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Firefighter killed in B.C. identified as Zak Muise, 25, called ‘vital’ member of team

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

The young Ontario firefighter who died last week in British Columbia has been identified as Zak Muise in an online obituary and a tribute by the firefighting contractor he worked for.Big Cat Wildfire shared a photo of Muise in his uniform and called him a “vital member” of one of its crews.The 25-year-old died Friday as he helped battle the massive Donnie Creek wildfire in northeastern B.C.RCMP have said he was killed when his heavy-duty ATV rolled over a steep drop on a gravel road in a remote area about 150 kilometres north of Fort St. John.A brief online obituary posted on the website of a Waterford, Ont., funeral home in the name of his family says Muise is survived by his parents and five older siblings.It says Muise was “loved by many,” and the family is grateful to all firefighters and other first responders “who are still fighting.”It says a funeral is scheduled for later this month in Simcoe, Ont., and that a public memorial in B.C. is al...

$1.1 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawing offers shot at 6th largest prize ever

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

An estimated $1.1 billion Mega Millions jackpot will be up for grabs Tuesday night, giving lottery players a chance to snap an unlucky streak that has stretched on for months.The numbers drawn were 8, 24, 30, 45 ,61, and the yellow ball: 12. No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since April 18, allowing it to roll over again and again until it reached its status as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. Tuesday night’s drawing will be the 30th since someone last won the jackpot.The drought is due to a combination of poor luck and terrible odds, as the chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 302.6 million. The odds of winning smaller prizes, ranging from $1 million to $2, are significantly better.The $1.1 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to collect through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. A sole winner who opts for a lump sum payment would receive an estimated $550.2 million.Winners also would be subject to federal taxes, and many state...

Pope Francis will be in Portugal for 5 days. Here’s what he will visit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis begins a five-day trip to Portugal on Wednesday for World Youth Day, the international Catholic jamboree that is expected to gather around 1 million people. While in Portugal, Francis will visit the place from where 15th- and 16th-century Portuguese explorers set sail on world-changing voyages to Africa, Asia and South America, a church and monastery that are unique architectural gems, and one of the world’s most popular Catholic shrines where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to children.Here’s a look at where Francis will go.___BELEM NATIONAL PALACEThe official reception is at the Palácio Nacional de Belém, which is the Portuguese president’s residence, also known as the pink palace. It sits beside the Tagus River in the neighborhood of Belem, which in Portuguese means Bethlehem. It was from here that Portugal’s maritime explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries, such as Vasco da Gama, set sail. The cross and the crown went together on th...

Pope Francis can expect to find heat and hope in Portugal, along with fallout from sex abuse scandal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis plans to head to Portugal on Wednesday to open the first post-pandemic edition of World Youth Day, hoping to inspire the next generation of Catholics while coping with the church’s ongoing clergy sexual abuse scandal.More than 1 million young people from around the world were expected to attend the gathering in Lisbon, which takes place over several days. Busloads of pilgrims started arriving before Tuesday despite temperatures forecast to hit 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) by the weekend’s final papal Mass.“Stay hydrated!” read a slogan promoted by the Portugal’s General Directorate for Health for the event. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa advised youth day volunteers Monday to keep with them “a lot of water, because it’s very hot, and a hat.”Cardinal-elect Americo Aguiar, a Lisbon bishop who is organizing the festival, said two years of COVID-19 lockdowns made this year’s edition of World Youth Day unique. He s...

Stock market today: Asian shares slip echoing Wall Street’s retreat from rally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares dipped Wednesday after Wall Street took a step back from its big rally as markets tried to digest a slew of earnings. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dove 1.8% in morning trading to 32,871.85. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.8% to 7,390.30. South Korea’s Kospi slid 1.1% to 2,636.62. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped 1.5% to 19,713.43, while the Shanghai Composite lost 0.5% to 3,273.90. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 lost 12.23, or 0.3%, to 4,576.73, coming off its fifth straight winning month. The Nasdaq composite sank 62.11, or 0.4%, to 14,283.91. The Dow Jones Industrial Average squeezed out a gain of 71.15 points, or 0.2%, to 35,630.68 even though most of the stocks within it weakened.Travel-related stocks helped drag the market lower after they gave up some of their big gains from earlier in the year. Norwegian Cruise Line lost 12.1% despite reporting stronger profit and revenue for the spring than expected. Expectations have been hi...

Media owner files complaint alleging interference by Costa Rica’s president in custody dispute

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — A banker and media owner said Tuesday he had filed a legal complaint against Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, alleging that his administration interfered in his child custody dispute.The animosity between Chaves and the complainant Leonel Baruch, who owns online news site CR Hoy, is well known.Baruch’s complaint, which alleges influence trafficking by the president and top officials, is one that any citizen can file, and does not necessarily lead to any charges. The dispute came to light when the former head of Costa Rica’s child welfare agency, Gloriana López Fuscaldo, claimed she had received a phone call from Chaves’ chief of staff, telling her the president wanted her to “rule well” on the custody case. López Fuscaldo later went to neighboring Panama, claiming she feared for her safety.Chaves did not immediately respond to Baruch’s complaint, but said López Fuscaldo could return at any time.“I just want to tell Gloriana that she can r...

Saratoga Springs passes amendment to firearms ordinance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Saratoga Springs City Council passed an amendment to its firearms ordinance on Tuesday night. Officials say it was necessary because the ordinance has not been updated since the 1970s.The amendment prohibits the possession of firearms while intoxicated in public spaces. It includes penalties for each firearm discharge. Every gun shot while intoxicated is susceptible to a fine ranging from $250 to $2,500.The changes were introduced by Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino, after the off-duty Vermont deputy involved shooting late last year.He said he saw a disconnect when he learned the individuals involved in that shooting were licensed to carry and had the foresight to get designated drivers knowing they would be impaired.“There’s something terribly wrong about the notion that you know that you’re likely to have your judgment impaired to the point where you shouldn’t be driving and yet you can carry your licensed weapon,” said Montagni...

Family of fallen city employee struggle for death benefits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

NORMANDY, Mo. – Harold Parker died cutting down a tree in Normandy’s Hoelzel Park this past January. He was doing a public works job that his children never dreamed would cost him his life.“He was such a great guy. He had lots of kid, but they were all loved equally by him,” Parker’s daughter, Sky, told us days after losing their father, adding at the time, “He did what he needed to do to provide for his family.”Parker’s former employer however, the city of Normandy, has not even reimbursed Parker’s family for the minimum funeral costs that attorney Crista Johnson told us is laid out by law.“We have sent all of the receipts and bills to Normandy for this reimbursement,” she said. “We were told it shouldn’t be a problem back in March. That they should issue this right away. We are still yet to have any sort of reimbursement issued.”Johnson also filed in March for the family’s workers’ compensation death benefits, in which she says only Parker’s minor children are eligible. She says t...

Museums and local artists struggling to stay afloat, sees new hope with RAC multi-million dollar grant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - With the help of the city, artists can now apply for a grant totaling $3 million, the ARPA funds, made possible through the Regional Arts Commission.There is a program that is benefiting both arts organizations and local artists. This grant has been made possible due to the Arts Revenue and Income Replacement Grants, which are a part of the American Plan Rescue Act.“It could make the difference between whether or not our doors are open, or whether or not our doors are closed," said Jacqueline Dace, executive director of St. Louis ArtWorks.It's an arts organization that allows youth the opportunity for a paid job-training program. It provides a platform for young people aged 14 to 19 to express themselves while also earning a living.Dace's fear is shared by many others, especially given the decline in funding for local artworks. It’s not just those putting paintbrush to paper who have been suffering. Illinois family still shaken after vandals poured oil into their pool,...

South St. Louis residents worry tree in neighborhood may cause serious harm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS – South St. Louis residents on Neosho Street are fearful of a city-owned tree call our Your Paid For It team looking for assistance. With all the damage and death caused by falling trees in recent storms, the residents want the city to cut this one down.Lauren Price said she’s already felt the impact of falling branches from the tree.“Yes, it dented the top of my car. We had a really bad storm—what was it, two days ago—you never know. Like I work 12 hours coming home to a tree on my house, I would never know,” she said.Resident Sharon Rice is also worried about the tree. Falling branches have damaged her car too.“And I’m scared it’s going to fall down on somebody, hurt somebody, or fall on somebody’s car,” she said.Neighbors said they’ve been trying for a long time to get city hall to listen, that they’ve called time and again. Price said she’s tried calling dozens of times. Johnny Johnson execution taking place tonight “I would say probably 45 times, 55 times – yeah,” s...