US NATIONAL NEWS
West Virginia lawmakers push to remove a suicide risk exemption from gender-affirming care bill
Published
2 years agoon
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Some Republican lawmakers in West Virginia want to ban transgender youth at risk for self-harm or suicide from accessing medical interventions such as hormone therapy.
The GOP-controlled Legislature banned such interventions last year while allowing the self-harm and suicide exception. Now, a group of lawmakers want to eliminate that narrow definition, which requires parental consent and a diagnosis of severe gender dysphoria from two medical professionals, both of whom must provide written testimony that medical interventions are necessary to prevent or limit possible or actual self-harm.
Coming up against a major legislative deadline next week, lawmakers in the House Health and Human Resources Committee on Friday rushed to advance a bill to the full chamber that would completely ban interventions like hormone therapy and puberty blockers. Gender-affirming surgery, which physicians testified doesn’t occur in the state, was banned last year.
It’s unclear what the chances of passage are for the bill. The House of Delegates passed a similar measure last year, but it was significantly altered by Republican Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo, a physician who expressed concern about the high suicide rate for transgender youth.
The bill’s lead sponsor, Republican Del. Geoff Foster, said Friday he thought last year’s bill — which he also sponsored — was better, “more clear and concise” without Takubo’s changes.
“These are very drastic solutions that aren’t fixing the problem,” he said of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, saying what’s needed is more treatment for depression. He may not believe in gender-affirming care, he said, but those 18 and older can make their own decisions, not kids.
No one spoke in support of the measure before the vote in House Health, but the committee defeated a motion by Democratic Del. Mike Pushkin to allow youth receiving treatment to continue, even if the interventions are banned for new patients.
No testimony was shared by patients who receive the care or the physicians who treat them. Fairness West Virginia, the state’s only LGBTQ advocacy organization, said a request submitted for a public hearing was denied Friday by Republican House Speaker Roger Hanshaw’s office.
“The argument for this bill is that these are irreversible decisions made by minors, but that’s not true,” Pushkin said, before the vote. “This type of treatment is reversible — what isn’t reversible is suicide.”
At least 23 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits. Lawmakers in West Virginia and other states advancing bans on transgender health care for youth and young adults often characterize gender-affirming treatments as medically unproven, potentially dangerous and a symptom of “woke” culture.
On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia said they wouldn’t hesitate to take legal action, too.
“If this bill becomes law, we’ll see the state in court,” the organization wrote on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
Isabella Cortez, Gender Policy Manager for Fairness West Virginia, called the vote “abhorrent” and a “last-minute mad dash to eliminate” care that has already been significantly limited.
Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association, supports gender-affirming care for youths.
Many doctors, mental health specialists and medical groups have argued that treatments for young transgender people are safe and beneficial, though rigorous long-term research is lacking. Federal health officials have described gender-affirming care as crucial to the health and wellbeing of transgender children and adolescents.
Last year, West Virginia University Medicine Pediatrician Dr. Kacie Kidd — one of the only physicians offering this care to minors in the state — said the effects of puberty-blocking medications are reversible, though it’s rare that a patient chooses to reverse treatment.
Kidd, who is medical director of West Virginia University Medicine’s Children’s Gender and Sexual Development Clinic, also said no patients are placed on hormone therapy before they reach puberty. When minors are placed on hormone therapy, it’s a careful decision made in conjunction with the patient and their family members.
She also said she feared the bill would put her patients’ lives at risk, noting that the percentage of transgender adolescents considering suicide is around 300% higher than the rate for all West Virginia young people, regardless of gender identity. But interventions like puberty blockers and hormone therapy drastically reduce that risk, she said.
Takubo, a physician, cited more than a dozen peer-reviewed studies showing a decrease in rates of suicide ideation and attempts among youth with severe gender dysphoria who had access to medication therapy.
Gender dysphoria is defined by medical professionals as severe psychological distress experienced by those whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.
Del. Foster said the bill as it was written last year contained all other exemptions it needed: one for those who are born intersex and another for people taking treatments for infection, injury, disease or disorder that has been “caused by or exacerbated by the performance of gender transition procedures.”
He said that the bill “already took care of any exceptions that were not specifically for the intention of changing one’s biological sex to one that was different than that assigned at birth.”
During Friday’s meeting, Democratic Del. Anitra Hamilton said there have been plenty of data and studies that carefully considered gender-affirming care and deemed it legitimate.
“I think our ultimate goal is prevention of suicide,” she said.
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US NATIONAL NEWS
Frontier Airlines Flight to San Francisco Returns to Denver After Smoke Odor, Stranding 200 Passengers Ahead of Super Bowl 60
Published
1 week agoon
February 2, 2026
DENVER (FNN) — A Frontier Airlines flight carrying nearly 200 passengers bound for San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl 60 was forced to return to Denver International Airport late Sunday night after passengers reported a smoke-like odor inside the aircraft.
Florida National News (FNN) President and CEO J. Willie David, III was among those onboard Frontier Flight 2519, which departed Denver at approximately 10:29 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2026, en route to San Francisco. Super Bowl 60 festivities are scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 2.
SMOKE ODOR PROMPTS MID-FLIGHT RETURN
Passengers seated near rows 26 and 27 reported detecting an odor similar to smoke and immediately alerted flight attendants. Frontier crew members conducted an onboard assessment and escalated the concern to the flight captain.
Out of an abundance of caution, the captain made the decision to terminate the flight mid-route and return to Denver for further inspection. The aircraft landed safely at Denver International Airport, where Denver Fire Rescue personnel were standing by upon arrival.
Firefighters boarded the aircraft to inspect the cabin while passengers remained seated. No injuries were reported.
In a separate but related incident highlighting industry-wide concerns over cabin air quality, Frontier Airlines Flight 2519 previously returned to Denver following a reported fumes event that prompted pilots to declare an emergency. That aircraft also landed safely, and medical personnel were requested as a precaution for potential exposure. Frontier later arranged a replacement aircraft while the source of the fumes was investigated.
PASSENGERS STRANDED OVERNIGHT AT DENVER AIRPORT
With no additional outbound flights available overnight, nearly 200 passengers were stranded at Denver International Airport. Many slept on terminal floors as families waited with crying infants and exhausted travelers searched for updates.
Frontier later notified passengers that the delay was caused by a required aircraft change, rescheduling the Denver-to-San Francisco flight for 6:00 a.m. on Feb. 2, nearly eight hours after its original departure time.
Affected passengers were given the option to rebook, cancel for a refund, or receive a credit shell valid for five years. Frontier also issued a $50 travel voucher to impacted travelers as a goodwill gesture.
However, some passengers said Frontier Airlines did not go far enough with its goodwill gesture, arguing that their lives were significantly disrupted by the smoke odor, potential fume exposure and mechanical concerns.
Several travelers said the $50 flight voucher and $10 breakfast voucher fell short of compensating for missed events, overnight delays and extended time spent at the airport. Some also cited additional Frontier delays involving mechanical issues, including a separate flight from Kansas to Denver that was delayed for several hours the same night.
Passengers who experienced multiple disruptions described what they view as a pattern of operational and mechanical problems, raising broader concerns about reliability during high-volume travel periods. Frontier Airlines has not publicly commented on whether the incidents are connected.
SUPER BOWL 60 PLANS DISRUPTED, SAFETY PRAISED
David, who had already experienced a 10-hour layover prior to the incident, spent nearly 20 consecutive hours at Denver International Airport, missing the opening day of Super Bowl 60 week events.
“This is a nightmare built on delay after delay,” David said. “I’m stuck at Denver International Airport and will miss part of Super Bowl 60 week even before kickoff. That said, I applaud Frontier Airlines for prioritizing passenger safety. “I would rather be safe than unalive,” David said, adding that passengers deserve clean air onboard Frontier aircraft and a smoke-free cabin environment, without exposure to mechanical fumes that could pose potential health risks.
While the incident added to travel disruptions during one of the busiest sports weeks of the year, many passengers expressed appreciation for the flight crew’s decision to return to Denver, emphasizing that safety outweighed inconvenience.
HISTORY OF FUME AND SMOKE INCIDENTS IN AVIATION
Fume- and smoke-related incidents are a known concern across the commercial aviation industry. Airlines, including Frontier, have previously reported cabin air irregularities that prompted precautionary landings and inspections. Such events have occasionally led to passenger complaints and legal action industry-wide, underscoring the importance of immediate response protocols when odors or smoke are detected onboard.
Politics
Gov. Hochul Announces Statewide Preparations as Arctic Cold, Heavy Snow Threaten New York
Published
3 weeks agoon
January 23, 2026
ALBANY, N.Y. (FNN) — Extreme Cold Watches are in effect for the North Country from 7 p.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Saturday as dangerously low temperatures threaten much of northern New York, state officials announced.
Wind chill values could make temperatures feel as low as minus 50 degrees Friday night and minus 30 degrees Saturday night, creating life-threatening conditions for anyone exposed for extended periods.
Winter Storm Expected to Bring Heavy Snow Statewide
A large winter storm system is forecast to impact New York beginning Sunday morning and continuing through Monday, bringing widespread snowfall across much of the state.
Forecasters predict 12 to 18 inches of snow for New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, Lower North Country, and parts of Central New York. Western New York and the Upper North Country could see 6 to 12 inches of snow.
State Agencies Mobilized Ahead of Storm
At the governor’s direction, state response agencies have been engaged in multi-day preparations to address the expected extreme cold and heavy snowfall. Crews are coordinating snow removal, emergency response, and public safety operations to minimize disruptions and ensure rapid assistance where needed.
Voting Changes and Telework Guidance Issued
Due to the expected weather conditions, early voting for the Feb. 3 New York City special elections has been suspended on Sunday, Jan. 25, and Monday, Jan. 26.
Additionally, all non-essential state employees have been directed to telecommute on Monday where possible to reduce travel and maintain safety.
Public Safety Alerts Available to Residents
New Yorkers are encouraged to stay informed by signing up for weather and emergency alerts by texting 333111, which provides real-time updates and safety information during severe weather events.
Sports
Green Day to Kick Off Super Bowl LX With 60th Anniversary Opening Ceremony
Published
3 weeks agoon
January 23, 2026By
FNN SPORTS
NEW YORK (FNN SPORTS) — The NFL announced that global rock icons Green Day will open Super Bowl LX with a high-energy opening ceremony celebrating 60 years of Super Bowl history at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.
The performance will mark a milestone moment for the league, blending music, football, and Bay Area culture as the NFL honors six decades of championship moments.
Hometown Band to Honor Super Bowl Legends
As part of the anniversary celebration, East Bay natives and Grammy Award–winning rock band Green Day — Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool — will usher generations of Super Bowl MVPs onto the field with a dynamic performance featuring the band’s most iconic anthems.
“We are super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard,” said Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. “We are honored to welcome the MVPs who’ve shaped the game and open the night for fans all over the world. Let’s have fun. Let’s get loud.”
Opening Ceremony to Air Across Multiple Platforms
The Super Bowl LX opening ceremony will air live at 3 p.m. PT on NBC, Telemundo, Peacock, and Universo, transforming Levi’s Stadium into a celebratory stage ahead of kickoff.
“Celebrating 60 years of Super Bowl history with Green Day as a hometown band, while honoring the NFL legends who’ve helped define this sport, is an incredibly powerful way to kick off Super Bowl LX,” said Tim Tubito, NFL senior director of event and game presentation. “Working alongside NBC Sports, we look forward to creating a collective celebration for fans in the stadium and around the world.”
Pregame Entertainment Lineup Announced
The opening ceremony will precede the previously announced Super Bowl LX pregame entertainment lineup. Charlie Puth will perform the national anthem, Brandi Carlile will sing “America the Beautiful,” and Coco Jones will deliver “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
