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Canadian airport security measures in federal budget raise concerns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

You’ll have to pay up in order to improve security lines at Canadian airports.The federal budget lays out measures to make airport visits more efficient, but advocates for both airlines and passengers are disappointed with what’s being proposed.According to these advocates, there is good news and bad news with the federal approach in the fiscal plan.On the one hand, the federal government is pumping $1.8 billion into making airport security screening more efficient. However, on the other hand, security fees paid by travellers will be going up by as much as 33 per cent to help pay for that.Ian Jack, the vice president of public affairs at the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), tells CityNews this is a federal responsibility. He feels the government should shoulder the cost, not passengers.“We feel that’s a bit much at this point. The system is not working very well — we prefer the government actually get the system fixed before they start adding to t...

Indiana boy, 5, found handgun and fatally shot baby brother

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — A 16-month-old boy was fatally shot by his 5-year-old sibling after the older child found a handgun in a northwestern Indiana apartment, police said.The circumstances of Tuesday’s fatal shooting of Isiah Johnson remained under investigation Thursday by the Lafayette Police Department, which does not plan to release additional information during the ongoing investigation, said Capt. Brian Phillips.Police said previously that the shooting occurred when one adult and two children were inside the apartment in Lafayette, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of Indianapolis.Phillips said Thursday that the 5-year-old sibling who shot Isiah gained access to a handgun in the apartment. He declined to provide additional information about the sibling and said police were still investigating who owns that weapon.An autopsy performed Wednesday determined that Isiah died from a single gunshot wound, but his manner of death is pending completion of the police investigation a...

6 US troops have traumatic brain injury after Syria attacks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Thursday that an additional six troops were injured in attacks last week in northeastern Syria that U.S. officials have blamed on Iranian-backed militants.Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, said the six were in addition to the death of an American contractor and the wounding of six troops and another contractor in the two separate attacks.Ryder said four American service members at Hasakah and two at Green Village have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries and are being treated at their bases. Evaluations are continuing on personnel at the bases.He said at a news conference that the United States now assesses that eight militants, all associated with Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, were killed in the American counterstrikes by fighter jets.The initial strike by militants on March 23 — by a small, suicide drone — set off a series of retaliatory bombings. The top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Erik Kuri...

Appropriate for Alberta premier to discuss COVID case with accused, deputy says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

EDMONTON — An Alberta deputy premier says it was appropriate for his boss to phone up a pastor and discuss his upcoming criminal trial on charges stemming from protests over pandemic restrictions. Kaycee Madu says Premier Danielle Smith has a broad mandate to reduce divisions over the COVID-19 pandemic while helping the province grow. Madu says in pursuing that mission, Smith is free to contact whomever she wants.Smith is coming under renewed criticism over a leaked phone conversation she had in January with protester and Calgary street preacher Artur Pawlowski about his approaching trial.During the call, Smith commiserates with Pawlowski over her government’s legal tactics and offers to make inquiries on his behalf while telling him the Crown’s charges are politically motivated.The phone call was leaked to the Opposition NDP and shared with reporters earlier this week.Madu is a former Alberta justice minister who was moved out of the portfolio under former premier Jason Kenne...

A look at how the largest US counties gained or lost people

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

Several large, urban counties across the United States gained residents or stemmed population declines in the year ending last July after losing residents in the previous 12-month period amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates released Thursday.Population change is driven by migration, both within the U.S. as people move around inside the country, and from international trends as people arrive from abroad. It also depends on whether births outpace deaths, or vice versa.Here’s a look at what drove population change in the 10 largest U.S. counties from July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022.LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — The most populous county in the nation lost more than 90,000 residents last year and now has a population of 9.7 million people. Los Angeles County gained almost 34,000 residents from abroad and another 18,000 people from births outpacing deaths. But it wasn’t enough to offset the almost 143,000 residents who le...

Gwyneth Paltrow's widely watched ski crash trial nears end

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Attorneys for Gwyneth Paltrow and the 76-year-old suing her over a 2016 ski collision used closing arguments to describe their clients as aggrieved victims participating in a yearslong legal battle to take a stand for truth, sending the case to the eight-member jury to make a decision.During closing arguments, Paltrow’s attorneys asked jurors to disregard the opposing side's emotional pleas for sympathy of Terry Sanderson over the state of his relationships. They said that for Paltrow, it would’ve been easier to simply write a check, settle the lawsuit and put the crash behind her.“But what would that teach her children?” attorney Steve Owens asked jurors Thursday.Accompanying his remarks were high-resolution animations depicting Paltrow's version of events, which have been shown throughout the trial in the Park City courtroom.“It’s not about the money. It’s about ruining a very delicate time in a relationship where they were trying to get their kids together,...

Carole Baskin plans to sell Big Cat Rescue, send animals to Arkansas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It's the end of an era on Easy Street in Tampa. Carole Baskin's Big Cat Rescue sanctuary has merged with a wildlife refuge based in Arkansas. The rescue is preparing to transport most of its cats to "The Natural State," and they will sell the property once there are no cats left, Baskin's husband, Howard, said in a press release Monday.Joining forces with Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge will allow the rescue to cut overhead costs and "devote the remaining resources of our sanctuary to the 'in situ' projects being conducted around the world to avoid [big cat] extinction," Howard Baskin explained.He noted that the cub petting industry has gradually declined over the past 11 years thanks in part to the rescue's efforts in lobbying for the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA), which prohibits the private possession of big cats and restricts direct contact between them and the public. ‘Tiger King’ announces 2024 presidential bid "In particular, some of the 's...

$20K reward in case of missing former Hogan aide

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

(The Hill) – The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service are offering a combined reward up to $20,000 for information that can lead to the arrest of a former chief of staff to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), according to an announcement published Tuesday. Roy McGrath, 53, served as chief of staff to Hogan for about two months before he resigned in August 2020. An arrest warrant was issued for McGrath after he failed to appear for trial on wire fraud and embezzlement charges on March 13, and the FBI now considers him a fugitive and an "international flight risk."In October 2021, McGrath was indicted for wire fraud as well as theft or bribery from programs receiving federal funds. He pled not guilty to the charges and was released before his trial on the condition that he would show up for all his court dates, according to the FBI. In June 2022, McGrath was also charged with destruction, alteration or falsification of records in federal investigations. His trial was supposed to b...

Report: lifeguards turned away because of technological glitch

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 30, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Every Summer the City of Austin relies on hundreds of lifeguards to watch over city pools.The hiring process begins in November and to successfully run all 34 pools the city needs about 860 lifeguards.In 2022, over 1,000 people applied to be lifeguards, PARD hired about 422, and over 200 lifeguards returned from earlier seasons, but some qualified candidates received an inaccurate notice of non-selection according to a recent report.The report states: “We found that 95% of lifeguard applicants received notices that they were not selected for the position. These notices were not usually an accurate reflection of the applicant’s status. For example, 93% of the 422 lifeguards eventually hired by PARD received an inaccurate notice of non-selection.”There is a process that potential candidates must go through which includes a background check, a lifeguard certification course and addit...

Daniel Perry trial day 3: Witnesses recall deadly shooting at Austin protest testify

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:58:37 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 30, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Day three of the trial for the man accused of shooting and killing Garrett Foster in July 2022 began Thursday morning with testimony from people who were at the protest where it happened. Daniel Perry, an Army sergeant and part-time Uber driver, was indicted in the case in 2021 on felony charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of deadly conduct. Perry entered a not-guilty plea Tuesday.  MORE: Daniel Perry trial day 2: Fiancé of killed BLM protester testifies During opening statements, state attorneys said Foster was out protesting police violence every day in the summer of 2020. Foster was shot and later died while out protesting the night of July 25, 2020. The defense's argument from the beginning is that Perry — swarmed by protesters — had to defend himself. Several witnesses admitted they kicked, hit and even banged on ...