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Published by Reuters By Keith Coffman DENVER (Reuters) – The individual accused of fatally shooting five people inside a Colorado LGBTQ nightclub last year was due in court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing in which a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to try the suspect for murder. Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, has been held without bond at the El Paso County jail since being arrested and has been charged with 323 criminal counts stemming from the Nov. 19 rampage at Club Q in Colorado Springs. The shooting spree left five bar patrons dead and nearly two dozen others wounded by gunfire or otherwise injured. Among the charges the defendant faces are first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault and bias-motivated crimes. Clad in body armor and armed with a handgun and an AR-15-style assault rifle, Aldrich opened fire indiscriminately on club patrons, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Two men inside the bar with military training subdued Aldrich and held the suspect until police arrived, the affidavit said. One of the men pistol-whipped Aldrich as others pummeled the accused assailant, leaving the suspect with multiple injuries that required hospitalization. Prosecutors have not publicly revealed whether they have determined a motive for the shootings. Aldrich’s lawyers have asserted in court filings that their client identifies as “non-binary” in gender and prefers them/they pronouns. At a previous court hearing, a defense lawyer intimated that Aldrich may have been in the club previously, including on the night of the massacre. Even if Aldrich identifies as a member of a protected class, the defendant could still be found guilty of the hate crimes that have been charged in the case, District Attorney Michael Allen told reporters following an earlier hearing. “We’re not going to tolerate actions against community members based on their sexual identity,” Allen said. “Members of that community have been harassed, intimidated and abused for too long.” El Paso County District Judge Michael McHenry was assigned to preside over the preliminary hearing, which was scheduled to run for three days, according to the court docket. The hearing’s purpose is for prosecutors to outline their case with the intention of persuading the judge there is enough evidence to establish probable cause for the charges and proceed to trial. The Q nightclub shooting is not the defendant’s first brush with the law. Aldrich was arrested in June 2021 after threatening to detonate a bomb and harm a family member, prosecutors said. That case was dismissed after the relatives who were the alleged victims declined to testify for the prosecution. If convicted of first-degree murder, Aldrich faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Colorado no longer has capital punishment on its books, but Aldrich could face the death penalty if federal prosecutors decide to try him on federal charges that still carry a death sentence. (Reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver; Editing by Steve Gorman and Bradley Perrett) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English J.K. Rowling “doesn’t care” if her controversial comments impact her “legacy”. The ‘Harry Potter’ author, 57, has been accused of transphobia for a series of comments but has now insisted she isn’t bothered that her legacy will be tarnished because anyone who cares about their legacy is “pompous” in her eyes. Speaking on the first episode of her new podcast ‘The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling’, she insisted: “I do not walk around my house thinking about my legacy. You know, what a pompous way to live your life walking around thinking, ‘What will my legacy be?’ Whatever, I’ll be dead. “I care about now. I care about the living.” Rowling caused outrage after she liked a tweet that referred to trans women as “men in dresses”, and faced online attacks and death threats since she bemoaned the loss of references to biological women in 2020. The writer took issue with an online article’s mention of “people who menstruate” by tweeting: “‘People who menstruate’. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” However, in the trailer for the podcast, she insists her comments were “profoundly” misunderstood, and it was never her intention to “upset anyone”. More recently, she accused Nicola Sturgeon of being a “destroyer of women’s rights” after the politician’s SNP and the Scottish Labour Party backed the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which passed through the Scottish Parliament in December and allows Scots to self-identify their legal gender. Rowling was criticised by transgender campaigners for wearing a T-shirt bearing the “destroyer” message and posted a picture of herself wearing the top online. Among those who have since hit out at the author over her remarks are ‘Harry Potter’ actors including Daniel Radcliffe, 33, and Emma Watson, 32, as well as Eddie Redmayne, 41, who featured in her ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films. The author’s latest comments on the backlash come after ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ sparked controversy by adding the first transgender ‘Harry Potter’ character. The introduction of Sirona Ryan, a barkeep at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, came amid the Rowling transgender row. Although it’s not stated in the game if Sirona is transgender, one piece of dialogue about an encounter with a goblin called Lodgok suggested as much. Sirona says: “I’ve known [Lodgok] for years. We met when I was waiting tables here as a student — well before I bought the place. “He was cordial enough, but we weren’t friends then. His mistrust of wizardkind ran deep… Hadn’t seen him in years when he came in a few months ago. But, he recognised me instantly. Which is more than I can say for some of my own classmates. Took them a second to realise I was actually a witch, not a wizard.” Warner Bros. Games has insisted Rowling is “not directly involved”, though her writing has provided the “foundation” for the title. The much-discussed role-playing title – which just broke a Twitch streaming record for the most concurrent viewers – was released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 10. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One follow on April 4 and Nintendo Switch players will have a while longer to wait with a date set for July 25. View the full article

Published by Raw Story A vice mayor for a small town in Virginia is receiving attention from across the nation after calling U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg a derogatory term based on his sexuality during his weekly Facebook Live show on Feb. 15. Jim Wood, the Vice Mayor of Waynesboro, Virginia, hosts the Facebook Live show from his own page every Wednesday, and the show is not connected to his political position or the City of Waynesboro. Waynesboro has a population of 22,550 people. Wood’s show, “Conservative Conversations with Friends Around the World” was covering the topic of the recent train de… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) explained in detail on Tuesday how her vision for a “national divorce” would work. On Monday, Greene’s repeated calls for a “national divorce” raised concerns that she wanted a new civil war. But on Tuesday, the lawmaker insisted she was not calling for violence. “Why the left and right should consider a national divorce, not a civil war but a legal agreement to separate our ideological and political disagreements by states while maintaining our legal union,” she wrote on Twitter. “Tragically, I think we, the left and right, have reached irreconcilable differ… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News A South Korean court on Tuesday recognized the legal rights of a same-sex couple for the first time, in a move celebrated by human rights advocates as a major victory for the country’s LGBTQ community. The country’s high court sided with So Seong-uk, 32, who sued the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in 2021 after the agency kicked his partner, Kim Yong-min, out of his plan. Even though same-sex marriages or civil unions are not legal in South Korea, So and Kim held a ceremony in 2019 to celebrate their love and commitment to one another. They have since lived together as a married coup… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Vladimir Putin mocked the Church of England this week over its decision to explore possible gender-neutral terms for God, RadarOnline.com has learned. The Russian leader’s shocking remarks came on Tuesday morning as Putin gave a state of the union address to a room full of tired Kremlin officials. Mega According to Putin, the West is headed toward a “spiritual catastrophe” over its decision to explore gender-neutral terms for God and because the Church is allegedly changing historical facts in exchange for “woke” ideologies. “The Anglican Church is considering a gender-neutral God. May God forgive them for they know not what they do,” Putin charged on Tuesday morning during his 115-minute rant. “Millions of people in the West understand they are being led to a real spiritual catastrophe.” Mega “They distort historical facts, constantly attack our culture, the Russian Orthodox Church, and other traditional religions of our country,” he continued before citing the Church’s recent discussion to potentially allow priests to give same-sex marriages their blessing. “Look at what they do with their own peoples: the destruction of the family, cultural and national identity, perversion, and the abuse of children are declared the norm,” Putin fumed. “And priests are forced to bless same-sex marriages.” Vladimir Putin’s Top Officials FALL ASLEEP During His 115-Minute State Of The Union Address Chechen Warlord Reveals Plans To Arrange Own Private Army, Fueling Theories He’s Preparing For Russian Civil War In Putin’s Absence Vladimir Putin Places Russia’s Nuke Triad ‘On Highest Alert’ As President Joe Biden Visits Ukraine But following Putin’s nearly two-hour rant on Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for the Church of England spoke out to deny the allegations the Church is currently exploring potential gender-neutral terms to refer to God. “There are also absolutely no plans to abolish or substantially revise currently authorized liturgies and no such changes could be made without extensive legislation,” the spokesperson clarified. Mega As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Putin also spent a large portion of his 115-minute address this week attacking the West for interfering in his ongoing war against Ukraine. According to Putin, Ukraine’s Western allies are using the ongoing conflict as an opportunity to obtain “limitless power” on the global stage. Jake SullivanMega “We were doing everything possible to solve this problem peacefully, negotiating a peaceful way out of this difficult conflict, but behind our backs a very different scenario was being prepared,” Putin raged during his speech. “We are defending people’s lives, our home,” he continued to a room of Kremlin officials fighting to stay awake. “And the West is striving for an unlimited domination.” Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Putin’s remarks on Tuesday “absurd” and emphasized the fact that Putin himself was the one who chose to begin the war by invading Ukraine in February 2022. “This was a war of choice – Putin chose to fight it. He could have chosen not to,” Sullivan said. “And he can choose even now to end it, to go home. Nobody is attacking Russia.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jennifer Coolidge was “very nervous” at the thought of putting make up on a dead body. The 61-year-old actress was a cosmetology student before finding fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s with supporting roles in ‘American Pie’ and ‘Legally Blonde’ but was relieved to learn that the mortuary section of the course was “virtual.” She said: “I was very nervous about the mortuary makeup part, but it turned out we didn’t work on any bodies or anything — it was all sort of virtual. We never had to actually do it on a corpse. It wouldn’t be my first choice.” When it comes to doing her own makeup, the ‘White Lotus’ star explained that she likes to apply her products out of a traditional “order” and always tries to keep her face looking as “moisturised” as possible. She told PEOPLE: “I put products on out of order. I put the primer on after my makeup, because I feel like it makes me look extra dewy. I always want to look like there’s moisture on my face. I use ice cubes on my face every day because I want to look like I just walked up a flight of stairs.” What’s more, the Emmy Award-winning actress appears alongside pop superstar Jennifer Lopez in the comedy ‘Shotgun Wedding’ and admitted she was tempted to ask the ‘Jenny From the Block’ hitmaker if her eyelashes were real, but was too scared to do so in the end. She said: “[J Lo]had these lashes on that were so real looking, but they were so long. “I wanted to ask her if they were hers, but I didn’t have the guts.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega The founder of Project Veritas, James O’Keefe, was removed from his position on the company’s board and stripped of his title as CEO after a group of employees publicly condemned his leadership, RadarOnline.com has learned. O’Keefe founded the far-right activist group in 2010. Listed as a 501(c)(3) corporation, O’Keefe’s Project Veritas allegedly produced and distributed highly-edited videos from its undercover operations in an attempt to discredit mainstream media and political opponents by touting conspiracy theories. The 38-year-old former CEO was placed on paid leave before his removal while board members considered action against him for alleged workplace misconduct and mismanaging donor funds. mega According to New York Magazine via The Daily Beast, a group of Project Veritas staffers accused O’Keefe of “outright cruel” treatment to employees and wasting company funds. The latest development from the damning reporting came on Monday when O’Keefe announced that he would be leaving the company he founded 13 years ago, revealing the news in a 15-minute video. mega “Throughout my 13 years doing this my mission has evolved,” O’Keefe said in the video. “Over the last few weeks, I have felt a lot of despair and seen a lot of evil and felt overcome with various emotions.” “I take away from these the gratitude that I have for many of you, most of you…I reflected upon my appreciation for many of you, what makes this great is because we actually believe in this, we have a passion for this and we have principle,” the former CEO continued. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. mega As O’Keefe’s voice cracked, he added that “the external threats and pressure inflicted upon myself has been unimaginable.” The far-right activist revealed that he was suspended “indefinitely without compensation” per a memo from Project Veritas board members. Nonetheless, O’Keefe vowed that his company’s work would carry on without him. mega “Project Veritas will never be stopped from the outside, it will only be because we stopped ourselves,” O’Keefe said as he quoted a former board member. “Prophetic as it may be, that is exactly where we find ourselves in the situation today,” the ousted CEO added. “A situation where I have been stripped of my authority as CEO and removed from the board of directors, bet you didn’t know that.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Nikki Haley fired back at Don Lemon this week following the embattled CNN host’s controversial remarks regarding the newly announced GOP presidential candidate’s age, RadarOnline.com has learned. During a town hall event just outside Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, Haley spoke about Lemon’s controversial remarks and indicated her age is a vital asset that makes her a prime candidate for next year’s presidential election. Mega The 51-year-old former South Carolina governor also spoke about how her age differentiates her from the only other GOP candidate to have announced their candidacy for the 2024 presidential election: former President Donald Trump. “Because I don’t think you have to be 80 to be in D.C.,” Haley responded when asked about the differences between her and Trump. But Haley also faced scrutiny for failing to provide any substantial policy differences between herself and her former boss and spoke highly of ex-President Trump and her time serving as his ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017 to December 2018. “President Trump is my friend. I think he was the right president at the right time,” she told the Iowa crowd on Monday evening. “I was proud to serve in his Cabinet.” Mega “All the media and everybody wants to talk about is the past,” Haley continued. “We need to leave the status quo in the past and we’ve got work to do.” As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Haley first came under fire last week when she called for mental capacity tests for lawmakers who are older than 75 years of age. Embattled Politician George Santos CANCELS Don Lemon Appearance, Rips CNN Host Over ‘Sexist’ Age-Shaming Scandal Whoopi Goldberg SLAMS Nikki Haley Over Calls For A ‘New Generation Of Leadership’ To Take The White House In 2024: ‘You’re Not A New Generation…You’re 51’ Off-Air Again: Embattled CNN Anchor Don Lemon Forced Into ‘Formal Training’ Over Comments About Women Two days after Haley released her campaign announcement video on Tuesday, February 14, Lemon caused a firestorm on CNN This Morningwhen he claimed the 51-year-old presidential candidate is not “in her prime.” “This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon commented, angering cohosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. “I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime.” Mega “Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime,” he continued. “Sorry, when a woman is in her prime is in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.” Lemon was temporarily taken off the air following his remarks regarding Haley’s age and isn’t expected to return to CNN This Morning until completing “formal training” resulting from his controversial comments. “I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation. He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn,” CNN CEO Chris Licht announced in a memo issued Monday night. “We take this situation very seriously.” Meanwhile, Whoopi Goldberg echoed Lemon’s remarks regarding Haley’s age during an episode of The View on Monday. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. Mega Although Goldberg did not touch upon whether Haley is in her prime or not, the talk show host slammed the newly announced presidential candidate for claiming the White House needs a “new generation of leadership.” “You’re not a new generation. You’re 51,” Goldberg, 67, said. “What are you talking about?” “It’s not a new generation. She may be younger than most of those people, but her rhetoric is the same. She’s saying the same BS,” she continued. “I love the young kid, but the only way you get younger people to run is if you’re out there talking to people saying ‘run.’ We’re not going to vote for people who don’t have our best interests at heart.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Rapper Da Brat is pregnant! The 48-year-old announced on Tuesday, February 21, that she is carrying her and wife Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart‘s child. mega Though Da Brat is pregnant with the couple’s baby, Harris-Dupart underwent the egg retrieval procedure. The expecting parents then chose an anonymous donor, described as “an eager entrepreneur” from their cryo bank, which was combined with the egg and transferred into Da Brat — who is now 18-weeks pregnant. LisaRaye McCoy’s Sister Da Brat Says Nicole Murphy ‘Absolutely’ Went After Her Husband Michael Misick Da Brat Goes to Da Big House Da Brat Surprises Her Sister LisaRaye McCoy On Set — ‘We Barely Get To See Each Other’ mega More to come… People spoke to Da Brat about her pregnancy. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna has revealed her new look after swelling has “gone down” after surgery. The ‘Material Girl’ hitmaker has joked about the reaction to her appearance at the Grammy Awards earlier this month when she introduced Kim Petras and Sam Smith for their performance. Sharing a picture of herself on what appears to be a set, the 64-year-old star tweeted: “Look how cute i am now that swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol (sic)” Following the ceremony a couple of weeks ago, Madonna blasted people who criticised her appearance at the Grammys. She wrote on Instagram at the time: “It was an honor for me to Introduce Kim Petras and Sam Smith at the Grammys. “I wanted to give the last award which was Album of the year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans- woman performing at the Grammys — a History making moment!! And on top of that she won a Grammy!! “Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim- Many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!! “Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in. (sic)” She insisted she is “happy to do the traiblazing” despite criticism if it helps other women “have an easier time in the years to come”. She continued: “A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous. “I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start. “I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come. (sic)” View the full article

Published by The Citizen Paris. A man known as “the Duesseldorf patient” has become the third person declared cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant that also treated his leukaemia, a study said on Monday. Two other cases with both HIV and cancer, patients in Berlin and London, have previously been reported as cured in scientific journals following the high-risk procedure. Now the details of the Duesseldorf patient’s cure have been revealed in the journal Nature Medicine. The 53-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was diagnosed with HIV in 2008, then three years later with acute myeloid leukae… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Lovestruck Cher has been plotting to elope with her 37-year-old boy toy Alexander “A.E.” Edwards in a quickie Las Vegas wedding — and cut her disapproving sons out of her $360 million will, RadarOnline.com has learned. The 76-year-old diva is convinced the music producer is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with and is fuming that her son Chaz Bono, 53, and Elijah Blue Allman, 46, have not supported the relationship, sources said. MEGA “Cher is mad at them she’s ready to cut them out of her life completely,” said a source. “She’s been hell-bent on marrying this guy and is speaking to her lawyers about adjusting her will to make A.E. her sole beneficiary.” Cher and A.E. have been packing on the PDA since revealing their unlikely romance in November. By December, the Believe singer was flashing her reported $250,000 engagement ring from A.E. on Twitter! MEGA More recently, A.E. jetted Cher to Arizona for a round of Super Bowl parties, where they were seemingly attached at the hip. Sources said the ageless entertainer and her hunky young music man were planning to snub her sons and only invite her lifelong pal Paulette Howell and rapper Tyga to the Sin City nuptials. Singer Cher, 76, & Boyfriend Alexander ‘AE’ Edwards, 36, Are Engaged Despite Her Friend’s Expressing Concern: Sources ‘He’s Barely Paid For Anything’: Cher’s Inner Circle Trashes Her Fiancé Alexander ‘AE’ Edwards After Shock Engagement, Plead With Singer To Run Away Newly Engaged Cher Shows Off Diamond Ring On Date Night With Fiancé Alexander ‘AE’ Edwards Despite Concern From Friends Sources claimed the singer has clashed with Chaz and Elijah because they’ve branded A.E. as a gold-digger. “They think he’s playing her to cash in on her power and influence in the music industry,” a source said. Cher apparently unloaded over the Christmas holidays, blasting her kids for being more concerned about her money than her happiness, an insider revealed. chaz bonomega “Cher doesn’t believe her sons should be counting her cash,” said the insider. “If that’s their primary focus, they can kiss the entire pile goodbye.” Another source said Cher often covers the tab for A.E., “He’s barely paid for anything since he and Cher met in Paris last September.” mega “Cher has a lot of people worried for her right now. She’s saying it’s her business who she dates and she’ll make her own decisions, but the warning signs are there for everyone to see,” the source said. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Allen and Brendan O’Brien (Reuters) – A daughter of Malcolm X, the civil rights activist assassinated 58 years ago to the day on Tuesday, has filed notices that she intends to sue the FBI, the CIA, New York City police and others for his death. Ilyasah Shabazz accused various federal and New York government agencies of fraudulently concealing evidence that they “conspired to and executed their plan to assassinate Malcolm X.” “For years, our family has fought for the truth to come to light concerning his murder,” Shabazz said at a news conference at the site of her father’s assassination, now a memorial to Malcolm X. The New York Police Department said it would not comment on pending litigation. The FBI and the CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Malcolm X rose to prominence as the national spokesman of the Nation of Islam, an African-American Muslim group that espoused Black separatism. He spent over a decade with the group before becoming disillusioned, publicly breaking with it in 1964 and moderating some of his earlier views on racial separation, angering some Nation of Islam members and drawing death threats. He was 39 years old when three men with guns shot him onstage as prepared to speak at New York’s Audubon Ballroom on Feb. 21, 1965. Shabazz, who was then 2 years old, was present with her mother and sisters. Soon after, some associates of Malcolm X said they believed various government agencies were aware of the assassination plan and allowed to it happen. Talmadge Hayer, then a member of the Nation of Islam, confessed in court to being one of the assassins. In 2021, a New York state judge threw out the convictions of two other men who wrongly spent decades in prison for the murder of Malcolm X, saying there had been a miscarriage of justice. Hayer had long said the two men were innocent and that his accomplices were other Nation of Islam members. The two men were exonerated at the request of the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which said an investigation had found that prosecutors and law enforcement agencies withheld evidence that, had it been turned over, would likely have led to the pair’s acquittal. In Shabazz’s notices of claims, which New York law requires be served on certain government agencies before a lawsuit can be filed, Shabazz said she seeks $100 million in damages. The notices were served with the agencies she intends to sue on Tuesday based on new information that only recently came to light, according to Ben Crump, her attorney, who said he intended to take depositions of government officials. “It’s not just about the trigger men, it’s about those who conspired with the trigger men to do this dastardly deed,” Crump said at the news conference. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York and Brendan O’Brien in Chicago; Editing by Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by uPolitics.com Attorneys representing members of the far-right Proud Boys militia in their defense cases surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot have notified the court that they intend to issue a subpoena to former President Donald Trump. Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four other members have been charged with sedition and orchestrating the violence that occurred on January 6 — a charge they believe should be brought against Trump. “Donald Trump called on patriots to stop the steal. We’re calling on Donald Trump to take the stand,” said Norm Pattis, an attorney for one of the defendants. The Proud Boys… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis jetted into the city Monday to press the case that New York should follow his state’s lead in turning the tide on “woke” politics, including by rolling back “failed” bail reform laws. But the Republican governor, in town to deliver remarks at a law enforcement conference on Staten Island, steered clear of discussing abortion, LGBTQ rights and other issues he’s drawn plenty of controversy for on the national stage. “I read that New York is the only state that doesn’t allow judges to consider when they’re making a bail determination whether someone’s a danger… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, freeing states to limit or ban abortion, we knew abortion pills would become a target. What’s the point of a law, after all, that can be circumvented by using a few pills shipped to private homes anywhere in the country after a simple telehealth or online appointment? Sure enough, anti-abortion activists and partisan judges are proceeding on multiple fronts to make it harder to safely end pregnancies via medication, currently, and rightly, America’s most popular method. This unsettled time in the law poses big risks for the rights o… Read More View the full article

Published by Kent Online By [email protected] (Gerry Warren) The Archbishop of Canterbury has been denounced as the head of the global Anglican church by leaders from around the world. It comes following the decision by the Church of England to allow the blessing of same-sex couples in civil partnerships. The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches says it now no longer considers Justin Welby to be leader of the global communion and has “disqualified” the Church of England as its “mother church”. The compromise ruling by the General Synod – which is the Church of England’s legislative assembly – approved t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democratic U.S. Representative David Cicilline, a leading voice for gay rights who has represented Rhode Island in Congress for over a decade, said on Tuesday that he will resign from office effective June 1. In a surprise announcement, Cicilline, a former Providence mayor, said he will become president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, a major funder of nonprofit organizations in the state. “The chance to lead the Rhode Island Foundation was unexpected, but it is an extraordinary opportunity to have an even more direct and meaningful impact on the lives of residents of our state,” Cicilline said in a statement. Cicilline will remain in office until he begins work at the foundation on June 1, his office said. Republicans have a slim majority in the House, with 222 seats. There are 212 Democrats, including Cicilline, and one vacancy that is expected to add another Democrat following voting in a special election on Tuesday. A special election to fill Cicilline’s seat will be held sometime following his departure from Congress. Officials in the Rhode Island governor’s office were not immediately available for comment on when that special election might be set. Rhode Island’s two U.S. Senate seats and two House seats are currently held by Democrats in this “blue” state. In November, Cicilline briefly ran for the position of assistant House Democratic leader, in a bid to raise the profile of gay issues in Congress. He dropped out after receiving assurances from party leaders that such issues would be represented, according to a House Democratic aide. He was running against Representative James Clyburn, who has long held top party leadership jobs in the House. First elected to the House in 2010, Cicilline has established a solidly liberal voting record, defending low-income constituents from budget cuts and accusing Facebook of failing to discourage hate speech and Russian propaganda. He was re-elected last November with 64% of the vote. (Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Richard Cowan; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Nick Zieminski) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has decided to receive hospice care and “spend his remaining time at home with his family” instead of additional medical intervention, the Carter Center said on Saturday. Carter, 98, who has lived longer after leaving the White House than any former president in U.S. history, was a Democrat who served from January 1977 to January 1981. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers,” the center said in a statement. In recent years, the Georgia native suffered from several health issues including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain, although he had responded well to treatment he received. The former peanut farmer’s rocky four years at the helm of the country were marred by economic woes at home and the Iran hostage crisis that ended just after he left office. But Carter also played a central role in brokering the Camp David accords that led to the landmark Egypt-Israeli peace treaty. He was swept from office in an electoral landslide in 1980 as voters embraced Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the former actor and California governor. However, Carter rehabilitated his legacy as he worked energetically for decades on humanitarian causes. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” He could also often be seen, hammer in hand, helping to build affordable houses as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Carter and his wife Rosalynn, whom he married in 1946, have four children. (Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Maria Caspani; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Don Lemon is “gutted” after making controversial remarks about Nikki Haley, an insider revealed. According to the insider, the anchor, who said Haley “is not in her prime,” believes he “let women down.” As a result, Lemon will not return to the TV show on Monday, February 20, and Sara Sidner will fill in for him alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. As OK! previously reported, the TV personality, 56, took the day off on Friday, February 17 — just one day after he spoke poorly of Haley, who is running for president in 2024. Lemon escaped to Miami, Fla., where he spent the day in the water. While on TV, Lemon spoke out about Haley, resulting in him making Harlow upset. “She [Haley] says people, you know, politicians are something if not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry,” he stated on Thursday, February 16. “A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.” “I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it,” Lemon replied. “Everybody at home, when is woman in her prime, it says 20s, 30s and 40s. And I’m just saying should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime and they need to be in prime when they serve. Because she wouldn’t be in her prime.” mega Lemon then had to apologize while on a call with CNN CEO Chris Licht, who said he was “disappointed” by Lemon’s statement. “His remarks were upsetting, unacceptable, and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization,” Licht said on the phone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I did not mean to offend anyone,” Lemon replied. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega Lemon also expressed his regret via social media, explaining that his words were “inartful and irrelevant.” “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally,” he continued. “I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.” TheWrap spoke to an insider. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rebel Wilson is engaged to her girlfriend Ramona Agruma after proposing to her at Disneyland with a huge diamond ring. The ‘Pitch Perfect’ actress, 42, has been at the centre of rumours she was engaged to fashion and jewellery designer Ramona since they had daughter Royce Lillian in November via surrogate – which she denied – but she revealed they are now planning to get married in a social media post on Sunday. (19.02.23) Rebel posted two photos of them at Disneyland wearing matching pink tops emblazoned with hearts and captioned the images: “We said YES! Thank you @tiffanyandco for the stunning ring and to Bob Iger and the incredible team at Disneyland @disneyweddings for pulling off this magical surprise!” One of the two images showed Rebel holding out Ramona’s hand adorned with a huge diamond sparkler. The other showed Rebel proposing on one knee in front of Disneyland’s Magic Castle. Rebel also shared a video to give her fans a better look at the Tiffany engagement ring, which she said was “just stunning”. The actress was introduced to Ramona by a mutual friend in 2021, and said about the start of their relationship: “We spoke on the phone for weeks before meeting. And that was a really good way to get to know each other. It was a bit old-school in that sense – very romantic.” The pair appeared in public together several times last year but didn’t confirm they were an item until they went Instagram official with their relationship in June 2022. Before their baby’s arrival, Ramona threw a baby shower for her now-fiancée, who she told People was “so amazing” and “such a great partner”. But Rebel recently revealed Ramona’s family were “not as accepting” as their friends and fans of their romance. She admitted “in many respects, it has been a lot harder on her to have to make the news public” and told how she wanted to be able to connect with Ramona’s loved ones in future. Rebel added: “I feel so sad to see what happened with her family over it. Hopefully, people will change their attitudes about things.” She added about how she hadn’t been exploring her sexuality and never wanted long-term relationships with men: “When I talked to my good friends, they all knew that part of me, but it wasn’t like I was actively exploring it… I never met a guy I wanted to live with or was in a deep enough relationship with.” View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By James Imam BERLIN (Reuters) – Philosopher Paul B. Preciado did not want to make a film about his own gender transition, because British novelist Virginia Woolf had already done so a century before. “Orlando: My Political Biography”, Preciado’s playful debut film, explores the struggles of trans and binary people through Woolf’s novel “Orlando”. In its opening scene, two young non-binary people sit reading a book in the woods. “The way we present trans people through films is by destroying them through their image. I didn’t want to go into that tradition, but I didn’t want to go into the vic… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) We’re playing cards by candlelight to the sound of humming cicadas and peacock mating calls. Our host Taranga never explained the rules. Naturally, he’s winning. “The lights will come back on soon,” he says, shuffling the cards for another game of… well, who knows? “This happens every night.” I glance over to the silhouette that is my partner, struggling to make out his expression, and feel the light-hearted mood drain away into the inky darkness. It’s the first time in my life I have had to hold back from making any physical contact with him. Why? Because doing so could get us arrested or s… Read More View the full article