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Boston council passes proposal aimed at tackling rising rent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston City Council on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a proposal from the mayor to cap rent prices as part of an effort to address rising housing costs and prevent homelessness. Under Mayor Michelle Wu’s proposal, known as a home rule petition, the maximum allowable annual rent increase would be based on the change in the consumer price index, plus 6%, or a maximum increase of 10% — whichever is lower. The measure also provides other rental protections, including requiring that evictions be for cause such as not paying rent. “This is a monumental act for the City of Boston,” said City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, who supported the proposal. “I commend the mayor for moving forward with a rent stabilization plan to address what has been and is an ongoing, long-standing issue of price gouging and rent gouging and displacement of residents of the City of Boston.”Several council members said they were moved by earlier testimony from tenants who were facing rent increase...

Regulator orders TC Energy to reduce operating pressure on Keystone pipeline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

CALGARY — A U.S. regulator has ordered TC Energy Corp. to lower the operating pressure on the entire Keystone pipeline system.The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued the ruling Tuesday as a result of its ongoing investigation into a Dec. 7 leak that saw around 13,000 barrels of oil spill into a creek in Washington County, Kansas.In its “amended corrective action order,” the PHMSA essentially revokes TC Energy’s special permit, dating back to 2007, which allowed the company to operate certain portions of the pipeline at a higher stress level — 80 per cent of its specified maximum yield strength — than would normally be allowed under U.S. regulations.Tuesday’s order restricts the entire Keystone pipeline to operate at no more than 72 per cent of its specified maximum yield strength. Keystone was the only crude oil pipeline in the U.S. to have been granted such a special permit. However, the December leak has raised questions about the ...

Loonie hits four-month low as Bank of Canada holds key interest rate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

TORONTO — The value of the loonie hit a four-month low compared with the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, but some experts say Canadian consumers shouldn’t expect their wallets to take a major hit.The Canadian dollar traded at 72.54 U.S. cents on Wednesday, the weakest level in more than five months.CIBC chief economist Avery Shenfeld said the weak loonie is reflective of the U.S. Federal Reserve getting more aggressive on interest rate hikes while the Bank of Canada holds its key rate steady for the first time in a year.While import cost hikes could lead to higher prices for items such as groceries, he said the effect on Canada’s inflation rate should be minimal.“This is pretty small potatoes in terms of the inflation rate. We’re talking a decimal place here or there,” Shenfeld said.“Even if something is an imported good, the import price doesn’t tend to pass on all the exchange rate moves. It tends to show up in things like fresh fruits and veget...

Colorado police say no charges to be filed against Ja Morant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will not face charges in Colorado related to the livestreamed video is which he appeared to be displaying a gun in a strip club, police said Wednesday.The Glendale Police Department said it looked into the video, which was a stream that Morant showed on his Instagram channel while he seemed to be holding a firearm, and found no proof that a crime was committed. Glendale is an enclave surrounded by the city of Denver.“In this case, it should be noted that on the night in question the GPD did not receive any calls for service at the nightclub regarding a weapon of any type,” police said. “Subsequently, no disturbances were reported, and no citizens of patrons of the club came forward to make a complaint.“The investigation also concluded that no one was threatened or menaced with the firearm and in fact no firearm was ever located.”The NBA has said it is also looking into the matter, and has not announced any sanctions — such as a suspension — against ...

Roll Up To Win players upset after $10K AMEX card win was result of technical error

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

Tim Hortons has kicked off its traditional Roll Up To Win contest at participating locations, but the rollout didn’t go as smoothly as expected after a technical issue prompted several players to believe they were $10,000 richer.Josh Rose was one of those players. The St. Catharines, Ont., resident was on his way home from an early morning shift when he decided to stop by his local Tim Hortons to grab a coffee for his soon-to-be wife—a small gesture leading into preparations for their wedding day.A day that turned out to be extra special after the pair rolled up the virtual rim and won. Or so they thought.“I opened the app, rolled it, and it popped up ‘Winner!’ You are the winner of a $10,000 American Express pre-paid card,” Rose tells CityNews.After a full day of celebrations, Rose discovered the prize was no longer there.“I went back into the app and didn’t see it in my Tim’s app, so I contacted Tim Hortons. I said, “Hey, I got...

Wintry mix expected Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

Winter weather is not over for the Chicago area.A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued from 6 pm. Thursday to 10 a.m. for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.The system approaching is going to be a lot like last week in that it will have the rain/snow line move through our region. Snow fall totals will vary greatly across the area and there should be a sharp cutoff between neighborhoods with higher total and lower totals.So far it looks as if the southern parts of the viewing area would most likely see rain for part of the day Thursday. Areas north of Chicago will likely see all snow and therefor higher amounts. Precipitation should arrive around lunchtime Thursday, be at its heaviest Thursday night and exit the area Friday morning. Commute times should be extremely show Thursday evening and Friday morning. Full forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterThese may not be the last wintry systems we see. The pat...

California woman misses $2.04B Powerball jackpot by one number, still wins $1.15M prize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

(KTLA) - Last month, Edwin Castro came forward to claim the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot he won off a ticket sold in Altadena in November. He was the sole winner of the largest lottery jackpot in history but, had just one number on a ticket sold 28 miles south been different, California could've had two jackpot winners. Castro's ticket matched all six winning numbers - 10, 33, 41, 47, 56 and red Powerball 10 - for the November 7 drawing. A ticket sold at Stues Dairy in Gardena missed splitting the jackpot with Castro by one number, the California Lottery announced Wednesday.Though not as large as Castro's prize - he opted for the cash payout, which was less than half the jackpot size - the ticket claimed by Ana Contreras was worth $1,149,661. Why the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot winner only received $997.6 million as his payout That's larger than what tickets that matched five numbers sold in other states - 22 for record-setting Powerball jackpot drawing, 3 of which were so...

'Mama Mack': Markham woman provides guidance for talented teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

MARKHAM, Ill. -- The remarkable Pamela Mack has had her share of the spotlight, both on stage and television.But, she says her best role has been as "Mama Mack," at the Knotty Luxe Arts Foundation in Markham."I was always the one that wanted to help someone," Mack said. "If I had some knowledge, I wanted to share that knowledge. I wanted everybody to win."Pamela started the non-profit, Knotty Luxe Arts Foundation, two years ago. With an open call for any teenager wanting to learn drama, dance and music: for free.Renowned blues musician Fernando Jones is Mack's right-hand collaborator and Remarkable Women nominator."When you have a person that does not have to give, and they give, it's dynamite," Jones said. "She's talented, educated and she has the opportunity to be selfish if she'd like. She has the credentials to do that but instead she is selfless, and she is altruistic."Mack's students consider her a "mother figure," that has provided them with the courage and confidence th...

Flight attendants fear for safety amid unruly flier spike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

(NewsNation) — Being a flight attendant can be a dangerous and scary job, especially with the increase in unruly passengers these days. Just this week, a disorderly passenger was arrested after he allegedly tried to stab a flight attendant in the neck with a broken metal spoon and open an emergency door on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston. A Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas to Orlando had to make an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida, after the cabin filled with smoke due to a lithium battery that caught on fire in an overhead bin. Sara Nelson, president of the flight attendant union Association of Flight Attendants, said when distractions are created in the cabin, it takes away from flight attendants' abilities to monitor the cabin for actual emergencies such as a medical emergency. Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? "Our job is extremely complicated, and we are aviation's first responders," Nelson said. "We respond to emergencies...

Graham calls for cartels to be designated as terrorist organizations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Some U.S. senators are calling for a crackdown on Mexican drug cartels, with Sen. Lindsey Graham saying they should be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.Graham's call came after four Americans were kidnapped in Mexico, two of them killed and a third injured."We're going to terrorize the terrorists," Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said. "Unleash the fury of the United States." Lake City, S.C. mayor: Community grieving after Mexico kidnappings Graham also wants to authorize the use of military force in Mexico. Graham says it is a necessary step to dismantle the cartels and stop their drug trafficking."We're going to destroy their business model and their lifestyle," Graham said.He pointed specifically to busting up fentanyl labs and added the designation would allow the U.S. to go after Chinese companies that he says supply ingredients to the cartels. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says fentanyl killed 71,000 Americans in 2021, a ...