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Alabama can’t prosecute people who help women leave the state for abortions, Justice Department says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday said Alabama cannot use conspiracy laws to prosecute people and groups who help women leave the state to obtain abortions.The Justice Department filed a statement of its position in consolidated lawsuits against Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, arguing that such prosecutions would be unconstitutional. The lawsuits, filed by an abortion fund and former providers, seek a court ruling clarifying the state can’t use conspiracy statutes to prosecute people who help Alabama women travel elsewhere to obtain an abortion. Marshall has not prosecuted anyone for providing such assistance, but he has made statements saying that his office would “look at” groups that provide abortion help.The Justice Department argued in the filing that the U.S. Constitution protects the right to travel. The department said that just as Marshall cannot stop women from crossing state lines to obtain a legal abortion, “neither can he ...

Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley says title game refs should ‘not be run over’ after critical NCAA review

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said she does not want a critical NCAA review of officiating in the women’s national championship game last April to keep those officials from other prominent assignments, suggesting the Black women had been “thrown under the bus.”The review found that the officiating during LSU’s 102-85 victory over Iowa was below expectations. Staley, whose team’s 36-0 run was ended in the Final Four by tournament runner-up Iowa, said on social media she hoped the game officials would not be kept from similar games in the future. “So the independent review was done under anonymity but it is known who the officials were …. all black and brown skinned women,” she posted on X, formerly called Twitter. “Now that they’re thrown under the bus let’s not run them over.”When asked to discuss her post, Staley said in a text to The Associated Press her “tweet is all I’m going to say.” The sixth-ranked Gamecocks (1-0) face No. 12 M...

Dobbs’ Vikings debut was a winner. What can the ‘passtronaut’ do for an encore vs. the Saints?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joshua Dobbs has bounced around the NFL like the quintessential backup quarterback, lending an attractive combination of athleticism, experience and intelligence to seven teams in seven years even if none of them have committed to him as a long-term starter.Perhaps his career is about to really take off. His nickname is the “passtronaut,” after all.Just five days after Minnesota acquired him from Arizona in an emergency trade following the season-ending injury for Kirk Cousins, Dobbs rescued the Vikings in Atlanta for their fourth consecutive victory. “I want to say surprising, but then again it’s not really surprising once you get to know him,” Vikings running back Alexander Mattison said. “The time he puts in to be prepared, it definitely makes sense.”Dobbs had quite the week, beating his hometown team with a made-for-TV rally in his Vikings debut and drawing praise that transcended the football world into, well, outer space. An aerospace engineering major at Te...

Live updates | Israel will allow a daily pause in Gaza combat, as US seeks a multiday break

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration says Israel will allow a four-hour humanitarian pause each day in combat operations in northern Gaza to allow civilians to flee to the south, starting on Thursday.Biden also told reporters he had asked the Israelis for a “pause longer than three days” during negotiations over the release of some hostages held by Hamas, although he ruled out the chances of a general cease-fire.In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron has opened a Gaza aid conference with an appeal for Israel to protect civilians, saying that “all lives have equal worth” and that fighting terrorism “can never be carried out without rules.” The war, now in its second month, was triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel.The number of Palestinians killed in the war has risen to over 10,800, including more than 4,400 children, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said. In the occupied West Bank, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed in the violence an...

Media workers stage sit-in at New York Times headquarters to call for cease-fire in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the lobby of The New York Times on Thursday, accusing the media of betraying a bias toward Israel in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the publication’s Manhattan headquarters. Many entered the building’s atrium for a sit-in and vigil that lasted more than an hour.Led by a group of media workers calling themselves “Writers Bloc,” demonstrators read off the names of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza, including at least 36 journalists whose deaths have been confirmed since the war began.They scattered editions of a mock newspaper — “The New York War Crimes” — that charged the media with “complicity in laundering genocide” and called on the Times’ editorial board to publicly back a cease-fire.The sit-in followed a series of actions at high-profile locations in New York intended to bring attention to the growing death toll in Gaza.On Tues...

Johnson makes go-ahead layup with 0.8 seconds left and UC Davis take down Pepperdine 79-78

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

DAVIS, Calif. (AP) — Ty Johnson made a go-ahead layup with 0.8 seconds left and UC Davis beat Pepperdine 79-78 on Thursday night.After Pepperdine’s Malik Moore made 1 of 2 free throws with 5.1 seconds left for a 78-77 lead, Johnson went coast-to-coast and banked in a layup. It was UC Davis’ first lead since 7-6. Pepperdine led by as many as 19 points in the second half. Johnson finished with 28 points for the Aggies (2-0). Elijah Pepper added 24 points, going 8 of 14 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free throw line. Niko Rocak had nine points and was 3 of 3 shooting and 2 of 4 from the free throw line.Michael Ajayi led the Waves (1-1) in scoring, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Houston Mallette added 15 points for Pepperdine. In addition, Moore had 15 points.NEXT UPBoth teams next play Sunday. UC Davis visits Montana and Pepperdine plays Lafayette at home.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportra...

Man charged after he fired 2 shots trying to prevent purse snatching on NYC subway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who pulled out a pistol and fired it on a New York City subway platform in an apparent attempt to stop someone from stealing a woman’s purse was charged Thursday with criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.No one was struck by the gunshots Tuesday inside the station, located a few blocks north of Times Square.Authorities said John Rote, 43, intervened when a man who had been asking riders for money near the turnstiles at around 9 p.m. tried to grab a 40-year-old woman’s purse.According to prosecutors, he pulled a gun from his bag and fired at least one shot on the platform, before fleeing the scene and disposing of his firearm.Security camera footage published in the New York Post showed part of the confrontation.“I’ve looked at the video,” New York City Transit President Richard Davey said at a news conference Wednesday. “It’s, I would say unusual. He sort of looks very calm, pulls out a gun, fires two shots, calmly puts the gun back in the bag and...

Amaya Bonner hits late 3-pointer and No. 18 Florida State women beat No. 11 Tennessee 92-91

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — O’Mariah Gordon scored 22 points, Ta’Niya Latson added 20 points and No. 18 Florida State held off No. 11 Tennessee 92-91 on Thursday night.Florida State (2-0) beat a Top 25 non-conference opponent for the first time since December 2019. Amaya Bonner made Florida State’s 13th 3-pointer of the game to tie it at 91-all. Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson grabbed an offensive rebound on the ensuing possession but missed a putback before fouling Alexis Tucker with 24.9 seconds left. Tucker went 1 of 2 from the stripe to put Florida State ahead.Tennessee elected not to call a timeout and Jackson got into the lane, but her fadeaway jumper rolled off and the buzzer sounded before a putback attempt.Bonner finished with 16 points and four 3-pointers. Tucker added 17 points and Makayla Timpson had 10 for Florida State. The Seminoles went 13 of 22 from 3-point range.Florida State made 6 of 8 3-pointers in the first quarter to help build a 34-20 lead. Gordon scored 13 poi...

Naomi Osaka set to make her tennis return at the Brisbane International

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka will make her comeback to tennis at the Brisbane International warm-up tournament ahead of the Australian Open. Tournament officials on Friday confirmed Osaka will contest the Dec. 31-Jan. 7 event to start her 2024 season. A two-time Australian and U.S. Open winner, Osaka was a surprise withdrawal from last year’s Australian Open before later revealing she was pregnant. The former tennis No. 1 announced the birth of her daughter Shai in July.“I am really excited about getting back out on court and competing. I always love starting my season in Brisbane and can’t wait to return,” Osaka said in a statement. It “will set me up for a brilliant comeback this summer.”Osaka was born in Japan and moved to the United States with her parents when she was 3. She hasn’t competed on tour since an event in Tokyo in September 2022, shortly after she lost in the first round of the U.S. Open.Australian Open officials ...

More WWI munitions may be hiding in Fort Totten Park, park service says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:59 GMT

After two World War I-era munitions were found this spring in Fort Totten Park, in Northeast, D.C., the National Park Service said Thursday there might be more hiding there.Investigators have determined it’s “possible” there are additional munitions in the area, but a news release from NPS didn’t offer details as to how that conclusion was reached.An area of the park remains closed and fenced, and cement barriers and “no trespassing” signs will stay put while the NPS and U.S. Army investigate two metal canisters that were discovered there in April.One of the munitions found was a 75-mm projectile, approximately 3 inches in diameter and 11 inches long. The other was a “Livens” projectile, about 6 inches in diameter and 19 inches long.A Livens Projector was a simple, mortar-like weapon that could throw large drums filled with toxic or flammable chemicals. The weapons were used during World War I, specifically between 1916 through 1918. T...