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Healey admin awards $27 million toward greening of affordable housing projects

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

The Healey Administration has awarded $27 million toward making some of the state’s affordable housing developments more energy efficient.Ten grants made to seven organizations under the Affordable Housing Deep Energy Retrofit Grant Program were announced by Governor Maura Healey this week at The Village at Brookline, a more than 300 unit affordable housing development in the heart of the pricey Boston suburb.The money will go toward “deep energy retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades, building system electrification, and onsite renewable energy generation” at developments in Allston, Boston, Easthampton, Greenfield, Northampton, Salem, and Worcester, according to the governor’s office.“Every day, I hear from residents who are struggling with the high costs of energy and housing. This grant program will lower monthly energy bills and maintain affordable housing for families across Massachusetts,” Healey said. “Electrifying our buildings presents an important opportunity to d...

Will Zach LaVine be traded before the deadline? What should the Chicago Bulls get in return? 6 trade rumor mill questions.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

It’s been a week since the first report of Zach LaVine’s openness to a trade out of Chicago cracked open the future of the season for the Bulls.This a new season of change for the Bulls, who could be entering the early stages of yet another rebuild just three years after starting a new project centered around LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević.Let’s take a look at the top questions surrounding the latest cycle of trade rumors:1. Will a trade happen soon?It depends on what is meant by “soon” — but the short answer is no.The Bulls need to wait until mid-December to see a full spread of offers from teams throughout the league. This waiting period is mandated by free-agency rules which prohibit players from being traded until Dec. 15 or three months after the date of their contract signing, whichever comes later. Due to this latter clause, some players will not be available until January.It looks most realistic to expect the Bulls to e...

Take this as a sign, head to the slopes at Big Bear Mountain (share with your shred pal)

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

BIG BEAR MOUNTAIN, Calif. -- The time has come for those looking to "shred the gnar" this holiday season. Bear Mountain Resort announced that it will open for skiing and snowboarding this weekend. On Saturday, Nov. 25, Bear Mountain is welcoming pass holders only. From 8 a.m. to a brisk 4 p.m., early access will provide those with season tickets a chance to take on the mountain before the big crowds blow through. Snow season arrives early at Big Bear Mountain The good news is, there's still time to snag your annual pass ahead of the exclusive day.For those who want to shred on occasion with single day admission, opening day for the general public will follow on Sunday, Nov. 26 for both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit.Prices for adult skiers and snowboarders start at $79. Advance reservations are not required but are highly recommended.Bear Mountain trails include Upper Park Run, Expressway, Hidden Valley, and Central Park. For Snow Summit, trails include Bear Bottom Beginner A...

Municipalities say $600 billion in infrastructure needed to build 5.8 million homes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

OTTAWA — The Federation of Canadian Municipalities says new research it commissioned finds municipalities would need $600 billion in infrastructure funding to help build 5.8 million homes by 2030.That’s the number of homes the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. says Canada needs to build to restore affordability.Canadian municipalities are voicing their disappointment that the federal Liberals didn’t include a new infrastructure funding model in its fall economic statement this week, despite the prime minister promising one would come in the fall. The federation held a news conference in Ottawa today to call on the federal government to convene provincial, territorial and municipal leaders to discuss a new funding framework that takes economic and population growth into better account. The fiscal update that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented earlier this week included few new housing policies, as the Liberal government acknowledges the pressure that high infl...

Pierre Poilievre says he has a plan to tackle hate — but without touching free speech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he has a plan for how he would tackle a rise in hate-motivated crimes reported since the start of Israel-Hamas war, but it doesn’t involve touching what protesters say. Poilievre presented what he called “common sense Conservative measures” during a press conference at a Toronto synagogue today, including re-evaluating Canada’s terrorism threat level and creating an anti-hate network for faith communities. Jewish Canadians have reported a sharp rise in antisemitism and violence against synagogues and schools since Hamas militants’ surprise attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Muslim communities have reported a similar uptick in violence, as Israel continues to wage war in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the attacks. Politicians and Jewish advocacy groups have raised concerns about chants and signage at protests that they fear could incite violence, and they have also raised the alarm about a rise in ...

Myanmar military says drone attack by ethnic armed groups in northeast destroyed about 120 trucks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar ’s military-controlled government said Thursday that almost half of more than 250 cargo trucks stranded by fighting against ethnic minority armed groups near the northeastern border with China have been destroyed in a fire caused by bombs dropped by drones.Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of the ruling military council, said in a statement phoned to state television MRTV that trucks parked in a compound near a trade zone in Muse township caught fire after drones belonging to ethnic armed organizations launched an attack at about 9:45 a.m. on Thursday.The action was one of the most dramatic, and in terms of property damage, most extensive since the self-styled Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army launched a coordinated offensive in northern Shan state on Oct. 27. The trucks are used to carry goods to and from China.Zaw Min Tun said about 120 of 258 trucks, which w...

Liberals, Tories argue over carbon pricing in update to Ukraine trade agreement

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says his party didn’t vote against having a free-trade agreement with Ukraine, but is instead rejecting a bill that promotes carbon pricing.The House of Commons is debating government legislation that implements a negotiated update to an existing trade deal between Canada and Ukraine. It also adds a new environmental chapter in which both countries agree to “promote carbon pricing.”Ukraine has had a price on carbon in place for years, and its ambassador is urging Canada to pass the legislation to help lay the groundwork for an economic recovery when Russia ends its invasion.Conservatives unanimously voted against sending the bill to committee on Tuesday, despite all other parties approving it, and Poilievre says it’s “cruel” to hold Ukraine to a carbon tax as it tries to rebuild from a war.Liberal House leader Karina Gould says the Tories are abandoning Ukraine and not taking climate change seriously.T...

Malichita cantaloupes likely cause of salmonella outbreak in five provinces: PHAC

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

OTTAWA — The Public Health Agency of Canada says Malichita brand cantaloupes have likely caused a salmonella outbreak acrossfive provinces. It says as of Wednesday, there have been 26 confirmed cases in B.C., Ontario, Quebec, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador. Six people have been hospitalized. The agency says if people aren’t sure what brand of cantaloupe they have, they should throw it out. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued food recalls earlier this month, includingfor whole cantaloupes, pre-cut cantaloupes and fruit trays that used the Malichita brand.It has also recalled some pre-cut pineapples, honeydew melons and watermelons that were processed alongside Malichita cantaloupes. Canadian authorities are collaborating with the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., where there have also been salmonella outbreaks linked to cantaloupes. Symptoms of salmonella infection include fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and stomach cramps....

A crane operator has rescued a man from a burning high-rise in England

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A crane operator played down tributes paid to him on Thursday after he lifted a man to safety from a burning high-rise building in England. Video from the scene in the town of Reading in southern England showed a man being rescued by a crane cage from the roof of a building under construction as thick plumes of dark smoke and flames billowed around him. A crowd that had gathered near the building broke out in applause as the man was lifted in the air and then lowered to the ground.Crane operator Glen Edwards, 65, described the situation as a “close call” because of windy conditions. “I was no more than 20 meters up in the air and I looked out my left-hand window and saw a guy standing on the corner of the building,” said Edwards, who had been working at the site before the blaze broke out.“I’d only just seen him and someone said ‘can you get the cage on,’ so that was it, I got the cage on and got it over to him the best I could,” he added.He said he tried to posi...

Defence chief, minister to meet House committee about military capacity

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:45 GMT

OTTAWA — The defence minister and Canada’s top soldier are set to speak to a House of Commons committee later today about the rising number of domestic military operations and the challenges that poses for the Canadian Armed Forces. A recent Defence Department report says the response to this year’s record wildfires and other natural disasters put a strain on the military’s operational readiness.Gen. Wayne Eyre, the chief of the defence staff, has said the federal government needs to call in the troops less often and return to the practice of making them a last resort.But Defence Minister Bill Blair has made it clear he believes the military’s mandate includes responding to natural disasters in Canada. The department’s latest results report says efforts to respond to natural disasters and support Ukraine are compounding long-standing personnel shortfalls and equipment issues in the Armed Forces.The House defence committee is also expected hear from Emer...