Lethbridge news

• Holiday hustle: Why more Canadians are shopping in-store than online

  18-12-2019 23:42
  
  Canadian holiday spending is up 1.8 per cent in 2019, with shoppers using a combination of online and in-store shopping to buy gifts this year. The majority of Canadians are still heading out of the house to do their holiday shopping this year, says Heather Thomson, executive director at the Alberta School of Business. “We’re seeing about 41 per cent of Canadians do their shopping online, which means a lot of Canadians are doing their shopping still in the stores, which is an interes
  
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• Your Christmas tree may put you at risk: Lethbridge fire officials

  18-12-2019 23:28 via globalnews.ca
  
  Lethbridge fire officials are sharing some safety tips for the holiday season and say that Christmas trees may pose an extra risk.
  
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• Lawyer says Indigenous groups didn’t approach Trans Mountain pipeline consultation in good faith

  18-12-2019 23:18 via globalnews.ca
  
  A lawyer for Trans Mountain Corp. is defending the government's consultation with Indigenous groups over the Crown corporation's operation and construction of its pipeline project. 
  
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• City recommends lower speeds and parking spots for e-scooters, but some say the changes aren't enough

  18-12-2019 23:18
  
  A Calgary committee says electronic scooters should be reintroduced to city sidewalks and pathways with reduced speeds and recommended parking spots, but some still have concerns about the pilot program. If council approves changes to the pilot program and its bylaws, there will also be new fines to punish people who double up on the scooters, collide with another user or ride in a reckless manner. The maximum fine would be $400. The shared e-scooters will have their top speed capped at 15 km/h
  
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• City recommends lower speeds and parking spots for e-scooters, but some say changes aren't enough

  18-12-2019 23:18
  
  A Calgary committee says electronic scooters should be reintroduced to city sidewalks and pathways with reduced speeds and recommended parking spots, but some still have concerns about the pilot program. If council approves changes to the pilot program and its bylaws, there will also be new fines to punish people who double up on the scooters, collide with another user or ride in a reckless manner. The maximum fine would be $400. The shared e-scooters will have their top speed capped at 15 km/h
  
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• Your Christmas tree may put you at risk: Lethbridge fire department

  18-12-2019 23:13 via globalnews.ca
  
  Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services is warning residents that holiday decorations, including the tree, may be putting homes at an increased risk of fire this season. Emily Olsen reports.
  
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• No more babies to be born at Lacombe hospital; AHS cites low birth rates

  18-12-2019 23:12
  
  Alberta Health Services is closing the obstetrical services unit at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre on Dec. 20, citing falling birth rates. AHS says there have only been 31 babies born at the hospital this year, down from 81 last year and 91 in 2017. “This was a difficult decision and not one we made lightly,” says Janice Stewart, Chief Zone Officer with AHS Central Zone. “There has been a steady decline in the number of deliveries at the Lacombe Hospital in recent years,
  
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• Feds and Ontario to agree on $1.4-billion housing benefit deal

  18-12-2019 23:00
  
  Ontario is the first province to agree to a $1.4-billion deal with the federal government to help low-income renters afford a place to live, CTV News has learned. The Canada Housing Benefit agreement will be announced Thursday in Toronto, by Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen, and Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark. A government source with knowledge of the agreement says the costs will be split "50/50" between the province and Ottawa,
  
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• ‘Some people have even used broomsticks’: Okotoks task force to tackle aggressive deer

  18-12-2019 22:58 via globalnews.ca
  
  The town of Okotoks has created a task force to deal with an increase in the number of complaints about aggressive deer.
  
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• Pair of outdoor rinks closed for the season in Calgary

  18-12-2019 22:47
  
  Families looking to get in some pre-Christmas skating might have a bit of a hard time considering a majority of Calgary's outdoor rinks are closed, with two of them shut down for the whole season. The City of Calgary, which maintains eight outdoor rinks, tells CTV News the ice surface in the Prince's Island Lagoon is under construction and won't be in use for the 2019/2020 season. The north rink at Prairie Winds Park is also closed for the season. As for the other outdoor rinks, the city says th
  
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• Alberta study shows DNA may not actually be good predictor of disease, health

  18-12-2019 22:33 via globalnews.ca
  
  The study, which involved scientists examining two decades of data, concluded that DNA contribution to disease development is only about five to 10 per cent.
  
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• World Juniors: When to watch Team Canada and what to know about who they are playing

  18-12-2019 22:19
  
  At this time next year, the World Juniors will be gearing up to return to Alberta for the first time since the 2012 tournament.  This year, Canada's favourite holiday hockey classic is being hosted in the Czech cities of Ostrava and Trinec starting with its traditional Boxing Day opener. Alberta’s Ty Smith looking to bury last year’s memories and lead Canada to World Juniors gold World Juniors coming to Alberta: Priority ticket draw announced for 2021 tournament World
  
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• Lawyer says Indigenous groups didn't approach pipeline consultation in good faith

  18-12-2019 22:03
  
  VANCOUVER - The governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan are urging the Federal Court of Appeal to defer to cabinet's approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline because they say Indigenous opposition shouldn't outweigh other public interests in the project. Alberta and Saskatchewan are acting as interveners at a hearing in Vancouver about whether Indigenous groups were meaningfully consulted during a new round of dialogue about the $10 billion project. The court heard from four Indigenous groups fro
  
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• Calgary charity makes sure seniors aren’t left out this holiday season

  18-12-2019 21:32
  
  Seniors Secret Service has been bringing cheer to isolated seniors in the community since 1985. It works with a number of organizations and volunteers to provide gifts over the holidays to individuals 60 years or older who may not have family or a support network. "Our seniors are alone for many different reasons, some have children who do not live in the city or who are not in their lives," it states on the organization's web site. "Many are widows/widowers who have simply outlived their friend
  
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• Suspicious death in northeast Calgary ruled as homicide

  18-12-2019 20:34
  
  Calgary police have identified the man whose body was found Sunday in a northeast home as 58-year-old Mahmoud Ahmid Aburashed. Aburashed's death has been ruled a homicide and police are asking the public for help to solve the case. Police responded to a home in the 400 block of 28th Avenue N.E. around 12:30 p.m. for a check on welfare call, where they found the man's body. Police say they believe the death happened two days earlier on Friday morning. His cause of death has not been released. Any
  
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• Alberta strikes panel to review auto insurance, won’t bring back rate cap

  18-12-2019 20:26 via globalnews.ca
  
  Finance Minister Travis Toews said Albertans are paying some of the highest rates in Canada but are having trouble getting critical protections, such as comprehensive and collision coverage.
  
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• First Hasbro-themed park in Canada to take over Galaxyland at WEM

  18-12-2019 20:22
  
  Mr. Potato Head, meet West Edmonton Mall. The mall has announced that Galaxyland, its space-themed amusement park, will be blasting off into a new direction in a partnership with Hasbro, maker of games and toys including Monopoly, My Little Pony, Nerf, Play-Doh, Battleship, Operation and G.I. Joe. The park will be renamed “Galaxyland powered by Hasbro.” It will be the first Hasbro-themed amusement park in the country. The transformation will include over 25 rides, games and attractio
  
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• Share Now, formerly Car2Go, to end service in North America

  18-12-2019 20:20
  
  Car share users might soon notice a dramatic decrease in options in Vancouver as Share Now, formerly known as Car2Go, has announced it's leaving the North American market next year. The car share company made the announcement Wednesday, adding that it's also stopping operations in London, Brussels and Florence as of Feb. 29. That also marks the company's last day of service in Vancouver. "The decision to close (in) North America was made based on two extremely complicated realities," Share
  
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• Calgary crews containing coyote dens with concrete

  18-12-2019 20:07
  
  City crews are on site at a park in the northwest community of Arbour Lake to seal up an abandoned coyote den that was the centre of a lot of attention earlier this year. The coyote family, which included nine pups, was cute at first, but then became a nuisance and a danger to residents. This past spring, a family of coyotes settled down in the park and soon bore young. The playful pups drew a lot of interest from residents who ended up taking plenty of photos and videos of them. After it decide
  
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• Alberta strikes panel to review auto insurance rates, won’t bring back rate cap

  18-12-2019 20:01 via globalnews.ca
  
  The Alberta government says it’s looking to drive down the cost of auto insurance. As Kendra Slugoski explains, a committee has been formed to review why we pay more, but it cautions rate caps won’t be the solution.
  
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• Calgary woman charged after alleged child abuse livestreamed on gaming site Twitch

  18-12-2019 19:48 via globalnews.ca
  
  Police have laid charges against a Calgary woman after an alleged case of child abuse was livestreamed on the online gaming website Twitch.
  
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• Calgary woman charged after alleged child abuse live-streamed on gaming site Twitch

  18-12-2019 19:48 via globalnews.ca
  
  Police have laid charges against a Calgary woman after an alleged case of child abuse was live-streamed on the online gaming website Twitch.
  
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• Suspicious package investigation near Macleod Trail prompts evacuation of businesses

  18-12-2019 19:32
  
  The Calgary Police Service has cordoned off an area behind a hotel along Macleod Trail following an investigation into a suspicious package in a vehicle. Police were called to the alleyway behind the Days Inn in the 3800 block of Macleod Trail S. at approximately 10 a.m. Several businesses in the area have been evacuated and the area has been closed to vehicles and pedestrians. CTrain service has been halted between the Erlton and 39 Ave stations.#CTRiders, due to a police matter the #RedLine ha
  
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• Suspicious package investigation concluded near Macleod Trail

  18-12-2019 19:32
  
  Calgary police cordoned off an area behind a hotel along Macleod Trail for several hours Wednesday, following reports of a suspicious package in a vehicle. Police were called to the alleyway behind the Days Inn in the 3800 block of Macleod Trail S. at approximately 10 a.m. Several businesses in the area were evacuated and the area was closed to vehicles and pedestrians for several hours. CTrain service was halted between the Erlton and 39 Ave stations. but resumed just after 3 p.m. This is a dev
  
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• Report of suspicious package near Macleod Trail deemed false, police say charges pending

  18-12-2019 19:32
  
  Calgary police say reports of a suspicious package behind a motel along Macleod Trail on Monday were false, and charges are now pending against a man. Police cordoned off an area behind the Days Inn in the 3800 block of Macleod Trail S. at approximately 10 a.m. A suspicious package was reported to be in a vehicle parked there. However police concluded their investigation just after 3 p.m. and said the reports were false. Several businesses in the area were evacuated and the area was closed to ve
  
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• Calgary woman charged after alleged child abuse broadcast over Twitch livestream

  18-12-2019 19:21
  
  Calgary police have arrested a woman accused of abusing her infant child in a video broadcast on the streaming service Twitch earlier this week. The 31-year-old is charged with one count of assault. Police received multiple calls from the public on Tuesday after the video was broadcast, which showed the woman — seated on a bed and apparently playing a video game — become aggressive with her 14-month-old son. The woman is accused of biting, pushing, slapping the child multiple times.
  
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• Survey on potentially scrapping time changes in Alberta elicits more than 140K responses

  18-12-2019 18:51
  
  The provincial government is mulling potentially removing biannual time changes and the idea has prompted a strong response from Albertans. An online survey created by the UCP government to gather "input on the future of time change in Alberta" elicited more than 140,000 responses. The survey, which closed Dec. 10, asked Albertans whether they would approve a move to constant mountain daylight time. There was not an option for adopting mountain standard time on a continual basis. British Columbi
  
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• World Juniors: Alberta's Ty Smith looking to bury last year’s memories and lead Canada to U20 gold

  18-12-2019 18:43
  
   
  
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• Police ask for help in search for missing Calgary man

  18-12-2019 18:07
  
  Police are asking for help from the public to find a Calgary man reported missing last week. Patrick Vice was last seen about 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 12 walking east on Sixth Avenue near First Street S.W. He is described as being in his early 60s, standing 180 centimetres (5-foot-10) with an average build, brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a black tuque, black jacket and dark pants when he was last seen and was carrying a McDonald's coffee and a newspaper. Police say they are concerned for his
  
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• Alberta Appeal Court reserves ruling in federal carbon tax challenge

  18-12-2019 17:56
  
  The Alberta Court of Appeal has reserved its decision in the provincial government's challenge of the federal carbon tax. After three days of submissions, the court said it would issue a ruling as soon as it's able but not this week. Lawyers representing the federal government argued the climate crisis is the “greatest existential threat of our time.”'Greatest existential threat of our time:' Ottawa makes carbon tax case in courtThey said the Constitution gives Ottawa the authority t
  
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• Crowbar-wielding road rage attacker to be sentenced Thursday

  18-12-2019 17:48
  
  The man convicted of aggravated assault in connection with a 2017 road rage incident will be learn his sentence on Thursday morning.  A sentencing hearing was held on Wednesday for Jared Eliasson, 31, who was found guilty in April.  Man in crowbar attack guilty of aggravated assault, not attempted murder: JudgeOn the morning of March 7, 2017, Eliasson followed Chelsey Schendzielorz home after she honked at him for blocking an intersection. The attack broke both of her arms wi
  
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• Crowbar-wielding road rage attacker sentenced to 3.5 years in prison

  18-12-2019 17:48
  
  The man convicted of aggravated assault in connection with a 2017 road rage incident has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison with credit for time served. A sentencing hearing was held on Wednesday for Jared Eliasson, 31, who was found guilty in April. Man in crowbar attack guilty of aggravated assault, not attempted murder: Judge On the morning of March 7, 2017, Eliasson followed Chelsey Schendzielorz home after she honked at him for blocking an intersection, then broke both of he
  
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• Dynamite discovered during excavation of road near Banff Springs Hotel

  18-12-2019 17:25
  
  Excavation work on a road near the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel uncovered a blast from the past — a stick of dynamite left behind from a 1980s construction project. Police were called about 3:30 p.m. Monday and cordoned off the area along Spray Avenue. The RCMP Explosives Unit was then called in from Edmonton and arrived about 10 p.m. to remove it. Officers say the stick of dynamite was accidently left following past construction and there was no criminal intent. Staff and guests at the ho
  
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• More than $250K in contraband seized at Bowden Institution

  18-12-2019 16:40
  
  Correctional officers have seized $286,200 worth of contraband items that an inmate was attempting to sneak into the Bowden Institution. The seizure happened on Dec. 7, and included cell phones, cell phone chargers, tobacco, crystal meth, the TCH concentrate shatter and knives. The police have been notified about the seizure. Correctional Services Canada says they use several kinds of tools to keep contraband from entering institutions, including drug-detector dogs and ion scanners. CSC also has
  
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• Alberta 'taking action' on car insurance, exploring reforms

  18-12-2019 16:05
  
  A new committee will advise the province on potential reform of Alberta's automobile insurance system. Finance Minister Travis Toews introduced the three-member committee in Edmonton on Wednesday. "This issue is such a significant issue that touches every Albertan," Toews said. "To assemble a very credible, experience committee like this, I believe we will be best-informed to make decisions around automobile insurance." The committee members are legal expert Shelley Miller, medical expert Dr. La
  
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• Alberta 'taking action' on car insurance

  18-12-2019 16:05
  
  Finance Minister Travis Toews will make an announcement about the province's car insurance system on Wednesday.Watch the announcement live at 9:30 a.m.Insurance rates are expected to increase in the new year, after the auto insurance rate cap implemented by the previous NDP government expired on Aug. 31. The Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta told CTV News Edmonton in November that the cap and the rising expense of vehicle claims were costing companies 12 cents on every dollar. The industr
  
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• Canada's show jumping team dropped from Tokyo 2020 for doping violation

  18-12-2019 15:18
  
  Canada's show jumping team has been expelled from next summer's Tokyo Olympics because of a doping violation. Nicole Walker of Aurora, Ont., is appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, saying she inadvertently ingested a cocaine metabolite by drinking coca tea during last summer's Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. "The team deserves to go to the Olympics," Walker said Tuesday in a statement. "My priority right now is to continue to fight for the Canadian equestrian team." Th
  
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• Council votes to eliminate retirement allowances for City of Calgary employees

  18-12-2019 15:12
  
  A perk that had been given to retiring City of Calgary employees for more than half a century will be coming to an end. On Tuesday, city council voted overwhelmingly in favour of scrapping retirement allowances for city workers. Of the 14 votes cast, Ward 10 councillor Ray Jones' was the lone dissenter. Retirement allowances for city employees have been in place for more than five decades. Ahead of Thursday's vote, Mayor Nenshi said the debate had ushered in serious accusations that he felt were
  
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• Your dirty underwear is contaminating your fresh laundry

  18-12-2019 15:00
  
  Fecal matter from your dirty underwear is probably still lurking in your fresh laundry, according to multiple studies. Even worse, one microbiologist has found that bacteria such as E.coli can survive the average laundry cycle. But despite the ick factor not all experts are worried, noting that exposure to bacteria makes our immune systems stronger. “The average adult undergarment has about a tenth of a gram of fecal matter,” Dr. Charles Gerba, renowned germ researcher and professor
  
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• Shipping industry proposes fund to tackle carbon emissions

  18-12-2019 15:00
  
  A global shipping industry organization is proposing a research and development program to help cut carbon dioxide emissions, funded by about US$5 billion from shipping companies over a decade. The International Chamber of Shipping said Wednesday that it is proposing creating a nongovernmental organization to be known as the International Maritime Research and Development Board. It would be overseen by member countries of the UN maritime agency and financed by shipping companies through a mandat
  
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• SNC-Lavalin pleads guilty to fraud, will pay $280-million fine for company's past work in Libya

  18-12-2019 14:55
  
  SNC-Lavalin has pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud over $5,000 and will pay a $280-million fine, federal prosecutors announced in court Wednesday in Montreal. The construction division of the company will have five years to pay the fine, and will also be on probation for three years. In return, prosecutors will withdraw other corruption-related charges SNC-Lavalin was facing. Prosecutors and lawyers for the Montreal-based engineering firm are presenting their joint sentencing argument to Queb
  
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• Puppies may be making people sick, CDC says

  18-12-2019 14:50
  
  Puppies: cute balls of fur. But according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they're also linked to a multi-state outbreak of an infection that's resistant to multiple drugs. An outbreak strain of Campylobacter jejuni has been reported in 30 states and so far 30 people have been infected, the CDC said. Four have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported, the center said. "Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicate that puppies purchased from pet stores are the l
  
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• Carbon tax battle continues as Alberta challenges Ottawa in provincial court of appeal

  18-12-2019 14:44
  
  The Government of Alberta’s provincial court of appeal challenge against the federal carbon tax entered its third and final day Wednesday.  Lawyers for the province have been arguing in an Edmonton courtroom this week that the Trudeau government’s move to impose a national tax on carbon is unconstitutional.  Alberta says provinces have jurisdiction over the development of natural resources and electricity generation and that this tax is stepping on those powers.  On Tu
  
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• Inflation heats up as gasoline prices post year-over-year increase

  18-12-2019 14:39
  
  The annual pace of inflation heated up in November as gasoline prices posted their first year-over-year increase since October 2018, Statistics Canada said Wednesday. The agency said the consumer price index rose 2.2 per cent compared with a year ago to end a three-month streak where the annual pace of inflation had held steady at 1.9 per cent. The increase in the pace of inflation compared with October came as energy prices in November posted their first year-over-year increase since April. Ene
  
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• U.S. President Donald Trump impeached by House, 3rd in history

  18-12-2019 09:21
  
  U.S. President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution's ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanours. The historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election. The House
  
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• U.S. House nears nighttime impeachment vote as Trump cries foul

  18-12-2019 09:21
  
  WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House marched on Wednesday toward historic nighttime votes to impeach President Donald Trump, split as severely as the nation over the conduct of the 45th American president but all but certain to approve the charges against him and send them to the Senate for trial. Trump, accused of abusing his presidential power when he asked Ukraine to investigate his political rival ahead of the 2020 election and then obstructing Congress' investigation, would be just the third Americ
  
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• U.S. House begins voting on whether to impeach Trump

  18-12-2019 09:21
  
  WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House marched on Wednesday toward historic nighttime votes to impeach President Donald Trump, split as severely as the nation over the conduct of the 45th American president but all but certain to approve the charges against him and send them to the Senate for trial. Trump, accused of abusing his presidential power when he asked Ukraine to investigate his political rival ahead of the 2020 election and then obstructing Congress' investigation, would be just the third Americ
  
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• Trump impeached on charges of abuse of power, obstruction

  18-12-2019 09:21
  
  U.S. President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution's ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanours. The historic vote split along party lines Wednesday night, much the way it has divided the nation, over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election. The House
  
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• Trump impeached by U.S. House on two charges

  18-12-2019 09:21
  
  WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution's ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanours. The historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over the charges that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 electio
  
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• Trump impeached by U.S. House on charge of abuse of power

  18-12-2019 09:21
  
  U.S. President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution's ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanours. The historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over the charges that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election. The Ho
  
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