A Louisiana civil court judge on Monday halted state agencies' plans to forcibly clear homeless encampments in New Orleans . Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Ethel Julien issued a temporary restraining order blocking state police and two other agencies from evicting homeless people from their encampments in New Orleans or seizing their property without following city laws and due process. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry had called earlier this month for the City of New Orleans to remove a large encampment before Thanksgiving and warned he would intervene if the city did not comply. “If a judge believes that people have a right to be on whatever public space they choose, maybe that judge should have them move into her chambers and courtroom," Landry said after the judge issued the restraining order Monday. Louisiana State Police spokesperson Sgt. Katharine Stegall said the agency’s legal team and the state Attorney General’s Office are reviewing the order. State police have “promptly halted activities” and are “complying with the restrictions” of the order, Stegall said. Landry and New Orleans officials have repeatedly clashed over how to address the issue of homelessness in the city. New Orleans City Councilmember Lesli Harris said Monday that directing more resources towards moving homeless people into stable housing was “infinitely more effective than punitive sweeps” of encampments. “Coordination between the government and service providers on the housing of people is imperative, and continuously moving people only makes it that much harder to house them,” Harris said. But the governor has pushed to clear homeless encampments. In late October, Louisiana State Police, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Department of Transportation and Development converged on a homeless encampment under a highway to remove and relocate dozens of people prior to pop star Taylor Swift’s concerts in the nearby Superdome. Some people who had been away at the time of the clearances returned to the area to find they had lost their personal property including family heirlooms, identification documents and medication, according to testimony in court documents. City officials and advocates for homeless people decried the evictions and said they disrupted ongoing efforts to secure long-term housing for these individuals because they became harder to locate. A judge later granted a temporary restraining order preventing more clearances but declined to extend it beyond early November after lawyers representing the state police indicated in court that removals tied to the Taylor Swift concerts had ceased. But on Friday, homeless people began receiving flyers from state police officers ordering them to leave their encampments within 24 hours, according to a motion for relief filed on behalf of two homeless plaintiffs by the Southern Poverty Law Center and two other legal groups. The planned sweeps preceded the Bayou Classic football game on Saturday between Southern University and Grambling State University at the Superdome. “Your presence is considered a violation,” the flyers stated, according to the motion for relief. However, they were halted by the new temporary restraining order. On Dec. 3, the judge is scheduled to deliberate on whether to issue a preliminary injunction against the three state agencies. “The vulnerable people with disabilities who make up the vast majority of people living in the street deserve to be treated with sensitivity and compassion,” said Joe Heeren-Mueller, director of community engagement for Unity of Greater New Orleans, a homeless outreach organization. There are about 1,450 homeless people in New Orleans and neighboring Jefferson Parish, according to a January survey by the nonprofit Unity of Greater New Orleans. The city has committed to securing housing for these individuals by the end of 2025. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook9631 poker game 。

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Generation Beta Is Coming: Babies Born In 2025 Will Experience A World Like No OtherCHILLIWACK, B.C. — Dan Coulter, a former member of British Columbia's legislature and a New Democrat cabinet minister, has died at age 49. The BC New Democratic Party says in a statement that Coulter was a "devoted advocate" for the people of B.C. The party says Coulter "always championed the underdog," citing his work in the legislature after his election in Chilliwack in 2020, his former role of chair of the Chilliwack school board and as the Parliamentary secretary for accessibility and minister of state for infrastructure and transit. The party's provincial director Heather Stoutenburg said last week in a statement that Coulter had "experienced a serious medical emergency" and was being treated in hospital. The party says a private service will be held for Coulter on Saturday and a local public service will be held in Chilliwack on Jan. 11. The party says that Coulter, who lost his bid for re-election in the October provincial election, was "the very best of us," and it extends its "deepest condolences to his family, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him." It says that instead of flowers, his family has asked that donations go to the Chilliwack Restorative Justice and Youth Advocacy Association, Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society, and the BC SPCA. "To those of us who knew him, Dan was so much more than a colleague — he was a friend and a mentor," the statement says. "He was smart, funny, thoughtful and honest. But above all things, he was kind." Premier David Eby is echoing that sentiment on social media, saying the province has lost an "incredible advocate and a fighter for justice." "He was so happy to be part of a movement to make this province better for everyone," Eby says of Coulter. "Even at such a young age, Dan leaves behind a proud legacy of standing up for workers, the people of Chilliwack, and people across B.C." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. The Canadian Press

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Aaron Rodgers might be on borrowed time with the New York Jets , but interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich says the star quarterback is in no danger of losing his starting job. Ulbrich told reporters on Monday that Rodgers will “absolutely” start for the Jets in Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks . The coach said there has not been any talk about shutting Rodgers down despite recent rumors regarding the 40-year-old’s health and future in New York. From Ulbrich's just-completed media session: * Rodgers will "absolutely" start on Sunday — in response to a question re: recent reports about his status. * Rodgers is healthier than he was earlier in the season. * Ulbrich not aware of Rodgers skipping any medical scans: "News... — Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 25, 2024 Rodgers has dealt with numerous injuries this season. A report on Sunday claimed Rodgers has refused certain scans because he does not want to be told he should not play. Ulbrich said that report is “news” to him but acknowledged that Rodgers is healthier now than earlier in the season. The Jets are 3-8 coming out of the bye and have been arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL this season. They have already fired their head coach and general manager, and it is starting to sound very unlikely that Rodgers will be back next season . For now, Rodgers has the full support of Ulbrich. The question is whether the same is true for Jets owner Woody Johnson . This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

Israel PM blames government over synagogue attackAlarm grew in France on Friday over the fate of a prominent French-Algerian novelist detained in the country of his birth, with his publisher urging his immediate release and President Emmanuel Macron closely following the case. Boualem Sansal, a major figure in francophone modern literature, is known for his strong stances against both authoritarianism and Islamism as well as being a forthright campaigner on freedom of expression issues. His detention by Algeria comes against a background of tensions between France and its former colony which have also appear to have spread to the literary world. The 75-year-old writer, granted French nationality this year, was on Saturday arrested at Algiers airport after returning from France, according to several media reports including the Marianne weekly. The Gallimard publishing house, which has published his work for a quarter of a century, in a statement expressed "its very deep concern following the arrest of the writer by the Algerian security services", calling for his "immediate release". There has been no confirmation from the Algerian authorities of his arrest and no other details about his situation. Macron is "very concerned by the disappearance" of Sansal, said a French presidential official, asking not to be named. "State services are mobilised to clarify his situation," the official said, adding that "the president expresses his unwavering attachment to the freedom of a great writer and intellectual." A relative latecomer to writing, Sansal turned to novels in 1999 and has tackled subjects including the horrific 1990s civil war between authorities and Islamists. His books are not banned in Algeria but he is a controversial figure, particularly since making a visit to Israel in 2014. Sansal's hatred of Islamism has not been confined to Algeria and he has also warned of a creeping Islamisation in France, a stance that has made him a favoured author of prominent figures on the right and far-right. Prominent politicians from this side of the political spectrum rushed to echo Macron's expression of concern for the writer. Centre-right former premier and candidate in 2027 presidential elections Edouard Philippe wrote on X that Sansal "embodies everything we cherish: the call for reason, freedom and humanism against censorship, corruption and Islamism." Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen, another possible 2027 contender, said: "This freedom fighter and courageous opponent of Islamism has reportedly been arrested by the Algerian regime. This is an unacceptable situation." In 2015, Sansal won the Grand Prix du Roman of the French Academy, the guardians of the French language, for his book "2084: The End of the World", a dystopian novel inspired by George Orwell's "Nineteen-Eighty Four" and set in an Islamist totalitarian world in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. His publisher said that Sansal's novels and essays "exposed the obscurantisms of all kinds which are tragically affecting the way of the world." The concerns about his reported arrest come as another prominent French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud is under attack over his novel "Houris", which won France's top literary prize, the Goncourt. A woman has claimed the book was based on her story of surviving 1990s Islamist massacres and used without her consent. She alleged on Algerian television that Daoud used the story she confidentially recounted to a therapist -- who is now his wife -- during treatment. His publisher has denied the claims. The controversies are taking place in a tense diplomatic context between France and Algeria, after Macron renewed French support for Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara during a landmark visit to the kingdom last month. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is de facto controlled for the most part by Morocco. But it is claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, who are demanding a self-determination referendum and are supported by Algiers. Daoud meanwhile has called for Sansal's release, writing in the right-wing Le Figaro: "I sincerely hope that my friend Boualem will return to us very soon", while expressing his bafflement in the face of the "imprudence" that Sansal allegedly showed in going to Algeria. dax-vl-sjw/giv Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.Trump picks Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead Labor Department

The Bermuda Police Service is “advising the public to exercise increased caution in the wake of reports of people’s WhatsApp accounts being compromised and used to perpetrate fraudulent financial schemes.” A police spokesperson said, “Hackers reportedly gain unauthorized access to an individual’s WhatsApp account by deceiving the user into disclosing their six-digit verification code. Having gained access, the hackers impersonate the victim and message that person’s contacts, requesting urgent financial assistance or, sensitive information. “What to Look Out For: “Unusual Messages from Friends or Family: If a contact messages you asking for financial assistance, verify their identity through a phone call or in-person conversation before taking any action. “Requests for OTP or Verification Codes: “It is imperative that you do not disclose your one-time password [OTP] or verification codes to any individual, regardless of whether the request appears to originate from a reputable source. “Urgency and Pressure: “Fraudsters frequently instil a sense of urgency in order to compel victims to act without considering the consequences. “Protect Yourself: “Enable two-step verification. Enable WhatsApp’s two-step verification for an added degree of protection. This feature requires a PIN to access your account. “Avoid Sharing Personal Information: “Be cautious when sharing personal or account-related information, even with trusted contacts. Stay Informed: “Regularly update yourself on cybersecurity best practices to recognize and avoid scams. “What to do if you are a victim: “Immediately inform your contacts via alternative means of the hack to prevent further exploitation. “Report the incident to WhatsApp via the in-app help feature. “File a report with the Bermuda Police Service at https://portal.police.bm “The Bermuda Police Service remains committed to raising awareness about digital safety and encourages everyone to remain vigilant. By working together, we can reduce the impact of these fraudulent activities on our communities.” : , , ,Owensboro Racing & Gaming announced Friday that its grand opening will be Feb. 12, 2025. The $100-million gaming complex on Wrights Landing Road, owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, will feature 600 of the latest historical racing machine games, a retail sportsbook, simulcast wagering and multiple food and beverage options.Thousands of residents took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday, calling for a reduction in housing rental prices and better living conditions. The protest, involving around 22,000 people, underscores a growing crisis as Spain contends with the dual pressures of boosting tourism and curbing skyrocketing rents. Data from the Catalan Housing Agency revealed that rental prices in Barcelona during the second quarter of 2024 were nearly 70% higher than a decade ago. Protesters, including Carme, a spokeswoman for a tenants union, voiced their struggles with spending half of their wages on rent, emphasizing the urgency for change. In response, the Spanish government announced measures targeting short-term and seasonal holiday lettings. The crackdown will include investigating listings on popular platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com to ensure compliance with licensing regulations. Similar protests have taken place across Spain, highlighting the widespread impact of housing shortages on seasonal workers. (With inputs from agencies.)

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