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Targeted by mistake: Quebec police conduct raids tied to organized crime killings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec police are conducting raids and seizures tied to a series of organized crime-related killings, including the deaths of three people who were mistakenly targeted.Today’s operation, which involves provincial police and Montreal police, is connected with killings in Montreal and its North Shore from the mid-1990s to today.Police say the raids — in Laval, Mirabel, Rosemère and Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot — are primarily concerned with the deaths of the three people mistakenly killed.The victims are Lida Phon, 32, who was killed in a Laval home in August 2012; Domenico Facchini, 37, who was shot dead in a cafe in Montreal’s St-Léonard borough in December 2012; and Nicolas Lavoie-Cloutier, 18, killed in Terrebonne, Que., in June 2018.Police say those targeted in the raids are linked to the Italian Mafia, the Hells Angels, and street gangs.Neither police force would give details on the nature of today’s seizures, but they urged anyone with informati...

2 Toronto men facing child porn charges in separate investigations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

Two Toronto men are facing child pornography charges in separate investigations, Toronto police revealed on Thursday.Officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the Yonge and Bloor streets area on Wednesday, Dec. 6, allegedly seizing evidence that led to the arrest of 47-year-old James Morris.His charges include luring a person under 14 years of age, posses child pornography, access child pornography and make available child pornography. He was also charged with three counts of breach of recognizance.In a separate case, officers executed a search warrant in the Leslie Street and Cummer Avenue area on Nov. 30, 2023.Officers allegedly seized a quantity of child sexual abuse material.Julian Kriger, 69, was arrested and charged with two counts each of possess child pornography and access child pornography.

CosMc's: McDonald's reveals menu for new restaurant concept, first test location opening in Bolingbrook

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

Correction: This story has been updated with an accurate link to the source of McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski's comments.CHICAGO (KTVI/NEXSTAR) – CosMc’s, the new restaurant concept from McDonald’s, is aiming to attract coffee-drinkers and beverage enthusiasts who might otherwise spend their money at Starbucks or Dunkin’.On Wednesday, McDonald’s formally announced the menu at its CosMc’s test locations. The first CosMc's location opens Friday in Bolingbrook, near the intersection of Boughton and Weber roads, with approximately 10 CosMc's pilot locations set to open by the end of 2024. Based off an obscure McDonald's character from the 1980s, CosMc's will feature offerings ranging from coffee and tea drinks to frappes and slushies, with names such as the "S'mores Cold Brew," "Popping Pear Slush" and "Sour Tango Lemonade." There’s also a line of “Signature Galactic Boosts,” fruity drinks that appear to feature either a caffeinated element, kombucha powder or a vitamin “shot,” among...

Rep. Jamaal Bowman censured by Republican-led House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – For the third time this year, the House has censured a representative. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), who pled guilty to pulling a House office building fire alarm in September, was the target Thursday.Bowman’s charges will be dismissed once he completes a three-month probationary period.“It’s painfully obvious to myself, my colleagues and the American people that the Republican Party is deeply unserious and unable to legislate,” Bowman said Wednesday. “Their censure resolution against me today continues to demonstrate their inability to govern and serve the American people.”Bowman joins two other Democratic lawmakers who have been censured this year. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was targeted over his comments as chair of the Intel Committee during the investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the only Palestinian American in Congress, was censured for her statements regarding the war in Gaza.The censure of a lawmaker carries no...

White House delays banning menthol cigarettes yet again: When is the next target date?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

(The Hill) – The Biden administration is delaying a decision on whether to ban menthol flavored cigarettes amid intense lobbying from critics including the tobacco industry, industry-backed groups and some Black criminal justice advocates. The delay is alarming public health groups, which fear that the White House could cave to pressure and delay the rule indefinitely, especially against the backdrop of President Biden’s reelection bid. The target date for releasing the rule was initially August, which was then pushed back to the end of the year. The White House in its regulatory agenda released Wednesday set a new target for March 2024.  “Any delay in finalizing the FDA’s [Food and Drug Administration's] menthol rule would be a gift to the tobacco industry at the expense of Black lives,” said Yolanda Richardson, CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “We urge the administration to keep its promise and issue a final rule by the end of this year.”  Can you bring ...

Stream plans to begin East Sixth Street transformation in new year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- A substantial facelift of Austin’s East Sixth Street will begin in the new year.Stream Realty Partners LP said preliminary preservation work is planned to begin in early January as part of a major restoration of more than 30 properties along the popular street with Congress Avenue to the west and I-35 to the east.The initial work will focus on restoring the facades and interiors of the Stream-owned buildings that have fallen into disrepair. The majority of interior and exterior work is scheduled to begin late in the first quarter of 2024 and early in the second quarter of the year, according to the developer.The firm also disclosed that it will begin looking for new tenants in 2024 but it did not share if it is still actively looking for contractors to carry out the renovations.Read the full story at Austin Business Journal.

How the Gophers got quarterback recruit Drake Lindsey out of the Razorbacks’ backyard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

The Gophers football program moved fast one day in April.Georgia prep quarterback Aaron Philo had de-committed from Minnesota’s 2024 recruiting class, and U coaches were looking for another QB option when they came across Drake Lindsey in Fayetteville, Ark.Approaching 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Lindsey had thrown 3,778 yards, 37 touchdowns and three interceptions in 11 games during his junior year in the state’s largest class. But he only had scholarship offers from Alabama-Birmingham, Nevada-Las Vegas and Colorado State.Gophers quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh watched some of Lindsey’s film and asked Fayetteville coach Jay Wilkinson about why Lindsey was still on the market.“(Harbaugh) almost felt like it was too good to be true,” Wilkinson recalled to the Pioneer Press. “He’s like, ‘What’s going on with this kid?’ ”Nothing out of the ordinary, Wilkinson assured him. Lindsey just had a slower start to the recruiting process after playing in mop...

Coaldale residents pitch in for Samaritan’s Purse campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

Southern Alberta NewspapersFor the second time, Coaldale residents Karen and Jim Laturnus have travelled to Calgary to spend a day helping children in need at the Samaritan’s Purse processing centre.Karen, 63, and Jim, 66, spent Nov. 30 inspecting Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes before they were packed in cartons and transported to Central America, West Africa, Philippines and Ukraine. There, they will be given to children who in many cases have never received a gift in their lives.“It’s an excellent service opportunity, contributing to a good cause and spreading God’s love,” said Karen.“I like that Operation Christmas Child helps a lot of underprivileged kids and the get a bit of God’s love,” Jim said. It’s not too late for Lethbridge and Coaldale residents to help children in need. Just visit http://www.PackaBox.ca and pack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes online.

Little Makers Program helps both parents and children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe Coaldale Public Library keeps even the littlest of kids busy with the Little Makers Program.Kendra Birss, operator of the Little Makers Program at the Coaldale Public Library, says that the Little Makers program runs in tandem with Lego Club on Tuesday afternoons from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. and gives parents with two to five-year-olds an opportunity to sing songs, listen to a story, and then build with Duplo blocks.“It allows parents to drop their older children off at Lego Club, but then have a way to entertain their younger children while they wait,” said Birss. “It also gives the younger siblings ownership since they get to participate in a similar program to the big kids; some of the program participants refer to it as ‘Duplo Club’ (just like Lego Club). It is a drop-in program for any caregiver with toddlers and preschoolers, not just Lego Club participants.”Birss says that the library began offerin...

Global Crop Production Conference takes places on Dec. 13

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterFarming Smarter’s 2023 virtual Global Crop Production Conference will take place on December 13.“This event connects our audience, primarily located in southern Alberta, with industry professionals from around the world that can provide innovative solutions for the challenges we face,” said Sean Kjos, Communications Coordinator for Farming Smarter. “Our typical audience at this event is farmers and other agricultural professionals who want to learn from these new perspectives.”  The Global Crop Production Virtual Conference, Kjos says, is a holdover from COVID-19 when we had to find new and safe ways to keep our audience engaged with relevant research in 2020. “The virtual conference persists because it allows us to bring international speakers to you at very low cost,” said Kjos.   Kjos says that this year’s Virtual Conference will consist of six 45-minute sessions featuring our guest speakers followed...