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After losing Houston mayor’s race, US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to seek reelection to Congress

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Two days after losing her bid to be Houston’s next mayor, longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announced on Monday she will seek a 16th term in Congress in 2024.Jackson Lee first took office in 1995. Her district includes downtown Houston and some of the city’s historically Black neighborhoods, including 3rd and 5th Wards.“I am enthusiastic about the prospect of continuing our shared journey to uplift the 18th Congressional District,” Jackson Lee, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Your support has been invaluable, and I eagerly welcome it as I strive to further serve and represent our community with my ability to get the job done.”Jackson Lee’s announcement comes after she was handily defeated by state Sen. John Whitmire in a mayoral runoff election on Saturday.She had sought to be Houston’s first Black female mayor. Jackson Lee was heavily outspent by Whitmire in the campaign and also had to deal with fallout from the release in October of an unver...

Toronto woman using her love of pickleball to help others

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

Pickleball has taken the world by storm, being played now by more than 40 million people daily. One Toronto woman who discovered her love of the sport is now using it to help others.Vivian Ringwald started playing pickleball for her own mental and physical health, but noticed early on there wasn’t a lot on the market for new equipment. “I want to look good. I want to feel good. I want it to be versatile. I want it stylish. I found nothing on the market,” said Ringwald.She created a website that sells custom bags and hilarious pickleball-related attire with the proceeds at times benefiting thousands of people.“The jargon that they use in pickleball is hilarious. So there’s the kitchen, which is by the net. The word dinking is used constantly because it’s by the net when you lob the ball over the net. I thought a nice play on words would be great on t-shirts, and it’s a great communication piece when people are playing together,” said Ri...

Governor wants New Mexico legislators to debate new approach to regulating assault-style weapons

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico could become an early political testing ground for a proposal to make assault-style weapons less deadly.Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday said she’ll encourage the state’s Democratic-led Legislature to consider statewide restrictions that mirror an unconventional proposal from U.S. senators aimed at reducing a shooter’s ability to fire off dozens of rounds a second and attach new magazines to keep firing.The proposed federal Go Safe Act was named after the internal cycling of high-pressure gas in the firearms in question and comes from such senators as New Mexico’s Martin Heinrich, a Democrat. If approved, it would mean assault-style weapons would have permanently fixed magazines, limited to 10 rounds for rifles and 15 rounds for some heavy-format pistols. “I’ve got a set of lawmakers that are more likely than not to have a fair debate about guns, gun violence, weapons of war and keeping New Mexicans safe than members of C...

Celine Song’s ‘Past Lives’ rides critical wave to multiple Golden Globe nominations

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

Korean-Canadian indie darling Celine Song said she was “thrilled” after her debut feature “Past Lives” received five Golden Globe nominations Monday, riding a wave of critical acclaim to marquee races for best drama, best direction and best writing.The relationship drama — largely set in Korea and New York with a key scene at Toronto Pearson Airport — also earned nods for best non-English picture and best female actor for U.S. star Greta Lee.Partly based on Song’s own life, the film is about two childhood sweethearts who contemplate the nature of their relationship as they grow apart and live different lives over the course of 24 years.Song, 34, was born in South Korea and her parents moved to Markham, Ont., when she was 12. She now lives in New York. Song said she’s excited to be considered for Golden Globes among nominees whose films she has admired all her life. “I have spent the morning thanking everyone who worked on the film with me an...

Coastal GasLink seeking $1.2B from contractor; alleges poor performance

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

CALGARY — The company behind the Coastal GasLink pipeline is pursuing $1.2 billion in cost recoveries from one of its contractors.TC Energy Corp. terminated a contract with Pacific Atlantic Pipeline Construction last year, alleging poor performance. The company was one of the main contractors involved in the building of Coastal GasLink.The 670-kilometre pipeline was completed in October, but its construction was plagued with difficulties including challenging terrain, bad weather, the COVID-19 pandemic and protests by environmental and Indigenous groups.By the time the pipeline was finished, its estimated construction cost had ballooned from $6.6 billion to $14.5 billion.TC Energy says Coastal GasLink is committed to enforcing its contractual rights and is actively pursuing cost recoveries.The dispute between Coastal GasLink and its contractor is currently before an Alberta court.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:TRP)Th...

3 arrested in $380,000 GTA cheque fraud investigation targeting vulnerable residents

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

Three people have been charged concerning a fraudulent cheque ring operation that involved a loss of around $380,000.Peel Regional Police said in March 2023, fraud investigators were contacted by a major financial institution about a cheque-related scam.Authorities identified a group responsible for the alleged crimes and determined that the suspects were responsible for approximately $380,000 of fraudulent cheque acts.Police said the investigation also revealed that the suspects were targeting “vulnerable sectors of the population” in committing these frauds. Related: Man arrested for impersonating police officer, defrauding elderly woman of thousands of dollars On Friday, Dec. 8, three people were arrested. They were identified as 41-year-old Varinder Kumar of Brampton, 30-year-old Sukvir Singh of Brampton and 26-year-old Sandeep Sogi of Toronto.Kumar is facing five counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of uttering forged documents and three counts ...

Two Nashville churches, wrecked by tornados years apart, lean on each other in storms’ wake

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After a March 2020 tornado destroyed the Rev. Jacques Boyd’s Nashville church, his friend, the Rev. Vincent Johnson, lent him space to worship in. Nearly four years later, Boyd has offered to return the favor for the exact same reason.“Whatever we have is available to them,” said Boyd, who leads Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, two days after a tornado ripped through Community Baptist Church. “We’re walking hand-in-hand with them as sister churches and as pastors being friends, being present with them however that presence looks.”Although the tornado struck early Saturday evening, Community Baptist was full of people attending an appreciation banquet for Pastor Johnson and his wife Donella Johnson. In a video message to the congregation posted on the church’s Facebook page Sunday, Donella Johnson said several members needed emergency surgery. Their injuries included broken hips and femurs.One of the people injured was George Presley, who suffered a hea...

Wisconsin’s Democratic attorney general vows to defend potential 2024 Trump victory in court

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Democratic attorney general vowed Monday to defend a potential Donald Trump victory in the swing state next year, saying he’s confident that the state’s election systems work.Trump, a Republican, refused to concede that Democrat Joe Biden won Wisconsin in 2020. Multiple court challenges and a partial recount ultimately confirmed Biden’s victory. Attorney General Josh Kaul defended the results in court.Kaul told The Associated Press on Monday that the legal challenges over the 2020 election showed that Wisconsin’s election systems accurately reflect the will of the voters. Asked if he would defend the 2024 results even if they show that Trump won the state, Kaul said: “We’re going to defend the results regardless of who wins the election. What is paramount is the will of the voters prevails.”The Associated Press

New York pledges $1B on chip research and development in Albany in bid for jobs, federal grants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state will spend $1 billion to expand research into chip technology in Albany, the state’s capital, with the goal of turning the region into a global center of semiconductor research and manufacturing, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday.She said the investment will bolster New York’s case for federal grants under the CHIPS and Science Act, which will provide more than $52 billion for semiconductor research and manufacturing. It’s part of a long-term plan wrest control of the industry away from competitors, particularly China.“There’s a race for global domination. That’s why we’re here,” Hochul, a Democrat, said at a news conference where she was joined by chip industry leaders and both of New York’s U.S. senators. “And I’m here to announce that New York state will win that race.”The plan will eventually create 700 new jobs and includes the purchase of a next-generation lithography machine for making computer chips, the officials said in...

Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo III to represent himself

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:28:00 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A judge in Lake County set a trial date Monday for early next year for the man accused of the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade, who now plans to represent himself.Robert Crimo III requested his right to a speedy trial Monday, so proceedings are set to begin in February 2024 after the trial date had been tentatively set for 2025. Also Monday, Crimo III dismissed his defense attorneys, telling 19th Judicial Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti that he'll represent himself at next year's trial. Crimo III, who prosecutors say opened fire on crowds of people watching the parade in 2022, is facing more than 100 charges, including dozens of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges.Seven people were killed, dozens were hurt and countless others were traumatized in the shooting.Crimo III pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held without bond.On Monday, he made his request in a Lake County courtroom to move up his trial date...