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Opponents of last week’s special session are counting on a 2022 constitutional amendment to provide a legal challenge to the special primary election bills passed by the Alabama Legislature should Alabama be allowed to redistrict. The amendment known as Amendment 4 during the election, requires any election law passed by the Legislature to be enacted […]

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City decreased for the first time since 2022, city officials reported Thursday.

Global Sumud ontzidi humanitarioarekin batera, 2026ko Bake eta elkarbizitzarako Gernika saria jaso dute Nikol Pashinian Armeniako lehen ministroak eta Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijango presidenteak, “elkarrizketa, memoria eta gatazken konponbide baketsua sustatzeagatik”. Harridura baino ezin du sortu Aliyevi halako sari bat emateak. Izan ere, Artsakh edo Nagorno-Karabakh bezala ezagutua den lurraldea bere populazioaz indarkeriaz hustu ostean lortu baitu sari hau. Aliyevek berak poztasuna islatu du sare sozialetan. Bakea lortzeko eta Azerbaijan eta Armeniaren arteko elkarrizketa bultzatzeko egindako ahaleginak aitortzeagatik eskerrak eman dizkie antolatzaileei. Gernikako bonbardaketaren biktimen memoria ohoratu du, baita populazio zibilaren kontra egindako edozein krimen gizateria eta zibilizazioaren kontra eginikoa dela adierazi ere. 2026ko Gernika saria Aliyeven erregimen autoritarioaren zuriketa bat izan da, argi eta garbi. Erabaki hori hartu zutenen informazio faltagatik izan bada, gaiaz pixka bat informatzea eskatu beharko litzaieke Artsakhen gatazka luzea eta konplexua da, baina hango egoera jarraitu duen edonork badaki zein izan den azken 30 urtez Aliyev dinastiak zuzendutako Azerbaijango Estatuaren jarrera. 1923an Sobietar Batasunaren agintariek Artsakh Azerbaijango errepublikan txertatu zuten, nahiz eta historikoki armeniarra izan eta populazioa nagusiki armeniarra izan. 1988an Nagorno-Karabakhen oblast-aren Kontseilua Armeniako Errepublikarekin batzearen alde adierazi zen eta, 1991n, behin SESB deseginda, Artsakheko populazioak erreferendumen bitartez independentzia aldarrikatu zuen gehiengo osoz. Hamarkadetan zehar latente mantendutako gatazka azaleratu zen eta lau urtez luzatu zen gerra irekia: alde batean Azerbaijan eta beste aldean Artsakh Armeniako Estatuaren sostenguarekin. Izan ere, Artsakheko biztanle gehienak armeniarrak ziren (datu moduan, Pashinian kenduta, Armeniako aurreko lehen ministro guztiak Artsakhen jaioak izan ziren). Armeniarrek irabazi zuten gerra horrek 26 urteko fase ezegonkorra ireki zuen, Azerbaijanek errebantxa hartzeko balio zuena. Armeniako defentsa baliabideak zaharkituta mantentzen ziren bitartean, Baku-k handitu eta modernizatu zituen indar armatuak, petrolio eta gasaren esportazioen diru-sarrera altuei esker. 2020an Azerbaijango indar armatuek gerra piztu zuten, Turkiako ezinbesteko laguntzarekin, baita Siriatik bidalitako mertzenario jihadistekin ere. Potentzia handiko ofentsiba azkarrarekin lortu zuten zonaldearen kontrola eta, urte gutxitan, bertan bizi ziren 150.000 bat armeniarrak kanporatzea lortu dute. Azerbaijango militarren doilorkeria historikoaz jakitun (azken gerran egileek beraiek krimenak sare sozialetan zabalduta) beren etxeak atzean utzita Armeniara ihes egin zuten Artsakheko biztanleak, bizitza salbatzeko. Handik aurrera han bizi zen herriaren aztarna guztiak suntsitzeko operazioari ekin zioten okupatzaileek, bereziki armeniar kultura islatzen duten elementu arkeologikoak jomugan egonik. Nagusiki milizianoz osatutako Artsakheko azpiegitura militar ahulek Azerbaijanen gerra-makinari aurre egin ezin izateak eta Armeniako gobernuak gatazkan era zuzenean ez sartzeko egindako hautuak errendizioa onartzea baino ez zuten utzi. Erevan eta Bakuren artean sinatutako “bake akordioa”-k ez ditu aintzat hartu Artsakheko herritarrak (gaur egun Armenian sakabanatuta dauden errefuxiatuak), eta kontrako jarrera zabala izan du Armenian bertan ere. Nazioarteko harremanei dagokienez eta, bereziki, Artsakhi dagokionez, Pashinianen papera oso eztabaidagarria izan da eta bere onarpena gero eta txikiagoa da. Azken momentuan, gainera, Trump agertu zen, Azerbaijan eta Nakhichevan eremu azerbaijandarra lotuko duen garraio bidearen eraikuntzan eta kudeaketan parte hartzeko, negozioa egiteko eta zonaldean influentzia irabazteko asmotan. Zangezur korridorea deritzon horri Trumpek arrasto nartzisista jarri zion 2025ean Etxe Zurian gauzatutako elkarrizketetan: Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). Korridore horrek Armeniako eremua bitan zatituko du eta Azerbaijango asmo espantsionisten beste pausu bat baino ez da, Armeniako hego-ekialdeko bereganatzeko eta ardatz panturkista egikaritu ahal izateko, Turkiatik Turkmenistanera. Artsakh herriaren kontrako sarraskia eta kanporatzea eta Armeniako hegoaldeko berrantolaketa honek nekez ekarriko du bakea. Gehienez, hilerrien bakea, jachkar (eskuz zizelkatutako harrikatze armeniar historikoak) suntsituen bakea. Garaileek inposatutako bakea, azken finean. Inolaz ere ez diplomazia eta elkarrizketaren bidez eraikitako bakea. Are gutxiago, herrien borondatean oinarritutako bakea. 2026ko Gernika saria Aliyeven erregimen autoritarioaren zuriketa bat izan da, argi eta garbi. Erabaki hori hartu zutenen informazio faltagatik izan bada, gaiaz pixka bat informatzea eskatu beharko litzaieke. Eta nahita eginda bada, gutxi daukagu esateko. Bake Nobel sariak aspaldidanik zuen galduta bere sinesgarritasuna (María Corina Machadoren izena inbasioen bultzatzailea izan zen Barack Obama edota herrien odolez erabat lohituta zegoen Henry Kissingerren zerrendara gehitu baino ez zen egin…). Gernika izena duten sari hauek sinesgarritasuna galtzeko bide bera hartzeko hautua egin dute? Egindako hautaketa bake abstraktuarekin apaintzeak ez du balio.  Aliyeven erasopean hildako, torturatutako, desagertutako eta Azerbaijanen kartzeletan preso dauzkaten armeniarrek eta, oro har, Artsakhetik kanporatutako herriak ez dute merezi halako sarien berririk jasotzea. Iñaki Etaio eta Asier Ansoleaga, internazionalistak

Інші дипломати також не підтримали цю ідею. Зокрема, голова МЗС Естонії назвав посередництво Шредера «ідеєю Путіна»

La jefa de la diplomacia europea, Kaja Kallas, rechazó este lunes la sugerencia del presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, de que el antiguo canciller alemán Gerhard Schröder represente a Europa en futuras conversaciones con Moscú sobre el conflicto en Ucrania. Informe de nuestra corresponsal en Bruselas, Ana Lazaro.

Ylli i pop muzikës, Dua Lipa, ka ngritur një padi kundër kompanisë Samsung Electronics, duke kërkuar të paktën 15 milionë dollarë dëmshpërblim. Ajo e akuzon gjigantin teknologjik koreano-jugor se ka përdorur imazhin e saj pa leje për të reklamuar televizorët e tij, raporton Reuters. Padia pretendon se Samsung ka vendosur një fotografi të mbrojtur me […]

West Virginia hospitals charge commercial insurance prices that are among the highest in the United States, according to a report released Thursday. According to the report, West Virginia hospitals charged on average prices that are 337% of the rate that Medicare charges for the same services. Only two states — Florida and South Carolina — […]

Tech corporations are coming to North Dakota farm fields to build massive, resource-intensive computer warehouses that feed artificial intelligence. But with minimal public oversight, residents and local governments are struggling to manage the rapid infrastructure sprawl. The only approval data center developers in North Dakota have to obtain before building is permitting from local governments, […]

An agricultural tourism site has been awarded $1.5 million for a planned expansion, part of $4 million in tourism grants announced by the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The $1.5 million is for the Black Leg Market and Eatery at Sterling, east of Bismarck, which will be part of Black Leg Ranch. The ranch raises […]

After a multi-week cold snap this past winter, Carol Hardison, CEO of Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte, braced for a surge in requests for help paying higher utility bills.  After seeing spikes in their own bills, longtime donors began calling the nonprofit to ask how they could help. “The donors knew they could absorb the […]

As more local police collaborate with ICE, even some crime victims and people who call 911 are facing arrest.

Nous retrouvons la chronique nutrition de Binetou Cheikh Seck, diététicienne nutritionniste au Cabinet diététique Nutridéal à Dakar, au Sénégal. Aujourd'hui, elle nous explique ce qu'est la variété alimentaire.

Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest news on Chicago Public Schools.Last summer, as the district faced a massive budget deficit, Chicago Public Schools cut nearly 500 custodian positions, or close to one-fifth of full-time staffers who cleaned schools, and ended all private custodial contracts. Then, three months into this school year, complaints rolled in through a district survey of 168 principals and 423 custodians: Three-quarters of principals indicated they didn’t have enough custodians on staff to meet their cleaning needs, and at least 40% asked the district for more staff. Nearly two-thirds of custodians said their tasks were difficult to manage given the size of their buildings and the number of people on their team.The survey responses from late November, obtained by Chalkbeat through a Freedom of Information Act request, are a window into how the custodial staffing changes have impacted school cleanliness — and the potential challenges ahead in maintaining hygienic environments for kids and staff. Many custodians signaled that they were not equipped to clean schools well. Principals said they were picking up trash and cleaning spills or vomit. A few schools had new pest issues. “It is so disappointing to observe the current state of custodial service and resource availability at our school, as it directly impacts our students’ well-being and basic dignity,” wrote one principal.“I have never experienced anything like this in my 14 years in CPS,” they said.Studies have shown links between school cleanliness or air quality, student health, and attendance. One study found that higher levels of contaminants on student desks were associated with student absences for gastrointestinal problems. Some people are pushing for change now: SEIU Local 73, the union that represents CPS custodial workers, said the issues highlighted in the fall survey remain today, and it wants the district to hire more custodians. But that’s a tall ask for a district that’s planning a budget with a $700 million deficit and may be looking at cuts to schools this year without any additional revenue.The district, which as of April employed about 2,200 custodians, said that it took the survey results seriously and, in response, implemented two rounds of custodial shift changes at schools. More than half of principal respondents said they were satisfied with responsiveness with the district’s facilities management office. “The District continues to utilize feedback from students, staff and families as a guide to ensure school buildings are safe and welcoming environments,” Evan Moore, a spokesperson for CPS, said in a statement.District defends cuts to custodial staff Before the custodial changes last year, CPS directly employed 1,375 full-time custodians — who are represented by SEIU Local 73 — and also contracted out to seven private custodial companies, whose roughly 1,250 workers were represented by SEIU Local 1, according to a district memo last year. CPS’ contracts with those companies came after the district severed ties in 2024 with Aramark, which had for a decade helped manage janitors and cleaning supplies but had been sharply criticized for failing to keep schools clean. The district’s layoff plans last year meant cutting the 1,250 privately contracted custodial jobs and then filling roughly 750 of those positions. Both unions protested against the district’s plans, which were estimated to save the district $40 million. At the time, CPS’ chief operating officer Charles Mayfield said direct district oversight, coupled with better training and a mobile app for custodians to upload information about the rooms they’ve cleaned, would help the district ensure schools were clean. Bringing custodial services in house helped meet a district goal to move away from privatized services, CPS said.Responses to the district’s fall survey, which came two months after the custodial changes went into effect, told a different story. Custodians, principals describe difficulties with keeping buildings cleanCustodians reported finding it difficult to clean all types of school spaces with less staff and raised concerns with a later start time in the morning — providing a shorter runway to complete certain tasks before kids and staff get in. CPS noted that shifts ranged across schools and started as early as 4 a.m. before the custodial changes. Now, no shift starts sooner than 5 a.m. or ends later than 11:30 p.m.Many custodians expressed concerns in the survey about being the only custodian on staff during the day, making it difficult to complete tasks or respond to multiple calls for help. One custodian said they’re now the only person on their shift cleaning the two-building campus. At Walt Disney II Magnet in Irving Park, custodian Johnny Jones, who has worked for CPS for 35 years, said his start time changed from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., about a half-hour before other staff and students get in. Unlike previous years, there’s no longer a second custodian who joins him. The school eventually hired an additional custodian for the night shift, which helped get the building ready for the next morning, Jones said. But it can still be difficult to fly solo during the day, he said. He might be cleaning up a spill in the lunchroom and get a call for soap in the girls’ bathroom. Depending on the importance of the task he’s handling — for example, spills can be a safety hazard — a new task may need to wait until the second shift starts.Keeping the building clean is personal for Jones, who thinks about wanting clean spaces for his own grandchildren, and he wishes the district would give schools more autonomy over shifts.“Do I want my kid going to a dirty building? Do I want my baby using an unclean bathroom?” Jones asked. “Absolutely not.” Principals noted various spaces in their schools that are now dirtier, such as classrooms, student bathrooms, and hallways, and many noted that the result is unclean and unhygienic spaces for students and staff.Several principals reported having to pick up trash or clean up spills on their own. Some said cleaning tasks have fallen to other educators and, in at least one case, students. And a few noted new issues with rodents or cockroaches. “I feel that the communication, quality of cleaning, and the lack of staffing has put a huge strain on the school resulting in unclean, unsafe conditions for students and teachers alike,” one principal wrote in the survey. “Teachers are having to clean their own rooms in addition to their already large workload.” One principal said fewer staff custodians has resulted in a “consistently filthy” building, contradicting a CPS goal to provide “a joyous and equitable learning environment.” “It cannot be a joyous place for scholars or staff when the school is dirty and unsanitary,” they wrote. As CPS brought on hundreds of new hires, some initial onboarding problems may have impacted staffing, including technical issues that resulted in some custodians not being paid. The district said it has since resolved the problem and issued more than $916,000 in back pay to custodians. But the lack of pay initially led many custodians to not report to work or quit, said Trumaine Reeves, SEIU Local 73’s CPS division director. At one Southwest Side high school, where the custodial staff was cut by one-third, a teacher has noticed that trash often is not picked up overnight and sneaker scuffs aren’t cleaned off the floor. Those details can make a difference for how comfortable both students and staff feel in the building, he said.The teacher, who asked for anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak with the press, said veteran custodial staffers who have always been good at their jobs tell him that they now feel stretched. There are a myriad of challenges that teachers face at his high school, such as supporting students with a lot of needs. Navigating those difficulties, then walking into a dirty classroom “just really hurts your soul,” he said.Reema Amin is a reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Reema at ramin@chalkbeat.org.

The House's slight shift toward single-subject bills is good news for transparency, but lack of trust between parties could undermine it. The post Middle Aisle: The trust deficit meets reform at the Legislature appeared first on MinnPost.

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the […] The post Harm reduction saves lives. That might not be good enough. appeared first on MinnPost.

Solar energy development has become a hot-button issue in recent years as Trump officials block funding to solar projects over concerns about losing prime farmland to renewables. But advocates say this worry — which is often shared by the communities closest to proposed solar projects — could be assuaged by agrivoltaics, which combines solar and […] The post Finding Middle Ground in the Solar Debate with Agrivoltaics  appeared first on The Daily Yonder.

Plus: Immigration board expedites Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation case, and children hurt by pepper spray, tear gas amid immigration crackdown The post Immigration News Today: Democratic Senators Raise Alarm on “Horrific” Treatment of Mothers in Detention appeared first on Documented.

Texas was among the first states to heed Trump administration directives to revoke commercial driver’s licenses from some immigrants as a safety measure.

The latest version of the El Paso Democrat’s Dignity Act includes a key change to make it more palatable to Republicans. Some have gotten on board, but others are firmly opposed.