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Man arrested for illegal pawn shop operation in Toronto’s east end

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

A man has been arrested after being investigated for running an illegal pawn shop operation in Toronto’s east end.On Jan. 4, a search warrant was executed and a man was arrested for operating an illegal pawn shop in the Dundas Street East and Parliament Street area.The store owner allegedly was found to be in possession of multiple stolen bicycles and was operating his shop without a licence.Meareg Asefa, 47, of Toronto, has been charged with 10 different offences including trafficking and possessing property and proceeds obtained by crime, and being a second hand dealer with no licence.He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Feb. 12.

The Perry school shooting creates new questions for Republicans in Iowa’s presidential caucuses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

CUMMING, Iowa (AP) — Friday looked like a typical January morning in Iowa — gray skies, a brisk breeze and a restaurant crammed with voters munching on breakfast pizzas while listening to a presidential candidate speak.Introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie as “the most pro-Second Amendment candidate in this race,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his standard speech touting his record in his home state.Then DeSantis opened the floor to questions. The first one was: “What actions would you take to reduce mass shootings?”The shooting in Perry, Iowa, that left one sixth grader dead and five more people injured, immediately cast a shadow over the state’s first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucuses, scheduled for Jan. 15. Three candidates were asked about it Thursday and Friday at campaign stops, some just a short drive from the school where a 17-year-old junior opened fire as students were returning from winter break. Pharmaceutical entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was set to h...

New Mexico attorney general says fake GOP electors can’t be prosecuted, recommends changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s top prosecutor said Friday that the state’s five Republican electors cannot be prosecuted under the current law for filing election certificates that falsely declared Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential race. However, Democratic Attorney General Raúl Torrez is making recommendations to state lawmakers that he says would enhance the security of the state’s electoral process and provide legal authority for prosecuting similar conduct in the future. New Mexico is one of several states where fake electors attempted to cast ballots indicating that Trump had won, a strategy at the center of criminal charges against Trump and his associates. Democratic officials launched separate investigations in some states, resulting in indictments against GOP electors. Fake certificates were submitted in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.In New Mexico and Pennsylvania, fake electors added a caveat...

Union suspends strike action as Viterra offers workers new four-year offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

REGINA — A looming strike action for Saskatchewan workers at Viterra has been suspended after the grain marketing giant gave the union a revised offer.Two locals of the Grain and General Services Union say members should have the opportunity to vote on the new offer. Workers rejected Viterra’s last offer after a vote on Dec. 15 and issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week.A news release from Viterra says the new four-year agreement includes overall salary increases of 4.5 per cent in first year, followed by 3.75 per cent in the second and 2.5 per cent in the following years.The company says employees will continue to be eligible for an annual bonus payment.Viterra says a vote is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2023. The Canadian Press

Inaugural Toronto PWHL game pulls in almost 3 million viewers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

An historic home opener for the Toronto’s PWHL game as almost 3 million Canadian viewers tuned in on New Year’s Day to catch the game between the home team and New York.New York beat Toronto 4-0 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, reflecting the city’s keen interest in the league. It combined for an average audience of 879,000 people and was the number one sports or entertainment program of the day across all of the networks. “The enthusiastic response to our historic opening game reflects Canada’s national interest in our sport, our outstanding athletes and the PWHL,” said Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board member. “We truly hear the statement our viewing audience made Monday, and we cherish the level of engagement shown. We will work even more intently with our broadcast partners to build the PWHL community through the quality productions and storytelling our great fans deserve.”The opening game viewership was followed by a record-setting a...

Ex-Ohio lawmaker is sentenced to probation for domestic violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A former Ohio state lawmaker was sentenced Friday to two years on probation for domestic violence charges and must complete 250 hours of community service.Republican state Rep. Bob Young was also ordered to abstain from alcohol as part of his probation and can’t enter bars and liquor stores. Young was convicted last October during a bench trial before Judge Edward O’Farrell of causing physical harm to his wife, but was also found not guilty of an assault charge in a later confrontation with his brother over striking his wife. Friday’s sentencing took place in Barberton Municipal Court.The former Summit County representative was indicted in July 2023 on domestic violence and assault charges after he allegedly struck his wife in the face and threw her phone in their pool to prevent her from calling 911. When she sought safe haven at Young’s brother’s home, Young followed her and charged at his brother after he refused to let him inside, resulting in a...

Guam investigates fatal shooting of Korean visitor and offers $50,000 reward for information

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Authorities in the U.S. territory of Guam on Friday vowed to bring to justice those who fatally shot a South Korean visitor in a tourist district.The shooting occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday when the traveler and his wife were walking toward Tsubaki Towers, a hotel on Guam’s popular Tumon Bay, from nearby Gun Beach, KUAM-TV reported, citing police. An older model, dark-colored SUV approached them from behind, Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio said at a news conference.A passenger holding a gun got of the vehicle and demanded they hand over their belongings, Ignacio said, adding, “A struggle ensued.” The victim was taken to Guam Regional Medical City, where he died from his injuries the next morning. He had been visiting Guam while celebrating his retirement.The Guam Visitors Bureau has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.Guam is an island of about 170,000 people approximately 3,900 mile...

Time running out for landmark old boat that became a California social media star

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

INVERNESS, Calif. (AP) — Time is apparently running out for California’s “Inverness Shipwreck,” an old wooden boat that became an Instagram star as it rotted on a shoreline north of San Francisco.Recent storms have made a shambles of the forlorn vessel named Point Reyes, which was already deteriorated from the over-attention of visitors to the Marin County coast, San Francisco Bay news media reported this week.“The National Park Service is aware that additional damage occurred to the vessel as a result of the most recent storms and tides,” Point Reyes National Seashore officials said in a statement to the SFGATE news site. “While we recognize that this is a local landmark and destination, the NPS is evaluating options to remove it safely.”The boat was built in the 1940s and was used for transportation and fishing before it was abandoned years ago, aground near the community of Inverness on a section of the Tomales Bay shoreline that is part of the Point Reyes National Seashore...

Top White House budget official warns of ‘dire’ situation on Ukraine aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top budget official warned in stark terms Friday about the rapidly diminishing time that lawmakers have to replenish U.S. aid for Ukraine, as the fate of that money to Kyiv remains tied up in negotiations over immigration where a deal has so far been out of reach.Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, stressed that there is no avenue to help Ukraine aside from Congress approving additional funding to help Kyiv as it fends off Russia in a war that is now nearly two years old. While the Pentagon has some limited authority to help Kyiv absent new funding from Capitol Hill, “that is not going to get big tranches of equipment into Ukraine,” Young said Friday.While the administration still has presidential drawdown authority, which allows it to pull weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles and send them quickly to Ukraine, officials have decided to forgo that authority because Congress has not approved additional money to ...

United keeps options open on potential HQ move to Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:51 GMT

United Airlines continues to take steps toward a potential move of its corporate headquarters from Chicago for Denver. While the move isn’t a done deal – and would be several years away - the Chicago-based carrier has already purchased land and has now filed planning documents with Denver officials.The Denver Post reports the airline has filed plans with the City of Denver indicating potential uses for 113-acres the airline recently purchased near Denver's airport. United has acknowledged it's expanding its flight simulator and pilot training base on the site; but the new filing also says, “United is actively investigating programmatic needs to support corporate campus activity accommodating 5,000 employees in future phases of the project."  United employs nearly 5,000 corporate employees in Chicago.United executives have said in recent months a move is not “imminent;” but it’s clear the airline is keeping its options open.  A United spokesperson recycled a statement from the s...