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France’s love of frog legs spawns pre-Christmas criticism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

France adores its cuisses de grenouilles. But some activists are hopping mad. Consumption of the traditional French delicacy — frog legs usually sautéed with garlic and lemon juice or fried in breadcrumbs — peaks during Christmas season in France, according to activist groups, with around 100 million frogs killed each year to supply the market. Now NGOs Robin de Bois and Pro Wildlife have launched a social media campaign on X and Facebook to get French consumers to think twice before they buy frog legs, pointing to possible species extinction, animal cruelty and the unsanitary conditions in which they are transported.“Wherever frogs are depleted, and the natural insect controller has vanished, pesticide use is skyrocketing,” Sandra Altherr from Pro Wildlife told POLITICO.France — which banned local commercial frog hunting in the 1980s, with some exceptions — imports most edible frogs from countries such as Indonesia and Turkey, where their declining population threatens biodive...

Democrats working on resolution condemning Hamas’ use of sexual violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

(CNN) — Two House Democrats are planning on introducing a resolution this week condemning Hamas’ use of sexual violence and rape against Israeli women in the wake of Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s comments to CNN’s Dana Bash that upset a number of her Democratic colleagues.While Jayapal condemned the rape of Israeli women by Hamas and called it “horrific” on CNN’s “State of the Union,” she pointed out that over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza since the start of the war and said, “I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians.”Jayapal’s comments have set off a firestorm within the Congressional Progressive Caucus and speak to the broader divisions within the Democratic Party over how to address the war between Israel and Hamas. Her remarks come as Democrats have struggled to reconcile support for Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the October 7 attacks and risin...

Biden hits Boston on fundraising blitz, including James Taylor gig

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is making a big push to raise money for his reelection effort before the end of the year, appearing at seven events through next Monday — with more to come.Biden was traveling to Massachusetts on Tuesday to schmooze with donors at a trio of Boston fundraisers to benefit his campaign and the broader Democratic Party, including an event in the city’s theater district featuring a concert by singer-songwriter and guitarist James Taylor.Gov. Maura Healey is due to greet Biden upon his arrival at Logan airport.Later this week, the Democrat will touch down on the West Coast on Friday for his first Los Angeles fundraisers since the end of the strikes by actors and screenwriters, featuring film director Steven Spielberg and “Scandal” showrunner Shonda Rhimes, among other celebrities.Biden will also attend a fundraiser Wednesday near the White House and another one on Monday in Philadelphia.“This next election is going to be different,&...

Fire destroys Point Loma home, causing $800,000 in damages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

SAN DIEGO — An early morning fire Tuesday "gutted" a home in Point Loma resulting in an estimated $800,000 in damages, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.The fire was first reported in the 3900 block of Liggett Drive at 5:36 a.m. as a burglar and fire alarm. Upon arrival to the scene, SDFD crews found the home engulfed in flames and a power line down nearby. No possible burglars were identified by authorities.Crews put out the fire in about 40 minutes, according to SDFD. By that time, the fire had completely damaged the interior of the home. Suspect faces charges in gang shooting that paralyzed teen bystander No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. SDFD said the homeowners were not inside at the time the fire broke out, as they were driving back from Orange County.A total of 30 SDFD personnel responded to the fire, including four engines and a truck.The cause of the fire and where it originated from has not yet been determined by SDFD's Arson investigators.No additi...

This San Diego Christmas store is one of a handful in SoCal open year-round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Throughout December, San Diego embodies the spirit of the "most wonderful time of the year," coming to life with sparkling lights and Southern California winter wonderlands.But, nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac right at the edge of San Diego's Bay Park, there is a store that has been bringing the cheer of Christmas to shoppers all year long for decades.The family-owned City Lights Collectibles, located on Knoxville Street, has been selling holiday collectibles to locals and visitors alike as one of the only year-round Christmas stores in Southern California for over 30 years. San Diego Fire-Rescue kicks off Toys For Tots drive Founder Brian Young opened City Lights as a small retail store in Mission Bay in 1991. He moved to the area over a year prior with his wife and then-12-year-old son from the United Kingdom to retire, but a few months in, he started to feel an itch to work again."I was retired for about 15 months, got very bored and decided to open a small Christmas ...

Canadian with family in Gaza calling on Ottawa to advocate more for its citizens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

An Ontario man says he is desperate to get his two children and wife out of the Gaza Strip as Israel intensifies its offensive into southern areas of the besieged territory.Nael Alhalis, says his 13-year-old daughter and his nine-year-old son – who are Canadian citizens – are on a list of foreigners allowed to leave Gaza through a border crossing with Egypt but his Palestinian wife is not. He says Canadian government officials have told him they are advocating for his wife to be put on the list but say the matter is ultimately out of their control. Alhalis says his children can’t cross the border unaccompanied and even the journey from central Gaza, where his family is sheltering, to the border in the south is growing more dangerous as Israel’s bombardment increases. Alhalis – who was born in Gaza, later immigrated to Canada and has a home in Burlington, Ont. – says he and his family have been living largely in Gaza for the last six years and he was travelling for work w...

Memorials to victims of Maine’s deadliest mass shootings to be displayed at museum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Volunteers and city workers on Tuesday began removing mementos, signs and other items that accumulated at the sites of the deadliest shootings in Maine history, reflecting a change in season and a new chapter in the area’s recovery.The handwritten signs, cards, bouquets and other items — more than a 1,000 of them — will be archived, catalogued and prepared for exhibition at a museum in Lewiston.Part of the process is practical: Snowfall makes it imperative to remove the memorials before they’re destroyed by either the elements or plows. But organizers also say it feels like the right time as communities continue to heal and grieve after 18 people were killed and 13 injured on Oct. 25.“We want to make sure the community doesn’t forget what happened and how the community came together. So bringing the items together feels like next stage,” said Rachel Ferrante, executive director of the Maine Museum of Innovation, Learning and Labor, located at...

NCAA President Charlie Baker calls for new tier of Division I where schools can pay athletes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — NCAA President Charlie Baker wants to create a new tier of Division I where schools with the most athletic resources can offer unlimited educational benefits, enter into name, image and likeness partnerships with athletes and directly pay them through a trust fund.In a letter sent Tuesday to more than 350 Division I schools, Baker told members that the disparity in resources between the wealthiest schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision and other DI members — along with the hundreds of Division II and III schools — is creating “a new series of challenges.”“The challenges are competitive as well as financial and are complicated further by the intersection of name, image and likeness opportunities for student-athletes and the arrival of the Transfer Portal,” Baker wrote.Baker said the difference in the way schools that participate in revenue-generating college sports operate and the vast majority of college sports is complicating attempts to modernize the collegiate ...

Supreme Court throws out case that could have limited lawsuits over disability access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a case surrounding a Maine hotel that could have made it harder for people with disabilities to learn in advance whether a hotel’s accommodations meet their needs.Hotels and other business interests had urged the justices to limit the ability of so-called testers to file lawsuits against hotels that fail to disclose accessibility information on their websites and through other reservation services.The information is required by a 2010 Justice Department rule. People who suffer discrimination can sue under the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act, signed into law in 1990.The justices did not issue a decision on the substance of the case. Instead, they dismissed the case and threw out a lower court ruling in favor of tester lawsuits. The outcome leaves the issue unresolved nationally.Federal courts in some parts of the country allow such lawsuits. In others, those suits are barred.The case in front of the court involve...

Gerry Fraley wins BBWAA Career Excellence Award, top honor for baseball writers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:29 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gerry Fraley, a gregarious and tempestuous reporter over four decades until his death four years ago, won the BBWAA Career Excellence Award on Tuesday.The honor was announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America at the winter meetings. Fraley will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 19-22 in Cooperstown, New York.Known for his quick humor and combustible temper, Fraley died in May 2019 at age 64 after a two-year battle with cancer.He received 173 of 370 ballots from BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years’ service after finishing second last year, two votes behind John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press.San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins received 113 votes this year and New York Post baseball columnist Joel Sherman got 83. There was one blank ballot submitted in voting conducted by mail in November.“Frales,” as he was called throughout baseball, became the 75th winner of the honor, known as the J....