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Cannabis users to be protected from workplace discrimination in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) — California employers will soon be barred from discriminating against employees or applicants based on cannabis use outside of the workplace.On Jan. 1, a new set of state laws — Assembly Bill 2188 and Senate Bill 700 — that expand the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act to add certain employment protections for those who engage in marijuana use will go into effect.AB 2188 was passed and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022. SB 700, which was signed this year, clarified and expanded certain provisions of AB 2188 before it was set to go into effect in 2024. Illegal marijuana grow farms raise national security concerns Under the new laws, it will be illegal for employers with five or more employees to penalize potential or current workers for off-duty cannabis use. SB 700 specified at this protection prohibits an employer from asking an applicant about their prior use of the substance, except if they are permitted to consider a criminal history with cann...

The bodies of 5 young men are found in a car in a violence-wracked city in Mexico

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The bodies of five young men were found stuffed in a vehicle on a dirt road in north-central Mexico, authorities said. Diego Sinhue Rodríguez, the governor of the state of Guanajuato, pledged an “exhaustive” investigation into the killings. The car and the bodies were found Sunday in a rural area on the outskirts of the city of Celaya, which has seen a spate of drug cartel violence in recent years. The area is located outside a local university.Local media reported the men had been shot to death, but prosecutors did not immediately confirm that. In June, a drug cartel set off a car bomb in Celaya aimed at law enforcement, killing a National Guard officer.National Guard officers were reportedly responding to information about a car parked with what appeared to be bodies inside. As they approached, the vehicle exploded, sending officers flying. Authorities blamed the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, which for years has fought a bloody turf war with the Jalisco cartel for ...

NDP agriculture critic says he’s not impressed by grocers’ plans to stabilize prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

OTTAWA — New Democrat MP Alistair MacGregor says he has reviewed the major grocers’ plans to stabilize prices, and he’s unimpressed by what is in them.MacGregor, the NDP agriculture critic, spoke to reporters this afternoon ahead of a committee appearance by Michael Medline, the president and CEO of Empire Company Ltd., which owns Sobeys and other grocery store chains. Medline’s appearance comes after the committee requested that the top execs of major grocers testify before the committee once again on their plans to stabilize prices.Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced this fall that major companies, including Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco, had shared plans to tackle rising prices that included discounts, price freezes and price-matching campaigns.MacGregor says grocers agreed to share the plans with members of the House of Commons agriculture committee.He says that while the committee agreed to keep the contents of the plans confide...

Man who swerved car near pro-Palestinian protester arrested for assault: Victoria PD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

VICTORIA — Police in Victoria have arrested a man they say accelerated his car towards a pro-Palestinian protester near the British Columbia legislature over the weekend.Victoria Police say the man was arrested for assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a vehicle after driving onto the sidewalk at about 2.p.m. Sunday, nearly striking the protester.The incident on Bellville Street was captured on a video that’s being shared on social media, showing the driver jumping out of his car and arguing with another protester before a police officer intervenes to separate the men.Photographs then show the driver on the ground and being restrained by four officers.Police say the man has since been released pending a future court date, and the protest was able to continue without any other incidents.The National Council of Canadian Muslims says in a statement that it’s “deeply concerned” by the incident, calling it “reprehensible.”“This is the ...

Criminal use of cryptocurrency expected to grow, Canada’s financial intel agency says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s financial intelligence agency says it expects to see criminals increase their use of cryptocurrency to raise, move and hide funds outside the traditional banking system.In its newly released annual report, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada notes it has been developing strategic intelligence on the role virtual assets play in money laundering and terrorist financing.The agency, known as Fintrac, says the most prevalent form of money laundering involving virtual currencies is the movement of proceeds of fraud and ransomware attacks.Fintrac identifies money linked to illicit activities by electronically sifting millions of pieces of information each year from banks, insurance companies, money services businesses, securities dealers, real estate brokers, casinos and others.In turn, it discloses intelligence to police and other law-enforcement agencies about the suspected cases.Fintrac’s report warns that the use of unregistere...

A small plane makes an emergency landing in the southern Paris suburbs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

PARIS (AP) — A small twin-engine plane was forced to make an emergency landing Monday in the southern Paris suburbs, France’s civil aviation safety agency said. French media said the aircraft landed near a populated area in the town of Villejuif. Sebastien Barthe, the communications director for the safety agency known as BEA for short, said the cause of the unplanned landing was a “technical problem” and that four people were on board the plane, including the pilot.Barthe could not confirm French media reports saying that three passengers sustained injuries but said his agency was investigating what led up to the emergency landing.“We will examine all aspects, including the pilot’s health and the aircraft’s mechanical condition,” he said.Emergency services were on the scene quickly. Photos and videos widely shared on social media showed the plane against a wall and emergency personnel at work.The Associated Press

NDP calls for Canada to bring extended family of Canadians safely out of Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

OTTAWA — The New Democrats are calling for Ottawa to create special immigration measures to help get Canadians’ extended family members out of the Gaza Strip, as it has during other crises in recent years.Several Canadians whose relatives are struggling to survive in Gaza say they’re losing faith that the federal government will step into to save the lives of their loved ones. NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan says Canada has created special rules for Syrian refugees, Afghans and Ukrainians in recent years, and she is calling on the government to do the same for Palestinians.Canada has brought approximately 600 people through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as of the last update from Global Affairs.The only people who qualify are Canadians, Canadian permanent residents and people who meet the government’s strict definition of an eligible family member, though there have been exceptions. That strict definition does not include parents, siblings, or...

Bitcoin has surpassed $41,000 for the first time since April 2022. What’s behind the price surge?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is once again having a moment. On Monday, the world’s largest cryptocurrency soared past $41,000 for the first time in over a year and a half — and marking a 150% rise so far this year.Volatile bitcoin rocketed from just over $5,000 at the start of the pandemic to nearly $68,000 in November 2021, according to FactSet, a period marked by a surge in demand for technology products. Prices fell back to earth during an aggressive series of Federal Reserve rate hikes aimed at taming inflation and then the collapse of FTX, one of the biggest companies in crypto.When 2023 began, a single bitcoin could be had for less than $17,000 after losing more than 75% of its value. Investors, however, began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool. And the collapse of prominent tech-focused banks actually led more investors to turn to crypto as they bailed out of positions in Silicon Valley start-ups and other risky bets. But fueling this latest rally are pr...

'That was to get us out': New details revealed after arson fire at historic Swift Mansion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

CHICAGO — More details have been revealed in the fire that started inside the iconic Swift Mansion, including a battle between the owner and tenants.Officials say the blaze started around 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the 4500 block of South Michigan in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The fire rekindled three times at the historic mansion.At least 10 people were living in the building — and one of those tenants is claiming the mansion was set on fire to get them out.Chicago police have confirmed the incident is being investigated as an arson.The Swift Mansion was once the home of the Chicago Urban League and is currently the location for the Inner City Youth and Adult Foundation.The organization is believed to help youth in the community, as well as house ex-convicts who are seeking a better future through finding employment.WGN News spoke with one of the tenants Monday, who said he believes the fire is suspicious in nature.“Somebody set it. For sure. For sure. That was to get us out of there....

Gabby Petito lawsuit: Brian Laundrie's parents finally admit what their son told them, attorney says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:51 GMT

VENICE, Fla. (WFLA) -- The attorney for Gabby Petito's family says Brian Laundrie's parents have admitted what their son told them in the days after killing his 22-year-old fiancé in August 2021. During depositions for the upcoming civil trial between the two families, Chris and Roberta Laundrie said in a "frantic" phone call on Aug. 29, 2021, two days after Petito was believed to have been murdered, that their son informed them that Petito was "gone" and that he needed a lawyer, according to Petito attorney Pat Reilly.Reilly said Chris and Roberta Laundrie did not admit to knowing Petito had been killed, only that they were told by Brian Laundrie that she was "gone." ‘Gabby Petito Act’ aims to strengthen police response to domestic violence in Florida According to court documents and the depositions, Chris and Roberta Laundrie then informed their longtime lawyer Steven Bertolino that Petito was "gone" and that Brian Laundrie was in need of an attorney. A retainer was sent to him ...