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Flint contractor agrees to settlement of lead contamination lawsuits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — An engineering company accused of being partially responsible for Flint’s lead-contaminated water in 2014-15 has agreed to settle lawsuits brought by some residents of the Michigan city, attorneys said Thursday.Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, an engineering firm known as LAN, said in a court filing that a confidential deal was reached with residents in federal court but that both sides need more time to iron out the details.Separately, LAN reached a deal in a different lawsuit that Michigan’s attorney general filed in state court.Flint families sued LAN and another contractor, Veolia North America, accusing them of not doing enough to get Flint to treat highly corrosive water or to urge a return to a regional water supplier.Flint, which was under state-appointed managers, used the Flint River for water in 2014-15, but the water wasn’t treated the same as water previously supplied by a Detroit-area provider. As a result, lead leached throughout the va...

California Science Center to start complex process to display space shuttle Endeavour vertically

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The lengthy process of putting the retired space shuttle Endeavour on display in the vertical launch position will begin this month in Los Angeles.The California Science Center announced Thursday that the six-month process will get underway July 20 at the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center currently under construction in Exposition Park.The initial step, dubbed “Go for Stack,” will be installation of the bottom portion of the solid rocket boosters known as aft skirts upon which will be stacked the booster segments, the external tank and then Endeavour.The 20-story tall display will show the shuttle as it would appear waiting on a launch pad.Endeavour was built as a replacement for the destroyed shuttle Challenger and flew 25 missions between 1992 and 2011.When NASA’s shuttles were retired, Endeavour was flown to California atop NASA’s special Boeing 747 shuttle carrier in 2012, drawing crowds as it flew over locations in the state associated with the space ...

Pulling ads from Facebook could force its hand on news deals — if support grows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

MONTREAL — Pulling ads from Facebook could prod Meta toward inking deals with news outlets, though more momentum would be needed to push it over the edge, experts say.The tactic adopted by several governments and companies in Canada this week might force the social media giant’s hand if other countries and corporations follow suit in larger markets, said Sam Andrey, managing director of the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University.“I thought it was interesting how quickly a bunch of organizations and governments followed, and I’m sure there will be more,” he said.“The government of Canada by itself as an advertiser is not a huge material loss for them in the scheme of their total Canadian advertising. But if it kicks off a movement then you could see them reconsidering.”The federal government — followed swiftly by the province of Quebec, the City of Montreal and media companies Quebecor Inc. and Cogeco Inc. — said Wednesday they would suspend adver...

Community, Indigenous drug rehab programs across West get $20M in federal funds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

SQUAMISH, B.C. — Dozens of community and Indigenous groups across Western Canada will share $20 million in federal funding to boost their drug awareness, treatment, rehabilitation and mental-health services.Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett says 42 local drug-related programs across British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan will receive the federal funds to help people tackle drug-related issues.The minister was in Squamish, B.C., where she visited two addiction treatment centres, including one for youth.Bennett says drug addiction is a nationwide issue, with data showing 20 people dying every day because of the toxic drug and overdose crisis.She says local organizations that have the trust and understanding of residents are best suited to offer addiction and mental health services.Bennett says recent political criticism of a drug decriminalization program in B.C. worries her that some people may be deterred from getting needed help.This report by The...

The UN chief calls for a robust international police force to help combat Haiti’s armed gangs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Thursday for a robust international force to help combat Haiti’s armed gangs and restore security in the impoverished nation, saying that a U.N. expert’s estimate that Haiti needs up to 2,000 additional anti-gang police officers is no exaggeration.Stressing that the U.N. is not calling for a military force or a political mission, Guterres appealed to U.N. Security Council members and potential contributing countries “to act now” to deploy a multinational force to help the Haitian National Police “defeat and dismantle the gangs.” The Caribbean nation has been asking for such a force since last October. The U.N. chief, who visited Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on Saturday, told reporters that criminal gangs have a “stranglehold” on the population. “The Haitian people are trapped in a living nightmare. Humanitarian conditions are beyond appalling,” he said.Guterres spoke ahead of a Security Council meeting late...

Pakistan: Death toll from 2 weeks of monsoon rains rises to at least 55, including 8 children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The death toll from two weeks of monsoon rains rose to at least 55 on Thursday after 12 people, including eight children, died in weather-related incidents in Pakistan amid fears of flash floods, authorities said.The eastern city of Lahore witnessed a record-breaking downpour the previous day, flooding many streets and disrupting normal life. Since Wednesday, 19 people have died in the city due to collapsing roofs and electrocution, officials said. Pakistan’s weather forecast agency warned of more rain to hit the city.At least eight children died when a massive landslide hit Shangla, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, officials said. Rescuers were trying to remove a large mud pile for fear that other missing children were buried under. Heavy rain also continued to lash the impoverished nation, overflowing the main rivers in the Punjab province, Jhelum and Chenab, prompting the disaster management agency to be on high al...

Court docs: Little Village father accused of killing wife, daughter agreed to rehab prior to shooting; no bail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

CHICAGO — A 67-year-old Little Village father agreed to rehab prior to gunning down his family, killing his wife and daughter, prosecutors said in court Thursday.Jose Alvarez was held without bail after prosecutors outlined a timeline in court. He's been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm.On June 20, his wife, Karina Gonzalez, 48, and their children, 15-year-old Daniela Alvarez and their 18-year-old son, left the residence following "several years" of alleged alcohol, drug and verbal abuse by Jose Alvarez.The following day, Gonzalez obtained an order of protection, but it was never served, according to court documents. However, as a result, court documents state that Alvarez's FOID card, for his Glock handgun, was revoked.On June 26, documents state the family returned to live with Alvarez with the understanding that he was going to enter a rehab program.Prosecutors allege the abusive behavior began again after a fe...

Family searching for answers after audio specialist electrocuted, killed at NASCAR street race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN/WGN) - The family of a Hermitage, Tennessee man who died after being electrocuted while working at a NASCAR street race in Chicago is still waiting for answers as to how exactly their loved one died.Duane Tabinski, 53, was a beloved audio specialist, father, and husband."He was the love of my life, and I'm very lucky and fortunate that I had the 10 years I had with him. I wish it was longer," Kristin Tabinski cried. Beloved Nashville audio specialist electrocuted, killed at NASCAR street race in Chicago The life the two shared was one of a kind."The one thing that Duane used to say or we used to say to each other was, 'I'm not perfect, but I'm perfect for you,'" she smiled with tears. Cherished memories of his sense of humor and wit with time spent traveling the world together, Kristin said Duane quickly became friends with everyone he crossed."He's still with us, but not in the way we all want him to be," she said while beginning to sob.Kristin recalle...

What qualifies for an AMBER Alert in Illinois?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

Authorities have activated a series of AMBER Alerts in Illinois in recent weeks. The alerts are meant to assist with child abductions and similar high-profile situations. Many people are informed of ongoing AMBER Alerts through their phones, and those alerts have been trending a little more than usual lately. So what exactly qualifies for an AMBER Alert in Illinois?According to the Illinois AMBER Alert Program, all the following criteria must be met before issuing an alert:Law enforcement must confirm a child has been abducted.The child must be under the age of 16 or have a proven mental or physical disability.Law enforcement must believe the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect’s vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help.After all four of those criteria apply, Illinois can then issue an AMBER Alert. Generally, a local law enforcement agency will contact the Illinois State...

Illinois man found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing his grandmother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:18 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- A Peoria County man on Thursday was found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing his grandmother more than a year ago at her West Peoria home. The finding for Cody Krause, 29, was entered during a stipulated bench trial in Peoria County Circuit Court. Now it's up to the state Department of Human Services on what could happen to him. Grandson found fit to stand trial in death of grandmother Both sides agreed that a report in late May indicated that Krause was delusional the time when he killed his grandmother because he thought she had become an alien or a demon who wanted to harm him, said Chief Peoria County Judge Katherine Gorman. The judge also noted that he lacked the capacity to appreciate his actions and as such, didn't comprehend what he was doing. What will happen now is that he will go to the DHS who will keep him in custody at a secure facility as Krause undergoes treatment.A stipulated bench trial is similar to a guilty plea. By not contestin...