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Federal NDP targets blue seats in Alberta, bets on urban prairie appetite for change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal New Democrats are eyeing Alberta’s urban-rural divide as a way to flip blue seats in the next general election.Jennifer Howard, chief of staff to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, sees an opening in the Prairie province.She believes Alberta’s recent provincial election shows voters in the urban Prairies are rejecting politicians who peddle conspiracy theories, talk about the World Economic Forum and bash the media. Howard says while these are topics conservative politicians want to raise, she believes city dwellers are more focused on health care, the cost of living and climate change. In May, the Alberta New Democrats gained 14 seats, shutting out the United Conservative Party in Edmonton, and winning more seats in Calgary, the UCP’s traditional urban base. Howard says it’s not always a straight line from provincial to federal support, but she feels hopeful this will allow the federal party to expand its reach, especially in Edmonton and Saskato...

Father of NFL cornerback Caleb Farley killed in apparent explosion at North Carolina home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The father of Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley died in an apparent explosion around midnight on Monday that destroyed the NFL player’s North Carolina home and left another person injured, authorities said.Robert M. Farley, 61, was found dead in the debris of the Lake Norman, North Carolina house Tuesday morning, the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office said in a statement.First responders went to the house around midnight. They found one victim exiting the collapsed structure. The person, who has not been identified publicly, was transported to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with non-life-threatening injuries, county officials said.County property records list the NFL player as the homeowner. The Titans player was not there at the time of the reported explosion, said Kent Greene, director of Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management. Property records list the tax value of the home as nearly $2 million. Titans coach ...

Return of live shows after COVID closures revived performing arts industry: StatCan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

A new report from Statistics Canada says the return of live shows and events after pandemic restrictions revived the country’s performing arts industry in 2022, with significant revenue and salary growth in specific sectors.The report says promoters and presenters of performing arts, sports and similar events hit hard by COVID-19 cancellations in 2020 and 2021 saw revenue increases of nearly 146 per cent in 2022, compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the non-profit performing arts industry saw revenues increase by 71 per cent, while the for-profit industry had an increase of more than 56 per cent in 2022.StatCan says 2022 was the first full year of true recovery in these industries and it used data from the goods and services tax sales and payroll deduction files, among other sources, to estimate related revenue and salary growth.The report also looked at Canada’s film and television industry — currently impacted by the U.S. actors’ and writers’ strikes —...

Quebec releases new road safety plan, includes higher fines for drivers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec is rolling out a sweeping series of proposed regulations to deter dangerous drivers by increasing fines and adding speed cameras across the province. Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault presented a five-year road plan today, which includes higher financial penalties and more demerit points for drivers who commit infractions in school and construction zones.Also included in the 27-point plan is a provincewide, 30-kilometre-per-hour speed limit in school zones, a deployment of speed cameras and funding to better secure pedestrian and bike paths.The new road safety plan is so far just an outline of objectives, many of which will require the government to draft new laws and regulations.The plan doesn’t specify, for example, how much fines will increase for unsafe road behaviour.Guilbault says the province is dedicating more than $180 million to realize the plan.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2023.The Canadian Press

NYC man convicted of attempted murder for terrorizing Black Lives Matter activists with bladed glove

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man who menaced Black Lives Matter protesters wearing a glove with serrated blades and then got in his SUV and tried to run them over has been convicted of nine counts of attempted murder and other charges, prosecutors announced.Frank Cavalluzzi, 57, was found guilty on Monday after a two-week trial for threatening peaceful demonstrators on June 2, 2020, during a wave of protests over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.Cavalluzzi faces up to 25 years to life in prison for each of the attempted murder charges when he is sentenced in October.“A dangerous man is going to jail,” Katz said in a news release. “It’s a good day for New York and the First Amendment.” According to prosecutors, Cavalluzzi was driving through the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens when he encountered a group of demonstrators with Black Lives Matter signs and posters.Cavalluzzi stopped his SUV and start...

Tropical Storm Harold makes landfall in South Texas, causing power outages in Corpus Christi

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Thousands of homes and businesses in the South Texas city of Corpus Christi are without power Tuesday after the state’s first tropical storm of the hurricane season made landfall, bringing strong winds and welcome rain following months of dry weather.Tropical Storm Harold, which never reached hurricane status, made landfall about 10 a.m. near South Padre Island on the Texas Gulf coast, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Joshua Schroeder in nearby Brownsville.“Although it formed over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it moved so quickly it just didn’t have time to intensify into a hurricane,” Schroeder said.Schroeder said the rain is mostly welcome.“There’s pockets of heavy rainfall, 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) and isolated areas are seeing up to 6 inches (15 centimeters),” Schroeder said. “But we’ve been very dry down here in South Texas and this (rain) will be beneficial.”Dry conditions have prevailed in South Texas fo...

Large explosion in Prince George, B.C., sends three to hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Authorities in northern British Columbia say they are searching for a cause of a large explosion at an abandoned building in downtown Prince George that sent three people to hospital.Prince George RCMP say the blast happened around 7 a.m., and power to the area was shut down.  Video footage of the aftermath posted online shows thick black smoke pluming into the air as firefighters doused the flames.Police spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Cooper says one of the people sent to hospital has serious injuriesB.C. Emergency Health Services says it took two patients to hospital, while a third was taken by a different party. Fortis and BC Hydro are at the scene to try to help firefighters contain the blaze and aid in the investigation. Police are asking people to avoid the area. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2023.The Canadian Press

It’s a girl! Brookfield Zoo welcomes giraffe calf

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

BROOKFIELD, Ill. — Brookfield Zoo has welcomed a new addition to their animal family.Arnieta, a 16-year-old giraffe, gave birth to a female calf early Saturday morning after nearly a 15-month wait.The baby is approximately six-feet-tall and weighs close to 130 pounds. Both Arnieta and her calf are expected to make their public debut in early September.Shortly after birth, the calf stood up and began nursing from her mother. 16-year-old giraffe expecting calf at Brookfield Zoo “We are so excited to welcome this new addition and look forward to our guests coming out to see her,” said Joan Daniels, senior director of hooved mammal care and conservation for the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo. This is Arnieta’s second calf, previously giving birth to a male in 2012. According to the zoo, the female calf is the 60th giraffe born at Brookfield since 1940. Credit: CZS-Brookfield ZooCredit: CZS-Brookfield ZooCredit: CZS-Brookfield ZooCredit: CZS-Brookfield ZooCred...

Woman dies after fall from apartment window in Uptown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

CHICAGO — A 31-year-old woman critically injured after falling from a window in a third-story building in Uptown has died. Jillian Schappa was pronounced dead at Saint Francis Hospital Monday afternoon after she was discovered on Saturday, Aug. 19, in an alley at Kenmore and Argyle. A preliminary investigation indicates that the woman may have been pushed, causing her to fall out of the window.The Chicago Sun-times says, according to a police report, Schappa told responding paramedics someone pushed her. Family is asking the public for any information about what may have occurred. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesNo one's in custody. 

Defense begins case in federal trial to decide whether Tim Mapes lied to protect Mike Madigan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:07 GMT

CHICAGO — The federal perjury trial of a former chief of staff to longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan continued Tuesday, as lawyers for Tim Mapes began presenting their case.Mapes is accused of being offered immunity under oath, but prosecutors say he repeatedly lied to cover for his old boss. Mapes is also charged with attempted obstruction of justice. At the Dirkson Federal Courthouse on Tuesday, Mapes’ wife, Emily Wurth, a one-time official in Madigan's political organization, took the stand. There, Wurth told the jury about the depression her husband fell into after he was forced out of the Speaker's office in 2018 after sexual harassment investigation at the Capital.  Federal trial to decide whether ex-chief of staff lied to protect his boss, Illinois House speaker Last week, prosecutors wrapped up their case, calling more than a dozen witnesses and playing hours of Mapes grand jury testimony for the jury. Wurth told the jury that months after he left the S...