Here are the latest Top News stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops.
IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO mainslots@thecanadianpress.com and we'll get back to you right away.
TOP HEADLINES:
-- Police start to push protesters from key bridge
-- N.L. oil project clashes with Canada climate goals
-- Fatal fires continue to plague First Nations
-- Restaurants hope Valentine's Day coaxes diners out
-- Mixed SBX medal comes down to post-crash scramble
TOP NEWS STORIES:
Police start to push protesters from key bridge
Trucker-Protest
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Police in Windsor, Ont., started to push back protesters clogging a key trade artery between the United States and Canada on Saturday, even as demonstrations against COVID-19 public health measures continued in Ottawa and other cities across the country. By Lee Berthiaume. Words: 942
–
Fatal fires continue to plague First Nations
Indigenous-Fatal-Fires
Monias Fiddler says time is moving slowly for the Sandy Lake First Nation as the community feels the immense weight from the loss of three children in a house fire last month. By Kelly Geraldine Malone. Words: 792, Photos: 1
–
N.L. oil project clashes with Canada climate goals
NL-Bay-du-Nord
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada -- Anxiety is running high in Newfoundland and Labrador as the province waits on a federal decision about a proposed offshore oil project about 500 kilometres east of St. John's. By Sarah Smellie. Words: 722, Photos: 1
–
Restaurants hope Valentine's Day coaxes diners out
Valentines-Day-Restaurants
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada -- It's one of the few celebrations that draws people to restaurants in the depths of winter. By Brett Bundale. Words: 808, Photos: 1
–
Buyers look local as flower supply tightens
Flower-Shortage
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada -- It was stubbornness that led a family farm on Vancouver Island to keep growing roses when competitors left the industry or shifted production to marijuana years ago. By Amy Smart. Words: 553, Photos: 1
—
Mixed SBX medal comes down to post-crash scramble
OLY-Canada-Roundup
Beijing, Beijing, China -- Meryeta O'Dine didn't expect her second Olympic medal would come down to a crawling contest. Words: 1228, Photos: 1
–
COMING LATER:
-- We'll have a story on Canada's decision to temporarily suspend diplomati operations in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv
FROM AP:
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
—————————
TOP STORIES
—————————
UKRAINE TENSIONS —President Joe Biden again called on President Vladimir Putin to pull back more than 100,000 Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s borders and warned that the U.S. and its allies would “respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if Russia invades, according to the White House. Biden and Putin spoke for more than an hour the day after the U.S. president’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows that a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end Feb. 20. By Jim Heintz and Aamer Madhani. SENT: 1,120 words, photos. With UNITED STATES-UKRAINE — US evacuating most Ukraine embassy staff over invasion fears. SENT: 560 words, photos.
For full coverage of Ukraine.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-PROTESTS — A tense standoff at a U.S.-Canadian border crossing crucial to both countries’ economies appeared to be dissolving peacefully as Canadian police moved in to disperse the nearly weeklong blockade and demonstrators began leaving without resistance. Many demonstrators drove away from the Ambassador Bridge spanning the river between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, as scores of police approached shortly after dawn. They had spent the night there in defiance of new warnings to end the blockade, which disrupted the flow of traffic and goods and forced the auto industry on both sides to roll back production. By Rob Gillies and Mike Householder. SENT: 950 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PANDEMIC POLITICS — Democratic leaders struggling to address voter frustrations with the pandemic are easing COVID-19 restrictions in moves that President Biden says are “probably premature.” Biden, with his more measured approach, risks being seen as out of sync with the country. By Zeke Miller. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
REL-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-DEBATING-RELIGIOUS-EXEMPTIONS — By the thousands, Americans have been seeking religious exemptions in order to circumvent COVID-19 vaccine mandates. But generally they are doing so without the encouragement of major denominations and prominent religious leaders. By David Crary and Peter Smith. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
STATES-CURRICULUM BATTLES — Republican state lawmakers across the U.S. are trying to require schools to post all course materials online so parents can review them. It’s part of a broader national push by the GOP for a sweeping parents bill of rights ahead of the midterm congressional elections. Teachers say parents already have wide access to what their children learn. They worry that the mandates would create an unnecessary burden and potentially threaten their professional independence — all while dragging them into a culture war. By Julie Carr Smyth and Casey Smith. SENT: 1,210 words, photos.
OLY-FIG—RUSSIAN DOPING — With her doping case still to be decided, Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva broke down in tears after an emotional practice session at the Olympics. The 15-year-old Russian’s status at the Olympics is unclear after testing positive for a banned substance. She won a gold medal in the team event five days ago and is next scheduled to compete in the women’s competition on Tuesday. By Sports Writer Graham Dunbar. SENT: 560 words, photo. With OLY-FIG-RUSSIAN DOPING-CAS —One of the judges deciding Valieva's case is an American who was once picked by Maria Sharapova’s legal team for her appeal over a similar performance-enhancing drug. SENT: 630 words, photo.
FBN-SUPER BOWL-PREVIEW — The last time the Los Angeles area hosted a Super Bowl nearly three decades ago, it became an almost laughable rout as the Bills kept surrendering the ball to the Dallas Cowboys. Turnovers, or the lack thereof, could be a major factor Sunday when the host Bengals -- yes, they are the home team -- go into Rams’ $5 billion building. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos, by 5 p.m. WITH: FBN--SUPER BOWL MATCHUPS — Across both Super Bowl rosters, there is a great divide. The Rams are the team loaded with veterans and the Bengals are the new kids on the block. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.
——————————————————-
MORE ON THE OLYMPICS
——————————————————-
OLY-MAINSTREAMING-MENTAL-HEALTH — At the Tokyo Olympics, mental health was the breakout star. Amplified by some of the world’s top athletes, it shook up those Games and made everyone take notice. Six months later, in Beijing, the conversation has evolved: The subject pops up regularly, but no one is shocked when it does. SENT: 970 words, photos. Eds: This story has moved as the Sunday Spotlight.
OLY-FIG—VALIEVA’S-COACH — The coach behind Russia’s figure skating dynasty rarely speaks to the media, enhancing her mystique as a guru who produces a line of teenage stars who can land jumps no other women even attempt. A doping furor around her star pupil has forced Eteri Tutberidze into the spotlight at the Beijing Olympics. She broke her silence on the case against Kamila Valieva , telling Russian TV: “We are absolutely sure that Kamila is innocent and clean.” SENT: 1,060 words, photos.
OLY-SKI-FLAHERTY’S-SURVIVAL — Just making it to the starting line at the Olympics is a miraculous achievement in itself for a teenager who’s chances of survival were slim when he was born. William Flaherty will ski for Puerto Rico on Sunday in the giant slalom at the Beijing Games. SENT: 605 words, photos.
OLY-SKE-US-CURTIS — Representation absolutely matters to Kelly Curtis. She became a trailblazer in her first Olympic appearance. Curtis finished 21st in the women’s skeleton event at the Beijing Games. The result isn’t why she’ll be remembered. Curtis was the first Black athlete to represent USA Skeleton at the Winter Olympics. She hopes her presence at the Games will open more doors to her sport. SENT: 635 words, photos.
OLY--SKE-TANNENBAUM’S JOURNEY — Katie Tannenbaum overcame long odds to just to get to the Beijing Olympics. The California native competes in skeleton for the U.S. Virgin Islands. She has lived there since 2007. Her claim to racing fame before now was sliding headfirst into a broom that was dangerously left in the track during one of her runs two years ago. SENT: 490 words, photos.
OLY--SPD-SPEEDSKATING — Nils van der Poel of Sweden has broken his own world record and captured his second gold medal of the Beijing Olympics with a dominant victory in men’s 10,000-meter speedskating. Van der Poel added to his victory in the 5,000, which was a much closer affair. SENT: 790 words, photos.
OLY-CUR-FAMILY-AFFAIR — A handful of athletes at the Ice Cube curling venue have found a clever way to get around the ban on bringing families to Beijing for the Olympics. They are competing with their spouses or siblings. SENT: 860 words, photos.
OLY-SBD-WHITE-NEXT-LEAP — Shaun White’s next big contest — the Super Bowl. Less than 24 hours after snowboarding’s global icon took his final competitive halfpipe ride at the Olympics, he was bound for the airport. The destination: Los Angeles to watch his first Super Bowl in person. SENT: 780 words, photos.
OLY-OLYMPICS-WHY-BEIJING?-EXPLAINER — Nobody views Beijing as a winter sports capital. So why is the sprawling city holding the Winter Olympics? These Games come just 13 1/2 years after the extravagant 2008 Summer Games in the Chinese capital. There’s a simple answer. Potential hosts in Europe — as many as six including favorites like Norway and Sweden — dropped out of the bidding in the wake of the doping-scandal-ridden 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. SENT: 580 words, photo.
OLY—HKO-US-CANADA — Brendan Brisson scored his second goal of the tournament and Strauss Mann made 35 saves to help the United States beat Canada 4-2 in men’s hockey at the Olympics. The victory puts the U.S. in the driver’s seat to win the group and earn a spot in the quarterfinals. SENT: 580 words, photos.
OLY-SBD-MISCONDUCT-ALLEGATIONS — U.S. Ski & Snowboard is investigating allegations that longtime Olympic coach Peter Foley took naked pictures of female athletes and that Olympic snowboard racer Hagen Kearney used racist language to provoke a teammate. SENT: 340 words, photo.
OLY-BEJING-TESTING-PHOTO-GALLERY — It’s not just people inside Beijing’s Olympic bubble who are getting tested for COVID-19. Workers in hazmat suits are also swabbing door handles, elevator buttons, couches and ATM machines, though health experts say surfaces pose little risk for spreading the virus. SENT: 250 words, photos.
——————————————————————-
MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
——————————————————————-
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-EUROPE-PROTESTS — Paris police fired tear gas against a handful of demonstrators on the Champs Elysees Avenue who defied a police order by taking part in a vehicle protest against virus restrictions inspired by Canada’s horn-honking “Freedom Convoy.” SENT: 320 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NEW-ZEALAND-PROTESTS — Some countries might send in a riot squad to disperse trespassing protesters. In New Zealand, authorities turned on the sprinklers and Barry Manilow. Initial moves to try to flush out several hundred protesters who have been camped on Parliament’s grassy grounds since Tuesday had little effect. SENT: 760 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN — Japan is considering easing its stringent border controls amid growing criticism that the measures, which have banned most foreign entrants including students and business travelers, are hurting the country’s economy and international profile. SENT: 480 words, photos.
————————————
TRENDING NEWS
————————————-
ODD-DETROIT-RAMS-SHIRTS — ‘Detroit Rams?’ Odd Super Bowl shirts sold for Stafford fans. SENT: 300 words, photo.
JEFFREY-EPSTEIN-MAXWELL-TRIAL —A federal judge has ruled that Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid for a new trial must be aired out in the open. SENT: 250 words.
——————————————————-
WASHINGTON/POLITICS
——————————————————-
BIDEN-VOTING-RIGHTS — With the November elections creeping up and Republicans imposing new restrictions on ballot access, President Biden has no easy options for safeguarding voting rights despite rising pressure from frustrated activists. Unlike issues such as immigration or environmental protection, the White House has little leverage on voting rights without congressional action. That has advocates worried there’s not enough time to fight back against laws and policies in the states that make it harder to vote. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
SUPREME-COURT-VACANCY — President Biden had zeroed in on a pair of finalists for his first Supreme Court pick when there were rumors last year that Justice Stephen Breyer would retire. But since the retirement announcement actually happened late last month, it has come with the surprising rise of a third candidate, one with ready-made bipartisan support that has complicated the decision. SENT: 965 words, photos.
PACIFIC DIPLOMACY — The U.S. says it will open an embassy in the Solomon Islands, laying out in unusually blunt terms a plan to increase its influence in the South Pacific nation before China becomes “strongly embedded.” SENT: 700 words, photos.
CONGRESS-DEMOCRATS — Frustrated Democrats have run headlong into the limitations of running a 50-50 Senate with no votes to spare. And they’re trying to figure out how to balance passion with pragmatism as they appeal to voters before fall elections when Republicans have a real chance of capturing House and Senate control. SENT: 930 words, photos.
YOUNGKIN-MISTAKEN IDENTITY — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has apologized after mistaking one Black legislator for another in a text message. SENT: 230 words.
—————————
NATIONAL
—————————
HATE-CRIMES-SOUTH-CAROLINA — South Carolina remains one of only two states without a hate-crimes law, and proponents worry that efforts in the Legislature are stalling to increase penalties for crimes committed against minorities and others victimized by prejudice. The push for a state hate crime law started in 2015 after nine African Americans were killed in a racist attack during a Bible study at Emanuel AME church in Charleston. SENT: 835 words, photos.
GEORGE-FLOYD-CIVIL-RIGHTS-OFFICER-JUDGE — The judge handling the second trial in the killing of George Floyd is putting a premium on speed — and making clear that he doesn’t want the trial to turn on emotion. Judge Paul Magnuson is presiding over the federal trial of fired Minneapolis officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. SENT: 915 words, photos.
SERIAL-KILLINGS-FLORIDA — Prosecutors told jurors that DNA links an accused serial killer with the slayings of three women 16 years ago when he was a criminal justice student at a local university. SENT: 365 words.
STARVED-CHILD-COUPLE-CHARGED — A Pennsylvania father about to stand trial on charges he tortured and starved his 12-year-old son before the boy died has pleaded guilty to several charges and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. SENT: 245 words.
————————————-
INTERNATIONAL
————————————-
SOMALIA-DROUGHT — Sitting under the hot sun, hungry women and children await food aid in a camp on the outskirts of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. They have walked for days, fleeing the drought now ravaging a large part of rural Somalia. Their growing ranks are expected to swell further in the coming months as the Horn of Africa region faces its worst drought conditions in a decade. SENT: 625 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN-US-FROZEN FUNDS — Demonstrators in Afghanistan’s capital have condemned President Joe Biden’s order freeing up $3.5 billion in Afghan assets held in the U.S. for families of America’s 9/11 victims. SENT: 590 words, photos.
PERSIAN-GULF-TENSIONS — U.S. F-22 fighter jets have arrived in the United Arab Emirates. They are part of an American defense response to recent missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting the country. SENT: 325 words, photos.
MYANMAR-UNION DAY — The head of Myanmar’s military government appealed Saturday for national unity among the country’s restive ethnic minorities as he presided over a parade marking the 75th anniversary of a historic agreement that sought but failed to ensure harmony. SENT: 670 words, photos.
————————————-
ENTERTAINMENT
————————————-
SUPER-BOWL-HOMECOMING-WEEKEND — Justin Bieber wows A-list crowd at pre-Super Bowl ‘Homecoming.’ SENT: 445 words, photos.
SUPER BOWL-SHAQ’S FUN HOUSE — Shaq’s ‘Fun House’ draws big crowd with Lil Wayne headlining. SENT: 415 words, photos.
ZYDECO-ARTIST-SHOOTING —Zydeco musician Chris Ardoin says it has taken time to recover his creativity after being shot last summer. SENT: 315 words.
———————
SPORTS
———————
FBN--SUPER BOWL-HIGGINS & BOYD — Ja’Marr Chase gets most of the attention at receiver for Cincinnati with his big-play ability opening up the offense and helping the Bengals reach the Super Bowl. The addition of Chase this season wouldn’t have been nearly as consequential for the Bengals if not for the standout play from the two returning receivers in Cincinnati. Tee Higgins is a big-bodied outside receiver who thrives on winning contested catches and Tyler Boyd excels in the middle of the field out of the slot, so quarterback Joe Burrow almost always has an open target. SENT: 690 words, photos.
———————————————
HOW TO REACH US
———————————————-
At the Nerve Center, Richard A. Somma can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Donald E. King (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006.
The Canadian Press
