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Targeting Trans Kids, Florida School Board Requires Parental Approval for Nicknames

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

Students and others attend a “walkout to learn” rally to protest Florida education policies outside Orlando City Hall on April 21, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.Photo: Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesIn their latest absurd and overreaching attempt to stomp out gender nonconformity, Florida Republicans have found a new tactic: nicknames. If a child in Florida’s Orange County Public Schools system wants to use a name that deviates in any way from their legal name, they must now submit a signed parental permission form.According to a memo released Monday, the new rule, while transparently targeted at trans kids, applies to all students, including cis students using common nicknames.“As an example, if the student is named Robert, but likes to be called the nickname Rob, the form must be filled out authorizing teachers and other personnel to call Robert the nickname Rob,” the new guidelines state.Such are the extremities to which far-right school boards are willing to go to oppress...

Gerdau: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

SAO PAULO SP, Brazil (AP) — SAO PAULO SP, Brazil (AP) — Gerdau SA (GGB) on Tuesday reported profit of $431.6 million in its second quarter.The Sao Paulo Sp, Brazil-based company said it had profit of 25 cents per share.The steel producer posted revenue of $3.69 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GGB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/GGBSource

Rivera clarifies his statement about Commanders players expressing concern with Bieniemy’s style

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, left, talks with owner Josh Harris during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)(AP/Evan Vucci) Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, left, talks with owner Josh Harris during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)(AP/Evan Vucci) Ron Rivera said Wednesday he spoke to Eric Bieniemy about his comments that some Washington Commanders players expressed concern over the new offensive coordinator’s coaching style, apologizing for the remarks that put him in hot water around the NFL.Rivera attempted to clarif...

Armenians face genocide in Azerbaijan, former International Criminal Court prosecutor warns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

KORNIDZOR, Armenia (AP) — The former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh region and called for the U.N. Security Council to bring the matter before the international tribunal.A report by Luis Moreno Ocampo issued Tuesday said Azerbaijan’s blockade of the only road leading from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh seriously impedes food, medical supplies and other essentials to the region of about 120,000 people.“There is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed,” Ocampo’s report said, noting that a U.N. convention defines genocide as including “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.”“There are no crematories and there are no machete attacks. Starvation is the invisible genocide weapon. Without immediate dramatic change, this group of Armenians will be destroyed in a few wee...

Italy investigates train tunnel intrusion and bomb threat as the possible work of anarchists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

ROME (AP) — Italian investigators are considering whether a tunnel intrusion and a bomb threat that stopped high-speed trains between Florence and Bologna was the work of anarchists, Italian state TV said Wednesday.Train traffic was suspended for more than four hours Tuesday evening on the heavily traveled line between the two cities after a conductor noticed people walking inside the tunnel. About the same time, someone anonymously reported a bomb in the tunnel, Italy’s state radio said. Thousands of travelers were stuck waiting in stations during Italy’s peak summer vacation period. A state railway spokesperson told RAI radio that train service resumed after a search of the tunnel turned up no bomb.Railroad police and the anti-terrorism unit of the Italian state police were looking into whether the tunnel interference might have been done as some kind of vendetta. Hours earlier, nine suspected anarchists were arrested in Genoa and other northern Italian cities, news agency L...

Michigan mom is charged with buying guns for son who threatened top Democrats, prosecutors say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The mother of a 30-year-old Michigan man who’s accused of making death threats against Democratic politicians is now charged with lying when she purchased firearms later found in her son’s possession. Threats against public officials have become increasingly common in Michigan in recent years. A plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was broken up by the FBI in 2020, and prosecutors have so far secured nine convictions in the case in state and federal courts. The charges unsealed Tuesday against Michelle Berka, 56, come after her son Randall Berka II was arrested in March and charged with illegally possessing guns. Federal prosecutors say he made death threats on social media against the president and governor, as well as people in the LGBTQ community. Authorities say Michelle Berka knowingly lied when she bought five guns that were eventually given to another person, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court Tuesday and first reported by T...

Body found in Denver dumpster linked to Aurora weekend shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora police are investigating a homicide after a body was disposed of in a Denver dumpster.On Monday, Denver Police Department officers were called to the 1400 block of Olive Street in the Montclair neighborhood after a body was found. Investigators said the victim had been taken to Olive Street in a van and was then dumped in a dumpster.The van was located a short distance away but no suspects have been found. Alleged high-profile sexual predator arrested in Jeffco According to detectives with the Aurora Police Department's Major Crime Homicide Unit, witnesses said the victim was killed during a shooting on Saturday night. The shooting took place in the 1100 block of Geneva Street in the Del Mar Parkway neighborhood.The victim's identity will be released at a later date.Anyone who may have information on the shooting or the suspects is asked to contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a cash...

PHOTOS: Fires wreak havoc on Maui, historic Lahaina in flames

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) -- Strong winds continued to batter the Hawaiian Islands Wednesdays, fueling multiple brush fires on Maui. Heartbreaking visuals show chaos on the island as many were forced to evacuate their homes due to the intensifying flames. Some were forced to flee to the relative safety of the ocean, where they were rescued by the Coast Guard.The fire was widespread in Lahaina Town, including on Front Street, an area that is popular with tourists, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said by phone early Wednesday. Traffic has been very heavy as people try to evacuate, and officials asked people who weren’t in an evacuation area to shelter in place to avoid adding to the traffic, she said. Photos posted by the county overnight showed a line of flames blazing across an intersection in Lahaina and leaping above buildings in the town, whose historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places. People fleeing Hawaii wildfires pulled from ocean “Do NOT go to Lahai...

3 SB lanes on Turnpike blocked after rollover crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

A rollover crash involving five vehicles on the Turnpike has blocked several lanes.Fire rescue crews arrived at the scene of the crash at Southwest 288th Street, Wednesday afternoon.Due to the crash, three southbound lanes on the Turnpike were blocked. Drivers are urged to take alternate routes. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Sweetwater Police seek public’s help in locating man with cognitive impairment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:14 GMT

The Sweetwater Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 59-year-old man diagnosed with cognitive impairment. Mr. Nelson Molinet was last seen by his family on August 7, at his residence at 11042 SW 4 Street, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.Described as standing at 5′ 09″ and weighing approximately 160 lbs., Mr. Molinet is a White Hispanic male and has grey hair with a balding pattern. He was last seen wearing a black Puma T-shirt, blue jeans and black Sketchers shoes. Mr. Molinet was seen in Hialeah on the same day, specifically at 766 E 25 Street, at around 4:00 p.m. During this sighting, he was holding a blue plastic shopping bag.Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information about Mr. Molinet’s whereabouts to immediately contact Detective Richard Brioso of Unit 611 at 786-413-9922, or any detective from the Sweetwater Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section at (305) 552-9900.