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CBC News retracts report alleging email interference by Alberta premier’s office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

EDMONTON — CBC News is retracting a report alleging someone in Premier Danielle Smith’s office emailed Crown prosecutors to question and challenge the handling of cases involving COVID-19 protests in Alberta that blocked traffic at a U.S. border crossing for more than two weeks. CBC made the announcement Wednesday in an unsigned editor’s note atop an amended online version of the original Jan. 19 story.“Our sources have insisted that Crown prosecutors felt political pressure regarding the Coutts, (Alta.), cases, but they are not able to confirm that the emails they originally described were sent directly from the premier’s office to the Crown,” said the editor’s note.“As such, we have updated this story and related pieces, removing references to direct contact between the premier’s office and prosecutors — which the premier has vehemently denied.  “CBC News regrets reporting direct contact by email.”The story, along with public comments made by Smith around that time, sp...

Police: 16 dead, including 3 children, in toxic gas leak in South Africa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least 16 people, including three children, have died in a toxic gas leak in South Africa, police said Wednesday.Emergency services said that as many as 24 people were dead. It wasn’t immediately clear why there was a discrepancy in the death toll.The incident happened in an informal settlement in the city of Boksburg on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg, the South African Police Services said. Police said two people were taken to the hospital for treatment.Emergency services spokesman William Ntladi said the gas leak had stopped and teams were searching a 100-meter (100-yard) radius around the gas cyclinder to check for more casualties.___Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa.Mogomotsi Magome And Gerald Imray, The Associated Press

Wisconsin probes how 8 roller-coaster riders became trapped upside down for hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

CRANDON, Wis. (AP) — State officials are investigating how eight people became trapped upside down on a roller coaster — some of them for more than three hours — at a festival in Wisconsin.The roller coaster’s cars got stuck near the top of a loop around 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Crandon International Offroad Raceway. Rescue workers arrived to find eight passengers hanging upside down from their safety harnesses. Firefighters used ladder trucks to reach them, securing each one before releasing their over-the-shoulder safety bars, the Crandon Fire Department said. It took nearly three and a half hours to get all the passengers down. One person was taken to a hospital. According to the fire department, a ride operator said something broke down mechanically on the coaster, which had been inspected by the state.The state Department of Safety and Professional Services is responsible for reviewing plans for amusement parks and inspecting rides in Wisconsin. Spokesperson John Beard sai...

Mandates aim to tackle discrimination in public service, unions say it’s not enough

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal government departments and agencies will now have to evaluate whether their hiring practices are discriminatory after changes to the Public Service Employment Act came into effect this week.Public Service Commission spokeswoman Élodie Roy said the changes will strengthen diversity and inclusion in the federal government workforce.The amendments were first introduced in the budget implementation process in 2021.They require the public service to evaluate how staffing methods, such as interviews and written exams, might discriminate against women, people with a disability, or those who identify as Black, Indigenous or LGBTQ.The Public Service Commission will also have more resources to investigate mistakes or misconduct that affect hiring processes.Previous amendments revised the job qualifications for members of equity-seeking groups and ensured permanent residents were given the same hiring preferences as Canadian citizens.But a group representing thousands of Black...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, & Will County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

5:40 p.m. -- The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will County until 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Skilling: Thunderstorms, possible hail Wednesday nightDownpours and storm-generated wind gusts with the potential for some hail are to accompany some t-storms into Wednesday evening. A few may become severe. But, a huge, well organized upper wind band which lead to a widespread outbreak of severe storms isn't in place. So the storms which blossom in this environment will be left to tap the energy stored in the humid air—what is known as "Latent heat energy".Make no mistake, storms which feed off latent heat energy absent powerful wind fields aloft are more than capable of generating their own powerful wind gusts and they can produce damage. They don't, however, tend to take on the widespread damaging character of the derecho which swept downstate Illinois last Friday...

Some Metra trains delayed due to mechanical issue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Some Metra trains are at a standstill amid Wednesday's rush hour.A Metra spokesperson told WGN News that the delays are due to a mechanical issue involving another train near Western Avenue. As a result, some Union Pacific Northwest inbound and outbound trains may be operating for up to 30 minutes behind schedule. The Milwaukee North, Milwaukee West, and North Central lines were all at a standstill just after 4 p.m.SkyCam9 flew above the scene on the Metra tracks on the city's Near West Side at Artesian and Hubbard. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesTrains may be delayed up to 45 minutesThis is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Study: Smoking marijuana could lead to serious complications, including death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

For Wednesday, July 5, WGN’s Ben Bradley and Jackie Bange have the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Study: Cannabis use disorder can lead to surgery complications, deathSmoking too much marijuana could lead to major surgery complications down the road, including death, that’s according to a new study from the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas.  The study found people with pot dependencies are more likely to experience various issues following elective surgery. The potential complications include blood clots, strokes, kidney issues, and in some cases, even death. The increase was slight as people with cannabis use disorder were about 8% higher risk -- compared to 6.5% for others. But the study's authors say it shows it's important to pre-screen for cannabis use disorder. Bad tick season has likely peaked Experts say a dreadful tick season has probably hit its peak. Still, experts stress the importance of taking precau...

Alternative Baseball team providing space for adults with special needs to continue passion of sport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

Years after they thought they saw their last inning, a group of young adults have found their way back to a baseball diamond."I've been playing baseball my whole life and I can't imagine somebody not being able to play the game I love just because they are perceived as different," Co-founder of Alternative Baseball Jackson Berner said.A group of baseball enthusiasts didn't let their challenges with autism and special needs keep them from the game that they loved: Baseball."We started with one. We're up to 15 now, it's really remarkable. And now we have a team and we're so excited to get the ball rolling and play some ball"It's the first month of practice for the growing team of young adults brought together by their varying abilities and love of the game"There just aren't enough opportunities for older teens and adults to play sports who have special needs," Co-manager of Alternative Baseball Beth Engelman said.Often striking out when school age programming falls off"The rules start...

Peso at its strongest point versus U.S. dollar in almost 8 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Currency exchange houses along San Ysidro Boulevard are offering less than 17 pesos for every U.S. dollar for the first time since December 2015. Peso is king again in Tijuana’s rental market According to Bloomberg, the U.S. dollar has lost about 10 percent of its value versus the Mexican Peso since the beginning of this year.People like Silvia Solorio have noticed.Silvia Solorio says she exchanges dollars for pesos on a regular basis before she goes shopping and dining in Tijuana. (Salvador Rivera/Border Report"I exchange money regularly," said Solorio. "I get pesos to go shopping, to go out to restaurants and to wash my car in Tijuana."The San Diego resident said she has seen a steady drop in the number of pesos she gets whenever she exchanges currency, making things more expensive south of the border."Even the street tacos cost more now," she said.Solorio stated her yearly vacation with her husband to Mexico is going to cost them more this summer."W...

6-year-old Florida boy dies after being bit by family dog: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:30 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- A 6-year-old boy from North Port, Florida died in a Tampa hospital after he was mauled by his family's dog on Tuesday. The child suffered severe injuries and extensive trauma to his upper torso during the attack and was air-lifted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, according to a release from the North Port Police Department. The boy died after he was flown to Tampa General Hospital for additional surgeries.Sarasota County Animal Services removed the dog - identified as a 3-year-old pit bull mix - from the home. North Port police said the agency is not aware of any previous incidents involving the dog. See a paw print sticker on a mailbox? Don’t remove it “Our hearts are broken for this young child and his family. As a father and pet owner, I know this is one of the worst tragedies you can imagine,” North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison said. “We ask that everyone take a few moments to pay respect and reflect on those you care for in your life. Our time here is ...