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Free Disney World passes is latest front in war between Disney and DeSantis appointees

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

Already involved in two lawsuits with Disney, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees to a board that oversees Disney World’s governing district on Monday launched a battle against the company on a new front — free passes and discounts for district employees.Board members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District submitted a complaint to the state Inspector General, claiming that the millions of dollars in season passes, as well as discounts on hotels, merchandise, food and beverages, that their Disney-supporting predecessors provided governing district employees amount to unethical benefits and perks.Last year alone, before the DeSantis appointees took over the governing board and it was still controlled by Disney backers, around $2.5 million in discounts and passes were given to district employees and their families, the board said in a news release.The arrangement was self-serving to the company because it funneled money back to Disney, with the district footing the bil...

Syria’s state media says Israeli airstrikes near the capital of Damascus have wounded 1 soldier

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AP) — Israeli’s military staged airstrikes near Syria’s capital late Monday wounding one soldier and causing material damage, Syrian state media reported. State TV quoted an unnamed military official as saying that Israeli fired missiles from the direction of Syria’s Israeli-occupied Golan Heights targeting some military positions near Damascus. It gave no further details. An Israeli air attack Aug. 7 on suburbs of Damascus reportedly killed four soldiers.Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in its northern neighbor, has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets in government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges them.Israel has also targeted the international airports in Damascus and the northern Syrian city of Aleppo several times over the past few years, often putting it out of commission.The Associated Press

Greece’s leader pledges to keep up military support for Ukraine as Zelenskyy visits Athens

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged Monday to keep up military support for Ukraine for as long as it takes and to help with post-war reconstruction. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that might mean Greece could help train his country’s fighter pilots on new Western aircraft, though Greek officials did not comment.Zelenskyy was in Athens for his fourth visit to a European Union capital in three days, and he also attended an informal meeting of Balkan leaders with top European Union officials.In statements following his talks with Zelenskyy, Mitsotakis voiced full support for Kyiv against Russia’s invasion and condemned Russian for “war crimes.” He pledged to “stay on the side of the government and the heroic people” of Ukraine, “however much time may be required.”Mitsotakis also said NATO-member Greece would participate in the “titanic” task of reconstruction in Ukraine when the fighting is over.Zelenskyy thanked Mitsotakis fo...

Alabama can enforce ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children, court says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Alabama can enforce a ban outlawing the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender children, the second such appellate victory for gender-affirming care restrictions that have been adopted by a growing number of Republican-led states. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a judge’s temporary injunction against enforcing the law. The judge has scheduled trial for April 2 on whether to permanently block the law.The ruling follows a string of decisions in recent weeks against similar bans. A federal judge in June struck down a similar law in Arkansas, the first state to enact such a ban. At least 20 states enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors.Bans have also been temporarily blocked by federal judges in Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky. A federal appeals court has allowed Tennessee’s ban, which had been blocked by a federal judge, to take effect. ...

Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said to be recruiting Wagner ‘strongmen’ for Africa

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on Monday published his first recruitment video for the Wagner Group since organizing a short-lived mutiny against defense officials in Russia, according to information on Russian social media channels. Prigozhin moved into the global spotlight in June with a dramatic, short-lived rebellion that posed the most serious threat to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian leader’s 23-year rule. The Wagner founder long benefited from Putin’s powerful patronage, including while he built a private army that fought for Russian interests abroad and participated in some of the deadliest battles of the war in Ukraine. In the video, which was posted on Telegram messaging app channels which are believed to be affiliated with Prigozhin, a person who appears to be the 62-year-old mercenary leader says the Wagner Group is conducting reconnaissance and search activities, and “making Russia even greater on all continents, and Africa ...

Toronto Board of Trade not pleased with potential commercial parking tax

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

As Toronto continues mulling over ways to get this city back on steady financial footing, a commercial parking tax is one proposal that is once again on the table.TTC advocates are all for it while the business community has a very different reaction.A new report released Thursday from the city manager and interim chief financial officer outlines options on how the city can increase revenue in the wake of major deficits stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. City council is facing an immediate $1.5 billion hole and a $46.5 billion budget deficit over the next decade.Large shopping centers, strip malls, grocery stores and medical and office buildings are some locations that could be targeted by a commercial parking levy.The Toronto Region Board of Trade is not behind a move like this and with a one percent sales tax on goods and services also being considered.Executive Vice President Giles Gherson tells CityNews there will be consequences. “That parking levy will undoubted be pas...

Letter: Group of former Northwestern athletes critical of Pat Fitzgerald firing process

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — For the second time in less than a week, a group of former Northwestern athletes has put their thoughts about the recent controversies concerning the athletic program in writing.This time, it's focused on two key leaders of the university.In a letter obtained by WGN News, over 80 former Wildcats' student-athletes expressed their displeasure with the way that head football coach Pat Fitzgerald, believing the decision lacked due process. The longtime coach of the program was fired on July 10 when more serious allegations of hazing surfaced after the completion of an investigation into whistleblower claims by former Illinois inspector general Maggie Hickey. Initially, Fitzgerald was suspended for two weeks without pay in July by President Michael Schill, but was fired four days later when more revelations surfaced."We write to express our deep dismay concerning President Michael Schill and Vice President of Athletics Derrick Gragg’s decisions and rhetoric regarding the...

'Day of the deadmau5' coming to Chicago this fall

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

CHICAGO -- The spooky mouse from Canada will keep a Chicago crowd dancing for the weekend leading up to Halloween.Joel Zimmerman, known as the artist "deadmau5," will take his "Day of the deadmau5" to the Radius Chicago concert venue on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29. Chicago & House Music: A relationship over four decades in the making The six-time Grammy nominated artist has over 6.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with his hit song "Ghost 'n' Stuff" having over 160 million streams. In 2023, deadmau5's released "Kx5," a collaboration with Chicago's Kaskade.The "Day of the deadmau5" events in Chicago begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29.For ticket information for Friday, click here. For ticket information for Saturday, click here.Radius Chicago is located at 640 West Cermak Road in between Chicago's Chinatown and Pilsen neighborhoods.

Illinois picks a starting QB while another player makes history

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

CHAMPAIGN — There were two major pieces of news that came out of Illinois' football program on Monday afternoon, and they were both positive developments. The first came for a player who is expected to be one of the best at his position in college football while the other concerns a new member of the program hoping to help the Illini take another step in 2023. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)Defensive tackle Jer'Zahn Newton, often referred to as Johnny, has been named an Associated Press 2023 Preseason All-American. According to the school, it's the first time in program history that a player has landed on that list and adds to junior's growing list of preseason accolades after a breakthrough 2022 season. After netting 14 tackles for loss and 5 1/2 sacks in 13 games last fall and earning second-team All-American honors, Newton is on a number of preseason first teams along with the watch lists for the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski, and Walter Camp Player of Year Awards.(Photo by...

Bidens travel to Maui to meet with wildfire survivors and first responders

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:07:36 GMT

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are traveling to Maui on Monday to comfort survivors of the devastating wildfires that ripped through the western part of the Hawaiian island earlier this month, as his administration responds to the devastation whose full scope is still unknown.The Bidens are taking a detour from their weeklong vacation in the Lake Tahoe area for the day trip to Lahaina, a historic town of 13,000 people that was virtually destroyed by the flames. While there, the first couple will meet with first responders and be briefed by state and local officials about the ongoing response.They will also view the damaged town, both from helicopters and on the ground, and the Democratic president will deliver remarks paying tribute to the victims of the wildfires, which have killed more than 100 people since they began on Aug. 8.The president will also tap Bob Fenton, a regional leader at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as chi...