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Former Connecticut Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. is remembered as a maverick unconstrained by politics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

Lowell P. Weicker Jr., a towering figure in Connecticut politics who rose to national prominence for taking on his party during the Watergate hearings as a junior Republican senator, was remembered Monday as a politician from a bygone era, unshackled by partisanship.During more than 30 years in public office, Weicker fought for AIDS funding, clean air and water, medical research, protecting people with disabilities and those marginalized in society. He served in the Connecticut General Assembly, the U.S. House of Representatives and later as Connecticut’s first independent governor. He died June 28 at age 92, following a short illness.His funeral in Greenwich, Connecticut, a town where he was once the first selectman, drew family, friends and politicians from both parties. They recalled his maverick political style being guided by an internal moral compass to do what he thought was right for Connecticut and the nation.“He loved to challenge convention every day and we’re...

Search continues for ‘very dangerous’ jail escapee; stockpiles, campsites found

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

WARREN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities searching for an inmate described by police as “very dangerous” who used bed sheets to escape from a northwestern Pennsylvania jail say they believe he is still in the area and have found stockpiles or campsites in the woods he may have been using.Michael Burham, 34, who fled the Warren County Prison late Thursday by climbing on exercise equipment and using bed sheets to escape through a window, was a suspect in a homicide investigation and had been held on $1 million bail on kidnapping, burglary and other charges, authorities said.“We have located small stockpiles or campsites in wooded areas in the general vicinity of Warren, and we believe that at least some of those may be associated with Burham,” Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters Sunday afternoon at Youngsville Fire Hall.District Attorney Jason Schmidt of Chautauqua County, New York, said last month that Burham is the “prime suspect” in the May 11 killing of Ka...

MUST-WATCH: Enter through the Red Door

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

The latest entry in the Insidious series is here! Will possession reign supreme, or could it go to a raunchy summer comedy? Perhaps a documentary about one of Canada’s most infamous websites? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!Insidious: The Red DoorWhere to watch: CinemasLet’s start off with some terrifying possession!Insidious: The Red Door is the fifth film in the franchise, but it’s actually a direct sequel to the second film. This film once again stars Patrick Wilson (from Watchmen), who also directs this film, Rose Byrne (from Platonic) and Ty Simpkins (from the Whale) as the Lambert family. Now getting ready for college, the son Dalton is ready to move past his history of possession and astral projection. But while studying art, he notices that his paintings seem to bring out strange sensations and it seems like the creatures that possessed him previously may have followed him. This film also stars Hiam Abbass (from Succession), Lin Shaye (from a ...

Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown mounts 2nd bid for US Senate in Nevada after losing GOP primary in 2022

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown made his long-awaited U.S. Senate candidacy official on Monday, jumping into the race to take on Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen a year after losing the Republican nomination to challenge Nevada’s other U.S. senator.Brown’s campaign confirmed his bid Monday morning, and he’ll host an event near Reno in the afternoon to expand on his campaign vision and outline key stances.Brown, a Purple Heart recipient, was a heavily recruited candidate for Republicans in Washington looking to avoid a repeat of their lackluster showing in last year’s midterms, when flawed GOP candidates helped Democrats win battleground races and hold on to the Senate majority.He will face a challenge in the Republican primary from Jim Marchant, a former state Assembly member who lost last year’s race for Nevada secretary of state after promoting Donald Trump’s lies of a stolen 2020 election.Rosen, a first-term moderate in a presidential ...

Ferry between P.E.I., N.S. to resume after vessel pulled during peak tourism season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

CHARLOTTETOWN — The company operating the ferry between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia says service is set to resume today after the vessel was pulled from the water twice since mid-June.Northumberland Ferries said in a news release the mechanical issue plaguing the MV Confederation was resolved over the weekend.The vessel was removed from the water most recently on July 2, leaving the Confederation Bridge as the Island’s only link to the mainland during the peak tourism season.Mark Wilson, senior vice-president of Northumberland Ferries, says the problem involved a drive connection coupling between the starboard main engine and the central propulsion gearbox.He says a new part was assembled and shipped from Europe and that the MV Confederation is ready to resume service with the first sailing out of Wood Islands, P.E.I., scheduled for 3 p.m.He says a second ferry — MV Saaremaa 1 — is expected to enter service July 15 alongside the MV Confederation.This report by The Can...

Governments need to remove interprovincial trade barriers: CFIB

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

TORONTO — The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says Canada’s governments need to remove interprovincial trade barriers on labour, services and products like alcohol and meat. The association’s 2023 report on interprovincial co-operation says 88 per cent of small business owners believe it’s crucial for governments to prioritize removing barriers that prevent the flow of goods, services and labour across provincial and territorial lines. For example, it says business want to see professional licenses and certifications apply across jurisdictions.Businesses surveyed also said they encounter restrictions on selling certain food products such as meat and cheese, as well as on selling alcohol, across provincial borders.They said the complexity of sales tax structures is also a challenge when selling out-of-province. The CFIB gave grades to all the provinces and territories for their progress on reducing trade barriers, with Manitoba receiving the best score a...

James Lewis, suspect in Tylenol poisonings that killed 7 people in the Chicago area in 1982, dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — The suspect in the 1982 Tylenol poisonings that killed seven people in the Chicago area and triggered a nationwide scare has died, police confirmed on Monday.Officers, firefighters and EMTs responding to a report of unresponsive person about 4 p.m. Sunday found James Lewis dead in his Cambridge, Massachusetts, home, Cambridge Police Superintendent Frederick Cabral said in a statement. He was 76, police said.“Following an investigation, Lewis’ death was determined to be not suspicious,” the statement said. No one was ever charged in the deaths of seven people who took drugs laced with cyanide. Lewis served more than 12 years in prison for sending an extortion note to Johnson & Johnson, demanding $1 million to “stop the killing.”When he was arrested in 1982 after a nationwide manhunt, he gave investigators a detailed account of how the killer might have operated. Lewis later admitted sending the letter and demanding the money, but he said he never intended ...

Illinois hotel revenues break all-time record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

ILLINOIS — The most recent fiscal year in Illinois was the best one yet for hotel revenue across the state.Governor JB Pritzker announced the record-breaking milestone at a Monday press conference from Chicago's River North neighborhood. He noted the most recent fiscal year, which ended June 30, saw the "highest ever hotel revenue numbers." Northern Lights could be visible in Wisconsin, Indiana, 15 other states Thursday Pritzker added the 111 million visitors who filled those hotel rooms also spent more than $44 billion dollars while in Illinois."Our tourism industry is back and it's booming," said Prtizker.Kristin Richards, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, discussed some of the reasons the record was reached including the Taylor Swift concert at Soldier Field. She said Chicago's all-time hotel occupancy record was broken during that weekend.Watch the full press conference in the video above.

Chicago residents speak out about damage after massive floodings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

CHICAGO -- A law firm is requesting information on what has been done by the city when thousands of West Side and suburban residents were affected by floodings due to the rain last week.The Metropolitan Water Reclamation Center said that they had to reverse the flow of the Chicago River for the first time in the past three years. In press conference held Monday, Chicago residents spoke out that the river reversal caused floodings to back up into their homes, causing property damage and potential health problems. Illinois hotel revenues break all-time record Alderman Chris Taliaferro with the 29th ward said many senior residents still have flood damage in their basement, losing furniture, memorabilia and health risks that they now have to live with.Taliferro is now expected to meet with the Mayor's office about potential 'rainy day' funds for homeowners still battling the consequences of last week's floodings. Taliferro urges residents to file a report with 311 to get a tally of ho...

Metro hosting a celebration of Lin Brehmer next month

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:34 GMT

CHICAGO — To honor Chicago's "best friend in whole world" Lin Brehmer, one of his favorite haunts is hosting a celebration in his honor.Metro is holding a concert on Aug. 19 with performances by Bob Mould, Los Lobos, The Linburgers, Jon Langford, Kelly Hogan and special guest Michael McDermott to honor the iconic WXRT DJ.Brehmer passed away in January following a battle with prostate cancer at the age of 68.WXRT honored him a few days later with a special broadcast as so many great stories were shared about him. During that broadcast, founder of the Metro, Joe Shanahan, stopped by to tell some stories. Shanahan said he had to tell “The Jack White story,” following a Lollapalooza aftershow in 2018.“That night, I started acting like a 16-year-old kid. Who is jumping up and down next to me? Lin Brehmer,” Shanahan said. “I remember these stories and moments because the man meant so much to our community.” ‘So lovable’: WXRT remembers Lin Brehmer with special broadcast Some of the band...