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Forest Practices Board investigates planned back burn in B.C.’s Shuswap region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

British Columbia’s forest watchdog has confirmed it is investigating the province’s response to wildfires that ripped through small communities on the shores of Shuswap Lake in August, destroying or damaging more than 200 properties.A statement from the Forest Practices Boardon Friday says it launched the probe after receiving a complaint about the BC Wildfire Service’s use of a planned ignition aimed at reducing forest fuels between populated areas. At the time the back burn was lit on Aug. 17,two blazes, the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek wildfires, had been steadily moving toward the northern shore of Shuswap Lake after igniting about five weeks earlier.The board says it has notified the wildfire service and it’s arranging for investigators to visit the area this month near Lee Creek and neighbouring Scotch Creek, in B.C.’s southern Interior. Lee Creek resident Jim Cooperman says he filed the complaint with the board, alleging “gross negl...

Chicago City Council passes resolution condemning Hamas attacks in Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council passed a resolution condemning the attacks by Hamas in Israel during a special meeting on Friday afternoon.Heated debate and fiery comments filled the city council chambers over Ald. Debra Silverstein's (50th Ward) resolution condemning the Hamas attacks.While reading her resolution and sharing comments, Ald. Silverstein, the only Jewish alderperson in the city council, faced criticism from many in the public chamber who adamantly opposed her her “Israel Solidarity” resolution, which she initially wanted to bring to the floor on Wednesday."I want to be clear, the current conflict and this resolution is not about Israel and Palestine," Silverstein said. Project Dynamo helping rescue people stuck in Israel – Hamas war Prior to alderwoman Silverstein’s comments, members of the public shared their voices on the conflict between Israel’s military and Hamas."We stand here in support of Alderman Debra Silverstein's resolution that asks this council to c...

'It’s just so senseless:' Friend remembers man killed in attempted armed robbery in Humboldt Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

CHICAGO – Police are investigating after a local rapper, former TV host and beloved grandfather was killed in a shooting Tuesday on the West Side as he tried to stop an attempted armed robbery. The shooting happened near North Lawndale and West Wabansia around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday morning in the city’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.Family and friends of the victim, identified as Keltule Meeks, said the 48-year-old leaves behind two daughters and a grandson. His life was defined by selflessness, generosity and his passion for music.“He was truly one of the best men you could know in life,” John Daniel said. 1 of 2 former DCFS workers found guilty in connection to death of 5-year-old AJ Freund Daniel met Meeks, better known by his rap moniker, Rus T Blade, about 13 years ago through their work with Urban Grind TV. It was from there that a brotherhood and inseparable bond was forged.“You would think he would have this gruff exterior, but he was the most joyful, outgoing, friendly person y...

Florida man wins over $4M on scratch-off game, says he'll 'get a place to live'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Broward County man is now a multimillionaire after he spent just $10 on a scratch-off ticket, the Florida Lottery said Friday.Harrison Porter, 46, of Fort Lauderdale took home $4,070,000 after purchasing his winning $250,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE scratch-off ticket from a Publix located at 18341 Pine Boulevard in Pembroke Pines. The retailer will get an $8,000 bonus commission for the sale. Florida man first to win $1M in one of the newest lottery scratch-off games “One of the first things I’m going to do is get a place to live,” Porter said, after revealing the winning ticket arrived during some challenging times. The $10 ticket offers over $176.4 million in prizes, including four top prizes of $250,000 a year for life. The odds of his win are 1 in 6.04 million.Florida scratch-off games have generated over $18.09 billion for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.

T-Mobile planning to move customers on older phone plans to newer, pricier ones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

(KTLA) – T-Mobile will be moving some of its customers on older phone plans to the company’s latest options, which could result in customers paying more on their monthly bills. Customers impacted will see a change in their phone bills starting in November unless they call customer care to opt out. T-Mobile confirmed the reports to CNET, who first broke the news. Customers on the company’s older One, Simple Choice, Magenta and Magenta 55 Plus plans will be moved to newer options. AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile? Maps show which cell provider gives your area best coverage Customers impacted by the change will be sent notices beginning on Oct. 17. T-Mobile told CNET that “there will be an increase of approximately $10 per line." The spokesperson added that customers who sign up for AutoPay can save $5 per line (there is a maximum of eight lines per account).“We're always looking for ways to give our customers more from our services, so we're moving a small number who were on older rat...

Video shows man dragged down street by LAPD vehicle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

(KTLA) - Police have released video of a 22-year-old man being dragged down a street by a Los Angeles Police Department patrol vehicle last month, authorities said Wednesday. The incident, which was captured on nearby surveillance cameras, as well as officers’ body-worn cameras, happened on Sept. 11 in the 6000 block of Sunset Boulevard just after 12:30 a.m. Officers with LAPD’s Hollywood Division responded to calls of a battery suspect at the location. At the scene, police saw the suspect, later identified as Los Angeles resident Robert Thompson, being escorted by security guards out of a bar located on the second floor of a multi-unit shopping center, police said in a news release.  Police believed Thompson, who was being cooperative, was intoxicated, but because they could not find the victim of the alleged battery, they told the 22-year-old to leave the location. After the officers got into their vehicle and drove to the south end of the parking lot, video shows T...

San Marcos CISD employee will be charged for bringing firearm to a prekindergarten class

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — A San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District employee no longer works for the district after a firearm was reportedly found in their backpack, according to a letter set out to families Thursday by SMCISD.The incident occurred at the Bonham Prekindergarten School in San Marcos, according to SMCISD.“It was an unintentional mistake. But regardless, bringing a fire arm to campus is illegal, inexcusable. And we will not tolerate this type of actions for for any employer – any individual – coming on to an SMCISD campus," said Andrew Fernandez, Chief of Communications for SMCISD.Samantha Vargas' 4-year-old son who has autism went through the instructional assistant's backpack and found the gun. Eventually, he put the gun on the table when teacher's noticed, according to SMCISD. San Marcos police told KXAN that the gun was loaded when the Vargas' son was handling it. SMPD said the teacher aid will be charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon in a gun fre...

Marlon Humphrey remains on ‘pitch count’ with Ravens nearly fully healthy against banged-up Titans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was a full participant in just one practice ahead of last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in what was his first action since undergoing foot surgery in mid-August. Late in the fourth quarter, it looked like it.Second-year wide receiver George Pickens streaked past Humphrey en route to catching what was the game-winning touchdown in Pittsburgh.“I’m getting there,” Humphrey said Friday when asked where he’s at physically heading into Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “It’s a work in progress.”The progress took another step forward this week.After being limited in practice Wednesday, Humphrey practiced fully in each of the Ravens’ final two sessions of the week.“I’m working to get to where I want to be,” he said. “It was a lot — just not being able to play for a while — so I think they know m...

South African musician Abel Selaocoe is a dynamic partner with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

The South African composer and musician Abel Selaocoe brings his extraordinary energy to the Ordway Concert Hall in a showcase of his many gifts.An artistic partner with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Selaocoe made his debut with the group in 2022. This weekend at the Express Concert, the musician’s infectious joy in the music seems to rub off on everyone around him — fellow musicians and audience alike.From baroque and classical to contemporary, the program has a rich texture. It begins with a work by Bulgarian-British composer Dobrinka Tabakova, called “Insight” for String Trio, where Selaocoe is joined by artistic director and principal violin player Kyu-Young Kim and violist Lisa Sung. Together, they create the sound of a harmonica in Tabakova’s mysterious work that melds sounds together, then lets them float free.Selaocoe then shares one of his own pieces, “Tsohle, Tsohle,” based on a hymn that translates to mean “Everything, Everything.” Selaocoe shares his breathy, husky voi...

Penumbra Theatre’s premiere of ‘Re-Memori’ binds a painful past to the present

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:30:32 GMT

Could you be carrying your ancestors’ memories in your DNA? Evidence is strictly anecdotal, but it’s not uncommon for someone to visit a location listed on their family tree and feel as if they’ve been there before. Similarly, sometimes folks hit it off on first meeting and later discover that their ancestors may have known each other.For Memori Brooks, the experiences of her ancestors come to her in dreams. As Penumbra Theatre’s premiere production of Nambi E. Kelley’s “Re-Memori” opens, she’s writhing in her chair, suffering through a confounding nightmare before awakening and desperately trying to decipher what her forebears are trying to tell her.Solving that mystery proves a powerful journey in this captivating new one-woman drama. Sha Cage delivers what will surely go down as one of the Twin Cities’ standout theatrical performances of 2023, portraying not only this beautician who offers healing through hair, but also one of her enslaved ancestors, another antecedent who was am...