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UK court: Jehovah’s Witnesses not liable for rape by elder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization isn’t liable for an elder who raped a member of his congregation more than three decades ago.The decision overturned rulings by lower courts that awarded 62,000 pounds ($77,500) for the emotional harm suffered by a Welsh woman who was raped in 1990.Elder Mark Sewell was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping the woman in his home after the two had been out proselytizing.The Supreme Court ruled that the concept of vicarious liability — often used to hold an employer responsible for the reckless actions of an employee — didn’t extend to the Witnesses in the case, because it didn’t pass a two-stage test.While the court said the elder could be considered an employee of the religious organization, the rape at his home wasn’t within the scope of his duties for the congregation.“The primary reason that the rape took place was not because Mark Sewell was abusing his position ...

North Dakota limits bathroom use for transgender people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

Transgender kids and adults in North Dakota won’t be able to access bathrooms, locker rooms or shower rooms that match the gender they identify with, under a new law covering some state-run facilities signed by Republican Gov. Doug Burgum.This includes dorms and living facilities controlled by the state board of higher education, as well as penitentiaries and correctional facilities for youths and adults. Restrooms and shower rooms at these facilities would be designated for use exclusively for males or exclusively for females. Transgender or gender-nonconforming people would need to get approval from a staff member at the facility to use the restroom or shower room of their choice.Burgum’s office announced Wednesday that he signed the bill the previous day. It had passed the state House and Senate with veto-proof majorities.The American Civil Liberties Union has said that so far this year, more than 450 bills attacking the rights of transgender people have been introduced in ...

In cookbook, Miranda Lambert reveals recipes that fed her

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — When she was a teenager, Miranda Lambert listened at the dinner table while her grandmother, her mother and their friends swapped gossip, life lessons and stories from East Texas.Those overheard conversations over plates of enchiladas and banana pudding became inspiration for Lambert’s Grammy-winning musical career, teaching her the art of storytelling and entertaining at the same time. “Some of my first songs were written about some of the stories that they were going through,” Lambert said. “I hadn’t lived it myself yet, but I really absorbed that.”After nearly two decades in country music and at the height of her career as one of the most award-winning country artists, Lambert is dishing on those recipes — and the stories behind them — from her family and friends in a book called “Y’All Eat Yet? Welcome to the Pretty B(asterisk)tchin’ Kitchen.”“It’s really important to surround yourself with people who celebrate the good t...

Eight arrests, nine seizures in police operation tied to murder of teen in Montreal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

Montreal police say eight people have been arrested in a major operation linked to the alleged drive-by shooting death of a teenager last month. Police say 175 officers with several police forces are participating in search and seizures connected with the death of an 18-year-old in the east-end Montreal borough of Anjou on March 19.The seizures are taking place in four boroughs and include officers with the Montreal, Longueuil, Que., and provincial police forces.Montreal’s sixth homicide of 2023 occurred around 10 p.m. on March 19 when the victim was gunned down on the sidewalk.The suspect or suspects reportedly fired from a vehicle and quickly fled.Montreal police say they will provide an update on the operation later today.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023.The Canadian Press

Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard arguing against extradition order at Appeal Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

WINNIPEG — An appeal hearing is underway in Winnipeg for former fashion mogul Peter Nygard. Nygard’s lawyers are appealing a United States extradition order that would require the 81-year-old be sent south of the border once his Canadian court cases are settled. He has waived his appearance at the Manitoba Court of Appeal hearing.Nygard was first arrested in Winnipeg in 2020 under the Extradition Act after he was charged with nine sex-related counts in New York. He faces similar charges in Canada and is scheduled to face trial in September in Toronto and next year in Montreal.Nygard is also the subject of a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. involving dozens of women who allege he abused his position in the fashion industry and sexually assaulted them. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023. The Canadian Press

Stellantis to offer buyouts amid electric vehicle transition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Another automaker is trying to cut its workforce to trim expenses and stay competitive as the industry makes the long and costly transition to electric vehicles.Stellantis on Wednesday said it’s offering buyouts to groups of white-collar and unionized employees in the U.S., as well as hourly workers in Canada.The cuts are “in response to today’s increasingly competitive global market conditions and the necessary shift to electrification,” the company said in a prepared statement.Stellantis said it’s looking to reduce its hourly workforce by about 3,500, but wouldn’t say how many salaried employees it’s targeting.The company has about 56,000 workers in the U.S., and about 33,000 of them could get the offers. Of those, 31,000 are blue-collar workers and 2,500 salaried employees. Another 8,000 union workers in Canada also will get offers, the company said. Stellantis, formed in the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Groupe, says in a s...

Farmers plan biggest wheat crop in more than two decades due to war in Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

Statistics Canada says farmers are expecting to plant the largest wheat crop in more than two decades in 2023.Canadian farmers anticipate planting 23 million acres of wheat, up 6.2 per cent from the previous year. The data agency says this is possibly due to favourable prices and strong demand for wheat. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago drove up global wheat prices, as Ukraine has been one of the world’s largest wheat exporters. Prices have since declined significantly from last year’s double-digit highs but remain relatively strong from a historical perspective. Chicago benchmark wheat futures were trading for around US$6.49 per bushel midday Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2023.The Canadian Press

World Food Program adds hot meals to Venezuela operations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The food assistance agency of the United Nations announced Wednesday that it is expanding operations in Venezuela by providing hot meals to 16,000 children and adults in more than 100 schools.The U.N. World Food Program, which began delivering food to needy Venezuelans in 2021, will offer the hot meals as a pilot program in public schools whose cafeterias have been equipped and upgraded. The schools are in the northwestern state of Falcón, where economic activity is heavily dependent on government-owned oil refineries whose production has tanked since last decade. Remaining workers cannot afford food on their monthly $5 paycheck. “School meals are more than a plate on the table,” Laura Melo, the agency’s director in Venezuela, said in a statement. “A plate of fresh, tasty food is an important incentive for children to attend and stay in school, where they belong. Everything from there is a win: better learning, better health and nutrition, better opportunities for...

3 high schoolers arrested in deadly rock-throwing crime spree in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Three 18-year-olds have been arrested in connection to a rock-throwing crime spree in Colorado that killed a 20-year-old woman. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) said they arrested Joseph Koenig, Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, and Zachary Kwak. The three men, all 18 years old, were taken into custody at their homes in Arvada, Colorado.According to a sheriff's office spokesperson, all three men were seniors at three different high schools in Jefferson County. Investigators do not believe they had any relation to the victims in the crime spree.The three suspects were arrested in connection to the rock-throwing crime spree that killed Alexa Bartell on April 19. Bartell, of Arvada, was driving when she was hit by a large rock. All three are accused of throwing rocks, and all are facing charges of first-degree murder - extreme indifference. Additional charges are expected to be filed at a later date. Out-of-town couple watches armed home burgla...

Disney sues DeSantis, alleging harm to its business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:54 GMT

The Walt Disney Company is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other state officials, alleging that DeSantis is harming the company’s business operations. The lawsuit comes after months of Disney and DeSantis sparring over legislation that DeSantis has signed and steps the governor has taken to increase the state’s control over Disney. "A targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech—now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,” the lawsuit states.The lawsuit comes after the board that DeSantis appointed to oversee Disney voted Wednesday to void development contracts that Disney made.Disney said in its complaint that the action from the board was the "latest strike" leading to the lawsuit.DeSantis signed legislation at the end of February to end Disney's power over the Reedy Creek Improvement Dis...