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Biden gets a chance to bring holiday spirit to Washington by lighting the National Christmas Tree

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s President Joe Biden ‘s turn to bring some holiday spirit to the U.S. capital. The president and his wife, Jill, are participating Thursday in the annual tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, an area known as President’s Park, on the south side of the White House.This year’s tree is a 40-foot (12-meter) Norway spruce from West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest.There was a moment’s doubt earlier this week about whether the 101-year-old tradition would go ahead as planned after the tree was felled by strong gusty winds Tuesday. But the tree was upright again within hours after a cable securing it was replaced, according to the National Park Service. The tree lighting ceremony is an annual White House holiday tradition with a countdown and musical performances. The Norway spruce was planted about two weeks ago, replacing an older tree that the park service said had developed a fungal disease that cause...

Eyeing 2024, Michigan Democrats expand voter registration and election safeguards in the swing state

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrats are building on an effort to overhaul election laws in the state by allowing 16-year-olds to register before they can legally vote at 18 and adding more protections for election officials ahead of a 2024 presidential election that the swing state could play a critical role in. The election bills package, signed Thursday by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, also includes legislation that will automatically register individuals to vote when they are released from incarceration. Michigan is the first state in the nation to implement such legislation, according to the advocacy group Voters Not Politicians. “This groundbreaking step will cement Michigan as a voting rights leader and ensure every eligible voter can participate in our democratic process,” Kim Murphy-Kovalick, programs director for Voters Not Politicians, said in a statement.The package is the result of Michigan Democrats prioritizing expanding voting rights after the party fli...

Toronto man arrested after attempted carjacking in Etobicoke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

A Toronto man is facing charges after police allege he assaulted a man and then tried to steal his vehicle in Etobicoke on Wednesday night.Officers responded to reports of a robbery in The Queensway and North Queen Street area at around 10:23 p.m.Investigators say the victim parked his vehicle in the area when he was approached by a man who attacked him before attempting to steal his vehicle.“Members of the Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) arrived on-scene and arrested the accused,” a release states.Louie Hodge, 35, is facing charges of robbery and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Missouri prosecutor accuses 3 men of holding student from India captive and beating him

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — Three men held a student from India captive over the course of several months and forced him to work and perform menial tasks, then viciously beat him when he didn’t complete the chores to their satisfaction, a Missouri prosecutor said Thursday.St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph McCulloch announced charges against Venkutesh Sattaru, 35; Nikhil Penmatsa, 27; and Sravan Penumetcha, 23. All three face counts related to human trafficking, kidnapping and other crimes. They are jailed without bond and don’t have attorneys listed yet.The 20-year-old victim is hospitalized with a broken nose, broken ribs and bones in his hands and feet, and severe injuries from being punched, stomped on and beaten with pipes and a wire that left him scarred “from the top of his head literally to the bottom of his feet,” McCulloch said.Authorities said the victim is the cousin of Sattaru, who owns an information technology company. The student came to the U.S. ...

Drivers would pay $15 to enter busiest part of NYC under plan to raise funds for mass transit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Most drivers would pay $15 to enter Manhattan’s central business district under a plan released by New York officials Thursday. The congestion pricing plan, which neighboring New Jersey has filed a lawsuit over, will be the first such program in the United States if it is approved by transportation officials early next year.Under the plan, passenger car drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during daytime hours would be charged $15 electronically, while the fee for small trucks would be $24 and large trucks would be charged $36.Cities such as London and Stockholm have similar programs in place, but New York City is poised to become the first in the U.S.Revenue from the tolls, projected to be roughly $1 billion annually, would be used to finance borrowing to upgrade the city’s mass transit systems.The proposal from the Traffic Mobility Review Board, a New York state body charged with advising the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the tolls, includes d...

Quebec housing minister favoured friend, ethics commissioner concludes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

QUEBEC — The ethics commissioner for the Quebec legislature has concluded that the housing minister improperly promoted the personal interest of a friend when she met with her in 2022.Commissioner Ariane Mignolet says that while minister France-Élaine Duranceau could be expected to meet with people in the housing sector, her December meeting with developer Annie Lemieux seemed to serve little purpose and was prioritized due to the pair’s friendship.Mignolet says no one should get privileged access to a minister because of a personal relationship.The investigation into the meeting between Duranceau and her longtime friend and real estate business partner, who was registered as a lobbyist, was opened in June.Duranceau said today that she made a good faith error by organizing the meeting in a way that was typical in the business world but not right for politics.The ethics commissioner did not recommend a sanction for Duranceau because she acknowledged her error and agreed to seek...

Fire upends Christmas charity in Michigan but thousands of kids will still get gifts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

Donations are pouring in at a beloved Christmas charity after smoke damage from a fire stymied plans for the delivery of wrapped gifts for thousands of children in western Michigan.Santa Claus Girls of Kent County has been going door-to-door with gifts for more than a century in the Grand Rapids area, delighting families that are struggling during the holidays.But the all-volunteer group has been scrambling since a fire last week struck a building in Walker where Santa Claus Girls wraps and stores gifts.“It was like my heart stopped,” president Tina Hudson told The Associated Press. ”We were on target to service more than 10,000 kids on Dec. 9. We had half of our gits wrapped and bagged and ready to go out the door.”The good news: Flames didn’t reach the area used by Santa Claus Girls. The bad news: Smoke filled the space for hours.“Everything’s contaminated — that was the word that was used by the insurance company,” Hudson said Thursday. “You could smell a bonfire smell.R...

US says Mexican drug cartel was so bold in timeshare fraud that some operators posed as US officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican drug cartel was so bold in operating frauds that target elderly Americans that the gang’s operators posed as U.S. Treasury Department officials, U.S. authorities said Thursday. The scam was described by the department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. The agency has been chasing fraudsters using call centers controlled by the Jalisco drug cartel to promote fake offers to buy Americans’ timeshare properties. They have scammed at least 600 Americans out of about $40 million. But they also began contacting people claiming to be employees of OFAC itself, and offering to free up funds purportedly frozen by the U.S. agency, which combats illicit funds and money laundering.“At times, perpetrators of timeshare fraud misuse government agency names in attempts to appear legitimate,” the agency said. “For example, perpetrators may call victims and claim to represent OFAC, demanding a payment in exchange for the release of funds that the perpetrator claim...

Kari Lake loses suit to see ballot envelopes in 3rd trial tied to Arizona election defeat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge has rejected Kari Lake’s request to examine signed ballot envelopes of 1.3 million early voters, giving the defeated Arizona Republican candidate for governor another loss in her third trial related to last year’s election.In an order filed Thursday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah Jr. argued their release would undermine the ballot verification process in future elections.“The broad right of electoral participation outweighs the narrow interests of those who would continue to pick at the machinery of democracy,” Hannah wrote.Bryan Blehm, Lake’s attorney, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Lake has yet to comment directly on her social media but has been retweeting supportive posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. The majority of the two-day bench trial was spent hearing testimony from Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who is named as a defendant. Richer explained Lake’s initial request to see the envelopes w...

'I am embarrassed': Corey Perry releases statement after getting cut by Blackhawks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:23 GMT

CHICAGO — Corey Perry has released a statement to hockey media members apologizing after getting cut from the Blackhawks.Perry was cut from the team on Tuesday after he did not start Nov. 22 at Columbus.In a statement provided to several hockey reporters, Perry said that he was "sickened" by speculation and rumors and that he is working to address his "struggles" with alcohol."I would like to sincerely apologize to the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, including ownership, management, coaches, trainers, employees, and my teammates. I would also like to apologize to my fans, and my family. I am embarrassed and I have let you all down.As a result of my actions, there has been speculation and rumors. I am sickened by the impact this has had on others, and I want to make it clear that in no way did this situation involve any of my teammates or their families. Most importantly, I want to directly apologize to those who have been negatively affected and I am sorry for the additional...