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Stocks head toward winning March as Wall Street’s fear falls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed higher again as more fear evaporates from Wall Street. The S&P 500 added 0.6% Thursday, its fifth gain in the last six days. The benchmark index is headed for a gain in March after struggling in earlier weeks on worries about whether the banking system was cracking under the weight of higher interest rates. Forceful actions by regulators worldwide have helped restore confidence. Also boosting stocks have been big bets that the Federal Reserve may cut rates in coming months. But such expectations are also raising concerns of their own for some professionals on Wall Street. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rising Thursday, keeping Wall Street’s main measure of health on track for a winning month, as a bit more fear evaporates from markets. The S&P 500 was 0.4% higher in late trading. It pared an earlier, bigger gain, but it’s still on pace for a fifth up day in the last six. It’s been on a...

North Dakota governor vetoes transgender pronouns bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

North Dakota’s Republican governor vetoed a bill that would generally prohibit public schools teachers and staff from referring to transgender students by pronouns other than those reflecting the sex assigned to them at birth. Gov. Doug Burgum’s veto on Thursday could be reversed by the state Legislature. If it became law, public school teachers and employees would be barred from using a transgender student’s preferred pronoun unless they have permission from the student’s parents as well as a school administrator. The bill would also prohibit government agencies from requiring employees to use a transgender colleague’s preferred pronoun.The proposal comes as Republican lawmakers across the U.S. have drafted hundreds of laws this year to push back on LGBTQ+ freedoms, particularly seeking to regulate aspects of transgender people’s lives, including gender-affirming health care, bathroom use, athletics and drag performances.Although the bill also addresse...

Vatican disavows decrees linked to seizure of Native lands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

Responding to Indigenous demands, the Vatican has formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery” — papal documents from the 15th century that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands.The repudiation will have great symbolic importance. Its immediate practical impact may be limited, though some some Indigenous activists hope it will heighten pressure on government authorities in Canada and the United States to reconsider property laws that arose from the doctrine. Here’s a look at some of reaction to the Vatican statement and the background underlying it.__WHAT DID THE VATICAN DO?Its statement said the 15th century papal decrees “did not adequately reflect the equal dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples” and have never been considered expressions of the Catholic faith. In effect, it marked a historic recognition of the Vatican’s own complicity in colonial-era abuses committed by European powers.The statement was a response to decades of Indigenous demands for th...

Cubs shutout the Brewers for a 2023 Opening Day win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

CHICAGO — For the third time in the last four years, the Cubs have had a successful start to their season against a National League Central division rival.Their pitching had a lot to do with it. Led by starter Marcus Stroman, the Cubs shut out the Brewers 4-0 at Wrigley Field on a cool, party sunny Opening Day afternoon on the north side. It's their second-straight win over Milwaukee at Wrigley Field to start the season, having beaten them 5-4 in 2022. The Cubs also beat the Brewers to open the pandemic-shortened 2020 season at home in July of that year. With the triumph, the Cubs improve to 81-65-2 all-time on Opening Day and go over .500 in openers played at Wrigley Field, as their record goes to 25-24-1.Stroman led the way in the opening effort as he pitched six shutout innings, working out of a couple of jams to start his season on the right foot. He struck out eight batters compared to three walks and scattered three hits in 90 pitches.Keegan Thompson, Brad Boxberger, and Micha...

What to know about the White Sox 2023 Opening Day in Houston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune previewed the 2023 White Sox season on "9 Good Minutes" from WGN News Now.HOUSTON — It's the start of something new for the club in more ways than one as they face the reigning World Series champions to open the 2023 season.For one, the White Sox get a fresh start after a frustrating 2022 campaign where they fell short of their big goals coming into the season, finishing 81-81 and out of the playoffs. At the same time, they have new leadership in the dugout, as Pedro Grifol takes over for Tony La Russa after he resigned due to health concerns last October. The chance to make this fresh start a successful one starts on Thursday evening in Houston as the White Sox take on the Astros at 6 p.m. at Minute Maid Park on Opening Day. It's a difficult challenge for the club as they take on the reigning champions to start a three-game series that is completely sold out. Here are a few things to know ahead of the opener.On the road againFor a third-straight y...

Seeking Anne Advocate; The Duty to Protect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

Report: Nonprofit vendor defrauded Austin Public Health of $417K

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 30, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — After an investigation that took longer than a year, the Office of the City Auditor in Austin said it found Central Texas Allied Health Institute (CTAHI), a nonprofit City of Austin contractor, committed fraud against Austin Public Health and falsified health records. According to the investigative report, CTAHI misrepresented over $1.1 million in financial transactions across three contracts with Austin Public Health and was incorrectly paid roughly $417,000 between December 2020 and September 2021 because of fraudulent contract claims. The report also claimed CTAHI falsified its COVID-19 vaccine contract performance by overstating vaccination totals and fabricating patient data."This is up there with some of the biggest cases we've investigated on my team," said Brian Molloy, chief of investigations at the Chief of the City Auditor.CTAHI, President Todd Hamilton, and Dr. Jereka ...

Daniel Perry trial day 3: Witnesses recall deadly shooting at Austin protest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 30, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Day three of the trial for the man accused of shooting and killing Garrett Foster in July 2022 began Thursday morning with testimony from people who were at the protest where it happened. Daniel Perry, an Army sergeant and part-time Uber driver, was indicted in the case in 2021 on felony charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of deadly conduct. Perry entered a not-guilty plea Tuesday.  MORE: Daniel Perry trial day 2: Fiancé of killed BLM protester testifies During opening statements, state attorneys said Foster was out protesting police violence every day in the summer of 2020. Foster was shot and later died while out protesting the night of July 25, 2020. The defense's argument from the beginning is that Perry — swarmed by protesters — had to defend himself. Several witnesses admitted they kicked, hit and even banged on ...

Austin's Camp-Half Blood fundraising $150K to continue summer program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since 2006, Austin children have transported into the world of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series at Camp Half-Blood Austin. Now, camp officials are working to continue bringing the books' fantasy adventures to life, fundraising to keep the summer camp operating.CHBA aims to bring to life the "Percy Jackson" books to help instill a love for reading, as well as create an outlet for kids to act out adventures from the series. Overseeing the summer camp is Between the Pages, a nonprofit founded by Topher Bradfield.Since 2006, Austin children have transported into the world of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series at Camp Half-Blood Austin. (Courtesy: Camp Half-Blood Austin)Since 2006, Austin children have transported into the world of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series at Camp Half-Blood Austin. (Courtesy: Camp Half-Blood Austin)Since 2006, Austin children have transported into the world of Rick Riordan's...

City recruiting members for new pilot program to help prevent people from being evicted from their homes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin Housing Department is recruiting community members who want to serve as Displacement Prevention Navigators to help prevent people from being evicted or foreclosed on, according to a news release from the city.The one-year pilot program will focus on two neighborhoods at high risk of displacement, which is Colony Park and Dove Springs, the release said. Compared to Austin as a whole, the pilot neighborhoods have higher shares of cost-burdened residents, as well as residents who have lived in their homes for more than 20 years.“The Displacement Prevention Navigator pilot program is urgently needed,” said District 2 Austin Council Member Vanessa Fuentes. “People are our city’s biggest strength—but many people are finding it harder to live here as Austin becomes less affordable. This program will help Austinites stay in their homes and communities by accessing resources from the City and others.”According to the city, navigators will go through a seri...