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For this group of trans women, the pope and his message of inclusivity are a welcome change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

TORVAIANICA, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis’ recent gesture of welcome for transgender Catholics has resonated strongly in a working class, seaside town south of Rome, where a community of trans women has found help and hope through a remarkable relationship with the pontiff forged during the darkest times of the pandemic.Thanks to the local parish priest, these women now make monthly visits to Francis’ Wednesday general audiences, where they are given VIP seats. On any given day, they receive handouts of medicine, cash and shampoo. When COVID-19 struck, the Vatican bussed them into its health facility so they could be vaccinated ahead of most Italians.On Sunday, these women — many of whom are Latin American migrants and work as prostitutes — will join over 1,000 other poor and homeless people in the Vatican auditorium as Francis’ guests for lunch to mark the Catholic Church’s World Day of the Poor. For the marginalized trans community of Torvaianica, it is just the latest gesture of inc...

Oregon’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law faces growing pushback amid fentanyl crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s first-in-the-nation law that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs in favor of an emphasis on addiction treatment is facing strong headwinds in the progressive state after an explosion of public drug use fueled by the proliferation of fentanyl and a surge in deaths from opioids, including those of children.“The inability for people to live their day-to-day life without encountering open-air drug use is so pressing on urban folks’ minds,” said John Horvick, vice president of polling firm DHM Research. “That has very much changed people’s perspective about what they think Measure 110 is.”When the law was approved by 58% of Oregon voters three years ago, supporters championed Measure 110 as a revolutionary approach that would transform addiction by minimizing penalties for drug use and investing instead in recovery. But even top Democratic lawmakers who backed the law, which will likely dominate th...

GOP secures all elected statewide offices in Louisiana, after Republican victories Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Come January, the GOP will control every elected statewide office in Louisiana after Republicans swept three runoff races for attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer Saturday night.The GOP success, in a state that has had a Democrat in the governor’s office for the past eight years, means that Republicans secured all of Louisiana’s statewide offices for the first time since 2015. In addition, the GOP holds a two-third supermajority in the House and Senate.Liz Murrill was elected as attorney general, Nancy Landry as secretary of state and John Fleming as treasurer. The results also mean Louisiana will have its first female attorney general and first woman elected as secretary of state. Saturday’s election completes the shaping of Louisiana’s executive branch, where most incumbents didn’t seek reelection and opened the door for new leadership in some of the most powerful positions. Louisiana’s gubernatorial election was decided in October...

Jayden Daniels piles up over 500 total yards, powers No. 15 LSU past Georgia State 56-14

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Senior quarterback Jayden Daniels piled up 509 total yards, threw six touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores as No. 15 LSU defeated Georgia State 56-14 Saturday night.Daniels continued to make his case for Heisman Trophy consideration, leading the Tigers (8-3, 5-2 SEC) on touchdown drives on all eight of his team’s possessions before being subbed out with under four minutes to go in the game. He completed 25 of 30 passes for 413 yards. He also rushed for 96 yards on 10 carries.“People are starting to see how assertive and decisive of a football player he is,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said of his quarterback. “When you are 25 or 30 throwing the football, the decisiveness and decision making has to be that way.“It was a great performance by our offense. Eight touchdowns on eight possessions; what more can you say.”Daniels’ role in eight total touchdowns in the game matched a school record set by 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, who had a ...

Jefferson’s 3 TD passes help Arkansas roll past Florida International, 44-20

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — KJ Jefferson passed for 187 yards and three touchdowns on a record-setting night to help Arkansas defeat Florida International 44-20 on Saturday night.Jefferson became Arkansas’ all-time leader in career yards passing and passing touchdowns. He eclipsed Tyler Wilson’s yardage mark of 7,765 yards and now has 7,909. He has 65 touchdown passes, surpassing Brandon Allen’s mark of 64.“It’s a surreal moment,” Jefferson said. “Just to be able to come here — it’s a milestone for me. I mean, that’s one of my goals is to come here and make sure I go down in the record books and make history here.”Jefferson also ran 15 times for 90 yards. He paced an offense that gained 510 yards, including 323 on the ground.Isaiah Augustave ran for 101 yards for Arkansas (4-7). The freshman entered the day with six carries for 21 yards this season. Injuries to Raheim Sanders and Rashod Dubinion early in the game opened the door for Augu...

California Democrats cancel some convention events amid large Gaza cease-fire demonstration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Demonstrators demanding a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war prompted California Democratic Party officials to cancel evening events during their state convention on Saturday “for the safety and security of our delegates.”California Democrats have been meeting in Sacramento this weekend to consider candidate endorsements ahead of the March primary. That includes the state’s competitive U.S. Senate race featuring four Democrats, including three sitting U.S. House members.The convention was disrupted multiple times Saturday afternoon by demonstrators demanding a cease-fire in Gaza. Party officials had increased security for the weekend convention, requiring participants to be scanned and have their bags searched before entering the convention hall. Following the afternoon session, a large crowd of demonstrators gathered at the hall. Sacramento police closed some roads near the convention center, but soon reopened them. Saturday evening, shor...

No. 5 Washington clinches Pac-12 championship berth with 22-20 victory over No. 10 Oregon State

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — While the final result felt a bit too close, No. 5 Washington survived a wet and wild game against Oregon State to clinch a spot in the Pac-12 championship game. Michael Penix Jr. threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to keep the Huskies undefeated with a 22-20 victory over No. 10 Oregon State on Saturday night. Played in a nearly constant rain, it was the final Pac-12 game at Reser Stadium as the conference currently stands. The Pac-12 collapsed over the summer, leaving Oregon State and Washington State as the lone remaining teams. Rome Odunze caught seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns for the Huskies (11-0, 8-0, No. 5 CFP), who have won 18 straight games. Washington is departing for the Big Ten next season, along with Oregon, USC and UCLA. Penix completed 13 of 28 passes for 162 yards. He has thrown for 30 touchdowns this season. He sealed the win with a deep third-down pass to Odunze as the click wound down. “We had to find a way to win and...

Mendoza hurt, returns to lead Cal past Stanford 27-15 in Big Game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza threw for 294 yards and a season-high three touchdowns, Jaydn Ott ran 36 times for 166 yards and a score, and California beat Stanford 27-15 in the annual Big Game on Saturday night.Mendoza, the redshirt freshman making his sixth straight start after beginning the year buried on the depth chart, overcame a big hit by Stanford linebacker Tristan Sinclair early in the second quarter and returned to lead the Bears (5-6, 3-5 Pac-12) to a second consecutive win that keeps Cal’s postseason hopes alive. He completed 24 of 36 passes and was intercepted once.Once the final seconds ticked off the clock, a massive throng of Cal fans swarmed the field to celebrate alongside the Bears.“I don’t know that there’s a better 30 minutes to an hour in the year than when you’re able to win the Big Game and retain the Axe,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “It’s a great feeling. I want the guys to enjoy it. It’s a huge win on many levels.”Ott’s 36 carries were a seas...

No. 5 Colorado women still undefeated after 84-69 victory over SMU

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Aaronette Vonleh scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, Quay Miller added 18 points with 10 rebounds and fifth-ranked Colorado remained undefeated with an 84-69 win over SMU on Saturday night. Jaylyn Sherrod added 18 points for the Buffaloes (4-0), who won their first game since moving up 15 spots in the latest AP poll to their first top-five ranking since 2005. That huge jump came after going 3-0 the first week of the season, including a 14-point victory over defending national champion LSU in their opener. “It was truly a battle. I can’t think of any other word. It was really physical, really tough game,” Colorado coach JR Payne said. “This was a tough one to come into SMU and get the win. So really proud of how we competed tonight.”Colorado never trailed SMU after scoring the last six points of the first quarter. The Buffs went ahead to stay on two free throws by Miller. “Having a very veteran team … just for our connectivity, we know our, we our strengths and...

No. 7 Texas stays alone atop Big 12 after pulling away from Iowa State for a 26-16 win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Quinn Ewers passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 7 Texas pulled away from Iowa State for a 26-16 victory Saturday night.The win keeps the Longhorns (10-1, 7-1, No. 7 CFP) alone atop the Big 12 standings and moves them closer to the conference championship game.“I haven’t won 10 games since high school,” Texas receiver Jordan Whittington said. “A lot of people expect greatness. That’s human. But people need to take a moment and realize where we are and what we’re doing and be grateful.”Ewers completed 23 of 33 passes and C.J. Baxter rushed for 117 yards, helping Texas extend its winning streak to five after an Oct. 7 loss to Oklahoma.“This was not one phase or one aspect,” Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said. “This was a lot of different players making plays tonight, making plays in some pretty critical moments.”Rocco Becht threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns for Iowa State (6-5, 5-3), but the Cyclones netted only 9 yards rush...