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Wildfires threatening nine First Nations in Alberta: Indigenous Services Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

Indigenous Services Canada says wildfires are threatening nine First Nations in Alberta, including the Little Red River Cree Nation, where more than 100 structures have been lost in the community of Fox Creek.The department says it is helping the northern First Nation set up temporary housing in nearby John D’Or Prairie for 500 people, including a commercial kitchen and other amenities.Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has also been hit hard, with fire destroying 45 structures and power infrastructure.Indigenous Services says 1,600 evacuees from the community are staying in Edmonton and nearby Grande Prairie and Valleyview.Meanwhile, Yellowhead County west of Edmonton says residents of the communities of Hansonville, Lobstick Resort and Wildwood are being allowed back.There are 82 active wildfires in Alberta, with 23 listed as being out of control.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2023.The Canadian Press

Police presence to increase at Canada’s Wonderland after ‘unruly’ opening weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

York Regional Police (YRP) has launched an operation focused on expanded law enforcement at Canada’s Wonderland after several arrests were made at the popular theme park last weekend.A park spokesperson confirmed with CityNews that multiple people were escorted from the grounds on Saturday, May 6, following several altercations at Canada’s Wonderland.YRP told CityNews that while investigators can’t comment directly on a number of videos that have surfaced online depicting a chaotic scene, a spokesperson confirmed officers were called to Canada’s Wonderland last weekend.“Reports included disputes, robberies and assaults. Some of the investigations have been concluded, and others remain ongoing,” the YRP spokesperson said.While no charges were laid, YRP said several guests were escorted from the park by police.RELATED: Canada’s Wonderland opening weekend overshadowed by several arrests, ‘unruly behaviour’On Thursday, investigators ...

UNICEF warns that aid shortage will push Afghanistan’s children further toward deadly malnutrition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A U.N. agency warned Thursday that critical food aid in Afghanistan is being handicapped by a lack of funding, as the country faces a widespread humanitarian crisis.“Thousands of children could die from severe acute malnutrition,” said Melanie Galvin, chief of nutrition at the United Nations Children’s Fund. She was speaking in a video message on UNICEF’s official Twitter account.Galvin added that 875,000 children in Afghanistan will suffer from life-threatening acute malnutrition this year. She said UNICEF in Afghanistan faces an urgent funding gap of $21 million to purchase essential supplies for treating malnutrition and also training health worker around the country.“In Afghanistan we are facing a critical funding gap for ready-to-use therapeutic food,” she said.RUTF is an energy-dense paste consisting of milk powder, vegetable oil, sugar, peanut butter, and powdered vitamins and minerals.In the short term, severe acute malnutrition is life threatening. In the l...

For turning ‘mines to vines,’ founder of Roots of Peace wins World Food Prize

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A California peace activist who has worked to remove land mines from war-torn regions and replace them with grape vines, fruit trees and vegetables was named the 2023 World Food Prize laureate Thursday at a ceremony in Washington.The Des Moines, Iowa-based foundation awarded its annual prize to Heidi Kühn, founder of Roots of Peace. Since founding her nonprofit in the basement of her San Rafael, California, home in 1997, Kühn’s organization has helped remove thousands of mines and assist farmers in more than a half-dozen countries. The group recently signed an initial agreement to begin work in Ukraine.Kühn, 65, said she formed the idea of starting her group after hosting an event at her home for dignitaries advocating for the eradication of land mines.“Looking back on it, perhaps it was a vision of turning blood into wine, killing fields into vineyards and hatred into love,” Kühn said in an interview last week.Kühn was named the winner of the prize, which ca...

Supreme Court rejects challenge to California pork law mandating more space for pigs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge to a California animal cruelty law that affects the pork industry, ruling that the case was properly dismissed by lower courts. Pork producers had said that the law could force industry-wide changes and raise the cost of bacon and other pork products nationwide.California’s law requires more space for breeding pigs, and producers say it would force the $26 billion-a-year industry to change its practices even though pork is produced almost entirely outside California.The justices upheld lower court rulings dismissing the pork producers’ case.During arguments in the case in October, liberal and conservative justices underscored the potential reach of the case. Some worried whether greenlighting the animal cruelty law would give state legislators a license to pass laws targeting practices they disapprove of, such as a law that says a product cannot be sold in the state if workers who made it are not vaccinated o...

20-year-old Gary woman killed in Dan Ryan crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A 20-year-old Gary woman died early Wednesday morning following a three-vehicle crash on the Dan Ryan.Just before 12:30 a.m., three vehicles were traveling southbound on the Dan Ryan near 95th Street in the left lane.Two of the vehicles, including a 2010 beige Nissan Altima driven by Lataya Lyons, 20, of Gary, slowed down for a crash in front of them.A 2018 Ford Escape, driven by Jennifer Fortson, 49, of Homewood, failed to slow down in time and rear-ended the Altima, police allege. 36-year-old man shot, killed in Aurora Lyons was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the Escape suffered minor injuries.Fortson was cited for driving too fast for conditions.

Efforts underway to help migrants arriving in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Community groups are joining forces to help migrants arriving in the Chicago area.Thursday marks the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly expel migrants at the southern border for the last three years.The end of Title 42's use has raised questions about what will happen with migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration is preparing for an increase in migrants.There are currently 3,200 migrants in shelters and respite sites across the city. For weeks, migrants have been sleeping on Chicago police station floors.According to Block Club Chicago, Ald. Raymond Lopez is looking to take an empty building in the Pilsen neighborhood and create a place of shelter for the migrants, while trying to clear some of the police stations. See where you can help migrants arriving in Chicago A move that could relieve some of the stress volunteers are facing."One of the hotdog stands, Joey’s Hot Dogs, stepped up with a number of san...

Charges filed after more than 600 catalytic converters recovered

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — An investigation by the Cook County Sheriff's Office has led to the recovery of more than 600 catalytic converters and criminal charges.Sheriff Tom Dart is set to announce the details of the charges and the investigation at a Thursday event. ‘It was my work’: Teen bragged to friend after officer Aréanah Preston’s slaying, prosecutors allege WGN plans to livestream the announcement within this story beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Man, 40, shot dead in residence in Woodlawn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is dead after he was shot in the neck inside a residence in Woodlawn Thursday morning.According to police, the 40-year-old man was inside a home near the 6100 block of West Champlain Avenue around 9:14 a.m. when he was shot in the neck. Woman charged in series of baseball bat attacks on Northwest Side The man was transported to University of Chicago Meical Center where he was pronounced dead. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Peloton recalls over 2 million exercise bikes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:41 GMT

(NEXSTAR) -- Peloton Interactive is recalling about 2.2 million of its exercise bikes because users can fall and get injured, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday.The bikes, which are 4 feet long by 2 feet wide and have model number PL01, are being recalled by the exercise equipment maker because the assembled seat can break while in use. There have been 35 reports of the bike's seat post breaking and detaching, including 13 injury reports, with one involving a fractured wrist.The recalled bikes, which have an adjustable seat, handlebar, and tilting screen, were sold from January 2018 through May 2023 at Peloton and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide. They were also sold online at Onepeloton.com, Amazon.com and Dicksportinggoods.com. US prices stay high, showing inflation pressures persist The bikes, whose brand name and model number are displayed near the flywheel, retailed for about $1,400.Anyone who has one of the recalled bikes should stop using it...