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Michigan Democrats to lose full control of state government after representatives win mayoral races

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrats who have controlled the governor’s office and slim majorities in both chambers of the Legislature will at least temporarily lose their full control after two state representatives won mayoral races Tuesday, which will soon put the state House in a deadlock.Democrats have been able to push through a number of key legislation in Michigan since they flipped both chambers in the Legislature while holding onto the governor’s office in last year’s midterms, giving them full control for the first time in 40 years.Two Democratic state representatives, Lori Stone and Kevin Coleman, won mayoral races Tuesday in their own districts in suburban Detroit. The wins will eliminate Democrat’s two-seat majority in the state House and put the chamber in a 54-54 deadlock until special elections can be held for the seats. Democrats will still control the agenda, but they will no longer hold a voting advantage.It’s not yet clear when special elections ...

Why it’s so hard to fight the airlines. And how to do it anyway.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, airline passengers in Canada have rights. They’re called the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, and they determine how much you’re owed if your flight is delayed, overbooked or cancelled for various reasons. The problem is, the compensation is often tough to get, and there’s very little incentive for the airlines to simply pay it every time.Gabor Lukacs is the president of Air Passenger Rights, he says that the current penalties are not enough to compel airlines into complying with regulations.“Currently, it is actually far more profitable for an airline to resist paying compensation in many cases, and occasionally be fined or be ordered to pay compensation by a court, than to actually consistently comply with the law,” says Lukacs.In an effort to simply get what they are owed, some Canadians take the airlines to small claims court. Sometimes they settle, and sometimes they even win. But the process is long and difficult and doesn&#...

Adidas says it may write off remaining unsold Yeezy shoes after breakup with Ye

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Adidas believes it may have to write off the remaining 300 million euros ($320 million) worth of Yeezy shoes left unsold after it cut ties with rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. The company said it will decide in the coming weeks whether or not to do a third release of the shoes next year to generate more donations to groups fighting antisemitism. The shoe and sports clothing company, which cut ties with Ye in October 2022 after he made antisemitic remarks online, has sold 750 million euros worth of the shoes in two stages earlier this year through Adidas smartphone apps and its website. Part of the profits went to groups like the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, run by social justice advocate Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd.The announcement from Adidas comes at a time of rising antisemitism and islamophobia after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The company included the possibl...

TC Energy reports Q3 loss as it takes Coastal GasLink charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

CALGARY — TC Energy Corp. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year ago as it took an impairment charge related to its Coastal GasLink pipeline project.The result came as the company says it has achieved mechanical completion of Coastal GasLink ahead of its year-end target and plans to complete commissioning activities to be ready to deliver gas to the LNG Canada facility by the end of the year.The pipeline company reported a net loss attributable to common shares of $197 million or 19 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with net income of $841 million or 84 cents per share in third quarter 2022. The latest results included a $1.18-billion after-tax impairment charge related to its equity investment in the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited Partnership.TC Energy says its comparable earnings for the quarter amounted to $1 per share, down from $1.07 per share in the same quarter last year.Revenue for the quarter totalled $3.94 billion, up fr...

There’s too much guesswork in renting an Airbnb. The short-term rental giant is trying to fix that

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

Airbnb will highlight rental listings that have received top scores from guests, information that the company’s CEO says will help bring hotel-like reliability to booking a house or room on the site.Airbnb said that it will roll out what it calls “Guest Favorites” this week. About 2 million of the site’s 7 million listings will get the label.It is unclear how hosts who don’t get the favored badge will react — they could lose bookings, or they might have to cut prices to compete. CEO Brian Chesky said he expects favorites to charge more than other listings.Chesky acknowledges that the variety of properties on Airbnb creates uncertainty among renters. He said the unpredictability of listings is the biggest reason why someone would choose a hotel room over Airbnb.“A lot of guests have described booking Airbnb, once they check in, it’s a moment of truth. Is the house exactly what they expected?” he said in an interview. “We don’t want this to be a moment of truth. We w...

15-year-old critical after South Side drive-by shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old boy was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting Tuesday afternoon on the South Side.Just before 3:40 p.m., CPD said the boy was near a sidewalk in the 8600 block of South Racine when an unknown vehicle approached. A gunman within fired shots and the boy was struck multiple times to the body.He was transported to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Israel pressured by allies over plight of civilians in Gaza as thousands flee enclave's north

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel faced mounting pressure from some of its closest allies Wednesday over the plight of civilians in Gaza, where thousands streamed on foot out of the enclave’s north because of dwindling food and water and fear of approaching Israeli forces.Over 70% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have already left their homes, but the number making their way south has quickened recently as Israeli troops battle Hamas militants inside Gaza City and the humanitarian situation grows increasingly dire.The Group of Seven wealthy nations called Wednesday for the “unimpeded” delivery of food, water, medicine and fuel, and for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has left open the possibility of small pauses to deliver humanitarian aid, but has ruled out a broader cease-fire unless all hostages are freed.There is no end in sight to the war triggered by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 assault inside Israel.Israel has said the battle to...

Lockport freshmen to be bused to another high school due to campus repairs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

LOCKPORT, Ill. -- Freshmen at Lockport High School will be bused to a different building days after an old, plaster ceiling collapsed at the schools Central Campus.Students from Lockport Central have attended classes online for the past several days, which some students and administrators said is not sustainable. But repairs to the current building are expected to take longer than originally thought.The Lockport Township High School Board of Education held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the decisions made surrounding the challenges posed by facility usage at Central Campus and how it will impact school operations.On Friday, Superintendent Robert McBride issued a letter to parents updating parents that the Central Campus will remain closed following a plaster ceiling collapsing on the third floor. The historic Lockport Central High School was built in 1909. ORIGINAL: Students evacuated after partial ceiling collapse at Lockport Township HS The temporary option discussed...

APD investigating deadly Nov. 2 hit-and-run crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said one person died in a crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian in North Austin in early November. According to police, the crash happened just before 7 a.m. on Nov. 2 at the intersection of East Powell Lane and Sam Rayburn Drive. That is just northwest of the Highway 183 and Interstate 35 interchange. Police said the driver left the scene, but was later identified by detectives. Police did not identify the driver or the pedestrian, who died at the scene. APD said the incident is being investigated as Austin's 76th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 79 fatalities for the year.Anyone with information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111, APD said. People can submit anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.

Go Verde: Q2 Stadium commits to 'zero waste' initiative

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- At Q2 stadium, the grass is green, but more and more... so is the stadium."We have two live intertwined oaks on our badge, tree symbols for our badge... we need to be good stewards of our community," Senior Vice President of Stadium Operations at Q2 Jordan Enke said.Just recently his team announced their intention to achieve 'TRUE Certification' from the U.S. Green Building Council by reaching the industry standard for "zero waste."According to Susie Vincent, from the U.S. Green Building Council, "TRUE is the first 'zero waste' certification program that's dedicated to measuring, improving, and then recognizing 'zero waste' performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and waste reduction practices."The goal is 10% or less contamination meaning 90% or more of the waste coming into Q2 Stadium gets diverted to either recycling or composting.Already, Q2 stadium has made big improvements in waste diversion since Austin FC started playing in 202...