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Officials investigating fire at Jewish-owned deli in North York; councillors calling it hate-motivated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

Fire officials remain at the scene of a fire at a deli in North York that two Toronto councillors are calling a hate crime.Toronto fire responded to a call around 6 a.m. Wednesday for a commercial fire at International Deli Foods in the area of Steeles Avenue and Keele Street.Fire officials tell CityNews crews arrived to find smoke coming from the rear of the building. The fire was put out and no injuries were reported.Investigators are working with police to determine the cause of the fire and say they have not ruled out that it may have been set deliberately. Toronto police confirm they remain at the scene.Graffiti could be seen scrawled on the back of the building that reads “free Palestine.”A nearby business owner tells CityNews the deli is owned by a Russian Jewish family.Coun. Mike Colle is calling the incident a “firebombing” and a “disgusting criminal act.”“This is an attack on people because they may not be of your religion or your ...

Tennessee judge denies release of more records in sexual harassment complaint against ex-lawmaker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee judge has squashed an attempt to release more records involving a sexual harassment complaint against a former state lawmaker, including information about how tax dollars may have been spent as part of the investigation.Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins’ ruling, handed down Tuesday, is the latest development in the monthslong speculation over how Tennessee’s GOP-dominated House handled a complaint lodged by a legislative intern against former Rep. Scotty Campbell.Campbell resigned last April after it was revealed that an ethics panel found that he violated the Legislature’s workplace discrimination and harassment policy. The resignation came just two weeks after the Republican joined his fellow GOP members in expelling two Black Democratic legislators for protesting in support of gun control on the state House floor.Critics cried foul over Campbell’s ability to weigh in on the expulsions while his sexual harassment compl...

Israel’s peers warn against displacing Palestinians in Gaza to places like Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

OTTAWA — Countries traditionally aligned with Israel are warning its right-wing government against contemplating a displacement of people who live in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli officials repeatedly suggest Canada could take in Palestinians.This week, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his country should “encourage migration” of Palestinians from Gaza and re-establish Israeli settlements there, echoing similar comments from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller is condemning remarks from both politicians as “inflammatory and irresponsible,” while French President Emmanuel Macron calls them “unacceptable” comments.Last month, members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party reportedly discussed countries willing to accept Palestinians in Gaza as refugees.The report by the Israel Hayom newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying a member of the Knesset had...

US again renews protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and top aide over Iran threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has once again renewed taxpayer-funded protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and one of his top aides, who have been the target of persistent threats from Iran.The State Department notified Congress late last month that the threats against Pompeo and Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook remain “serious and credible” and continue to warrant government-provided security details.The notifications are dated Dec. 19 but were not transmitted to Congress until Dec. 22. They were obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.Tensions in the Middle East have soared since the outbreak of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and escalated further Wednesday after dozens of people were killed in blasts in Iran at a memorial service for Iran Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad on Jan. 3, 2020. Pompeo and Hook were the public faces of the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign ag...

Gov. Pritzker announces next director of DCFS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Gov. Pritzker announced Wednesday the next director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).He is appointing Heidi Mueller, who currently serves as the director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).“The work Director Mueller has done at the Department of Juvenile Justice over the last several years has been transformative for the juvenile justice system in Illinois, and I am thrilled that she will bring her unique experience and talents to DCFS,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Heidi’s care and compassion for the most at-risk young people in our state and her exceptional leadership are hallmarks of her career, and I know that her passion and expertise will be a significant asset as we continue to improve our state’s child welfare system.”Mueller has served as director of DJJ since 2016. In 2020, she helped launch the 21st Century Illinois Transformation Plan."As someone who has devoted my career to supporting children and families, I a...

Opioid overdose deaths in Cook County remain steady in 2023, homicides down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

CHICAGO — A preliminary, year-end report shows opioid deaths in Cook County remained steady while homicides were slightly down in 2023. The Cook County Medical Examiners report shows 1,540 people died of an opioid overdose last year. While the figure is less than the 2,001 deaths in 2022, the report suggests the 2023 number will likely rise, pending final toxicology test results, pitting last year's numbers on par with 2022. A missing person with no memory: How local investigators solved the cold case of Seven Doe Of the 1,540 confirmed opioid deaths, 90% involved fentanyl, slightly down from the 91% reported in 2022. Last year, men made up 80% of overdose deaths, of which 56% were African American males. Caucasian males made up 27% and Latinos were 15%. The age group most impacted is 50- to 59-year-olds, accounting for 27% of the overdose deaths. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Cook County sees record 2,000 opioid deaths in 2022; 91% fentanyl-relatedThe youngest death involved...

Ground beef distributed to 4 Midwest states recalled over E. coli concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

(NewsNation) — More than 6,000 pounds of raw ground beef products distributed in the Midwest have been recalled over possible contamination with E. coli.Valley Meats, LLC, based out of Illinois, has recalled 6,768 pounds of raw ground beef products after a third-party test confirmed the presence of E. coli in samples of the meat. The ground beef was originally shipped to distributor locations in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan for further sale. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) suggested the beef, which was sold in large packages, was distributed largely to restaurants and institutions, and not sold directly to consumers. Outlets that may have purchased the beef are being urged to throw away or return the beef. COVID, flu and RSV cases likely to peak post-holidays: CDC The recalled packages can be identified by an establishment number reading “EST. 5712” inside the USDA mark of inspection.The full list of recalled products, as post...

What is AD Mark Coyle looking for with Gophers men’s basketball in Big Ten play?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

Gophers Athletics Director Mark Coyle has a simple math equation written in the corner of the white board in his office.36 + 1 = 37That’s the total available spots for the Gophers men’s basketball team to make the 68-team field for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Showing the math: that’s 36 at-large bids plus the one (out of 32) automatic qualifier going to the Big Ten winner.“There’s a reason why I have that written up there,” Coyle told the Pioneer Press in an interview inside Athletes Village on Dec. 18.“In my opinion, there’s no reason why Minnesota should not be one of those 37 teams,” he continued. “So what do we have to do to put ourselves in position to get there? That’s what we’ve got to do now.”Minnesota (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) restarts conference play against Michigan (6-7, 1-1) at 8 p.m. Thursday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. It’s the first of 18 consecutive league games to finish head coach Ben Johnson’s third regular season.After two s...

With six weeks until spring training, here are five Twins questions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

The calendar has flipped and in just six short weeks, Twins pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers, Fla., to prepare for the upcoming season.The beginning of the Twins’ offseason has been slow — the only addition they’ve made to their major league roster is reliever Josh Staumont, whom they signed to a one-year deal in late December — meaning many of the questions we had about the 2024 Twins at the beginning of the offseason have yet to be answered.While this front office has shown its willingness to stay patient and make additions even into spring training, we should have answers to most, if not all, of these questions by the time pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14.How and when will the Twins’ television deal be resolved?The end of the long-term television deal with Bally Sports North has cast some uncertainty on the Twins’ offseason, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has admitted. The Twins’ payroll is expected to decrease, as is the amount the Twin...

Minnesota Capitol among several affected by bomb threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:55 GMT

Minnesota’s Capitol building was one of several across the U.S. affected by bomb threats Wednesday morning, according to a spokesperson with the State Patrol.Around 9 a.m., Minnesota State Patrol Capitol Security learned of an email bomb threat to the Capitol and locked it down so security officers could search the building, State Patrol Lt. Jill Frankfurth said in a statement. The threat disrupted activities at the building including a hearing of the Minnesota Supreme Court.Minnesota’s Capitol building wasn’t the only one affected by the threat. Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi and Montana also evacuated office buildings Wednesday morning, the Associated Press reported, noting the threats come after a spate of false reports of shootings at the homes of public officials in recent days.Troopers, security officers, and an explosives-detecting dog did multiple searches between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., according to the patrol. Authorities did not find any “suspici...