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Authors of George Floyd book told not to discuss systemic racism at event 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

(The Hill) -- Two Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists were restricted from reading from their book or discussing systemic racism at a high school event in Tennessee last month. Journalists Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa told NBC News that two days before they were set to speak at Whitehaven High School, they were informed they were not allowed to read from their acclaimed book, “His Name Is George Floyd,” and that the book would not be available at the event. The book, a biography about Floyd and the systemic racism that led to his murder by a former Minneapolis police officer, sparking a global movement against police brutality, won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction and was recognized by several other organizations and awards. House votes to avert government shutdown But Tennessee is one of several states to have passed legislation restricting what and how students can be taught about race. Olorunnipa and Samuels, reporters for the Washington Post, said they be...

APD sergeant, who was on scene when Pastore was killed, honors him in charity run

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

A photo of Officer Jorge Pastore displayed at a growing memorial outside APD headquarters. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Sergeant Ben Mewis said he also responded to the call that ultimately resulted in a suspect shooting and killing Austin Police Department Senior Officer Jorge Pastore on Saturday. Search warrant provides new details about suspect involved in APD officer’s death For months, Mewis had planned to go on a running endeavor from Goliad to Gonzales to the Capitol to support a local animal rescue. Now, this project includes honoring Pastore. Austin corporal runs from Alamo to Texas Capitol, uses passion to connect with community "We stopped at mile 90.97 to honor officer Pastore who we also lost this past weekend," Sgt. Mewis said. "Officer Pastore gave his all, gave everything he had for serving this community."Mewis is set to complete the run Tuesday night.

Texas legislators approve bill allowing police to arrest people who cross the border illegally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- The state House of Representatives approved immigration bills Tuesday that would appropriate more than $1.5 billion for additional border barriers and make illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border a state crime.Senate Bill 3 would allocate $1.54 billion for border barriers and to pay for state troopers to patrol Colony Ridge, a housing development near Houston that far-right publications claim is a magnet for undocumented immigrants.During Tuesday’s debate in the House, lawmakers adopted an amendment to SB 3 introduced by state Rep. Tracy King, D-Uvalde, that would allow some of the money to be used to help local police and governments enforce the new state crime proposed in Senate Bill 4.SB 4 would make it a state misdemeanor to illegally cross the border from Mexico into Texas, empower Texas peace officers to arrest undocumented immigrants and require that a state judge order the person to leave the U.S. to Mexico in lieu of prosecution.“If we're go...

‘The Hunger Games’ starts fresh, without Katniss, in ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

Everyone had resigned themselves to the fact that “The Hunger Games” ended in 2015. The four-film blockbuster franchise had made nearly $3 billion at the global box office and helped Jennifer Lawrence skyrocket to superstardom. But Suzanne Collins’ Katniss Everdeen saga was over. And, frankly, everyone, including Collins, director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, was eager to take a break and do something else.For several years after “ Mockingjay — Part 2,” “Hunger Games”-related text conversations between Lawrence and Collins rarely went past sending one another screenshots of their films on Jeopardy categories. Then, in 2019, Jacobson and Lawrence got a call: Collins was putting the finishing touches on something new, a prequel set 64-years before Katniss volunteered as tribute. It would be focused on a young Coriolanus Snow, and there would be a big musical element.“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” arrives in theaters nationwide Friday at anothe...

Minnesota man charged with Jan. 6, 2021, attack on U.S. Capitol

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

A southern Minnesota man is accused of participating in the Jan 6. riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.Paul Orta Jr., 34, of Blue Earth, was charged Monday with one felony count of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder, as well as misdemeanor counts of entering restricted buildings or grounds and disorderly or disruptive conduct in restricted buildings or grounds, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Washington.Orta walked into an FBI field office in Minneapolis on Jan. 25, 2021, and identified himself as the person in a photograph the bureau had published of an alleged Jan. 6 rioter, court documents said. He was arrested Tuesday.The Jan. 6 attack occurred as Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to disrupt the certification of electoral votes and reverse the former president’s loss to Joe Biden.Investigators reviewed footage of the riot at the Capitol and allegedly observed Orta removing police barricades, throwing an ob...

Man shot in St. Louis near Enterprise Center, hours before Blues game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS - One man was shot Tuesday afternoon in St. Louis near an intersection within proximity of the Enterprise Center, police say. Police sources tell FOX 2 the shooting happened near South 14th Street and Clark Avenue. One man was shot and rushed to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting happened sometime during the 3 p.m. hour. Police were reportedly able to stop a person of interest as he was boarding a bus. The person of interest is now being questioned. AG Bailey responds to new report on Kim Gardner, says her term had ‘radical consequences’ It's unclear what led up to the shooting. Preliminary information indicates the victim and alleged gunman knew each other and were involved in a personal dispute prior to the shooting. The shooting happened just a few hours before the St. Louis Blues host a game at the Enterprise Center against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Blues fan Shep Hyken said it’s been his experience that fans are safe arriving and departing gam...

Man killed in north St. Louis shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS - One man has died after a shooting Tuesday evening in north St. Louis. The shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of North Kingshighway Boulevard in the Penrose neighborhood. AG Bailey responds to new report on Kim Gardner, says her term had ‘radical consequences’ Investigators say the victim was shot in the chest. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment, but later pronounced deceased. This is a developing story. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is handling the investigation. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

Football: Fairview QB Bekkem Kritza picks Penn State over CU, others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

Fairview junior quarterback Bekkem Kritza will be on the move again soon.Not to worry, Knights fans.The highly sought-after 6-foot-5 gunslinger, who returned to Boulder and Tom McCartney’s program this fall following a string of transfers that saw him go from Colorado to California to Florida and back, committed to Penn State University live on 247Sports’ YouTube channel Tuesday evening.The recruiting site’s top 2025 player from Colorado — its 34th-ranked quarterback in the class — also had the University of Colorado, Miami, Texas A&M and Washington in his top five.“I can’t wait to be a Lion, man,” Kritza said as he was surrounded on the live feed by friends and family, including McCartney. “I’m excited to get up there.”As a freshman with the Knights, Kritza was making next-level throws while filling up the stats sheet at the young age of 15. He finished that year with 3,192 yards and 22 TDs before citing family reasons for his move out of state the following summer.When he retu...

LIVE: Mayor Bass provides update on 10 Freeway fire closure in downtown L.A.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is providing an update Tuesday night on the massive fire that shut down the 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles.Along with Bass, remarks were given by L.A. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley, General Manager of the Department of Transportation Laura Rubio-Cornejo, and Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins.“We got good news today,” Bass said. “At this point, we do not anticipate that the freeway is coming down. It can be repaired. This is going to be an inconvenience of weeks as opposed to months. I’m hoping those individuals who can work from home will stay home, and those individuals who have to come into town will ride Metro.”Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency following the destructive fire.Newsom described the fire as being set with “malice intent,” saying the incident appeared to be an act of arson.A large storage fire closed part of the 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday Nov. 11, 2023. (RMGNews)Firefighters battle a massive fire...

Washington State, Oregon State gain control of Pac-12 board after judge grants motion, but appeal lurks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:10 GMT

Washington State and Oregon State on Tuesday grabbed control of the Pac-12’s governing board and power of the purse that comes with it, at least for now.After a two-and-a-half-hour hearing, Whitman County (Wash.) Superior Court Judge Gary Libey granted the schools’ request for a preliminary injunction that confirms they are the only remaining voting members of the shattered conference.The Pac-12 “will be governed by the two universities that have not submitted their notices of intent to withdraw,” Libey said.However, Libey stayed his ruling until the end of the week as the defendant, Washington (acting on behalf of all 10 departing members), seeks an appeal from the Washington Supreme Court in Olympia.But the ruling Tuesday evening begins to clear the way for WSU and OSU to control more than $400 million in revenue for the current fiscal year and whatever long-term assets the conference maintains following the departure of 10 schools next summer.“We are pleas...