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Canada blocks citizenship for Russian activist convicted for blog posts opposing war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal officials are blocking a pro-democracy activist from Canadian citizenship because a Russian court convicted her for blog posts opposing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.Maria Kartasheva is appealing the decision by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and says she fears being deported to a Russian prison.Kartasheva left Russia in 2019 because of rising authoritarianism, and is now a tech worker in Ottawa who co-founded a grassroots activist group for democracy in Russia.As first reported by CBC News, Kartasheva, 30, learned via her family that in late 2022 she was charged by Russian authorities with a wartime offence of disseminating “deliberately false information” about Russia forces. The charges related to two blog posts she wrote while living in Canada.Kartasheva notified Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada about the charges and uploaded translated court documents last May. Days later the department gave her an invitation to her c...

Nude man nabbed by police after ‘cannonball’ plunge into giant aquarium at Bass Pro Shop in Alabama

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

LEEDS, Alabama (AP) — A man crashed his car outside a Bass Pro Shop in Alabama, stripped down to his birthday suit and plunged into the giant aquarium inside the store, police said.The ordeal happened Thursday night in front of shocked shoppers in the town just outside Birmingham, Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said.The 42-year-old Alabama man did a “cannonball” leap into the aquarium and then stood under a waterfall. He left the water to yell at two officers, then dove back into the aquarium, police said.The man eventually climbed over the side of the aquarium and fell to the concrete floor below. Police then apprehended him, the news site Al.com reported.He faces several charges including public lewdness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.The man was in the water for about five minutes before officers arrived, Irwin said.Associated Press, The Associated Press

Smashing Pumpkins looking for additional guitarist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

CHICAGO — If you play guitar and are interested in joining one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful rock groups ever, now is your chance.The Smashing Pumpkins posted on social media Friday afternoon that the band is in search of an additional guitarist."The application process is open to anyone who might be interested," the band said.The band's core consists of original members Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin. They tour with bassist Jack Bates and multi-instrumentalist Katie Cole.The new guitarist is a likely replacement for Jeff Schroeder, who announced he was leaving the band after 16 years in October. Just like this announcement, Schroeder was a fan of the band at the time."The opportunity seemed to come out of nowhere. I was at UCLA working on my doctorate in comparative literature when a close friend messaged me and said The Smashing Pumpkins were looking for a guitar player. Being a huge fan of the band, the audition was something I threw myself into....

Over 11K pounds of charcuterie meat products sold in 8 states recalled

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKBN) - A New Jersey company is recalling over 11,000 pounds of ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).Fratelli Beretta USA Inc., located in Mount Olive, is recalling about 11,097 pounds of its Brusseto Foods brand meat products due to possible salmonella contamination, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.According to the announcement, the product -- “Busseto Foods Charcuterie Sampler Prosciutto, Sweet Sopressata, and Dry Coppa” -- was produced on Oct. 30, 2023. The affected products, sold as a twin pack with two 9-ounce packages, have the lot code L075330300 and a “best by" date of April 27, 2024, along with the establishment number “EST. 7543B” inside the USDA mark of inspection and “EST. #47967.” They were shipped to Sam’s Club locations in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.The recall was issued after a sample collected by th...

U.S. adds 216,000 jobs in December, better than expected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- U.S. employers hired more workers than expected in December."We should not bet against the American consumer, and you should not bet against the American economy," Clement Jackson, White House economic advisor said.216,000 jobs were added last month, the latest sign the American labor market remains resilient even in the face of still-high interest rates.Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in the hospitality sector added 40,000 jobs in December."This is above the kinds of job growth you need to accommodate population growth, so this is a healthy number," he added.President Joe Biden called 2023 a great year for the American worker."I won’t stop fighting for American workers and American families."While the White House welcomes the news of a positive jobs report, many Americans say they are not feeling the effects."We've had energy prices, gas prices that are up close to 40% or more under Biden's administration, " Richard Stern with the Heritage Foundati...

Lunchbreak: Dean Richards makes Puerto Rican style beef empanadas with Hamilton's Nick Sanchez!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

Nick Sanchez, HAMILTON - EnsembleCheck Out:HAMILTONNow through January 28thJames M. Nederlander Theatre – 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago, ILhttp://www.broadwayinchicago.comHomehttps://hamiltonmusical.com/chicago/Recipe:Puerto Rican Style Beef Empanadas(by Nick Sanchez)Equipment needed:Pan for frying empanadas. Pan for cooking filling. Hot plate or cooktop. Tongs. Paper towel/cooking rack. Bowl for mixing dough. Bowl for storing filling.Ingredients:-About 4 cups of flour-Just under about two cups HOT salted water.  (Salt to taste) -Sourdough starter - 1/3 cup  (Optional)-Olive oil-Seasonings: Sazon, Adobo (or salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano)-Ground beef (or any ground meat or mushrooms)-Squeeze of citrus (lemon or lime)-Drizzle of apple cider vinegar-Tomato paste -Recaito from store OR my favorite: homemade Sofrito (3-4 heads of garlic, 1 pound of aji Dulce peppers, 1/2 lb bell pepper, 3 onions, 3-5 bunches of cilantro)  [“recaito” is Puerto Rico’s ve...

Body found in Burnet County on Christmas Day; officials investigating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Law enforcement officials are investigating a body that was found in Burnet County on Christmas Day.The Burnet County Sheriff’s Office said the body was found at approximately 3 p.m. on County Road 203.According to BCSO, the Texas Rangers and the Fire Marshal's office would help in the investigation.As of Friday, BCSO said it was waiting on the autopsy report for an identification of the person.BCSO said the investigation of course remained ongoing.

Why Texas turned down millions for child hunger assistance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Texas rejected millions of dollars that would have supplemented needy families' nutrition assistance during summer months, citing challenges with administering the federal program meant to bridge the gap when children cannot get meals in school.The US Department of Agriculture's Summer EBT program offers states $40 per eligible child every month during the summer. In Texas, that would mean almost $150 million in additional funding for the more than 1.2 million children on food assistance. But state officials say they don't have the resources to implement it."Ensuring children have access to adequate nutrition supports during the summer months is a priority for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission," Jennifer Ruffcorn with Texas HHSC told Nexstar. "Due to... current resource constraints at the state agencies, the level of effort needed to implement a new program, and the need for new appropriations from the Legislature, it is not feasible for Texas to suc...

Vikings at Lions pick: Expect more of the same, which is another Vikings loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings forecast Sunday’s game against the Lions in Detroit:DANE MIZUTANILions 31, Vikings 14Suddenly it feels like the Vikings are in danger of falling by the wayside in the NFC North. This will be a big offseason for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.JOHN SHIPLEYLions 37, Vikings 23Say this for Nick Mullens, the guy is fearless, possibly to a fault, but he and the receivers will put some points on the board. Problem is, Jared Goff and the Lions will score more.CHARLEY WALTERSLions 30, Vikings 17Lions full of confidence heading to the playoffs, Vikings’ season ends in pieces.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | The rest of the NFC North is ascending. Where do the Vikings fit into the equation? Minnesota Vikings | Vikings at Lions: What to know ahead of Week 18 matchup Minnesota Vikings | The Loop NFL Picks: Week 18 Minnesota Vikings | Vikings quarterback Nick Mul...

29 games, 400 athletes, 250,000 fans, coming to St. Paul in December 2025 for the World Jr. Hockey Championships

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:18 GMT

Early Friday morning, hours before the United States faced off against Sweden in the World Junior Hockey Championship’s Gold Medal game, Jaimee Hendrikson took the microphone at a press event in Gothenburg, Sweden, to invite all 10 participating nations to St. Paul for the tournament’s 50th anniversary in two years.Hendrikson, the president and chief executive officer of Visit St. Paul, the city’s tourism bureau, has her work cut out for her between now and Dec. 26, 2025, when the first of 29 games unfold at downtown St. Paul’s 18,000-seat Xcel Energy Center and the smaller 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota’s campus. It will be the largest event at the X since the Republican National Convention in 2008.Jamie Hendrikson CEO/President of Visit St. Paul speaks to the media during the USA Hockey announcement of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scandinavium on January 5, 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Chris Tanouye / IIHF)Over the c...