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Macron pushes pension reform through French parliament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

By Sylvie Corbet | Associated PressPARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron imposed a highly unpopular bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 on Thursday by shunning parliament and invoking a special constitutional power.Lawmakers were shouting, their voices shaking with emotion as Macron made the risky move, which is expected to trigger quick motions of no-confidence in his government. Crowds gathered and riot police vans zoomed by outside the National Assembly, their sirens wailing.The proposed pension changes have prompted major strikes and protests across the country since January. Macron, who made it the flagship of his second term, argued the reform is needed to keep the pension system from diving into deficit as France’s population ages and life expectancy lengthens.Macron decided to invoke the special power during a Cabinet meeting at the Elysee presidential palace, just a few minutes before the scheduled vote in France’s lower house of parliament, because...

​Alexis Gabe’s family confirms discovery of new remains, hopes more evidence will be revealed​

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

The family of Alexis Gabe has confirmed that partial remains found during volunteer searches in January matched their daughter who was killed more than a year ago.The partial remains were discovered by volunteer searchers on Highway 49 a week before a celebration of life for the Oakley woman, but the family did not know if they were connected to the case until recently. Rowena Gabe, Alexis’ mother, thanked the search-and-recovery teams and said, “There will be no stopping us until we bring her home,” on her Facebook page.Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father, said in an interview that searchers found his daughter’s torso and other remains confirmed by DNA as well as other evidence.The finds could bring them another step closer to determining the manner of her death and whether the killer had any help afterward.“We’re still trying to find her green purse, the rest of her phone and other stuff,” Gabe said, noting he hopes that will lead to more evidence in he case.“My wife just doesn’t want...

Murder suspect ripped marriage on ‘Family Feud’ before wife’s killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

Three years before an Illinois man was charged Monday with killing his estranged wife, he appeared on the TV game show, “Family Feud” and joked that a person’s biggest wedding “mistake” could be getting married at all.As part of the show, host Steve Harvey asked Timothy Bliefnick, 39, to predict people’s most common response to the question: “What’s the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?”The bow-tied Bliefnick, competing on the show with his family, quickly addressed his wife, Rebecca Bliefnick, saying, “Honey, I love you.” He then replied cautiously, “Said, ‘I do?'”His response evoked laughter and gasps from the crowd but a blank stare from Harvey, the Daily Mail said.#FamilyFeud contestant #TimothyBliefnick who allegedly murdered estranged wife #RebeccaBliefnick joked with host #SteveHarvey three years before crime that his biggest mistake at their wedding was getting MARRIED https://t.co/re...

Ravetto, Johannessen lead on the links in South Africa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

ST. FRANCIS BAY, South Africa (AP) — David Ravetto and Kristian Krogh Johannessen carded 5-under 67s at a windy St. Francis Links course Thursday to share the clubhouse lead in the first round of the SDC Championship in South Africa.France’s Ravetto picked up six birdies and just one bogey and Norway’s Johannessen had a blemish-free round of five birdies as the tournament made its debut on the European tour.They are one shot ahead of Scotland’s Connor Syme in third. Syme had an eventful day, starting with three birdies and a bogey in his opening four holes. He carded seven birdies in all, but also three bogeys for his 68.A handful of players weren’t able to complete their opening rounds because of fading light and will be back out early on Friday to finish before the second round gets underway. None of them are likely to match the first-round scores of Ravetto and Johannessen.Ravetto’s only bogey came on No. 7, which was his 16th hole, but he made birdi...

Boston seeking to limit fossil fuel use in new buildings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Boston is pushing forward with plans to discourage the use of fossil fuel in new buildings. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Thursday filed an ordinance with the city council that would require new buildings that rely on fossil fuels to install solar panels and to add wiring in anticipation of future conversion to electrification with the goal of most new buildings going all-electric. Several other communities in the state have embraced similar efforts.Wu also announced the city will use $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to improve energy performance at the city’s affordable housing developments. In Boston, 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from the building sector, according to Wu, who said the emissions contribute both to global climate change and to local air pollution that disproportionately harms low-income residents and communities of color in the city.The announcement comes after Massachusetts lawmakers adopted a new law last year ...

Military moves to cut suicides, but defers action on guns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a number of improvements in mental health care on Thursday to reduce suicides in the military, but held off on endorsing more controversial recommendations to restrict gun and ammunition purchases by young troops, sending them to another panel for study.An independent committee in late February recommended that the Defense Department implement a series of gun safety measures, including waiting periods for the purchase of firearms and ammunition by service members on military property and raising the minimum age for service members to buy guns and ammunition to 25.In a memo released Thursday, Austin called for the establishment of a suicide prevention working group to “assess the advisability and feasibility” of recommendations made by the initial study committee — which would include the gun measures. And he asked for cost estimates and a description of any “barriers” to implementing other changes. At no point did he specifica...

El Salvador’s congress extends anti-gang crackdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

El Salvador’s congress has voted to approve yet another extension of emergency rules allowing police to round up suspected members of street gangs. The vote late Wednesday was widely expected, and marks the 12th such one-month extension granted to President Nayib Bukele since the measure was first approved on March 27, 2022.The crackdown has resulted in over 65,000 arrests and thousands of alleged rights abuses, but remains popular in a country where gangs once demanded protection payments with impunity. Opinion polls suggest that about 9 out of 10 Salvadorans approve of the government’s anti-crime strategy.The extension came on the same day the government sent 2,000 more suspects to a huge new prison built especially for gang members Wednesday, and the justice minister vowed that “they will never return” to the streets.The government announced the mass inmate transfer with a slickly produced video posted on social media. It showed prisoners forced to run barefoot and handcuff...

Mets’ Díaz expected to miss entire season after freak injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has a torn patellar tendon and is expected to miss the entire season after hurting his right knee while celebrating a victory in the World Baseball Classic.Mets general manager Billy Eppler said Díaz would undergo surgery Thursday. Without going into specifics, Eppler said a general timeline for recovery from this type of injury is about eight months.The Mets signed Díaz to a five-year, $102 million contract — the largest ever for a closer — after he produced a spectacular 2022 season. All player contracts are covered by insurance through the WBC that spans the length of time the player is out with an injury suffered during the tournament.Díaz went 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 35 opportunities while striking out 118 batters in 62 innings last season. He made his second All-Star appearance and finished ninth in the Cy Young Award voting.Díaz, who turns 29 on Wednesday, retired the side in order in the ninth inning of ...

MATCHDAY: Newcastle at Forest, Gladbach eyes landmark win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Friday:ENGLANDNewcastle will look to move a point off the Premier League’s top four when it visits relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. Newcastle is currently in fifth place, four points behind Tottenham in fourth but with two games in hand. The northeast team ignited its push for Champions League qualification by beating Wolverhampton on Sunday to end a four-game winless run in the league. Forest is in 14th place in the 20-team league but only two points above the relegation zone in what is shaping up to be a tight race to avoid dropping into the Championship. The bottom five is separated by five points. SPAINAthletic Bilbao visits Valladolid in the Spanish league looking to create some winning momentum in the buildup to its decisive Copa del Rey semifinal match. Bilbao has not won in five consecutive games, despite playing well in last week’s 1-0 loss to leader Barcelona. Bilbao is in ninth place and will have a hard time ...

How do Colorado property taxes stack against the rest of the US?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:08 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado has one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country, depending on the city. Legislators are currently considering ways to keep residents from being stuck with unmanageable property tax burdens. The average assessed value of a property will balloon by 26.5% this year, according to a state economic forecast. Potentially, this could add hundreds or thousands to the yearly property tax bill, which would especially endanger Coloradans on fixed incomes. Colorado has higher than average rate of DUIs Property taxes in Colorado are some of the lightest in the nation, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the Tax Foundation.In 2020, Colorado homeowners paid 0.54% of their home's value in property taxes. This is the nation's third-lowest percentage. Only Alabama and Hawaii homeowners paid lower percentages of their home value in taxes. Most of the western U.S. has similarly low tax rates. Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico are each in the b...