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North Carolina GOP Hides Redistricting Process From State Public Records Law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

In one of the most gerrymandered states in the country, GOP leaders are taking new measures to shield redistricting records from public view.The changes to public records laws first came to light when North Carolina’s Republican-controlled General Assembly released its $30 billion budget on Wednesday, following months of negotiations. The bill includes raises for state employees, cuts to income taxes, and an expanded school voucher program — as well as sneaky language that will deal a major blow to government transparency in the state. Buried deep in the 625-page budget is a provision overturning a state law that made legislators’ redistricting communications and drafting documents part of the public record once the new electoral maps became law. The repeal of that provision will go into effect in 10 days, dropping a veil of secrecy over a contentious issue that has roiled North Carolina state politics for decades. “It’s critical to understand from the public’s perspe...

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was back to practice ahead of Monday’s showdown with the Rams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Quarterback Joe Burrow participated in practice on Friday, a good sign for the Cincinnati Bengals that a lingering calf injury may not keep him out of the Monday night game against the Los Angeles Rams.Burrow walked to the practice field in full pads and afterward the team listed him as having “limited participation” in the session.Burrow aggravated the right calf strain he suffered early in training camp in last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.Talking to reporters on Thursday, Burrow said he was day to day and didn’t know at that point if he’d be able to play on Monday in Cincinnati.Burrow strained the muscle on the second day of on-field workouts in training camp on July 27. That sidelined him for more than a month, depriving him of valuable preseason reps with the offense. The Bengals lost their first two games for the second consecutive season.Receiver Tyler Boyd said Burrow’s teammates know the quarterback will do whatever it ...

49ers are focused on fixing flaws after rolling to their third straight win to open the season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Three straight wins with 30 points scored in each game is just the kind of start the San Francisco 49ers wanted to get off to this year after being forced to climb out of early holes the past two years.Despite the relatively easy wins and gaudy numbers, the 49ers are lamenting the missed chances and little mistakes that they were able to overcome in the 30-12 victory Thursday night against the New York Giants.Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns. But he also had two near interceptions on the opening drive that his receivers needed to break up, a few stalls in the red zone and a botched snap that nearly became a costly turnover. “There were some looks that were there that I was off and inaccurate or some things just didn’t happen right within our scheme,” Purdy said. I felt like it was a little choppy at first. … We had a good feel for it, a couple drives into the game once we got rolling, we were putting some drives together...

Things to know about California’s new proposed rules for insurance companies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Months after California’s home insurance market was rattled by major companies pausing or restricting their coverage, the state’s top regulator said Thursday that he would write new rules aimed at persuading insurers to continue doing business in the nation’s most populous state.Seven of the 12 largest insurance companies by market share in California have either paused or restricted new policies in the state since last year.Some state lawmakers tried to come up with a bill that would address the issue. But they failed to reach an agreement before the Legislature adjourned for the year last week.Here’s a look at what California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara proposed and how it would affect the state’s insurance market:WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES?Unlike most states, California heavily regulates its property insurance market.In 1988, California voters approved Proposition 103. It said insurance companies had ...

Tampa Bay Rays call up 20-year-old infield prospect Junior Caminero

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. (AP) — The playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays have called up 20-year-old minor league prospect Junior Caminero from Double-A Montgomery.The Rays announced before Friday night’s game against Toronto that they had selected Caminero to the major league roster.Montgomery had earlier announced the news Friday on social media, saying: “Congratulations to Junior Caminero for being called up to THE SHOW!”Caminero was informed of the promotion by Montgomery manager Morgan Ensberg after the Biscuits were eliminated from the Southern League playoffs on Thursday night.“I was very surprised,” Caminero said through a translator. “A little bit in shock. Kind of lost my breath there a little bit. A very proud moment for myself.”Caminero said his parents and brother were among family and friends coming to the game.Caminero spent time with both Montgomery and Class-A Bowling Green this season, mostly playing third base while combining to hit .324 with 31 homers and 94 RBIs in 117...

Gatland sympathizes with under-fire Jones before their crunch Rugby World Cup clash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

He was hired only months out from the Rugby World Cup.He’d already coached the team once before to great success. His return to bail out a slumping team was hailed as a second coming.But when the hoped-for results didn’t come immediately, he was second-guessed and ridiculed.Wales coach Warren Gatland knows exactly what Australia counterpart Eddie Jones is going through.Two of rugby’s greatest modern day coaches lead their teams against the other on Sunday in Lyon vying for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.But one — Gatland — has muted his critics by winning his first two pool games, while the flak against Jones has thickened since the historic loss to Fiji last weekend left the Wallabies on the brink of their earliest Rugby World Cup exit.Gatland and Jones like each other and used to have dinners often when they both traversed the Six Nations. “I find his company really good,” Gatland said. “He’s engaging.”Both are renowned for mind games and throwing verbal...

Suzuki and Young hit two-run homers, Taillon pitches six scoreless as Cubs blank Rockies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Seiya Suzuki and Jared Young each hit two-run homers, Jameson Taillon pitched six scoreless innings and the struggling Chicago Cubs improved their playoff chances with a 6-0 win over the Colorado Rockies Friday.Chicago had lost 10 of 13 but it will remain at least tied with Miami for the third and final National League wild card berth. The Marlins will play the Brewers Friday night. Cincinnati, which plays host to Pittsburgh latr, was a half-game behind the two teams at the start of the day.Suzuki singled in the opening inning to bring home Chicago’s first run, then tagged starter Noah Davis (0-3) for his 20th homer in the fourth.Young added his second home run in the sixth off reliever Gavin Hollowell and Dansby Swanson had an RBI single in the seventh off Brent Suter.Taillon (8-10) allowed four hits, walked four and struck out seven to end a streak of seven winless starts. He allowed runners into scoring position in three of his first four innings but worked out of ...

At least 2 children still hospitalized after deadly fire in Aurora Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

AURORA, Colo (KDVR) -- At least two of the seven children taken to the hospital following a deadly Wednesday night fire remain hospitalized, according to family members. Relative Justina Tucker said 7-year-old twins Tavion and Tyshawn remain in the pediatric ICU at Children's Hospital Colorado, where doctors are working to remove soot and ash from their bodies.  2 children killed, 7 injured in Aurora house fire "The amount of black soot that was coming out of their stomach was unbelievable,” Tucker said. “I’m concerned with how much time they spent inside the home breathing and inhaling and swallowing what was flying around.”Tucker said doctors told her they do expect the boys to survive, but their long-term outlook remains unclear.“They will not know the amount of damage that they have sustained until they wake them up," she said. "Brain damage, or anything like that.”Tucker said her sister is the mother of four of the kids who were living in the home at the time of the fire. Two...

Dashcam video shows Lakewood crash with jaywalking pedestrian

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) -- New video shows a horrific crash involving a jaywalking pedestrian with a shopping cart who was hit by a car late Friday night, Sept. 15, on Wadsworth Parkway. In the video, you can hear the driver trying to stop, but it was too late.The driver has a warning for anyone behind the wheel at night. The pedestrian is seen walking across the road with the cart while the traffic light is still green. The passenger screams as the car approaches the pedestrian seconds before impact. ‘Horrific tragedy:’ Aurora rescue chief discusses deadly house fire What happened next, driver Ben Bartberger says was unavoidable. "Just literally walked in front of my car and there was nothing I could do," he said. "I hit my brakes about the same time I hit him."You can see that Bartberger's light was not yet red. Lakewood police say the pedestrian was at fault. The impact totaled his car."Pretty much dead center of the car and he hit right by the passenger side headlight," he s...

Colorado housing hotline faces historic call volume as eviction crisis rises

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:27 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Colorado Housing Connects, a statewide helpline for those seeking housing assistance, is facing an unprecedented, historic number of calls. In the 17 years Colorado Housing Connects has been helping Colorado residents, it has never seen so many calls coming in. Denver has one of the worst housing shortages in US "Not only do we see it in our numbers but we see it in the desperation of the people reaching out for help," Patrick Noonan, the program's director said.In August alone, they received 8,073 requests for assistance. Those inquiries represent a 60% increase in clients reaching out to Colorado Housing Connects compared to Aug. 2022 when the housing helpline received 5,047 inquiries. Last month, 66% of inquiries submitted to Colorado Housing Connects were from Colorado renters seeking eviction prevention resources and rental/utility assistance."Honestly it’s pretty hard to keep up so we are doing everything we can from developing affordable housing to providin...