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CAIR-Florida urges DOE probe into firing, student expulsion amid free speech debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida) is demanding a U.S. Department of Education (DOE) investigation into the dismissal of Dr. Maha Almasri, a tutor, and the expulsion of her 10th-grade son. Pine Crest School took these actions after critical social media posts by the tutor regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza.CAIR-Florida emphasizes the need for a thorough DOE investigation into what they consider unjust actions by Pine Crest School. According to CAIR-Florida attorney Omar Saleh, the issue transcends religion. “This is not a Muslim issue, it is a constitutional issue when a school administration takes retaliatory measures against an innocent student because his mother made non-violent, non-disruptive comments on her social media platform that criticized atrocities against innocent civilians in Gaza. Pine Crest administration unfortunately can’t stand to hear it because it ‘makes others uncomfortable’,” he said in a press re...

Cold Is One & Done

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

A bit of chill is in the air this morning as temps start off in the 20s with wind chills in the teens. Overall, it’ll be a chilly day, although with a lot of sunshine, it’s an easy cold day to handle. With highs in the mid to upper 30s, we’ll run a few degrees below average for the time of year. A warm front slides through without much in the way of clouds/precip overnight, shifting the wind direction back to the southwest. With a new wind direction, we get a new air mass tomorrow. Despite the early morning chill, temps rise quickly, through the 40s and into the lower 50s for many. With a good amount of sunshine, it’ll be a beautiful end to the workweek. The weekend is just a shade cooler, back in the mid to upper 40s Saturday and near 50 Sunday. Saturday will be the brighter of the two days as I expect a lot of clouds on Sunday. Those clouds foreshadow the next storm to run up the eastern seaboard, providing the next round of heavy rain and gusty winds. Whil...

Trump returns to Iowa as he ramps up campaigning in early nominating states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

(CNN) — Former President Donald Trump’s closing argument to Republican voters began to take shape in an Iowa speech on Wednesday ahead of next month’s Iowa caucuses.The front-runner for the Republican nomination sought to galvanize Iowa Republicans by keeping the focus on defeating President Joe Biden, while also swiping at his two leading primary opponents, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who trail far behind him in polls both in Iowa and nationally.The Iowa event – ahead of visits later in the week to New Hampshire and Nevada, which hold Republicans’ second and third nominating contests – came as Trump holds a commanding lead in primary polls and is looking to blunt any of their momentum less than five weeks before voting begins. His campaign speech followed a positive legal development for him, with a federal judge pausing an election interference case that could delay the start of a trial, which is currently schedule...

Defense, second-period flurry lift CM over Franklin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

BRIGHTON – If not for Franklin goalie Colby Wagner’s strong performance in net, and the defense’s scrappy effort around him, the Catholic Memorial boys hockey team probably could have notched three goals instead of one by the end of the first period of a nonleague battle between the two contenders Wednesday night.But after the Panthers’ potent attack finally broke through to pull ahead in the second, the Knights couldn’t be contained much longer themselves.Three different players scored in the final minute, 30 seconds of the second frame, powering No. 3 Catholic Memorial (2-0) to a comeback, 4-2 win over No. 10 Franklin (0-1) for a signature early-season win.“We have a nice leadership group in there with Connor Fryberger, Mike Corbett, RJ Donahue and Adam Parker, and those guys responded really well for us,” said Knights head coach Larry Rooney. “That’s as physical a team as we’re probably going to see all year. But St. John’s Prep, BC High, Xaverian, Malden Catholic, St. John’s Shr...

An investigation opens into the death of a French actress who accused Depardieu of sexual misconduct

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

PARIS (AP) — An investigation was opened following the death last week of a French actress who was among those accusing movie star Gérard Depardieu of sexual misconduct, the Paris prosecutor’s office said Thursday.Actress Emmanuelle Debever published a post on Facebook in 2019 that Depardieu had groped her in 1982 while they were acting together for the film “Danton.” Debever’s partner told police on Nov. 29 she left their home, leaving a “worrying” written note, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. She later jumped from a Paris bridge into the Seine river, was given emergency care by rescuers and transported to a hospital, the prosecutor’s office said. She died Dec. 7 at the age of 60, according to press reports.On the same day, an investigative documentary was aired on national TV channel France 2 about accusations of sexual misconduct against Depardieu, which included footage of him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea. Depardieu, ...

Top EU official lauds Italy-Albania migration deal but a court and a rights commissioner have doubts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — A top European Union official has endorsed an agreement that would see Albania host thousands of migrants picked up at sea and transferred there by the Italian authorities, just as the Albanian Constitutional Court delayed the deal so legal concerns can be addressed.In a letter to EU leaders, meeting Thursday in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised “important initiatives” on restricting migration by some of the bloc’s 27 member countries, including “the operational arrangement between Italy and Albania.”“This serves as an example of out-of-the-box thinking, based on fair sharing of responsibilities with third countries in line with obligations under EU and international law,” von der Leyen wrote, in a letter outlining the progress made on halting the arrival of people without authorization.Under the five-year deal announced last month, Albania would shelter up to 36,000 migrants for a year, or about 3,000 a month, who try to reach Ital...

Live updates | Israel will keep fighting Hamas ‘until the end,’ Netanyahu says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

Israel will keep fighting Hamas despite international calls for a cease-fire, its prime minister said, after at least nine Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush in one of the deadliest single attacks that Palestinian militants have carried out since the ground invasion of Gaza began.“We are continuing until the end, there is no question,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday. “I say this even given the great pain and the international pressure. Nothing will stop us.”Heavy fighting has raged for days in Shijaiyah and other areas in and around eastern Gaza City that were encircled earlier in the war. Tens of thousands of people remain in the north despite repeated evacuation orders, saying they don’t feel that anywhere in Gaza is safe or fear they may never return to their homes.Israel has drawn international outrage and rare criticism from the United States over the killing of civilians. More than 18,400 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Mini...

Man seriously hurt after being stabbed in neck multiple times in Leslieville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

A man has critical injuries after being stabbed multiple times in Leslieville early Thursday morning.Emergency crews were called to the area of Gerrard Street and Greenwood Avenue around 1:35 a.m.Paramedics tell CityNews a man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in the neck several times. The victim has serious but non-life-threatening injuries.No suspect information has been made available.More to come.

Albanian opposition disrupts parliament as migration deal with Italy taken off the agenda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian opposition lawmakers on Thursday disrupted the opening of a new session of Parliament, demanding an investigation into the government for alleged corruption. Bodyguards blocked the entrance to the Parliament building, refusing admission to opposition lawmakers who were punished for previous outbreaks of violence in the assembly. That sparked some friction and opposition lawmakers from the center-right Democrats blocked their Socialist counterparts on the government side from entering the hall. The latter used a back entrance instead.The disturbances in Parliament started in October just before prosecutors accused Sali Berisha, 79, former prime minister and president and now the main leader of the center-right Democratic Party, of corruption over of a land-buying scheme that’s under legal investigation in the capital, Tirana.Opposition parliamentarians regularly pile up chairs, use flares, start small fires and even physically grab microphones when the...

Young Mercedes driver told police he was ‘late for work’ after going more than 200 km/h on GTA highway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

A young driver told police he was just trying to get to work on time after getting clocked at more than double the speed limit on a GTA highway early Thursday morning.Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) clocked a Mercedes at 211 km/h in the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 east of Highway 25 in Milton around 2:15 a.m.In a post on X, the OPP say the 20-year-old driver from Brampton told officers he was speeding because he was “late for work.”Police say the young man is facing stunt driving charges and has had his licence suspended for 30 days. His vehicle will be impounded for two weeks."Late for work" was the excuse this 20 year old driver from Brampton gave for #StuntDriving at 211 km/hr on Hwy 401 in Milton. As a result, they have received a #30DayLicenceSuspension, a #14DayVehicleImpound and a court date to answer to the charge. ^TD pic.twitter.com/eMOvlXJ8GG— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) December 14, 2023