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‘Our hearts are broken’: Cambridge’s Faith Lutheran Church pastor reacts to ‘agonizing’ fire on Easter, steeple will come down

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

The devastated pastor of the Cambridge church that went up in flames on Easter said his “heart aches,” but he emphasized that this tragedy will not stop them from worshipping this week as he thanked the community for their support.Faith Lutheran Church was being inspected on Monday following the 6-alarm fire on Sunday. Cambridge firefighters had established a “collapse zone” with Broadway shut down to traffic because officials have been concerned about the church’s steeple falling after the massive blaze.The steeple will be removed once the investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is complete, according to Acting Cambridge Fire Chief Tom Cahill.Faith Lutheran had a service Sunday morning before the church was engulfed in heavy flames and smoke in the late afternoon into the evening.“What we do know is that no one was in the building when it happened, and no one was seriously hurt,” Pastor Robin Lutjohann wrote to the congregation....

Will Social Security run out? How to prepare for potential changes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

Millions of workers pay Social Security taxes every year in the United States, and when they retire, they’ll likely expect to collect their benefits. But the number of people receiving Social Security is outpacing the number of people paying into the program, and by 2035 the Social Security program’s trust fund reserves will be depleted. Taxpayer funds will only be able to cover 80% of scheduled benefits, according to an estimate from the Social Security Administration.Essentially, yes, Social Security’s reserve funds will “run out,” but the majority of benefits will still be covered by taxpayers. And if Congress adjusts the structure of the program by 2035 through tax increases, benefit reductions or some other method, Social Security may be able to continue providing full benefits.This isn’t the first time this has happened. The Social Security Administration has projected financial shortages before, and in 1983 Congress made changes that helped replenish its reserves.Here’s what ...

Taking GO or TTC to Blue Jays home opener? What you need to know

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

Toronto Blue Jays fans are gearing up for the home opener on Tuesday, the first one in the newly-refurbished Rogers Centre.The team will be playing the Detroit Tigers, and the first pitch is at 7:07 p.m.The TTC is offering free rides on the 510 Spadina streetcar to and from the game from 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.“The start of the baseball season is always an exciting time for Toronto, and I’m pleased that the TTC is once again able to lend our support by providing free rides in partnership with Polar Ice Vodka,” TTC CEO Rick Leary said in a release.“On April 11, I invite everyone to celebrate the Blue Jays return to Toronto with a free ride on the 510 Spadina.”GO Transit has partnered with Budweiser to help fans celebrate by offering free transit home on GO vehicles after the game.GO says fans who attend the game can board the train or bus for free after 9 p.m. until 3:30 a.m.“If you are travelling to the game using a paper ticket or an e-ticket and plan on ...

‘Heartbroken’ family forced to abandon dog opts to rehome him: Toronto Humane Society

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

The four-year-old dog who was found abandoned in a Toronto parkette along with a heart-wrenching note last week will be rehomed, the Toronto Humane Society (THS) said on Monday.Max, who was found in the Davenport area, was described in the note as “very smart” and “good with kids.” The note also explained that the owner lost their job and apartment and was therefore no longer able to care for their pet, ending with “he’s a good boy.”THS put out an appeal on their website looking for Max’s family in order to offer them a spot in their urgent care program, which provides foster homes for pets whose families are temporarily unable to afford their care. It allows the owners to get back on their feet while knowing their pet is well cared for.A hand written note was left with four-year-old pet dog Max, found abandoned on Monday. Credit: Toronto Humane SocietyIn an update to CityNews, THS said they were able to connect with Max’s family late Monday morni...

Justice Department calls abortion pill order ‘unprecedented’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday called a Texas court ruling that would halt approval of the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. “extraordinary and unprecedented” while asking a federal appeals court to put the decision on hold.The request to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone put in doubt access to the drug that has been widely available for more than 20 years.U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointment of Donald Trump, issued his decision Friday but ruled it would not take effect for seven days.His decision came at nearly the same time a separate federal judge in Washington directed U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats had sued.The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000. The Biden administration asked the New Orlean...

County seeks cash for land to expand Arlington cemetery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A trial underway in federal court will decide whether the U.S. government must pay up to $21 million to compensate a Virginia county for a parcel of land taken to expand Arlington National Cemetery.The cemetery expansion project is expected to add 50,000 to 60,000 burial spaces and extend its ability to accommodate new burials by 19 years — until 2060, under the current eligibility requirements. Work on the expansion has already begun and will not be halted no matter what the judge decides at the trial’s conclusion.At issue is how much money, if any, the federal government must pay to Arlington County for the nine acres (3.6 hectares) of land it took from the county to accommodate the expansion.The federal government says it’s fulfilling its duties by replacing and improving the road network on the cemetery’s southern border, including significant improvements to a highway, Columbia Pike, that serves as a primary commuter route.The county, on...

Man charged after downtown Montreal mosque break-in caught on video

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

Montreal police say a 32-year-old man is facing a mischief charge after allegedly smashing his way into a downtown mosque early Sunday morning.Const. Véronique Dubuc says investigators don’t believe the incident was a hate crime, adding that the suspect will appear in court at a later date.A national Muslim group posted surveillance videos to social media showing someone using a rock to break into the mosque and to smash into the prayer room.The video by the Canadian Muslim Forum also shows an altercation involving the perpetrator and a handful of worshippers at the Al-Omah Al-Islamiah mosque.Forum president Samer Mazjoub says no one was hurt — even though a teenager narrowly escaped being struck by the suspect — adding that several worshippers managed to get the intruder to leave.Mazjoub says his group published the video to raise awareness about the attack and urge people to be cautious during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends later in April. This report by The Canadian ...

Fewer transit safety incidents after Toronto police boost: TTC data

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

New data from Toronto’s transit agency shows safety incidents were down in February after police boosted patrols in the system and the agency added extra security guards and outreach workers.The monthly Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) report from CEO Rick Leary shows the total number of offences against customers was 111 in February, down from 136 in January.TTC spokesman Stuart Green had previously said the transit agency saw 116 incidents in January, down from 145 the month before, but the report states data for those months may have inaccuracies.Police announced in late January that more than 80 officers would work overtime shifts at TTC locations following a series of violent incidents on the system, including stabbings, BB gun shootings and an alleged swarming.The city and TTC also announced it would add 50 contract security guards and 20 outreach workers to the system as an interim response.Police have since ended the extra patrols, and the force has said on-duty office...

Israeli PM retracts firing of defense minister amid tension

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday retracted his decision to fire his defense minister over criticism of the government’s contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary.In a televised speech, Netanyahu said that Yoav Gallant is staying in his post. “I decided to put the differences we had behind us,” he said.Netanyahu announced late last month that Gallant was fired. The decision set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyze the country, forcing the Israeli leader to suspend his divisive plan to overhaul the judicial system.The Associated Press

NY state budget delayed again amid talks on bail, housing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state lawmakers passed another weeklong extension for the state’s budget Monday to ensure state operations run undisrupted and workers get paid as budget negotiations continue. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli highlighted the need for lawmakers to push the deadline yet again when he sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday urging her to take action to ensure 83,000 state workers get paid in time for the next payroll cycle.State lawmakers will not be paid themselves until a budget is passed, DiNapoli’s office said, and it is not clear how long it’ll take Democratic legislative leaders to reach an agreement. The legislators missed the original April 1 deadline for adopting a state budget because of disagreements over the governor’s proposals to change bail rules and create new housing. There has been “zero movement in discussions” on any other issues besides bail and housing in a state budget that is now more than a week late, state ...