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On tech, the EU doesn’t speak for Europe

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

Alina Polyakova is the president and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Matthew Eitel is a program officer for the Digital Innovation Initiative at CEPA.The European Commission of President Ursula von der Leyen vowed in 2019 to make “a Europe fit for the digital age,” dubbing the 2020s Europe’s “digital decade.”Building on the European Union’s flagship privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Brussels’s regulatory race to the top gained historic momentum over the past four years. And from digital markets to content moderation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer chips and data governance, the Commission has left little on the table in terms of regulation.Bolstered by mended ties with the administration of United States President Joe Biden and increased coordination with the U.S. through the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), the von der Leyen Commission seems to have achieved the impossible in an often rancorous 27-member bloc — a...

State police close Revere Beach after 3 people wounded in separate shootings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

State police were forced to shut down Revere Beach on Sunday night after separate shootings left several people wounded, officials said.Troopers responding to a reported shooting at 123 Centennial Ave. around 7 p.m. found a 17-year-old girl who had suffered a gunshot wound to her lower body, according to state police. She was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.A preliminary investigation suggests the girl was wounded while shots were being fired into a group of people during a fight and she was not the intended target. Then, around 8 p.m. two victims were wounded in another shooting in the area of the bathhouse across from 63 Revere Beach Boulevard. A 51-year-old woman suffered gunshot wounds to her legs and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and a 17-year-old boy who was grazed by a gunshot declined to go to the hospital.Several juveniles have been detained and are being interviewed but no one has been charged in connection with the ...

Debt ceiling deal: What’s in, what’s out of the bill to avert US default

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

By KEVIN FREKING, FARNOUSH AMIRI and STEPHEN GROVES (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The details of the deal between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy were released Sunday in the form of a 99-page bill that would suspend the nation’s debt limit through 2025 to avoid a federal default while limiting government spending.The Democratic president and Republican speaker are trying to win over lawmakers to the plan in time to avert a default that would shake the global economy. But Congress will be scrutinizing and debating the legislation, which also includes provisions to fund medical care for veterans, change work requirements for some recipients of government aid and streamline environmental reviews for energy projects.McCarthy said the House will vote on the legislation Wednesday, giving the Senate time to consider it before June 5, the date when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States could default on its debt obligations if lawmakers...

Building partially collapses in Davenport, Iowa; potential injuries not immediately known

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Part of a building collapsed in the eastern Iowa city of Davenport on Sunday evening. It was not immediately known if there were any injuries or deaths, or if anyone was trapped. The Davenport Police Department asked people to avoid downtown after the red brick building on Main Street collapsed. The department said on its Facebook page that a nearby church was being used as a reunification point.The cause of the collapse around 5 p.m. was not immediately known.The Quad-City Times reported Robert Robinson, who lived on the building’s second floor, walked outside for a smoke break and went back in as alarms went off.“When we started to go back in the lights went out,” he told the newspaper. “All of a sudden everybody started running out saying the building collapsed. I’m glad we came down when we did.”Robinson and his girlfriend were able to take the elevator down just in time, he said.“This is horrible,” he said. “We don’t have anywhere to go. Nothing to ...

Texas passes sexual conduct bill drag show artists fear will prompt crackdown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas would expand what is considered an illegal public performance of sexual conduct, under a bill approved late Sunday by state lawmakers that drag artists fear will be used to criminalize their shows.The bill approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature is part of a broader effort in Texas and other conservative states to crack down on drag shows and limit LGBTQ rights. Texas earlier this month became the largest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors, and lawmakers also approved another measure that would restrict transgender athletes in college sports.The Texas bill on sexual content in performances was initially meant to bar children from attending drag shows. It was changed to remove specific references to drag shows, but it also broadened the scope of what would be illegal. The bill would ban real or simulated groping, real or simulated arousal and display of a sex toy, if done in a “prurient” manner in front of a minor or on public property....

Jair Camargo’s grand slam spurs Saints to 10-6 win over Storm Chasers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

After the bat flip, and after his grand slam had landed in the St. Paul Saints’ bullpen Sunday afternoon, Saints designated hitter Jair Camargo pointed to the home dugout in a “told you so” moment.Prior to the game, Camargo relayed to teammates that he had hit at least one home run in each of the past four weeks. In the final game of Week 5, he figured he was due.Homer No. 5 cut the Omaha Storm Chasers’ lead to 6-5 in the seventh inning, and when Camargo got back to the dugout, his teammates had something for him — the giant, foam hot dog hat that this week has become the way the Saints celebrate the long ball.“It was fun,” Camargo said of the game-changing moment.  “Usually, you don’t look for it, you just look for a pitch and try to put a good swing on it to help the team. Especially me; I’ve been struggling, so I didn’t want to overthink or try to do too much.“It’s hard for a guy like me who has power because sometimes I try to swing harder. I was trying to keep calm and make sur...

Residents call for ‘problem’ warehouse to be torn down after massive fire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Residents in a north St. Louis neighborhood are voicing concerns about the empty warehouse that caught fire Saturday evening. Many say the building has been a hub for seemingly criminal activity for years and hope it will now be demolished.More than 12 hours after the fire initially started, firefighters remained on-site Sunday morning. Although the fire was put out around 10 p.m. Saturday, firefighters stayed overnight and into the morning to hose down a few hotspots left over from the massive fire.“We heard some crackling, then when we looked up, we saw black smoke,” Darnell Gordon said.Cell phone video shows the warehouse engulfed, with fire shooting out of the vacant building, and a huge cloud of smoke that could be seen for miles around the region. No graduation: 8th graders turned away from ceremony; parents furious Roughly 85 firefighters responded to the scene. Although the cause of the fire is unknown, St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson believes it looks su...

St. Charles County mayors seek funding for regional homeless shelter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer says there is a growing homeless problem in his city, and they must get a handle on it.The mayor sought $10 million in ARPA pandemic funding to build a homeless center in St. Charles County, which would provide medical attention, as well as job-training skills, to the unhoused. But his requests were turned down.Borgmeyer said all the mayor’s he’s spoke agreed with him and supported the move for the money.“We see it growing a need for this, and it’s growing and growing, and a lot of people; it’s a silent group of people that you really don’t see, but when you do see them, there’s negativity and so forth,” he said. “I been passionate about it for four years. We applied for a grant with the other mayors in the county. Unfortunately, we were not successful in getting that.” No graduation: 8th graders turned away from ceremony; parents furious Borgmeyer surveyed residents about the effort in his newsletter. Turned out the majority of S...

Fallen Riverside County deputies honored during Memorial Day weekend event

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department held a Memorial Day roping event to honor fallen deputies Isaiah Cordero and Darnel Calhoun Sunday at the Riverside Rancheros Equestrian Center.  The sheriff’s department’s mounted enforcement detail made a special appearance.  ”We love our horses. We love our deputies and this was the best thing we could have right now,” Assistant Sheriff Dave Lelevier told KTLA.  Families came out for food and fun and to watch the roping competitions. A very special leather saddle was the top prize in a raffle held during the event that raised some $8,000 for the families of the two deputies.  The event was a first of its kind for the sheriff’s department, and while there was plenty of entertainment, many attended as a way to honor the two deputies, both of whom lost their lives while on duty.  Motorcycle Deputy Cordero was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley on Dec. 29, 2022. Just two weeks after that, Deputy Ca...

Missing dog reported in San Francisco

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:10 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Have you seen her? A dog has been reported missing on Sunday, the San Francisco Police Department announced on Twitter. Bonnie, a 12-year-old Husky mix, was last seen outside of the Lucky Supermarket on Sloat Boulevard near Lake Merced. She has an orange leash and is described to be black and tan in color. Bonnie is 3 feet tall and weighs 60 pounds.SFPD first tweeted about Bonnie's disappearance at 7:03 p.m. The department says if you have information about Bonnie's location, call 415-553-0123.