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Palestinian ambassador warned Ottawa of rising tensions, urges Israel peace talks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

OTTAWA — The Palestinian ambassador to Canada says she warned Ottawa six months ago that rising tensions in the region were going to explode into violence.“It’s not about justifying or not, (but) if you blow into a balloon, it has to pop,”Mona Abuamara, the chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada, said in an interview Tuesday.The envoy said that Israel’s right-wing government has made it harder to work toward peace. She said Palestinians want Canada to be vocal about cases where Israel may have violated international law, citing this week’s siege on Gaza or the expansion of certain settlements.“Just implement the international law that you care so much about — that’s our only ask,” Abuamara said between meetings with MPs on Parliament Hill.Abuamara said she’s deeply disturbed by the recent bloodshed in the region, where more than 4,000 people have died on both sides of an escalating war.The recent con...

Protein powder recalled over potential plastic contamination, choking hazard

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A protein powder sold under the name of a self-described "Guru of Peace," Jay Robb, is being recalled after it was potentially contaminated with hard, plastic "foreign material," according to a notice from manufacturer Select Custom Solutions.The 24-ounce packages of Jay Robb Vanilla Flavored Egg White Protein were sold online out of North Palm Beach to retailers and customers nationwide, according to the notice published to the FDA website Monday. (FDA/Select Custom Solutions)(FDA/Select Custom Solutions) Over 238,000 Ford Explorers recalled over rear axle bolt after US opens investigation The company warns that powder bearing the lot code a. 23080-2C2, with a time stamp of 09:00 to 12:00, could pose a choking hazard if any plastic pieces are consumed."We are asking that all product with the lot code and time stamp range listed above be removed from retail distribution," the manufacturer wrote. "Customers should discontinue use and discard the product. Customers may c...

Celebration of life for north Austin road rage victim

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The family for Teressa Gandy Ferguson, 46, who police say died in a road rage homicide on Sept. 30, held a Celebration of Life for her Tuesday. Police are still searching for the suspect.Homicide Detective Israel Pina with the Austin Police Department said Ferguson was taking her usual route home on Interstate 35, when she was involved in a "minor crash" between the Runberg and Anderson Lane exits. According to APD, she was on the phone with a friend and told them she pulled over to exchange information with the other driver, which is when police believe she was shot. The family for Teressa Gandy Ferguson, 46, who police say died in a road rage homicide on Sept. 30, held a Celebration of Life for her Tuesday. | Brianna Hollis/KXAN News The family for Teressa Gandy Ferguson, 46, who police say died in a road rage homicide on Sept. 30, held a Celebration of Life for her Tuesday. | Brianna Hollis/KXAN News The family for Teressa Gandy Ferguson, 46, who police say died ...

Missouri education board makes social-emotional learning optional amid confusion

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The state's top educators hope to curb bad behavior in the classroom by offering social-emotional learning resources for schools.For the past few months, a group of teachers, school counselors and mental health experts have been researching what would help improve student behavior in the classroom. The reason behind this study is to not only help with teacher recruitment and retention but also to have an effect on the business community.While the initial goal was to implement social-emotional learning standards statewide for all districts, the final decision of the State Board of Education on Tuesday was to instead make them optional."What we were trying to do by bringing together and unifying an approach that we all support has had the opposite effect," Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven said. "It's created a bit more divisiveness than we would like to see."But it's not only educators feeling the effects of the curren...

Man arrested after blowing up giant teddy bear

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

An exploding giant teddy bear led to the arrest of a suspect and the seizure of drugs, weapons and ammunition, police said.According to an Instagram post by the San Bernardino Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call from a local business owner who said he was told by witnesses that an explosive device had gone off in the parking lot in front of their business. The exact date or location of the incident was not released. Surveillance footage from the scene shows a man exiting his vehicle and placing the teddy bear, which contained an explosive device, next to their SUV. Security footage captures a man detonating an explosive device inside a teddy bear in San Bernardino, CA. (San Bernardino Police Department)Security footage captures a man detonating an explosive device inside a teddy bear in San Bernardino, CA. (San Bernardino Police Department)Security footage captures a man detonating an explosive device inside a teddy bear in San Bernardino, CA. (San Bernardino P...

Suspects in North Hollywood triple homicide still outstanding

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

The search for several suspects in connection with a triple fatal shooting Monday night in the parking lot of a popular Mexican restaurant in North Hollywood continues.  Calls about the shooting outside Ernie’s Taco House at the intersection of Moorpark Street and Lankershim Boulevard came in around 9:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Details are limited and it’s unclear what exactly led to the deadly shootings, but police said that three to four suspects, described only as Hispanic males dressed in black clothing, pulled up to the victims’ black Mercedes and fired several shots at the four people inside before fleeing the scene in a silver sedan.  One of the victims, identified by the L.A. County Department of the Medical Examiner, as 26-year-old Calvin Saldana, died at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was able to drive himself and two others to a hospital in Burbank where two of those victims died. Authorities did not provide any informat...

The unexpected costs of living in L.A.'s 'trendiest' neighborhoods

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

It's expensive to live in Los Angeles, but not every neighborhood is created equally.While you can find good deals in many of L.A.'s boroughs and suburbs, a handful of the "trendiest" neighborhoods are going to cost a lot, even if you manage to strike gold on the home of your dreams. While rent is more expensive in trendy neighborhoods, having an active social life is more expensive too.Looking at 14 of the "trendiest" neighborhoods in America, a new study from Architectural Digest analyzed just how much people were paying to enjoy their neighborhoods on top of monthly rent. Architectural Digest considered the cost of renting an average one-bedroom home, as well as entertainment expenses including the cost of attending events and treating oneself to semi-regular outings. "We assumed the resident would be attending an entertainment venue once a week, an art venue once a week, dining out and buying coffee five times a week, and enjoying a cocktail twice per week," the report states.Tw...

More US ships, military forces headed to Israel

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

By Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Within hours of the horrific Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needed to respond. On Tuesday, more ships and forces were heading toward Israel, and other troops in the U.S. were preparing to deploy if called on.One U.S. aircraft carrier and its strike group are already in the eastern Mediterranean and a second one has left the U.S. and is heading that way. In addition, three Marine warships are moving into the region. Scores of aircraft were dispatched to U.S. military bases around the Middle East, and American special operations forces are working with Israel’s military in planning and intelligence.As of Tuesday, five shipments of U.S. weapons and equipment had arrived in Israel.The buildup reflects growing U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel will escalate into wider regional conflict. So the...

Oakland man sentenced to 25 years for killing his 80-year-old father

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

OAKLAND — Six years after he was charged with killing his father and beating his half-sister during the same incident, an Oakland man has accepted a 25-year prison term in a plea deal with prosecutors, court records show.Aaron Clark, 44, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his 80-year-old father, Ernest Clark Jr., and assault in the attack on his half-sister. He was sentenced to 25 years and four months on Oct. 9, in a plea deal that required prosecutors to drop murder and attempted murder charges against him.Ernest Clark Jr., a well-known real estate agent, was attacked in his bedroom, possibly while he was asleep, authorities said. After fatally beating his father, Aaron Clark allegedly attacked his sister and pushed her down a flight of stairs, causing serious injuries.The attack occurred around 11:30 p.m. Sept. 17, 2017, at a North Oakland home on the 6000 block of Margarido Drive near the Claremont County Club. Clark was arrested a short distance ...

San Jose hotel tower sale tied to SJSU advances — but some fears arise

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

SAN JOSE — A deal to convert a downtown San Jose hotel tower into university housing for SJSU students has moved closer to reality — although a local union raised the specter of tax and job losses due to the plan.The deal involves the sale of the 264-room southern tower of the 805-room Signia by Hilton San Jose hotel whereby a real estate developer would purchase the south tower and then lease the rooms in the highrise to San Jose State University students.Under this plan, the 541-room north tower would remain a hotel owned by an affiliate controlled by Bay Area business executive Sam Hirbod and operated by Hilton officials. The hotel is located at 170 South Market Street in San Jose.The San Jose City Council voted on Tuesday to agree to the sale of the south tower from the Hirbod group to an affiliate of Mill Valley-based developer Throckmorton Partners as well as to separate the current hotel property into two lots, one for the north tower and one for the south tower.D...