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DeSantis: Florida history standards 'not shilling for slavery'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Wednesday further dug his heels into his defense of his state’s slavery curriculum and sharply rebuked what he described as “bad faith” criticism against him.“Well, first of all, those are criticisms in bad faith, Harris, because, as you suggest, there's hundreds of pages of painstaking detail,” DeSantis told Fox News host Harris Faulkner. “This was done by Black history scholars, most of whom were Black themselves. They are not shilling for slavery. They are showing the injustice of slavery.”DeSantis, who's running for president in 2024, then defended the particular line in the curriculum that has drawn significant pushback. The line tells teachers to instruct students on “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit."DeSantis continued, “But that particular passage wasn't saying that slavery was a benefit. It was saying there was resourcefulness, and people acquired skills in spite of slavery, no...

Trump to make first court appearance Thursday afternoon in Jan. 6 case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

Former President Trump is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday afternoon after being indicted on federal charges related to the transfer of power after the 2020 election.His appearance is slated for 4 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, D.C.A spokesperson for special counsel Jack Smith said it was the office’s understanding that the appearance will be in person but that it was ultimately up to the court. A Trump attorney during a CNN appearance similarly indicated it was the court’s decision.“That’s up to the court. The court makes those decisions. So, we’re prepared to follow whatever the court rules are. The judge issued a summons, and he will appear either virtually or in person,” Trump attorney John Lauro told CNN after the indictment was filed.A court spokesperson did not return a request for comment.Prosecutors unveiled a four-count indictment against Trump Tuesday evening, charging him with ...

Canada PM Trudeau and wife Sophie announce separation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

(The Hill) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, are going their separate ways.The pair announced their separation on social media Wednesday.“Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,” Trudeau, 51, said.“As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and continue to build,” Trudeau said in an Instagram post. Celebs donate millions to SAG-AFTRA emergency fund amid strike Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, met her future husband as a kid — she was the childhood friend and classmate of Trudeau’s younger brother. She reconnected with Trudeau years later at a charity fundraiser.The TV host, who shares three children with the prime minister, joined her husband in requesting privacy during the separation.The Trudeaus were married in 2005.

Durbin fires back at Alito over SCOTUS ethics: 'Not the 101st member' of the Senate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday criticized Justice Samuel Alito’s claim that Congress has no authority to regulate the Supreme Court, calling his comments “unwise and unwelcome” as Senate Democrats push an ethics reform package for justices. Durbin fired back at the third longest-tenured member of the court over his recent remarks to The Wall Street Journal’s opinion page, saying in a statement that Alito “is not the 101st member” of the Senate. The No. 2-ranked Senate Democrat also noted the Court has “resisted efforts” to work on an ethics reform, pointing to Chief Justice John Roberts’s decision to decline an appearance before the panel to discuss the ethics of justices. “Now, Justice Alito is providing speculative public commentary on a bill that is still going through the legislative process. Let’s be clear: Justice Alito is not the 101st member of the United States Senate,” Durbin said. “His intervention in Article I activity is ...

Climate change made July hotter for 4 of 5 humans on Earth: Scientists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

Human-caused global warming made July hotter for four out of five people on Earth, with more than 2 billion people feeling climate change-boosted warmth daily, according to a flash study.More than 6.5 billion people, or 81% of the world’s population, sweated through at least one day where climate change had a significant effect on the average daily temperature, according to a new report issued Wednesday by Climate Central, a science nonprofit that has figured a way to calculate how much climate change has affected daily weather.“We really are experiencing climate change just about everywhere,” said Climate Central Vice President for Science Andrew Pershing.A man cools off in a fountain during a hot and sunny day of summer in Madrid, Spain, July 19, 2023. Human-caused global warming made July hotter for four out of five people on Earth, according to a new report issued Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, by Climate Central. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)Researchers loo...

Jury recommends death penalty for Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue shooter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

(The Hill) -- A jury on Wednesday recommended the death penalty for the man who killed 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Robert Bowers was convicted in June for carrying out the attack after he opened fire in the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, and killed members of three congregations who were at the synagogue for Sabbath worship and study. Two other worshippers and five police officers were also injured. In this combo image made from photos provided by the United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania are the victims of the Oct. 27, 2018, assault on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.. top row, from left, Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, and David Rosenthal; bottom row, from left, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. (United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania v...

Bond denied for woman accused of DUI crash that killed bride on wedding night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A judge in South Carolina has denied bond for Jamie Komoroski, the woman accused of hitting and killing a new bride during a DUI crash back in April.Komoroski is charged with reckless homicide resulting in death, as well as three counts of felony DUI, after police say she collided with a golf cart carrying newlywed Samantha Miller and three other passengers — including Miller's new husband — on April 28, 2023.Komoroski had asked for a judge to grant her bail after spending months behind bars. During a hearing held Tuesday in Charleston, Judge Michael Nettles ultimately denied the bond.Judge Nettles said, however, that if there is no trial by the spring of 2024, a bond of $150,000 will be set with house arrest requirements. Other various standards will also have to be met, according to the judge. Samantha Miller's family, as well as those of Komoroski, spoke during Tuesday morning's hearing. Komoroski appeared via video call, w...

Federal agents serve WWE's Vince McMahon with subpoena

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

Federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant and served a federal grand jury subpoena to WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon last month, according to a regulatory filing. McMahon is also taking medical leave from the sports entertainment company following recent spinal surgery.WWE said in the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that while government investigations into McMahon remain ongoing, no charges have been brought in them.The company said it has received voluntary and compulsory legal demands for documents, including from federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies, concerning the investigation and related subject matters.The Wall Street Journal had reported last year that the WWE was investigating an alleged $3 million payment from McMahon to a departing female employee following a consensual affair. WWE's investigation into the misconduct allegations was completed last year.The announcement of McMahon's surgery was made by CEO Nick ...

News outlets duped by 'Eco-Barbie' hoax 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

(The Hill) -- A handful of news outlets published stories about a fake announcement by Mattel to create an "EcoWarrior" Barbie.News outlets such as People, The Washington Times and others published stories apparently falling for the hoax, The New York Times noted. The hoax had been orchestrated by a group called BarbieLiberation.org, which on its website claimed Mattel had announced "that they were producing a new line of biodegradable Barbie dolls, made from mushrooms, called ‘MyCelia' ... featuring five new Barbies representing iconic activist role models: Julia Butterfly Hill, Greta Thunberg, Nemonte Nenquimo, Phoebe Plummer & Daryl Hannah." Biden sees ‘Oppenheimer’ night Trump gets indicted on Jan. 6 charges In a statement to The Hill on Wednesday, the company called the announcement "a hoax" and said it "has nothing to do with Mattel or any of its products." Mattel also provided a link to "accurate information regarding Mattel’s sustainable product, packaging and goals...

'Dean's Home Video' features the return of a few series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:22:50 GMT

CHICAGO — As the month of August begins, so do a number of shows on streaming services as they continue their story into another season. That includes "Reservation Dogs," "Winning Time," "The Lincoln Lawyer," "Heartstopper," as each releases a new set of shows to viewers.Dean Richards has a preview of these programs on this week's "Dean's Home Video" on Wednesday's WGN Morning News. You can see a preview of those shows along with "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart," documentaries on Jake Paul and mixtapes, and more that's either been released or will be later this week.You can watch this week's edition of "Dean's Home Video" from August 2 in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!