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Florida Republicans pass school bills on pronouns, diversity

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republicans on Wednesday approved bills to ban diversity programs in colleges and prevent students and teachers from being required to use pronouns that don’t correspond to someone’s biological sex, building on top priorities of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.The two proposals were given final passage by the Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate. DeSantis is expected to sign the bills into law.DeSantis, who is expected to announce a presidential campaign in the coming weeks, has driven a hardline conservative agenda as he seeks to bolster support of Republican primary voters ahead of his White House run.The state’s Legislative session, scheduled to end this week, has been dominated by divisive cultural issues, with Republican allies of DeSantis approving his priority bills on sexual orientation, gender identity, race and education that are expected to aid the governor in his presidential bid.The Senate on Wednesday voted ...

Victims’ families question release of Oklahoma sex offender

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

HENRYETTA, Okla. (AP) — A mother of a sex offender’s wife said investigators told her he shot all six victims in the head before killing himself.Law enforcement authorities have released no details about how they died or who killed them since the bodies were found on Monday.But Janette Mayo said investigators with the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office told her Wednesday that Jesse McFadden, 39, shot and killed all the victims, including her daughter, Holly Guess, 35, before turning the gun on himself.“They were all shot in the head,” Mayo said. “My daughter was shot multiple times.”Family members have questioned how a rapist accused of soliciting nude images from another teen while behind bars was ever allowed to go free.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.The shooting happened as a series of ominous text messages — sent by McFadden to his young accuser hours before his trial was to begin on felony charges of soliciting and possessing images of chil...

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen to carry Canada’s flag at crowning of King Charles in London

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

OTTAWA — Before Astronaut Jeremy Hansen gets a chance to wear Canada’s colours on a flight around the moon next year, he will carry the Canadian flag at the coronation of the country’s new King.The Prime Minister’s Office released a list of dignitaries and eminent Canadians who will join him and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at Westminster Abbey this weekend as King Charles is officially crowned.The list includes Indigenous and youth leaders, astronaut Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons, historian Margaret MacMillan and Cross of Valour recipient Leslie Arthur Palmer. Simon’s itinerary for the trip includes an audience with the King on Thursday at Buckingham Palace, where they will be joined by the leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council.The King was officially proclaimed Canada’s monarch in a ceremony in September in Ottawa attended by both Trudeau and Simon.The prime minister and Governor General also attended Queen Elizab...

S&P/TSX composite down as crude drops below US$70 per barrel, U.S. markets also lower

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index posted a small loss Wednesday, weighed down by weakness in energy stocks as the price of oil fell below US$70 a barrel, while U.S. stock markets were also down after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates again. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 52.88 points at 20,354.68.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 270.29 points at 33,414.24. The S&P 500 index was down 28.83 points at 4,090.75,while the Nasdaq composite was down 55.18 points at 12,025.33.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.44 cents US,compared with 73.43 cents US on Tuesday. The June crude contract was down US$3.06 at US$68.60 per barreland the June natural gas contract was down four cents at US$2.17 per mmBTU.The June gold contract was up US$13.70 at US$2,037.00 an ounce and the July copper contract was down two cents at US$3.85 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)T...

Proposed Canadian grocery code lays out process to resolve disputes, impose sanctions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

Efforts to craft a Canadian grocery code of conduct have reached a major milestone with a proposed final version that includes a process to resolve disputes and impose sanctions on systemic violators of the code. However, the language in a copy of the proposed code obtained by The Canadian Press appears to stop short of imposing fines on companies that fail to adhere to its principles. Still, Michael Graydon, co-chair of the steering committee overseeing the industry-developed code, said the voluntary code has a number of potential deterrence measures to encourage compliance, such as potentially publicizing “consistent bad behaviour.”“It has teeth. Are they as sharp as some may like? Maybe not,” said Graydon, also the CEO of supplier industry group Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada.“But if we get alignment and co-operation, we may not need to have to resort to fines anyways.”The grocery code is about creating more balance in industry&...

Jeff O’Neill returns to TSN radio show after being on leave

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

Canadian broadcaster and former NHL winger Jeff O’Neill returned to TSN’s 1050 “OverDrive” almost a week after being on leave for unspecified reasons.O’Neill hadn’t appeared on the 1050 sports radio show since last week and was absent on Monday, a few days after the Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.The 47-year-old tweeted before the start of “OverDrive” on Wednesday, “Really appreciate everyone reaching out. I’ll see you guys at 4 p.m.”Really appreciate everyone reaching out. I’ll see you you guys at 4pm ????— Jeff O’Neill (@odognine2) May 3, 2023O’Neill did not discuss the reasons behind his extended absence, only briefly explaining that he was happy to be back alongside co-hosts Bryan Hayes and Jamie “Noodles” McLennan.He said he appreciated everyone’s thoughts and messages, teasing that his brother had received many emails concerning his absence from ...

GOP subpoenas FBI over whistleblower’s claims about Biden

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top House Republican subpoenaed FBI Director Chris Wray on Wednesday for what he claimed are bureau records related to President Joe Biden and his family, basing the demand on newly surfaced allegations he said an unnamed whistleblower made to Congress.The White House said it was the latest example in the yearslong series of “unfounded, unproven” political attacks against Biden by Republicans ”floating anonymous innuendo.”Kentucky Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee and Accountability, is seeking a specific FBI form from June 2020 that is a report of conversations or interactions with a confidential source. Comer, in a letter to Wray with Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, said that “it has come to our attention” that the bureau has such a document that “describes an alleged criminal scheme” involving Biden and a foreign national “relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions” when Biden was vice president and includes ...

Jamie Foxx shares first message since being hospitalized for 'medical complication'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

(KTLA) - Jamie Foxx remains in an Atlanta hospital following a "medical complication" he experienced weeks ago, but, in his first comment since the incident, says he is "feeling blessed." It's unknown what the medical emergency was that landed the actor in the hospital and there are no details as to his condition now. On April 12, Foxx's daughter Corinne posted to Instagram alerting the public of her father's medical issue. "We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday," she wrote on behalf of the Foxx family. Jackson Mahomes arrested, charged with sexual battery "Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers," the statement read. "The family asks for privacy during this time."On Wednesday, Foxx posted for the first time since being hospitalized, writing, "Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed."Foxx is the host of the popular game show...

Overdose death rate involving fentanyl tripled in recent years: CDC

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

(The Hill) – Drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl more than tripled from 2016 to 2021 in the United States, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new CDC data from the Vital Statistics Rapid Release Program showed that drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl jumped from 5.7 per 100,000 (standard population) in 2016 to 21.6 in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl jumped by about 24%.Fentanyl-involved overdose deaths were the highest among drug-related deaths the CDC analyzed and included more deaths than methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone and heroin. Among the ages of 25 to 64, fentanyl also had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths. Feds: 288 ‘digital drug lords’ busted selling fentanyl online The highest rate of drug overdose deaths in eight of the 10 regions in the United States in 2021 was also attributed to fentanyl. Region 8 and Region 10, which combined include Colorado, Montana, North Dak...

'Monster': Families left reeling after 5 children identified among bodies found on Oklahoma property

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:42:51 GMT

HENRYETTA, Okla. (KFOR) – After seven bodies were found at the residence of a registered sex offender on Monday afternoon, loved ones of the deceased have identified all seven as the convicted sex offender, his wife, her children and two other teens.Justin and Ashleigh Webster told Nexstar's KFOR that their 14-year-old daughter Ivy was supposed to be home Sunday night.When she didn't come back when she was supposed to, they filed a missing persons report.Nathan Brewer also filed a report for his 15-year-old daughter, Brittany.An Amber Alert was pushed out Monday morning for the two girls, also saying they were likely with 39-year-old Jesse McFadden.Ivy Webster. Image provided by Justin Webster.Brittany Brewer. Image provided by Nathan Brewer.Jesse McFadden. Image provided by Okmulgee County Sheriff.After hours of waiting, law enforcement agencies started flying by the Webster's home."We were scared. We just wanted to get our girl back. We were losing hope," said Justin Webster. Su...