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As strike deadline looms, St. Lawrence Seaway authority says little progress in talks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

MONTREAL — The organization employing workers at the St. Lawrence Seaway says there has been little progress in labour negotiations with a major union just hours before workers are poised to walk off the job.Unifor, which represents some 360 workers with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., issued a 72-hour strike notice to the employer earlier this week, saying seaway workers were ready to strike as of midnight Saturday.A potential halt would likely affect cargo shipments immediately along the St. Lawrence corridor, which runs between Montreal and Lake Erie and carried $16.7 billion worth of cargo last year.The seaway authority says Unifor continues to demand wage increases patterned after automotive negotiations, but asserts that while automotive workers had fallen behind inflation following givebacks, seaway workers have not.It says workers have negotiated salary increases over the past 20 years and now take home wages that are 10 per cent ahead of inflation.Negotiations beg...

Iowa woman who made fake cancer claims on social media must pay restitution but stays out of prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman who falsely claimed to have cancer and documented her “battle” on social media will stay out of prison after a judge gave her probation and a suspended sentence.Madison Russo, 20, never had pancreatic cancer, leukemia nor the football-sized tumor wrapped around her spine she that claimed in postings on TikTok, GoFundMe, Facebook and LinkedIn. But over 400 people sent her donations. As part of the 10-year suspended sentence handed down Friday, she was ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution and a $1,370 fine. If she stays out of trouble for three years of probation, she’ll stay free.The Bettendorf woman pleaded guilty in June to first-degree theft. In court on Friday, Judge John Telleen declined a defense request that would have wiped the conviction off her record if she completes probation successfully. He said people who deal with her in the future should know that she once engaged in a “criminal scheme,” and that “serious crimes must have s...

The vehicle has been found but the suspect still missing in the fatal shooting of a Maryland judge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Authorities found the vehicle used by the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Maryland judge but asked the public to remain vigilant Saturday as they continued searching for the man. Pedro Argote, 49, is suspected of gunning down the judge in his driveway hours after he ruled against him in a divorce case. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on Facebook that the silver Mercedes SUV that Argote was believed to be driving has been located in Williamsport, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) southwest of Hagerstown, where the judge was shot outside his home. The sheriff’s office planned a news conference late Saturday afternoon.“Anyone with information on Argote’s location should immediately notify law enforcement,” the sheriff’s office said in its statement.Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was shot Thursday night, just hours after he awarded custody of Argote’s children to his wife. Washington County Sherif...

Who is Speaker candidate Mike Johnson?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

(The Hill) — Just one day after the House GOP abandoned Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as its Speaker nominee, multiple lawmakers have officially jumped into the race. The House has been without a Speaker for nearly three weeks, after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was outsted from the position earlier this month in a historic vote. While House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) was the conference's first nominee, he withdrew a day later, citing concerns he couldn't garner the 217 votes needed to be elected. Jordan, the second nominee, also failed to reach a majority — even after three ballots. Concerns grow over spread of anti-Muslim violence House Republicans will meet again on Monday evening before hopefully announcing a new nominee on Tuesday. Sunday at noon is the deadline for candidates to file candidacy.House Republican Vice Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Saturday joined the now-crowded field of candidates vying for the gavel. Here’s what you need to know about him...

Texas, Houston clash for the 1st time since 2002; Majors set to play after injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to Lowell Galindo of Longhorn Network, Texas center Jake Majors will play against Houston on Saturday.Galindo reported that head coach Steve Sarkisian said Majors is cleared to play against the Cougars in Houston. The game is set to start at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on FOX.Ja'Tavion Sanders, the Longhorns' dynamic tight end who has been hobbled the past couple of games, was out on the field early warming up. Ja’Tavion Sanders first to come out warming up pic.twitter.com/zn4GLSQ23p— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) October 21, 2023Defensive back Ryan Watts and Jalen Catalon could potentially return today as well, but as with any injury, Sarkisian said it depends on what the best interests of the team and the players are if they'll be available. All the players mentioned practiced all week, Sarkisian said on Thursday.This is the first time since 2002 Houston and Texas have played, and the last time the Cougars beat the Longhorns was when the teams squared...

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 7: Raiders QB Garoppolo is a no-go

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

UPDATE: 2:35 p.m. SaturdayNot a lot of fantasy news this afternoon. The most noteworthy note is that Las Vegas quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will miss tomorrow’s game in Chicago, making the bye week’s depleted pool of adequate QBs even shallower.Notable players added to the out list include Rams RB Kyren Williams, Detroit WR Marvin Jones and Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth.Two players will be returning to the field this week: Pittsburgh wideout Diontae Johnson and Miami running back Jeff Wilson have been cleared to play tomorrow..Seattle WR D.K. Metcalf is said to be a game-time decision for the Seahawks’ late afternoon matchup with Arizona.As for news of more local interest, the Vikings’ opponent Monday night, San Francisco, is mum today on the status of star RB Christian McCaffrey and WR Deebo Samuel.ORIGINAL POST: noon WednesdayThere are few moments more painful in fantasy football than when teams employing a one-quarterback strategy watch their quarterback go down.Such a tragedy...

8 candidates, heavy fundraising, Rondo land bridge, Summit bikeway heat up Ward 1 council race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

By early September, James Lo’s campaign for the Ward 1 seat on the St. Paul City Council had raised more than $115,000, significantly more than any of the other seven candidates in the race. That’s no small feat for a school guidance counselor in a political ward that spans low- to moderate-income corners of Frogtown, Summit-University and part of the city’s North End.As fundraising goes, his totals are almost on par with that of the four council candidates in the wealthier Ward 3 area (Highland Park, Macalester-Groveland, part of West Seventh) combined.Lo, who has put former Ward 1 council member Dai Thao on his campaign payroll, has been able to rely on broad support from the Hmong community across the metro and into Wisconsin. But whether the cash translates into votes remains to be seen. His positions on several city council priorities include opposing a proposed Summit Avenue bikeway and a sales tax increase to fund road reconstructions and park projects.̶...

The Lazy Axe in Albany to host 'Trick or Yeet' tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Lazy Axe in Albany will be hosting their annual Halloween weekend axe throwing competition. The "Trick or Yeet" tournament is scheduled for October 28. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The World Axe Throwing League (WATL) sanctioned tier three tournament will feature competitions in all four throwing disciplines, which will be held at the following times: Knife - 9 a.m.Big axe - 11 a.m.Duals - 1 p.m.Hatchet - 3 p.m. Hundreds walk to raise funds for ALS resources Participants are encouraged to wear costumes. The event will kick off with an open practice session held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on October 27. The venue will also offer a variety of beverages for purchase at the event. Attendees are allowed to bring outside food, but are not permitted to bring outside alcohol. Albany FD wins 7th annual CDTA Pink Bus Pull The Lazy Axe is located at 1865 Central Avenue. You can register for Trick or Yeet o...

Judge in Missouri transgender care lawsuit agrees to step aside but decries 'gamesmanship'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A judge agreed Friday to step aside in a lawsuit challenging a new Missouri law restricting gender-affirming health care for minors, despite what he called “gamesmanship” from the plaintiffs' lawyers for requesting a new judge.St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to preside over the lawsuit that seeks to overturn the Missouri law. The lawsuit was filed in July by the ACLU of Missouri, Lambda Legal and the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner on behalf of families of three transgender minors, a St. Louis health care center and LGBTQ+ organizations.Ohmer said at a hearing that assigning a new judge will delay resolution of the case, possibly into next year. It's unclear when the state Supreme Court will make the appointment.“And the wheels of justice keep spinning in the mud,” Ohmer said. St. Louis man gets $1.25M in ruling over Bayer-Monsanto’s ‘Roundup’ Ohmer in August denied the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary inj...

Webster University chancellor to step down at end of year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:55 GMT

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. - The chancellor of Webster University will step down at the end of the year after nearly 15 years of service. Elizabeth "Beth" J. Stroble will step down from her role on Dec. 31, 2023. A board of trustees will soon begin a global search for her successor. St. Louis man gets $1.25M in ruling over Bayer-Monsanto’s ‘Roundup’ “My experience at Webster University has been the highlight of my professional career. It has been truly an honor to work with the outstanding faculty, staff and students of this University,” said Stroble, who joined the university in 2009. “Webster’s mission and legacy of meeting unmet needs has inspired my commitment to improving the student experience, and I will continue to support the University in the future, extending the legacy of our founders, the Sisters of Loretto.”The university says Stroble has been "a leading voice in pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion," and also founded a STEM strategy to equip generations of students. ...