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Group that brought Charter challenge on sex work laws to appeal Ontario court ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

OTTAWA — A group that challenged the constitutionality of laws criminalizing some aspects of prostitution is vowing to bring its fight to the Ontario Court of Appeal — even as some groups that support criminalization call on Ottawa to better protect vulnerable people in the sex trade.“Criminalization takes away our opportunities,” said Jenn Clamen, national co-ordinator for the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform, which represents 25 sex-worker organizations across Canada.“What sex workers are saying is, ‘Yes, we need more opportunity. We don’t need less opportunity.'”In a decision last month, Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Goldstein upheld prostitution-related criminal offences brought in by the former Conservative government of prime minister Stephen Harper in 2014.Clamen’s group argued that the laws, which prohibit paying for sexual services, violated the rights of sex workers by fostering stigma and preventing them from obta...

Quebec man who killed three people at random ‘not psychotic,’ says psychiatrist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

MONTREAL — The psychiatrist whose patient killed three people at random over a 24-hour span in the Montreal area in August 2022 told a coroner’s inquest Thursday that what triggered the killing spree will likely never be known.Dr. Martin Vézina says he last saw Abdulla Shaikh in March 2022, a few months before the 26-year-old man killed three men on the street: André Lemieux, Mohamed Belhaj and Alex Levis-Crevier.“It’s very difficult to know what he had in his head,” Vézina testified at the inquiry, which is investigating the three deaths and the police killing of Shaikh.“We know that he clearly had anti-social personality disorder traits; did he have a pleasure in causing harm (at the time)? Did he distinguish between right and wrong? Was the illness present?” “I saw someone who was not psychotic and if he was psychotic, he hid it very, very, well,” the doctor testified.Vézina’s last meeting with Shaikh took place about two week...

City, province announce finalized deal for new $800M arena for Calgary Flames

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

The deal is sealed: the NHL’s Calgary Flames are getting a new $800-million arena.A preliminary deal announced in April for a new $1.2-billion event centre and entertainment district near the city’s downtown, including a new rink for the Flames, has been finalized, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Thursday. The project plan includes plazas and gathering places, bars, restaurants and retail shops with the main event centre hosting the NHL team along with other sports, concerts and events.Design and preparatory construction work is to start right away with an opening date for the arena expected around 2026 or 2027, said provincial Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen.At that time, the Flames’ current Saddledome home — and its iconic saddle-shaped concave roof that was seen by TV viewers around the world in the 1988 Winter Olympics — will be put to the wrecking ball.“This project is moving forward,” Gondek told a news conference in Calgary alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smit...

Trump’s penthouse value estimate boosted by millions due to his fame, execs testify in fraud trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’ s corporate executives once boosted the estimated worth of his Trump Tower penthouse by $20 million partly because of the value of his celebrity, according to trial testimony Thursday.Another $100 million hike in the estimate was based on a single email from a real estate broker, who hadn’t commissioned an appraisal, didn’t inspect the triplex and was told it was three times its actual size.From a witness stand, former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney shed light Thursday on calculations central to Trump’s New York civil business fraud trial. New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit alleges the former president conspired with top executives to exaggerate his wealth and deceived lenders and others. Trump denies any wrongdoing.In pretrial testimony, the former president said that people who did business with him were given ample warning not to trust the statements, and that he never thought that the documents “would be tak...

‘Took away his life’: Heartbroken mother speaks after son’s fatal stabbing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

A heartbroken mother is speaking out after her 23-year-old son was fatally stabbed in North York late last month.Toronto police responded to reports of a stabbing just before 10 p.m. on Sunday, September 24, near Yonge Street and Hendon Avenue, north of Finch subway station.Police said a man was stabbed and lying on the road. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The victim was identified as 23-year-old Joyous Magdirila of Toronto. Days later, authorities arrested an unidentified youth in Magdirila’s death, charging the suspect with second-degree murder.Police have provided no other details.In an exclusive interview with OMNI Television, Joyous’ mother, Charita, described her son as a young man willing to do anything for his family.“He would always say, ‘Ma, what do you need? Do you need water? Do you want me to cook food for you?’ Those words… I would hear those words every day,” Charita Magdirila said.Police ident...

Bears legend Dick Butkus dies at 80

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

CHICAGO — The football world is mourning the loss of one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game and one of the best athletes to come out of the City of Chicago. Dick Butkus, a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer who first made a name for himself on the high school gridirons of the city, has died at the age of 80.Here is a statement from the Butkus family through the Bears on the death of Dick Butkus at the age of 80. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/1CqKLZADZ0— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 5, 2023In a statement released through the Bears, the family confirmed that he died in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, California. They are gathering with Butkus' late wife, Helen, and are appreciative of prayers and support of Dick.A native of the South Side, Butkus was a star at Chicago Vocational School and then the University of Illinois, where he was a two-time All-American and Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1963. Approaching 80, Dick Butkus reflec...

Man in serious condition after being shot in the chest in Wicker Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is injured after he was shot in the chest Thursday afternoon in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.The shooting was reported around 4:#0 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Elk Grove Avenue. Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald sues university for $130 million According to the Chicago Police Department, the man was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition.Police said the man was near an alley when someone approached him, pulled out a handgun and shot him in the chest.No one has been arrested yet and detectives are still investigating.Anyone with information should call police.

Skilling: Cool, wet weekend ahead for Chicagoland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

The heavens opened overnight and today over the southern suburbs.  While rainfall were modest in the city, totaling 0.21" at O'Hare and 0.42" at Midway, RAINFALLS WERE HEAVY FARTHER SOUTH.2.40" fell at Valparaiso—while 1.95" came down at Kouts, 1.65" at Hebron, 1.63" at Chesterton, 1.59" at Roselawn and 1.60" at Dyer—all in Indiana. Other Indiana totals included 0.95" at Crown Point, 0.91" at Munster, 0.89" at Portage and 0.85" at Ogden Dunes---again ALL in Indiana. At the same time, Grant Park in Kankakee county recorded 1.67" while 0.80" was recorded at Chicago Heights, 0.79" at South Holland, 0.66" Elmhurst and 0.59" at Oak Brook. AMOUNTS TAPERED OFF dramatically farther north with only 0.07" recorded at Woodstock, 0.03" at Vernon Hills and just 0.02" at Libertyville.THE PREDICTED DOWNWARD CYCLE IN TEMPS is underway.  Thursday's 71-deg high at O'Hare was down 13-deg from Wednesday's 84—and further erosion in temps is expected a strong northwest flow at the jet stream level o...

NFL legend Dick Butkus dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN) — Dick Butkus, a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 80, sources told Nexstar's WGN-TV. The loss leaves the football world in mourning of one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game and one of the best athletes to come out of the city of Chicago. A native of the South Side, Butkus was a star at Chicago Vocational School and then the University of Illinois, where he was a two-time All-American and Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1963.His No. 50 has been retired by the University of Illinois.Drafted by the hometown Bears with the third overall pick in 1965, Butkus' toughness and speed made him one of the greatest defensive players in history, making him the example for many linebackers to follow in coming years. Chicago Bears legend Dick Butkus watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)The two-time NFL Defensive...

Girl Scouts discontinue fan-favorite cookie, raise prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:59 GMT

(WDTN) -- Girl Scout cookie season is only a few months away, but two changes by the organization are not going unnoticed.Chapters of Girl Scouts of America in Massachusetts and New York have already said that boxes will be sold for $6. The price increase is $1 more than last year.The organization claims a rise in food production, labor and transportation costs as the reasons behind the price hike.According to "TODAY," a representative from the organization said the organization has also removed the beloved Raspberry Rally cookie from its lineup of offerings.The cookie flavor won’t be available during the upcoming Girl Scout cookie season, which typically takes place between January and April.The Raspberry Rally was introduced as the “sister” cookie to the iconic Thin Mints, a mint-flavored chocolate-covered cookie. The fruity version consisted of a raspberry-flavored cookie that was also covered in chocolate like the Thin Mints. Girl Scout cookies selling for almost $100 on eBay ...