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Will a federal judge in Texas force Planned Parenthood to repay millions?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

By PAUL J. WEBER (Associated Press)AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in Texas who put access to the abortion pill misefpristone in limbo earlier this year presided Tuesday over another potentially groundbreaking case: a state lawsuit seeking to force Planned Parenthood pay back millions of dollars it received through Medicaid.U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk did not immediately rule following a hearing in the Texas Panhandle city of Amarillo, where Planned Parenthood has no clinics.In a brief call with reporters after the hearing, Planned Parenthood representatives said they urged the judge to reject the state’s attempt to recoup years of Medicaid reimbursements and order steep fines that the group says could exceed more than $1 billion. The Texas attorney general’s office, which filed the lawsuit in 2022, did not respond to messages left Monday, or an additional one seeking comment on Tuesday evening.The lawsuit is believed to be the first of its kind in t...

Mets Notebook: Brandon Nimmo staying in left field for now

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

Brandon Nimmo might be an elite center fielder, but he’s continuing to go back to his early Mets roots by playing left field while his left quad strain heals.The Mets used Nimmo in left field for the third straight game Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tim Locastro, who was recently activated off the injured list after two injuries sidelined him throughout most of the season, got the start in center for the second game of the three-game series.With the trade deadline having passed and the Mets heading toward an early offseason, it isn’t crucial that Nimmo and his dazzling defense return to center field, but the Mets don’t have any outfield prospects that need looks and they’re still trying to maintain competitive integrity over the next six weeks. The team is better when Nimmo is in center field, but the team is also better with Nimmo healthy and they feel that limiting his running in left field will prevent him from injuring the quad further.“It...

Column: Red Sox considering bringing back Old-Timers’ games but should they?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

In less than a month, the New York Yankees will celebrate their 75th Old Timers’ Day, and welcome a notable member into the fold.On Sept. 9, Derek Jeter will join the ranks of the old timers.It’s fitting that Jeter agreed to partake this year, though as with last year’s event, the Yankees won’t actually play a game. They’re using this year’s Old-Timers’ Day to honor the 25th anniversary of their 1998 championship team. And, as of last December, there’s a new captain in the Bronx; Jeter passed the torch to Aaron Judge at a press conference last winter.The Yankees are really the only team in Major League Baseball still putting on these shows.Why don’t the Red Sox?Unlike newer franchises, which don’t have as much history to draw from, the Red Sox are an original American League club, and one of the most decorated, popular sports franchises in the world. Fenway Park is MLB’s oldest and Most Beloved Ballpark, history embodied.In the spring of 2018, the Red Sox did two things they hadn’t ...

Trial begins for 2 white Mississippi men charged with shooting at Black FedEx driver

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) — Attorneys made brief opening arguments Tuesday in the trial of two white men in Mississippi who are accused of chasing and shooting at a Black FedEx driver who had dropped off a package at a home.Brandon Case and his father, Gregory Charles Case, were indicted in November on charges of attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy and shooting into the vehicle of D’Monterrio Gibson in January 2022. Gibson, who was 24 at the time, was not injured. But the chase and gunfire led to complaints on social media of racism in Brookhaven, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of the state capital, Jackson. The trial is taking place in Brookhaven.District Attorney Dee Bates told jurors that Gibson made deliveries for FedEx on Jan. 24, 2022, while driving a rental van with the Hertz logo on three sides. Gibson dropped off a package at a home on a dead-end road, Bates said. Then, Gregory Case used a pickup truck to try to block the van from leaving, and Brandon Case came out...

OK, we can relax. The iPhone ‘hang up’ button might not be moving much after all

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Almost a week after the Apple faithful collectively gasped at the first evidence that the iPhone’s red “end call” button might soon be vacating its center position to take up residence one column to the right, it looks like it might have been mostly a false alarm.The initial shock followed the release of last week’s test, or beta, version of iOS 17, the next major update of the iPhone’s operating software. That’s where users first saw the end-call button, which has traditionally lived in splendid isolation centered well below function buttons such as “mute,” “keypad” and “speaker,” instead joining its peers and taking a more assimilated position in the lower right-hand corner of a six-button block.Now, though, images of the latest iOS 17 beta shared by multiple media sites shows the red button right back in the center of the phone dialpad, pretty close to where it’s long staked out its territory. But it’s still not alone; now it’s in the ...

DeSantis’ appointees ask judge to rule against Disney without need for trial

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

A Florida judge should rule without trial against Disney as the company fights Gov. Ron DeSantis’ takeover of a board that oversees Walt Disney World, the Republican governor’s appointees said Tuesday in court.Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District asked the state judge in Orlando for a summary judgment that would rule in their favor on five of the nine counts in their case.The case is one of two lawsuits stemming from the takeover, which was retaliation for Disney’s public opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation championed by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers. In the other lawsuit, in federal court in Tallahassee, Disney says DeSantis violated the company’s free speech rights.DeSantis isn’t a party in the state court case in which his appointees accuse Disney of wrongly stripping them of powers over design and construction at Disney World when the company made agreements with Disney-friendly predecessors. The DeSantis appointees argued that the ...

Mexican Navy seizes 3 tons of cocaine on boat off Pacific coast

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Navy said Tuesday that its personnel seized an open boat carrying three tons of cocaine, about 200 nautical miles (360 kms) off the Pacific coast.The Navy said three suspects were detained aboard the craft.The boast was carrying 80 sacks that contained 6,130 pounds (2,800 kilograms) of cocaine. The suspects had two outboard motors and a tank with about 40 gallons (150 liters) of gasoline. The bust was made southeast of the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco in Guerrero state.The Navy also found a sack with about 55 pounds (25 kilograms) of cocaine floating in the Caribbean just off the beach at the resort of Akumal, in the state of Quintana Roo.The Associated Press

A look at British Columbia’s heat wave, by the numbers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

A protracted heat wave has settled over the southern half of British Columbia, sending temperatures in some places into the 40s this week. Here’s a look at data associated with the hot spell that began Sunday, provided by Environment Canada. Information is correct as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.Hottest temperature: 42.1 C at Lytton climate station on MondayDaily heat records set at B.C. weather stations since Sunday: 39Hottest temperature at Vancouver International Airport: 25.1 C on TuesdayHottest temperature at Victoria International Airport: 30.5 C on MondayHottest temperature in Kelowna: 37.8 C on MondayThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2023.The Canadian Press

Cat’s out of the bag: Kitten turns up in a stolen car in Connecticut

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

MERIDEN, Conn. (AP) — Police who were examining a stolen car for evidence made a surprising find — a kitten — and now they are looking for his owner.The gray-and-white male cat was perched under a seat in the stolen vehicle, which collided with a police car during a chase Thursday, the Meriden Police Department said on its Facebook page and in a news release Monday. Officers were pursuing the car on suspicion that it had been used in armed robberies in several nearby communities hours earlier. After the crash, six suspects fled but were soon arrested. “We are hopeful someone recognizes our adorable feline friend and can help us reunite him with his owner,” the department said. It’s asking for anyone with information to contact Meriden police or animal control. The Associated Press

FBI: PNC Bank robbed in Elgin

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:07:41 GMT

ELGIN, Ill. — A PNC bank in Elgin was robbed Tuesday afternoon, according to the FBI.Federal officials said a single man walked into the PNC Bank found at 850 Summit Street and verbally demanded funds from the teller, while also displaying a note. A gun was implied and the suspect got away with an undisclosed amount of funds.Suspect sought by the FBI in a PNC Bank robbery that happened on Aug. 15, 2023.The FBI said the man is Black, about 5'10" to 5'11", large in build with dreadlocks, and was seen wearing dark pants, a black -shirt with a yellow construction vest on top, a black surgical mask, sunglasses, no gloves and a plain black baseball hat.Anyone with information can report anonymous tips to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, or call the FBI at 312-421-6700.No injuries were reported in the incident, and the suspect is still considered at-large.