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Jury deciding fate of 3 men in last trial tied to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

A jury hearing evidence against three men began deliberations Thursday in the last trial connected to a 2020 plan to kidnap Michigan’s governor and inspire a civil war among anti-government extremists.William Null, twin brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor are the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court.They’re charged with supporting leaders of the scheme by participating in military-style drills and traveling to see Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan. The key players, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr, were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy last year in federal court.In the latest trial, the jury heard 14 days of testimony in Antrim County, which is the location of Whitmer’s second home, 185 miles (297 kilometers) north of the state Capitol.“Whatever decision it is will be respected by everybody,” Judge Charles Hamlyn told the courtroom moments after giving final instructions to the jury.Molitor, 39, and William Null, 41, testifie...

After days of heavy rain and flash flooding in New England, Hurricane Lee is up next

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Days of wild weather that produced torrential rain, flooding, sinkholes and a likely tornado in New England could be a prelude to something more dangerous lurking offshore — Hurricane Lee.Maine was under its first hurricane watch in 15 years as the region prepared for 20-foot (6-meter) waves and winds gusting to 70 mph (112 kph), along with more rain, officials said. A dangerous storm surge was projected for Friday evening for Massachusetts’ Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Island, while the brunt of the storm was to arrive early Saturday.Although the Category 1 system did not contribute to the recent flooding, it threatened to exacerbate conditions in a region that is already much too wet.The Coast Guard and emergency management agencies warned New England residents to be prepared, and utility companies brought in reinforcements to deal with possible power outages. At Boothbay Harbor Marina in Maine, the community came together to remove boats from the water ...

‘This is love’: Defence to show different side of ‘Freedom Convoy’ social media posts

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

OTTAWA — Defence lawyers for two “Freedom Convoy” organizers are showing the court videos that show a more peaceful view of the protest as they cross-examine the officer assigned to social media evidence in the case.Chris Barber and Tamara Lich are on trial for their role on the protest that gridlocked Ottawa for three weeks in 2022.Barber’s defence lawyer is going through TikTok videos that show him calling for peaceful behaviour, talking about the loving nature of the crowd, and thanking police for ensuring public safety. That offers a contrast to the videos already shown by the Crown, which is trying to make the case that Lich and Barber exerted influence and control over a protest that was not peaceful.The videos were initially posted to Barber’s TikTok account and the “Freedom Convoy 2022” Facebook page.Sgt. Joanne Pilotte told the court she was directed to download certain videos by an Ottawa police detective as part of the investigation, an...

Laurentian Bank shares fall as it concludes review without deal to sell

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

MONTREAL — Shares of Laurentian Bank were down more than 10 per cent in morning trading after it announced it had completed its review of strategic options without a deal to sell the bank. The Montreal-based bank said Thursday it has decided that its best path forward to drive shareholder value is an accelerated evolution of its current plan with an increased focus on efficiency and simplification.A strategic review is often seen by investors as a prelude to a sale by a company. However, Laurentian said it will work on simplifying its organizational structure and focusing on allocating capital and resources to its highest grossing businesses and specialized products.“Having now completed this review of our strategic options, we are more confident than ever in Laurentian Bank’s strong positioning in the market and unique offering for our customers,” Laurentian chief executive Rania Llewellyn said in a statement.“As we continue to evolve our bank, our executive...

Talks between Serbia and Kosovo break down again. The EU says their hopes of joining are at risk

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Kosovo and Serbia on Thursday failed yet again to make progress in talks aimed at improving their long-strained relations, and the European Union’s top diplomat warned that the lack of progress could hurt their hopes of joining the bloc.EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who supervised the talks in Brussels, blamed the latest breakdown on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s insistence that Serbia should essentially recognize his country before progress can be made on enforcing an agreement they reached in February.Serbia and its former province of Kosovo have been at odds for decades. Their 1998-99 war left more than 10,000 people dead, mostly Kosovo Albanians. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008 but Belgrade has refused to recognize the move.“Unfortunately, after quite a long meeting, Prime Minister Kurti was not ready to move forward on … a credible process,” Borrell said. “He insisted instead on formalizing de-facto recognition as the first step....

Federal government removing GST on new rental builds, source says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce today that Ottawa is removing the GST on construction of new rental apartment buildings, according to a senior government source.The source spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss matters that were not yet public.The change would lower the cost of labour and materials for homebuilders, and is one of the components of an affordability announcement Trudeau is set to make in the afternoon.The news will close out the Liberal caucus retreat in London, Ont., where MPs gathered to strategize their approach for the return of Parliament next week.Most of the party’s 158 MPs are at the three-day retreat, where Trudeau says his focus is hearing what constituents are telling members.The Liberals have seen slumping poll numbers that suggest Canadians believe the Conservatives would do a better job dealing with affordability and housing concerns.

S&P/TSX composite up more than 200 points, U.S. stock markets also rally

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points as strength in base metal stocks helped lead in a broad-based rally and the price of oil reached US$90 per barrel, while U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 202.44 points at 20,481.38.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 230.03 points at 34,805.56. The S&P 500 index was up 31.12 points at 4,498.56, while the Nasdaq composite was up 109.64 points at 13,923.23.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.01 cents US compared with 73.80 cents US on Wednesday.The October crude contract was up US$1.60 at US$90.12 per barrel. The October natural gas contract was up four cents at US$2.72 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$2.30 at US$1,930.20 an ounce and the December copper contract was up three cents at US$3.82 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise returns to the Capitol after his blood cancer diagnosis

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, returned to the U.S. Capitol on Thursday for the first time since being diagnosed with a blood cancer known as multiple myeloma and told reporters his chemotherapy treatment is underway. “It’s kind of a few months process. They don’t know yet how long it’s going to be — four months, six months — but they want to continue to evaluate and say, ‘OK, how’s he doing? How’s the treatment?’ The treatments are going well so far,” said Scalise, who was taking precautions to protect his immune system and wore a face mask and stood back from reporters as he entered the Capitol building.The Louisiana congressman, 57, said he would be able to receive some of the chemotherapy treatment in Washington and continue his work in Congress, where he was limiting his in-person interactions. Scalise’s cancer diagnosis comes at a fraught moment for House Republicans, who are trying to avert a g...

Alex Murdaugh makes his first appearance in court since his murder trial

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — Alex Murdaugh appeared publicly for the first time since his murder trial at a Thursday state court hearing over the slew of financial crimes allegedly committed by the disbarred South Carolina attorney.The man found guilty this March of fatally shooting his wife and youngest son in June 2021 got a fleeting break from the maximum-security prison where he is serving a life sentence without parole. The prosecution and defense agreed Thursday that some of the 101 total charges brought against Murdaugh will be heard at a trial beginning the week of Nov. 27.Murdaugh sat in an orange jumpsuit, occasionally whispering with his lawyers, as he learned how he will spend the week after Thanksgiving.It won’t be long before Murdaugh finds himself back in another courtroom. A federal hearing over a similar bevy of charges is scheduled next Thursday in Charleston. There, Murdaugh is expected to plead guilty to theft and wire fraud — possibly marking the first time he wi...

Water bead kit recalled after infant death in Wisconsin: Report

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:58 GMT

CHICAGO -- A water bead kit has been recalled as a safety hazard after the death of an infant child in Wisconsin this year, reports said. Consumer Reports recalled the Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity kits that ae exclusively sold at Target. CPSC announced that the water beads can pose ingestion, choking and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child's body resulting in many injuries, including death. Latest Recalls CR urges parents to take action and if purchased the kit then take the product back to a Target store or signing up to receive a mailing package at Recall of Ultimate Water Beads (chuckleandroar.com).Consumer Report says to keep water beads in a secure container and out of reach of children. For more information, visit: Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits Recalled - Consumer Reports