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Bottlenose dolphin found shot to death in southwest Louisiana

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Bottlenose dolphin found shot to death in southwest Louisiana


Up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading to a criminal conviction or civil penalty involving a dolphin that was found shot to death in southwest Louisiana.

MORE THAN 100 DOLPHINS, THOUSANDS OF FISH FOUND DEAD AS BRAZILIAN GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

Federal wildlife officials, in a news release Monday, said a juvenile bottlenose dolphin was found shot to death March 13 along the coast of Cameron Parish. It was found on West Mae’s Beach, and the stranding was reported to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which said a necropsy showed multiple bullets lodged in the dolphin’s brain, spinal cord and heart.

Up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading to a criminal conviction or civil penalty involving a dolphin that was found shot to death in southwest Louisiana. (Fox News)

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Harming or killing wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to a year in jail.

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NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the killing. Anyone with information should call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964. Tips can be left anonymously, but to be eligible for the reward, the caller must include a name and contact information.



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Virginia

Virginia’s Clean Slate Law takes effect, sealing records of certain convictions, offenses

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Virginia’s Clean Slate Law takes effect, sealing records of certain convictions, offenses


A Virginia law going into effect Wednesday seals the criminal records of many convicted of low-level offenses.

The Clean Slate Law allows for the automatic sealing of certain offenses, including traffic infractions and misdemeanor convictions like shoplifting, trespassing, distribution of marijuana and disorderly conduct. Eligible misdemeanor convictions will be automatically sealed after seven years if the person has not been convicted of any other crime in Virginia, any other state, the District of Columbia or a United States territory during that time.

RELATED | Virginia sees gun sale boom as ‘assault firearms’ ban put on hold

The law also allows for petition processes to seal certain convictions or deferred dismissals.

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Sex crimes, violent felonies and protective order violations are among the instances not eligible for petition sealing. The petitioner must not have been convicted of any other felony within the past 10 years in order for a circuit court to grant a petition.

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Under the law, there are exceptions where sealed records may be disseminated and used, including for background checks for firearm purposes and employment screenings for law enforcement and emergency medical services agencies.



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West Virginia

Save Women’s Sports Act now the law of the land – WV MetroNews

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Save Women’s Sports Act now the law of the land – WV MetroNews


The United States Supreme Court issued its long-awaited opinion in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox on Tuesday, ruling that states may exclude transgender athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ sports teams. 

The justices were unanimous in their analysis that the laws do not violate civil rights laws. However, the court was split on whether West Virginia’s law stood up to constitutional muster. 

The ruling concludes this chapter in the ongoing cultural debate. The Save Women’s Sports Act was overwhelmingly approved by the legislature and signed by then-Gov. Jim Justice in 2021, and was almost immediately challenged in court. The legal battle trudged on for the next five years on its way to becoming a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. 

Tuesday’s ruling settled the legal debate, but the court of public opinion weighed in on the issues long before the justice issued their legal opinions. According to Pew Research, 66 percent of U.S. adults support laws requiring athletes to compete on teams that match their biological sex. A Gallup poll found similar results, with 69 percent of adults supporting such laws. 

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West Virginia is not alone in passing a law to protect women’s and girls’ sports. Twenty-six other states have recognized the basic fact that there are differences between males and females and have chosen to pass legislation acknowledging those distinctions in athletic competition. 

Lawmakers, who campaigned on protecting women’s and girls’ sports, can now tell constituents that they have fulfilled their campaign promise. The Save Women’s Sports Act is now the law of the land in West Virginia.

“I would say that for the foreseeable future, we have a very certain future for women’s sports. And here in West Virginia, we know what the rules are, we know what the law is, we know that it’s constitutional,” said West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey on Talkline.

Tuesday’s ruling also presents an opportunity for legislators to move on from the issue. Discussions surrounding the topic during the legislative session have been known to grind momentum to a halt, and Republicans running for office over the last five years have made it a centerpiece of their campaigns. 

The issue is now settled, at least for now.

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As J.B McCuskey cautioned, 

“In the world of constitutional litigation, Dave, there’s never an end to any chapter.” 





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Dallas, TX

Crews battle large fire at Pilates studio in Uptown Dallas, officials say

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Crews battle large fire at Pilates studio in Uptown Dallas, officials say



Dallas firefighters are battling a large fire at a Pilates studio in Uptown early Wednesday morning, officials confirm.

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Dallas Fire-Rescue said at about 4 a.m., crews responded after someone reported smoke coming from the second floor of Pilates Methodology, located in the 2600 block of Routh Street.

When firefighters arrived at the two-story business, they began an offensive attack, and by 4:50 a.m., a third alarm was called, bringing in dozens of crews to help fight the blaze.

No injuries have been reported as crews work to extinguish the fire.

This is a developing story. We’ll update as more information becomes available. 

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