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‘Unprecedented’: Bill Blair says military help on the way to battle Alberta wildfires

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says Canadian Forces personnel are being deployed to help with an “unprecedented” wildfire situation in Alberta.Alberta has declared a state of emergency. There were 82 active wildfires as of Thursday morning, with 23 out of control.Thousands remain out of their homes and additional fire crews from British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Yukon have joined the fight.In Ottawa, Blair acknowledged the “unprecedented wildfire situation currently taking place in Alberta.” “It’s a good opportunity to thank the hard working firefighters, first responders, emergency staff working around the clock to protect Albertans and to manage the fires and to all of those who have been forced to evacuate.”Blair said the federal government has agreed to a request for assistance from Alberta.“We are already moving resources into those communities from the Canadian Armed Forces and other resources to provide ...

Why Biden is wary of using the 14th Amendment to address the debt limit crisis

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — If the fight with Congress over raising the government’s debt limit is such a dire threat, why doesn’t President Joe Biden just raise the borrowing ceiling himself? It’s theoretically possible, but he’s skeptical.The administration has been searching for possible ways to allow the U.S. to keep borrowing if Congress can’t come to an agreemen t. One potential option Biden and his advisers have been looking at: Would he have the power to go around lawmakers by relying on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment in a last-ditch move to avert default?Maybe. Biden hasn’t ruled it out, but he sees it as a problematic, untested legal theory to ensure the country can meet its financial obligations. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department says the U.S. may not be able to borrow the money it needs to pay its bills and bondholders as soon as June 1 without congressional action — and that failure could kick the country into a painful recession.With...

US authorities take down 13 Hezbollah-affiliated web domains

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. authorities have seized over a dozen website domains used by sanctioned associates, businesses, and charities of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.Washington has listed the Iran-backed group as a terrorist organization, and has slapped sanctions on its members, associates, and affiliated businesses and charities over the years.The 13 seized website domains include multiple domains for the group’s al-Manar television, as well as URLs for top officials, deputy secretary general Naim Kassem, senior officials Ibrahim al-Sayed and Ali Damush, as well as affiliated charities the Martyrs’ Foundation and the Emdad Committee for Islamic Charity.The websites are no longer accessible, and only an image from American authorities announcing that they have taken the domain name appears. Al-Manar’s main web address, a Lebanese domain, is still operating.“This seizure demonstrates the FBI’s persistence in using all o...

More than 600 catalytic converters recovered in largest single bust in the country, sheriff says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — One man has been charged with multiple felonies after more than 600 stolen catalytic converters were found on his property.Sheriff Tom Dart has announced the charges Thursday amid boxes displaying the recovered converters. He said his office could not find an incident anywhere in the country with more recovered in a single bust. ‘It was my work’: Teen bragged to friend after officer Aréanah Preston’s slaying, prosecutors allege During the press conference, Dart said his deputies were originally responding to an unrelated call for service when they spotted the catalytic converters in the suspect's yard. They then obtained a warrant and returned to the property where the man was arrested.WGN is awaiting specifics of the charges and will update this story once they are received.Dart said Illinois is ranked third in the country for the number of catalytic converter thefts, and that the thieves in the Chicago area are a part of a sophisticated system of stealing, pr...

Shaq, Dropkick Murphys will perform at a Chicago championship game this summer

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

CHICAGO — An NBA Hall of Famer and a popular American Celtic punk rock group are going to be the entertainment around a pro sports championship game coming to Chicago for the first time.Major League Rugby @usmlr has announced that both @SHAQ & the Dropkick Murphys will perform at their championship game at @SeatGeekStadium on July 8. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/UTalKvf6gh— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) May 11, 2023Major League Rugby announced on Thursday that Shaquille O'Neal, who performs as DJ Diesel, and Dropkick Murphys will be part of the festivities around their championship game to be held at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday, July 8.The event is hosted by the Chicago Hounds, who are currently in their inaugural season in MLR and call the championship venue home. Both will perform at what's being dubbed the "Dawg Town Block Party" that's taking place before and after the title match. O'Neal will start his performance at 1:30 p.m. and will perform up until the 3 p.m. start t...

Peloton is recalling more than 2 million exercise bikes in the U.S. Here's why

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

Peloton is recalling more than 2 million of its exercise bikes in the U.S. because the bike’s seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards.The recall includes approximately 2.2 million of the Peloton Bikes Model PL01. The bikes were sold in the U.S. from January 2018 through May 2023 for about $1,400. They were sold at Peloton and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online at Amazon, Peloton and Dick's websites.Peloton has received 35 reports of the seat post breaking and detaching from the bike during use, including 13 reports of injuries including a fractured wrist, lacerations and bruises due to falling from the bike.The Peloton original Bike in the U.K., Germany and Australia and the Peloton Bike+ are not included in the recall.Consumers in the U.S. are advised to immediately stop using the recalled exercise bikes and to contact Peloton for a free repair. Peloton is offering a free seat post that can be self-installed.Peloton can be reached at ...

North Carolina mom graduates with doctorate day after giving birth, goes viral

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

THOMASVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) – All moms can remember the moment after they gave birth. Now, imagine walking across a stage to get your doctorate degree less than 24 hours later.That’s exactly what one North Carolina woman did last week, and now she’s a viral sensation. Don't miss the latest breaking news with push alerts on the FOX8 mobile app. Abby Bailiff, of Thomasville, set out on this journey to achieve her own goals, but she inspired thousands along the way. In 2020, she wanted to advance her nursing career, so she went back to school to get her Ph.D. to become a nurse practitioner. During her final semester, she was also pregnant. Today, Bailiff has a lot of new titles, including mom, doctor and, some might say, superwoman.The Bailiffs and baby Bodie are settling into their new normal after a whirlwind week. “I passed my boards on Monday, induced Tuesday, had baby Wednesday, graduated Thursday,” Bailiff said. She knew the due date and graduation date were going to be close. “My...

'Should have been ejected': Viral softball incident prompts investigation by Texas interscholastic league

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

McCAMEY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Texas University Interscholastic League is investigating an incident at a high-school softball game in which a catcher is seen hitting a batter in the head with a throw — twice.Cisco High School was facing off against McCamey High School in the Area Championship series over the weekend when the incidents occurred. On both occasions, a Cisco batter was at the plate when the McCamey catcher looked as if she was throwing toward third base, but instead hit the Cisco batters in their heads with the ball.No one was ejected after either instance.Video from the game was originally posted by the father of one of the batters that was struck. The clips have since sparked debate over whether or not the throws were intentionally targeted at the Cisco batters. "This is surely uncalled for. Catcher should have been ejected," one viewer wrote after seeing a video on Facebook which has been shared nearly 4,000 times. Another called her a "dirty player."A few also def...

DOJ: Former Austin ISD teacher sentenced after traveling to Colombia for sex with minors

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former Austin ISD teacher was sentenced to serve 84 months, or seven years, in prison Wednesday after engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.The DOJ said 41-year-old Michael Wayne Roberts was living in Medellin, Colombia, when he paid money for sex with three Colombian girls between the ages of 13 and 15 on multiple occasions between December 2020 and June 2021. RELATED: Austin ISD employee traveled to Colombia for sex with minors, DOJ says “Roberts was arrested on Sept. 15, 2022, and has remained in federal custody. He pleaded guilty in February to all three counts in his indictment,” the DOJ said.According to the department, the U.S. district judge ordered Roberts to pay $147,844.51 in restitution to the victims and register as a sex offender.“This sentencing reflects that those who engage in sexual conduct with minors, regardless of where it occurs, will be held accountable for their heinous, predat...

Survivor Fund activated for family of fallen Cameron officer

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:46:39 GMT

AUSTIN (FOX 44) -- The 100 Club of Central Texas has activated the Survivor Fund in response to the death of the Cameron Police Department officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty overnight.  The Cameron Police Department, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockdale Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety were serving a warrant following a 9-1-1 call of a victim shot in the neck when the incident occurred."The family is facing immense grief and The 100 Club is acutely aware of the financial burden placed on them during this time," the organization stated in its announcement of assistance. "Our mission is to help ease this burden so they can focus on honoring the life of their loved one. Donations to the Survivor Fund will be used to support the families of first responders killed in the line of duty serving our communities."Donations can be made here. You can also mail donations to The Club’s office at 3200 Steck Avenue, Suite 240, Austin, Texas 78757. You c...