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Alberta moves to de-privatize community lab tests in face of long waits, bottlenecks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

EDMONTON — The Alberta government is de-privatizing its community lab testing in the face of long waits and bottlenecks — a move the Opposition NDP calls an admission of colossal failure and blinkered ideology.Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the province has signed a memorandum of understanding with private provider Dynalife to transfer its staff, equipment and property to the province by the end of the year.LaGrange did not discuss the cost of the deal, saying there is a memorandum of understanding with Dynalife and those details are still being hashed out, but said action had to be taken.“This change is necessary to make sure Albertans can get their lab work done when and where they need it and get timely results,” LaGrange told reporters Friday in Red Deer. “There will be no job loss for frontline lab workers.“But for Albertans that need lab work done this will mean faster access to high-quality care,” she added.LaGrange said there will be no i...

Man seriously injured in daytime shooting in Scarborough

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

An investigation is underway after a man was found with gunshot wounds in Scarborough.Police say they were called to the area of Huntingwood Drive and Midland Avenue just after 4 p.m. for reports of gunshots. When they arrived they found a man who had been shot. Paramedics say he has been taken to a nearby trauma centre with serious to possibly life-threatening injuries. There was no immediate word on what may have led up to the shooting or any possible suspect descriptions.

Illegal crossings on the US-Mexico border rose in July but were still down from last year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

Arrests for illegally crossing the U.S. border from Mexico soared 33% from June to July, according to U.S. government figures released Friday, reversing course after a plunge that followed the introduction of new asylum restrictions in May.President Joe Biden’s administration insisted that its carrot-and-stick approach of expanding legal routes while imposing more punitive measures on those who enter illegally is working. It noted that illegal crossings were still down 27% from July 2022 and were well below the days that preceded the new immigrations rules.The increase from June to July was driven by a larger presence of families traveling with children — nearly doubling to 60,161 arrests. Arizona became far busier despite crushing heat in its remote deserts, a shift that officials said resulted from false advertising by smugglers that it was easier to cross there and be released in the United States.“We remain vigilant and continue to adjust our operational plans to maximize ...

Arrests made in 2022 kidnapping, robbery outside Scarborough Town Centre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

Toronto police have made more arrests in a violent kidnapping and robbery carried out by multiple suspects outside Scarborough Town Centre last year.On November 17, 2022, at around 3:45 p.m., a man was in the Scarborough Town Centre area when he was forced into a vehicle by three men. Police say the victim was assaulted over several hours and forced at gunpoint to hand over a substantial amount of jewellery.After being held for several hours, the man managed to escape the vehicle.On November 18, police arrested one of the suspects. Suliaman Sufi, 21, of Toronto, was charged with numerous offences, including kidnapping, forcible confinement, extortion and robbery with a firearm.A few months later, on March 21, 2023, police arrested a second suspect. He was identified as 21-year-old Abdulhai Patel of Pickering. He faces numerous charges, including kidnapping, extortion, forcible confinement and assault causing bodily harm.Patel appeared in court on March 22.On Friday, police arrested ...

S&P/TSX composite ekes out gain Friday, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index eked out a gain Friday, helped by strength in energy and utilities, while U.S. markets were mixed. “It’s been a tough week,” said John Zechner, chairman and lead equity manager at J Zechner Associates, amid an “ugly month” overall, led by concern about interest rates. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 6.16 points at 19,818.39.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 25.83 points at 34,500.66. The S&P 500 index was down 0.65 points at 4,369.71, while the Nasdaq composite was down 26.16 points at 13,290.78.“Markets got ahead of themselves. A lot of people were really buying into this whole soft landing scenario … that growth will continue, that the interest rates won’t rise much further,” Zechner said. Now, bond yields are rising as investors swallow a bitter pill: rates are likely to stay higher for longer, he said, and expectations for rate cuts need to be pushed back further.The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Jerome Po...

'You've gotta talk about Mongo:' Ric Flair advocating for Steve McMichael's election to Hall of Fame

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

CHICAGO — The passion that he showed in the ring to entertain fans for decades is the same that he's showing for one of his good friends going for a major honor in a difficult time in his life.If you ask Ric Flair if Steve McMichael should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he answers firmly in the affirmative. In fact, he wonders why more people haven't been talking about it for longer. "You've gotta talk about Mongo," said Flair to WGN News Now as he mentioned the chatter being around others up for consideration for election for the Class of 2024. "Let's forget about talking about first ballot, let's get a guy that might live another six months, let's talk about him."Flair is one of many who are supporting the former Bears defensive tackle, who is currently battling ALS, as he looks to take a step closer to election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McMichael is in the final 12 of the Seniors Committee's list for possible enshrinement as part of the Class of 2024. On August 22, ...

Two charged in connection to dog attack in Highland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

Highland, Ind. — Police in Highland, Indiana have filed charges against two people after a dog attack left a woman injured and her husky dead.According to Highland Police, Adrien Sheldon and Luz Adorno are facing several charges after their loose dogs allegedly attacked a woman and her dog in the 3500 block of Jewett Street around 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8. Dog mauled, woman injured after pack of dogs escape yard Police charged Sheldon with Cruelty to Animals, and four counts of Dog Bite Liability, misdemeanors. Adorno was also charged with four misdemeanor counts of Dog Bite Liability.Police say 28-year-old Amber Neyhart had been walking her dog in the area when they were both attacked by the group of dogs that escaped from a nearby yard. Neyhart tried to shield her dog but was bitten by one of the adult dogs in the group. Witnesses to the attack attempted to step in to help Neyhart but were also bitten. More news from Northwest Indiana According to police, Neyhart suffere...

State of Texas preview: New Paxton impeachment documents, SB 14 lawsuit ruling expected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — People are used to tuning in every Sunday morning to hear in-depth analysis on that week's biggest political news during the "State of Texas" program, and now they have a chance to find out ahead of time what that award-winning coverage will include. Starting this Friday afternoon, KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree will lead a conversation with a member of the KXAN politics team to preview the stories that will serve as the focus on that week's show. The first edition of this live stream will include Josh Hinkle, the host of "State of Texas." People can watch the live stream starting at 4 p.m. in this story and on the KXAN News Facebook page. During the first show, Will and Josh will discuss the following headlines: Texas House impeachment managers revealed new allegations against suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, just weeks before the start of his impeachment trial. The accusations came out Tuesday in response to motions filed by Paxton’s attorneys to dismiss the c...

Missing teen last seen in Temple may be staying in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 18, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A missing teen last seen Aug. 6 in Temple may be staying in Austin, according to a release from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).The Temple Police Department and NCMEC are asking for the public's help finding 16-year-old Trinity Livingston, who has been missing for nearly two weeks, the release said. Officials believe Trinity may be in the north Austin St. John's area, which is near Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 183.Livingston is described as 5'5", weighs 120 lbs., and has brown hair with brown eyes, the release said.If you have any information about Livingston or her disappearance, you should contact NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678 or the Temple Police Department at 1-254-298-5500.

Q&A: Loons owner Bill McGuire on club’s salary spending, striker woes and Lionel Messi buzz

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:03 GMT

Supporters can pick holes in Minnesota United, but Loons owner Bill McGuire chooses to take a holistic approach.The Loons (7-8-7) are one point outside the newly expanded, nine-team Western Conference field for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with 35 percent — 12 matches — left in the regular season.For years, MNUFC has been outside the top 15, sometimes top 20, in MLS salary spending and has needed to outperform that low ranking on the field to clinch four consecutive playoff appearances.But to McGuire, it’s about more that. He points to things such overall competitiveness and experiences, Allianz Field being tabbed as the best stadium in MLS, per the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the club’s and players’ standing within the community.“I think what fans want is, one, a great experience,” McGuire said this week. “And two, they want to have a club or a team that they can be oriented with, they can feel part of. It has emotions around. I don’t think that a majority of people expect to go and ...