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State Education Commissioner Manny Diaz voices support for ‘Don’t Say Gay’ expansion amid criticism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

ORANGE PARK, Fla. (WSVN) — State Education Commissioner Manny Diaz threw his support behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial plan to expand the Parental Rights in Education Act to all grade levels in the state’s public schools.The law, known by critics as “Don’t Day Gay,” prohibits instruction in sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.Speaking on Thursday at an event in Orange Park, near Jacksonville, Diaz said schools should focus on academics.“This rule basically says that we’re sticking to the standards, and when you’re talking about K-12 instruction, all the way to 12th grade, these standards don’t incorporate gender ideology or these theories in math, social studies, reading or anything else,” he said.Last year, DeSantis supported the appointment of Diaz, then a state senator, to be commissioner for the State Board of Education.The proposal to expand the law is the state’s latest an...

New report from Anti-Defamation League reveals rise in antisemitism across New England

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

A new report this week from the Anti-Defamation League reveals an alarming rise in antisemitism across New England. The report, issued on Thursday, includes information on incidents around the country, documenting an overall 26% increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in 2022 compared to 2021. The report also said incidents rose across New England, with a 41 percent rise in Massachusetts. Seventy-one cities and towns across the state reported at least one incident of antisemitism in 2022. Incidents happened at schools, colleges, Jewish institutions and homes.Speaking with 7NEWS, Anti-Defamation League New England’s Regional Director Peggy Shuker said the numbers and percentages “don’t really tell the full story.”“It’s really what the experience of antisemitism is for those who are targeted,” Shuker said. The Anti-Defamation League said last year’s statistics mark the highest recorded level of antisemitic activity recorded in New England. National figures in...

7 Investigates: Igniting Concern

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

Fires in electric vehicles are rare.  But when they happen, they come with unique challenges for firefighters. Radio dispatcher: “Motor vehicle accident, the electric vehicle’s on fire.”Firefighters are sounding the alarm about the unusual dangers of electric vehicle fires.  “It’s quite a bit hotter. 2,000 degrees plus. It’s like a jet flame underneath the vehicle – it’s not like a traditional car fire,” Wakefield’s Provisional Fire Chief Thomas Purcell said.This electric car ignited in Wakefield. The car’s lithium battery was punctured in a crash and caught fire. Crews struggled for two hours to put the flames out.  “We would shut the lines down intermittently, the fire would reignite,” Purcell said.Chief Purcell said it took crews from six towns using 20-thousand gallons of water. Putting out a traditional car fire only takes about 150 gallons.  “Copius amounts of water, but you hav...

Jeremy Swayman lifts B’s over Habs, 4-2

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

The Bruins haven’t exactly been playing like Stanley Cup favorites the last couple of games, but their goalies have been there to make sure they didn’t pay the consequences for it.After Linus Ullmark made 40 saves on Tuesday to beat Ottawa, Jeremy Swayman made 30 stops, some of them spectacular, to lead the B’s to a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens at the Garden on Thursday.The B’s took a rather shaky 3-2 lead into the third period but they finally created some breathing room with 7:44 remaining in the third. After David Krejci helped to win a puck along the right boards, he headed for the net while David Pastrnak got the puck up to Connor Clifton at the right point. Krejci received Clifton’s pass at the top of the crease, took it wide and scored his 16th on a backhander.The Habs’ Denis Gurianov and Jonathan Drouin missed open nets in the final couple of minutes and the B’s survived to improve to 55-11-5.The first period was highlighted b...

‘It’s an unbelievable honor’: Dennis Scott inducted into Magic Hall of Fame

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

One of the pillars of one of the Orlando Magic’s most successful eras had his place cemented in the organization’s history.Former sharpshooter Dennis Scott, who earned the nickname “3-D” because of his prolific 3-point scoring, became the 12th inductee into the organization’s Hall of Fame ahead of Thursday’s home game vs. the N.Y. Knicks.Scott joined John Gabriel (2022), Brian Hill (’22), Darrell Armstrong (’20), David Steele (’19), Tracy McGrady (’18), Jimmy Hewitt (’17), Penny Hardaway (’17), Rich DeVos (’16), Shaquille O’Neal (’15), Pat Williams (’14) and Nick Anderson (’14) in the Magic’s Hall of Fame.“It’s an unbelievable honor,” Scott said. “Just the fact that you feel appreciated for the work you’ve done. This is special.”Scott, who was a key part of the run to the 1995 NBA Finals, played with the Magic from 1990-97 after being the fo...

Column: Chicago Cubs rotation picture appears clear after another strong performance from rookie Hayden Wesneski

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

David Ross confirmed the worst-held secret in Chicago Cubs camp Thursday when he announced Marcus Stroman as his opening-day starter.“He will take the bump opening day, yes sir,” the Cubs manager said before an 11-1 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.Stroman took the liberty of announcing the news Wednesday on Twitter, spoiling an ill-advised marketing plan by MLB to get teams to announce all 30 starters Friday to help promote opening day.Memo to MLB: Opening day needs no help getting attention.Ross said several factors went into the Stroman decision, but one reason stood out.“Stro deserved it,” he said. “He earned it last year. Probably one of our better pitchers on the back half. He’s got a presence about him and he’s a guy that’s expected to pitch big innings in this rotation we have throughout the season.”Ross declined to spell out the rest of the rotation order among Drew Smyly, Jameson Taillon and Justin Steele or name hi...

San Diego man sentenced for underage sex trafficking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A long-time sex trafficker was sentenced Thursday to more than 15 years in prison, prosecutors said.Kevin Lamont Beal, 29, of San Diego, knowingly coerced and enticed a teenage girl to engage in commercial acts, Kelly Thornton with the Office of the United States Attorney Southern District of California stated in a news release. In 2021, a complaint was filed against Beal, charging him with sex trafficking of underage girls and women. Beal pleaded guilty to federal charges in January 2022, prosecutors said."In his plea agreement, Beal admitted that he transported underage girls and women and provided them to customers for commercial sex acts, which took place in California and elsewhere from December 2016 through August 2018," Thornton said. Suspect in triple murder arrested following transfer from Mexico Prosecutors claim Beal used his cellphone to entice and coerce an underage girl to have her engage in commercial sex acts and prostitution in San Diego County and ot...

Utah social media law requires parental permission for kids

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah became the first state to enact laws limiting how children can use social media after Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a pair of measures Thursday that require parental consent before kids can sign up for sites like TikTok and Instagram.The two bills Cox signed into law also prohibit kids under 18 from using social media between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., require age verification for anyone who wants to use social media in the state and seek to prevent tech companies from luring kids to their apps using addictive features. The laws passed through Utah’s Republican-supermajority Legislature are the latest reflection of how politicians’ perceptions of technology companies are changing — and that includes pro-business Republicans. Tech giants like Facebook and Google have enjoyed unbridled growth for over a decade, but amid concerns over user privacy, hate speech, misinformation and harmful effects on teens’ mental health, lawmakers have b...

New Mexico tribe keeps title to portion of national preserve

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Native American tribe has been granted title to a portion of a national preserve in northern New Mexico following a yearslong court battle against the federal government, a ruling that could provide hope to other tribes seeking to regain rights to their traditional homelands.The 10th U.S. Circuit of Appeals issued a split ruling Wednesday in the case brought by Jemez Pueblo over lands it was seeking to reclaim in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.The pueblo had argued its aboriginal property rights — or rights to occupy and use land as their ancestors did — were never extinguished despite a lower court ruling in 2019 that found the U.S. government had clear title to the expansive preserve. Following an appeal and a subsequent trial, the pueblo opted to narrow its claims to four specific areas within Valles Caldera’s boundaries.The latest ruling acknowledged the pueblo’s title to an area known as Banco Bonito but rejected claims to three other area...

Rio police raid slum to arrest drug lords, 13 people killed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Police exchanged fire with gunmen Thursday when they raided one of Rio de Janeiro’s slums to arrest alleged drug traffickers, and 13 people were killed, authorities said.Police said the raid was tied to drug traffickers originally from the northern state of Para, where more than 40 police officers have been killed since 2021.Rio police said all people who died during the operation were criminals. They added that two suspects were arrested and two women were wounded.TV footage showed an intense exchange of gunfire inside the Salgueiro favela.Rio police said they would later release further information about the operation.The newspaper O Globo said the reputed head of Para-based drug trafficking organization was killed in the raid, which police did not confirm.The Associated Press