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Dozens of smuggled people found working in ‘horrible’ conditions at illegal California pot plant

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

MERCED, Calif. (AP) — Dozens of people who apparently were smuggled into the United States were found working and living in “horrible” conditions at an illegal marijuana plant in California’s Central Valley, authorities said Thursday.Deputies served a search warrant Wednesday afternoon at a site on unincorporated land near the city of Merced and discovered the operation. Images posted online by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office showed trays, bags and boxes stuffed with what looked to be marijuana in a run-down interior space. “We literally have thousands of pounds of finished marijuana from an illegal grow and illegal source,” Sheriff Vern Warnke said in a video.Deputies found 60 people working there including men and women who were offered various unspecified resources, plus one juvenile, who was seen by child welfare authorities and released to a parent, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Our investigators learned that these individuals arrived at the property...

Randy Meisner, founding member of the Eagles and singer of ‘Take It to the Limit,’ dies at 77

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles who added high harmonies to such favorites as “Take It Easy” and “The Best of My Love” and stepped out front for the waltz-time ballad “Take It to the Limit,” has died, the band said Thursday. Meisner died Wednesday night in Los Angeles of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Eagles said in a statement. He was 77. The bassist had endured numerous afflictions in recent years and personal tragedy in 2016 when his wife, Lana Rae Meisner, accidentally shot herself and died. Meanwhile, Randy Meisner had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had severe issues with alcohol, according to court records and comments made during a 2015 hearing in which a judge ordered Meisner to receive constant medical care.Called “the sweetest man in the music business” by former bandmate Don Felder, the baby-faced Meisner joined Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon in the early 1970s to form a quintessential Los A...

After refusing to let Sikh trooper grow beard, New York State Police accused of flouting state law

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York state trooper who is Sikh was barred by his supervisors from growing facial hair for his wedding, despite a 2019 state law requiring employers to let most workers follow attire or grooming obligations for their religion.State Trooper Charanjot Tiwana, based in Jamestown, New York, requested permission to grow his beard to the length of one-half inch (1.27 centimeters) in March of 2022 for his wedding.Unshorn hair and beards are a sign of religious commitment for practicing Sikh men, a custom that clashes with State Police grooming rules, which require troopers to shave and cut their hair short.Tiwana’s request was denied on the basis that it posed a safety issue regarding the use of a gas mask, according to his union, the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association.Wearing a turban is also customary for Sikh men, but Tiwana has not formally asked for permission to don one on duty, in part because his requests to grow a beard were reject...

Panic on Philippine ferry caused vessel to capsize, killing at least 26, officials say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A small Philippine ferry turned over when passengers suddenly crowded to one side in panic as fierce winds lashed the wooden vessel Thursday, and at least 26 people died, while 40 others were rescued, authorities said.The coast guard and police said search and rescue efforts halted late Thursday but would resume Friday morning. Officials said it remained unclear how many people were aboard the M/B Princess Aya, which capsized in Laguna de Bay in Rizal province. When people rushed to one side of the vessel amid severe winds, the boat tilted and its outrigger broke, then the boat capsized shortly after leaving a wharf in the town of Binangonan for nearby Talim island. The accident happened only about 46 meters (150 feet) from shore, police and coast guard officials said at a news conference.The Rizal provincial police said that they immediately launched a rescue operation with the help of the coast guard and other local authorities, but that at least 26 peop...

B.C. port strike cost CPKC railway $80 million, exec says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

The B.C. port workers’ strike deprived Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. of scores of millions of dollars, its chief marketing officer said, tacking on a costly coda to a tough quarter.“At this point, we’re estimating the strike had a negative impact of about $80 million in revenue, much of which we will work hard to claw back over the remainder of Q3 and Q4,” John Brooks told analysts on a conference call Thursday.The 13-week strike — plus a brief wildcat job action — earlier this month halted operations at most ports along the West Coast. In the first week alone, it depressed the number of containers hauled by Canadian railways to barely half the level reached during the same period in 2022, according to the American Railroad Association.CPKC framed its first quarter following a major merger as a tough one, as demand for container shipments and some bulk goods fell across the rail sector.“No doubt a challenging quarter as we dealt with a softer demand envir...

South Dakota attorney general calls on lawmaker to repay more than $600K in COVID-19 relief funds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

UNDATED (AP) — South Dakota’s attorney general called on a state lawmaker Thursday to repay more than $600,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funding she received for her preschool business. Attorney General Marty Jackley gave fellow Republican state Sen. Jessica Castleberry, of Rapid City, 10 days to return the money she accepted for Little Nest Preschool, which she owns.In a letter dated Wednesday, Jackley cited a 2020 South Dakota Supreme Court advisory warning state lawmakers that it is unconstitutional for them to accept federal pandemic funding. “The Supreme Court has expressly forbidden such payments to legislators,” Jackley wrote to Castleberry. Gov. Kristi Noem has said Castleberry violated the state constitution by accepting the pandemic aid. “The Supreme Court, could not have spoken more clearly, or on point to this issue. The Senator has a personal and ethical obligation to avoid conflict of interests,” Noem had written in an earlier letter to the attorney general.Cast...

Motorcyclist critically injured in Mississauga collision

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

A motorcyclist has life-threatening injuries after being involved in a collision with another vehicle in Mississauga.Peel Regional Police were called to the Dixie Road and Dundas Street area around 6 p.m. on Thursday for reports of a multi-vehicle crash.Officers located a motorcyclist with critical injuries. They were rushed to a local hospital.The driver remained at the scene.Delays are expected in the area.

Citigroup says some predecessor companies likely saw indirect financial benefits from slavery

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Some of the companies that formed what is now Citigroup likely benefitted financially from slavery in the 1800’s, the financial giant acknowledged Thursday, an admission that comes at a time when numerous institutions are re-examining their historic roots and the roles they played in slavery in the U.S.In research conducted last year, Citi found that none of its predecessor companies directly purchased, sold, or held slaves. But the research did find that some of predecessor entities “likely indirectly profited from the institution of slavery through financial transactions and relationships with individuals and entities located or operating in the United States before 1866.”Many of the nation’s biggest banks including Citi are conglomerations of financial institutions that have merged or bought each other over many years. Citi traces its founding back to 1812 when the City Bank of New York was created.One of Citi’s most prominent presidents in the 19th Century ...

David Lametti’s legacy as justice minister is advancing cause of wrongfully convicted

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

OTTAWA — When David Lametti met David Milgaard in his office a few years back, he pulled a copy of The Tragically Hip’s “Fully Completely” off a shelf and asked Milgaard to sign his record. Its song “Wheat Kings” was inspired by the wrongful conviction that kept Milgaard falsely imprisoned for 23 years, starting when he was a teenager.“He called David his hero when he was a student,” recalled James Lockyer, a Toronto-based lawyer who helped found the organization Innocence Canada, which works to exonerate people like Milgaard, who died last year.“He had a photographer come in and take multiple photographs with him and David in his office … I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’s framed one.“I saw how visibly affected he was, and it visibly affected me to see that.” As justice minister, Lametti introduced legislation earlier this year seeking to establish a long-fought-for independent commission to review cases wh...

Skilling: Threat of severe weather Friday ahead of weekend cooldown

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:13:31 GMT

FIRST, THE LATEST THURSDAY WEATHER HEADLINESTHE HEAT IS ON--THOUGH AN EXPECTED LAKE BREEZE IS TEMPERING THE HEAT IN LAKESIDE AREAS THURSDAY---LOW & MID 90s WITH TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT INDICES INLAND THURSDAY----FRIDAY HOLDS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING THE HOTTEST IN THE CURRENT HOT SPELL--BUT SEVERAL TWISTS WARRANT MONITORING, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS A POTENTIAL "WIND-SHIFTING BACK DOOR COLD FRONT" WHICH COULD SEND TEMPS CRASHING FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER SECTIONS OF THE AREA EVEN AS WITHERING TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT INDICES GRIP SOUTHERN SECTIONS---ALSO SEVERE WEATHER AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERY FLOODING DOWNPOURS COMES INTO PLAY LATE FRIDAY OR, MORE LIKELY, FRIDAY NIGHT---MUCH COOLER, LESS HUMID WEEKEND FOLLOWSIt's hot out there Thursday--though the predicted easterly lake breeze is doing its thing and restraining the most extreme heat in lakeside and north suburban areas closest to the lake. 34 states are under heat advisories Thursday and Friday; sections of 15 states are under...