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Grant program for Black women entrepreneurs blocked by federal appeals court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A grant program for businesses run by Black women was temporarily blocked by a federal appeals court in a case epitomizing the escalating battle over corporate diversity policies.The 2-1 decision by the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily prevents the Fearless Fund from running the Strivers Grant Contest, which awards $20,000 to businesses that are at least 51% owned by Black women, among other requirements. In a statement Sunday, the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund said it would comply with the order but remained confident of ultimately prevailing in the lawsuit. The case was brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group run by conservative activist Edward Blum, who argues that the fund violates a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in contracts. “We strongly disagree with the decision and remain resolute in our mission and commitment to address the unacceptable disparities that exist for B...

TVO employees vote to reject ‘final’ contract offer as strike heads into 7th week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

TORONTO — Workers at Ontario’s public broadcaster have voted to reject what the company’s management says is its “final” offer after nearly six weeks of labour action.TVO CEO Jeffrey Orridge issued a statement saying he’s disappointed Canadian Media Guild employees voted against the offer, prolonging the strike he says “now enters a new and uncharted phase.”Dozens of TVO employees walked off the job in August after CMG, the union representing around 70 journalists, producers and education workers at the Ontario organization, said it wasn’t able to reach a fair agreement with the employer.The latest offer included a wage increase of 7.5 per cent over three years — 3 per cent retroactive to 2022, 2.75 per cent in 2023 and 1.75 per cent in 2024 — as well as protections preventing the use of contracts to replace permanent and temporary workers.CMG did not immediately respond to a request for comment and has not released the per...

Andersonville Arts Festival weekend returns with diverse work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Andersonville Arts Weekend is taking over the Far North Side, showcasing dozens of Chicago-based artists. Long-time employee Samuel Saenz has tended to the Flora and Fauna for years with his artistic flare on display. "The people I work with are incredible," Saenz said. He is one of the dozens of Chicago-based artists showcased in this year's Andersonville Arts Weekend. Though he works with multiple mediums, many of his paintings tell a deeper story. "Showing one piece, showing three pieces, or five pieces or selling artwork is an insane feeling every time," Saenz said.He says the Mexican tradition is you do what gives you life, and the symbols in his work are an ode to it. Another young artist just starting out at Las Manos Gallery on Foster Avenue is participating in his first show ever. "Chicago always treats me well," Ian Peterson-Garcia said. Peterson-Garcia recently moved to Chicago from Puerto Rico is displaying his enhanced photos of New York City. "My abuela ...

13-year-old hospitalized after shooting on Near West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

CHICAGO — Police say a 13-year-old boy is in the hospital after he was shot on the Near West Side on Sunday afternoon.According to police, the teen boy was in the 1100 block of West 13th Street when he was shot in the abdomen by an unknown individual just after 3 p.m.  2 dead after boat runs aground along Fox River in McHenry Police say the boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition.Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information on the deadly shooting can contact CPD Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8261.Tips for police can also be filed at CPDtip.com. Tips can be left anonymously.

More than 75,000 workers prep for possibility of largest health care strike in US history 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, which represents over 85,000 health care workers in seven states and the District of Columbia, said Sunday it did not reach an agreement with the organization ahead of the contract's expiration, setting the stage for the possibility of the largest health care strike in U.S. history late this week. Hours before workers' contracts were set to expire after 11:59 p.m. PT on Saturday, the coalition said it remains far apart from nonprofit Kaiser Permanente on important issues like across-the-board pay increases, retiree medical plans and protections against subcontracting and outsourcing.  GOP candidates pressed on unions, economy at second debate “Kaiser continues to bargain in bad faith over these issues and, so far, there is no light at the end of the tunnel,” the coalition said in a statement Saturday night. In a statement to The Hill, the coalition said health care workers are ready to sit down with Kaiser Permanente executi...

Game times announced for Twins’ postseason series against Blue Jays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

DENVER — The Twins know their opponent — the Toronto Blue Jays — and now, they finally know when they’ll play, too.The Twins will host the Blue Jays for a best-of-three series that begins at 3:38 p.m. Tuesday. Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, which pitcher Pablo López will start for the Twins, will be televised on ESPN. The second game of the series, which Sonny Gray will start, will begin at the same time, also televised on ESPN.A potential Game 3 is set for the same time. However, the scheduled date of that game, Thursday, is subject to change.In addition to the Twins’ series, there are three other Wild Card Series — Texas at Tampa Bay, Arizona at Milwaukee and Miami at Philadelphia — that will run concurrently and the game time on Thursday will depend on how many series are still going.If just one series has concluded, the Twins will be shifted to 2:08 p.m. Thursday on ABC. If two have concluded, the same. If the Twins and Blue Jays are the only two teams lef...

Wainwright strikes out in cameo to end career as Cardinals beat Reds 4-3. Votto ejected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright made one final appearance in his 18-year big league career, striking out as a pinch hitter on Sunday in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 4-3 season-ending win to the Cincinnati Reds."When I left the dugout today for the last time ever with a bat and wearing my spikes, that’s a pretty good way for me to go out,” Wainwright said.Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, playing perhaps his final game with the Reds, struck out in the first inning, then was ejected before the top of the second by plate umpire Shane Livensparger.Wainwright, a 42-year-old right-hander, went 200-128 with a 3.53 ERA in 18 major league seasons, all with the Cardinals. He got his 200th win in in his final pitching appearance against Milwaukee on Sept. 18. ‘I love you all so much’ : Adam Wainwright treats Cardinals fans to postgame concert He grounded out as a pinch hitter on Saturday night in his first plate appearance in two years, then was honored during a pregame ceremony on Sunday be...

When will we start to feel the crisp October air?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS – It’s the first day of October, but it sure doesn’t feel like it.The forecast for Monday and Tuesday remains unchanged from the last couple of days. Expect warm and dry conditions with a lot of sunshine to start out the workweek. Overnight lows through Wednesday morning will bottom out in the 60s. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here We’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of our next cold front. The first one will arrive on Wednesday night into Thursday, increasing shower and thunderstorm chances starting Wednesday evening all the way through late Thursday night. On top of this, afternoon highs will fall from the summer-like 80s at the start of this week to the 70s towards the end of the week.A second cold front is coming right behind the first, which will usher in much cooler and drier air at the start of the weekend. High temperatures next Saturday and Sunday are forecasted to be in the 60s, with overnight lows plummeting into the 40s. Fall is right aroun...

Kiszla: Broncos didn’t win game for Sean Payton, they averted another crisis of grumpy coach’s making.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

CHICAGO — When the Broncos had every right to quit on Sean Payton, proud NFL veterans Russell Wilson and Kareem Jackson stepped up to save this irascible, unlovable Denver coach from another crisis of his own making.After the Broncos came back from a 21-point deficit Sunday to beat the bad news Chicago Bears, 31-28, franchise owner Greg Penner graciously awarded Payton a game ball to celebrate his long-overdue first victory on the Denver sideline.“I don’t want to sugarcoat anything. We’re going to play a lot better teams on our schedule,” Payton said, remaining steadfastly true to his Coach Grumpypants nature.So let’s not sugarcoat it. Payton did not rally Denver against the league’s worst team. The Broncos won in spite of a coach who has been slow to embrace the players in Denver’s locker room as his guys.You might find Wilson so earnest as to be corny, so scripted as to be robotic and so past his prime as to not be worth anywhere near his big, fat contract extens...

Broncos fight back from brink to beat hapless Bears. Now comes the hard part. “We’re going to face a lot better teams”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:24 GMT

CHICAGO — The grand opening for Sean Payton’s Denver rendition of “Club Dub” suffered delays and setbacks over the past three weeks.It was supposed to debut to rave reviews in early September, but the drywall wasn’t up yet.Then Washington came to town for the premiere and the sound system shorted out.By the time the Broncos flew home from South Florida, you might have thought the whole thing burned to the ground.But finally, the celebration arrived as the calendar flipped to October. In Payton’s hometown, no less. Delayed but not muted.It shouldn’t have been this difficult, really, to find reason to crank the locker room music on an autumn Sunday. But finally Denver did after a wild, 31-28 victory over the heat-seeking-turned-hapless Bears.“I’ve been lucky enough, the last five times I’ve been here, we’ve won,” said Payton, who mostly grew up just southwest of here in Naperville, referring back to his days as New Orleans’ head coach. “We’ve been in that locker room, talking and list...