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Speaker McCarthy is running out of options to stop a shutdown as conservatives balk at a new plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy is running out of options as he races Monday to come up with a plan to keep the federal government from shutting down as even a proposal to include hardline border security provisions wasn’t enough to appease the far-right flank in his Republican House majority. The speaker told his Republican conference that they should be prepared to stay through this weekend to pass a stopgap measure, called a continuing resolution, that would keep government offices open past the Sept. 30 deadline. But many are already bracing for the heavy political fallout of a federal shutdown.“I’ve told all of Congress you’re not going to go home. We’re going to continue to work through this,” McCarthy said Monday at the Capitol. “Things that are tough sometimes are worth it.”He also suggested that time is still on his side and panned the idea of compromising with Democrats as he tries to pass the annual spending measures on his own, saying there were “a l...

Kim Petras surprise releases previously shelved debut album ‘Problematique,’ featuring Paris Hilton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kim Petras fans, the wait is over. The Grammy-award winning German popstar has surprise released her previously shelved and partially leaked debut album, “Problematique.”Across 10 tracks inspired by French house music released Monday, Petras’ makes a bold reclamation of her artistic autonomy: from the funk-y “Born Again,” to the smooth retro-pop of “Dirty Things” and the playfully materialistic “All She Wants,” which features “Stars Are Blind” singer Paris Hilton.“It was shocking when I found out part of the album leaked — at the time — that it wasn’t ever going to come out, especially as I poured so much of myself into it. I was heartbroken but, at the same time, it was really exciting to see my fans listening to the tracks and loving them,” Petras said in a statement to The Associated Press.“Now that I’m able to put them out, it’s just so freeing to have more music that I love out in the world and officially share them in a way that all my fans can hear th...

Pastor gets 60-day sentence for role in Alberta border blockade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — A Calgary pastor has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for his role in protests against COVID-19 public health measures that blocked Alberta’s main Canada-U.S. border crossing for more than two weeks. But a judge in Lethbridge, Alta., gave Artur Pawlowski 60 days’ credit for time already served.Justice Gordon Krinke said Monday that Pawlowski was not involved in the planning of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” and didn’t play a major role with his appearance at the border blockade. “Probation would serve no useful purpose as the accused does not believe he did anything wrong. He is not remorseful for the harm he has caused,” Krinke, with the Alberta Court of Justice, said in his decision. “Both the Crown and the defence are proposing a period of incarceration and I accept that. A period of incarceration is required in order to achieve the objectives of denunciation and deterrence.”In May, Pawlowski was found gui...

Oil execs at World Petroleum Congress see global demand growing, not falling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

CALGARY — Chief executives of the some of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies are meeting in Canada this week, united in their stance that “peak oil” isn’t about to put them out of business anytime soon.Against the backdrop of benchmark prices for West Texas Intermediate crude topping US$90 per barrel, the highest since November of last year, executives and government officials from around the world are gathering in Calgary for the 24th World Petroleum Congress.The event is one of the largest oil-and-gas conferences in the world, and has not been held in Canada since 2000.While the industry is under far greater pressure now than it was then to address its role in fueling climate change — 2022 was the hottest summer on record, according to climate scientists, and marred by wildfires and floods around the world — oil-and-gas leaders remain bullish on the future of their industry.“Today if you ask me … I would see around 110 million barrels per...

Undo Line 5 shutdown order, federal government’s filing urges U.S. appeals court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

WASHINGTON — Shutting down Line 5 would cause Canada “grave harm” and violate its treaty rights, government lawyers argued Monday as the federal government rejoined the legal fray over the controversial cross-border oil and gas pipeline.An amicus brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit marked Ottawa’s first foray into the ongoing legal dispute in Wisconsin, and its second since Michigan mounted a similar challenge in 2020.A Wisconsin court order issued in June gave Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. just three years — and not a day more — to reroute the pipeline around territory belonging to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Enbridge’s operations on Bad River territory “must cease” on June 16, 2026, regardless of whether the 66-kilometre detour around the reserve is complete, Wisconsin district court Judge William Conley ruled. Both sides are now appealing that decision. Canada has long argued that any court-ordered...

Pedestrian struck, killed on North Side during crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A pedestrian was struck and killed Monday morning on the North Side during a crash involving two vehicles.A Volkswagen Touareg, driven by an 18-year-old man, was traveling eastbound in the 2700 block of West Peterson at around 7:30 a.m. Police believe the man continued through a red light, striking a Nissan Sentra, driven by an 18-year-old woman.One of the vehicles then struck a pedestrian on the sidewalk. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Couple, 2 children, 3 dogs found dead inside Romeoville home: police The driver of the second vehicle was transported to St. Francis in fair condition. The driver who police believe caused the crash was issued a citation for failure to yield.CPD said detectives are continuing to investigate.

O'Hare looking for Traveler's Aid Chicago volunteers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago O'Hare International Airport is looking for volunteers who want to give back during the upcoming holiday season. More than a hundred people are needed to staff information desks for Traveler's Aid Chicago, a social service agency run by the Heartland Alliance. The volunteers assist more than half a million passengers who travel through the airport's terminals annually by providing resources and social referrals. Resources include providing directions, sharing information about the airport and Chicago and helping passengers who are lost, confused, or in crisis.  USPS holding 7 job fairs in Chicago area this week "Travelers Aid volunteers come from many of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs, and all share one main goal — to enhance the customer experience at O'Hare International Airport," said John Ishu, director of Travelers Aid Chicago. "Our volunteers passionately assist passengers from every corner of the world and are an invaluable part of the ...

Where refugees in Illinois are arriving from

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

(Stacker) -- During the past five decades, the U.S. has resettled over 3 million refugees, making it one of the leading countries for finding new homes for people fleeing violence, persecution, and war.In 2021, then-President Donald Trump lowered the annual cap of refugees that could be admitted into the country to 15,000. Even as the Biden administration has raised the ceiling to 125,000, the annual number of refugees arriving in the U.S. didn't immediately bounce back to pre-Trump administration levels. The numbers are increasing though, with over 25,000 refugees arriving in the U.S. in 2022, twice the 2021 total.Refugee arrivals in 2023 are on track to outpace the two previous years, with over 44,000 refugees arriving since January.In August 2023, the greatest number of refugees admitted by the U.S. came from Syria, Congo, and Afghanistan. Each nation faces a unique set of circumstances that can make their citizens unsafe if they stay in their home country.For the last ...

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash in West Loop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are asking for the public's help after a person was killed in an early-morning hit-and-run crash in the West Loop. The crash, which involved a pedestrian, happened around 2 a.m. on Sunday in the 1300 block of West Kinzie Street, according to Chicago police. Officers are now seeking information on a vehicle they believe was involved.Police say the driver of a dark blue 2011 Cadillac SUV allegedly hit a pedestrian while in the area before fleeing the scene. The person who was hit died from injuries sustained in the crash.  Pedestrian struck, killed on North Side during crash The SUV had an Illinois license plate with tag number "DV19629," police say. According to photos provided by Chicago police, the SUV also had silver hubcaps, a sunroof and a flag flying above the passenger side doors, at the time of the crash.Chicago police provided photos of a vehicle police believe was involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash in the West Loop on Sunday night. Police say an inves...

How Notre Dame paid tribute to a legendary Fighting Irish, Bears' QB on Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — While their focus is certainly on the moment as they continue their undefeated start to the 2023 season, Notre Dame also took Saturday to celebrate one of their greatest quarterbacks. You could say that the memory of the late Johnny Lujack was on the Irish player's minds on Saturday. The former Heisman Trophy winner, who also had a memorable stint with the Bears, was honored by Notre Dame players during the game against Central Michigan in South Bend. Players wore a shamrock decal on the back of their helmets with the No. 32 in the middle, which is what Lujack wore during his years with the Fighting Irish.They'd got on to beat Central Michigan 41-17 to improve to 4-0 on the season as they get ready to welcome No. 6 Ohio State this Saturday. It will be the Buckeyes' first visit to South Bend since 1996. Lujack, who died at the age of 98 on July 25 in Naples, Florida, was a three-time national champion, two-time unanimous All-American, and was the Heisman Trophy win...