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California to ask voters to approve new mental health beds

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — California voters would decide whether to fund a major expansion of housing and treatment for residents suffering from mental illness and addiction, under the latest proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom to address the state’s homelessness crisis. Newsom announced Sunday that he will ask allies in the Democratic-controlled Legislature for a measure on the 2024 ballot to authorize funding to build residential facilities where over 10,000 people a year could live and be treated. The plan is the latest by the governor who took office in 2019 vowing to own the issue of homelessness in a state where an estimated 171,000 were unhoused last year. “This is the next step in our transformation of how California addresses mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness — creating thousands of new beds, building more housing, expanding services and more,” Newsom said in a statement.California, home to nearly 40 million people, has nearly one-third of the nation’s homeless...

Poilievre calls for testing that would allow doctors, nurses to work across Canada

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for a countrywide standardized testing process that would speed up licence approvals for doctors and nurses.Poilievre says his proposed “blue seal” testing standard would allow qualified health-care professionals to work in any province or territory that volunteers to be part of the program.He described his plan at a press conference today, saying a model that allowed professionals to take a test and get an answer within 60 days would address Canada’s ongoing shortage of health-care professionals, such as family doctors and emergency-room nurses.Under the existing licensing system, each province and territory has its own processes to be licensed as a doctor or nurse.Poilievre says that means professionals from one province can’t necessarily work in another region, while new immigrants also struggle to obtain the necessary approvals.He says the “blue seal” model draws on the “red seal” standard for skilled workers in regulated ...

The Masked Rookie: Raptors’ Koloko adjusting to new game gear

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

The Toronto Raptors are taking on the Bucks in Milwaukee Sunday night following their 122-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Toronto on Saturday night.On the court, there was a player rocking a new look. Raptors rookie Christian Koloko wore and will continue to wear a face mask as a small fracture heals on his nose.The 22-year-old was listed as questionable going into the game on Saturday after he took an elbow to the face-off of OKC Thunder guard Jalen Williams in the fourth quarter.“I just went to contest the shot and he elbowed me in the face,” Koloko told CityNews after playing with the mask on for the first time Saturday night in the Raptors’ win over Minnesota. “I didn’t even see what happened because I closed my eyes because I saw his elbow. So I kind of closed my eyes, and I checked my nose because after every shot I check my nose,” Koloko said laughing. “I saw some blood and then we went back and did some x-rays and we did a scan of my face a...

Demolition of Old Montreal building to begin as police search for victims of fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

Montreal police say seven people remain missing after a fire in Old Montreal on Thursday.Police spokesman Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant says investigators were surveying the scene and taking photos, before the remains of the building are dismantled.Montreal fire operations chief Martin Guilbault said Saturday that the building will be taken apart brick by brick to ensure the scene is safe for investigators.Police have said they haven’t ruled out the possibility that more victims would be found in the ruins.Nine people were injured in the fire.Firefighters originally believed that only one person was missing, but later learned that several apartments in the building were being used illegally as Airbnb rentals.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2023.The Canadian Press

2 dead after being trapped in building fire: Vernon Hills police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

VERNON HILLS, Ill. — Two people are dead after an apartment building caught fire while trapped inside Sunday morning, police say. According to Vernon Hills Police, officers responded to a call of a fire and people possibly trapped at a building in the 900 block of South Court Shorewood around 3:15 a.m.Police found heavy fire conditions and after taming the fire, found two individuals. One person was found dead and another adult was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center where they later died. Man charged after officer struck by car on LSD Friday The identities of the victims have not been released yet. The fire was extinguished but the building is inhabitable. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

No bail for man charged after officer struck by car on LSD

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been charged after a police officer was struck by a vehicle on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Friday.Tajze Mullins, 23, faces multiple felonies of aggravated assault of peace officer, escape and a misdemeanor of obstructing identification. He will be held without bail. Police say Mullins was arrested in the 7100 block of South Lafayette Avenue and was identified as the man who minutes earlier struck a police officer with his vehicle near the 1100 block of South DuSable Lake Shore Drive.According to police, the officer broke his leg but is in good condition. Multiple injured in shooting inside South Side Restaurant Police reports state that an officer discharged his weapon but no one was hurt. Mullins was placed into custody and charged accordingly. There was no other information provided.

Anchor mishap led to possible double drowning on Florida lake, sheriff says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — Two boaters were still missing Sunday after an incident at Lake Eloise in Winter Haven, Florida on Saturday, according to officials.Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the incident happened after an anchor mishap involving 38-year-old Velcky Velasquez and 32-year-old Orlando Ortiz, who celebrated their one-year anniversary by renting a boat for the afternoon.The couple, who were said to be inexperienced with boats and had to take a class beforehand, also brought their friend Jeffrey Marrero and his two children, ages 10 and 8 years old. Alex Jones transferring assets to family and friends, evading payments to Sandy Hook families: NYT "It is a rough day on the water," Judd said. "The wind's blowing about 20 miles an hour. There's a two-foot chop with white caps, and it's a breezy afternoon."Despite the rough waters, the group decided to anchor in the middle of the lake. According to the sheriff, Velasquez jumped into the water with the anchor,...

Man rescued from under 2,000-pound safe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

GLASGOW, Va. (WFXR) -- A Virginia man was hospitalized after becoming trapped under a massive gun safe, the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department said.Firefighters said the man had been trying to unload the safe on March 9 when he fell and got pinned under it. Firefighters estimated the safe weighed 2,000 pounds. During the rescue, crews used airbags to stabilize the safe and free the man. He was then immediately airlifted to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. (Photo courtesy: Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department)"This was an unusual call for service and is one that most would never think about having to overcome," the department said on Facebook. They said the call exemplified the dedication and readiness of the volunteer team. Firefighters didn't give an update on the man's condition. Large safes can tip over if they have heavy doors, which when open shift the balance of the weight forward, and cause them to fall. Rainier Ballistics suggests mounting gun safes to a wall stud...

10 new cars priced the highest over MSRP, even as peak pricing eases

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

(iSeeCars) -- New cars continue to be priced well above MSRP, even as the supply chain slowly improves, and despite rising economic concerns that typically dampen consumer demand for large ticket items. Summary:The average new car is priced 8.8 percent above MSRPThe 10 most-expensive new models are between 20 and 27 percent over MSRPThe Genesis GV70, Jeep Wrangler, and Mercedes-Benz GLB are the most aggressively priced new vehiclesThe gap between dealer pricing and MSRP is slowly narrowingA new iSeeCars study found manufacturer pricing for new cars has increased 7.6 percent in the past year from an average MSRP of $38,707 in February 2022 to $42,608 in February 2023.Despite this increase, the average dealer listing price for new cars has increased 6.5 percent in the past 12 months, rising from $42,551 to $45,996. This means today’s average new car price is 8.8 percent over MSRP, on top of the higher MSRPs compared to a year ago.Monthly Average Dealer Price versus Average MSRP o...

Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco might not be ready for Opening Day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:53 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jorge Polanco is running out of time to make Opening Day a reality.The Twins’ second baseman has not played in a game this spring as he recovers from a bone bruise suffered late last season, and it’s possible he begins the season on the injured list, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey acknowledged on Sunday.“Obviously, the calendar plays a role now as we get closer and closer to Opening Day,” Falvey said. “ … Our hope is that he’s only a little bit behind relative to where we thought but we had a pretty tight timeline to Opening Day as is.”The Twins have had to pull back with Polanco a bit this spring as he dealt with soreness in his left knee, and Falvey said that while recent reports on Polanco from head trainer Nick Paparesta have been that he is tracking well, the Twins will have a better sense for his timetable within the next few days.Falvey said the Twins re-evaluated Polanco this spring and do not have any reason to believe anything has changed,...