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Former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson joins community housing board

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

Former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson is now a member of the Ottawa Community Housing foundation’s board of directors, the non-profit organization announced Tuesday. “Jim Watson has a passion for community organizations and he’s been a longtime supporter of those working in the housing and homelessness sector,” said Angela Begin, the foundation’s executive director.Begin said Watson brings a wealth of experience and an understanding of the community’s needs. This is the first non-profit board he has joined since he stepped away from politics. The position is unpaid. Watson will volunteer to support charitable programming in education, employment and youth engagement for Ottawa Community Housing, Begin said. “Most of our programs have more than doubled in the past years as we try to respond to the immediate and emerging needs of tenants living in OCH communities,” she said. “I believe that with allies such as our former mayor we can continue to extend the...

Competition Bureau calls for limits to property controls in grocery industry

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

Canada’s competition watchdog is calling for changes to a common real estate practice used by grocers to limit competition.The practice involves a grocer adding a special clause to a lease or deed — sometimes called a restrictive covenant — to limit the kind of store that can open at a location after the grocer leaves the property.In a report on the country’s retail grocery sector released on Tuesday, the Competition Bureau said these restrictive clauses curb competition and make it harder for new supermarkets to open.“Property controls limit how real estate can be used by competing grocers,” the Bureau said. “Such controls can harm competition by making it difficult — or even impossible — for businesses to open up new grocery stores.”The report recommends governments take measures to limit restrictive covenants in the grocery industry — including banning their use.“Property controls reduce consumer choice,” the report said. “Thi...

Suncor cyberattack likely to cost company millions of dollars, expert says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

CALGARY — The systems breach at Suncor Energy Inc. will likely cost the company millions of dollars before it is able to resolve the issue, according to a cybersecurity expert.Jon Ferguson, general manager of cybersecurity at the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, made the comments in an interview Tuesday, two days after the Calgary-based oil and gas giant issued a news release saying it had experienced a “cybersecurity incident.”As of Tuesday afternoon, the cyberattack was still affecting many of Suncor’s Petro-Canada retail locations across the country, with many still unable to accept credit or debit payments.The company’s Petro-Points app and website also remained unavailable.Suncor has declined to provide details about the type of attack or which other parts of its operations may have been affected, but Ferguson said it’s fair to assume that it will take some time before the company can get back to normal.“One of the challenges here is...

Fringe Toronto mayoral candidate Gong demands recount despite losing by over 266K votes

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

Despite losing to winner Olivia Chow by a whopping 266,389 votes in Monday’s byelection, fringe Toronto mayoral candidate Xiao Hua Gong is asking for a recount.In a tweet on Tuesday afternoon, Gong thanked his supporters but questioned the validity of the results, which saw Chow fend off a surging Ana Bailão to claim the city’s top job with 37.17 per cent of the vote.Gong ended the evening with 2,983 votes, which represented 0.41 per cent.“We question this mayoral result and believe it’s crucial to ensure the voting was accurate and fair,” Gong tweeted.“Hence, we’re asking for a recount.”The results of the election are set to be certified by the city clerk on Wednesday.Toronto, thanks for incredible support in this election. We question this Mayoral result and believe it’s crucial to ensure the voting was accurate and fair. Hence, we’re asking for a recount! Our commitment to you and improving Toronto stays strong. #Toronto...

Hate crimes rose 20.2% in California in 2022

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reported hate crimes increased in California in 2022, including instances of violence motivated by bias, according to state data released Tuesday.Hate crimes involving racism against Black people, as well as homophobia and anti-Semitism, all rose last year, compared with 2021 data.Overall hate crime events — which officials say are likely underreported — increased 20.2% in 2022, from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120. Crimes targeting Black people in California remain the most widespread and rose 27.1% — from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022 — in the aftermath of the country’s racial reckoning following George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police officers in 2020.But anti-Asian bias events decreased by 43.3% in 2022, from 247 in 2021 to 140, after major increases in past years following the emergence of the coronavirus in China. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the figures Tuesday during a news conference in Los Angeles. The California Department of Just...

Vermont town to let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in local elections, after legislature overrode veto

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds in one prominent Vermont town will be able to vote in local elections and serve on the community’s selectboard if elected, after the Democrat-controlled state Legislature overrode the Republican governor’s veto of the Brattleboro charter change. A half dozen cities and towns in California and Maryland have lowered the voting age to 16 for either all local elections or school board elections, according to the National Youth Rights Association.Organizers of the push to lower the age in the southern Vermont town of Brattleboro say the community of 7,300 is the first one in the country where 16-year-olds can vote in municipal elections and hold the highest elected offices. Besides the selectboard, young voters may also serve as representatives to the town’s annual town meeting, where local issues are decided. “This may stem the tide of youth moving out of town,” said Kurt Daims, director of Brattleboro Common Sense, in a statement. Gov. Phil S...

After more than 3 years, family of woman killed in Logan Square wants answers; $15K reward

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

CHICAGO — The family of a woman shot and killed in Logan Square over three years ago just wants answers.If you've walked around Fullerton and Milwaukee over the last three years, chances are you've seen a large memorial on a pole outside of the 7-Eleven.Alexa Baute, 27, was outside of that 7-Eleven, just after 8 p.m. on the night of April 7, 2020, due to COVID-19 social distancing. At the time, the store was letting in just a few people.Her friend Ricky was locking up his bike when he heard what sounded like fireworks."Out of the corner of his eye he saw her fall down," father Jeff Baute said. "It was a random bullet."Baute was struck in the chest and rushed to Illinois Masonic where she was pronounced dead.No surveillance cameras captured the shooting.WGN News initially reported that police collected eight shell casings in the general vicinity. Her father said he was told shots were fired at a nearby gas station, but the casings were different than the bullet that struck Baute."It'...

Alleged drunken driver charged in Waukegan police squad car crash that injured officer

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill — A 34-year-old man is accused of crashing into the back of a Waukegan police squad car while allegedly under the influence of alcohol.Victor Najarro-Castro, of Waukegan, is charged with DUI, improper use of registration, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, no valid driver’s license, aggravated DUI with no insurance and aggravated DUI. After more than 3 years, family of woman killed in Logan Square wants answers; $15K reward According to police, Najarro-Castro crashed into a fully-marked squad car with its emergency lights activated on Sunday, June 25. The police vehicle was blocking a tree that had fallen onto Yorkhouse Road, blocking eastbound traffic just west of Frolic Avenue.The injured officer was taken to Condell Medical Center for neck and body pain, where they were treated and later released.Damaged squad car photo provided by Waukegan Police Department. (Photo: WPD)...

Nicolas Coster, known for roles in 'All My Children,' 'Santa Barbara' dies: reports

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Nicolas Coster, well known for his roles on soap operas "All My Children" and "Santa Barbara," has died, according to a post on his Facebook page. He was 89.Coster died at a Florida hospital, the Monday night post read. Coster's daughter Dinneen Coster, confirmed her father's death, according to People and The Hollywood Reporter."Please remember him as a great artist. He was an actor’s actor! I will always be inspired by him and know how lucky I am to have such a great father!!" she wrote.Coster died of complications from cancer, his agent told CNN in a statement. The London native grew up in California before attending The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. One of Coster's earliest roles listed on his IMDb page is the 1953 film "Titanic."He would later go on to appear as John Eldridge in more than 20 episodes of the television series, "Our Private World" and as one of the original cast members of "Somerset." Jimmie Johnson’s in-laws, nephew reportedly killed in...

Lawmakers unite over restricting AI legal protections

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:43 GMT

WASHINGTON, Mich. (WOOD) — Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are joining forces to try to reign in the potential dangers of artificial intelligence technology.Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said that should start by holding companies legally responsible for real-world harms."This is all about taking power away from the big corporations,” said Hawley.He also said he wants to make sure artificial intelligence companies can be held accountable in court."It's about if someone uses a deep fake of your kid you can go sue him,” explained Hawley.Along with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-NY, Hawley is pushing legislation to explicitly deny AI companies the legal protections given to big tech companies such as Google, Twitter, and Meta."You can't take them into court, you can't sue. That is wrong,” said Hawley.At a hearing last month, Illinois Democratic senator Dick Durbin agreed the legal shield, known as Section 230, goes too far."I'm not sure I'm happy with the outcomes as I look a...