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Judge rejects federal bid to recoup legal expenses in Muslim charity court case

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

OTTAWA — A judge has rejected the federal government’s request to recover legal costs it incurred during a major Muslim charity’s court bid to halt an audit of its activities.In his ruling, handed down last month, Ontario Superior Court Justice Markus Koehnen says the Muslim Association of Canada’s case served a valid public interest, even if it was unsuccessful. The association, a grassroots Muslim charity, contends that a long-running Canada Revenue Agency audit of its activities is fundamentally tainted by systemic bias and Islamophobia. In a decision last September, Koehnen dismissed the charity’s application to halt the audit, saying it was too early to intervene in the federal examination.The federal attorney general sought more than $220,000 in expenses, while the association said no costs should be awarded. In his latest ruling, Koehnen says while the ordinary rule is that the successful party is entitled to its expenses, in this case each party shoul...

Parkland Corp.’s largest shareholder will no longer have voice on company’s board

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

CALGARY — Parkland Corp.’s largest shareholder will no longer have a seat on the fuel retailer’s board after the recent resignation of two board members.The Calgary-based company announced on Dec. 31 the resignations of Simpson Oil nominees Michael Christiansen and Marc Halley from Parkland’s board of directors.Parkland also says it is in discussions with Simpson about its shareholding in the company.Simpson Oil is headquartered in the Cayman Islands and has been a Parkland shareholder since 2017.Since 2022, when Parkland consolidated its ownership of Sol, a Caribbean fuel retailer formerly owned by Simpson Oil, Simpson has owned about 20 per cent of Parkland shares.Going forward, Simpson Oil has waived its previously agreed-upon right to nominate two members to Parkland’s board.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 4, 2024.Companies in this story: (TSX:PKI)The Canadian Press

Senate ordered to reinstate executive who alleged he was fired because of racism

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

OTTAWA — A federal tribunal has ordered the Senate to restore an executive who said he was fired on the basis of racial discrimination. Darshan Singh served two years as the Senate’s human-resources director, but his lawyer says he has no interest in returning to the role.Senate administrative officials told the public sector labour tribunal that Singh was fired in December 2015 due to his “attitude and behaviour” toward his supervisor, but Singh says his manager undermined him because of racial prejudice.Senate lawyers disclosed during the tribunal process that emails sent by Sen. David Wells and former Sen. George Furey discussed Singh with former Speaker Sen. Leo Housakos days before his firing.The tribunal ordered the Senate to provide the emails, but its lawyers argued they were protected by parliamentary privilege, a kind of legal immunity meant to help Parliament maintain its independence.Senators were set to vote on whether to provide the emails, but before...

Man arrested for allegedly recording victims as young as 14 in washrooms near U of T

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

A Kitchener man is facing nearly a dozen charges after several alleged voyeurism incidents near the University of Toronto.Toronto police say the University of Toronto Campus Safety were alerted to a number of incidents between July 2023 and October 2023 near Spadina Avenue and Willcocks Street.Police investigated the reports and allege that a man would loiter inside women’s washrooms and gender-neutral showers in the area. The suspect would sometimes place a cellphone under stalls and record victims.Investigators say the victims ranged in age from 14 to 21.Kitchener resident Dang Pham, 28, was arrested on Thursday. He is facing 11 charges including five counts of voyeurism and six counts of mischief.Police have released photos of the suspect and say there could be more victims. Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.

Here's where to recycle your holiday tree in Chicago

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Starting this weekend, you can recycle your holiday tree at multiple locations across Chicago.The city’s annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program will start this Saturday and run through January 21 at 27 citywide locations.Thousands of trees are mulched through the program. The free mulch is available to residents starting January 8.The city wants to remind residents to remove all tree decorations before recycling.The recycling locations are listed below:Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave. Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St. Forestry Site*, 900 E. 103rd St. Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave. Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Dr. Hiawatha Park, 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr.Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1369 N. Sacramento Ave. Jackson Park Fieldhouse Parking Lot, off S. Cornell Ave. Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St. Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave. Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave. Lincoln Park*, Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave. (East Side ...

Exploding toilet at Dunkin' in Florida left a customer injured and filthy, lawsuit claims

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A customer has filed a negligence lawsuit against Dunkin', claiming he was injured by an exploding toilet at one of the coffee chain's locations in central Florida.Paul Kerouac is seeking more than $100,000 in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court in Orlando, claiming he suffered “severe and long term injuries” following the explosion of a toilet in the men's room of a Dunkin' location in Winter Park, Florida, a year ago.After the explosion left Kerouac covered in human feces, urine and debris, he walked out of the men’s room seeking help from workers and the store’s manager, according to the lawsuit. An employee told him that they were aware of the “problem with the toilet” since there had been previous incidents, the lawsuit says, without diving into further details about the explosion. The original 'Dunkin' Donut' had a unique feature When contacted Thursday by email for more details on Kerouac’s injuries, his attorney, Scott Spradley, said he was tied u...

Verizon customers could get $100 each thanks to new settlement: Who qualifies, how to get paid

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Verizon customers may be entitled to a piece of a $100 million sum the company agreed to pay to settle a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges Verizon customers were hit with an administrative charge as part of a "deceptive scheme." Verizon denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to pay affected users up to $100 each.The group of people who qualify includes all Verizon customers, current or former, in the U.S. who "received postpaid wireless or data services from Verizon and who were charged and paid an Administrative Charge and/or an Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge between January 1, 2016 and November 8, 2023." AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile? Maps show which cell provider gives your area best coverage "Postpaid" phone plans are the opposite of prepaid plans. With postpaid plans, you sign a contract with a phone provider, and then you're billed monthly based on your usage.People who qualify should have also received a notice by mail or email.To claim yo...

Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin resident and fellow nurses vote to join union of registered nurses

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, National Nurses United (NNU) said registered nurses in the resident and fellow programs at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin (ASMCA) voted to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC).NNU said that 96% of the nurses voted in favor of joining. The secret-ballot election was conducted Wednesday, according to NNU.The union said the 225 registered nurses in the programs would join the 825 registered nurses who elected to join the NNOC/NNU in September 2022.NNU said there were now more than 1,000 nurses represented by the union at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin and more than 2,500 represented throughout the Ascension system.“The nurse residents and fellows at ASMCA have ushered in the new year with a wonderful victory for their patients and for the RN movement nationwide,” said Jean Ross, RN and President of NNU. “On behalf of thousands of...

Report finds Austin had 'unusually high' mass layoffs during 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A December analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found the Austin metro saw an "unusually high level" of mass layoffs throughout most of 2023, particularly compared to larger metro regions like Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.Reporting from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found there were 3,552 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) layoffs in Austin from January to October 2023. WARN notices are a federal requirement that mandates employers notify state officials when there are impeding mass layoffs or facility closures. "The notices can signal the shutdown of a job site of at least 50 workers, a layoff of a third of a location’s workforce involving fewer than 500 workers or outright dismissal of more than 500 employees," the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said.In Austin, the Dallas Reserve's findings revealed Austin made up about 20% of the total ...

Patient at St. Peter mental health facility charged with murder of roommate

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:53 GMT

ST. PETER — A patient at the state-operated mental health facility in St. Peter is accused of using an electric guitar to murder his roommate Monday, according to charges filed in Nicollet County.David Michael Otey, 43, was charged with two felonies for second-degree murder with and without intent and three felonies for first-, second- and fourth-degree assault Tuesday in Nicollet County District Court.Otey is accused of “bashing” his roommate at the Forensic Mental Health Program over the head with the guitar, causing fatal blunt force trauma, before choking a staff member, according to a criminal complaint.In a statement, Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead said the “tragic incident has left our patients and staff badly shaken.“Our thoughts now are with the victim’s family and friends who have suffered a terrible loss,” she stated. “We are cooperating with law enforcement and have begun our own internal...