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Montana says 1st-in-nation TikTok ban protects people. TikTok says it violates their rights.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

HELENA, Mont. — Montana became the first state in the U.S. to enact a complete ban on TikTok on Wednesday when Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a measure that’s more sweeping than any other state’s attempts to curtail the social media app, which is owned by a Chinese tech company.The measure, scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, is expected to be challenged legally and will serve as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America that many national lawmakers have envisioned. Cybersecurity experts say it could be difficult to enforce the ban.“Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party,” Gianforte said in a statement.TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter argued that the law infringes on people’s First Amendment rights and is unlawful. She declined to say whether the company will file a lawsuit.“We want to reassure Montanans that they can cont...

NYSP honor two fallen troopers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It was a somber day at the New York State Police Academy on Wednesday. Troopers honored two fallen members of the force at their annual memorial and awards ceremony.Both honored sergeants died in 2022 due to illnesses connected to their duties at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Today is a day of remembrance, honoring the sacrifice that state police members back on a daily basis," NYSP Superintendent Steven Nigrelli said. "But specifically this year, Sgt. Ivan M. Morales and Sgt. F. Brent Chomyszak, who gave their lives serving the state of New York and made sure that our citizens and our communities were safer."Thirty other law enforcement officials were given awards. The highest award for heroism went to Trooper Francis Rush, who rescued a trapped driver who had driven into a lake in Dutchess County.

Capital Region military members recognized by state lawmakers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State lawmakers recognized members of the Capital Region military on Wednesday. They honored the important role local military members have in protecting national security.It also highlighted the United Military Affairs Council. The program is run by the Capital Region Chamber and supports military units located in the area. It received $100,000 in last year's state budget to continue its work. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "They had a really tough time through the pandemic. They lost a lot of their sponsors and financial support through that pandemic period," Assm. Angelo Santabarbara said. "It was difficult for everyone, so to see the state approve funding -- was able to secure that funding -- means they are acknowledging Capital Region Military Day."Lawmakers said the funding will sustain the organization for the next couple of years.

Man knocked unconscious during brawl at Dodger Stadium

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

A cell phone camera was recording when a brawl erupted outside Dodger Stadium Tuesday night after the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Minnesota Twins.A witness, Jonathan Lopez, told KTLA that a group of drunken fans started fighting outside of the centerfield entrance around 10:15 p.m.“They started pushing each other and then they got into a fight … and then a couple of seconds later (one guy) was knocked out on the floor, unconscious,” he said.Cell phone video shows several people wrestling and exchanging punches. May 16, 2023. The cell phone video shows several people wrestling and exchanging punches. Suddenly, a man in a white Clayton Kershaw shirt charges at another man in a dark-colored Dodgers jersey who, with a left hook, knocks him out.The man's head appears to hit the pavement.Lopez says stadium security guards broke up the fight, put the unconscious man on a stretcher, and handcuffed the man who knocked him out.Cell phone video shows several people wrestling and exchangin...

$30K reward offered for information in slaying of father in Hawaiian Gardens

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

A $30,000 reward is being offered in the search for a gunman who killed a 40-year-old father in Hawaiian Gardens last year.The victim, Carlos Alvarez-Diaz, was driving with a 14-year-old relative when shots rang out, striking and killing him on the morning of Oct. 8, 2022.His family members are now pleading for answers and justice, hoping the $30,000 reward can help them track down the suspect responsible.Alvarez-Diaz was shot while driving northbound on Norwalk Boulevard at 226th Street.Police found Alvarez-Diaz with a fatal gunshot wound in the upper torso. The 14-year-old passenger was also shot but survived.“He leaves behind a wife, two girls, and a baby boy who’s never going to meet his dad,” the victim’s brother, Adrian Alvarez, said. “He was loved by everybody.”Carlos Alvarez-Diaz is seen in a photo provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Detectives haven’t announced whether they’ve retrieved surveillance video from the residential area where Alvarez-Diaz was ...

Walk This Way: DragCon Queens on the Pink Carpet (Slideshow)

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

Another DragCon is in the herstory books and a fabulous time was had by all. This year, the ACLU had a presence at the Los Angeles Convention Center raising money for its Drag Defense Fund, which supports drag performers as they face increasing threats and censorship across the country. According to reports, they raised $40,000 during the two day convention, which featured vendors, performances and photo ops galore. The pop culture spectacular was pure eye candy, especially as queens showed off their colorfully creative looks on the event’s pink carpet. Here, we offer a super-sized photo gallery of the hair, makeup and fashion served. Met Gala, eat your heart out!Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.The post Walk This Way: DragCon Queens on the Pink Carpet (Slideshow) appeared first on LA Weekly.

House GOP sidesteps vote on ousting Rep. George Santos

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

By Kevin Freking | Associated PressWASHINGTON — A resolution to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress was referred to the House Ethics Committee on Wednesday as Republicans successfully sidestepped an effort to force them into a vote that could have narrowed their already slim four-seat majority.The House voted along party lines, 221-204, to refer the matter to the ethics panel, with Santos himself joining his GOP colleagues in voting to do so.The freshman congressman has been charged with embezzling money from his campaign, falsely receiving unemployment funds and lying to Congress about his finances. He has denied the charges and has pleaded not guilty.Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., introduced a resolution in February to expel Santos, something the House has only done twice in recent decades. He sought to force a vote on that resolution under a process that left three options for Republicans: a vote on the resolution, a move to table, or a referral to committee.House Spea...

Alameda County prosecutors charge former DA campaign volunteer with attempted murder in Oakland shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

OAKLAND — Although still a fugitive, an Oakland man who volunteered for Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s campaign has been charged with attempted murder in an October 2022 shooting outside a Dimond district bar, court records show.What remains to be seen is whether Price, because of a potential conflict of interest, will recuse her office from prosecuting the case once Shawn Martin, 47, is arrested. A request for comment from the DA’s Office was not returned as of Wednesday evening.Martin became a prominent supporter of Price in the November 2022 election, after he was acquitted of murder charges in a 2017 shooting. His case caused a political firestorm when his attorney accused former District Attorney Nancy O’Malley of allowing prosecutorial misconduct to run rampant.Price later highlighted Martin’s story and his work as a volunteer when she campaigned for office, writing online that she earned his support “because in his words, I was the onl...

Athletics tie it again late, but give it up in ninth in loss to Diamondbacks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

OAKLAND — The Athletics put themselves in position for back-to-back come-from-behind wins Wednesday afternoon, only to have it come apart in the ninth inning of a 5-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Coliseum.Ramon Laureano woke up a moribund A’s offense with a three-run home run in the seventh to tie the score at 3-3 against Ryne Nelson. Coming several hours after Ryan Noda’s pinch-hit grand slam erased a four-run deficit and helped furnish a 13-inning win Tuesday night, the A’s had reason to feel good about winning another game as well as taking the series.But in the same inning, Tony Kemp was thrown out at the plate by Corbin Carroll, attempting to score on a single from Esteury Ruiz, and the score remained tied. The A’s protested, believing catcher Jose Herrera was blocking the plate, but officials ruled in Arizona’s favor.It stayed that way until the ninth, when Herrera hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly off Adrian Martinez and Ketel Marte f...

Ecuador’s president dismisses legislature as it tries to oust him

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:44:22 GMT

By Regina Garcia Cano and Gonzalo Solano | Associated PressQUITO, Ecuador — The president of Ecuador dismissed the legislature Wednesday in a move that promised more turmoil around a conservative leader who has been unable to enact a business-friendly agenda as the South American country experiences an alarming rise in crime.In disbanding the National Assembly, Guillermo Lasso made first use of the Ecuador presidency’s nuclear option under the constitution in conflicts with the legislative branch. His first move was to push a package of tax cuts, but criticism was swift and an appeal to stop him was filed hours after he announced his decision in a televised message in which he accused lawmakers of focusing “on destabilizing the government.”“This is the best possible decision,” he said after describing his move as a way to give Ecuadorians “the power to decide their future in the next elections.”Armed soldiers then surrounded the National Ass...