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Nearly 700 more international firefighters coming to Canada to help battle fires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

OTTAWA — Almost 700 firefighters from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are set to arrive in Canada over the next two weeks to help with the unusually severe start to the wildfire season.There are already more than 500 international firefighters, incident commanders and other workers in Alberta, which has been battling multiple severe fires since early May.Most of the additional help will also go to Alberta, though some are being sent to Nova Scotia where out-of-control fires have been wreaking havoc since last weekend.Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says the Canada Interagency Forest Fire Centre ensures that crews from across the provinces and from other countries are sent to areas that need the most help.Blair says this fire season has been unprecedented both for the number of big and uncontained fires this early in the year and the number of provinces affected at the same time.There are 214 fires burning and 93 of them are out of contro...

'He wanted better:' 14-year-old killed, 4 wounded after shooting involving police on South Side; 1 in custody

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

CHICAGO — A 14-year-old boy was killed in a shooting that left four others wounded, including the alleged suspect, on the city's South Side. Three police officers were also injured and hospitalized for observation.Among the wounded was a 14-year-old boy who was shot in the chest and transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He has been identified as Pierre Johnson.A family friend told WGN News that Johnson was loved by his friends, family, baseball coaches and teammates."He didn't want this life, he wanted more, I just can't believe this happened to him," Chris Cozzi, a family friend said. Family members told WGN Johnson was the second family member they have lost to gun violence in the past five years. He recently made the baseball team at Perspectives Academy and was looking forward to travel season this summer."He didn't deserve it. He was such a good boy, he was such an athlete, such a good brother," Cuzzi said.According to a prelimin...

Illinois' Lotto jackpot reaches record-breaking amount

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

ILLINOIS — The record has officially been broken, again, for largest Lotto jackpot in Illinois as yet another drawing has passed without a top prize winner.To date, the largest Lotto prize ever won was in June 2020 to the tune of $16.5 million. Thursday's drawing inched past it with a jackpot of $16.55 million. Now, however, the jackpot has risen to $16.7 million. Chase online banking bug causing double transactions, fees The jackpot has been growing since it was last won in October, 2022. That winning ticket was sold in River Grove for a total prize of $4.85 million. 98 drawings have now come and gone without a jackpot winner.Want a crack at the largest Lotto jackpot ever? The game's next drawing is set for Saturday. Tickets must be purchased by 9:15 p.m.

Fort Bragg officially renamed during ceremony at military installation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

FORT BRAGG, N.C (WNCN) – Fort Bragg was officially redesignated as Fort Liberty in a ceremony at the North Carolina military installation on Friday.“The name changes, the mission does not change,” base spokesperson Cheryle Rivas said. The U.S. Department of Defense had announced plans to rename Fort Bragg in January after concluding its Naming Commission Process. Defense Sec. Lloyd J. Austin III accepted the renaming recommendations months earlier in September 2022, after a push to rename military installations that had been named after confederate soldiers. Fort Bragg, as it was previously known, had been named for North Carolina Confederate General Braxton Bragg, a slave-owner and a figure associated with the loss of key Civil War battles. Stolen military medals returned but decades-long crime remains unsolved The Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted nationwide after the killing of Georg Floyd by a white police officer, coupled with ongoing efforts to remove Confederat...

Dean's Reviews: 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' 'Boogeyman'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

Check out Dean's Review on 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' and 'The Boogeyman,' now in theaters. Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

LIVE: Gov. Abbott expected to counter Patrick on property tax proposals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott is set to deliver remarks Friday afternoon at a post-session fireside chat with a conservative think tank, following a public clash this week with the lieutenant governor over differing property tax proposals. On Tuesday the Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted Patrick for a similar event, where he gave a boisterous speech slamming House Speaker Dade Phelan and promising to "not back down" from the Senate's plan for property tax relief. Who will win from proposed Texas property tax relief plans? The Texas Legislature, which finished its regular session Monday, already set aside $17.6 billion from the state's budget to give Texans property tax relief. However, ideological differences between the two chambers about how to deliver that stalled lawmakers Monday from adjourning. They inevitably gaveled out sine die, or indefinitely, without a deal. Hours later, Abbott called them back for a first special session with demands for lawmakers to strike ...

Construction begins for Segment 2 of Samsung Highway in Williamson County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — On Friday, officials held a groundbreaking event for Segment 2 of the Samsung Highway in Williamson County.“The roadway project will connect FM 3349 to CR 404 by constructing a four-lane road that will reduce curves on CR 404 and increase safety and mobility,” county officials said.The Samsung Highway, which is being built in segments, should be fully completed by late 2024. Segment 1, which will connect CR 404 to FM 973, is expected to be completed in fall 2023, according to the county.“The construction cost for Segment 2 is approximately $5.13 million and is funded by the 2019 voter-approved Williamson County Road Bond Program,” county officials said.Officials break ground on Segment 2 of the Samsung Highway (KXAN photo/Christian Marcelli)Officials break ground on Segment 2 of the Samsung Highway (KXAN photo/Christian Marcelli)Officials break ground on Segment 2 of the Samsung Highway (KXAN photo/Christian Marcelli)Officials break ground...

Cretin-Derham Hall hires former state title-winning Tara Seifert to lead girls basketball program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

State championship-winning coach Tara Seifert is the new Cretin-Derham Hall girls basketball coach, the St. Paul school announced Friday.Seifert led Chaska to an 18-0 season capped by a Class 4A title in the truncated 2020-21 season. The Hawks went 112-19 over the last five seasons under Seifert’s guidance, including a 27-2 mark last winter.Seifert, who played college basketball at Iowa State from 1993-97, stepped down from her post at Chaska in April. She will also serve as Cretin-Derham Hall’s assistant athletics director, overseeing girls athletics and student-athlete welfare and development.“Coach Seifert brings a championship pedigree to CDH and we are excited to watch her take this program to the next level,” Raiders athletic director Matt Funk said in a release. “Off the court, Coach Seifert will be focused on developing the total student-athlete with a particular focus on our female athletes and coaches.”The Raiders went 11-17 last winter, and haven&#...

Source: 3M in $10B PFAS settlement on eve of lawsuit trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

3M Co. struck a tentative settlement of at least $10 billion with a host of U.S. cities and towns to resolve water pollution claims tied to “forever chemicals” the company made for decades, according to people familiar with the proposed pact.Maplewood-based 3M, the largest maker of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, is weighing the deal to avoid facing its first federal court trial over the waterproofing agent, set to start Monday in Charleston, S.C., the people said. They asked not to be named discussing the matter because it is private.The company’s shares jumped as much as 11% in early trading following the news, with trading volume more than double the daily average. The shares had been down 21% this year through Thursday’s close.“We don’t comment on rumors or speculation,” 3M spokesman Sean Lynch said in a statement.The potential deal, which would require board approval, would be on the heels of a $1.185 billion PFAS settlement announced Friday by chemical makers DuPo...

New director named for Dakota County nonprofit Neighbors Inc.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:51 GMT

South St. Paul nonprofit Neighbors Inc. announced a new executive director who has 23 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.Dawn Wambeke, who previously worked as the executive director for Advance Opportunities, a nonprofit organization that provides employment and training for adults with developmental disabilities, will officially join Neighbors as the new executive director on June 12, according to a company news release.Dawn Wambeke (Courtesy of Neighbors Inc.)“I am greatly looking forward to getting to know the staff, volunteers and community to work together collaboratively to build upon the incredible foundation that Neighbors and its supporters have established over the past 51 years,” said Wambeke in the release.Established in 1972, Neighbors Inc. provides access to food, clothing and financial empowerment for community members across northern Dakota County including Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake and Lilydale.Wambek...