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Maryland Supreme Court reverses ruling on digital ad tax

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s highest court on Tuesday reversed a ruling by a lower court that the state’s first-in-the-nation tax on digital advertising was unconstitutional, saying the court lacked jurisdiction over the case.In an order, Justice Matthew Fader, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland, sent the case back to Anne Arundel County Circuit Court with directions to dismiss. He said the plaintiffs failed to exhaust administrative remedies through the state’s tax court — Reasons will be stated in a later opinion. The four-page order does not make any ruling on the constitutionality of the law. Last year, the circuit court ruled that the tax on digital advertising violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prohibits discrimination against electronic commerce. The court also held that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on state interference with interstate commerce.In a case that is being closely watched by other states th...

South Carolina Republicans advance new abortion restrictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Republicans are pushing new abortion restrictions in a late attempt to curtail access after a near-total ban failed last month.A Senate bill that would ban abortion except in the earliest weeks of pregnancy is moving quickly through the South Carolina House in the first sign that Republican leaders may be close to restoring limits passed in 2021 but overturned by the state Supreme Court.The effort cleared two hurdles Tuesday. Lawmakers advanced the proposal through a morning subcommittee meeting with one hour of public comment and a full committee meeting lasting over three hours.The measure would ban abortion when an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, around six weeks and before most people know they are pregnant. It includes exceptions for fatal fetal anomaly, rape, incest, and the patient’s life and health up to 12 weeks. Doctors could face felony charges carrying a $10,000 fine and two years of imprisonment for violations.But the House comm...

Bill that would require Texas schools to teach fentanyl-awareness passes through House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — House Bill 3908, commonly known as Tucker's Law, will now go before the Texas Senate for consideration. It would require schools to provide education-based curriculum on drug addiction and fentanyl abuse prevention for grades 6-12.The House Bill was presented by Rep. Terry Wilson, who represents District 20, made up of parts of Williamson County. Since it's affirmative House vote, Tucker's Law has now been picked up by Sen. Brandon Creighton, who represents District 4, Montgomery, Harris, Chambers, Jefferson and Galveston Counties.The bill is named for Tucker Roe who died of a Fentanyl overdose at age 19 in 2021. His mother Stefanie Turner started the group Texas Against Fentanyl to raise awareness about the dangerous drug after the loss of her son.Turner was at the Capitol when the vote passed. She said the affirmation was a great step for promoting education on the difficult subject.However, she also said the moment was bittersweet as this mission only began after ...

TDEM deploys state emergency response resources ahead of severe storms happening this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of severe storms, potential flash flooding expected to hit the state from now through the weekend, according to a news release from TDEM.“The Texas Emergency Management Council is closely monitoring weather conditions across the state, including flash flooding threats and severe weather risk,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. "As state and local responders work diligently to protect our communities from these weather threats, Texans are urged to stay weather aware to keep themselves, their loves ones and their property safe."Large portions of the state faces increased risk of heavy rainfall, as well as flash flooding this week, according to the National Weather Service. Furthermore, severe storms are possible through the weekend, and Texans are urged to monitor local forecasts, the release said.TDEM activated the...

Twins waste Louie Varland’s strong start, fall 6-1 to Padres

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

With two runners on in the sixth inning Tuesday and working through the San Diego Padres batting order a third time, the Minnesota Twins let young right-hander Louie Varland work through the jam.Varland struck out $280 million-man Xander Bogaerts and third baseman Jose Miranda made a nifty play to handle a slow roller off the bat of Matt Carpenter and throw to first to end the inning, giving Varland a strong finish to his third start with Minnesota this season.However, defensive mistakes in the seventh inning, and another dismal offensive game, led to a 6-1 loss to San Diego.Bouncing back from the shortest start of his major league career, Varland allowed one run in six innings, surrendering five hits and two walks while striking out six. He lowered his ERA to 4.32 after coming off, perhaps, his worst outing in the majors when he gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings in Chicago against the White Sox.“We started the year with five major league starters and two guys in the minor leagues ...

Parents: Kids tied up in classroom, state cut corners during investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A child advocacy group wants the state of Missouri to reopen an investigation into allegations that two kids were tied up in a classroom.In early January, Holly, whose last name FOX 2 is not revealing, said her daughter alerted her about something bad happening in the classroom."My daughter came out of the school building, worried about her friend that was tied up," Holly said.The mom of two couldn't believe what her 9-year-old daughter had said, so she recorded what happened next. Holly: "When she went to the closet to get these out, what did she do with them?" Daughter: "She tied [child's name] with these." Family mourns siblings struck and killed on I-170  "I asked her [daughter] to explain that, and she showed me with her hands, and she showed me with her feet together," Holly said.Her daughter, who has autism, said the teacher physically restrained her friend. Holly said it may have been with zip ties, and she alerted other parents."I conta...

Defendant sentenced to life in prison for shooting death at Lakewood motel on West Colfax Avenue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

A defendant has been sentenced to life in prison for a shooting death at a Lakewood motel on West Colfax Avenue.Julian Joel Rivera, 36, was sentenced Friday in Jefferson County District Court for the murder of 29-year-old Geronimo Alvarado, according to a DA’s office news release. Rivera was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder on March 14 after a fire-day trial.“We thank the Lakewood Police Department for their investigation and the Jefferson County jury for ensuring justice was served in this case,” said Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Rhoads, in the release. “Mr. Rivera will spend the rest of his life in prison, and we hope his sentence brings some sense of closure to Mr. Alvarado’s family.”Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Two found shot to death in vehicle off U.S. 50 in Gunnison County Crime and Public Safety | Letecia Stauch guilty of murdering 11-year-old stepson Gannon, sentenced to life in prison Crime and Public Saf...

Keeler: Nuggets star Nikola Jokic hugged it out with Mat Ishbia. But was Ishbia trolling CU Buffs fans by bringing Mel Tucker back to Denver?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

Nikola Jokic got the last laugh after all. Or the first one, at least.After the Nuggets center completed warm-ups an hour before a massive Game 5 of their playoff semifinal with the Phoenix Suns, he spotted Mat Ishbia, with whom he’d sparred during Game 4 this past Sunday in Phoenix.As cameras closed in, the two-time NBA MPV dribbled over to the Suns owner’s courtside seat. He then gently handed him the basketball and gave the billionaire a big hug.A warm embrace won’t cover a $25,000 fine from the league, mind you. But it’s a start.With tensions diffused, those same cameras then panned over to Ishbia’s left, where the show before the game got even better. And stranger.In a twist we couldn’t make up if we tried, sitting two seats over from the mortgage billionaire and former Michigan State basketball player, wearing a bright Suns orange shirt, was a face we hadn’t seen around the Front Range in a while: former CU football coach Mel Tucker.Yep. Midnight Mel, whose departure from the ...

Sex offender who posed as immigration official in Aurora is sentenced for sexually assaulting a child

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

A sex offender who posed as an immigration official and sexually assaulted young girls was sentenced this week to four decades in prison.Kenneth Dean Lee, 66, was sentenced Monday in Arapahoe County District Court for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl, according to an Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office news release.On Dec. 9, 2021, officers in Aurora were dispatched to an apartment complex to investigate a case where a man knocked on a resident’s door, identified himself as an immigration official and entered the apartment without permission, the release said.Two adults and a 7-year-old child, who were inside the home during the incident, told investigators the man “demanded” to speak with the girl alone in her bedroom. After the imposter left, the girl told her mother she had been sexually assaulted.Investigators used video surveillance from the apartment complex, the suspect’s vehicle, and a GPS ankle monitor, to connect Lee to the attack....

Dodgers' Mookie Betts rents Airbnb to avoid famed haunted hotel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:50 GMT

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in Milwaukee this week for a three-game series with the NL Central-leading Brewers, and while team unity is important during long road trips, one Dodger star is keeping his distance from the rest of the team, "just in case."According to Orange County Register reporter Bill Plunkett, outfielder Mookie Betts rented an Airbnb with some friends while the rest of his Dodger teammates stayed in a legendary 130-year-old hotel in Milwaukee.The reason, Betts said, is due to long-rumored reports of hauntings and other creepy happenings at the Pfister Hotel.View of the Pfister Hotel from an East Wisconsin Avenue crosswalk in November 2022 (Casey Lovegrove/Unsplash)The Pfister Hotel is one of the most historic buildings in Milwaukee. The famed luxury hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has hosted billionaires, diplomats and more — it's also rumored to be home to an intrepid spirit or two. Betts, 30, who has stayed at the hotel in years pas...