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Legal pot, abortion rights and paid leave: A whirlwind year at the Minnesota Legislature

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

By late last spring, the rush of headlines coming out of Minnesota’s Capitol seemed like it might never stop.Marijuana legalization. Paid family and medical leave. New legal protections for abortion. Universal school meals. Free college tuition. A mandate for a new state flag.Minnesota’s whirlwind 2023 legislative session is likely to go down as one of the most consequential in a generation. And while some of the new laws have already gone into effect, the impacts of many of the new policies won’t be seen for years.In November 2022, voters gave the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party majorities in both the Senate and House, and another four-year term to DFL Gov. Tim Walz, clearing the path for a sweeping agenda held back by years of divided government.With little leverage, Republicans who had once controlled the Senate could only sit back and watch as members of the DFL “trifecta” swiftly pursued their agenda.So much new legislation was enacted it might be tough to remember ev...

Opinion: A New Year’s wish for Colorado — more bipartisanship

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

The arrival of the New Year prompts us all to pause, take a breath, and reflect on the journey of the past twelve months. It is a time to reassess our priorities, refine our visions, and chart a course for the year ahead.In the Colorado legislature, 2023 was a rollercoaster ride, marked by high emotions and, unfortunately, few constructive conversations. As we step into 2024, I find myself hoping that this year can be the year of balance through bipartisanship.I want to emphasize that even though Republicans are in the minority, we are far from invisible. Just like our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we were elected by our constituents to represent their voices and concerns. Our seat at the table should not be overlooked or underestimated. We understand that we will not always get everything we advocate for, but the very least we deserve is a fair opportunity for our ideas to be heard.The conclusion of the regular legislative session left a bitter taste in our mouths. The...

Ask Amy: Father’s “technical” marriage raises questions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

Dear Amy: I recently reached out to my estranged father to inquire about any life changes he may have had recently, because I was going through the federal security clearance process.When asked if he was still married, his response was, “Theoretically yes, but I haven’t had contact with her for over six years and have no intention of renewing contact.”Knowing my father, I am unsurprised that he is currently married to someone that he has no contact with and is unwilling to divorce.However, I am mad at him for once again treating marriage as a trivial affair he can walk away from with no consequences. I pity his partner and sometimes wonder if I should convince her to divorce him and take her fair share.While I understand that this is between him and his “technical wife” (using his terms), I feel like this is a matter that does involve me from a legal perspective.I do not want to fight a legal battle regarding powers of attorney or probates 20 years down the line. (I am a...

Achieving Holistic Sustainability Through Food Systems

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

If there is one thing that recent years have made evident, from COVID-19 to climate change, it is that people and the environment are interconnected and constantly impacting one another. - writes Azis Armand.There are many ways that we can choose to restore the health of our planet, and although phasing out fossil fuels should undoubtedly be a principal mechanism, it is only one of the many strategies that must be employed. Another vital and direct impact we can have in strengthening our ecosystem is through resilient and sustainable food systems.Food systems are both a major cause of climate change—accounting for a third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions— and extremely fragile in the face of natural disasters. Therefore, climate mitigation and decarbonization strategies in this sector will be critical to reaching the Paris Agreement’s overarching goal of limiting temperature increases to ‘well below 2 degrees Celsius’. As a country particularly vulnerable to climate change...

Want to stick with your 2024 resolutions? Here’s 2 simple tips, 1 major ‘don’t’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

On this first day of 2024, many people have a long list of New Year’s resolutions to achieve. But some of those goals are stalled from Day One, according to one CEO and author.That’s because most people focus on a lofty goal instead of their progress, according to Gerald J. Leonard, a successful CEO and author of ‘A Symphony of Choices: How Mentorship Taught a Manager Decision-Making, Project Management, and Workplace Engagement – and Saved a Concert Season.’“Our brains are naturally designed to focus on the negative,” he told WTOP. “You’re looking for all of the things that can go wrong around you.”That includes resolutions that haven’t worked out in the past, according to Leonard, who offered a couple of dos, and one major don’t to successfully achieve goals in 2024.Don’t go for large, lofty resolutions, Leonard said. Instead, take an inventory of bite-sized milestones, commit to them and celebrate the small-scale wins.“Don’t say ‘I’m going to lose 20 or 30...

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova says she is pregnant with her first child

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

Two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova started the new year by announcing she is expecting her first child.“ On the first day of 2024 I wanted to wish you a happy new year and share the exciting news that Jiri and I will be welcoming a baby into our family this summer!” the Czech player wrote on social media.Kvitova married Jiri Vanek, her long-time coach, in July 2023.The 33-year-old Kvitova, currently ranked 17th, won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014. Kvitova was included on the Australian Open entry list when the tournament released it in early December. It was not immediately known if her pregnancy news would change her plans for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year which begins Jan. 14.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennisSource

Denver weather: Mild with sunshine to start the new year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Even with a few clouds, the new year will start along the Front Range with mainly sunny skies and comfortable highs in the Denver weather forecast.Weather today: Comfortable startSunny skies are here to start the year with extra clouds in the high country. 5 families in Superior rebuilding 2 years after Marshall Fire destroyed their homes Temperatures will be above average in the lower 50s on Monday. Winds are light all afternoon.Pinpoint Weather: Daily forecast on Jan. 1 Weather tonight: A few extra cloudsThe extra clouds stick around overnight, giving Denver partly cloudy skies. Winds stay light Monday night with just above average highs in the middle 20s.Pinpoint Weather: Overnight forecast on Jan. 1 Looking ahead: Snow chances?The sunny skies are still here on Tuesday afternoon with more seasonal high temperatures in the middle 40s. Wednesday keeps the clear skies and just above average highs in the upper 40s. Person, dog die in Poudre house fire Clouds bui...

The Air Force said its nuclear missile capsules were safe. But toxic dangers lurked, documents show

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A large pool of dark liquid festering on the floor. No fresh air. Computer displays that would overheat and ooze out a fishy-smelling gel that nauseated the crew. Asbestos readings 50 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety standards. These are just some of the past toxic risks that were in the underground capsules and silos where Air Force nuclear missile crews have worked since the 1960s. Now many of those service members have cancer. The toxic dangers were recorded in hundreds of pages of documents dating back to the 1980s that were obtained by The Associated Press through Freedom of Information Act requests. They tell a far different story from what Air Force leadership told the nuclear missile community decades ago, when the first reports of cancer among service members began to surface: “The workplace is free of health hazards,” a Dec. 30, 2001, Air Force investigation found.“Sometimes, illnesses tend to occur by chance alone,” a follow...

Revelers ring in 2024 with First Night festivities in Boston

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

Hundreds of people came together on City Hall Plaza on Sunday to kick off Boston’s First Night festivities, which drew residents from across the area who were looking to ring in 2024.This year’s celebration was moved to City Hall Plaza due to ongoing construction at Copley Square.The free and family-friendly event featured performances, ice sculptures, fireworks, and more. The City is a partner of the New Year’s Eve event, which is formally run by Boston Celebrations, Inc, and managed by Conventures, Inc. All parties are taking steps to ensure public safety as Boston celebrates the New Year. “First Night is a beloved tradition in Boston and beyond, having created delightful experiences for neighborhood residents and visitors from around the world,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “Our newly renovated City Hall Plaza is the perfect venue to welcome families from all over to ring in the New Year. I encourage all our residents to celebrate safel...

Reckitt/Mead Johnson voluntarily recalls specialty infant formula due to possible bacterial infection

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

(CNN) — On Sunday, the US Food and Drug Administration warned consumers of possible bacterial contamination of Reckitt/Mead Johnson’s Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula Products. The specialty formula is a hypoallergenic infant formula used by infants allergic to cow’s milk.The manufacturers voluntarily recalled 675,030 cans of the formula on December 29 after the FDA was notified that exported formula tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii by the Israeli Ministry of Health. The Cronobacter bacteria can cause rare but potentially deadly infections in newborns. It’s present in the environment but is also known to contaminate powdered infant formula. The recalled cans of formula had been distributed in the US and additional product exported.The agency notes that no illnesses have been reported to date and that most of the product distributed in the US has likely already been consumed.“All product in question went through extensive testing,” the company ...