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City council approves $15M TTC request to extend health and safety measures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

Toronto city council has approved a request from the Toronto Transit Commission to withdraw $15 million from its reserve funds to take care of what it calls “interim measures.” TTC CEO Rick Leary says the funding is needed for health and safety, such as extending the contracts for safety officers on the transit system until the end of the year. Leary acknowledged on Thursday that people are scared to ride the TTC.“That’s what I hear from people, it makes them very nervous,” said Leary. “They are nervous, they’re nervous to send their kids out on the TTC.”“That’s part of the approach that we’re taking by bringing as many staff as possible into the TTC, as many outside help as possible so that people start having that comfort level again.”Back in January, the city added security guards and community safety ambassadors to address immediate concerns. Toronto police also stepped up its presence on the transit network...

Suburban Chicago teen told he’s indicted on 3 murder charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago teen accused of fatally shooting his 17-year-old girlfriend, a 9-year-old girl and the child’s father was told Thursday a grand jury has indicted him on three charges of first-degree murder.Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, went before a Will County judge and was informed that the grand jury indicted him in the March 5 slayings of 40-year-old Cartez Daniels, 17-year-old Samiya A. Shelton-Tilman and Sanai Daniels, 9.Judge Dave Carlson told Montgomery, who is currently being held at the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Joliet, that he will be transferred to the Will County Jail after he turns 18 on April 27, the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reported.Carlson also granted an order to have Montgomery submit to DNA testing.The 13-count indictment contained the same adult charges that were filed against Montgomery on March 6. They include multiple counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, home invasion, aggravated b...

Australia concerned journalist still awaits verdict in China

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia remains deeply concerned that Australian journalist Cheng Lei has not learned of a verdict a year after standing trial in China on national security charges, the foreign minister said on Friday.Foreign Minister Penny Wong marked the first anniversary of the closed trial in Beijing with a statement that said her government had “advocated at every opportunity for Ms. Cheng to be reunited with her family.”“She is still waiting to learn the outcome of the trial,” Wong said. “We share the deep concerns of Ms. Cheng’s family and friends about the ongoing delays in her case.” “Our thoughts today are with Ms. Cheng and her loved ones, particularly her two children,” she added. The children live with family in the Australian city of Melbourne. The anniversary comes as troubled relations between China and Australia show signs of improvement since Wong’s center-left Labor Party came to power at elections last year.Cheng, 47, was born in China and was a journalist for CG...

SIU investigates after man falls from west end apartment balcony

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

The Special Investigations Unit has been called in to look into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 56-year-old man on Thursday. The SIU says around 4:30 p.m. Toronto police were called to an apartment on Martha Eaton Way in the area of Black Creek Drive and Trethewey Drive for reports of a person in crisis.Police located a man on a balcony and according to the SIU one officer began communicating with him. The man then fell from the balcony and was pronounced dead at the scene. The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

Missing Massachusetts woman’s husband indicted for murder

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

COHASSET, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts man has been indicted in the death of his wife who has not been seen since Jan. 1, a top prosecutor said Thursday.Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrisey said Brian Walshe, 47, has been charged with first-degree murder as well as misleading a police investigation/obstruction of justice and improper conveyance of a human body. A first-degree murder conviction in Massachusetts carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. Walshe is accused of murdering his wife, dismembering her and disposing of her body.Ana Walshe, a mother of three who is originally from Serbia, was reportedly last seen leaving the family’s home in Cohasset, south of Boston, in the early morning hours of Jan. 1. She was on her way to the airport for a flight to Washington, where she worked for a real estate company, authorities said. Her employer reported her missing Jan. 4.Starting Jan. 1 and for several days after, Brian Walshe made multiple online searche...

One man injured in Brampton shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

One man is in hospital suffering from a gunshot wound after a shooting in Brampton.Peel police say they were called to the area of Dixie Road and Northclife Street, south of Bovaird Drive East, for reports of shots fired. When they arrived they found one man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to hospital in stable condition. Police have not released any suspect information at this time.

Florida bill would make restrooms exclusive to males, females

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A bill filed in the Florida House and Senate would make it a crime if a person refuses to leave a bathroom that does not match their sex assigned at birth.CS/HB 1521, dubbed the "Safety in Private Spaces Act," would make it a second-degree misdemeanor for people 18 years or older to use a restroom or changing facility designated for the opposite sex if they refuse to immediately leave when asked. Skilling: Fast-moving thunderstorms to sweep into Chicago The bill would also require educational institutions to establish "disciplinary procedures" for violators under the age of 18."Florida does not currently make it a crime for a person of one sex to enter a restroom or changing room intended for use by the opposite sex," a House of Representatives staff analysis states. However, the bill states, "the Legislature finds that females and males should be provided restrooms and changing facilities for their exclusive use in order to maintain public safety, decency, a...

Back to her roots: Chicago's Pearl Gonzalez switches from MMA to Boxing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

CHICAGO — There's nothing like going back to where you came from, it just didn't happen the way a fighter from Chicago might have ideally wanted it. "It kinda came by accident," said Pearl Gonzalez when she made the decision to switch her professional sport after the mixed martial arts professional fighter had knee surgery in 2021. Unable to grapple because of it, which was a critical part of her fighting style, she went back to boxing, which is a sport she competed in growing up in Pilsen."I was born to be a fighter, and I was unwilling to hang up my gloves," said Gonzalez when faced with the option to switch. "So I just had to pivot."Indeed she has, and in under two years, Gonzalez is making strides to establish herself in the sport of boxing after stints in the Ultimate Fighting Championships and Invicta Fighting Championships.After starting out in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and getting training from undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, she's already won ...

In first Opening Day, Trevor Larnach instrumental in Twins win

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There were times this spring when Trevor Larnach was unsure whether he’d be starting the season with the Twins or the Triple-A Saints. If not for a pair of injuries to Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff, it’s very possible the outfielder could have started in St. Paul.But with an opportunity in front of him, Larnach seized it with a stellar spring, and on Thursday, he had his fingerprints all over the Twins’ 2-0 win over the Royals in the season opener.“I think he kind of relishes the opportunities to be out there on Opening Day just to simply be a good big leaguer,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s driven to be great, and I think he sees this as an opportunity to go prove that and show everyone what he can do. It doesn’t bother him, I don’t think at all, hitting him in the four hole on Opening Day. He handled it all great and he hit some balls good.”With the game tied in the sixth inning Thursday, Larnach shot a single up the middle to bring home Byron Buxton.He ...

Adam Wainwright surprises on Opening Day, sings the national anthem!

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:24:27 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Adam Wainwright has spent a lot of Opening Days on the mound (six to be exact). For his final one as a player, he drew an assignment he has never had for a St. Louis Cardinals home opener. Wainwright landed on the injured list last week, so he couldn't pitch in the home opener. Instead, he traded his glove for a microphone. To the surprise of the Busch Stadium crowd, he sang the National Anthem. The Cardinals had planned to honor Wainwright with some sort of gesture before the game as the 41-year-old embarks on his final MLB season. It was initially though there might be a video presentation to honor his accomplishments."A few days ago, when we were still in Jupiter, they told me, when they had planned on starting me, [there would be] a tribute today. They wanted me to pick someone special to me, so I was going to have Gary [Baker] and Greg [Barnhill] sing [the National Anthem] while I warmed up. Those are my buddies. RECAP - Blue Jays outlast Cardinals in back-and-fo...