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Details on new federal infrastructure funding expected this fall: LeBlanc

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

WHISTLER, B.C. — Details on the “next generation” of federal infrastructure funding programs are on track to be released this fall, Infrastructure Minister Dominic LeBlanc said after meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts in British Columbia.LeBlanc said Wednesday that the conversations were a “very positive step in making sure that those programs are the right ones for the whole country, that we have long-term, predictable funding and the flexibility to respond to different priorities.”That’s after Canada’s premiers wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week pushing for more information on what would replace the $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which has been fully allocated as of March. The letter said provinces, territories and communities are facing unprecedented cost pressures on existing projects, while the absence of an announcement in this year’s federal budget has created uncer...

Apple engaged in ‘coercive’ interviews and other anti-union tactics at New York store, judge rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple illegally subjected employees to “coercive” interviews and interfered with the distribution of union leaflets at a New York City Apple Store, a U.S. labor board judge ruled Tuesday. The finding represents the first time that an administrative law judge at the National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency, has ruled against Apple. But it is not the last word on the subject; Apple is free to appeal the ruling to the agency’s full board or to federal appeals court.Apple had no comment on the ruling Wednesday.Lauren Esposito, the judge in the case, found that an Apple Store supervisor at the World Trade Center location had improperly asked an employee about his discussions with other workers about wage levels and about the employee’s opinion of unionization efforts across the company. Such activities ran afoul of U.S. labor law that protects the right of workers to organize, the judge wrote.Similarly, Esposito ruled that Apple managers had singl...

Larry Tanenbaum close to selling some of MLSE to an Ontario pension plan: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum is closing in on a deal to sell some of his shares in the company to an Ontario pension plan for an enterprise value of more than $8 billion, Sportico’s Scott Soshnik and Kurt Badenhausen reported Wednesday.OMERS, a pension plan for 540,000 Ontario municipal employees, is poised to buy an undisclosed amount of Tanenbaum’s shares.Sportico says the $8-billion value would be a record value for sports teams. The NBA and NHL would have to approve any deal.Tanenbaum owns 25 per cent of the company with Rogers Communications and Bell controlling the other 75 per cent. Sportico reports Rogers and Bell have right of first refusal to buy any shares in MLSE.Rogers has not yet responded to a request for comment.MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, Argonauts, Marlies, Toronto FC and Scotiabank Arena, along with other propertiesTanenbaum’s company, Kilmer Sports Inc., increased its stake in MLSE to 25 per cen...

Navajo Nation declares widespread Medicaid scam in Arizona a public health state of emergency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — A widespread Arizona Medicaid scam that has left an unknown number of Native Americans homeless on the streets of metro Phoenix is being declared a public health state of emergency by the Navajo Nation as fraudulent sober living homes lose their funding and turn former residents out onto the streets. The emergency declaration was issued late last week by the Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management and signed this week by Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, according to documents posted on the Facebook page of the tribe’s Operation Rainbow Bridge, which was created to deal with the scam’s effects on its enrolled members. “There are significant concerns about the impacts to Navajo Nation lives from abrupt displacement that have affected an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 Navajo individuals, particularly in the exacerbation of medical, and public health risks associated with lack of immediate intervention and preventive services,” the declaration reads. The...

2 people injured in Port Credit shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

Two people have been injured following a shooting in Port Credit. Peel police say they were called to the area of Wanita Road and Oakwood Avenue South just before 9 p.m. following reports of gunshots. When they arrived they found two individuals suffering from injuries. The severity of their injuries is unknown at this time. There is no suspect description available at this time.

Man accused in Washington music festival shooting may have been on psychedelic mushrooms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

QUNICY, Wash. (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding several others at a Washington music festival Saturday told police he was high on psychedelic mushrooms and believed the world was ending, according to court documents. U.S. Army Spc. James Kelly, of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is facing two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and domestic violence assault in Washington state’s Grant County Superior Court, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Kelly, 26, appeared in court Wednesday but did not enter a plea, news outlets reported. He is being held without bail. Efforts to locate an attorney representing Kelly weren’t successful Wednesday.Kelly and Lily Luksich, who have dated for about a year, together attended the Beyond Wonderland electronic dance music festival at the Gorge Amphitheater, court documents said. Kelly told police he took psychedelic mushrooms before walking to the concert venue, according to court documents...

Driver in hit-and-run crash near Guaranteed Rate Field charged

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

CHICAGO — The man who was behind the wheel in a hit-and-run crash that sent four people heading to a White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field has been charged, according to the Chicago Police Department.Condelarious Garcia, 20.Condelarious Garcia, 20, has been charged with four felony counts of failure to report accident and injury, four felony counts of aggravated reckless driving and bodily harm, one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license, and three citations — one for failure to reduce speed, one for operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and one for expiration of registration.Police said Garcia was arrested around 6:26 p.m. Tuesday on the Dan Ryan Expressway after being identified as the offender who — minutes earlier — was driving in the 300 block of 35th Street near Guaranteed Rate Field and struck four pedestrians before fleeing the scene and crashing on the Dan Ryan. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 4 pedestrians in hospital after hit-and-run near Guaranteed Rate Field; man i...

After delays, Texas Senate agrees on Paxton impeachment trial rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After two days of delays and private deliberation, the Texas Senate voted Wednesday night to approve rules for the upcoming impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton.The trial is scheduled to begin on September 5. Paxton is ordered to appear before the Senate at 9:00 a.m. on that date.The recommendations were drafted by a seven-member Senate committee that was appointed at the end of the regular legislation session in May. Back then, the upper chamber voted to allow the panel to work as a "caucus of the whole" — meaning, they are about to conduct business in private. The seven senators had broad power in forming how the Senate trial will operate, which could significantly impact Paxton’s prospects of keeping his position in an impending trial. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick vowed the trial will begin by Aug. 28 at the latest.State senators will serve as a jury and will ultimately vote whether to convict or acquit Paxton, who was immediately suspended a...

Thunderstorms moving through producing minor wind damage, frequent lightning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Strong to severe thunderstorms are moving into the area, capable of producing damaging wind gusts and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning and dropping temperatures to their coolest levels in a week and a half.Fredericksburg reported a 59 mph wind gust from the storms, while small tree limbs were reported broken by gusty winds in Hye and Twin Sisters (Blanco Co.), and in parts of Austin.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for all of the Austin Metro, parts of the Hill Country and all of our Eastern Counties until 11 p.m. for the potential of additional storms.Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 11 p.m.1-2" of rain is possible in the heavier storms as they bring brief, welcome heat relief tonight. BLOG: If June is this hot, what comes in July? Before the storms, Austin set an unofficial heat index record Wednesday afternoon on the first day of summer as "feels like" temperatures soared to 117°. A few isolated storms remain in the forecast Thursday and Friday, th...

Shaquille O'Neal to host Texas' 'largest bass music festival'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

DALLAS(KDAF)— Shaquille O'Neal, the legendary basketball player, is coming to Fort Worth, but he won't be shooting hoops this time. Instead, he will be headlining and hosting a bass music festival. Shaquille O’Neal buys home in Texas Shaq's Bass All-Stars festival will feature some of the biggest names in bass music, according to an event flyer.The Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, which is about 30 minutes from Dallas, will be the venue for the Sept. 16 festival.You can purchase pre-sale tickets now on Shaq's website. The festival will feature two stages and some of his favorite dubstep and bass acts, including:Alison WonderlandKai WachiSullivan KingCrankdatLayzEmorfikHairitageKozmozLeotrix...and many more, including Shaq aka DJ Diesel.