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Conservative party criticized for disqualifying candidate in nomination race battle

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal Conservative party is defending its decision to oust a candidate from a local nomination race, as an anti-abortion organization alleges that the move was unfair. Party spokeswoman Sarah Fischer confirmed that Gerrit Van Dorland has been disqualified from running to become the party’s candidate in Oxford, a reliably Conservative riding in southern Ontario. She said he was barred for failing to provide information such as a list of social media accounts and comments he made online, and the party is only commenting publicly to offer “clarification and context.”But a spokesman for Van Dorland’s campaign says the party did not provide it with a reason for his disqualification, and it is appealing the move. Anti-abortion organization RightNow has released a statement calling Van Dorland’s ousting unfair and suggesting it happened because of his “pro-life” views and likelihood of winning. Van Dorland was running on a pitch of &...

FBI raids home of ex-Maryland official as manhunt continues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Two days after former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s ex-chief of staff failed to appear in court to stand trial on federal corruption charges, FBI agents raided his Florida home as the search continues for Roy McGrath.McGrath, 53, was declared a wanted fugitive after he disappeared Monday, leaving his attorney, Joseph Murtha, standing alone on the steps of Baltimore’s federal courthouse.Murtha said he believed McGrath was planning to fly from Florida to Maryland on Sunday night to appear in court Monday morning, but that didn’t happen. Instead of beginning jury selection in accordance with the trial schedule, a judge issued an arrest warrant for McGrath and dismissed prospective jurors.On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service announced they were launching an interstate manhunt for McGrath, who was indicted in 2021 on federal fraud charges.He stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state, including a fraudulent $233,647 severance payment he obtained after leaving h...

James Gunn to direct ‘Superman: Legacy,’ aiming for 2025

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

James Gunn is directing a Superman film.“Superman: Legacy,” which Gunn also wrote, is also set for a July 11, 2025, he and his co-chair and fellow CEO of DC Studios Peter Safran announced Wednesday. The film, Gunn said, deals with the superhero’s journey to make sense of both his aristocratic Kryptonian heritage and his small town, midwestern upbrining as Clark Kent.“It has been a long road to this point,” Gunn wrote on Twitter Wednesday. “I was offered Superman years ago – I initially said no because I didn’t have a way in that felt unique and fun and emotional that gave Superman the dignity he deserved. … Then a bit less than a year ago I saw a way in.”Gunn also said the release date is the same as his late father’s birthday.“He was my best friend,” Gunn wrote. “He didn’t understand me as a kid, but he supported my love of comics and my love of film and I wouldn’t be making this movie now without him.”“Superman: Legacy” will be the first film in the new ite...

David Johnston named special rapporteur on foreign interference

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has named former governor general David Johnston as the special rapporteur on foreign interference.Johnston has been asked to look into allegations of foreign meddling in Canada’s last two federal elections and recommend what the Liberal government should do about it.That could include a public inquiry, which opposition parties have been calling for, or some other form of investigation.Johnston was appointed to the viceregal role on the advice of former prime minister Stephen Harper in 2010 and his term was extended under Trudeau until 2017.Trudeau announced the plan to appoint an “eminent Canadian” to the role earlier this month, saying at the time that the government will abide by the recommendations.A special parliamentary security committee is also looking into the alleged interference by China in the 2019 and 2021 elections, following reports by Global News and the Globe and Mail.

What Ryan Poles has to say on the Bears trading the No. 1 pick

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

LAKE FOREST - For five days, the deal was out there for all to see, and all that was left was for it to become official.On Wednesday, with the opening of the new NFL year, the Bears were able to trade their most valuable commodity this offseason.As the new league year opens, the Bears confirm their trade of the No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers along with the signings of:.- LB Tremaine Edmunds- LB T.J. Edwards- DE DeMarcus Walker - OL Nate Davis- RB Travis Homer..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/WeKybAIpcT— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) March 15, 2023The deal with the Panthers went through just after 3 p.m. central time on Wednesday as the Bears sent the No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for a potential No. 1 wide receiver along with four selections over the next three drafts.WR DJ Moore2023 first round pick (9th overall)2023 second round pick (61st overall)2024 first round pick 2025 second round pickIt's the biggest move made by Bears general manager Ryan Poles in his 14 months on the j...

Advocates cheer EPA's proposed PFAS limits

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The Biden Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new rule that will drastically limit the amount of toxic chemicals known as PFAS in American drinking water.The announcement comes after decades of advocacy and environmental groups, as well as lawmakers are praising the new move. "(It's) a significant health win," Melanie Benesh with the Environmental Working Groups said. "Exposure to PFAS chemicals are linked to serious health harms including some kinds of cancer, reproductive and developmental harms like lower birth weights and lower sperm counts."The new EPA rule would cut down on the acceptable level of six well-known PFAS compounds in drinking water. Bruno Pigott with the EPA's Water Division said that local water utility companies will be required to check and maintain the new standards once the rule goes into effect. Pigott also said that the Biden Administration set aside $9 billion in the recent infrastructure law to hel...

Petito-Laundrie trial moved to 2024, hearing set for Roberta's 'burn after reading' letter

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

VENICE, Fla. (WFLA) — The civil trial between the families of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie won't be happening anytime soon.On Wednesday, Judge Danielle Brewer rescheduled the trial for a two-week window starting May 13, 2024 in Sarasota County Circuit Court.The trial had originally been scheduled for August 2023, however, both sides agreed with Judge Brewer's assessment that a postponement was necessary due to a growing list of pre-trial hearings. Previously unseen photo shows Gabby Petito with blood on face moments before police stop, attorneys say A year ago this week, the parents of Gabby Petito — Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt — filed a civil lawsuit against the parents of Brian Laundrie — Chris and Roberta Laundrie — for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Petito's parents claim the Laundries were aware Brian had murdered Gabby and did nothing other than release a statement through their attorney, Steven Bertolino, who has been added as a co-defendant in the laws...

Thieves steal more than $1M in vehicles from North Carolina car dealerships, videos show

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) - Car thefts, including those in which vehicles are stolen directly from dealerships, are on the rise.In the past three weeks, Nexstar's WJZY has obtained video of at least four different incidences of thieves brazenly stealing cars from dealerships in North Carolina alone.The first occurred on Feb. 19 in Lexington. Thieves broke into Capital Chevrolet Buick GMC, used a crowbar to break into the key lock box, and drove off with seven cars valued at a total of $344,483. Suspected catalytic converter thief crushed to death at Georgia car lot The following week, on Feb. 27, Adams Auto in Charlotte was hit. The suspects drove vehicles from the showroom through the dealership’s doors, making off with a Maserati and three BMWs with a total value of approximately $300,000.On Mar. 9, Modern Nissan in Cornelius captured surveillance video of suspects driving off with an Audi and a Dodge Durango.And just this past Monday, a group of thieves took si...

Illinois resolution calls for SNAP benefits to all foster families, regardless of income

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — A resolution being sent for a vote in the Illinois House would urge the U.S. government to give SNAP benefits to all Illinois foster families, regardless of income.Approximately 16% of all Illinois residents use food assistance programs like SNAP, the 6th highest in the nation, The Center Square reports.Last year, the federal government paid $5.6 billion in SNAP benefits to Illinois. Extra SNAP benefits set to expire for millions, including Illinois residents Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) submitted House Resolution 75 to the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee on Tuesday.“We’re losing a lot of foster parents because of the fact that they can’t get SNAP benefits unless they qualify, not counting these children that they take on,” she said.However, Rep. Steven Reick (R-Woodstock) argued that even millionaires would qualify to receive the benefits, if the federal government agreed to the plan.“I think that giving it an open-ended qualification or elig...

Harris traveling to Iowa for first trip to the state as VP

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:28 GMT

Vice President Harris will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday for her first trip to the state as vice president.In Iowa, the vice president will meet with local leaders to discuss Democrats' fight to protect reproductive rights and participate in a roundtable, her office announced on Tuesday. Harris has traversed the country in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and has met with local leaders and advocates to discuss abortion issues. She has been the out-front face and lead messenger in the administration on pushing back on GOP-led state laws restricting abortion access and supporting states that have protected abortion access.Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) has requested the state’s Supreme Court allow a law to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in most cases. Meanwhile, some Iowa Republicans have introduced a bill in the State House that would determine that life begins at conception.Harris, who ran against President Biden for the Democratic preside...