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Florida legislature proposes bill to tighten abortion laws

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

A new bill is making its way to the Florida legislature that could significantly tighten abortion laws in the state. The proposed bill would ban abortions past 6 weeks, with exceptions only in cases where the life of the mother is at risk or in cases of rape or incest.If Republican lawmakers can come to an agreement on the details of the bill, it is highly likely to become law. This news has sparked controversy and debate across the state and the country, as abortion rights continue to be a divisive issue.The proposed bill is just the latest in a series of efforts by conservative lawmakers to restrict access to abortion across the United States. On Wednesday, a Texas judge heard arguments challenging an abortion pill to be sold in the state.In recent years, states like Kansas, Texas and Georgia have passed similarly restrictive laws, sparking legal challenges and public outcry.Opponents of the bill argue that it is a violation of women’s rights and could have serious consequen...

Watch the moment Russian jet strikes US drone over Black Sea

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

The Pentagon has released footage of a Russian fighter jet colliding with a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.While making what the Pentagon said was a routine flight in international airspace, the uncrewed MQ-9 Reaper was intercepted by two Russian Su-27 fighter jets. The warplanes dumped jet fuel on the drone and flew in front of it before one of the jets struck the drone’s propeller.U.S. operators were forced to ditch the uncrewed aircraft in the Black Sea. The U.S. said the Russian pilots were “reckless” and “unprofessional.” Russian officials denied responsibility for the crash, shifting blame to the drone’s pilots.Despite the incident, the U.S. will continue conducting surveillance flights worldwide, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.“Make no mistake, the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows,” Austin said at the start of a virtual meeting of nations supporting Ukraine against Rus...

Crews still feeling fallout from nor’easter days after more than two feet of snow fell in parts of Mass.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

Crews are still feeling fallout from Tuesday’s nor’easter several days after the storm dumped more than two feet of snow in parts of Mass. “Hard work right now,” said Tayvonn Calhoun, who was out shoveling after the storm. “Just trying to get the job done so I can go inside and get warm.”Power crews had their work cut out for them this week. At the height of the storm Tuesday, the entire town of Ashby was without power. Unitil set up a Mobile Command Center outside Ashby Police Headquarters.“I guess the key is just finding the circuit that’s down, so that’s what their expertise is,” said Unitil spokesperson Bill White. On Wednesday, crews went street by street working to get the lights back on for customers. At least 70,000 utility customers across Massachusetts lost power during the storm, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. As of Thursday morning, that number is just below 2,700. Exhausted plow ope...

Caught on camera: Police rescue boy from submerged car

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

Dramatic bodycam video shows the moment police in south Florida rescued a young boy who was trapped in a submerged vehicle. The incident happened last month in Miami-Dade County. Officials say the three year old’s father had swerved to avoid an oncoming car, but he ended up in a canal. While the father was able to get out of the car, the child was left behind, trapped in his car seat. The water was so murky that an officer had to use his sense of touch to locate the little boy. The boy was pulled out and officers had to perform CPR before he started breathing again. He was taken to the hospital, but his dad says he is now in great health.

Credit Suisse’s $50 billion lifeline calms panic over banks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

(CNN) — An overnight scramble to shore up confidence in Credit Suisse calmed panicked investors Thursday, with shares in Switzerland’s second-biggest bank shooting higher in early trade.Credit Suisse said it would borrow up to 50 billion Swiss francs ($53.7 billion) from the Swiss National Bank, taking advantage of a lifeline offered by the central bank late Wednesday after its stock crashed as much as 30%. It also said it would buy back some of its own debt.In a statement early Thursday, CEO Ulrich Körner said he had taken “decisive action” to strengthen the bank as its continues to implement a major overhaul announced last fall.“My team and I are resolved to move forward rapidly to deliver a simpler and more focused bank built around client needs,” he added.Shares gained 23% to trade at 2.1 Swiss francs ($2.3) by 5.50 a.m. ET. Two years ago they were worth more than 11 francs ($12) apiece, but a series of scandals, missteps a...

Exclusive: Chinese-made drone, retrofitted and weaponized, downed in eastern Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

(CNN) — Driving deep into the forest, the hush between the towering pine trees and the clear blue skies was splintered every few seconds by the sound of distant explosions from the frontline battles for eastern Ukraine.Guiding us through the woodland on foot, Ukrainian soldiers eventually brought us to a clearing where they showed us the wreckage of a weaponized drone which they said they shot down with their AK-47 automatic weapons over the weekend.The drone was a Mugin-5, a commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made by a Chinese manufacturer based in the port city of Xiamen, on China’s eastern coast.Some tech bloggers say the machines are known as “Alibaba drones” as they have been available for sale for up to $15,000 on Chinese marketplace websites including Alibaba and Taobao.Mugin Limited confirmed to CNN that it was their airframe, calling the incident “deeply unfortunate.”It’s the latest example of a civilian drone being retrofitte...

Breezy, But Nicer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

A bit of a chill is in the air this morning as a busy northwesterly breeze pushing wind chills down into the teens and 20s. Fortunately, that wind won’t be as strong as yesterday, but will still gust 20-30mph. As highs head for the mid 40s to low 50s, it’s an overall solid March day, with more snow melting through the afternoon. Winds turn lighter away from the south coast Friday and Saturday, then get gusty wind colder air pouring back in on Sunday. St. Patrick’s Day looks okay overall too. More clouds mix in with a few spotty sprinkles or isolated shower in the afternoon, but it will be mild with highs in the low to mid 50s south of the Pike, 40s to near 50 north of the Pike. A few more scattered showers are likely in the evening, but don’t expect a lot of rain. In fact, the pattern over the next 7-8 days features limited rain chances. That’s good, it’ll give some of the rivers and streams a break from the rapid inflow from runoff we had after t...

Ten most interesting Orioles prospects to follow throughout minor leagues in 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

Mike Elias made it clear this winter: The Orioles are no longer a rebuilding club.“I believe that our rebuild is behind us,” the team’s executive vice president and general manager said in early February.Elias added that the “focus” of the organization is now more on putting the big league club in a position to make the playoffs than on the development of its farm system.At the same time, though, the Orioles’ future success is still heavily dependent on how the current crop of prospects in the minors perform. Some of them will arrive at Camden Yards in the future to join the likes of Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson. Others, however, could be used as trade chips for Elias to acquire a star at the deadline. Either way, the players in Norfolk, Bowie, Aberdeen and beyond are still important.When looking at the farm system, there are plenty of names to get excited about. As the worst team in the majors from 2018 to 2021, the Orioles picked in the ...

‘23 Santa Cruz competes in small truck market

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz (Photo By Marc Grasso)2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz (Photo By Marc Grasso)2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz (Photo By Marc Grasso)2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz (Photo By Marc Grasso)2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz (Photo By Marc Grasso)2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz (Photo By Marc Grasso)Show Caption of ExpandAs small trucks are becoming more and more popular in today’s consumer market, manufacturers are on their tippy toes, trying to conquer every last consumer while packing their pickups with lots of bang for the buck.In Grasso’s Garage this week, Hyundai delivers their recently new to market Santa Cruz. Our Limited AWD Hampton Gray tester was really an enjoyable experience. It sits low to the ground, and offers a similar interior room like its sister, the Hyundai Tucson. Built on a unibody chassis, the Santa Cruz definitely takes some getting used to. Its appearance delivers curvatures like a Tucson SUV but with a best on the back. Its futuristic appearance resembles that of what trucks, whet...

Virgin Orbit pausing all work, reportedly furloughs staff

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:43 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Virgin Orbit said Thursday it is pausing all operations amid reports that the company is furloughing almost all its staff as part of a bid to seek a funding lifeline. The U.S.-based satellite launch company confirmed it’s putting all work on hold, but didn’t say how long for. “Virgin Orbit is initiating a company-wide operational pause, effective March 16, 2023, and anticipates providing an update on go-forward operations in the coming weeks,” the company said in a statement. The company didn’t comment on reports that all but a small number of workers will be temporarily put on unpaid furlough.Virgin Orbit, which is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, was founded in 2017 by British billionaire Richard Branson to target the market for launching small satellites into space. Its LauncherOne rockets are launched from the air from modified Virgin passenger planes, allowing the company to operate more flexibly than using fixed launch sites. In Januar...