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Starbucks workers protest before annual shareholder meeting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Starbucks workers and labor activists rallied outside the company’s Seattle headquarters Wednesday to protest what they describe as union-busting efforts by executives.Organizers said employees also walked off the job at more than 100 stores in 40 U.S. cities, though the company disputed the breadth of the protests and said nearly every store remained open. It did not immediately indicate how many locations closed. Some stores remained open because workers remained on the job, while others were staffed by employees from nearby stores who took additional shifts to cover for strikers, Starbucks said.The demonstrations came on the eve of the company’s annual shareholders meeting and were designed to urge new Chief Executive Officer Laxman Narasimhan to take a more welcoming approach to unionization efforts, said organizers with Starbucks Workers United, which has asked shareholders to vote for a third party to assess the company’s commitment to labor rights.“Starbu...

AP source: Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed jerseys

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country.The decision was made by the NHL organization following discussions with security officials within and outside the franchise, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to the AP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the move.The Blackhawks have worn Pride warmup jerseys previously and donned special warmup jerseys on some other themed nights this season. There had been ongoing conversations about a Pride jersey with the players, according to the person who talked to the AP, but the organization made the decision to hold Pride Night without the jerseys this year.Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in December that significantly expands restrictions on act...

Brazil’s Bolsonaro to return jewels from Saudi Arabia

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian government watchdog voted Wednesday to give former President Jair Bolsonaro five working days to return to authorities a set of jewels he received from Saudi Arabia in 2021. All nine members of the government watchdog voted in favor of requiring Bolsonaro to turn the jewels over to the state-owned Caixa Economica Federal bank in the capital city of Brasilia.The five days start counting as soon as Bolsonaro’s lawyers are officially notified, which had not happened, according to the government watchdog.Another set of jewels from Saudi Arabia estimated to be worth several million dollars and also sent to Bolsonaro, according to one of his former ministers, was seized by customs at Sao Paulo’s international airport.Bolsonaro, who has been in the United States since he left office in January, is under preliminary police investigations at home since Brazilian media started reporting on the jewels earlier this month. The Federal Court of Accounts, a...

North Dakota House passes school gender pronoun prohibition

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

Public schools and state agencies in North Dakota would be prohibited from referring to students and employees by any pronouns that don’t reflect the sex assigned to them at birth, under a bill approved by the legislature. The House approved the bill 60-32 on Wednesday. It passed the Senate last month and now awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Doug Burgum. In 2021, Burgum vetoed a bill that would have restricted transgender students from participating in public elementary and secondary school sports. But Burgum has not said publicly if he supports this latest measure. The bill is among hundreds nationwide that are taking aim at nearly every facet of transgender existence, from pronouns to bathroom use to health care to athletics. In North Dakota, similar bills to restrict transgender athletes have passed the House this session with veto-proof majorities. The Senate has not yet voted on them. Last week, Wyoming became the 19th state to ban transgender athletes from playing...

Former prime minister Stephen Harper says Canada needs a ‘Conservative renaissance’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada needs a “Conservative renaissance,” former prime minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday, but he cautioned that Pierre Poilievre should wait until an election before telling Canadians how he might run the country.  Harper delivered a speech that evening to a room of party faithful staged by the Canada Strong and Free Network, formerly called the Manning Centre. His public appearance is a rare one for Harper, who exited political life after losing the 2015 election to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals after nine years in power. Poilievre’s election as party leader last September appears to have changed that, with Harper throwing his endorsement behind Poilievre, which was the first time he had done so for a Conservative leader. Introduced as a “statesman” of the party, Harper mounted a defence of the term “populism,” which he said is often portrayed in a negative or imprecise light by what he called the “liberal media.&#...

Police: 21-year-old Navy sailor missing in Waukegan

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The Waukegan Police Department is looking for the public's help in finding a 21-year-old man who is an active Navy member stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base.Police said Seamus Gray left the Ibiza Bar on North Genesee Street by himself around 1:35 a.m. on March 18 and was last seen on camera in the area of Sheridan Road and Washington Street.Police described Gray as 6-foot-3-inches, weighing around 170 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a light pink/red long-sleeve shirt and pants. Gray also has multiple tattoos on his left arm and a script tattoo on his ribcage.Anyone who has information on Gray's whereabouts is asked to call Waukegan Police Investigations Division at (847) 599-2673 or leave an anonymous tip by clicking here or here.

Much cooler weather on tap for Thursday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

Much cooler weather on tap for Thursday, following three consecutive days with highs in the 50s and early morning showers and thunderstorms. Expect temperatures to hold steady much of the day in the upper 30s and lower 40s with a brisk northerly wind 6-17 mph.Another storm system is set to arrive later Friday into Saturday bringing in a colder environment and boosting the potential for wet snow across at least parts of the metro area, especially areas north and northwest of the city. Current model projections suggest there’s a 70-80% chance of seeing 1”+ of slushy snow accumulation across northern sections of the Chicago metro area.Partial sunshine returns later this weekend along with temperatures closer to seasonal norms Sunday afternoon around 50 degrees, before another slug of chilly air moves in early next week bringing the next chance of rain and or mixed wet snow.

Kane County deputies warn of court scam through Zoom

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

KANE COUNTY, Ill. — The Kane County Sheriff’s Office is warning locals of a scam in which a person claiming to work on behalf of a county judge seeks their victim's personal information. The offender sends a message to its victims through a Zoom court call feature, requesting that they contact them by phone. Once the victim complies, the offender requests that the caller provide photocopies of their driver’s license, bank statements and paystubs. The victims are also instructed to pay fees to resolve their cases through banking applications such as Cash App, Zelle Pay, Apple Pay, and gift cards. What the Fed rate increase means for your credit card bill No Kane County court employee or judge would request this information by phone, deputies added. Deputies used the incident to remind residents:Always verify who you are talking to. Scammers often pretend to represent an organization you know.Scammers instruct you to pay in a specific way.Scammers rush and demand immediate payment.T...

DuPage County launches new initiative to help victims of domestic violence

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — Domestic violence victims in DuPage County will soon have a new way to seek critical resources quickly, safely, and securely. County officials on Wednesday announced the launch of a QR code to help victims. The DuPage County State's Attorney and the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council created the QR code."This is yet another example of when all of our agencies work together, we come up with something that truly helps victims and helps protect our communities," said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. ALDI launching clothing Wednesday for $10 or less The code will take victims to an alternate website where police will instruct them on what link to click to access the information. The alternate site is designed to protect victims if someone takes a phone with a stored code. The site will provide links to resources to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, the YWCA, Family Shelter Services, the Illinois Department of Children and Family...

'Rick and Morty' creator has domestic abuse charges dropped

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:10:37 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California prosecutors on Wednesday dropped domestic violence charges against Justin Roiland, who created the Cartoon Network animated series “Rick and Morty” and provided the voices of the show’s two title characters.Orange County district attorney’s spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said the two felony counts involving a former girlfriend were dropped “due to a lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.”Roiland responded to the dismissal on Twitter. Previously: Adult Swim splits with ‘Rick and Morty’ co-creator, voice actor Justin Roiland “I have always known that these claims were false — and I never had any doubt that this day would come,” he said. “I'm thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I'm still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process.”He added that he is “disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of a bitter ex tr...