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Caregivers: Returning orca Lolita to Northwest is risky

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — An ambitious plan announced last week to return Lolita, a killer whale held captive for more than a half-century, to her home waters in Washington’s Puget Sound thrilled those who have long advocated for her to be freed from her tank at the Miami Seaquarium.But it also called to mind the release of Keiko — the star of the movie “Free Willy” — more than two decades ago. Keiko’s return to his native Iceland vastly improved upon his life in a Mexico City tank, but he failed to adapt to the wild and died five years later.He is the only orca released after long-term captivity. Some of Lolita’s former caregivers are warning she could face a similar fate — or that she might not survive a move across the country.But advocates say there are big differences between the cases and that their experience with Keiko will inform how they plan for Lolita’s return.While they hope to bring Lolita — also known as Tokitae, or Toki — to a whale sanctuary among the Pacific...

Prosecutor calls alleged Trump hush money payments part of ‘conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutor calls alleged Trump hush money payments part of ‘conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election.’Source

UN says Taliban bar female Afghan staffers from working

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Female Afghan employees of the United Nation have been banned by the ruling Taliban from working in the country, U.N. officials said Tuesday.The U.N. mission expressed “serious concern” after its female staffers were prevented from reporting to work in eastern Nangarhar province.“We will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure that we can reach the most vulnerable people, especially women and girls,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.He said U.N. officials were told through “various conduits” that the ban applied to the whole country.Taliban spokesmen were not immediately available for comment and the group did not issue a statement.Despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during its previous stint in power, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing power in 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces were pulling out of Afghanistan after two decades of war.Girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade and women are barred from working, stu...

Indictment accuses Donald Trump of directing 3 different instances of hush money payments to cover up alleged affairs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Indictment accuses Donald Trump of directing 3 different instances of hush money payments to cover up alleged affairs.Source

Judge warns Trump to refrain from social media posts that could foment unrest, after messages critical of prosecutor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Judge warns Trump to refrain from social media posts that could foment unrest, after messages critical of prosecutor.Source

Rory McIlroy returns to Masters in search of green jacket

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy has had plenty of memorable moments on the back nine on Sunday, but two of the best have had nothing to do with the four-time major champion holding up a trophy at the end.One came in 2018, when McIlroy was paired with Tiger Woods in the final group at the Tour Championship. McIlroy faded that Sunday at East Lake, but he was left with the best view possible to watch Woods win for the first time in five years.The other came just last year, down the hill from the stately clubhouse at Augusta National, where McIlroy holed out from the bunker on the 18th to finish off his Masters — and then watched Collin Morikawa do the same right behind him.“Obviously the last time this tournament was played I walked away from the course and the tournament pretty happy with myself, as you can see over there,” McIlroy said Tuesday, gesturing to a nearby photograph of him standing in the bunker, his club raised and the vestiges of a joyful cry still spread across the Nor...

Live coverage: Former President Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony counts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

NEW YORK (NEXSTAR) — Former President Donald Trump entered a not guilty plea on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records after surrendering to authorities at a Manhattan courthouse Tuesday.The former president appeared stone-faced in still photos from inside the courtroom as he sat next to his defense attorneys. See the indictment: Here’s what Trump is charged with He entered the plea around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday during the arraignment in a lower Manhattan courtroom as prosecutors unsealed a grand jury indictment. Trump spoke briefly during the hearing, telling the judge he was pleading “not guilty” to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and he was advised of his rights. Trump stayed mostly still, his hands steepled or interlaced, and looked ahead during the proceedings that lasted just over an hour.“Thirty-four false statements made to cover up other crimes,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference after the arraignment. “These are felo...

'Meth-contaminated' condo in Denver could be yours for $252,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A condominium recently listed on Zillow in Capitol Hill is turning some heads for its property overview.The condo is located at 985 N. Corona St. in Denver for $252,000. It has one bedroom and one bathroom with 567 square feet.Problems with the condoAccording to the listing, the condo has potential, as well as some issues."Due to methamphetamine contamination, it has been tagged by the City and County of Denver. There is an ORDER TO VACATE/ACCESS RESTRICTED/NO TRESPASSING NOTICE placed on the front door by Denver Public Health and Environment," the listing said. Denver-area homes still selling faster than nearly any other US metro area What will need to be fixed before you can live in this condo? The listing said a licensed and certified industrial hygienist verified by the DDPHE will have to bring the property into compliance. The property will also need the following, according to the listing:The kitchen will need to be gutted and the appliances will need to be ...

Bob Iger calls Florida actions against Disney World ‘anti-business’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

(CNN) — Disney CEO Bob Iger fought back against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ actions against his company, telling Disney shareholders on Monday that recent actions by the state were “anti-business.”The state of Florida has taken action to strip Disney of some of the powers it had over the land that includes and surrounds Disney World. Florida’s move came after the company objected to legislation passed last year to limit discussions of LGBTQ issues in Florida schools, a bill that opponents referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.Iger, asked about the fight at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting, made his most public defense to date of the company’s actions, and the most direct criticism of Florida’s actions.“Our point on this is that any action that thwarts those efforts simply to retaliate for a position the company took sounds not just anti-business, but it sounds anti-Florida,” he said.Dis...

Review board allows Ruby Bridges movie to be shown at elementary school after parent complaint

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:29 GMT

(CNN) — A review board voted Monday to continue the use of the 1998 movie “Ruby Bridges” as part of the curriculum at a Florida elementary school, according to Pinellas County Schools.The film came under scrutiny last month when a parent at North Shore Elementary School filed a complaint, objecting to the movie’s use of slurs and arguing it could teach students that “White people hate Black people,” CNN previously reported.Before the vote, the eight-person committee of teachers, parents, community members and a library media technology specialist watched the film and reviewed the objection form as well as the school district policy, the district said in a statement.The committee also heard from teachers who have used the movie in the classroom, and a district content specialist. The parent who filed the complaint was invited to speak to the committee but did not attend Monday’s meeting, the school district said.Toni Ann Johnson, the movie...