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In GOP’s proposed Georgia congressional map, a key question is which voters are legally protected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A push by Georgia Republicans to maintain their congressional majority is likely to come down to a decades-old legal question that has never been settled by the U.S. Supreme Court — does federal law protect voting districts where a coalition of nonwhite voters hold sway?The question was a key part of debate Monday as a Senate committee voted 7-4 along party lines to advance the proposed congressional map. It could be debated Tuesday before the full state Senate.Republicans pushing redistricting plans in Georgia say such districts aren’t protected by the federal Voting Rights Act. Thus, they say it’s legal for them to target a district now represented by Democratic U.S. Rep Lucy McBath for a drastic transformation, even as they draw a new Black-majority district elsewhere in metro Atlanta. Such a 1-for-1 switch in districts likely to elect a Democrat would mean Republicans are likely to maintain their 9-5 edge in Georgia’s congressional delegation. Th...

Quebec employment minister wants to recruit asylum seekers to work in health care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s employment minister says around 1,500 asylum seekers will be given jobs in the province’s health-care system over the next three years.Kateri Champagne Jourdain announced the pilot project in Montreal today. The program will work with two community organizations, one in Montreal and one in Quebec City, to place people.The government says it’s looking to fill positions such as patient-care aides, kitchen and maintenance staff, and administrators.To be eligible, candidates must hold a valid work permit and have an intermediate level of French.Champagne Jourdain says 1,098 would-be refugees have expressed interest in working in the tourism sector, following the launch in May of a similar program connecting asylum seekers with jobs.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

Germany and Brazil hope for swift finalization of a trade agreement between EU and Mercosur

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The chancellor of Germany and president of Brazil expressed hope Monday that decades-long negotiations might soon yield a finalized free trade agreement between the 27-member European Union and a bloc of four South American nations. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told reporters in Berlin that they support the trade deal for the EU and Mercosur, comprised of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The two blocs are holding a summit Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, but final approval of a preliminary trade agreement has remained elusive.“We are strongly committed to ensuring that the agreement is now finalized swiftly,” Scholz said after a meeting of senior officials from both countries in the German capital.Lula also vowed to fight for the deal, and said he hoped for a breakthrough at the Rio de Janeiro meeting. “As long as I can believe that the agreement is possible, I will fight for it,” the Brazilian president said. “I...

Canadian actor Jason Priestley joins cast of CBC TV series ‘Wild Cards’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

TORONTO — Jason Priestley has joined the cast of the forthcoming CBC TV series “Wild Cards.”The procedural follows a by-the-book cop, played by Giacomo Gianniotti of “Grey’s Anatomy,” who teams up with a con woman portrayed by “Riverdale” star Vanessa Morgan.CBC says Priestley will be a recurring guest star, playing the con woman’s father. He’s best known portraying Brandon Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210.”“Wild Cards,” a Vancouver-set comedy from creator Michael Konyves, is set to debut Jan. 10 on CBC.It’s one of many CBC shows also set to air in the United States on The CW this year.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 20231204121216-656e0a31750b316f61822f59jpeg.jpg, Caption: Nineties heartthrob Jason Priestley has joined the cast of the forthcoming CBC TV series “Wild Cards.” Priestley attends “Offside: The Harold ...

1,000 homes evacuated in Quebec’s Laurentians region over fears dike could burst

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

MONTREAL — Residents of two municipalities in Quebec’s Laurentians region have been ordered to leave their homes because of the risk a nearby dike could burst.The evacuation order was issued Sunday night for about 1,000 homes near the Kiamika River in the municipalities of Chute-St-Philippe and Lac-des-Écorces.The two towns are located about 15 kilometres from each other and roughly 125 kilometres northeast of Ottawa.Authorities have told residents to leave their homes for five days.Quebec’s Environment Department is inspecting the dike today. The dike on the Kiamika Reservoir was built in 1954 and has the capacity to retain 382 million cubic metres of water, the equivalent of more than 100,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

AP’s top songs of 2023: ‘On My Mama,’ ‘Flowers,’ ‘Monaco’ and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ten of the best songs of the year, as determined by Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman, in no particular order. Dive in.“On My Mama,” Victoria MonétBuckle up for some positive affirmations! The 10-time Grammy-nominated Victoria Monét, once best known as a hit-maker for Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony and Chloe x Halle, is getting her flowers these days as a soloist — and passing them right along to the mothers listening. Her blockbuster single “On My Mama” is a loving tribute to her mom and her daughter, with Monét’s buttery voice and bright brass production carrying throughout. It may very well be the best R&B track of the year — with one of the best samples, utilizing Chalie Boy’s 2009 banger “I Look Good.” It takes a real talent to borrow from such a recognizable sound. Monét doesn’t just manage to do that — she makes it her own.“Monaco,” Bad BunnyBad Bunny’s 2023 album, “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana,” is a reclamation of his past sound, ...

Treasury creates new strike force as US and China pursue crackdown on illicit fentanyl trafficking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department on Monday announced a new strike force to help combat illicit fentanyl trafficking as the U.S. and China step up efforts to stop the movement of the powerful opioid and drug-making materials into the U.S.The Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force will bring together personnel and intelligence from throughout the Treasury Department — from its sanctions and intelligence arms to IRS Criminal Investigations — to more effectively collaborate on stopping the flow of drugs into the country.The creation of the group is the beginning of the Biden administration’s plan to redouble its efforts to stem the tide of illegal fentanyl after President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in California in November. At the meeting, they announced that China is telling its chemical companies to curtail shipments of the materials used to produce fentanyl to Latin America. China has also resumed sharing information about suspected trafficking with an inte...

4 killed, including a 1-year-old boy, in a shooting at a Dallas home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Four people, including a 1-year-old boy, were killed and a 15-year-old girl was injured in a shooting at a Dallas home, police said.Officers responding to the home Sunday afternoon in the far southeast area of the city found that five people had been shot. Three adults died at the scene; the 1-year-old boy and 15-year-old were taken to a hospital, where the 1-year-old died and the teen was in stable condition.Police said Sunday that a suspect was not in custody but that it was believed to be an isolated incident. There were no updates to release Monday morning, police said.The Dallas County medical examiner’s office has identified those killed as Logan De La Cruz, 1; Vanessa De La Cruz, 20; Karina Lopez, 33; and Jose Lopez, 50.The Associated Press

Man ID'd after fatal shooting at Hilton Hotel in Oakbrook Terrace; person in custody

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — Police are investigating a deadly shooting at the Hilton Hotel in Oakbrook Terrace Saturday night.Police from multiple west suburbs were called to the hotel near 10 Drury Lane at around 8:30 p.m. on a report of shots fired. Brighton Park migrant camp nearing completion, despite opposition When officers arrived on the scene, they found a person who had been shot multiple times, police said. Officers say the victim later succumbed to their injuries.The medical examiner has identified the victim as 34-year-old Calvin Truitt.Police say a person of interest was taken into custody and authorities have not yet identified anyone involved.Hotel guests were outside for hours before they were cleared to return to their rooms.Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and an investigation is underway.

Here's an early look at the NewsNation debate stage for Wednesday night 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT

(The Hill) -- NewsNation previewed on Monday its red, white and blue debate stage for the fourth GOP presidential event, where a smaller group of contenders is set to square off later this week in Alabama.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will take the debate stage on Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, hosted by the network. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.The debate, which kicks off at 8 p.m. EST, will be moderated by NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas, conservative pundit Megyn Kelly and The Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson. How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said last week he was “confident” he would make the fourth debate; Christie has met the donor threshold of having 80,000 unique donors, which includes at least 200 in 20 or more states each. But Christie has not yet met the pollin...