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Former Google executive ends longshot bid for Dianne Feinstein’s US Senate seat in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former California tech executive is ending her longshot campaign for the U.S. Senate seat once held by the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, she announced Tuesday.Democrat Lexi Reese said in a statement that she has been unable to raise the many millions of dollars needed for a first-time candidate to introduce herself to voters across the nation’s most populous state. She called for term limits and campaign finance reform “so the cost to enter is not insurmountable for most people.”“Career politicians have institutional, press, and party support that is very difficult to replicate as an outsider,” Reese said.The former Google and Facebook executive joined the crowded contest in June, positioning herself as “a new candidate with a fresh message.” She was never able to break into the top tier of candidates that includes Democratic U.S. Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee. Federal records through the end of September showed Reese raised over $1.8 ...

High-fat flight is first jetliner to make fossil-fuel-free transatlantic crossing from London to NY

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The first commercial airliner to cross the Atlantic on a purely high-fat, low-emissions fuel flew Tuesday from London to New York in a step toward achieving what supporters called “jet zero.”The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 flight was powered without using fossil fuels, relying on so-called sustainable aviation fuel made up largely of tallow and other waste fats.“The world will always assume something can’t be done, until you do it,” said Virgin founder Richard Branson, who was aboard the flight with others including corporate and government officials, engineers and journalists.The U.K. Transport Department, which provided 1 million pounds ($1.27 million) to plan and operate the flight, called the test a “huge step towards jet zero” to make air travel more environmentally friendly, though large hurdles remain in making the fuel widely available.While governments have long talked about decarbonizing air travel, the transition has been moving at the pace ...

Québec solidaire loses longtime member after deciding men can’t run in byelections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

MONTREAL — A three-time Québec solidaire candidate says he’s leaving the left-wing party after it adopted a resolution to nominate only women and non-binary people as candidates in future byelections.Olivier Bolduc, who describes himself as a feminist, says the resolution goes too far and won’t achieve its desired goals. The former candidate says he thinks the policy, which remains in effect for one year, will prevent the party from making gains if people like him feel unwelcome.Bolduc lost an October byelection in Quebec City after overcoming opposition from party leadership who had lobbied for a female candidate.The new resolution was passed with nearly unanimous support from the 600 delegates at a party convention on Saturday.The second largest opposition party in Quebec’s legislature after the Liberals, Québec solidaire currently has four women and eight men in its caucus.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2023.The Canadian Press

York U group calls for reinstatement of employees charged in Toronto Indigo defacement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

A group of faculty, staff and students at York University is calling for the reinstatement of three university employees who they say were suspended after police laid charges in the defacement of an Indigo bookstore in Toronto.The exterior of the large Indigo location was splashed with red paint and posters were glued to the doors and the walls earlier this month in what Toronto police investigated as a hate crime amid tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Heather Reisman, founder and CEO of the books giant, is Jewish and Indigo has long been a target of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement because Reisman and her husband also founded the HESEG Foundation, which offers scholarships to people without family in Israel who nevertheless serve in the Israeli military.Toronto police last week said they charged 11 people with mischief over $5,000 over the incident at the Indigo store. York University associate professor Anna Zalik says York professor Lesley Wood, a univer...

Texas women who could not get abortions despite health risks take challenge to state’s Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday scrutinized efforts to clarify exceptions to the state’s abortion ban, which a growing number of women say forced them to continue pregnancies despite serious risks to their health.The Texas lawsuit is among the biggest challenges to abortion bans in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. In July, several Texas women gave emotional testimony about carrying babies they knew would not survive and doctors unable to offer abortions despite their spiraling conditions. A judge later ruled that Texas’ ban was too restrictive for women with pregnancy complications, but that order was swiftly put on hold after the state appealed.The decision now rests with Texas’ highest court, and during arguments Tuesday, one justice on the all-Republican panel signaled concerns about potentially giving physicians too broad discretion to provide exceptions. “This very well could open the door far more widely than you...

Federal politicians criticize Alberta Energy Regulator over oilsands leak, monitoring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

Federal politicians have criticized the Alberta Energy Regulator at an environment committee meeting looking into two releases of oilsands wastewater at Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine earlier this year.Liberal member of Parliament Adam van Koeverden tried to pass a motion expressing disappointment at the regulator’s performance.The motion, which wasn’t voted on, also called for a study into the industry’s health impacts, as well as safety audits for all oilsands tailings ponds.It followed a testy session that saw detailed questioning of Laurie Pushor, the head of the regulator.Pushor was asked repeatedly about evidence suggesting tailings are seeping from the ponds into groundwater.He said some seepage is expected and managed.Pushor said he couldn’t offer much information while an internal investigation into the releases is underway.Van Koeverden said after the meeting the motion was drafted out of frustration with Pushor’s answers.This report by The C...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs temporarily steps down as Revolt chairman amid sexual abuse allegations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has temporarily stepped down as chairman of his cable television network Revolt amid multiple sexual abuse allegations against the music mogul.Revolt announced Combs’ decision on social media Tuesday. It’s not clear when he will return to his media company — which said Combs previously had “no operational or day-to-day role” at the network.“This decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and African diaspora,” the network said in the statement.Combs, a founder of Revolt, declined to comment further on the matter. The network has been preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary.Earlier this month, R&B singer Cassie accused Combs of raping and beating her over the duration of their decadeslong, on-and-off relationship — which began in 2005, when she was 19 and he was 37. The singer, whose real nam...

Man arrested in alleged hate-motivated assault with knife in North York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

A man from Toronto is facing several charges following an alleged hate-motivated assault with a knife in North York.Authorities were called to the Jane Street and Wilson Avenue area at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 13, for reports of a person with a knife.Police said the accused approached the victim and allegedly assaulted them. The suspect then produced a knife and attempted to assault the victim with it while allegedly making homophobic remarks.On Friday, Nov. 24, police arrested 39-year-old Jahwin John of Toronto. He’s been charged with assault, assault with a weapon and weapons dangerous. The accused was expected to appear in court on Saturday, Nov. 25.Investigators said the incident is being treated as a hate-motivated crime.

Democratic lawmaker moves to force a vote this week on expelling Rep. George Santos from the House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker moved Tuesday to force a vote this week on expelling Rep. George Santos from the House, calling it a necessary step if Republicans fail to take action in light of the recent ethics report that found Santos blatantly stole from his campaign and deceived donors.Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., brought back to the floor legislation he first introduced in February to force the expulsion vote. Republicans were successful in turning aside Garcia’s earlier effort, but now that the Ethics Committee has released its findings about Santos from its monthslong investigation, Garcia said it’s time to act.“Whatever it takes to get that vote this week, is what we’re doing,” Garcia said. Expelling Santos, a Republican from New York, would require support from at least two-thirds of House members voting. Garcia said he expects to reach that number easily, which would make Santos just the sixth member of the House to be removed by his colleagues,...

Staff reassigned at Florida school after allegations that transgender student played on girls’ team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:26 GMT

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (AP) — Dozens of students participated in a walkout at a South Florida high school on Tuesday, a day after their principal and four other staff members were removed from their positions as officials investigate allegations of a transgender student being allowed to play on a girls’ volleyball team, in violation of state law.The demonstration occurred at Monarch High School in Broward County. Local news footage shows a large crowd of students walking out of the school building and congregating outside on school property.The school district on Monday reassigned principal James Cecil, assistant principal Kenneth May, athletic director Dione Hester and information management technician Jessica Norton to non-school sites pending the outcome of the investigation. Also, temporary athletic coach Alex Burgess was told his services are paused while the investigation proceeds.“We will continue to follow state law and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of the i...