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French parliament starts debating a bill that would make it easier to deport some migrants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Senators in France were set Monday to start debating a bill that is intended to toughen the country’s immigration law but advocacy organizations have criticized as a threat to the rights of asylum-seekers and other migrants.French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said the legislation “is about being firm” on immigration. The bill especially is aimed at “being tougher on foreigners who commit crimes, expelling them all,” he said, speaking Sunday night on TV channel France 2.The government said the measure would strengthen and accelerate the process for deporting foreigners who are regarded as “a serious threat to public order.”At the same time, Darmanin, who is considered one of the most right-wing members of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government, said the bill acknowledges people who entered France without authorization and “want to regularize.”The legislation includes a provision that would give legal status under certain conditions to undocumented ind...

Mind-altering ketamine becomes new pain treatment, despite little research or regulation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As U.S. doctors scale back their use of opioid painkillers, a new option for hard-to-treat pain is taking root: ketamine, the decades-old surgical drug that is now a trendy psychedelic therapy.Prescriptions for ketamine have soared in recent years, driven by for-profit clinics and telehealth services offering the medication as a treatment for pain, depression, anxiety and other conditions. The generic drug can be purchased cheaply and prescribed by most physicians and some nurses, regardless of their training. With limited research on its effectiveness against pain, some experts worry the U.S. may be repeating mistakes that gave rise to the opioid crisis: overprescribing a questionable drug that carries significant safety and abuse risks.“There’s a paucity of options for pain and so there’s a tendency to just grab the next thing that can make a difference,” said Dr. Padma Gulur, a Duke University pain specialist who is studying ketamine’s use. “A medical jour...

Several rescued in extra-alarm fire on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Fire crews were on the scene of an extra-alarm fire in the city's Oakland neighborhood Monday morning.The three-alarm fire broke out around 7 a.m. on the seventh floor of an apartment high-rise in the 3500 block of South Cottage Grove.Emergency crews are on the scene and have made multiple rescues, pulling people out of their apartment windows.An EMS Plan 2 was called for additional ambulances as some residents are being evaluated for smoke inhalation.Warming buses are being brought to the scene for displaced residents.The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. An investigation is underway.

Delphi judge asks Indiana Supreme Court for more time to respond to challenge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

DELPHI, Ind. — The judge overseeing the Delphi double murder trial of Richard Allen has asked the Indiana Supreme Court for more time to respond to a challenge of how she’s run the case.Allen County Superior Judge Fran Gull was granted an extra week before she has to file a response with the high court over a petition that argues she has unnecessarily limited public access to documents in the case file.The new due date for Judge Gull's response is Nov. 16.Judge Gull filed a motion with the supreme court on Friday citing the Indiana Attorney General’s refusal to represent her in the high court debate. She claimed she needed time to find another lawyer. Trial for Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen pushed back to October 2024 Chief Justice Loretta Rush granted Judge Gull's request, and a new attorney was found.Last week, Judge Gull told Delphi defendant Richard Allen that she was replacing his defense team with two lawyers from her home court in Fort Wayne because she alleged his or...

Suburban man sentenced to 25 years for sexually assaulting teen girls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — A suburban man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday for sexually assaulting two teen girls.Ernesto Reynosa-Vasayes, 35, of Island Lake, pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault of a 12-old-girl and separate count of criminal sexual assault to a 14-year-old girl.Reynosa-Vasayes befriended and solicited photographs of both the victims on Snapchat prior to the assaults.The case was investigated by the Island Lake Police Department.

5 key races to watch on Election Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

(The Hill) - Voters across the country will be heading to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on a slew of statewide and local races, which could provide clues about the national mood ahead of 2024.In Kentucky and Mississippi, voters will weigh whether to give Govs. Andy Beshear (D) and Tate Reeves (R), respectively, a second term, while voters in several states including Virginia and New Jersey will be determining partisan control of their state legislatures.Meanwhile in Ohio, Democrats and abortion rights advocates are looking to enshrine abortion protections into the state constitution — the first attempt of its kind in the state that’s trended increasingly red over the years.  The races could offer clues about how the electorate is feeling on key issues such as abortion, crime and education, and what the national mood is with both parties.Here’s a look at five key races we’re watching on Tuesday:Virginia state LegislatureAll 140 seats in the Virginia state Legislature are up for ...

Coming soon: Listen to Catalyst podcast on LGBTQ+ issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

(KXAN) — This standalone season is a companion to our “OutLaw” project – exploring a record number of laws proposed in 2023 impacting LGBTQ+ Texans, including a repeated effort to repeal the state’s ban on homosexual conduct. KXAN’s team of journalists – many, members of that community themselves – share how they work to make fair, objective coverage decisions with this topic and also how their own experiences shape their reporting – including the murder of a gay college student two decades ago.Listen to the podcast here.

Colin Strickland to continue testimony Monday at Kaitlin Armstrong murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Colin Strickland will return to the witness stand Monday in the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong. He began his testimony around 2:30 p.m. Friday. The State is still in its first line of questioning.Armstrong is accused of shooting and killing pro Cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson at an east Austin home in May of 2022. Strickland was Armstrong's boyfriend at the time, and spent the day with Wilson before the shooting. You can catch up on the Armstrong case here.KXAN's Brianna Hollis will be in court Monday providing live updates of the trial on social media platform X: KAITLIN ARMSTRONG: The murder trial resumes today. Key witness Colin Strickland, in the hat and mask here, will continue his testimony. He was dating Armstrong at the time of the murder + the last person to see victim Mo Wilson. Live updates on this thread this AM @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/Z18XknMmei— Brianna Hollis (@BriHollisNEWS) November 6, 2023 So far, Strickland has testified about this re...

Third week of APD officer's murder trial starts Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Monday, attorneys representing Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor will continue presenting their case after the state rested last week. Taylor is on trial for murder in the death of Michael Ramos. Prosecutors expect to wrap mid-week in APD officer’s murder trial Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during an incident with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Monday providing live updates of the trial on social media platform X: Week 3: Back in court this morning for the third week of APD Officer Christopher Taylor's murder trial. As always, I'll have a thread here🔽 A reminder that you'll get more detail over at https://t.co/YjssmHY9zW, which is where I've been detailing testimony. pic.twitter.com/2AT1p4jP1b— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) November 6, 2023 Previous coverage of this trial: Day 10: Officers questioned in Chris...

Hootie & The Blowfish to perform at SPAC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:12 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The band Hootie & The Blowfish will perform at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on Saturday, June 15 2024, at 7 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. online. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hootie & The Blowfish are known for their hits such as "Let Her Cry," "Only Wanna Be with You," and "Hold My Hand." The band will be joined by special guest stars Edwin McCain and Collective Soul.