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The article discusses the Facebook group PDX Stolen Cars, which was founded by Titan Crawford in response to the high rate of auto theft in Portland, Oregon. The group, which has over 20,000 members, allows people to post information about stolen cars and helps locate them. PDX Stolen Cars has collaborated with the local police department on multiple occasions and has helped find around 3,000 stolen cars since its creation. The article also mentions that auto theft rates have been rising nationwide, but have decreased in Oregon and Portland. [Extracted from the article]

San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against Oakland in federal court over Oakland's plan to rename its airport as San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. San Francisco claims that the name change would confuse travelers and violate the trademark of San Francisco International Airport. The lawsuit argues that the proposed renaming infringes on SFO's trademark and could lead to missed flights. Oakland denies these claims and argues that the name change would help promote the airport and potentially lead to more nonstop airline routes. A final vote on the name change is expected to take place next month. [Extracted from the article]

Amazon is cutting hundreds of jobs in its cloud-computing business as part of its cost-cutting efforts. The layoffs will affect teams such as sales, marketing, and global services. Additionally, the company plans to cut more jobs from its physical stores technology team, which focuses on the systems underlying its cashierless checkout programs. Despite the layoffs, Amazon's workforce has grown since the pandemic, and the company has stated that laid-off workers will receive pay, benefits, and severance payments. [Extracted from the article]

Joe Lieberman, a former longtime Connecticut senator and moderate Democrat, has passed away at the age of 82. Lieberman was the first Jewish American nominated to a major party's presidential ticket as Al Gore's running mate in 2000. He had a decades-long political career, including helping create the Department of Homeland Security after the September 11 attacks. Lieberman also co-chaired No Labels, an independent group working towards a centrist "unity ticket" for the presidential election. Despite some disagreements with the Democratic Party, Lieberman was known for his principled approach to politics and his dedication to public service. [Extracted from the article]

Federal agents have raided homes connected to hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs in Los Angeles and Miami. The raids were conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and are related to a possible investigation into human trafficking. Combs has recently faced lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and harassment. He has denied these allegations. [Extracted from the article]

Teen vaping is a growing concern for schools and health officials in the United States. To combat this issue, some school districts are implementing various strategies. For example, a Florida county has trained a yellow Labrador named Samba to detect nicotine and THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana. Other districts are using high-tech sensors in school bathrooms to identify students who are vaping. While e-cigarette use has slightly decreased among high-schoolers, public-health officials remain concerned about the addictive nature of vaping and its impact on adolescent brain development. [Extracted from the article]

Alabama has passed a new law granting civil and criminal immunity to in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers, allowing them to resume services after a recent court ruling raised questions about the future of fertility treatment in the state. The law protects providers from legal action if embryos are destroyed or damaged during IVF treatments. However, some legal experts and Democratic lawmakers argue that the law does not fully address the central question of whether embryos in cold storage are legally considered children, leaving room for further legal challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Both chambers of the Alabama Legislature have passed bills aimed at protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers, following a recent Alabama Supreme Court decision that classified embryos as children. The Republican-sponsored bills, which were fast-tracked through the legislature, grant civil and criminal immunity to those providing IVF treatments. Although the bills have similar language, they must be approved by both chambers before being sent to Governor Kay Ivey for her signature. Some Democratic lawmakers have criticized the bills for not going far enough, while Republicans have moved quickly to contain political damage and reassure voters of their support for IVF access. [Extracted from the article]

Alabama Republicans are rushing to pass legislation to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) after some IVF providers in the state suspended treatments due to a court ruling. The bills, introduced in both chambers, would provide civil and criminal immunity to those providing IVF. Republican leaders, including Donald Trump, have called for swift action to preserve IVF access. Democrats have also introduced their own bill to address the IVF controversy. The legislation may face legal challenges and some lawmakers believe that amending the Alabama Constitution may be necessary to clarify IVF's legal status. [Extracted from the article]

Oakland, California is grappling with a rise in crime, particularly in the Hegenberger Road area near the Oakland International Airport. Businesses in the area, including In-N-Out Burger, Denny's, and Starbucks, have closed due to car break-ins and robberies. Violent crime in Oakland has increased by 21% in 2023, with robberies up 38% and motor vehicle theft up 45%. The Oakland Police Department is understaffed and lacks a chief, contributing to the rise in crime. The city is increasing police recruitment and investing in community and violence-intervention efforts to improve public safety. California Governor Gavin Newsom is sending highway patrol officers to help local law enforcement, and attorneys from the California National Guard and state Department of Justice will be deployed to ramp up criminal prosecutions. The rise in crime has had a negative impact on the city, with residents leaving and those who remain afraid to go out. Some companies, such as Clorox and Kaiser Permanente, have increased security measures for their employees. [Extracted from the article]

Digital-news startup The Messenger is closing less than a year after its launch. Founder and CEO Jimmy Finkelstein announced the decision in an internal memo, stating that the company had exhausted options to secure funding for profitability. The venture, which began with $50 million in funding and 175 reporters, aimed to have 500 journalists by the end of 2024. The closure of The Messenger reflects the challenges faced by digital-media companies in recent years, with many struggling due to a volatile advertising market and a decline in traffic from external sources. [Extracted from the article]

Alabama executed inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith using nitrogen hypoxia, making it the first U.S. state to carry out this method of execution. Nitrogen hypoxia involves depriving the body of oxygen by forcing the inmate to inhale only nitrogen gas. Lethal injection, the primary form of execution in the U.S., has become more difficult to perform due to various challenges. Smith's execution took about 22 minutes, during which he appeared conscious and exhibited movement. The use of nitrogen hypoxia has drawn criticism, with experts warning of potential violations of human rights. [Extracted from the article]

Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has passed away at the age of 62 after battling prostate cancer. Dexter King, who followed in his father's footsteps by attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, dedicated much of his life to preserving his father's legacy and protecting his intellectual property. At the time of his death, he served as chairman of the King Center and president of Dr. King's estate. His siblings, Martin Luther King III and Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, have asked for prayers and support during this difficult time. [Extracted from the article]

James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks and entertainment mogul, has been accused of sexually assaulting a massage therapist while she was working on a tour with his band, The Eagles. The therapist, Kellye Croft, alleges that Dolan pressured her into unwanted sexual intercourse and arranged for her to be sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. Dolan's lawyer denies the allegations, stating that they are retaliation from an attorney who has brought multiple cases against Dolan. Croft is seeking punitive damages and compensation for lost wages and emotional distress. Weinstein, who is currently serving a prison sentence for rape, denies the allegations. [Extracted from the article]

New York City has filed a lawsuit against 17 transportation companies that brought migrants from Texas to the city, seeking to recover approximately $700 million spent on their care. The lawsuit is based on a law that requires those who bring needy individuals from out of state to either transport them out of the state or pay for their care. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been sending migrants to various cities for over a year, causing challenges for local officials. Abbott called the lawsuit baseless, stating that the migrants traveled voluntarily and had the constitutional authority to travel across the country. Since spring 2022, Texas has sent over 33,000 migrants to New York City. [Extracted from the article]

Northern California is currently facing the threat of waves up to 40 feet high hitting its coast. Evacuation and high surf warnings have been issued, and local officials are urging residents to avoid beaches and piers to prevent being swept out to sea. The National Weather Service has emphasized the extreme danger of these conditions and advised people to stay away from jetties, piers, and rocks on the shore. The highest waves are expected in Northern California, with forecasts of up to 33 feet along west-facing beaches and up to 40 feet in certain areas. Other parts of California's coastline are also under high surf or flood warnings, and significant beach erosion and flooding are anticipated. Additionally, a second storm system is forecasted to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the region. [Extracted from the article]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to create a commission that will examine slavery and racial and economic discrimination against people of African descent and study reparations. The nine-person commission will submit recommendations to the governor and the state's Legislature within a year. This move follows a similar undertaking in California, where a task force recommended spending billions on reparations to Black residents. The creation of the commission has faced criticism from New York Republicans, while civil-rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton sees it as a first step in addressing longstanding wrongs. [Extracted from the article]

A powerful volcanic eruption occurred near the town of Grindavik in Iceland, following weeks of intense earthquake activity and the evacuation of nearby residents. The eruption, which started on Monday evening, sent lava spewing into the air and flowing eastward away from the town. The volcanic activity is happening in a remote part of the Reykjanes Peninsula, which is considered a best-case scenario for an eruption in this region. Scientists have observed that volcanic activity in this part of Iceland follows a cyclical pattern, with active periods lasting several hundred years followed by quiescent periods of up to a millennium. [Extracted from the article]

An event called "Reporters at Risk: In Honor of Evan Gershkovich" was held in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about the risks faced by foreign correspondents and global press freedom. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, an American citizen, has been detained by Russia for over six months on false charges of espionage. The U.S. government has demanded his immediate release, and his detention is seen as an alarming attack on press freedom. The event brought together journalists and press advocates to highlight the plight of journalists in danger around the world. [Extracted from the article]

Alabama is facing a legal battle over its use of a new execution method called nitrogen hypoxia. Kenneth Eugene Smith, a death-row inmate, is challenging the state's decision to use this untested method. The Alabama Supreme Court recently granted the state's request to proceed with Smith's execution, making him the first person in the U.S. to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia. This method, which involves depriving the body of oxygen by inhaling nitrogen gas, has gained attention as states face difficulties obtaining the necessary drugs for lethal injections. However, critics argue that nitrogen hypoxia is unproven and potentially unsafe. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. Postal Service is seeking to raise the price of stamps for the third time in a year. The proposed increase would raise the price to 68 cents, a 3% increase from the current price of 66 cents. The Postal Service cites rising costs of delivering mail as the reason for the price increase and states that it is necessary for financial stability. The agency is also planning other changes, such as charging more for services and delivering more packages, as part of a 10-year plan to avoid projected losses. [Extracted from the article]