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Who is Mike Johnson? What to know about the House’s new speaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

By Laura Weiss and Aidan Quigley, CQ-Roll Call​Weeks of infighting among House Republicans over their next speaker, which paralyzed the chamber during a time of global turmoil, opened a lane for their fourth-round draft pick to finally claim the gavel on Wednesday.The House voted 220-209 to elect Rep. Mike Johnson speaker, bringing to an end an impasse that sank three other candidates before him and reopening the House for business. Not a single Republican voted against him — a feat which eluded his predecessor at the start of this Congress — while all Democrats who were present backed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.Johnson, a fourth-term lawmaker representing his hometown of Shreveport and a big chunk of western Louisiana, has been a vocal advocate for marquee GOP issues from his time as a constitutional lawyer arguing for state abortion restrictions to his public defenses of former President Donald Trump.House Republicans applaud as U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) (C) is ele...

Teen shot outside recreation center in Clairemont

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Police are searching for two suspects after a 14-year-old boy was shot Tuesday evening outside the North Clairemont Recreation Center, authorities said.The shooting happened around 8:18 p.m. in the 4400 block of Bannock Avenue, the San Diego Police Department told FOX 5. Police say two juveniles walked up to a group of four other juveniles and asked where they were from. One of the pair pulled out a gun and shot at the group, hitting a boy in his leg. San Diego teacher arrested on suspicion of attempting to pay for sex with minor The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.The two suspects were last seen headed northbound. One was described as having a thin build and wearing a red baseball cap and white shirt. The second suspect was described as wearing a grey hoodie.Gang detectives are investigating the shooting.

Home video captures thieves during Oakville break-and-enter, suspects wanted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

Police have released home surveillance footage that captured multiple suspects in the act of a break-and-enter in Oakville, hoping it leads to their arrests.Halton Regional Police said suspects have recently targeted several homes in Oakville in similar break-and-enters. Residents have not been home at the time, as the robberies have occurred during the day or through the evening hours.In a news release, a police spokesperson wrote that houses that back onto green spaces have been targeted, and thieves have gained entry by smashing the rear sliding glass door. The suspects have allegedly stolen jewelry, high-end clothing, and cash. Video from one of the incidents shows two men enter a home and begin to search for valuables. The camera appears to be hidden in the kitchen. A separate clip of a third male suspect approaching the front door of a residence is also shown. That video was recorded courtesy of a doorbell camera. Investigators said they’re searching for three male ...

White House dinner for Australia offers comfort food, instrumental tunes in nod to Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a menu of “comforting” food and instrumental sounds rather than dance party music, the White House set out Wednesday to throw a state dinner that balanced the desire to celebrate ties to a close U.S. ally with an effort to strike a measured tone at a time of mounting death and suffering unfolding in the Middle East.Up to 350 guests had returned RSVPs and claimed seats for the fourth White House state dinner of President Joe Biden’s term, this one honoring Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The B-52s, an American new wave band, had originally been lined up to entertain guests after dinner. But first lady Jill Biden said the White House made “ a few adjustments ” to the entertainment at a time “when so many are facing sorrow and pain.” She made no direct reference to the Israel-Hamas war sparked by the militant group’s surprise Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, or Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine.Guests now will no l...

The World Bank approved a $1B loan to help blackout-hit South Africa’s energy sector

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The World Bank approved a $1 billion loan for South Africa on Wednesday to help it address an energy crisis that has peaked this year with the country’s worst electricity blackouts. The energy problem has forced the country to lean on its highly polluting coal-fired power stations.South Africa has experienced scheduled, rolling blackouts for months because of problems generating enough electricity for its 62 million people. The state-run power utility, Eskom, generates approximately 80% of the country’s electricity through its coal stations, but they have failed to meet demand due to mismanagement, corruption and regular breakdowns.South Africa’s commitment to its climate change targets are in danger of being affected in the short term, with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing in April that it may delay shutting down some of its coal stations because of the electricity supply problems.“The loan endorses a significant and strategic re...

Scholastic will drop policy that makes it easier for school fairs to exclude diverse books

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Scholastic Inc. will end a widely criticized policy that made it easier for school book fairs not to sell works with racial, disability and LGBTQ+ themes.The children’s publisher angered many authors and educators this fall when it created a separate package of dozens of books, labeled “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice,” and gave schools the option on whether to include them in fairs. Poet Amanda Gorman, whose “Change Sings” was among the titles in “Share Every Story,” had said in an Instagram video that Scholastic’s decision “felt like a betrayal.”Scholastic had said the policy, which will remain in place for the rest of the year, was a response to the proliferation of restrictions passed by states around the country. The publisher has not settled on a strategy for 2024.“This fall, we made changes in our U.S. elementary school fairs out of concern for our Book Fair hosts. In doing this, we offered a collection of books to supplement the diverse c...

Food insecurity shot up last year with inflation and the end of pandemic-era aid, a new report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An estimated 17 million households reported problems finding enough food in 2022 — a sharp jump from 2021 when boosted government aid helped ease the pandemic-induced economic shutdown. A new Department of Agriculture report, released Wednesday, paints a sobering picture of post-pandemic hardship with “statistically significant” increases in food insecurity across multiple categories. Using a representative survey sample of roughly 32,000 American households the report said 12.8% (17 million households) reported occasional problems affording enough food — up from 10.2% (13.5 million households) in 2021 and 10.5% (13.8 million households) in 2020. This is up from 10.2% (13.5 million households) in 2021 and 10.5% (13.8 million households) in 2020. Analysts and food security professionals point to the dual impact last year of high inflation and the gradual expiration of multiple pandemic-era government assistance measures.“This underscores how the unwinding of the pan...

Palestinian and Jewish families calls on TDSB to address anti-Palestinian racism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

A Palestinian mother whose child is a student with Toronto District School Board (TDSB) claims since the war between Israel and Hamas began, there has been an increase of discrimination, harassment and bullying and Palestinian staff and students are scared to speak up. “Palestinian students are sitting at TDSB desks and grieving the loss of family members. They are trying to learn math while worrying about about loved ones they haven’t heard from in days,” said Nadine Nasir.Nasir is part of a grassroots group of TDSB families that has been pushing the school board to provide better education on the deep-seated history between Israel and Palestine.  She said the school board’s communications to staff, students and parents about the war have failed to acknowledge the loss of life and humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. “In two separate communications from the Director of Education and the Chair of the TDSD, the TDSB unequivocally and rightfully condemn...

Air Canada says rules were followed in alleged Islamophobic incident involving U.K. MP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

Air Canada says its staff followed procedure when it delayed a British MP for extra questions in what has been described as an Islamophobic incident during a recent diplomatic trip to Canada.Mohammad Yasin was pulled aside for questioning at London’s Heathrow Airport while other lawmakers he was travelling with were allowed through, and was stopped again at airports in Montreal and Toronto.Yasin’s fellow Labour MP Clive Betts rose in the British House this week to say that Yasin was stopped “because his name was Mohammad” and that the incident was “racist and Islamophobic” in nature.The airline says an authorized government agency prompted the additional screening procedures before Yasin’s flight.Air Canada says it has apologized for the discomfort the screening caused Yasin.Betts told the British House that Yasin was questioned about where he was born and whether he was carrying a knife.

Music Review: The Mountain Goats go big on ‘Jenny from Thebes,’ a sequel to an old favorite

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:22 GMT

On “Jenny from Thebes,” The Mountain Goats offer a sequel to one of their most beloved albums, 2002’s “All Hail West Texas.” This one has a lot more bells and whistles.The first album was an intimate, sparse affair with leader John Darnielle doing everything himself: singing, playing acoustic guitar and keyboard, recording it all on a Panasonic RX-FT500 boombox. This time around, he brought in Grammy-winning producer/engineer Trina Shoemaker and a full band: Darnielle, Peter Hughes, Matt Douglas and Jon Wurster. As a result, “Jenny from Thebes” is louder and more energetic than the solitary first record. “Jenny from Thebes” sends the Goats into some new genre territory, with new wave, folk rock, and pure pop woven throughout. There’s the addition of horns and piano. Bully leader Alicia Bognanno brings her lush guitar sounds while Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s does backing vocals.This collection wouldn’t be out of place on Broadway, shaped by a myriad of infl...