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Former diplomat sheds light on Canada’s approach to hostage negotiations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

As families hold out hope for loved ones believed to be taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a former Canadian diplomat with personal experience handling hostage negotiations spoke to CityNews about Canada’s role in the intense efforts to secure the safe return of civilians.“When the lives of your own citizens are on the line, you’re going to negotiate,” said Gar Pardy, former Director-General of Consular Affairs.The Israeli government estimates 135 hostages holding foreign passports, including from Canada, are currently being held in the Gaza Strip.Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly confirms Canadians have been dispatched to support Israel’s chief negotiator. Pardy told CityNews he expects the “team of experts” Joly said has been sent to the region is also pushing Israel to delay a potential ground invasion.“Certainly, the role that I played in a number of years that I was involved in these with any number of countries, is to talk to the country that is mainly invo...

Judge dismisses Birmingham-Southern lawsuit against Alabama state treasurer over loan denial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama judge has dismissed Birmingham-Southern College’s lawsuit against the state treasurer over a loan denial, a decision that could put the future of the 167-year-old private college in jeopardy. Birmingham-Southern College filed a lawsuit last week against state Treasurer Young Boozer, saying Boozer wrongly denied a $30 million loan from a program created by lawmakers to provide a financial lifeline to the college. On Wednesday, Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson granted the state’s request to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that the state treasurer could not be sued for exercising his duties. Anderson said the legislation gave discretion to the treasure to decide who qualified for a loan. “I’m sympathetic to the college and the position they are in, but I’m looking at the legislative language,” Anderson said. Birmingham-Southern is exploring an appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court, college President Daniel Coleman said ...

Florida orders state universities to disband pro-Palestinian student group, saying it backs Hamas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration is linking a pro-Palestinian student organization to terrorism and is ordering state universities to ban the group from campuses, saying it illegally backs Hamas militants who attacked Israel earlier this month.As Israel’s attacks on Gaza have intensified, some college students have expressed solidarity with Palestinians, resulting in swift censure from some Jewish academics and even some prospective employers. But Florida has gone further, taking the extraordinary step of saying Students for Justice in Palestine is supporting a “terrorist organization.”State university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues wrote to university presidents Tuesday at Gov. Ron DeSantis’ urging, directing them to disband chapters of SJP after the national group took the position that “Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement.”“It is a felony under Florida law to ‘knowingly ...

A murder warrant is issued for a Massachusetts man wanted in the shooting death of his wife

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

GARDNER, Mass. (AP) — A murder warrant was issued Wednesday for a Massachusetts man wanted in connection with the shooting death of his wife.Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said police are continuing their search for Aaron Pennington after his wife, Breanne Pennington, 30, was found fatally shot inside the couple’s Gardner, Massachusetts, home on Sunday.Gardner Police were called to the scene after the couple’s four children left the home and went to a neighbor’s house. Breanne Pennington was found dead in the family home. City property records show Aaron Pennington has owned the home since June 2022.Police said Aaron Pennington left around 9 a.m. in his white 2013 BMW Model 320 sedan. On Monday evening, a hunter spotted Pennington’s vehicle about 1,500 feet down a wooded trail off Kenton Street near an area known as Camp Collier, a land trust used by Boy Scouts and church groups in Gardner, investigators said. Police began searching the wooded area for Pen...

North Carolina Republicans put exclamation mark on pivotal annual session with redistricting maps

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to new redistricting maps poised to empower the state GOP for years to come. Passage of the maps also marks a final achievement for Republican leaders in this year’s annual session that saw their priorities on abortion, LGBTQ+ and gun rights, voting rights and education become law, and in turn eroded Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s powers. Lawmakers in the ninth-largest U.S. state enacted new boundary lines for state House and Senate districts and for the U.S. House delegation in a series of party-line votes. The redistricting, resulting from court rulings related to maps for the 2022 elections, could give North Carolina Republicans at least three more seats in the U.S. House after 2024 at the expense of first- and second-term incumbent Democrats, according to state election data. That alteration could help Republicans nationally keep a House majority on Capitol Hill.The state House and S...

Committee asks for more from city staff to alleviate Toronto traffic congestion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

The City of Toronto has seen unprecedented construction and closures, creating headaches for road users, and it’s expected to only get worse.City staff’s latest plans to improve congestion were reviewed by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Wednesday, and some councillors are asking if more measures can be taken. The city will be using technology like artificial intelligence and expanded smart signal programs at key intersections to help with the flow of traffic, whether that’s cyclists, pedestrians, drivers or transit riders. One expert said the plan is promising but it needs to be effective.“Traffic lights and cameras think on a second-to-second basis on the movement of road users so that directions that have heavier traffic will get priority,” explained Baher Abdulhai, Professor & Director, Intelligent Transportation System Centre, University of Toronto.“But it’s often ignoring a bus with 100 people on it is more important...

Rep. Bowman of New York charged with misdemeanor, to pay fine after triggering House fire alarm

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman was charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor for triggering a fire alarm as lawmakers scrambled to pass a funding bill before a government shutdown deadline in September.He is expected to plead guilty, formally apologize and pay a $1,000 fine. The alarm prompted an evacuation of a House office building. It reopened an hour later after Capitol Police determined it was not a threat. The New York lawmaker has acknowledged pulling the alarm, telling reporters within hours that it was a mistake. He said he was rushing to get to votes and trying to get through a door that is usually open but was closed due to it being a weekend. At the time of the evacuation, House Democrats were working to delay a vote on a funding bill to keep federal agencies open. They had said they needed time to review a bill that Republicans abruptly released to avoid a shutdown.Bowman was “treated like anyone else who violates the law” and has agreed to pay the max...

New organic rules announced by USDA tighten restrictions on livestock and poultry producers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Livestock and poultry producers will need to comply with more specific standards if they want to label their products organic under final rules announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.The USDA’s new Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards are being implemented after years of discussions with organics groups, farming organizations and livestock and poultry producers.“USDA is creating a fairer, more competitive and transparent food system,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “This organic poultry and livestock standard establishes clear and strong standards that will increase the consistency of animal welfare practices in organic production and in how these practices are enforced.”The Organic Trade Association pushed hard for the new regulations, which the group said would promote consumer trust and ensure all competing companies would abide by the same rules.“These new standards not only create a more level pla...

What are realistic expectations for the 2023-24 Bulls?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation Bulls joined "9 Good Minutes" to preview the team's 2023-2024 season on WGN News Now.CHICAGO — There is always a bit of hope at the beginning of the season for any team that takes the floor in the NBA. But it's safe to say that Bulls' fans here in Chicago have their hopes a bit tempered - and it's easy to understand why.While other teams in the Eastern Conference made some big splashes in the offseason, executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas chose continuity with his "Big 3" and made only minor acquisitions to fill needs on the roster. This comes as Lonzo Ball, a big part of the team's building of their current core in the summer of 2021, will miss his second full season with more knee trouble. More than likely, a significant improvement on a 40-42 season that ended in the play-in tournament will have to come from within. That will include stronger play from Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic, along with increased production from yo...

Woman who allegedly shot at Chicago police charged with attempted murder

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:33 GMT

CHICAGO — A 41-year-old woman who Chicago police said admitted to firing shots at an officer last month on the East Side now faces multiple felony charges related to the incident. Lynn Resendez was arrested Monday following a Sept. 2 police response that was captured on bodycam. According to police, officers were responding to a report of a person with a gun and encountered Resendez. Man charged with arson after allegedly lighting North Side Halloween decorations on fire Officers can be heard shouting commands at Resendez before allegedly turning and pointing a gun in their direction. As a result, Resendez faces several charges, including first-degree attempted murder of a police officer and aggravated assault.  None of the officers were injured.  Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Resendez was due to appear in court on Wednesday.