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France’s education minister bans long robes in classrooms. They’re worn mainly by Muslims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s education minister announced Monday a ban on long robes in classrooms starting with the new school year, saying the garments worn mainly by Muslims are testing secularism in the nation’s schools.Critics say that abayas, worn by women, and khamis, the male garb, are no more than a fashion statement. They say the garments do not constitute an ostentatious sign of religion and should not be banned from classrooms under a 2004 law. For Gabriel Attal, the recently appointed education chief, the garments are “an infringement on secularism,” a foundational principle for France, and, in some cases, a bid to destabilize schools.The 34-year-old Attal, appointed in July, was potentially moving into a minefield with his ban on long robes to “protect” secularism, prompted by growing reports of the garments in some classrooms around the country. Previous statements and laws on secularism have seeded acrimonious debate.“Our schools are continually tested. We know that,” Attal...

Teachers’ unions urged to take arbitration route to avoid strike: education minister

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

Three teachers’ unions should agree to a deal with the province that avoids a strike, Ontario’s education minister said Monday.Stephen Lecce said he wants those unions to take the same agreement the province came to last week with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, which represents English high school teachers.“We’re going to … get this deal done as soon as possible so we can move forward with predictability for families that their kids are going to be in school for three straight years of uninterrupted learning,” Lecce said.That deal with the OSSTF would, if ratified by members, see bargaining continue until Oct. 27, at which point any outstanding issues would be settled by binding arbitration, thereby avoiding a strike.Lecce said he wants to make the same deal with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association and the union for teachers in the French system, t...

FEMA changes wildfire compensation rules for New Mexicans affected by last year’s historic blaze

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced changes Monday to its wildfire compensation rules after a planned burn by the U.S. Forest Service last year exploded into the largest and most destructive blaze in New Mexico’s recorded history.FEMA officials said they are expanding coverage for those affected by Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire for mental health treatment and reduced long-term property values, and removing the 25% cap on reforestation and revegetation costs, and on risk-reduction practices.The changes stem from legislation that U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján and other members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation helped get passed in 2022.The legislation also established a claims office within FEMA that Luján said has secured $3.95 billion for New Mexico families and businesses affected by the wildfire.“The federal government started these fires and now it has a moral obligation to help New Mexicans who were impacted,” Luján said in a ...

Ontario chiefs unanimously oppose province’s Greenbelt land swap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

Ontario First Nation chiefs are demanding Doug Ford’s government return land to the protected Greenbelt that the province removed for development.The Chiefs of Ontario, which represents First Nations leaders across the province, voted unanimously Wednesday in an emergency meeting to oppose the land removal.“The Ontario Government’s decision to remove Greenbelt lands did not respect obligations to First Nations, the treaties or its own policy making process,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare.“The decisions made in a completely flawed process cannot in any way be allowed to stand.”Ontario created the Greenbelt in 2005 to protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area from development.Last year, the province took 7,400 acres of land out of the Greenbelt to build 50,000 homes and replaced it with about 9,400 acres elsewhere.The Chief of Ontario said the Greenbelt moves violate the Williams Treaties t...

10-year development plan unveiled for Lakeview, Roscoe Village neighborhoods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

CHICAGO — The Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Special Service Area 27 (SSA 27) and Friends of Lakeview, announced a seven-to-ten-year "master plan" aimed at expanding community engagement, and aiding business development.The plan sets forward a series of recommendations based on the findings of online surveys and community engagement events conducted over a 10-month span. Key RecommendationsMap rendering of key recommendations. (Courtesy: Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce)Five actionable recommendations are outlined in the plan, which includes (1) developing distinct and unique sub neighborhoods, (2) further connecting neighborhoods, (3) enhancing neighborhood vibrancy, (4) creating places for people to socialize, and (5) further activating the Chicago River as an accessible asset for residents and visitors.Sub-neighborhood rendering. (Courtesy: Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce)Those behind the plan intend to organize the larger ...

LIVE 8PM Idalia track: Models hold steady, Florida landfall Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to bring "life-threatening storm surge" to much of Florida's northwest coast as it intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said.According to an 8 p.m. update, T.S. Idalia was moving north at around 8 mph while near the western tip of Cuba. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts.At 5 p.m., the updated track showed a shift to the west. The track does not get updated in the 8 p.m. update. The NHC also issued the following watches and warning.A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:Yucatan Peninsula from Tulum to Rio Lagartos, including CozumelIsle of Youth CubaDry Tortugas FloridaChokoloskee northward to the Middle of Longboat KeyWest of Indian Pass to Mexico BeachA Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:Chokoloskee northward to Englewood, including Charlotte HarbourMouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River SouthCarolinaA Hurricane Watch is in effect for:Englewood to the Mid...

Tennessee widow, 80, says she lost nearly $150K to romance scam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation records show millions of dollars are lost every year to romance scams. An 80-year-old Knoxville widow recently became the latest such victim.Sharon, a widow for 27 years, found a handsome stranger asking to be her friend on Facebook during those bleak months of the pandemic in 2020. She accepted."His name was David J. Armstrong. His wife was in a car accident. He had it down verbatim, the whole story," Sharon, who chose not to share her last name, explained to Nexstar's WATE.Armstrong built up trust with Sharon, told her he was working on an oil rig off the coast of England, and was attracted to her. Fight over McDonald’s sauce led to death of teenager in DC, police say "He would email me, or text me, a nice long love letter every night: 'Are you in bed darling? I hope you are comfortable. Did you sleep well?' He sent me a rose once. I'm just going deeper and deeper into this," said Sharon.Through messages, Armstrong ...

Trial to start Tuesday for Austin 6th Street mass shooting suspect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Jury selection for a man accused of killing one person and injuring more than a dozen others in a mass shooting on downtown Austin's Sixth Street is set to begin Monday.Police believe the suspect opened fire into crowds following some kind of confrontation between two groups. According to court records, he and a group of friends drove to Sixth Street from Killeen when they encountered a rival group of men they knew from Killeen. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said prosecutors believe De'Ondre White was the only shooter. PREVIOUS REPORTING: Witnesses describe scene of Sixth Street shooting The June 2021 downtown shooting took the life of 25-year-old Douglas Kantor, who was in town visiting from Michigan. Douglas Kantor (Photo provided by Kantor family)Kantor was an innocent bystander. “[Kantor] chose Austin, because he heard it was a fun, beautiful city,” said the victim's mother Julia during an April 2022 interview with KXAN investigator Dalton Huey. “...

VOTE: Which high school football games should the KXAN team go to?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — High school football is BACK in Central Texas, and KXAN and KBVO are your home for the most exciting games in our area each week.We need your help to learn which teams Central Texas fans want to see most. Each week, YOU get to decide the matchups our KXAN photographers will attend. Vote in our weekly poll out of four Friday matchups, and we’ll announce the winner on social media every Thursday night. Week Two Sorry, you are using an unsupported browser. This page will not display correctly. Please click here to upgrade to a newer browser. /**/Polls close every Thursday at 5 p.m.

In a surprising move, Twins option starter Bailey Ober to Triple-A

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:34 GMT

In the days before Joe Ryan returned from the injured list on Saturday, the Twins talked about the possibility of going to a six-man rotation. Instead, they opted to piggyback Bailey Ober, whose innings they are carefully monitoring, with Dallas Keuchel, who came on in relief.Ober, who is well past his previous career high in innings, gave up five runs in four innings before making way for Keuchel, who turned in five scoreless innings after him. Monday, the Twins finally cleared the rotation picture up by optioning Ober to Triple-A in a surprising twist. Left-handed reliever Kody Funderburk will take his roster spot, called up to the major leagues for the first time.It’s a tough break for Ober, who has been one of the Twins’ most consistent starters this season after beginning the season in Triple-A as the sixth man in a five-man rotation. An injury to Tyler Mahle at the end of April cleared the way for him to return to the major leagues. Since then, he has posted a 3.67...