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Plan to restrict constitutional access in Ohio delayed again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Efforts Tuesday by Republican state lawmakers moving to ask Ohio voters this August to raise the threshold for passing future constitutional amendments — with the idea of thwarting a November abortion rights question — were again plagued by delays.The contingent championing the idea had continued to press forward even as former attorneys general of both parties joined a growing chorus in opposing their plan. Other foes the idea include a coalition of more than 200 labor, faith, voting rights, civil rights and community groups, the state’s four living former governors and, as of Tuesday, the Ohio Libertarian Party. Two Ohio House committees that had separate possible votes scheduled Tuesday failed to act before Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens’ deadline to set the next day’s House calendar. Once it was missed, Stephens canceled the session. The next House session is scheduled for May 10, the deadline that the secretary of state has set for an as-yet...

Canadian writer David West Read on the ‘& Juliet’ Tony nom he was most hoping for

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

Canadian writer David West Read was on his way to set when he learned the jukebox musical he penned, “& Juliet,” had been nominated for a Tony Award. In fact, it was nominated for nine, including a best book nod for Read specifically.But that wasn’t the first nomination he learned about, nor was it the one he was most excited about.“The best musical is the one that I was really hoping for, because everyone gets to share in that,” he said in a phone interview after the announcement Tuesday. “And this musical has been such a collaboration between so many people over so many years. It’s so exciting to have something to celebrate with the whole ‘& Juliet’ family.”The comedy musical, which opened in London and hit Toronto before making its Broadway debut last year, frames a collection of Max Martin’s pop megahits with a reimagined ending to “Romeo and Juliet.”In Read’s script, Juliet not only surv...

Gordon Lightfoot music sees popularity surge following folk music legend’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

TORONTO — John Stinson had been listening to Gordon Lightfoot’s 1975 song, “Now and Then” on Monday shortly before it was announced that the Canadian folk music icon had died at 84.Ironically, it’s one of the few songs that Stinson doesn’t perform as the lead singer of his Gordon Lightfoot Tribute band, which has seven shows planned this summer across Ontario.The 68-year-old from Aurora said he’s always felt the significance of Lightfoot’s music when performing the songs in bars throughout the province and hearing audience’s admiration of the lyrics.“I’ve always known the influence of it, obviously, from the position I’m sitting in,” he said of Lightfoot’s legacy.“But what does it mean to everyone else as it filters across the country? What of his many songs are going to be the most lasting? Is it going to be ‘If you Could Read My Mind?’ Or is it going to be ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald?'”Lightfoot,...

Missouri man sentenced to prison for Jan. 6 participation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Missouri man who argued that cases against him and other participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S. Capitol are unconstitutional was sentenced Tuesday to 45 days in jail.Lloyd Casimiro Cruz Jr., 50, of Polo, was found guilty in January of two misdemeanors related to entering the U.S. Capitol, the Kansas City Star reported. Cruz also must serve one year of supervised release and pay $500 restitution.Before he was convicted, Cruz filed two petitions arguing that his rights to free speech and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures were being violated. The judge denied both motions.Cruz rode his motorcycle to Washington D.C. for his sentencing and created social media sites to raise funds for his legal bills.Prosecutors said Cruz entered the U.S. Capitol building with others and roamed around for about 7 minutes before leaving. They argued his lack of remorse and continued downplaying of the rioters’ actions justified a jail sentence. They ...

Cirque du Soleil president says AI in entertainment world a low risk to company

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

MONTREAL — The head of Cirque du Soleil says artificial intelligence poses a low risk to the renowned Quebec company, even as debate is emerging about intellectual property protection for artists.Given the strength of the circus company’s brand, Stéphane Lefebvre says he isn’t too worried, arguing that its reputation shields it from AI-driven copying attempts.Artificial intelligence has raised hackles throughout the art and entertainment world, with AI platform users now able to create images, text and music inspired by — and sometimes nearly indistinguishable from — the pros.Recently, a fake duet imitating the voices of Drake and The Weeknd went viral on social media, causing a stir in the recording community.In an interview Tuesday, Lefebvre acknowledged he’s enjoyed experimenting with AI chatbots to tell stories to his kids.He also says Cirque du Soleil is not completely closing the door on the technology for its creative process, but for sees it more as an admi...

Top Toronto mayoral candidates represent one of the most diverse slates in the city’s history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

The slate of top candidates for the Toronto mayoral byelection this year is the most diverse group in the city’s history, but what part does it play in this year’s election?CityNews posed that exact question about whether race, religion, gender plays a part in this the campaign and potentially impact how one will vote to a number of candidates. Here are their responses:Ana Bailão“I think it’s great that we have such a diverse group of candidates. I think that is great that the city is engaged. I’ve been attending many community events from different religions, different ethnic groups. The communities are reaching out to candidates were keep in contact and I think that’s great.We want to truly live by the motto diversity is our strength. And that is making sure that people feel their voices are heard at election time, when somebody is elected mayor, and that they want to participate. And I think the more participation and engagement we have, the be...

Explosion hits Revolutionary Guard base in Iran, killing 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An explosion on Tuesday evening struck a base in Iran belonging to the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, killing two workers, local media reported. There was no word on any damages in the blast.The state-run IRNA news agency said the explosion occurred during a “movement of ammunition” at the Guard base on the outskirts of the city of Damghan, in northern Semnan province.The report offered no other details about the source of the explosion. IRNA added that he incident was under investigation. The semi-official Fars news agency said on its Telegram media channel that two workers at the base were killed and three were wounded in the explosion. It identified the two killed by name but gave no other details.The Guard, whose expeditionary forces operate across the wider Middle East and aid Iranian-allied militant groups such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas group, and Iran’s military have been targeted before, raising ...

Kids Online Safety Act looks to protect children from social media harm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Some lawmakers say social media is harming the country's kids. That's why they are pushing a bipartisan bill to provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online."We lost our son Mason to the viral social media challenge, the choking game," survivor parent Joanna Bogard said."My son was 14 when he was bullied for being black," Social Media Reform Advocate Tracy Kemp said.Parents and advocates shared stories Tuesday on how social media is harming kids."The constant quantification of my worth through likes, comments, and followers, increased my anxiety and deepened my depression," Design It For Us Youth Advocate Emma Lembke said.To stop that in the future, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) are introducing legislation to promote online safety."Our bill aims to reduce the harms," Blumenthal said."Our children are suffering at the hands of big tech," Blackburn said.The bill forces big tech to prioritize care...

US Supreme Court won't take up Indiana's abortion burial law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana law that requires abortion clinics to either bury or cremate fetal remains will remain in effect after the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to consider a lawsuit challenging it.The court gave no explanation for its decision in an order it issued turning down hearings in several dozen cases.That action will leave in place the law first adopted by Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature in 2016 and signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence. Chicago shelter helps rescue several golden retrievers, terriers from ‘living in their own filth’ The Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in November overturned an Indiana judge’s decision that the law infringed upon the religious and free speech rights of people who do not believe aborted fetuses deserve the same treatment as deceased people. The appeals court said the law didn’t require any woman to violate her beliefs as it only applied to hospitals or clinics.The appeals court cited a 201...

Tucker Carlson called woman ‘yummy,’ leaked video shows 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson called a woman "yummy" and made other inappropriate comments on the set of his popular show, newly revealed footage shows. “If we're going to talk about sex, I'd love to hit some of the fine points of technique. But, you know, but it's your show. It's totally up to you,” Carlson is seen saying on the video, leaked to Media Matters for America, saying to Piers Morgan, another top pundit on Fox. “We can certainly talk about your sexual technique, especially after your tanning testicles last week," Morgan replied, referring to a special Carlson had recently produced for Fox Nation on masculinity and manhood. Tuesday Morning going out of business, set to close all its stores including those in Illinois, Indiana In another leaked video, Carlson is seen in conversation with someone off camera saying "You wouldn't. Okay? I'm not, you know what, I'm not qualified on that score. I will say, I thought his girlfriend was kind of yummy.”Carlson clarifies t...