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Locked out of local government: Residents decry increased secrecy among towns, counties, schools

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Cheryl Geidner figured council members in Volant, a tiny borough north of Pittsburgh, would adopt a preliminary year-end budget despite no discussions at public meetings on the proposed financials.She never figured they’d raise property taxes by 57%.“There had never been a mention of that,” said Geidner, a property owner who helps oversee a business with her husband, John, in the town of 126 residents. “You didn’t see the budget. You didn’t see the ordinance. I think everybody was somewhat taken aback.”The plan, given final approval last week, will steeply increase tax bills: A property assessed at $100,000, for example, would have been billed $700 in 2023. In 2024, that bill will rise to $1,100. The council’s silence leading up to the decision highlights what some observers say is a striking trend toward secrecy among local governments across the U.S. From school districts to townships and county boards, public access to records and meetings in many states is worsening over time, o...

Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if the rituals don’t resemble marriage

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it.The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied full stop. I...

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 24-30

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 24-30:Dec. 24: Actor Grand L. Bush (TV’s “The Visitor,” film’s “Demolition Man”) is 68. Actor Stephanie Hodge (“Unhappily Ever After”) is 67. Bassist-synthesizer player Ian Burden of Human League is 66. Actor Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”) is 64. Actor Wade Williams (“Prison Break,” “The Bernie Mac Show”) is 62. Singer Mary Ramsey of 10,000 Maniacs is 60. Actor Mark Valley (“Boston Legal”) is 59. Actor Diedrich Bader (“The Drew Carey Show”) is 57. Actor Amaury Nolasco (TV’s “Deception,” “Prison Break”) is 53. Singer Ricky Martin is 52. “Twilight” series author Stephenie Meyer is 50. TV host Ryan Seacrest (“American Idol”) is 49. Actor Michael Raymond-James (“Once Upon a Time,” “True Blood”) is 46. Actor Austin Stowell (“12 Strong”) is 39. Actor Sofia Black-D’Elia (“Your Honor,” “The Mick”) is 32. Singer Louis Tomlinson of One Direction is 32.Dec. 25: Actor Hanna Schygulla (“Barnum,” ″Casanova”) is 80. Singer John Edwards of The Spinners ...

Snow, flurries on the way today as temperature drops in GTA

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

It’s a mild and rainy start to the work week but things will look and feel a lot more like winter by Monday evening.A temperature drop throughout the day Monday will set things up for a potentially icy and snowy evening commute, and there is a possibility we could be waking up to snow on the ground on Tuesday morning.“Rain, switching over to snow as we head into this evening,” says CityNews chief meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai. “It is going to be slick driving tonight and into tomorrow.”Monday’s guaranteed high of 6 C has already been reached as of 8 a.m. as cold air starts to move in leading to an overnight low of -4 C. Showers are expected to turn into wet flurries and then snow by the late evening.Areas in the north part of the GTA could see as much as five centimetres of snow, with up to three centimetres possible in areas south of Highway 401.Tuesday will see sun and cloud and a chance of flurries with a guaranteed high of -1 C. Things will r...

Pope says priests can bless same-sex unions, union should not be subject to moral analysis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it.The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied full stop. It offers an extensi...

13-year-old boy reported missing in Roseland

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A 13-year-old boy in Roseland is missing.Jaikese Grafton was last seen in the area of 94th and Harvard on Sunday.Grafton was wearing a black coat, white t-shirt, blue jeans with red stitching and silver and blue gym shoes.He is 5'3" and weighs around 96 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information can call 911 or 312-745-6110.

Applesauce pouches may have been contaminated with lead on purpose: FDA official

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

(The Hill) – Recalled applesauce pouches that left many children sick with lead poisoning could have been tainted on purpose, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Jim Jones, the FDA deputy commissioner for Human Foods, said the investigation is still ongoing, but signs point to an intentional act to poison the puree. “We’re still in the midst of our investigation," Jones said in an interview with Politico. "But so far, all of the signals we’re getting lead to an intentional act on the part of someone in the supply chain and we’re trying to sort of figure that out." Kids in 22 states sickened by fruit pouches tained with lead: FDA Weis, WanaBana and Schnucks are three of the brands found to have contaminated pouches. All have ties to a manufacturing facility in Ecuador, which is now under inspection by the FDA.Jones told Politico he thinks the facility didn't believe the contaminated applesauce would have ended up in countries with a robust regulatory process. ...

Dean's A-List Interviews: Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Check out Dean's A-List interviews with Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key in the new animation film 'Migration.' Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

12/18/2023: Big storm brings heavy rain, wind

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

The latest Storm Tracker Forecast from Meteorologist Jill Szwed.Happy Monday! What a way to start the week! A nor'easter is pulling a lot of heavy rain into the News10 area. Several hours of drenching rain are ahead to start the day.Widespread heavy rain will continue for the morning commute through the lunch hour. The rain will ease slightly into the second part of the day. We should see the wet weather wrap up from southwest to northeast by this evening.A Flood Watch is in effect through 5 AM Tuesday. The rain will have ended well before this expiration time, but it will take longer for water levels to recede. Be aware of hidden flooding dangers through tonight. A total of two to four inches of rain is possible. Some areas like the Catskills, parts of the Hudson Valley, and the Berkshires could see totals closer to half a foot.The backside of the nor'easter will kick up strong winds. Areas to the east of the Hudson Valley are under a Wind Advisory until 4 PM today. Gusts up to 50 ...

Denver weather: Near-record temperatures projected for Tuesday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Denver is one of several cities in Colorado expected to reach near-record high temperatures for this time of year Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.With temperatures projected to peak between 65 and 67 degrees Tuesday afternoon, the city will come close to beating it’s all-time record for Dec. 19 of 67 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. There is a small chance Denver could see temperatures of 68 degrees, which would set a new record.The current record for Dec. 19’s warmest weather was set in 1917, according to tracking data from NWS.Other cities in Colorado — including Fort Collins, Boulder, Limon, and Akron — are also expected to come within a couple degrees of their record-high temps for this day, the National Weather Service posted on social media Monday.Throughout Monday, residents of the Denver metro area can expect a sunny day with a high of 59 degrees before temperatures dip down to 35 degrees overnight, according to N...