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Ticker: Activision Blizzard to pay $54M settlement; Amazon wins EU tax case 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

Activision Blizzard has agreed to pay about $54 million to settle discrimination claims brought by California’s civil rights agency on behalf of women employed by the video game maker.The settlement, which is subject to court approval, resolves allegations that the maker of Call of Duty, Overwatch, World of Warcraft and other video games “discriminated against women at the company, including denying promotion opportunities and paying them less than men for doing substantially similar work,” the California Civil Rights Department announced late Friday.California’s civil rights agency sued Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard in July 2021, alleging that female employees faced constant sexual harassment, that few women were named to leadership roles and that when they were, they earned less salary, incentive pay and total compensation than male peers.Amazon wins EU tax caseAmazon won’t have to pay about $273 million in back taxes after European Union jud...

Trump says he’ll target Harvard, MIT tax breaks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

Former President Donald Trump said he’d end tax exemptions for universities deemed to be left-leaning if voters return him to the White House, pointing to the uproar over campus antisemitism that engulfed three college presidents in recent weeks.Trump told a campaign rally in Durham, New Hampshire, he’d remove tax advantages for universities that discriminate against conservatives, Christians, Jews and for schools that “attack free speech.”“They will pay us billions and billions of dollars for the terror they have unleashed into our once-great country,” Trump said, citing schools including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Pennsylvania.While criticizing America’s academic elite has been a Republican talking point for years, Trump seized on the congressional testimony by the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT this month in the wake of campus conflict inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war.Penn’s president, Liz Magill, handed in her resignation on ...

Week 15 updates: DJ Moore and Jaquan Brisker are active for the Chicago Bears today vs. the Cleveland Browns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

The 5-8 Chicago Bears are playing the 8-5 Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in a Week 15 matchup. Here’s what you need to know.Inactives announcedBears wide receiver DJ Moore and safety Jaquan Brisker are active Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.Moore was listed as questionable after he dealt with an ankle injury all week, but he practiced in full Friday and will play against the Browns.Brisker dealt with groin tightness in practice Wednesday, didn’t practice Thursday and was limited Friday. He also was listed as questionable.The Bears previously declared out linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral). They elevated linebacker DeMarquis Gates on Saturday to take Sewell’s spot.Safety Quindell Johnson and offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter are also inactive. Nathan Peterman is inactive but will serve as the emergency third quarterback.With Yannick Ngakoue going on injured reserve with a broken ankle this week, def...

Auburn controls USC 91-75 in Bronny James’ first road game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Aden Holloway scored 15 points with six assists and Jaylin Williams had 14 points to help Auburn beat USC 91-75 on Sunday as the Trojans’ Bronny James continued to work his way back to the court after suffering cardiac arrest.The Tigers (8-2) controlled the game most of the way in the first road appearance for James in a packed Auburn Arena with dozens of NBA scouts watching. The Trojans (5-5) dropped their third straight game.The son of NBA superstar LeBron James, Bronny James scored five points in 14 minutes, making 3 of 4 free throws late. He couldn’t corral the ball on an alley-oop chance in the final two minutes, prompting a chant of “overrated.” But Auburn fans mostly didn’t react to his presence on the court.Auburn had five scorers in double figures. Denver Jones had 12 points while Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell each had 11.Boogie Ellis led USC with 22 points. Isaiah Collier and Oziyah Sellers each had 13. Collier fouled out.James had m...

Judge overturns Mississippi death penalty case, says racial bias in picking jury wasn’t fully argued

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge has overturned the death penalty conviction of a Mississippi man, finding a trial judge didn’t give the man’s lawyer enough chance to argue that the prosecution was dismissing Black jurors for discriminatory reasons.U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills ruled Tuesday that the state of Mississippi must give Terry Pitchford a new trial on capital murder charges.Mills wrote that his ruling is partially motivated by what he called former District Attorney Doug Evans ‘ history of discriminating against Black jurors.A spokesperson for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said Sunday that the state intends to appeal. Online prison records show Pitchford remained on death row Sunday at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.Mills ordered the state to retry the 37-year-old man within six months, and said he must be released from custody if he is not retried by then.Pitchford was indicted on a murder charge in the fatal 2004 rob...

Search underway after bank robbery in Elmhurst

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

ELMHURST, Ill. — A search is underway for a man who robbed a bank in Elmhurst on Saturday, FBI agents say.According to the FBI, the robbery happened just before noon at a US Bank branch located in the 500 block of South York Street. Migrants arriving in Chicago face uncertainty as communication with border cities deteriorates Agents say after the man entered the bank, he handed an employee a note demanding money and implying that he had a gun. Authorities believe the person responsible is between 25 and 30 years of age and stands about 6 feet tall. During the robbery, the man was spotted wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a baseball cap, and a black surgical mask.Agents released photos from the bank on Saturday in hopes of catching the person responsible.  Man accused of shooting victim 5 times after argument in Tinley Park charged Nobody was injured in the robbery and an investigation by the FBI is underway. Anyone with information that could help authorities can repor...

Chicago man accused of concealing death of woman found in Auburn Gresham

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man accused of concealing the death of a woman on the South Side has been charged, according to police.Chicago police say 58-year-old John Evans, an Auburn Gresham resident, has been charged with one felony count of concealment of a homicidal death.Authorities say the charges stem from Evans' alleged role in concealing the death of a 43-year-old woman whose body was found on Tuesday, in the 8500 block of South Vincennes Avenue. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Authors have not provided details on what led to the woman's death, but say it is being investigated as a homicide.According to police, Evans was located in the 8500 block of South Wallace Street on Thursday and was taken into custody.The suspect appeared in court on Saturday for a detention hearing.

NBA G League player, girlfriend accused of killing woman: Las Vegas police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — An NBA G League player and his girlfriend are accused of killing a woman who had been reported missing earlier this month, according to Las Vegas Metro Police. Chance Comanche, 27, and Sakari Harnden, 19, were both taken into custody in recent days in connection with the disappearance of Marayna Rodgers, 23. Rodgers, a medical assistant from Washington state, had been visiting Las Vegas with friends in early December, her family told KLAS. She hadn’t been seen since Dec. 6. Human remains found in a desert area of Henderson, just outside of Las Vegas, have been identified as Rodgers. Comanche and Harnden are now expected to face an open murder charge, Las Vegas Metro Police said Sunday after detectives determined they "were responsible for the murder of Rodgers."Photo of Chance Comanche (left) provided by Associated Press. Photo of Sakari Harnden (right) provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police DepartmentPolice learned that Rodgers was...

Gophers add TCU cornerback Jaionte McMillan in transfer portal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

The Gophers football program added a transfer commitment from Texas Christian cornerback Jaionte McMillan on Sunday.“Thank You to all the coaches that reached out and given me an opportunity,” McWilliams wrote on X. “I am committed to The University of Minnesota. Go Gophers!”McMillan, who is listed 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, had 15 total tackles in 32 career games at TCU. He has two years of eligibility remaining for the U.McMillan played 80 snaps on defense last season and 133 on special teams. He gave up four receptions on nine targets last season and had a grade of 60.3, according to Pro Football Focus.McMillan, out of Atlanta, is the second corner the Gophers have added in the NCAA transfer portal, following Ethan Robinson from Bucknell last weekend.Transfer portal trackerIncoming players (Previous school)Dec. 3QB Max Brosmer (New Hampshire)Dec. 10DT Jordan Guerad (Fla. International)RB Trent Howland (Indiana)DE Eddy Toussom (Navarro JC)CB Ethan Robinson (Bucknell)SundayQB Logan ...

Timberwolves’ offense starts slow, then revs up. Why is that?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

The Timberwolves may have won again Saturday at home over the Pacers after pulling away in the second half. But Wolves coach Chris Finch, ever the perfectionist, lamented the team’s slow offensive start, which has been a trend of late.“We have this habit of starting games just not taking great shots,” Finch said. “Offensively, we’re kind of easing our way into games. I’d like to see cleaner starts.”Over their last eight games, the Wolves are scoring just 101.5 points per 100 possessions in the first quarter, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA over that time.That’s a full 24 points per 100 possessions lower than Minnesota’s third-quarter offensive rating in that same span. Lately, the Wolves’ offense looks disjointed to open the game and like a smooth sailing ship after the half.Why is that the case? Star guard Anthony Edwards said it’s as simple as “coming in (the locker room) and getting cussed out” at halftime.But there’s likely more to it than that. Finch said at the outset of games...