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Georgia officials lay out obstacles to updating election system before 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia election officials said Wednesday that they would need six to nine months to install new software and hardware to update the state’s voting system to protect against security flaws, pushing back against calls to update the system before the 2024 election cycle.“It’s really not an upgrade,” state Deputy Elections Director Michael Barnes said of the work needed on 30,000 voting machines. “This really would require us to fully rebuild the system.”Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has said the state must wait until 2025, but critics continue to pile on, with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and the state Republican Party joining the chorus in recent days. They say waiting until after next year’s presidential election would leave the voting equipment open to attack.A group called the Coalition for Good Governance has been suing to throw out the state’s electronic ballot marking system. The coalition and the Morgan County Democratic Committee asked the State Elections ...

CFD: 4 injured after driver crashes into light pole in West Lawn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Four people were injured after a driver crashed into a light pole Wednesday evening in West Lawn, according to the Chicago Fire Department.The crash was reported around 7:30 p.m. near West 69th Street and South Pulaski Road. 4 pedestrians in hospital after hit-and-run near Guaranteed Rate Field; man in custody According to the fire department, two people were critically injured and taken to local hospitals.Two other people, one in fair condition and one in good condition, were also injured and taken to hospitals, the fire department said. Additional details haven't been released.

Transgender man says Walgreens employee denied him hormone replacement meds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

(KRON) -- A Northern California transgender man took to Reddit to speak out about a local Walgreens pharmacist refusing to give him his prescribed medication, all because it "went against his religion." Roscoe Rike, 30, of Oakland, says he has been going to the Walgreens pharmacy on Telegraph Avenue for nearly a decade. He's been picking up his HRT, or hormone-replacement therapy, at the same location for the past three years, always without issue. Judge rules Arkansas ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors violates US Constitution Rike says this time was different. A pharmacist that Rike had never seen at the location before asked what exactly the medication was for, which seemed unusual."I told him I was pretty sure that it wasn't any of his business," Rike said. At this point, the pharmacist then told Rike that he would not be able to fill the prescription "due to his religious beliefs," Rike said. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)That's when Rike thought he'd...

Search underway for missing Montclare woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 33-year-old woman with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.Brittney Romano, 33, was last seen on the 2400 block of North Ocanto Avenue in Chicago's Montclare neighborhood on Saturday, June 10. Search underway for missing Irving Park teen Romano is described as 5-foot-7, weighing 130 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black leather coat, blue jeans, and black shoes.Romano reportedly has a tattoo on her right shoulder and a cardinal tattoo on her left ribs. She also has been diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenia.Anyone with information regarding Brittney Romano's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-746-6554.

Severe storms moving through producing minor wind damage, frequent lightning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Strong to severe thunderstorms are moving into the area, capable of producing damaging wind gusts and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning.Fredericksburg reported a 59 mph wind gust from the storms, while small tree limbs were reported broken by gusty winds in Hye and Twin Sisters (Blanco Co.), and in parts of Austin.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for all of the Austin Metro, parts of the Hill Country and all of our Eastern Counties until 11 p.m. for the potential of additional storms.Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 11 p.m.1-2" of rain is possible in the heavier storms as they bring brief, welcome heat relief tonight. BLOG: If June is this hot, what comes in July? Before the storms, Austin set an unofficial heat index record Wednesday afternoon on the first day of summer as "feels like" temperatures soared to 117°. A few isolated storms remain in the forecast Thursday and Friday, then even hotter weather is possible this weekend through next week. We m...

Brought from the big screen to the Orpheum stage, ‘Tootsie’ shows its age

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

Once Hollywood looked to Broadway for inspiration, with many a landmark stage musical landing on celluloid. But the creative winds have shifted in recent decades. Many is the modern stage musical adapted from a film, such as “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Hairspray,” “Mary Poppins” and “The Producers.” Blame it on risk-averse financiers, but the main thing on the menu seems to be theatrical comfort food derived from familiar films.Which brings us to “Tootsie.” The 1982 film was a box office hit and an Oscar winner, too, one that sits in second place on the American Film Institute’s list of Hollywood’s best comedies (behind only “Some Like It Hot,” which has just debuted as a stage musical, by the way).David Yazbek and Robert Horn’s musical adaptation of “Tootsie” bowed on Broadway in 2019, and now a touring production is spending a week at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. And it might be even funnier than the original, thanks to Horn’s clever script and a Yazbek score ...

Jorge López says trip to injured list was Twins’ idea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

Going to the 15-day injured list for his mental health was the Twins’ idea, Jorge López said Wednesday.“It was more their decision. I just accepted,” López told reporters before a 6:40 p.m. first pitch against the Boston Red Sox at Target Field. “I think it’s something I really appreciate, to recognize that and work through that.”López hasn’t pitched since he surrendered three earned runs on five hits in the ninth inning of an 8-4 loss to Detroit on June 15. In 29 relief appearances this season, he’s 2-2 with a 5.00 earned-run average and has given up 28 hits and walked 10 in 27 innings.“This game is more mental than physical,” he said. “You work as much as you can to get your body and everything like that (in shape), but at the same time, you’ve got to do your mind. That’s what I’m trying to do every day, get my mind fresh and start clean.”The right-hander said he was letting his emotions get the better of him on the mound.“Just little stuff where bad outings, I’d start kicki...

Local band invited to tour Cambodia by U.S. Embassy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Flame is a group of musicians who all happen to have a disability. The Lexington chapter of The Arc started the band after Lead Singer and Guitarist, Michelle King, won a talent show using her gift of voice. Something doctors said King would never develop. Local band changing perception of disabilities, one song at a time “I did the music and all that when I was little. I was self-taught, singing and everything," explained King.The band has played at a variety of venues, from elementary schools to arenas seating thousands. Up on stage, Vocalist, Andrew Carpenter, says its all about a bunch of people showing the world anyone can do what they love. “To be able to show that and be a role model for people, it’s amazing to be able to able to feel that you’re making a difference," described Carpenter. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The group has been celebrating their 20th anniversary performing ar...

House Republicans vote to censure Adam Schiff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

House Republicans on Wednesday voted to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a rare reprimand of a sitting lawmaker that the GOP conference delivered as a rebuke for his efforts against former President Trump.The vote — 213-209-6 — is the culmination of a week-long push led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), which was stymied last week when a band of Republicans joined Democrats in blocking a censure resolution from coming to the floor for a vote. It advanced on Wednesday after Luna made changes to the measure.It also marked the apex of Republicans’ years-long campaign against Schiff, who emerged as a bogeyman on the right for his unrelenting criticism of Trump’s alleged ties with Russia, and was cemented as a chief GOP adversary on Capitol Hill when he led the first impeachment inquiry targeting Trump.A stunning scene took place after the vote, as Democrats in the chamber surrounded Schiff on the House floor, chanting “Adam, Adam.” They interrupted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif....

Two bodies found inside Lakewood home, double-homicide investigation underway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:00 GMT

Two bodies were found inside a Lakewood residence and police are looking for a suspect in a double homicide.At 6 p.m. Monday police were sent to the Lakewood Village Estates, 1400 block of Allison Street, after a call to report two bodies found inside a home, according to the Lakewood Police Department.A suspect is at-large, police said on Wednesday.The body of 60-year-old Debra Thomas was found as well as the body of man who was not identified Wednesday by police pending notification of family.An investigation is ongoing.