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Statue of Queen Elizabeth repaired and reinstalled, two years after vandalism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

WINNIPEG — A bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth that was toppled and damaged by protesters two years ago was put back in its place Friday on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature after a lengthy set of repairs.The statue, almost three metres high, landed face first when it was hauled to the ground on Canada Day in 2021 by demonstrators following the discovery of suspected unmarked graves at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.“The face was pushed in, the arm was scraped, and the whole base was totally crooked, too,” Charles Brunet, the third-generation owner of Brunet Monuments, recalled Friday as he and a crew of workers reinstalled the statue under a sweltering sun.The repair, done in conjunction with a Saskatchewan company contracted by Brunet, also involved sandblasting and giving the statue a new protective coating.“I’m so elated. I’m so excited. She is up, she is looking good. She’s solid, too,” he said with a chuckle. “...

Denying bail OK if for a ‘just cause,’ says Charter statement on Liberal reform bill

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government’s Charter statement for its proposed bail reforms says there is “just cause” to deny bail if certain requirements are met. Justice Minister David Lametti introduced a bill last month that would make it harder for some repeat violent offenders to seek pretrial release by putting the onus on them to prove why they should be granted bail.Lawyers have raised concerns the law could be subject to a challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees that anyone who is charged with a crime will not be denied reasonable bail without just cause.The legislation would introduce reverse-onus bail conditions for people charged with serious violent offences involving a weapon, in cases where the person was convicted of a similar violent offence within the last five years.Prosecutors in such cases would no longer have to show judges why an accused person should stay behind bars. Rather, the accused would have to demonstrate why bai...

Bond granted for 3 activists whose fund bailed out people protesting Atlanta ‘Cop City’ project

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A judge on Friday granted bond for three activists involved in supporting the protest against a planned police and fire training center in Atlanta that opponents have derisively dubbed “Cop City.” Adele MacLean, 42, Marlon Scott Kautz, 39, and Savannah Patterson, 30, were arrested Wednesday on charges of charities fraud and money laundering. They lead the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which has provided bail money and helped find attorneys for arrested protesters.Magistrate Court Judge James Altman agreed to set bond of $15,000 apiece. That bond is to be subject to various conditions that Altman planned to outline in a written order later Friday.The office of state Attorney General Chris Carr is leading the prosecution. A spokesperson for Carr in an email characterized the arrests and the search of a home owned by MacLean and Kautz as “a multi-agency effort and part of an ongoing investigation into violent activity at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training C...

More than $20M in scholarships for Bulls College Prep graduating class

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

CHICAGO — Members of the graduating class from Chicago Bulls College Prep are heading off to college with a large amount of scholarship money. The class of 2023 has earned more than $20 million in scholarships.SEE ALSO: Already a college graduate, CPS high schooler taking success to new degree One of the graduates is 18-year-old Angel Gutierrez from Pilsen, who set a goal as a small child to go to an Ivy League school. With the help of school counselors, Angel is now Harvard-bound as a first-generation college student who earned $3 million in scholarships alone. Gutierrez aspires to become a lawyer or a neurosurgeon. "For low-income students, like me, we do have the ability to achieve our dreams and we can get scholarship money and we can get full rides because colleges do want to invest in the future and specific diverse backgrounds like mine," Gutierrez said. "It’s what we’re trying to do every day, through all the challenges, and that is making sure kids under...

Lawmakers decry defense spending cap amid war in Ukraine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – After lawmakers reached a deal to increase the debt ceiling to prevent the U.S. from defaulting, Republican senators are unhappy with the deal that was spearheaded by their colleagues in the House.South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham says he and other Republican senators are unhappy with the cap on defense spending imposed by the deal. Graham worries the defense spending cap will stop the U.S. from continuing to help Ukraine fight for its independence.“What the House did was wrong,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said. “It's right to want to control spending and there's some good things in this bill but it was wrong to give a defense a number inconsistent with the threats we face.”Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Republican senators came to him to figure out how to ensure the U.S. doesn't abandon Ukraine.“When they came to me and asked me to do this, I said ‘Yeah, that's a good idea,’” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.Schumer says he's been working with Re...

Dave Ramsey being sued for $150 million by former listeners

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

(WHNT) — Dave Ramsey, the finance guru radio host who offered millions of people advice for managing their debts, is now being sued for $150 million dollars by some of those same listeners.As reported first by ReligionNews, former fans of Ramsey's are suing him and his company, along with a marketing firm, saying they were defrauded by Timeshare Exit Team, who Ramsey often endorsed. Jacky Oh, who appeared on ‘Wild ‘N Out,’ dies at 32 Seventeen plaintiffs filed the class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington in April, saying they were scammed out of millions by following Ramsey's advice, a man who vehement and frequently spoke about his hatred for timeshare companies. Former Ramsey listeners stated they were not aware he was being paid $30 million between 2015 to 2021 to promote the timeshare group, promising listeners a way out of their timeshare burdens."Ramsey has gained the trust of millions of followers through his long-running radio show, conference...

Bears say Arlington Park no longer ‘singular focus’ for new stadium

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Bears' attempt to build a new stadium in the Chicago suburbs might not be limited to Arlington Heights.In fact, Naperville could be in play.On Friday, the Bears released a statement in which they said that the Arlington Park property is no longer their "singular focus" when it comes to building a new venue to play their home games. This announcement comes four months after the Bears closed on the 326-acre site on the former horse racing track for $197.2 million dollars. The team began demolition of the inside of the buildings at Arlington Park just this week, but tax issues could have the team looking elsewhere to build a new venue.“The Chicago Bears goal of building the largest single development project in Illinois history led by billions of dollars in private capital investment, and the jobs and economic benefits generated, is at risk in Arlington Heights.," said the Bears in a statement to WGN-TV. "The stadium-based project remains broadly popular in Arli...

Uvalde police investigate bomb threat at Robb Elementary

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) -- Uvalde police said Friday they're investigating a bomb threat at the school where a deadly mass shooting happened last year, according to a social media post from the department. According to police, law enforcement agencies are working a "threat to life" after someone called 911 and told them he placed bombs around Robb Elementary School. Police said the person also claimed to be driving around with an assault rifle.Police said the area will be blocked off to all traffic, and the incident is being investigated. Everyone is urged to avoid the area. Last week the community held events to mark one year since a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at the school. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Airbnbs in Austin are among the most expensive in the country, study shows

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new study shows Airbnb rental properties in Austin are among the most expensive in the nation.The study, by ChamberofCommerce.org, looked at rental prices of more than 160,000 active Airbnb listings in the largest cities in the country.Austin had the third-most expensive rentals, with an average daily rate of $373 across all property sizes. An average one-bedroom rental in Austin costs $127, while two-bedroom properties charge an average of $203 per night.Only Oxnard, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona, have more expensive rentals. The average daily rate in Scottsdale is $394, while an average rental in Oxnard will set you back $488 per night.Behind Austin, Las Vegas and Honolulu round out the top five.Other cities in California and Arizona feature highly on the list. Among the top 20 cities with the most expensive Airbnb rentals, six are in California while four are in Arizona.After Austin, Houston has the second-highest rental prices in Texas, with an average da...

First pitch set for Texas baseball's tournament opener after weather delay

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (KXAN) -- The NCAA baseball tournament regional opener Friday afternoon between Texas and Louisiana is set to start at 2:46 p.m. CT after a nearly two-hour weather delay in Miami PREVIEW: Longhorns prepare for Ragin’ Cajuns team that defends, runs like the nation’s best The Longhorns and Ragin' Cajuns were set to start the Coral Gables regional at 1 p.m. CT Friday from Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on the University of Miami campus.Friday morning rain forced the grounds crew in Miami to cover the field soon after the Texas baseball team arrived at the facility. The rain stopped, and the tarp was removed around noon CT. Potential storms in the area forced officials to delay first pitch.When the game starts, it will be televised on Longhorn Network. Miami, the host and No. 9 overall seed, plays Maine in the other opening-round game.Texas is looking to regroup after a frustrating 0-2 week at the Big 12 tournament last week. They'll have their hands full a...