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Pope suggests blessings for same-sex unions possible in response to 5 conservative cardinals

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has suggested there could be ways to bless same-sex unions, responding to five conservative cardinals who challenged him to affirm church teaching on homosexuality ahead of a big meeting where LGBTQ+ Catholics are on the agenda.The Vatican on Monday published a letter Francis wrote to the cardinals on July 11 after receiving a list of five questions, or “dubia,” from them a day earlier. In it, Francis suggests that such blessings could be studied if they didn’t confuse the blessing with sacramental marriage.The Vatican holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed gay marriage. But even Francis has voiced support for civil laws extending legal benefits to same-sex spouses, and Catholic priests in parts of Europe have been blessing same-sex unions without Vatican censure.Francis’ response to the cardinals, however, marks a reversal from the Vatican’s current official position. In an explanat...

Toronto man arrested after fatal shooting near Kensington Market

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

A Toronto man is facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with a fatal downtown shooting near Kensington Market earlier this year.On Aug. 21, officers were called to the area of College Street and Spadina Avenue around 4:50 a.m. for reports that someone had been shot.Police say there were a group of males arguing outside when one man allegedly pulled out a gun and shot another man.A man in his 40s was found outside a storefront on Spadina with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he was eventually pronounced dead.The victim has been identified as 41-year-old Oluwobi ‘Tobi’ Alaga of Toronto.On Saturday, investigators arrested a suspect in Innisfil Ont., south of Barrie, with help from Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and South Simcoe Police.Toronto resident Carlos Swaby-Palacios, 26, is facing a first-degree murder charge. The accused appeared in a Toronto courtroom on Sunday.Anyone with additional information is being ask...

10 people are dead after Mexico church roof collapses. No more survivors believed buried in rubble

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

CIUDAD MADERO, Mexico (AP) — The collapse of a church roof during a mass in northern Mexico has killed at least 10 people and injured 60, and searchers said Monday that no further people were believed to be trapped in the wreckage. State police had initially estimated about 100 people were inside the church in the Gulf coast city of Ciudad Madero when it collapsed during a baptism Sunday, and said that approximately 30 parishioners may have been trapped in the rubble when the roof caved in.But Tamaulipas state Gov. Américo Villarreal later said only 70 may have been inside. Villarreal said that, after sending search dogs and thermal imaging cameras under the collapsed concrete slab, it appeared that nobody was still trapped, apart from the ten bodies already recovered. “The most likely thing, I can’t affirm it 100%, is that there aren’t any more people trapped,” Villarreal said. Describing the searches by dogs and rescue teams, he said “there are no indications of life i...

Philadelphia journalist who advocated for homeless and LGBTQ+ communities shot and killed at home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A journalist and advocate who rose from homelessness and addiction to serve as a spokesperson for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable was shot and killed at his home early Monday, police said. Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times at about 1:30 a.m. and collapsed in the street after seeking help, police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. Police believe the door to his Point Breeze home was unlocked or the shooter knew how to get in, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. No arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered, they said.Authorities haven’t spoken publicly about the circumstances surrounding the killing.“Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing. His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did — and his light was dimmed much too soon,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement. Kruger handled social media ...

5 years later, pregnant Chicago postal worker Kierra Coles still missing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago family continues searching for a missing postal worker nearly five years after her disappearance.Kierra Coles disappeared on Oct. 2, 2018, from an area near East 83rd Street and South King Drive, in the city’s Chatham neighborhood. Surveillance video captured her leaving her apartment, dressed in her work uniform. Her car was later found on that block with her purse and phone inside. Coles was three months pregnant at the time that she went missing. ‘I’m never going to give up’: Family members search for answers 5 years after disappearance of pregnant postal worker She would have turned 31-years-old last Sunday. Her family marked her birthday by asking the public for any tips or information that may help them find her.Anyone with info on Coles' disappearance can leave a tip for police at CPDtip.com. Tips can be left anonymously.

5 takeaways from a near shutdown and Washington’s dysfunction

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

(The Hill) – The government did not shut down Sunday, surprising just about everyone.Instead, lawmakers rallied around a 47-day “clean” stopgap measure that did nothing to support Ukraine or deal with the border crisis.The result is that the House and Senate will have to figure out a way to keep the government open again in a little more than a month if they want to prevent a Thanksgiving shutdown.They’ll also have to prevent a closure as Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) works under repeated threats to his job.Here are five takeaways.McCarthy escapes again — but trouble is around the cornerMcCarthy’s ability to surprise — repeatedly snatching a semblance of political victory from the jaws of defeat — is becoming something to behold.Throughout last week, it seemed certain that the government would close and that he would get the blame.That this didn’t happen made it a pretty good outcome for the Speaker, even though Democrats got much of what they wanted from the new funding law.The...

Midday Fix: ALTSO's 12th Annual Rocktoberfest-Chicago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

We are performing for the 12th annual A Leg To Stand on Benefit Thursday October 5th at City Winery. ALTSO gives children from developing countries free prosthetic care until they are 21. ALTSO's 12th Annual Rocktoberfest-Chicago Thursday, October 5 · 6 - 11pm City Winery Chicago1200 West Randolph Street Chicago, IL 60607altso.org/rocktoberfestchicagowww.altso.org www.altsoallstars.com 

Man arrested in Goshen following police pursuit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

GOSHEN, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A man was arrested in Goshen following a pursuit with law enforcement, according to State Police. Justin Cedeno, 20, of Plainsfield, New Jersey, faces multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On October 1 at 11:30 a.m., a trooper observed a 2012 Mazda 3 speeding on State Route 17 westbound in Goshen. The driver, later identified as Cedeno, reportedly attempted to elude police. Cedeno was then spotted around 12 p.m. on Fletcher Street, where the pursuit continued onto Cheechunk Road and 6 1/2 Station Road. Cedeno's vehicle then became disabled after it left the roadway and struck a railroad tie, totaling the car. Multiple agencies searching for missing child in Saratoga County According to police, Cedeno stated that he fled because he thought his license was suspended. However, a check of his license by troopers revealed that his license was not suspended at the time of the incident. Cedeno ...

Participating lineup for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

FISHKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is returning this fall from October 30 to November 12. The bi-yearly restaurant week spans eight counties and has over 130 restaurants participating. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Produced each spring and fall by “Valley Table Magazine,” participating restaurants offer prix fixe lunches and dinners for $24.95, $29.95, $39.95, or $44.95. Dine-in and/or takeout options will be available depending on the restaurant.You can view the special menus for each restaurant on the Valley Table website. Here are the participating restaurants broken down by county. Multiple agencies searching for missing child in Saratoga County DutchessAroma Osteria in Wappingers FallsCosimo’s Trattoria in PoughkeepsieEleven 11 Grille & Spirits in FishkillFarm to Table Bistro in FishkillFarmers & Chefs in PoughkeepsieFeeling Kinda Kozy in FishkillFlores Tapas Restaurant & Bar ...

New bill signed to expand Move Over law to include disabled cars

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:29:54 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A new piece of legislation aimed at expanding New York's Slow Down/Move Over requirement was signed into law by Governor Hochul. The legislation would require motorists to be cautious when approaching a disabled car on a highway or a parkway. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Beforehand, motorists would only have to reduce speed and move from the lane when approaching emergency lights from police cars, emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and maintenance workers.“This bill will decrease the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries that occur due to crashes involving a stopped or disabled vehicle on our roadways," said Senator Lea Webb, who sponsored the bill.According to AAA, between 2016 and 2020, over 1,700 were hit by cars while they were outside of a disabled vehicle. 37 of those were people who were killed in New York. New bill aims to improve school zone safety in Albany "Until now, the Slow Down/Mov...