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Governor raises gay pride flag over Wisconsin Capitol in show of support for LGBTQ+ community

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A gay pride flag rose over the Wisconsin Capitol on Thursday in a sign of support for the LGBTQ+ community as it weathers heightened attacks from conservatives across the country.Democratic Gov. Tony Evers ordered the flag raised during a noon ceremony as dozens of spectators looked on. The flag will fly over the Capitol throughout the month of June in recognition of Pride month below the U.S. and the Wisconsin state flag.The Village People’s “YMCA” and Abba’s “Dancing Queen” played from speakers before the ceremony began. Spectators were decked in T-shirts that read “Be Kind” and “You Are Loved.”The governor told the crowd he was “jazzed as hell” to be there. He acknowledged the LGBTQ+ community is under attack and conservative rhetoric about the community has emboldened hate. Raising the flag sends a message to everyone who wants to belong and find a home, he said.“You belong here. You are welcome here,” Evers said to applause. “It’s a ...

Forest fire forces evacuation of 500 homes in Chapais in northern Quebec

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency said Thursday that two wildfires were burning out of control in the province, including one in northern Quebec that has led to the evacuation of about 500 homes.A forest fire remained out of control in Chapais, a community of just over 1,500 in northern Quebec. On Wednesday evening, the community located east of Chibougamau announced that residents in the southern part of the town had to evacuate.“That fire, just under 1,400 hectares, was declared yesterday, (and) because of conditions on the ground, weather conditions, it quickly became out of control,” said Mélanie Morin, a spokeswoman for the prevention agency, known as SOPFEU.“Water bombers are back on the scene today. As well, we have heavy machinery that are working to create a fireguard between the fire and the town of Chapais.”Chapais Mayor Isabelle Lessard told reporters no major damage was reported in the town but closer inspection will be requ...

Bill Blair blames CSIS director for not passing along memo warning of threats to MP

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

OTTAWA — Bill Blair is blaming Canadian Security Intelligence Service director David Vigneault for the fact he didn’t receive a memo warning about the alleged targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family by a Chinese diplomat.“The director determined this was not information the minister needed to know,” Blair said Thursday afternoon.The former public safety minister made the comments at a meeting of a parliamentary committee that is investigating allegations that members of Parliament were targeted by foreign interference. Blair’s appearance follows the release of watchdog David Johnston’s first report, which found there were serious issues with the way the government handles confidential information.The former governor general’s report concluded that CSIS was aware of indications Chinese officials were contemplating action directed at Canadian MPs, but did not identify negligence at the highest political levels.Johnston concluded th...

Quebec government moves to ban planned obsolescence, ensure products can be repaired

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

QUEBEC — The Quebec government wants to ban the sale of products that aren’t intended to last and reinforce consumers’ ability to repair the products they buy.It says planned obsolescence and steps taken by manufactures to limit the ability of consumers to repair products are costing Quebecers thousands of dollars and hurting the environment. “It’s normal that these goods need maintenance or repairs from time to time. What’s not normal is that replacement parts aren’t available or the device breaks when you try to repair it,” Kariane Bourassa, the parliamentary assistant to the minister of justice, told reporters in Quebec City. A bill introduced by the province’s justice minister Thursday would ban the sale of products whose obsolescence is planned as well as require manufacturers and retailers to ensure replacement parts and repair services are available at a reasonable price for the products they sell in the province.If the bill is ...

Markham’s Buttonville Airport to close this fall

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

The years-long debate over the future of Markham’s Buttonville Airport is finally coming to an end.Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport is planning to stop all operations effective November 30, 2023.In a letter addressed to the airport’s staff and tenants and obtained by CityNews, Derek Sifton, President of Toronto Airways Limited, said a lease agreement which has allowed the airport to continue operating is expiring.“Today we would like to announce that the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport will cease operations on November 30, 2023” Sifton said.“Since 2010, the airport has been operating under a land lease with Cadillac Fairview which has now reached its natural expiry, and they may look to redevelop the airport site at some time in the future.”The letter goes on to thank the airport staff, contractors, and tenants for their loyalty and dedication.When reached by phone on Thursday, Sifton confirmed the planned closure of the airport to CityNews.CityNews has reached out to Mil...

Family loses everything in move to Kansas, but new neighbors step in to help

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — For Matthew and Lindsey Fuller, Wednesday was supposed to be one of the happiest days of their lives. The couple and their son were moving from Utah to Kansas to their first home as Matthew Fuller prepared for his first job out of college.What should have been a day to move heavy furniture, open boxes and look forward to the future turned into what can be described as a nightmare."We had everything written down of what room was going to have what furniture, and where our son, Henry, was going to sleep, and, and where his crib was going to be, and all his toys," Matthew Fuller said. "And it's hard to come here with nothing."He said a bright red truck and 26-foot trailer filled with his family's belongings were stolen from a hotel parking lot in Denver. He fears several precious memories are gone forever.A family in the process of moving from Utah to Kansas had their truck and trailer stolen from an Aurora hotel parking lot. (Photo courtesy of Matt Fuller)"Our b...

Former Attorney General Ken Paxton is now suspended without pay after impeachment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was suspended last week after he was impeached from office, he will now be suspended with no pay, according to a letter from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.On Saturday, the Texas House voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton.The vote approved the 20 articles of impeachment that the House General Investigating Committee laid out Thursday. These articles were the result of a two-month investigation that began after Paxton asked to use state funds to settle a $3.3 million whistleblower lawsuit filed by four former employees who accused him of wrongdoing.The letter from the Texas Comptroller said in part, "Per the Texas Constitution Article 15, Section 5, 'all officers against whom articles of impeachment may be preferred shall be suspended from the exercise of the duties of their office, during the pendency of such impeachment."Furthermore, no salary payment may occur to Paxton while in suspended status, according to the ...

Austin voted for a record housing bond. Here's where the first $20 million are going

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 1, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Of the record $350 million dollars you voted to put towards affordable housing in 2022, Austin City Council has signed off on $45 million of it to be used this fiscal year. Many of those projects are starting to land on council agendas already. On Thursday, eight projects were taken up during the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) meeting that will be partially funded by 2022 bond dollars, including $1.5 million for improvements at the AHA! at Briarwood and more than $6 million for development of Cairn Point, which will be a 150 unit complex in north Austin. Austinites voted for more affordable housing. Where did your money go? In all, council approved more than $20 million in 2022 bond money Thursday. "The money comes to us at different stages. They [city staff] don't give us all projects at once. What they'll do is they'll say 'here's a piece of it and here's what we pl...

Man flown to Austin hospital after bee attack in Fayette County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

PLUM, Texas (KXAN) — A bee attack in Fayette County led to an injured man being flown to Austin for treatment and first responders getting stung trying to help him. Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek said deputies along with Fayette County EMS responded to a call Tuesday afternoon about a man lying on the ground "being attacked by bees," according to a news release. This happened on Plum Main Street in the community of Plum, which is about an hour southeast of Austin near La Grange. The sheriff said one of his deputies first used a fire extinguisher to stop the bees from swarming the man on the ground. IN-DEPTH: What should I do if I’m caught in a bee swarm attack? Korenek said that the same deputy along with EMS personnel and a neighbor "suffered several stings and breathing the dry powder discharge from the extinguisher during the emergency." An ambulance eventually took the man in critical condition to the Smithville airport, where he got flown to Dell Seton in Austin for mo...

LIVE: House impeachment managers to name attorneys for Paxton trial

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:17:07 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The House panel overseeing the looming Senate impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton is expected to announce the lawyers Thursday who will act as prosecutors in the case.The press conference starts at 3 p.m. You can watch it live in this story or on Facebook.Paxton impeachment trialThe Texas Senate will ultimately act as the jury in the impeachment trial against Paxton, who will remain responded from his position until the outcome is known. On Monday the upper chamber voted to hold the trial no later than Aug. 28. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named seven senators to a special committee that will work to outline the rules for the trial to proceed. They're scheduled to present those to the full Senate during a meeting on June 20. The Texas House of Representatives approved 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton, the three-term Republican, on May 29 by a vote of 121-23. These articles came as a result of a committee's two-month investigation that began after Pax...