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Parts of Toronto, York and Peel regions under ‘extreme’ forest fire risk: federal government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

As hot and humid air arrives in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), federal government officials say parts of the region are currently in an “extreme” forest fire danger risk.According to Canadian Wildland Fire Information System mapping data on Wednesday, the areas with the greatest risk are the eastern parts of Brampton and Mississauga, the southern parts of Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham, and large portions of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough in Toronto. Officials classified these regions are “extreme” and at the highest threat level out of the five categories.A part of Barrie along with Essa, Borden and north of New Tecumseth, along with most of southwestern Ontario, were also under the “extreme” classification.Other surrounding communities in the GTHA and southern Ontario are under a “high” rating.The fire danger ratings are calculated to determine the ease vegetation can catch fire, how difficult it could be to...

Fort Erie, Port Colborne urgent care centres closing overnight permanently

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

Niagara Health says its urgent care centres in Port Colborne and Fort Erie will no longer operate overnight as it faces physician staff shortages.President and CEO Lynn Guerriero says today in a statement that the hospital network has made the decision in order to keep its three emergency departments operating in Welland, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines.She says Niagara Health’s emergency department physician group had warned that in the coming months the ERs would have been short 274 physician shifts.The urgent care centres will close from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. daily beginning July 5.A spokesperson says the decision is considered permanent at this time, as Niagara Health doesn’t believe the staff shortages will be resolved any time soon.Niagara Health’s decision comes one day before the ER in Minden, Ont., is set to close permanently, with Haliburton Highlands Health Services transferring all emergency services to its Haliburton site, about 25 kilometres away.

Real-life ‘Fast and Furious’: Car sent flying over tow truck in Georgia, video shows

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

VALDOSTA, Georgia (AP) — It looks like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster. A sedan rockets into the air after driving up the ramp of a flatbed tow truck on a Georgia highway. And the whole crash is caught on video by an officer’s body camera.Shocked motorists and law enforcement watched in horror as the Nissan Altima was launched 120 feet (37 meters) down the highway in Lowndes County, according to police report on the May 24 crash. The driver was a 21-year-old woman from Florida, the report says. She was taken to South Georgia Medical Center with serious injuries, Georgia State Patrol spokesperson Courtney Floyd said Wednesday. After landing upside down, the Nissan struck another car then tumbled end over end before coming to a rest 23 feet down the roadway, the report said. Even before the car stops, the officer whose body cam recorded the crash begins sprinting to render aid to the stricken motorists.A Lowndes County sheriff’s deputy was hit by flying debris, but his inju...

Kidnapping charge tossed out against ex-mayor in case of missing Mexican students

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The former mayor of a southern Mexico town where 43 students were abducted and disappeared in 2014 has been cleared of a kidnapping charge in the case, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed Wednesday.José Luis Abarca, who will remain in prison for other crimes, had been considered one of the key figures in the students’ disappearances on Sept. 26, 2014 in Iguala.The students from a rural teachers’ college at Ayotzinapa had hijacked buses — a common method for students from poor schools to obtain transportation — and were in Iguala that day. Iguala municipal police were among the first authorities to stop the buses and take the students off. More than eight years later, only small bone fragments of three of the students have been recovered and positively identified.Investigations have been riddled with flaws, and courts have tossed out cases against other potential suspects. Some charges didn’t hold up because evidence was obtained through torture.W...

UN envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer to leave post in June

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Noeleen Heyzer, the U.N. special envoy for conflict-torn Myanmar, will be leaving the job in June, the United Nations announced Wednesday.She took on the job in October 2021 following the military coup in February of that year that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and has led to widespread armed resistance.U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Heyzer, a former U.N. undersecretary-general, will leave on June 12 at the end of her contract. Her nearly 20 months in the post is less than half the time of her predecessor, Christine Schraner Burgener.On her first trip to Myanmar last August, Heyzer met the head of the military-installed government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, and called on him to urgently halt all violence, support a political path back to civilian rule and democracy, and allow the imprisoned Suu Kyi to return home and to meet with her.But the military took no action, and in a grim assessment Heyzer told the 193-member...

Chicago City Council approves $51M aid for migrant care

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

CHICAGO — BREAKING NEWS: Chicago City Council approved a $51 million proposal Wednesday to help with the growing costs of the city's migrant crisis.The vote was 34 "yes" and 13 "no." After passionate debate and loud outbursts by demonstrators, Chicago City Council approves using $51 million to help influx of migrants coming to city. pic.twitter.com/6zh4fEhGZG— Tahman Bradley (@tahmanbradley) May 31, 2023More than 8,000 migrants have been bussed to Chicago from Texas since August.Around 800 migrants are sleeping in police stations across the city.The $51 million is money the city received from opioid and vapor court settlements. One alderperson said it would only last about two months. 6 teens arrested after fight outside Six Flags Great America Last week, protestors packed the hallways outside the council chamber and their chants could be heard inside. Many demonstrating said the city should not be prioritizing migrants when so many communities have dealt with decades of di...

Pitbull, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias to bring 'Trilogy Tour' to Chicago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Latin music superstars Pitbull, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias announced Wednesday they are joining forces for the "Trilogy Tour."The tour will run across North America starting this fall and will feature unique headlining sets from each artist. The 19-city tour is scheduled to make a stop at Chicago's United Center on November 1.Tickets for the Trilogy Tour will be sold through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program. Registration is open now through midnight Sunday. Fans who are selected will receive an access code to participate in the presale starting June 7.For more information, go to: www.livenation.com

Missing 15-year-old girl last seen in Hermosa, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old girl last seen by her family in Hermosa is missing, Chicago police said Wednesday. Shaira Rivera's last known location at around 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, at Palmer and Kildare on the city's Northwest Side.  Shaira has brown eyes and black hair, with a light skin complexion. She stands 4-foot-9-inches and weighs 90 pounds. She also has multiple facial piercings.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAnyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Yeezy shoes are back on sale — months after Adidas cut ties with Kanye West

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of Adidas' remaining Yeezy shoes are back on sale — months after the German sportswear company cut ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.Adidas ended its yearslong partnership with Ye in late October, in light of his antisemitic remarks and other harmful behavior. In the months that followed, the fate of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) worth of unsold Yeezys remained unknown — until earlier this month, when Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden announced the company would be selling a portion of the remaining inventory and donating some of the proceeds to social justice organizations.The first batch of Adidas' remaining Yeezys went on sale Wednesday. At this time, the sneakers appear to be available through Adidas' app “Confirmed,” according to the retailer's website. Part of the profits will be donated to organizations including the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, Adidas says.Wednesday's release marks...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Overweight kids turning to weight-loss reduction surgery as a solution

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

For Wednesday, May 31, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new information, including the following: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Weight-loss surgery on the rise in teens and childrenNew research shows more overweight children and teens are turning to weight-loss surgery as a solution.  The number of metabolic and bariatric surgeries for young people has steadily increased since 2016.  Those surgeries alter parts of the stomach and intestines to affect how the body absorbs food. Previously these surgeries have been underutilized in children because of low referral rates from pediatricians and poor insurance coverage.  Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics published new guidelines for treating obesity, urging quick use of behavior therapy and lifestyle changes and, for the first time, recommending surgery and medications for some young people. Heart attack speed up cognitive decline?Having a heart attack could speed up your cognitive decline. A new stu...