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Missouri Senate leaves town early amid disagreement on transgender-care bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

The Missouri Senate’s spring break came a day early this year after Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin adjourned the chamber following two days of a Democrat-led filibuster of a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors.As some departed for a now-extended break, strategizing continued in senators’ offices into the evening over the bill.Sponsored by Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, legislation dubbed “Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act” seeks to ban certain procedures, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for transgender Missourians under the age of 18. Similar bills have been filed by other senators and members of Missouri’s House.Kansas City Democrat Sen. Greg Razer, the Senate’s only openly gay member, told The Independent negotiations took place throughout the two-day filibuster, but a deal has not been reached that would convince Democrats to let the bill come up for a vote.“There’s been ideas tossed back and forth, and some are better than oth...

Bill aims to amend Missouri Constitution to allow Osage casino

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

A House committee considered a bill Wednesday evening that would put a constitutional amendment before voters to expand casino gambling.House Joint Resolution 23 would put a measure on the ballot that, if passed, would allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to grant a license for a casino on the Osage River. Missouri has 13 casinos on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jeff Knight, R-Lebanon, cited projections that a casino in the Lake of the Ozarks area could net about $100 million in revenue annually. The gaming commission taxes 25% of casinos’ revenue, which means the state would take in about $25 million a year.Mayor Dennis Newberry of Lake Ozark, a city of 2,000 along the Osage River considered the most likely site for a casino, said the city needs about $25 million in capital improvement projects it cannot afford. He blamed few local taxpayers and a lack of “meaningful reinvestment” in the city’s hospitality industry in 40 or 50 years.Newberry...

Cardinals top Nicaragua, Arenado blasts grand slam in WBC preps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

JUPITER, Fla. - World Baseball Classic teams are gearing up for the tournament's start this weekend, including exhibition matchups against the St. Louis Cardinals and many other MLB spring squads. A late rally sparked the St. Louis Cardinals to a comeback against Team Nicaragua on Thursday. Within moments of the victory, three time zones west, Nolan Arenado packed a punch early with a grand slam for Team USA's scrimmage against the Los Angeles Angels. For the Cardinals, a matchup against Nicaragua was a unique opportunity to welcome international competition, though they didn't want to treat it differently than any other spring game. "It'll be a lot of fun, but we're focused on our guys," said manager Oli Marmol. "I think it's a great experience for everybody, the fans. But at the end of the day, we're still looking at our guys. We have a lot of decisions to make." RELATED - Albert Pujols makes surprise spring visit, at peace with post-baseball life "It's an exciting time of year...

Shooting at Jehovah’s Witness hall in Hamburg causes deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Shots were fired inside a building used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in the northern German city of Hamburg on Thursday evening, and an unspecified number of people were killed or wounded, police said.The shooting took place in the Gross Borstel district, a few kilometers (miles) north of the downtown area of Germany’s second-biggest city.Police said on Twitter that “several people were seriously wounded, some of them fatally,” but didn’t give a precise figure.German news agency dpa reported seeing rescue services taking people out of a building used by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Police said they were alerted to the shooting about 9:15 p.m. and were on the scene quickly. They said that after officers arrived, they heard a shot from an upper floor.The police statement said there was no immediate indication that a shooter was on the run and tehat it appeared likely that the perpetrator or perpetrators were either in the building or among the...

Top-seeded UCLA eliminates CU Buffs men’s basketball from Pac-12 tourney

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

LAS VEGAS — Once again, Colorado gave the best team in the Pac-12 Conference all it could handle.And once again, the Buffaloes couldn’t quite finish the job.CU put up a commendable fight but saw its run at the Pac-12 Conference tournament come to an end on Thursday, as top-seeded, No. 2-ranked UCLA held off the Buffs in an 80-69 decision at T-Mobile Arena.UCLA, playing its first game without injured conference Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark, advanced to Friday’s semifinals while the Buffs will wait to see if they receive an NIT bid on Sunday.Like the two regular season matchups between the teams, the Buffs led at halftime (38-37). They led by one point after a Tristan da Silva 3-pointer with a little more than 5 minutes remaining. But UCLA answered immediately by scoring the next nine points. The Buffs remained within four points on a Lawson Lovering layup with about 2 minutes left, however the Bruins scored the next 10 points to ice the game.An irate CU head coach Tad Bo...

Another round of storms brings rain, potential for flooding in Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

Another storm system is headed to Southern California, bringing the potential for flooding, damaging winds and hazardous driving conditions.Showers will arrive beginning Thursday night and will continue through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.Los Angeles and Ventura counties are expected to see light to moderate rainfall totally half an inch to 1.5 inches.Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties will receive heavier rainfall during the storm with expected totals of 2 to 4 inches. Five to 10 inches are forecasted for the San Luis Obispo County foothill and coastal regions.“It won’t be one of those cold, wintery storms,” said KTLA Meteorologist Kaj Goldberg. “But nonetheless, we will see measurable rainfall.” Higher elevations, mostly above 10,000 feet, will see snowfall this weekend with “significant avalanche danger at about 5,000 feet,” said NWS. Areas 5,000 and below can expect significant snowmelt due to warmer temperatures and rain.A wind advisory is ...

McDonald's expands chicken sandwich lineup with new flavors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

McDonald’s is shaking up its chicken sandwich lineup with a name change and the debut of two new flavors slated to hit menus at participating restaurants nationwide on March 13. The fast-food company announced that its famous chicken sandwich will now dawn the famous “Mc” prefix and will be known as the “McCrispy.”“Earning your 'Mc' is a true McDonald’s badge of honor,” a news release said.To commemorate the name change, McDonald’s also announced two new flavors, Bacon Ranch and Bacon Ranch Deluxe, that will be available for a limited time at participating restaurants beginning March 13.McDonald’s new chicken sandwich flavors, Bacon Ranch and Bacon Ranch Deluxe. (McDonald's)“Both sandwiches feature our signature chicken fillet topped with applewood smoked bacon plus a creamy new Ranch Sauce – made with buttermilk, dried herbs and spices - and served on a toasted potato roll,” a news release said.The deluxe version of the sandwich will also include shredded lettuce and Roma tomato sl...

Mental evaluation ordered for man accused in flight attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A man charged with attacking a flight attendant and attempting to open an airliner’s emergency door on a cross-country flight over the weekend remains in custody Thursday after a federal court ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.Francisco Severo Torres, 33, of Leominster, Massachusetts was arrested Sunday when United Flight 2609 from Los Angeles landed in Boston, and made his first court appearance for a bail hearing. A judge postponed the detention hearing until after the mental health evaluation is completed Torres is charged with a felony related to interfering with flight crew members using a dangerous weapon. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors say he tried to stab the crewmember with a modified metal spoon.Prosecutor Elianna Nuzum requested the evaluation, saying Torres' police record and his actions on the plane indicate he is mentally ill and unable to understand the court proceedings.Torres objected to the evaluatio...

Meet Andrea Young – 19-Year-Old Model Turned Entrepreneur

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

It’s not every day that you see a successful 19-year-old entrepreneur. It’s even less common to see a self-made one with a background like Andrea Young’s. The work, dedication, and tears needed to build a successful business are more than some people can handle, but not Andrea. This remarkable young woman has overcome immense adversity and has already accomplished more than many people do in a lifetime.Andrea’s entrepreneurial journey began in the entertainment industry, where she worked as a model. However, she knew that this wasn’t where she wanted to stay. With her earnings from modeling, Andrea took the first step towards entrepreneurship by starting a call center. From there, she expanded her business empire to include a clothing line & has a new hairline business venture in the works. In addition to these successful ventures, Andrea has side hobbies that bring in extra income, including Twitch, Airbnb, and YouTube.Andrea’s success is pretty impressive when you consider the...

7 Top Dating Coaches and Matchmakers –  Give Their Advice For Finding Love in 2023 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

As 2023 progresses, many people are thinking about new beginnings and the goals they’ve set for themselves. For some, that includes finding love. But where do you start? Luckily, a few top coaches and matchmakers in the field of dating and relationships have shared their advice for finding love. Whether you’re looking for a first-time relationship or seeking to get back into the dating scene after a break, these experts have an abundance of wisdom to share. From setting intentions to being open to different people, these tips can help you on your journey to finally finding love in 2023.Megan Weks, Dating & Relationship Coach Her dating advice: “Finding love is not just about finding the right person, but also about being the right person. It’s about focusing on personal growth, living with purpose and authenticity, and being vulnerable enough to take risks. When we take the time to develop ourselves and become the best version of ourselves, we become more attractive to others, a...