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Spain’s Parliament to vote on Prime Minister Sánchez’s reelection. Catalan amnesty deal causes furor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The investiture debate and vote to reelect acting Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will take place later this week, Spain’s Parliament speaker said Monday.Speaker Francina Armengol said Sanchez’s candidacy will be discussed by party leaders Wednesday and the vote will take place after the debate Thursday.Sánchez, who has been in office since 2018, is expected to be voted in with no problems given that his Socialist party has reached deals with a bunch of small parties to ensure he has the backing of 179 legislators, three more than the 176 majority required in Parliament in a first vote. Spain’s July 23 inconclusive elections left all parties without a clear path to form government. The right-of-center Popular Party, under Alberto Núñez Feijóo, won the most seats in the election with 137. But because of its close ties with the extreme right Vox party, almost no other party backed Feijóo’s investiture bid in September.Sánchez’s Socialists w...

Japanese vice minister resigns over tax scandal in another setback for Kishida’s unpopular Cabinet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese vice finance minister stepped down on Monday, amid criticism from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet, after admitting his company’s repeated failures to pay taxes, a further setback to Kishida’s unpopular government. Deputy Finance Minister Kenji Kanda, in charge of government bonds and monetary policy, is the third member of Kishida’s Cabinet to resign within two months following a Cabinet shuffle in September. Kishida later told reporters that he takes responsibility for the appointment of Kanda. “I must apologize to the people that a vice finance minister had to resign soon after he assumed his position,” Kishida said. “I’m determined to concentrate on our work more seriously, as I believe that’s the only way to regain the people’s trust.”Kanda, a tax accountant-turned-lawmaker, admitted that land and property belonging to his company was seized by the authorities four times between 2013 and 2022 after fa...

Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger is running for governor instead of seeking reelection to the House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

HENRICO, Va. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger announced Monday she will run for Virginia governor in 2025 instead of seeking reelection to the U.S. House next year.Spanberger, a three-term Democrat, made the announcement in a campaign video, highlighting the importance of lowering prescription drug prices, growing the middle class and easing inflation. In a video titled “What Matters Most,” Spanberger also emphasized the importance of recruiting and retaining teachers “and stopping extremists from shredding women’s reproductive rights.”“Our country and our Commonwealth are facing fundamental threats to our rights, our freedoms, and to our democracy,” Spanberger said. “While some politicians in Richmond focus on banning abortion and books, what they’re not doing is helping people.”Spanberger represents Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, a key swing seat in northern Virginia that will be up for election next year. Her decision not to seek reelection in the House could lea...

Liz Weston: How to reduce your ‘widow’s penalty’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

After a spouse dies, the survivor often ends up paying higher taxes on less income — something known by accountants and financial planners as the “widow’s penalty,” because women typically outlive their husbands.Couples who know what’s coming often can take steps to soften the penalty’s effect, but too many don’t think far enough ahead, says Barbara O’Neill, a certified financial planner and educator in Ocala, Florida.“A lot of people just underestimate what the impact will be financially,” O’Neil says.INCOMES PLUNGE BUT EXPENSES MAY NOTA spouse’s death often leads to a substantial drop in income. Wages or salary typically end if the deceased spouse was still working, and many people don’t have enough life insurance to replace that loss.If a couple is retired and receiving Social Security, the benefit amount can drop by one third to one half. The survivor gets the larger of the two checks the couple received, and the smaller benefit goes away. If the deceased spouse received pension...

Illinois man fatally shot while waterfowl hunting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a fatal hunting incident in Guthrie County, according to a news release.Seth Egelhoff, 26, of Chesterfield, Illinois, was killed Saturday while waterfowl hunting at the Bays Branch Wildlife Area in Guthrie County, the release says. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department received an emergency call around 1 p.m. about a hunter suffering a gunshot wound to the face at Bays Branch Wildlife Area.  Egelhoff was transported by Panora EMS. Lifesaving measures were given enroute to Life Flight but were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced deceased shortly after leaving the scene.The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa DNR Law Enforcement Bureau.  The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department, Panora EMS, and Iowa State Patrol assisted in the investigation.The wildlife area is open for public use.

Monday Forecast: Temps in low 60s with sunny conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Temperatures in lower 50s with sunny conditions. Winds: W 5-15 G25. High: 61. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Clear tonight. Winds: WNW 0-5. Low: 36.Tuesday Forecast: Mostly sunny, SSW 5-10 G20. High: 60.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Incentive plan for Minneapolis police aims to end exodus of officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

The city of Minneapolis has agreed during negotiations with the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis that it will provide $15.3 million in incentives to retain police officers over the next three years. It’s intended to reverse what Chief Brian O’Hara called the exodus of police officers from the department.In exchange, the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis agreed to give the police chief the authority to assign officers to vacant shifts more quickly.O’Hara said the current process officers use to bid for shifts under the union contract requires that vacant shifts be open for a minimum of 28 days. The agreement shortens the vacancy duration to 10 days.“Under the current contract, without this change, it could take almost seven weeks to permanently reassign someone to a vacancy in 911, depending on where the 28-day pay cycle falls,” O’Hara said. “With that, we’ll be able to do permanent reassignments much quicker, this is in the interest of public safety.”“Yes, we need t...

Washington County bought a 1918 bridge for $1. Then they had to move it.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

The latest addition to Washington County’s collection of bridges arrived during the middle of the night on Friday after a 135-mile trip along back roads, complete with a police escort.A 250-foot-long, six-span bridge purchased for $1 from Brown County was delivered to a Washington County-owned gravel pit in May Township, just north of the Washington County Department of Public Works’ north shop, around 3:30 a.m.The move went great, according to Ryan Hoefs, the Washington County engineer who oversaw the move.“It was quite the sight to see,” he said. “The caravan left Lakeville at midnight and made it into Washington County around 2 a.m., and we arrived at the final destination around 3:30 a.m., where the contractor put the two spans on support structures.”Bridge 2110, built in 1918, spanned the Minnesota River on the border of Brown and Renville counties southeast of Franklin, Minnesota. (Courtesy of Brown County Highway Department)The bridge, which was built in 1918, has two main sp...

5 things to know this Monday, November 13

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Monday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, highs will be in the 40s as clouds overtake the sunny, chilly morning. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Albany Police are investigating a homicide on Judson Street that happened early Saturday morning. Colonie Police are investigating two fatal car crashes, both involving pedestrians. Also, Amtrak announced on November 12 that service between New York City and Albany has been temporarily suspended. The service disruption is due to safety concerns caused by structure issues with a privately owned, non-Amtrak building above the Empire Line tracks in New York City. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Monday morning. 1. Albany Police investigating Judson Street homicideThe Albany Police Department announced they are investigating a homicide that took place on Judson Street early on Saturday morning. The victim’s name will...

Abandoned bike leads to police discovering body at Creve Coeur Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - St. Louis County Police are investigating after a body was found over the weekend at Creve Coeur Park. Right now, there is limited information, but what we do know is that the police discovered a body, and they believe it could be a person who went missing several months ago. The missing person's report originated from St. Louis County, and it was filed back in July. Maryland Heights police told FOX 2 that they are assisting St. Louis County Police in the case.A lieutenant with MHPD said that a hiker called police after finding an abandoned bicycle off a bike path during the day on Sunday. They added that the hiker did not initially find the body, but it was later discovered once the police were called out. Taylor Swift’s heartfelt tribute to Lindenwood alumna during ‘Eras’ tour Officer Terry McComas from the Maryland Heights Police Department told FOX 2 on Sunday that when we called about this, they could not yet confirm the identity of the person found d...