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Bloc joins Conservatives in rejecting Johnston report briefing on election meddling

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

OTTAWA — Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is joining Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in refusing to take a look at secret information that led a watchdog to recommend against a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference. Blanchet told reporters in Ottawa today that the briefing is “a dumb trap,” saying it is a way for the Liberal government to smooth the issue over by bringing opposition leaders into the loop — then restricting what they can say about what they learned.Special rapporteur David Johnston recommended the government provide the necessary security clearances for other leaders to have a full look at his first report released Tuesday, including a confidential annex of materials he used to arrive at his conclusions. The former governor general said in the report that the intelligence he reviewed must be kept secret, and while he understands opposition leaders do not want to be constrained by security laws, the issue is too important...

Kenneth Anger, influential avant-garde filmmaker and author, dies at 96

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

Kenneth Anger, the shocking and influential avant-garde artist who defied sexual and religious taboos in such short films as “Scorpio Rising” and “Fireworks” and dished the most lurid movie star gossip in his underground classic “Hollywood Babylon,” has died. He was 96.Anger died of natural causes on May 11 in Yucca Valley, California, his artist liaison, Spencer Glesby, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.Few so boldly and imaginatively mined the forbidden depths of culture and consciousness as Anger, whose admirers ranged from filmmakers Martin Scorsese and David Lynch to rock stars such as the Clash and the Rolling Stones. He was among the first openly gay filmmakers and a pioneer in using soundtracks as counterpoints to moving pictures. Well before the rise of punk and heavy metal, Anger was juxtaposing music with bikers, sadomasochism, occultism and Nazi imagery. When the Sex Pistols and the Clash appeared on the same bill at a 1976 concert, clips from Anger’s movies were sc...

China defends ban on US chipmaker Micron, accuses Washington of ‘economic coercion’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government on Wednesday defended its ban on products from U.S. memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. in some computer systems after Washington expressed concern, adding to strains over technology and security.The security review of Micron products was “conducted in accordance with the law,” said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning.The Cyberspace Administration of China on Sunday said Micron products have unspecified security risks but gave no details. It banned them from computers that handle sensitive information.That came after Washington, Japan and the Netherlands blocked Chinese access to technology to make advanced processor chips on security grounds at a time when the ruling Communist Party is threatening to attack Taiwan and is more assertive toward its other Asian neighbors.“China’s cybersecurity review does not target specific countries or regions,” Mao said. “We do not exclude technologies and products from any country.”Companies on...

WATCH LIVE | Mayor Johnson presides over his first Chicago City Council meeting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Newly inaugurated Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will preside over his first Chicago City Council meeting Wednesday; a meeting with a packed agenda. In addition to officially organizing the councils many committees, to include chairperson appointments, a discussion and vote is expected on a $51 million aid package to assist migrants being moved into the city. If approved, the money will be used for staffing shelters, providing meals, and supporting the migrants in other ways such as with legal assistance. Retired Chicago officer shot while attempting to stop carjacking on West Side WGN plans to livestream the city council meeting, to include any pre-council press conferences and Mayor Johnson's expected post-council availability, within this story beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

'Lucky to have them': Millennium Park garden embracing fox family

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A family of foxes living downtown are the latest Chicago animals to go viral and staff at Lurie Garden couldn't be more excited to care for them.A few years ago, Lurie Garden, which features 350 different types of plants and opened inside Millennium Park in 2004, noticed an adult male fox around the area but it was a rare occurrence.That changed in March when staff noticed the male fox more "out and about." Soon after, his family, consisting of six kits and female fox, joined him."We are overjoyed and it's really awesome to be able to share this space with them," horticulturist Kathryn Deery said. "We feel lucky to have them here and it's an indication we are doing something right in our horticulture practices."Courtesy Lurie GardenThe garden has sectioned off an area where they think their den is and has been consulting with the Urban Wildlife Institute."We use barriers and metal gates to section off the area where they've been most active," Deery said. "They can freely m...

Man charged after robbing, stabbing 52-year-old on Near West Side

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is charged with robbing and stabbing a 52-year-old man on the city's Near West Side.Tramain Bates, 41, faces one felony count of armed robbery and one felony county of aggravated battery/use of a deadly weapon.Police said Bates forcefully took property and stabbed the man around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of South Ashland Avenue. Retired Chicago officer shot while attempting to stop carjacking on West Side According to police, Bates was arrested shortly after and identified as the offender.He is due in bond court Wednesday.

2 men shot while walking on Northwest Side

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Two men were shot while walking on city's Northwest Side Tuesday night.The shooting happened just after 11 p.m. in the 400 block of North Long. Police said two men were walking when they heard shots and felt pain.A 27-year-old man was shot in the inner right thigh and transported to Loyola Hospital in good condition. A 29-year-old man was shot twice in the right arm and transported to Stroger Hospital in good condition. Retired Chicago officer shot while attempting to stop carjacking on West Side No one is in custody. Area Four detectives are investigating.According to police, the victims are known to police.

Baseball player dies after dugout collapse in Pennsylvania

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A 19-year-old baseball player in Pennsylvania has died after a makeshift dugout structure collapsed on him, according to the president of Central Penn College.The Cumberland County Coroner's office confirmed the player's identity as Angel Mercado, who was a student at the college, saying he died at Holy Spirit Hospital from an accidental traumatic head injury.According to City of Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel, Mercado was part of the Harrisburg International League baseball league, which consists of older students from multiple area schools who had permission to play on the rented field where the accident happened. However, Maisel said, they did not have a permit to build the structure, which the team’s coach, Gerardo Diaz, said was being constructed to protect the players from the rain and sun. Around 3 p.m. on Monday, the structure collapsed on Mercado while they were attempting to take it down, leaving him unable to breathe. Diaz said he ...

Wins - and emotion - are part of a great start for Sky

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

CHICAGO — As a team, they made clear that they weren't rebuilding but rather retooling for a new era of their franchise.While just a small sample size, the Chicago Sky were certainly able to show that in their opening weekend to continue the success they've had over the past few years. With a roster that features just three active players from last season's team, the new-look team pulled off two victories on the road. They started with a 77-66 win over the Lynx in Minneapolis on Friday before a nationally-televised 75-69 victory over the Mercury in Phoenix on Sunday. That contest received plenty of attention since it was the first home game for Brittney Griner, who was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly ten months. She would score 27 points and grab ten rebounds, but the Sky had enough to counter that to pick up a momentous win to get their season going. Griner's return to the league has been emotional for everyone in the league, including the Sky, who like many advocated for ...

Missing 14-year-old Houston girl at center of Amber Alert found

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

UPDATE: Marisol Avila has been found, according to the Texas Department of Safety.HOUSTON (KETK) -- An Amber Alert was issued Tuesday night for a 14-year-old girl in Houston.Authorities said Marisol Avila was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. Avila is about 4'5" and 110 pounds with black hair.The suspected vehicle is a tan, late-model Subaru Forester. 1 dead after hit-and-run crash involving truck, motorcycle in East Texas Anyone with information is asked to call 911.amber_alertDownload