\u27a2 Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips is apologizing for a trip outside of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cI deeply regret travelling over the holidays. It was a mistake and I apologize,\u201d Phillips said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The minister said he is making arrangements to return to the province immediately and will begin a 14-day quarantine when he returns.<\/p>\n
In his statement, Phillips confirmed he and his wife departed on trip to St. Barts on Dec. 13.<\/p>\n
His apology comes after Premier Doug Ford said he is disappointed in Phillips\u2019 decision to travel abroad, especially at a time when Ontarians have been asked to make sacrifices.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have let the minister know that his decision to travel is completely unacceptable and that it will not be tolerated again \u2014 by him or any member of our cabinet and caucus\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n
At a news conference on Tuesday afternoon,\u00a0Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health, said the public health advice has been and continues to be not to travel outside of the country unless it’s absolutely essential.<\/p>\n
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\u27a2 A thief stole a rare 18th century violin said to be worth more than $700,000 in California \u2014 and he may not even know it. The 1710 violin \u2014 built by one of the most famous violin makers in history \u2014 was inside art dealer Rowland Weinstein\u2019s car, which was stolen from his LA residence. The art dealer said he was moving the violin from a previous location that he felt was not secure enough when he accidentally left his white Tesla unlocked momentarily while he went into his house. When he returned from inside, the car and the prized possession were gone. A spokesperson for the FBI says they have no leads in the case.<\/p>\n
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\u27a2 This is never how you should exit a flight. Two passengers aboard a Delta flight December 21st forced open the cabin door and exited the plane via emergency slide at New York\u2019s LaGuardia Airport. The passengers were an unidentified man and woman bound for Atlanta when they decided to exit the plane as it was taxiing. There are also reports that they took a service dog down the slide with them, and that the man may have said \u201cIf I sit down, I\u2019ll freak out\u201d just before exiting. The incident forced the plane to return to the gate, and passengers got off and were put on other flights. It\u2019s not clear if the passengers were arrested.<\/p>\n
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\u27a2 Animals are just attracted to Christmas trees, it seems. Police in Scotland recently responded to a home after reports that a hawk flew in through an open window and perched on the family\u2019s Christmas tree. Police said the hawk was not injured, and released the bird outside. They posted about the incident on Facebook, noting, \u201cDefinitely a change from a partridge on a pear tree\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u27a2 An Idaho man broke yet another Guinness World Record by catching 52 nuts in a can taped to his head in just one minute. David Rush has broken more than 150 Guinness World Records, all with the goal of promoting STEM education. For his latest title, Rush secured a can to his head using tape, tossed nuts in the air, and successfully caught 52 of the falling nuts in the can. His achievement obliterated the previous record of just 38 nut catches.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n TODAY IS\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1981 Wayne Gretzky scores 5 goals and an assist in Edmonton\u2019s 7-5 win over Philadelphia, giving him 50 goals in 39 games, the fastest 50 in 50 games in a season in NHL history, also sets a record for a 15-game assist streak<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1936\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In one of the first sit-down strikes in the United States, autoworkers occupy the General Motors Plant Number One in Flint, Michigan.<\/p>\n _________________________________________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n COUNTRY MUSIC NOTE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The number one song on this date in 2005 \u2013<\/p>\n BILLY CURRIINGTON \u201cMUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT\u201d<\/p>\n _________________________________________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n Five Stats to Help You Hydrate<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Staying hydrated isn’t just something you have to worry about in summer.\u00a0 Especially if you tend to drink more alcohol this time of year, which tends to dehydrate you.\u00a0 So here are five stats that might encourage you to drink an extra glass of water today . . .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n FOUR RANDOM FACTS <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n GOOD NEWS <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Like many restaurant employees Arianna Gutierrez of New Hampshire says 2020 has brought a series of struggles as she\u2019s done her best to provide for her 5-year-old daughter Ryleigh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, when a kind group of strangers left her a $953 tip with their breakfast bill as a Christmas surprise, the 22-year-old single mother says she was shaking because she was so overjoyed and overwhelmed at the \u201cvery beautiful\u201d and \u201cgenerous\u201d gesture. The group of people who left the tip would like to remain completely anonymous according to a rep for the group.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She said the tip\u00a0helped turn around a recent run of challenges and bad luck.<\/p>\n Gutierrez has been slightly behind on rent and utilities in her apartment because she has bounced between being laid off and working reduced hours due to COVID-19 shutdowns and orders. \u201cI honestly never thought it would happen to me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gutierrez said she\u2019ll save the bulk of the tip \u2014 something she hasn\u2019t been able to do much of this year because of COVID-19.<\/p>\n _________________________________________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n BIRTHDAYS <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Anthony Hopkins\u00a0(actor) (84)<\/p>\n Charlie Major (Canadian Country singer) (66)<\/p>\n Val Kilmer\u00a0(actor) (62)<\/p>\n Actor\/Comedian\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gerry Dee\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 53<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Heartwarming and Uplifting Country Music-Related Moments from 2020<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Boot doesn’t want us thinking 2020 was a total dumpster fire.\u00a0 Just mostly. \u00a0They looked back at all the stuff that happened in country music this year and found “12 heartwarming, fun, and uplifting moments.”\u00a0 Here are a few . . .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dolly Parton Helps Save the World<\/strong>.\u00a0 Dolly’s $1 million\u00a0donation<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to coronavirus research helped Moderna develop a vaccine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carrie Underwood Sings With Her Son<\/strong>. \u00a0It was super sweet to\u00a0hear<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Isaiah join his mom on\u00a0“Little Drummer Boy”<\/em>.\u00a0 \u00a0(From Carrie’s first Christmas album, “My Gift”.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Women Return to the Country Music Charts<\/strong>. \u00a0Record-setting weeks at #1 for\u00a0Gabby Barrett<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Maren Morris<\/strong>, plus chart-toppers from\u00a0Ingrid Andress<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Carly Pearce<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dwight Yoakam Welcomes First Child at Age 63<\/strong>. \u00a0Thanks to his younger\u00a0wife<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Emily.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Return of Blake Shelton’s Mullet<\/strong>.\u00a0 With props to\u00a0Gwen Stefani<\/strong>\u00a0for the\u00a0upkeep<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman’s Rescue Cat<\/strong>.\u00a0 Nicole introduced Louis, the newest member of their family, with a post on\u00a0Instagram<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 The video is adorable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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