Here are the latest Top News stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops.
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TOP HEADLINES:
Ottawa police arrest 70 in sweeping operation
Leaked data prompts news backlash in Canada, U.S.
Windsor fighting in court to to keep bridge clear
Trans Mountain price tag soars 70 per cent
Politicians condemn Coastal GasLink site violence
Polley book suggests Ghomeshi encounter: NYT
Canada is past peak of Omicron wave: top doctor
Study finds link between COVID-19 and nightmares
Politicians condemn Coastal GasLink site violence
Canada adds Olympic medals in halfpipe, speedskating, curling
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NEW TOP STORIES SINCE THE LAST ADVISORY:
Politicians condemn Coastal GasLink site violence
LNG-Pipeline
Houston, British Columbia, Canada -- Politicians are denouncing what police have called a violent confrontation in separate attacks against officers and employees at a construction site for a natural gas pipeline being built across northern British Columbia. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Polley book suggests Ghomeshi encounter: NYT
BOOKS-Polley-Ghomeshi
Toronto, Ontario, Canada -- A New York Times feature about an upcoming book by Toronto filmmaker Sarah Polley says it includes allegations of a decades-old violent encounter between her and former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi. By Sadaf Ahsan. Wire: Entertainment. Photos: 1
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Law society investigating former health minister
Alta-Law-Society
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada -- The Law Society of Alberta says it will hold a hearing to determine whether former health minister Tyler Shandro breached its code of conduct. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Alta. utility bills soar as natural gas surges
Alta-Utility-Bills
Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- Alberta's oil and gas sector is awash with cash and the province's books could be headed back into the black this year, but residents of the energy-producing province are experiencing the downside of the commodity price boom on their utility bills. By Amanda Stephenson. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Canadian musician Dallas Good dead at 48
OBIT-MUSIC-Dallas-Good
Dallas Good, singer and guitarist of Canadian rock/alternative country band the Sadies has died of natural causes at age 48. By Melissa Couto Zuber. Wire: Entertainment. Photos: 1
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Bank of Canada deputy governor retiring in June
BoC-Schembri
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- The Bank of Canada says Lawrence Schembri is retiring in June after 25 years at the country's central bank, including nine as deputy governor. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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UPDATED CONVOY PROTEST ARRESTS:
Ottawa police arrest 70 in sweeping operation
Trucker-Protest
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Police officers descended on anti-government protesters in Ottawa on Friday, arresting 70 people and towing vehicles in a push to end a three-week occupation that has reverberated across Canada and around the world. By Lee Berthiaume, Jordan Press, Marie Woolf and Erika Ibrahim. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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The latest on the convoy protest in Ottawa
Trucker-Protest-The-Latest
The latest developments on ongoing protests against COVID-19 restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government in Ottawa on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. All times eastern: Wire: National. Photos: 1
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A list of anti-COVID restriction protests globally
COVID-Protests-Quicklist
Protests against COVID-19 restrictions have taken place around the world since the beginning of the pandemic. Here is a look at some of the demonstrations over governments' handling of the pandemic as police began making arrests Friday in Ottawa of antigovernment protesters who have been blocking streets around Parliament Hill. Some protesters say they came to Ottawa simply to demand that COVID-19 measures be lifted, but others have demanded the Liberal government be ousted: Wire: National.
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Nurses group tries to halt use of Emergencies Act
Emergencies-Act
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- A group involved in the anti-government protest against COVID-19 measures in Ottawa is asking a court to put the brakes on federal use of the Emergencies Act to clamp down on demonstrators. By Jim Bronskill. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Winnipeg COVID-19 protesters don't plan to leave
Trucker-Protest-Mba
Winnipeg, , -- Protesters who have been blocking a major street in downtown Winnipeg as part of a countrywide demonstration against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions have moved to a nearby park. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Leaked data prompts news backlash in Canada, U.S.
CRAFT-US-Cda-Protests
Washington D. C., Washington, D.C., United States -- Journalists in Canada and the United States, veterans of a daily grind that entails tracking down and chatting up newsmakers, politicians and ordinary citizens by whatever means necessary, are encountering a very different — and hostile — world as they work to learn more about supporters of the protests in Ottawa. By James McCarten. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Windsor fighting in court to to keep bridge clear
Trucker-Protest-Border
Windsor, Ontario, Canada -- The City of Windsor is in court arguing to extend an injunction granted last week that prohibits blocking a busy international bridge. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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UPDATED OTHER TOP NEWS
Trans Mountain price tag soars 70 per cent
Trans-Mountain-Costs
Calgary, , -- The projected cost of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has soared 70 per cent to $21.4 billion, while its completion is delayed. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Canada is past peak of Omicron wave: top doctor
COVID-Cda
The country’s top doctor says Canada is past the peak of the COVID-19 wave caused by the Omicron variant and is ready to move out of a crisis response. By Kelly Geraldine Malone. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Nunavut changes COVID-19 travel isolation rule
COVID-Nunavut
Iqaluit, Nunavut, , -- Travellers to Nunavut who are unvaccinated for COVID-19 or partially vaccinated will no longer have to isolate in one of the government's isolation hotels in Southern Canada. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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B.C.'s Interior Health to restart surgeries
COVID-BC
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada -- British Columbia's Interior Health authority says it's taking a phased approach to resuming services that were paused last month, including rescheduling postponed surgeries and reopening in-patient services. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Air Canada demands lighter travel restrictions
Air-Canada-Rslts
Montreal, Quebec, Canada -- Air Canada topped expectations as it bled less cash in its latest quarter, a sign the airline's underlying recovery remains on course despite the blow to holiday travel caused by the Omicron variant. By Christopher Reynolds. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Study finds link between COVID-19 and nightmares
COVID-Nightmares
Montreal, Quebec, Canada -- A new international study involving Canadian researchers has found that people who had COVID-19 during the pandemic's first wave were more susceptible to nightmares — and the worse their infection, the more bad dreams they experienced. By Jean-Benoit Legault. Wire: Lifestyle. Photos: 1
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COVID-19: Quebec offers booster dose to teens
COVID-Que
Montreal, Quebec, Canada -- Quebec is making teenagers eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses, the Health Department said Friday, as officials reported 23 more deaths linked to the disease and a 68-patient drop in hospitalizations. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Yukon creates new site for COVID-19 data
COVID-Yukon
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada -- The Yukon government has started a new COVID-19 dashboard aimed at keeping residents up to date about important pandemic-related information. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Spain wants search for 12 fishers to resume
Fishing-Vessel-Search
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada -- Spain’s foreign minister says the search for 12 missing fishers who went down with their Spanish vessel in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean this week should resume as soon as weather conditions permit. Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 1
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Canadian space telescope sensor passes first tests
Webb-Telescope-Guidance
Far out in deep space, four times the distance between Earth and its moon, a piece of Canadian technology that could help reshape our understanding of the universe has passed its first crucial tests. By Bob Weber. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Glimmer of hope in Lytton rebuild after wildfire
Wildfire-Recovery-Lytton
Denise O'Connor is back in Lytton, B.C., living in the home where she spent her childhood years. By Dirk Meissner. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Ontario to end tolls on two GTA highways
Ont-Toll-Highways
Whitby, Ontario, Canada -- Ontario is removing tolls on two Greater Toronto Area highways this spring. Wire: Ontario/Quebec.
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Nova Scotia injects $1 million for child care
NS-Child-Care
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada -- Nova Scotia is announcing more money for child care providers to help offset a 25 per cent reduction in fees resulting from a new deal with the federal government. Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 1
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Saskatchewan NDP leader stepping down
Sask-NDP-Leader
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada -- Ryan Meili says he is resigning as the Saskatchewan NDP leader. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Ontario calling on people to volunteer
Ont-Volunteers
The Ontario government is calling on people 16 years of age and older to join a program that will help the province be better prepared for emergencies including public health crises and natural disasters. Wire: Ontario/Quebec.
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National rental price up 3% from last year: CMHC
Cda-Rentals
Canadian tenants faced another year of affordability challenges as rents crept up nationally and were particularly high in Vancouver and Toronto. By Tara Deschamps. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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CBC's 'The Porter' is a story of Black ambition
Black-History-TV-Porter
When CBC's "The Porter" debuts Monday, it will become one of the network's largest Black-led television series, ringing in Black History Month in a "powerful" way, says Toronto star Ronnie Rowe Jr., who adds that he's "honoured to be a part of history." By Sadaf Ahsan. Wire: Entertainment. Photos: 1
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Tales of redemption: Canada adds Olympic medals in halfpipe, speedskating, curling
OLY-Canada-Roundup
BEIJING - Canada hauled in four medals Friday, equalling the country's best daily total at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Two of those medals came from freestyle skiers. Cassie Sharpe won silver and Rachael Karker claimed bronze in the women's halfpipe. Speedskater Laurent Dubreuil (do-BRAY') won silver in the men's 1,000 metres, and Brad Gushue skipped Canada to bronze in men's curling.. 1,000 words. MOVED . PHOTO
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LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE STORIES:
The LJI is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is delivered on the CP wire in the "Y" or spare news category, or you can register to access it at https://lji-ijl.ca. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited by The Canadian Press. Please credit stories to the reporter, their media outlet and the Local Journalism Initiative. Questions should be directed to LJI supervising editor Amy Logan at amy.logan@thecanadianpress.com. Below is a sample of the dozens of stories moved daily:
Ontario doctors propose innovative medical model for solving backlog of surgeries
LJI-ON-SOLVING-SURGERY-BACKLOG
Ontario doctors are proposing a whole new model of outpatient health care to ease the backlog of surgeries and medical procedures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ontario Medical Association wants the province to begin creating publicly funded Integrated Ambulatory Centres in towns and cities across Ontario that would focus on addressing specific surgical procedures in a quick-turnaround setting. 800 words. Len Gillis/Sudbury.com
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Post-COVID classrooms: Winnipeg school division ponders future
LJI-MAN-VIRUS-EDUCATION-RECOVERY
The public school system’s COVID-19 scars and the unlikely successes that have come out of emergency pivots are top of mind inside Manitoba’s largest school board, as leaders ponder what a post-pandemic classroom should look like. 750 words. Maggie Macintosh/Winnipeg Free Press
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More people seeking mental health supports now than ever before: CMHA
LJI-ON-CMHARSSSTUDY
As we approach the second anniversary of COVID-19’s arrival in Ontario, with Omicron and continued uncertainty, more people are accessing mental health supports than at any other time in the pandemic, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association (Ontario). 1,000 words. Brock Weir/The Auroran
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UPDATED FROM AP:
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NEW & DEVELOPING
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Adds: NATIONAL ARCHIVES-TRUMP, CAPITOL RIOT-LAWSUITS, TRUMP-INVESTIGATIONS, VIRUS OUTBREAK-SURGEON GENERAL, CONGRESS-STOCK TRADING, HEALTH CARE WATCHDOG, SUPREME COURT-ASYLUM-WAITING IN MEXICO, BIDEN-GOVERNMENT FUNDING, UNITED-NATIONS-HAITI, PHILANTHROPY-MUSK-DONATION, ARCHES COLLAPSE, BRAZIL-LANDSLIDE CAUSES.
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ONLY ON AP
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HOSTAGE FAMILIES-JUSTICE DEPARTMENT — Families of American hostages and detainees say they’re frustrated with the Justice Department over what they see as the agency’s refusal to consider trades that could get their loved ones home. Several countries or groups holding Americans, including Russia and the Taliban, have sought or publicly floated the names of prisoners in the U.S. they want released. By Eric Tucker. SENT: 1,210 words, photos.
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TOP STORIES
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UKRAINE-TENSIONS — Spiking tensions in eastern Ukraine on aggravated Western fears of a Russian invasion and a new war in Europe, with a humanitarian convoy hit by shelling and pro-Russian rebels evacuating civilians from the conflict zone. A car bombing hit the eastern city of Donetsk, but no casualties were reported. By Vladimir Isachenkov, Yuras Karmanau and Aamer Madhani. SENT: 1,340 words, photos. With RUSSIA-NUCLEAR-DEALS, UKRAINE-TENSIONS-HARRIS, UKRAINE-TENSIONS-UN CHIEF (all sent).
UKRAINE TENSIONS-BIDEN — For much of his political career, Joe Biden has watched democracy expand in Europe. Now that he’s president, it could be rolled back in dramatic fashion if Russia decides to launch a new invasion of Ukraine. Biden says has “reason to believe” that will occur in the “coming days.” By Chris Megerian. SENT: 1,270 words, photos, video. WITH: UKRAINE TENSIONS-CYBERATTACKS — The White House blames Russia for recent cyberattacks targeting Ukraine’s defense ministry and major banks. SENT: 400 words, photos.
Find full Ukraine coverage here.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES-TRUMP — The 15 boxes of White House records that were stored at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence contained items marked as classified national security information, the National Archives and Records Administration says. The matter has been referred to the Justice Department. By Farnoush Amiri. SENT: 620 words, photo. WITH: CAPITOL RIOT-LAWSUITS — A federal judge rejects efforts by Trump to toss out lawsuits that claim his actions led to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. SENT: 560 words, photo; TRUMP-INVESTIGATIONS — Trump has faced one legal setback after another this week. UPCOMING: 600 words, photo by 7 p.m.
DAUNTE WRIGHT-OFFICER TRIAL — Kim Potter, the former suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she confused her handgun for her Taser when she fatally shot Daunte Wright, has been sentenced to two years in prison, a penalty that drew outrage from Wright’s family as too lenient. By Amy Forliti, Steve Karnowski and Tammy Webber. SENT: 940 words, photos. WITH: DAUNTE WRIGHT-OFFICER-MUG SHOT, DAUNTE-WRIGHT-TIMELINE, DAUNTE WRIGHT-OFFICER TRIAL-JUDGE (all sent.)
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PROTESTS — Police arrested scores of demonstrators and towed away vehicles in Canada’s besieged capital, and a stream of trucks started leaving under the pressure, raising authorities’ hopes for an end to the three-week protest against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. At least 70 people had been arrested, mostly on mischief charges, and nearly two dozen vehicles had been towed, including all of those blocking one of the city’s major streets, authorities said. By Rob Gillies, Wilson Ring and Robert Bumsted. SENT: 730 words, photos. WITH: CANADA-PROTEST-RACE — Former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly called Black Lives Matter protesters “thugs” and “anarchists,” said there’s “a lot of respect” for the overwhelmingly white truckers who blocked streets in the Canadian capital and shut down border crossings with the U.S. to oppose COVID-19 restrictions. SENT: 880 words, photos; VIRUS-OUBREAK-PROTESTS-PHOTO-GALLERY (sent)
OLY-FIG-BACH-RUSSIA — IOC President Thomas Bach joined the global bandwagon of support for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, criticizing her entourage and questioning whether 15-year-old athletes should be put under such pressure at the Olympics. His tone surprised Olympic observers — accustomed to hearing Bach defend Russian athletes despite the massive 2014 doping scandal — and drew a quick rebuke from Moscow. By Graham Dunbar. SENT: 880 words, photos.
SUPREME COURT-VACANCY-LOBBYING — The whispers and chatter about top contenders for the Supreme Court are growing as President Joe Biden zeroes in on a nominee to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. But while the president is eager for input, the White House insists he’s not going to be swayed by any sniping. By Colleen Long and Meg Kinnard. SENT: 890 words, photos.
BORDER-AGENCY-NEW-LEADER — Chris Magnus has many challenges to overcome in his new role as commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Among them are agent discontent, allegations of migrant mistreatment, a failure to recruit more women and an asylum system that many view as broken. In an interview with The Associated Press, Magnus acknowledged morale problems within the nation’s largest law enforcement agency but offered no quick answers to the heavy migration flow to the U.S., which attracts more asylum seekers than any other country. By Ben Fox, Anita Snow and Elliot Spagat. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE OLYMPICS
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OLY-WOMEN’S-HALFPIPE — Eileen Gu captured Olympic gold in the women’s ski halfpipe final to become the first action-sports athlete to pick up three medals at the same Winter Games. SENT: 990 words, photos.
OLY-AGE-OF-THE-QUAD — One by one the Russian teen figure skaters took the ice for the free skate at the Beijing Games, and one by one they attempted the four-revolution jumps that are common in the men’s competition. Beijing may be the last Olympics any woman attempts a quad. SENT: 920 words, photos.
OLY-RAISING-THE-AGE — The doping case involving Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has led to many more questions than answers. Some skaters think it’s time to ask another: Should a 15-year-old be in the Olympics at all? SENT: 880 words, photos.
OLY-RUSSIAN-SKATER-CAS-RULING — The judges who let Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva continue to compete at the Beijing Olympics blamed anti-doping officials in a legal document published Friday for a “failure to function effectively.” SENT: 490 words, photos.
OLY-ON-SKING-US-WOES — A United States team led by Mikaela Shiffrin will leave the Beijing Olympics with just one of the 30 individual medals in Alpine skiing. It is the fewest medals for the Americans in Alpine since one gold in 1998. Plenty went wrong for the U.S. racers in China. SENT: 740 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-SURGEON GENERAL — Surgeon General Vivek Murthy discloses that he and his family have all tested positive for COVID-19. SENT: 630 words, photo.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-HONG-KONG — Hong Kong will postpone the election of its next leader until May 8 as it grapples with a worsening coronavirus outbreak with thousands of new infections daily. SENT: 360 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ILLINOIS SCHOOLS — An Illinois court has dismissed an appeal of a judge’s ruling that blocked Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s requirement that masks be worn in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The state appeals court said the issue is moot and districts can decide their own rules. SENT: 300 words, photos.
EUROPE-AFRICA-VACCINES — Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will be the first African countries to receive the technology required to produce mRNA vaccines on the continent. SENT: 730 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GERMANY — Germany has crossed over the peak of new daily infections with the omicron variant of COVID-19, the country’s health minister said. SENT: 350 words, photos.
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TRENDING NEWS
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NOT-REAL-NEWS — Social media users shared a range of false claims this week. Here are the facts: Paris police did not fine protesters for waving the French flag, or saying the word “freedom.” Tiny drug-delivering devices created by researchers aren’t being used to secretly vaccinate people against COVID-19. And more. SENT: 2,000 words, photo.
PHILANTHROPY-MUSK-DONATION — Leave it to Elon Musk to stir up controversy without saying (or tweeting) a word. According to a regulatory filling, the Tesla CEO donated about 5 million shares of company stock worth roughly $5.7 billion to charity in November. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
MEXICO-AVOCADOS — The U.S. Embassy in Mexico says that Washington is lifting a ban on inspections of Mexican avocados, freeing the way for exports to resume. The inspections were halted last week after one of the U.S. inspectors was threatened in the western state of Michoacan, where growers are routinely subject to extortion by drug cartels. SENT: 450 words, photos.
ARCHES COLLAPSE — An investigation is underway in North Carolina after decorative wooden arches weighing 40 tons collapsed along a pedestrian walkway in the city of Hickory. No one was hurt. SENT: 220 words.
GREECE-FERRY FIRE — Rescue specialists boarded a burning ferry in Greece to free two truck drivers who had been stranded inside the vessel for more than 15 hours Friday, but hope was fading for 11 others were reported missing. SENT: 570 words, photo.
WINTER-WEATHER-ILLINOIS — A pileup involving about 100 cars, trucks and big rigs during a blinding snowstorm has left a 17-mile (27-kilometer) stretch of interstate in central Illinois shut down for a second day. SENT: 180 words, photos.
DETROIT ZOO-PENGUIN CENTER — Detroit Zoo’s massive penguin center reopens after two years. SENT: 390 words, photos, video.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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ELECTION 2022-TEXAS-ABORTION — As the right to an abortion in the U.S. hangs in doubt, one thing seemed clear at the outset of 2022: the issue would tower over America’s midterm elections. But in Texas — of all places — that hasn’t been the case going into the nation’s first primary. SENT: 890 words, photos.
CONGRESS-STOCK TRADING — Federal judges would have to publicly disclose more about their finances under a Senate-approved bill that aims to make the judiciary subject to similar transparency requirements as lawmakers. SENT: 590 words, photo.
BIDEN-CLIMATE-JUSTICE — The Biden administration has released a screening tool to help identify disadvantaged communities long plagued by environmental hazards, but it won’t include race as a factor in deciding where to devote resources. SENT: 570 words, photo.
HEALTH CARE WATCHDOG — The Senate confirms a federal watchdog who had been assailed by former President Donald Trump to the top job battling fraud, waste and abuse at the Department of Health and Human Services. SENT: 530 words, photo.
SUPREME COURT-ASYLUM-WAITING IN MEXICO — The Supreme Court is giving the Biden administration a quick hearing on its effort to scrap a Trump-era border policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. SENT: 240 words, photo.
BIDEN-GOVERNMENT FUNDING — President Biden signs a bill granting a three-week extension of government funding and allowing Congress more time to reach an overdue deal financing federal agencies through the rest of the fiscal year. SENT: 190 words, photo.
BEER COMPETITION — The government wants to give beer lovers more choices than the usual suspects when they reach for a drink — and help them pay less for whatever they choose. As part of a larger Biden administration effort to boost competition in all sorts of industries, the government is looking at ways to loosen the grip of a few big beer companies that control 65% of the market. SENT: 760 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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GAS DRILLING-WATER POLLUTION — One of the best-known pollution cases ever to emerge from the U.S. drilling and fracking boom has entered a difficult new phase as prosecutors pursue criminal charges against Pennsylvania’s busiest gas driller. SENT: 2,040 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,000 words is available.
MED-FLU SEASON — This winter’s mild flu season has faded to a trickle of cases in much of the U.S., but health officials aren’t ready to call it over. SENT: 640 words, photo.
CALIFORNIA-GOVERNOR-ASSAULT WEAPONS — A new bill in California would allow private citizens go after gun makers in the same way Texas lets them target abortion providers. Gov. Gavin Newsom backed legislation that would let private citizens enforce the state’s ban on assault weapons. It’s modeled after a Texas law that lets private citizens enforce that state’s ban on abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. SENT: 630 words, photo.
AHMAUD ARBERY-HATE CRIMES — Witnesses in the federal hate crimes trial of the men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery say they recall racist statements by two of the defendants. SENT: 550 words, photos.
RACIAL INJUSTICE PROTEST-TEXAS — A Texas grand jury indicted 19 Austin police officers on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for their actions during 2020 protests over racial injustice that spread nationwide following the killing of George Floyd, according to people familiar with the matter. SENT: 990 words, photo.
STATEHOUSE-PRESS-ACCESS — Republican lawmakers in several states are scaling back access to government business, extending pandemic-era rules that restrict when journalists can report from the floors of state legislative chambers and, in effect, making it easier to dodge the press. SENT: 840 words, photos.
CAL STATE-CHANCELLOR RESIGNS — The chancellor of California State University, the nation’s largest public university system, has resigned after accusations that he mishandled sexual misconduct allegations. SENT: 390 words, photo.
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INTERNATIONAL
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EUROPE-STORM — The second major storm in three days smashed through northern Europe on Friday, killing at least six people as high winds felled trees, cancelled train services and ripped sections off the roof of London’s O2 Arena. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
BRAZIL-LANDSLIDE CAUSES — The landslides that devastated Petropolis this week were all largely predictable -- and to some degree, preventable. Rapid urbanization, poor planning, lack of financing for subsidized housing -- all of these things have afflicted this mountain city in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state. Little has been done in response to repeated warnings about the risks of mountainside construction, researchers as well as current and former public servants told The Associated Press. SENT: 1,170 words, photos.
NICARAGUA-TRADE DEAL — The Biden administration is considering trying to expel Nicaragua from a lucrative regional free trade pact — or allocate its valuable sugar quota to another country in Central America — to retaliate against President Daniel Ortega’s crackdown on his opponents, according to a U.S. official. SENT: 890 words, photo.
MIGRATION-GREECE-PUSHBACK — A French woman accused Greek authorities of forcing her and other migrants back across the border into Turkey, violating her rights both as a person fleeing persecution and as a European citizen. In court documents seen by The Associated Press, the 32-year-old woman, who has Turkish as well as French citizenship, claims she and her husband were trying to flee Turkey to escape prison sentences that were politically motivated. SENT: 1,600 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,040 words is available.
LIBYA-ELUSIVE-UNITY-EXPLAINER — A year ago, Libya looked to be on a fragile path toward democracy, after more than a decade of civil war. Now, it appears to be sliding back toward strife and division. After tentative steps towards unity, the country is once again being pulled apart, with two rival prime ministers claiming power. SENT: 1,070 words,
PUERTO-RICO-PAY-PROTESTS — Protests in Puerto Rico are multiplying as government employees demand higher pay and improved pensions. Many have taken to the streets, emboldened and inspired by thousands of public school teachers who walked out of their classrooms in early February to demand wage hikes. SENT: 990 words, photo.
INDIA-BOMBING-DEATH-SENTENCES — A court in India sentenced to death 38 people for a series of bomb blasts in 2008 that left more than 50 dead in Gujarat state, which has a history of violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims. SENT: 440 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/ECONOMY
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Stocks capped a week of volatile trading on Wall Street with a broad sell-off that left the major indexes with their second straight weekly loss. The Nasdaq composite bore the brunt of the selling, however, shedding 1.2%. SENT: 700 words, photo.
The Canadian Press
