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Virginia is the next big battleground for abortion rights and may send a signal for 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrat Russet Perry has knocked on thousands of doors in a swing district outside the nation’s capital as she campaigns for a seat that could decide control of the Virginia state Senate in November. The issue that comes up the most — particularly among women and even from some Republicans and independents, she says — is protecting abortion rights. The topic has motivated voters and upended traditional political wisdom in election after election since a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the federal right to the procedure last year. But it may be especially front of mind in Virginia, the only state in the South that has not imposed new abortion restrictions since Roe v. Wade fell. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin — whose push to ban the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy was blocked by the Democratic-controlled Senate — has pledged to try again if the GOP wins full control in the state.“I see this fight and this race as being pivo...

Japanese crown prince to visit Vietnam to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, was on his way to Vietnam on Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as Tokyo pushes to deepen ties with Southeast Asia and other developing and emerging nations to tackle regional and global challenges.Akishino, at a news conference last week ahead of the trip, stressed the importance of deepening relations between Japan and Vietnam, noting their long history of cultural and economic exchanges dating back to the 16th century.“Japan and Vietnam have a very close relationship,” Akishino said. “I hope we can contribute as part of an effort to promote friendly relations between the two countries.” He said it is particularly important for younger people to develop mutual understanding and respect for each other’s cultures through exchanges.During the Sept. 20-25 trip, Akishino and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko, will visit Hanoi, where they will see the ...

Israel’s Netanyahu to meet with Biden in New York. The location is seen as a sign of US displeasure

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to have his long-coveted meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday — bringing together the two leaders for the first time since the Israeli leader took office at the helm of his country’s far-right government late last year.Netanyahu has been a frequent visitor to the White House over the years, and Israeli leaders are typically invited within weeks of taking office. The lengthy delay in setting up the meeting with Biden, and the White House decision to hold the meeting in New York rather than Washington, have been widely interpreted in Israel as signs of U.S. displeasure with Netanyahu’s new government.“Meeting at the White House symbolizes close relations and friendship and honor, and the denial of that shows exactly the opposite,” said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israeli relations at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University. “This is not going to be a pleasant meeting,” Gilboa said. “It is going to be a sour meeting.”The White ...

Biden’s Democratic allies intensify pressure for asylum-seekers to get work permits

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — As more than 100,000 migrants arrived in New York City over the past year after crossing the border from Mexico, Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul have begged President Joe Biden for one thing, above all others, to ease the crisis:“Let them work,” both Democrats have said repeatedly in speeches and interviews.Increasingly impatient leaders of Biden’s party in other cities and states have hammered the same message over the last month, saying the administration must make it easier for migrants to get work authorization quickly, which would allow them to pay for food and housing.But expediting work permits isn’t so easy, either legally or bureaucratically, experts in the process say. Politically, it may be impossible.It would take an act of Congress to shorten a mandatory, six-month waiting period before asylum-seekers can apply for work permits. Some Democratic leaders say the Biden administration could take steps that wouldn’t require congressional approval. ...

In the wake of Chile’s Catholic abuse crisis, victims struggle to find justice

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — After she learned what happened, Helmut Kramer’s mother cut the priest out of photographs from her son’s baptism.“She kept the photos after that,” said Kramer, who was sexually abused at age 12 in a Jesuit school in Antofagasta, a city in northern Chile. “My mom is still Catholic, but she never attended Mass again. She says that she will never set foot in a church, and she does not trust the pope or any priest,” the 53-year-old Chilean said.His mother’s feelings echo Chileans who have distanced themselves from the Catholic Church since 2010, when victims of another priest, Fernando Karadima, raised awareness about clergy sex abuse in the country.According to polling firm Latinobarómetro, the decline in confidence in the Chilean Catholic Church is one of the largest in Latin America. It fell from 77% in 1996 to 31% in 2020. Currently half of Chile’s 18 million population identify as Catholic and the number of religiously unaffiliated rose from 18% in 2010 to 35...

In Chile, justice eludes victims of Catholic clergy sex abuse years after the crisis exploded

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Soon after she learned what happened, Helmut Kramer’s mother grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the priest out of photographs from her son’s baptism.“She kept the photos after that,” said Kramer, who was sexually abused at age 12 in a Jesuit school in Antofagasta, a city in northern Chile. “My mom is still Catholic, but she never attended Mass again. She says that she will never set foot in a church, and she does not trust the pope or any priest,” the 53-year-old Chilean said.His mother’s feelings echo hundreds of Chileans who have distanced themselves from the Catholic Church since 2010, when victims of another priest, Fernando Karadima, raised awareness about clergy sex abuse in the South American country.The Karadima case shook the Vatican itself and marred Pope Francis’ trip to Chile in 2018. Instead of applause, he was greeted with unprecedented protests against a papal visit. The scenario worsened when Francis accused Karadima’s victims of slander. He la...

Blake Snell pitches 7 hitless innings and strikes out 10 in win over Rockies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

SAN DIEGO — NL Cy Young Award contender Blake Snell lowered his big league-leading ERA to 2.33 and struck out 10 in seven brilliant innings for the San Diego Padres, who took a combined no-hitter into the ninth before beating the Colorado Rockies 2-0 on Tuesday night.Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth to lift the Padres to their season-high sixth straight win.Snell, who has never gone eight innings in the majors, threw 104 pitches before making way for Robert Suarez, who worked a perfect eighth. All-Star closer Josh Hader (1-3) came on to start the ninth and promptly allowed Brendan Rodgers’ leadoff single up the middle. The last-place Rockies finished with two hits.Snell, a 30-year-old lefty, walked four to increase his major league-high total to 95.Snell is trying to become the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young Award in both leagues. He won the AL prize in 2018 with Tampa Bay.Center fielder Trent Grisham and right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. both m...

Man arrested for killing L.A. County deputy may have been involved in road rage incidents

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

New details about the man arrested in connection with the killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy were revealed as a memorial to honor the deputy took place on Tuesday. Witnesses provided more details about the suspect, Kevin Salazar, 29, in the hours leading up to the fatal shooting of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, on Sept. 16 in Palmdale.The sheriff's department confirms that on the same day Clinkunbroomer was killed, two people reported separate road rage incidents involving Salazar. A memorial to honor Clinkunbroomer near the Central Park stairs in his hometown of Santa Clarita is growing Tuesday night as loved ones and community members arrive to pay tribute.At the top of a hill, attendees can sign cards offering messages and condolences to the deputy’s family.Memorial climb held for L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer at the Central Park stairs in Santa Clarita on Sept. 19, 2023. (KTLA)Memorial climb held for L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan...

SF Giants’ wild card deficit grows as Alex Cobb exits crucial start vs. D-backs in third inning

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

PHOENIX — The Giants understood the stakes at hand in this two-game series against the Diamondbacks. Win both and 2½-game gap in the wild card standings would be almost entirely erased; a split would clinch the season series and secure a potentially important tiebreaker.That factored in as much as the added days of rest for Alex Cobb’s troublesome hip when they chose to push his scheduled start back from Saturday in Colorado to Tuesday’s series opener in Arizona. It’s hard to imagine the decision backfiring worse.In an 8-4 loss, Cobb walked off the mound after throwing two pitches in the third inning Tuesday night, clearly bothered by the impingement in his left hip. He seemed to labor through all 52 of his pitches, put base runners on in each of his two innings and left having allowed five runs.The loss was the Giants’ 24th in 29 road games since July 18 and their fourth in their past five contests. This one dealt a serious blow to their postseason chances.W...

HS basketball stars team up for Napa prep school

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:08 GMT

NAPA, Calif. (KRON) -- Napa's Prolific Prep is known for turning out basketball stars. In addition to a number of high-major Division 1 stars, NBA players like Gary Trent Jr. and Jalen Green attended the North Bay high school. This year will be no different. Prolific Prep boasts the two top-rated recruits in the 2026 class: AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes. Both sophomores will have targets on their back, but they are looking forward to growing together on their quest for a national championship. KRON4 went out to Napa to speak to the young stars. Stokes, a Louisville, KY native, has already been in Napa for a year. When he heard Dybantsa was a candidate to join him at Prolific Prep, he put his recruiting hat on. How 49ers’ Taybor Pepper became a long snapper "When my coaches first told me that they were interested in him, that's when I started heavily recruiting," Stokes said. "Every day I'm calling him randomly, 'AJ, slide, slide, slide. We might as well.'"Dybantsa is a Massachusett...