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Kyle, Kulas: St. Paul sales tax referendum? Let’s hit ‘pause’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

The St. Paul Area and Midway Chambers have reservations about St. Paul’s 1% sales tax referendum, which we’re voting on in a week. While the intention is commendable — funding road repairs and improving park amenities — the repercussions cannot be overlooked.St. Paul businesses already have been subject to numerous new tax increases this year, including but not limited to the 1% seven-county metro sales tax for transit and housing, delivery fee, increased tab fees, gas-tax indexing, and 0.07% payroll tax to support paid family medical leave. We’re at the point where our members are saying “enough.” In fact, through surveying our members, both membership groups reported back a 77% opposition to the tax proposal.There are funding alternatives to increasing the local sales tax rate to the highest in the state, many of which are dedicated to core municipal services and street improvements. While these options might not be a panacea, they must be acknowledged and ...

Nicholas Kristof: The agonizing challenge of Gaza

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

JERUSALEM — The most consequential decision Israel will face in the coming days is how hard to continue hitting the Gaza Strip. Should it undertake a months-long ground invasion? Continue with large-scale aerial bombardment? Allow fuel into Gaza to keep hospitals running?Over the last week that I’ve spent reporting in Israel and the West Bank, I’ve tried to listen and learn. So let me share why I believe we’ll someday look back at this moment and see a profound moral and policy failure.But let me start with someone smart who has a different take.Ehud Barak, the former Israeli general, defense minister and prime minister, knows more about the military challenges of taking on Gaza than almost anybody. In 2009, he oversaw a major ground offensive against Hamas.I dropped by his home in Tel Aviv, Israel, and we sat in his office, surrounded by his collection of framed cartoons mocking him — he has a thick skin — as he argued in favor of a ground invasion as the only way to crush Hamas.“T...

‘Fellow Travelers’ review: A secret 30-year love affair begins amid the 1950s Lavender Scare

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

Nina Metz | Chicago Tribune“You have a beautiful family, a beautiful life,” says one old friend to another. “I hope it was worth it.”In “Fellow Travelers,” the Showtime limited series adapted from the 2007 novel of the same name, “it” means living in the closet, which has been professionally beneficial for the sleekly handsome Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer) — it’s the 1980s and he’s about to take a diplomatic posting in Milan — but devastating on his soul.We flash back 30 years to the ‘50s, when he meets and seduces the very earnest and very Catholic Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) at a Washington, D.C., party. They fall in lust and then in love, all in secret, during Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare hunt for communists, which extends out to include gay people as well: The Lavender Scare. Any opportunity to remind audiences of the cruel depravity and hypocrisy of McCarthy and right-hand man Roy Cohn is aces in my book.This matters because the two men in our central couple have governmen...

Unity House offers resources to survivors of domestic violence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Unity House has served the community in Rensselaer County for over 50 years and offers a wide range of services to survivors of domestic violence. Employees shared some signs to look out for as well as services they offer. Liza Warner was only 29 years old when she was murdered by her husband. He shot her at close range before dying by suicide. Her mom Martha Lasher-Warner said Monday would have been their 24th wedding anniversary.“We were not aware that control was a sign. The signs were extremely subtle in her marriage,” said Lasher-Warner. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! She said the pain never goes away but it has lessened, a bit, over the last 19 years. Since then, Lasher-Warner has dedicated her life to helping victims of abuse. She is the housing specialist at Unity House. “My job here is extremely important to me. I don’t plan to retire. As long as I can get out of bed and come to work, I stil...

Antisemitic threats made against Cornell University's Jewish community

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

CORNELL UNIVERSITY (WSYR-TV) -- On Sunday, Oct. 29, a series of "horrendous, antisemitic" threats were made against the Cornell University Jewish community, a statement from Martha Pollack, president of Cornell, said. The threats were posted on a website unaffiliated with Cornell and specifically targeted "104 West," the home of the Center of Jewish Living on campus. Cornell Police are investigating the incident and have notified the FBI of a potential hate crime. "The FBI is aware of the threats made to Cornell University’s Jewish community. We take all threats seriously and are working closely with Cornell and our law enforcement partners at every level to determine the credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action. We encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. Nothing is more important than the safety of our communities and we will not tolerate violence motivated by hate and extremism.F...

Lawsuits aim to kick Trump off ballot under 'insurrection' clause

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — An effort to kick former President Donald Trump off the ballot went to court in Colorado on Monday, with a similar case in Minnesota set to pick up later this week. Both cases argue that under the "insurrection clause," Trump should be barred from becoming president again. "Trump engaged in insurrection and therefore cannot appear on the ballot," Eric Olson, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said. Olson alleged that the 14th Amendment should apply to Trump because of his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and incite the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! George Washington Law professor Paul Schiff Berman isn't involved in the lawsuit, but says this case isn't far-fetched. "This is not a crazy legal theory," Berman said.He says the 14th Amendment is straightforward in prohibiting those who engage in insurrection from holding higher office. So he believes the key quest...

Albany County issues State Route 85 travel advisory

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

SLINGERLANDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany County Department of Public Works has issued a travel advisory for State Route 85 between Kenwood Avenue and Mullens Road in Slingerlands. Starting at 10 a.m. on October 31, alternating one-way traffic will be in place in the area while a new sidewalk railing is installed along the road, underneath the Rail Trail Bridge. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The DPW stated that the alternate traffic pattern will be in place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through November 3. The paving of the bridge was rescheduled to November 6 due to weather delays, so the bridge is expected to be open again to pedestrians on November 7. Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!

Heermance Memorial Library denied grant funding

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

COXSACKIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Nearly 5 million dollars is headed to Coxsackie. It's all a part of a state grant that will help boost economic development in the capital region. NEWS10 looked at who's applying for the money.  Four more grants handed out to Granville community 5 million dollars is a lot of money. The Village Mayor, Mark Evans, says the library was looking forward to turning a new page with the new funds. “The library did have a project that got put in. Unfortunately, it was not very well flushed out. the project number changed right at the end,” said the mayor.The library was looking to become more accessible and ADA compliant as they serve more than 10,000 patrons a year. Pre-pandemic, the library would see more than 15,000 patrons a year. They applied to the village board for financial help through the grant process.“We were advised to lower our ask to increase our chances of being considered so we did lower that with the consideration that we were looking into anoth...

UAW reaches deal with General Motors that ends strikes against Detroit automakers pending votes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers announced Monday that it reached a tentative deal with General Motors, capping a whirlwind few days in which GM, Ford and Stellantis agreed to generous terms that would end the union's six weeks of targeted strikes, pending approval of the rank and file.The deal UAW President Shawn Fain closed on his 55th birthday is modeled on the ones agreed to with crosstown rivals Ford and Jeep-maker Stellantis, and would give workers higher raises than they've received in years. If approved, it would also claw back some concessions the UAW agreed to almost two decades ago, when the automakers were in desperate financial shape.Analysts say Fain’s combative stance with the companies paid off for the workers, winning them pay and cost-of-living raises that would top 30% by the time the contracts expire in April 2028. Workers would get an immediate 11% pay bump upon ratification. But analysts say the deals run the risk of forcing the automakers to raise prices...

Adam Wainwright's official reason for retirement was 'Because I got a puppy!'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:16 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright's official reason for retirement: “Because I got a puppy!”The St. Louis Cardinals pitcher went on the voluntarily retired list on Oct. 2, the day after the regular season ended, rather than wait to become a free agent after the World Series.He listed the pooch as the reason for his retirement on the paperwork he submitted to Major League Baseball and posted his retirement papers online Monday.Wainwright promised his children they would get a family dog when he retired from baseball and the Cardinals presented the Wainwrights a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy during a 35-minute ceremony before the Oct. 1 season finale. Wainwright’s wife, Jenny, named the puppy Louie.Wainwright went 200-128 with a 3.53 ERA in 18 major league seasons, all with the Cardinals. The 42-year-old right-hander got his 200th win in his final pitching appearance against Milwaukee on Sept. 18.