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Parliament OKs Israeli judicial overhaul as protests grow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

By Tia Goldenberg and Isaac Scharf | Associated PressJERUSALEM — Israeli lawmakers on Monday approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive plan to curb the powers of the country’s justice system despite massive protests that exposed unprecedented fissures in Israeli society and accused the government of pushing the country toward authoritarian rule.The vote came after a stormy session in which opposition lawmakers chanted “shame” and then stormed out of the chamber. Mass demonstrations erupted outside the parliament building in Jerusalem and in central Tel Aviv after the vote.It reflected the determination of Netanyahu and his far-right allies to move ahead with the plan, which has tested the delicate social ties that bind the country, rattled the cohesion of its powerful military and repeatedly drawn concern from its closest ally, the United States.The overhaul calls for sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, ...

IRS to end unannounced visits to taxpayer homes, businesses

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

By Fatima Hussein | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service said Monday it is ending its decades-old policy of making unannounced home and business visits, in an effort to help keep its workers safe and to combat scammers who pose as IRS agents.Effective immediately, revenue agents will no longer make unplanned visits to taxpayers’ homes and businesses “except in a few unique circumstances,” the Treasury Department said in a statement. The agency will instead mail letters to people to schedule meetings.“Today’s announcement is the right thing to do, at the right time,” new IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel told reporters on a call Monday.The change ends “an era at the IRS,” he said, reversing a practice by revenue officers whose duties include visiting homes and firms to resolve taxpayers’ liabilities by collecting unpaid taxes and unfiled tax returns.The agency in recent years has experienced more threats, in part...

Crash on Highway 9 near Boulder Creek kills driver

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

A crash Sunday afternoon on Highway 9 near Boulder Creek killed one person, the California Highway Patrol said.The single-vehicle collision was reported at 5:08 p.m. near Spring Creek Road, south of the Redwood Grove area. A 2003 Toyota Tundra pickup truck had veered off the roadway, hit a tree and overturned.The driver — Steven Taggart, 34, of Boulder Creek — was pronounced dead at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. His passenger, a 31-year-old Boulder Creek man, had major injuries and was taken to the same hospital.Highway 9 was closed between Spring Creek Road and Douglas Avenue until about 8:30 p.m.The cause of the crash is under investigation, and alcohol is suspected to be a factor, the CHP said.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.Related ArticlesCrashes and Di...

DC auction house puts Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s famous silver ‘Pegasus’ collar up for sale

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

The Pegasus limited edition silver metallic bib by Stella & Dot that RBG wore (Courtesy The Potomack Company)Looking for a decorative bib that looks like shining armor and was worn by the “Notorious RBG” herself before going into court battles?The Potomack Company announced last week that one of Ruther Bader Ginsburg’s famous collars will be featured in their Sept. 20-21 auction.The Pegasus necklace by Silver & Dot was “one of RBG’s favorite collars evoking power and strength with the imagery of battle armor in its layered metal pointed feathers,” according to the D.C.-based auction house.Ginsburg was gifted the collar by a Los Angeles lawyer and longtime fan who told Town & Country the necklace reminds her “of something a warrior princess like Wonder Woman would wear as armor into battle. It projects strength, confidence, and fearlessness.”In this Nov. 30, 2018, file photo, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for a for...

Zverev denies allegations of assault following application from Berlin public prosecutor’s office

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

HAMBURG (AP) — Alexander Zverev has again denied allegations of assault after the public prosecutor’s office in Berlin applied for a penalty order to be made against the German tennis star.“From my side, I completely reject the allegations. My lawyers will take care of the matter. I won’t say any more than that,” Zverev said at the Hamburg European Open on Monday in comments reported by news agency DPA.DPA reported the Tiergarten District Court confirmed receipt of the prosecutor’s application on July 7 and that Zverev was accused of assault. The court did not provide further details.Broadcaster RTL was first to break news of the application on Friday. RTL reported the alleged injured party was Zverev’s former partner Brenda Patea, who gave birth to their daughter in March 2021.In January this year, the ATP said there was “insufficient evidence” to substantiate allegations of domestic abuse against Zverev made by another former girlfriend, Olya Sharypova.Zverev has consistently deni...

Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson avoids structural damage to knee, AP source says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson does not have structural damage to his right knee after going down Monday with a noncontact injury, a person familiar with his test results told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced an update on Gardner-Johson’s injury, which occurred on the second day of training camp. Gardner-Johnson, a key addition this year, was carted off the field after grabbing his right knee during a noncontact drill.The injury potentially was a major setback for a team that invested a lot to improve the secondary in hopes of contending and winning the NFC North this season.Detroit signed Gardner-Johnson to an $8 million, one-year deal in March after adding cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency.He had a career-high six interceptions last season with the Philadelphia Eagles after picking off five passes over three years in New Orleans...

Bengals owner Mike Brown stays mum on the state of contract negotiations with star QB Joe Burrow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow reported to camp without a long-term contract extension, and Cincinnati Bengals executives on Monday refused to discuss the state of the negotiations with the franchise quarterback.Signing the 2022 Pro Bowler and 2021 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year to an extension was a goal of the team this summer. Both camps have done a credible job of keeping details of the talks locked down tight.“I have bound myself not to talk about Joe’s contract,” Bengals owner Mike Brown told reporters Monday, a day before the opening of training camp in Cincinnati. “They don’t think it’s helpful for the negotiations. The other side has made the same commitment, and they have not broken it.”The new deal for the top overall pick in the 2020 draft is expected to make him one of the highest paid players in the NFL.Cincinnati picked up the fifth-year option on Burrow’s rookie contract in April ahead of an expected megadeal, which, based on what other top quarterbacks are making,...

¿Qué necesitan el PP de Nuñez Feijóo y el PSOE de Sánchez para formar gobierno en España?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

(CNN Español) — Con más de 8 millones de votos y 136 escaños, el conservador Partido Popular (PP) se convirtió este domingo en la fuerza política más votada de las elecciones generales celebradas en España. Una victoria que, con el paso de las horas, ha ido tomando un sabor más amargo para la formación dado que no ofrece posibilidades claras para investir presidente a su candidato, Alberto Núñez Feijóo.Los debates de investidura en el Parlamento español, tal y como marca el reglamento de esta cámara, ofrecen dos oportunidades para que el candidato presentado logre la confianza suficiente de la cámara: una primera sesión en la que se requiere del voto afirmativo de la mayoría absoluta de la cámara –176 diputados–, y una segunda oportunidad, a las 48 horas, donde se puede cumplir el objetivo si se logra una mayoría simple, es decir más votos a favor que en contra.El Partido Popular obtiene una victoria en España, pero su triunfo no es contundenteDado que los resultados de estas ...

Following a historic start, the slumping Rays are suddenly playing catch-up in the AL East

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The slumping Tampa Bay Rays believe in themselves.Baseball’s best team for much of this season has seen a historic start give way to a July swoon that’s loosened its hold on the top record in the American League.The surging Baltimore Orioles won three of four between the division rivals over the weekend, taking over first place in the AL East and dropping the reeling Rays, who opened the year with 13 consecutive victories, two games off the pace.Tampa Bay entered July with a season-high 6½-game division lead but has stumbled to an AL-worst 4-14 record this month while sputtering offensively and weathering injuries that are testing the depth of their starting pitching.The Rays haven’t compiled one of the best marks in the majors over the last decade without being resourceful and resilient, though, which is one reason manager Kevin Cash is confident his team will rebound and finish strong as it aims for a fifth straight playoff appearance.“We’re just a very...

Map shows the contaminated Superfund sites in Colorado

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:16:18 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – More than 1,300 sites around the country are suspected of being so contaminated, hazardous or polluted – or are at risk of becoming so polluted – that they have been deemed a national cleanup priority. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies places around the country that pose a risk to people's health because they have been contaminated by hazardous waste. Since 1980, the agency has taken charge of cleaning up those sites under a law with the nickname "Superfund." (Its full name is The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA.) Superfund sites include poorly managed landfills, mining areas, or industrial facilities. AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile? Maps show which cell provider gives your area best coverage As of June 27, when the National Priorities List was last updated, there were 1,336 sites, plus an additional 40 sites that were proposed as new additions. "It is a list of the worst hazardous waste ...