California Democratic governor candidate accuses Harris, Becerra of Biden decline cover-up

California Democratic governor candidate accuses Harris, Becerra of Biden decline cover-up

California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa (D) accused former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra of engaging in a "cover-up" of former President Biden's cognitive decline while in office. In a lengthy statement released Tuesday, Villaraigosa cited revelations in journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's new book "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again." "At the highest levels of our government, those in power were intentionally complicit or told outright lies in a systematic cover-up to keep Joe Biden's mental decline from the public," said Villaraigosa, a former Los Angeles mayor. Becerra launched a run for governor last month, and Harris is reportedly mulling a run for the position. Villaraigosa said, "Voters deserve to know the truth." "What did Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra know, when did they know it, and most importantly, why didn't either of them speak out?" the former mayor said. "This cover-up directly led to a second Donald Trump term — and as a result, all Californians are paying the price." The book, published Tuesday, has made news this month after early excerpts revealed new details about the alleged efforts Biden's inner circle took to shield the public from signs of his cognitive decline during his last year in office. The book's release comes after Biden's personal office announced he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2025

California Democratic governor candidate accuses Harris, Becerra of Biden decline cover-up

California Democratic governor candidate accuses Harris, Becerra of Biden decline cover-up California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ant...

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California ends ban on special education funds for children in religious schools

California ends ban on special education funds for children in religious schools

Thestate of Californiaagreed in federal court Monday to stop barring children with disabilities who want to attend religious private schools from receiving special education funding. For decades, children with disabilities have been able to access federal funding for freespecial educationand related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The federal law allows some of this funding to be used in private schools as well, but California lawmakers had, until this week, disqualified religious private schools from access to this program. A group of Orthodox Jewish parents and schools first brought a lawsuit against the California Department of Education in 2023 over this state law, which barred them from receiving IDEA funds to send their kids to Orthodox Jewish schools. The parents argued that their children should be able to receive an education that is in line with their Jewish traditions and beliefs while also providing a quality education that meets their needs. California Parents Sue Over Law Preventing Religious Schools From Using State Funds For Special Ed Students "It's outrageous that California politicians are using religion as an excuse to deny special education benefits to kids with disabilities," Nicholas Reaves, senior counsel for Becket, a legal group representing the parents, previously toldFox News Digital."Excluding religious schools from programs which help these children reach their full potential is just plain wrong." Read On The Fox News App In October, a federal appeals court agreed, declaring that California was violating the Constitution by requiring schools to be non-religious for families to apply for these funds. The case returned to district court. On Monday, California and the Los Angeles Unified School Districtagreed to a court orderthat permanently prohibits them from enforcing a "nonsectarian" requirement to access the special education funding. Becket hailed the court victory ina press release. "California spent decades treating Jewish kids like second-class citizens. Today's settlement ensures that Jewish kids with disabilities can access the resources they need and deserve—just like everyone else," Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said in a statement. Supreme Court To Hear Arguments On School Choice Case Involving Catholic Charter School The California Department of Education did not return a request for comment. Fox News' Kendall Tietz contributed to this report. Original article source:California ends ban on special education funds for children in religious schools

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2025

California ends ban on special education funds for children in religious schools

California ends ban on special education funds for children in religious schools Thestate of Californiaagreed in federal court Monday to sto...

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Pennsylvania election: Corey O’Connor defeats Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Democratic primary

Pennsylvania election: Corey O'Connor defeats Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Democratic primary

Challenger Corey O'Connor ousted Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Tuesday's Democratic primary election, beating an incumbent in a race that hinged on how Gainey was handling city finances, affordable housing and public safety. O'Connor is all but assured of winning November's general election against a low-profile Republican nominee in a city that hasn't elected a Republican mayor in nearly a century. O'Connor is the Allegheny County controller and the son of a former Pittsburgh mayor who had won the local party's endorsement over Gainey. Gainey – the city's first Black mayor, who grew up in subsidized housing – beat his predecessor in 2021's primary campaign and had allied himself with the Democratic Party's progressive wing. He had portrayed himself as the mayor who sides with regular people and as a "mayor that's going to fight for you" when the Trump administration threatens the city. O'Connor criticized Gainey's management of the city, saying Gainey was reckless with city finances, fell badly short in expanding affordable housing and lacked vision to bring businesses back to downtown after the Covid-19 pandemic and the devastating collapse of the hometown steel industry. He also said people didn't feel safe in Pittsburgh and that city vehicles – including snow plows and ambulances – were breaking down at critical times. Gainey touted the city's strong economy under his watch and contended that he had held the line against tax increases, been saddled with the mistakes of prior administrations and had overseen dropping crime rates in the city. O'Connor benefited from support from builders and developers amid friction over Gainey's affordable housing plan, and O'Connor's campaign and allied groups outspent Gainey's side, which had support from the liberal Working Families Party and Service Employees International Union. Still, unions were divided in the race, and affordable housing groups had criticized Gainey's efforts as badly inadequate. O'Connor, meanwhile, characterized the city under Gainey as headed for a "financial crisis" that threatened quality of life and public safety, a crisis that O'Connor confidently said he could fix. Gainey, he said, was leading the city "down a path of managing our decline." "That financial crisis is going to impact each and every one of us, each and every day," O'Connor said during a televised May 8 debate. "It's going to stop our ability to fill in your potholes. It's going to stop our ability to buy new ambulances and equipment for public safety to keep you safe." Also Tuesday, voters chose incumbent Larry Krasner in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia district attorney. Krasner defeated his primary opponent, Pat Dugan, a US Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was the head administrative judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court before he resigned to run. Krasner is running again after withstanding an impeachment attempt by Republican state lawmakers and years of being a campaign trail punching bag for President Donald Trump. He has the benefit of crime ratesfalling in big US cities, including Philadelphia, after they rose sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dugan had aimed to make the race about Krasner's crime-fighting policies – he called Krasner "Let 'em Go Larry" – and accused the incumbent of staffing the district attorney's office with ill-prepared and inexperienced lawyers. Krasner originally ran in 2017 on a progressive platform that included holding police accountable and opposing the death penalty, cash bail, prosecuting minor nonviolent offenses and a culture of mass incarceration. Like some big-city Democrats, Krasner has turned toward pro-public safety messaging, maintaining that he is serious about pursuing violent crime and touting new technologies and strategies that his office is using to solve or prevent crime. Krasner has repeatedly invoked Trump and suggested that he is the best candidate to stand up to the president. In a TV ad, he cast himself as the foil to "Trump and his billionaire buddies, the shooting groups and gun lobby, the old system that denied people justice for too long. They can come for Philly, but I'm not backing down." Dugan had invoked Trump, too, saying in a TV ad that Philadelphia faces the threats of crime, injustice and a "president bent on destruction." He also accused Krasner of failing to deliver "real reform or make us safe. Now he wants us to believe he can take on Trump? Get real." This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2025

Pennsylvania election: Corey O’Connor defeats Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Democratic primary

Pennsylvania election: Corey O'Connor defeats Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in Democratic primary Challenger Corey O'Connor ousted Pitt...

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Asian shares climb and oil prices jump more than $1.20 on report Israel may attack Iran

Asian shares climb and oil prices jump more than $1.20 on report Israel may attack Iran

Shares rose in Asia on Wednesday while oil prices jumped more than $1.20 a barrel following a report that Israel may be planning an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Oil prices surged after a CNN report cited unnamed intelligence officials saying Israel may be preparing for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Oil prices tend to rise with conflicts that might disrupt oil supplies. U.S. benchmark crude oil gained $1.21 to $63.24 per barrel while Brent crude, the international standard, rose $1.20 to $66.58 per barrel. In talks on the nuclear issue, Iranian officials have warnedthey could pursue a nuclear weaponwith their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. U.S. PresidentDonald Trumphas repeatedly threatened tounleash airstrikes targeting Iran's programif a deal isn't reached. In share trading, Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.1% to 37,491.80. Gains have been constrained by the continued worries over highertariffsTrump has imposed on many U.S. trading partners since taking office. Earlier this week, Japanese officials said they were insisting all of his higher tariffs on imports from Japan be removed as part of talks with Washington. In a step that further weakened Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's faltering administration, theagriculture minister, Taku Eto, resignedafter an outcry over comments he made about not having to buy rice, but getting it for free, at a time when shortfalls in supply have pushed prices of the staple grain sharply higher. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng picked up 0.4% to 23,772.34, while the Shanghai Composite index edged 0.2% higher to 3,384.90. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 surged 0.8% to 8,411.50, while the Kospi in South Korea also gained 0.8%, to 2,621.32. Taiwan's Taiex advanced 0.6%. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 lost 0.4% to 5,940.46, for its first drop in seven days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3% to 42,677.24, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4% to 19,142.71. Treasury yields and the value of the U.S. dollar held relatively stable followinga brief jolt Monday morningafter Moody's Ratings said theU.S. government no longer deserves a top-tier credit ratingbecause of worries about its spiraling debt. U.S. government debt could be set to get even bigger withWashington debating more cuts to taxes. Stocks of companies in the travel industry led the way lower on doubts about how much U.S. households will be able to spend on summer vacations. Airbnb dropped 3.3%, Norwegian Cruise Line fell 3.9% and United Airlines lost 2.9%. Viking Holdings fell 5% even though the company, which offers river cruises and other trips, reported stronger results than analysts expected for the latest quarter. Home Depot slipped 0.6% after reporting a profit for the start of the year that came up just short of analysts' expectations, though its revenue topped forecasts. The home-improvement retailer also saidit's sticking with its forecastsfor profit and sales growth over the full year. That's counter to a growing number of companies, which have recently said tariffs and uncertainty about the economyare making it difficult to guess what the upcoming year will bring. Trump has delayed or rolled many of the stiff tariffs he has imposed as he tries to compel companies to move manufacturing to the United States. Investors are hopeful that Trump will eventually lower his tariffs after reaching trade deals with other countries, but that's not a certainty. On the winning side of Wall Street was D-Wave Quantum, which jumped 25.9% after releasing its latest quantum computing system. The company says it can solve complex problems beyond the reach of classical computers. Target and Home Depot rival Lowe's will report their latest results on Wednesday. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury edged up to 4.47% from 4.46% late Monday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for action by the Federal Reserve, edged down to 3.96% from 3.97%. In currency dealings, the U.S. dollar fell to 144.10 Japanese yen from 144.51 yen. The euro rose to $1.1307 from $1.1284. ___ AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2025

Asian shares climb and oil prices jump more than $1.20 on report Israel may attack Iran

Asian shares climb and oil prices jump more than $1.20 on report Israel may attack Iran Shares rose in Asia on Wednesday while oil prices ju...

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UN warns of 'ongoing tragedy' as Indigenous groups in Colombia face extinction

UN warns of 'ongoing tragedy' as Indigenous groups in Colombia face extinction

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The United Nations human rights office inColombiawarned Tuesday that five Indigenous groups in a storied mountain range face "physical and cultural" extinction, a critical threat that stems from armed groups fighting over their territory and insufficient state protection. Scott Campbell, Colombia's representative for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement that the risk of physical and cultural extinction of Indigenous People of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is "an ongoing tragedy that we can and must prevent." Campbell urged the Colombian government to protect the Kogui, Wiwa, Kankuamo, Arhuaco, and Ette Naka Indigenous groups, whose combined population is approximately 54,700 people. Campbell's statement followed a visit to the Sierra Nevada region, where U.N. officials spoke with representatives of these Indigenous tribes. "These groups are under various forms of cruel attack from non-state armed groups," Campbell said, highlighting the "devastating repercussions on their lives, their land, their territory, their self government...and their spirituality." In 2022,UNESCOadded the ancestral knowledge of these Indigenous groups to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. The recognition highlights the "fundamental role" their traditions play in preserving the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta — a mountain range that emerges directly from the Caribbean Sea and boasts snowy peaks reaching nearly 6,000 meters. But for many years, the Indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada have been under attack from settlers, and now from rebel groups. Campbell said that rebel groups in the area are imposing curfews on Indigenous communities and interfering with their local assemblies. He added that hundreds of Indigenous people from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta have been forcibly displaced, while last year an Arhuaco community leader was murdered and a member of the Kogui tribe disappeared. Colombia's government has struggled to pacify rural areas where rebel groups and drug trafficking gangsfight for territoryabandoned by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the large guerilla group that made peace withthe government in 2016. President Gustavo Petro haslaunched peace talkswith most of the nation's remaining rebel groups, but the negotiations have yielded few results so far. Campbell urged the government to protect Indigenous people in the Sierra Nevada not only through military force, but by providing better access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities. "The violent situation has its roots in disputes over control of territory, drug trafficking routes and various forms of illicit economic activity by non-state armed groups." Campell said. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean athttps://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2025

UN warns of 'ongoing tragedy' as Indigenous groups in Colombia face extinction

UN warns of 'ongoing tragedy' as Indigenous groups in Colombia face extinction BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The United Nations human righ...

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