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House GOP passes debt limit package: Five takeaways

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

After a week of internal sniping, House Republicans on Wednesday approved legislation in a 217-215 vote that would slash federal spending and extend the government’s borrowing authority into next year.The package has no chance of becoming law in the face of opposition from the Senate and White House, both of which are controlled by Democrats, but it nonetheless represents a hard-fought victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and his leadership team.McCarthy and his conference have demanded budget-cutting negotiations with President Biden in return for raising the debt ceiling and now have specific policy proposals — and more political leverage — heading into that fight. Here are five takeaways.McCarthy squeaks out another winIn an important sense, Wednesday's vote marked a victory for McCarthy in his first real legislative test, proving he and his leadership team can unite a discordant conference on massive budget bills despite their slim majority.Leaders successfull...

Senate GOP votes down bill calling on VA to study marijuana as PTSD, pain remedy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Senate Republicans on Wednesday defeated a bill calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to research marijuana as a remedy for post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain.Senators voted 57 to 42 to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill, falling short of the 60 votes necessary for it to advance. Eight Republicans — Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Eric Schmitt (Mo.) and Dan Sullivan (Alaska) — voted alongside every Democrat to advance the bill. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) switched his vote from “aye” to “nay” in order to have the ability to bring the legislation to the floor again in the future. He lamented that the bill was not able to move forward despite the support of numerous veterans groups and marijuana advocates. “It’s regrettable that this bill, which so much helps our veterans, went down,” Schumer said. “I hope that so...

Judge rejects push by Missouri AG to move transgender care lawsuit to federal court

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s last-minute push to move a lawsuit challenging restrictions on transgender care to federal court was denied Wednesday, with a federal judge ruling the matter belonged back in state court.“You just can’t file something in federal court just because you want to be in federal court,” District Judge Henry Edward Autrey told Bailey’s top deputy, Solicitor General Josh Divine, during a Wednesday hearing. “There is something that sometimes bites people in the behind called jurisdiction.”The lawsuit was originally filed in St. Louis Circuit Court, and was scheduled for a hearing in that jurisdiction Wednesday afternoon — one day before Bailey’s emergency rule limiting access to gender-affirming care is set to take effect. After the attorney general’s office sought to move the lawsuit to a United States District Court, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and Lambda Legal requested the judge remand it, or send it back to its original j...

Mid-Missouri man sentenced for raping runaway teen

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A Mexico, Missouri, man appeared in federal court Wednesday to learn his fate for raping a runaway teenager during a trip to Las Vegas.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Jacob Burney, 24, was in a relationship with a 13-year-old girl in 2021. Prior to Dec. 8, 2021, the victim ran away from home to be with Burney. The teen was reported missing, and federal investigators received a tip on Dec. 14, 2021, about her disappearance. Top Story: Mushroom hunter describes discovering body in the woods Between those dates, Burney switched vehicles and left Missouri, preventing law enforcement officers from finding the teen. Burney and the victim first traveled to Illinois and then Las Vegas.During the trip, Burney provided drugs and alcohol to the teen. He then committed repeated statutory rape, per his plea agreement.Burney pleaded guilty in January 2023 to one count of transportation of a minor to engage in a criminal sex act.A...

Broncos Podcast: Previewing the NFL draft and where Denver might look in the third round and beyond

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | NFL Mock Draft 2023: Three quarterbacks are taken in top five Denver Broncos | Broncos Mock Draft 2.0: Exploring a world in which Denver trades both up and down Denver Broncos | Could jack-of-all-trades prospect Jack Colletto be the Broncos’ Taysom Hill? Denver Broncos | Should Broncos take advantage of strong running back class in NFL draft? Denver Broncos | Late nights, position clusters and “a lot of work”: Sean Payton and George Paton’s pre-draft dash has been a football get-to-know-you On the latest edition of the 1st & Orange Podcast, Denver Post Broncos reporters Parker Gabriel and Ryan McFadden preview the NFL draft, talk through options for Denver in the third round  and what it might take to trade up from No. 67 on Friday. Will the Broncos take a running back? Could they go back to edge rusher with their top pick for a second straight...

Man arrested in alleged kidnapping that was caught on camera in Commerce; victim not found

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged kidnapping that was captured on camera in Commerce Tuesday afternoon.At 4:21 p.m., a woman was quickly walking down Couts Avenue while talking on a cell phone when a man pulled up, the LASD said in a news release.The man, who exited his silver 2016-17 Kia Rio with a handgun, pistol-whipped the woman as she was trying to get away and dragged her into the car's passenger seat before driving away, the LASD added.The unidentified man was taken into custody around 2 p.m. and was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and abduction. His vehicle was also located and taken as evidence. The victim has not been located. She was described as having "dark brownish red hair" and was wearing a black dress and sandals, the release said. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released this image of an alleged kidnapping victim, as shown on April 25, 2023.The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released this image of an alleged kidnapper, a...

Suspect arrested in fatal party shooting of Rancho Cucamonga teen

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

A teen suspect was arrested Tuesday in connection to the murder of a 15-year-old old boy from Rancho Cucamonga.The suspect was identified as Israel Diaz, 19, from Bloomington, by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.Diaz is accused of murdering 15-year-old Robert Plyley on Nov. 1, 2022.The Alta Loma High School student was shot and killed at a Halloween party in the 10600 block of Geronimo Avenue in Bloomington, authorities said.An investigation revealed that a large gathering was held at the location and a fight broke out outside. Authorities said video evidence showed Plyley stepped in to stop a male from fighting a female and was struck by gunfire.Officers responding to the scene found Plyley lying on a driveway with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.A young man and a young woman described as persons of interest in a Bloomington shooting are shown in photos provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department on Dec. 14, 2022. Robert...

Judge: Devin Nunes not defamed by Esquire’s Iowa farm story

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Associated PressDES MOINES, Iowa — A federal judge in Iowa has ruled against former U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, who filed lawsuits claiming he was defamed by articles published by Esquire magazine about his family’s Iowa dairy farm.U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams ruled Tuesday in favor of reporter Ryan Lizza and Esquire publisher Hearst Magazines in a lawsuit Nunes filed, according to the Des Moines Register.Nunes served for 19 years representing California in the U.S. House before leaving Congress to run the social media platform Truth Social, which is largely owned by former President Donald Trump.Nunes filed the lawsuits in 2019 after Lizza’s story on the Nunes family’s dairy farm in northwest Iowa published in 2018. The article claimed the family kept their move from California to Iowa a secret and delved into questions about immigrants living illegally in Iowa who work at the state’s dairy farms.In his ruling, Williams said a reasonable jury couldn’t ...

San Jose: Pair arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

SAN JOSE – Authorities over the weekend arrested a pair of men in connection with a robbery and shooting in San Jose.The incident was reported around 3:45 p.m. Saturday at a store in the 1600 block of Story Road.An investigation revealed two San Jose men – ages 33 and 27 – entered the store and took goods without paying for them, the San Jose Police Department said in a statement Wednesday.When confronted by an employee, the 33-year-old man brandished a firearm and started shooting into the store, according to police. The suspects also reportedly continued to fire at employees and security guards as they left the scene in a vehicle.No one was hit by the gunfire.An officer was patrolling on foot in the area and managed to get the license plate of the vehicle.Officers identified the suspects and arrested them at a nearby residence, police said. They were booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges of attempted homicide and robbery.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | ...

Letters: Bee-killing pesticide | DA’s reform | Antioch positives | PG&E rates | Israel lacks choices

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.State should end useof bee-killing pesticideEspecially in California, it can often be easy to take a bountiful agricultural sector for granted. However, with the decline of animal pollinators, the future we leave our children may not be so simple.Over the past year, commercial beekeepers nationally have lost about 39% of the colonies they manage. These bees are essential for regional and national food production. Locally, bee decline risks staples of Californian agriculture such as almonds and grapes.This cannot continue unabated. I’m calling for a ban on the needless use of neonicotinoid pesticides for lawns and landscaping. California nearly passed AB 2146 last year before Gov. Newsom vetoed the measure. The proposal isn’t radical — six other states have passed similar legislation — but would have a real impact on bee populations in California.Gov. Newsom must help keep California ecologica...