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Buckle up: New laws from seat belts to library books take effect in North Dakota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Hundreds of new laws will take effect Tuesday in North Dakota, including greater enforcement of seat belt use and restrictions regarding gender identity, sexual content in public libraries and ownership of farmland by foreign entities.North Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature adjourned April 30 after writing new laws and budgets for the next two years. Some contentious policy bills have already taken effect due to emergency clauses, which make legislation immediately into law when signed by the governor.Among those already in effect are revised laws outlawing all abortions, except in cases where women could face death or a “serious health risk.” Another exception for pregnancies caused by rape and incest applies only in the first six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant.Here is what to know about the new laws taking effect in North Dakota.SEAT BELTSNorth Dakota joins a majority of states with some form of a primary enforcement seat...

Russian missile attacks leave few options for Ukrainian farmers looking to export grain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

PAVLIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — The summer winds carried the smell of burned grain across the southern Ukrainian steppe and away from the shards of three Russian cruise missiles that struck the unassuming metal hangars.The agricultural company Ivushka applied for accreditation to export grain this year, but the strike in mid-July destroyed a large portion of the stock, days after Russia abandoned the grain deal that would have allowed the shipments across the Black Sea without fear of attack.Men shirtless and barefoot, with blackened soles from ash, swept unburnt grain into piles and awaited the loader, whose driver deftly steered around twisted metal shrapnel, bits of missile and craters despite his shattered windshield.They hoped to beat the next rain to rescue what was left of the crop. According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Russia struck the facility July 21 with three Kalibr- and Onyx-class cruise missiles. “We don’t have a clue why they did it,” explained Olha Romanova,...

Crash sends 3 to hospital while DPS troopers respond to car meet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A crash sent three people to a hospital while DPS troopers were responding to dozens of cars gathering in north Austin Saturday night, a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) public information officer said.DPS troopers responded to calls for about 100 vehicles in the parking lot of the Target at 8610 Research Blvd around 9:30 p.m. According to DPS Sgt. Deon Cockrell, a trooper responding saw the driver of a Mustang speeding without their headlights on. When the trooper tried to pull over the Mustang, Cockrell said the driver led troopers to the intersection of Ohlen Road and Payton Gin Road where the Mustang hit a Toyota. Austin-Travis County EMS medics took the two people who were inside the Toyota and the driver of the Mustang to the hospital. Austin police officers and firefighters with the Austin Fire Department also responded to the scene. 2 arrested after ‘street takeovers’ in February APD also told KXAN they responded to calls about cars participating in ...

As trade deadline looms, Oakland A’s right-hander shines at Coors Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

The Oakland A’s are having a mostly miserable season but do have some players playoff-contending teams might be interested in acquiring prior to Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline.One could be right-handed starting pitcher Paul Blackburn.Backed by a suddenly potent offense, Blackburn on Saturday allowed two earned runs over six innings to help the Athletics earn an 11-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.“Paul did a great job tonight. It’s probably the best we’ve seen him,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “In this field, you’re going to scatter some hits and it’s just about limiting the damage, and I thought he did a great job in six innings.“After the fifth, I thought he was a little gassed. I talked to him and he wanted the sixth inning, and he went out there and showed why.”Making his 11th start this season, Blackburn (2-2) gave up nine hits in a 106-pitch, six-inning outing for Oakland. He struck out seven and walked none.“Tonight, we moved the ball wel...

Pockets of passionate fans in Australia not fully tied to Matildas’ fate at the Women’s World Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — When Nigeria scored its third goal in the Women’s World Cup match that now has co-host Australia on the brink of elimination, the hundreds of Matildas fans watching on a giant screen in Melbourne’s Federation Square sent up a chorus of groans.In the sea of yellow and green jerseys, though, a few spectators cheered and exchanged high-fives.“You can see the joy all over here,” Nigeria fan Juwon Fayomi said.The Matildas’ 3-2 loss to Nigeria sent the tournament co-hosts into a must-win group-stage finale against Olympic champion Canada on Monday in Melbourne. So there’s a chance Australia could be knocked out in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup, a fate that no host country endured in the first eight editions.That undoubtedly could dampen some local enthusiasm. But because of Australia’s unique migration history, pockets of passionate fans still will be heavily invested in the Women’s World Cup matches.Almost one-third of Australians are fo...

Rangers agree to acquire Scherzer while losing 4-0 to Padres, their 6th loss in 8 games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The slumping Texas Rangers agreed to acquire three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer on Saturday night during a 4-0 loss to Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres, their sixth loss in eight games cutting their AL West lead to one game over Houston.The blockbuster trade with the New York Mets came as Rangers ace Nathan Eovaldi had his next start pushed back again and manager Bruce Bochy spoke of the need for the rotation to improve. Then Martín Pérez gave up four runs in the second inning, when the 32-year-old left-hander allowed five straight baserunners and two runs before getting his first out.The Rangers will add the 39-year-old Scherzer with another former Mets pitcher with Cy Young credentials, two-time winner Jacob deGrom, sidelined by Tommy John elbow surgery, possibly all the way through the end of next season. A person with knowledge of the deal spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced.“There’s ...

Crawford unifies welterweight division with 9th-round TKO in dominant performance over Spence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The fight itself didn’t match the hype, but Terence Crawford’s performance exceeded it.He knocked down Errol Spence Jr. three times Saturday night before finally ending the fight at 2:32 of the ninth round on a technical knockout to cement himself as one of the greatest welterweights in history.The fight, the most-anticipated boxing match in several years, made Crawford the first undisputed champion in the 147-pound division in the four-belt era that began in 2004.Crawford (40-0, 31 knockouts) already owned the WBO belt, and took the WBC, WBA and IBF titles from Spence (28-1). Crawford also ran his KO streak to 11 matches, the second-longest active stretch.Crawford, 35, has won titles at super lightweight and lightweight in addition to welterweight, capturing the latter after moving up in 2018. The Omaha, Nebraska, fighter became the first male boxer to become the undisputed champion in two divisions in the four-belt era.“I only dreamed of being a world ...

Megan Rapinoe adjusts to new role at Women’s World Cup while still savoring final days in spotlight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Megan Rapinoe is adjusting to her new role at the Women’s World Cup, even if it means she’s not on the field as much as she’d like to be. The outspoken 38-year-old known for her eclectic hair colors and the iconic victory pose she struck at the 2019 World Cup is the oldest player on the team. She already announced that her fourth World Cup would be her last. “Ultimately, we’re at the World Cup. This is where everybody wants to be, whether you’re playing 90 minutes, whether you’re a game changer, whatever,” she said Sunday. “I think it’s a lot similar to what I thought it would be — bringing all the experience that I can, all the experience that I have, and ultimately being ready whenever my number is called up.”Rapinoe has played limited minutes so far, coming in as a substitute in the 3-0 victory over Vietnam in the tournament opener, which was her 200th career appearance for the team. She was availa...

Ucrania traslada la Navidad al 25 de diciembre, alejándose de la tradición rusa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

(CNN) — Ucrania aprobó una legislación que traslada su feriado oficial de Navidad al 25 de diciembre, distanciándose aún más de las tradiciones de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa alineada con Putin, que celebra el feriado el 7 de enero.El proyecto de ley fue aprobado por el parlamento de Ucrania a principios de este mes. El presidente Volodymyr Zelensky lo convirtió en ley este viernes.Los patrocinadores de la legislación dijeron que su aprobación ayudaría a Ucrania a “abandonar la herencia rusa de imponer la celebración de la Navidad el 7 de enero” y ayudaría a los ucranianos a “vivir su propia vida con sus propias tradiciones (y) festividades”.Ucrania y Rusia son países mayoritariamente ortodoxos, pero desde que Rusia se anexionó ilegalmente Crimea y comenzó a apoyar a los separatistas en la región oriental de Donbas en Ucrania en 2014, una gran parte de la comunidad ortodoxa de Ucrania se ha mudado de Moscú.La guerra de Rusia en Ucrania aceleró aún más la división entre las dos ra...

Gaethje knocks out Poirier in second round to win UFC 291 lightweight bout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Justin Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier with a head kick one minute into the second round to win the main event lightweight bout at UFC 291 on Saturday night.The third-ranked Gaethje (26-4) celebrated his victory by climbing to the top of the Octagon fence and doing a backflip off it. His perfectly timed headshot helped him avenge a loss to Poirier in 2018 when he suffered a fourth-round technical knockout via strikes. It was Gaethje’s 20th win by knockout or TKO and his seventh victory in his last nine fights.Second-ranked Poirier (29-8) entered the rematch between the two former interim lightweight champions as a minus-152 favorite according to FanDuel. He matched Gaethje blow for blow in the first round before being quickly dispatched in the second. With the victory, Gaethje claimed a BMF belt – the second UFC fighter to be awarded that belt.Beating Poirier opens the door for Gaethje to have a potential title bout against the winner of Islam Makhache...