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Ciara Torres-Spelliscy: The Supreme Court was enabling corruption well before the Clarence Thomas scandal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

The Supreme Court recently reversed the conviction of a onetime aide and campaign manager for disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The decision may have surprised those who follow Albany’s culture of corruption, but it was thoroughly in keeping with the recent history of the Supreme Court. The Roberts court has been busy deregulating corruption for over a decade.The court’s own ethics have come under renewed scrutiny lately thanks to revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas, among others. What’s less widely appreciated is the court’s accumulating record of making political corruption easier to engage in and harder to prosecute.The corruption conviction of Joseph Percoco did not exactly come out of left field. Cuomo had to resign from office in ignominy after he was credibly accused of a long pattern of sexual harassment, and he didn’t enjoy a sterling reputation beforehand. In 2014, he made the not-suspicious-at-all decision to disband a commis...

Social media’s grip on American teens is a big problem. Dr. Vivek Murthy has smart answers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

The age of “screenagers” has been upon us for some time now. Parents of teens know it well.How many times, Mom and Dad, have you smoldered at the sight of your adolescent mesmerized by their smartphone at the dinner table, or at a restaurant, or during a visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s place? You can admonish them with quips such as “Your brain is melting!” but you’ll likely get a huffy grunt or a long dose of side-eye.Well, Mom and Dad, there’s someone out there who feels your pain. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.This past week, Murthy released an advisory on the pros and cons of social media and its impact on the mental health of America’s adolescents — along with concrete steps that policymakers and parents can take to minimize the harms of too much screen time.Past surgeons general have issued advisories and reports that have led to a healthier, smarter America. In 1964, Surgeon General Luther Terry issued a landmark report...

Jonathan Bernstein: McCarthy won the debt-limit deal. Biden did, too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

The compromise that Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy struck this weekend to raise the debt ceiling should strengthen the political standing of both leaders, but especially that of McCarthy, whose aptitude and authority as House speaker have been very much in question since he was elected to the job early this year.The most important outcome from the agreement — assuming Congress manages to pass the legislation — is that a devastating default will be avoided. There also will be policy changes, including a cap on government spending and new work requirements for some recipients of government assistance, whose effects will be significant.But the political ramifications are meaningful. Most notably, McCarthy will have proved that he can bargain on behalf of his party. He will have demonstrated within the Republican conference that he is willing to take the brunt of criticisms, an important part of a party leader’s job in Congress. He already will be helped in the final vot...

Coalhurst First Responders Society to hold charity golf tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe Coalhurst First Responders Society will be holding their third annual charity golf tournament at the Land-O-Lakes Golf Course on June 24.The event is organized and facilitated by the Coalhurst First Responders Society with the goal of raising money to enhance the community.“Coalhurst First Responders Society is primarily made up of the (27) members of the Coalhurst Volunteer Fire Department. As a group we are motivated to help people in times of emergency but that drive to help people also encourages us to support our community in other ways. We are well backed by our community and in turn want to help our town and the people in it to thrive,” said Volunteer fire fighter Melissa OudshoornProceeds from the 2023 golf tournament event will go to supporting Coalhurst and area residents. Funds from a successful 2022 tournament were used to host an open house event at the fire hall with special guest Santa Claus. Money raised was also used to purchase i...

Coaldale increasing offsite levies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsThe Town of Coaldale will be increasing their Offsite Levies for the first time in over a decade.A public hearing for an Offsite Levy Bylaw was held during Coaldale town council’s regular May 23 meeting.Bylaw 866-P-03-23 – or the Offsite Levy Bylaw – would update the offsite levies associated with new development taking place within the town.Offsite levies are fees paid by developers for the purpose of supporting long-term infrastructure projects that accommodate the town’s growth. The idea behind them is that new development would pay for at least some of the cost of growth, rather than placing that burden on the existing tax base, and the levies form a source of revenue for a growing community.Section 648 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) allows for municipalities to charge offsite levies. These levies can be implemented for several infrastructure projects, such as new or expanded facilities for the storage, transmission, treatment or supplying...

Student Vote program carried out at schools across Alberta

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsIn classrooms all throughout Alberta, numerous schools participated in the Student Vote Program.The program is a part of CIVIX, a charity geared toward initiatives which strengthen democracy through civic education. CIVIX is registered charity and is non-partisan. Support from Elections Alberta, the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Government of Canada made Student Vote Alberta 2023 possible.Student Vote is a practical civic education program which offers students not yet of voting age the opportunity to partake in active and informed citizenship, and practice casting ballots for official candidates through a mock election held at participating schools.Schools that participate are provided with non-partisan educational material to educate on government and the election process, and facilitate conversation around the candidates and pertinent issues. Student Vote Day is conducted using voting screens, ballot boxes, and ballots that are provided.Mor...

Domestic Animal bylaw now allows goats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsUp to two goats are now allowed on some residential properties in Coaldale.During their regular May 23 meeting, Coaldale town council approved changes to the town’s Domestic Animal bylaw.Bylaw 862-R-01-23 – or the Domestic Animal Bylaw – would consolidate the bylaw following amendments resulting from annexation, provide clarification to the town’s existing Domestic Animal Bylaw, and allow for the ownership of up to two goats on residential properties larger than one acre.“The way the bylaw was written is to fundamentally allow, so we’re not going to be issuing licences for goats the way we would for dogs. The idea here being the expected, total number of people to take us up on the opportunity if (it’s) going to be so low, building an entire administrative process around it isn’t a good use of our time and money,” said Cam Mills, director of growth and investment for the Town. “We would look at this as sort of a pilot-type project to allow for us to ...

Byelection looms for Village of Barons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe Village of Barons will hold a byelection on June 5 to determine who will fill the vacant councillor position.On March 14, the Mayor of the Village of Barons, Ed Weistra presented council with a letter of resignation and revealed he would be stepping down as the Village’s mayor, for what village administration cited as, “personal reasons.”As the Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires that the position of Chief Elected Official (Mayor) be filled at all times, council passed a resolution on March 21 during a special council meeting resulting in the appointment of the Village’s former Deputy Mayor, Daniel Doell to the position of Acting Mayor and appointed Councillor Gorzitza to the position of Deputy Mayor.Shortly after, council passed a resolution to set a nomination date of April 24 with a by-election to be held on June 5.According to the Village of Barons, the by-election is for the position of Councillor, after which council will hold an organiz...

Cardston-Siksika re-elects Joseph Schow as MLA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsVoters of Cardston-Siksika have re-elected Joseph Schow of the United Conservative Party as their MLA for the next four years.Unofficial election results showed Schow received 70.3 per cent of votes cast in the riding, with NDP candidate Colleen Quintal trailing 17.9 per cent.Independent Candidate Angela Tabak took 9.8 per cent, while Terry Wolsey with the Independence Party of Alberta secured 1.5 per cent, and Par Wantenaar with the Solidarity Movement of Alberta brought up the rear with 0.4 per cent.Voters in Cardston-Siksika re-elected incumbent Joseph Schow as MLA, for a second consecutive term. Schow received 10,045 of total votes cast.The provincial race saw the UCP secure a majority victory with 49 seats to the NDP’s 38. The UCP took in 52.6 per cent of the popular vote, with the NDP trailing at 44 per cent.Schow told Southern Alberta Newspapers, “it’s just such a wonderful thing and I’m grateful for the support of the voters of the Cardston-Si...

Fundraiser to rebuild “Chelsey’s Chapel” six years after Kenow Forest Fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsOrganizers of the Chelsey West Memorial Phoenix Project are gearing up for a fundraising event which hopes to rebuild “Chelsey’s Chapel” at the Canyon Church Camp in Waterton Lakes National Park.The RCMP Constable from Picture Butte, Chelsey Robinson (née West), was killed in the line of duty June 21, 2010 while looking for a suspected impaired driver west of Edmonton. Shortly after 12:30 a.m., Chelsey was the lone occupant of the marked police cruiser, which was struck by a transport truck near the intersection of Highway 16 at Range Road 15.Following the tragedy, an outdoor chapel area was erected at Canyon Church Camp in Waterton thanks to a generous outpouring of donations in Chelsey’s memory. In addition to attending the camp in her youth, Chelsey also later worked for the camp as a counsellor.In 2017, as flames from the Kenow Forest Fire spread across provincial boundaries from British Columbia into Alberta, the wildfire blazed through much of W...