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New report from PEN America documents vast book bannings in U.S. prisons

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of thousands of books are being banned or restricted by U.S. prisons, according to a new report from PEN America. The list includes everything from self-help books to an Elmore Leonard novel.“The common concept underpinning the censorship we’re seeing is that certain ideas and information are a threat,” says the report’s co-author, Moira Marquis, senior manager in the prison and justice writing department at PEN, the literary and free expression organization.Timed to the start Wednesday of Prison Banned Books Week, “Reading Between the Bars” draws upon public record requests, calls from PEN to prison mailrooms, dozens of accounts from inmates and PEN’s struggles to distribute its guide for prison writing, “The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting A Writer’s Life in Prison,” which came out last year.Marquis said that the most common official reasons for bans are security and sexual content, terms that can apply to a very wide range of titles...

Business leaders increasingly see importance of climate plans: survey

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

TORONTO — A new survey finds Canadian business leaders increasingly see climate change plans as good for their bottom line. The survey commissioned by BMO of 700 small and medium business leaders in Canada and the U.S. found that 62 per cent of those north of the border see a climate change plan as good for business, up from 47 per cent in the survey last year.Other pressures such as inflation, interest rates, labour shortages and supply chain bottlenecks, however, still ranked as more pressing.Melissa Fifield, who leads BMO’s climate institute, says it’s encouraging to see more businesses recognize the importance of developing a climate plan.She says the results of the survey, conducted in August, were likely influenced by the widespread wildfires at the time that showed the unpredictable and severe weather events that climate change can create.Fifield says extreme weather has prompted business leaders to think more about the impacts to their supply chains, buildings an...

Suzette Mayr, Iain Reid among finalists for Governor General’s Literary Awards

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

TORONTO — Suzette Mayr, Iain Reid and Susan Musgrave are among the well-known finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards.The Canada Council for the Arts named 70 finalists across seven categories in both English and French on Wednesday. The 14 winners, who each receive $25,000, will be announced Nov. 8.Mayr made the fiction list for “The Sleeping Car Porter,” which took home last year’s Scotiabank Giller Prize, while Reid is on the same short list for “We Spread.”Also in the running for the English-language fiction prize are Janika Oza’s novel “A History of Burning,” Anuja Varghese’s short story collection “Chrysalis” and Kai Thomas’s novel “In the Upper Country.”Musgrave, meanwhile, is a finalist for the poetry prize for “Exculpatory Lilies,” a collection that was also shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize.Other finalists for that award are “Baby Book” by A...

Man in custody after Illinois State Trooper shot in Springfield

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois State Police are investigating after an officer-involved shooting in Springfield.The shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 1600 block of Toronto Road in Sangamon County.According to preliminary information, an ISP trooper interacted with 37-year-old Cristobal Santana of Chicago, who is believed to be wanted in connection with a recent homicide in the city.During the interaction, gunshots were fired and the trooper was struck in the leg. ISP said Santana fled his vehicle on foot. He was caught and taken into police custody just before 2 a.m. Wednesday.No other officers were injured in the shooting. The investigation is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.

Massive backup on I-80/94 in Northwest Indiana due to semi crash

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A crash involving multiple semi trucks is causing a massive backup Wednesday morning on I-80/94 in Northwest Indiana.The crash involves three semi trucks and other vehicles. Initially, Indiana State Police said all westbound lanes are blocked near Cline Avenue.As of now, one lane is getting by — but traffic is backed up all the way to I-65.Police urge motorists to use the toll road, US 20 or Ridge Road.It's unknown if there are any injuries at this time.WGN News will update this story.

Skokie man charged with hate crime after allegedly using pepper spray at Skokie rally

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — A man has been charged with a hate crime after a confrontation with pro-Palestinian protestors at an Israeli rally in Skokie over the weekend.Zevulen Ebert, 33, faces two felony counts of aggravated battery and two felony counts of hate crime charges. He will appear for a pre-trial hearing Wednesday.According to the Skokie Police Department, Ebert was arrested in relation to the pepper spray incident at the private Solidarity with Israel event on the 3400 block of West Touhy Avenue on Sunday. He is believed to have targeted pro-Palestinian protestors. ORIGINAL: Tensions rise amid clashing rallies in Skokie Around 1,000 people had gathered to show solidarity with Israel at Ateres Ayala, which is a banquet hall, according to event organizers.Attendees told WGN-TV that a counter-rally was then organized for the same time, in the same area by Palestinian supporters. No charges for man who fired gun in the air near rallies in Skokie Skokie police say during the protes...

Woman, 22, killed in hit-and-run crash on West Side

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A 22-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash on the city's West Side.It happened around 11:21 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of South Laramie Avenue in the Austin neighborhood.Police said the woman was driving a tan colored sedan westbound on Flourney when she was struck byt the driver of a black Audi sedan.The woman was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Man in custody after Illinois State Trooper shot in Springfield The driver and occupants of the Audi fled the scene on foot. No one is in custody.The Major Accidents unit is investigating.

'Taco Tuesday' trademark can now be used nationwide after lone restaurant relinquishes claim

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

(KTLA) -- Taco Bell's legal fight over the “Taco Tuesday” trademark has ended after a restaurant in New Jersey parted ways with the term, allowing taco restaurants nationwide to use the phrase.The months-long effort to make the phrase available for restaurants nationwide ended on Tuesday after Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar in Somers Point, New Jersey, forfeited its “Taco Tuesday” trademark.The restaurant held the “Taco Tuesday” trademark in New Jersey for over 30 years. The restaurant’s decision to relinquish the claim comes after Taco John’s, a Wyoming-based “West-Mex” restaurant chain, relinquished its claim to the trademark in July.Taco John's had held the trademark for over 40 years in the 49 other U.S. states. Taco Bell testing new chicken nuggets in 1 city Earlier this year, Taco Bell filed with U.S. trademark regulators to get Gregory’s and Taco John’s to abandon their trademarks, saying the term had become too widely used to belong to any one person or business.“When we set...

SXSW 2024 initial keynote speaker announced; Dylan Mulvaney and Chuck D among featured speakers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The South by Southwest Conference and Festivals said Tuesday the leader of a semiconductor company with offices here in Austin will be the initial Keynote for the 38th edition of the conference next spring. SXSW takes place March 8 through March 16, 2024 in Austin. The conference said Lisa Su, who is chair and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, will be the initial keynote speaker. SXSW ups musician pay for 2024 festival Among those speaking at the conference include rapper Chuck D; transgender influencer and actress Dylan Mulvaney; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Oates; and CEO of Uber Dara Khosrowshahi, according to SXSW. A full list of speakers can be found online. "Every year at SXSW, we’re privileged to host leaders and trailblazers who have risen to the top of their fields through hard work, thought leadership, and passion for their craft,” said Hugh Forrest, Co-President and Chief Programming Officer in the announcement. “Our first announced Keynote Speaker, Cha...

Colonie Police looking for missing person

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:00 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Colonie Police are asking for the public's help in finding a missing vulnerable adult. Jeanne Diehl-Dufort is 63 years old, is 5'4" tall, and weighs 100 lbs. She has reddish-gray hair with green eyes and was last seen on Tuesday.Image provided by Colonie Police Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Anyone with any knowledge of the whereabouts of Diehl-Dufort is asked to contact 518-783-2811 regarding incident number 23-080196.