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South Carolina’s new all-male highest court reverses course on abortion, upholding strict 6-week ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s new all-male Supreme Court reversed course on abortion on Wednesday, upholding a ban on most such procedures after about six weeks of pregnancy. The 4-1 ruling departs from the court’s own decision earlier this year to strike down a similar law. The continued erosion of legal abortion access across the U.S. South comes after Republican state lawmakers replaced the lone female on the court, Justice Kaye Hearn. Writing for the new majority, Justice John Kittredge acknowledged that the 2023 law infringes on “a woman’s right of privacy and bodily autonomy,” but said the state legislature reasonably determined this time around that those interests don’t outweigh “the interest of the unborn child to live.”“As a Court, unless we can say that the balance struck by the legislature was unreasonable as a matter of law, we must uphold the Act,” Kittredge wrote. It was Hearn who wrote the majority’s lead opinion in January striking down the ban. The c...

Business software firm Open Text acquires Irish company KineMatik

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

TORONTO — Business software company Open Text Corp. has acquired Ireland-based KineMatik, which specializes in business process and project management. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and Open Text said Wednesday the purchase was not material to its financial results.KineMatik helps with workflow automation, document change control, project management and electronic lab notebook solutions using Open Text’s content server.It works with businesses in life science, technology, finance, energy and other industries.Open Text CEO Mark Barrenechea says KineMatik helps enterprise customers in regulated industries meet the highest standards in business process and project management.Barrenechea says Open Text looks forward to bringing the KineMatik solution to its content management customers.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:OTEX)The Canadian Press

Wisconsin Republicans ask newly elected liberal justice to not hear redistricting case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature asked that the newest Democratic-backed justice on the state Supreme Court recuse herself from lawsuits seeking to overturn GOP-drawn electoral district boundary maps, arguing that she has prejudged the cases.Republicans argue in their motions filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court that Justice Janet Protasiewicz can’t fairly hear the cases because during her campaign for the seat earlier this year she called the Republican-drawn maps “unfair” and “rigged” and said there needs to be “a fresh look at the gerrymandering question.”Protasiewicz, who was backed by Democrats in her winning election in April, never said how she would rule on a redistricting lawsuit. She never committed to recusing herself from hearing the case. Her win gave liberals a 4-3 majority on the court.Protasiewicz did promise to recuse herself from any case brought by the Wisconsin Democratic Party because it donated nearly $10 million to...

Ontario court rules against Jordan Peterson, upholds social media training order

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

An Ontario court has ruled against controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson, upholding a regulatory body’s order that he undergo social media training.Last November, Peterson, who is also an author and media commentator, was ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to undergo a coaching program on professionalism in public statements.That followed numerous complaints to the governing body of Ontario psychologists, of which Peterson is a member, regarding his online commentary directed at politicians, a plus-sized model and transgender actor Elliot Page, among other issues.The college’s complaints committee concluded his controversial public statements could amount to professional misconduct and ordered the social media coaching program _ failure to comply could mean the loss of his licence to practice psychology in the province.Peterson filed for a judicial review, arguing his political commentary is not under the college’s purview.The Ontario Divisiona...

North Dakota Gov. Burgum may miss GOP presidential debate after hurting himself playing basketball

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum may not be able to participate in Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate after he injured himself playing basketball and was taken to the emergency room. Campaign spokesman Lance Trover said Wednesday that it was “unclear if he will be able to stand at the debate.” He didn’t say what type of injury it was but said Burgum’s team would have more information later. The injury, which occurred Tuesday while Burgum was playing with campaign staff, was first reported by CNN.Missing the two-hour debate would be a major setback for Burgum, who is the least known of the eight candidates expected to take the stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night. The first debate of the GOP primary, which early front-runner Donald Trump has said he’s skipping, is his best opportunity for Burgum to introduce himself to voters. Burgum, a wealthy businessman, qualified for the debate after offering $20 gift cards to donors who gave h...

Swiss police warn that heat wave raises danger of falling ice, rock in the Alps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Police in southwest Switzerland warned Wednesday that a heat wave has increased the risk of falling rock and ice in the Alpine region, where it’s been particularly deadly this year for mountaineers and hikers. Most of the victims have been foreigners.Valais regional police say a spike in temperatures and a record high altitude of nearly 5,300 meters (about 17,300 feet) for a bellwether zero-degree Celsius reading over Switzerland has accelerated erosion in the Alps.“With the heat wave of the last few days, and the days to come, the danger level is heightened in the high mountains,” regional police spokesman Steve Leger said in an email.The high temperatures have jeopardized the usual night-time refreeze that helps keep ice frozen solid. The resulting thaw means ice patches such as glaciers and seracs — blocks or towers of ice on top of glaciers — as well as rocky formations held together by ice could get dislodged, posing a threat to mountain climbers.So far this year,...

Stock market today: Wall Street rises as easing yields in the bond market relax the pressure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is rising Wednesday ahead of a profit report that could show whether the frenzy this year around artificial-intelligence technology is deserved or overdone.The S&P 500 was 0.7% higher in morning trading and holding firmer for now amid what’s been a dismal August. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 105 points, or 0.3%, at 34,393, as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1% higher. Stocks rose as the heavy pressure that’s built within the bond market eased. Treasury yields fell after a report suggested the surprisingly resilient U.S. economy is cooling in August.Advance Auto Parts rallied 3.7% for one of the larger gains in the S&P 500. It named a new CEO and stronger revenue for the spring than analysts expected, though its profit fell short.Foot Locker tumbled 34.5% after reporting weaker profit for the latest quarter than expected. It also paused its dividend and cut its financial forecasts for the full year, describ...

Federal grant to aid workforce equity on Illinois infrastructure projects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor is scheduled to announce Wednesday an effort to increase "workforce equity" in Illinois. Crews battle fire at Chinatown Supermarket amid extreme temperatures Gov. JB Pritzker is set to join U.S. Labor Department Acting Secretary Julie Su to discuss federal and state funded infrastructure projects. They are also supposed to be joined by Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan and Chicago Women in Trades' Board Chair Japlan Allen.WGN plans to livestream the event within this story beginning at approximately 11 a.m.

Federal bill aims to curb plastic pollution in all U.S. waterways

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

CHICAGO — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has introduced a bill to keep companies from dumping plastic pellets into waterways.If passed, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic into waterways from facilities and sources that make, use, package, or transport pellets, according to a press release from the senator's office. Illinois operators warn of day care crisis Durbin plans to discuss the proposal in Chicago Wednesday following a tour of the city's Museum of Science and Industry's new exhibit: The Blue Paradox. The exhibit is designed to show the effects of human plastic waste and its impact on the ecosystem.WGN plans to livestream the event within this story beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m.The aforementioned press release further states:"Plastic pellets, or nurdles, are the pre-production building blocks of nearly all plastic goods.  Du...

Dean Cooks: Homemade popsicle cups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:26 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards is making different kinds of fruity popsicles to help cool off for these hot summer days! Homemade Popsicle CupsIngredients:½ cups each watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew cubes6 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk or coconut condensed milk, plus more as needed6 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)Kosher saltDirections:In a blender, combine watermelon, 2 tablespoons condensed milk, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Puree until smooth. Taste for sweetness; add more condensed milk as desired.Transfer to a pourable container. Rinse blender; repeat with cantaloupe and honeydew.Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons of one fruit puree into molds. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons each of other two fruit purees and repeat process until molds are filled to 1/4 inch from top. Freeze until firm, at least 8 hours.  Dean shares recipes featuring fresh tomatoes | WGN-TV (wgntv.com)Boozy Piña Colada PopsiclesIngredients...