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DeSantis Stacked Florida’s Supreme Court With Cronies Who Wage His War on Wokeness — or Else

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

Shortly after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in 2019, the state Supreme Court threatened to dissolve the Florida Bar Association if it didn’t get rid of its diversity programs.The court had taken a sharp right turn after DeSantis selected three new justices with the help of Federalist Society board co-chair Leonard Leo. Leo led a secret panel of advisers that vetted DeSantis’s judicial nominees before he took office.The revelation came on the heels of a slew of news stories on conservative donors buying influence on the U.S. Supreme Court — where Leo, again, was among the conservative legal activists who helped to install a conservative majority. The top federal court has since made landmark rulings against abortion rights and in favor of business interests. And Leo isn’t done yet: He funnels money to a network of right-wing organizations orchestrating key Supreme Court cases on red-meat conservative issues.In Florida, Leo was working to overturn a 40-year status quo of judic...

After the fall of Roe, emboldened religious conservatives lobby to restrict abortion in Africa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Nowhere in the world has a higher rate of unsafe abortions or unintended pregnancies than sub-Saharan Africa, where women often face scorn for becoming pregnant before marriage.Efforts to legalize and make abortions safer in Africa were shaken when the U.S. Supreme Court ended the national right to an abortion a year ago. Within days, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio declared that his government would decriminalize abortion “at a time when sexual and reproductive health rights for women are being either overturned or threatened.”But some U.S.-based organizations active in Africa were emboldened, especially in largely Christian countries. One is Family Watch International, a nonprofit Christian conservative organization whose anti-LGBTQ+ stance, anti-abortion activities and “intense focus on Africa” led to its designation as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.In April, Family Watch International helped to develop a “family values and sovereig...

Dodgers play the Pirates in first of 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (39-44, third in the NL Central) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (46-37, second in the NL West)Los Angeles; Monday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Mitch Keller (0-0); Dodgers: TBDBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a four-game series at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.Los Angeles has a 24-15 record in home games and a 46-37 record overall. The Dodgers have a 37-13 record in games when they scored at least five runs.Pittsburgh is 17-23 on the road and 39-44 overall. The Pirates have the eighth-ranked team ERA in the NL at 4.33.Monday’s game is the fourth time these teams square off this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Freddie Freeman has a .318 batting average to lead the Dodgers, and has 28 doubles, a triple and 14 home runs. Mookie Betts is 12-for-33 with five home runs and 13 RBI over the last 10 games.Bryan Reynolds has 20 doubles, three triples and eight home runs while hitting .275 for the Pirates. Carlos Santana is 14-for-40 with four d...

Brewers take on the Cubs in first of 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

Chicago Cubs (38-44, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (45-39, second in the NL Central)Milwaukee; Monday, 2:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Drew Smyly (7-5, 4.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 71 strikeouts); Brewers: Julio Teheran (2-3, 2.85 ERA, .93 WHIP, 25 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -110, Cubs -109; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers begin a four-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Monday.Milwaukee has gone 22-18 at home and 45-39 overall. The Brewers are 29-5 in games when they out-hit their opponents.Chicago is 38-44 overall and 17-22 in road games. The Cubs have a 14-29 record in games when they have given up a home run.The teams play Monday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: William Contreras has 12 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 29 RBI while hitting .247 for the Brewers. Christian Yelich is 12-for-39 with three doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.Christopher Morel leads the Cubs with...

Nationals take on the Reds in first of 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (45-39, first in the NL Central) vs. Washington Nationals (34-49, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Monday, 6:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Luke Weaver (1-2, 6.96 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 55 strikeouts); Nationals: Jake Irvin (1-4, 4.91 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 37 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -126, Nationals +107; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds to start a four-game series.Washington is 34-49 overall and 13-27 at home. The Nationals are 21-9 in games when they scored at least five runs.Cincinnati is 22-18 in road games and 45-39 overall. Reds hitters have a collective .335 on-base percentage, the second-ranked percentage in the NL.Monday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Lane Thomas has 21 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs for the Nationals. Jeimer Candelario is 12-for-37 with four doubles, three home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.Spencer Steer lead...

Marlins host the Cardinals to start 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (35-48, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Miami Marlins (48-37, second in the NL East)Miami; Monday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.44 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 70 strikeouts); Marlins: Braxton Garrett (4-2, 3.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 92 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -128, Cardinals +109; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins start a four-game series at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.Miami has a 25-16 record at home and a 48-37 record overall. The Marlins have the sixth-best team batting average in MLB play at .260.St. Louis has a 35-48 record overall and an 18-23 record on the road. Cardinals hitters are batting a collective .252, which ranks eighth in the NL.The teams meet Monday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Luis Arraez has three home runs, 25 walks and 41 RBI while hitting .389 for the Marlins. Garrett Cooper is 13-for-38 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI over the last...

Baltimore investigators searching for suspects in block party mass shooting that killed 2 and injured 28 others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

(CNN) — Investigators in Baltimore are searching for multiple suspects in a mass shooting that launched a beloved annual neighborhood block party into chaos early Sunday, killing two people and injuring 28 others, most of whom were teens, officials said.The gunfire erupted overnight in the south Baltimore neighborhood of Brooklyn, where community members were enjoying a yearly celebration dubbed Brooklyn Day, Mayor Brandon Scott told CNN.Aaliyah Gonzales, 18, and Kylis Fagbemi, 20, were fatally shot, the Baltimore Police Department announced.The dozens of surviving victims all sustained gunshot wounds, according to acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley. Five of those injured were adults aged 20 or older and the remaining 23 were teenagers ranging in age from 13 to 19, police said.Nine of the wounded remained in local hospitals in “various conditions” as of Sunday afternoon, Worley said.Investigators are scouring the sprawling crime scene – which spans several blocks – for eviden...

Lithuanian MEP funded disinformation portal: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

Viktor Uspaskichas, a non-attached Lithuanian lawmaker in the European Parliament, has financially supported the new social media platform 77.lt — home to many fake news and conspiracy theories about, for example, the coronavirus pandemic or Ukraine — according to an investigation from national broadcaster LRT. The alternative news portal was launched in April to foster a “decentralized social platform that respects the privacy of its members, does not censor the diversity of opinions, and protects the importance of free speech” in a bid to “create a counterweight to the one-sided mass media.”But the platform is mostly powered by fake profiles, LTR found. “Analysis shows they are not genuine profiles — their photos are usually generated by artificial intelligence and they share multiple posts simultaneously on their feeds,” it said. The report also found that Uspaskichas, who is also the former leader of Lithuania’s Labour Party, and his for...

‘Everyone jumped in to help’: Owner of Laconia, NH bar recalls crash that left dozens hurt, 14 hospitalized

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

Police are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a bar in Laconia, New Hampshire, on Sunday, leaving dozens of people injured and 14 hospitalized, officials said.Officers responding to a report of a vehicle into a building at 554 Endicott St. around 12:45 p.m. found a four-door sedan inside the Looney Bin Bar & Grill with numerous people injured, according to the Laconia Fire Department.Fourteen of the injured were taken to Laconia Hospital in Concord, Concord Hospital, and Franklin Hospital. Two of the patients who were transported had significant lower leg injuries, the others had lacerations. Twenty people were evaluated at the scene and didn’t require medical transport.The owner, Michelle Watson, told 7NEWS it was a miracle that no one was killed and credited patrons with springing into action to help the wounded.“I’m just so grateful that everyone’s OK,” she said, adding that the most seriously injured person became pinned in the bathroom....

Police: Passenger arrested on weapons charge after crash involving cruiser in Jamaica Plain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:36 GMT

A man is facing criminal charges after police say he threw a gun into a cemetery in Jamaica Plain after the vehicle he was riding in struck a police cruiser on Sunday.Police say the man tossed the illegal firearm following the crash near Canterbury Street.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.