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Liberals look to sitting judges to lead foreign interference inquiry: LeBlanc

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

CHARLOTTETOWN — It is taking longer than expected to find someone to lead a public inquiry into foreign interference because the government is in talks with sitting judges, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Tuesday, which means following specific protocols of engagement.LeBlanc has been working with opposition House leaders since June to agree on the scope of a public inquiry as well as who would lead it. He would not confirm or deny reports many people had turned down requests to be the commissioner after the partisan fighting that led former governor general David Johnston to resign as special rapporteur.“We all hoped that this might have been concluded in a final way earlier, but the good news is we’re continuing to do the work necessary and optimistic about getting to the right place.”LeBlanc said he anticipated talking to the House leaders about it again later Tuesday.But in French he said it is a complicated process that doesn’t allow the gove...

Canada to seek judicial review of latest U.S. decision on softwood lumber duties

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

WASHINGTON — The federal government in Ottawa is pushing back against the latest U.S. decision to keep imposing duties on Canadian softwood lumber. Trade Minister Mary Ng says Canada is seeking a judicial review of last month’s Treasury Department assessment of the levies, which she calls unfair, unjust and illegal. The latest administrative review provided modest relief, but maintained the combined duty rate at 7.99 per cent. Ng is also urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to sit down and negotiate a resolution to the decades-old dispute. Such a deal would be challenging, since the U.S. takes issue with a long-standing regulatory system in Canada it says puts American producers at a disadvantage.Tai has said the U.S. would be willing to negotiate, but only if Canada does away with a system that allows provinces to set prices for timber from Crown land.“For years, the United States has imposed unfair, unjust and illegal duties on Canadian softwood lumber, hurti...

Welcome Baby: Montreal to give out free boxes of items for families with newborns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

Montreal will give out boxes of free toys and baby supplies to every family in the city with a new infant starting next year.The so-called Welcome Baby boxes will be available in 45 city libraries as of Jan. 1, 2024, for newborns, new arrivals and adopted children up to one year old.The colourful boxes will contain 12 items from local vendors with a total value of $200, including a blanket, a bath towel, a pair of pants, a pool diaper, a rattle, a silicone bib, a stuffed animal and a toothbrush.Mayor Valérie Plante says the goal of the program is to simplify families’ lives and reduce their financial burden.She says she also hopes the boxes encourage families to settle in Montreal and that the gifts foster a sense of belonging among children.The program fulfils one of the mayor’s campaign promises before her re-election in 2021 to a second four-year term.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 22, 2023.The Canadian Press

Some plants are more flammable than others. How gardeners can reduce the risks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

The deadly wildfires in Hawaii this month were fueled in part by plants, in particular invasive grasses that have taken over land once occupied by sugar and pineapple plantations.Some plants are more flammable than others, says Michele Steinberg, wildfire division director at the National Fire Protection Association. But “there is no such thing as a fireproof plant,” she says — all plants can ignite under the right conditions.Those conditions include improper pruning, insufficient watering, and poor sanitation practices that allow dry, dead plant parts to remain on the soil surface in high-risk areas.If you live in a fire-risk zone (or an area where climate change is increasing the fire risk) and are selecting plants for your garden, knowing which ones offer some fire resistance and which are more flammable will serve you well. QUICKER TO CATCH FIREPlants that contain aromatic oils, resins, waxes or gummy sap are among the quickest to ignite, even if they’ve been well-watered and ca...

Man critically wounded during armed robbery in South Shore

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A 45-year-old man was critically wounded while being robbed Tuesday morning in South Shore.At around 4 a.m., CPD said the man was walking in the 7400 block of South Coles when multiple suspects exited a vehicle near him.He was then robbed of his personal belongings. At some point, at least one of the suspects opened fire.The 45-year-old was shot in the chest, abdomen and buttocks. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. ‘Now he’s a real angel': South Side community gathers to remember slain 14-year-old boy No one is in custody.

WATCH LIVE | South Suburban Airport proposals to be accepted

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

MONEE, Ill. — Local leaders are celebrating a new law which will force the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to accept development proposals for the long talked-about South Suburban Airport. WGN Investigates: Is decision day finally near for third Chicago airport? House Bill 2531 passed the House 72-40 on Mar. 16, and the Senate 33-20 on May 17. It was then signed by Gov. Pritzker on July 28. The subsequent law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024 and puts a six-month deadline in place for IDOT to establish a prequalification process and begin accepting proposals to develop and maintain the airport.Tuesday, U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02) is set to host a press conference alongside several other area leaders to celebrate the impending prequalification process and discuss the impact they believe an airport will have on the region.WGN plans to livestream the event within this story beginning at approximately 10 a.m.The development has been debated for roughly four decade...

Rare spotless giraffe born at Tennessee zoo

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

LIMESTONE, Tenn. (WJHL) -- A truly unique giraffe was born at Tennessee's Brights Zoo in July, according to the zoo's owners.Brights Zoo in Limestone welcomed the solid brown giraffe on July 31."Giraffe experts believe she is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet," Brights Zoo stated in a release. Repticon returns to the Tri-Cities with snakes, spiders and more unique friends Zoo officials say there are records of another giraffe without spots being born in Japan in the 1970s. "From Day 1 we've been in contact with zoo professionals all over the country," said Brights Zoo director David Bright. "And especially the old timers that have been around for a long time. 'Hey, have you seen this? What's your thoughts?' And nobody's seen it."Brights Zoo's founder, Tony Bright, said he knew the baby giraffe was different when she was born. Bright said you can see a giraffe's spots right after it is born, and the new one had none.He said they decided to ch...

Dean's A-List Interview: David Harbour on 'Gran Turismo'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards sits down with David Harbour to talk about new movie "Gran Turismo."Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

More than 1,000 Round Rock students experiencing homelessness; why extreme heat is making it worse

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for August 22, 2023. ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Rising rent prices and a lack of affordable housing are just two of the problems causing some Round Rock Independent School District students and their families to be out of a home.“We ended the school year with 1,045 students experiencing homelessness, some of the highest numbers that we've seen in the last seven years, and it's just heartbreaking right now,” said Desiree Viramontes, the RRISD coordinator for Families in Transition, or FIT. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: More than 700 students experiencing homelessness in Round Rock ISD “I get involved, usually when there's an eviction, or they're in their car, or they're staying in a motel. We have wonderful campus staff or a FIT contact at each campus, usually a counselor.”Viramontes gave KXAN a tour of the school district’s FIT and Foster Care Resource Center.It’s a place where students and families can go to find clothes,...

Blue Hole Regional Park closes for 2 weeks, water levels 2 feet lower than normal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:52 GMT

WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) — Blue Hole Regional Park in Wimberley has closed for swimming for the next two weeks because of low water levels. The park posted about the closure on its Facebook page Monday evening, saying the closure was effective starting Monday at 6 p.m. and for the next two weeks. Blue Hole awarded ‘Travelers’ Choice’ by Tripadvisor for third year in a row According to the post, E. coli levels have remained within the normal range, but the water level is about two feet lower than normal, making swimming unsafe at the park at this time. Water levels at Blue Hole Regional Park in Wimberley are about 2 feet lower than normal levels, according to the park. (Photo: Blue Hole Regional Park/City of Wimberley) The park said the conditions will be reviewed again at the end of the two-week period and the possibility of further closures with be assessed depending on the circumstances. People who have bought swimming passes for the next two weeks will be refunded fully. The p...