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Empire Company reports Q4 profit up from year ago, raises dividend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

STELLARTON, N.S. — Empire Company Ltd. raised its quarterly dividend as it reported its fourth-quarter profit rose compared with a year ago.The grocery retailer, which owns Sobeys and Safeway as well as other banners, says it will now pay a quarterly dividend of 18.25 cents per share, up from 16.5 cents per share.Empire says its profit for the 13-week period ended May 6 amounted to $182.9 million or 72 cents per share.The result is up from a profit of $178.5 million or 68 cents per share a year earlier.Empire says its fourth-quarter sales totalled $7.41 billon, down from $7.84 billion in its fourth quarter last year, which included an additional week.Same-store sales were up 1.6 per cent, while same-store sales, excluding fuel sales, were up 2.6 per cent.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:EMP.A)The Canadian Press

Charges filed year after phony signatures roiled Michigan race for governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Three people have been charged with forgery and other crimes in an investigation of phony petition signatures that spoiled the candidacies of five Republicans who were running for Michigan governor in 2022.Attorney General Dana Nessel scheduled a news conference Thursday to discuss the charges, which were filed Tuesday in a Warren court in suburban Detroit.Shawn Wilmoth, 36, Jamie Wilmoth, 36, and Willie Reed, 37, each face more than 20 charges, including election forgery and conducting a criminal enterprise, according to online court records.Former Detroit police Chief James Craig and millionaire businessman Perry Johnson were considered to be strong candidates for the Republican nomination for governor, but they were barred from the August primary ballot.State election officials said their petitions were rife with bogus signatures collected by paid petition circulators and, as a result, they didn’t have enough valid signatures to qualify. Three more can...

Man, 72, reported missing from Gage Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 72-year-old man was reported missing from the city's Gage Park neighborhood Wednesday, just days after his birthday. According to police, Victor Salcido was last seen in the area of the 5200 block of South Whipple Avenue. He was seen wearing a black and grey stripped shirt, grey pants and navy shoes. Search for 19-year-old swimmer to resume Thursday at Foster Beach He is described being around 5 feet and 7 inches tall and around 140 pounds.if any information is recovered on his whereabouts contact CPD area one detectives at (312)-747-8380.

Explosion at barbecue restaurant kills 31 people; China's president orders safety campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — China's president ordered a national safety campaign on Thursday after a massive cooking gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in the northwest killed 31 people and injured seven others on the eve of a long holiday weekend.The blast tore through the restaurant at around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday on a busy street in Yinchuan, the capital of the traditionally Muslim Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as people gathered ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival, the official Xinhua News Agency said.The explosion left many people unconscious and they needed to be carried out of the shop, according to the online news site The Paper, which quoted a member of the search and rescue team. Victims included elderly people and high school students, it said.An hour before the explosion, employees noticed the smell of cooking gas and discovered that a gas tank valve was broken, according to Xinhua. The blast occurred while an employee was replacing the valve. Is your gas stove hurting your...

Tornado tears through West Texas town, killing 4 people and causing widespread damage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

A line of severe storms produced what a meteorologist calls a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail in northwest Texas, killing at least four people and causing significant damage around the town of Matador.A supercell developed about 8 p.m. Wednesday near Amarillo before striking Matador, killing four people, injuring ten and causing widespread damage, said senior forecaster Matt Ziebell with the National Weather Service in Lubbock.The storm later produced 109 mph winds at Jayton in addition to the 4-inch or larger hail, according to Ziebell.“That is certainly rare to see all at the same time, killer tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail," Zeibell said.Wednesday "was definitely a rare combination of high-end wind shear and storms of extreme instability,” according to Ziebell.There were widespread power outages across the region, with more than 900 customers without power in the Matador and Jayton areas, according to...

TxTag technology: Why it abandoned an app, has outdated website maps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than a month after KXAN launched a viewer-driven investigation into TxTag, the state-run toll operation owned and operated by the Texas Department of Transportation with history of persistent issues, new concerns are being raised over its technology standards. KXAN discovered some of TxDOT's toll maps are five years out-of-date and a mobile payment app that was in the works in 2018 was quietly abandoned. 'It's showing it's under construction'Take a drive down U.S. Highway 183 South, also known as the Bergstrom Expressway, and you'll see it's very much in use. But, you'd never know that by looking at TxDOT's website.The Bergstrom Expressway toll plaza, owned by CTRMA (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)"It's showing it's under construction," said Nick Wood, an associate research engineer with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, as he pointed to a road map of the Austin area on TxDOT's website.This particular eight-mile stretch of highway in east Austin is operated by ...

4 dead: search and rescue ongoing in Matador after tornado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

MATADOR, Texas -- Motley County Sheriff's Office told EverythingLubbock.com that a search and rescue operation was started after a tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service shortly after 8:00 p.m.Several hours later, it was confirmed by the Texas Department of Public Safety on scene that three individuals were killed. Ten injuries were also reported, with all residents accounted for.Just after 2:00 a.m., authorities said that the death toll had risen to four; nine people remained injured. RELATED: Storm summary, June 21, tornado warning for Matador Storm damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff) Storm damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff) Storm damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff) Storm damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff)Storm damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff) The Texas Department of Transportation said in a social media post that SH 62/70 from Matador to Floydada was impassable Wednesday night due to the effects of the tornado. TxDOT said that crews will begin clearing the roadway as ...

Dinosaurs, Rodeos, Longhorns highlight 2023 Texas State Fair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

DALLAS (KXAN) – The State Fair of Texas Wednesday released the list of new attractions, entertainers and weekend rodeos for the 2023 State Fair.The fair will start on Friday, September 29, and run through Sunday, October 22. According to the announcement, fairgoers will see a Dinosaurs at the Lagoon exhibit with 10 life-sized dinosaurs found in Texas and a kids play area. The Fair said photo opportunities will be available with a 57-foot-tall Alamosaurus. The Fringe Stage will offer a water balloon fight with the Acrobuffos, a contortionist named Sara Twister and husband-and-wife acrobats Street Circus, the fair said. Soap Bubble Circus will perform "Guinness World Record-breaking feats of bubble-ology" at Oak Farms Theater, according to the Fair.According to the fair, holiday decoration ideas will be available at the Home for Holidays Christmas decor showcase.The State Fair of Texas Rodeo happens every weekend during the fair. Here's a look at the lineup:2023 State Fair of Texas Ro...

After 3 injured in St. Paul shooting, suspect climbs on roof and gets in standoff with police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

Three people were wounded in a shooting in St. Paul’s West Seventh neighborhood Wednesday night, and the suspect climbed onto a roof and got into a standoff with police.After 911 callers reported a shooting in the 200 block of Superior Street about 9:10 p.m., responding officers found two men and a woman with gunshot wounds to their legs. The woman also had been shot in her arm.Paramedics took the three to the hospital with injuries that did not appear life threatening, according to Sgt. Mike Ernster, a police spokesman.When officers found a possible suspect, he climbed onto a nearby roof to try to get away from officers. The SWAT team and negotiators arrived and were later able to take the man into custody, Ernster said.The man was also taken to the hospital with injuries he sustained before he got on the roof. Police expect to book him into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of aggravated assault and on a felony warrant.Police said they’re investigating the circumstan...

Checking in with Ghent teen after NFL Draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

GHENT, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Life hasn’t been the same for Kyle Stickles from Ghent who went viral after announcing the first round draft pick for the New York Jets earlier this year. NEWS10's Cassie Hudson checks in with the teen to see how life has changed for the 14 year old. Ghent teen shines at NFL Draft Kyle has been battling osteosarcoma, bone cancer, since 2020. He is currently in remission and will be declared cancer-free after five years of clear scans. Jim Giordano and Deb Benzinger, from Make-A-Wish, have been working with the family since May 2021 to fulfill Kyle’s wish of announcing the first round draft pick for the Jets in Kansas City. Leading up to the announcement, he practiced a lot in the comfort of his room.