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Alberta premier says politicians cannot talk to accused, but her call was OK

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, a week after she was overheard on a leaked phone call offering to help an accused with his upcoming criminal trial, says MLAs and cabinet ministers are not free to engage in such discussions because the system must be independent.Smith says her conversation with Calgary street pastor Artur Pawlowski about his trial stemming from a COVID-19 protest does not represent a policy change by her government.She also says she did nothing irregular on the call, and her job as a politician is to consult a broad range of people and raise their concerns.During the call, the premier tells Pawlowski the charges against him are politically motivated while offering to make inquiries on his behalf and sharing details with him about internal disagreements over Crown strategy.Legal experts say the call was a clear violation of the democratic guardrail that keeps politicians from having a say in who gets charged and how cases are prosecuted.The Opposition NDP s...

EPA proposal takes on health risks near US chemical plants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

In what could prove a significant move for communities facing air pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed on Thursday that chemical plants nationwide measure certain hazardous compounds that cross beyond their property lines and reduce them when they are too high.The proposed rules would reduce cancer risk and other exposure for communities that live close to harmful emitters, the EPA said. The data would be made public and the results would force companies to fix problems that increase emissions. “This is probably the most significant rule I’m experiencing in my 30 years of working in cancer alley,” said Beverly Wright executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. She referred to an area dense with petrochemical development along the Gulf coast. In the past, Wright said, even when emissions caused harm, residents weren’t able to sue and reduce the threat.The proposed measur...

Thirty per cent of Defence Department procurement positions vacant: internal report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

OTTAWA — An internal Defence Department report has found that a shortage of procurement officials is hindering efforts to buy much-needed equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces.Recently published online, the report appears to offer an explanation for some of the delays that have plagued Canada’s efforts to purchase new warships, aircraft and other military gear.The report says the lack of trained procurement experts represents a “key risk” for the department, with 30 per cent of such positions vacant at the end of May 2022.It goes on to blame the shortage on competition with the private sector for experienced acquisition experts, adding the vacancies are threatening the government’s plan to invest billions of dollars into the military in the coming years.The report is the latest to raise concerns about a shortage of procurement officials within the Defence Department and military amid delays and challenges in the delivery of new equipment.Those delays have c...

New Hampshire House passes bipartisan $15.9 billion budget

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — In a surprising display of cooperation and compromise, the narrowly divided New Hampshire House approved a two-year state budget Thursday, sending the $15.9 billion plan on to the Senate.The total, which includes federal funds, would be more than 18% higher than the current budget. Republican Rep. Ken Weyler, chair of the House Finance Committee, said the increase reflects the high rate of inflation and that when federal money is taken into account, the actual increase is closer to 7 percent. “It’s more than I’d like to see as an increase. But the same thing happens when I fill up my gas tank or go to the grocery store,” he said. “We have to face reality and adjust to it.”Weyler also emphasized another key reality: With Republicans holding a miniscule 201-196 majority, bipartisanship was the smoothest path forward. Though party leaders were bickering over the budget as recently as last week, they ultimately came together with an amendment jointly sponsored by Re...

Rowdy protests again hit France, but striker numbers dwindle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Police fired clouds of tear gas against unruly protesters in Paris and other French cities Thursday as hundreds of thousands of people returned to streets across the country to vent anger against President Emmanuel Macron’s contested pension reforms.Macron’s drive to raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64 has ignited a months-long firestorm of opposition. Talks between trade union leaders and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne quickly collapsed Wednesday without a breakthrough, setting the stage for the fresh demonstrations that were largely peaceful but also punctured by violence. Trade unions vowed to keep up their resistance and called for another round of protests in a week. But labor strikes that have caused significant disruptions since January lost some of their bite, with fewer workers taking part. The Paris Metro ran almost normally Thursday, in contrast with previous days of action. Less than 8% of teachers were on strike, according to the Education...

Economy keeps adding jobs as population grows, despite high interest rates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canadian economy added 35,000 jobs in March amid strong population growth, keeping the unemployment rate steady at near record lows, even as the economy wrestles with high interest rates.In its latest labour force survey, Statistics Canada said Thursday the unemployment rate came in at five per cent for the fourth consecutive month.The job gains were made primarily in the private sector. Employment was up in transportation and warehousing, business, building and other support services, as well as finance, real estate, rental and leasing.Meanwhile, jobs were lost in construction, other services and natural resources.Brendon Bernard, a senior economist at Indeed, said the report shows the labour market is still doing well, “despite a lot of economic uncertainty.”But Bernard cautioned that interpreting the job numbers is a bit tricky because Canada is also seeing its population grow rapidly.Statistics Canada said the population grew by 0.3 per cent last month, ...

5 Seconds of Summer announces Chicago stop of summer tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Rock group 5 Seconds of Summer is kicking off their 2023 summer season with a double drop: new album The Feeling of Falling Upwards - Live from The Royal Albert Hall and tour dates for 2023 World Tour - The 5 Seconds of Summer Show.For 5SOS fans in Chicago, you'll need to know two dates: Wednesday, August 23 and Friday, April 14. The August date is when they'll take over Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island. The April date is dual purpose marking both the digital album availability and when general public tickets go on sale. Lake County Sherrif's Office K9 'Zeus' gifted bullet-proof vest Don't want to wait for April 14 to get your tickets? There are three presale options, all found on the concert's Ticketmaster website.Check out the full list of tour dates and stops as of April 6:South AmericaJuly     Argentina                     &nbs...

New Wrigleyville Chick-fil-A offering free sandwiches for every Cubs home-game win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chick-fil-A in Wrigleyview is offering free sandwiches whenever the Chicago Cubs win a home game.The newly opened fast-food restaurant, located at 3500 North Clark Street, is giving customers a free original chicken sandwich following every Cubs win at Wrigley Field. The deal is available through the Chick-fil-A ONE App, and in partnership with the Chicago Cubs for the 2023 season. National Burrito Day: How to get free or discounted food at Chipotle, Taco Bell and other chains “It’s a dream come true to open a Chick-fil-A restaurant in my home city, and in a neighborhood with such a special fandom and community,” owner Nick Pulgine said. “I can’t wait to build my own ‘team’ in the kitchen, here at Chick-fil-A Wrigleyville, engage with the Cubs culture and truly make every customer experience a home run.”Wrigleyville’s Chick-fil-A is open from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday.

Elderly man, 82, reported missing from Portage Park located

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Police were searching for an elderly man who was reported missing from Portage Park Wednesday night. He was located Thursday afternoon. Who Might be Chicago’s ‘next’ Top Cop?

Former Chicago Bull Ben Gordon arrested on weapons charge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Former NBA guard Ben Gordon, who spent five seasons with the Chicago Bulls, was arrested on weapons and threatening charges after he began behaving erratically in a Connecticut juice shop, police said.The episode started just before 10 a.m. Tuesday when several 911 callers reported “a male acting aggressively and in a bizarre manner” inside a juice shop in Stamford, the city's assistant police chief, Richard Conklin, said Thursday.The man, identified as Gordon, continued to act erratically when officers arrived and tried to take him into custody, Conklin said.The officers eventually subdued Gordon and placed him under arrest. They found a folding knife clipped to Gordon's pocket, and a stun gun and brass knuckles in his backpack, Conklin said.Gordon was arrested on charges including carrying a dangerous weapon, second-degree threatening and interfering with an officer. Previous Coverage: Report: Former Bulls guard Ben Gordon arrested for allegedly hitting so...