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Southern Italy and Sicily: An unexpected tropical paradise with a side of history

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

It’s been a long, cold winter that does not want to let go.But for a few weeks, more than three dozen readers and I got to escape to an unexpected tropical paradise — Sicily and Southern Italy.I had been to Tuscany before, but the beaches, abundant citrus trees, palm trees and agave and prickly pear plants in the southern part of the country were a welcome surprise, even though temperatures weren’t quite swimsuit friendly.With that climate comes a cornucopia of always-in-season produce, which makes for the amazing food scene we experienced. In addition, the history and archaeology of the region is mind-blowing and picturesque and the people friendly and animated.Here’s a rundown of what our merry group of travelers did during a magnificent 12-day stay in the region.PalermoA building in the Quattro Canti, an intersection in the historic part of Palermo, Sicily. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)If you visit just one place in Sicily, I’d argue Palermo should be it. It’s the capital of the...

These are America’s top 100 secret beaches

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

There are few things more appealing than an uncrowded beach on a sunny summer day — an under-the-radar stretch of strand where you won’t find coolers and blankets monopolizing the sandy expanse.FamilyDestinationsGuide.com, a travel planning site, recently polled 3,000 families to find the best secret beaches across the U.S. It’s no surprise that beach-blessed Hawaii and Florida took seven out of the top 10 spots — but California beaches had a good showing, too.Eight Golden State beaches appear on the top 100, including Wildcat Beach in Point Reyes at No. 8), Bowling Ball Beach in Mendocino (No. 22) and Gray Whale Cove near Pacifica (No. 25). Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, Hollywood Beach in Oxnard, Enderts Beach near Crescent City, Montaña de Oro State Park south of Morro Bay and Haskell’s Beach in Santa Barbara also made the list.“Not only do these hidden gems offer a chance to escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere,” says executive editor Rose Ackermann, “but they prov...

DeSantis signs bills aimed at transgender care, pronouns, drag shows

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a series of bills on Wednesday taking aim at transgender treatments for minors, pronouns in schools, bathroom use and keeping children out of drag shows.“We are not doing the pronoun Olympics in Florida,” DeSantis said during an event at a Christian school in Tampa. “It’s not happening here.”He spoke at a lectern with a sign that read, “Let Kids Be Kids,” and signed the bills on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.LGBTQ advocates dubbed the measures the “slate of hate,” calling it the most extensive package of anti-LGBTQ laws passed in one legislative session in Florida’s history.“This is an all-out attack on freedom. … DeSantis doesn’t see freedom as a value worth defending, he sees it as a campaign slogan in his bid for the White House,” said Joe Saunders, senior political director of Equality Florida.Drug treatments and surgeries for children diagnosed w...

MTS workers' strike affecting South Bay Bus Division

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

SAN DIEGO --  San Diego Metropolitan Transit System bus riders are being asked to plan ahead as dozens of bus operators are on now on strike.As of Wednesday morning, the work stoppage is affecting the South Bay Bus Division with 33% of MTS bus routes being impacted.Buses like the one that comes through Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach was delayed as a result. Route 934 is one of many routes on MTS’ list of routes that could be impacted. Police conduct homicide investigation at Campland on the Bay Outside of the MTS bus yard in Chula Vista Wednesday, dozens of employees were holding signs and walking the picket line. They are asking for better working conditions and pay.Negotiations between MTS contractor Transdev and its bus operators have failed so far.At one point, when the strike started Tuesday afternoon, drivers walked away from their buses at the end of their shift and left management to park the buses inside the facility.Union leaders say this strike is expected to last 2...

Aquatic programs in jeopardy at 20 schools after TDSB cuts instructors

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

Lack of funding for an integral school program has left students, teachers and parents in disbelief.Swim programs at eight elementary schools and 12 high schools are in jeopardy after the Toronto District School Board cut aquatic instructors, miscalculating how many would be needed to keep the programs alive.“In public education, it just feels like we’re lowering the bar and eventually, how low can it go?” said Grade 3 teacher at Brown Public School, Geoff Loughton.A “Save our pool” sign now hangs in the window at the school in Midtown Toronto and parents and teachers fighting for the swim program students have come to love for generations.“We’re just going to push and push and push the resiliency of our kids and take away all these good things? You know, the Minister of Education said we should go back to basics. Is that just going to be three hours of math and three hours of language – and nothing else?” asked Loughton.Thirty p...

Ana Bailão counts on her City Hall experience to overcome others in the race for Toronto mayor

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

After 12 years as the city councillor for Davenport, including five as deputy mayor alongside former Toronto Mayor John Tory, Ana Bailão wants voters to know that she’s been there before and can take on the top job seamlessly.“It’s about getting things done,” Bailão told CityNews in an one-on-one interview. “It’s about getting results. I’m somebody that doesn’t take no for an answer. I’m somebody that brings people together.”As the lead on the city’s housing file, Bailão helped develop a 10-year action plan to build more affordable homes on city-owned land.Critics, however, have been quick to point out that none of the projects have broken ground at this point.“My plan will ensure that if shovels are not in the ground by the end of the year, that we actually re-tender,” Bailão said. “But I’m also committed to have 57,000 units as purpose built rental as well.”Alongside housing, Bailão has...

1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible sells for $38M auction in New York

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible that is one of the world’s oldest surviving biblical manuscripts sold for $38 million in New York on Wednesday.The Codex Sassoon, a leather-bound, handwritten parchment volume containing a nearly complete Hebrew Bible, was purchased by former U.S. Ambassador to Romania Alfred H. Moses on behalf of the American Friends of ANU and donated to ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, where it will join of the collection, Sotheby’s said in statement.The manuscript was exhibited at the ANU Museum in March as part of a worldwide tour before the auction.Sotheby’s Judaica specialist Sharon Liberman Mintz said the $38 million price tag, which includes the auction house’s fee, “reflects the profound power, influence, and significance of the Hebrew Bible, which is an indispensable pillar of humanity.”It’s one of highest prices for a manuscript sold at auction. In 2021, a rare copy of the U.S. constitution sold for $...

Stock market today: Wall Street rises with hopes US may avoid default

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rallied Wednesday on hopes the U.S. government can avoid a potentially disastrous default on its debt.The S&P 500 climbed 1.2%, with much of the gain coming after President Joe Biden said he’s confident “America will not default.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 408 points, or 1.2%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1.3%. Biden’s comments came after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said late Tuesday that Democrats and Republicans could reach a deal by the end of the week, though the two sides remain far apart. They’re staring down a June 1 deadline, which is when the U.S. government could run out of cash unless Congress allows it to borrow more.A default could rock the financial system because Treasurys are assumed to be the safest possible investment on Earth, and economists say it would likely cause widespread damage across the economy.Wednesday’s spurt came after a long, listless stretch where the S&P 500 did not move by 1% over a week, up or...

S&P/TSX composite gains more than 50 points Wednesday, U.S. markets rise

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index posted a small gain Wednesday as strength in energy stocks helped offset weakness in other areas, while U.S. markets rose more than one per cent. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 54.36 points at 20,296.43.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 408.63 points at 33,420.77.The S&P 500 index was up 48.87 points at 4,158.77, while the Nasdaq composite was up 157.51 points at 12,500.57.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.35 cents US, according to XE.com, compared with 74.32 cents US on Tuesday.The June crude contract was up US$1.97 at US$72.83 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was down a penny at US$2.37 per mmBTU.The June gold contract was down US$8.10 at US$1,984.90 an ounce and the July copper contract was up nine cents at US$3.75 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

EPA rule would force clean-up of toxic waste dumped near coal-fired power plants

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency is strengthening a rule aimed at controlling and cleaning up toxic waste from coal-fired power plants. A proposal announced Wednesday would for the first time require safe management of so-called coal ash dumped in hundreds of older landfills, “legacy” ponds and other inactive sites that currently are unregulated at the federal level. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the plan would hold polluters accountable for controlling and cleaning up coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal in that can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water and the air. Coal ash contains contaminants such as mercury, chromium and arsenic associated with cancer and other health problems.“Ensuring the health and safety of all people is EPA’s top priority, and this proposed rule represents a crucial step toward safeguarding the air, groundwater, streams and drinking water that communities depend on,” Regan said in a statement.If finalized, the r...