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Progress made against massive California-Nevada wildfire but flames threaten iconic Joshua trees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters aided by rain fought to contain a massive blaze that swept through the California desert into Nevada and are threaten ing the region’s famous spiky Joshua trees.The York Fire that erupted last Friday is California’s largest wildfire this year. As of early Wednesday it had burned through more than 128 square miles (333 square kilometers) of land and was 30% contained, fire officials said.Humid monsoonal weather conditions Tuesday afternoon brought brief but heavy rain, especially on the south end of the fire, and kept its spread to a minimum, fire officials said. Similar conditions were expected on Wednesday, with drier weather poised to return on Thursday.“Right now, the monsoonal influence is still over the fire,” said Marc Peebles, a spokesperson for California’s incident management team for the York Fire. “There’s always the possibility of showers that will help the effort.”The 400 or so firefighters bat...

Michigan State to cancel classes on anniversary of mass shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University officials plan to cancel classes on the first anniversary of a mass shooting on campus.The university announced Tuesday that classes will be canceled on Feb. 13, WJBK-TV reported. Interim President Teresa Woodruff said the university will remain open that day and a remembrance event will be held. Classes will resume on Feb. 14. Anthony McRae opened fire at Berkey Hall and the MSU Union on Feb. 13, 2023. Three students — Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner — were killed. Five other students were wounded.McRae had no connection to the victims or to the university, investigators have said. He killed himself the night of the shootings after police confronted him. Investigators said in April they were unable to determine any conclusive motive for the campus shootings.The Associated Press

Nicolas Cage surrealist comedy to open TIFF’s competitive Platform program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

TORONTO — Nicolas Cage’s surrealist comedy “Dream Scenario” will open the competitive Platform program at the Toronto International Film Festival, with acclaimed filmmaker Barry Jenkins set to lead the jury.Cage stars in the satirical feature from U.S.-based filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli as an academic “thrust into the limelight after he starts inexplicably appearing in people’s dreams.”Brampton, Ont.’s Michael Cera and U.S. actress Julianne Nicholson also star.It’s joined by the Canadian drama “The King Tide,” directed by Christian Sparkes, and eight other titles chosen for their “unique directorial perspectives,” TIFF said Wednesday in a release.“Moonlight” director Jenkins will head a three-member panel that will select the winner of a $20,000 award.The jury includes Canadian filmmaker Anthony Shim, whose film “Riceboy Sleeps” won last year’s prize, and Nadine Labaki whose Oscar-nominated film “Capernaum” won the 2018 jury...

‘It feels like a fine’: Bar, restaurant workers speak out over new Smart Serve requirements

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

People who work at your favourite bars and restaurants are facing a government-issued deadline for recertification to keep their jobs. While most of them applaud training updates, they question the fee that goes along with it.“We hire bartenders and wait staff for private events in the GTA,” said Kevin Bagnall, owner of Servers and Shakers, a service-related staffing business in Toronto.Everyone he hires must have a Smart Serve certificate, which is required by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). It’s for any workers who serve, handle or sell alcohol and has been an industry standard for decades. It requires workers to complete an online course, which comes with a fee.“The main focus is for safety,” Bagnall said. “It teaches workers not to overserve and to recognize signs that people maybe too intoxicated, among other things.”Up until now, those who completed the course were good to work for life.“There was no expiry date on those certificates, but now t...

S&P/TSX composite down more than 300 points in morning trading, U.S. stocks also fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index fell in late-morning trading on Wednesday on broad-based losses as U.S. markets were also in decline.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 384.02 points at 20,148.91.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 288.59 points at 35,342.09. The S&P 500 index was down 59.25 points at 4,517.48, while the Nasdaq composite was down 290.49 points at 13,993.42.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.95 cents US compared with 75.24 cents US on Tuesday.The September crude oil contract was down US$1.78 at US$79.59 per barrel and the September natural gas contract was down nine cents at US$2.47 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$7.60 at US$1971.20 an ounce and the September copper contract was down six cents at US$3.85 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

COVID summer surge: Hospitalizations more than triple in 2 Texas counties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A summer surge in COVID-19 cases has spiked the number of people in the hospital with serious complications from the virus. Nationwide, COVID-related hospitalizations are up 12% in the last week of available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in some U.S. counties, the situation is dramatically worse. The CDC considers COVID-19 hospitalizations to be "medium" in 17 counties around the country. That means between 10 and 19.9 people are hospitalized with the virus for every 100,000 residents. CDC predicts late summer COVID wave. What are levels like in Austin? In two places in Texas, Navarro and Freestone counties, hospitalizations were up 250% in a single week – meaning they more than tripled. Fourteen new people were admitted in the past week, but because of their relatively small populations, that's a "high" rate of people going to the hospital, according to the CDC classification. Other areas of concern are: Southeast Texas (Presidio, Brew...

Comedian Samantha Bee to perform in Great Barrington

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (NEWS10) -- Comedian Samantha Bee will perform at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on Saturday, November 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are available online. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Bee will be performing her special "Your Favorite Woman: The Joy of Sex Education." Mahaiwe's website describes the show as a journey of our bodies through puberty, menopause, and more.Bee formerly hosted "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," which ended in 2022 after seven seasons. She's also appeared on "The Daily Show," "The Detour," and more.

Quiet Riot to perform in Hudson Falls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

HUDSON FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Quiet Riot will be performing at the Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls on Sunday, October 15, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available online, through the Strand Box Office at (518) 823-3484, or E1 Presents Box Office at (518) 792-0996. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The group will be celebrating 40 years of "Metal Health," and is described as the first heavy metal band to top the pop chart at #1 on Billboard Magazine. The quartet blew up after their 1983 album "Metal Health," featuring hits such as "Bang Your Head," "Run for Cover," "Battle Ax," and more.

Whitney Draw results from Saratoga Race Course

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Whitney Draw took place Wednesday morning at Saratoga Race Course, starting at 11. The Whitney will be run on August 5 at the Saratoga Race Course. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The draw results were:1- Zandon (9-2)/ Trainer: Chad Brown / Jockey: Joel Rosario2- Charge It (5-1)/ Trainer: Todd Pletcher / Jockey: John Velazquez3- Giant Game (20-1)/ Trainer: Dale Romans / Jockey: Luis Saez4- Last Samurai (15-1)/ Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas / Jockey: Flavien Prat5- White Abrarrio (6-1) / Trainer: Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. / Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.6- Cody's Wish (1-2) / Trainer William Mott / Jockey: Junior Alvarado Arrest made in fatal Treat Williams motorcycle crash According to NYRA, the Whitney was first run in 1928 and is named for the Whitney family. NYRA states that Whitney-owned horses have won every major race in the United States, including multiple wins at the Kentucky Derby, the Preakn...

St. Louis County promoting back to school vaccination clinics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Thousands of kids in the area will soon head back to school and St. Louis County officials want to make sure they have their vaccinations. That is why the St. Louis County Health Department is hosting multiple vaccination clinics.Wednesday morning, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and the Director of the St. Louis County Health Department Dr. Kanika Cunningham came together to speak about the county’s back to school vaccination program. The event took place at the St. Louis County Health Department headquarters in Berkeley. That center is one of the locations where the clinics are taking place.Page and Cunningham said Wednesday morning that the St. Louis County Department of Health is offering low or no-cost vaccinations at clinics through September 1. Page making the case that getting your kids immunized is a key part of giving them the best chance to stay healthy. Illinois village keeps flooding and no one knows why A release from the St. Louis County ...