Month: December 2020

Trump Releases Statement From White House After Returning From Mar-a-Lago

President Donald Trump on Thursday, after his return to Washington, released a statement on the progress of “Operation Warp Speed.” In a video posted on Twitter on New Year’s Eve, Trump made note of the accomplishments of his administration. He didn’t mention election fraud or his challenge to the outcome of the presidential race. The…


Final Countdown to Spend $1, $2 Bills in Stores as They Lose Status in 2021

Canadians still holding on to old paper money have until midnight tonight to spend it, as stores will stop accepting certain denominations after the new year. Some bank notes made between 1935 and 1986 will lose the government’s legal tender status at midnight. The Bank of Canada’s website says the affected notes can still be…


Two Coast Guard Vessels in Nova Scotia Under Lockdown After Exposure to COVID-19

HALIFAX—A second round of COVID-19 testing was scheduled Thursday for the crew of two Canadian Coast Guard vessels that are under lockdown in Dartmouth, N.S. The coast guard said all 44 crew members of CCGS Jean Goodwill and CCGS Hudson were initially tested Dec. 24 and were negative, after they were exposed to a contractor…


Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Industries to Lose $2 Billion in Revenue With More People Staying Home on New Year Eve: Survey

Waiters, bartenders, and workers in the tourism industry are once again feeling the impact of the pandemic-related closures on New Year’s Eve, as more Ontarians plan to welcome 2021 at home. An online survey of 1,091 adults revealed that Ontarians spend an average of $366 on New Year Eve in a typical year. But on…


Microsoft Says It Was Hacked in SolarWinds Cyberattack

Microsoft confirmed that hackers behind a widespread attack on SolarWinds—used by federal government agencies—also breached its systems. The hackers were able to access internal Microsoft systems and viewed source code used to create software products, the Redmond, Washington-based firm said on Thursday. “We detected unusual activity with a small number of internal accounts and upon…


Pelosi Announces Creation of Select Committee on Economic Disparity

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has announced the creation of a committee that will take action in the next Congress to combat what she calls the “crisis of income and wealth disparity in America” and supporting the Democrat agenda for “economic justice.” The New Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth will be…


Chicago Police Report 3,237 Shootings in 2020, More Than 50 Percent Increase From 2019

Chicago has seen 3,237 shootings as of Dec. 27, 2020, a 53 percent year-over-year increase, according to new figures released by the Chicago Police Department (pdf). By comparison, in the same period in 2019, there were 2,120 shootings, the statistics show. The latest shooting in Chicago, which took place in the early morning hours of…


Liquor Sales to Stop at 8 PM on New Year’s Eve to Limit ‘Risky Behavior’: BC Health Officials

Health officials in British Columbia say the serving and selling of alcohol must cease at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced on Wednesday that the sale and service of alcohol must stop at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 and continue until 9 a.m. the next day. The order will…


Alberta Approves NHL Games for Edmonton, Calgary

Alberta is the first province to officially say the NHL can play games in its arenas for the upcoming season. In a statement to The Canadian Press on Thursday, the Alberta government said it approved Edmonton and Calgary for competition on Dec. 25 following the review of protocols outlined in the league’s return-to-play plan, along…


Sen. Lindsey Graham: Next Congress Should Vote on Standalone Bill on $2,000 Payments

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said a standalone bill that approves $2,000 stimulus payments should be passed during the next session of Congress. “I’d like a stand-alone vote in the new Congress on the $2,000 check,” the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee told Fox News on Thursday. “We have seven Republicans who have already said…