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New House speaker once argued for criminalizing gay sex

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

By Andrew Kaczynski and Allison Gordan | CNNSpeaker of the House Mike Johnson has a history of harsh anti-gay language from his time as an attorney for a socially conservative legal group in the mid-2000s.In editorials that ran in his local Shreveport, Louisiana, paper, The Times, Johnson called homosexuality a “inherently unnatural” and “dangerous lifestyle” that would lead to legalized pedophilia and possibly even destroy “the entire democratic system.”And, in another editorial, he wrote, “Your race, creed, and sex are what you are, while homosexuality and cross-dressing are things you do,” he wrote. “This is a free country, but we don’t give special protections for every person’s bizarre choices.”At the time, Johnson was an attorney and spokesman for Alliance Defense Fund, known today as Alliance Defending Freedom, where he also authored his opposition to the Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas – which overturned state laws that criminalized homosexual activity between cons...

Borenstein: With U.S. House speaker fight over, the real chaos begins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

The unprecedented three-week Republican search for a new House speaker ended Wednesday. Now the real chaos begins.In the end, GOP members unified behind Rep. Mike Johnson, a little-known social conservative who supports a national abortion ban, opposes federal recognition of same-sex marriages and led efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.It should serve as a stark reminder that much of the nation doesn’t share the political values of the Bay Area and most of California. That Donald Trump is now fully in control of the Republican Party. And that any hope that moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats could somehow unify behind a speaker and work on bipartisan solutions was fantasy.Johnson, in his first remarks after the vote electing him speaker, promised Republicans would “serve the people of this country. We’re going to restore their faith in this Congress.”But it’s doubtful he means all the people. It remains to be seen whether he will work with Democrats or without the...

Pregnant woman killed in San Jose hit-and-run crash, baby survives

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

(KRON) -- A pregnant woman suffered fatal injuries when her car was struck by a stolen vehicle on Blossom Hill Road in San Jose, police said. Her baby was delivered through an emergency surgery, however, the newborn remained in critical condition on Wednesday, police said.The deadly crash happened at 8:42 p.m. Tuesday. A stolen 2013 white Hyundai sedan collided with the woman's 2008 black Nissan sedan at the intersection of Winefield Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road.Two men bolted out of the stolen car immediately after the collision and fled the scene, according to San Jose Police Sgt. Jorge Garibay. Police are still looking for the hit-and-run driver. "The pregnant female driver was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries where she was subsequently pronounced deceased. Emergency surgery was initiated on the driver and her child was successfully delivered but remains in critical condition," Garibay wrote. The victim's name will be released by the Santa Clara C...

Mission District ice cream shop vandalized overnight in San Francisco

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- An ice cream shop in the Mission District was vandalized overnight on Wednesday, the San Francisco Police Department said. The front windows of Smitten Ice Cream were shattered as a result, police said. 49ers QB Brock Purdy enters concussion protocol The business located at 904 Valencia St. was vandalized around 2:49 a.m. when an alarm was triggered. SFPD officers arrived at the scene and determined Smitten Ice Cream was vandalized for "unknown reasons."As of Wednesday afternoon, no arrests have been made. SFPD did not provide any information about any suspect(s). San Francisco-based Smitten Ice Cream first hit the streets in 2009 when it began as a popup throughout the city. The business now has two other locations in San Jose and Las Vegas. SFPD says anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."KRON4 contacted Smitten Ice Cream for more information about the incident...

Hamas Attack Provides “Rare Opportunity” to Cleanse Gaza, Israeli Think Tank Says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

Israeli military combat vehicles are seen near the Israeli-Gaza border on Oct. 14, 2023.Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/Picture Alliance via Getty ImagesThe Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy, an Israeli think tank, published a paper last week stating that thanks to the vicious Hamas attacks of October 7, “There is currently a unique and rare opportunity to evacuate the entire Gaza Strip.”The paper continues, “There is no doubt that in order for this plan to be enacted, many conditions need to exist in parallel. At the moment, these conditions exist, and it is unclear when such an opportunity will arise again, if at all.” Approximately 1,400 Israelis were killed during the initial assault.The think tank advocates a bizarre scheme in which Israel would ethnically cleanse the entirety of Gaza and pay Egypt to house its former inhabitants in currently empty apartments near Cairo. (The paper was first reported and translated from Hebrew by Mondoweiss.)The Misgav Insti...

EPR Properties: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — EPR Properties (EPR) on Wednesday reported a key measure of profitability in its third quarter. The results beat Wall Street expectations.The Kansas City, Missouri-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $113.3 million, or $1.47 per share, in the period.The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for funds from operations of $1.44 per share.Funds from operations is a closely watched measure in the REIT industry. It takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization.The company said it had net income of $50.2 million, or 66 cents per share.The real estate investment trust, based in Kansas City, Missouri, posted revenue of $189.4 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $163.9 million, which also topped Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $157.1 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://aut...

Pathward: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Pathward Financial, Inc. (CASH) on Wednesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $35.4 million.The Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based bank said it had earnings of $1.36 per share.The holding company for Meta Bank posted revenue of $165.7 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $161 million, beating Street forecasts.For the year, the company reported profit of $161.2 million, or $5.99 per share. Revenue was reported as $704.5 million.Pathward expects full-year earnings to be $6.20 to $6.70 per share.Pathward shares have dropped slightly more than 1% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $42.49, a climb of 8% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CASH at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CASHSource

Chemed: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — CINCINNATI (AP) — Chemed Corp. (CHE) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $75 million.On a per-share basis, the Cincinnati-based company said it had net income of $4.93. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $5.32 per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $4.92 per share.The operator of the Roto-Rooter plumbing service and Vitas Healthcare hospices posted revenue of $564.5 million in the period.Chemed shares have dropped almost 1% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $507, a climb of 11% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CHE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CHESource

Morningstar: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — CHICAGO (AP) — Morningstar Inc. (MORN) on Wednesday reported profit of $39.1 million in its third quarter.The Chicago-based company said it had net income of 91 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs and non-recurring costs, came to $1.28 per share.The investment research firm posted revenue of $515.5 million 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 MORN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MORNSource

Escaped Virginia inmate who fled from hospital is recaptured, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:21 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — An inmate who escaped from the Virginia Department of Corrections’ custody at a suburban Richmond hospital in August was captured Wednesday morning at a northern Virginia hotel, authorities said. Naseem Roulack, 21, was brought into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and Fairfax County Police Department, the corrections department said in a brief news release.When arresting officers knocked on the door of a hotel room in Springfield, Roulack attempted to flee by jumping from a third-floor window with an assault rifle, injuring his arm and dropping the gun, according to a news release from the Marshals Service. Following a short foot chase, he was taken into custody and given medical attention, then taken to a hospital for further treatment, the news release said. The department’s director, Chadwick Dotson, thanked the U.S. Marshals, Fairfax police, the Virginia State Police and other law enforcement partners for their “tireless efforts” in recaptur...