Uganda’s legislature passes harsh new anti-LGBTQ bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan lawmakers passed a bill prescribing jail terms of up to 10 years for offenses related to same-sex relations, responding to popular sentiment but piling more pressure on the East African country’s LGBTQ community.The bill was passed late Tuesday inside a packed parliamentary chamber, and after a roll call ordered by the House speaker, who had repeatedly warned it was necessary to identify those who might oppose the bill. It was supported by nearly all of the 389 legislators present. “Congratulations,” said Speaker Anita Among. “Whatever we are doing, we are doing it for the people of Uganda.”An earlier version of the bill enacted in 2014 later was nullified by a court on procedural grounds. Human Rights Watch has described the legislation as “a more egregious version” of the 2014 law, which drew widespread international concern and was struck down amid pressure from Uganda’s development partners. The bill now will go to President Yoweri Museveni, who ca...

Residents sue Louisiana parish to halt polluting plants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

Residents of a Louisiana parish located in the heart of a cluster of polluting petrochemical factories filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday raising allegations of civil rights, environmental justice and religious liberty violations.The lawsuit names St. James Parish as the defendant and says the parish council approved the construction of several factories in two Black districts of the parish that emit harmful amounts of toxic chemicals. It said the pollution negatively affected the health of the area’s Black residents.Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are calling for a moratorium on petrochemical plants like one being built by Formosa Plastics that was approved by the council in 2019. The Associated Press reached out to the council for comment but did not receive an immediate response.For several years, Black residents of St. James Parish have lobbied the parish council and state government to do something about petrochemical plants emitting toxic chemicals into the air they breathe. But ...

Chief recommends firing officers in paralyzed prisoner case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

The police chief in New Haven, Connecticut, recommended Tuesday that four officers be fired for mistreating a Black man who became paralyzed from the chest down last year in a police van that braked suddenly.Police Chief Karl Jacobson’s recommendations in the case of Richard “Randy” Cox now go to the city’s police commissioners, who have the sole authority to fire officers. The commissioners are expected to hold hearings beginning in late April or early May, he said.“The message to the community is that we will be transparent and we will be accountable, and we will hold our officers accountable,” Jacobson said at a news conference at police headquarters. “The message to the officers is that this administration does have your back and that mistakes do happen, but we will not treat this community disrespectfully as happened in the Randy Cox situation.”Jacobson also announced that internal affairs investigations found the officers violated conduct rules on integ...

Brookfield Zoo named 5th best zoo in new poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

BROOKFIELD, Ill. — Brookfield Zoo has been named one of the top zoos in the country, according to a new readers' choice poll.USA Today announced that the zoo placed fifth out of 10 in their latest "10 Best Readers' Choice 2023" poll.Nominees for the “Best Zoo” category were chosen by a panel of travel experts and industry professionals. Once nominees were selected, the public was then asked to go online and vote for their favorite zoo. Brookfield Zoo animals celebrate Valentine’s Day with special enrichment treats Below is the ranking.Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumCincinnati Zoo & Botanical GardenBrevard ZooCheyenne Mountain ZooBrookfield ZooZooTampa at Lowry Park Audubon ZooSaint Louis ZooColumbus Zoo and AquariumIndianapolis Zoo

Gwyneth Paltrow's trial over Utah ski collision begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow's lawyer called the story of a retired optometrist who is suing her over a 2016 ski collision “utter B.S.” on Tuesday during the trial's opening day in Utah.Terry Sanderson claims that the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer was cruising down the slopes so recklessly that they violently collided, leaving him on the ground as she and her entourage continued their descent down Deer Valley Resort, a skiers-only mountain known for its groomed runs, après-ski champagne yurts and posh clientele."Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control," Sanderson's attorneys claim in the lawsuit, “knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries. Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured.”In a case that has lasted years, Sanderson is suing Paltrow for $300,000 — claiming that the accident in Park City was a result of negligence, and left him with p...

Bomb threat disrupts NY court where Trump case is being heard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

(The Hill) -- A bomb threat was called into a lower Manhattan court on Tuesday just before a judge was set to hear a $250 million lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.The threat was investigated by police and the courthouse was closed and searched, with authorities finding that the threat was unfounded, according to court spokesman Lucian Chalfen, who confirmed the news to Bloomberg.The civil lawsuit, brought against Trump by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Trump, his company and family inflated the value of their real estate assets. The suit was filed in September.The Hill reached out to the court for comment. Trump throws GOP retreat off course Trump publicly attacked James on social media on Tuesday following the news of the bomb threat, saying Congress should investigate the New York attorney general and blasting the lawsuit as “completely bogus.”“While Congress is at it, they should look at the Corrupt Attorney General of New York State, Letit...

Giant African snail invasion lands part of Florida in quarantine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA/NEXSTAR) — Part of Southwest Florida was placed under quarantine in an effort to stop the spread of one of the most damaging snails in the world.The giant African snail, or "GAS" for short, (it can also be called giant African land snail, or "GALS") can consume at least 500 different types of plants and be devastating to Florida's agriculture, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. More than 4,000 giant snails collected in Pasco County quarantine zone Not only does this slimy species possess a mighty appetite, "the snails also pose a serious health risk to humans by carrying the parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans," the department wrote in an online quarantine advisory.However, the latest quarantine efforts in Florida's Lee and Pasco counties are not the state's first attempts at eradicating the species.The giant African snail has been eradicated from Florida twice already. The snail was first detected in 19...

Ringling Bros. circus to tour again, minus animals — Chicago area stop included

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus has been reimagined and reborn without animals as a high-octane family event with highwire tricks, soaring trapeze artists and bicycles leaping on trampolines.Feld Entertainment, which owns the “Greatest Show on Earth,” revealed to The Associated Press what audiences can expect during the show's upcoming 2023 North American tour kicking off this fall.The 75 performers from 18 countries will include performers on a triangular high wire 25 feet off the ground, crisscrossing flying trapeze artists, a spinning double wheel powered by acrobats and BMX trail bikes, unicycle riders and skateboarders doing flips and tricks.The tour kicks off in Bossier City, Louisiana, from Sept 29-Oct. 1.It has six scheduled performances at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont from November 3 - 5, 2023. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. Brookfield Zoo named 5th best zoo in new poll The tour also includes stops in Ohio, Wisconsin, Penn...