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Mexico’s Supreme Court rules tourist train, other projects are not issues of national security

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday the government cannot simply decree that tourist trains or other public work projects are issues of “national security,” because that violates the public’s right to information. The ruling is the latest in a string of setbacks for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has sought to broaden the discretionary powers of the presidency.López Obrador has tried to rush through his Maya Train tourism project by exempting it from normal permitting and public reporting, claiming it is vital to national security.It is unclear whether Thursday’s ruling only affects the public’s right to get information on spending, costs and other data on such projects, or whether it also repeals the fast-track permitting process. López Obrador is already angry at the court for throwing out some of his planned electoral reforms, and has called for a change to make the Supreme Court an elected body. At present, slates of potential justices are sugges...

Quebec Muslim groups sue government over prayer room ban in schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec Muslim groups are taking the provincial government to court over its recently enacted prayer room ban in public schools, arguing that the order is discriminatory and violates the Charter rights to freedom of religion and association.Five Muslim organizations filed their case this week in Quebec Superior Court, seeking a judicial review of the ban and to have it declared unconstitutional. The groups are also seeking a judgment on how secularism and the notion of religious neutrality is interpreted by the government.“The plaintiffs request that a declaratory judgment concerning the interpretation to be given to the principles of laicity and religious neutrality of the state be rendered so that these principles cannot be used to order prohibitions of prayers or other religious practices in public places,” the filing reads.Education Minister Bernard Drainville ordered the ban April 19 after reports of at least two Montreal-area schools permitting students t...

B.C. food bank gets $7M for warehouse as it struggles with abundance, not scarcity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

NANAIMO, B.C. — The head of a Vancouver Island food bank says the problem it’s been grappling with in recent years isn’t scarcity — it’s abundance.Peter Sinclair, executive director of the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank in Nanaimo, B.C., said the group needs more space to deal with the volume of donations it receives, as it works to meet a “dramatic increase” in demand for its services.it is, however, the preferred problem for an organization that distributes food to those in need all over the island, much of it recovered from retailers who would otherwise dispose of it.The British Columbia government announced Thursday that it’s kicking in $7 million toward building a new 25,000-square-foot warehouse for Loaves and Fishes to enable the non-profit to scale up and expand its offerings. Sheila Malcolmson, minister of social development and poverty reduction, told a news conference that food price inflation has put intense pressure on both individuals a...

GOP pauses Blinken contempt push after gaining access to classified Afghanistan cable

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee says he is pausing an effort to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress now that the State Department offered to let him review a classified cable from U.S. diplomats in Kabul sent shortly before the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, agreed Thursday to review the July 2021 communication that reportedly warned the U.S. about the potential fall of Kabul via a special dissent channel. State Department officials have used the classified messaging platform for decades to issue warnings or express contrarian views directly to senior agency officials.McCaul accepted the condition to view the document with the names of those who signed it redacted. The same offer was made to the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, but McCaul urged State to grant access to all other committee members also.The State Department did not immediately return a request for...

Skilling: Cloudy, warm Thursday with possible showers Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

Temps surged 13 degrees higher than yesterday's abysmal, April-level 61 degrees high. But even with a 74 degrees max at O'Hare, that temp was only 2 degrees above normal.Upper winds will continue importing smoke in the days ahead though in coming clouds will prevent us from seeing much (if any) sun Friday.We have some rain on the way. Showers should be reaching the city just after daybreak Friday and may fall over as much as 90% of the area at some point Friday. But model rainfall estimates are abysmally low---continuing the much drier than normal precipitation trend which has dominated the past two months. The meteorological spring season which began March 1 has seen just 71% of its possible rainfall—just 8.72" which is 2.51" below normal.May's been even drier recording a paltry 15% of its normal precipitation to date—just 0.39" versus the normal 2.52" to date—a May shortfall thus far of 2.51".The weekend looks to start cool with a bit of a temp rebound closer to normal Sunday.But ...

Illinois Craft Beer Week: Kickoff, events and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

Illinois Craft Beer Week kicks off this Friday and if you happen to be a craft beer connoisseur, there are plenty of activities planned for those who enjoy themselves a good brew.Here is a day-by-day breakdown of what's happening across Illinois:Friday, May 19The 2023 Illinois Summer Drink Passport. (Credit: Illinois Craft Brewer's Guild)The Summer Drink Passport makes its return after a several years-long hiatus.According to the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG), the passport is a physical booklet where craft beer enthusiasts can document their summer craft beer adventures.Those interested can snag a passport from participating breweries starting May 19, and ask bartenders at each establishment along the way for a 'Visa Sticker' to add to your passport.Those who visit 50 or more participating breweries from May 19 to Aug. 19 are eligible to enter a drawing for a gift card to the passport brewery of their choice. To enter, participants must fill out the authorization form on the f...

District 207 taking high school students to new heights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

For as long as she can remember, Julia Hamel dreamed of flying planes. But, never imagined she'd be doing it at 17."It kind of clears my mind of everything and just be me and do what I want to do," Julia Hamel, a Maine South High School student, said.Through district 207's career education plan, students like Julia are gaining credits for real world experience she hopes will set her on the right flight path to her dream job. ‘Faces of Parkinson’s’: Mother, daughter highlight patients battling degenerative disease using photography While she requests FAA clearance to fly, two Maine East students are doing the same, only on a much smaller set of wings."You're a bird. That's the best way I can put it. You're going anywhere you want," Hemil Patel, a junior at Maine East High School, said.This first year, drone technology class has students reaching higher elevations than they ever thought possible."It's something that gives you freedom," Ken Adtkins, Tech Education Teacher, Maine East...

Jimmy Buffett hospitalized, forced to reschedule concert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) - Jimmy Buffett announced via social media that he was hospitalized after a check-up in Boston, forcing him to postpone a weekend show.Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band were slated to perform Saturday in Charleston, South Carolina."I had a sudden change of plans this week that affected us all," Buffett explained. "Two days ago, I was just back from a trip to the Bahamas, thawing out from the California 'winter tour,' and chomping at the bit to get to Charleston. I had to stop in Boston for a check-up but wound up back in the hospital to address some issues that needed immediate attention." Hobby Lobby doesn’t use barcodes: Here’s their explanation The "Margaritaville" singer didn't say what medical issue he was dealing with, but remained light-hearted, telling fans: "Growing old is not for sissies, I promise you. I also will promise you, that when I am well enough to perform, that is what I'll be doing in the land of She-Crab soup."Buffett thanked h...

Firearms industry could face more legal risk under bill approved by Illinois lawmakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The firearms industry, including gun sellers, could be sued for alleged violations of Illinois law including marketing to young people under legislation Illinois state senators approved Thursday.The House previously approved the bill and it now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, also a Democrat, who said that he will sign it. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, a Democrat, spearheaded the proposal.“Gun violence is a public health epidemic, and those who encourage unlawful use of a firearm or target sales of firearms to minors worsen the scourge of gun violence in our communities," Pritzker said in a statement. “This legislation finally protects Illinoisans from predatory actions by the firearms industry.”Republican lawmakers objected to the proposal during Thursday’s Senate vote, saying it was too broad and would lead to court challenges. Supreme Court lets Illinois keep ban on sale of some semiautomatic guns for now The federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arm...

Lawmakers put on pressure to protect AM radio in vehicles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Lawmakers say the future of AM radio is in jeopardy after companies including Ford and Tesla announced some of their new models will no longer include AM receivers."If Elon Musk has enough money to buy Twitter and send rockets to space, he can certainly afford to include AM radio in his Teslas," Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said.Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) says 8 of the 20 companies he recently asked confirmed plans to leave AM out of future electric vehicles."Automakers may not understand the importance of AM radio, but its benefits are obvious to the 47 million Americans who tune in every week," Markey said.Now, Markey and Gottheimer want to pass legislation requiring automakers to keep AM radios as a standard feature."This is not a question of do people want this. It's a question of again, these companies are trying to save a nickel," Gottheimer said.These lawmakers say AM radios need to stay because the technology is crucial during a disaster."For news, talk s...