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Ticker: New report blames airlines for most flight cancellations; pot-rich Oregon must prep for US legalization

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

Congressional investigators said in a report Friday that an increase in flight cancellations as travel recovered from the pandemic was due mostly to factors that airlines controlled, including cancellations for maintenance issues or lack of a crew.The Government Accountability Office also said airlines are taking longer to recover from disruptions such as storms. Surges in cancellations in late 2021 and early 2022 lasted longer than they did before the pandemic, the GAO said.Much of the increase in airline-caused cancellations has occurred at budget airlines, but the largest carriers have also made more unforced errors, according to government data.Airlines have clashed with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg over blame for high rates of canceled and delayed flights in the past two years. Airlines argue that the government is at fault for not having enough air traffic controllers, while Buttigieg has blamed the carriers.The GAO report was requested by Republican leaders of the ...

Mets Notebook: Justin Verlander inching closer to return, Jose Quintana could be cleared to throw soon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

Justin Verlander continues to inch closer to a return to action and his long-awaited Mets debut.The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner completed what is expected to be the final step in his rehab from a teres major strain Friday, making a rehab start with Double-A Binghamton.The 40-year-old right-hander threw 69 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out six against the Akron RubberDucks. He struck out the last two batters he faced and his fastball reached 95 MPH, which is standard for the veteran and consistent with his velocity before his late-spring injury.This was the first rehab start for Verlander and should be able to return next week, he would be lined up to start in Detroit against the Tigers, the team he came up with and won his first two Cy Young Awards with.However, the Mets aren’t quite ready to pencil him for a start at Comerica Park. Manager Buck Showalter said the club needs to see how he feels through the weekend before making a...

Massachusetts employers cut workplace death fines by 42% in 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

All but 12 of last year’s 51 workplace deaths in Massachusetts occurred as a result of traumatic injuries, but a new report found those employers were able to cut their safety-inspection-related fines in half through the appeals process.The average penalty issued by Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the 23 inspections that followed 39 workplace fatalities was roughly $38,430. Employer appeals brought the average final penalty down 42.9%, to $21,927, states a new report compiled by Massachusetts AFL-CIO and MassCOSH.Employer appeals brought down final penalties even further when tracking all OSHA inspections that found safety violations, 83.5% of which were “serious, willful or repeat,” the report states. Overall, the average proposed penalty was $9,874, but the appeals process brought final penalties down to $5,020, a 49.2% reduction.“For many companies, absorbing the costs of allowing dangerous working conditions is just the cost of doing business,” a spokesperson fo...

Wendy’s ‘beloved’ chili to be sold in grocery store cans this spring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

Karu F. Daniels | New York Daily NewsWendy’s famous homestyle chili will be coming to grocery store aisles later this spring.The fast food chain announced a partnership this week to package its signature comfort food in a can that will hit shelves across the country.According to the company, each can will contain 29 grams of protein, and be made with “savory all-natural beef, and the perfect mix of peppers, beans and a rich tomato-based sauce.”“Wendy’s Chili has been a beloved menu item since our beginnings in 1969,” marketing chief Carl Loredo said in the announcement. “We’re thrilled about the partnership with Conagra Brands and to have the opportunity to bring our brand’s iconic chili flavor to even more fans. When the Wendy’s chili craving hits, you now have two delicious ways to get your fix — at retail stores or in our restaurants.”Conagra Brands’ portfolio of grocery store brands include Birds Eye, Duncan Hines, Healthy Choice and Marie Callender’s.Juliette van de Walle, an e...

Police: 3 dead in Philadelphia neighborhood shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Three people were killed and another injured in a shooting in a Philadelphia residential neighborhood Friday, authorities said.It wasn’t immediately known what spurred the shooting, which was reported around 3:35 p.m., or how many shooters may have been involved.Responding officers found one victim on the front porch of a house and another just inside the home, while the third victim was on the sidewalk, authorities said. All three were pronounced dead at the scene, and their names have not been released. The wounded victim was taken to a hospital by an unknown person, authorities said, and was listed in critical condition. Their name and further details on their injuries were not disclosed.Police found a gun at the scene but did not say if it was used in the shooting.Authorities said they were looking for those responsible for the shooting, but did nor provide further details. No arrests have been made.The Associated Press

Metrolinx in the cross hairs of Toronto mayoral candidates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

Metrolinx continues to be in the line of fire following reports of the delays that continue to plague the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The news has some Toronto mayoral candidates calling on the province to take responsibility for the transit agency’s inaction especially as construction on the Ontario Line is set to start. “The Crosstown is a disaster that has brought Toronto to its knees and if we see a repeat of that on the Ontario line, it will be a death blow to the city. There’s no accountability or transparency,” said Brad Bradford, who is calling on the province to fire Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster. “I think we have all suffered long enough with the endless excuses on the Eglinton Crosstown.”On Thursday provincial and Metrolinx officials said the latest delays for the 19-kilometre LRT line are due to 260 quality control issues caused by the construction consortium building the line.The latest visible hiccup came on Thursday when a CityNews crew vi...

Montana latest to ban gender-affirming care for trans minors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana became the latest state to ban or restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender kids Friday when its Republican governor signed legislation that exiled transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr told fellow lawmakers would leave “blood” on their hands.Montana is one of at least 15 states with laws to ban such care despite protests from the families of transgender youth that the care is essential.Debate over Montana’s bill drew national attention after Republicans punished Zephyr for her remarks, saying her words were personally offensive. House Speaker Matt Regier refused to let Zephyr speak on the House floor until she apologized. She has not.Zephyr decried the bill’s signing, saying “it is unconscionable to deprive Montanans of the care that we need.”“I know that this is an unconstitutional bill. It is as cruel as it is unconstitutional. And it will go down in the courts,” Zephyr said. To trans youth she added: “There’s an understandable in...

California approves rule phasing out big diesel trucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — New big rigs and buses that run on diesel would not be sold in California starting in 2036, according to new rules approved by state regulators Friday to wean the state off fossil fuels and combat climate change.The rule would tackle pollution from heavy trucks used to transport goods through ports and require companies to disclose their use of these so-called drayage trucks by 2024. The rule cannot be implemented without approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But it’s related to standards the Biden administration already approved last month to phase out diesel-powered box trucks, semitrailers and large passenger pick-ups. If the EPA approves California’s rule, other states could later adopt the same standards.Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom touted Friday’s move as a chance to show “the world what real climate action looks like.”“We’re one step closer to achieving healthier neighborhoods and cleaner air for all Californians,” h...

Man United sale: Sheikh Jassim, Jim Ratcliffe make 3rd bids

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — After a third round of bidding for Manchester United, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe are still hoping to take control of the storied soccer team.Persons with knowledge of the bids said the latest offers were submitted on Friday. The persons spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to comment publicly.Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe confirmed their intention to buy United this year after current owners, the Glazer family, announced in November their willingness to listen to offers for the English Premier League club.While the Glazers could yet decide to remain in control, merchant bank Raine Group has fielded bids from potential buyers and investors as it explores strategic alternatives. The size of the bids are not known, but it is estimated the price could be around $6 billion if a full sale goes through.Sheikh Jassim’s proposal includes a “significant amount of additional capi...

Turkey’s Erdogan cancels 3rd day of election appearances

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:25 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled his election appearances for a third day Friday after falling ill with what officials described as an intestinal infection.Erdogan, who has governed Turkey for two decades as prime minister and then president, is seeking a third presidential term in Turkey’s May 14 elections. He had been due to appear at a bridge opening and a political rally in the southern city of Adana, but his schedule changed to show he would attend the opening ceremony via video link.Erdogan spoke by phone Friday with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio on several matters, including the Ukraine-Russia grain and fertilizer deal they helped arrange, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. He said they discussed “how to guarantee the improvement, expansion and extension” of the deal, which expires May 18. Erdogan became ill during a TV interview on Tuesday evening with what Health Minister Fahrettin Koca later said was a “gastrointestinal infection.”...