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Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples that must not resemble marriage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

By NICOLE WINFIELD and DAVID CRARY (Associated Press)ROME (AP) — Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced Monday, a radical shift in policy that aimed at making the church more inclusive while maintaining its strict ban on gay marriage.But while the Vatican statement was heralded by some as a step toward breaking down discrimination in the Catholic Church, some LGBTQ+ advocates warned it underscored the church’s idea that gay couples remain inferior to heterosexual partnerships.The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if the blessings weren’t confused with the ritual of marriage.The new document repeats that condition and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong union between a...

Bodycam video shows police shooting in 4S Ranch

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

Warning: The video linked in this article contains violence. Viewer discretion is advised.SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Police Department has released bodycam footage of the shooting in 4S Ranch in early December where the suspect died and a police sergeant was shot in the head.Officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a 4S Ranch shopping center on Dec. 7 around 11:30 p.m. SDPD on Monday released a video containing bodycam footage on YouTube of the officer-involved shooting. The video details the 911 call, where the victim stated her car was stolen and was believed to be driven by 46-year-old Curtis Harris, who also had an unserved Emergency Protection Order against him tied to a prior domestic violence incident.When officers found the vehicle, they found a woman sleeping in the passenger seat. They then went into the store to search for Harris. San Diego police sergeant injured, suspect killed after shootout in 4S Ranch When officers approac...

After years of decline, the Biden administration says environmental enforcement is on the upswing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency conducted more on-site inspections of polluting industrial sites this year than any time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said Monday as it seeks to reinvigorate its enforcement program after more than a decade of budget cuts.EPA opened nearly 200 criminal investigations this year, a 70% increase over 2022, the agency said in a report. It completed nearly 1,800 civil settlements, a 9% increase over 2022. More than half the inspections and settlements involved poor and disadvantaged communities long scarred by pollution, the agency said, reflecting the Biden administration’s emphasis on environmental justice issues.But some parts of EPA’s enforcement efforts still lag. In 2023, for example, it charged 102 defendants criminally. The Trump administration charged more every year, although most years only marginally. Nearly 200 defendants were charged in the latter years of the Obama administration. There is,...

NCAA athletes who’ve transferred multiple times can play through the spring semester, judge rules

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — College athletes who have transferred multiple times but were denied the chance to compete immediately can play through the remainder of the academic year, a federal judge ruled Monday.U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia made the ruling on a motion filed Friday by the NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization. Preston extended a temporary restraining order he had issued last Wednesday barring the NCAA from enforcing its transfer rule for 14 days.The earlier ruling had opened a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete. But that window was extended by Monday’s decision, which converts the restraining order into a preliminary injunction. Bailey also canceled a previously scheduled Dec. 27 hearing and said the case would be set for trial no sooner than the last day of competition in the winter and spring sports seasons.“This is a great day for student athletes — they will finally be able to compete in the spor...

TD racial equity audit finds bank has taken significant steps, more work to be done

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

TORONTO — TD Bank Group has released its first racial equity audit that finds the bank has taken significant steps toward promoting diversity and inclusion, but could do more on aspects like consistency and measurement.TD was the first of the Big Six banks, and among the first companies in Canada, to agree to conduct an audit following pressure from shareholders including the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU).Such audits look to assess company policies and programs through a racial equity lens and try to identify opportunities where organizations can enhance efforts to be more equitable and inclusive.The report found TD has numerous initiatives and programs in place on diversity and inclusion and “committed leadership” across the bank, but that it could improve in areas like communication around opportunities, better tracking of demographics and greater consistency in implementation.Emma Pullman, head of shareholder engagement at BCGEU, said it was ...

Final electric-vehicle mandate to come Tuesday, sales must double by 2026

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

OTTAWA — Auto manufacturers will have three years to start showing a sizable increase in electric-vehicle sales as the federal government moves to finalize its new EV mandate this week.Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault published draft regulations a year ago that set new targets for one in five vehicles to be electric by 2026, three in five by 2030 and all of them by 2035.On Tuesday he will discuss the final regulations for those targets, following nearly a year of consultation with industry and environment stakeholders.The regulations, which should be published in full later this week, are expected to include credits for electric vehicles sold, as well as investments in charging infrastructure.Each manufacturer will need to earn enough credits to meet an annual target and if they come up short, buy credits from other companies that exceed their goals.New data from Statistics Canada shows one in 10 new vehicles sold in the first nine months of this year were electric — about hal...

4 years in prison for Nikola Corp founder for defrauding investors on claims of zero-emission trucks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of Nikola Corp. was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for his conviction for exaggerating claims about his company’s production of zero-emission 18-wheel trucks, causing investors to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.Trevor Milton learned his fate in Manhattan federal court when Judge Edgardo Ramos announced the sentence, saying he believed that a jury in October 2022 “got it right” when it convicted him. The judge also ordered Milton to pay a $1 million fine.“Over the course of many months, you used your considerable social media skills to tout your company in ways that were materially false,” the judge said, noting investors suffered heavy losses. “What you said over and over on different media outlets was wrong.”Before the sentence was handed down, Milton fought through tears in delivering a half-hour rambling statement portraying some of his actions as heroic at Nikola and his intentions sincere as he sought to produce trucks that wou...

Analysis: Josh Allen and the Bills show how quickly things can turn around in the NFL

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.___Turnarounds happen quickly in the NFL.Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have quieted talk about coach Sean McDermott’s job security with a pair of impressive wins.The Dallas Cowboys suddenly look like pretenders because they can’t win on the road.Joe Flacco has gone from his couch to becoming a Cleveland folk hero in less than a month.Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs just needed a trip to New England to get back on the winning track.Tommy DeVito was the toast of New York and New Jersey until the Saints whipped the Giants and mocked his celebrations.The Eagles are shaking things up like a desperate team searching for answers instead of a division leader battling for the No. 1 seed.The up-and-down Jaguars still sit in first place despite three straight losses.At least Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers are consistent.The game of Week 15 turned into a...

Bid to boost tax break for volunteer firefighters as brigades struggle with retention

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

Alberta volunteer firefighter Alison Archambault calls it her “soul work.”But that doesn’t mean some more help at tax time wouldn’t be welcome too.A tax credit for volunteer firefighters currently stands at $3,000, but Archambault, a volunteer in Redwood Meadows outside Calgary, said “any increase is appreciated” to help with costs such as vehicle maintenance.“Volunteer fire departments in general are having recruitment challenges and retention challenges and (an) increase in the tax writeoff is just another tool to make being a volunteer firefighter more attractive and staying a volunteer firefighter more attractive,” said Archambault, whose regular job is in public relations.Others agree, and a push is underway to raise the tax credit after Canada’s worst wildfire season on record.B.C. member of Parliament Gord Johns has been working with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs to try to boost the credit for volunteer firefight...

1 dead, 3 injured after boarding school partially collapses in central Romania

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:14 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A boarding school building partially collapsed in central Romania on Monday, leaving one person dead and three injured, authorities said.Emergency workers raced to find the four people in the rubble of the collapse in Odorheiu Secuiesc in Harghita County, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said. The affected area was about 200 square meters (239 square yards).All were recovered. Of the three survivors, one was seriously injured. “The fourth victim did not respond to resuscitation efforts,” authorities said.They did not say what caused the collapse.Photos of the scene shared by emergency authorities showed a collapsed portion of an old building’s facade. Wooden beams and pillars were strewn amid rubble of bricks and mortar.The Associated Press