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Minnesota bill legalizing recreational pot passes Senate, heads to governor’s desk

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Senators in Minnesota passed a bill Saturday that would allow recreational marijuana use by people over the age of 21 and make it the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults.The measure has already been approved by the House and now goes to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who has pledged to sign it into law. Supporters of the bill said it would improve public health and safety and further social justice, while opponents said health and safety would actually worsen. Under the measure it would become legal by Aug. 1 to possess, use and grow marijuana at home. Retail sales at dispensaries would probably be at least a year away.It includes a 10% tax on cannabis products on top of existing sales taxes and limits possession of cannabis flower to 2 pounds at home and 2 ounces in public. Other possession caps include 800 milligrams of THC in gummies and other edibles and 8 grams of cannabis concentrate.Minnesotans who have been convicted of misdemeanor or petty misdemea...

CPS students showcase robotic skills at Museum of Science and Industry

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago Public School students of all ages from around the city got to show off their robotics skills Saturday. "We’ve been working on things that have to do with energy, stuff like that," said Harmony Goodwin Kinney, a fourth grader at Wadsworth STEM Elementary School in Woodlawn. Three-hundred students from kindergarten through high school in CPS robotics programs had the opportunity to showcase their work at the Museum of Science and Industry. "We want our students to be creators and not just consumers of technology" said Kris Beck, CPS Director of Computer Science. Beck said the goal is to hope that students in every neighborhood have access to computer science and robotics. Friends create allergen-free food company in Chicago Halima Adegbite is a part of the robotics team at Lindblom Math and Science Academy that just competed in the world robotics championships. "My favorite aspect is designing intricate parts of the robot, designing the mechanism," Adegbite said....

Chicago non-profit holds Shark Tank-style pitch competition

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A local non-profit focused on building wealth in underinvested neighborhoods held a Shark Tank-style event Saturday afternoon, giving business owners the chance to pitch their business plans and possibly go home with thousands of dollars in prize money.Out of about 50 applicants, ten finalists were picked to pitch their businesses during the annual Sunshine Enterprises Shark Tank Pitch Competition.Sunshine Enterprises Shark Tank Ed. Pitch Competition held in the West Loop.During the contest, business owners pitched a plethora of products, ranging from gluten free granola, to gourmet sandwiches, media services and natural hair care ingredients, to name a few.Each presentation was given five minutes before a panel of judges, where contestants provided details on their products, while judges asked questions."They are helping their family immediately and they are providing a resource to their neighborhood," said Jair Pinedo, Managing Director of Development and Communications ...

National Treasure crosses finish line 1st at Preakness

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Bob Baffert’s National Treasure crossed the finish line first in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, ending Mage’s Triple Crown bid in the trainer’s return from a suspension — and just hours after another of his 3-year-old horses was euthanized on the track.Baffert headed to the winner’s circle on the same day that his colt Havnameltdown went down with a fatal left leg injury in an undercard race. Baffert said he and his team were in shock. Texas to charge EV owners $400 to register vehicles, $200 every year “This business is twists and turns, the ups and downs,” Baffert said, choking back tears. "And then, to win, this — losing that horse today really hurt. ... It’s been a very emotional day.The fatality was another dark moment for a sport already reeling from the deaths of seven horses at Churchill Downs in a 10-day span leading up to the Kentucky Derby.Derby winner Mage finished third in the Preakness after going off as the 7-5 favorite. His defeat means there wi...

Texas House passes Senate bill banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in public universities

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Saturday, the Texas House voted to pass Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), which would prevent public colleges and universities in Texas from having diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices or policies. Previous: Dozens of activists head to the capitol to protest ‘anti-DEI’ legislation The bill also prohibits hiring or employment practices that take into account race, sex, color or ethnicity, other than through the use of color-blind and sex-neutral hiring processes, in accordance with any applicable state and federal antidiscrimination laws.Representatives attempted 23 amendments on Saturday, but the House only successfully adopted one from Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin. That amendment tasks the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct an annual study for the legislature on the impact of SB 17, as well as provide recommendations. The study would look at the grade point averages, and rates of recruitment, acceptance, matriculation, retention and graduation ...

Trail Conservancy showcases plan for art along the hike-and-bike trail

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin’s Trail Conservancy held an event Saturday at the old Seaholm Intake Facility, kicking off the Arts and Culture Plan that is being implemented along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. In 2014, a controversial proposed public art installation prompted the Austin City Council at the time to impose a temporary ban on commissioned and donated public art to the Hike-and-Bike Trail, according to the Trail Conservancy. The entity said the moratorium was lifted, but that it has been informally followed ever since. MORE: After 10-year hiatus, art will start to appear along hike and bike trail, Council votes In April, however, the city council approved a plan to integrate art and culture into the area again.“We've got a three-year plan,” said Charlotte Tonsor, Events Projects Director for the Trail Conservancy. “And we kind of have all these different art typologies. So you're going to see temporary art-enhanced programming, the beginning of some artists, res...

State of Texas: Unfinished work one year after Uvalde

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - Wednesday marks one year since the deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. The anniversary is bringing attention to efforts to respond to the tragedy and the work to move forward.In Austin, lawmakers have taken up measures aimed to improve school safety and address mental health care. But legislation aiming to tighten restrictions on guns has failed to advance, despite pleas and protests from families of children killed in Uvalde.Many of those concerns have been carried at the State Capitol by State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D - San Antonio), whose district includes Uvalde. He has been the loudest voice in the legislature for gun safety reform legislation, including a measure to raise the age to buy AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. Families of Uvalde shooting victims have advocated for the legislation. The gunman in the shooting at Robb Elementary School bought two AR-15-style rifles just days after his 18th birthday. On Thursday, Gutierr...

Bob Baffert’s National Treasure wins Preakness, hours after another of his horses was euthanized

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

By STEPHEN WHYNO (AP Sports Writer)BALTIMORE (AP) — Bob Baffert choked back tears and his voice cracked while trying to juggle the feelings of one of his horses winning the Preakness Stakes and another being euthanized on the same track.“This business is twists and turns, the ups and downs,” he said. “To win this — losing that horse today really hurt. … It’s been a very emotional day.”National Treasure won the Preakness on Saturday in Baffert’s return to the Triple Crown trail following a suspension, but it came hours after another 3-year-old colt, Havnameltdown, was put down because of a left leg injury in an undercard race. The victory ended Mage’s bid for the Triple Crown in a conflicting scene similar to that of two weeks earlier when he won the Kentucky Derby in the aftermath of seven horses dying in 10 days at Churchill Downs. National Treasure, the 5-2 second choice, held off hard-charging Blazing Sevens down the str...

Last-minute deal at the MN Legislature: $2.6 billion infrastructure package, more money for nursing homes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

Minnesota lawmakers announced Saturday morning that they have a $2.6 billion bipartisan deal on infrastructure projects that also includes sending $300 million to struggling nursing homes.Infrastructure is the one area at the Legislature where bipartisan compromise is essential because super-majorities are needed in both chambers to borrow money to pay for projects.Until Saturday, Democrats in narrow control of both the House and Senate were unable to agree to a deal with Republicans and appeared determined to pass a cash-only infrastructure bill.The dealIn recent days, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members faced mounting criticism from Republicans that their more than $71 billion two-year budget didn’t do enough for nursing homes, which continue to struggle after the pandemic. Under the deal, nursing homes will get $75 million annually in additional aid over the next four years.DFLers also were knocked for cutting most projects in Republican districts out of their cash-only i...

One Baffert horse euthanized on track on undercard before another Baffert entry wins Preakness

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

By STEPHEN WHYNO (AP Sports Writer)BALTIMORE (AP) — A horse trained by Bob Baffert was euthanized on the track because of a leg injury during the undercard at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, several hours before another one of the Hall of Famer’s 3-year-old colts, National Treasure, won the Preakness Stakes.On the same dirt course that staged the second leg of the Triple Crown, favorite Havnameltdown buckled forward and threw jockey Luis Saez off his back during the day’s sixth race, then continued running around the final turn in some distress.Havnameltdown was looked at by chief veterinary officer Dr. Dionne Benson and others, who determined the injury to his left front leg was inoperable so the horse should be put down, according to a statement from 1/ST Racing, which owns and operates the track.Saez was conscious and taken to Sinai Hospital for evaluation, complaining of leg pain, track officials announced. He was attended to by medical personnel on the track ...