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Arkansas requires parents’ OK for children on social media

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas on Wednesday became the second state to restrict social media use by children, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved legislation requiring minors to get their parents’ permission to create a new account.The bill signed by the Republican governor requires social media companies to contract with third-party vendors to perform age verification checks on new users. The law will apply to new accounts created starting in September.“While social media can be a great tool and a wonderful resource, it can have a massive negative impact on our kids,” Sanders said before signing the legislation. The proposal is similar to a first-in-the-nation law that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed last month. Utah’s law takes effect in March 2024. Several other states are considering similar measures, touted by supporters as a way to protect children. California last year enacted a law requiring tech companies to put kids’ safety first by barring them from profil...

Woman tied to polygamous sect leader accused of threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — A woman believed to be one of the 20 wives of a polygamous sect leader jailed in Arizona faces federal charges for allegedly sending threatening emails to child welfare workers in a bid to get her two daughters released from state foster care. The indictment of Josephine Barlow Bistline marks the fourth woman associated with self-declared prophet Samuel Bateman to face federal charges. Three of Bateman’s wives were previously charged with kidnapping and impeding a foreseeable prosecution after eight girls associated with the sect fled from foster care. Authorities say Bistline told a case manager with the Arizona Department of Child Safety in a March 24 email that she would be sent to prison, where she would live on a ventilator and people would have to help her breathe and clean up after her. According to a criminal complaint filed against her, Bistline told the case manager: “And, you know, I wouldn’t mind helping with that too. Because I love you. But you have gone...

New dental care program should give First Nations benefits more teeth: NDP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Dental benefits for Indigenous people should be improved if the new national dental insurance plan offers better or more accessible services, NDP health critic Don Davies said Wednesday.The Liberals have dedicated $13 billion over the next five years to phase in a new dental insurance program for low- and middle-income Canadians as part of a confidence-and-supply agreement with the NDP.The government provides dental benefits as part of a federal health-insurance plan for people with First Nations and Inuit status, called the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, as well as urgent dental care for refugees.Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said he is looking closely at that benefits program — which he said is solid, but not perfect — while his department works on the national dental insurance plan.“I’m working with (Indigenous Services Minister Patty) Hajdu, who is responsible for the NIHB, to see how we can learn from their experiences and their lessons in order to...

B.C. pledges $10M funding boost for Chinese Canadian Museum ahead of July 1 opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

Vancouver’s Chinese Canadian Museum will open its doors on July 1 on the 100th anniversary of racist legislation known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, after the province pledged an additional $10 million in funding.Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, says the investment not only recognizes the contributions of the Chinese Canadian community but will also help revitalize Chinatown, a beloved part of Vancouver.The Chinese Canadian Museum will be located in the Wing Sang Building on East Pender Street, one the oldest buildings in Chinatown.Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the museum, says its opening will be a significant milestone for Chinese communities across Canada, and it will serve as a hub where people can learn more about the communities’ intangible heritage.The museum’s opening will feature a national exhibition titled “The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act,” with July 1 marking the centennial of the passing of the Chine...

Hoosier Daddy: Daughter's booming barbecue business pays homage to late father

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

In beautiful St. John, Indiana, you will find longtime staple Welch's Stop and Shop, where they're grilling up the goods with an award-winning assist from a special barbecue sauce: Hoosier Daddy.Kim Foy is the proprietor behind the barbeque sauce that comes in three varieties. Kim's father, Bill, was the mastermind behind the sauce. Kim Foy, owner of Hoosier Daddy. (Photo: WGN)Made from scratch at home with only natural ingredients, Bill made quite the tasty impression among family and friends. When Bill lost his cancer battle, Foy took the love of her father and his sauces to the market under the brand name Hoosier Daddy in 2011.Foy's brother Bill, who also passed prematurely, was an ingredient of inspiration as well.SEE ALSO | How WGN’s Pat Elwood honors his daughter and St Baldrick’sHoosier Daddy was being sold online and at dozens of local grocery stores, at Sox Park and more."It was wonderful," she told WGN News. "We were everywhere. We were in the ballparks in 26 states and th...

Father sues university, says it failed to treat NFL player who fatally shot 6

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

ROCK HILL, S.C. (WJZY) – The father of the former NFL player who shot and killed six people in Rock Hill, South Carolina before killing himself in 2021 is accusing his son's college of failing to take the necessary precautions and educate players against head injuries.In April of 2021, authorities say Phillip Adams shot and killed six people before turning the gun on himself. A coroner later determined in Adams' autopsy that the former NFL cornerback had Stage Two Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), an unusually severe form of the degenerative brain disease that has been shown to cause violent mood swings and memory loss.According to the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS), CTE is a brain condition suspected to be connected to repeated head injuries. The wrongful death lawsuit from Alonzo Adams, below, states that while his son was on South Carolina State University's football team between 2006 to 2009, and during his career in the NFL, Adams sustained head trauma.Alonz...

New York City hires first-ever 'rat czar,' a former teacher who beat out nearly 1,000 applicants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

HARLEM, N.Y. (WPIX) — New York City has hired its first-ever rat czar: a former teacher who hates rodents as much as Mayor Eric Adams. Kathleen Corradi beat out 900 applicants to become the citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation, Adams announced Wednesday. "I knew when my wife's grandma called from North Carolina to see if I would apply, it was meant to be," Corradi said at a press briefing in Harlem. NYC urges New Yorkers to call out ‘dog poopetrators’ in new clean-up effort Corradi previously worked on rodent reduction efforts at the Department of Education, where she focused on cutting off rats' food, water, and shelter supplies. She plans to do the same in her new role. Corradi said getting food and leftover waste into rat-proof compost bins is a start, but broader efforts are expected. "Rats are symptoms of systemic issues. You can't deal with one part of the problem," Corradi said. "This is going to take all of us."Adams said he interviewed Corradi and was impressed with ...

You can now stock your fridge with The Pink Drink and other Starbucks favorites

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Your favorite Starbucks beverages are now even easier to buyIf you’re a fan of Starbucks, there’s good news. Starting this week, you might not have to wait in line to get your favorite caffeinated beverage. In fact, you may not even have to go to Starbucks, because you can get a ready-to-drink canned or bottled beverages at your favorite grocery store. Better yet, you can have them shipped straight to your door.In this article: Starbucks Pink and Paradise Drink (Two Flavor Variety Pack), Starbucks Frappuccino Mini (Two Flavor Variety Pack) and Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink.Introducing Starbucks’ new line of RTD beveragesIn a press release, Chanda Beppu, senior vice president and president, global channel development at Starbucks stated, “Starbucks Pink Drink began as a customer-created beverage in our Starbucks stores and quickly became a fan favorite and permanent bevera...

Winona woman remains missing; father of her children says he’s not responsible for disappearance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

WINONA, Minn. — The father of Madeline Kingsbury’s children said he wants her to return and is not responsible for her disappearance. Adam Fravel said he has cooperated with law enforcement since her disappearance on March 31.Authorities in southeastern Minnesota launched a wide-ranging search for her after saying they considered her disappearance “involuntary” and “suspicious.”Madeline Jane Kingsbury (Courtesy photo)Kingsbury, 26, dropped her children off at day care the day she went missing. The Winona woman did not report to work and didn’t pick up the kids. Police found her wallet, phone and jacket still in her home. They also reported that Fravel drove her van that morning, and later returned and reported she wasn’t home. Winona police said the van “has been taken and processed for evidence.”Fravel issued a statement about the matter on Wednesday through Rochester attorney Zachary Bauer, who is representing him. He said he has been the subject of “...

Manitou Fund announces plans to purchase Stillwater’s troubled Zephyr Theatre

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:52:00 GMT

Calling the Zephyr Theatre an “essential and impactful community-driven arts collaborative,” officials from a foundation based in White Bear Lake announced Wednesday that they plan to purchase the theater property in downtown Stillwater.Manitou Fund officials have entered into a purchase agreement to purchase the theater property, located at 601 N. Main St., and plan to enter into a lease agreement with theater officials. A May closing is planned; a sale price was not disclosed.Theater officials will have the option to repurchase the theater property in the future, officials said in a statement released Wednesday. The move gives theater officials “time to reorganize educational and performance programming and plan for the future,” according to the statement.Things looked bleak for the Zephyr six months ago. The theater’s executive director, Calyssa Hall, resigned; most of the staff were furloughed; productions were canceled, and the popular Ice Maze had to find a new home.The news a...