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Judge says she won’t change ruling letting NFL coach’s racial discrimination claims proceed to trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge said Tuesday that she’s not changing her decision to let NFL Coach Brian Flores put the league and three of its teams on trial over his claims that he and other Black coaches face discrimination.Judge Valerie Caproni’s written ruling in Manhattan federal court came after both sides in the case asked her to reconsider her March decision.The judge ruled then that claims by two coaches who joined the Flores lawsuit after it was filed early last year must proceed to arbitration, where NFL Commission Roger Goodell will presumably serve as arbitrator.She said Flores can proceed to trial with his claims against the league and three teams: the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the Houston Texans.In February 2022, Flores sued the league and several teams, saying the league was “rife with racism,” particularly in its hiring and promotion of Black coaches.When she ruled in March, Caproni wrote that descriptions by the coaches of their experiences of racial...

Drew Barrymore will host the National Book Awards, where Oprah Winfrey will be a guest speaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Drew Barrymore, whose honors include a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award, will be presiding over a more literary ceremony this fall. Barrymore will be hosting the 74th annual National Book Awards, the National Book Foundation announced Tuesday. And Oprah Winfrey, a previous winner of an honorary National Book Award, will be a guest speaker. Barrymore and Winfrey both have long histories of championing books and reading. Winfrey’s book club picks have helped dozens of works become bestsellers, while Barrymore has praised books by Tina Fey and David Sedaris, among others. “Throughout their careers, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey have each demonstrated their enduring belief that books have the power to change readers’ lives — by opening doors, sparking conversations, and building community,” David Steinberger, chair of the Board of Directors of the National Book Foundation, said in a statement. “This belief echoes the mission of the National Book Founda...

Man wanted for attempted murder near Kensington Market

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

Toronto police are seeking a man wanted in an attempted murder investigation after a stabbing near Kensington Market.On July 7 police responded to a call at approximately 10:49 p.m. after reports of a stabbing at Bellevue Square Park in the Augusta Avenue and Dundas Street West area.It is alleged that there was an altercation between two men where one man was stabbed. Two other men who were nearby attempted to stop the suspect, and both were also stabbed.All three victims went to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The suspect has been identified as Dane Nasseem Jabour, 37, and is described as having a slim build, long black curly hair worn in a ponytail and thin black facial hair.He is said to frequent the Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue West area.

Israeli military kills 3 Palestinian gunmen in volatile West Bank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

NABLUS, West Bank (AP) — The Israeli military said it shot and killed three Palestinian gunmen in the northern occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the latest bloodshed in one of the most violent stretches of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years.Israeli security forces said they opened fire at Palestinian militants who had shot at them from a black Skoda in the West Bank city of Nablus, the territory’s commercial capital and a major focus of the Israeli military’s recently stepped-up raids. Hamas, the Islamic militant group, claimed the three Palestinians as members. Israeli security forces said they confiscated three M-16 rifles and other military equipment from the Palestinian car.Palestinian media described the Israeli killing of the alleged gunmen as an ambush following the militants’ attempted attack on Israeli forces near a neighborhood that overlooks Nablus and is home to the Samaritans, one of the world’s oldest and smallest religious minorities.Palestinian health offic...

Alghabra joins Liberal ministers not seeking re-election as cabinet shuffle looms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra say they will not run in the next federal election.They are the second and third Liberal ministers to make such an announcement this week, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau widely expected to shuffle his cabinet in the coming days.Jaczek, who was first elected in 2019, made the announcement on Twitter today, saying she will continue to serve her Markham-Stouffville constituency until the next election.Alghabra, who was first elected in 2006, also made the announcement on Twitter, saying he is stepping aside from cabinet after deciding not to run in the next election.He says he will continue to support the prime minister’s vision going forward.Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett also announced on Monday that she will not stand for re-election.

U.S. consumer confidence jumps to a two-year high as inflation eases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence shot to the highest level in two years this month as inflationary pressures eased and the American economy continued to show resilience in the face of dramatically higher interest rates.The Conference Board, a business research group, said its consumer confidence index rose to 117 in July from a revised 110.1 in June. The gauge beat the 110.5 that economists had expected and was the highest since July 2021. The index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Both improved in July. The future expectations index rose to 88.3 in July, clearing the recession threshold of 80 recorded in June.Economists closely monitor Americans’ spirits because consumer spending accounts for around 70% of U.S. economic activity. The Conference Board index fell more or less steadily from mid-2021 to mid-2022 as surging prices ate into household budgets. But confidence has come back, i...

Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron retires after 19 seasons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

Patrice Bergeron, one of the greatest Boston Bruins of all time, announced his retirement Tuesday after 19 seasons in the NHL.“It is with a full heart and a lot of gratitude that today I am announcing my retirement as a professional hockey player,” wrote Bergeron in an announcement on the Bruins website.“As hard as it is to write, I also write it knowing how blessed and lucky I feel to have had the career that I have had, and that I have the opportunity to leave the game I love on my terms. It wasn’t a decision that I came to lightly. But after listening to my body, and talking with my family, I know in my heart that this is the right time to step away from playing the game I love.”Before the 2022-23 season, the Bruins captain signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, plus an additional $2.5 million in performance-based incentives.The centre, who turned 38 on Monday, had 27 goals and 31 assists in 78 games for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins this...

Bronny James, son of LeBron James, suffers cardiac arrest during practice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The son of NBA legend LeBron James, who is building his own career in the game of basketball, had a major medical emergency early this week. First reported by TMZ, 18-year-old Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest during a practice in Los Angeles ahead of his first year at USC. According to the report, he was taking part in practice at the Galen Center, the home of Trojans basketball, when the emergency occurred.According to a statement released by the James family, the guard is in stable condition and out of the ICU.Here is the full statement on Bronny's medical emergency."Yesterday while practicing, Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU. We ask for respect and privacy for the James family, and we will update media when there is more information. LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and...

Tuesday Forecast: Air Quality Alert issued, hot and hazy conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Mainly sunny and hazy conditions with temperatures in the low 90s, slightly cooler lakeside. Winds: SSW 5-10. High: 92/87.An Air Quality Alert is in effect until midnight Wednesday morning. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with slight early AM thunderstorm chance. Winds: SSE 5-10. Low: 73.Wednesday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, decreasing clouds, humid, chance for storms, S 10-15 G20. High: 91.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Cook County sees record 2,000 opioid deaths in 2022; 91% fentanyl-related

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Fentanyl is behind nearly all of a record number of opioid overdose deaths last year in Cook County, according to newly-released data.The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said 2,000 opioid overdose deaths surpassed 2021's previous record of 1,935. Of the 2,000, 1,825 were fentanyl-related.Approximately 78% of the opioid overdose deaths were male and just over 70% took place in Chicago.Last year, the DEA seized 225,913 fentanyl pills in Northern Illinois and over 200 lbs. of fentanyl powder.Part of the rise in fentanyl-related deaths may be attributed to an increase in xylazine trafficking — aka "tranq dope." It's an animal tranquillizer street dealers are mixing with fentanyl and other drugs.“Street dealers are looking to create a more powerful high,” DEA spokesperson Luis Agostini told WGN News earlier this year. “They’re looking to extend the shelf life of drugs like fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.”In Cook County, one person died of an xylazine-related overdose in 201...