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New book details Biden-Obama frictions and says Harris sought roles ‘away from the spotlight’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new book about Joe Biden portrays the president as someone whose middle-class upbringing helped foster a resentment of intellectual elitism that shaped his political career and sometimes caused strain with his onetime boss, Harvard-educated Barack Obama. Biden, who spent eight years as Obama’s vice president, told a friend that Obama couldn’t even curse properly, according to “The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future.” Released Tuesday and written by Franklin Foer, a staff writer for “The Atlantic,” the book says Biden said Obama was unable to deliver a “f—- you” with “the right elongation of vowels and the necessary hardness of consonants; it was how they must curse in the ivory tower.”Now, as the president runs for reelection, the early frontrunner among Republicans is former President Donald Trump, whose supporters can sometimes resent the perceived elitism of Washington’...

Death of 50-year-old man in Vaughan being investigated as homicide: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

Homicide detectives with York Regional Police are investigating the death of a 50-year-old man in Vaughan.Police were called to the man’s home on Laskin Drive near Major MacKenzie Drive West and Bathurst Street just before 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 1.Officers found the man dead inside the home. Investigators have identified him as Rakesh “Rick” Joshi.The cause of death is not yet known.Police don’t have any suspect information at this time, and are looking for witnesses as well as security camera of dash-cam footage that could help with the investigation.

TV anchor Ruschell Boone, who spotlighted NYC’s diverse communities, dies of pancreatic cancer at 48

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Ruschell Boone, an award-winning reporter and anchor for New York City TV station NY1, has died after battling pancreatic cancer over the past year, the station announced Tuesday.Boone, 48, died Sunday, NY1 said in a news release.Boone joined the all-news station as a reporter covering the borough of Queens in 2002 and moved to the anchor desk with a noon slot in 2021.The station, now owned by Charter Communications, said Boone “had a unique ability to connect with New Yorkers — through the screen and in person — in a way that made her feel like a trusted friend.”A native of Jamaica, Boone was known for her coverage of the city’s diverse immigrant communities. She reported on big stories like Superstorm Sandy and protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, and she also was a fixture at celebrations including Brooklyn’s annual West Indian American Day parade and the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop.Boone was the only TV reporter...

At least 5 people die as severe rainstorms trigger flooding in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Fierce rainstorms battered neighboring Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria on Tuesday, triggering flooding that caused at least five deaths, including two holidaymakers swept away by a torrent that raged through a campsite in northwestern Turkey.Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said four other people were missing after the flash flood swept over the campsite in Kirklareli province, near the border with Bulgaria. He said about 12 vacationers were at the site when the waters hit.Search teams had located two bodies, he said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “The search and rescue efforts for the missing (four) continue uninterrupted,” he added.Television footage showed rescuers carrying a young girl and an adult to safety from waters reaching waist-high in some areas. The rains also damaged and forced the closure of a main road, HaberTurk television reported.In Greece, police banned traffic in the central town of Volos, the nearby mountain ...

A Georgia redistricting trial begins with a clash over what federal law requires for Black voters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Challengers to Georgia’s voting district maps told a federal judge Tuesday that the state is legally required to provide more political opportunities to Black voters, while the state suggested plaintiffs are trying to impose illegal racial gerrymanders of congressional and legislative districts.Opening statements began in what’s expected to be a two-week trial. If the challengers win, Democrats could gain one of Georgia’s 14 U.S. House seats, as well as multiple state Senate and state House seats.The case is a part of a wave of litigation progressing after the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year stood behind its interpretation of the Voting Rights Act, rejecting Alabama’s challenge to the law. Section 2 of the federal law says voting district lines can’t result in discrimination against minority voters, who must be given a chance to elect candidates of their choosing. A three-judge panel ruled Tuesday that Alabama’s attempts to redraw its cong...

Aid group official warns the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine risks becoming “normalized”

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A major aid group is concerned that there is not enough international attention given to Ukraine and is bracing for fewer donations used to finance operations in the battle-scarred country, its president warned on Tuesday.The head of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband said, his central concern is that the 19-month war and the resulting humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s invasion and continued attacks on civilian infrastructure are becoming “normalized” by the international community while the needs brought about by the war show no signs of diminishing, he said. “We know that the 2022 figures for humanitarian aid in Ukraine are not going to be repeated,” he told the Associated Press. Miliband said they don’t expect the donations received from Europe and North America last year to be matched. The IRC received $40 million in funding for Ukraine operations in 2022. In 2023, the aid group received almost less than half of that sum, wit...

Toy poodle ‘Pinot’ stolen from parked car in Toronto’s east end: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

Toronto police are searching for a seven-year-old toy poodle allegedly stolen from a parked car in the city’s Riverdale neighbourhood over the weekend.Officers were called to a Green P parking lot in the area of Broadview Avenue and Erindale Avenue near Danforth Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 3.Police say a dog was inside a black fabric carrier crate in the vehicle, when around 8:20-8:50 p.m. a suspect broke into the vehicle and removed the dog and the crate, and the fled in an unknown direction with the dog.The dog, known as ‘Pinot,’ is brown in colour, and at the time was wearing an orange collar with a flower charm and a pink harness.Anyone with information on the dog’s whereabouts can call police.

Train service between Montreal, New York poised to resume after summer shutdown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

MONTREAL — Amtrak says it aims to relaunch passenger train service between Montreal and New York City next week, a route that typically carries more than 100,000 travellers per year.However, the American rail giant says it still needs to work out several operational details before the Sept. 11 planned restart.Amtrak announced in late June it would halt service on the Canadian National Railway Co. line due to speed restrictions prompted by summer heat, which can cause kinks in the steel tracks.It has cited what it called an inconsistent application of CN’s heat order policy, which limited trains to 16 km/h on some stretches during hot days and left passengers delayed for up to four hours.CN has pointed the finger right back, saying Amtrak failed to pay for maintenance that would have allowed upgrades to the track, which could then withstand the soaring summer temperatures.Amtrak says it has been in discussion with CN and New York state’s transportation department on vario...

Life could change again for iPhone users worldwide

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

(KTLA) — iPhone users worldwide are bracing for another major change when Apple unveils the iPhone 15 next week.Thanks to the European Union, Apple has been forced to ditch its propriety Lightning connectors and adopt USB-C as a standard for charging and data transfers, numerous tech publications are reporting.The company is expected to formally announce the switch, along with other iPhone updates, on Sept. 12.The EU has mandated that all manufacturers adopt a common charging connection by 2024. The rule, which was adopted in 2022, applies to mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, mice, keyboards, GPS devices, headphones, digital cameras, handheld video gaming consoles and portable speakers.The Lightning connection was first launched in 2012."A lot of people were worried and annoyed that they had to buy all new cords and accessories when Apple made the changeover from the 30-pin dock connector to the Lightning port,” app developer Johan Alexander told Lifewire. “Users eve...

Top 6 counties to raise a family in Illinois are in Chicago metro

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

(STACKER) — A ranking of the best counties in Illinois to raise a family puts the entire Chicago metro among the top choices.Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. How Chicago gas prices have changed since the 70s Of the top 30 counties, the top 6 are found around Chicago. They are:DuPageLakeKaneKendallWillCookSee the full list, and the detailed breakdown below showing the stats which back-up the rankings.Among the full list are counties which boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.#30. Boone County, Illinois- Population: 53,592- Median home value: $163,200 (82% own)- Median rent: $974 (18% own)- Median household income: $74,076- Top public schools: Belv...