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No public inquiry on foreign interference: Why not? What happens now?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

In today’s Big Story podcast, special rapporteur David Johnston’s report on foreign interference was released on May 23. The report ruled out the call for public inquiry into Chinese government interference in Canadian democracy and elections.The decision was just one of the takeaways, despite the controversy dominating federal politics in recent months.Stephen Maher, reporter and writer on foreign interference at The Walrus, says, “There are serious questions about how we got to this to this point, and no clear path to getting answers.”So, why did Johnston decide the public inquiry wouldn’t — or couldn’t — happen? What did we learn from the report he presented? What will the next few months bring? Will there be more hearings?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

Bestselling Japanese author Haruki Murakami wins Spanish Asturias prize for literature

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Bestselling Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami has won this year’s Princess of Asturias Award for literature, the Spanish foundation that organizes the prizes said Wednesday.The Princess of Asturias Award jury praised the “uniqueness” of the 72-year-old Kyoto-born writer’s essays, short stories and novels, which have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold millions of copies.The panel highlighted Murakami’s “ability to reconcile Japanese tradition and the legacy of Western culture in an ambitious and innovative narrative.”It said his work expressed some of the great themes and conflicts of our time, including “loneliness, existential uncertainty, dehumanization in big cities and terrorism.”The panel lauded his ability to appeal to different generations through different genres, describing him as “one of contemporary literature’s major long-distance runners.”Murakami has written several dozen books and has also translated works by authors s...

BMO reports Q2 profit down from year ago, raises quarterly dividend

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

TORONTO — BMO Financial Group raised its quarterly dividend as its second-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago and its provisions for credit losses climbed higher.The bank said Wednesday it will now pay a quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, up from $1.43 per share.The increased payment to shareholders came as BMO reported a profit of $1.06 billion of $1.30 per share for the quarter ended April 30, down from a profit of $4.76 billion or $7.13 per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue totalled $8.44 billion, down from $9.32 billion in the same quarter last year, while the bank’s provision for credit losses amounted to $1.02 billion, up from $50 million a year earlier.On an adjusted basis, BMO says it earned $2.93 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $3.23 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.The average analyst estimate had been for an adjusted profit of $3.19 per share, according to estimates compiled by financial markets...

Another game, more history for Christopher Morel with the Cubs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Just when you think the second-year player is ready to slow down, he comes up with another moment to continue his historic start to the 2023 season. Christopher Morel had that moment in the seventh inning on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. That's when the outfielder's hit off Mets reliever Stephen Nogosek found the left field bleachers for a solo homer to cap off the Cubs' 7-2 win to start a nine-game homestand. That is the ninth home run that Morel has hit in his first 12 games of the 2023 season, which according to Cubs' public relations makes him the fourth player in MLB history to do so. Mike Schmidt hit 11 homers in the span for the Phillies in 1976 while the Diamondbacks' Luis Gonzalez (2001) and the Rockies Larry Walker (1997) each hit nine. Perhaps the most significant mark for Cubs' fans is his fifth-straight game with a home run, becoming the first to do so since Sammy Sosa from June 3-8, 1998 on his way to 66 homers for the season. Ryne Sandberg also pulled off the fe...

See "Dean's Home Video" picks for the last full week of May

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Memorial Day weekend is ahead and if you're looking to stay inside for a few days off, we've got a few suggestions of new releases from streaming services this week.In "Dean's Home Video," we take a look at a number of new programs, including "American Born Chinese," "Fubar," "Platonic," Season 3 of "The Kardashians," "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai," and more.Dean Richards also has a look at new documentaries that are being released on Mary Tyler Moore and Donna Summer.You can see a preview of those programs and others being released this week in this edition of "Dean's Home Video" from the May 24 WGN Morning News here.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Dean cooks pizzas on the grill

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

CHICAGO — With the weather getting better, our WGN Morning News cook is headed outside to grill this Wednesday!Dean Richards is outside of the Channel 9 studios cooking up four different pizzas across four different hours of the show. You can see the recipe for all of these below and see other episodes of "Dean Cooks" by clicking here.MEAT, MEAT, AND MORE MEAT PIZZA INGREDIENTS:  ·         Pizza Crust·         1 Tbsp olive oil if needed·         1/3-1/2 C Sauce ·         1 1/2 C Shredded Mozzarella·         3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese·         3-4 slices bacon,  cooked and chopped·     &nb...

Public safety leaders: APD overtime payment delays linger

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – In the midst of a staffing shortage, the Austin Police Department is leaning more than ever on officers like Gavin Smart to work overtime to fill any patrol gaps and speed response times.Smart said he doesn’t work extra hours just for money but because he wants his fellow officers to have all the assistance they need in a volatile environment – like downtown’s raucous Sixth Street where KXAN shadowed him on a recent mid-May Friday night.“We go through a lot of traumatic experiences together, so you become close to each other. It's like a family,” Smart said, who added he works 10 to 20 hours of overtime a week. “A lot of times you'll do OT in the sense that you don't want your friends to be by themselves at night. You want to make sure they have adequate backup staffing, responses to calls.”Austin Police officer Gavin Smart patrols downtown Austin's 6th Street in mid-May with KXAN reporter Brianna Hollis. (Courtesy / KXAN)While APD officers are racking up historic le...

Mom pushes food safety bill in Texas House to honor son

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Texas mother who lost her son nine years ago spent Tuesday trying to convince House lawmakers to support a bill that supporters say would raise awareness of food allergies at restaurants. Senate Bill 812, referred to as the Sergio Lopez Food Allergy Awareness Act, would require restaurants to display posters about food allergens where employees can see them. According to the bill text, the poster must include information regarding:the risk of an allergic reaction to a food allergensymptoms of an allergic reactionthe major food allergens, as determined by federal law and regulations of the Food and Drug Administration the procedures for preventing an allergic reactionappropriate responses for assisting an individual who is having an allergic reactionSenate Bill 812 was authored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. It passed the Senate on April 6. The bill needed one more vote before it could be approved by the House after Monday night. The bill is named for Ser...

St. Paul’s public parks again ranked No. 2 in the nation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

St. Paul has the second-best public parks system in the nation, according to the Trust for Public Land, which has released its annual ranking of 100 municipal park systems and found Minnesota’s capital city to again be second to one.Washington, D.C., dubbed the “defending champion” by Trust for Public Land officials, took top honors for the second year in a row, while Minneapolis climbed two spots from fifth place to third following new park openings. The results can be found at https://www.tpl.org/.St. Paul added three new dog parks citywide and a series of public amenities at Highland Bridge, the former site of the Twin Cities Ford auto manufacturing plant, which is now home to a skate park, a dog park, multiple playgrounds and two large, stormwater-fed water features.“It’s such a beautiful space,” said Sophie Vorhoff, Minnesota state director for the Trust for Public Land. “Seeing the skating, and the combination of nature play and progra...

Lineup announced for Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) --  The lineup for the Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series Presented by M&T Bank has been announced. The free outdoor concert series provides live music from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays between June 7 and August 16 at the Empire State Plaza. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The lunchtime concert series provides an excellent opportunity for state employees and the public to come to the Empire State Plaza and enjoy being out in warmer temperatures and summer sun while listening to live performances and eating a healthy lunch from one of the Plaza food vendors or shopping at the weekly farmers market," said Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy.Music lineupJune 6: Acute InflectionsJune 14: Maria Z with Brian Melick, Spanish classical, flamenco, and American fingerstyleJune 21: Make Music Day celebration featuring Heard, world musicJune 28: To be announcedJuly 5: No concertJuly 12:...