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Column: The Cure’s Robert Smith took on Ticketmaster … and won

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

The decades-long case of The American People vs. Ticketmaster has gained an unlikely ally in Robert Smith.Earlier this month, the goth rock icon announced his band the Cure was hitting the road for a summer tour. And bucking the current pricing trends that have resulted in $5,000 seats for Bruce Springsteen, the 63-year-old Smith vowed there would be no dynamically priced or platinum tickets for the shows, which are priced “to benefit fans.” Would-be ticket buyers were told to sign up for Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program, which supposedly adds a layer of protection to ward off bots and scalpers.Ross Raihala(Dynamically priced tickets are akin to airline seats and hotel rooms in that the higher the demand, the higher the ticket price. Ticketmaster calls them platinum tickets, although they don’t come with any extra perks and they’re not necessarily great seats in the first place.)Some folks were delighted when they were actually able to snag seats for the Cure at reasonable prices...

You're not imagining it: San Diego has been colder than average this year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It's been a brisk year for San Diegans, with lowest average temperatures breaking 52-year records, according to data from the National Weather Service.NWS says 2023 has the lowest average temperature in the region for the period from Jan. 1 to March 27 (55.9 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1971 (55.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Chance of thunderstorms, scattered showers forecast for San Diego America's Finest City has seen winter storm after winter storm in 2023 and there's no doubt about it -- the days have been chilly. In fact, NWS says the average daily high in 2023 (63.0 degrees Fahrenheit) for the same dates is the lowest since 1950 (61.5 degrees Fahrenheit).More information, including graphs, on San Diego temperatures can be found here. Meanwhile, NWS has forecast cooler temperatures for much of the coast and valleys Wednesday and Thursday this week. On top of that, a Winter Weather Advisory will go in effect at midnight Wednesday night for the mountain areas, keeping in lin...

York Catholic school board, parents respond after some argue against safe space stickers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

Some teachers use safe space stickers to signal acceptance to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, but in York Region, certain parents with the Catholic school board are denouncing them, saying the ​stickers are not in line with their religious beliefs.At a York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) meeting on Wednesday, one mother of a transgender son expressed outrage over the comments made by other parents on the safe space stickers.“I am finding it difficult to comprehend why a gesture which is intended to show respect and love and to protect those who are in desperate need of our protection, the essence of Christianity, is being met with such vitriol and condemnation. It has shaken me to the core,” said Dina Mayr as she defended her son.“I submit to you that it is precisely that because we are Catholic that we need to do better and see more of this.”Police were called to the school board meeting in February to disperse parents who were heckling speakers and making h...

Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski collision trial spawns memes, intrigue

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.But Gwyneth Paltrow’s live-streamed trial over her collision with Terry Sanderson, a 76-year-old retired optometrist, in Park City has emerged as the biggest celebrity court case since actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard faced off last year — spawning memes, sparking debate about the burden of fame, and making ski etiquette rules of who was uphill and who had the right of way relevant beyond those who can afford resort chairlift tickets.As attorneys plow through questioning their final witnesses Wednesday and prepare for closing arguments Thursday, here is a look back at highlights from the two-week trial:LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND THE FAMOUSFor seven days, attorneys have both highlighted — and downplayed — Paltrow and Sanderson’s extravagant lifestyles.Sanderson’s ...

Alleged Quebec cop killer was on probation, had history of mental health problems

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

MONTREAL — A Quebec man accused of killing a provincial police officer had a history of mental health issues and had been found not criminally responsible at least five times for past offences.Isaac Brouillard Lessard, 35, was shot dead by police after he allegedly fatally attacked Sgt. Maureen Breau on Monday evening and left her partner injured in Louiseville, Que., about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal.Brouillard Lessard had been followed closely by Quebec’s mental health review board, called Commission d’examen des troubles mentaux du Québec, composed of health experts who assess the risks posed by people found by courts to be not criminally responsible — or legally insane at the time they committed a crime.Yanick Péloquin, who represented Brouillard Lessard during a hearing before the mental health board in 2022, said in an email Wednesday that his client was due to appear again in May for an annual review.The review board found in March 2022 that Brouillard Le...

Starbucks leader grilled by Senate over anti-union actions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

Longtime Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz insisted the coffee chain hasn’t broken labor laws and is willing to bargain with unionized workers during an often testy, two-hour appearance before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.But he also was firm in his stance that the Seattle coffee giant already provides good wages and benefits and doesn’t need a union. And he pointed out that only around 1% of Starbucks’ 250,000 U.S. employees have elected to join a union.“We’ve done everything that we possibly can to respect the right under the law of our partners’ ability to join a union,” Schultz said. “But conversely, we have consistently laid out our preference, without breaking any law, of communicating to our people what we believe is our vision for the company.”At least 293 of Starbucks’ 9,000 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late 2021, according to the National Labor Relations Board. Starbucks Workers United, th...

7 California officers charged in death of man in custody

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors charged seven California Highway Patrol officers and a nurse with involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday in connection with the 2020 death of a man who screamed “I can’t breathe” while multiple officers restrained him as they tried to take a blood sample.Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges in the death of Edward Bronstein, which the LA County coroner said was caused by “acute methamphetamine intoxication during restraint by law enforcement.” “The officers had a legal duty to Mr. Bronstein,” Gascón said during a news conference. “He was in their custody. We believe that they failed their duty and their failure was criminally negligent, causing his death.”In a statement, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee extended condolences to Bronstein’s family and said the agency’s mission is to prioritize all Californians’ safety. “I am saddened that Mr. Bronstein died while in our custody and care. Any death in custod...

Canadian supporters of missing Chinese human-rights defender want more information

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian supporters of Dong Guangping, a missing Chinese human-rights defender, are disappointed with what they call a disingenuous response from Vietnamese officials to the United Nations.There has been no word of Dong’s fate since he was arrested Aug. 24 by Vietnamese police.In mid-December, UN human-rights experts wrote to the Vietnamese government seeking answers about his whereabouts and well-being.In a recent reply to the UN, the government said it had no information concerning Dong’s presence in Vietnam.Dong’s daughter Katherine, who lives in Toronto with her mother, said in November she feared her father had been handed over to Chinese authorities.Katherine Dong now questions whether the Vietnamese government is accountable to anyone concerning human rights.“Vietnam ignored our family and ignored the Canadian government, but we were holding onto hope that they would take the United Nations seriously and finally disclose what has happened to m...

Slight severe weather threat heading towards Chicagoland area Friday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

CHICAGO -- Sunshine emerged after the morning snow showers as expected and we're on our way to another night with favorable viewing conditions for the 5 planet line-up which is of interest to skywatchers. Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars line up near the moon tonight and cloud coverage (the % of the sky cloud covered) is predicted as follows over Chicago: 7pm CDT 4%; 1am CDT Thu 3% and 7am CDT Thu 29%. Look up! 5-planet palooza could be visible in the night sky THE WEATHER LOOKS GOOD FOR THE CUBS HOME OPENER THURSDAY AT WRIGLEY FIELD—thought a southeast winds will be blowing into the ball park off Lake Michigan. This means that while temps warm to the mid 50s inland; only mid 40s are likely for Thursday's game at Wrigley. Sunshine will plentiful Thursday though clouds will be on the increase in the afternoon and an overcast is likely to be in place after the game at sunset Thursday. What to know about Cubs’ 2023 Opening Day at Wrigley Field SEVERE WEATHER CONCERNS REMAIN...

9-year-old girl inspires father to organize fire truck and ambulance donations to Ukraine

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

SCHILLER PARK, Ill. — "Hey dad, is there anything we can do to help?"That was the question Chris Manson's 9-year-old daughter, Lilly, asked this time last year that got his brain humming, leading to the creation of U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine."It’s really nice to know that we’re helping people and saving lots of lives," Lilly said.In the 12-plus months since that fateful day, Manson has built partnerships with Chicago's Consulate General of Ukraine, UA Resistance and several other medical organizations, leading to what will be their eighth shipment of ambulances and fire engines to Ukraine, set to depart from Valparaiso Thursday."We’ll be shipping them out of the East Coast on a ship and eventually get them into the Germany and up to Poland," Manson said. "Then we’ll send a team of Americans to drive them into Ukraine and deliver them into military units, hospitals or fire departments." Ukraine’s Zelenskyy: Any Russian victory could be perilous Manson spent Wednesday walking throu...