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N.W.T. extends state of emergency, premier tours Edmonton evacuation centre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

EDMONTON — A state of emergency in the Northwest Territories has been extended until Sept. 11 and its premier says she understands the frustration of those forced from their homes. “I want to go home, too. We all want to go home. It’s hard being evacuated,” Premier Caroline Cochrane said Wednesday following a visit to an Edmonton evacuation centre alongside federal ministers Randy Boissonnault and Dan Vandal, Alberta Forestry Minister Todd Loewen and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.“We can’t control fire. We can’t control the wind and temperature, so we’ve got high temperatures still in the North,” said Cochrane.“What I’m telling people is as soon as it’s safe to go home, as soon as the fire’s in control, then it will take about four or five days at least.”The territorial government declared the state of emergency on Aug. 15 as wildfires threatened several communities, including the capital, Yellowknife. The ...

Canadian Armed Forces doing away with mandatory duty to report policy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

The Canadian Armed Forces will end its “inflexible and inhuman” mandatory reporting policy this winter, its chief of professional conduct and culture said on Wednesday.Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan said military members will still be able to report misconduct, but they will no longer face possible penalties for failing to report something they experience or witness.“The repeal of duty to report will not limit a member’s ability to report incidents,” she said. “The intention is to remove the obligation to report.”The change is meant “to create space for members to exercise discretion” when it comes to incidents of an interpersonal nature.“In many cases (the duty to report) has caused survivors additional harm by taking away their agency and control over the reporting process,” Carignan said.Carignan said there have been lengthy discussions and consultations aimed at ensuring the changes don’t inadvertently make things...

Residents offered bus visits to burned homes in and around West Kelowna, B.C.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

Officials in British Columbia’s Central Okanagan say people whose homes were destroyed by the wildfire in and around West Kelowna are being contacted to schedule escorted bus visits to assess the damage.A statement from the regional emergency operations centre says only people whose properties are completely destroyed or damaged to the point they’re uninhabitable will be invited to participate at this time.It says the process is aimed at ensuring people who have lost their homes “have the privacy, time and space to be the first to see their properties.”It adds that bus visits are being offered before officials lift any further evacuation orders in neighbourhoods ravaged by wildfire nearly two weeks ago.The 126-square-kilometre McDougall Creek wildfire continues to burn out of control in the hills above the area, and is part of a complex of fires that destroyed or damaged nearly 190 properties.To the north, in the Shuswap region, the threat of the Bush Creek E...

Man charged, sexually assaulted women during job interviews in North York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

A man has been charged after two women responded to online job postings, received an interview and were sexually assaulted as they performed breathing exercises in a North York office.Toronto police said that between March and August, two women responded to online job postings and attended an office space on the sixth floor at 1 Concorde Gate in North York.It’s reported that both women met with a man who portrayed himself as a business owner looking for employees.During the interviews, police said the man would ask the victims to perform breathing exercises and instruct them on how to meditate. The man sexually assaulted the two women during these job interviews.On Wednesday, police arrested and charged 55-year-old Ajay Gupta of Toronto with two counts of sexual assault. He was scheduled to appear in court this morning.Police believe there may be more victims.

North suburban Starbucks robbed at gunpoint

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

GLENVIEW, Ill. — A Starbucks in Glenview was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday evening.Just after 7:35 p.m., officers responded to a Starbucks, located in the 3800 block of Willow Road, on the report of an armed robbery.Employees told officers at the scene that a man, wearing a black hat, a black long-sleeve shirt, khaki pants and a blue surgical mask entered the location.He then walked behind the counter, displayed a handgun and grabbed cash from the register, police said. Dundee-Crown High School placed on lockdown due to ‘swatting’ call The man left the Starbucks with an unknown amount of money and fled on foot heading east.No employees were injured. The man is not in custody at this time.Anyone with information on the incident can call police at 847-901-6055.

Opioid overdose antidote Narcan will be available over the counter in days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

(The Hill) – The opioid overdose antidote Narcan will be available to purchase over the counter in a few days, making it the first treatment of its kind accessible to the public without a prescription. In a statement Wednesday, manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions announced the first batch of the nasal spray has “officially” shipped to leading drug stores, pharmacies, groceries and online retailers. The original version of the prescription-strength Naloxone 4mg nasal spray, whose brand name is Narcan, will be available beginning in September. The suggested retail price for the two-dose package of Narcan is $44.99.Major retailers including CVS, Walmart and Walgreens have said they expect Narcan to be available online and in many stores early next week.Narcan can potentially reverse the effects of overdoses from opioids, including fentanyl. Fatal overdoses have skyrocketed in recent years, becoming the current leading cause of accidental deaths, Emergent said in its state...

Illinois residents get free admission to the Shedd on select days this fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

CHICAGO — Starting Labor Day, the Shedd Aquarium will offer free admission to Illinois residents on select dates this fall. With proof of residency, Illinois residents will receive free admission to Chciago's aquatic animal world on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in September and October. Free admission to the Shedd includes access to all exhibits. The 4-D Experience admission is a $4.95 upgrade for all guests, however. SKY STRIKER: Midwest’s tallest pendulum thrill ride coming to Six Flags Great America in 2024 Entry times vary.Tickets must be secured ahead of a visit through Shedd Squarium's website or by phone at (312) 939-2438. A $3-per-order transaction fee applies to all Illinois Free Day ticket reservations.Free admission will not be granted to Illinois residents who walk up without a reservation. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThis summer, the Shedd Aquarium offered free admission to Illinois residents on certain nights as part of their 'Night Dives' experie...

First Lady Jill Biden visits Chicago, speaks at Labor Federation event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) began its Labor Day celebrations Wednesday which includes First Lady Jill Biden headlining a McCormick Place event.Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is also expected to speak, and there may be an appearance by Governor JB Pritzker, both of whom met Biden on the tarmac as she arrived at O'Hare International Airport. McConnell freezes for 2nd time while taking questions The CFL, the third-largest council of the national American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), holds the annual Labor Day reception as it builds toward its Labor Day parade and Eddie Fest.WGN plans to livestream the speaking portion of this event within this story beginning at approximately 3:15 p.m.

Federal health officials recommend reclassifying marijuana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

(The Hill) – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has sent its findings on marijuana to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of the Biden administration's efforts into possibly altering marijuana's status in the U.S.In October 2022, President Biden requested that the HHS Secretary and the Attorney General conduct a review of how marijuana is currently scheduled under federal law. Marijuana is currently classified as Schedule I controlled substances, meaning the DEA considers it a drug "with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."HHS on Tuesday confirmed it sent its findings to the DEA this week."Following the data and science, HHS has expeditiously responded to President Biden’s directive to HHS Secretary Becerra and provided its scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA on August 29, 2023," an HHS spokesperson said.The spokesperson did not specify what the department's exact recommendation was. According to an HHS letter...

U.S. men’s national team shares intriguing roster for St. Paul friendly in September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

The U.S. men’s national team on Wednesday released a roster with an abundance of star veterans and sprinkled with intriguing newcomers for its international friendly at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Sept. 12.The headliners are 12 World Cup players, including Christian Pulisic, Matt Turner, Weston McKinnie, Tim Weah and Yunus Musah. The 24-player list also has a mix new additions, with striker Folarin Balogun, midfielder Ben Cremaschi and fullback Kristoffer Lund.The USMNT, which welcomes back head coach Gregg Berhalter, will play Oman at Minnesota United’s Allianz Field, three days after its exhibition against Uzbekistan in St. Louis on Sept. 9.The roster, however, isn’t at full strength because of a handful of injuries — captain Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Walker Zimmerman, Josh Sargent, Zack Steffen, Sean Johnson and others.The roster features only three MLS players — Cremaschi, Drake Calendar (both of Inter Miami) and Cade Cowell (San Jose).U.S. rosterGoalkeepers — Drake Callender, Et...