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California bill requiring Big Tech to pay for news placed on hold until 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

A California bill that would force tech companies such as Facebook and Google to pay publishers for news content has been put on hold in the Legislature until 2024.The California Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, sponsored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, would direct digital advertising giants to pay news outlets a “journalism usage fee” when they sell advertising alongside news content. The bill would require publishers to invest 70% of those funds in preserving journalism jobs in California.The bill passed in the Assembly with bipartisan support June 1 and moved on to the state Senate. A hearing was initially scheduled for July 11, but Wicks’ office announced Friday it would be rescheduled for 2024, picking back up at the same point in the legislative process.“I’ve agreed to make AB 886 a two-year bill in order to ensure the strongest legislation possible — because getting this policy right is more important than getting it quick,...

Cambridge-based firm to manage startup incubator space for University of Chicago’s planned Hyde Park Labs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The University of Chicago signed a partnership agreement with Cambridge Innovation Center, a Massachusetts-based operator of shared workspaces and labs, to incubate dozens of faculty-led startup companies within the university’s leased space in Hyde Park Labs, a flagship science building under construction at the corner of 52nd Street and Harper Avenue.Although life sciences researchers at the Chicago area’s many universities often develop new therapies and drugs, the region’s lack of lab space often forced many to take their discoveries, and the jobs eventually created, to research hubs in cities like Boston or San Diego, said CIC founder and CEO Tim Rowe. But the university’s new lab space, and the opportunity to share ideas with like-minded scientists, should help change that.“Hopefully, when they see the tools are here, more of these startup companies will stay in Chicago and more will be formed here in the first place,” he said.The 14-story building, developed by Tram...

How Marcus Smart’s trade from Celtics to Grizzlies was in works long before deal was made

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The shocking trade that sent Marcus Smart from the Celtics to the Grizzlies seemed like it came together in an instant. But in reality, it was a long time in the making.The deal, of course, nearly didn’t happen on June 28, when the Celtics’ initial deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis that included Malcolm Brogdon, not Smart, broke down. About 90 minutes later, the Celtics pivoted to trade Smart to the Grizzlies. It didn’t just develop spontaneously, though. The Grizzlies have long admired Smart and had expressed their interest in him long before that night last month.As the Grizzlies introduced Smart in Las Vegas on Friday, Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman explained how their acquisition for Smart came together. They targeted the point guard as a potential addition this summer, even if it didn’t seem likely.“When we started putting names on the board, there was no one higher than Marcus,” Kleiman told reporters in Vegas. “This was early on, it was like, ‘Hey, this is the pie in t...

Ticker: Stock market today: Wall Street drifts after jobs report comes in warm but hopefully not too hot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street drifted to a mixed close after data suggested the U.S. job market is still warm enough to keep the economy growing but maybe not so hot that it stokes inflation much higher.The S&P 500 fell 0.3% Friday, though slightly more stocks in the index rose than fell. The Dow fell 187 points, or 0.6%, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.1%. A lot is riding on whether the economy can navigate the narrow pathway to avoid a long-predicted recession. Friday’s report showed that employers added fewer jobs in June than in May, not far off economists’ expectations. Treasury yields were mixed.New Hampshire bans boycotts of Israel in state procurement and investmentsCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire has followed dozens of other states in prohibiting state contracts or investments involving companies that boycott Israel and its trade partners.The Israeli-American Coalition for Action says the executive order signed by Gov. Chris Sununu on Thursday makes New Hampshire the 37th sta...

San Diego launches $5M microgrid installation project throughout city

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Construction on the first of eight microgrids aimed at strengthening energy independence across San Diego was launched by city officials on Friday.Microgrids, which are localized, self-sufficient energy systems, will be placed at eight sites throughout the city in the coming weeks, generating power for facilities like police stations, community centers and fire stations.The $5 million project is part of San Diego's Climate Action Plan, a massive energy infrastructure undertaking spearheaded by Mayor Todd Gloria that aims to achieve net-zero emissions in the city by 2035. Encinitas residents frustrated over limited parking When the project is complete, officials say it will become one of the largest microgrid deployments in California, increasing the city's renewable energy generation portfolio by one megawatt."Too often climate action is framed as sacrifice -- that we will need to give things up to have a healthy, livable planet," San Diego City Council President Sea...

Condemned building used by homeless people falls in Brazil, killing 14 people

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

An apartment building condemned for more than decade but used by homeless people collapsed in Brazil’s northeastern state of Pernambuco, killing 14 people, including six children, firefighters reported Saturday.The building in Recife’s Paulista suburb crumbled in the early hours of Friday, prompting a frantic search for victims.Searchers combed through the rubble with the help of sniffer dogs and rescued two 15-year-old girls and a 65-year-old woman alive, firefighters said. An 18-year-old man was also removed alive, but later died from his injuries.“Search operations are now focused on the removal of animals,” the fire department said Saturday.The building was occupied by homeless people although living there had been forbidden since 2010, the Paulista city hall said in a statement.City officials referred to the structure as a “coffin block,” a name given to buildings built on a large scale in the 1970s in the metropolitan region of Recife, the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported...

Toronto mourns Beverley Salmon, city’s first Black female councillor

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Toronto is mourning the loss of Dr. Beverley Salmon, the first Black female city councillor who was known as a trailblazer and advocate for more inclusive practices in municipal government. Salmon’s daughter, Heather, confirmed on social media that her mother passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. Salmon was born in Toronto in 1930. She began her career as a nurse initially in Detroit in the 1950s where she became involved with the civil rights movement before returning to Toronto to continue her activism in the 1960s. In 1985, Salmon became Toronto’s first Black female city councillor, representing North York until her retirement in 1997. Salmon was awarded the Order of Ontario in 2016 and the Order of Canada a year later. Several Toronto politicians took to social media to remember Salmon. Mayor-elect Olivia Chow shared a message of remembrance, citing their time on Metro Council together and praising her leadership in advancing human rights and racial justice. As f...

Crews continue to battle cargo ship blaze that killed 2 New Jersey firefighters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Fire crews on Saturday continued to battle flames that have smoldered inside a cargo ship docked at the East Coast’s biggest port, days after the blaze claimed the lives of two New Jersey firefighters and injured five others.Newark firefighters Augusto “Augie” Acabou and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr. were killed in the Wednesday night fire aboard the Grande Costa d’Avorio, an Italian-flagged vessel carrying thousands of vehicles and other goods that was at port in Newark.The Coast Guard said Saturday that marine firefighting specialists were “actively conducting fire suppression both pier-side and on the water.”Officials said fire crews arriving at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday reported a blaze in the rear of the ship on the 10th to 12th levels. About an hour later, a mayday call was issued after a firefighter became trapped inside, and a second mayday call was issued for another firefighter.Acabou, a firefighter for more than nine years, was rescued from the ship before m...

Carlos Alcaraz won’t fret about sounding humble at Wimbledon. He wants to face Novak Djokovic

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Let other players downplay their championship chances at Wimbledon. Let other players profess — feign? — humility. Let other players express caution in Week 1 that it’s still way too early to be talking about the possibility of reaching the final at the end of the fortnight.Carlos Alcaraz is not interested in any of that. He is No. 1 in the ATP rankings and No. 1 in the seedings at the All England Club and embraces that status. Every bit of it.So on Saturday, after reaching the fourth round at the All England Club with a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5 victory over No. 25 Nicolas Jarry at Centre Court, when he was asked whether it comes as something of a shock to him to already be one of the faces of the Grand Slam tournament, and already one of its favorites, at the ripe old age of 20, Alcaraz shrugged.“Well, I’m not surprised, honestly, ’cause I know my skills. I know what I’m capable of,” Alcaraz said, wearing the white bucket hat that’s become his signature news...

3 Tigers pitchers combine for no-hitter against Blue Jays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Three Detroit Tigers pitchers combined to no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays in a 2-0 win on Saturday.Starting pitcher Matt Manning went the first 6 2/3 innings. Manning walked three batters and struck out five. He was pulled after walking Cavan Biggio with two outs in the top of the seventh. He threw 91 pitches. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was greeted with a chorus of boos from the home crowd when he emerged to pull Manning from the game, ending any chance for him to pull off the complete game no-hitter. The jeers then turned to cheers in appreciation for Manning’s efforts as he walked off the field. Jason Foley came on in relief and got Whit Merrifield to fly out to end the top of the seventh and keep the combined no-hit bid intact for Detroit.Tigers closer Alex Lange came in for the ninth and struck out Bo Bichette on three pitches. Brandon Belt lined out to center field, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to third on an 0-2 pitch.BREAKINGTigers earn their first combined no-hit...