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B.C. drops Facebook, Instagram advertising in response to Meta’s news block, says Eby

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government says it has stopped advertising on Facebook and Instagram to send a message to parent company Meta, which is blocking Canadian news from the social media platforms.Meta’s decision to cut off news access for many people in British Columbia is “unacceptable,” Premier David Eby said in a statement.B.C.’s move comes after the federal and Quebec governments suspended advertising on the Meta platforms on July 5, in response to the tech giant’s announcement that it would block Canadian news on its platforms in response to the new federal Online News Act, which became law on June 22.“Local media creates much of the content that tech giants have relied on to build their business models, and many British Columbians now rely on social media to get their news,” Eby said. “Meta’s decision to cut off that access is totally unacceptable.”The Online News Act, expected to come into force within six month...

GOP attorneys general shift the battle over affirmative action to the workplace

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Thirteen Republican state attorneys general are cautioning CEOs of the 100 biggest U.S. companies on the legal consequences for using race as a factor in hiring and employment practices, demonstrating how the Supreme Court’s recent ruling dismantling affirmative action in higher education may trickle into the workplace.The state attorneys general sent a letter to the CEOs on Thursday arguing that the controversial June ruling declaring that race cannot be a factor in college admissions — consequently striking down decades-old practices aimed at achieving diverse student bodies — could also apply to private entities, like employers.“Treating people differently because of the color of their skin, even for benign purposes, is unlawful and wrong,” they wrote. The GOP officials also suggested that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs could be a form of discrimination.The letter and similar actions elsewhere have raised questions about the far-reaching consequenc...

Several people displaced after fire at senior living apartments in Schaumburg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Residents of about 20 units at a senior living apartment building in Schaumburg are displaced after a fire on Friday.The apartment building is near West Wise Road and Roselle Road.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesVideo from Skycam 9 showed flames coming from the roof of the building.According to a spokesperson for the village, no injuries have been reported, but two residents were taken to local hospitals as a precaution for smoke inhalation.A reunification point has been set up at Frost Junior High School, located just a few blocks away at 320 West Wise Road.This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Man found fatally stabbed at baseball diamond in Uptown, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A death investigation is underway after Chicago police say a body was found at a baseball diamond near Marine Drive and Montrose Friday morning. According to police, a 64-year-old man was found unresponsive near the 4400 block of North Marine Drive at Claredon Park around 5:30 a.m. with stab wounds to the head and neck. The man was pronounced dead on the scene. The baseball diamond is located just west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive.There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident. "This is the second stabbing in a matter of three weeks, so we would like to have something done," a concerned resident told WGN News. Man shot, critically wounded during armed robbery at Bucktown liquor store City data shows it's the first homicide in Uptown this year.Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.Area 3 detectives are investigating.

3 piping plovers released on Montrose Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's Uptown community has some new neighbors. Three piping plovers were released at Montrose Beach after being rescued from a nest in upstate New York.  Piping plover Imani returns to Montrose Beach Sea Rocket, Wild Indigo and Prickly Pear are just over a month old and are helping increase the piping plover population along the shoreline.   Armand Cann is a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and joined WGN Evening News at 4 p.m. to reveal what made the release so special. How the story of two little birds captivated Chicago "This is the first time they have been released outside the state of Michigan and, of course, the first time at Montrose Beach itself, so that's what makes it special," Cann said. "It's really another stepping stone in the course of recovery for the species. The species has dwindled down to as low as 13 pairs when it listed in 1986 and at the moment, we're back up to 80, which is a record-high."Read more: Lat...

Cubs, White Sox face same question as 2nd half begins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

CHICAGO — The second half of the Major League Baseball season is set to begin on Friday, and both Chicago teams have the same short-term question as they start play after the All-Star Break.Will they be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?Despite both being under .500, the parity in the Cubs & White Sox divisions gives them the chance to at least think about making the playoffs. To be fair, that seems quite remote on the south side, but at the moment, they're only one game farther behind first than their rivals to the north. However you view it, if either the Cubs or White Sox want to make anything of this season and prevent selling at the deadline, they'll have to play well out of the gate.(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)The White Sox are in dire need of a major winning streak to prevent being sellers as the deadline - and it could already be too late. Per Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Dodgers are interested in starting pitcher Lucas Giolito in hopes of bolstering their pi...

Woman arrested on drug charges in death of Robert De Niro's grandson, official says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A 20-year-old woman has been arrested on federal narcotics charges and is accused of selling the drugs that led to the death of actor Robert De Niro’s 19-year-old grandson, a law enforcement official said Friday.The woman, Sofia Haley Marks, appeared in Manhattan federal court on Friday and agreed to remain behind bars until she requests bail at a later date. Prosecutors said they would oppose a request for her release.Marks was arrested Thursday evening on three counts of narcotics distribution stemming from the sale of drugs to Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the law enforcement official said. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Rodriguez was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on July 2. His mother, Drena De Niro, announced the death on Instagram. Amy Gallicchio, an assistant federal defender who represented Marks on Friday, said Marks planned to hire a lawyer. G...

Austin's 'I love you so much' mural gets 'Barbie' makeover

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The iconic "I love you so much" mural on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, is becoming an even bigger draw for selfies after an update professes the love of one legendary toy to another. The mural, which is located on the north-facing wall of Jo's Coffee at the corner of South Congress and West James Street, now reads, "Barbie, I love you so much. -Ken." This sweetly destructive defacement is only temporary because it's part of a push to promote the hotly-anticipated release of the "Barbie" movie on July 21. Frontier Airlines’ unlimited flight passes on sale for $299 The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken respectively. In the movie, the two dolls leave the imaginary Barbie Land to experience what the real world is like. The studio behind it, Warner Bros. Pictures, is on a marketing blitz that now includes a few stunts in the Texas capital. On Friday morning, people gathered to watch an unveiling and see the...

Central Texas cities issue water restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Various cities and water suppliers implemented water restrictions, which would prohibit either indoor or outdoor water usage, depending on the city.City of GeorgetownOn Friday, the City of Georgetown temporarily enacted and enforced Stage 3 of the Drought Contingency Plan, due to sustained high water use nearing system treatment capacity, the city said in a news release. The restriction is effective immediately from July 14 through July 17, according to the city. City of Georgetown: Outdoor watering prohibited through July 17 This means watering with an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler is prohibited during this time, the city said. Furthermore, the city will decide early next week whether to extend or increase said restrictions.Additionally, the city said the water is safe to drink. However, eliminating outdoor water usage is critical to keeping the water safe and avoiding boil water notices.City of BlancoIn a social media post Friday, the City of Blanco sa...

City responds to Austin Animal Center concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a memo sent Friday, Interim City Manager Jesus Garza addressed concerns about Austin Animal Center.AAC, the designated municipal shelter for the City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County, provides shelter to thousands of animals annually, as well as provides animal protection and pet resource services, according to the memo. RELATED: Almost a year later, Austin Animal Center still not doing non-emergency intake “Over the last few years, AAC has seen a record number of animals enter its facility which has presented a less than ideal situation in housing and caring for more animals than the shelter was originally constructed to house,” Garza said. “ I recognize this has been a difficult situation for the staff, volunteers, and the animals in our care.”Garza said Devan Desai was asked to return to the City of Austin on a temporary assignment to focus on evaluating and implementing recommendations regarding Resolution No. 20220728-098, which addresses the city...