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AP Election Brief | What to expect in Virginia’s election for control of the state legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Although his name won’t appear on the ballot, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin looms large over Tuesday’s general election in Virginia. Republicans hope to gain full control of the state legislature and clear a path for the governor to enact his proposals on abortion, education, taxes and other key policy priorities. Democrats seek to maintain control of at least one chamber and possibly flip the other to continue to serve as a check against Youngkin’s agenda.In 2021, Republicans won a narrow 52-48 majority in the House of Delegates and swept every statewide constitutional office. Meanwhile, Democrats hold a slim 22-17 majority in the state Senate. An additional state Senate seat most recently held by a Republican is vacant.The governor has been active on the Virginia campaign trail. Since his election in 2021, his political action committee has spent $19 million on contributions to legislative candidates, local party committees and other campaign e...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in New York’s general election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — New York voters will decide of a variety of races and ballot questions in general elections held across the state Tuesday.At stake are a range of offices including the New York City Council, state Supreme Court, as well as mayors and county executives from throughout the state. Elections for federal and statewide offices will be held next year.One notable race has already been decided.In the New York City Council race for District 9, criminal justice reform activist Yusef Salaam is running unopposed. Salaam was one of five men convicted and later exonerated in the “Central Park Jogger” rape case. He defeated two other candidates in the June 27 primary. He will replace Kristin Richardson Jordan, who declined to run for reelection. Terms are normally for four years, but because of a quirk in the city charter, the City Council races in 2021 and 2023 year are for two-year terms only. The election to four-year terms will resume in 2025.Also on the ballot is the district...

Here’s a quick glance at unemployment rates for October, by Canadian city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

OTTAWA — The national unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in October. Statistics Canada also released seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average unemployment rates for major cities. It cautions, however, that the figures may fluctuate widely because they are based on small statistical samples. Here are the jobless rates last month by city (numbers from the previous month in brackets):_ St. John’s, N.L. 6.6 per cent (6.6)_ Halifax 6.2 per cent (7.1)_ Moncton, N.B. 6.3 per cent (5.7)_ Saint John, N.B. 5.8 per cent (6.6)_ Saguenay, Que. 3.3 per cent (3.9)_ Quebec City 2.8 per cent (2.9)_ Sherbrooke, Que. 4.2 per cent (3.5)_ Trois-Rivières, Que. 4.4 per cent (4.0)_ Montreal 5.4 per cent (5.2)_ Gatineau, Que. 4.0 per cent (4.2)_ Ottawa 5.1 per cent (5.1)_ Kingston, Ont. 4.8 per cent (4.2)_ Belleville, Ont. 6.5 per cent (9.8)_ Peterborough, Ont. 1.9 per cent (2.4)_ Oshawa, Ont. 6.9 per cent (5.8)_ Toronto 6.7 per cent (6.5)_ Hamilton, Ont. 5.2 per cent (5.5)_ St. Catharines-Niag...

Here’s a quick glance at unemployment rates for October, by province

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s national unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in October. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (numbers from the previous month in brackets):_ Newfoundland and Labrador 10 per cent (9.7)_ Prince Edward Island 6.2 per cent (6.3)_ Nova Scotia 6.6 per cent (6.9)_ New Brunswick 6.6 per cent (7.2)_ Quebec 4.9 per cent (4.4)_ Ontario 6.2 per cent (6.0)_ Manitoba 5.2 per cent (5.0)_ Saskatchewan 4.4 per cent (4.9)_ Alberta 5.8 per cent (5.7)_ British Columbia 5.4 per cent (5.4)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2023.The Canadian Press

National employment numbers for October from Statistics Canada, at a glance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

OTTAWA — A quick look at Canada’s October employment (numbers from the previous month in brackets):Unemployment rate: 5.7 per cent (5.5)Employment rate: 61.9 per cent (62.0)Participation rate: 65.6 per cent (65.6)Number unemployed: 1,229,400 (1,189,100)Number working: 20,287,600 (20,270,100)Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate: 11.4 per cent (10.5)Men (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.0 per cent (4.9)Women (25 plus) unemployment rate: 4.5 per cent (4.5)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2023.The Canadian Press

Weekend need-to-know: Royal Winter Fair kicks off 10-day festivities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

The 101st Royal Winter Fair begins this Friday just in time for the first burst of cold temperatures this weekend. There are lots of other indoor activities to help you stay warm. There is also a full weekend closure on the TTC to keep in mind as you travel through the city.Here’s what’s going on this weekend: Top eventsRoyal Winter FairThe annual Royal Winter Fair kicks off it’s festivities at Exhibition Place this Friday and runs until Nov. 12. The fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. The event celebrates the best in agriculture, local food, and equestrian competitions from across the country. It’s Royal Ambassador this year is Kay: a year-and-a-half old Polled Dorset yearling ewe.Tickets are available to purchase on their website and runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sunday and Monday when it closes at 6 p.m.Good Mourning Festival at Evergreen BrickworksA new festival at Evergreen Brickworks is hoping to a...

Serbian police arrest 7 people smugglers and find over 700 migrants in raids after a deadly shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian police said Friday they made seven arrests on suspicion of smuggling people into Hungary as part of a days-long crackdown on irregular migration in the wake of a shooting last week in the border area that killed three migrants and wounded one.Reports of violence and gun battles have become common near the border between Serbia and Hungary, a European Union member state. Thousands of people have been camping in the area, looking for ways to cross with the help of people smugglers.Police said Friday they made arrests both in the capital Belgrade and in Subotica, a city near the border with Hungary. Migrants pay 2,350 euros ($2,500) each to cross, said the statement.Since the shooting last Saturday near the border town of Horgos, police have launched daily raids in the forested area. Late on Thursday, police reported finding a total of 738 migrants, some near the border with Hungary, but others in a town near the border with Bulgaria, in the east. When f...

Man dies after being shot while driving, crash on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A 33-year-old man has died after being shot while driving, then crashing his vehicle on the city's South Side.Police said it happened around 8:50 p.m. Thursday in the 6600 block of South Woodlawn. The man was traveling in his vehicle when he heard multiple shots fired and felt pain.According to police, the victim came to a stop after striking a tree and light post in the 1300 block of East Marquette.He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police: Man approached brothers with extension cord, zip ties at Des Plaines park No one is in custody. Area One detectives are investigating.

Northern lights could ramp up next year, and so could these strange occurrences

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — We’ll soon reach the peak of Solar Cycle 25, improving our chances of seeing the northern lights. This point in the cycle could also, however, bring influxes to our infrastructure. And according to new predictions, the solar activity behind it all could be larger than originally expected.NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) previously predicted the sun would reach its most active point, solar maximum, in mid-2024. While that timeframe hasn’t changed much — new predictions put it between January and October — it’s now expected to come quicker and be stronger than previously thought. Solar cycles are an 11-year period when the sun flips its magnetic poles, sparking space weather. That includes coronal mass ejections, or CMEs — an explosion of plasma and magnetic material from the sun that can reach Earth in as little as 15 to 18 hours, NOAA explains.  The northern lights are heating up: Could they come to all 50 states? “The sun won't get that material...

Monitory Team reports police reform moving slow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- The court appointed Monitoring Team released its latest assessment of CPD reform efforts and the CPD will get a chance to respond and discuss the progress that has been made.After more than four years under federal oversight, the CPD Monitory Team's report compliance continues to lag but also expresses hope under new police superintendent Larry Snelling. Led by attorney Maggie Hickey, the team published its eight report this week which states: "The CPD has reached full compliance on just six percent of consent to decree requirements. The team examined reform efforts between Jan. 1st to June 30, a period where there were three superintendents."It writes CPD has yet to implement a comprehensive consistent and transparent policing strategy. It adds that the department could make significant progress across all parts of the Consent Decree if it did that. Chicago residents fed up with lack of communication on migrant housing locations The team reports progress in addressing ...