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First Nation, regional district in central B.C. Interior orders wildfire evacuations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

VICTORIA — Weekend winds in British Columbia’s central Interior resulted in increased wildfire activity and saw evacuation orders in remote areas north of Burns Lake.The Cheslatta Carrier Nation and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako both issued evacuation orders Saturday night due to the Wells Creek wildfire.The wildfire is listed as out of control and has covered 79 square kilometres.The evacuation orders cover properties along Ootsa Lake Road and several Cheslatta Carrier Nation reserve sites.A BC Wildfire Service information officer said Sunday the weather in the area is improving, with reduced winds and a return to more seasonal temperatures.“We had a big cold front come in through the northern areas on Friday and Saturday, and that brought a bunch of wind with it, so we saw a lot of fire growth,” said Nic Kokolski. “Now, the winds have subsided in the north, so that’s looking helpful there.”But B.C.’s north and central regions an...

Toronto residents express concern over air show noise for those with PTSD, pets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

The sounds of jets roaring through the skies of Toronto often elicit gasps and cheers from fans of an annual air show that takes place each Labour Day weekend, but they’re also prompting an outcry from those who fear the noise from the event does more harm than good.Detractors of the Canadian International Air Show say the event, a staple of the Canadian National Exhibition featuring military pilots demonstrating their most elaborate loops, rolls and turns, causes undue stress for those living with PTSD and needless disruptions for people and pets alike.The event showcases professional pilots from the United States Blue Angels, Canadian Forces Snowbirds and others. bc_video video_id=”6336251470112″ account_id=”593482582001″ player_id=”rkYQW9JeZ”]The roar of the aircraft engines could be heard starting on Thursday when practice days for the show began, prompting several people to describe the noise as deafening and terrifying on social media ...

Phoenix man let 10-year-old son drive pickup truck on freeway, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — A man has been arrested after allowing his 10-year-old son to drive a pickup truck on a Phoenix-area freeway, authorities said Sunday.Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said the boy led troopers on a brief pursuit Saturday afternoon — weaving and speeding on State Route 101 in Scottsdale — before being pulled over.DPS said the child’s 49-year-old father was in the passenger seat. The Phoenix man was booked into the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office jail on suspicion of endangerment, unlawfully permitting a minor to drive and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.A motorist called 911 around 3:30 p.m. and said it appeared a child was driving the truck on the freeway, according to DPS.A trooper spotted the vehicle and tried to stop it after seeing the driver changing lanes unsafely.DPS officials said the truck failed to stop and the trooper pursued it before the child driver pulled over in an emergency lane.According to DPS, the 10-year-old ...

Quebec apple farmers want government help to deal with changing tastes and climate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec apple farmers are asking for government help to plant new varieties and modernize their orchards as they try to adapt to climate change and shifting consumer tastes.Éric Rochon, president of the Quebec apple farmers association, says his group is asking Quebec’s agriculture ministry for $30 million over six years.He says consumers want sweeter and firmer apples and new varieties are more productive.Rochon says some of those varieties, like the Gala apple, couldn’t be grown in Quebec 25 years ago because winters were too cold, but are now an option for farmers.He says apple growers also want help to protect their orchards against tornadoes and droughts as such events become more common in the province.Rochon says he expects overall apple production to be down this year after a late frost caused producers in some parts of the province to lose a significant percentage of their crops.

A rally in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki to protest new IDs draws 5,000 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — About 5,000 people gathered in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki Sunday to protest against a new type of identity card to be introduced later this month, police said. Carrying Greek flags and banners, the protesters rallied at the city’s iconic White Tower, a waterfront former fortification, chanting slogans and the national anthem. They played a speech by the late former head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, who had warned of the enemies of the Greek people.Later, they marched through the city center before dispersing without incidentThe machine-readable cards will replace the type of ID currently issued and will contain the same information, such as name, parents’ name, address and height. The only extra information, blood type, is optional.But the cards have inspired conspiracy theories and some people assert the new IDs contain chips that will allow authorities to pinpoint cardholders’ location or even control th...

Sunday Brunch: Hampton Social

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

This weekend for Sunday Brunch, Chef Juan Alvarado from Hampton Social came to visit WGN Weekend Morning News.Hampton Social is a coastal-inspired restaurant chain. MORE STORIES: Sunday Brunch Hampton Social has several locations across Chicagoland, including Burr Ridge, River North, Steeterville, Skokie and South Barrington.

Weekend Break: Bike the Drive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

CHICAGO — No cars were allowed for several hours on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Sunday morning as thousands of bicyclists participated in an event. MORE STORIES: Weekend Break WGN Weekend Morning News stopped by the third annual Bike the Drive event to check it out.You can watch the stories above for more information.

2 arrested on aggravated kidnapping for ransom/reward charge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Two men were arrested in Travis County on first-degree felony charges of aggravated kidnapping for ransom/reward, according to court documents.Travis County jail records showed 22-year-old Edwin Alfredo Barrientos-Mateo and 35-year-old Nelson Abilio Castro-Zelay were booked into the jail Aug. 27 in connection with the charge. Both remained in the jail as of Sunday on $50,000 bonds.According to Travis County court documents, the two were involved in a smuggling operation that involved a 7-year-old child and a woman who was 40 weeks pregnant.

Texas DPS enforcement increases through Labor Day holiday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said it increased enforcement for the Labor Day holiday in an effort to reduce crashes.The enforcement began Friday and will continue through midnight Monday, according to DPS.The department said it was looking for people not wearing their seat belts, speeders, people driving while intoxicated and drivers who fail to follow the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law, among other traffic violations.“Roads will be busy this holiday weekend and we want everyone to get to and from their destinations safely,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said. “Do your part by paying attention to the road, put your phone down, buckle up, slow down and obey all traffic laws, so that we can end the summer on a safe note.”DPS said during the 2022 Labor Day holiday enforcement period, Troopers statewide issued more than 64,000 citations and warnings.

Texas is nation’s ‘stickiest’ state, native Texans stick around

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

SPECIAL NOTE: The video above is from our November 2022 coverage of why Texans love Texas so much.LUBBOCK, Texas -- New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas showed Texas is the stickiest state with 82% of native-born Texans sticking around as of 2021. The Fed published both a news release and a website article Tuesday with an analysis of the most and least sticky states.The next best behind Texas was North Carolina with 75.5%. Georgia, California and Utah followed."At the other end of the spectrum, Wyoming is the least-sticky state, with only 45.2% of natives remaining there,” the Fed said in its article. “North Dakota and Alaska were the only other states with less than half their native population staying there…”“Since the pandemic, shifts in population—from states like California and New York to destinations such as Texas and Florida—have been well documented,” the Fed said. However, this time the research focused on those who were native-born to a state.It's Good to ...