By DASHA LITVINOVA

A court in Russia on Tuesday designated a prominent LGBTQ+ rights group as an extremist organization, the latest blow to the country’s beleaguered community that has faced an intensified crackdown in recent years under President Vladimir Putin.

In a hearing that took place behind closed doors, the St. Petersburg City Court banned the Coming Out group as “extremist.” The authorities did not reveal any details of the lawsuit filed last month by Russia’s Justice Ministry and classified as secret.

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The group, which now operates from abroad, said it will continue to help LGBTQ+ people in Russia and beyond, and fight for their rights despite the ruling.

“We have been preparing for this development for a long time. We enhanced security, developed sustainable work formats and continue to act responsibly, first and foremost for those who count on us,” Coming Out said in an online statement.

“Today it is especially important not to give into fear and not to be alone. Our community is stronger than any labels, and history has proven that.”

Coming Out is the first LGBTQ+ rights group to be designated since the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that effectively banned any LGBTQ+ activism. Similar lawsuits have been filed against two other LGBTQ+ rights groups, with courts in St. Petersburg and the Samara region still to rule on them.

Russia’s LGBTQ+ community has been under legal and public pressure for over a decade, but especially since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine four years ago. Putin has argued that the war in Ukraine is a proxy battle with the West, which he says aims to destroy Russia and its “traditional family values” by pushing for LGBTQ+ rights.

Any depiction of gay and transgender people that portrays them in a positive or even neutral light has been banned ever since. Gender-affirming medical care and changing one’s gender in official documents are prohibited.

In November 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court declared what the government called “the international LGBT movement” to be an extremist organization, exposing anyone involved with that community to prosecution and potential imprisonment.

A view of the City Court in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, during a session to decide whether to designate two prominent LGBTQ+ rights groups as extremist. (AP Photo)

Days after the ruling, the community was rattled by news of police raiding gay bars, nightclubs and venues that hosted drag shows in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. Criminal cases on the charges of involvement with the “LGBT movement” have followed, and some people have faced fines for displaying what the authorities determined to be “extremist” symbols such as a rainbow flag.

The Russian authorities are seeking to make the LGBTQ+ community “as vulnerable, as lonely as possible,” said Denis Oleinik, executive director of the Coming Out LGBTQ+ rights group.

The group, formerly based in Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg, has been operating entirely from abroad since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It no longer offers support groups or offline activities, but still provides psychological and legal support remotely. It also works with international organizations in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Russia and for helping those fleeing the country, Oleinik told The Associated Press in February.

The ruling makes it unsafe for people to share any Coming Out content publicly or for anyone inside Russia or who travels there to donate money to the group, he said.

The “extremist” designation also sometimes scares people away from reaching out for help, as well as other rights groups or media outlets from working with them, Oleinik said. There also might be risks for relatives of activists who speak openly in public.

But otherwise, “we can provide help, and receiving our help is also allowed,” he said.

HERMANTOWN — Google has lifted the veil of secrecy that shrouded a controversial proposal to build a massive data center in the rural southwest corner of this city.

The firm took public ownership of the project for the first time Tuesday morning, issuing a statement.

“We are excited to announce plans for a new data center in Hermantown, marking the beginning of a partnership rooted in sustainable innovation and long-term investment,” said Kate Franko, Google’s regional head of data center public affairs.

“We are eager to put down roots here,” she said. “Hermantown is a natural fit for this project, offering a climate that supports energy-efficient air cooling, a resilient power grid, and a dedicated and motivated workforce. Our goal is to be a long-term partner that strengthens the local economy and contributes to the community’s lasting success.”

Minnesota Power confirmed it has agreed to the terms of a likely electric service agreement with the global technology giant to meet the energy needs of the proposed Hermantown facility. The agreement will now be submitted to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for its review and possible approval later this month.

Some critics of the data center, which could reach up to 1.8 million square feet in size, have raised concerns that it may drive up local electric rates.

But those fears are unwarranted, according to Jennifer Cady, Minnesota Power’s vice president of external affairs.

“We can serve this new Google facility without harming other customers,” she told the News Tribune, pointing to recent state legislation that expressly forbids any cost shifting to accommodate data centers.

To meet the needs of Google, however, Minnesota Power will need to boost its capacity.

Toward that end, it coupled the announcement of a Google service agreement with news that the project will fuel “the development of 700 megawatts of new clean-energy resources without increasing costs to (other) customers.”

Minnesota Power said the partnership with Google will enable it to invest in the development of 300 megawatts of wind energy plus 400 megawatts of battery storage capacity.

To put 700 megawatts into perspective, that represents just over one-third of the power company’s current total 2,000-megawatt capacity.

Yet plans for Google’s proposed Northland project remain on hold for now, in the face of a legal challenge mounted by a group of concerned citizens who organized a group called Stop the Hermantown Data Center. In addition to service impacts, opponents have also raised concerns about environmental degradation, as well as noise and light pollution.

Minnesota Power officials remain optimistic that the data center plans will ultimately be approved, however.

“We’re excited to have a company with Google’s reputation for community investment and engagement choose our region for such a significant investment. Data centers present important economic and innovation opportunities for our region, including a growing tax base, job creation and industry diversification,” said Minnesota Power Chief Operating Officer Josh Skelton in a news release.

“This agreement demonstrates how data centers can be brought onto the grid responsibly, with collaborative planning. As with any large customer, Google will cover the costs associated with the necessary energy infrastructure to meet its energy needs. The agreement enhances grid reliability and protects other customers,” he said.

Smaller existing customers ultimately stand to benefit, according to Julie Pierce, Minnesota Power’s vice president of strategy and development.

“In a regulated environment, when you have more customers to spread your costs over, it helps and provides benefits to all customers,” she said.

Pierce noted recent downturns in the mining and forest products industries have led to operational strains.

“By having new customers come to the service territory, it helps us spread those costs over a much broader set of customers,” she said.

“We are very excited about the fact that we’ll have a new global industry coming to Northeastern Minnesota. And what they bring is a totally different business profile than some of the natural resource-based economy customers we currently have. So, it will be a stabilizer,” Pierce predicted.

Smaller existing customers ultimately stand to benefit, according to Julie Pierce, Minnesota Power’s vice president of strategy and development.

“In a regulated environment, when you have more customers to spread your costs over, it helps and provides benefits to all customers,” she said.

Pierce noted recent downturns in the mining and forest products industries have led to operational strains.

“By having new customers come to the service territory, it helps us spread those costs over a much broader set of customers,” she said.

“We are very excited about the fact that we’ll have a new global industry coming to Northeastern Minnesota. And what they bring is a totally different business profile than some of the natural resource-based economy customers we currently have. So, it will be a stabilizer,” Pierce predicted.

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This DIY meal-in-a-jar has enough pizzazz to greatly improve workday lunches. Limp greens and soggy veggies are often the fate of a made-ahead salad destined for the lunchbox. In Giada De Laurentiis’ cookbook, “Happy Cooking,” she provides a shaker jar strategy. Chill. Shake. Enjoy.

Recently I riffed on this theme: Instead of the romaine, I used a handful of shredded vegetables from a salad mix purchased at my local supermarket, a Taylor Farms’ Sweet Kale Chopped Mix. It included bits of kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green cabbage and radicchio. Easy.

Giada’s Shaker Jar Salad

Yield: 1 serving

INGREDIENTS

1 wide-mouth quart-size jar
1 tablespoon store-bought hummus
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup canned black-eyed peas, rinsed, drained
1/3 cup red seedless grapes, halved
1 celery stalk, chopped
3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
1 cup chopped radicchio or shredded green cabbage
1 cup loosely packed chopped romaine lettuce, about 2 leaves
1 tablespoon slivered almonds

Giada’s Shaker Jar Salad is kept in the jar until ready to eat, then simply shake and serve. (Photo by Cathy Thomas)

DIRECTIONS

1. In small bowl, whisk hummus, juice, oil and salt. Pour dressing into bottom of a wide-mouth quart-size jar or sealable container. On top of dressing layer: peas, grapes, celery, feta, radicchio or cabbage, romaine and almonds. Seal and refrigerate for up to 6 hours.

2. When ready to eat, shake the jar to coat and mix the entire salad in the dressing.

Source: Adapted from “Happy Cooking” by Giada De Laurentiis (Pam Krauss Books, $35)

Award-winning food writer Cathy Thomas has written three cookbooks, including “50 Best Plants on the Planet.” Follow her at CathyThomasCooks.com.

By JONEL ALECCIA

The California program that provides the world’s only medical treatment for potentially deadly infant botulism also offers traumatized families hope of a different sort – silly cards on their babies’ first birthdays.

Every year, staff at the state’s Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program decorate and mail roughly 200 cards to celebrate the recovery of children affected by the rare and dangerous condition.

In recent months, that group has included dozens of U.S. babies affected by an outbreak of botulism tied to contaminated ByHeart infant formula.

Amy Mazziotti, of Burbank, California, received a birthday card for her son, Hank, in September, months after he was hospitalized for 12 days with botulism after drinking ByHeart formula.

“The fact that they take the time to send hand-drawn cards to each baby is incredibly special,” Mazziotti said. “When you’re worried about your baby, it’s the small acts like this that somehow feel really big.”

The cards are coordinated by Robin Hinks, a program assistant whose duties include decorating, tracking and mailing them.

This 2025 photo provided by Amy Mazziotti shows a hand-illustrated birthday card for her son, Noah, sent by California’s Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program, months after he was hospitalized for 12 days with botulism after drinking ByHeart baby formula. (Amy Mazziotti via AP)

“I am a big fan of drawing animals with party hats,” said Hinks, who favors crayons and colored pencils. “Like, here’s a frog with some balloons and a little penguin.”

The program’s primary purpose is to help diagnose and treat the disease that occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that germinate in the intestine and produce a dangerous toxin that attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis. Death rates were once as high as 90%, but now are less than 1% with treatment.

The only treatment, known as BabyBIG, is an IV medication made from the pooled blood plasma of adults who have been immunized against botulism. California’s program is the sole source worldwide.

Because the disease is so rare, with about 200 cases treated each year, the botulism center has become a source of information and connection for families facing the ordeal.

“Support of the babies and their families remains paramount to our program and our mission,” said Dr. Jessica Khouri, the program’s senior medical officer.

Heather Goody, of Gallipolis, Ohio, said she felt alone when her daughter, MaryEllen, contracted infant botulism in 2016. Nearly a decade later, Goody still runs a Facebook group, Infant Botulism Awareness, to connect the parents of sick babies. It now has more than 500 members.

She still recalls how touching it was to receive a card on MaryEllen’s first birthday.

“It brought all the feels, but most importantly the feeling of gratitude that she was thriving in all areas of life,” Goody said.

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Maintaining that connection was a priority for the late Dr. Stephen Arnon, who with colleagues in 1976 identified the rare form of botulism that affects babies younger than 1 — and then spent the next 45 years figuring out how to treat it.

Arnon, who died in 2022, stayed in close touch with families of kids sickened by infant botulism, updating them as his scientific work progressed.

Today, nearly 1,500 families are part of the botulism program’s parent network, which includes children treated two decades ago. The group shares everything from preschool graduations to college acceptances and other milestones.

“Former patients have gone on to have families of their own and keep in touch with us,” Khouri said. “It really is an incredible part of the work we do.”

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.