Midwest
Kansas governor vetoes bill banning transgender treatment to minors, abortion restrictions
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a bill Friday that would have banned transgender treatment for minors in the state, as well as two bills imposing abortion restrictions.
Substitute Bill for Senate Bill 233 sought to outlaw transgender treatment for minors and allow for causes of action against healthcare providers who provided such treatment. The bill would also have restricted the use of state funds for transgender treatment.
“This divisive legislation targets a small group of Kansans by placing government mandates on them and dictating to parents how to best raise and care for their children,” Kelly, a Democrat, said in a statement released. “I do not believe that is a conservative value, and it’s certainly not a Kansas value.”
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Kelly said the legislation “tramples parental rights,” saying she does not want to stand “between a parent and a child who needed medical care of any kind.”
“And yet, that is exactly what this legislation does,” Kelly said in the statement.
Kelly also vetoed two separate bills that would have imposed additional abortion restrictions throughout the state. HB 2749 would have required the reporting of abortions performed in the state “at a medical care facility or by a healthcare provider,” according to the bill text. The reasons behind the procedure would be required in the reporting as well.
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“House Bill 2749 is invasive and unnecessary. There is no valid medical reason to force a woman to disclose to the legislature if they have been a victim of abuse, rape, or incest prior to obtaining an abortion,” Kelly said in the statement released. “There is also no valid reason to force a woman to disclose to the legislature why she is seeking an abortion.”
Additionally, Kelly vetoed HB 2436 that would have criminalized coercion to obtain an abortion. Kelly cited the “vague language in this bill” and its potential privacy intrusion concerns as reasons for ultimately vetoing the legislation.
“This overly broad language risks criminalizing Kansans who are being confided in by their loved ones or simply sharing their expertise as a health care provider,” Kelly said in the statement.
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In 2022, Kansas residents voted against an amendment to the state’s constitution that would have given lawmakers in the state the ability to regulate abortion. The vote came shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 landmark case Roe v. Wade in a decision that further split the nation on abortion.
Just this past week, Arizona made headlines regarding the issue after the state Supreme Court issued a ruling reverting the state back to a 160-year-old, pre-statehood law that outlaws abortions in nearly all circumstances and criminalizes abortions.
The law, which was codified in 1913 after Arizona became a state, includes an exception in cases where the mother’s life is at risk.
Fox News’ Jamie Joseph and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Illinois
When are the Illinois cicadas coming?
When are the Illinois cicadas coming?
Soon, but not quite yet.
CBS News associate producer Maddy Wierus went on a baby cicada hunt last week in Champaign, Ill., with the University of Illinois entomologist Dr. Katie Dana.
Baby cicadas found in Champaign
After a bit of digging, Dana found three or four nymphs several inches underground.
“Oh, wait, I see that guy!” Dana said. “He’s down in the hole! Oh my gosh. I’m pretty sure unless that’s a beetle.”
After a closer inspection, it wasn’t a beetle. It was actually a cicada, not quite ready to emerge.
“It’s butt sticking out of the hole there,” Dana said. “So you can see there’s at least three or four there.”
Dana said the soil is warming a bit faster than she would like.
When will cicadas emerge in Illinois?
However, based on the bug’s color, these little guys still have some time to spend in the soil before their big reveal, Dana said.
There are two groups of periodical cicadas — those that emerge every 13 years and those that emerge every 17 years. For most of their lives, cicadas live underground and emerge once the soil reaches 64 degrees.
Because they are temperature-dependent, cicada emergences may vary depending on the location. In 2024, they are expected sometime in May or early June, according to Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois.
Indiana
Recorder Rewind: Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers Game 4 – Indianapolis Recorder
The Indiana Pacers now have a commanding 3-1 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Pacers defeated the Bucks in Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse 126-113. Check out photos from gameday below!
More NBA Playoffs news: Bucks, Pacers Game 3 photos
The Indiana Pacers have a chance to close out the series in Game 5 in Milwaukee on April 30 at 9:30 p.m.
This gallery was compiled by multimedia and sports reporter Noral Parham. Contact him at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral. For more Pacers news, visit our homepage.
Iowa
Here’s how you can help Iowa communities recover after last week’s tornadoes
Video: Drone footage of Minden, Iowa after April 26 tornado
Drone footage of Minden, Iowa after a tornado tore through the Pottawatomie County town Friday, April 26.
Provided by Reuters/Special to the Des Moines Register
At least 17 tornadoes occurred in Iowa on April 26, causing damage in several counties and significant destruction, including one death, in the small Pottawattamie County town of Minden.
That is the latest count from the National Weather Service in Des Moines based on preliminary reports and completed storm surveys as teams continue to evaluate damage and determine ratings for additional tornadoes in the coming days.
If you want to help support the communities and people impacted by the severe weather, here’s how.
How can I help, Minden, Iowa recover from the tornado?
Minden remained closed off to the general public as of Monday afternoon due to debris and the use of heavy equipment in the town. As a result, officials are asking that volunteers and organizations don’t self-deploy to the area, according to a Pottawattamie County news release.
Cleanup efforts and securing infrastructure began during the weekend, and as needs arise and safety conditions improve, officials will announce volunteer opportunities.
Monetary donations are encouraged for those who wish to donate to help people affected by the Minden tornado, who can then purchase what they need, according to the news release.
How to make Minden-specific donations will be announced in the coming days. Currently, people can make donations to the Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund at givewesterniowa.org to support areas impacted in the region, according to the news release.
Readers’ Watchdog: Home damaged by weekend storms? Here’s what you need to know
How can I help Pleasant Hill, Iowa recover from the tornado?
Take an aerial look at the tornado damage Pleasant Hill suffered
A tornado swept through Pleasant Hill Friday, April 26, damaging a number of homes and power lines.
Provided by Polk County Iowa
The Pleasant Hill tornado, classified as an EF2, lasted roughly 12 minutes and caused one injury and damage to nearly 20 homes.
The city is not asking for physical donations, according to a news release on April 27. Financial donations can be made through the Disaster Recovery Fund, which the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has activated following the severe storms and tornado that affected Pleasant Hill.
Grants are awarded to community-based organizations and service providers responding to a disaster and grants are made to meet the needs not already being addressed by existing resources and programs, according to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.
Pleasant Hill’s Facebook page encourages people needing assistance or wanting to offer assistance to call 211.
More: Parking is not allowed on some Pleasant Hill streets as crews clean up tornado debris
Looking for another way to help? Round up your purchase at Casey’s
Shoppers can round up their purchases at Casey’s stores in Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma as part of a campaign supporting the American Red Cross through May 10, said Katie Petru, a spokesperson for the convenience store chain.
Here are tips to avoid scams after disasters
People impacted by natural disasters such as a tornado should be aware of fraudulent contractors that take advantage of people in need of repairs.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has some tips if you hire a contractor. Here are several:
- Work with an established, reputable local contractor.
- Legitimate contractors rarely solicit through door-to-door, so be skeptical about who shows up at your home.
- Avoid paying large sums of money to a contractor in advance. If you have to make a partial advance payment for materials, make your payment out to the supplier and the contractor and insist on a mechanic’s lien waiver in case the contractor fails to pay others.
People should also watch for scammers posing as officials with government disaster assistance agencies, according to the Federal Trade Commission. You can spot an imposter because they’ll demand money.
But scams aren’t limited to those impacted by a natural disaster.
People wanting to help those impacted by a natural disaster should be aware of scammers seeking donations for disaster relief. Donate to trusted, well-known charities and verify its legitimacy through its official website as scammers may create fake charities during natural disasters, according to the FTC.
Paris Barraza is a trending and general assignment reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at pbarraza@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
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