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B.C. to remove barriers for internationally trained professionals: premier

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government has introduced legislation that is expected to add skilled workers into the labour force more quickly by reducing barriers for internationally trained professionals. Premier David Eby says B.C. cannot leave people with skills and experience on the sidelines, given labour shortages the province is facing now and in the coming years.He says the legislation would require regulatory bodies to remove “unfair barriers” for 29 different professions, including veterinarians, lawyers, teachers, paramedics, early childhood educators, architects, natural resource professionals and others.Eby says the act introduced in the legislature today builds on work the B.C. government has been doing to support internationally trained health-care workers.Andrew Mercier, the minister of state for workforce development, says international professionals face unnecessary barriers, such as redundant language testing and a “catch-22” requirement...

Fraser says housing measures coming in budget update, weighs in on short-term rentals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Housing Minister Sean Fraser says the federal government will reveal more housing measures in the fall budget update and in the coming months.In a news conference on Monday, he also weighed in on how the federal government can address the strain short-term rentals are putting on housing affordability.“You should expect to see additional measures on housing in the fall economic statement. You should expect to see additional measures more broadly in the months ahead as they are ready. I’m not going to wait and hold them for some magic date, where we suddenly release all of the policies at once,” Fraser said.Some of the measures that are expected include tying federal infrastructure spending to housing outcomes in local communities. Fraser also said there will be more policies geared toward increasing the stock of social housing, and increasing workers’ skills and innovation in the construction industry.“There’ll be a series of other measures that we...

Pritzker joined bar associations to condemn anti-Arab hate and violence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- Gov. JB Pritzker joined Arab American Bar Association Monday morning to share concerns on the rise of hateful rhetoric amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Officials of the Arab American Bar Association joined state officials to share what they say is a rise in anti-Arab and Islamophobic rhetoric. The group gave examples like the killing of the 6-year-old Palestinian boy in Plainfield which was charged as a hate crime and that it is just one of many examples discussed at the press conference. Tensions rise amid clashing rallies in Skokie "It is up to us, those left grieving in the wake of this tragedy, to stand together in the very hatred that took them hostage or killed them -- to reject the notion that Muslims, Jews, and Palestinians, here, are responsible for the actions of governments thousands of miles away," Gov. Pritzker said. Officials are reminding people to stay vigilant and report any hate crimes they may have witnessed or may have been a victim while remindin...

Danny Pellegrino celebrates unhinged holidays with 'The Jolliest Bunch'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — There may be several days of the spooky season remaining in October but for many people — including comedian and writer Danny Pellegrino, that only means there are just a few days in the way of the best season of all.It's the holiday season: time for festive family gatherings, yes, but also the time for very merry meltdowns with the ones you love the most. In his latest essay collection, "The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories," out Tuesday, Oct. 24, Pellegrino, host of the popular "Everything Iconic" podcast sets the table for a celebration of all things holiday — while also appreciating the jingle bell hell that can befall any yuletide. What is ‘funflation’? And what does Taylor Swift have to do with it? "I had fun holidays as a kid," Pellegrino says. "Even when they were chaotic, I love those chaotic ones. I say this in the book but those chaotic Christmases — or the unhinged Christmases — those are the ones we look back on fondly after a lot of time has passe...

How Tyson Bagent felt getting his first NFL win with the Bears

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The Bears were able to end two streaks on Sunday afternoon, and their quarterback was at the center of ending both of them. With the help of his teammates - and a number of family members - Tyson Bagent was able to enjoy his moment in the sun at Soldier Field in his first NFL start. "I felt like I had the team, my family, kind of really rallying behind me, giving me a lot of support this week, which I think gave me all the confidence in the world to go do what we did today," said the rookie quarterback after the 30-12 win over the Raiders on Sunday. It was a solid day for Bagent, who was starting at quarterback in place of Justin Fields, who continues to deal with a right thumb injury. He was 21-of-29 for 162 yards and a touchdown while also carrying the ball three times for 24 yards.With the win, the Bears ended their ten-game losing streak at Soldier Field dating back to September 25, 2022. Bagent also became the first Bears rookie quarterback to win his first start sinc...

Meals on Wheels opens new location in Burnet County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A new Meals on Wheels kitchen is opening in the Hill Country. Meals on Wheels, powered by Opportunities for Williamson & Burnet Counties, announced the grand opening of its new Burnet County location, which is at the Senior Center on Highway 281 in Marble Falls. The location will be the Meals on Wheels kitchen and congregate site for both Marble Falls and Burnet residents. According to OWBC, the kitchen served more than 260 seniors with over 45,000 meals last year. Meals on Wheels needs volunteers yearround, but especially during the holiday season, as over five thousand seniors in Texas rely on the service.You can sign up to volunteer on the Meals on Wheels of Williamson and Burnet Counties website, and find details on how to sign up in other Central Texas locations online.

Elon Musk offers Wikipedia $1B to change name to vulgar rhyme

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

(The Hill) — Billionaire Elon Musk offered Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, a 10-figure pay-off under the condition that it would change its name. "I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to Dickipedia," he tweeted. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The owner of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, wrote his offer in a post on his new site. He quoted an earlier post with a screenshot of a personal appeal from Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales stating that the website is "not for sale.""Please add that to the [cow and poop emojis] on my wiki page," Musk continued under the post. "In the interests of accuracy."One user, Journalist Ed Krassenstein, told the online encyclopedia to take the offer, saying that it "can always change it back after you collect." Musk responded by adding a stipulation. Couple killed after lumber on truck strikes them during California bike ride "One year min...

Two arrested in connection to State Street homicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two Schenectady men have been arrested in connection to the reported homicide on Sunday morning. Kevin M. Dingle, 33, and Jeffery J. Bashaw, 54, were taken into custody shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Schenectady Police responded to reports of shots fired on State Street at around 6:50 a.m. on Sunday. Officers located a 42-year-old with gunshot wounds on the second floor of a building. The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have identified the victim as Leroy A. Chisom.Police investigations identified an apartment on Crane Street as a location of interest. Law enforcement confirmed the two suspects were inside and set up a perimeter. After several hours, Dingle and Bashaw eventually surrendered to negotiators. Scotia man charged following fatal crash in Schenectady Both suspects were sent to Schenectady County Jail on a pre-arraignment hold....

Officer loses job after Kirkwood trunk-or-treat shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. -- The officer charged with firing multiple shots into the air during a trunk or treat event is no longer employed by St. Louis County. Matthew McCulloch, 39, pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of firing shots into the air at the family event in Kirkwood on October 15, 2023. St. Louis County Police say that, "as of October 19, 2023, Mr. McCulloch is no longer employed by our department."The shooting took place at a Halloween-themed event held at North Kirkwood Middle School for Tillman Elementary School students. McCulloch faces 11 charges, including child endangerment and making a terrorist threat. He's the son of a former St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney.McCulloch is jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond. A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Pilot on California-bound flight tried to shut down engines, authorities say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

A pilot riding in the extra seat in the cockpit of a Horizon Air passenger jet tried to shut down the engines in midflight and had to be subdued by the two pilots.Authorities in Oregon identified the man as Joseph David Emerson, 44. He was being held Monday on 83 counts each of attempted murder and reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.The San Francisco-bound flight on Sunday diverted to Portland, Oregon, where it was met by officers from the Port of Portland, who took Emerson into custody. Alaska Airlines plane diverted to Portland Airport after ‘credible threat’ Alaska Airlines, which owns Horizon, a regional carrier, said Monday that the crew reported “a credible security threat related to an authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat.” The airline said in a statement that no weapons were involved.One of the pilots told air traffic controllers that the man who posed the threat had been removed fr...