Latest news with #Nationa
CBC
05-05-2025
- CBC
Organizer hopes Red Dress Day event will put N.B. cases in 'spotlight'
Social Sharing Natasha Ward of Metepenagiag hopes a local commemoration of Red Dress Day will remind people of missing and murdered Indigenous women from right here in New Brunswick, including Erin Brooks. Ward has organized an event on Tuesday in Saint John at the Boys and Girls Club to commemorate the annual day of remembering missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Brooks of Sitansisk First Nation, also known as St. Mary's, has been missing for more than three years and her mother Laurie Brooks will attend this year's event. Ward said that she "wanted to get Erin's case back in the spotlight" and "give support back to Laurie." Police have said that Brooks was likely the victim of a homicide. "You read about it, you see it on TV, and you know, you feel bad for these people, but you don't truly understand until you have to go through it yourself," said Amy Paul, Brooks's sister. "It is awful." Brooks, a mother of four, would have celebrated her 40th birthday this year, said her mother. When asked about the case, Ward said it's heart-wrenching "but I just want her to know that we're here to support her and we'll be there with her." She said the case "seems like it's at a standstill" so she wants to "put her face out there, put the case out there," and try to get it back in the spotlight. The value of a life "When you see the red dresses hanging in the trees, it's very haunting, it catches your attention," Ward said. "It helps to call back the spirits of our loved ones." She also said the red handprint Indigenous women often wear on their faces represents the silencing they encounter. Ward was moved to get involved in Red Dress Day when a controversy about missing women erupted in Manitoba, she said. The provincial government and police initially refused to search a Winnipeg-area landfill after learning that a serial killer may have dumped the bodies of missing Indigenous women there. "Our lives are not put at the same value as others," Ward said. "When the landfill cases came out, it really affected me as an Indigenous woman to be disregarded like that and the fight that was put out there to not search for these women was insane," she said. "Mothers were begging to have this landfill search." When the landfill was searched, the remains of three women were found. Buffalo Woman, or Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, was an unknown victim until she was identified as Ashlee Shingoose of St. Theresa Point First Nation in March. Red Dress Day has been observed on May 5 since 2010 as a day to honour and remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. Ward said that she wants people to "get familiar with the 231 calls to justice" and have a better understanding of the issues that Indigenous people face, such as inter-generational trauma. These calls for justice are laid out in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report. The document outlining the calls for justice is available on the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls website. When the inquiry issued the calls for justice, it included a demand for a national action plan to deal with violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people, and a system of annual reporting on the plan's progress. Ward said she organized Tuesday's event in Saint John to keep the issue on the front burner.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Black Renters Could Be Displaced by Historic Affordable Housing Cuts
Elisha Fye Jr. grew up hearing his father's stories of the Jim Crow South. There, Elisa Sr. was born on a plantation in 1918 and one of 14 children in a family of sharecroppers who toiled all year for just $200 and a share of the crops in Vidalia, Georgia. After a violent run-in with a white man forced him to flee to the Army, the elder Fye fought in World War II and then moved to New York City, where he rebuilt his life — and the city — from the ground up. In New York, Elisha Sr. helped build the underwater Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel before working in the boiler room of Cooper Park Houses, a public housing complex. There, he would raise Fye and his five other children alone after his wife died. Decades later, Fye is now leading the fight to protect that same affordable housing community — owned by the New York Housing Authority — against funding cuts and privatization schemes. He is frustrated that the federal government fails to see the hard work and sacrifice that define the lives of those living in subsidized housing. Over the past decade, his community has fought and won battles against a fossil fuel company and a private buyer who attempted to purchase the complex. This legacy of perseverance is now under threat as federal funding for subsidized housing faces deep cuts and privatization efforts. The Trump administration is proposing a dramatic — and, for many, devastating — transformation of the country's support for low-income renters. The administration has proposed cutting billions of dollars in funding for government-subsidized housing, including a $1 billion program to preserve and renovate aging affordable housing units and a program used to house people escaping domestic violence. Black people make up about 45% of public housing residents and 33% of government-subsidized private housing, despite making up about 12% of the population. In some cities across the Northeast like Boston and Washington, D.C., and across the Gulf Coast, as many as 40% of all rental units are subsidized. At the state level, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Louisiana have the highest number of subsidized housing units per capita. By far, New York City has the most subsidized units, with roughly 25% of NYC's Black residents living in subsidized housing. 'I fear the federal government and Trump has no respect for the Black family at all. I worked for 40-something years, my father worked almost his whole life, but our home has always been under threat,' Fye said. 'I don't think [the fight] will end in my lifetime, but we'll keep on fighting.' Already, there is a national shortage of 7.1 million homes for the country's low-income renters, and a majority of Americans struggling with access to housing are in the workforce or retired. The proposed cuts are a part of a long history of neglecting public housing and could lead to an increase in homelessness by tens of thousands of people, explained Kim Johnson, manager of public policy at the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The long trajectory of underfunding subsidized housing began when public housing, initially designed for white working-class families, saw a sharp increase in Black families moving in after World War II. 'Public housing has been systemically disinvested in for generations, and, unsurprisingly, it has its roots in racism,' she said. 'With new cuts, thousands of people are going to lose the assistance that they rely on to keep a roof over their heads.' The cuts to rental assistance align with the Trump administration's goal of shrinking the footprint and costs of the federal government. The reductions have largely focused on reducing federal programs meant to alleviate poverty and inequality, which the administration has cast as too generous or wasteful. With fewer vouchers and rental assistance available, Black families may be forced onto long waitlists, to double up with relatives, or risk homelessness when they can no longer afford rising rents. In recent years, homelessness has risen to record highs and people experiencing homelessness have faced threats of incarceration and fines and fees for sleeping on the street. 'The mood around here is sad right now,' said Fye, who is 72 years old and recently suffered a stroke. He knows the current fight is as important as it might ever be. It is estimated that roughly 1 out of 5 government-owned housing complexes are in disrepair, and more than 5% of privately owned but government-subsidized properties face the same struggles. The loss of funding for local programs and building repairs means families may see their apartments deteriorate: leaks go unfixed, heating systems break down, and mold or pests become persistent hazards. Now the focus is on simply holding on to what little security they have left instead of improving it, Fye said. Since January, at least $60 million in funding for affordable housing developments has been frozen or thrown into limbo, with contracts to distribute these funds canceled for two of the three national nonprofits tasked with the job. This has left hundreds of projects — and the jobs and homes they would create — at risk. At the same time, the $1 billion program to preserve and renovate aging affordable housing units is also being terminated, threatening the long-term viability of tens of thousands of apartments for low-income Americans. Central to these changes is the proposed overhaul of the Section 8 voucher program, which could see millions of Americans lose access to the rental assistance that helps keep roofs over their heads. Section 8 housing, officially known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is a federal assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families afford housing in the private market by subsidizing a portion of their rent. Under Section 8, eligible participants typically pay about 30% of their monthly income toward rent and utilities, while the voucher covers the remaining amount, paid directly to the landlord. Due to funding limitations and landlords routinely turning down vouchers, currently, about 2.3 million households receive Section 8 assistance, but only about 1 in 4 eligible families can access the program due to these constraints. The administration is considering replacing vouchers with more limited state-run grants. Unlike the current program, which adjusts funding based on actual housing costs and needs, state block grants would likely be capped and less responsive to rising rents. Proposed changes may include time limits on assistance and restrictions on eligibility for certain groups, such as mixed-status immigrant families. Advocates said this move would likely result in fewer federal dollars reaching families in need and put even more pressure on already overstretched local and state agencies. Additionally, the government is expected to allow the Emergency Housing Voucher program, which gave rental assistance to 60,000 families and individuals fleeing homelessness or domestic violence, to run out of money. It would be among the largest one-time losses of rental assistance in U.S. history, leading to a potential historic increase in homelessness, according to the Associated Press. Russell Vought, the director of the federal Office of Management and Budget, who will play a role in what funding cuts are pushed forward, previously endorsed an end to the federal voucher program. He said the Section 8 program 'brings with it crime, decreased property values, and results in dependency and subsidized irresponsibility.' Residents like Fye are already grappling with shuttered community initiatives, stalled repairs, and the looming risk of displacement. Community programs that once offered after-school care, health services, or tenant advocacy are being shut down, leaving residents isolated and without support. 'The evil, nasty part about this, especially with the idea of these programs being 'fraudulent and wasteful' is they're only talking about programs that help many of the most hard-working yet vulnerable and needy people,' said Andreanecia Morris, executive director of HousingNOLA, a public-private partnership focused on increasing access to affordable housing in New Orleans. Black renters are more likely to live in subsidized units with unsafe or unhealthy conditions such as faulty plumbing, unreliable heat, or broken elevators than their white counterparts, yet often pay more for these substandard homes, studies show. Without support, residents worry about their homes' long-term safety and livability. The proposed cuts extend beyond direct housing assistance. Enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights protections is also being gutted. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's office responsible for investigating discrimination expected to lose more than 75% of its staff, jeopardizing the process of investigating most housing discrimination complaints and leaving many tenants with nowhere to turn for help. HUD's workforce is being slashed by half, and a key office that helps communities recover from natural disasters is slated to be dismantled. This chronic underfunding of subsidized housing created a self-fulfilling prophecy. 'Because they put absolutely no money into its upkeep, it's easy to point at public housing and say, 'See, look, this is a broken program' when, in fact, we've never adequately funded the program at the level needed,' Johnson said. For Fye, while the fight continues, it is a disheartening reality: 'My father picked cotton as a child and fought for this country, and even today, we're not seen as worthy.' The post Black Renters Could Be Displaced by Historic Affordable Housing Cuts appeared first on Capital B News.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Early April Tornado Outbreak Spawned EF3s in Five States: 110 Twisters Confirmed In South, Midwest
An outbreak of severe thunderstorms spawned over 100 tornadoes in 14 states over several days from the South into the Midwest in early April. The National Weather Service confirmed 110 tornadoes occurred in a six-day period from April 2-7. Over 60% of those (69) did so from Wednesday into early Thursday morning, April 2-3. Indiana led the way with 18 tornadoes, followed by Illinois with 16, Mississippi with 13 and Tennessee with 11. Damage surveys will continue for the next several days so that tornado the tally will go higher. In addition to the tornadoes, there were over 830 reports of large hail, severe thunderstorm wind gusts and damage over those six days. . Over a 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. EDT April 3, the National Weather Service issued 728 severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings combined, third most of any 24-hour period since 1986, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Of those, 32 were categorized as "strong" tornadoes, those that produced at least EF2 damage on the Enhanced Fujita scale from which tornadoes are rated and peak winds are estimated. April 2-3 In southeast Missouri, an EF3 tornado damaged or destroyed homes near the town of Latty, about 55 miles southwest of St. Louis during the April 2 outbreak. That evening, another EF3 tornado demolished homes in Lake City and Monette, Arkansas, about 50 miles north-northwest of Memphis. And just after midnight, an EF3 tornado embedded in a line of severe thunderstorms carved a 10-mile-long path through the eastern side of the Louisville, Kentucky, metro area. Since 1950, the only other tornado to receive that high a rating in Jefferson County was an F4 during the April 3, 1974, Super Outbreak. Two other EF3 tornadoes struck after midnight in Selmer, Tennessee, and from Slayden, Mississippi, to Grand Junction, Tennessee. The latter tornado killed one when a mobile home was destroyed. It went on to damage numerous homes in Grand Junction, including City Hall. One of the longest tracks of this outbreak was a 49-mile-long tornado rated EF2 from extreme southeast Illinois to just north of Terre Haute, Indiana. April 3-7 Over the following five days, multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms and flooding rain hammered parts of the South and Midwest. Eight of the tornadoes during that stretch were rated EF2. Five of those were in Mississippi on April 6, including one near the town of Stringer which "launched" and "destroyed" a mobile home onto two nearby vehicles, killing one person inside the mobile home. Other EF2 tornadoes in this stretch included a pair of Texas twisters on April 4 in Morris and Red River Counties, and an April 5 tornado in Cross County, Arkansas. Staff at the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, was forced to take cover on the evening of April 2 as a tornado later rated EF2 just missed the office. An EF1 tornado sliced through Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on April 2. Fortunately, damage to trees, homes and businesses was considered minor by the National Weather Service on its track through the city's downtown, then across the Mississippi River. In the northwest Indianapolis suburb of Brownsburg, a tornado tracked through parts of the city's downtown, with mainly scattered, minor damage. But it injured one person when a warehouse wall caved in. Finally, an EF1 tornado in Branch County, Michigan, was a bit tougher for National Weather Service staff to survey. That's because less than 48 hours after the tornado, affected residents of an Amish community had already repaired the damage, as senior meteorologist Chris Dolce explained. Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
India and New Zealand revive free trade talks after a decade as Luxon visits Delhi
India and New Zealand have restarted free trade talks a decade after the negotiations collapsed as Christopher Luxon arrived in Delhi for talks with Narendra Modi. The New Zealand prime minister, who is in India for a five-day visit, signed major trade and defence agreements to boost economic ties and enhance security in the Indo-Pacific. The prime minister touted the deal as a "major breakthrough" as it marked a significant milestone for Mr Luxon, who had committed to secure the free trade pact with India in an audacious pre-election pledge. "It's a great win for New Zealand," Mr Luxon told reporters. "It's a great way to start the trip. I mean, we've got a breakthrough economic agenda here. "India holds significant potential for New Zealand and will play a pivotal role in doubling New Zealand's exports by value over the next 10 years," Mr Luxon said. The first round of negotiations for the deal is set to begin next month. Mr Luxon had promised to deliver a free trade deal with India during the 2023 election campaign. Analysts at that time raised doubts over his pledge with negotiations in limbo. Mr Luxon is leading a high-level delegation which includes key business leaders and several parliamentarians, as a part of his first visit to India. It is reportedly one of the largest delegations that Mr Luxon has travelled with so far. The renewed trade talks come as part of India's broader push to secure trade agreements with other nations, following US president Donald Trump 's decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on imports from several countries, including India. These tariffs are set to take effect on 2 April. Mr Luxon will also be a keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the geopolitical conference in Delhi, Raisina Dialogue, which will also be attended by top Donald Trump administration officials, including US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The Indian prime minister said the two countries will prepare a roadmap 'for mutual cooperation in defence industries', including initiating negotiations on a 'mutually beneficial' free trade agreement. He added that 'as maritime nations, India and New Zealand have a strong and common interest in an open, inclusive, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where the rules-based international order is upheld'. 'New Zealand is committed to doing more with India across a wide range of areas — defence and security, trade and economics, people-to-people ties, education, tourism, sports and culture,' Mr Luxon said at joint press conference with Mr Modi. Defence cooperation with New Zealand is significant as it is a member of the Five Eyes alliance –alongside Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US amid growing concerns over Beijing's expanding influence in the Pacific and its increasing assertiveness in regional affairs. On Sunday, the representatives of the Five Eyes alliance took part in a conference in Delhi. The meeting attended by intelligence and security chiefs was hosted by India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The bilateral trade between India and New Zealand stood at $873.4m in 2023-24 financial year compared to $1.02bn in 2022-23. The trade negotiations began between the two countries in 2010. Nine rounds of negotiations were conducted, with the last formal round taking place in February 2015 in New Delhi. The deal stalled over the key issue of New Zealand, a major exporter of dairy products, seeking a greater access to the Indian market. However, India, with its large dairy industry, was reluctant to lower tariffs, fearing competition for local farmers. The Kiwi leader, however, did not say whether dairy exports had been discussed and appeared optimistic about working through the challenges. However, India has become more open to negotiation in trade deals with other countries as it strikes to boost its economic clout.
BBC News
22-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Five Peterborough stories you might have missed this week
Fish are thriving after tweaks to their habitat at Ferry Meadows, while there are hopes biodiversity will be boosted elsewhere in Peterborough as "mini forests" are planted around the city. Meanwhile, the council officially approved its annual budget, which means a hike in council tax and cuts to services. It was a tight vote, with more councillors either voting against it or abstaining than supporting it. The city also welcomed a world-famous visitor this week, leaving surrounding areas green with envy. Read on for more on these and other stories you may have missed from Peterborough this week. Flying visit from world-famous locomotive Peterborough welcomed a world-famous visitor this week. The Flying Scotsman arrived at Nene Valley Railway, where it will remain on display until 9 March. It's part of a celebration of 200 years of British Railways, with people travelling from as far as America to see it. Hide-and-seek plan helping fish Fish are thriving in Gunwade Lake at Ferry Meadows after hiding places were created to shield them from otters. That's the initial report from the Peterborough and District Angling Association, which is waiting for o-fish-al confirmation from sonar tests. Family hubs offer 'incredible' support A mother said the support she received at a free family hub in Welland has made an "incredible" difference to her and her said: "It's about being able to go somewhere and talk to someone, to get out of the house. "I did have anxiety and it has helped me to be better. To be brave." Peterborough City Council has received a total of £1.3m from central government to continue running its four family hubs until April 2026. Dementia centre tipped to move into library Plans to move Peterborough's Dementia Resource Centre into Bretton Library moved a step closer to completion after the city's council approved a change of use for the building. Library users and people working with those with dementia have raised concerns about the idea. 'Mini forests' to boost biodiversity People of all ages are invited to take part in planting three "mini forests" in a bid to boost biodiversity in the city. Participants do not need prior experience, their own equipment or to pay to take part in creating the tennis-court size green spaces in Longthorpe, Werrington and Woodston. A week in Peterborough sports Peterborough United rescued a point against Stevenage with a goal from winger Cian went behind after Dan Kemp opened the scoring for Alex Revell's sideDarren Ferguson's side are just two points above the EFL League One drop zone ahead of travelling to Huddersfield Town. Peterborough Sports stay 11th in the National League North after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Curzon eight points off the ice hockey, four goals from captain Luke Ferrara helped Peterborough Phantoms to their biggest win of the season with a 12-3 home victory over Telford result that puts them into fifth place in the National Ice Hockey League. A week of Peterborough politics Peterborough City Council's annual budget was voted through this week, with 21 votes in favour, 18 against and 11 abstentions. It means council tax will rise by 4.99% as the authority looks to make £23m in savings. Measures laid out in the budget include reducing the cleaning schedule at Central Park's toilets and cutting the highways maintenance budget by 15%. It also said cremation and burial fees will be lifted by 10%. Councillors raised concerns over "high risk" saving proposals, pointing out that the authority is yet to meet its targets laid out in its most recent budget. Liberal Democrat leader Christian Hogg also accused the council of leaving the "guillotine hovering over community services", with a decision on several buildings including the city's libraries yet to be made. Meanwhile, the council approved plans to add more rooms to the partially-finished Hilton Garden Inn on Fletton Quays. Nine can be added, which would bring the to total to 43. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
