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More than 43,000 people went to the polls for a Louisiana election. A candidate won by 1 vote

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — In the northwest corner of Louisiana, a candidate for parish sheriff demanded a recount Wednesday after losing by a single vote in an election where more than 43,000 people cast ballots. The tight race shines a spotlight on Louisiana’s recount process and its outdated voting machines, which do not produce an auditable paper trail that experts say is critical to ensuring election results are accurate. States’ recount abilities have proven to be exceedingly important, especially following the 2020 presidential election when multiple battleground states conducted recounts and reviews to confirm President Joe Biden’s victory.“This extraordinarily narrow margin … absolutely requires a hand recount to protect the integrity of our democratic process, and to ensure we respect the will of the people,” John Nickelson, the Republican candidate who trailed by one vote in last week’s election for Caddo Parish Sheriff, posted on social media Wednesday. Henry Whitehor...

Nevada judge rejects attempt to get abortion protections on 2024 ballot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A judge has struck down an effort to enshrine reproductive rights, including abortion, in Nevada’s constitution, as abortion rights advocates in the western swing state attempt to follow other states in putting the question before voters in 2024.Judge James T. Russell in Carson City District Court concluded on Tuesday that the proposed ballot initiative is too broad, contains a “misleading description of effect” and has an unfunded mandate.The petition, if passed by voters, would have amended the state constitution to include the “fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” including prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, vasectomy, tubal ligation, abortion and abortion care.“This is probably the clearest case I have seen that I think there is a violation of the single-subject rule,” Russell said on Tuesday, according to KOLO-TV Reno, which first reported the ruling. “I’ve seen a lot of them over the years and in respect to this particular matte...

Fiji’s leader says he hopes to work with China in upgrading his country’s shipyards and ports

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Fiji’s leader says that after meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, he hopes to collaborate with China on upgrading his nation’s shipyards and ports. Sitiveni Rabuka made the remarks to lawmakers in Parliament on Wednesday. Rabuka is generally viewed as leaning less toward China than his predecessor Frank Bainimarama, and in a visit to Australia last month, Rabuka emphasized he was “more comfortable dealing with traditional friends” such as Australia.But in his Wednesday remarks, Rabuka highlighted the economic ties his small South Pacific island nation has forged with China over 50 years of diplomatic relations. Rabuka said that in his meeting with Xi last week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in San Francisco, he discussed how China’s assistance was pivotal to Fiji’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery.Rabuka said China’s Belt and Road Initiative aligned with Fiji’s development ...

More than 32,000 hybrid Jeep Wrangler SUVs recalled because of potential fire risk

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Automaker Stellantis on Wednesday announced a recall of more than 32,000 of its hybrid Jeep Wrangler SUVs because they pose a potential fire risk.As part of what the company described as a routine review of customer information, Stellantis determined that eight of the hybrid Wranglers had caught fire while they were turned off and parked. Six of the vehicles were being charged when the fires started. The company said it doesn't believe anyone was hurt in the fires. Several more children sickened by fruit pouches tainted with lead, FDA says The recall covers 2021-2024 models of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe SUVs. All other Wrangler models have been deemed safe by Stellantis, which maintains its U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.The SUVs affected by the recall can still be driven until they are fixed, but Stellantis is recommending they be parked away from buildings and not be charged until they can be repaired. The fixes involve either resetting or upda...

Couple graduates together after welcoming their ‘miracle baby’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

PINEVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- A Louisiana couple celebrated another milestone just two months following the birth of their "miracle baby." Shunte and Korey Harrison, of Pineville, walked across the commencement stage on Saturday and graduated from Southern New Hampshire University. Korey earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration, and Shunte earned her Associate of Science in criminal justice.The couple prevailed through some hard times while earning their degrees -- including natural disasters, illnesses and deaths in the family. Woman finds, adopts terrified girl hiding in nursing facility. Then came a second surprise They also struggled with infertility issues and went through an IVF treatment. It was all worth it when the couple got to celebrate the birth of their first child, Kyler. Shunte became a new mom on her conferral date, September 1. "It was two blessings in one," she said in an interview with the university. The couple dedic...

Dru Sjodin’s mom reflects on the past 20 years without her child — and about her life as an advocate

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

Linda Walker, sitting in her home in rural Pequot Lakes, Minn., on Nov. 15, 2023, holds one of the last pottery pieces her daughter, Dru Sjodin, made in 2003 at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Dru loved elephants, and Walker pointed out the tiny bird atop the top hat on the piece she keeps on a shelf in a room in her home. (Nancy Vogt / Forum News Service)In Loving Memory of DruAs you wereYou will always beTreasured foreverIn our memoryThose words are inscribed on a marble plaque on the ground outside Linda Walker’s longtime home in rural Pequot Lakes, Minn., in memory of her daughter.Walker vividly recalls Nov. 22, 2003 — the day her 22-year-old daughter, Dru Sjodin, went missing.Dru Sjodin, slain University of North Dakota student. (Courtesy photo)“I was here at home. I got a call from who at that time was Dru’s boyfriend, Chris (Lang), saying that something was wrong,” Walker said while sitting in her kitchen.“It was the first Thanksgiving that my entire fami...

Jace Frederick: Credit to the Timberwolves for playing their players

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

Joel Embiid missed Wednesday’s highly-anticipated 76ers-Timberwolves bout Wednesday at Target Center.It was another bummer, of which there are many throughout the NBA season. You circle games when the schedule comes out in August, and Philadelphia making its lone trip to Minneapolis on Thanksgiving eve was a big one. Pair that with the hot starts of both teams, and it was a must-see contest.But the lack of Embiid’s availability took a little shine off the showdown. Part of the fun of Philadelphia and Minnesota squaring off is watching Embiid duel with Minnesota’s twin towers of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.Such is life in the NBA. Wednesday actually marked the fifth game out of Minnesota’s first 14 contests in which the opponent was playing on the second half of a back to back.The same setup caused Jimmy Butler to sit out the Timberwolves’ home opener. It also caused Zion Williamson to not play against the Wolves on Saturday in New Orleans. The ab...

Return of Alex Goligoski means Wild finally at full strength

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

Don’t look now, but the Wild are about to be at full strength.Blue liner Alex Goligoski practiced Wednesday for the first time since Oct. 16, when a Jonas Brodin snap shot got between his pads and broke a fibula during a practice in Montreal.“Just hit the bone,” Goligoski said. “Just hit it perfect.”The veteran former Gophers star was placed on long-term injury reserve and missed 15 games, joining Jared Spurgeon (13), Matt Boldy (7) and Freddy Gaudreau (7) as key players to miss several games already this season — one reason the Wild have stumbled out of the gate with a 5-8-4 record.They’ll all back now — Gaudreau returned from a rib injury in a 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto in Sweden — and coach Dean Evason should have a full, healthy roster for Friday’s 7 p.m. home game against Colorado, a first this season.“Well, looking at the board, it’s nice to not see anybody on the right side, on our injury side of our board,” Evason said after practice at TRIA Rink. “That’s certainly nice th...

Kiszla: The “Browncos” are everything Tom Brady hates about the NFL today. Apologize? No way.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

They’re the “Browncos,” mirror images of the meh-but-successful NFL team that makes Tom Brady want to cover his eyes at cringe-worthy football.“There’s a lot of mediocrity in today’s NFL,” Handsome Tom lamented to  Stephen A. Smith earlier this week. “I don’t see the excellence that I saw in the past.”The Browncos don’t care. They’re trying to win games, not score style points.In a league where scoring is down and boredom is up, Denver and Cleveland have figured out it’s better to be gritty than pretty in the Sluggo World where the NFL currently resides.“Play great defense. Run the ball well. Win the turnover battle,” Denver offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey said Wednesday. “I think that’s been the recipe for us. It’s been the recipe for them.”With scoring in decline across the league for the fourth season in a row, the Browncos are either what’s wrong with football or on the leading edge of the bully ball that has come back in vogue.The Browns and...

$9.5M in stolen retail merchandise recovered after 2 arrests in L.A. County

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:08:52 GMT

A man and a woman from Downey have been arrested in connection with the recovery of $9.5 million worth of goods stolen from big box retailers across Southern California, authorities announced on Wednesday.  Manuel Alfredo Revolorio and Alondra Ramirez Cruz, both associated with an organized cargo theft ring, were busted on Nov. 21 when investigators from the California Highway Patrol’s Southern Division Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP) served multiple search warrants at locations throughout Los Angeles County. Authorities recovered shoes, clothing, electronics, perishables and other goods taken from more than a dozen unidentified big box retailers in the area.  Investigators with the California Highway Patrol arrested a man and woman in Downey in connection with an organized cargo theft ring and recovered $9.5 million in stolen property. (CHP)Investigators with the California Highway Patrol arrested a man and woman in Downey in connection with an organized cargo thef...