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Stricter state laws are chipping away at sex education in K-12 schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A dozen state or county agencies have parted ways with tens of thousands of dollars in federal grants meant to help monitor teenagers’ sexual behaviors and try to lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.The withdrawals reflect a shift in many states that is further complicating and polarizing sex education in K-12 schools as some Republican-led legislatures more strictly regulate when and what students learn about their bodies. The new laws are part of a broad push to fortify “ parents’ rights ” and strike LGBTQ+ content from the classroom, core themes that have flooded the campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.Experts are concerned students won’t reliably learn about adolescence, safe sexual activity or relationship violence, topics they say are especially important since sexually transmitted diseases rose after the pandemic and access to abortion is increasingly restricted.Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, a pediatric ...

3 bears are captured after sneaking into a tatami factory as northern Japan faces a growing problem

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Three bears that snuck into a tatami mat factory in northern Japan and holed up inside for nearly a day have been captured, according to town officials.A patrolling town official spotted the bears, believed to be a parent and two cubs, as they walked into a tatami factory Wednesday morning in Misato, a town in Akita prefecture, where there’s been a growing number of reported bear attacks in or near residential areas.An owner of the tatami factory said he saw the bears walking outside but never thought they would come inside. Town officials and police officers rushed to the site, each wearing a helmet and carrying a shield, and kept watch. Local hunters used fire crackers to try to scare the intruders out, without success. They later set up a pair of cages at the entrance of the tatami factory and waited overnight.On Thursday morning, the bears were trapped in cages, two cubs in one and the adult in another. Television footage showed the cages being taken out of th...

Alanis Morissette explains her boisterous, uninhibited concert dance moves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

TORONTO — Alanis Morissette knows her herky-jerky body movements in concert are unorthodox but says it’s because she has so much pent-up energy in her body that she “can barely hold it.”“I always felt like I was a poodle inside the body of a black stallion,” the Ottawa native said earlier this week of performing live.“Like, I’m an introvert in this wildly extroverted lifestyle.”Morissette said the intimacy of the stage feels “in a strange way … like this tiny, little glittery fishbowl.”And while she’s toned down the energy of her dance moves in recent years, she still lives for the “sacred moment” of performing live.The “You Oughta Know” singer reflected on her stage presence while speaking about Mirvish’s production of “Jagged Little Pill,” which begins its month-long run at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto on Oct. 24.The jukebox musical revolves around the struggles of a family, set to songs from Morissette’...

Statistics Canada to release September jobs data this morning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadians will get an updated picture of the jobs market when Statistics Canada releases its Labour Force Survey for September later this morning. The jobs market surprised to the upside in August as employers added 40,000 positions in the month, double the consensus expectation among economists. The jobless held steady at 5.5 per cent, ending a three-month streak of rising unemployment.While the labour market has been surprisingly resilient despite higher interest rates, cracks have been starting to show in the data.In September, Statistics Canada noted fewer workers switched jobs, as indicated by the falling job-changing rate, and job vacancies have been declining, signalling employers might be growing more reluctant to hire.However, wage growth has remained strong – coming in at 4.9 per cent on an annual basis for August – which remains a key concern for the Bank of Canada in its fight against inflation. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 5, 2023....

Canadians likely to spend more on Thanksgiving dinner this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

After more than a year of high food inflation, families gathering this weekend to gobble Thanksgiving dinner may feeling the pinch after their grocery shopping.Statistics Canada reported last month that prices for food purchased from stores rose 6.9 per cent in August, down from an 8.5 per cent increase in July but still well above the month’s headline inflation rate of four per cent.“Prices haven’t went down, so you’re going to continue to see to see fairly large sticker shock on items and it’s making consumers re-think the traditional Thanksgiving meal,” said retail analyst Bruce Winder.“Some people are going to look at alternatives: is there a cheaper alternative that you can use to cook instead of maybe a turkey? Or do you maybe hold back on the big family gathering a little bit more? Do you make more and buy less from stores?”Last year, the price of a kilogram of fresh turkey was about $6.59, or $42.84 for a 6.5-kilogram bird, acc...

Daily horoscope for October 6, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Friday, Oct. 6, 2023:For you, life is an unfolding adventure. You want each day to be meaningful because you’re a romantic. This is an exciting year for you. It ushers in a major change. Stay light on your feet so you can go in any new direction. Travel is likely.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★★This is the perfect day to entertain at home or invite a gathering for social reasons or a specific cause. People will be very friendly today and will be open to an exchange of ideas. You also will be persuasive with a family member or a group. Tonight: Cooperation.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★★All your communications with others today will be excellent because you’re happy, optimistic and upbeat today. You might persuade someone to see your point of view because you genuinely believe in your ideas. It’s a good day to teach or learn something new. Tonight: Work....

Commission launches investigation on subsidised electric cars from China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

The European Commission has formally launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of battery electric vehicles (BEV) from China. The investigation will first determine whether BEV value chains in China benefit from illegal subsidisation and whether this subsidisation causes or threatens to cause economic injury to EU BEV producers. Should both prove true, the investigation will examine the likely consequences and impact of measures on importers, users and consumers of battery electric vehicles in the EU.Based on the investigation's findings, the Commission will establish whether it is in the EU's interest to remedy the effects of the unfair trade practices found by imposing anti-subsidy duties on imports of battery electric vehicles from China.The investigation, announced by Ursula von der Leyen on 13 September in the State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech, will follow strict legal procedures in line with EU and WTO rules, allowing all parties concerned, including the...

Harriette Cole: It’s hard to resist getting even with my no-show friend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I asked a close friend for help moving a few months ago, and she promised me that she would be there to assist me. Unfortunately, when the day came, she bailed on me without any warning.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: It seems like my co-workers are avoiding me. Is it because of how I got hired? Advice | Harriette Cole: When she acted puzzled about my marriage, it got me thinking Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m wondering if his new wife is the reason he won’t see me Advice | Harriette Cole: People say I’m clairvoyant, but in this case it didn’t help me Advice | Harriette Cole: Why should my boss care that I’m bad at parties? Now, she’s come to me asking for help with something that’s far less important, and I feel resentful about the whole situation.On one hand, I don’t want to be petty, but on the other hand, it feels unfair that she ...

Miss Manners: My wife insists this is a rule about children’s birthday parties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A while ago, we had a reception after our daughter’s baptism. As sometimes happens, the guest list spiraled out of control due to the “if we invite them, then we have to invite so-and-so” principle.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I’m stunned by my father’s request for the wedding dinner Advice | Miss Manners: My husband doesn’t like my strategy for dealing with his vexatious relatives Advice | Miss Manners: Don’t they know it’s an insulting thing to say to the bride? Advice | Miss Manners: At what age should one start picking up the tab? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I out of line in asking people not to hide during video meetings? My wife did a magnificent job planning and hosting this event but exhausted herself by making sure that for every day that any guests were in town, she cooked a full meal for them.Now, our daughter is about ...

Dear Abby: The holiday dinner came with an unpleasant surprise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

DEAR ABBY: One of my family members is a loner. I’m the closest relative to them.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: This family constantly breaks the rules of our potluck Advice | Dear Abby: After this emotional blow, I feel I can’t trust my friends Advice | Dear Abby: I worry people are still judging me for the wedding dance bungle Advice | Dear Abby: After this awkward encounter, my neighbor posted notes about me in the building Advice | Dear Abby: I believed my dad’s version of why he got fired. Then I was blindsided by the truth. They invite my children and me over for holiday dinners, but the house is dirty with roaches galore. The bugs even crawl on you during the day on the couch. I don’t want to go there for this reason.I’m also cautious about inviting them to visit here because I once asked them to housesit for me for four days, and I came home to roaches in my ho...