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NBA lauded for diversity practices, initiatives in report card by university

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

The National Basketball Association set a league record for most head coaches of color in the past year, helping it earn high grades in an annual diversity report.The NBA earned a combined grade of A in the 2023 NBA Racial and Gender Report Card released by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida on Tuesday. In November 2022, the league reached new all-time highs for head coaches of color (17) and Black head coaches (16). As of the report’s release, the league had 15 head coaches of color. The Milwaukee Bucks hired Adrian Griffin, who is Black, as a first-time head coach this offseason. Richard Lapchick, the director for TIDES, said it matters that so many of the league’s 30 teams are led by people of color because such hires lead to increased diversity in other positions. “When a league takes the initiative to set the kind of example that the NBA does, that’s not only good for sport, but good for society as well...

Mississippi GOP Gov. Tate Reeves will face Democrat Brandon Presley in the November election

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday won the Republican nomination as he seeks a second term, setting up a general election contest against Democrat Brandon Presley in the heavily conservative state.Reeves defeated two first-time candidates: John Witcher, a physician who has criticized COVID-19 vaccinations, and David Hardigree, a military veteran. Presley, a cousin of rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, ran unopposed.Presley said the Nov. 7 general election would come down to which candidate “has got guts and the backbone to stand up for the people of Mississippi and which candidate has consistently showed us that he will do whatever his lobbyist buddies want him to do and will not stand up for the people of Mississippi.”Presley planned to take the stage at his victory party to “See See Rider,” the song Elvis Presley often used as walk-on music. The candidate said he would not sing, though.“We’re trying to get votes,” Presley said in a phone interview before ...

Texas woman known as the ‘Sassy Trucker’ leaves Dubai after monthslong legal dispute

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Houston woman known online as the “Sassy Trucker” has left the United Arab Emirates after being stranded in Dubai for months over an altercation at a car rental agency.Tierra Young Allen, 29, left Tuesday and will transit through the United Kingdom on her way back to the U.S., said Radha Stirling, who runs a for-hire advocacy group long critical of the UAE called Detained in Dubai.Allen paid a $1,360 deposit to Dubai police to clear the travel ban she faced, Stirling said.It wasn’t clear if Allen still has any legal complaints against her in the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Officials in Dubai did not return a request for comment. The U.S. State Department in a statement to The Associated Press acknowledged Allen departed Dubai, but declined to say whether she still faced legal proceedings in the UAE. “We take seriously our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad,” the State Department said. “Over the pas...

Man charged in violent sexual assaults targeting women across Toronto

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

A man has been arrested and charged in alleged sexual assaults in Toronto, including one incident where he dragged a woman into an alleyway.Toronto police were notified of a sexual assault in the Ontario Street and Dundas Street East area in Cabbagetown around 1 a.m. on June 26.It’s alleged a woman was walking in the area when she was approached by an unknown man who attempted to engage her in conversation.The female victim left and continued walking home when the man attacked her. Police said the victim was knocked to the ground, dragged into an alleyway and sexually assaulted. A concerned citizen interrupted the violent act, and the man fled.Around a month later, on July 23 at 2:30 a.m., police responded to the Parliament Street and Dundas Street East area in Cabbagetown for reports of a sexual asault.It’s alleged a female victim was approached by a man unknown to her. Police said the man followed the woman into an alleyway and sexually assaulted her.On August 4, autho...

College professors sue Idaho over a law that they say criminalizes classroom discussions on abortion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Six university professors and two teachers’ unions are suing Idaho over a law that they say violates their First Amendment rights by criminalizing teaching and classroom discussion about pro-abortion viewpoints. The 2021 No Public Funds for Abortion Act prohibits state contracts or transactions with abortion providers and also bans public employees from promoting abortion, counseling in favor of abortion or referring someone to abortion services. Public employees who violate the law can be charged with misuse of public funds, a felony, and be fired, fined and ordered to pay back the funds they are accused of misusing.The law is “simultaneously sweeping and unclear” and places a “strait jacket upon the intellectual leaders” of Idaho’s public universities, the educators, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, wrote in the lawsuit.The case was brought by five University of Idaho professors who teach philosophy, political science, American litera...

Ohio voters reject ballot measure seen as threat to abortion rights effort

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

A proposed constitutional amendment at the center of the abortion rights battle in Ohio is projected to fail, delivering a major win for Democrats and reproductive rights advocates.Voters in the Buckeye State rejected a ballot measure that would have required at least 60 percent of voters to pass any amendments to the state constitution — up from a simple majority.The Associated Press called the election shortly before 9 p.m. ET.The proposed constitutional amendment was supported by Republicans and different interest groups, including anti-abortion activists and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Though the proposed amendment does not mention abortion in the text, it was largely seen as an effort to undercut a separate ballot measure in November that aims to enshrine abortion rights into the state's constitution. In addition to upping the threshold for the percentage of voters needed to change the state constitution, the August ballot measure would have required groups collecti...

Hutto football ready for breakout 2023 season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) - There was a lot of excitement for Hutto last year in a new district with a lot of talent on the roster. However, the Hippos didn't make the playoffs with a 5-5 record.An added hurdle last year was Hutto head coach Will Compton and his staff not getting started until the summer ahead of their first year. Now with a full offseason, Compton and the team can feel the improvement.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"It just makes a big difference in the continuity of your program," said Compton. "It's been great for us overall.""Just putting in the discipline," said Hutto senior wide receiver Carson LaPlante about what the team can do with more time together. "Just trying to be more together, not necessarily individuals...I think we have a good chance of a district title this year."The Hippos are led by senior quarterback Will Hammond. The Texas Tech commi...

Rays beat Cardinals 4-2 after 3-run 8th inning

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena hit RBI singles in the eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Tuesday night.Josh Lowe opened the eighth with a triple against Miles Mikolas (6-8). Andre Pallante entered and retired pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez on a grounder before Díaz hit a groundball single to center that made it 2-1 — the first of four consecutive base hits. Lowe and Arozarena drove in runs with their hits.Díaz went 4 for 4 and raised his average from .315 to .322 as the Rays improved to 7-3 over their last 10 games. Isaac Paredes hit his 22nd homer of the season in the seventh inning, when he knotted the game at 1-all.Tampa Bay center fielder Jose Siri helped preserve the 1-all tie with a leaping catch at the wall on Nolan Gorman’s two-out drive off Jason Adam (3-2) with a runner on first in the top of the eighth.Pete Fairbanks, the third Rays' pitcher, gave up a solo homer to Willson Contreras in the ninth...

Prosecutors visit Missouri River in disappearance case, say watch for barrels

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

WAVERLY, Mo. - The Clay County prosecuting attorney is telling anyone on the Missouri River to alert authorities if they spot a barrel.Earlier this summer, kayakers discovered a barrel holding remains later identified as those of Jaynie Crosdale. Excelsior Springs police had been searching for her as a potential witness in Timothy Haslett Jr.'s case. Family speaks out after possible witness in Missouri kidnapping case found dead On Tuesday, Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson hit the water, telling FOX4 he wants to familiarize himself with the area and keep a lookout for more potential evidence.Speaking from the Port of Waverly, Thompson didn't get into specifics about what that evidence might be. But he explicitly said any barrel along the water should require extra attention."If you are around the Missouri River. If you see a barrel, contact law enforcement," Thompson said.As a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol prepared a boat, people stopped by the landing Tuesday...

Vote tally: St. Louis area August 8 municipal election results

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:51 GMT

 Voters go to the polls Tuesday in several municipal elections.In St. Louis City, voters in the new ‘St. Louis Hills Special Business District’ will be asked to approve a property tax to fund the district through 2029. There are also property tax proposals on the ballot for the Fox C-6 School District and the Meramec Valley R-3 District.In St. Louis County, voters will decide whether to merge the city of Normandy and the village of Glen Echo Park. The polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.Check the results as they update in real-time below.