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Alberta COVID panel chair urges federal Conservatives to weaponize his findings

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

EDMONTON — The chair of a taxpayer-funded panel reviewing Alberta’s COVID-19 response is urging the federal Conservatives to weaponize his findings against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s governing coalition in the next election.Preston Manning, the former head of the Reform Party, made the pitch last week in an email sent to Conservative MPs on the same day the report from the panel he chaired was published.The email begins with the salutation “Dear CPC friends,” but the recipients list included Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal, who published the missive on social media.Manning could not be immediately reached for comment.His report determined that for future crises, Alberta needs to concentrate decision-making in cabinet, embrace alternative scientific theories and do more to protect individual liberties.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she’s OK with Manning’s letter, noting it was sent from his personal email address and says the more people who see the report’s fi...

Changing Armed Forces policies is slow and labour-intensive, external monitor says

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

OTTAWA — The military is finalizing a policy change to abolish its definition of sexual misconduct and to use the Criminal Code definition for sexual assault.The change, which is expected to be ready for approval by the end of the year, is among the 48 recommendations from former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour in a scathing report about military culture in May 2022.Jocelyne Therrien is serving as an external monitor whose job is to track the work to implement the recommendations.Therrien says in her second report that the process to change Armed Forces policies is labour-intensive, and even simple changes can take months. The Arbour report called on the federal government to remove the military’s jurisdiction over all sexual offences in the Criminal Code — something the defence minister says will happen in the coming months. Since December 2021, 142 of 275 cases reported to military police have been referred to civilian police services.  This report by The Canadian Press ...

Police identify victim in ‘targeted’ fatal shooting at Richmond Hill parking lot

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

York Regional Police have identified a man who was shot to death at a parking lot in Richmond Hill last Friday.Investigators say Alexander Bobby Lapage, 21, of Toronto, was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot of an entertainment plaza on York Boulevard at East Beaver Creek Road at around 11:20 p.m.Lapage was rushed to a trauma centre where he was later pronounced dead.Police have not released any suspect information, but say it was a targeted shooting.

Mexico issues decree forcing private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger service

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

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s government issued a decree Monday that will force private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger train service over their normal freight runs.The decree gives the two main private concessionary rail operators until Jan. 15 to present proposals for offering the passenger service themselves. If they decline, the government will put the army or the navy, which have no experience operating railways, in charge of the services.Almost all of Mexican railway traffic currently carries freight except for minor tourist train services like northern Mexico’s Copper Canyon and the western tequila-producing region around Jalisco.The government wants four short inter-city routes where passenger trains would run on tracks normally used only for freight.But the biggest challenge could be three long passenger routes the government also wants to establish from central Mexico to the U.S. border: the 700-mile (1,120-kilometer) proposed passenger service from Mex...

Students, parents speaking out over closure of downtown music school

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

Students and parents who attend the Downtown Vocal Music Academy are speaking out after learning their beloved school will be permanently closing next year.The TDSB announced they will be shutting down the specialty school, housed in the Ryerson Community School, displacing dozens of Grade 4 to 8 students, due to low enrollment.One Grade 7 student is heartbroken over the decision. “[the TDSB] is bullying us, and they’re pushing us back into the schools we tried to get away from where we were already bullied. It’s not fair,” said Claire Lennox.Lennox, along with her peers, received the news earlier this month when the TDSB informed them it will be their final year attending the school.The academy, just steps from Kensington Market, focused on learning through the arts. Many students and parents say it had become a safe haven for students who experienced bullying at the schools within the vicinity of their homes.“We’re going to be going back to our ...

OSHA finds plant explosion that killed 1 person could have been prevented

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

BOSTON (AP) — The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found an explosion that killed one worker at a pharmaceutical chemical plant in Massachusetts could have been prevented, and proposed nearly $300,000 in penalties.The May explosion at the Seqens plant in Newburyport, Massachusetts, killed Jack O’Keefe, 62, of Methuen. Video showed most of the roof torn off a building.Results of the OSHA investigation announced Thursday found Seqens and its subsidiary PolyCarbon Industries Inc. “lacked safeguards” in the chemical-making process. The investigation found numerous deficiencies in the facility’s safety management program for highly hazardous chemicals. It also found the company did not determine the combustibility hazards of materials used in the production of the chemical Dekon 139 and did not include safe upper and lower temperature limits to prevent the decomposition of Dekon 139.O’Keefe was killed when a pressure vessel exploded.The conditions found dur...

Shapiro says unfinished business includes vouchers, more school funding and higher minimum wage

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

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday that his list of unfinished business for the state Legislature includes passing a private school voucher program, increasing the minimum wage and approving bills to curb gun violence.Shapiro also said he wants lawmakers to lift limits that prevent adult victims of childhood sexual assault from suing their assailants and institutions.“I consider this to be unfinished business, along with making sure we raise the minimum wage, along with passing statute of limitations reform, along with making sure that we do something about gun violence in our communities,” Shapiro said.Looking forward to next year, the governor said he will prioritize addressing a court ruling that found Pennsylvania unconstitutionally discriminates against the poorest school districts.Speaking at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon, Shapiro, repeatedly couched his remarks by acknowledging that he must contend with a politically divided Legislature.He ...

GoFundMe for man killed in attack near House of Blues nears $6K

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

CHICAGO — An online fundraiser for a man who died last week following an attack amid an attempted robbery near the House of Blues has raised nearly $6,000 as of Monday afternoon.The GoFundMe aims to raise $50,000 to help with Drew Hulburt's burial services and a potential scholarship in his name at  Osage Community High School.Hulburt, 47, was attacked around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the 300 block of North Dearborn Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, police said. 72-year-old man fatally shot in Logan Square after celebrating grandson’s birthday The 47-year-old was walking on the sidewalk when he was approached by two men who asked for money, police added. He was reportedly struck on the head by one of the men with a closed fist, causing him to fall to the ground. According to police, Hulburt was discovered unresponsive on the sidewalk sometime later. He was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, where he later died. It is uncle...

Portion of S Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn closed after car crashes into business

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

OAK LAWN, Ill. — A portion of South Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn is closed on Monday afternoon after a car crashed into a business near 105th Place, police say. According to a post shared by the Oak Lawn Police Department on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, both directions of South Cicero Avenue are closed between 105th place and 107th Street after a car crashed into the Dollar Tree store in the area.  Chicago Traffic: Visit the WGN News traffic map for the latest real-time updates Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash or how long the closure will last. This is a developing story, stay with WGN for the latest updates.

First lady Jill Biden receives official White House Christmas Tree

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

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – First lady Dr. Jill Biden received the 2023 White House Christmas Tree alongside military-connected families Monday afternoon. The 18-and-a-half-foot tall Fraser fir came to Washington, D.C. from Fleetwood, North Carolina.Sticking with tradition, the tree was delivered to the White House by a horse-drawn carriage. Dr. Biden called the tree “magnificent” before mingling with military families who were invited to the annual holiday event. President Biden celebrates 81st birthday pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys This year’s tree was presented to the first lady by siblings Amber Scott and Alex Church from Cline Church Nursery. The nursery was crowned the 2023 Grand Champion Growers in the National Christmas Tree Association’s annual contest.The tree will stand floor to ceiling in the White House’s Blue Room. Every year the room’s chandelier is removed to accommodate the tree’s full height, according to White House officials.