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Handful of Virginia races that will determine Democratic edge in both chambers remain uncalled

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Only a handful of ultra-competitive Virginia legislative races remained undecided late Wednesday morning, after Democrats won enough contests to take control of both the House and Senate in a blow for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. After Republican Tara Durant prevailed over Democrat Joel Griffin and independent Monica Gary in a northern Virginia Senate race, only one seat in that chamber was too early to call, along with two in the House of Delegates. Those contests will determine the final margins in each chamber. Democrats, who centered their message to voters around protecting abortion rights, won at least 21 seats in the 40-seat Senate and at least 51 in the 100-member House of Delegates. “Governor Youngkin and Virginia Republicans did everything they could to take total control of state government, but the people of the Commonwealth rejected them,” Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said in a statement. Senate Republicans conce...

‘Goin’ Down the Road’ director Donald Shebib, who paved way for Canada’s road movie, dies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

TORONTO — Donald Shebib, whose seminal 1970 drama “Goin’ Down the Road” became a cultural touchstone for its gritty realism, has died at age 85.The director’s family says he died Sunday at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto. A cause of death was not immediately available.The Toronto-born Shebib is widely considered one of Canada’s most influential filmmakers with critics positioning “Goin’ Down the Road” as among the country’s greatest films. It tells the story of two young Maritimer men who depart Cape Breton for Toronto in search of better lives. The film featured the music of Bruce Cockburn and starred Doug McGrath, Paul Bradley and Jayne Eastwood.Shebib financed the project on a government grant and money he pocketed from selling his beloved black and white Morgan sports car.“Goin’ Down the Road” won the feature film prize at the Canadian Film Awards the year it was released, and spawned a sequel in...

Mexican president wants to force private freight rail companies to schedule passenger service

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president announced Wednesday that he will require private rail companies that mostly carry freight to offer passenger service or else have the government schedule its own trains on their tracks.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador denied any notion that his decree to be issued later this month amounted to expropriation of private property. He said existing law guarantees passenger trains priority. “This is not an expropriation, it is in the Constitution and the law,” he said. ”According to the law, passenger trains have priority.” Still, almost no regular passenger service remains in Mexico following a 1995 reform that gave concessions to two private railway companies: Mexico’s Ferromex and a subsidiary of U.S. railway Kansas City Southern. A few tourist trains run on relatively short, unconnected routes to tourist attractions like northern Mexico’s Copper Canyon and the western tequila-producing region around Jalisco.López Obrador is ...

Texas businessman at center of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment facing new charges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — A Texas businessman at the center of the scandal that led to the historic impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton has been charged with additional federal crimes.The new indictment of Nate Paul alleges that he defrauded business partners, adding to earlier charges that the Austin-based real estate developer made false statements to mortgage lenders to obtain $172 million in loans.Paul, 36, pleaded not guilty in June to the eight counts of making false statements while seeking loans from mortgage lenders in the U.S. and Ireland. His attorneys did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the superseding indictment issued Tuesday on four new counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges against Paul are the result of a yearslong FBI investigation that Paxton involved his office in, setting off a chain of events that led to a separate federal probe of the Republican attorney general and his May impeachment by the GOP-controlled ...

Trudeau to travel to San Francisco Nov. 15-17 to attend meeting of APEC leaders

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to travel to San Francisco next week for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and International Trade Minister Mary Ng are also to take part in the visit Nov. 15-17.A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office suggests Trudeau will be focused on ways to fuel climate-friendly economic growth with Canada’s allies and partners. The Canadian delegation will be focused on facilitating trade, identifying opportunities in the digital space and economic empowerment for women. Trudeau is also vowing to foster open economic co-operation and the removal of trade barriers to benefit people on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Like previous APEC meetings, this year’s summit — which runs Nov. 11-17 — is expected to generate large public protests around themes like climate change and income inequality.“When we open up new markets for Canadian goods and innovation, and ...

After Ohio vote, advocates in a dozen states are trying to put abortion on 2024 ballots

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

After Ohio voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion and other forms of reproductive healthcare, advocates on both sides of the issue are looking at how they can get support on 2024 ballots in at least a dozen states.Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had protected abortion rights nationally, voters in all seven states that held a statewide vote have backed access. That includes Ohio, where voters Tuesday enshrined abortion access in the state constitution.Constitutional amendments to protect access are already on the ballots for 2024 in Maryland and New York.Questions are being considered for several other states — some to protect access and some to limit or ban it.Here’s what’s happening in the states.___ARIZONAAbortion access advocates want to amend the state constitution to protect access to abortion until the fetus is viable, generally considered to be around 24 weeks gestational a...

Next Met Gala theme unveiled: the ‘sleeping beauties’ of fashion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — It may be time to get out those fairytale ballgowns. The theme of the next Met Gala has been unveiled: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.”The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art revealed the theme of its spring 2024 exhibit, which is launched by the huge party known as the Met Gala, on Wednesday. Yet to be announced: the celebrity hosts of the May 6 affair.The “sleeping beauties” referred to in the title of the show are actually treasured garments in the museum’s collection that are so fragile, they need to be housed in special glass “coffins,” curators said. Garments will be displayed in a series of galleries organized by themes of nature.“Using the natural world as a uniting visual metaphor for the transience of fashion, the show will explore cyclical themes of rebirth and renewal, breathing new life into these storied objects through creative and immersive activations designed to convey the scents, sounds, textures, and motions of garments th...

Ed Burke jury selection continues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

CHICAGO — It’s day three of jury selection in the Ed Burke trial.The powerful former Chicago alderman is on trial for public corruption.For a third straight day potential jurors are facing questions in the 25th floor court room of Judge Virginia Kendall.Burke arrived at the courthouse Wednesday morning, ready for another day of listening to people from all walks of life in Northern Illinois be questioned by the judge, the prosecutors and his own attorneys.The group is trying to whittle a pool of more than 50 potential jurors down to 12 and four alternates. Related: The career of Ed Burke: Power personified So far less than 30 have made it through the questioning. About 45 jurors are needed to pass that initial hurdle before each team of attorneys can begin striking potential jurors.Burke is on trial with two co-defendants: his longtime aide Peter Andrews and developer Charles Cui.Burke himself faces 14 counts of racketeering, bribery  and extortion.  Prosecutors say he ...

5 things to watch in the third GOP debate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

Five Republican candidates will take the stage Wednesday for the third GOP presidential debate in Miami as the field has begun to dwindle.The debate, hosted by NBC News along with the Republican Jewish Coalition and Salem Radio Network, will feature Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.). Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum both failed to reach the requirements needed to qualify for participation, and former Vice President Mike Pence has dropped out of the race since the last debate.Former President Trump will skip the event for the third straight time, instead holding a rally about 15 miles away during the debate.Here are five things to watch for:Can Haley cement her spot as Trump's main contender?Though DeSantis has been seen as Trump’s main rival, Haley is the one who has gained momentum in recen...

Whooping cranes are back in Texas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:37:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Whooping cranes have made their return to Texas, the Texas Parks Wildlife Department said Monday.On Nov. 1, the first pair of whooping cranes of the year were seen flying toward the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the southwest side of San Antonio Bay, according to TPWD.The cranes arrived 10 days later than 2022, but well within the typical arrival window, Kevin McAbee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whooping crane coordinator, said in the TPWD release.  “It is always exciting when the first Whooping Cranes complete their fall migration and arrive in Texas,” McAbee said. “Flying during the day and resting at night, they have worked hard to reach their winter home in coastal Texas.”  Endangered species that can be found in Central Texas During their migration, TPWD said whooping cranes seek out wetlands and agricultural fields where they can roost and feed. The birds often pass large urban centers including Dallas-Fort Worth, Waco and Austin. Though whoopin...