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The head of Arkansas’ Board of Corrections says he’s staying despite governor’s call for resignation

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday called for the head of the Board of Corrections to immediately resign in the latest round of a dispute over who runs the state’s prison system.Sanders’ letter came after Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness requested Wednesday that 138 National Guard members be deployed to work full time in the state’s prisons to “help fill in staffing gaps.”Magness intends to finish his term, which ends in two years, Corrections Department spokesperson Dina Tyler said in an email Friday to The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Magness was appointed to the board in 1999 by Sanders’ father, then-Gov. Mike Huckabee.The dispute stems from the Sanders administration moving forward with opening 622 temporary prison beds that the board has not approved. Board members have said opening the temporary beds would jeopardize the safety of inmates and staff.Arkansas’ prisons are currently above capacity, with more than 1,600 additiona...

Canadian death toll in cantaloupe salmonella outbreak rises to seven

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

OTTAWA — The Public Health Agency of Canada is reporting another death from a salmonella outbreak involving cantaloupes, bringing the total to seven. The agency says there have been 164 lab-confirmed cases of salmonella in eight provinces linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes so far.Quebec has been hardest hit with 111 of those cases. There have also been illnesses in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. The majority of people who became sick are children aged five and younger and adults aged 65 and older. The agency says 61 people have been hospitalized.  It says if people have fresh or frozen cantaloupe at home and they are unsure what brand the fruit is, they should throw it out and wash their hands.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency first issued recall warnings on Nov. 1. The affected Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes were sold between Oct. 10 and Nov. 24.&...

Housing crisis brings high and low point to Chow’s first six months as mayor

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

In the first six months of her time as mayor, Olivia Chow said the housing crisis has led to both her highest and lowest point since getting elected. She’s hoping there will be more highs in 2024. Chow’s highlight was opening the building purchased through the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Fund.“Seeing the joy of the tenants, feeling so proud of her space. Now she’s going to be secure in that space because it’s now our land trust, meaning that she will have complete control. She wouldn’t have to get evicted, which she was facing for several years,” explained Chow.But her low point was visiting a church that had a wall of refugees sleeping on mattresses on the floor plus the fact they have not been able to help them completely. “You deserve better, more respect, more dignity than just sleeping in a church basement on a mattress,” she said. “It’s sad. It’s disappointing. I’m not giving up, though. I kee...

Bidens make traditional pre-Christmas visit to children’s hospital

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden joined his wife, first lady Jill Biden, on Friday for a Christmas season visit to Children’s National Hospital to meet young patients and their families. The first lady read the children “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” as the president waved and flashed smiles at the children and their family members. President Biden also thanked the hospital staff for their work and encouraged the children and their parents to “keep the faith.”“Next Christmas when I see you, maybe I’ll see you at the White House,” Biden told the children.The visit continued an 81-year annual tradition, that dates back to first lady Bess Truman, of presidents’ wives bringing holiday cheer to children who are too ill to be at home on Christmas. President Biden has joined his wife at Children’s National during her holiday visit each of the last three years.The Bidens on Saturday are scheduled to travel to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Md...

Man killed in shooting outside Wheaton pub after apparent argument, witnesses say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

WHEATON, Ill. — An apparent argument at a popular pub in unincorporated Wheaton on Friday morning ended in a shooting that left one man dead.The DuPage County Sheriff's Office says it responded to a shooting at Rosie O Reilly's Pub, 0N131 Gary Ave., just before 8:45 a.m. on Friday. Witnesses described what seemed like an argument happening inside the pub, which eventually resulted in a fatality.Authorities have not yet confirmed the homicide or released the victim's identity, but Rosie O Reilly's owner John Dwyer confirmed to WGN that a man died in the incident. SkyCam 9 also captured images of the aftermath, including spent shell casings scattered across the pavement and deck behind Rosie O Reilly's.The victim was evidently well-known to the owners and patrons of the pub. Described as a friendly guy, WGN was told he leaves behind two children, with another on the way.Dwyer struggled to understand how such a tragedy could unfold so suddenly."This could happen anywhere, anytime, for...

Architecture & Design Film Festival returns to Chicago in 2024

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

CHICAGO — A festival showcasing films about architecture and design from around the world is making a return to Chicago in 2024. The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) announced Thursday that it will host the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) for the second year in a row. Naperville man sentenced to 10 years for attempted murder of wife “We are honored to bring the Architecture & Design Film Festival to the CAC once again,” CEO and President of the Chicago Architecture Center Eleanor Gorski said. “This year’s cinematic celebration not only showcases the diverse narratives of architecture and design but also serves as a reflection of Chicago's rich architectural history, including our importance to the Modernist movement.”The festival will feature 20 films curated for the Chicago market, spanning a variety of architecture and design topics, as well as programming featuring conversations with filmmakers and major players in the city's architecture scene.“As...

Dense fog, periods of rain this weekend

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another round of widespread, dense fog may disrupt some travel plans early Saturday. Fog clears by noon, but rain and storms increase Saturday evening through Sunday morning.Like Friday morning, widespread fog may lead to a Dense Fog Advisory early Saturday with visibility dropping below 1/2 mile in some areas. Be cautious if you're hitting the road for the holidays before noon.Dense fog will lower visibility Saturday morningFog breaks up midday, but clouds and damp weather continue. As the much-advertised western storm system causing the recent wet weather finally moves into our area, rain and thunderstorms increase locally Saturday evening through Sunday morning.There is a very low chance of a strong to severe storm early Sunday morning, though Central Texas is not currently included in an official severe weather threat. Stay tuned for updates.Many communities may tally another 1"-1.25" of rain from now through midday Sunday when rain clears.Colder, breezy weather...

Nashville Zoo animals dig into holiday gift boxes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

Video credit: Nashville Zoo via StoryfulNASHVILLE (Storyful) — Animals at the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee enjoyed holiday-themed enrichment time on Thursday, Dec. 21.This footage shows clouded leopard cubs, meerkats and siamangs (gibbons) playing with boxes wrapped in Christmas paper.Zookeepers provide animals with different kinds of enrichment every day, which “is designed to play into their natural instincts and provide the animals with a creative outlet for physical activity and mental exercise,” according to Nashville Zoo officials.

Vikings will be without cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. on Sunday. Who will step up?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

In the biggest game so far this season, the Vikings will be without starting cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. He was ruled out with a knee injury on Friday with the Vikings set to host the Detroit Lions on Christmas Eve.Asked about the decision, head coach Kevin O’Connell noted that it wasn’t for a lack of effort on Murphy’s part.“Just couldn’t get Byron turned over enough to get him to be available,” O’Connell said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get him some work and get him back out there with us next week.”This started to feel like a real possibility this week with Murphy unable to participate in practice. His knee injury occurred in last Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and while Murphy managed to make it through the whole game, it became an issue afterward.“That  goes to show how tough he is,” O’Connell said. “He battled through it.”The fact that Murphy can’t play this weekend is a h...

With Mike Conley, Timberwolves no longer have to ‘live and die’ with late-game iso jumpers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:03:49 GMT

Generally speaking, Anthony Edwards probably owns the title of the Timberwolves’ “closer.” The 22-year-old guard likes the big moments and is certainly capable of delivering in them.His method of doing so is often through isolation play in which he takes — and makes — difficult shots that some would probably describe as “ill-advised.” But the ability to make difficult shots is a big reason why superstars make big money.“It’s great that Ant has the ability to get to the heart of the defense, rise up and make big shots, make tough shots,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch noted.And, to Edwards’ credit, he has knocked down 60 percent of his shots in clutch time — when the game is within five points in the final five minutes of regulation — this season.“But I think in the past, and particularly while he’s been learning to close games, you kind of live and die with some of that,” Finch said.There have been countless games in recent...