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Democrats in House push through $3.1B spending bill over Republican objections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

House Democrats muscled through a roughly $3 billion budget bill Monday that includes public sector employee raises and emergency shelter funding after they let Republicans block the proposal for three straight days.But the legislation could face immediate opposition in the Senate, where Republicans there have pledged to put up a blockade over concerns they have with funding to respond to an influx of migrants, and considering large spending bills during sessions where debate is not typically permitted.After House Republicans attempted to stall the budget bill for the fourth time, Democrats managed to pass it on a standing vote of 105-14, overcoming a procedural tactic where the presence of a quorum is doubted and the chamber adjourns for the day if not enough members are in attendance.House Minority Leader Brad Jones said the process that played out in the House “highlighted the shortcomings of a one-party monopoly” on Beacon Hill.“We think we made a good attempt the last few...

Heavy snowfall hits New England and leaves thousands in the dark in Maine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

By The Associated PressA storm dropped a mix of rain and snow on parts of New England, with some locations recording more than a half-foot (15 centimeters) of snowfall on Monday. More than 25,000 homes and businesses were without electricity in Maine as trees and branches laden with heavy, wet snow fell on power lines, officials said.The National Weather Service declared the first winter storm warning of the season for New Hampshire and western Maine. Northernmost Vermont was also under a winter storm warning on Monday. Far northern Maine, also under a warning, already saw heavy snow before Thanksgiving.Some mountainous areas of western Maine and New Hampshire could see over a foot of snow. Vermont was expected to get up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow.The snow made for a messy, slushy commute in many parts of the region. Vermont also had numerous school delays and closures for the day.

The Supreme Court wrestles with OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy deal, with billions of dollars at stake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday wrestled with a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.The justices seemed by turns relucant to break up an exhaustively negotiated agreement, but also leery of somehow rewarding the Sacklers.The agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims would provide billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic. The Sacklers would contribute up to $6 billion and give up ownership of the company, but retain billions more. The company would emerge from bankruptcy as a different entity, with its profits used for treatment and prevention. The high court put the settlement on hold during the summer, in response to objections from the Biden administration.“It seems as though the federal government is standing in the way of that as against the huge, huge, ...

IIHF mandating neck guards for all levels of competition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is mandating neck guards for all levels of IIHF competition.In a statement Monday, the IIHF said when exactly the mandate will go into effect for “senior categories” — those over the U20 and U18 categories where neck laceration protector were already required — “will be determined by the supply situation.”Until the mandate takes effect, the IIHF says it “continues to strongly recommend that neck laceration protectors are worn by all players performing in an IIHF competition.”“The IIHF remains in close contact with its suppliers to ensure they are able to respond to the current high demand,” the federation added.The move will mean neck guards will be required for play at the Olympics and World Championships.This all comes after the October death of American hockey player Adam Johnson, a former NHLer whose neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England. He was 29.In the w...

Judges reject call for near ban on Hague prison visits for 3 former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — International judges on Monday rejected a demand by prosecutors for a nearly complete ban on prison visits for three former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders on trial at The Hague for war crimes.Kosovo ex-President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary Speaker Kadri Veseli and ex-lawmaker Rexhep Selimi face charges including murder, torture and persecution during and after the 1998-1999 war with Serbia.The three defendants have been in custody since November 2020. Prosecutors called on the judges to limit their prison visits to only their lawyers or close relatives, saying that the three were attempting to tamper with witnesses and leak confidential testimony.But a panel of judges of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers headed by Charles L. Smith III said that the request by prosecutors wasn’t “proportional” and would have “a severe eroding effect upon the rights of the three accused.”“At this stage, the panel is therefore not convinced that measures of segregation...

Hungary’s Orban demands Ukraine’s EU membership be taken off the agenda at a bloc summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban demanded on Monday that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and billions of euros in funding meant for the war-torn country be taken off the agenda at a summit of the bloc’s leaders next week.In a letter to European Council President Charles Michel, who will chair the Dec. 14-15 summit in Brussels, Orban insisted that a “strategic discussion” is needed first about Ukraine’s European future and warned that forcing a decision could destroy EU unity.Decisions on EU’s enlargement and a review of its long-term budget, which includes 50 billion euros ($54.1 billion) in aid for Kyiv, can only be taken unanimously by all 27 member countries.“I respectfully urge you not to invite the European Council to decide on these matters in December as the obvious lack of consensus would inevitably lead to failure,” Orban wrote in the letter, dated Dec. 4 and seen by The Associated Press.EU leaders, he wrote, “must avoid this counterpro...

Canada Life signs residential mortgage partnership with Nesto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

WINNIPEG — Canada Life has signed a partnership deal with online mortgage company Nesto that will see the company take over the service and administration of the insurer’s residential mortgage customers starting in January.In addition to servicing the existing mortgages, Nesto will also be responsible for the Canada Life mortgages at maturity.The partnership follows Canada Life’s 2022 decision to withdraw from the residential mortgage market.Canada Life says customers will receive a modern, digital experience with the move to Nesto, which launched in 2018.It says Canada Life mortgage customers will gain access to Nesto’s customer service platform as part of a phased implementation plan in mid-2024.Canada Life is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GWO, TSX:POW)The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 20231204121216-656e096eb3178b95c9ce1c27jpeg.jpg, Caption: Great-West L...

Warren Buffett’s company’s bribery allegations against the Haslam family won’t be decided in January

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett’s company decided not to move forward with an expedited trial on its bribery allegations against the billionaire Haslam family in January under the strict conditions a judge set, but it will still be able to raise those concerns then as a judge considers the Haslams’ rival claim that Berkshire Hathaway tried to depress the Pilot truck stop chain’s earnings.Both the Haslams and Berkshire have accused each other of trying to manipulate the profits at the nation’s largest truck stop chain because those numbers will determine how much Berkshire has to pay if the family decides to sell its remaining 20% stake in the business next year as expected. The two sides agreed on a formula in 2017 when the family decided to sell the first chunk of the business that sets the price based on the earnings.The Haslams argue that Berkshire is trying to keep earnings down with an accounting change at Pilot while Berkshire says that Cleveland Brow...

In GOP’s proposed Georgia congressional map, a key question is which voters are legally protected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A push by Georgia Republicans to maintain their congressional majority is likely to come down to a decades-old legal question that has never been settled by the U.S. Supreme Court — does federal law protect voting districts where a coalition of nonwhite voters hold sway?The question was a key part of debate Monday as a Senate committee voted 7-4 along party lines to advance the proposed congressional map. It could be debated Tuesday before the full state Senate.Republicans pushing redistricting plans in Georgia say such districts aren’t protected by the federal Voting Rights Act. Thus, they say it’s legal for them to target a district now represented by Democratic U.S. Rep Lucy McBath for a drastic transformation, even as they draw a new Black-majority district elsewhere in metro Atlanta. Such a 1-for-1 switch in districts likely to elect a Democrat would mean Republicans are likely to maintain their 9-5 edge in Georgia’s congressional delegation. Th...

Quebec employment minister wants to recruit asylum seekers to work in health care

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:07:52 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s employment minister says around 1,500 asylum seekers will be given jobs in the province’s health-care system over the next three years.Kateri Champagne Jourdain announced the pilot project in Montreal today. The program will work with two community organizations, one in Montreal and one in Quebec City, to place people.The government says it’s looking to fill positions such as patient-care aides, kitchen and maintenance staff, and administrators.To be eligible, candidates must hold a valid work permit and have an intermediate level of French.Champagne Jourdain says 1,098 would-be refugees have expressed interest in working in the tourism sector, following the launch in May of a similar program connecting asylum seekers with jobs.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press