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Target on the defensive after removing some products aimed at LGBTQ+

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO and DEE-ANN DURBIN (AP Business Writers)NEW YORK (AP) — Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.Now that status is tarnished after it removed some products aimed at LGBTQ+ and relocated Pride Month displays to the back of stores in certain Southern locations in response to online complaints and in-store confrontations that it says threatened employees’ well-being.Target faces a second backlash from customers upset by the discount retailer’s reaction to aggressive, anti-LGBTQ+ activism, which has also been sweeping through Republican state legislatures. Civil rights groups chided the company on Wednesday for caving to anti-LGBTQ+ customers who tipped over displays and expressed outrage over gender-fluid bathing suits.“Target should put the products back on the shelves and ensure their Pride displays are visible on the floors, not pushed into the proverbial closet,” Human Rights Campai...

Lawmakers break for holiday with debt talks on the brink 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are pushing debt ceiling talks to the brink, displaying risky political bravado as they left town Thursday for the holiday weekend just days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default that could hurl the global economy into chaos.Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he’s directed his negotiating team “to work 24/7 to solve this problem.”McCarthy, R-Calif., said that “every hour matters” in talks with President Joe Biden’s team as they work toward a budget deal. Republican are demanding spending cuts the Democrats oppose, and McCarthy said a deal could come together “at any time.”The White House said negotiations by video conference were ongoing between Biden’s staff and McCarthy’s, with the president assessing that talks remained productive though serious disagreements remained.“The negotiations we’re having with Speaker McCarthy are what the budget will look like, not about defaul...

Virgin Galactic nears space ticket flights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M — Virgin Galactic completed what’s expected to be its final test flight before taking paying customers on brief trips to space, marking what the space tourism company described as a “fantastic achievement.”Six of the company’s employees, including two pilots, landed at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico Thursday after the short up-and-down flight that included a few minutes of weightlessness. It took about an hour for the mother ship to carry the spaceplane to an altitude of 44,500 feet, where it was released and fired its rocket motor to make the final push.“Successful boost, WE HAVE REACHED SPACE!” Virgin Galactic tweeted.It reached an altitude of 54.2 miles before gliding back down to the runway, according to the company.Jamila Gilbert, who grew up in southern New Mexico and leads the company’s internal communications, was among those on board who were evaluating what it will be like for paying customers.“It i...

Jimmy Garoppolo underwent foot surgery after signing free agent deal with Raiders: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

New Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will have to wait to make his first impression.The 31-year-old will not be participating in OTAs as he recovers from foot surgery, a procedure he had after inking a three-year, $72.75 million free agent deal with Las Vegas.The Raiders discovered during Garoppolo’s physical that he would need surgery on his foot, according to The Athletic. He underwent the procedure after being introduced as their new quarterback on March 17 — an introduction that was delayed a day without an explanation.The Illinois native suffered a left foot injury on Dec. 6, 2022 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers and their team doctors believed that he would not require surgery, per The Athletic. Raiders’ medical professionals decided he would need surgery after his physical with the team and he will now likely be held out from practice until at least July.“We’re always going to err at this time of the year on being smart,” Raiders h...

This Colorado camping destination is a hidden gem for arts and outdoor recreation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

For most travelers, the town of Naturita, Colorado, is a pass-through point on the drive between Telluride and Moab, Utah. But Natalie Binder is working to make it a destination for outdoor recreation and art enthusiasts alike.In 2021, Binder and her partners, Jodie and Bruce Wright of One Architects, opened CampV, a 120-acre campground located near what used to be a thriving mining town on Colorado’s Western Slope. A visit includes glamping options and interactive artwork set against stunning desert views, as well as a lesson in local history.“When I travel, I look for spaces that tell a story,” Binder said. “I felt like this not only had an incredible story, but it also had a story that was worth preserving and retelling.”The “V” in CampV stands for Vancorum, the name of an enclave built by the Vanadium Corporation of America to house engineers and managerial staff who worked for a nearby uranium mine in the town of Uravan. Uravan is long gone, evacuated and demolished due to the ...

What's the forecast for Memorial Day weekend?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

SAN DIEGO — It appears "May Gray" won't be going away anytime soon.Temperatures in the San Diego region will be cool Thursday and Friday as we head into Memorial Day weekend.On Saturday, a low-pressure system will weaken a bit and move inland, making for a slightly warmer day. Temperatures will be 5 degrees warmer on Saturday for San Diego County's mountains and deserts.Early next week, another low-pressure system will move in. These San Diego areas among ‘bluest waterways’ in US: analysis The region will be slightly cooler next week with low coastal clouds extending into the inland valleys and coastal slopes of the mountains during the nights and early mornings, with limited daytime clearing at the coast.High temperatures will remain below average.

These San Diego areas among 'bluest waterways' in US: analysis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- When thinking of blue waters, does San Diego come to mind? It should.According to a new analysis by mobility platform SIXT, there are two areas in the region that are considered among the bluest waterways in the nation. "The world is full of stunning natural wonders, but there's something unique about recharging while enjoying blue waters," said David Woody, country development and travel expert at SIXT. "Studies have shown that when we're near water, the sights and sounds kickstart neurochemicals in our body that stimulate wellness, increasing blood flow to the brain and heart and helping us relax." This is the most popular dog breed in San Diego, according to a study The good news for San Diegans -- some of the most mesmerizing shades of blue can be viewed and enjoyed right here in Southern California. According to SIXT's analysis, Sail Bay in San Diego ranked as the sixth bluest waterway in the U.S. The water kisses the borders of the Pacific and Mission Beach neig...

Ted Hsu officially joins Ontario Liberal leadership race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

A second candidate has entered the race to become the next leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. According to Elections Ontario, Kingston and the Islands MPP Ted Hsu registered his name as an official leadership candidate on May 20. While Hsu has not publicly declared his candidacy yet, he did tweet on Wednesday of a “special announcement” for this Sunday with the hashtag #freshstartOLP. Come on down, I've got a special announcement to make! And, I'll have special guest Rob Baker with me. It's time for a #freshstartOLP . #YGK All welcome! RSVP appreciated. https://t.co/st2PFcPaxI pic.twitter.com/GVMnPDf6Ms— Ted Hsu 徐正陶 (@tedhsu) May 24, 2023“After five tough years under the Doug Ford Conservatives, it’s time for a fresh start in Ontario,” he said in a media release. “We need a fresh approach to health care, housing, and how we deal with the rising cost of living, while at the same time, investing in a world-class, competitive,...

3 healthy kittens born to mountain lion tracked by biologists in wilderness near Los Angeles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A mountain lion studied by biologists in wilderness areas near Los Angeles has given birth to three healthy kittens, the National Park Service said Thursday. The three females estimated to be a month old were found May 18 nestled in a patch of poison oak in the Simi Hills area about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of downtown LA, the park service said in a statement.They were born to a 5-year-old cougar dubbed P-77 that has been tracked since November 2019. Scientists are calling the babies P-113, P-114 and P-115. The father isn’t immediately known. Biologists aren’t currently following any male cougars in P-77’s habitat, so they suspect the father might have come from nearby mountains and then went back. P-77 makes her home in an area between the 101 and 118 freeways overlapping the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountain ranges.It’s the third mountain lion litter found in the Simi Hills in recent years. P-62 gave birth in 2018 and P-67 delivere...

Portland, Oregon, to clear sidewalk tents to settle suit with people with disabilities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland will remove tents blocking sidewalks under a tentative settlement announced Thursday in a lawsuit brought by people with disabilities who said sprawling homeless encampments prevent them from navigating Oregon’s most populous city.The federal class action lawsuit, filed in September, alleged that the city violated the American with Disabilities Act by allowing tents to obstruct sidewalks. The plaintiffs included a caretaker and nine people with disabilities who use wheelchairs, scooters, canes and walkers to get around. The settlement still requires approval from the City Council and the U.S. District Court in Portland.The settlement comes after City Council members voted in November to create at least three large, designated campsites where homeless people will be allowed to camp and ban the rest of the roughly 700 encampments scattered across the city. That ban won’t take effect until the sanctioned campsites are opened.Under the tentativ...