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Oregon GOP walkout threatens bills on abortion, trans care – and senators’ careers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A boycott by Republican state senators in Oregon threatens to derail hundreds of bills, including on gun control, gender-affirming care and abortion rights, as a deadline looms that could also upend the protesters’ political futures. Democrats control the Statehouse in Oregon. But the GOP is leveraging rules that require two-thirds of lawmakers be present to pass legislation, which means Democrats need a certain number of Republicans to be there too.Republican and Democratic legislative leaders met behind closed doors for a third day Friday to try to bridge the divide, as the boycott entered its ninth straight day. Lawmakers with 10 unexcused absences are barred from reelection under a constitutional amendment passed overwhelmingly last November by voters weary of repeated walkouts. To give time for negotiations — and keep boycotters with nine unexcused absences from hitting that 10-day tripwire — Senate President Rob Wagner agreed to cancel Senate sessions ...

Two northern spotted owls found dead in B.C. forest, in blow to release program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

SPUZZUM, B.C. — Two northern spotted owls that had been released into a British Columbia forest last year have been found dead, potentially reducing the known wild population in the province to a single female.Spuzzum First Nation Chief James Hobart says in a joint statement issued with the government and Jasmine McCulligh, facility co-ordinator for the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program, that the two male birds’ remains were found with their GPS trackers in early May.Nathan Cullen, minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says the cause of the released birds’ death is unknown, but could include physical injury, predation, disease or starvation.Hobart calls the deaths “devastating,” and says efforts will be made to retrace the birds’ final days to work out what could have been done differently.A third male owl that had been released with the others last August was found injured near train tracks in October after potentially colliding with a ...

Vancouver Chinatown may be lit in neon again, with $2.2-million revitalization grant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

Vancouver Chinatown’s once-iconic array of storefront neon lights may soon return, after B.C.’s government announced a one-time grant towards such revitalization projects.British Columbia Premier David Eby says the $2.2-million funding package will support renewal efforts in historic Chinatown, like the restoration of the neon that once dominated the neighbourhood.The funding will also support storefront renewals and upgrades to the Chinese Cultural Centre, but no further details have been released on what changes will be made.Eby says the new funding will help Chinatown “realize the clear plan that this community has to revitalize the neighbourhood for residents, for visitors and for businesses.”Vancouver Chinatown Foundation chair Carol Lee says the announcement is a “turning point” for the neighbourhood because it creates a catalyst for sustainable economic revitalization, signalling to visitors that Chinatown is once again “the place to ...

BC Hydro predicting record-breaking power usage as heat descends on the province

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

BC Hydro is expecting potentially record-breaking demand on the power system as British Columbia and Alberta enter what’s forecast to be a blistering heat wave.The company said if Monday’s forecast holds, peak hourly demand could go as high as 7,800 megawatt hours, about 1,300 more than is typical for May.In a statement Friday, it said historically the province hasn’t recorded anything above 7,500 megawatts in May.Environment Canada is forecasting daytime temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal in parts of both provinces over the next several days, with heat peaking Sunday through Tuesday in the high 20s to low 30s.The power company said its system can meet the additional demand which is only about two-thirds of what’s typically recorded on the coldest days of the year.During a cold snap last December, the highest ever peak hourly demand hit 10,900 megawatt hours between 5 and 6 p.m. one day.The highest demand recorded in the warmer months was during the s...

Another stop-work order issued for Coastal GasLink pipeline over erosion concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

HOUSTON, B.C. — British Columbia environment enforcement officers have issued another stop-work order for the Coastal GasLink pipeline project over erosion and sediment control, something the company promised it would stay on top of last year.The latest order covers an 11-kilometre section in the Morice River watershed southwest of Houston, B.C., and comes after the company paused construction on a 20-kilometre stretch near the Little Anzac River over similar concerns.The enforcement office says a May 4 inspection of the Morice River site found problems related to erosion and sediment control causing impacts to sensitive wetlands. In both cases, TC Energy says it’s stopping so it can implement measures to respond to rapid spring melt due to rising temperatures and high snow pack.The environmental assessment office and Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. signed an agreement last year that required the company to develop comprehensive, detailed erosion and sediment management plans fo...

WATCH: Gov. DeSantis speaks at Peoria Civic Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)-- Watch a live stream on Gov. Ron DeSantis' remarks at the Peoria Civic Center during the Peoria and Tazewell County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Protesters gather ahead of DeSantis Lincoln Day Dinner speech

Former classmates, teachers honor CPD officer Aréanah Preston with vigil

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

CHICAGO -- Former classmates and teacher's gathered for fallen Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston at UIC College Prep Friday.The memory of 24-year-old Aréanah Preston was honored on Chicago's near Southwest side Friday. Balloon's released to the heavens as friends and loved ones console one another.   Those who knew Preston filled with sorrow and loss.Preston was set to graduate with a master’s degree in Law from Loyola University Chicago on Saturday, May 13 — with dreams one day of joining the FBI to further a career investigating sex crimes, according to Loyola Law Professor Sara Block. Loyola University Chicago will posthumously confer Preston’s Master’s degree with her mother, Dionne Mhoon, accepting the degree on her behalf.Hundreds also joined Preston's family and friends at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago's Washington Park neighborhood Thursday evening.Visitation set for Tuesday, May 16 at the Blake Lamb Funeral Home. Public view...

How Jose Abreu feels as he returns to Chicago with the Astros

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

CHICAGO — It's safe to say that this will be one of the more unique series in the four-time All-Star and former American League MVP's career. For the first time in Jose Abreu's time in Major League Baseball, he'll be on the opposing team at Guaranteed Rate Field. The first baseman wasn't shy about saying how unusual it was when stepping into the opposing dugout on Friday."It's weird," said Abreu through a translator when asked about his emotions about returning to Chicago with the Astros after nine years with the White Sox. "But it's what I have to go through right now and, like I said, I've got a lot of respect for the White Sox organization, and just something I need to deal with right now."That could take a bit since Abreu was arguably the face of the franchise for the majority of his time with the club. He was an All-Star and American League Rookie of the Year in 2014 then added two more All-Star appearances in 2018 and 2019. In the shortened 2020 campaign, he was named the Amer...

Tesla owners sue over battery software update impact

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

(The Hill) – Several Tesla owners filed a class action lawsuit against the electric car company on Friday, alleging that its automatic software updates have depleted their cars’ batteries or rendered them inoperable.The owners of the Tesla Model S and Model X cars claim that the software updates have occurred “without warning” and reduced the driving range of the cars by at least 20 percent. In some cases, the batteries became completely unusable, the lawsuit alleges. Some Tesla owners spent between $500 and $750 to reverse the update, while others needed to purchase a new battery for up to $15,000, according to the claim. Starbucks rolls out $1 charge for certain orders, causing confusion “When car owners purchase their vehicles, they reasonably expect that unforeseen events — like weather, accidents, or flat tires — may impact the performance of their vehicles and lead to costly repairs,” the lawsuit said. “But no reasonable consumer would expect that the car manufactu...

What washes into Austin waterways after heavy rain?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — The City of Austin's Watershed Protection Department said it is looking out for pollutants and debris that may be washed into local creeks by heavy rain this weekend.Thane Turner, environmental compliance supervisor, said common pollutants his department sees after rain events include sewage, e.coli, and oil. Austin Watershed Protection prepares for weekend storm Watershed Protection field crews are prepared to stay busy the next few days, ready to clear fallen trees and branches out of culverts.Turner said his department focuses on water quality, which often assess water after the rain falls for any hazardous changes.He said locals can take steps to help limit how many contaminants run off into Austin's creeks."A large percentage of the residents of Austin have vehicles and some of those are going to be leaking. If they're leaking onto a roadway, it will quite likely wash away. And so we encourage people to just put down a little bit of piece of cardboard or a lit...