On Wednesday, Republicans in the Louisiana House of Representatives failed to amass the number of votes needed to override a veto of a bill that would have banned transgender athletes from competing in sports consistent with their gender identity. The NCAA previously relocated several sporting events from North Carolina in 2016 to protest an anti-transgender “bathroom bill” passed in that state. We have a very fragile but recovering economy in the City of New Orleans, in the state of Louisiana,” Leger said. She noted during debate in the Senate’s override session that 400 major corporations have come out publicly against laws like the transgender sports ban. “Today, the Louisiana House failed to force a discriminatory anti-transgender sports ban bill into law.

Community ContentNATICK — New England Conservatory Preparatory School and the LA Phil’s YOLA National Institute recently announced a new partnership to take place throughout NEC’s Summer Orchestra Institute, a two-week orchestral program for youth musicians ages 13-18 at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. "There has never been a more important time to listen to and empower the next generation of artists,” said Rebecca Bogers, dean and director of the NEC Preparatory School. “We are incredibly excited that this year's NEC Summer Orchestra Institute will bring together young musicians from around the country in friendship and fellowship. The NEC Summer Orchestra Institute taking place through July 31, emphasizes intensive musical preparation, with special focus on concentration, practice and performance techniques, interpretation, phrasing and general musicianship. In residence at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, this in-person two-week ensemble program is open to intermediate to advanced-level strings, winds, brass, harp and percussion students between the ages of 13-18.

click to enlarge Courtesy of BLKOUT Walls Mural FestivalBLKOUT Walls Mural Festival to take place July 24-31; work by Sydney G. James. The inaugural Black-produced BLKOUT Walls Festival is turning the spotlight on Black muralists, as well as the limited racial diversity and lack of sustainable compensation in the art world. The festival will host a series of artist talks, city tours, panel discussions, pop-up art exhibitions, and the main event: live murals. Unlike similar festivals across the country, BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival has committed itself to paying each artist a fee, as well as compensating lodging, meals, and transportation costs to better establish economic equity in the diverse arts community. The weeklong celebration will conclude on Saturday, July 31 with a BLKOUT Walls Block PartyVarious events throughout Detroit from Saturday, July 24-Saturday, July 31; blkoutwalls.com; events are free, donations are encouraged.

click to enlarge Roxanne Gonzalez / ShutterstockIt looks like those dinner plans in Windsor’s Little Italy are going to have to wait a few weeks more. On Monday, Canada announced it wouldstarting Aug. 9.The catch: Travelers are required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before their trip to our northern neighbors. All seemed well, but on Wednesday the United States announced it is extending its nonessential travel border restrictions through Aug. 21. The extension prohibits leisure travel by land or ferry to Mexico and Canada. The United States borders were first closed to land and ferry travel in March 2020, with monthly extensions ever since.

NATICK – In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston Wednesday, a Natick couple said they feared for their lives after a harassment campaign of terror and threats and against them by eBay officials. Ina and David Steiner, of Natick, filed the 12-count federal civil suit after the harassment campaign began in August 2019. Using David Steiner's name they had subscriptions to pornographic magazines sent to the Steiners' neighbors to try to discredit him in their eyes, the lawsuit alleges. Ebay employees harassed Natick couple:Ringleader in eBay cyberstalking campaign faces news chargesStephaine Popp, David Harville, James Baugh among those who faced criminal chargesLast June, after a lengthy investigation by Natick police and federal investigators, several of the defendants – Baugh, Harville, Gilbert, Popp, Stockville and Zea - were arrested. "The directives, in this case, to stop the Steiners and intimidate the Steiners came from the top management of eBay."

FRAMINGHAM – Waterfronts at all three city beaches are closed, according to Framingham Parks and Recreation. The sand area will be open for sunbathing when staff is present. Meanwhile, the waterfronts at both Learned Pond and Lake Waushakum in Framingham are closed due to elevated levels of E.coli bacteria. The water will be retested and the waterfronts will open once the bacteria is back within acceptable limits. Other bodies of water in Hopkinton are operated by the state and are currently open, including Hopkinton State Park.

UPTON – Corey Boucher didn’t see his stepfather as anything other than his father, and when leukemia killed 42-year-old John Florentine 17 years ago, Boucher took it hard. “He is the reason I am who I am today,” Boucher said, of Florentine. “What I’ve accomplished and how I carry myself is because of him.”Upton resident Boucher is one of more than 6,000 bicyclists – including 77 Greater Milford residents – who will ride the Pan-Mass Challenge Aug. 7 and 8. Boucher will ride 50 miles from Wellesley to Foxborough and back in one day. To find and donate to another rider, go to https://www.pmc.org/, and put the rider or team name into the search box.

NATICK – A Natick man approached a couple Tuesday as they walked on Village Way and allegedly exposed himself to them before assaulting the husband, police said. Police arrested the 28-year-old man on Tuesday at 11:54 p.m., police spokeswoman Lt. Cara Rossi said on Wednesday. “As they walked by, he said, ‘Do you want to see my (expletive)’ and then showed him his genitalia,” said Rossi. Crime ring:Northboro police say two men arrested were part of organized theft ringPolice charged the man with open and gross lewdness and assault and battery. The Natick man was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Natick District Court.

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) is helping people get back to school, and now Metro by T-Mobile is getting in on the action with iPhone 12 mini on Us — the first and only prepaid provider to offer the 5G-capable iPhone 12 mini on Us — starting July 22. Here’s how it works: You pick up your iPhone 12 mini with 5G from a Metro by T-Mobile store, and after three months, T-Mobile gives you a rebate making that phone yours free and clear. And T-Mobile continues lighting up Ultra Capacity 5G across the country to bring super-fast 5G speeds to more places than anyone else. Visit a Metro by T-Mobile store with your qualifying trade and valid ID to switch and get iPhone 12 mini on Us via a virtual prepaid MasterCard after three months of service. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint.

Due to gateway density and signal strength, the network will provide both broad outdoor coverage and indoor penetration, making Senet’s Tampa Bay Area public LoRaWAN network an ideal connectivity choice for energy & utility, municipal (Smart City), manufacturing and distribution, asset tracking and multi-location campus enterprise solutions. Those interested in collaborating with Senet on IoT ecosystem development and application deployment in the Tampa Bay Metro Region can contact us at: https://go.senetco.com/Tampa-Bay-Metro-LoRaWAN or call +1 877-807-5755. “Senet’s leadership position in deploying and managing public and private carrier-grade LoRaWAN network services for the utilities market has led to a natural extension into critical infrastructure and essential business IoT applications across markets. Senet’s Tampa Bay LoRaWAN network deployment is an exciting development for the LoRaWAN ecosystem,” said Mohan Maheswaran, president and CEO of Semtech. With a multi-year head start over competing Low Power Wide Area Network technologies, Senet offers technology in over eighty countries and owns and operates the largest publicly available LoRaWAN® network in the United States.

Dr. Jeff HershDaily News CorrespondentQ: What is autonomic dysfunction? Other symptoms from autonomic dysfunction stem from other inadequate autonomic responses, and may include gastrointestinal symptoms, problems with body temperature regulation (and consequences from this), eye/vision problems, as well as other possible symptoms. Most cases of autonomic dysfunction are idiopathic, that is no specific cause can be identified. The diagnosis of autonomic dysfunction is suspected based on the symptoms and risk factors. This includes autonomic dysfunction, as well as many other diseases.

Mass Audubon and Mass Wildlife released an advisory last week recommending people bring in their bird feeders and birdbaths. For those nervous about what birds will eat without the help of bird feeders, Larson said to keep in mind that birds have been around for thousands of years and are adapted to finding food and water in New England. “This could be helpful in preventing the spread of some of the common diseases that birds can spread when they are congregated.”There are other reasons to take down bird feeders. In addition to attracting common pests like squirrels and mice, bird feeders can also attract bears. “What you can do is start thinking about ways to enhance your yard over the next year for wildlife," Walsh said.

State Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Danillo SenaAs legislators who represent districts that have a large population of constituents who are immigrants, we strongly support An Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility, filed by Representatives Farley-Bouvier and Barber, and Senators Crighton and Gomez. Additionally, ensuring that more undocumented immigrants have access to driver’s licenses would eliminate a frequent pathway for immigrants to be targeted by ICE agents, ripping families apart. By granting undocumented immigrants driver licenses, An Act Relative To Work And Family Mobility allows law enforcement to focus their time solving pressing crimes that keep all members of our community safe. Massachusetts legislators can take a significant step to increase the stability of many immigrant families by ensuring they have the capability of receiving a driver’s license. On behalf of the tens of thousands of MetroWest residents who would benefit from obtaining a driver’s license, we believe now is the right time to pass the Work and Family Mobility Act in Massachusetts.

TOKYO (Reuters) – The Beijing winter Olympics, which start in less than 200 days, will need spectators to be successful, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday, the day the Tokyo Games kicked off amid empty stands due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We would like to have the international community there,” said Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, who heads the IOC’s coordination commission, overseeing preparations for the Beijing Games. “We need very successful Games next year in Beijing. We really need that success for the sake of everybody… for keeping that light of hope really bright and open.”The Beijing Games, set for Feb. 4-20 next year, have yet to launch their ticketing programme, delayed due to the pandemic. There is also concern among the local population that the influx of tens of thousands of Games-related athletes, staff, officials and media could turn the Tokyo Olympics into a super-spreader event.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Rio Tinto Ltd said on Wednesday it has reached an agreement with stakeholders of the Bougainville community to look into potential environmental damage and human rights breaches at a copper mine it ran decades ago. Community and human rights groups have been pushing the miner to review issues https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mining-rio-tinto-bougainville-idUKKBN26J218 around water, land and health arising from the Panguna copper mine that Rio ran for nearly 20 years until 1989. Around 12,000 – 14,000 people live downstream of the Panguna mine along the Jaba-Kawerong river valley, according to Australia’s Human Rights Law Centre, which represents the communities. Its visit to the mine in 2019-20 documented copper pollution from the abandoned mine flowing directly into the rivers and vast mounds of tailings waste stretching almost 40km downstream to the coast, it said. The miner in 2016 transferred its 53.8% stake in Bougainville Copper Ltd, the company that ran the mine, to the Autonomous Bougainville government and the Papua New Guinea government for no amount.