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GOP walkout in Oregon Senate hits 4th week; uncertain if boycotters will be sanctioned

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The longest-ever walkout in the Oregon Legislature completed its fourth week on Wednesday as the enforceability of a ballot measure that would disqualify the boycotters from immediate reelection appeared in doubt.Senate President Rob Wagner once again tried on Wednesday to convene the Senate, which last met on May 2. “We’ll give this another shot,” the Democrat said. But a roll call again showed that nine Republicans and an Independent party senator were absent without being excused, preventing a quorum and keeping votes on Democratic bills on abortion, gender-affirming care and guns on ice. In what has become a Groundhog Day ritual in the past four weeks, Wagner then banged the gavel to close the aborted session. He said he’d try again the next day. But Sen. Tim Knopp, leader of the minority Senate Republicans, says the boycott will end only on the last day of the legislative session, June 25, to pass “bipartisan” legislation and budget bills. Wagner ...

David Johnston plans to keep role, as House of Commons votes for him to step aside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

OTTAWA — David Johnston said his mandate to probe allegations of foreign interference comes from the government and not the House of Commons, after members of Parliament voted in favour of his ouster on Wednesday. The former governor general released a statement following vote on a motion brought forward by the NDP, which the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois supported while the Liberals stood opposed. It passed 174 to 150. It called on Johnston, whom Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named back in March to look into allegations that China tried meddling in the past two federal elections, to “step aside from his role.” It asked the government to instead launch a public inquiry into the issue of foreign interference, which the former governor general recommended against in his initial report last week.“When I accepted the mandate to act as independent special rapporteur, I did so with full knowledge of the fact that the work ahead would be neither straightforward nor unc...

More federal ministers could get security details as threats increase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government is looking to better protect cabinet ministers and MPs as the threats against them continue to grow, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday.“We are looking into real measures to increase the safety of ministers and we’re working with the sergeant-at-arms to ensure security for all parliamentarians,” Trudeau said in French in the House of Commons.He was responding to a question from Independent Quebec MP Alain Rayes, who said all provincial cabinet ministers in Quebec get a bodyguard, and all federal ministers and party leaders should as well. “We’re all aware that the number of threats and aggressive speeches, whether in person or online, is increasing,” Rayes said in French. “The risks are real. We shouldn’t wait for an unfortunate event to happen before we all say, ‘Oh, we should have done something.'”Trudeau agreed, though he did not say if a bodyguard for every minister is in the ca...

S&P/TSX composite down almost 170 points in broad-based decline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down almost 170 points Wednesdayin a broad-based decline led by losses in energy and base metals, while U.S. markets also moved lower. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 167.46 points at 19,572.24.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 134.51 points at 32,908.27.The S&P 500 index was down 25.69 points at 4,179.83, while the Nasdaq composite was down 82.14 points at 12,935.29.Market growth has been really concentrated in the tech sector, said Brianne Gardner, senior wealth manager of Velocity Investment Partners at Raymond James Ltd. However, she expects to start seeing investors rotate into other sectors especially as the economy slows down. “I just don’t think it’s sustainable on where they are in their valuations in pretty much the whole (tech) sector,” she said.  With a potential recession in the second half of the year, Gardner said certain sectors tend to do better in that environment, such as u...

Over 380K people vote against private health care in referendum conducted by advocates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

Health care advocates took to at Queen’s Park Wednesday to oppose what they call “the gutting and dismantling of public hospitals.”Almost 400,000 people voted across Ontario, including 100,000 in Toronto in what’s being described as a citizen-led referendum organized by the advocacy group Ontario Health Coalition. The ballots were hand-delivered to the provincial government on Wednesday.The question on the ballot was: do you want our public hospital services to be privatized?Ninety-nine per cent or almost 380 thousand people voted no. “That is not insignificant, and if this government wants to continue to call it a stunt or whatever, I challenge them [to hold your own referendum,” said Marit Stiles, the Ontario NDP Leader. “And actually consult with the people of this province if you’re going to gut our healthcare system.”Bill 60 allows more private clinics to offer certain publicly funded surgeries and procedures in an effort to...

Quebec premier announces Michael Sabia as new CEO of Hydro-Quebec

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

Quebec’s government has officially tapped Michael Sabia as the next head of Hydro-Quebec.In a tweet, Premier François Legault announced Sabia would serve as president and CEO of the Crown corporation, succeeding Sophie Brochu.Legault says Sabia “is an experienced man who will be able to pursue and overcome the challenges of Quebec’s energy transition,” according to a translation.Sabia has served as Canada’s deputy minister of finance since 2020.Prior to that, he worked at the Department of Finance and the Privy Council Office before joining the private sector.He is a former chief executive of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and a former chief executive of BCE Inc.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2023.The Canadian Press

5 children hospitalized after smoking substance at Chicago elementary school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- Five children were taken to local hospitals after reportedly "smoking a substance" at a Chicago elementary school Wednesday.According to the Chicago Fire Department, five children were transported to local hospitals after reportedly "smoking a substance" at Harvard Elementary School on Chicago's south side Wednesday. Waukegan man trying to stop fight outside bowling alley shot, killed The children involved are reportedly 9-years-old and are all in good condition, according to the CFD.No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Video: Car launches over tow truck in Georgia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) — It looks like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster. A sedan rockets into the air after driving up the ramp of a flatbed tow truck on a Georgia highway. And the whole crash is caught on video by an officer's body camera.Shocked motorists and law enforcement watched in horror as the Nissan Altima was launched 120 feet down the highway in Lowndes County, according to a police report on the May 24 crash.The driver was a 21-year-old woman from Florida, the report says. She was taken to South Georgia Medical Center with serious injuries, Georgia State Patrol spokesperson Courtney Floyd said Wednesday.After landing upside down, the Nissan struck another car then tumbled end over end before coming to a rest 23 feet down the roadway, the report said. Even before the car stops, the officer whose body cam recorded the crash begins sprinting to render aid to the stricken motorists. Man catches more than fish; fire department helps reel in a big one A Lowndes County sherif...

A few NASCAR legends get a look at Chicago Street Race course

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

CHICAGO — While the newest generation of drivers will get to experience it, a few former drivers in NASCAR are just as eager to see what will happen in the "Windy City" in early July.That's why a few of them were in downtown Chicago on Wednesday along with two current drivers to check out the 2.2-mile street race course. NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Jarrett along with 21-race winner Jeff Burton joined current driver AJ Allmendinger were in town to see the layout of the circuit in The Loop. Their visit comes a month before the drivers of the Cup and Xfinity Series take to the course for the first time for the inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 1 and 2. It's arguably the most intriguing event on NASCAR's 2023 36 Cup and 33 Xfinity race schedule. ‘It’s gotten the most attention’: See what Joe Gibbs has to say about Chicago’s NASCAR races "This is facinating," said Earnhardt of the Chicago Street Race. "Never would I have thought that NASCAR would do a street ...

6 Chicago area spots rank among 100 best doughnut shops in the country, according to Yelp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Do you “go nuts” for doughnuts? Sure you do. We all do. They’re made from fried dough and sugar. We’d be fools not to be interested.But we don’t go gaga over just any doughnut. We all have our favorite shops and flavors, and we’re always on the lookout for newer, tastier varieties. And while there’s no shortage of shops providing exactly what we crave, there are also plenty of mediocre doughnut purveyors that, frankly, no one has ever gone nuts for.  To help us find the best of the best, Yelp’s team of analysts have compiled their second annual ranking of America's top 100 doughnut shops based on the ratings and reviews of Yelp’s online community. The 2023 list — released ahead of National Doughnut Day on June 2 — includes shops from 27 states and Washington, D.C., though some are more well-represented than others. California and Florida, for instance, are each home to 10 of the top-rated doughnut shops on Yelp’s list. (It's worth noting that Yelp's list-makers only...