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Airlines ‘left government no choice’ but to beef up passenger rights: Minister

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

MONTREAL — Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says airlines’ use of loopholes around traveller compensation “left government no choice” but to strengthen passenger rights rules.Amid a massive complaints backlog, Alghabra said Monday the COVID-19 pandemic and travel chaos over the past year exposed gaps in the Liberals’ passenger rights charter. Carriers frequently cited safety as the reason for last-minute cancellations and delays, relieving them of their obligation to pay compensation to customers, he said.At a news conference in Ottawa, the federal minister laid out reforms that put the onus on airlines to show a flight disruption is caused by safety concerns or reasons outside their control.“This means there will be no more loopholes where airlines can claim a disruption is caused by something outside of their control for a security reason when it’s not. And it will no longer be the passenger who will have to prove that he or she is entitled to c...

How Canada is trying to rein in Big Tech as data becomes more powerful

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

TORONTO — Whether you’re catching a flight, opening a new bank account or picking up groceries, a small group of big names takes up most of the market share. Competition Ltd. is a Canadian Press series that explores what this means for products — and prices — in the country.———It’s been 20 years since Marc Poirier co-founded search management platform Acquisio, but he’s never forgotten how Google kick-started its decline.It was 2015. The tech giant had just reorganized its subsidiaries under the Alphabet banner and was evaluating whether recent forays into riskier ventures like self-driving cars, internet-beaming balloons and smart city infrastructure could replicate the success of its search engine business. As advertising revenues and growth slowed, the company felt pressure to boost profits, leaving Marc Poirier’s Brossard, Que., company caught up in a no-win scenario.“I experienced first-hand Google going from partner to fierce competitor,” said Poirier. “They ...

House suspends after bill that recognizes Canadian artists fails to get a sponsor

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

OTTAWA — The House of Commons took an unplanned break this morning after no member of Parliament came forward to sponsor the legislation it was set to debate.The House was scheduled to tackle a bill that would recognize the critical role artists and the arts play in every dimension of Canadian life.The bill was introduced in the Senate by Manitoba Sen. Patricia Bovey, and it was supposed to be sponsored in the House of Commons by Liberal MP Jim Carr.But Carr died in December and no MP had been found to take his place on the legislation before it came up on the House schedule this morning.Speaker Anthony Rota was forced to suspend the proceedings for an hour until MPs were ready to take up the next item on the agenda.A spokesperson for government House leader Mark Holland says it’s up to MPs themselves to come forward to sponsor a non-government bill, and the government has no role in determining who sponsors them.  This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24...

Kelly vetoes bill to cut Kansas taxes $1.4B over 3 years

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday vetoed a bill that would have cut taxes in Kansas by nearly $1.4 billion over the next three years, objecting to a proposal included by conservative Republicans to impose a single-rate “flat” income tax for individuals.Kelly said abandoning the state’s current, three-rate individual income tax with higher rates for higher earners would have been fiscally “reckless” and threatened funding for public schools. She announced her veto at a Topeka-area elementary school and recalled the state’s nationally notorious 2012-13 experiment in slashing income taxes and the huge budget shortfalls that followed under then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.Republican leaders plan to attempt overriding Kelly’s veto once the full GOP-controlled Legislature reconvenes Wednesday to wrap up its business for the year. Backers of the bill included Americans for Prosperity, the grassroots low-tax, small-government group funded by the b...

When do kids ride for free on the Metra?

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Metra announced that kids will be riding for free on 'Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day' on Thursday. Metra is celebrating by allowing people who are 18-year-old and younger ride the train for free, accompanied by an adult. Every adult who purchases a ticket can bring up to three children for free. Robin’s List: Movies you thought were great as a kid that are actually awful Metra says the theme for 2023's 'Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day' is "Working Better Together," to encourage children to learn about becoming a part of s workplace team. "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" is Thursday, April 27. For more information on the event, visit: Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work – Just another WordPress site

Dad, 10-year-old daughter drown after being swept away at Florida beach

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A man and his 10-year-old daughter died after being swept offshore at a Florida beach on Sunday evening, officials said.Detectives said Michael Stephens, 42, was in the water with his daughters Isabella, 10, and Brittany Stephens, 20, and Brittany's boyfriend, 20-year-old Jessie Johnson, when they noticed a strengthening rip current.According to deputies, Johnson and Brittany Stephens managed to get out, but when Johnson went back to get Michael Stephens and Isabella, they were already too far from the shore. Tucker Carlson and Fox News part ways While Johnson tried to save the father and daughter, Michael's 13-year-old daughter, Trinity Stephens, called 911 and gave the phone to a bystander for help.A Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office air unit spotted Michael and Isabella Stephens about half a mile from the shore, and a marine unit was able to get them out of the water.Veronica Meek, a witness visiting from Colorado, described what she saw when t...

Former MTV star Bam Margera wanted in Pennsylvania after allegedly fleeing crime scene

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

POCOPSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) - An arrest warrant has been issued for former MTV star Brandon "Bam" Margera, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Monday.State Police allege Margera was involved in a physical confrontation with another person who suffered minor injuries on Sunday morning in Chester County.State Police stated that once troopers responded to the location of the confrontation, Margera fled into a wooded area and has not been found. An arrest warrant out of District Court in Kennett Square has been issued for him. According to court records, Margera is facing four counts of terroristic threats and one count of simple assault, all misdemeanors. Minnesota officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright freed Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police at 610-268-2022. Margera, a Chester County native, starred in the show "Jackass" and subsequent movies since 2000. He made headlines in 2022 after repeatedly leaving a Florida rehabili...

More than 500 Austin kids need help going to summer camp

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Sunshine Camps, a summer camp committed to providing the experience of overnight camp to disadvantaged children, is gearing up for its major fundraiser in May to help cover the camper's costs.This summer, 525 kids between the ages of eight and 15 are planning to attend the camp organized by the Young Men’s Business League."Our mission is to provide the magic of overnight camp without the barrier of cost," Maddie Freedman, Austin Sunshine Camps development and communications coordinator, said. "So all of our campers come here for free."Fundraising takes place year-round to cover the $1,500 per camper cost, highlighted by the H-E-B Sunshine Run. This year's run is on May 7 and will feature a 10K, 5K, Kids K and Fastest Dog in Austin 5K."As a camper, it created meaningful experiences," Dillion Canizales said. Now more than 15 years later, Canizales is a camp counselor. "Those camp counselors made such an impact on me in my life when I was younger, I truly wanted...

Storms possible Tuesday and Wednesday

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe storms affected part of Central Texas this past Friday and Saturday evenings. There were hail reports of 1.00 to 2.50" inches Saturday evening that did damage in some of the area. Large hail pounded some the western Hill CountryGillespie County had the most hail reports between 9 and 10:30 with eight. Four of them were two inches in diameter, two around Fredericksburg, one at Doss and the fourth near Crabapple, a community north of Fredericksburg and west of Willow City.There was also a funnel sighted at 10:09 p.m. two miles west of Fredericksburg. It didn't last long.Another round of potentially severe thunderstorms is in our Tuesday forecast. Unfortunately, the area is looking at another hail threat Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.Another upper-level disturbance will move west-to-east in the upper flow encountering instability from an increase in Gulf moisture.The Storm Prediction Center updated the SLIGHT risk area (Category 2 out of 5) to include Blanco, Bu...

Orioles promote 2022 No. 1 draft pick Jackson Holliday to High-A Aberdeen after he hit .392 at Delmarva

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:31:20 GMT

At his introductory news conference last summer, first-overall draft pick Jackson Holliday said he wanted to be in the majors with the Orioles “as fast as possible.” He got one step closer Monday.The Orioles promoted the 19-year-old shortstop to High-A Aberdeen on Monday, and he’ll make his IronBirds debut Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware. In 13 games this year with Low-A Delmarva, Holliday hit .392 with a .523 on-base percentage and .667 slugging percentage, walking 14 times against 12 strikeouts and stealing three bases without being caught. His first two home runs at the level both came Friday, with each going the opposite way to left field.The son of seven-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, Holliday will be among the youngest players at High-A. As of opening day, no players at that level of the minor leagues were younger than him, according to Baseball America. On preseason lists of the Orioles’ top prospects, Holliday entered the year trailing only i...