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Michigan continues overhaul of gun laws with extended firearm ban for misdemeanor domestic violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrats who have transformed gun laws in the state in the wake of multiple mass school shootings are now making it more difficult for individuals with convictions for misdemeanor domestic violence from gaining access to guns.Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Monday that prohibits individuals convicted of a misdemeanor related to domestic violence from possessing firearms for at least an eight-year-period. State law currently includes firearm restrictions for those with felonies related to domestic abuse, but no law had existed for misdemeanor domestic violence.“These bills are based on a simple idea: if you have been found guilty in court for violently assaulting your partner, you should not be able to access a deadly weapon that you could use to further threatened, harm or kill them.” Whitmer said at a bill signing in Kalamazoo. “It’s just common sense.”The eight-year ban for misdemeanor domestic violence convictions is only the latest ...

Toronto releases 5-year mental health and harm reduction treatment strategy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

The City of Toronto has released its five-year mental health and harm reduction strategy with a focus on mental health and treatment.During a press conference on Monday, councillors Chris Moise and Ausma Malik outlined the seven main actions of “Our Health, Our City” aimed at mitigating substance use-related harms and fostering mental health and well-being.“This strategy is a testament to the dedication of a united front in addressing mental health, substance use and related challenges. Our health, our city is not just a document. It is a commitment to the well-being of every Torontonian,” said Moise.The actions include: Promoting mental health and wellbeingPreventing and reducing harms and deaths related to substance useExpanding access to the full continuum of high-quality, evidence-based and client-centred services to address mental health and/or substance use issues, including harm reduction and treatment supportsAdvancing community safety and well-being ...

Loans pave way for Abu Dhabi-backed fund to take over UK’s Telegraph newspaper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

An Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund said Monday it has paved the way to take ownership of Britain’s Telegraph newspaper and The Spectator magazine after striking a deal with the publications’ previous owners to repay debts owed by them. RedBird IMI — a joint venture between RedBird Capital, led by former CNN chief Jeff Zucker, and Abu Dhabi’s International Media Investments — said it has agreed to provide loans to Britain’s Barclay family and ensure the family’s debts to Lloyds Bank are paid. The Barclay family owned the right-leaning newspaper and magazine nefore they were put into receivership. The family also previously owned London’s luxurious Ritz Hotel before selling it in 2020.Earlier in the year, Lloyds Bank hired a restructuring specialist as receivers to control and help launch a sale process for the media business in order to repay debts worth some 1 billion pounds ($1.25 billion). Various media firms have been reported to be interested...

Ukraine sacks top cybersecurity officials in corruption probe involving software purchases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine fired its top two civilian cybersecurity officials on Monday as prosecutors announced an embezzlement investigation involving software purchases from 2020-2022 in which the head of the state intelligence service was allegedly involved.The sacked officials include Viktor Zhora, who is well-known internationally as the face of Ukraine’s much-heralded, Western-aided efforts to defend against incessant Russian hacking campaigns.Fired with Zhora was his boss, Yurii Shchyhol, head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection service, a senior cabinet official, Taras Melnychuk, announced on Telegram.Neither man was named in a statement by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, which said the head of state intelligence and his deputy and “the general director and employee of a state-owned enterprise” were among the suspects and that the Special Communications service was involved in the scheme.Ukraine has been plagued by corrupti...

Feds to appeal court ruling that struck down cabinet order labelling plastics toxic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

OTTAWA — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the federal government will appeal a recent Federal Court ruling that struck down a cabinet order underlying Ottawa’s ban of some single-use plastics.The decision on Nov. 16 said Ottawa had overstepped by labelling all “plastic manufactured items” as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.The toxic designation is required for the government to regulate the use of substances in Canada.Without it, the ban on six single-use plastic items, including straws, grocery bags and cutlery, won’t be able to stand.The court’s ruling did not suggest that the government could not label specific types of plastic items as toxic, but said there was no evidence that all of the thousands of products in that category are potentially harmful to people or the environment.Guilbeault says the government remains committed to fighting the scourge of plastic pollution and is exploring all options for moving forwar...

Fallen Chicago firefighter laid to rest Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter who died after battling a blaze on the city's North Side last week was laid to rest Monday. 39-year-old Andrew Price died after he fell through a light shaft while battling a fire that broke out at a tavern in Lincoln Park on Monday.According to CFD, a procession from the North side of Navy Pier to the east end will take place around 8:30 a.m.  NTSB: Preliminary investigation reveals design flaw likely to blame for CTA Yellow Line crash Private visitation will begin at 9 a.m. before public visitation begins at 10 a.m. CFD will then hold a walkthrough starting at 11:30 a.m. A service will then take place at noon at Navy Pier's Grand Ballroom.Following the service, a graveside assembly will be held outside on the east end of the pier and the procession will then move in reverse, from the east end to the north. 3 people, including police officer, injured in car crash on South Side Price, who was known as “Drew” by co-workers, join...

President Biden celebrates 81st birthday pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden participated in the annual tradition of The National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon on his 81st birthday at the White House Monday. The President kicked off the unofficial start to the holiday season during an event on the South Lawn where he pardoned two turkeys, named Liberty and Bell.The 42-pound male turkeys are named for the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were hatched and bred in Willmar, Minnesota, by the Jennie-O turkey company.  “Now just to get here Liberty and Bell had to beat some tough odds, the competition. They had to work hard to show patience and be willing to travel over 1,000 miles,” said President Biden.Liberty and Bell checked into a suite at the Willard Intercontinental on Saturday, after making the journey from Minnesota to Washington, D.C. Now that the two turkeys have been pardoned, they will return to their home state to be cared for by the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricul...

Glendale Heights officer kills wife in apparent murder-suicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

HOMER GLEN, Ill. — Authorities believe a suburban police officer shot and killed his wife in Homer Glen Sunday before turning the gun on himself.Officers responded to the 13600 block of Shannon Drive on the report of shots fired just after 5:45 p.m.A 911 caller stated she heard arguing which was followed by the sound of gunshots.At the scene, a man and a woman were found dead in the kitchen. The man was later identified as Glendale Heights police officer Michael Huff. Authorities believe Huff killed his wife and then himself.His wife, Jacquelyn "Jackie" Huff, was a village employee for Homer Glen."With extreme sadness, the Village of Homer Glen shares the loss of employee and friend, Jacquelyn Huff, in an isolated incident on Sunday," the village said. "This is all the information available at this time. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Out of respect to Jacquelyn, Village Offices will be closed today, November 20th and will resume regular business ho...

Texas businesses say abortion ban costs state nearly $15 billion a year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- 40 Texas companies and business leaders are entering the fight against Texas' abortion ban, filing a brief with the Texas Supreme Court that argues the "ambiguity" in the laws medical exceptions cost the state an estimated $14.5 billion in lost revenue every year.Austin-based dating app giant Bumble is leading the effort, submitting an amicus brief ahead of the high court's arguments in Zurwaski v. Texas. Lead plaintiff Amanda Zurwaski is challenging the state's abortion ban after she nearly died of sepsis due to a pregnancy complication. She says the Texas abortion ban's vague medical exceptions prevented her doctor from providing a medically necessary abortion until she had nearly died. Austin woman trying for baby says Texas abortion law nearly caused her death "We feel it’s our duty not just to provide our workforce with access to reproductive health care, but to speak out – and speak loudly – against the retrogression of women’s rights,” Bumble founder and...

Meeting set on Rockwell Falls Library reopening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:06 GMT

LAKE LUZERNE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Rockwell Falls Public Library will host a meeting this week to share information on what's kept the library doors closed - as well as what it will take to get them open again. The library board will be sharing information on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and will be recorded and shared on the library website. The event will go over a working plan to reopen the library, which closed in September. That closure was spurred by the departure of library director Courtney Kier, as well as two-thirds of its total staff.The little library found a spotlight earlier this year, when Kier came under community fire for a planned drag storytime event. Shortly before September's closure, the library passed a resolution against banning books. ‘Blessing Box’ helping the homeless in Glens Falls The meeting will be held at the library, 19 Main St. in Lake Luzerne. Tho...