Sheldon Silver, NY power broker sent to prison, dead at 77

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in state government for two decades before his conviction on corruption charges, has died in federal custody. He was 77. Silver died Monday, the federal Bureau of Prisons said, adding that the official cause of death would be determined by the medical examiner. Silver’s supporters had said he was in failing health from multiple medical conditions. He had been serving his sentence at the Federal

NDP report shows significant cracks in Sask. housing strategy, provincial assistance programs

The Saskatchewan NDP has released its report on the housing crisis and provincial social assistance programs, informed by social services and housing critic Meara Conway's emergency public consultation tour. The project was launched after the full implementation of the new Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) program in fall 2021. The report indicates that Saskatchewan is not on track to reach its target of reducing the number of Saskatchewan people experiencing long-term poverty by half by the end

Police ask for public's help finding missing Vancouver Island man and daughter

Mounties in B.C. are seeking a Vancouver Island man and his daughter missing since Sunday and are asking the public for information on their whereabouts. North Cowichan RCMP said in a statement that Jesse Bennet, 36, and Violet Bennet, seven, were reported missing on the afternoon of Jan. 23. They say Jesse Bennet has breached a child custody order and may be avoiding police. Jesse Bennet is described as: A Caucasian man. 36 years old. Five feet, 10 inches tall. Weighs 160 pounds. With blue eyes

Ontario now alone in not signing federal child-care deal, Ford says province 'very close'

Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca says it's "outrageous" that Ontario is the only jurisdiction in Canada not to sign on to the federal government's $10-a-day child-care program, now that Nunavut has struck a deal. Del Duca said if he is elected in the June provincial election, he will make it happen. But he said Ontario Premier Doug Ford should sign a deal as soon as possible because it's urgent. "I think it's outrageous that here in Ontario we see that Doug Ford stubbornly refuses to get a

Mayor Jyoti Gondek talks protests, EMS dispatch and the relationship with the province

It's been a whirlwind few months for Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who made history last fall in becoming the city's first woman to hold the role. There's been no shortage of challenges since: the collapse of the new arena deal, a tough budget that led to a near four per cent property tax hike, and the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. She's also received national attention for her campaign pledge to declare a climate emergency, which city council voted to do in November. On Monday, Gondek held

Ethics office says Reps. Newman, Lamborn may have broken law

WASHINGTON (AP) — A congressional ethics watchdog has concluded that U.S. Reps. Marie Newman of Illinois and Doug Lamborn of Colorado may have violated federal law, prompting reviews from the House Ethics Committee. Separate investigative reports from the Office of Congressional Ethics released Monday detailed a “substantial reason to believe” that Newman, a Democrat, promised federal employment to a political opponent and that Lamborn, a Republican, misused official resources for personal purpo

Spending a 'marked departure' from former B.C. legislature clerk's duties, Crown says

VANCOUVER — A book on beekeeping, a wood splitter and a cushion decorated with the Union Jack and the words "God Save the Queen," are among the items that a special prosecutor alleges former B.C. legislature clerk Craig James improperly paid for with government dollars. David Butcher began arguments Monday in James's B.C. Supreme Court trial, alleging the offences also involved a $250,000 retirement allowance and travel expenses. James pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud over $5,000 and th

N.W.T. reports 15th COVID-19 death as active cases decrease

There's been another COVID-related death in the Northwest Territories, the third in the territory since the Omicron outbreak began. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) released the information on its COVID-19 online dashboard Monday evening. That brings the number of COVID-19-related deaths in the N.W.T. to 15. There's also been another hospitalization, and another intensive care unit admission since the government last released COVID-19 data on Jan. 21. Health officials report

Japan doubles areas under COVID curbs as cases set records

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan expanded regions subject to tighter coronavirus curbs to cover 70% of the country on Tuesday, as the government tried to counter a record wave of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant. The measures, already in force in 16 prefectures, will take effect in a further 18 including the western prefectures of Kyoto and Osaka and remain in place until the middle of next month. Nationwide cases rose above 60,000 for the first time since the pandemic began, a tally by broadcaster Fuji TV showed on Tuesday, with the capital, Tokyo, posting 12,813 new cases while the region of Osaka reported 8,612, both records.

'Snowhio': US trains for World Cup qualifier in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Twenty U.S. players trained on a whitened field in 22-degree (minus-6 Celsius) weather the team dubbed “Snowhio” on Monday as the United States began preparations for this week's chilly World Cup qualifier against El Salvador. Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie were among the players due to arrive after Sunday matches — Pulisic from England, Adams from Germany and McKennie from Italy. Snow fell during training Monday and more was forecast for Monday night, w

Federal government investigating cyberattack amid tensions with Russia

OTTAWA — Federal cybersecurity agencies confirmed Monday a recent cyberattack against Global Affairs Canada amid escalating tensions over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. The federal government is not saying who it suspects was behind the Jan. 19 attack, which has left some diplomats without access to some online services almost a week later. But the attack came one day before the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security urged companies to bolster protections against the potential for Russian-

Taiwan vice president leaves to shore up shaky alliance with Honduras

TAOYUAN, Taiwan (Reuters) -Taiwan Vice President William Lai left on Tuesday to shore up a shaky relationship with Honduras and attend the swearing-in of its new leader, an event U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is also going to, potentially giving the two a chance to interact. China has ramped up pressure to reduce Taiwan's international footprint, saying the democratically governed island is Chinese territory with no right to state-to-state ties. Honduras is one of only 14 countries to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

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  Vice president touts Milwaukee pipe replacement

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  1-on-1 with Vice President Kamala Harris

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Lawsuit: 1st Wyoming Black sheriff fires deputy for racism

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming’s first Black sheriff last year fired a white deputy who is accused of tormenting a Black subordinate for years with racist name-calling that led him to quit, a new federal lawsuit reveals. Albany County Patrol Sgt. Christian Handley once drove past and yelled a profanity and the N-word at Cpl. Jamin Johnson while Johnson and his wife and children were walking out of their home, according to one example of racism alleged in the discrimination lawsuit filed last week

Soldiers declare military junta in control in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — More than a dozen mutinous soldiers declared Monday on state television that a military junta had seized control of Burkina Faso after detaining the democratically elected president following a day of gunbattles in the capital of the West African country. The military coup in a nation that was once a bastion of stability was the third of its kind in the region in the last 18 months, creating upheaval in some of the countries hardest hit by Islamic extremist attac

Rapid spread of COVID-19 in Igloolik leads to strict new health measures

With COVID-19 spreading quickly in Igloolik, Nunavut, the territory's chief public health officer put in place strict new measures Monday evening, limiting outdoor gatherings to five people and putting a halt to any indoor visiting unless it's for essential or emergency services. "I am responding to the speed in which COVID-19 is spreading in the community," said Dr. Michael Patterson, the territory's chief public health officer, in a news release. "Effective immediately, we will be moving to ou

Alberta's COVID-19 hospitalizations top 1,300, as province reports 41 new deaths over 3 days

For the first time ever there are more than 1,300 people are in hospital with COVID-19 in Alberta. The province released updated COVID-19 from the previous three days late Monday. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 grew by 113 from Friday's update to 1,304, including 108 people in intensive care. There have now been 3,470 deaths since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 41 from Friday's update. Alberta Health has not yet provided more information on the new deaths reported Mond

UAE, US intercept Houthi missile attack targeting Abu Dhabi

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates and the U.S. military intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels over the skies of Abu Dhabi early Monday, authorities said, the second attack in a week that targeted the Emirati capital. The missile fire further escalates tensions across the Persian Gulf, which previously had seen a series of assaults near — but never indisputably on — Emirati soil. It comes during Yemen's yearslong war and the collapse of Iran's