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Zeneta Everhart, mother of Buffalo mass shooting survivor, wins City Council primary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Zeneta Everhart, who became a voice against racism and gun violence last year after her son survived a mass shooting, won a Democratic primary on Tuesday to represent a Buffalo neighborhood near the supermarket where the massacre happened.Everhart defeated India Walton, another prominent activist who in 2021 upset Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown in a Democratic primary, only to lose to him in the general election.The two Black women had vied for a seat on Buffalo’s Common Council, representing an area of the Rust Belt city still healing from a white supremacist’s attack that killed 10 people at a neighborhood supermarket just over a year ago. That mass shooting was followed by a punishing December blizzard that killed 47 people in the city and its suburbs, with a disproportionate number of the victims coming from Buffalo’s Black neighborhoods.Everhart is no newcomer to politics. She had been on the staff of state Democratic Sen. Tim Kennedy for five years when she rec...

‘Alice in Wonderland’ wins big at Dora Mavor Moore Awards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

The Dora Mavor Moore Awards followed the white rabbit, handing six statuettes to “Alice in Wonderland” at the Toronto theatre awards on Tuesday night.The production from Bad Hats Theatre, presented by Soulpepper Theatre, won big in the musical theatre division.It was awarded outstanding production and outstanding new musical, while Tess Benger won outstanding performance in a leading role for her portrayal of Alice. The contemporary reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale also took home outstanding direction, outstanding achievement in design and outstanding original choreography.Forty-six awards were handed out across seven categories at the ceremony in Toronto.“Red Velvet,” a dramatization of the real-life story of Ira Aldridge, a Black man who starred in “Othello” in 1833, led the general theatre division.The Crow’s Theatre production won two Doras: outstanding production and outstanding direction. In the independent theatre div...

Seven teens charged in attempted theft of fragrances at Shoppers Drug Mart

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

Seven teenagers, including a 14-year-old, were charged after the group of young men attempted to steal fragrances from a Shoppers Drug Mart in Durham Region.Officers responded to a Shoppers Drug Mart in Whitby, located at 910 Dundas Street West, just after 4 p.m. on Monday.Police said a group of males inside the Shoppers were trying to fragrances. Employees quickly notified authorities, and seven male teenagers were arrested.A 16-year-old from Ajax is charged with theft under, disguise with intent, failing to comply with a release order and failing to comply with a probation order.A 14-year-old male from Ajax is charged with theft under and disguise with intent. Two 16-year-old males from Ajax are charged with theft under and disguise with intent.A 17-year-old male from Clarington, Ont. is charged with theft under and disguise with intent, and another 17-year-old male from Ajax is charged with theft under and disguise with intent.Those six male teenagers were released on an undertak...

Vietjet plane with 214 people aboard lands safely in Philippines after technical problem

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Vietjet plane carrying 214 people made an unscheduled but safe landing in the northern Philippines on Wednesday morning after encountering an unspecified technical problem. None of the passengers and crew was hurt. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said the Airbus A321 was enroute to Vietnam from the South Korean city of Incheon when it encountered the problem and had to divert to Laoag international airport in Ilocos Norte province. “The pilot did not declare an emergency. He informed the tower of difficulty due to a technical problem. No engine failure was reported,” the civil aviation agency’s spokesman Eric Apolonio told The Associated Press.The passengers were brought to an airport lounge to wait for a replacement aircraft that was expected to arrive later Wednesday, Apolonio said.The Associated Press

Amber Alert cancelled after six-year-old twin sisters found safe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

An Amber Alert issued by Montreal police for six-year-old twin sisters has been lifted after the girls were found safe.Police say the girls were found in the Saint-Alexis-des-Monts area, about 140 kilometres north of Montreal.Police also say they found the girls’ mother and that everyone was safe and sound.Police believe it may have been a kidnapping but say the investigation continues.The alert was issued after the girls were taken in the mid-afternoon.Police say investigators will speak with the mother and the girls to determine exactly what happened.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2023.The Canadian Press

Regulators begin final safety inspection before treated Fukushima wastewater is released into sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese regulators began the final inspection Wednesday before treated radioactive wastewater is released from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The inspection began a day after the plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings had installed the last piece of equipment needed for the release — the outlet of the undersea tunnel dug to discharge the wastewater 1 kilometer (1,094 yards) offshore. TEPCO said the Nuclear Regulation Authority inspectors were to examine the equipment related to the treated water transfer and its safety systems as part of their three-day inspection through Friday. The permit for releasing the water could be issued about a week later, and TEPCO could start discharging the water soon after, though an exact date has not been decided. The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing groups concerned about safety and reputational damage. The government and TEPCO in 2015 promised not to release the water without...

Experts address taxpayers concerns surrounding future concerts at Ryan Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. -- A plan to rebuild Ryan Field in Evanston will be up for discussion Tuesday night as tax payers will have their opportunity to speak on the issue.On Tuesday, community members from Evanston and Wilmette that attended Tuesday's meeting heard from experts on the proposed concerts for the venue like sound, parking, and operations. If and when approved, the rebuild would be complete by the summer of 2026. 7 award-winning Chicagoland breweries to check out this summer The plan is to rebuild Ryan Field in Evanston, which is a 97-year-old stadium.It’s a project estimated to cost $800 million which the school would fund without direct taxpayer subsidies.University officials say this would be an economic opportunity for local community vendors and tradesmen with high-wage jobs during and after constrction.The project would include reducing the stadium’s capacity and change zoning so it can host up to 10 concerts a year. Illinois set to create state run insurance marketpl...

Aurora City Council approves new Hollywood Casino construction plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

AURORA, Ill. -- After 30 years of being located on the Fox River, the Hollywood Casino Aurora will soon have a new place to call home.On Tuesday, the Aurora City Council approved, 10-1, the final plans by PENN Entertainment, clearing the final step to begin the construction process of the Hollywood Casino Aurora relocation.The casino will move from its current downtown location on the Fox River, closer to the I-88 expressway, across from Chicago Premium Outlets mall. Experts address taxpayers concerns surrounding future concerts at Ryan Field The property is made up of several parcels consisting of over 18 acres lying west of Farnsworth Avenue, north of Corporate Boulevard, south of Bilter Road, and east of Church Road.The development will include a modern, best-in-class casino, with 900 slots and 50 live table games (including a baccarat room and a poker room), a Barstool Sportsbook with the ability to host popular Barstool personalities and a first-class hotel, with 200 hotel ro...

Pizza in Pompeii painting? Probably not, experts say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

MILAN (AP) — A still-life fresco discovered recently in the Pompeii archaeological site looks like a pizza, but it's not, experts at the archaeological site said Tuesday.They noted that key ingredients needed to make Italy's iconic dish — tomatoes and mozzarella — were not available when the fresco was painted some 2,000 years ago.Tomatoes were only introduced to Europe from the Americas a few centuries ago, and some histories have it that the discovery of mozzarella led directly to the invention of pizza in nearby Naples in the 1700s.The image is instead believed to be a focaccia covered with fruit, including pomegranate and possibly dates, finished with spices or a type of pesto, experts said. In the fresco, it is served on a silver plate and a wine chalice stands next to it. You may need to start bringing your ID to Costco, even if you aren’t buying alcohol The contrast of the frugal meal served in a luxurious setting, denoted by the silver tray, is not unlike modern-...

Fury Motors will host Irish wake for its founder, Harold ‘Red’ Leonard, on Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

When it came time to plan the funeral for Harold “Red” Leonard, his sons knew there was only one place to hold his Irish wake: the Fury Motors car dealership in South St. Paul that he founded in 1963.Harold “Red” Leonard, the founder of Fury Motors in South St. Paul, and his wife, Jeri, pose in front of a 1956 Pontiac Star Chief in South St. Paul. (Courtesy of Tom Leonard.)Leonard’s casket will be on display Wednesday at the dealership on Concord Street flanked by two of his favorite cars: a salmon-colored 1959 Plymouth Fury with swivel front seats and 2,600 miles and a white 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury 361 Commando V8 with push-button drive. The wake, which runs from 4 to 8 p.m., will feature storytelling, food and music.“To his last day, he loved cars,” said Tom Leonard, his oldest son. “When a car drove by, he could tell you whether it was a ’53 or a ’54 based on a taillight change or a headlight change, whether it was a Ford or an Oldsmobile. He collected cars and had o...