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The Supreme Court allows Idaho to enforce its strict abortion ban, even in medical emergencies

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Idaho to enforce its strict abortion ban, even in medical emergencies, while a legal fight continues.The justices said they would hear arguments in April and put on hold a lower court ruling that had blocked the Idaho law in hospital emergencies, based on a lawsuit filed by the Biden administration. Hospitals that receive Medicare funds are required by a federal law to provide emergency care, potentially including abortion, no matter if there’s a state law banning abortion, the administration argued.The legal fight followed the court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states to severely restrict or ban abortion. The Biden administration issued guidance about the law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, two weeks after the high court ruling in 2022. The Democratic administration sued Idaho a month later.U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Idaho ...

Lead-tainted applesauce pouches also contained another possible toxic substance, FDA says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

By JONEL ALECCIA (AP Health Writer)Recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches that were tied to lead poisoning in hundreds of U.S. children contained an additional contaminant, federal health officials said Friday.Besides lead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said investigators detected “a high level” of the chemical element chromium, which can be toxic, in WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree and in cinnamon collected from the Ecuador factory where the pouches were manufactured. The additional details come as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 287 confirmed, probable or suspected lead poisoning cases from 37 states in the outbreak first detected in October. At least one adult has reported high blood lead levels after eating the lead-tainted pouches, but the median age of those sickened is 1, the FDA said. It’s not clear what type of chromium was detected in the products, FDA investigators said. Chromium is a naturally occurring element wit...

Supreme Court agrees to review Trump’s Colorado ballot ban in historic case

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

The Supreme Court agreed to take up whether former President Trump can be disqualified from appearing on Colorado’s ballot over his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, setting up a historic case that could upend the presidential election.The justices’ order sets the case up to be heard at a speedy pace, with oral arguments scheduled for Feb. 8 and a decision to follow that could spark Trump’s removal from the ballot in states across the country.Dozens of challenges to Trump’s eligibility under the 14th Amendment have been filed nationwide, though many cases have been rejected by lower courts.But two states — Colorado and Maine — last month took the extraordinary step of removing Trump from the primary ballot.Although those rulings remain on hold until Trump’s appeals are resolved, enabling his name to remain on the ballot in the meantime, the justices’ decision to hear the Colorado case equips the high court to provide a national resolution in advance of the genera...

WWII-era munitions found at dumping site off SoCal coast in deep-sea survey

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) — An unprecedented expedition to map parts of Southern California's deep-sea has uncovered World War II military weaponry littering the seafloor in massive dumping sites off the coast of Los Angeles.The research effort spearheaded by Scripps Institute of Oceanography sheds new light on exactly what objects lay beneath the surface after thousands of "barrel-like" objects likely containing toxic chemicals were discovered by sonar in stretches of the seafloor in 2021.Made public on Friday, the latest survey using sonar and robotic vehicles found a multitude of discarded munitions boxes and other explosives along debris lines between Los Angeles and Catalina, thousands of feet below the surface where they were previously identified. Orca sightings have surged in SoCal. What experts believe is keeping the whales here Among the items discovered were depth charges typically used to attack submarines, Hedgehog and Mark 9 depth charges, and Mark 1 smoke floats, which are c...

Family grieves daughter who died after Thunder Bay police did not respond to 911 call

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

The family of a woman found dead in northern Ontario after officers reportedly did not respond to a 911 call say the case raises concerns about the treatment of First Nations women by Thunder Bay police. The family of Jenna Ostberg, in a statement shared by the Windigo First Nations Council, asked for privacy as they “grieve the loss of their daughter who died under tragic circumstances.”Ontario’s police watchdog says a 21-year-old woman was found dead at a residence in Thunder Bay on Saturday.The Special Investigation Unit says police did not respond to the scene after an initial 911 domestic disturbance call was made from the residence, or to a follow-up call to “cancel” the first call for service. The family says they will wait for the results of a coroner’s report, as well as more information from the SIU, before they make further comment or decide how to proceed. But the statement says the family fears their daughter “is the l...

A drug cartel has attacked a remote Mexican community with drones and gunmen, rights group says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A small community in the violence-torn Mexican state of Guerrero was attacked by drones and armed men from a drug cartel, a human rights group told the Associated Press on Friday.The cartel attacked at least 30 people on Thursday, according to the local religious and human rights organization Minerva Bello Center. José Filiberto Velázquez, the center’s director, said the victims were likely killed, though authorities still had not been able to enter the remote community or confirm the deaths.The community of Helidoro Castillo, on the fringes of Tlacotepec, is caught in an escalating war between the La Familia Michoacana and the Jalisco New Generation cartels. Velázquez said drone attacks by the cartels and violence had been escalating over the past year, something they alerted authorities to. Velázquez said he heard from the community around midday Thursday that La Familia Michoacana was launching “explosive devices” from drones. But communications from the ...

‘Prominent’ person in B.C. wine industry under investigation for sex assault: RCMP

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

OLIVER, B.C. — Police in Oliver, B.C., say they’re investigating a “prominent member” of the province’s wine industry for an alleged sexual assault on a Mexican migrant worker. South Okanagan RCMP say the unnamed suspect employed the worker, and they believe there are other victims or witnesses who have yet to speak to investigators. Cpl. James Grandy says police are hoping to talk to others in the community if they have additional information. Police say there are officers available who speak Spanish in case of a language barrier with other potential witnesses or victims. Mounties say the investigation is ongoing and they can’t release any additional details. They say anyone who may have information about the case should contact the RCMP detachment in Oliver. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The Canadian Press

Boeing still hasn’t fixed this problem on Max jets, so it’s asking for an exemption to safety rules

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Boeing is asking federal regulators to exempt a new model of its 737 Max airliner from a safety standard designed to prevent part of the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight.Federal officials said last year that Boeing was working to fix the hazard on current Max planes. In the meantime, they told pilots to limit use of an anti-icing system in some conditions to avoid damage that “could result in loss of control of the airplane.”Without a fix ready, Boeing asked the Federal Aviation Administration last month for an exemption to safety standards related to engine inlets and the anti-ice system through May 2026. Boeing needs the exemption to begin delivering the new, smaller Max 7 to airlines.Some critics are raising alarms about basing safety on pilots remembering when to limit use of the anti-ice system.“You get our attention when you say people might get killed,” Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American Airlines pilots, told The Seattle Times, ...

One dead, 11 injured after tour bus from Montreal crashes in New York state

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. — New York State Police are reporting that one person is dead and 11 people are injured after a bus coming from Montreal crashed on Interstate Highway 87 in Lake George, N.Y.Police say that in addition to the death, one passenger suffered serious injuries and 10 people were left with minor injuries after a Skyway Coach Line tour bus crashed at around 12:50 p.m. today.There were 23 people on the bus including the driver, and the injured have been taken to area hospitals.Gov. Kathy Hochul said police and Department of Transportation workers were on site performing rescue operations. State police say one passenger was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in critical condition.Ray Agnew, spokesman for Glens Falls Hospital, says the health facility received multiple passengers with minor injuries.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.— With files from The Associated Press.The Canadian Press

Column: Pac-12 has that rare chance in sports to go out on top

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:30:52 GMT

In sports, going out on top is a rarity indeed.John Elway walked away after two straight Super Bowl titles. Bill Russell called it a career on the heels of his 11th NBA championship in 13 seasons. Heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano escaped the ring without a loss on his resume.But it’s far more common to hang on for one game too many, one season too long.In that sense, the Pac-12 will be leaving with its head held high.This was not the path it would’ve chosen, of course. Head-in-the-sand decisions, bungled negotiations and an insatiable quest for the almighty buck spelled doom for the “Conference of Champions,” which stunningly collapsed into a heap like a game of Jenga.Still, with its forced demise lurking right around the corner, the Pac-12 has a chance to add one more football title to its legacy.Nothing personal, Michigan, but it’s hard not to pull for the Washington Huskies in the national championship game Monday night — if for no other reason than to put a fit...