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Feds unlock another $20 billion for low-cost rental construction financing: Freeland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal government is unlocking another $20 billion in low-cost financing for the construction of rental housing across Canada, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Tuesday.The Canada Mortgage Bonds program, which raises funds for residential mortgage financing, had an annual limit of $40 billion.The limit is being increased to $60 billion, with the additional funds aimed at increasing rental construction specifically. This includes apartment buildings, student housing and senior residences.The federal governmentsays the new funding will boost rental construction by 30,000 units annually.“There is no fiscal impact for the government of Canada as a result of this measure. This is fiscally responsible policy using policy tools at our disposal,” Freeland told reporters Tuesday in Ottawa.“This is a further measure in our broader and continuing campaign to build more homes for Canadians faster.”Freeland says the program allows developers to ac...

Amazon’s checkout-free stores are coming to Toronto and Calgary sports arenas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

Toronto and Calgary sports fans will soon be able to skip the lineup when purchasing snacks before or during games.Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary are spending the fall rolling out Amazon Web Services (AWS) technology allowing some of the venues’ stores to offer fans checkout-free shopping — and the Seattle-based e-commerce giant says this is just the beginning.“You will be seeing more of this in Canada, not only in stadiums, but in all sorts of other environments as well,” said Jon Jenkins, vice-president of Just Walk Out at AWS.“We never release timelines…but it’ll be coming very soon.”The Just Walk Out technology requires fans to scan a credit or debit card to gain entry to a store kitted out with overhead cameras and sensors that will use computer vision, machine learning and generative artificial intelligence to track what they pick up and return to shelves, building a virtual tab for each customer. When...

Anti-abortion groups demand liberal Wisconsin prosecutors charge abortion providers despite ruling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A coalition of anti-abortion organizations on Tuesday demanded that prosecutors in Wisconsin’s two largest counties bring charges against abortion providers who have resumed practicing following a court ruling that consensual abortions are legal in the state.Wisconsin Right to Life, Wisconsin Family Action and Pro-Life Wisconsin held a news conference in the state Capitol to call for Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm to prosecute abortion providers in their counties. Ozanne and Chisholm, both Democrats, announced last year that they would permit abortions in their counties despite a 174-year-old state law that conservatives argue bans the procedure. Dane County Circuit Judge Diane Schlipper ruled this summer that consensual abortions are legal. Galvanized by the ruling, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin last week resumed abortions at clinics in Madison and Milwaukee after ceasing procedures last ...

Police identify three fishers who died after their boat sank off northeastern Quebec

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

BLANC-SABLON, Que. — Quebec provincial police have identified the three fishers who died after their boat sank off of Quebec’s Lower North Shore early Monday morning.Provincial police spokesman Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu says the three men were Yves Jones, 65, Dean Lavallée, 53, and Damon Etheridge, 36, all from Blanc Sablon, Que., about 1,300 kilometres northeast of Montreal.He says the two men and one woman rescued after the Silver Condor sank are expected to survive. Lt.-Cmdr. Len Hickey of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax says an Armed Forces rescue helicopter recovered five of those aboard the boat, while the sixth was recovered by a Coast Guard vessel.He says the Silver Condor had already sunk by the time rescuers arrived — nearly four hours after a distress signal was received at around 2:30 a.m.The Transportation Safety Board said it has been notified of the fatal sinking but has not decided whether a formal investigation will be opened.This report by The Cana...

Target closing 9 stores in 4 states for safety of workers, shoppers amid thefts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will close nine stores in four states, including one in East Harlem, New York, and three in San Francisco, saying that theft and organized retail crime have threatened the safety of its workers and customers.The closings, which will be effective Oct. 21, also include three stores in Portland, Oregon, and two in Seattle. Target said that it still will have a combined 150 stores open in the markets where the closures are taking place. Target will offer affected workers the opportunity to transfer to other stores.Target described the decision as “difficult."“We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all," Target said in a statement on Tuesday.Before making the decision, Target said it had invested heavily in strategies to prevent and stop theft such as adding more security team workers, using third-party guard services and installing theft deterrent tools...

Kraft Mac & Cheese brings back fan-favorite pasta shape after fans call for its return

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

(KTLA) — SpongeBob SquarePants will temporarily relocate from his pineapple under the sea to a blue mac and cheese box. McDonald’s to phase out self-serve soft drink fountains Kraft Mac & Cheese announced Tuesday that it is bringing back its popular SpongeBob SquarePants Mac & Cheese shapes, which will be available nationwide beginning in October.The fan-favorite pasta lineup will include shapes of SpongeBob SquarePants, Squidward, Patrick and Gary and will be available in the brand’s classic blue box and Easy Mac cups during the re-launch.“Whether you’re reveling in the nostalgic comfort and memories the SpongeBob SquarePants Shapes provide or trying this delicious new shape for the first time, Kraft Mac & Cheese invites you to put yourself first by proudly choosing what makes you feel good, inside and out,” a news release said. SpaghettiOs releases new flavor aimed toward millennials Kraft Mac & Cheese introduced pasta shapes inspired by the residents of Bikini...

WATCH: Jack-In-The-Box employee shot at Florida family in drive-thru over curly fries, according to court docs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A newly released video shows a Jack-In-The-Box employee shooting at a Florida family in a dispute over curly fries, according to court documents.Anthony Ramos, of Miami, along with his then-pregnant wife Jeraldin Ospina and their 6-year-old daughter, had pulled up to a Houston Jack-In-The-Box in March 2021, planning to order lunch with a side of curly fries. Florida family shot at over curly fries in Texas drive-thru sues Jack-In-The-Box When the fries did not come through, Ramos asked employee Alonniea Ford about the missing item, but she “refused to fulfill the order,” which had already been purchased, according to court records from a lawsuit about the incident.When the family asked to speak with a manager, Ford “began cursing at [the family] and yelling at them to ‘get the (expletive) outta here!'” court documents said.The family argued back, after which Ford hurled packets of ketchup, ice, and a variety of other items at the family's car, the video shows....

National Coffee Day: Where can I get free or discounted coffee?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — If you haven’t already developed a lifelong dependency to coffee, Friday just might be the day to reconsider!In celebration of National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, popular coffee chains across the U.S. are treating their loyal customers to deals and discounts on coffee or espresso-based drinks. And for those of us who aren’t already addicted, it’s a chance to try a few fleeting, free sips of coffee — and perhaps become trapped in a cycle of caffeine addiction that will last the rest of our natural lives.Want to know which chains are participating? Have a look below at some of National Coffee Day’s biggest promotions below.Caribou CoffeeIn honor of National Coffee Day, Caribou Coffee is giving members of its Caribou Perks program an entire week’s worth of deals. During the week of Sept. 25, members can redeem such offers as: a $1 discount on large, extra-large or nitro pumpkin drinks (Tuesday); double Caribou Perks points for customers who order ahead (Wednesday); a free upgr...

One person dead, police investigating as homicide at southeast Austin apartment complex

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead, and the Austin Police Department is investigating it as a homicide at a southeast Austin apartment complex, APD said during a media briefing Tuesday.Around 10:55 a.m., 911 received multiple calls about gunfire heard near the parking lot of 2319 Greenfield Parkway, APD Officer Alexandra Parker said during the briefing. That area is just east of Interstate 35 off of East Oltorf Street. Officers arrived on the scene at 10:59 a.m. and were flagged down by someone who needed assistance.Police found a man in his 30s with obvious signs of trauma, Parker said. Life-saving measures were performed on the man by police until EMS arrived on the scene. The man, who was not identified Tuesday, was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:12 a.m., according to police.The Austin Police Department is investigating a homicide in the 2300 block of Greenfield Parkway. Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 (KXAN Photo/Chris Nelson)The Austin Police Department is investigating a homicide...

'Not about the wisdom of the policies': City of Austin back in court over zoning notification process

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A group of homeowners that has successfully sued the City of Austin over its zoning notification process was back in front of a judge Tuesday arguing the City still isn't following the rules. The group's lawsuit claims the City of Austin neglected to follow a ruling made in 2020 -- which overturned an overhaul of the city's Land Development Code (LDC) -- when city council pushed through several additional LDC changes aimed at affordability over the past few years. "The heart of the prior injunction was that when the city proposes changes to the possible use of land by Austin citizens who own land it must give notice to those landowners and provide an opportunity to protest. That's what they were ordered to do in the first case, upheld on appeal and what they have failed to do in this case," Doug Becker, the attorney representing the homeowners, said. The crux of the claim is that the City of Austin failed to notify residents properly of those overarching zoning...