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York U group calls for reinstatement of employees charged in Toronto Indigo defacement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

A group of faculty, staff and students at York University is calling for the reinstatement of three university employees who they say were suspended after police laid charges in the defacement of an Indigo bookstore in Toronto.The exterior of the large Indigo location was splashed with red paint and posters were glued to the doors and the walls earlier this month in what Toronto police investigated as a hate crime amid tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Heather Reisman, founder and CEO of the books giant, is Jewish and Indigo has long been a target of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement because Reisman and her husband also founded the HESEG Foundation, which offers scholarships to people without family in Israel who nevertheless serve in the Israeli military.Toronto police last week said they charged 11 people with mischief over $5,000 over the incident at the Indigo store. York University associate professor Anna Zalik says York professor Lesley Wood, a univer...

Texas women who could not get abortions despite health risks take challenge to state’s Supreme Court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday scrutinized efforts to clarify exceptions to the state’s abortion ban, which a growing number of women say forced them to continue pregnancies despite serious risks to their health.The Texas lawsuit is among the biggest challenges to abortion bans in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. In July, several Texas women gave emotional testimony about carrying babies they knew would not survive and doctors unable to offer abortions despite their spiraling conditions. A judge later ruled that Texas’ ban was too restrictive for women with pregnancy complications, but that order was swiftly put on hold after the state appealed.The decision now rests with Texas’ highest court, and during arguments Tuesday, one justice on the all-Republican panel signaled concerns about potentially giving physicians too broad discretion to provide exceptions. “This very well could open the door far more widely than you...

Federal politicians criticize Alberta Energy Regulator over oilsands leak, monitoring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

Federal politicians have criticized the Alberta Energy Regulator at an environment committee meeting looking into two releases of oilsands wastewater at Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine earlier this year.Liberal member of Parliament Adam van Koeverden tried to pass a motion expressing disappointment at the regulator’s performance.The motion, which wasn’t voted on, also called for a study into the industry’s health impacts, as well as safety audits for all oilsands tailings ponds.It followed a testy session that saw detailed questioning of Laurie Pushor, the head of the regulator.Pushor was asked repeatedly about evidence suggesting tailings are seeping from the ponds into groundwater.He said some seepage is expected and managed.Pushor said he couldn’t offer much information while an internal investigation into the releases is underway.Van Koeverden said after the meeting the motion was drafted out of frustration with Pushor’s answers.This report by The C...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs temporarily steps down as Revolt chairman amid sexual abuse allegations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has temporarily stepped down as chairman of his cable television network Revolt amid multiple sexual abuse allegations against the music mogul.Revolt announced Combs’ decision on social media Tuesday. It’s not clear when he will return to his media company — which said Combs previously had “no operational or day-to-day role” at the network.“This decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and African diaspora,” the network said in the statement.Combs, a founder of Revolt, declined to comment further on the matter. The network has been preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary.Earlier this month, R&B singer Cassie accused Combs of raping and beating her over the duration of their decadeslong, on-and-off relationship — which began in 2005, when she was 19 and he was 37. The singer, whose real nam...

Man arrested in alleged hate-motivated assault with knife in North York

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

A man from Toronto is facing several charges following an alleged hate-motivated assault with a knife in North York.Authorities were called to the Jane Street and Wilson Avenue area at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 13, for reports of a person with a knife.Police said the accused approached the victim and allegedly assaulted them. The suspect then produced a knife and attempted to assault the victim with it while allegedly making homophobic remarks.On Friday, Nov. 24, police arrested 39-year-old Jahwin John of Toronto. He’s been charged with assault, assault with a weapon and weapons dangerous. The accused was expected to appear in court on Saturday, Nov. 25.Investigators said the incident is being treated as a hate-motivated crime.

Democratic lawmaker moves to force a vote this week on expelling Rep. George Santos from the House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker moved Tuesday to force a vote this week on expelling Rep. George Santos from the House, calling it a necessary step if Republicans fail to take action in light of the recent ethics report that found Santos blatantly stole from his campaign and deceived donors.Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., brought back to the floor legislation he first introduced in February to force the expulsion vote. Republicans were successful in turning aside Garcia’s earlier effort, but now that the Ethics Committee has released its findings about Santos from its monthslong investigation, Garcia said it’s time to act.“Whatever it takes to get that vote this week, is what we’re doing,” Garcia said. Expelling Santos, a Republican from New York, would require support from at least two-thirds of House members voting. Garcia said he expects to reach that number easily, which would make Santos just the sixth member of the House to be removed by his colleagues,...

Staff reassigned at Florida school after allegations that transgender student played on girls’ team

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (AP) — Dozens of students participated in a walkout at a South Florida high school on Tuesday, a day after their principal and four other staff members were removed from their positions as officials investigate allegations of a transgender student being allowed to play on a girls’ volleyball team, in violation of state law.The demonstration occurred at Monarch High School in Broward County. Local news footage shows a large crowd of students walking out of the school building and congregating outside on school property.The school district on Monday reassigned principal James Cecil, assistant principal Kenneth May, athletic director Dione Hester and information management technician Jessica Norton to non-school sites pending the outcome of the investigation. Also, temporary athletic coach Alex Burgess was told his services are paused while the investigation proceeds.“We will continue to follow state law and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of the i...

Corruption case reopened against Argentina’s Vice President Fernández, adding to her legal woes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A federal appeals court in Argentina reopened a money laundering investigation into Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on Tuesday, increasing her legal woes just weeks before she leaves office and loses her immunity from arrest.Fernández, 70, who served as president from 2007 to 2015, leaves office when President-elect Javier Milei is sworn in on Dec. 10. She already has been sentenced to six years in prison in a separate corruption case involving her ties to family friend and businessman Lázaro Báez.That sentence, issued in December 2022, isn’t firm until appeals are decided, which could take years, and anyway she has been immune from arrest while still in office. Now, her advancing age could spare her time behind bars, because detainees who are 70 or older generally are granted house arrest in Argentina.On Tuesday, the federal appeals court judges decided in a 2-1 ruling to revoke her earlier dismissal from a case involving money launderin...

LGBTQ+ rights group sues over Iowa law banning school library books, gender identity discussion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

Several families are suing to stop Iowa’s new law that bans books from school libraries, forbids teachers from raising LGBTQ+ issues and forces educators in some cases to out the gender identity of students to their parents.The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Lambda announced the federal lawsuit Tuesday, saying the law passed earlier this year by the Republican-led Legislature and enacted this fall “seeks to silence LGBTQ+ students, erase any recognition of LGBTQ+ people from public schools, and bans books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content.”Under the law, educators are forbidden from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through grade six, and school administrators are required to notify parents if students ask to change their pronouns or names. The law’s section that bans books depicting sex acts from school libraries includes an exception for religious texts, like the Christian Bible.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Iowa Safe Scho...

Devin Hester, Julius Peppers advance to semifinal stage for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:53 GMT

Three-time All-Pros Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates were chosen as semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024 in their first year of eligibility.Peppers and Gates headline a group of 25 modern-day semifinalists announced Tuesday by the Hall of Fame from a group of 173 nominees announced in September. The only other player who advanced to the semifinal stage for the first time was running back Tiki Barber.Eight players who made it to the final stage of 15 in the class of 2023 return as semifinalists this year with Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Torry Holt, Patrick Willis, Willie Anderson and Darren Woodson all looking to get in after falling short a year ago.CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears is blocked by Chris Spencer #65 of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)The other semifinali...