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Report: Iran detains cartoonist again, journalist group calls for release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian authorities have summoned and arrested a cartoonist who has a history of being imprisoned for political posts on her Instagram account, her lawyer said Friday.Mohammad Moghimi said in a tweet said his client, Atena Farghadani, a painter, cartoonist and former political prisoner, was summoned to the Evin courthouse in Tehran and arrested. He did not elaborate on why she was detained. In 2016, Farghadani was released after spending 18 months in jail for portraying lawmakers as animals to criticize a draft law restricting contraception and criminalizing voluntary sterilization.On Wednesday, Farghadani posted one of her cartoons showing people with animal and satanic faces.The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday that Iranian authorities must release Farghadani and stop efforts to silence commentators and members of the press.“This cycling of journalists and commentators through prison is a continuation of authorities’ ...

Is it time to change the Cannabis act?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

Currently, Canada’s federal government is undertaking a comprehensive review of the legislation that legalized recreational marijuana. While the basic aspects of the act are expected to remain largely unchanged, the review presents an opportunity to improve the system and make it more fair for everyone.Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, associate professor of criminal justice at University of Toronto and co-author of Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization and the Fight for Racial Justice, says legalization lacked measures to repair the harms of cannabis-related convictions. “I think the biggest oversight was really the lack of acknowledgment of the impact that drug prohibition and cannabis prohibition had on Indigenous, Black and other marginalized communities, period,” says Owusu-Bempah.Various aspects of the legal cannabis industry, including the pardon process, licenses, and overseeing boards, resemble the days of prohibition in one way–a lack of racial justice and the inability to pro...

Blue Jays’ Bass regrets sharing anti-2SLGBTQ+ video, stands by personal beliefs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Anthony Bass is slated to be part of the club’s pre-game Pride Weekend festivities one day after he admitted regret to sharing an anti-2SLGBTQ+ video on social media while defending the move citing his religious beliefs.The Instagram video Bass shared promotes boycotting companies, like Target and Bud Light, that support gay and trans rights in the name of the Christian faith.He followed comments from general manager Ross Atkins before Thursday’s game. He elaborated on his decision to share the video, delete it, share it again and then permanently remove it from his Instagram account.“The video itself, I took it down,” Bass said. “I felt like it was too much of a distraction. I stand by my personal beliefs, and everyone is entitled to their personal beliefs, right? But I also mean no harm to any groups of people.”The video, which referred to Target and Bud Light’s support of the trans community as “demonic...

Sudan’s government declares UN envoy no longer welcome as both sides agree to a 24-hour cease-fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations envoy to Sudan, a key mediator in the country’s brutal conflict, is no longer welcome in the African country, Sudanese authorities say, as the warring sides agreed to a new 24-hour cease-fire.A terse statement issued by Sudan’s Foreign Ministry late Thursday comes just weeks after the head of the country’s military, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, demanded in a letter to envoy Volker Perthes that he should be removed from his post.UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been notified that Perthes has been formally declared “persona non grata,” the Foreign Ministry said.Since Apr. 15, Sudan’s military, headed by Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been locked in a violent power struggle that has killed more than 860 civilians, according to Sudan’s Doctors’ Syndicate which tracks civilian casualties. The actual death tally is likely to be much higher.Later Friday, the military and the...

Pittsburgh synagogue trial is proving the obvious, but ultimately focused on the death penalty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — One by one over the past two weeks, members of Jewish congregations in Pittsburgh have come to the witness stand in federal court and relived the horror of that October morning, when a gunman used high-powered weapons to kill 11 worshippers and badly injure others.Police officers have testified about responding to a scene of horrific carnage and immediately coming under fire themselves, some suffering life-altering wounds from a gunman raging against Jews in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. All of this is being entered fastidiously into the record for the benefit of the jurors and alternates in a federal courtroom in Pittsburgh. So are hundreds of court exhibits showing the aftermath of the violent invasion of sacred worship that day in the Tree of Life synagogue building.A prayer book torn by gunfire. A bullet-damaged glass door. A prayer shawl on a floor, a yarmulke on a stair, left where they had fallen from worshippers during the attack.And pho...

Woman found shot in West Side apartment fire dies: officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

CHICAGO — An investigation is underway after a 57-year-old woman died following a shooting and apartment fire on the city's West Side.Fire crews responded to a fire on the fourth-floor on the building in the 200 block of South Lavergne around 2:15 a.m. Friday. Upon arrival, authorities discovered a woman shot in the leg inside the unit.A witness who lives in the building tells WGN he heard a loud bang then smelled smoke. After the gunshot, they said they heard someone running down the stairs and out of the building.The fire was struck and the Chicago Fire Department transported the woman to an area hospital, but doctors could not save her.The woman has been identified by family as Eunice Moman. Docs: Logan Square woman found nearly decapitated in duffle bag; boyfriend had cleaning supplies An investigation is underway.

Friday Forecast: Mainly sunny and low 80s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

Friday: Mainly sunny, ENE 5-10 G15. High: 81, Low: 76Friday Night: Mostly clear, SW 5-10. 59Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Saturday: Mostly sunny, mainly dry, increasing some clouds, 20% shower chance, WSW 5-10. High: 857-Day Forecast | Chicago, Illinois | WGN TV

Commute nightmare: These cities are most infuriating, expensive and dangerous for drivers, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – For many Americans, regardless of their family situation or what they do for work, the worst part of their day is the same: commute. What exactly makes it so miserable – especially for those with driving commutes – is a concoction of bumper-to-bumper traffic, hours wasted on the road, and the high cost of gas. Plus, driving is one of the most dangerous things we do regularly. Personal finance site MoneyGeek took a look at all these maddening aspects of the daily commute and ranked cities by where things are worst. The 10 best cities for recent college graduates to rent in The first metric they measured was "commute agony," which combines two especially frustrating things about commuting: long distances and slow speeds. On this list of spots for infuriating commutes, there are four metro areas each in Texas and Florida.RankMetro areaAvg. length of one-way commute (minutes)Avg. rush hour speed (mph)1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA37292.Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar...

Six 3D-printed homes for sale in Georgetown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

GEORGETOWN (KXAN) — America’s fastest-growing city is home to a new development that's constructing 100 houses made with 3D-printing.On Saturday, six of these homes will go on sale.Georgetown’s Wolf Ranch is a massive project partnered by home-building company Lennar and Austin-based ICON. PREVIOUS: 100 3D-printed homes coming to Austin area next year ICON’s director of project operations Conner Jenkins explained the idea that’s resulted in reality."This is the first 3D-printed community ever,” he said. "We print up to 10 feet tall, as we really designed these homes with 3D-printing in mind."Lennar’s Charlie Coleman believes that this community signifies a major milestone for Central Texas.“It's an exciting day for Georgetown,” he said. “It also speaks to how the Greater Austin area is now a leader in the technology space."These six futuristic homes — ranging cost between $475,000 and $565,000 — will feature five of the eight available floorplans within the community."This communi...

St. Basil Greek Festival returns to Troy this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:52 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The St. Basil Greek Festival is returning to Troy on June 9, 10, and 11. The festival takes place at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church at 909 River Street in Troy. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The festival includes homemade Greek food and pastries, live Greek music, youth Greek dance performances, a Greek bazaar, church tours, and more. Admission and parking is free.Attendees can enjoy souvlaki, moussaka, lamb, loukoumathes and more. The St. Basil Greek Festival is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.