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‘Prominent’ person in B.C. wine industry under investigation for sex assault: RCMP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

OLIVER, B.C. — Police in Oliver, B.C., say they’re investigating a “prominent member” of the province’s wine industry for an alleged sexual assault on a Mexican migrant worker. South Okanagan RCMP say the unnamed suspect employed the worker, and they believe there are other victims or witnesses who have yet to speak to investigators. Cpl. James Grandy says police are hoping to talk to others in the community if they have additional information. Police say there are officers available who speak Spanish in case of a language barrier with other potential witnesses or victims. Mounties say the investigation is ongoing and they can’t release any additional details. They say anyone who may have information about the case should contact the RCMP detachment in Oliver. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The Canadian Press

Boeing still hasn’t fixed this problem on Max jets, so it’s asking for an exemption to safety rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Boeing is asking federal regulators to exempt a new model of its 737 Max airliner from a safety standard designed to prevent part of the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight.Federal officials said last year that Boeing was working to fix the hazard on current Max planes. In the meantime, they told pilots to limit use of an anti-icing system in some conditions to avoid damage that “could result in loss of control of the airplane.”Without a fix ready, Boeing asked the Federal Aviation Administration last month for an exemption to safety standards related to engine inlets and the anti-ice system through May 2026. Boeing needs the exemption to begin delivering the new, smaller Max 7 to airlines.Some critics are raising alarms about basing safety on pilots remembering when to limit use of the anti-ice system.“You get our attention when you say people might get killed,” Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American Airlines pilots, told The Seattle Times, ...

One dead, 11 injured after tour bus from Montreal crashes in New York state

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. — New York State Police are reporting that one person is dead and 11 people are injured after a bus coming from Montreal crashed on Interstate Highway 87 in Lake George, N.Y.Police say that in addition to the death, one passenger suffered serious injuries and 10 people were left with minor injuries after a Skyway Coach Line tour bus crashed at around 12:50 p.m. today.There were 23 people on the bus including the driver, and the injured have been taken to area hospitals.Gov. Kathy Hochul said police and Department of Transportation workers were on site performing rescue operations. State police say one passenger was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in critical condition.Ray Agnew, spokesman for Glens Falls Hospital, says the health facility received multiple passengers with minor injuries.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.— With files from The Associated Press.The Canadian Press

Column: Pac-12 has that rare chance in sports to go out on top

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

In sports, going out on top is a rarity indeed.John Elway walked away after two straight Super Bowl titles. Bill Russell called it a career on the heels of his 11th NBA championship in 13 seasons. Heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano escaped the ring without a loss on his resume.But it’s far more common to hang on for one game too many, one season too long.In that sense, the Pac-12 will be leaving with its head held high.This was not the path it would’ve chosen, of course. Head-in-the-sand decisions, bungled negotiations and an insatiable quest for the almighty buck spelled doom for the “Conference of Champions,” which stunningly collapsed into a heap like a game of Jenga.Still, with its forced demise lurking right around the corner, the Pac-12 has a chance to add one more football title to its legacy.Nothing personal, Michigan, but it’s hard not to pull for the Washington Huskies in the national championship game Monday night — if for no other reason than to put a fit...

New York governor promises a floating pool in city waterways, reviving a long-stalled urban venture

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A plan for a floating swimming pool in New York City’s waterways moved one step closer to reality Friday after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced her support — and $12 million in public funding — for the unusual venture. The commitment breathed new life into an idea first proposed over a decade ago and dismissed by some as an urban fantasy: a self-filtering swimming pool shaped like a plus sign in the murky currents of the East River. In the years since it first drew media attention, private backers of the project, known as +Pool, have seen fitful progress collide with regulatory barriers.But as rising summer heat sends more New Yorkers to beaches and pools, Gov. Hochul vowed to fast-track the “long-stalled, much-debated innovative floating pool concept.” She said a “demonstration” version would be tested this summer, with an actual, swimmable pool scheduled to open to the public by summer 2025. Hochul also announced a proposal to build new swimming pools and hire more life...

From Houthis to Hezbollah, a look at the Iran-allied groups rallying to arms around Middle East

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

Missiles, rockets and drones struck targets around the Middle East this week as the United States, Israel and others clashed with Iran-allied militant groups — with attacks hitting in vital Red Sea shipping lanes, along Israeli-Lebanon borders emptied by fleeing residents and around the region’s crowded capitals and U.S. military installations.Together, Israel and its U.S. allies were facing two realities they knew all too well going into the war in Gaza: The Gaza-based Hamas militant group is far from alone as it battles for its survival. And by launching an all-out campaign to eliminate Hamas as a fighting force, Israeli and American leaders also are confronting simultaneous attacks from a strengthening defensive alliance of other armed militant groups linked with Hamas and Iran. This week, the risk of being drawn into a wider, more chaotic and deadlier conflict with an array of regional enemies loomed large. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior Biden administr...

UN humanitarian chief calls Gaza ‘uninhabitable’ 3 months into Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. humanitarian chief described Gaza on Friday as “uninhabitable” three months into Israel’s war with Hamas, warning that famine was looming and a public health disaster unfolding.In a grim assessment of the devastating impact of Israel’s military response to the horrific Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, Martin Griffiths said that Gaza’s 2.3 million people face “daily threats to their very existence” while the world just watches. He said tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, have been killed or injured, families are sleeping in the open as temperatures plummet, and areas where Palestinians were told to relocate have been bombed.“People are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded (and) famine is around the corner,” Griffiths said. The few partially functioning hospitals are overwhelmed and critically short of supplies, medical facilities are under relentless attack, infectious diseases are spreading, and amidst the ...

Documentary series highlights South Asian wedding industry in Toronto

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

A documentary series highlighting the South Asian wedding industry here in Toronto is back to share more of their story.The show follows a bridal shop called Chandan Fashion run by the Singh family in Toronto’s Little India for almost 40 years. “Bollywed” focuses on the lives on Chandan, Roop, Sarab, Chandni and Kuki, as well as their customers.“It’s a family show about my dad, my mom, my wife and my sister and we all work in the family business together and kind of what that dynamic is to have our generation run our business our way and then my dad and mom’s generation that run it a very different way,” Chandan Singh, who runs the marketing department.Bollywed’s second season chronicles the Singh family as they open a new store in Brampton.“The two co-creators Gurjeet and Carolyn … they’re the ones that came up with the concept of the show,” explained Singh.“They approached me at a wedding show and said, ‘...

Civil rights lawsuit filed over 2022 Philadelphia fire that killed 9 children and 3 adults

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

Families of the 12 people killed in a Philadelphia row house fire that began in a Christmas tree two years ago sued a pair of city agencies Friday, claiming unsafe conditions on the property violated the victims’ civil rights.The federal lawsuit against the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the city’s Department of Human Services, and various officials of the agencies, alleges that the housing authority knew the four-bedroom apartment it owns in a brick duplex was overcrowded and unsafe. Specifically, they allege that it lacked a fire escape, smoke detectors and other fire safety features. Mayor Cherelle Parker’s spokesperson, Joe Grace, declined comment because the matter is in active litigation. Messages seeking comment were left Friday with spokespeople with the Philadelphia Housing Authority. During two visits to the home in December 2021, a month before the fire, a Human Services social worker noticed the smoke detectors were inoperable, the lawsuit says, but did n...

Cubs claim catcher off waivers from Rockies, sign pitcher to minor league contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:41 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs claimed a catcher off waivers from the Colorado Rockies Friday, while also signing a pitcher to a minor league contract that has an invite to major league spring training.The Cubs claimed 28-year-old catcher Brian Serven off waivers from the Rockies.Serven appeared in 11 games with Colorado in 2023, batting .130 (3-for-23) with one double and one RBI. The backstop had two stints on the injured list, May 30-June 6 and July 31-Sept. 26, with a concussion and a left thumb sprain, respectively. In 38 games with Triple-A Albuquerque last year, he hit .199 (30-for-151) with five doubles, five home runs and 20 RBI.Serven made his major league debut with the Rockies on May 18, 2022, and played 62 games that season, hitting .203 in 187 at-bats with four doubles, one triple, six home runs, 16 RBI and 19 runs scored. His first two career major league hits came via the long ball on May 21, 2022, in his second career game.In seven minor league seasons with Colorado, Se...