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Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial is about halfway done. This is what happened and what’s next

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The impeachment trial that could remove Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from office over corruption allegations is near the halfway point. The historic proceedings, which continued Friday, began this week with testimony about an extramarital affair and the Republican’s former top aides testifying they felt compelled to report him to the FBI.Paxton, who is accused of bribery and abuse of office, skipped all of the early testimony. His wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, sat and listened to it all.The articles of impeachment center on allegations that Paxton improperly used the powers of his office to protect Nate Paul, an Austin real estate developer who was indicted this summer on federal charges of making false statements to banks.If convicted by the Texas Senate, where Republicans hold a dominant majority, Paxton would be removed from office and possibly barred from holding any political office in the future.The trial adjourned for the weekend and was set ...

Music Review: The Chemical Brothers’ ‘For That Beautiful Feeling’ is dreamy electronic music

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

“For That Beautiful Feeling,” The Chemical Brothers (Republic Records)Remember, if you can, the ‘90s: When the popularity of rock bands waned and electronic music dominated. By the time techno and acid house had taken dancefloors by storm, The Chemical Brothers were already pioneers of the big beat genre. That spirit continues on the British duo’s 10th studio album, “For That Beautiful Feeling.”Back in the day, Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons’ “Hey Girl Hey Boy” and “Galvanize” electrified the airwaves. As EDM ebbed and flowed — to this reporter’s ears, becoming a cultural marker only to gently fade into the foreground as niche, easy listening — The Chemical Brothers’ innovative music never wavered. They continue to find the less obvious beats and harmonies on “For That Beautiful Feeling”; they’ve never lost their “it” factor.The 11-track record is a dreamy otherworldly vibe, reflecting its title to a tee. Recorded in their close-to-the-coast studio in Engla...

Regulator yanks thousands of wells from troubled oil company, transfers for cleanup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

Alberta’s energy regulator has transferred control of thousands of oil and gas wells and other facilities held by a troubled Calgary company to the group that’s responsible for cleaning up poorly maintained or abandoned sites. In an order issued Wednesday, the regulator told the Orphan Well Association that it would be responsible for the care and operation of more than 3,000 oil and gas wells, 2,700 pipeline segments and 350 facilities owned by AlphaBow Energy.“AlphaBow and any contractors of AlphaBow are not permitted to take any actions at the licences and the sites without first obtaining the approval from the (Orphan Well Association),” said the letter to association president Lars DePauw.The Alberta Energy Regulator’s documents state AlphaBow’s entire environmental liability is $154 million. The regulator has told the association to suspend AlphaBow’s wells, meaning surface structures must be safely locked and the drill hole plugged wi...

Ottawa school bus routes cancelled for thousands of students due to driver shortage

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

OTTAWA — Thousands of Ottawa parents are still scrambling to find a way to get their kids to school after their buses were suddenly cancelled because of a driver shortage.About 7,500 students were affected after the bus service for both the Ottawa public and catholic school boards cancelled 300 routes just before schools opened this week.School started for both boards Sept. 5, and many parents were only informed their kids’ bus was cancelled the week before. Some didn’t even find out until the first day.The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority said the city’s rural west end is among the hardest hit areas after a bus company that was to operate 36 routes pulled out.OSTA’s general manager Vicky Kyriaco said the city’s school bus agency won’t be able to start looking for solutions for another week.“It’s definitely a difficult situation,” said Kyriaco.“The important thing for us right now is making sure that our regular syst...

Parenting advice YouTuber Ruby Franke and business partner to remain jailed on child abuse charges

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

A Utah mother of six who gave parenting advice via a once-popular YouTube channel called “8 Passengers” made her initial court appearance Friday on charges that she and the owner of a relationship counseling business abused and starved her two young children. The proceedings were delayed by about 45 minutes due to technical difficulties after more than 1,300 people sought to log in to watch the virtual hearing, said Tania Mashburn, spokesperson for the Utah State Courts.Ruby Franke, 41, and Jodi Hildebrandt, 54, were charged with six felony counts of aggravated child abuse after their arrests on Aug. 30 at Hildebrandt’s house in the southern Utah city of Ivins. Both appeared before Judge Eric Gentry via video from jail wearing orange striped uniforms and spoke little. Their attorneys waived reading of the charges and the women did not enter pleas.Gentry ordered them to remain jailed without bail and scheduled their next hearings for Sept. 21. Their attorneys — Lamar Winward fo...

‘One Chip Challenge’ product pulled from Canadian shelves after U.S. teen’s death

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is conducting a food safety investigation into the One Chip Challenge. The investigation comes as the manufacturer of the extremely spicy tortilla chip pulls the product from Canadian and U.S. shelves after a teen’s death in Massachusetts.     An autopsy is pending, but the 14-year-old’s parents are blaming the challenge.A spokesperson for Texas-based Paqui says the One Chip Challenge is sold “in very limited distribution in Canada.”Participants in the social media challenge eat the chip containing Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper peppers and then see how long they can go without drinking water or eating other food afterward.Paqui says the product is labelled to warn it is for adults only and not intended for people who have medical conditions, are pregnant, are sensitive to spicy foods or are allergic to the ingredients. The Paqui spokesperson says the company is “deeply saddened” and expresses its condolences to...

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposes carve-out of Arkansas public records law during tax cut session

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday proposed shielding a broad range of records about her administration, travel and security from public release as she called for a special legislative session next week focusing on additional tax cuts.The Republican governor proposed the new exemptions to the state’s Freedom of Information Act as the Arkansas State Police is being sued by an attorney and blogger who’s accused the agency of illegally withholding records about Sanders’ travel and security. FOIA experts said the changes would severely weaken the 1967 law — signed by the state’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction — that protects the public’s access to government meetings and records.Sanders, who took office in January, portrayed the changes as a way to modernize the law and make government more efficient. “Arkansas has some of the most transparent FOIA laws in the country, and these reforms will do nothing to...

Police search for child after reported parental abduction

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

ELGIN, Ill. — A search is underway for a toddler as authorities investigate a report of a parental child abduction that happened in Elgin on Friday, police say.According to the Elgin Police Department, officers responded to a report of a parental child abduction in the 1300 block of Amanda Circle just before 2 p.m. Kroger and Albertsons sell hundreds of stores in a bid to clear merger of the 2 largest US groceries Police say Kash Hayes, a boy who is around two years of age, was allegedly abducted by 34-year-old Kenny Hayes.According to police, Kash was last seen with short braided hair, wearing camouflage-style pants and green shoes.Police say Kenny Hayes, who has a heavy build and stands 5 foot 8 inches, was last seen driving a dark grey Infinity sedan with an Illinois license plate, with tag number "EA52844." He was last seen traveling southbound on Naperville Road from Route 20. Taste of Chicago begins, Eli’s Cheesecake returns for 43rd year Elgin Police say the alleged abduc...

Are men still afraid of wearing pink?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Even though many of today's biggest male stars, like Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles, have become fashion icons by embracing feminine or androgynous styles, new data shows many men aren't quite ready for skirts and backless jumpsuits.Moreover, some men are just working up to feeling OK wearing pink. How big will Facebook settlement checks be? Lawyers reveal estimated payment per person That's according to a new survey on masculinity from YouGov, which surveyed 4,095 adult men and women in the United Kingdom. The survey gathered men's levels of comfort engaging with certain behaviors versus that of women — including situations like sharing a bed with a friend of the same gender or receiving flowers as a "thank you" gift.Timothée Chalamet at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 2, 2022 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic)Although it doesn't rank as the top activity men said they'd feel uncomfortable doing, 31% of men said they'd feel unc...

The 39 people the Georgia special grand jury recommended charges against

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:29:56 GMT

(The Hill) – A Fulton County, Ga., special grand jury recommended charges against 39 people for their involvement in former President Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia, according to its final report.Only 19 people were ultimately charged last month in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s (D) years-long investigation.Some of the most notable names in the report released Friday who weren’t among those ultimately charged were Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), former Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, both Georgia Republicans, and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. Here’s the fill list of the 39 people the special grand jury recommended charges against: Former President TrumpThis booking photo provided by Fulton County Sheriff's Office, shows former President Donald Trump on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, after he surrendered and was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. ...