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‘I’m a micro-manufacturer’: Canadian-owned company changes the game plan to stay alive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

In 1981, Paul Vella, who immigrated from Malta and spoke little English, was working as a foreman at an Ontario manufacturing plant when he got some tough news.“The plant where he worked was shutting down,” his son David Paul Vella said. “He was sad. I was happy because I said, ‘Dad, now’s our chance’.”That chance was creating their own company, something the younger Vella had wanted to do, even though he was just 17 at the time.“I was still in high school but my dad had the skills and knew how to create and spin quality pizza pans,” said Vella.They saw an opportunity.“There weren’t many companies that continued to make the pans, so we decided to create our own company.”They started in a garage, then eventually moved to a small facility on Norfinch Drive in North York, which was the start of a company called Crown Cookware, now located in Etobicoke.“We bought some of the equipment from my father’s company that was shutting down, we still have some of that today,” s...

Climate protesters twice interrupt Wagner’s `Tannhäuser’ at Metropolitan Opera

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Climate protesters caused a pair of interruptions totaling 22 minutes during the opening night of a revival of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” at the Metropolitan Opera.Christian Gerhaher, a German baritone making his Met Opera debut, was singing Wolfram’s second-act aria on Thursday night in which he says “und sieh, mir zeiget sich ein wunderbronnen (before me a miraculous spring appears)” when people on either side of the balcony unfurled long vertical banners with white capital letters on a black background.“NO OPERA ON A DEAD PLANET,” read the one on the north side of the 4,000-capacity auditorium. Met general manager Peter Gelb said Friday the other banner had the name of the group, Extinction Rebellion NY, which took responsibility.“Wake up! The spring is polluted,” one protester shouted. “The spring is tainted! The spring is poisoned! This is a climate emergency! This is a climate crisis! There will be no opera on a dead planet!”Yelled another: “...

Hezbollah and Israeli troops exchange fire along the border as 2 people are killed in Lebanon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group attacked several Israeli army posts along the two countries’ border and Israel shelled a village in southern Lebanon on Friday, killing two Lebanese citizens, officials said.It was the first time Hezbollah launched attacks on Israeli troops along the Lebanon-Israel border since the start of a seven-day truce between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah. That cease-fire collapsed on Friday, plunging the Israel-Hamas conflict back into open combat. Israel’s military said it hit the sources of the fire directed at the military. Lebanese security officials, meanwhile, said a woman and her son died when Israeli shells hit their home in the southern village of Houla. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Lebanon’s state news agency identified the woman and her son as Nasifa Mazraani and Mohammed Mazraani. Hezbollah later announced that Mohammed Mazraani was a fig...

COVID shot likely prevented thousands of premature births: study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

(NewsNation) — A new study found the COVID-19 vaccine may have prevented thousands of premature births. The authors found that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increased the risk of preterm birth, which can have lifelong consequences for infants. A fetus exposed to COVID-19 in the womb can also lead to health problems.The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found the increase of preterm births that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic dropped in 2022, likely as the result of vaccinations. Researchers also found that in places with early adoption of the vaccine, the level of preterm births dropped even earlier. Congress considers bill banning housing migrants on federal land Researchers acknowledged some limitations, including the fact that infection during pregnancy varied because different populations had different levels of risk, based on factors including socioeconomic status. The fact that COVID-19 may be asymptomatic and testing requi...

White House Christmas tree shines bright at lighting ceremony

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden kicked off the unofficial start of the holiday season at the lighting ceremony for the White House Christmas tree Thursday.The 40-foot Norway spruce, cut from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, survived an unexpected tumble Tuesday. Luckily, that was the only drama as the tree lighting went off without a hitch.“Jill announced the theme of this year's holiday at the White House: Magic, Wonder and Joy,” the president said. “Three words that capture the essence of Christmas and the holidays to rediscover for ourselves, the simple joys of the season; from familiar songs to favorite recipes to open the hearts of the simple acts of kindness.” Disney+ unveils new subscriber-only perks for the holiday season Grammy-nominated country singer Mickey Guyton hosted the event, which featured performances by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Guardians Big Band, Darren Criss, Samara Joy, Ledisi, Reneé Rapp, St. Vincen...

Appeals court rules Trump doesn't have immunity from civil suits over Jan. 6 riots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

(The Hill) - Former President Trump is not immune from civil lawsuits blaming him for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, an appeals court ruled Friday.The appellate court was asked to decide whether Trump’s false claims of election fraud and rallying cry for supporters to gather at the Capitol and “fight like hell” was outside his presidential responsibilities, meaning he could be held liable for it under U.S. Supreme Court precedent. A three-judge panel affirmed unanimously that Trump’s post-election efforts to subvert the 2020 election results were done in his capacity as a presidential candidate — not a president.“When a first-term President opts to seek a second term, his campaign to win re-election is not an official presidential act,” Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia wrote in an opinion.The appeals panel noted that Trump himself recognized his campaign to win re-election was in his personal capacity, citi...

Dead longhorn found on front lawn of OSU fraternity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) — A dead longhorn was found on the lawn of an Oklahoma State University Fraternity house Friday morning. Police tell News 4, the carcass was located in front of FarmHouse Fraternity. 'F*** FH' was written on the cow's side.An officer on scene told KFOR the cow appears to have been dead for less than 24 hours and was not killed on the lawn. Tire tracks across the lawn appears like a truck or truck and trailer dumped it.The investigation into where the animal came from and who put it there is in the early stages. The incident comes as the OSU Cowboys take on the University of Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Title game this weekend in Dallas. Oklahoma State University is appalled at the disturbing display of animal cruelty that occurred overnight at an off-campus location near a fraternity house. The Stillwater Police Department is investigating the incident, and the university’s Office of Student Support and Conduct also has initiated an investigation. Okla...

‘Maestro’ review: Bradley Cooper wields the baton as Leonard Bernstein. But Carey Mulligan conducts the movie

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

Netflix must be doing something right. Killing its own movies’ theatrical prospects prior to streaming, however, isn’t it. It’s stupid, certainly in the case of “Maestro,” the new film from director, co-writer, producer and star Bradley Cooper.The film is now in limited theatrical release, including the Main Cinema in Minneapolis, with the Netflix streaming premiere arriving Dec. 20.For a movie made with full, scrutinizing consent of the Leonard Bernstein estate and surviving family members, “Maestro” is considerably more interesting, nuanced and engaging than the usual squaresville biopic. Millions crave Bernstein’s music, and it’s all over the movie, often to striking effect. Bernstein’s legacy remains huge and vital, thanks (for starters) to “On the Town,” “Candide” (the overture alone, taken at the preferable tempo, in the key of wheeee!, is reason enough to rejoice) and “West Side Story.”Bernstein, known to his friends as Lenny, raced through the time he had. His eternally deba...

Boil water advisory in the Village of Whitehall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

WHITEHALL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Due to a broken water main, a boil water advisory is in effect for all customers of the Village of Whitehall Water System until further notice. Washington County says repairs are taking place on West Street. Water service is off for customers affected by the break due to repair work. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Residents must boil water or use bottled water until further notice. All tap water used for consumption must be boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute and cooled before use.

Woodstock man pleads guilty to LGBTQ hate crimes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:10 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 31-year-old Woodstock man is expected to serve time in prison for hate crimes towards a member of the LGBTQ community. Shayne Wilber admitted he attacked a victim at a bar in Ulster County because of their sexual orientation. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the indictment, Wilbur hurled homophobic slurs at the victim, threw an object that hit the victim in the face, jumped over the bar, and attacked the victim. During the altercation, he reportedly pulled out a box cutter. Wilber was charged with menacing in the second degree and assault in the third degree. The misdemeanor charges were elevated to felonies due to hate crime legislation enacted in 2019. As part of the plea deal, Wilber is required to write a letter of apology to the victim and to the community that he harmed by his actions. He is currently being held at the Ulster County Jail where he will remain pending sentence. 25 ...