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Bill would ban marriages under age 16 in West Virginia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A child marriage bill was passed by the West Virginia Senate on Friday night after it was changed to prohibit anyone younger than 16 from getting married and to ban age gaps of more than four years for 16- and 17-year-olds.The Senate passed the bill on a 31-1 vote. It now goes to the House of Delegates, which previously passed its own version. The legislative session ends Saturday.“I want us to pass something because our current situation is intolerable,” Morgan County Republican Sen. Charles Trump said.Currently, children can marry as young as 16 in West Virginia with parental consent. It allows anyone younger than that to get married with a judge’s waiver.The Senate bill would remove the possibility that anyone younger than 16 could marry. Those ages 16 and 17 would have to obtain parental consent and they couldn’t marry someone more than four years older than them.Existing legal marriages, including those done in other states, would be unaffected.Th...

New Hampshire lawmaker arrested for obstructing snowplow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in New Hampshire was arrested Friday for allegedly screaming and swearing at a snowplow truck operator who recorded the confrontation and later reported him to police.Rep. Jeffrey Greeson, 51, of Wentworth was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal threatening and simple assault, according to police. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered back to Plymouth District Court on May 18.Police said they made the arrest after receiving a report that a member of the Wentworth Highway Department had been obstructed in his efforts of snow removal by a citizen and had recorded part of the encounter on his cell phone.Greeson didn’t immediately respond to an email to his Statehouse office seeking comment Friday.Paul Manson, the road agent in Wentworth, said he had already been plowing for about six hours Saturday when he encountered Greeson standing in the middle of the road around 8 a.m.“He just started giving me hell, and I didn’...

Ontario Progressive Conservative Vincent Ke resigns from caucus, sits as Independent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

TORONTO — A Progressive Conservative member of Ontario’s provincial parliament has resigned from caucus.Premier Doug Ford’s office says in a release Friday that Vincent Ke, the member for Don Valley North, will sit as an Independent.The statement says Ke faces serious allegations that deserve his full undivided attention as he works to clear his name but does not say what the allegations are.Global News is reporting that Ke served as a financial intermediary in Chinese Communist Party election interference schemes.Citing unnamed sources, Global says Ke received around $50,000 from the Chinese Consulate in Toronto that was channeled through a series of intermediaries.Ke, who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected last June, has denied the allegations.“While the allegations against Mr. Ke are not proven, they are serious and deserve his full and undivided attention as he works to clear his name,” Ford’s office said in the statement.“As a result, and out...

Crombie denounces reports of harassment against Mississauga snow plow drivers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

Mississauga’s mayor is speaking out following reports that snow plow drivers in the city have been harassed and had their trucks vandalized while working during the recent storms.The City of Mississauga confirmed the allegations in a series of tweets on Friday, noting that while most residents are respectful, there are some people not being courteous.“Most residents have been patient and understanding, but there have been instances of harassment towards winter crews and vandalism to our equipment,” the city said. “Violence toward any city staff or contractor, including rude gestures, threats, verbal and physical abuse, will not be tolerated.”The tweets were published before the most recent storm passed through Toronto and the GTA on Friday.One local snow plow driver, who says he’s served the city for over 20 years, told CityNews he experienced what he described as “never before seen behaviour.”“I was doing my best to plow through...

Transport Canada Approves West Jet Acquisition Of Sunwing Airlines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

APD arrest 6 juveniles wanted in connection with series of aggravated robberies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department Robbery Unit arrested six juveniles wanted in connection with a series of aggravated robberies that occurred from March 4 to March 5, APD said in a news release.Officers responded to a total of nine aggravated robberies, which resulted in two reported victims, the release said. Additionally, police said shots were fired during most incidents, and one victim was shot during one of them. According to police, the victim was in stable condition.The aggravated robbery cases are listed below:March 4 at 8:32 p.m. - 2030 E Oltorf StreetMarch 4 at 9:01 p.m. - 7207 E Riverside DriveMarch 4 at 9:15 p.m. - 2400 Anken DriveMarch 4 at 10:20 p.m. - 7200 Cameron RoadMarch 4 at 10:50 p.m. - 1210 Parker LaneMarch 4 at 10:45 p.m. - 3828 N IH 35 SVRDMarch 5 at 9:40 p.m. - 5313 Manor RoadMarch 5 at 9:57 p.m. - 6307 Cameron RoadMarch 5 at 10:41 p.m. - 4717 Nuckols CrossingOn March 6, officers found one of the suspect vehicles that was seen on surveillance vide...

Man killed by falling construction debris near UT Austin campus, APD investigating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it is investigating a death allegedly caused by a falling object from a high-rise construction project in the West Campus neighborhood.An APD incident report said a call for a deceased person came in to dispatch around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, in the 2400 block of Rio Grande Street.SafeHorns, a private group of UT Austin parents, students and faculty, tweeted Friday about the death, asking witnesses to contact authorities and family attorneys with what they saw.The organization said Michael Delgado, 29, was riding his bike near the Shell Gas station on Rio Grande Street when he was hit by falling debris.UT students offered aid before emergency responders arrived, and Delgado was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries over the weekend.An attorney for the Delgado family said he leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter."Our investigation into Michael Delgado’s death is ongoing. We look forward to providin...

Senate bill gives detailed look into Republicans' plans for 'school choice'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — State Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), chair of the Senate Committee on Education, filed Senate Bill 8 Friday evening, giving a detailed look into top Republicans' priority to use state money to subsidize private education.Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick chose Senate Bill 8 to carry one of his top 30 priorities of "empowering parental rights -- including school choice." Governor Greg Abbott has advocated for creating state-funded "education savings accounts" that will give money to Texans to pay for education-related expenses, including private school tuition.Sen. Creighton said the goal is to provide as much as $8,000 to families with education savings accounts."I think we're in a different day and time in the outlook on educational opportunities than we even were five years ago. And I think that's why there's been a grass fire across this nation for parental choice and educational empowerment," Sen. Creighton said. "This is education freedom, this is making...

SXSW means big bucks for hosts, but are they licensed?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) —With thousands of people coming to Austin for South by Southwest, many will choose to stay in Airbnb's around the city, but there are rules if someone is operating one.Joe Arenella has been renting his Airbnb out for eight years, each year he makes sure to get his license to operate in Austin."We are booked for SXSW, ACL, Formula 1," said Arenella.He expects to make a lot of money during these big weekends. With so many people coming to town, Arenella said he is usually booked. Austin City Council members approve crackdown on short-term rentals, like Airbnbs "For locals in Austin, South by Southwest represents a significant economic opportunity with hosts collectively earning more than $13 million over lasts years festival," said Haven Thorn, a spokesperson for Airbnb.To operate a short term rental, the City of Austin requires owners to get a new license yearly.In December, the city's code department said there are about 11,000 short-term rentals in Austin, but only...

Simeon Woods Richardson hoping meditation, breathing exercises will help him on the mound

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:23 GMT

SARASOTA, Fla. — Simeon Woods Richardson was a major league pitcher for a matter of days last season, debuting in the second-to-last series of the year. Those few days with the big league club made an indelible impact on the starting pitcher, but going into the offseason as a big leaguer might have been even more exciting for those around him.“I think it was definitely fun for the family, I’d say. But I got back to work. I tried not to dwell on it too long even though I had a couple days up there,” Woods Richardson said. “Everybody knows it’s harder to stay up there than it is to get there. That’s all I’m trying to do day by day. Work on everything I need to work on to help the team win.”And so Woods Richardson, who gave up a pair of runs in two innings in Friday’s 5-5 tie against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium, plunged back into work this offseason. Some of it was baseball focused — fixing and polishing his mechanics — and some of it was focused on what he could do to he...