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Court rules Montreal-area city can cull white-tailed deer population in local park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

LONGUEUIL, Que. — A Quebec Superior Court judge has ruled that a city south of Montreal can proceed with a plan to cull most of the white-tailed deer that have overrun a local park.Justice Bernard Jolin said Longueuil, Que., can move forward with a controlled crossbow hunt that would cut the deer population at Michel-Chartrand Park from more than 100 down to about 20.Jolin’s ruling is the latest in a saga that has seen animal rights organizations and activists fight in court to block the cull, arguing that control methods should favour keeping the animals alive.But Jolin disagreed with that argument, saying that while the law recognizes animals are sentient beings it does not recognize their right or interest in living.In a 57-page ruling released today, Jolin says the groups have not demonstrated the plan is unreasonable and says the planned cull falls within the city’s legal rights when it comes to environment, nuisances and health and safety.The City of Longueuil says...

Jerry Reinsdorf: 'Virtually no possibility' shot came from inside Sox park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

CHICAGO — At the news conference to introduce new general manager Chris Getz, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has something to say about the investigation into the shooting at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday night.He told reporters at the ballpark that he believes there is "virtually no possibility" that the gunshots came from within the ballpark. "I spoke to Superintendent (Fred) Waller from the police department last night and he authorized me to tell everybody that regardless of what has been said in the past by anybody, the police have not ruled out the possibility or the probability that the gunshots the other night came from outside the ballpark," said Reinsdorf. "I don't want to comment on the specific details because the police are still investigating, they haven't come to a final conclusion, but we have done a lot of investigation, we've gathered a lot of facts, and without going into the detail, because I don't want to influence the police decision, but the fact is, bas...

Suburban organization's equine therapy making a difference to many

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

WAUCONDA, Ill. — Therapy comes in many forms and for hundreds of Chicago area kids, it happens at a barn in Wauconda.Using horses as a form of therapy isn't the most traditional route, but those who have experienced it, say it's been nothing short of life changing. For 19 years, Partners for Progress Therapeutic Equestrian Center has been hoisting kids into saddles.Amanda Bradon is an occupational therapist and the organization’s director."I think the biggest benefit here is this doesn't feel like therapy. This feels like a recreational activity,” she said. “And you're getting a lot of bang for your buck because your body is getting stronger, your brain is getting stronger, and all that is happening while you're doing something you really enjoy." More from Erin: Coffee for a cause at new café in Arlington Heights The program utilized the horses natural gait, movement and connection to help kids with disabilities For the families and volunteers who've seen the end re...

Leaders: Speeding up work permits can fix labor shortage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — As U.S. businesses struggle to fill job vacancies, leaders across the country are calling on the White House to step in."We need the national government to stand up," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.Democrats and Republicans say the federal government must cut red tape to allow more immigrants into the workforce."We have the jobs. We have the people. We just need authorization from Washington," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.Rebecca Shi, founding executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, represents 1,400 employers nationwide."We're at a crisis," she said.According to Shi, speeding up the work permit process is the answer to the nation's labor shortage."We're hearing that the application for asylum and work permits are taking up to a year to four years," Shi said.Right now, there aren't enough working Americans to fill all of the available jobs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports there are nearly 10 million job openings but only...

White House defends Maui wildfire response, announces $95M for recovery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The burned-out streets of Lahaina are the latest battleground for Democrats and Republicans, as some members of the GOP accuse the Biden administration of not responding to the emergency adequately.The White House is on the defense, saying the Biden administration responded immediately and appropriately -- and will keep helping Hawaii long term.Republicans are scrutinizing the president's recent responses to natural disasters.“If he responds to it like he did in Hawaii, we might be in trouble. But let's hope he doesn't,” Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said.Republicans claim the Biden administration's response to Maui’s deadly wildfires was too slow and House Oversight Chairman James Comer says his committee will investigate the government's decisions.However, Hawaii Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-HI) says the issue shouldn't be politicized.“We need to focus all this concern that we have across the aisle from both Democrats and Republicans and focus it on helping the r...

First Proud Boy sentenced to 17 years in prison after seditious conspiracy conviction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

Proud Boy Joe Biggs on Thursday was sentenced to 17 years in prison, the second-highest sentence handed down to anyone convicted in connection with the Capitol attack. Biggs was convicted of sedition and other serious felonies earlier this year after being accused of leading members of the right-wing extremist group to the Capitol and talking with the first rioter to breach police barricades just minutes before he acted. The Florida Army veteran appeared in court Thursday wearing an orange prison-issued jumpsuit with a white undershirt and black thick-frame glasses, his white hair styled into a mohawk and beard outgrown. Addressing the court, Biggs said he is “sick and tired of left versus right,” and that the only group he wants to be a part of in the future is his daughter’s parent-teacher association.“I know I messed up that day, but I’m not a terrorist,” he said through tears. Top Stories from The HillUkraine breaks through major Russian defense lines as counterof...

Bastrop H-E-B adding nearly 18K square feet in multi-million-dollar expansion project

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A multi-million-dollar expansion project is coming to H-E-B’s Bastrop store, according to the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation.BastropEDC said Phase 1, which included a parking lot addition, was already underway. The next step would impact the interior of the building.The building is set to undergo a large renovation and expansion, which is estimated to begin July 1, 2024, and include nearly 18,000 square feet of added space, according to BastropEDC.The expansion would add nearly triple the capacity of the curbside carryout portion of the property, and a True Texas BBQ restaurant is also going to be placed inside the building.BastropEDC said the store's pharmacy would be reconfigured to provide greater efficiency, more backstage processing square footage would be added to improve production capacity for foods that are made and packaged in-store, and all customer-facing refrigeration cases would be replaced.According to BastropEDC, additional administrative of...

Austin records hottest summer on record, and driest in 113 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For years, hot summers in Central Texas have been judged by comparison to 2011, Austin's hottest summer on record. But as meteorological summer ends at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 31, it turns out this summer was even hotter in some parts of town.Austin records hottest summer on recordWe averaged the hourly temperatures from Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather recording site, every hour since Jun. 1 when meteorological summer began. This summer was a tie for Austin's hottest summer on record.2023 ties as Austin's hottest summer on recordAt the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in southeastern Travis County, the period of record is shorter. But 2023 was by far the airport's hottest meteorological summer on record.2023 was Austin-Bergstrom Intl. Airport's hottest summer on record by farClimate change is heating up Austin summersAll of Austin's 10-hottest years on record have come since 1998, even though temperature records extend back to 1897. As the climate warms, Austin'...

As Austin's homeless strategy officer resigns, some asking for deeper look at city spending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly is asking the City of Austin to do a full audit of its homelessness response, according to a memo. The request comes one day after the announcement that Austin's homeless strategy officer is resigning. “We have received Council Member Kelly’s memorandum and are looking into the recommendations outlined in the letter," a City of Austin spokesperson said. The council member is asking the city to provide "a detailed breakdown of the funds allocated for homeless services, including sources of funding (local, state federal) and how these funds are being distributed." It also asks the city to look at how well it's coordinating between departments and other stakeholders while asking for community input on improvements that could be made. "Unfortunately, sometimes the city doesn't do a great job of educating the public on the successes they've had, or the failures," Kelly said. "And so I think it's really important to look for an opportun...

Texas A&M Forest Service rolling out prescribed burn grants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:06 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) -- The Texas A&M Forest Service will be offering grants to aid Texas landowners looking to offset any costs related to prescribed fires, per a Thursday release.More than $500,000 in grant funds are available for eligible landowners "conducting prescribed burns on their property by certified and insured prescribed burn managers," the release said. The grant program offered up more than $362,000 last year to help lead prescribed fire treatments on nearly 13,000 acres of privately owned land statewide.The last day to apply for the grant funds is Sept. 30. Those interested can check to see their eligibility and find an application online.“Prescribed burning can play a crucial role for landowners in reducing wildfire danger, improving wildlife habitats and fostering a healthier forest ecosystem,” said Weldon Dent, fuels specialist with the Texas A&M Forest Service, in the release. Prescribed fires are used to help remove brush, weeds, dried vegetatio...