Latest news with #Knight
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
R.I. House approves assault-style weapons ban, sending high-profile legislation to the Senate
Rep. Jason Knight, a Barrington Democrat, defends his bill to ban assault-style weapons during debate on the House floor on June 5, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) The Rhode Island House of Representatives on Thursday approved much-anticipated legislation banning the sale and manufacturing of a range of semiautomatic weapons in Rhode Island starting in July 2026. The 43-28 vote came after nearly five hours of debate and nine failed attempts by House Republicans to change the bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight, a Barrington Democrat. All 10 Republicans voted against the bill, along with 17 Democrats and the chamber's lone independent. 'We have an obligation to protect the community we live in,' Knight said on the House floor. 'Mass shootings are a real problem — it could happen here and we have a chance to minimize the chances.' Twenty-three state representatives voted against the assault-style weapons ban bill. Opponents included all 10 chamber Republicans: House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale, Richard Fascia, Marie Hopkins, George Nardone, Brian Newberry, Christopher Paplauskas, David Place, Robert Quattrocchi, Sherry Roberts and Paul Santucci Another 17 Democrats also opposed the ban: Samuel Azzinaro, Jacquelyn Baginski, David Bennett, Stephen Casey, Gregory Costantino, Megan Cotter, Deborah Fellela, Brian Kennedy, Charlene Lima, Thomas Noret, William O'Brien, Ramon Perez, Robert Phillips, Earl Read, Patricia Serpa, and Joseph Solomon. Also opposed was Rep. Jon Brien, the only independent. In introducing Knight's legislation to the floor, House Judiciary Chairman Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat, said the legislation is justified if just one life is saved by banning assault-style weapons. 'One of the things I learned as a prosecutor many years ago was there's no undoing someone being dead,' Craven said. 'There's no retreat from that — dead is dead.' But opponents argued the bill's language is too broad and would not reduce gun violence. Many said it would criminalize responsible gun owners. 'This piece of legislation's true goal, as evidenced by its language, is clouded at best and disingenuous at worst,' said Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat. The legislation, which was already revised before advancing out of committee earlier this week, would prohibit the sale and manufacturing of assault-style shotguns, handguns, and rifles beginning July 1, 2026. Weapons are defined as any semiautomatic firearm that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least one attachment such as stocks, pistol grips, and barrel shrouds. Certain .22 caliber rimfire rifles and Olympic-style target pistols would still be allowed. Assault-style firearms purchased before July 2026 would also be exempt from the legislation, along with weapons passed down through family. Violators of the proposed ban would face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and forfeiting their assault-style weapons. Gun owners could voluntarily register their weapons with police to receive a certificate of possession — a provision that has drawn the ire of opponents. 'If you are found to be in possession of one of these firearms and do not have this voluntary certificate you are handcuffed, you are printed, you are booked, you are arraigned, you go to pre-trial, you go to a trial,' said House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale, a Foster Republican. 'After maybe two years you can provide proof you owned the firearm before July 1, 2026.' Chippendale also argued that the bill's language is unclear on where gun owners could use their grandfathered weapons, saying that it would bar hunting. Rep. Joseph McNamara, a Warwick Democrat, said weapons subject to the proposed ban are not meant for hunting. 'If you need an AK-47 to hunt ducks, maybe you should take up bowling,' he said. House Republicans introduced nine floor amendments to address their issues with Knight's bill, but each were rejected. Democratic Reps. Mia Ackerman of Cumberland, John Edwards of Tiverton, Raymond Hull of Providence, and Alex Marszalkowski of Cumberland were not present for the vote. Rep. Kathleen Fogarty, a South Kingstown Democrat, voted by proxy in favor of the bill. The policy now rests with the Senate for consideration. Companion legislation introduced by Sen. Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat, has 23 additional sponsors, including Senate President Valarie Lawson. DiPalma's bill was heard by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on May 14, where it remains under review. Three Democrats who serve on the committee voiced opposition to the proposal during the initial hearing on DiPalma's bill. Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat and federal firearms dealer, has also said he does not support banning assault-style weapons as drafted. Knight's changes have not swayed his stance, Ciccone said in an interview Thursday. Lawson remains committed to seeing the proposal hit the Senate floor, chamber spokesperson Greg Paré said in an email. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Longhorns offer offensive tackle in the 2028 class
Longhorns offer offensive tackle in the 2028 class Longhorns start planning for 2028 class For the Texas Longhorns, it's never too early to start planning for the future. On Sunday, Texas offered offensive lineman Jai'Storm Knight, who is in the 2028 class. The offer came after Knight attended the Longhorns Camp on June 1. Currently, 16 programs are in a battle for Knight's services. That includes Texas Tech, TCU, SMU, Arizona State, and Auburn. He has drawn interest from programs nationwide, including 12 from a Power Four conference. While the Longhorns are just entering the mix for Knight, he is a player they know well. In the last year, Knight has been to campus three times. The visits have gone well and helped place Texas at the top of his list. When asked by Jason Suchomel of Orangebloods about his thoughts on the Longhorns, the San Antonio native said: "Texas is the one I want." While Knight only has one year of high school football under his belt, he has flashed his potential. He still has room to grow, and his list of suitors will increase as the recruitment process continues. The Longhorns hope it ends with Knight in Austin as they try to build one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Knight is one of 16 players in the 2028 class to get an offer from Texas. He is the second offensive tackle, joining Jamarios Canton from IMG Academy.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Tara Knight, DNP, FNP-C, Honored With the 2025 Robert F. Gagel, M.D. Community Leadership Award
ARLINGTON, Va., June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) is pleased to announce Tara Knight, DNP, FNP-C, as the recipient of the 2025 Robert F. Gagel, M.D. Community Leadership Award. This award recognizes healthcare professionals who are instrumental in raising awareness about bone health and providing exceptional care to people living with osteoporosis in their communities. Dr. Knight has shown a remarkable commitment to improving osteoporosis care, particularly among postmenopausal women in underserved areas. She demonstrated her leadership by establishing a dedicated bone health clinic within her women's health practice in Jasper, Indiana, to better serve this population and address the urgent need for osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Her efforts reflect the core values this award was created to honor. Since completing BHOF's Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) training in both 2022 and 2024, Dr. Knight has become a champion for FLS implementation, integrating both primary prevention and post-fracture care strategies. Her initiatives have led to measurable improvements in bone density screening standards in her local community and expanded access to quality osteoporosis care. Dr. Knight has also contributed to professional education on a national level. She co-authored the Medscape™ publication Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Closing the Care Gap and has presented at the Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership Fall Conference, the FLS Bone Health TeleECHO program, and the 2025 Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis. As a BHOF Ambassador and member of the Ambassadors Leadership Council, she has shown an enduring commitment to BHOF's mission. "We are thrilled to present Dr. Knight with the Robert F. Gagel, M.D. Community Leadership Award," said Claire Gill, BHOF CEO. "Her commitment to equitable, evidence-based osteoporosis care and her impact on both local and national levels make her an outstanding leader in the field." The Robert F. Gagel, M.D. Community Leadership Award was established in 2024 in honor of Dr. Gagel's distinguished medical career and longstanding service to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. His dedication to patient care and his leadership as a BHOF board member and officer for more than 15 years embody the spirit of this award, which celebrates healthcare professionals who make a lasting impact on osteoporosis care and community awareness. For more information about the award and the nomination process, visit About the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF), formerly the National Osteoporosis Foundation, is the leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones, promoting strong bones for life and reducing human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy and research. Established in 1984, BHOF is the nation's largest health organization dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. For more information, visit Media Contact Carina Maycmay@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
Hilary Knight, Olympic gold medalist, signs with Seattle expansion team
Hilary Knight, Olympic gold medalist, signs with Seattle expansion team The expansion Seattle franchise of the Professional Women's Hockey League signed legendary forward Hilary Knight to a one-year contract on Wednesday. Knight was left exposed in the expansion draft by the Boston Fleet. Seattle and fellow expansion franchise Vancouver were given a five-day window from June 4-8 to sign a maximum of five players prior to the June 9 draft. Knight, a four-time U.S. Olympian who recently announced her intention to play in the 2026 Games in Milan, tied for the PWHL lead of 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in the recently concluded season. It was her second season with the Fleet. "Signing Hilary Knight was an absolute no-brainer − she's the heartbeat of any team she joins," Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said in a news release. "Her proven leadership and drive, the way she elevates everyone around her, those are qualities you can't teach. "Hilary's not just a game-changer on the ice, she's the kind of person who defines a culture, and we're incredibly proud to have her as the first-ever player to join PWHL Seattle." Knight, who turns 36 in July, has won one Olympic gold medal and three silvers. She had a regulation-time goal when the U.S. famously beat Canada in a shootout to win the 2018 gold medal in South Korea. In the 2022 Olympics, Knight had six goals and four assists. Overall, she has 12 goals and 15 assists in 22 Olympic contests. She also owns a record 15 medals (10 gold, five silver) at the women's world championships. The most recent gold came in April. "I'm incredibly proud to be part of bringing professional women's hockey to the Pacific Northwest," Knight said. "Seattle holds a special place in my heart, and I'm beyond excited to join PWHL Seattle in such a storied sports city. I'm grateful to Meghan Turner for believing in me and bringing me on board as part of this new chapter. "To my teammates, the staff, and the fans of Boston − thank you. The Fleet wasn't just a team, it was home. These past two seasons were some of the most meaningful of my career, and I'll carry those memories with me forever." Across all levels of U.S. national team play, Knight has 161 goals and 125 assists in 243 games. The longtime resident of Sun Valley, Idaho, was a college star at Wisconsin and helped the Badgers win two national championships. The Seattle franchise will play at Climate Pledge Arena, the home of the NHL's Kraken. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Indiana team doctor accused of sexual misconduct by at least 15 men's basketball players
Former Indiana team doctor accused of sexual misconduct by at least 15 men's basketball players Content warning: This article contains alleged depictions of sexual misconduct At least 15 former Indiana University men's basketball players allege sexual misconduct by former team physician Dr. Bradford Bomba, according to ESPN. Advertisement Two former Indiana players — Haris Mujezinovic and Charlie Miller — originally filed a lawsuit against the university last October. Since then, at least three other ex-athletes have joined the lawsuit, and 10 additional men are planning to "pursue litigation," their attorney told ESPN. Bomba, who served as the team's physician for roughly 30 years, is accused of regularly giving players rectal exams during physicals. Rectal exams were not considered standard protocol for healthy, college-aged men at the time the exams were allegedly being performed, per ESPN. The former players believe those exams constitute sexual misconduct. They also allege university officials — including legendary coach Bob Knight — were aware of the exams and did nothing to stop them. Players claim they complained about the exams to Knight and former head athletic trainer Tim Garl, who continued to refer players to Bomba. Knight died in 2023. Garl served as the team's head athletic trainer for 45 years. Indiana declined to renew his contract in April. After the initial lawsuit was filed, Bomba was found competent to be questioned about the allegations. He took part in that deposition in December, invoking his Fifth Amendment right multiple times. Bomba, 89, died in May. Advertisement When the allegations dropped, Indiana commissioned an outside investigation into the situation. It determined that while Bomba did perform those exams, he did so in a "clinically appropriate manner." The investigation added there was "no evidence to suggest that Dr. Bomba achieved sexual gratification," per ESPN. At least two men reportedly considering filing suit contradicted those findings, with one claiming Bomba "fondled his genitalia" during a physical. Another man said Bomba performed a rectal exam on the man when he was a minor in high school. Indiana argued in court filings that the allegations by the ex-players fall outside the state's two-year statute of limitations regarding sexual-assault claims, per ESPN. In May, a magistrate judge allowed the plaintiffs to continue gathering records regarding the lawsuit. It's possible a presiding district court judge could dismiss the claims, however.
