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Fresh off reelection in Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Beshear presents budget plan in televised speech

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Looking to build on his resounding reelection victory, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear took his budget directly to the voters in a televised speech Monday night as he pressed for a massive boost in education funding, child care support and continued investments in infrastructure projects.The holiday message — coming about two weeks before the state’s Republican-dominated legislature reconvenes — represents the Democratic governor’s effort to turn political capital into more of a mandate for his top policy priorities, especially in public education.Beshear also proposed pay raises for state workers and increased funding for public universities, economic development and foster care. He proposed hiring more state troopers and social workers, building more juvenile detention centers and investing more in regional airports.Beshear said the state can afford that and more, without tapping into its vast budget reserves. Tax collections have surged in Kentucky ev...

North Korea’s Kim threatens ‘more offensive actions’ against US after watching powerful missile test

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened “more offensive actions” to repel what he called increasing U.S.-led military threats after he supervised the third test of his country’s most advanced missile designed to strike the mainland U.S., state media reported Tuesday.Kim’s statement suggests he is confidant in his growing missile arsenal and will likely continue weapons testing activities ahead of next year’s presidential election in the United States. But many observers say North Korea still needs to perform more significant tests to prove it has functioning missiles targeting the U.S. mainland.After watching Monday’s launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, Kim said the test showed how North Korea could respond if the United States were to make “a wrong decision against it,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency.Kim stressed the need to “never overlook all the reckless and irresponsible military threats of ...

West accuses Iran of illegally testing missiles, transferring drones to Russia, enriching uranium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Western powers in the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran accused Tehran on Monday of developing and testing ballistic missiles, transferring hundreds of drones to Russia, and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60% level for a country without a nuclear weapons program — all in violation of a U.N. resolution endorsing the deal.Iran and its ally, Russia, dismissed the charges by Britain, France and Germany, strongly supported by the United States, which pulled out of the agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018.The six-party agreement was aimed at ensuring that Iran could not develop atomic weapons. Under the accord, Tehran agreed to limit enrichment of uranium to levels necessary for the peaceful use of nuclear power in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.The sharp exchanges came at the Security Council’s semi-annual meeting on the implementation of its resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal.Both Iran’s U.N. Ambassador...

Biden’s push for Ukraine aid stalls in Senate as negotiations over border restrictions drag on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s push to have Congress replenish wartime aid for Ukraine as part of a deal on border and immigration policy changes will almost certainly drag into next year.The Senate, which had postponed its holiday recess, returned to Washington on Monday after negotiators worked through the weekend on the border legislation, trying to reach an agreement that could unlock the Republican votes for Biden’s $110 billion package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and other security priorities.But senators said they still had plenty of work ahead, and it remained uncertain how many more days the Senate will remain in session this week. Barely half of the senators returned for a Monday evening vote.“Obviously we need time,” said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democratic negotiator.The delay heaps more uncertainty on the future of the Biden administration’s priority of providing support against Russia’s invasion. It also puts a potential pause on po...

A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Utah over strict new limits on app use for minors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A trade group that represents TikTok and other major tech companies sued Utah on Monday over its first-in-the-nation laws requiring children and teens to obtain parental consent to use social media apps.Two laws signed in March by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox will prohibit minors from using social media between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. unless authorized by a parent — and require age verification to open and maintain a social media account in the state.The restrictions are designed to protect children from targeted advertisements and addictive features that could negatively impact their mental health. Both laws take effect March 1, 2024.The NetChoice trade group argues in its federal lawsuit that although Utah’s regulations are well-intentioned, they are unconstitutional because they restrict access to public content, compromise data security and undermine parental rights.“We are fighting to ensure that all Utahns can embrace digital tools without th...

Mississippi local officials say human error and poor training led to election-day chaos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The county election officials under whose watch ballot shortages hampered voting in Mississippi’s largest county said technical mishaps and insufficient training were to blame for election day chaos in November. At a meeting with representatives from a coalition of statewide and national civil rights organizations, Hinds County election commissioners said Monday that their mishaps caused several polling locations in Hinds County to run out of ballots. They admitted to sharing the wrong voter data with the company they contracted to print ballots, which directly led to the ballot shortages. “Complete human error. I hate that the citizens of Hinds County had to experience that,” said Commissioner RaToya Gilmer McGee.But the commissioners, all Democrats, also pointed to what they said was inadequate guidance from Secretary of State Michael Watson, a Republican. The commissioners said they had to rely on a training manual written for election officials across the s...

Spinach sold in 7 states recalled over listeria fears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Fresh Express is recalling spinach distributed to seven states because it may contain listeria, according to the Food and Drug Administration.While there have not yet been reports of illness, Fresh Express launched the limited recall after Florida Department of Agriculture registered a positive result during a routine test for listeria.The pre-packaged greens were sold in 8-ounce Fresh Express bags, as well as 9-ounce bags under the Publix brand name. Air fryers sold at Walmart, Target, Kohls recalled Listeria, which can cause serious and even fatal infections in young children or people with weakened immune systems, generally causes symptoms including fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, however, listeria can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth.ProductSizeUPCBag CodeUse-byDistribution StatesFresh Express Spinach8 oz. 0 71279 13204 4G332Dec 15, 2023AL, FL, GA, NC, VAPublix Spinach9 oz.0 41415 00886 1G332Dec 14, 2023AL, FL...

Chicago man charged in connection with crime spree in Loop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man is facing a slew of charges in connection with a string of crimes that unfolded in the Loop in early December.According to Chicago police, 24-year-old Terry Ivory, a Belmont Cragin resident, is facing several felony charges including one count of robbery of a victim 60 or older or with a handicap, one count of aggravated battery of a victim 60 or older, two counts of attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking of a victim 60 or older or with a handicap, one count of aggravated battery with great bodily harm, and one count of theft less than $500. 5 charged in connection with retail thefts around DuPage County Authorities say the charges stem from a string of crimes that allegedly unfolded over a period of about 24 hours between Dec. 1 and 2.According to police, it all started with an alleged theft in the 200 block of North State Street just after 7:10 p.m. on Dec. 1.Officers say the next day, at 12:25 p.m. Ivory allegedly battered and attempted to carjack a 61...

'Big Bang Theory' actress is cancer-free after surgery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

(WJW) – Actress and Comedian Kate Micucci, well known for her roles on “The Big Bang Theory” and “Raising Hope,” announced Saturday that she is now cancer-free. The 43-year-old posted her health update on TikTok after she announced publicly on the same platform that she went through lung cancer surgery one week prior.“They caught it really early,” Micucci said in the Dec. 8 video. “It’s pretty weird because I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life. So, you know, it was a surprise, but also, I guess it happens.”In a video posted on the platform on Saturday, Micucci shared that her surgery went well. James McCaffrey, ‘Max Payne’ voice actor and ‘Rescue Me’ star, dead at 65 "I have great news, which is that I am cancer-free!" she said. "The surgery last week went great. All the reports came back that it worked, I don’t need to do any other treatment. So big thank you to all my doctors and nurses and everyone who took just, really great care of me. And thanks to figuring it out ...

Off the Beaten Path: Cheesecake Machismo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - For almost two decades, Cheesecake Machismo has been making a name for itself around the world for its award-winning cheesecakes. Known for selling out before closing time, customers will line up outside their door prior to opening to score a cheesecake. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! "Nothing has ever been written down so we don’t really measure, well there’s certain things you measure, but it’s all made to texture so it’s more of an artistry than following a recipe,” said Lynn Beaumont.Due to popularity, they don’t take orders. There’s also a limit on how much you can order: 12 slices or one whole cake. Off the Beaten Path: Robert Frost Stone House Museum Cheesecake Machismo is located at 293 Hamilton Street in Albany. The shop is open Wednesday-Saturday from noon - 8 p.m.