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British Columbia warns of incoming prolonged hot weather, but no heat dome

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

VANCOUVER — A heat wave that is expected to last most of next week has prompted British Columbia’s government to warn people to prepare for sweltering conditions, but a repeat of the deadly 2021 heat dome isn’t being forecast.The hot weather starting Sunday is expected to send temperatures into the high 30s in the province’s south, after recent cooler weather and rain helped wildfire suppression efforts, Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said Thursday.The heat is expected to dry out forests again, increase fire risks, and worsen the province’s already severe drought levels, she said.“While these elevated temperatures may pose risks, I do want to assure everyone that this upcoming heat event is not expected to be as extreme as the event that we faced in June and July of 2021,” Ma said at a news conference.“Nevertheless, it is critical that people understand the risks, prepare for the conditions and know where to access support,” s...

Sentence is cut for trans youth’s father, who discussed treatment against court order

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Court of Appeal has struck down a six-month prison sentence for a trans youth’s father who was convicted of contempt for publicly discussing his child’s private medical details in breach of a court order.Instead, the appeal court sentenced the man to time served, effectively amounting to 45 days, according to the ruling released on Wednesday.The youth had taken his father to court to stop him giving media interviews in which he identified his child and discussed their medical treatment for gender dysphoria, as well as the father’s objections to the process.The father pleaded guilty to contempt, but his lawyer advised him to reject an offer to make a deal with the Crown for 45 days’ imprisonment, and he was instead sentenced to six months.The three-judge appeal panel found the man’s lawyer provided ineffective assistance by not recognizing the prosecutors’ deal would have seen his client released upon his guilty ple...

Off-duty Cook County Sheriff's investigator shot on Chicago's Southwest Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

CHICAGO — An off-duty Cook County Sheriff's investigator was injured in a shooting Wednesday on Chicago's Southwest Side.The shooting happened around 9 p.m. Wednesday near West 47th Street and South Cicero Avenue, not far from Midway Airport.According to police, the 37-year-old off-duty investigator witnessed two vehicles heading north on Cicero Avenue when shots fired between the two cars.One of the vehicles hit another car headed in the opposite direction, then slammed into a wall near a McDonald's restaurant.The investigator sustained multiple gunshot wounds, Chicago police said. He was shot in the right elbow and lower back. Police say he was the unintended target.“He was transported to the hospital in critical condition. On Thursday afternoon the Cook County’s Sheriff’s Office released a statement that said he has now stabilized.” Shot fired at SWAT teams in Austin as they investigate armed robbery case; suspect barricaded inside Police said the driver of the vehicle attempte...

Credit card debt among Americans hits $1 trillion

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Credit card debt among Americans just reached a new record high of $1 trillion as a new report shows an uptick in people making emergency withdrawals from their retirement accounts. The new data comes from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York which said total U.S. credit card debt hit $1 trillion in the most recent quarter. Bankrate Analyst Ted Rossman says this shows a jump in Americans' reliance on credit cards. "We're definitely seeing more people carrying more debt for longer periods of time," Rossman said. He says the trend isn't necessarily surprising. "We would expect credit card balances to grow over time. Increased consumer spending, which powers a lot of economic growth, more card usage because cash is less and less of a thing with each passing year, population growth," Rossman said.  As cost of living rises, lawmakers renew push to raise federal minimum wage Plus, the number doesn't distinguish between credit card balances...

Actor Robert Swan, who had parts in memorable sports & Chicago movies, has died

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

CHICAGO — A actor who grew up in Chicago, and acted in a few movies based in the city while also having roles in some major sports films, has died.Robert Swan, who grew up in Hyde Park and would grow up in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, has died at the age of 78 after a long battle with cancer. A memorial has already been set up for him by the Kuiper Funeral Home in Highland, Indiana.Swan played a number of small yet memorable parts in films, with a few of them coming in memorable sports films. Many remember his portrayal of Rollin Butcher in the film "Hoosiers," where he was a parent of a player from Hickory High School and would later be an assistant alongside Gene Hackman's character Norman Dale, the head coach of the team. He uttered the memorable line "coach stays" as he ripped up a voting tally when the town decided not to oust Dale from his position on the team after a so-so start to his tenure at the high school. In 1993, he had a small role in the movie "Rudy," which was based o...

Dog mauled, woman injured after pack of dogs escape yard

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

HIGHLAND, Ind. — A woman in Highland, Indiana is recovering after she was attacked by eight to 10 dogs while walking her own dog.Police responded to the 3500 block of Jewett Street around 9:18 p.m. Tuesday. Upon arrival officers found a “chaotic” scene, according to a statement from police.Amber Neyhart, 28, had been walking her dog when they were both attacked by dogs who had escaped from a nearby yard.Police said Neyhart attempted to shield her dog but was bitten by one of the larger, adult dogs in the group.Witnesses attempted to separate the aggressive dogs from Neyhart and her dog. Those people were also bitten, police said.Police said an unknown man shot the adult dog and then fled. The dog died.Neyhart’s dog was taken to the vet but had to be euthanized because of the injuries.Neyhart was transported to the hospital with injuries to her arms and legs. More news from Northwest Indiana Police said the resident where the dogs escaped from was at the scene and attempted to sepa...

See some back to school sleep tips for kids

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

CHICAGO — There are many things that parents have to prepare for as their kids return to school in the coming weeks - including the last thing they'll do every day.That's sleep, which can change quite a bit when children go from their summer break schedule to one centered around classes. For some, that can be a pretty major change as the wake-up times get earlier and the overall schedule undergoes a major change. So how should parents get their kids ready to have a good night's sleep as school gets ready to start? WGN News talked with Dr. Innessa Donskoy, pediatric sleep medicine specialist at Advocate Children's Hospital, who shared a few tips on the Evening News on Thursday. She talked about ways that parents can prepare their kids to sleep well as they get ready to start class, from when they go to bed, how they eat, and even restrictions on how much the're using electronics before bed. You can see what tips Dr. Donskoy gave to Ben Bradley and Jackie Bange during her interview on...

Supreme Court pauses Purdue Pharma bankruptcy deal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to consider the Biden administration's challenge to a bankruptcy settlement for Purdue Pharma, pausing the $6 billion deal over the administration's concerns about a provision that would shield the members of the Sackler family, who own the company, from future opioid-related claims.The court slated arguments in the case for December, leading to a decision likely early next year. The stay will remain in place until the decision is handed down.Purdue, the maker of OxyContin, filed for bankruptcy in 2019 in an attempt to settle about 3,000 lawsuits from states, tribes and other local entities related to its aggressive opioid marketing. Lawsuits argued that the marketing contributed to the opioid crisis that has killed nearly 500,000 people over the past 20 years.The settlement plan included a provision called a “third party release” that would shield members of the Sackler family and a long list of their asso...

APD: Bomb squad investigation in Cedar Park linked to explosion in hospital parking garage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department confirmed to KXAN Thursday that an investigation in Cedar Park is linked to a vehicle explosion inside a garage at St. David's Medical Center that occurred Wednesday.The FBI, Austin Police Department bomb squad, and Cedar Park Police Department are investigating a scene in Cedar Park. ‘Sad tragedy’: 3 people recovered from hole in Bastrop County corn field CPPD posted on social media that its officers were assisting the FBI and APD bomb squad with an investigation at 335 Cypress Creek Road. That address is connected with the Cypress Gardens apartment complex.The address where officials are searching matches that of a suspect in an explosion at a hospital parking garage in central Austin, which KXAN looked up using public records. 1 arrested after St. David’s parking garage explosion The post said some residents have been temporarily evacuated out of an abundance of caution as the bomb squad examines an object at the scene...

Drought intensifies during record heat wave

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Drought conditions are worsening across the area as Austin's longest heatwave on record shows little signs of abating. Thursday was Austin's 50th 100-degree day of the year so far -- the 8th-highest 100-degree day count on record.New drought data released Thursday morning showed worsening drought across much of the area. BLOG: When will 100º days end in Austin? Excessive Heat Warnings in effect todayExcessive Heat Warnings and Fire Weather Warnings continue. Our local National Weather Service office has issued 15 Excessive Heat Warnings so far this year -- crushing the previous record of 3, set last year.We are seeing hints of at least a chance of rain beginning somewhere around Aug. 20, along with temperatures that may finally drop below 100°, but this is not yet a guarantee. Stay with KXAN and the First Warning Weather team for updates as the heat drags on. Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) KXAN Summer Fan Drive continuesStaying cool is paramount in this...