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National pharmacare bill can’t come soon enough: Canadian Labour Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

A new report says the federal NDP is open to extending a crucial deadline with the minority Trudeau government, which would eliminate the risk of a possible election in the new year.With only three weeks left in the House of Commons calendar, it is unlikely the federal Liberals will meet the New Democrat demand in the supply-and-confidence deal that calls for a national pharmacare act to be passed by the end of this year.There have been questions about whether this would end the agreement and possibly see the Liberal government at risk of falling in 2024 with a federal election. However, an NDP source tells the Globe and Mail the party is willing to extend the deadline if it means getting a better quality bill before MPs.Siobhan Vipond, executive vice president of the Canadian Labour Congress, spoke on Parliament Hill Monday, urging the government to move quickly.“The clock is ticking and we need to see a delivery of a good … universal pharmacare system,” Vipond said, no...

Book Review: ‘Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars’ argues history repeats itself

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

“There is nothing new under the sun.” So goes the adage which conveys the tendency for history to repeat itself.It’s this unstated premise that drives Kliph Nesteroff’s latest book, “Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars.” In it, Nesteroff artfully seeks to demonstrate how current catchphrases like “cancel culture” and “political correctness” are just variations of the same generational and ideological divides which have undergirded American society throughout Hollywood’s history.Nesteroff turns his attention to comedians in particular, citing the ways in which they have historically been unique targets of the culture wars.His arguments are cogent and his histories entertaining – how is it possible that “vaguely defined spirit of the times” is not a quote about wokeness, but instead a denunciation of critiques levied on comedians more than half a century ago?Still, it’s worth noting that Nesteroff began his career as a comedian, which perhaps betrays an inherent symp...

Failed wheel bearing caused Kentucky train derailment, CSX says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

LIVINGSTON, Ky. (AP) — A failed wheel bearing on a train car caused a derailment that sparked a chemical fire and prompted home evacuations in a small town in Kentucky, CSX said in a statement. The accident happened Wednesday just north of Livingston and crews were finishing up restoration of the site Sunday, the company said. All 16 railcars were removed from the site, and crews were able to remove the spilled chemical and 2,500 tons of impacted soil and replace it with clean material, CSX said. Crews were expected to finish repairs on the tracks and restore service on the rail line, the statement said.The CSX train derailed around 2:30 p.m. near the remote town with about 200 people in Rockcastle County. Residents were encouraged to evacuate just a day before the Thanksgiving holiday. Two of the 16 cars that derailed carried molten sulfur, which caught fire after the cars were breached. No other hazardous materials were released.State officials monitored the air after the derailme...

Militants in latest ship attack near Yemen were likely Somali, not Houthi rebels, Pentagon says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of five militants who seized another commercial ship near Yemen were likely Somali and not Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and were captured by U.S. forces after fleeing the MV Central Park in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday. Ballistic missiles had been fired shortly after from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, and the Pentagon has not ruled out that the Houthis were somehow linked to the Somali-conducted attack. The attacks on commercial vessels have previously been conducted by Houthis and are part of a larger rise in violence in the region due to the Israel-Hamas war. Yemen’s internationally recognized government in Aden has said this was a Houthi attack on the Central Park, a Liberian-flagged ship managed by Zodiac Maritime. The ship sent out a distress call and forces from the USS Mason, an American destroyer, responded. Tara Copp, The Associated Press

'I'm going to shoot you': Pair charged after defiant 7-Eleven clerk ignores threats in Elmhurst

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

ELMHURST, Ill. — A man was charged after allegedly threating to shoot a 7-Eleven clerk, but left with only a Snapple after the worker ignored him.On Friday just after 7:55 p.m., Elmhurst officers responded to an armed robbery call at a 7-Eleven store, located in the 500 block of South York Street.Following an investigation, authorities allege Ditalion Barnett, 27, of Chicago, entered the store, selected a Snapple and then approached the register.Barnett allegedly displayed a handgun at the clerk and said "give me everything," which was refused."I'm going to shoot you," Barnett allegedly told the clerk after his demands were refused again.The 27-year-old then took the Snapple and left the store without paying for it, authorities allege.He was taken into custody the next day at a gas station in Bellwood with Adyria Moore, 23, of Hillside.Authorities allege Barnett and Moore had planned the robbery with Moore supplying Barnett with the address of the 7-Eleven two days prior. Group ac...

LIVE: Press conference on shooting of Palestinian Americans in Vermont

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

Jason J. Eaton (Burlington Police Department)(WFFF) - A Vermont man pleaded not guilty to attempted murder Monday in connection with the weekend shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington, which is now being investigated as a possible hate crime.Jason J. Eaton, 48, was arrested Sunday, a day after the shooting outside his apartment building near the University of Vermont campus. He appeared in court Monday by video from jail, speaking only to confirm his identity. His attorney entered pleas of not guilty on his behalf, and a judge ordered him held without bail pending a hearing that likely will be held in the next few days.Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday the Justice Department is investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting Vermont authorities in the investigation.There has been a sharp increase in threats directed against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab commu...

Google to delete some accounts starting this week: Here's what to know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Do you have a Google account you created solely as a place to receive all those emails about Cyber Monday deals? Or maybe an account you made years ago with a less-than-mature address that you haven't used since? If you don't want to lose access to it, you'll want to take action — fast. As early as Friday, Google will begin removing accounts it deems as inactive. The company announced the decision in May, explaining at the time that it was part of an update to its inactive account policies. In a blog post, Ruth Kricheli, the vice president of product management for Google, said that accounts that haven't been used are more likely to be compromised. What’s the authentic Merriam-Webster word of the year for 2023? "This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven't had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," she wrote. "Our internal analysis sh...

Dean’s A-List Interviews: Actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards sits down with actor/filmmaker Rob Reiner on his new documentary "Defending My Life" — which is about the life and career of his lifelong friend, comedian and filmmaker Albert Brooks.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Israel and Hamas extend truce for two more days, free more hostages and prisoners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, the Qatari government said, bringing the prospect of a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war and further exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.The announcement, made by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansary in a post on X, came on the final day of the original four-day truce between the warring sides. A fourth swap of hostages for prisoners under that deal was expected later Monday. Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been the key mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.This handout photo provided by Haim Zach/GPO shows Sharon Hertzman, right, hugging her husband Hen Avigdori as they reunite at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Saturday Nov. 25, 2023. Sharon Hertzman and her daughter Noam, 12 years old, not pictured, were released by Hamas after being held as hos...

106-year-old Georgetown man sets record while skydiving with Gov. Abbott

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

FENTRESS, TX (KXAN) -- The plane finally revved to life around 8:40 Monday morning on a lone runway paved over rural ranch land under a clearing sky. Unique Guinness World Records done by Texans in Texas The conditions at Skydive Spaceland San Marcos had been closely watched by the flight crew, which opted to delay the takeoff by 30 minutes because of earlier cloud cover.With a security team, staffers, and Caldwell County Sheriff’s deputies looking on, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott loaded onto the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter plane, joined by his guest of honor, a 106-year-old World War II veteran.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott skydives with 106-year-old WWII veteran Al Blaschke (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)Gov. Abbott skydives with 106-year-old WWII veteran (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Gov. Abbott skydives with 106-year-old WWII veteran (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Gov. Abbott skydives with 106-year-old WWII veteran (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Skydive Spaceland in San Marcos, Texas (KXAN Photo/Todd Bai...