Court won’t allow Florida to enforce its new law targeting drag shows during appeal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Thursday it will not allow Florida to enforce its new law targeting drag shows, while a court case proceeds.The justices refused to narrow a lower-court order that has prohibited the law from being enforced statewide.Florida had asked the court to allow its anti-drag show law to be enforced everywhere except at the Hamburger Mary’s restaurant in Orlando, which challenged the law’s constitutionality.Three justices, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, said they would have granted the state’s request.Last month, a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s order stopping the law from being enforced. The district court found that the law likely restricted free speech and couldn’t be enforced anywhere in the state.Hamburger Mary’s regularly hosts drag shows, including family-friendly performances on Sundays that children are invited to attend. The restaurant’s owner said the law was o...

Former Opa-Locka Police officer arrested for grand theft and credit card fraud

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

Authorities arrested Keondra Renee Weekes, a former Opa-Locka police officer, on charges of third-degree grand theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Weekes, who was terminated from the Opa-Locka Police Department in July 2022, surrendered her assigned equipment but neglected to return the department-issued credit card. FDLE initiated an investigation at the request of the Opa-Locka Police Department after uncovering unauthorized transactions on the credit card account.Over a span of five months, officials said, Weekes engaged in over 100 transactions at various gas stations, accumulating a total over $8,000.“Weekes took advantage of a privilege that was revoked from her when she was terminated,” said FDLE Miami Special Agent in Charge Felipe Williams. “Law enforcement officers take an oath, and although Weekes no longer works for the department, FDLE still takes the violation seriously and will ensure justice is...

BCPS superintendent says schools, district offices to reopen Friday after heavy rains flood South Florida campuses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:50 GMT

Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Peter Licata on Thursday said that schools will be fully open on Friday after inclement weather caused colleges and schools in Broward to close out of an abundance of caution. The relentless rainfall that battered South Florida all day Wednesday led Broward County Public Schools and Broward College to cancel classes on Thursday.“Tomorrow we are expected to be open fully,” said Licata during a news conference. “We just got off the meeting with the regionals and the cabinet members. We are going to be fully open.”https://twitter.com/browardschools/status/1725200581478740121?s=20Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County Public Schools officials opted to keep their schools open on Thursday.Cellphone video sent to 7News by a parent captured a roadway that resembled a river during their morning commute.In Northwest Miami-Dade, students arrived at American Senior High School only to end up in the dark. The school remai...