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ACTRA calling for a boycott of six brands linked to ad agencies in labour dispute

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

TORONTO — Unionized commercial actors are calling for a boycott of six brands that work with ad agencies embroiled in a nearly yearlong labour dispute. The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists has turned to shaming brands including Rogers and Walmart as it seeks higher pay, protections and benefits amid fractious talks to renew the National Commercial Agreement with the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA). The list of brands targeted also include Canadian Tire, McDonald’s, M&M Food Market, and H&R Block, who all work with agencies represented by the ICA, which disputes ACTRA’s account of the impasse. ACTRA international president Eleanor Noble said members will not work without an agreement and are effectively locked out while the ICA turns to non-unionized performers.“We gave them a courtesy, we sent them a letter to let them know in advance what we would be doing and we never heard back,” Noble said of the boycott campaign.“Our members would pre...

Suspect sought after woman, 21, sexually assaulted in Mississauga

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

Police are searching for a suspect after a young woman was sexually assaulted in Mississauga earlier this month.A 21-year-old woman was walking near Lake Ontario on March 7 in the area of Lakeshore and Stavebank roads. Investigators allege she was approached by a suspect and sexually assaulted.The suspect is described as a light-skinned male, five-feet-seven inches tall, with a full beard and a shaved head on the sides. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, dark colour pants, a blue fanny pack, and black and white running shoes.Police believe the suspect was driving a grey 2012 to 2014 Toyota Yaris around the time of the incident. Photos of the suspect and suspect vehicle have been released.Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.Peel police have released a photo of a suspect vehicle after a woman was sexually assaulted in Mississauga on March 7, 2023.

Russia puts Pussy Riot member on wanted list for criminals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian authorities have put a member of the Pussy Riot punk group on a wanted list for criminal suspects as the Kremlin works to stifle political dissent. Russian news outlet Mediazona discovered an entry for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova in the Russian Interior Ministry’s database of wanted individuals on Wednesday. The entry, also reviewed by The Associated Press, said Tolokonnikova faces criminal charges, but it didn’t specify what the charges are. Tolokonnikova became widely known for taking part in a 2012 Pussy Riot protest inside Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. She spent nearly two years in prison.Earlier this month Russia’s top human rights lawyer, Pavel Chikov, said a criminal case had been launched against Tolokonnikova on the charge of offending religious believers’ feelings, which became a criminal offense in Russia after the 2012 Pussy Riot protest. Tolokonnikova left Russia and reportedly lives in the U.S. In 2021, the Russian gover...

WATCH LIVE | $3.8 billion, 100-acre 'megadevelopment' breaks ground in Bronzeville

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

CHICAGO — The "largest mixed-use project ever undertaken in Chicago" breaks ground Wednesday thanks to $60 million in city funding.According to a press release from public relations firm Purpose Brand, LLC, the 100-acre megadevelopment dubbed Bronzeville Lakefront will be constructed on the site of the former Michael Reese Medical Campus and is "the nation’s first megadevelopment to have a 50% Black development team," with "a 98% diverse or minority supplier team for the infrastructure portion of the project." See the day-by-day lineup for Lollapalooza 2023 The project is expected to create 45,000 construction jobs, 31,000 long-term, full-time jobs, and have an overall economic impact of $8.2 billion, according to the project's website.The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m and include Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.WGN plans to livestream the event within this story beginning at approximately 10:25 a.m.

Report: Austin rent prices slowly decreasing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new report shows rent prices are slowly starting to drop in Austin.Zumper's latest report shows that the median-rent for one-bedrooms in Austin is down for the third month in a row. This month, it dropped by 4.2% to $1,600.The city's one-bedroom median price peaked at $1,720 in September 2022, according to the report. Report: You’d need five minimum wage jobs to afford a typical apartment in Austin Zumper credits the slight decrease to the effects of a post-COVID society. "Since then, the realities of an undersupplied market and return-to-office policies have set in," the report said. "Demand from new transplants is ebbing as many tech workers are called back to the office, either full-time or on a hybrid schedule," the report continued. Zumper said that trend is also reflected in Austin's for-sale market. KXAN reported earlier this month that houses for sale are spending a longer average amount of time on the market, according to the Austin Board of Realtors.

Mary deLaittre to step down as founding executive director of Great River Passage Conservancy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

Mary deLaittre, the founding executive director of the Great River Passage Conservancy, plans to step down next week from the St. Paul-based river planning and advocacy organization she helped establish. Communications and development manager Laura Bray will act as interim director until her successor is chosen.“The organization has launched a search for a new executive director, which is currently underway, and that new E.D. will focus on fundraising and advocacy,” said deLaittre, who said board members began general succession planning seven months ago. “We’ve been very planful.”deLaittre, whose professional background is in architecture and urban design, joined the city of St. Paul in 2016 as the manager of its “Great River Passage” initiative, an effort to better connect the Mississippi River’s 17 miles of riverfront corridor in St. Paul to residents and visitors. Three years later, she left City Hall to become the inaugural direct...

Gov. Hochul's request to join Buffalo Pride Parade declined

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Pride Center of Western New York and Evergreen Health announced Tuesday that Governor Kathy Hochul and her administration's request to join the Buffalo Pride Parade and Festival was declined over a budget policy. The organizations released a statement together to explain their reason, which can be seen in full below. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In a Monday letter to Hochul, Pride Center Executive Director Kelly Craig and Evergreen President and CEO Ray Ganoe further elaborate on the decision. They also said they welcome a discussion about their concerns concerning the 340B drug pricing program. "Your policy proposes to make healthcare access harder and care worse for millions of LGBTQ+ people across the state," the letter says.A spokesperson for Hochul responded Tuesday afternoon, saying: "Governor Hochul is a steadfast supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has the record to back it up, usin...

Saratoga grand jury files against three men involved in shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Saratoga DA Karen Heggen reports that the Saratoga County Grand Jury directed filing of prosecutor's information regarding three individuals involved in the November 20, 2022, shooting in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Vermont deputy that was also involved in the shooting, was charged on March 28 including attempted murder and assault charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Last month, three officers who were part of the shootout—as well as other members of the Saratoga Springs police department—received subpoenas to testify in front of a grand jury. The officers had been responding to a shootout between two men identified as Alex Colon, a barber from Utica and Vito Caselnova, an off duty, part-time Rutland Vermont Deputy. Caselnova’s attorney, Greg Teresi, claims it was Colon and a group of other men who came after his client and girlfriend. “He [Colon] brought a gun to a fistfight. And ...

Yard waste pick-up in Clifton Park begins April 3

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Curbside yard waste pick-up will be available for Clifton Park residents beginning on April 3. The service will be available through the end of November, weather permitting. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The Town has offered this valuable service to Clifton Park residents for many years, said Town Supervisor Phil Barrett.  This year the Town is partnering with Twin Bridges Waste and Recycling to ensure yard waste is removed, processed, and recycled timely and professionally”.Twin Bridges will collect leaves, grass clippings, tree and shrub trimmings, and other brushes packaged in brown paper yard waste bags only. Small, bunded brush less than four feet long and three feet in diameter will be collected. Bundles must be tied together to allow for easy pick-up and disposal. Bake sale raises money for Epilepsy Foundation and scholarship Yard waste will not be collected from garbage cans or ot...

Bake sale raises money for Epilepsy Foundation and scholarship

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:58 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The annual Purple Cupcakes for Epilepsy fundraiser returned to SUNY Schenectady, bringing together alumni bakers who help bake and sell cupcakes decorated with purple to represent the condition.Founder Stephen Piorkowski said he survived childhood illness at just age two which now causes him to have seizures.  Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “As I proceeded, I saw a doctor here in Albany and I took this medicine called Kepra and here I am, four years without a seizure," Piorkowski said. He started the annual bake sale after he graduated from SUNY Schenectady in hopes to raise awareness about the condition and inspire others like Mary Silvestri and her 9-year-old daughter Anna who was diagnosed with Epilepsy. “It was really important for me to have Anna here with me to participate. When somebody is going through this, you want to find the positive and the light in something like this and for Ann...