Latest news with #Cloutier
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Upside down American flag is gaining attention outside a business in Westfield
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – An upside-down American flag is gaining attention outside a business in Westfield. The upside-down flag outside of Cloots Auto Body in Westfield is certainly turning some heads. According to the owner, it is his form of protest against the current Trump administration. If you have driven by Cloots Auto Body along Route 202 in Westfield, you may have noticed an upside-down American flag on a pole outside the business. The owner, Gary Cloutier, who's a left-leaning independent, believes that the current state of the country warrants this type of action. 'There's so much turmoil on so many fronts. You can't even you can't keep track of it anymore. There's just throwing so much at everybody to keep everybody off balance,' said Cloutier. Cloutier says he's in disagreement with many of President Donald Trump's polices, like mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and tariffs. 'We went through part shortages when COVID was alive and well. We're going to go through the same thing. I'm going to have a hard time getting parts and supplies for people's cars,' expressed Cloutier. By displaying the flag in this manner, he hopes to draw attention to these issues and spark conversations about the state of the country. Some are applauding his bravery in doing so. Molly Montgomery of Easthampton told 22News in a statement, 'I'm a firm believer in our first amendment, and I support Cloot's Auto Body's choice to exercise their freedom of speech. However, when business owners choose to use their platform to express their political opinions, they understand that they may alienate some current or potential future customers, and that's a risk they have to be willing to accept. I applaud their bravery in doing so. I find that those that are upset about the American flag being used to express disapproval of the government are often the same people who give a complete and total pass to the flag code violations that happen all around us every day; every time someone wears an American flag tshirt or bandana, any time someone wipes their mouth with an American flag napkin after eating BBQ off of an American flag paper plate, every time someone lays an American flag beach towel down on the ground. Those are all flag code violations that nobody cares about. I think the outrage over an upside down flag is less about the love of the flag or the country , and more about feeding into the division between the left and the right. I agree with Cloot's that our country is in distress. I love my country, and I believe in the Constitution. Whatever happens to this country happens to us all no matter what side we identify as, and I hope we will all figure this out sooner rather than later.' Cloutier's form of protest is also not a new or uncommon one. 'Normally, we have seen this as a move from MAGA and the right across America. That is what we have seen, the flag blown upside down, more so and especially during Joe Biden's four years in office,' said Political Consultant, Tony Cignoli. But this bold move has received backlash from some members of the community, including former customers. They've expressed their disapproval online and even made threats to Cloutier and his wife, like saying they'll boycott his business by holding a rally on Saturday in front of his shop. The Facebook post read, 'Fly the flag upside down, don't be surprised when your business goes down.' Cloutier responded to this, 'If they want to have a rally. Hey, how about that's your right. You know, you have the right to free speech just like I do, you know? So if they want to do it, go ahead and do it. Stay off my property. That's all I got to say.' Cloutier does plan to continue hanging the flag upside down until he feels the country is moving in the right direction. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Montreal Gazette
01-05-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Laval daycare crash: Court hears emotional statements from relatives of children who died or were injured
News By Boxes of tissues were strategically placed in many spots of a Laval courtroom Thursday as emotions were expected to run high while the relatives of the children who died or were injured when Pierre Ny St-Amand drove a Laval city bus into a daycare gave emotional statements about a tragedy that will never make sense. Earlier this week, St-Amand was declared not criminally responsible for the deaths of the two children who died and the injuries suffered by six other children. Superior Court Justice Éric Downs delivered the decision on Tuesday after hearing and reading evidence provided by two psychiatrists who found St-Amand was suffering from a psychosis and was unable to tell right from wrong on Feb. 8, 2023 when he brought the bus into the daycare's parking lot, aimed it at the facade and accelerated it before it crashed. Downs ordered that St-Amand remain detained at the Philippe-Pinel Institute for the time being. He will later hear arguments on whether St-Amand can be considered a 'high risk accused,' a term from the Criminal Code that would make it more difficult for him to be released from detention. St-Amand appeared emotional at times while the statements were read. At other times he appeared to be tired as he stared at the space in front of him while he sat in the prisoner's dock of the courtroom. He is now balder than he was when two photos, published by many media, were taken of him sometime before the tragedy. He wears glasses and there is a lot of grey in his hair. Some of the people delivered their own statements while others who found it too difficult had them read by another person. Some made mention of feeling 'abandoned by the system' that allowed St-Armand to avoid being tried on two second-degree murder charges and other charges related to the children who were injured. Instead of having a murder trial before a jury, St-Amand had a trial before a judge alone to determine whether he could be found not criminally responsible. The first to give a statement was Marie-Christine Cloutier, the mother of Jacob Gauthier, one of the children killed in the crash. Cloutier gave her statement through a video conference from another country. The distance first appeared to help her, but she eventually broke down and cried while she spoke about losing her son. 'I still tell this story like it is not mine,' Cloutier said. 'I have not accepted the death of my son. 'I will always be the mother of a boy who was killed by a Laval city bus driver.' Prosecutor Karine Dalphond read several statements from the relatives into the court record. One of the mothers of the injured children described the permanent injuries her child was left with and how she feels the justice system 'let us all fall.' 'The physical injuries were just the start,' the mother wrote, adding that her child still has fears of being left alone. She also described how she lost her job because she was working on a contract when the tragedy occurred and she spent days being at her child's side during a long stay at a hospital.
CBC
26-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
In this huge Quebec riding, Indigenous voters have lots of power — and specific concerns
In Edith Cloutier's 35 years at the Val d'Or Native Friendship Centre, she's seen thousands of clients cycle through her doors and handfuls of federal politicians come and go. But the problems impacting urban Indigenous people — the cost of living, affordability and homelessness — have intensified in areas surrounding Val d'Or, Que., located over 500 kilometres northwest of Montreal. With mere days until the federal election on April 28, Cloutier, the centre's executive director, is among those looking for a candidate who can help respond to the needs of urban Indigenous people in Quebec's largest riding. The Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding spans thousands of kilometres from areas in northwestern Quebec all the way up to Nunavik, with a large population of potential Indigenous voters. The economy and Canada's response to U.S. tariffs have dominated the electoral campaign, but Cloutier is looking for a candidate to treat local issues with equal importance. "Reconciliation has been set aside because of those more global political concerns," she said. "I'm worried that aspect would be set aside with any government that would be put in place." She says urban Indigenous issues as a whole have not been addressed. That's part of what inspired Mandy Gull-Masty to run for office. Feeling frustrated by the lack of representation in the region, she resigned from her role as grand chief of the Cree Nation Government in Quebec to run as the Liberal candidate. "This is a unique riding," said Gull-Masty, who speaks Cree, English and French. "The challenge is that this is a huge riding. You have to be present everywhere." Another challenge is trying to increase voter turnout. In the 2021 federal election, out of over 38,000 registered electors in Indigenous communities in Quebec, less than 9,000 cast a vote, according to Elections Canada. That 23 per cent voter turnout rate lagged behind the average national rate for electors in Indigenous communities, which sat at 44 per cent. Encouraging residents to vote is a "huge endeavour," says Gull-Masty. "I'm not only working to be elected, but I'm also working to try to get the vote out in these areas," she said. "The reason why not everybody participates in a provincial or federal vote is because primarily, communities vote for their chief. They vote for the grand chief … because they know that these people are working directly for them." But she's highlighting how federal politics have direct consequences on the region. Gull-Masty says the number of Cree and Inuit voters is so strong that they could very well determine the outcome of the vote in this riding. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has highlighted a total of 36 federal ridings in Canada where First Nations electors could decide the outcomes. "We are the deciding factor," says Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, national chief of the AFN. "But the rest of the poles in this country, we are there and we are in high numbers." While she says voter apathy "is real," it's important for First Nations people to feel included in the process. "Any smart candidate will reach out to First Nations people and come and talk to us and come in and have some soup and bannock with us," she said. Representation also matters. This year, there are nearly 30 candidates across Canada who are Indigenous, she says. " I can't remember another time in an election with that many First Nations candidates," said Woodhouse Nepinak. Bloc Québécois incumbent wants to continue her work Incumbent Sylvie Bérubé, with the Bloc Québécois, won the seat in 2019 after it was vacated by Cree MP Romeo Saganash, who served the riding with the NDP for eight years. Bérubé says she's hoping to convince Indigenous voters to support her by showing that she is listening and respecting them. Seeking her third re-election, she says she still has work to do and adds it's a shame some people criticize her lack of presence in the communities. "I have always been on the ground, I have always met with people and even the Indigenous communities," she said. On her trips north, she says she listens to the need — notably food insecurity and the impacts of a changing environment on the Indigenous way of life. "I look at what the Liberal government has done … nothing is moving. Even the current Liberal government has never respected Indigenous communities like us," said Bérubé. "What's important is to continue my files that are currently in progress." But even at the local level, Cloutier with the Native Friendship Centre says discussion surrounding solutions to key issues such as the shortage of housing or ensuing homelessness is lacking. "Homelessness was not even mentioned once at the local debate for the three candidates this week in Val d'Or," said Cloutier. "All parties, we didn't hear about those aspects as much as we should have." While she feels well-served, she says it's because Indigenous peoples are outspoken — something that will continue.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Halle Berry testifies before Maine Legislature to support menopause education
Mar. 28—Award-winning actress Halle Berry testified before the Maine Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee Friday in support of a bill to expand education on menopause and perimenopause. The Hollywood icon described her own experience with menopause: a barrage of misunderstood symptoms and misdiagnoses. "I'm in menopause, and I had no idea," Berry, 58, told the committee through a Zoom video feed. "None of my doctors ever talked to me about it." The bill, LD 1079, would direct the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop educational materials "in electronic and physical form" about perimenopause and menopause, working in partnership with local health care providers, including gynecologists and community-based programs. Those materials would include details about symptoms, treatments and the underlying biological processes, as well as advice on how to discuss menopause with family and friends, according to the draft. The bill's fiscal note is $10,000, said sponsor Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston. No one testified against the bill Friday. Berry said she experienced brain fog, heart palpitations and dryness in her eyes and vagina, but her health care professionals "kind of gaslit me" about the cause. Doctors suggested herpes and Sjogren's syndrome — neither of which was the case, she said. One doctor, when confronted with the suggestion of menopause, appeared sheepish, "like he could hardly say the word," she said. "Women deserve the support. We deserve to live good, quality lives and get the treatment so that we can do that," Berry said. Cloutier offered the first testimony Friday, speaking in the Burton M. Cross Building in Augusta a few minutes earlier. "Menopause is a universal experience for all who menstruate, yet education surrounding this critical health transition remains severely limited," Cloutier said. "The reality of this transition period, however, is that there can be serious health consequences." Cloutier said many individuals, including herself, end up feeling blindsided by symptoms they were not prepared for or unsure of how to address them with a health care provider. "Everyone deserves to understand the changes that their bodies will experience," she said. Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, followed Cloutier's testimony, arguing that poor access to information can lead people experiencing menopause and perimenopause to misunderstand their own health. She cited a study that found roughly 80% of women felt unprepared for menopause. "Outside of some jokes about hot flashes and mood swings, most of us know next to nothing about this chapter in our life," said Daughtry, who cosponsored the bill. She added that there "at least be an acknowledgement" of menopause in high school health classes to better prepare young people for their futures. Copy the Story Link
Boston Globe
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
R.I.'s largest immigration nonprofit faces layoffs amid Trump funding freeze
For Dorcas, it meant an abrupt stop to roughly $1 million in annual funds used to help refugees in their first 90 days in the country, setting them up with housing, cultural orientation, English classes, school enrollment and other assistance. While no more refugees arrived after the stop work order, there were already 65 recent arrivals to Rhode Island who were within their first 90 days in the US, including the family who arrived the day of the order. The refugees came from Central America, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and other countries. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'So there's no rent money, there's no food money, there's no money for them to support them in those first three months,' said Kathy Cloutier, the executive director of Dorcas International Institute, in an interview with the Boston Globe and Rhode Island PBS. Advertisement 'So that was what was disconcerting,' she said. 'It was one thing not to have new refugees coming in. It was another thing to say, wait a minute. We've promised these folks this three months worth of assistance, and you've just stopped it without any warning and without any reason, frankly.' The program that was halted, The State Department declined to comment to the Globe about when the program might restart, referring all comment to the White House. The White House did not respond. Advertisement But in a court filing on Friday in one of the federal lawsuits over the refugee program's abrupt halting, the Trump administration indicated it would not be easy to restart refugee resettlement, since contracts with nonprofits have been terminated. It would take 'at least three months' just to solicit bidders for new contracts, the Trump administration's lawyers wrote in the documents. For Dorcas, which serves roughly 6,000 immigrants a year, the program suspension has already resulted in job cuts. The nonprofit's 105 employees have been cut down to 92, Cloutier said, through both voluntarily resignations and layoffs since the refugee program stopped. And there is still other funding that is paused. Funds from the federal 'We haven't been paid for that work since December,' Cloutier said. 'And there's no explanation that we've received in terms of why we haven't been paid. It's putting a significant strain on us financially.' The federal money flows to Dorcas through a national nonprofit, the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, which also said they haven't received an explanation for the ongoing pause. The money should have started flowing again following multiple 'Unfortunately, we have no additional insight,' Sleeper said. 'The administration is not paying agencies for work completed.' Advertisement Cloutier said if all of Dorcas's federal funding were cut — roughly half of its $11.5 million budget — she would have to reduce the staff to 62 employees. It would have a profound effect on the immigrants they serve, she said.. 'This is just a way of putting us out of business,' Cloutier said. 'Because if you make us wait long enough, we're not gonna be able to pay our bills.' Dorcas also gets revenue from philanthropic donations, and charges some clients a low fee for legal services. Cloutier said the agency was ultimately able to raise private funds for the 65 refugees affected by the initial stop work order. Cloutier said the agency is not yet seeing mass deportations in Rhode Island, as promised by Trump during the campaign, nor have there been reports in the state of ICE agents entering schools, hospitals, or churches. There have been ICE agents in the state executing individual deportation orders, as there were during the Biden administration. A Providence police spokesperson said ICE has notified city officials twice so far this year of their 'intent to come to the city,' but did not provide specifics and did not ask police for any assistance. Cloutier said many clients are coming in seeking advice about their immigration status, even if they have a green card. 'We are seeing a lot of fear,' Cloutier said. 'The rules are changing, and nobody knows what the rules are anymore.' If funding to Dorcas is not fully restored, Cloutier said, it will become more difficult for immigrants to be successful learning English, getting jobs, and becoming productive members of society. But she said Dorcas, which was founded in 1921, will adapt to whatever happens. Advertisement 'We're in the worst of times,' she said. But we've been around for over 100 years and plan to be around for 100 more." Watch the interview with Cloutier on Rhode Island PBS Weekly in the video player above, and listen to an extended version on the Rhode Island Report podcast. Steph Machado can be reached at
