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Harvard reacts to Supreme Court decision throwing out affirmative action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

Harvard University today affirmed its belief that “diversity and difference” are essential to excellence in education after the Supreme Court ruling that threw out affirmative action policies as part of the university’s admission process.In an open letter to the university community, Harvard wrote, “deep and transformative teaching, learning, and research depend upon a community comprising people of many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences.”Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said that for too long universities have “concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”Related Articles Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action in college admissions, and Biden ‘strongly’ disagrees Read the opinion: SCOTUS declares affirmative...

Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action in college admissions, and Biden ‘strongly’ disagrees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor and forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.The court’s conservative majority overturned admissions plans at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, the nation’s oldest private and public colleges, respectively.Chief Justice John Roberts said that for too long universities have “concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”Justice Clarence Thomas — the nation’s second Black justice, who had long called for an end to affirmative action — wrote separately that the decision “sees the universities’ admissions policies for what they are: rudderless, race-based preferences designed to ensure a p...

We’re older than we used to be, especially in these states

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

Tim Henderson | Stateline.org (TNS)The median age rose in almost every state last year, census estimates show, continuing a long-term trend that is pushing states to prepare for aging populations.Seventeen states had median ages over 40 in 2022, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates of the age at which half of residents are older and half are younger. That’s up from 12 states in 2020 and just seven in 2010.Nationwide, the median age was below 30 until 1980, but it rose to 38.9 as of 2022, according to the bureau estimates.That leaves more states planning for future health and housing challenges for older residents. Some states have issued or are considering executive orders, agency plans and legislation to assist state residents who need more help with health crises, housing and long-term care as they live longer.Millennials started turning 40 last year, and the youngest baby boomers are quickly approaching 60.“As the nation’s median age creeps closer to 40, you can really s...

Mike Lupica: Domingo German becomes the latest imperfect Yankee to throw a perfect game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

A legend of this newspaper, and of this business, involves the day that Don Larsen pitched his perfect game for the Yankees in the World Series, the first perfect game a Yankee had ever pitched, still the only one a World Series had ever seen.Joe Trimble was writing the game story for the Daily News on that October day in 1956. Dick Young was sitting next to him. When it was over, after Larsen had struck out Dale Mitchell and Yogi had jumped into Larsen’s arms, Joe was still searching for the right way to begin what felt like the biggest game story he would ever have to write for this newspaper.That was when, or so the legend has it, Young leaned over and said, “The imperfect man pitched a perfect game.” Joe Trimble wrote it, the most famous line that would ever appear under his byline.Now another imperfect young man, Domingo German, has pitched another perfect game for the Yankees, against the Oakland Double A’s on Wednesday night, the fourth in the teamR...

Saying strike is “imminent,” UPS gets a Friday deadline from union to come up with a better contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

By MATT OTT (AP Business Writer)Frustrated by an “appalling counterproposal” earlier this week, the head of the union representing 340,000 UPS workers said a strike is imminent and gave the shipping giant a Friday deadline to improve its offer. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters walked away from negotiations Wednesday, demanding that UPS give its “last, best, and final offer” no later than June 30.Teamsters officials did not say what time the Friday deadline was or what actions it might take if it is not met.“The largest single-employer strike in American history now appears inevitable,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, who accused UPS executives of hoarding profits instead of sharing them with workers.“Executives at UPS, some of whom get tens of millions of dollars a year, do not care about the hundreds of thousands of American workers who make this company run,” O’Brien said.In a brief statement, Uni...

Bruins select a pair of centermen with first two picks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

After sitting on their hands for the first two rounds of the draft, the Bruins made their first selection of the NHL draft in Nashville on Thursday, taking center Christopher Pelosi, a New Jersey product who is headed for Quinnipiac, with the 92nd overall selection.In 43 games for Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, 6-foot-1, 181-pound Pelosi had 13-6-19 totals.At the moment, it looks like a reach. Pelosi was ranked 127th among North American skaters. We’ll see what kind of player he turns out to be.With the 124th pick, the B’s took another center, Beckett Hendrickson from the US National Team Development Program. The 6-foot-2, 174-pound pivot is the son of long-timer NHLer Darby Hendrickson. He had 13-21-34 in NTDP play.Hendrickson, a Minnetonka, Minn.. native, is committed to the University of Minnesota for the 2024-24 season.The Bruins have the 188th, 214th and 220th selections remaining. 

Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action in college admissions, and Biden 'strongly' disagrees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor and forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.The court's conservative majority overturned admissions plans at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, the nation's oldest private and public colleges, respectively.Chief Justice John Roberts said that for too long universities have “concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”Justice Clarence Thomas — the nation's second Black justice, who had long called for an end to affirmative action — wrote separately that the decision “sees the universities’ admissions policies for what they are: rudderless, race-based preferences designed to ensure a particular racial mix in their ente...

Christine King Farris, the last living sibling of Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 95

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Christine King Farris, the last living sibling of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has died.Her niece, the Rev. Bernice King, tweeted that her “beloved aunt” died Thursday. She was 95.For decades after her brother’s assassination in 1968, Farris worked along with his widow, Coretta Scott King, to preserve and promote his legacy. But unlike her high-profile sister-in-law, Farris’ activism — and grief — was often behind the scenes.“She may not have always been on the line of the march, but that was true with a lot of the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement,” said Marcellus Barksdale, a history professor at Morehouse College, of Farris in a 2009 interview with The Associated Press. “Because of the luminescence of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, Christine kind of got dimmed by that, but she was no less important.”Farris was born Willie Christine King on Sept. 11, 1927, in Atlanta. She was the first child of the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Christin...

Republicans expand their Hunter Biden investigation by seeking an interview with the lead prosecutor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Thursday requested voluntary testimony from nearly a dozen Justice Department officials involved in the investigation of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter as GOP lawmakers widen their scrutiny into what they claim is improper interference by the agency.Leaders of the Republican-controlled House Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Ways and Means committees asked in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland for nine officials from the Justice Department and two from the FBI to appear for the interviews to address recent allegations made by two IRS employees who worked on the federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s taxes and foreign business dealings.“Recent startling testimony from Internal Revenue Services whistleblowers raises serious questions about the Department’s commitment to evenhanded justice and the veracity of assertions made to the Committee on the Judiciary,” Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky ...

Pence makes a surprise trip to Ukraine and meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Thursday, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring the war-torn country as it fights Russian aggression.Pence, who this month launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for president, has been deeply critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.He has called on the U.S. to deliver more military aid to the country and criticized GOP rivals who have questioned the ongoing U.S. involvement, saying there is no room in the party for “Putin apologists” and pushing back against those who want the U.S. to take on a more limited role on the world stage.Pence spent roughly 12 hours in the country Thursday, according to an adviser, with stops in Moshchun, Bucha and Irpin, according to NBC News, which traveled with him.“I’m here because it’s important that the American people understand the progress that we’ve made and how support for the Ukrain...