This Day in History:, New Orleanians Take to
the Streets for Mardi Gras.
February 27, 1827.
Groups of masked students
danced in the streets,
marking the beginnings of the
city's Mardi Gras celebrations.
The Mardi Gras celebration
was brought to the region by French
settlers towards the end of the 1600s.
By the time students in
New Orleans danced in the
streets in costumes and masks.
the celebration of Carnival
had been popular in Mobile, AL,
for more than 100 years.
The New Orleans student
celebrations were inspired by their Paris studies.
Within five years, a French plantation
owner had begun raising money
to fund the celebration.
The first fully organized
Mardi Gras occurred in 1857
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 00:50Published
A 23-year-old man from Gandhinagar has been indicted in a case of ponzi scam worth $4,00,000 in Alabama in the US. The accused, Pathyam Patel, began selling.. IndiaTimes
Alabama Governor Signs, IVF Protection Bill .
On March 6, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed
legislation aimed at protecting in vitro fertilization
patients and providers from legal liability.
CNN reports that some clinics
are ready to lift a hold on certain
IVF services as early as this week. .
The Alabama bill comes after an
unprecedented state Supreme Court
ruling cast the future of IVF care into doubt.
The Supreme Court case reportedly
stemmed from the accidental destruction
of frozen embryos at a fertility clinic.
The state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos
are human beings, meaning that those who destroy
them could be held liable for wrongful death.
The latest bill signed into law by the governor
aims to provide both civil and criminal
immunity to providers and patients in the case
of embryos being damaged or destroyed.
However, the fertility clinics say that the new law
doesn't address the core issue and fails to provide
the legal protection necessary to resume care.
The law does not nullify
the Supreme Court’s analysis
that says the law ought to
treat embryos just like people, Katherine Kraschel, assistant professor at
Northeastern University School of Law, via CNN.
CNN reports that experts have warned that
the latest bill could also insulate providers
from standard medical malpractice claims.
The governor stressed that the new law is meant to be
a "short-term measure" and reassured that "there will
be more work to come" on ensuring IVF protections.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Senate Democrats Will Attempt , to Pass Legislation Protecting IVF.
On Feb. 27, Democratic Senator
Tammy Duckworth said that she will seek
an immediate vote on Feb. 28 to pass her
Access to Family Building Act, Reuters reports. .
The push comes after Alabama ruled that embryos are essentially children, causing widespread implications for patients and doctors. .
If you truly care about the sanctity of families,
and you’re genuinely actually honestly interested in protecting IVF, then you need
to show it by not blocking this bill on
the floor tomorrow. It’s that simple, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, via statement.
Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran,
and her husband turned to IVF after
not being able to conceive for 10 years.
They currently have two children. .
I have five embryos that were created
(using IVF); three that were deemed
to be nonviable, would not survive, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, via statement.
Under "personhood laws" such as those
enacted in Alabama, Duckworth said, "I could
be convicted of manslaughter or murder for discarding these three eggs that were nonviable.".
Under "personhood laws" such as those
enacted in Alabama, Duckworth said, "I could
be convicted of manslaughter or murder for discarding these three eggs that were nonviable.".
While many Republicans have objected to Alabama's ruling, they are expected to block Duckworth's bill despite indicating otherwise, Reuters reports. .
Duckworth said that if Republicans end up objecting to the bill, she'd "love" to have those individuals named on the record. .
I expect them to, if they live up to the words
that they’re saying, to not block it. But we’ll
see tomorrow when the rubber hits the road, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, via statement
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
A Costco Membership Card , Is Now Needed to Eat in Its Food Court.
Even though Costco limited food court access to members only in 2020, enforcement of that policy has been lax until now, CBS News reports. .
The wholesale store is cracking down to
make sure that outsiders can no longer access Costco's $1.50 hot dog combo, among other items.
Effective April 8, 2024, an active Costco
membership card will be required to
purchase items from our food court. , Via a sign seen at a Costco store in Orlando, Florida .
You can join today. Please see our
membership counter for details, Via a sign seen at a Costco store in Orlando, Florida .
Ultimately, Costco doesn't think it's fair for non-members to access perks intended for members.
We don't feel it's right that non-members receive the same benefits and pricing as our members, Costco, via statement.
Costco made such statements last year when it started requiring photo IDs to be presented with membership cards at self-checkouts.
In January, some stores began requiring
membership cards to be scanned at store entrances to limit non-member entry and membership sharing.
A basic Costco membership is $60 per year.
An executive membership, which offers
perks such as cash back, costs $120 per year.
In 2023, membership fees accounted for
73% of Costco's total profit, CBS News reports.
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Ron DeSantis Legalizes , Social Media Ban for Children.
The Florida governor signed the bill into law on March 25, 'The Guardian' reports.
It takes effect on January 1, 2025.
At that time, children under the age of 14 will not be allowed to have social media accounts in Florida.
14- and 15-year-olds will need parental permission
to have a presence on social media.
State House Speaker Paul Renner issued
a statement in support of the new law.
A child in their brain development doesn’t have
the ability to know that they’re being sucked
into these addictive technologies and to see
the harm and step away from it, and because
of that we have to step in for them, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, via statement.
Renner also said that social media companies will likely "sue the second after this is signed.".
But you know what? We’re going to beat
them. We’re going to beat them and
we’re never, ever going to stop, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, via statement.
Opponents argue that the new legislation is unconstitutional and a government overreach. .
This bill goes too far in
taking away parents’ rights, Anna Eskamani, Democratic state House representative,
via news release.
Instead of banning social media access,
it would be better to ensure improved
parental oversight tools, improved
access to data to stop bad actors, , Anna Eskamani, Democratic state House representative,
via news release.
... alongside major investments
in Florida’s mental health
systems and programs, Anna Eskamani, Democratic state House representative,
via news release
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Lil Wayne gave fans an extra treat by popping up at one of Drake's recent shows, but onlookers in the audience noticed the dynamic duo getting an onstage assist.. TMZ.com
In Louisiana's presidential primary on Saturday (Mar 23), both US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump secured victories, further solidifying their positions after securing their respective party nominations. With no races hanging in the balance, the outcome merely reaffirmed their dominance over their major competitors. Biden collected the 48 delegates up for grabs for Democrats, and former President Donald Trump collected the 47 delegates for Republicans.
#Biden #Trump #LouisianaPrimary #PresidentialElection #ElectionVictory #PartyNominations #USPolitics #DemocraticParty #RepublicanParty #PoliticalContest #PrimaryElection #ElectionResults #CampaignTrail #PresidentialNominees #VoteCount #PoliticalLeadership #VictorySpeech #PoliticalMilestones #PoliticalSuccess #DemocraticProcess
~PR.152~ED.101~
In response to a significant oil spill last week, Trinidad and Tobago has declared a "national emergency." The government has pledged unwavering commitment to restore the island's beaches, promising no expense spared in the rehabilitation efforts. Meanwhile, a Clean Gulf Associates response vessel is actively engaged in skimming crude oil approximately 4 miles southeast of South Pass, Louisiana
#TrinidadAndTobago #OilSpill #NationalEmergency #Disaster #EnvironmentalCrisis #EmergencyResponse #CleanupEfforts #MarineLife #BeachCleanup #EnvironmentalDamage #OilPollution #CoastalDisaster #EmergencyManagement #SOS #SaveOurSeas #EcoCrisis #EnvironmentalThreat #ProtectOurShores #DisasterRecovery #CommunitySupport
~HT.178~PR.152~ED.155~GR.122~
Link Uncovered, Between Forced Prison Labor , and Popular Food Brands, AP Reports.
A former slave plantation in Louisiana that is now
the nation's largest maximum-security prison
reportedly plays a hidden role in the U.S. food chain.
Associated Press reports that men imprisoned at the
Louisiana State Penitentiary are sentenced to hard,
forced labor, often for pennies an hour or nothing at all.
A two-year AP investigation revealed a hidden network
that links forced, prison labor with the world's
largest food manufacturers and popular brands.
A two-year AP investigation revealed a hidden network
that links forced, prison labor with the world's
largest food manufacturers and popular brands.
The investigation revealed that prison workers who
refuse work can lose their chance for parole or
face punishments that include solitary confinement.
Prison workers are also often excluded from protections
granted to nearly all other full-time workers, including
those regarding serious injuries or deaths on the job.
AP reports that goods produced by prisoners were found in
common household products, including Frosted Flakes
cereal, Ball Park hot dogs, Coca-Cola and Gold Medal flour.
AP reports that goods produced by prisoners were found in
common household products, including Frosted Flakes
cereal, Ball Park hot dogs, Coca-Cola and Gold Medal flour.
Products connected with prison labor can reportedly
be found on major supermarket shelves,
including at Kroger, Target, Aldi and Whole Foods.
The 13th Amendment of the Constitution
prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude,
except when it is a punishment for a crime.
The clause that permits forced prison labor has been
challenged at a federal level and efforts are underway
to remove similar language from state constitutions.
AP reports that some prisoners in Louisiana, with one of
the highest U.S. incarceration rates, are working on the
same plantation soil where slaves toiled over 150 years ago.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published