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Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over rampant car thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — Baltimore has joined cities across the country in suing car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia, blaming hundreds of car thefts in the city this year on the companies’ alleged cost-cutting measures.Certain models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles have been targeted by auto thieves in the wake of a series of social media videos, mainly on TikTok, that demonstrate how easy the vehicles are to start without a key.Police departments all across the country have been dealing with a rash of Kia and Hyundai thefts after videos showing how easily some models can be hotwired using something as common as a cellphone charging cord went viral on TikTok.Baltimore Police said car thefts are up 95 percent this year, with 41 percent of them being Kia vehicles and Hyundai vehicles.Since the start of the year, 577 of the vehicles have been stolen.Mayor Brandon Scott and Commissioner Michael Harrison said Kia and Hyundai need to be held accountable for the recent rise in the...

Larry Millete, who's accused of killing his wife, appears in court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A Chula Vista man accused of killing his wife appeared in court on Thursday.The attorneys of Larry Millete, 41, requested that the court modify a protective ordering involving him and his three children. Currently, he's only allowed to reach out to them through writing letters and those letters must first be reviewed by a court-appointed guardian. Timeline: The disappearance of Chula Vista mom Maya Millete On the contrary, prosecutors pointed out that Millete ignored a court order not to contact his children when he was first taken into custody. They say he attempted to make more than 60 phone calls by using other inmates pins. Millete's request to contact or see his children was denied in court Thursday. This comes over two years since his wife, Maya “May” Millete, was last seen near her home in the 2400 block of Paseo Los Gatos in Chula Vista. Surveillance footage last captured Maya parking her Jeep Rubicon on the street in front of her home at 4:42 p.m. on Jan. 7, ...

Race teams ask NASCAR for ‘meaningful’ talks as their business model dispute skids toward summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The fight between NASCAR and its teams over a new revenue model prompted the owners of 16 chartered organizations to send a letter to NASCAR’s board of directors earlier this month requesting “meaningful dialog” regarding the franchise model system. The letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, was sent to NASCAR via email on May 1, the same day NASCAR’s exclusive negotiating window expired with both Fox Sports and NBC Sports on a new television package. The letter essentially represents the entire Cup Series field and acknowledges that conversations with NASCAR have been productive, noting a “tentative acceptance of the economic split of a new media deal.” But the letter makes clear the main sticking point between the teams and NASCAR remains the charter system, under which each of the 36 cars with a charter are guaranteed a spot in the 40-car Cup Series field each week and a slice of TV package revenue. The charters, which are...

Number 2 US diplomat to retire after decades in government service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration’s number two diplomat is retiring after decades of U.S. government service.Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will step down from the post this summer, having been involved in some of the most consequential, and controversial, foreign policy decisions during Democratic administrations since Bill Clinton was president.Sherman, 73, said in an internal note to State Department staff that her retirement would be effective at the end of June. Secretary of State Antony Blinken lauded Sherman’s career, saying that President Joe Biden chose her for the number two post at the State Department because he believed she could revitalize America’s relationships around the world. “President Biden asked Wendy to serve in this role because he knew he could count on her to help revitalize America’s alliances and partnerships and manage our complex relationships with competitors,” Blinken said in a statement.Sherman has been a key part of the Biden admin...

Tech stocks weigh on S&P/TSX composite, U.S. stock markets also lower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down in late-morning trading, weighed down by losses in the technology sector, while U.S. stock markets were also lower.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 21.69 points at 20,395.92.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 80.85 points at 33,228.66. The S&P 500 index was down 11.05 points at 4,119.57, while the Nasdaq composite was down 45.14 points at 12,283.37.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.89 cents US compared with 74.20 cents US on Thursday.The June crude contract was up 20 cents at US$71.07 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was up two cents at US$2.21 per mmBTU.The June gold contract was down US$4.80 at US$2,015.70 an ounce and the July copper contract was up two cents at US$3.73 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Event hoping to motivate people in the upcoming Toronto mayoral byelection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Toronto’s last municipal election in October saw the lowest voter turnout in history at just 30 per cent.That’s why a group of young Torontonians are trying to motivate people to vote in the upcoming mayoral byelection next month through Tune In. The event explores the Toronto we could become through a night of music, art and community conversations.“It’s likely that whoever wins this upcoming election in June will be in power probably until 2030 if they continue to run because of the power of incumbency,” says co-organizer Stefan Hostetter. “The last three mayoral changes have only occurred when the last mayor has not run. And so, it’s not just about now, it’s about the next 10 years.”The event is happening on May 18 at The Great Hall in West Queen West. Hostetter and his co-organizer Norhan Haroun planned Tune In to encourage locals to get involved in city politics and create the change they want to see.Centring joy is a big part of ...

Oldest bar in Toronto a staple in West Queen West

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Said to be the oldest bar in the city, The Wheatsheaf Tavern has been a staple of the West Queen West neighbourhood since it first opened in 1849.Through the years, the bar that sits at the corner of King and Bathurst Streets, has changed hands but the current owners, Scale Hospitality, have been in charge since 2001.“It stayed the same name right away through and it’s been only renovated a few times and the last renovation was two years ago but, in essence, it has always been the Wheatsheaf,” said Eoin Cullen, the director of operations at Scale.The bar is a popular joint among the community. It’s known for its large collection of Irish Scotch and Whiskey. And there is live music here to listen too almost every day of the year.“I’ve known the Wheatsheaf for over 30 years I live across the street in one of the condos and probably have been coming here for 10 years on a regular basis,” shared Rob Barlow, a frequent customer. “It’s a goo...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in Kentucky as Republicans choose a nominee for governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Kentucky Republicans will choose a nominee Tuesday to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in one of the most watched elections of the year. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft and state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles are among the 12 Republicans in the race.Cameron is the best-known Republican and has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. However, Craft is well-funded — her husband is a billionaire coal magnate, and she has loaned her campaign more than $9 million. She also has the backing of powerful U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.Beshear has nominal opposition in the Democratic primary. He won the 2019 general election by less than 1 percentage point in the heavily Republican state, setting up what is likely to be a highly competitive general election this year. Republicans also are choosing nominees for secretary of state, treasurer, auditor and agriculture commissioner. Democrats are choosing a nominee ...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in Pennsylvania as a special election decides statehouse control

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Voters in suburban Philadelphia are set to decide party control of Pennsylvania’s state House of Representatives on Tuesday with their pick to replace a Democrat who resigned.Also on the ballot in Pennsylvania are primary elections for state Supreme Court and Philadelphia mayor, with the winner of the Democratic primary all but sure to become the city’s next leader in this fall’s general election. The race with the biggest immediate consequence is the special election in state House District 163 in Delaware County, a suburb of Philadelphia. Democrat Mike Zabel, who won by 32 percentage points in November, resigned after allegations of sexual harassment.Democrat Heather Boyd, a former congressional and state legislative aide, faces Republican Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist, in the special election.If Ford wins, and if Republicans hold on to a central Pennsylvania seat as widely expected in a second special election on Tuesd...

In Pakistan clashes, Khan showed he commands huge crowds. What’s driving them?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier this week has shown how quickly his fervent loyalists can mobilize in large numbers. Within hours of his detention, his supporters torched vehicles and buildings, and attacked police and military facilities to express their fury over the treatment of the 70-year-old opposition leader. Khan’s supporters have emerged as a major force, challenging the authority of the government and military, aware that they can shift the political balance through unrelenting pressure.Here’s a look at who they are and what’s driving them:WHAT IS IMRAN KHAN’S APPEAL?Khan has been a star in Pakistan for decades. As an athlete, in 1992 he led the country to its only World Cup victory in cricket, a massive sport in South Asia. That made him a hero to tens of millions of people before he even entered politics.He founded Pakistan’s first cancer hospital, named after his mother, and ventured into philanthropy. ...