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GOP lawmakers take aim at LGBTQ+ ‘safe places’ program in small Florida town

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

MOUNT DORA, Fla. (AP) — Some central Florida lawmakers said they were considering “all legislative, legal and executive options available” to stop business owners in a small town from voluntarily displaying rainbow decals in their windows indicating that they are “safe place” for LGBTQ+ people who feel threatened.Four Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to officials in Mount Dora two weeks ago warning that the new, optional city-sponsored program could put the central Florida community outside Orlando “in the crosshairs of potentially detrimental and absolutely unnecessary economic harm.” The lawmakers cited boycotts of Bud Light and Target, which followed the brands’ efforts to promote diversity and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.Mount Dora’s city council approved the Safe Place Initiative last month. The city of 17,000 residents is known for its antique shops and weekend festivals.“The mission of the Safe Place Initiative is to provide the community with easily acce...

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson dies at 75

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Bill Richardson, a two-term governor of New Mexico and a longtime fixture in Democratic politics, has died at the age of 75. The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, a foundation started by Richardson in 2011, confirmed the news of his death, saying he died in his sleep on Friday night, at his summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts."He lived his entire life in the service of others — including both his time in government and his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad," Mickey Bergman, the vice president of the Richardson Center, said of Richardson's accomplishments and work with the foundation. ‘Margaritaville’ singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76 Richardson was elected as New Mexico's 30th governor in 2003, holding the office through 2011. Prior to his role as the state's chief executive, Richardson served as a federal lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 1983 through February 1997, represen...

Texas Longhorns open 2023 football season vs. Rice Owls at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — College football is finally here in Austin.The No. 11 Texas Longhorns host the Rice Owls at 2:30 p.m. with triple-digit temperatures set to roast the turf at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will air on FOX.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersAs head coach Steve Sarkisian said in the spring, Quinn Ewers is the starting quarterback, but all eyes are on the Longhorns backfield after the departures of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. On the Longhorns Week 1 depth chart, freshman CJ Baxter and sophomore Jonathan Brooks are listed as potential starters but both should see plenty of carries.Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and Adonai Mitchell are listed as starting wideouts with JT Sanders at tight end. Along the offensive line are Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle, Hayden Conner at left guard, Jake Majors at center, DJ Campbell at right guard and Christian...

'Nowhere to go': Austin Women's Health Center fundraises to keep reproductive health clinic open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tucked away off South Interstate 35 near Woodland Avenue, amid canvassing trees and along a small creek, lies Austin Women's Health Center. For nearly 50 years, the independent clinic has provided reproductive health care services for patients in the Austin area.In the year since the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the implementation of Texas' abortion ban, staff said the clinic is now at a "crisis point," with an active fundraiser in place to help keep the facility open."The past year has been a rollercoaster," said Julie Smith, a former Austin Women's Health Center employee. She, alongside several other employees, lost their jobs at the clinic after revenues plummeted following the overturn of Roe, she said. Smith now serves in a consultant capacity for the clinic."We pretty much had to figure out overnight how we were going to make it work and continue to provide all the other health care services that we were providing: miscarriage management, early pregnancy [det...

Texas high school football scores for Friday, Sept. 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Wires got crossed and the defenses forgot to show up out in Liberty Hill on Friday. The Panthers and Hutto both lived in each others' end zones and it was Liberty Hill who recovered an onside kick late to clinch an 82-80 win over the Hippos. Liberty Hill running backs Ben Carter and Noah Long combined for nearly 700 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while Hutto quarterback Will Hammond accounted for 10 touchdowns. It was absolute mayhem out there Friday night.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteDripping Springs took care of San Antonio Wagner 35-14 and Vandegrift topped Cedar Park 41-17. Lake Travis and Cibolo Steele engaged in a 6A Top 15 battle with the No. 12 Cavaliers coming up with a 20-10 win over the No. 11 Knights.Scores from the KXAN viewing areaBrentwood Christian 50, Somerville 22Brownwood 56, Marble Falls 7Burne...

Dane Mizutani: Vikings wanted a ‘competitive rebuild’ and they’re right on track

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

The use of two words has more or less defined the brief tenure of Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to this point.He coined the phrase “competitive rebuild” shortly after being hired about 18 months ago. He explained it as living for today and living for tomorrow with hopes of giving the Vikings as many kicks at the can as possible. He vowed to carefully navigate those diverging timelines in order to keep the franchise relevant in the present while also keeping an eye toward the future.As a result, the Vikings have neither pushed their chips to the center of the table, nor torn the thing down to the studs.They aren’t atop the list of odds to win the Super Bowl. They also aren’t atop the list of odds to take uber-talented USC quarterback Caleb Williams with No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.Where does that leave the Vikings, with the Sept. 10 season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about a week away?Exactly where they want to be.Asked if he stil...

Police investigating death at Washington Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department announced they are investigating a death that occurred at Washington Park. On September 2 at 11:35 a.m., officers responded to the area of the park and located the body of a 57-year-old man. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to police, there are no obvious signs of trauma. The investigation remains ongoing.

PHOTOS: Labor Day on the Frontier at Historic Daniel Boone Home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Spend the Labor Day weekend with your family at The Historic Daniel Boone Home. There, you can do live history activities to learn about Missouri's past. The Sorchy Reenactment Group offers continuous passive interpretation at the Ingledew Cabin and Baker's Shop every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from opening until approximately 4 p.m. Park admission is free, and guided tours of The Historic Daniel Boone Home are available for a fee. Explore historic Missouri through living history activities at The Historic Daniel Boone Home.

Attack on Chinese mining convoy in Congo leaves 4 dead, authorities say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — An attack on a Chinese mining convoy transporting gold in northeast Congo killed four people, including two Chinese nationals, authorities said Friday.Sammy Badibanga Kalonji, administrator of the Fizi territory where the attack took place, said a Congolese soldier, a driver and two Chinese nationals were killed in the armed robbery near the Kimbo river.Three people were seriously wounded in the attack, including a Congolese soldier and a worker, Kalonji said. The wounded were receiving treatment in a local hospital.Kalonji said the assailants stole a “large quantity” of gold from the convoy, which belonged to a Chinese mining company operating in the restive South Kivu province. He had no additional details.Many Chinese companies mine gold and other minerals in South Kivu, one of the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo that have been plagued by violence from armed groups for nearly three decades.Attacks on quarries and mining cooperatives ar...

Roglic beats Evenepoel for stage win at Spanish Vuelta, Kuss takes lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

XORRET DEL CATÍ, Spain (AP) — Primoz Roglic beat Remco Evenepoel to win the mountainous eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta, while Jumbo-Visma teammate Sepp Kuss took the lead of the three-week race on Saturday.In a duel of the last two Vuelta winners, Roglic bettered Evenepoel in a sprint to the finish line after a climb up the category-one Xorret del Catí. It was Roglic’s first stage win of this edition and his 11th career stage win at the Vuelta.Roglic won three Vueltas in a row from 2019-21. The Slovenian is aiming to recover his title after he crashed and withdrew from last year’s race won by Evenepoel.Kuss became the first American rider to lead one of the three Grand Tours since Chris Horner won the 2013 Vuelta, the race organizers said.Lenny Martínez lost the red jersey he had worn for two stages after the Frenchman cracked on the day’s final climb after a 165-kilometer (102-mile) ride from Dénia in eastern Spain. Evenepoel’s Soudal-Quickstep team reeled in a breakaway group ...