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Blinken and Austin bolster US support for Israel as potential ground offensive in Gaza looms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Israel that “we have your back” as he and America’s top diplomat met Friday with Israeli and Arab leaders. But there was no indication the U.S. was trying to prevent an expected Israeli ground offensive into Gaza that could worsen a humanitarian crisis for the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the blockaded territory.The visits by Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken came as Israel escalated its war against Hamas militants in retaliation for their shocking and brutal rampage last weekend.Israel demanded Friday that some 1 million civilians evacuate northern Gaza for their own safety in anticipation of the expected invasion. Palestinians did indeed begin a mass exodus toward the southern part of the besieged territory even as Hamas dismissed the evacuation as a ploy and the U.N. warned of potentially disastrous consequences of so many people fleeing.Asked about the likelihood of civilian casualties in Gaza, Aust...

Supreme Court majority rules against federal environmental impact law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday against federal legislation on the environmental effects of major developments, with five out of seven judges finding most of it unconstitutional because it seeks to regulate activities within provincial jurisdiction.Chief Justice Richard Wagner, writing for the majority, said the law as written could regulate activities that are provincial business, instead of restricting itself to environmental effects that are within Ottawa’s power to oversee.“Even if this court were to accept Canada’s submission that the defined ‘effects within federal jurisdiction’ are within federal jurisdiction, these effects do not drive the scheme’s decision-making powers,” he wrote in the 204-page opinion released Friday.Wagner went on to say that the effects considered in the legislation previously known as Bill C-69, which included a range of environmental and social factors as well as climate change, were “overbroad...

Mélanie Joly visiting Israel to reaffirm support, push for humanitarian aid passage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s foreign affairs minister arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday for a visit to Israel and Jordan, where she is discussing the impacts of the attack by Hamas on Israel and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.“I’m in Israel to extend Canada’s support to those impacted by the terrorist attack by Hamas,” Mélanie Joly wrote Friday in a statement on the X platform, formerly Twitter. “I’ll meet with Canadians who are on their way home and with officials to better understand the situation on the ground and the humanitarian impact on Israeli and Palestinian civilians.”A statement from Global Affairs Canada said Joly will “reaffirm Canada’s support for Israel and its right to defend itself in accordance with international law,” while pushing forward collective efforts to ensure the swift passage of humanitarian aid and the protection of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. It says she will engage with the foreign affairs...

I saw our city seized, store owner tells ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers’ trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

OTTAWA — The owner of an upscale women’s clothing store in Ottawa says she saw far fewer customers and a big drop in sales after trucks of all kinds blocked downtown streets as part of the “Freedom Convoy” protest last year. Chantal Biro is testifying in the criminal trial of two of the protest organizers, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.She says the street near her boutique in the ByWard Market were blocked by big-rigs and pickup trucks that blared their horns.The smell of vehicle exhaust, marijuana and cigarette smoke would seep into the store where she worked seven days a week.She also told the court about several unpleasant interactions with protesters, some of whom swore at her when she asked them to move out of the doorway of her store or mocked her for wearing a mask. Today was scheduled to be the final day of the criminal trial, but the Crown still has seven witnesses to hear from as part of its case. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. ...

Parents of Michigan school shooter ask to leave jail to attend son’s sentencing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The parents of a teenager who killed four students at Michigan’s Oxford High School are seeking permission to attend his sentencing while they also face charges in the attack.Ethan Crumbley, 17, could be sentenced to life in prison on Dec. 8. James and Jennifer Crumbley, who are charged with involuntary manslaughter, have had no contact with their son for nearly two years, though all three are being held at a suburban Detroit jail.“Understandably, this hearing is of paramount importance, and would be to any parent, no matter what their child has done,” defense lawyers Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman said in a court filing Thursday.Prosecutors are opposed to having the Crumbley parents in court, saying their presence would be a distraction, especially for victims who plan to speak at the sentencing, the Detroit Free Press reported.The Crumbleys instead could be allowed to watch the hearing online in jail, assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said.The parents h...

UAW breaks pattern of adding factories to strikes on Fridays, says more plants could come any time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union isn’t adding any factories to those that are now on strike, but its president says more walkouts could begin at any moment.Until this week the union had been announcing additional factories on Fridays. But UAW President Shawn Fain told workers in a live video appearance that the companies started gaming the system, waiting until Fridays to make progress in bargaining.“We will be calling out plants when we need to, where we need to, with little notice,” Fain said on Friday morning. “We’re not sticking to one pattern or one system of giving these companies an extra hour or an extra day. They know what needs to happen and they know how to get it done.”Fain said the union is still bargaining hard with General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis. But he criticized Ford, which said Thursday that it had reached the limit of how much money it will spend to settle the strike.“I found a pathetic irony in that statement,” Fain said, adding ...

Kaiser Permanente reaches a tentative deal with health care worker unions after a recent strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Unions representing 75,000 health care workers have reached a tentative agreement with industry giant Kaiser Permanente following a strike over wages and staffing levels, the parties announced Friday.Details of the agreement were not immediately released, but both sides said a full announcement was forthcoming.The three-day strike last week involving 75,000 workers in multiple states officially ended last Saturday and workers returned to their jobs in Kaiser’s hospitals and clinics that serve nearly 13 million Americans.“The frontline healthcare workers of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are excited to have reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente as of this morning,” the coalition posted Friday morning. “We are thankful for the instrumental support of Acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su.”Kaiser Permanente, based in Oakland, California, confirmed the deal in a social media post.Bargaining sessions had been scheduled for this week, the unio...

Over 238,000 Ford Explorers recalled over rear axle bolt after US opens investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park.The recall comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn't work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022.Affected are certain Explorers from the 2020 through 2022 model years.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Friday on its website that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of a crash.Dealers will replace a bushing and the rear axle bolt. They also will inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if damage is found. Owners will be notified by letter starting Nov. 6. Family Dollar issues voluntary recall of drugs, medical devices Ford said in docu...

Tom Skilling discusses his decision to retire on WGN Morning News

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

CHICAGO — It was an announcement that stunned viewers of Channel 9 yet produced an outpouring of love and support for one of America's most beloved meteorologists. Tom Skilling announced on Thursday's WGN Evening News that he was retiring after a successful 45-year run at the station. Since then, many have shared their memories of his time in Chicago on social media, flooding our channels with best wishes after nearly a half-century on the air. Skilling will officially sign off in February, with many tributes planned for him up until then, including a segment on Friday's WGN Morning News. We welcomed Tom onto the set for a discussion on his career along with a few times he took part in a few segments for the show - who could ever forget "Tom Freakin' Skilling" from 2008!Larry Potash, Lourdes Duarte, Pat Tomasulo, and Paul Konrad talked about that and more on his decision to retire from Channel 9 after 45 years during the 8 a.m. hour.You can hear Tom's discussion with the hosts from ...

California bar to open drag queen school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:51 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco will soon be home to California’s first drag queen school. The school will be opened by Stud Collective, a non-profit formed by The Stud, which is one of San Francisco’s most iconic and long-serving LGBTQ+ bars.The Stud School of Drag will teach the fundamentals of drag performance. According to the announcement, evening classes will gather weekly and will be taught by drag queen subject experts. The curriculum includes topics such as the history of drag, makeup 101, creating character through costuming, lip-synching and marketing fundamentals. City Council says meeting was hijacked by AI bots spewing hate speech Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party Honey Mahogany will serve as its inaugural headmistress. “I thought drag was just about being campy and female impersonation -- which is cool -- but the Stud taught me that drag can be political, dark, scary, weird, emotional and so much more,” Mahogany said in a statement. “I’m excited to b...