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Why are some tenants using the ‘last resort’ of rent strikes?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, there are several rent strikes happening in Canada right now, mostly in Toronto. Some of them have been going on for six months or more. Evictions have been long-threatened, but slow to happen. And most tenants haven’t seen any concession or negotiation, even when the mayor stepped in.Ricardo Tranjan is a senior researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the author of The Tenant Class. He says these tenant actions are a response to an increasingly untenable situation for Canadian renters.“So that housing market, that is set up for profit creation … sometimes it goes too far and becomes a little bit too greedy, and starts squeezing too much out of tenants,” says Tranjan.  So what are rent strikes, how do they work, and what should you know about a renter’s “last resort”?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

New documentary offers a peek into the triumphs and struggles of Muslim chaplains in US military

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

The woman refused to sell Captain Saleha Jabeen a hijab to don with her military uniform. While many civilian Muslims tell Jabeen she makes them proud, others are horrified by her decision to serve. “You’re gonna go kill Muslims,” the store owner told her that day.Major Rafael Lantigua Jr. has experienced the flip side of that struggle. Angered by an attack on U.S. troops in Iraq, a fellow service member once barked at Lantigua: “Why can’t you call your people and tell them to stop?”The words stung. Just as Jabeen thought the woman saw her as a bad Muslim, Lantigua felt the implication of the outburst directed at him was: You don’t belong. (The service member later apologized).In the years since, Jabeen and Lantigua have become part of the small group of Muslim military chaplains who tend to the souls and spirits of U.S. troops of all faiths and no faith — their work highlighted in a new film that offers a peek into their worlds. Among other duties, they give talks on suicide preven...

Government impersonation, phishing are top financial scams, Interac survey finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

TORONTO — A new Interac survey finds government impersonation is one of the biggest financial scams plaguing people across Canada.Forty-two per cent of survey respondents say they’ve dealt with scammers pretending to be representatives of official government institutions. That’s followed by 41 per cent facing phishing scams and 33 per cent indicating they have dealt with fake banking, credit card and online account scams. The survey, which collected responses from 1,202 people online between Sept. 28 and Oct. 6, suggests 53 per cent of respondents believe being targeted by financial scams is a common occurrence in Canada. Four in 10 reported being concerned they could fall victim.Rachel Jolicoeur, director of cyber market intelligence and financial crimes at Interac Corp., says people have to remember the criminals carrying out scams are professionals and opportunistic.She encourages people to pay attention to these incidents, and stop, scrutinize and report. This report...

'Pull over now': 12-year-old driving stolen forklift leads police on hourlong chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WFLA) - A 12-year-old boy driving a stolen construction forklift in Michigan led police on an hourlong chase Saturday, striking 10 parked vehicles during the pursuit, police said on social media.According to the Ann Arbor Police Department, the vehicle, a Construction Genie GTH-636 Telehandler – equipped with a forklift and weighing up to 35,000 pounds – was stolen from outside the Forsyth Middle School. Based on the preliminary investigation, officials said, the vehicle was unlocked with the key hidden inside the cab."This was a very dangerous situation that could’ve easily ended with serious injuries," the police department said on Facebook.Police said officials were first called to the school around 6:45 p.m. Saturday on reports that a juvenile was trying to steal a construction vehicle. Tammy Sytch: Former WWE superstar sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for deadly DUI crash in Florida Minutes later, officers found the boy driving down the street with...

Stephen Colbert cancels ‘Late Show’ this week after suffering ruptured appendix

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

(The Hill) -- Comedian Stephen Colbert, host of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” announced that his show is canceled this week as he recovers from surgery for a ruptured appendix. “Sorry to say that I have to cancel our shows this week. I’m sure you’re thinking, “Turkey overdose, Steve? Gravy boat capsize?” Actually, I’m recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix,” Colbert said in a statement through the show’s various social media accounts. “I’m grateful to my doctors for their care and to Evie and the kids for putting up with me,” the late night host said, jokingly adding: “Going forward, all emails to my appendix will be handled by my pancreas.”  This is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023 According to the Mayo Clinic, a ruptured appendix causes pain in the lower right abdomen. This results in symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, and a low-grade fever that may rise as the illness worsens. Treatment ...

Innovative medical device helps Georgetown doctor save motorcyclist's life after crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

GEORGETOWN (KXAN) — A routine ride on a motorcycle this spring suddenly took a turn for the worse for Leander local Alfred Peterson."I ran into the side of a vehicle and it threw me about 20 yards,” he said. “Then, the vehicle parked on my leg."Suffering several broken bones and life-threatening damage to his aorta, the 41-year-old was placed in a medically-induced coma.To prevent catastrophic bleeding, local doctors had to act fast.Dr. Nicolas Zea, of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons says they needed to close the aorta off at both ends.Together, he and Dr. Mark Felger implemented the GORE TAG Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis device."It was an operation that lasted less than an hour, as opposed to an operation that could have lasted three or five hours,” Dr. Zea said.This surgery was the first of its kind on a trauma patient in Williamson County."The TBE device allowed us to seal the tear in his aorta, but also preserve blood flow to his left arm,” Dr. Zea explained. “Sort of seal...

11/28/2023: Blustery with lake effect snow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

The latest Storm Tracker Forecast from Meteorologist Jill Szwed.Happy Tuesday! Conditions are just right for more lake effect snow. The focus of the heaviest snow will shift from western New York to the Tug Hill and western Adirondacks today. Even parts of the News10 area will get in on the action.No issues as you head out the door this morning. Parts of the Capital District did see a few light snow showers overnight. Accumulations are a skiff at best, but sidewalks might be a little slippery. Scattered lake effect snow showers will arrive after lunchtime. At the same time the wind will pick up, which will further hamper visibility. Be on the lookout for changing conditions during your ride home this evening.Snow will fade tonight with skies going partly to mostly cloudy. It will stay cold and windy with wind chills settling into the single digits and teens.Passing flurries and snow showers can't be ruled out again tomorrow. Most of the snow will be confined to the Adirondacks Park....

Columbia County orchard, farm store closing after 54 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

GHENT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Love Apple Farm, located at 1421 Route 9H in Ghent, is permanently closing after 54 years. The farm's last day will be Thursday, November 30. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Love Apple Farm was founded in 1969 by Chris and Rande Loken. When they moved out of the area in 2012, Francis Greenburger and Isabelle Autones took over as owners of the farm."The farm is closing because it has not been profitable for over ten years," Greenburger told NEWS10. "Current costs for operating a small family apple farm and farm stand exceed revenue." Queensbury’s new German restaurant sets opening date The property includes an orchard that grows apples, cherries, blueberries, and more, a farm zoo and playground, a market, a cafe, a bakery, and a gift shop. Greenburger said the main house with be rented as a living space and the farm kitchen will support a local food packaging business. They're also looking for other lo...

Making Christmas: How decorating for the holidays helped save Call to Arms Brewing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

When Chris Bell wants to do something, he goes all out. So much so that he has spent thousands of dollars to turn his Call to Arms Brewing, in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood, into a pop-up perfect spot, not only for getting into the spirit of the season while sipping beer, but also for holiday-themed selfies, winter work parties and other festive get-togethers.“The creativity behind the pop-up is like making beer; I get a lot of joy out of it and to me, making a beer isn’t about throwing a bunch of ingredients together, it’s about evoking things from people’s senses,” said Bell, over the phone as he shopped for said pop-up at Home Depot.“While generally those senses are the nose and mouth, they are also your eyes and how that beer looks, and Christmas is the same,” he added.In 2016, the Call to Arms Brewing’s team, from left, was Jesse Brookstein, Chris Bell and Jon Cross.Bell’s wild decor inspiration hails from his hometow...

“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride, and more short reviews from readers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:37 GMT

Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. Sure, you could read advertising blurbs on Amazon, but wouldn’t you be more likely to believe a neighbor with no skin in the game over a corporation being fed words by publishers? So in this series, we are sharing these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email [email protected].“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride (Riverhead Books, 2023)“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride (Riverhead Books, 2023)In this beautifully written novel, McBride explores how a sense of community and humanity can overcome differences, whether they be racial, religious or even physical. The “Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” is a neighborhood fixture and keystone, connecting the lives and fates of immigrant Jewish and African American neighbors in a smal...