Open Newswire

Polling shows that Americans want to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the murders of two American citizens in Minnesota amid a violent surge to round up immigrants as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, but Arizona Republicans want to require ICE officers to be stationed at polling places this year. This […]

COLUMBIA — An effort to overhaul the independent league that oversees middle and high school sports competitions in South Carolina resumed Tuesday as a House committee advanced a bill put on pause last year. The bill getting rid of the South Carolina High School League was on the verge of advancing in the final days of […]

Lors d'une conférence de presse donnée mardi 17 février, le procureur de la République, Ibrahim Ndoye, a estimé que le jeune étudiant de l'université Cheikh-Anta-Diop de Dakar (Ucad) décédé lors de l'intervention de la police sur le campus, le 9 février, était mort après avoir sauté du quatrième étage de sa résidence étudiante. Selon lui, les multiples traumatismes relevés sur le corps d'Abdoulaye Ba sont liés à sa chute et non à des coups infligés par les forces de l'ordre.

Outrage erupted last month when Oklahoma City residents learned of plans to convert a vacant warehouse into an immigration processing facility. Making matters worse was the secrecy of the federal government: City leaders received no communication from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aside from a mandated disclosure related to historic preservation. Planning a major development […]

(The Center Square) – A new lawsuit is challenging Colorado’s ban on using public funds for religious institutions, arguing it discriminates against a Christian school in Pueblo that’s seeking funding. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed Friday in a U.S. District Court against the Colorado State Board of Education, are Education ReEnvisioned BOCES ( Board of Cooperative Education Services), an organization authorized by the state to establish contract schools and provide funding to schools and programs, and Riverstone Academy, a tuition-free Christian public school in Pueblo. Education ReEnvisioned last year contracted with Riverstone Academy and submitted a state funding request to the Colorado Department of Education, which responded saying that funding to the academy would violate the state constitution because it’s a Christian school, according to the lawsuit. The Colorado Constitution includes a Blaine Amendment, adopted in 1876, barring public funding for “any sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church or sectarian denomination whatsoever.” Many states passed Blaine amendments in the 1870s, codifying anti-Catholic sentiments during the era. The lawsuit argues Colorado’s law violates the U.S. Constitution's First and 14th Amendments. “Colorado law requires the State to unconstitutionally discriminate on the basis of religion when awarding government contracts,” the lawsuit states. “The state constitution and statutes prohibit school districts and BOCES from contracting with religious schools to provide educational services, in violation of religious schools’ free exercise rights as well as the rights of the religious students and parents who would attend that school.” Jeremy Dys, senior counsel with First Liberty Institute, which is representing the plaintiffs, told The Center Square the state cannot “deny [funding] because religion on occasion appears in curriculum.” Dys also pointed to recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings in favor of religious schools, including Trinity Lutheran v. Comer in 2017, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue in 2020 and Carson v. Makin in 2022. In the Trinity Lutheran case, the church, which operated a preschool, was denied a state grant for purchasing recycled tire material for resurfacing its playground because of its religious background. “[T]he exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution … and cannot stand,” the U.S. Supreme Court said in its majority opinion. In a letter sent to Education ReEnvisioned BOCES and the school district in October, CDE said the academy “is not operating in a nonsectarian nature.” “ERBOCES is a public entity bound by the federal and state constitutions,” the letter added. “Thus, any school that ERBOCES operates must be nonsectarian in nature.” ERBOCES said in a Feb. 2 letter to CDE: “CDE has, within a matter of weeks, warned ERBOCES not to fund Riverstone, then given ERBOCES the money to fund Riverstone. As best we can tell, if we fail to navigate this impossible situation, CDE will claw back our state funding. Putting ERBOCES and Riverstone in this position is manifestly unfair.” A spokesperson for CDE told The Center Square it cannot comment on pending litigation, but provided the department’s most recent letter to Education ReEnvisioned BOCES on Feb. 13 before it knew about the lawsuit. CDE said in the letter: “It is important to clarify that CDE does not ‘grant funding’ to individual schools. CDE distributes state share of total program to school districts and to the state charter school institute. With exceptions not relevant here (like funding for district charter schools), state law does not dictate how school districts allocate total program funds to the individual schools or programs within their districts or the BOCES with which they contract.” Riverstone Academy was recently forced by Pueblo County to close its building over alleged code compliance issues, but is operating at an alternate location. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Colorado.

Effie, 2 hilabeteko alabaren heriotzaren erantzule egin ditu epaileak. Samuel Pereira, 24 urteko aitari 22 urteko kartzela zigorra ezarri dio Paueko Assize Auzitegiak, "borondatezko indarkeriagatik eta arriskuan zegoen adingabeari ez laguntzeagatik". Amari, aldiz, (Mairi Jauregui Ibarzabal, 21 urteko donostiarra) 15 urteko kartzela zigorra ezarri diote "haurrari janaria eta zaintza kentzeagatik", baina absolbitu egin dute indarkeriagatik. Haurra 2023ko urtarrilaren 18an hil zen Bordeleko ospitalean kolpeen ondorioz hematomak eta hezurren hausturak zituela, eta desnutrizioa pairatzen zuela frogatuta.

WASHINGTON — Tributes poured in across the country for the revered civil rights figure the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., who died Tuesday morning at 84. The two-time Democratic presidential hopeful and Greenville, South Carolina, native died peacefully, surrounded by his kin, according to his family.  Jackson, who was active in the civil rights movement […]

The Texas Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit Friday afternoon against Dow Chemical Co., North America’s largest chemical manufacturer, describing hundreds of water pollution violations from its industrial complex on the rural Gulf Coast in Seadrift.  While the state’s 46-page lawsuit followed a 60-day notice of intent to sue filed in December by a local […]

La Haute autorité de la communication (HAC) du Gabon a décidé, mardi 17 février 2026 dans la soirée, la suspension immédiate des réseaux sociaux sur le territoire national jusqu'à nouvel ordre. La décision vise à prévenir les dérives après, selon la HAC, un usage abusif de ces réseaux sociaux. La décision rendue publique dans la soirée est tombée comme un couperet. À Libreville, Yves Laurent Goma.

The clock ticked past 12:40 a.m. Tuesday when members of a New Mexico House committee decided to shelve Senate Bill 17, the controversial measure that would require training and licensing for gun store employees across the state and ban them from selling certain types of firearms, while its sponsor reviewed more than a half-dozen proposed amendments.

(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson delivered her first State of the City address on Tuesday, taking on such hot-button issues as public safety, homelessness and affordability. Wilson, who narrowly defeated incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell in November, has taken over the executive branch of government at a time when the city faces significant crime concerns, a major homelessness problem and a persistently high cost of living. The mayor didn’t shy away from the reality of violent crime in Seattle. “And I want to start by acknowledging one of the hardest things that has happened this year in Seattle: the loss of the two Rainier Beach High School students late last month who were shot and killed while waiting for the bus after school,” Wilson said from the Langston Hughes Performing Institute in downtown Seattle. Two students - Traveiah Houfmuse, 17, and Tyion Stewart, 18 - were shot and killed in a targeted attack at a Seattle bus stop near Rainier Avenue South and South Henderson Street on Jan. 30. The suspect, who exited a King County Metro bus and opened fire around 4 p.m., has not been caught. “After the tragedy in Rainier Beach, we quickly coordinated with the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Public Schools to ensure an increased security presence during the times when people are traveling to and from the school,” Wilson said. The mayor laid out concrete actions that are being taken in the aftermath of the shooting deaths. “My office is implementing an intensive stabilization plan through the end of this school year to reduce conflict and prevent retaliation,” Wilson explained. “In the Chinatown International District, SPD [Seattle Police Department] will restore a late night presence that was effective before it was discontinued last year.” Wilson announced the city is considering legal action against owners of persistently problematic properties that endanger neighbors and local businesses. Dealing with gun violence will also be a focus of the city’s efforts to combat crime. “My office is working to develop a robust and multi-pronged gun violence strategy that will involve collaboration across city departments, county partners and community experts, including those who have lost loved ones to gun violence,” Wilson said. She continued: “And in the coming days, my office will convene a panel of local and national experts who will develop and launch a strategy that is grounded in a clear understanding of Seattle’s gun violence problem and is tailored to the needs of our neighborhoods and our communities.” Earlier this month, SPD Chief Shon Barnes, in his first Year in Review address, touted dropping crime rates in the city. Wilson addressed another vexing problem in the Emerald City: homelessness. Based on the 2024 Point-in-Time count, there were more than 4,000 people living unsheltered in Seattle on any given day, she said. Wilson’s speech came just days after the city cleared a large homeless encampment in Ballard near the Burke-Gilman Trail. “And the conversations that I had there at the site really underscored the reality that we simply do not have enough housing, shelter and services for everyone who is living unsheltered,” Wilson said. She admitted the city’s overall approach to homelessness is not working. “We can’t get so used to the way things are that we start to feel it’s natural for so many people to be left to sleep outside every night,” the mayor said. “We have to make sure that everyone can access and enjoy our parks, trails, sidewalks and other public spaces.” Her plans to combat homelessness via continuing and improving efforts to keep public spaces open and accessible by prioritizing encampment removals and moving rapidly to expand shelter with supportive services, including looking at parcels of city land that could site tiny houses and micro modular shelters. “So, in the coming weeks, my administration will also be introducing legislation to city council to fund shelter expansion and make it faster and easier to build shelter in our city,” Wilson said. The mayor provided some specific goals, including adding “1,000 new units this year, with services matched to people’s needs, and we are on our way to reach this goal.” The mayor also touched on affordability. “You should not need a six-figure income to live here,” Wilson observed. “You shouldn’t need a half-million dollars to buy a house and have some stability in your life. And you shouldn’t need to be a millionaire to afford to raise a child.” According to the Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index, Seattle consistently ranks among the top 10 most expensive U.S. cities. The overall cost of living is over 40% higher than the national average, driven primarily by housing costs, which are more than 100% above the U.S. average. “So today, I am launching my affordability agenda,” she announced, with a focus on permanently affordable social housing, establishing universal childcare, ensuring access to healthy food and supporting small businesses through economic revitalization. Wilson herself noted she didn’t provide much in the way of spending figures when it comes to her agenda. “You may have noticed I didn’t put budgetary price tags on a lot of the items I mentioned today,” she said. “And I appreciate that this year’s budget is going to be challenging. My team is hard at work on that already. “So you can expect to hear a lot more about budgets and revenue in the months ahead. But I think there’s a lot more to be gained by starting that conversation by looking at what we need, and where we want to be, and then figuring out how to get there.”

A water heater malfunctioned in one of the high security units at Montana State Prison on Feb. 13 and is in the process of being repaired, Department of Corrections officials said Tuesday. The water heater malfunction knocked out hot water for that section of the prison and parts for it arrived on Tuesday. It’s expected […]

The Senate Republican leader called the bill “anti-woman” and said no Republicans in the legislature support it.

Eau Claire County Sheriff Dave Riewestahl announced Tuesday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had detained four individuals, including one at a construction site in the city of Altoona and three others who fled and barricaded themselves in a garage in the town of Washington. Riewestahl said his office was contacted by ICE […]

"We have our mindset that we will have to compete at the highest level," said SDFC midfielder Aníbal Godoy.

(The Center Square) - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors heard about budget requests Tuesday from departments handling law and order and fire protection. The county Sheriff’s Department has a total new appropriation request of $556.6 million. This includes $116.7 million for an aero patrol and rescue aircraft multi-year replacement plan, $44.9 million for emergency vehicle fleet and components, $39 million for weapons qualifications and a perishable skills training facility, $22 million for Computer Aid Dispatch and staffing, along with $5 million for a wellness center. The sheriff’s department is being hurt by inflation and the costs of goods and services, Sheriff Robert Luna told the board. Vehicles used by the department also have high mileage and need to be replaced, Luna said. Luna also noted the department has experienced “a high number of retirements” at a time in which the department is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. As a result, filling “critical vacancies to serve the public” is among Luna’s listed priorities. “There are many critical funding needs at the Sheriff's Department,” Luna told the Board of Supervisors. “I've requested only the most critically needed funding, and I proposed writing many projects over several years to ease any fiscal strain on the county.” During the meeting Tuesday, Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said the county fire district is requesting a budget increase of $10.2 million. This would include money for two additional fire captains, two additional firefighter specialists for Catalina Island, one nursing instructor to support the prehospital blood transfusion program and one staff assistant to support air operations. Of the $10.2 million, $8.8 million would go toward departmental operations, including implementation of advanced automatic vehicle location system that Marrone said will provide more accurate vehicle tracking and reporting during emergency incidents. “The district continues to face multiple budget challenges and pressures, including revenue uncertainties,” said Marrone. “Property tax, our primary source of revenue, represents 68% of the fire district’s budget. It is impacted by many external factors outside of the district's control, and this may limit our ability to absorb inflationary pressures on the cost of goods and services, and to fund other critical needs.” Marrone added that the department is also facing an increasing workload and operational costs driven by an increased demand for services. “Climate change continues to create longer and more destructive fire seasons,” said Marrone. “In addition, our workers' compensation liability continues to strain the fire district's budget.” Approximately 86% of the fire department’s budget is for salary and employee benefits, including $243 million in workers' compensation liability. The fire department currently has 339 employees, or 7% of the total workforce, out on injury. That is a 10% reduction from last year, when the department had 393 personnel off on injury. However, Marrone said the department will continue to work with county leaders on cost reduction and revenue-generating strategies “to ensure the district can cover all long-term financial obligations and be prepared for future disasters.” The department's current fiscal year 2025-2026 final adopted budget is $1.8 billion and includes $1.5 billion for salaries and employee benefits, $202 million for services and supplies, and $118 million for capital assets, equipment, and other charges. Currently, 75% of the fire department’s budget is for public safety and emergency response. Another 19% is for administration, facilities, infrastructure and asset management. The remaining 6% is for permitting, licensing and regulatory compliance. Also appearing before the board was Public Defender Ricardo Garcia, who thanked the county for having a "care first, jails last" mentality, something he said has saved clients many years behind bars. Still, Garcia said, help is needed to continue the work. With a budget of $317 million for fiscal year 2025-2026, the Public Defender’s office has a total new appropriation request of $34.6 million to help maintain a law clerk-to-attorney pipeline while covering services and supplies. “Eighty-five percent of our budget is funded through net county cost,” said Garcia. “We do not receive as much federal, state, or grant funding as the district attorney or the Sheriff's Department.” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said he needs more prosecutors. Hochman told supervisors that his office is doing more with less. “We are down literally from 950 prosecutors down to just over 800 in the last four years,” said Hochman. “As a marker, in the early 2000s, the DA's office was over 1,100 prosecutors with a fraction of the cases.” Types of cases being handled by the district attorney’s office include gang violence, homicides, cybercrimes, sex crimes, trafficking and hate crimes. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will decide on budgets at a later date.

Tariff-related turmoil of 2025 created a new demand for manufacturing space. City-designated Alliance Logistics District will span nearly 1,400 acres.

Tim O'Hare has been Tarrant County Judge since 2023.

Oregon Public Broadcasting first published this article. Avel Gordly, one of Oregon’s most influential civil rights champions and a politician who was often referred to as the “conscience of the state Senate” for her strong moral compass, died at home on Monday. She was 79. Her younger sister, Faye Burch, confirmed her death. Gordly’s personal history is […]