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Rain, gusty winds bring weekend washout to Florida before system heads up East Coast

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — It’s beginning to look at lot like … hurricane season — at least across much of South Florida, where it’s been windy and rainy for two days and the forecast predicts more of the same this busy holiday season weekend. With Saturday expected to be stormy over most of the state, outdoor holiday parties have been canceled and outside decorations that aren’t battened down might just blow away.And that’s not all. The mass of wind and rain is expected to head up the East Coast of the United States just in time for the start of the holiday travel season.“Saturday looks like a complete washout as this disturbance moves over,” said George Rizzuto, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Miami. “The northern part of Florida will be at risk for some pretty heavy rainfall tomorrow basically through the entire day on Saturday.”He said winds of 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 kph) are expected across much of the coastline, with gusts up to 45 mph (72 kph).Gale ...

A Mississippi House candidate is charged after a Satanic Temple display is destroyed at Iowa Capitol

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Satanic Temple display inside the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines was destroyed, and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot running for a statehouse seat in Mississippi is accused of the damage.The display is permitted by rules that govern religious installations inside the Capitol but has drawn criticism from many conservatives, including presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. A Facebook posting by The Satanic Temple on Thursday said the display, known as a Baphomet statue, “was destroyed beyond repair,” though part of it remains.Michael Cassidy, 35, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said Friday. He was released after his arrest.Cassidy is a Republican running for a seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives. The biography on his campaign website says he served as a Navy fighter pilot and a pilot instructor. He describes himself as a “Christian conservative who loves our nation...

Macklem says 2024 likely to be ‘transition’ year as economy slows, inflation falls

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

TORONTO — Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says he expects 2024 to be a transition year as higher interest rates slow down the economy, making way for lower inflation.In his final speech of the year, the governor lays out his expectations for a softer economy next year and offers criteria for the central bank to start discussing rate cuts.“The effects of past interest rate increases will continue to work through the economy, restraining spending and limit growth and employment. Unfortunately, this is what’s needed to take the remaining stream out of inflation,” Macklem’s prepared remarks read.However, this weakness is what will help get inflation back to target, he adds, which would in turn open the door to rate cut discussions.But Macklem warns that nothing is certain and there could be bumps along the way.“Once governing council is assured that we are clearly on a path back to price stability, we will be considering whether and when we can lower our policy interest rate,...

Ontario developer launches constitutional challenge of law returning Greenbelt lands

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

The owner of one of the 15 properties removed from — then returned to — the Greenbelt has launched a constitutional challenge of a law that reversed Premier Doug Ford’s plan to open up the protected land for development.Lawyers for Minotar Holdings Inc. filed the application Thursday in Ontario’s Divisional Court, arguing that the way the law is written violates “the constitutional principle of the rule of law.”The Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act is the legislation fulfilling Ford’s promise to restore Greenbelt protections to 15 parcels of land. His government had removed them last year, but scathing auditor general and integrity commissioner reports found the process unfairly favoured certain developers and Ford was forced to reverse course.Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra has boasted that the law also enhances protection of the Greenbelt “to an unprecedented degree” by requiring any future boundary changes to be don...

Person fatally struck by VIA train near Rogue Hill GO station: Metrolinx

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

Toronto Fire confirms that a person who was struck by a VIA train near the Rouge Hill GO station on Friday morning has died.Emergency crews were called to the scene at around 11:24 a.m.Metrolinx says shuttle buses are running and riders at Rouge Hill are being asked to use the TTC.“Trains cannot move through the area until a full investigation is completed,” Metrolinx said in a release. “There will be significant delays and possible cancellations. The following service will be available:– Trains will run hourly– Train service between Union Station and Guildwood GO– GO bus shuttle from Guildwood GO express to Pickering GO– Train service between Pickering GO and DC Oshawa– Rouge Hill customers are asked to use the TTCMore to come

Auto dealers association demands more EV charging stations, improved affordability

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association is raising concerns about electric vehicle affordability and charging infrastructure.It says the regulated sales targets for zero-emission vehicles are not achievable without more government efforts to address vehicle affordability and the lack of charging infrastructure.The federal government has set sales targets for the number of ZEVs among new light-duty vehicle purchases at 20 per cent by 2026, increasing to 100 per cent by 2035.Association president Tim Reuss says high interest rates and inflation are severely impacting consumers’ ability to buy new cars, as evidenced by rising inventory levels on dealerships’ lots.Reuss says the association wants the government to focus on creating the right set of circumstances to stimulate demand for EVs.Brian Kingston, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, says the federal government must provide stronger consumer purchase incentives, a widesprea...

Judge rejects conservative challenge to new Minnesota law restoring felons’ voting rights

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge has dismissed a conservative group’s lawsuit challenging a new Minnesota law that restores voting rights for felons once they’ve completed their prison time.Anoka County Judge Thomas Lehmann ruled Wednesday that the Minnesota Voters Alliance lacked the legal standing to sue and failed to prove that the Legislature overstepped its authority when it voted in February to expand voting rights for the formerly incarcerated. Before the change, they had to complete their probation before they could regain their eligibility to vote.The alliance argued that the law violates a clause in the state constitution that says felons cannot vote “unless restored to civil rights.” The group argued that the language means all their civil rights, not just some.“The major premise of this argument is fundamentally flawed,” the judge wrote, saying the constitution does not specify “restored to all civil rights.” He cited a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling from February ...

Man sentenced to up to life in prison for shooting deaths of retired couple on hiking trail

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A 27-year-old man who was living in a tent in the woods in New Hampshire was sentenced Friday to up to life in prison in the fatal shooting deaths of a retired couple who had gone out for a walk. He asserted his innocence in court. Superior Court Judge John Kissinger Jr. called Logan Clegg a “stone-cold, violent murderer” as he imposed the sentence requested by prosecutors of two sentences of 50 years to life in prison for the murders of Stephen and Djeswende “Wendy” Reid. The couple were killed in April 2022 while walking on a trail near their apartment in Concord, the state capital. They had done international development and humanitarian work before recently relocating to the city. “I truly hope he engages in rehabilitation, but there is no chance — if this sentence holds — that he will spend a day outside of the prison,” Kissinger said. A jury convicted Clegg in October of all nine counts he faced, including four counts of second-degree murder, one count of ...

Nigeria’s Supreme Court reinstates terrorism charges against separatist leader

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Friday overturned a lower court ruling dismissing terrorism charges against a popular separatist leader whose trial has been blamed for an outbreak of violence in the country’s southeast region.The Court said Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist group that seeks independence for Nigeria’s southeastern region, still faces terrorism charges despite the lower court ruling. Kanu, who also holds British citizenship, has already pleaded not guilty to the charges. In announcing the decision, Justice Garba Mohammed said that although Nigeria’s secret police violated Kanu’s rights during his arrest and extradition from Kenya in 2021, the Court of Appeal was wrong to rule in October last year that the violation was grounds for the dismissal of the charges.“No legislation in the country stripped the trial court of the jurisdiction to go ahead with Kanu’s case, despite the illegal action,” of the secret p...

The EU’s drip-feed of aid frustrates Ukraine, despite the promise of membership talks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:57:07 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Drop by drop, Ukraine is being supplied with aid and arms from its European allies, at a time when it becomes ever clearer it would take a deluge to turn its war against Russia around. On Friday, EU leaders sought to paper over their inability to boost Ukraine’s coffers with a promised 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) over the next four years, saying the check will likely arrive next month after some more haggling between 26 leaders and the longtime holdout, Viktor Orban of Hungary. Instead, they wanted Ukraine to revel in getting the nod to start membership talks that could mark a sea change in its fortunes — never mind that the process could last well over a decade and be strewn with obstacles from any single member state. “Today, we are celebrating,” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. Ukrainian government bookkeepers are unlikely to join in. Kyiv is struggling to make ends meet from one month to the next and to make sure enough is left to bolster def...