内容摘要：, pointed out Kimya Forouzan, state policy advisor for the Guttmacher Institute.

, pointed out Kimya Forouzan, state policy advisor for the Guttmacher Institute.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida Republican congressional candidate accused of stalking and plotting to have his primary opponent murdered by a purported foreign hit squad was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison.William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg was sentenced in Tampa federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in February to sending an interstate transmission of a threat to injure.

In 2021, Braddock and U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna were both candidates in the primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. Luna eventually won the primary and later the general election. She was re-elected last year.Braddock spent months disparaging Luna and attempting to inject himself into her life, investigators said. During a June 2021 telephone call with Luna’s friend, GOP activist Erin Olszewski, Braddock threatened to have Luna murdered by a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” if she continued to poll well in the race for the 13th District.There was no evidence that Braddock, a former Marine, had such contacts in foreign organized crime or took any steps to carry out a murder plot.

Later that year, Braddock flew to Thailand and eventually settled in the Philippines, officials said. He remained there until surrendering to authorities in Manila in 2023. He was taken back to the U.S. last fall to face trial.BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More than 9,000 Catholic employers do not need to abide by federal regulations requiring accommodations for workers who

and fertility treatments, according to a ruling issued this week by a federal judge in North Dakota.

The Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese filed a lawsuit last year challenging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations on implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth-related needs. The EEOC interpreted the statute to include abortion and fertility treatments as among those needs, which the Catholic groups argued violated their religious rights.China remains a key concern for the package delivery company. Many of the small businesses that UPS deals with rely on China for their goods. There is a universal tariff of 10% for imports to the U.S., but tariffs on imports from China are as high as 145%.

“It’s China that’s the real uncertainty, I think, facing the economy,” said CEO Carol Tome, in a conference call with analysts.The rest of the world at 10% tariffs is manageable, she said.

Sherwin-Williams said it expects demand to remain choppy at least through the first half of the year.The paint maker reaffirmed its earnings forecast for the year. It said about 80% of is revenue is in the U.S. and the “vast majority” of its raw materials are sourced in the region where it makes its products. That leaves it less exposed to tariff impacts.