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June byelections will be monitored for foreign interference, government says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government says the Security and Intelligence Threats Task Force will be closely monitoring byelections in four ridings next month for signs of interference. Votes are being held June 19 in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount, Oxford, Portage–Lisgar and Winnipeg South Centre. The task force, known as SITE, is expected to provide regular assessments of foreign interference threats to a committee of deputy ministers, who will brief members of cabinet if needed. SITE is also tasked with preparing two reports — one classified, and one unclassified — about any attempts at interfering in the byelections. The measures come in response to growing concerns about China’s alleged attempts to meddle in the last two federal elections, and accusations that Beijing has tried to intimidate members of Parliament and their families. Conservative MP Michael Chong is set to testify this evening at the House of Commons procedure committee about a CSIS report that alleges a Chinese d...

Chicken loose on subway tracks halts service in Mexico City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Service was temporarily halted on a line of Mexico City’s subway system after a chicken got loose on the tracks.Video distributed by the city’s Metro system showed the electricity cut off at a station near the city’s center on Monday.The video showed maintenance personnel and civil defense officers in hard hats chasing the chicken around the tracks with brooms, gloves and a trash bag.The chicken eluded several attempts to capture it before one worker tossed his coat over the animal. The metro system said service was quickly restored after the incident.Mexico City’s subway system has been plagued by a series of incidents that city officials had claimed were sabotage. Earlier this year a woman was arrested, but later released, after bits of a plastic washing machine agitator fell on the subway tracks at another station. It was later determined the incident was accidental.Accidents on the subway have been a recurrent embarrassment for Mexico City Mayor Claudia ...

Elliot Page to launch memoir in Canada with TIFF ‘In Conversation With’ event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

TORONTO — Elliot Page is set to speak in Toronto following the release of his memoir “Pageboy” next month.The “In Conversation With” event hosted by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on June 16 will serve as the Halifax-born actor’s Canadian book launch. The conversation will be moderated by filmmaker Chase Joynt, as part of TIFF’s Pride month celebrations. Page, the Oscar-nominated star of “Juno,” “Inception” and “The Umbrella Academy,” came out as transgender in December 2020.He continues to star in “The Umbrella Academy” and has also stepped behind the camera, founding Page Boy Productions in 2021.His memoir is set for release June 6.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.The Canadian Press

B.C. casinos will require all to show government ID under self-exclusion program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

VANCOUVER — Everyone who enters a British Columbia casino will soon be required to present government-issued identification, in what the BC Lottery Corporation says is an initiative to support people who have registered for self-exclusion.The corporation says the measure will be rolled out this summer, with more details to be announced in coming weeks, including the implementation date.It says security staff will scan IDs that will be automatically checked against a list of people who are taking part in the Game Break self-exclusion program, but the system will not store any personal information for people allowed to enter a casino.The Crown corporation says in a statement it wants to have the “healthiest players in the world” and participants in the Game Break program believe identification checks are the best way of enforcing their choice not to be allowed into casinos.It says players are already required to carry identification, which may be requested to confirm age o...

Alberta UCP says NDP economic plan will kill jobs and cause people to flee

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

CALGARY — The United Conservative Party says the NDP’s economic plan will kill jobs and cause people to flee Alberta.Brian Jean, a candidate in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche, held a news conference in Calgary to respond to the NDP plan that was released earlier in the day.Albertans go to the polls on May 29.The NDP plan, which forecasts a $3.3-billion surplus over three years, includes an increase to the corporate tax rate to 11 per cent from eight per cent to increase revenue.Jean says that equals a 38 per cent tax increase for Alberta businesses.He wasn’t able to say whether the UCP would release its costed economic plan, but says Albertans can look at this year’s provincial budget for more information.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.The Canadian Press

1 dead, 1 hurt after shooting on Eisenhower; inbound lanes closed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

CHICAGO — One person is dead and another is wounded after a shooting on the Eisenhower Expressway near Cicero Avenue, resulting in the closure of inbounds lanes. Just before 11:45 a.m., ISP responded to an expressway shooting that wounded a man and a woman. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital in serious condition, where the man was later pronounced dead. Jamie Foxx being treated in Chicago: report No word at this time as to what led to the shooting. ISP added that eastbound I-290 traffic is being diverted off at Harlem Avenue while troopers investigate. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesSKyCam9 flew above the scene. Anyone who witnessed or knows about this incident is asked to contact the ISP by phone at (847) 294-4400 or by email at [email protected]. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Cubs make pitching staff adjustments as road trip continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

CHICAGO — After an uneven start to the 2023 season, the Cubs have decided to have one of their young starting pitchers spend some time in Triple-A while also trying to revamp their bullpen a bit.A number of Cubs moves today include:.- Hayden Wesneski to Iowa- Brad Boxberger to IL (Right Forearm Strain)- Jeremiah Estrada to majors- Adrian Sampson to 60-day IL.@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/88xqGmcZUH— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) May 15, 2023Hayden Wesneski, who has had an uneven start to the 2023 season, was sent down to Triple-A Iowa after allowing seven runs and four homers in a loss to the Twins on Saturday. He'd only allowed one earned run in his previous three starts but had a few rougher outings early, sporting an overall ERA of 5.03. Another pitcher who was struggling and had a bad outing Saturday, Brad Boxberger, is headed to the 15-day IL retroactive to May 14 with a right forearm strain. He allowed three earned runs on three hits in less than an inning at Target Field Satu...

Cook County program to bring mental health professionals to public housing communities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Cook County is launching a new program to bring mental health professionals to people in public housing.Over the past few months, political conversations have merged with mental health conversations. It has been said that mental health advocacy is needed in communities.On Tuesday, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced that the county board and county health are teaming up together to bring behavioral health to public housing communities in Cook County.In fact, the plan is to have behavioral health care coordinators at all 18 public housing sites in the housing authorities of suburban Cook County. 2 in serious condition after shooting on Eisenhower; inbound lanes closed This is happening through the American Rescue Plan Act, receiving $5.8 million in federal money to create opportunities for case management, therapy, counseling, housing stability support, workforce development and referrals to other resources.Preckwinkle said she hopes the initiativ...

Soft contact lenses may contain toxic ‘forever chemicals,’ research finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- Many types of soft contact lenses available in the U.S. could contain toxic “forever chemicals,” new research has found.All 18 sets of soft contacts evaluated in a recent consumer study came back with various levels of organic fluorine — an indicator for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The 18 sets, from three major brands, were sent to a laboratory certified by the Environmental Protection Agency by the Mamavation eco-wellness website, to determine just how much of this PFAS building block was present in each product.“Your eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of your body,” Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health and the National Toxicology Program, said in a statement.“Therefore, it’s concerning to see the presence of organic fluorine, which is likely a type of PFAS, found in all soft contact lens products tested,” Birnbaum added. WHO advises against artificial sweeteners ...

Village People send Trump cease-and-desist over 'Macho Man' use at Mar-a-Lago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:00 GMT

(The Hill) - Famed musical group the Village People has sent former President Trump a cease-and-desist letter over his usage of their hit song "Macho Man."Karen Willis, the band's manager and wife of lead singer Victor Willis, sent Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, the letter on Monday, calling into question a recent performance at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.A coverband's recent performance of the group's song at Trump's Florida resort caused "confusion," as many believed the imitation group was the actual band, Willis argued in the letter.Willis also took issue with the coverband dressing similarly to the Village People, saying, "the use of the group's image and likeness at Mar-a-Lago was unauthorized," and a trademark violation.The Village People have spoken out about Trump's usage of their music before, notably in 2020 when they penned a Facebook post saying he had been "respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line."Monday's letter, a copy of which was obtain...