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US universities launch partnership to elevate free speech to counter threats to democracy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

The presidents of a wide-ranging group of 13 universities are elevating free speech on their campuses this academic year, as part of a new nonprofit initiative announced Tuesday to combat what organizers call dire threats to U.S. democracy.The Campus Call for Free Expression will take different forms on different campuses. The campaign, created by The Institute for Citizens & Scholars with funding from the Knight Foundation is designed to cultivate the freedom of expression on campuses and help students work together to find solutions to complicated, divisive problems.“The national context of the deep political polarization, the inability of people to speak across difference in constructive and civil ways, it seems to me that colleges and universities need to be the institutions at the forefront of showing a better way to do that,” said Jonathan Alger, president of James Madison University, which is participating in the initiative. The Institute for Citizens & Scholars first...

Cash incentives offered to Nova Scotia businesses that promote the ‘Gaelic brand’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government is offering up to $1,000 to businesses that promote the Gaelic language and culture.Among other things, the Gaelic Business Initiative encourages businesses to hire Gaelic-speaking employees and incorporate Gaelic into their marketing and advertising.For example, restaurants could promote the use of Gaelic by providing English and Gaelic menus or offering discounts to those who order in Gaelic.The provincial government says that among the one million people who call Nova Scotia home, about 230,000 are descendants of Gaelic settlers who started arriving in the 1700s.Despite the Gaels long and colourful history in Nova Scotia, there are only about 2,000 Gaelic speakers left.The new pilot project will cover up to 50 per cent of the cost of events and activities that promote the “Gaelic brand,” which could include hosting cultural events, music sessions and storytelling.Applicants are being asked to come up with projects that will increas...

Canada Post driver charged in crash that critically injured York police officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

A Canada Post driver has been charged in a collision that critically injured a York Regional Police officer two months ago near the Toronto and Markham border.Emergency crews responded to a collision on Steeles Avenue near Highway 404 around 2:40 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14.Police told CityNews a Canada Post truck struck a parked York Regional Police cruiser after an officer had completed a traffic stop involving another vehicle. The on-duty officer was back in his car when it was rear-ended by the mail truck.A male officer, the lone occupant in the cruiser, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The injuries were later upgraded to life-threatening.The driver of the Canada Post truck remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.On Tuesday, police charged the driver, a 45-year-old Brampton man, with careless driving causing bodily harm under the Highway Traffic Act.Authorities did not provide additional information on the officer’s current condition. ...

Ontario Liberals to hold five leadership debates, starting Sept. 14 in Thunder Bay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

The Ontario Liberals are set to hold five debates in the race to choose their next leader, starting with an event next month in Thunder Bay.Candidates must register by Sept. 5, and there are so far five contenders: Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, Liberal MP and former provincial cabinet minister Yasir Naqvi, and current provincial Liberal caucus members Ted Hsu and Adil Shamji.RELATED: Ontario Liberal Party to announce new leader on Dec. 2The party announced Tuesday that debates for the leadership candidates will be held Sept. 14 in Thunder Bay, Oct. 1 in Stratford, Oct. 24 in Toronto, Nov. 8 in Ottawa and either Nov. 18 or 19 in Brampton.Party members are set to cast their ranked ballots on the weekend of Nov. 25 and the winner is to be unveiled Dec. 2.The next leader will have the task of rebuilding the party after it failed in two consecutive elections to win enough seats to get official party status in the legislature.RELATED: Ontario Liberals ap...

S&P/TSX composite down more than 300 points, U.S. stock markets also retreat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down more than 300 points in late-morning trading in a broad-based move lower, while U.S. stock markets also retreated after China unexpectedly cut a key interest rate.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 305.15 points at 19,985.39.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 275.77 points at 35,031.86. The S&P 500 index was down 36.60 points at 4,453.12, while the Nasdaq composite was down 102.14 points at 13,686.19.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.17 cents US compared with 74.29 cents US on Monday.The September crude contract was down US$1.48 at US$81.03 per barrel and the September natural gas contract was down 14 cents at US$2.66 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$3.40 at US$1,940.60 an ounce and the September copper contract was down five cents at US$3.68 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Motorcyclist seriously injured in multi-vehicle crash in Markham

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

A motorcyclist is in hospital with serious injuries following a crash involving another vehicle in Markham.Emergency crews were called to Bayview Avenue and Willowbrook Road around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a multi-vehicle crash.Police say a vehicle and motorcycle were involved.A male motorcyclist was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. Police say he was conscious and breathing when paramedics arrived.The York Regional Police major collisions unit is investigating.Bayview is closed in both directions from Willowbrook to Langstaff Road for the investigation.ROAD CLOSURE/COLLISION: Bayview Ave / Romfield Circuit, Markham Police/Fire/EMS are at scene for MVC involving a vehicle and motorcycle – 10:13 hrs – one person transported to hospital – Bayview Ave closed from Willowbrook Rd to Langstaff Rd— York Regional Police (@YRP) August 15, 2023

Trial to begin for 2 white Mississippi men charged with shooting at Black FedEx driver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A trial is set to begin Tuesday for two white men in Mississippi who are accused of chasing and shooting at a Black FedEx driver who had dropped off a package at a home.Brandon Case and his father, Gregory Charles Case, were indicted in November on charges of attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy and shooting into the vehicle of D’Monterrio Gibson in January 2022. Gibson, who was 24 at the time, was not injured. But the chase and gunfire led to complaints on social media of racism in Brookhaven, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of the state capital, Jackson. The trial will take place in Brookhaven.During a news conference days after the confrontation, Gibson said he was wearing a FedEx uniform and driving an unmarked van FedEx had rented when he dropped off a package at a house. He said that as he was leaving, he noticed a white pickup truck pulling away from another house on the same large lot.Gibson said the pickup driver tried to cut him off as he le...

Former Maple Leafs defenceman Bobby Baun dead at age 86

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

Bobby Baun, who scored one of the most famous goals in Toronto Maple Leafs history, has died, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed Tuesday. He was 86.The defenceman returned to the ice in Game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup Final after breaking his ankle while blocking a Gordie Howe shot in the third period and scored the overtime winner against the Detroit Red Wings.Baun needed a stretcher to get off the ice after suffering the injury.Remembering Bob Baun and his legendary Stanley Cup Finals performance ????#NHLAlumni | #LeafsForever (????: @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/SVN3yVLISZ— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) August 15, 2023The Leafs went on to win the Cup in Game 7.A native of Lanigan, Sask., Baun played for the Leafs from 1956-1967 and 1970-73 before his NHL career came to an end. He was a member of four Stanley Cup-winning Maple Leafs teams, including the club’s most recent championship year in 1967.Baun also played for the Oakland Seals and Red Wings.Baun is a member of the On...

July home sales see largest annual rise in two years: CREA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

July home sales saw the largest year-over-year increase in more than two years, but were little changed from June, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Tuesday.On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, sales edged up 8.7 per cent from the prior July to 41,186.Seasonally-adjusted sales amounted to 40,028, a 0.7 per cent drop from June. Sales were up in July in more than half of all local markets, but a decline in the Greater Toronto Area, a typically hot housing market, tipped the national figure “slightly negative,” CREA said.The association has seen signs of stabilizing across the national housing market since May as prospective buyers acclimatize to a higher interest rate environment than many were anticipating.“July continued along the same trend we’ve seen emerge in recent months, with sales levelling off and new listings returning in more normal numbers,” Larry Cerqua, CREA’s chair, said in a press release.“This has been giving buyers more choice and balancing ...

Here are a few facts about taking naps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Who doesn't like a good nap when you're feeling a little tired?We were thinking the same thing on the WGN Morning News when we were thinking about a segment for the "9@9" on Tuesday morning. So we featured a few Pew Research polls on the subject as we looked at home many adults actually take naps and how long they should be. That was one of a few topics that the hosts discussed during the segment, including "The Rizz," death meditation, "girl math," "man bags," what people call soda in different parts of the county, and more. You can watch the entire "9@9" from the August 15 WGN Morning News in the video above.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.