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Exclusive: Two Koch-Backed Groups Speak Out Against Ron DeSantis’s Attack on Journalists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for “media accountability,” the Republican-controlled state House and Senate introduced a pair of bills that would make it easier to sue journalists, a familiar culture war target. Conservative opposition to the legislation on First Amendment grounds, however, suggests the removal of limitations in defamation laws isn’t a straightforward partisan matter.Americans for Prosperity, the flagship conservative political advocacy group funded by billionaire businessman Charles Koch and his late brother David, has lobbied on the legislation, according to state lobbying disclosures reviewed by The Intercept — though not in support of it.“AFP works to make it easier for all Americans to speak up and hold political leaders accountable.”“AFP works to make it easier for all Americans to speak up and hold political leaders accountable,” a spokesperson for Americans for Prosperity told The Intercept after being asked about the lobbying. “One of the ways we do...

Northern Lights make rare sighting in DC region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

Thursday night, Mother Nature delivered a rare sight in the skies of Virginia (and perhaps the whole D.C. region): the Northern Lights or Aurora.Social media was posting pics from various locations around the world, including the U.S., and Virginia.The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued alerts throughout the evening for ongoing G3 and G4 (Severe and highest level) Geomagnetic Storms. For the G4 Alert issued just after midnight, NOAA stated, “Aurora – Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California.”I was able to photograph the Aurora from my backyard in Central Virginia using my iPhone Pro Max 13 in “Night Sky Mode.” I really couldn’t see the Aurora visually, but could using the iPhone.It is possible the Aurora will be visible again Friday night, but the terrestrial weather and the D.C. area’s more southerly location isn’t very promising for clear skies .More Science NewsThe Space PlaceThis is ...

Ford’s Tenn. plant could make 500K electric pickups per year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

STANTON, Tenn. (AP) — A new Ford assembly plant being built in western Tennessee will be able to build up to 500,000 electric pickup trucks per year at full production, the company said Friday. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker announced in September of 2021 that it would build the plant and a battery factory on a 3,600-acre (1,460-hectare) parcel of land in rural Stanton, northeast of Memphis. Known as the Memphis Regional Megasite, the land designated by the state for industrial development sat unused for years before Ford decided to move in. Construction on the site, named BlueOval City, began last year. Ford has said it plans to start production by 2025, and it said Friday that timetable remains in place. The automaker also said its second-generation electric truck is “code named Project T3.” Ford’s assembly plant and a battery plant run by a joint venture called BlueOvalSK will employ about 6,000 people with an investment of roughly $5.6 billion, Ford said.BlueOvalSK will...

Baltimore’s Nalley Fresh opens restaurant inside a Giant Food store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

Giant Food has its first in-store fast-casual restaurant as part of a deal with Baltimore-based Nalley Fresh.It’s in a Giant store in Ellicott City, Maryland.Nalley Fresh serves customizable salads, wraps and bowls. Chef Greg Nalley started his culinary career as executive chef at the Maryland Jockey Club.More Business and Finance NewsMore Maryland NewsMore Local News It is similar to the way customers choose the components and ingredients of their meal at Chipotle Mexican Grille.Nalley Fresh is opening a location in the Giant Food in Ellicott City. (Courtesy Giant Food)The first Nalley Fresh restaurant opened in Baltimore in 2011. There are now 10 locations in Maryland.“We are thrilled to bring Nalley Fresh to our Ellicott City store and provide our customers with an unbeatable one-stop shopping experience,” said Gregg Dorazio, Director of E-commerce at Giant Food. “We know our customers will enjoy the convenient, healthy and delicious meal offerings, and we...

Grains mixed, Livestock higher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Grain futures were mixed Friday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for May advanced 28.25 cents at $6.9525 a bushel; May corn rose 7.50 cents at $6.4175 a bushel; May oats was off .25 cent at $3.6850 a bushel; while May soybeans fell 6.50 cents at 14.2350 a bushel.Beef and pork higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.Apr. live cattle rose .25 cent at $1.6222 a pound; Mar. feeder cattle was up .23 cent at $1.8890 a pound; Apr. lean hogs gained 1.10 cents at $.7685 a pound.Source

Hundreds of students, teachers gather outside Colorado State Capitol

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A crowd of people - many of them students and teachers - gathered outside the Colorado State Capitol on Friday to rally against gun violence.Footage from SkyFOX showed hundreds of people outside of the Capitol. The rally came two days after a shooting at East High School injured two faculty members. The 17-year-old suspect in that shooting was found dead near a car he had driven to Bailey. East High shooting suspect killed himself with ghost gun, failed prior diversion program Denver Public Schools were closed Friday for what the Board of Education said would be a "mental health day" after the shooting at East High.This was the second day in a row that protests were carried out at the Capitol. Students from East High filled the halls Thursday to call for policy changes.There are three gun bills that have been proposed in the legislature this session. One bill that would raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21 made its way one step closer to becoming law Monday, p...

Miami-Dade Arena in negotiations with software company Kaseya for new naming rights deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

The Miami-Dade Arena could be landing a new naming rights deal.The mayor’s office confirmed that the county is currently in negotiations with software company Kaseya, a business that creates and markets software. The move comes after the collapse of the arena’s prior sponsor FTX. If the agreement goes through, this will be the arena’s third sponsor.

Florida teen gets life in prison for killing young classmate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida judge sentenced a 16-year-old Florida boy to life in prison on Friday for fatally stabbing a 13-year-old classmate on Mother’s Day in 2021.Aiden Fucci, 16, was 14 when he stabbed Tristyn Bailey at least 114 times in the woods near where the teens lived in north Florida, prosecutors said.“This case is probably the most difficult and shocking case that this county, St. Johns County, has dealt with,” Judge Lee R. Smith said before ordering Fucci to prison for life.Fucci, who pleaded guilty just before his trial was set to start in February, was not eligible for the death penalty because of his young age at the time of the crime. His case may be reviewed in 25 years, according to Florida law. His attorneys had sought a 40-year sentence.Before invoking the sentence, the judge spoke to Bailey’s family, noting the tremendous toll the girl’s slaying has had on them.“Allow ‘Bailey Sunday Fundays’ to return to your home,” he said, a...

Dozens of dogs rescued in Dania Beach after owner arrested for animal cruelty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

Dozens of dogs were rescued after their owner was arrested. According to authorities, they pulled nearly 60 dogs from a Dania Beach home. Raymond Ledbetter is facing charges of animal cruelty. Those dogs are now receiving care from veterinarians before they are sent to shelters to find new homes.

EU leaders’ summit ends on a car cliffhanger

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:25 GMT

BRUSSELS — As European Union leaders exit their summit Friday, the future of the cars that’ll whisk them home is still very much at play, with a seemingly imminent deal between Berlin and Brussels delayed once again.That’s because resolving a row over the EU’s plan to ban new combustion engine car sales by 2035 hangs on whether the European Commission and Germany can agree on language that will satisfy both sides. Berlin, along with several allies, has held the previously agreed legislation hostage, demanding that the Commission carve out a loophole to allow sales of some traditional combustion-engine vehicles after 2035 as long as they run on synthetic fuels, or e-fuels — which are, in theory, carbon-neutral. On Thursday evening, the German government presented the Commission with a pre-written legal declaration in which the EU executive would promise to find a legal path for allowing the sale of these vehicles past 2035. And early Friday morning, the Co...