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Trial by social media: Court struggles under weight of ‘Freedom Convoy’ evidence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

OTTAWA — As thousands of demonstrators clogged the streets around Parliament Hill in early 2022, many of them had phones in hand, taking video of the different scenes around them for almost three weeks. For some participants, the “Freedom Convoy” protests had a festival-like atmosphere. For those who weren’t part of the fun, it felt more like an occupation. And for millions watching online, the massive demonstration played out online, often in real time, through social media posts, videos and livestreams. More than a year later, lawyers are trying to use those loud and sometimes chaotic digital posts in a courtroom that was very much designed in the analog era. The second week of the criminal trial for two of the convoy’s most prominent organizers has been slow-rolled by issues related to social media evidence, both from a legal perspective and a practical one.The disconnect is emblematic of some of the problems with trying cases in the social media age.There...

Winemakers, NDP call for removal of Ontario retail winery tax

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

Jakub Lipinski recounts a long-running joke in Ontario’s Niagara Region: if you want to make a small fortune in wine, you start with a big fortune.Lipinski, whose family runs Big Head Wines, was recently at the Ontario legislature to show support for a private member’s bill local New Democrat representative Wayne Gates plans to introduce in the fall to eliminate a tax on wineries.Ontario winemakers have long raised concerns about the province’s tax regime. Lipinski says 65 per cent of the price of a bottle is taxes and especially after the challenges that COVID-19 brought, it would help the industry to have one of them cut.“Especially after the last few very difficult years, it would be nice to have a little bit more relief from the government,” he said at a press conference with Gates.Gates’ bill, which he also introduced in 2020 but which did not go anywhere before the legislature prorogued a year later, would eliminate a 6.1-per-cent basic tax on all on-si...

14-year-old boy fatally shot after Hillcrest HS football game ID'd: Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. -- A 14-year-old student who was fatally shot near Hillcrest High School after a homecoming football game Friday night has been identified by the medical examiner's office. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the boy as 14-year-old Marshawn Mitchell from Hazel Crest, Illinois. Officers responded to shots fired near the 17000 block of Pulaski Road after the homecoming varsity football game against Oak Forest High School around 9 p.m. 2 critical after shooting in Palatine: Police Police found Mitchell with gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital for life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m.The Hillcrest Hawks Football team posted a statement on their Facebook page:"We are all saddened by the events that happened tonight after our Homecoming Football Game against Oak Forest. There is an active investigation by all the appropriate authorities! We are praying for all involved! Please pray for our staff and s...

A 'playoff' stretch begins for Chicago Fire FC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

CHICAGO - If they want to go to the postseason in another year filled with ups and downs, they'd best have a playoff mindset now. That's because Chicago Fire FC has seven matches between Saturday and October 21, and every point matters in their quest to end a six-year playoff drought. This is especially true as the club is in the midst of a losing streak where they've dropped in the Eastern Conference standings."Every game we play is a playoff game," said manager Frank Klopas of his team. We can't hide from that. You can't sugarcoat that. The players see the standings. They know where we are. But it's important for us just to make sure that we have a really good game plan, we prepare really well, give the players as much confidence as we can in front of the goal but also our ability to defend well as a unit."This stretch begins on Saturday when the Fire faces CF Montreal on the road on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. central time. That club is three points ahead of them for the eighth spot in...

2 restaurants in St. Louis claim they invented toasted ravioli: Which story do you believe?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – In St. Louis, in a neighborhood known as the Hill, one dish stands out as a true local legend: toasted ravioli. The dish — made by breading and deep-frying ravioli, which is then topped with parmesan and served with dipping sauce — is generally believed to have been invented in St. Louis. But two different restaurants in the Hill have laid claim to the invention for decades — and both insist it was the product of a kitchen mix-up from back in the '40s. You won’t believe what Denny’s was originally called In 1987, the New York Times interviewed a local restaurateur named Louis Amighetti, who credited a restaurant called Angelo Oldani's with the invention. He said the owner of that restaurant told his new assistant, a German cook, to prepare the ravioli. Misunderstanding the instructions, the cook dumped the ravioli into a pot of hot oil, rather than boiling water, Amighetti said.Trying to salvage the dish, the owner of Angelo Oldani's allegedly brushed some grate...

Alternatives, Inc.: A move towards restorative practices in schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

A new study shows restorative practices are more beneficial than traditional discipline for students. Dr Anjali Adukia from the University of Chicago and executive director Bessie Alcantara of Alternatives Inc. joined WGN Weekend Morning News to share more on their initiative towards restorative justice.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

'Enrich Chicago:' Chicago arts community combats racism in America

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

Nina Sanchez from 'Enrich Chicago' joins WGN Weekend Morning News to share more about how Chicago's arts community is living up to the promises to fight racism in America.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

See this pattern on leaves? It could be an invasive insect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – An invasive insect known for leaving unique patterns on the leaves of elm trees has been spreading this summer. In July, Ohio became the latest state to confirm a population of elm zigzag sawflies had been found. A researcher at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Northern Research Station lab in Delaware, Ohio was the first to make the discovery. The research station has been growing elm trees for decades, which are the pest’s host of choice.The insect was also confirmed in northern Franklin County in August. Forest Health Program Manager Tom Macy said the invasive bug, native to Asia, has been on the Ohio Division of Natural Resources radar since it was first detected in North America — in Quebec, Canada in 2020, then the U.S. in 2021 and 2022.“We may find that this insect is more widespread than we realize, and now that people are kind of on the lookout for it, we might find it in more places,” Macy said.  Can you eat a spotted ...

Here's how each Texas senator voted in the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton has been acquitted on seven articles of impeachment in a historic trial at the Texas State Capitol. Nine others are still pending. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Ken Paxton impeachment trial Paxton faced 16 articles of impeachment that accused him of bribery, abuse of office, and conspiracy.The suspended attorney general pleaded not guilty to all impeachment articles on the first day of the trial.After closing arguments Friday morning, senators voted on each article. Paxton's wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, was present but not allowed to vote. BACKGROUND: What do the 20 Articles of Impeachment against Ken Paxton mean? What was the vote on each article of impeachment against Ken Paxton?A two-thirds majority — 21 senators — is needed to convict Paxton on each count. If he is convicted on at least one of the counts, the suspended attorney general will be immediately removed from office.What was the partisan breakdown on each vote?The Texas Senate...

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 2: Taylor Swift’s pal Kelce to return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:10 GMT

UPDATE: 11:41 a.m. SaturdayIt’s already been a big newsmaking week for Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce.First, the all-pro was reported to be “hanging out” with Taylor Swift. Yes, that Taylor Swift. Now comes word that tomorrow he’ll be hanging out again with Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs’ all-world offense.K.C. was certainly laboring without its star TE in its opening loss to Detroit. As they head down to Duval County for Week 2, look for Kelce to get the ball early and often against a Jaguars team looking for revenge for its 2022 playoff ouster at the hands of the Chiefs.The news isn’t so good for two top running backs. The Chargers’ Austin Ekeler (ankle) is considered doubtful for tomorrow’s game in Tennessee. So Joshua Kelley will see another big workload. And Green Bay’s Aaron Jones (hamstring) is not looking promising, which means a busier day for teammate A.J. Dillon.Two notables will be making their 2023 debuts this week: Denver WR Jerry Jeudy and Indy RB Zack...