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NYC Council approves bill banning solitary confinement in city jails

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Over the objections of Mayor Eric Adams, New York City lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday meant to ban solitary confinement in the city’s jails.The bill that was overwhelmingly approved allows jails to isolate inmates who pose an immediate risk of violence to others or themselves in “de-escalation” units for a maximum of four hours. Those placed in longer-term restrictive housing would need to be allowed out of their cells for 14 hours each day and get access to the same programming available to those in the general population.New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who introduced the legislation, said Wednesday ahead of the vote that solitary confinement amounts to torture for those subjected to lengthy hours in isolation in small jail cells. He and other supporters, including prominent members of New York’s congressional delegation, have pointed to research showing solitary confinement, even only for a few days, increases the likelihood an inmate ...

Toronto churches housing refugees on verge of financial collapse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

As the city pleads for more funding from the federal government for its struggling shelter system, Black-led faith groups that have kept countless refugees off Toronto’s streets are also squeezed, leaving new claimants and those already in their care at risk of spending the coldest season on the sidewalks. Since the summer, dozens of recent arrivals to Canada have called Etobicoke’s Pilgrim Feast Tabernacles home. Currently, 68 refugees — and counting — are living in the strip mall on Albion Road where the church is located.Martin Griellmore, an organizer with the church, says they have spent approximately $20,000 per week out of pocket to provide refugees with three meals a day and a safe place to lay their head at night. Now $300,000 in debt, Griellmore told CityNews they are on the verge of shutting down next Thursday because of a lack of funding.“When we do shut down, they will have nowhere to go,” said Griellmore.Dominion Church International in...

Mexican business group says closure of US rail border crossings costing $100 million per day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A leading Mexican business group said Wednesday the U.S. decision to temporarily close two railway border crossings into Texas is costing $100 million per day in delayed shipments. The Mexican Employers’ Association called on the U.S. to end the closure of rail crossings into Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, which started Monday.The business group called the closures a sign “of the failure of migration policy.” Illegal crossings at the U.S. southwestern border topped 10,000 some days across the border in December, an abnormally high level.“We energetically but respectfully call on the governments of Mexico and the United States to address the migration crisis which is affecting the flow of goods, given that this measure only damages the economies of both nations,” the association wrote in a statement.U.S. Customs and Border protection said Sunday the decision was made “in order to redirect personnel to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody....

CB Jaylon Johnson says he would rather sign new deal with Bears than explore free agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Star cornerback Jaylon Johnson says he would sign a new contract with the Chicago Bears instead of testing the free agent market if they made the right offer.“I want to stay here,” Johnson said Wednesday. "I definitely want to get something done (here) first. But at the end of the day, if something doesn’t get done, then I’m not opposed to any other options. But I would love to stay here. So that’s that.”Johnson, in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, has been in a standoff all season with the Bears. He requested a trade before the Oct. 31 deadline. White Sox designate pitcher, select contract of minor league pitcher Johnson has four interceptions this season. All have come in his past eight games, after he recorded one in his first 43 career appearances.He acknowledged he's strengthened his bargaining position, saying he has “added some money to the value.”Johnson was given the chance to shop around before the trade deadline and was surprise...

Hiker recovering after being crushed by boulder: 'real survival situation'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE) — It's a story that sounds like it's out of a movie: A man is recovering after being crushed by a giant boulder while hiking in California.Kevin DePaolo had been hiking with his friend Josh Nelson in the Eastern Sierra mountains of Inyo County. They were searching for rocks and quartz when the boulder rolled on his legs while he was digging, crushing him.DePaolo suffered multiple injuries and has undergone numerous surgeries since being rescued by the Inyo County's Search and Rescue team. He is now in a wheelchair but is expected to fully recover — and his spirits have never been higher. Man finds hundreds of rare 1920s baseball cards in deceased father’s closet "Oh no way dude, I can't wait to go back up there man," said DePaolo told Nexstar's KGPE/KSEE.Meeting DePaolo in person, you can't tell that back on Dec. 5, he almost lost his life."I've been watching a lot of kung-fu movies while I've been in bed, so I can go back up there and karate chop...

Periods of light rain become more numerous through Christmas Eve

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Scattered light rain showers moving through the area are kicking off a multi-day period of wet weather, lasting through Christmas Eve day.A large storm system is stalled off the West Coast, pumping smaller atmospheric disturbances into Texas over the next several days. While it will not be an all-day washout on any given day, periods of light to moderate rain have begun and will continue through Sunday. Rain may be most widespread on Christmas Eve day, with an 80% likelihood of wet weather in the forecast.Through Sunday evening, most areas can generally expect 0.75" to 1.25" of rain. There will be some areas that receive heavier totals, and some who see less.A Christmas Day cold front is expected to bring back sunshine and cooler weather Monday through Wednesday next week. BLOG: How often does Austin typically freeze Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHE...

UPDATED: Local football players make college commitments official during early signing period

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Wednesday marks a day that many high school football players dream about, the day they can sign a letter of intent to play college football.The early signing period for Division I football programs begins Wednesday and runs through Friday, giving athletes who are ready to officially pledge allegiance to a college program. Athletes will have another chance to sign letters in February 2024, but the early period is now the main event for most. Texas Longhorns flip nation’s No. 2 safety recruit Xavier Filsaime from Florida Gators Local athletes from all over the viewing area will sign their letters throughout the day. As of Tuesday afternoon, the schools who have confirmed signing ceremonies with KXAN are:Westlake, 8 a.m.Weiss, 8:30 a.m. Vandegrift, 11:25 a.m.Dripping Springs, 12:30 p.m.Crockett, 2 p.m.If your school is having a ceremony, send an email to [email protected] to let us know.Vandegrift has two athletes in the 247Sports Texas recruiting rankings set to sign w...

VIDEO: Santa visits NICU babies at St. David's Medical Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin's newest and tiniest bundles of joy got to ring in some festive cheer this week with a visit from the big man in the red suit himself.Santa and Mrs. Claus visited St. David's Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Wednesday to help celebrate the holidays with newborns and their families alike. A member of the hospital's NICU team knitted the tiny Santa caps and blankets the infants were sporting, St. David's Medical Center officials said in a release.Kay Needles has worked at St. David's Medical Center since 2006 and has served as a NICU nurse educator for the past decade, officials added. She said knitting has been her favorite hobby for decades and "is her way of giving back to the babies and families of St. David's Medical Center."

Noah Feldman: Supreme Court unlikely to uphold Colorado ruling disqualifying Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

In a remarkable plot twist, the Colorado Supreme Court has found that former President Donald Trump must be excluded from the state’s primary ballot because he engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Now the pressure is on the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, on which the Colorado court relied, truly does block Trump from the ballot.This would be a historic case, to say the least. If the justices rule directly on whether Trump is disqualified under the Constitution, their ruling would apply in every state, not only Colorado.If you’re one of those people who want the justices to save us from the shame and danger of reelecting a president who tried to break democracy in his first term, try not to get too hopeful. Given the unprecedented nature of the case and the court’s composition, it’s likely that the justices will overturn the Colorado decision.The high court has several means at its disposal to overturn the Colorado ru...

Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens is a gunslinger. He knows he needs to play smarter.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:27 GMT

There was a common misconception about veteran Nick Mullens when he took over as the starting quarterback for the Vikings last week.As the primary backup to franchise player Kirk Cousins over the past couple of seasons, Mullens garnered the reputation of being somebody, who, if called upon, could help the offense function without making too many mistakes.That’s never been how Mullens plays the position, however, as he long has operated as a gunslinger more than anything else. He’s going to take chances in the name of moving the chains. He’s also going to get himself into trouble at times as a result.So maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Mullens had some highs and lows during his first start for the Vikings in last week’s 27-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished 26 of 33 passing for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also threw a pair of interceptions that effectively took points off the board.“There were a lot of positives to ...