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Escondido school district's gender identity policy blocked by federal judge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- A preliminary injunction blocking an Escondido Union School District privacy policy aimed at protecting transgender students' identities was issued by a federal judge on Thursday, siding with the two teachers who sued the district over the policy earlier this year.The lawsuit was brought by Rincon Middle School Teachers, Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, arguing that a policy that requires teachers to get a transgender students' consent to disclose their identity to their parents was a violation of their First Amendment rights.According to the lawsuit, EUSD teachers are required to refer to students by their preferred names and pronouns at school, while reverting to biological pronouns and legal names when speaking with the students' parents.Nondiscrimination policies that prevent harassment based on a students' actual or perceived identity were not included in the scope of the case.District officials say that the policy was put in place to protect transgen...

Citing sustainability, Starbucks wants to overhaul its iconic cup. Will customers go along?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Bethany Patton steps up to the counter and places her pink mug into a shoebox-sized dishwasher. It spins. It whirs. Water splashes inside. After 90 seconds, the door opens and steam emerges. A barista grabs the mug, dries it and prepares Patton’s order — a 16-ounce Starbucks double espresso on ice.For bringing her own cup, Patton gets $1 off her drink.“Saving the environment is important and all, but I probably come here more in knowing that I’m going to get a dollar off,” says Patton, 27, a cancer researcher at Arizona State University. Two friends who came on the afternoon coffee run nod as they hold the cups that they, too, brought along. Just as noteworthy as what they’re carrying is what they are not: the disposable Starbucks cup, an icon in a world where the word is overused.For a generation and more, it has been a cornerstone of consumer society, first in the United States and then globally — the throwaway cup with the emerald logo depicting a longha...

More than 700 million people don’t know when – or if – they will eat again, UN food chief says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A global hunger crisis has left more than 700 million people not knowing when or if they will eat again, and demand for food is rising relentlessly while humanitarian funding is drying up, the head of the United Nations food agency said Thursday.World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain told the U.N. Security Council that because of the lack of funding, the agency has been forced to cut food rations for millions of people, and “more cuts are on the way.”“We are now living with a series of concurrent and long-term crises that will continue to fuel global humanitarian needs,” she said. “This is the humanitarian community’s new reality — our new normal — and we will be dealing with the fallout for years to come.”The WFP chief, the widow of the late U.S. senator John McCain, said the agency estimates that nearly 47 million people in over 50 countries are just one step from famine — and a staggering 45 million children under the age of five are now estimate...

Thousands sign up to experience magic mushrooms as Oregon’s novel psilocybin experiment takes off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Psilocybin tea, wind chimes and a tie-dye mattress await those coming to an office suite in Eugene to trip on magic mushrooms. For roughly six hours, adults over 21 can experience what many users describe as vivid geometric shapes, a loss of identity and a oneness with the universe.Epic Healing Eugene — Oregon’s first licensed psilocybin service center — opened in June, marking the state’s unprecedented step in offering the mind-bending drug to the public. The center now has a waitlist of more than 3,000 names, including people with depression, PTSD or end-of-life dread.No prescription or referral is needed, but proponents hope Oregon’s legalization will spark a revolution in mental health care.Colorado voters last year passed a measure allowing regulated use of magic mushrooms starting in 2024, and California’s Legislature this month approved a measure that would allow possession and use of certain plant- and mushroom-based psychedelics, including psilocyb...

Iraq steps up repatriations from Islamic State camp in Syria, hoping to reduce militant threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq is stepping up repatriation of its citizens from a camp in northeastern Syria housing tens of thousands of people, mostly wives and children of Islamic State fighters but also supporters of the militant group. It’s a move that Baghdad hopes will reduce cross-border militant threats and eventually lead to shutting down the facility.After U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led fighters defeated the Islamic State group in Syria in March 2019 — ending its self-proclaimed Islamic “caliphate” that had ruled over a large swath of territory straddling Iraq and Syria — thousands of IS fighters and their families were taken to the camp known as al-Hol.Many of them were Iraqi nationals. Today, Iraqi officials see the facility, close to the Iraq-Syria border, as a major threat to their country’s security, a hotbed of the militants’ radical ideology and a place where thousands of children have been growing up into future militants.It’s “a time bomb that can explo...

China economic data show signs slowdown may be easing, as central bank acts to support growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s factories picked up their pace and retail sales also gained momentum in August, the government reported Friday, suggesting the economy may be gradually recovering from its post-pandemic malaise. However, despite busy activity in restaurants and stores, the figures showed continuing weakness in the all-important property sector, where real estate developers are struggling to repay heavy loads of debt in a time of slack demand. Investment in real estate fell 8.8% in August from the year before. The decline has been worsening since the beginning of the year. Acting to relieve the burden on banks, the People’s Bank of China, or central bank, announced late Thursday that the reserve requirement for most lenders would be cut by 0.25 percentage points as of Friday.That would free up more money for lending, “In order to consolidate the foundation for economic recovery and maintain reasonable and sufficient liquidity,” the central bank said.Friday’s r...

Closing arguments set to begin in Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial over corruption charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Closing arguments were set for Friday in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial that has pushed the embattled Republican to the brink of removal over charges of corruption and bribery. The historic proceedings are speeding to an end as Paxton, shadowed for years by scandal and criminal charges, faces a defining test of political durability after an impeachment driven by his fellow Republicans that has widened party fractures in America’s biggest red state. A verdict from the Texas Senate could arrive as soon as Friday.The closing arguments are the last chance for impeachment managers, led by the Texas House of Representatives, to make their case that Paxton is unfit for office over allegations he abused his power in an effort to protect a political donor who was under FBI investigation. One of the charges centers on an alleged extramarital affair Paxton had with a woman who worked for the donor, resulting in a dramatic scene this week ...

Abundant sunshine and temps in the upper 70s make for a spectacular Friday in Chicago. Semmer-like warmth in sight next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

 Average temperature departures from normalNear/slightly below normal temperatures expected when the high and low temperature are averaged out the next 5 days, but strong warming follows! DAYS 1-5 TEMP DEPARTURE FORECASTDEPARTURE FORECASTDAYS 6-10 TEMP DEPARTURE FORECASTDAYS 11-15 TEMP DEPARTURE FORECASTChicago Weekend PrecipitationFar from a total washout, and not everyone will see rain, but there is a chance for at least some showers (embedded thunder) to come and go both Saturday and into part of Sunday before drier weather settles in. Hurricane Lee Remains a ThreatHurricane Lee still generating maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and while a gradual weakening is forecast Friday night and  Saturday, Lee is still expected to remain a large and dangerous storm.  A Hurricane Watch Is In effect for:Stonington, Maine to the U.S. /Canada border.Mew Brinswick from the U.S. /Canada border to Point Lepreau, including Grand Manan Island.Nova Scotia from Digby to Medway Harbour.A Tr...

Reagan Ennist amasses 1,000 kills for Shen volleyball in sweep of Saratoga Springs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's no secret Reagan Ennist has been one of the main forces behind Shenendehowa girls volleyball's recent success. Thursday night, the junior outside hitter added to a resume that already included a state championship and a commitment to West Virginia University. In the Plainsmen's home opener, Ennist amassed 1,000 career kills, becoming the first player in program history to reach that milestone."I knew I was in range, but I wasn't sure how close I was," said Ennist following a 19-kill performance that guided Shen to a 3-0 series sweep of Saratoga Springs. "Hearing all the girl's reactions after every kill I got - I knew that I was kind of close. It's crazy to me, honestly. I never thought that I could ever reach this point, but it's awesome; it's amazing."Ennist entered the match nine kills away from the mark. She racked up six in the first set alone to lead the Plainsmen to a 25-11 first-set victory.She picked up two quick kills to open the second ...

Libya floods: EU mobilizes emergency assistance via its Civil Protection Mechanism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:45 GMT

Following the 12 September request for international assistance by the Permanent Mission of the State of Libya to the United Nations office in Geneva, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated to support Libya in the aftermath of the major flood that has left thousands of casualties.Immediately, EU member states – so far Germany, Romania, Finland - have offered substantial assistance in the form of shelter items such as tents, field beds and blankets, 80 generators, food items, as well as hospital tents and water tanks via the Mechanism. The EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre stands ready to coordinate further offers of assistance.Furthermore, the EU has released an initial €500,000 in humanitarian funding to tackle the most urgent needs of people in Libya affected by the impact of Storm Daniel. Funding will be channelled through partners operating on the ground to deliver lifesaving health and water and sanitation supplies for the flood response in eastern Libya...