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Abcarian: Why do some Supreme Court justices have a hard time saying no?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

Why do some United States Supreme Court justices have such a hard time saying no?Believe me, I understand the temptation. Columnists may not be judges in the traditional sense, but we are judges in the court of public opinion. Occasionally, I’ve been offered gifts in exchange for a positive ruling (well, a positive column) on a controversial issue that may come before me.Attractive as these offers may be, they are just not that difficult to refuse. Especially when the institution’s credibility — or your job — is on the line.The people judges and journalists serve expect and deserve transparency, fairness and independence. They do not want either group to be bought off, or materially rewarded for the opinions they deliver. If the public stops believing the courts or the news media are acting on principle, the institutions lose credibility.It’s astonishing that newspapers like The Times are stricter about ethics than the Supreme Court, which is required to report som...

Review: Harrison Ford gives Indy a swashbuckling sendoff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

By Lindsey Bahr | Associated PressGoodbyes don’t tend to mean much in the Hollywood franchise system. Death isn’t a reliable end for characters or, lately, even actors. Technology, nostalgia and the often-inflated value of brands and IP have created a nightmarish cycle of resurrection and regurgitation, curdling what we love most.And yet when someone like Harrison Ford says he’s hanging up Indiana Jones’ fedora, for better or worse, you believe him. “Indiana Jones” producer Frank Marshall has also said that they won’t recast the character, which seems more dubious and, though well-intentioned, something he won’t be able to guarantee. All it takes is a new executive demanding a reboot.Not that it would ever really work, though. Any self-respecting movie fan knows the truth: The magic of Indiana Jones belongs wholly to Harrison Ford. Apparently, he doesn’t even necessarily need Steven Spielberg behind the camera, though, to be fair...

Kristof: U.S. should stop empowering a wannabe Putin in Saudi Arabia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

American leaders have peered into Vladimir Putin’s eyes to sense “his soul,” have praised him as “very straightforward and trustworthy” or even a “genius.” They have “reset” relations, tolerated invasions of Georgia and Crimea, averted eyes from atrocities and even gone so far as to blame “U.S. foolishness” for strains in Russia-American relations — because they wanted a steady relationship, and Putin was unmistakably in control of an important country.But as the weekend upheavals in Russia underscored, dictators are forever, until they’re not. In retrospect, ignoring Putin’s provocations wasn’t savvy realpolitik, but naivete.So where else are we making the same mistake, empowering a dictator instead of confronting him? My candidate for tomorrow’s Putin is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, better known as MBS. President Joe Biden and his aides have been courting MBS and trying to reset relations with him — even as he seeks a “civilian” nuclear program. This is as mis...

A UC Berkeley student’s research into a flowering shrub took him to Mexico and a violent death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

By STEFANIE DAZIO and FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ | Associated PressLOS ANGELES — For four years, Gabriel Trujillo trekked the breadth of the United States and south into Mexico in search of a flowering shrub called the common buttonbush.The plant is native to the varied climates of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Trujillo, a 31-year-old Ph.D. student at the University of California, Berkeley, wanted to know why it thrived in such a range of places, and whether the evolution of the species held possibilities for future habitat conservation and restoration efforts.The research was tragically cut short last week in Mexico, where Trujillo’s father said he was shot seven times. Authorities discovered his body on June 22 in the state of Sonora, in northwest Mexico, days after his fiancée reported him missing.‘THE WRONG PLACE’Trujillo drove across the Arizona border into Nogales on June 17. He spoke to his father the next day and he and his fiancée, Roxanne Cruz-de Hoyos, chatted in the morning the day ...

Constellation Brands: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

VICTOR, N.Y. (AP) — VICTOR, N.Y. (AP) — Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) on Friday reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $135.9 million.On a per-share basis, the Victor, New York-based company said it had profit of 74 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $2.91 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.83 per share.The wine, liquor and beer company posted revenue of $2.7 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $2.51 billion, which also beat Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.48 billion.Constellation Brands expects full-year earnings to be $9.35 to $9.65 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on STZ at https://www.zacks.com/ap/STZSource

Preocupante alerta: las mortales olas de calor no pararán, serán más frecuentes y duraderas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

Las olas de calor como la que envolvió partes del sur y el medio oeste de Estados Unidos y que ha dejado a más de una docena de personas muertas son cada vez más comunes, y los expertos dicen que los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos, que cobran más vidas que los huracanes y los tornados, seguirán probable aumento en el futuro.Un domo de calor presionó la red eléctrica de Texas y mató a 13 personas allí y otra en Luisiana empujó hacia el este el jueves y se esperaba que se centrara en el medio sur para el fin de semana. Se pronosticaron niveles de índice de calor de hasta 112 grados Farenheit (44 grados Celsius) en partes de Florida durante los próximos días.Once de las muertes relacionadas con el calor en Texas ocurrieron en el condado de Webb, que incluye a Laredo. Los muertos tenían entre 60 y 80 años de edad y muchos tenían otras condiciones de salud, según el médico forense del condado. Las otras dos muertes fueron residentes de Florida que murieron mientras caminaban bajo un c...

ANÁLISIS | LLos conservadores están en racha en su intento de rehacer Estados Unidos a través de los tribunales

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

(CNN) — Los conservadores de Estados Unidos, a pesar de su limitado poder electo federal, acumularon otra importante victoria en la gran batalla política de principios del siglo XXI.La eliminación de la acción afirmativa en las admisiones universitarias por parte de la Corte Suprema de Justicia este jueves derribó otro pilar de la infraestructura social liberal de Estados Unidos. Los demócratas han tenido sus éxitos en los últimos 20 años, incluso a principios de este mes con decisiones que ordenaron volver a dibujar el mapa del Congreso de Alabama y rechazaron una teoría de la ley electoral respaldada por Trump, pero a menudo parece que los conservadores tienen la fuerza.Los republicanos solo controlan una cámara del Congreso, y por poco, mientras que los demócratas controlan la Casa Blanca y el Senado. Y, sin embargo, el fallo de este jueves debilitó aún más un principio central de la política demócrata que une a los presidentes del partido desde Franklin Roosevelt: que el G...

Iga Swiatek withdraws from Bad Homburg Open with fever and possible food poisoning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

BAD HOMBURG, Germany (AP) — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Bad Homburg Open on Friday with a fever and possible food poisoning, three days before the start of Wimbledon.Swiatek was scheduled to play in her first career grass-court semifinal match on Friday against Lucia Bronzetti, who gets a walkover to Saturday’s final.“I’m so sorry but I have to pull out of my match today. I had a restless night because of some fever and possible food poisoning,” Swiatek said in a statement on Instagram. “I’m not able to perform today and I need to take care of myself. I hope I’ll be fine soon. Your support in Bad Homburg was amazing, thank you. It was a pleasure to play here. And I hope I will be back.”Swiatek, the French Open and U.S. Open champion, had been upbeat this week about adapting to play on grass, historically the surface which had brought her the least success. Following her French Open victory, Swiatek was on a 10-match win streak after beating Anna Blinkova in the Ba...

Lyon out for rest of 2nd Ashes test with ‘significant’ calf strain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Australia spinner Nathan Lyon will miss the rest of the second Ashes test against England at Lord’s after straining his right calf.Lyon was hurt while running to the ball after tea on Thursday. He took England’s first wicket.Cricket Australia called the strain “significant” in a statement on Friday during play on the third day. The statement didn’t say how long he will be out for.“He will require a period of rehabilitation after this match is concluded,” it said. “A decision regarding his availability for the remainder of the series will be made at the conclusion of the game.”Lyon arrived at Lord’s on crutches on Friday, and on the field he received a consoling pat from England captain Ben Stokes after the Australia team huddle before play began.Lyon’s injury leaves Australia down to three specialist bowlers, all quicks, plus allrounder Cameron Green. The spin options are specialist batters Travis Head, Steve Smith and Marnus L...

Officials remind community of firework safety tips ahead of 4th of July celebrations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:20 GMT

Independence Day is on Tuesday and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), along with several fire departments across Miami-Dade and Broward counties shared tips to have a safe and happy holiday. A fleet of law enforcement agents from the U.S. Coast Guard, Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and FWC will be set to enforce the laws at sea, as the holiday celebration unfolds. According to FWC, 735 boating incidents were reported in the state last year. Monroe County and Miami-Dade County topped the list with more than 180 incidents between the two counties. Officials said alcohol was the leading factor, along with an absence of life vests on boaters. Fire departments reminded the community that although fireworks can be beautiful to marvel at, they can also be extremely dangerous. Even small sparklers can reach temperatures of up to 2,00 degrees Fahrenheit, said MDFR Chief of Staff Erika Benitez. “It can cause serious burns,” she ...