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Union calls for resignation of Markham Public Library CEO over Islamic Heritage display removal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

The union representing 6,000 municipal and library workers in York Region has called for the resignation of the CEO of Markham Public Libraries following the temporary removal of Islamic Heritage Month displays last week.CUPE Local 905 called for the removal of Catherine Biss, saying it has lost all trust in her leadership adding her actions and comments affect the safety of workers they represent.An email sent out to employees suggested the Islamic Heritage Month displays be removed in the wake of the current situation in the Middle East so that the library is not “perceived” as taking a particular side in the conflict. The email made reference that the directive came from Biss and an unnamed councillor.“If you currently have any merchandising around this topic, please take it down for now. If you haven’t put it up yet, please do not,” the email read.However, the displays were later reinstated with Biss apologizing and taking full responsibility, stating the email was &...

5 dead and 5 injured — names on a scrap of paper show impact of Gaza war on a US family

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — In blue ink on a scrap of white paper that sits on his desk, Jehad Adwan scribbles the names and ages of his wife’s relatives. Next to five names, he writes “killed” or simply, “K.” Beside another five, he marks “injured” or “I.” With every news report, social media post and conversation with a relative, he’s keeping track — from his suburban Minneapolis home — of the toll the Israel-Hamas war is taking on his family, and his wife’s family, in Gaza. “What is preoccupying my brain, my everything, is just the fear of what’s going to happen next,” he said in an interview.The family’s plight reflects the far reach of the war for Palestinian and Israeli families around the world. For Adwan, even the hospital bombing that killed hundreds in Gaza had a personal connection. It was the place where he trained to become a nurse before moving to the U.S. and becoming a nursing professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato.Adwan and his wife,...

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters march in London as Israel-Hamas war roils the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in London and other cities on Saturday to demand Israel stop its bombardment of Gaza, as the Israel-Hamas war entered its third week and its ripples spread around the globe.On the day a trickle of aid entered Gaza, where more than 1 million people have left their homes because of the conflict, protesters gathered in the rain at Marble Arch near London’s Hyde Park before marching to the government district, Whitehall. Police estimated the crowd winding its way through central London at “up to 100,000.” Waving Palestinian flags, participants called for an end to Israel’s blockade and airstrikes launched in the wake of a brutal incursion into southern Israel by the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza.The war has raised tensions around the world, with both Jewish and Muslim communities feeling under threat. British authorities have urged demonstrators to be mindful of the pain and anxiety felt by the Jewi...

EU and US envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue in order to defuse tensions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The envoys of the European Union and the United States urged Kosovo and Serbia on Saturday to resume their dialogue on normalizing relations before the bitter tensions between the two nations result in more violence.EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak and U.S. Special Representative to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar met with Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina. The visitors were accompanied by top diplomats from Germany, France and Italy, and planned to travel on to Serbia. It was the first such engagement since about 30 Serb gunmen crossed into northern Kosovo on Sept. 24, killing a police officer and setting up barricades before launching an hours-long gun battle with Kosovo police. Three gunmen were killed. Lajcak said that during their meeting with Kurti, the foreign officials stressed that “the terrorist attack against Kosovo police by armed individuals (that) constitutes a clear and unprecedented escalation.” He added that the attac...

Civilians killed and wounded as Russian forces renew push to take towns in eastern Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — At least three civilians were killed and others wounded in Ukraine on Friday and Saturday, as Russian forces continued to shell areas across the country and pushed forward near an embattled eastern city, local Ukrainian officials reported Saturday. A man died as Russian forces shelled the Ukrainian-held town of Nikopol from their stronghold at Ukraine’s largest nuclear plant, according to Ukrainian local Gov. Serhii Lysak. Lysak said that emergency services in Nikopol were working to assess the damage. Russian troops took over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant early in the war, sparking intermittent fears of a radiation incident as shelling persisted near the site, often targeting Ukrainian-controlled settlements across the Dnieper River. In Kryvyi Rih, the central Ukraine hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, , a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor ...

How old is too old to go trick-or-treating?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

CLEVELAND (WJW) — Is there a time limit on happiness and getting free candy? Depending on whom you ask, there may be no age limit when it comes to trick-or-treating for Halloween.There are about 73 million people in the United States under the age of 18, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and all of them could potentially trick-or-treat, as most towns do not have age limits — and even those that do (like this city in Virginia) aren't out cracking down on older teens. Man’s body mistaken for Halloween prop; lawn mowed around him "You are never too old!" Aneisha McMillan, of the Halloween Costume Association, told FOX Television Stations. "I live in a quaint little town in Michigan and my kids range from 7 to 24, and all of them will be trick-or-treating."And according to a 2021 poll from YouGov, plenty of folks agree with McMillan. Researchers said more than a quarter of responders thought kids were never too old to trick-or-treat. The second highest age agreed upon was age 12, w...

Triple shooting in downtown St. Louis sparks investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A triple shooting occurred this morning at the intersection of 3rd Street and Gratiot in downtown St. Louis. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident that happened near downtown, where three victims had gunshot wounds. The shooting happened around 1 p.m. All three victims went to the hospital for medical attention and were found to have injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.  The police are encouraging anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward while maintaining their anonymity. You can provide information by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS. 

Is CBD The “Cat’s Meow?” — Recent Research On CBD Oil For Cats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

Read the original article about Recent Research on CBD Oil for Cats here.Let’s be frank: “pet-friendly CBD oils” have a dog bias. And, to be fair to CBD manufacturers, that makes sense from a marketing perspective. Recent data suggests about 38.4 percent of American households have dogs, while about 25.4 percent have cats. So, clearly, there’s more of a demand for hemp dog treats versus cannabidiol catnip.There’s also growing speculation in the scientific community that CBD oil affects dogs and cats differently. Plus, there aren’t as many studies on CBD for cats versus dogs.So, does this mean pet-friendly CBD oils aren’t fit for felines? Should cat owners even consider using CBD for their favorite pets?Is It Safe For Cats To Take CBD Oil?Veterinarians are still researching how CBD affects cats and dogs, but preliminary trials suggest pet-approved CBD is generally safe for healthy cats. However, a new Florida College of Veterinary Medicine trial suggests cats and dogs absorb this can...

Silicon Valley Creates’ Connie Martinez ‘bullish’ about downtown San Jose’s future

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

After more than two decades since becoming an “accidental arts leader,” as she puts it, Silicon Valley Creates CEO Connie Martinez said even though she’s retiring from her position this year, she’s very optimistic about the future of downtown San Jose.“Yes, we’ve had setbacks, but if you look at the trajectory over the last 30 years … we’re moving in the right direction. I’m bullish on downtown,” said Martinez, who received the Cornerstone of the Arts award from San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Arts Commission on Thursday night at the Hammer Theatre Center. “Arts and culture mean more today in my view — post the pandemic — than they ever did.”In a wide-ranging conversation with San Jose Director of Cultural Affairs Kerry Adams Hapner, Martinez reflected on her career — including leadership positions at the city of Mountain View, UC Santa Cruz, the Children’s Discovery Museu...

Fremont baker and mother of 5 stars on the Food Network’s Halloween Cookie Challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:43 GMT

Christina Ledesma, aka “The Retro Cookie Lady” from Fremont, was sure she bombed her phone interview for the Food Network’s Halloween Cookie Challenge.“The associate producer asked me why I loved Halloween. My response was because of all the memories with my mom growing up,” Ledesma recalls. “I immediately started crying. My mom was a single parent and seeing all the effort she put into the holidays made me appreciate her so much.”It turned out the producer liked that answer. This Monday at 7 p.m., Ledesma will be competing for a $10,000 prize on the Halloween Cookie Challenge’s fifth episode of Season 2, “Halloween Stained Glass and Halloween Funhouse.” She’ll be making spooky cookie creations, like a 15-inch long haunted house and a translucent glasslike cookie. Tuning in will be her mother, her husband, her four daughters and her son.“My mom is very excited, to say the least,” she says. “And my ni...