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CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts down 1% in August

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in Canada edged down one per cent in August compared with July.The national housing agency says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in August came in at 252,787 units compared with 255,232 in July.The decrease came as the rate of urban housing starts fell one per cent to 233,075 units in August.The pace of multi-unit urban starts decreased one per cent to 191,250, while the rate of single-detached urban starts rose two per cent to 41,825.The annual rate of rural starts was estimated at 19,712.The six-month moving average of the overall monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 244,507 units in August, up 0.8 per cent from 242,552 in July.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bodies of 5 Greek military personnel killed in Libya flooding rescue effort are flown home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s armed forces declared three days of national mourning after five members of a military rescue team were killed in a road accident in flood-hit Libya. The bodies of the five — three military officials and two civilians — were flown back to a military base near Athens early on Monday, together with 13 injured team members who were taken to military hospitals in the Greek capital. A bus transporting the Greek team crashed on Sunday en route to the city of Derna, which has suffered devastating flood damage. The bus hit an oncoming car, also killing three Libyan passengers, according to Libyan officials.“We are all shocked by the deaths of rescuers who were participating in a humanitarian mission to show solidarity to the suffering Libyan people,” Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said. “I am deeply saddened by their unexpected death.”Heavy rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel caused massive flooding across eastern Libya a week ago. It overwhelmed t...

Stock market today: Wall Street turns to losses before the bell as focus turns to Fed meeting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

Wall Street turned toward losses early Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting this week.Futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.2% and futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1% before the bell.The market posted some gains last week following reports of several healthy economic indicators ahead of the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting, which ends Wednesday. That, and a meeting of Japan’s central bank, are the biggest highlights expected for the week.Investors are bound to focus on the Fed’s meeting. The U.S. central bank raised rates aggressively through 2022 and 2023 in an effort to tame inflation, but it kept interest rate levels at its last meeting. Inflation has generally been easing back to its target of 2%.Traders are overwhelmingly betting that the Fed will hold interest rates steady Wednesday. They also expect the central bank could keep rates unchanged for the rest of the year. The Fed has said it remains willing to continue raising rates i...

What happens if you call 911 and get put on hold?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

In many places across Canada, outdated 911 systems are strapped for operators and barely holding on to functionality. That has led to some people calling with emergencies—like a Brampton, Ont. family dealing with a home invasion—not being able to get through to an operator. It should go without saying that if 911 doesn’t work properly, lives are at risk. Yet here we are.Graeme Frisque is a reporter with the Mississauga Guardian and Brampton News, he says that 911 delays have become a hot-button issue in recent years. “People are pretty upset about it, and rightfully so,” says Frisque.So how do we modernize and adequately staff Canada’s most critical phone number?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

Hunter Biden sues the IRS over tax disclosures after agent testimony

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

Hunter Biden has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, arguing that two agents violated his right to privacy when they publicly aired his tax information as they pressed claims that a federal investigation of him had been improperly handled. The lawsuit filed Monday says that his personal tax details shared during congressional hearings and interviews was not allowed by federal whistleblower protections. The suit escalates the legal fight as a long-running investigation continues to unfold against a sharply political backdrop, including an impeachment inquiry aimed at his father, President Joe Biden.It comes days after Hunter Biden was indicted on federal firearms charges alleging that he lied about his drug use to buy and possess a gun in October 2018. The case could be on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms. IRS supervisory special agent Greg Shapley, and a second agent, Joe Ziegler, have claimed there was pattern of “slow-walking i...

Unifor contract with Ford set to expire tonight as negotiations continue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

TORONTO — Unifor’s contract with Ford Motor Co. is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. ET tonight.The union is negotiating with Ford in hopes of reaching an agreement that can be used as a blueprint for workers at General Motors and Stellantis. Unifor has said it is focused on improving pensions, increasing wages and securing good jobs in a future set to be dominated by electric vehicles. Unifor members at Ford have voted 98.9 per cent in favour of a strike if the bargaining committee fails to secure a new collective agreement. The talks continue as autoworkers represented by the United Auto Workers in the United States are on the picket line.Some 13,000 U.S. autoworkers started striking last week, targeting a plant at each of the Detroit Three automakers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published  Sept. 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

Man killed in motorcycle crash on Lake Shore Drive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A 25-year-old man was killed after being struck by a vehicle following a motorcycle crash on Lake Shore Drive.The accident happened around 11:36 p.m. Sunday on the 3600 block of North Lake Shore Drive. Police said the man was traveling northbound on a motorcycle when he lost control and struck a guard rail.The 25-year-old landed in the southbound lanes and was struck by a passing vehicle. He was transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. 4 people, including 2 children, found fatally shot in Romeoville The man's identity has not yet been released.The Major Accidents Unit is investigating the crash.

Texas church holds AI-generated service, uses ChatGPT

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — From the classroom to the workplace, artificial Intelligence has made its way into several parts of our lives. But now, it's in the church as well. The Violet Crown City Church in north Austin, Texas, hosted a Sunday service entirely created by AI. Pastor Jay Cooper said he used ChatGPT, whose technology can respond to questions and create a variety of content, such as articles, essays and emails. "ChatGPT kicked out about a 15-minute service, like a shotgun sermon, an outline," Cooper said. "It's very clear that a human element is still needed. I had to fill out the service with additional prompts and add a couple prompts to the sermon to kind of beef it up." ChatGPT: School districts discuss policies addressing Artificial Intelligence in the classroom Cooper said he got the idea after reading more about AI and speaking with members of the congregation who are software developers. "There's so many different applications for AI," he said. "I just had the idea, 'Wh...

5 standout moments from the start of the new school year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

(The Hill) -- The start of the 2023-2024 school year is in full swing as millions of U.S. students have returned to classrooms, but not without some hiccups. Kids across the country have seen some of their first days back canceled due to lack of transportation, extreme heat or insufficient educators to teach. Others saw schools closed over COVID-19 again.The start signals that issues exacerbated by the pandemic will continue to cause trouble for educators and students.Here are the biggest stories nationwide out of the new academic year:School bus driver shortageThe school bus driver shortage alone has affected tens of thousands of students across the country as delays and cancellations plagued their first week back.In Kentucky, Jefferson County Public Schools had a self-proclaimed “transportation disaster,” as some students did not get home until 10 p.m. due to the issue.“I saw some incredible instruction. Kids excited, families excited, new school buildings, and to have it end with...

Troy resident wins $1K a week for life on scratch-off

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:10 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Troy resident has won $1,000 a week for life on a scratch-off ticket. According to the New York Lottery, Justine Lanzillo claimed the top prize from the Win $1,000 A Week For Life scratch-off game. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The winning ticket was bought at Hannaford at 9 126th Street in Troy. Lanzillo chose to receive the prize as a one-time lump sum, totaling $456,614 after required withholdings.As of September 15, there were three top prizes remaining on the Win $1,000 A Week for Life scratch-off games. Players can check the status of any scratch-off by downloading the Game Report on the New York Lottery website. $1M winning Mega Millions ticket sold at Glenmont Stewart’s New York scratch-off games generated $4,406,338,198 in total sales during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Officials said school districts in Rensselaer County received $41,932,057 in Lottery Aid to Education funds during that time...