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Rain brings much-needed relief to firefighters battling Halifax-area wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

Officials in Nova Scotia say the Halifax-area wildfire that forced thousands of residents from their homes over the past week is now considered held.David Steeves, a technician of forest resources with Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, says the fire is about 85 per cent contained, sits at 9.5 square kilometres and is unlikely to grow due to a combination of firefighting efforts and long-awaited rain.But he says a number of areas of concern remain and crews continue to closely monitor hot spots and the fire’s perimeter.The blaze that broke out Sunday in the Halifax area raced through a number of subdivisions, consuming about 200 structures — including 151 homes — and forcing the evacuation of more than 16,000 people.Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Deputy Fire Chief Dave Meldrum says rain has brought relief today, but notes it also raises the risk that firefighters could be hurt from slips or falls and makes for a tough working d...

Debt deal imposes new work requirements for food aid and that frustrates many Democrats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are deeply conflicted about the food aid requirements that President Joe Biden negotiated as part of the debt ceiling deal, fearing damage has been done to safety net programs that will be difficult to unravel in the years ahead as Republicans demand further cuts.Bargaining over toughening work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, became the focal point for the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., up until the end. Negotiators from both sides made clear, publicly and privately, that it was the biggest area of disagreement and almost led to the talks breaking down several times.In the end, Democrats warily accepted new requirements for some able-bodied recipients in exchange for food aid. Republicans agreed to drop some work requirements for veterans, homeless people and others.The result of the tense back-and-forth was a deal that played to both sides, but one that many Democrats...

Israeli military says Egyptian police officer kills 3 soldiers in gunbattle at Egyptian border

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — A gunbattle involving an Egyptian police officer in southern Israel along the Egyptian border left three Israeli soldiers dead Saturday, the army said. It was a rare instance of deadly violence along the frontier.Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an army spokesperson, said the fighting began overnight when soldiers thwarted a drug-smuggling attempt across the border.He said several hours later, two soldiers in a guard post were shot and killed. Their bodies were found after the shooting, when they did not respond to radio communications.Hecht said the killings appeared to be connected to the thwarted drug smuggling attempt. The army said the Egyptian police officer was killed in a second exchange of fire in which a third soldier was killed. Hecht said an investigation was being conducted in full cooperation with the Egyptian army. He said troops were searching for other possible assailants.It was the first deadly exchange of fire along the Israel-Egypt border in over a decade...

Turkey’s Erdogan takes oath of office, ushering in his third presidential term

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s longtime leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took the oath of office on Saturday, ushering in his third presidential term that followed three stints as prime minister.Erdogan, 69, won a new five-year term in a runoff presidential race last week that could stretch his 20-year rule in the key NATO country that straddles Europe and Asia into a quarter-century. The country of 85 million controls NATO’s second-largest army, hosts millions of refugees and played a crucial role in brokering a deal that allowed the shipment of Ukraine grain, averting a global food crisis.Erdogan was sworn in during a session in parliament before an inauguration ceremony at his sprawling palace complex. Supporters waited outside parliament despite the heavy rain, covering his car with red carnations as he arrived.All eyes are on the announcement of his new Cabinet later on Saturday. Its lineup should indicate whether there will be a continuation of unorthodox economic policies or a r...

Delegates working to end global plastics pollution agree to craft a draft treaty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Global negotiators have agreed to craft a draft treaty to end plastic pollution, a preliminary but crucial step toward tackling one of the most lasting sources of human waste.Environmental advocates cautiously welcomed the outcome of five days of U.N. talks in Paris on plastic pollution, but expressed concern that the petroleum industry and some governments would water down the eventual treaty. Most plastic is made from fossil fuels.Delegates at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics agreed Friday evening to produce an initial draft before their next meeting in Kenya in November, participants said. The committee is charged with developing the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, on land and at sea.A coalition of “high-ambition” governments led by Norway and Rwanda, along with environmental groups, want to end plastic pollution altogether by 2040 by slashing production and limiting some chemicals used in making plastics.“Pro...

Man found dead after hourslong SWAT standoff in Humbolt Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

CHICAGO — An hourslong standoff in the city's Humboldt Park neighborhood ended with a man dead Friday.Authorities tell WGN News that Chicago police and SWAT responded to a 'call to service' in the 4100 block of W. Chicago Ave Friday morning. Arriving officers reported seeing a man on the rooftop of a building with a rifle and flamethrower. An antisemitic sign was visible on the roof as well. ‘He wanted better:’ 14-year-old killed, 4 wounded after shooting involving police on South Side; 1 in custody SkyCam9 flew above the scene and witnessed the man standing close to the edge of the building with what appeared to be a propane tank.SkyCam9 over a SWAT situation in the 4000 block of W. Chicago Ave in Humboldt Park. (Photo/WGN)Eric McNair, who lives and works in West Humboldt Park, says over the last three months, he has noticed an ever-changing display of flags, mannequins, and most recently, antisemitic signage on the roof of the building. Englewood man convicted of attempting to...

Saturday Forecast: Temps reach 90s, chance of thunderstorms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

Saturday: Mostly sunny & warm. Chance of PM isolated thunderstorms in NW Indiana. NE 5-15 mph. Air quality is in the moderate category for today. High: 90, lakeside mid 70s. Saturday Night: Mostly clear & comfortable. NE 5-10 mph. Low: 63Sunday: Mostly sunny & not quite as hot. NE 5-15 mphHigh: 84, lakeside 70 Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Extended outlook calls for Monday temps to stay in the mid 80s and a chance of afternoon/evening much needed rain. Cooler for Wednesday with highs in the low 70s. We'll stairstep the temps back towards the upper 80s by the weekend. Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)

A little rain today with more coming Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rain with a few isolated thunderstorms moved west to east across our southern viewing area. A rain gauge near Harper measured .02". A measurement of .01" was found at Fredericksburg, Luling, and San Marcos, among others.Upper-level low pressure is over the Panhandle Saturday morning. It will be the main feature influencing the weather locally. Most of this afternoon's showers and thunderstorms will be over the Hill Country. The rain will spread eastward across I-35 into some of our eastern counties this evening. Most of the rain should be wrapped up by 2 a.m. Sunday.Evening showers and thunderstorms move to the eastThe Storm Prediction Center has our area in a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening with the main threats from hail and gusty winds. Low risk of severe weather this afternoon and eveningThe Weather Prediction Center also has the area under a Marginal Flash Flood Threat from I-35 westward today. Watching the Hill Country to I-35...

The St. Louis roots of NHL playoff hero Matthew Tkachuk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Well before he carried the Florida Panthers to their upcoming Stanley Cup Final quest, rising star Matthew Tkachuk was a St. Louis kid with big ambitions. Matthew is the oldest of three children of former St. Louis Blues great Keith Tkachuk. His brother Brady Tkachuk is the captain of the Ottawa Senators. His sister Taryn is also a field hockey star for the University of Virginia.Matthew was born in Arizona while his father played for the then-called Phoenix Coyotes. The Tkachuk family moved to the St. Louis metro after Keith was traded to the Blues in 2001. Matthew was heavily involved in local junior hockey programs as a kid, and his path to stardom took off in the early 2010s. At the start of the decade, he represented St. Louis through the 2010 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. Up north, he was joined by fellow St. Louis-raised youngsters and future NHLers Clayton Keller, Luke Kunin and Logan Brown. RELATED - Five things to know for NASCAR’s Enjoy Il...

A new law was supposed to revamp Colorado’s towing industry. Lawmakers say Wyatts Towing is flouting it.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:51 GMT

On Aug. 10, a revamped set of regulations governing Colorado’s towing industry took effect — a sea change that lawmakers and consumer advocates promised would shift the balance of power back to vehicle owners and away from “predatory” companies looking to make a buck off your sedan.HB22-1314, dubbed the “Towing Bill of Rights,” mandated towers give 24-hour notice in most cases before they take your car. No longer could a vehicle be towed for expired tags.The big-ticket item: Tow yards would be required to hand back your vehicle if you pay 15% of the total fees upfront, not to exceed $60. Drivers would still owe the balance, but could pay it off over time — a crucial change for Coloradans living paycheck to paycheck and unable to stomach bills that could run into the hundreds of dollars.But nine months after the law took effect, advocates and state legislators who sponsored the bill are sounding the alarm over what they call a blatant disrega...