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Ontario giving police services $18M to fight auto theft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

Ontario is giving police services $18 million over three years to help them fight auto theft.Premier Doug Ford says auto theft is a growing problem and the funding will help dismantle organized crime networks and get criminals off the streets.The grants are set to fund 21 projects, including buying new software, GPS and tracking devices, providing specialized training to investigators, creating new units dedicated to auto theft, and expanding data collection and analysis.The government says that from 2014 to 2021 there was a 72 per cent increase in auto theft across the province, and a 14 per cent increase in the last year alone. Related: 1,000-plus cars recovered, over 200 arrested in stolen vehicle investigation across Toronto Hyundai to hold software-upgrade clinics across the US for vehicles targeted by thieves Toronto police seize more than 1000 vehicles in auto theft sting Which vehicles are most often targeted by Ontario...

New bill seeks to limit new captivity of elephants, apes in Canada

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

Canadian zoos won’t be able to bring in new elephants or apes under new federal legislation introduced this week, except under specific circumstances.Bill S-15 looks to ban all new captivity of the species except where a licence is granted for conservation, research or an animal’s best interest.It will also fully bar the use of elephants and apes as entertainment, though that does not currently include exhibits where people can ride on an elephant.Saskatchewan Sen. Marty Klyne is sponsoring the bill in the Senate and says it can and should lead to the “world’s first nationally legislated phase-out of elephant captivity.”There are more than 20 elephants and approximately 30 apes in captivity in Canada currently.Klyne says elephants and apes, including gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, are self-aware, highly intelligent creatures, and yet in Canada, they can be held in captivity even without a licence.This report by The Canadian Press was fir...

Nice soccer player Atal will face trial Dec. 18 after sharing an antisemitic message on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

NICE, France (AP) — French authorities detained Nice defender Youcef Atal and ordered him to stand trial next month on charges of inciting hatred after he shared an antisemitic message online, the regional prosecutor’s office said Friday.Atal was suspended by the French soccer league for seven matches over the post last month, which came amid global tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Nice also suspended him.Nice authorities opened an investigation after Atal posted the message and detained him for questioning on Thursday, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Prosecutors ordered him to stand trial Dec. 18 on a charge of incitement to hatred for religious reasons, it said.He was released Friday on bail of 80,000 euros ($87,500) and placed under judicial supervision pending the trial. He is not allowed to leave France except for international soccer games.The 27-year-old Atal, who also plays for Algeria’s national team, apologized after reportedly reposting and then deleting a...

CTA's Holiday Train begins rolling on Black Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

CHICAGO — The CTA's Holiday Train is back on the rails Friday afternoon.It begins just after 3 p.m. departing the Midway Orange Line station. The Holiday Train will hit every train line from Friday through Dec. 21.For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, photo sessions with Santa are available. Jolly Old St. Nick rides in an open flat car while on the train.The tradition began on the Blue Line in 2001.Visit here for the full schedule.

Woman, 2 kids injured in hit-and-run crash on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman and two children were injured in a hit-and-run crash on the South Side Thanksgiving night.Just before 9:45 p.m., officers said a vehicle, with a woman and two kids, 6 and 12, was traveling in the 8500 block of South MLK Drive when it was struck by another vehicle.The vehicle flipped and all three occupants were transported in fair condition.The other vehicle fled the scene.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Hamas frees 24 hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal.The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar.The agreement opened the way for sorely needed aid to flow into Gaza for beleaguered residents. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war.With the truce’s start Friday morning, Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet for the first time after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, which has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and flattened vast swaths of residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.The freed Israeli hostages included eigh...

Amsterdam pizzeria reopens in new location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Slice of Amsterdam has opened for business at 189 Market Street in Amsterdam. Formerly known as Southside Slice, the pizzeria relocated from 68 Bridge Street. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! After two years in the building on Bridge Street, owners Brent and Corey Yager decided that they wanted to move closer to the center of the city and make their pizzeria more accessible to those who don’t drive. The pizza place closed on September 23 for the move.“When we were on the south side, we pushed for live music and pizza but sometimes it got so busy it just didn’t make sense,” said Brent Yager. The Bread Butler opens relocated shop in Colonie Center The Yagers also own Drifter’s and What-A-Bargain in Amsterdam. They are looking to open up a live music venue in a different space, as well.The Slice menu features wings, calzones, subs, and of course, pizza. You can view the full menu on the Slice of Amster...

Mines football opens Division II playoffs eyeing another run to the national championship game: “We have an extra chip on our shoulder”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

GOLDEN — New coach, same standard.The ultimate goal hasn’t changed for Colorado School of Mines football: national championship or bust.Under Pete Sterbick, the Orediggers’ third head coach in three years following Gregg Brandon retiring and Brandon Moore taking the head job at San Diego, Mines is undefeated and back as a favorite in the NCAA Division II playoffs after falling in the title game a season ago.“The culture’s the same and I think it’s gotten even better,” Sterbick said. “The difference is our experience factor has gotten that much better after a five-game playoff run last year. Our mentality on what we want to accomplish is the same as far as the end goal.“But we have an extra chip on our shoulder with how things ended last year, and we feel like all the time that we have to re-prove ourselves to people. People forget about us, so we’re fired up.”Mines’ Cinderella carriage turned into a pumpkin in t...

Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Browns and predictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

Browns (7-3) at Broncos (5-5)When: 2:05 p.m. MT, SundayWhere: Empower Field at Mile High StadiumRadio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/FOXBroncos-Browns series: The Broncos are 21-7 in 28 regular-season games dating back to 1970; they lost 17-14 in the last meeting, on Oct. 21, 2021, in Cleveland, and have lost two of the last three matchups to the Browns.In the spotlightThe Broncos are in the playoff hunt — barely.Denver has a 19% chance of making the postseason, according to the New York Times. Still, it’s impressive that the Broncos are in the mix despite starting the season at 1-5.The Broncos’ four-game win streak has their confidence at an all-time high, said safety Justin Simmons. For Denver to sustain this euphoric feeling while moving up in the standings, the next two games are pivotal. The Broncos need to handle business against the Browns and the Houston Texans — a pair of AFC teams also jockeying for position down the stretch.The Browns are the fifth seed, while the Texans — led...

Canada removes sanctions on businessman Oleg Boyko

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:25 GMT

In a significant development, Canada has officially lifted sanctions against international businessman Oleg Boyko, who was previously included in the list of individuals facing sanctions in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The decision came following recommendations from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, leading to amendments to the list of sanctioned individuals.The move to lift sanctions came after Oleg Boyko, in August 2023, took legal action by filing claims against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Court of Canada. Citing a lack of response from Canadian authorities, Boyko sought justice through the legal system. Subsequently, the court initiated administrative proceedings, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the designated authority for sanction-related matters, reviewed the case.On November 10, the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed Oleg Boyko through a formal letter that the appeal had been considered and decided in favor of lifting the ...