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Destructive West Kelowna, B.C., wildfire now considered ‘held’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — The large wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes in West Kelowna, B.C., is now considered “held,” after raging out of control since mid-August. The 139-square-kilometre McDougall Creek fire destroyed or damaged nearly 190 properties and forced the evacuation of thousands of people. The province’s wildfire service says that while holding the fire is an important milestone, there’s still much work ahead and multiple hazards are still present in some areas.Almost all remaining evacuation orders issued for the Regional District of Central Okanagan and City of West Kelowna have been rescinded, with the exception of a handful of properties in West Kelowna.Most evacuation alerts are also over.The BC Wildfire Service says residents can expect to see smoke in the area until there is significant rain or snow.About half of the 400 structures or homes destroyed in B.C.’s record-breaking wildfire season so far have been lost in the Kelowna area.This report...

Ibrahim Ali trial: Sex assault expert compares dead girl’s injuries to childbirth

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

VANCOUVER — An expert testifying at the trial of a man accused of killing a 13-year-old girl in a B.C. park said the teen suffered injuries that “strongly indicated non-consensual sexual activity” and were more consistent with childbirth.Dr. Tracy Pickett, who specializes in emergency and clinical forensic medicine, told the British Columbia Supreme Court trial of Ibrahim Ali that she considered all of the injuries the girl sustained before forming her conclusion.This, she said, included injuries to the girl’s face, head, neck, knees, back, both legs and arms, as well as to her genitals. Pickett noted so-called pattern injuries, such as four bruises found on the back of the girl’s left arm, that Pickett said she believes were fingerprint marks.“These are all significant findings,” she told the court Thursday. “It’s rare to find one of these injures. It’s extremely rare to find all of these injuries on one person.”Ali has pl...

Mississippi high court blocks appointment of some judges in majority-Black capital city and county

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday struck down part of a state law that would have authorized some circuit court judges to be appointed rather than elected in the capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, which are both majority-Black.Critics said the law was an effort by the majority-white Legislature to stomp on voting rights and to treat Jackson and Hinds County residents unfairly in a state where most judges are elected.In the ruling, justices affirmed a part of the law that creates a new court to hear misdemeanor cases in a part of Jackson that includes the state Capitol and other state government buildings.Justices said the Mississippi Constitution allows legislators to create “inferior” courts, and the new Capitol Complex Improvement District court would have the same powers as a municipal court, with the CCID judge appointed by the state’s chief justice. The ruling also made clear that people will have a right to appeal decisions ...

Prosecutors seek to show enhanced bodycam video of Elijah McClain’s fatal encounter with police

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — Colorado prosecutors focused on police body camera footage — both raw and digitally enhanced — as they began building their case Thursday against two officers charged in the death of Elijah McClain, a young Black man who was stopped, put in a neck hold and sedated with ketamine four years ago.McClain’s death, alongside the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others, was raised up by protesters nationwide as a searing example of excessive force by police against Black people. Charges against the officers were brought in 2021 after a revised coroner’s report determined that the powerful sedative given by paramedics to McClain, 23, played a key role in his death.The two officers on trial, Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt, have pleaded not guilty to charges of criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and assault, all felonies. It’s the first of several cases stemming from McClain’s death, with a third officer and two paramedics scheduled for trial la...

Official: Allegation of India’s link to Sikh’s killing based on human and surveillance intelligence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — The allegation of India’s involvement in the killing of a Sikh Canadian is based on surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, including intelligence provided by a major ally, a Canadian official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Thursday.The official said the communications involved Indian officials and Indian diplomats in Canada and that some of the intelligence was provided by a member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance, which in addition to Canada includes the U.S., Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, did not say which ally provided intelligence or give specific details of what was contained in the communications or how they were obtained.The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation first reported details of the intelligence.Earlier Thursday, India told Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff and stopped issuing visas to Cana...

Republican David McCormick launches 2nd Senate bid in Pennsylvania, aims to oust Democrat Bob Casey

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican David McCormick announced Thursday that he will make his second bid for U.S. Senate in swing-state Pennsylvania, this time to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey after losing in last year’s bruising and crowded Republican primary.In a ballroom filled with supporters at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, McCormick — who had floated the possibility of running again since last year — accused Casey of rubber-stamping harmful immigration, economic, energy and national security policies of President Joe Biden.“When Joe Biden says ‘vote,’ Bob Casey says ‘which way?'” said McCormick, who left his job atop one of Wall Street’s best-known hedge funds to enter politics. “Bob Casey represents six more years of rubber stamps. … Do you know what Bob Casey is? Bob Casey is a rubber stamp that’s been around too long.”The Senate candidates in Pennsylvania will share a ticket with candidates for president next year in a state that is critic...

Canada Post’s Albert Jackson Processing Plant to improve parcel delivery times

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

Named after the country’s first Black letter carrier, Canada Post’s newly opened Albert Jackson Processing Plant in Scarborough, Ont., is the largest of its kind in the country and is being dubbed Canada’s new e-commerce hub.The postal agency says it is the fastest parcel processing plant in its network, which means customers will see a big improvement in service.“When a parcel arrives in a consolidated fashion on a truck, it goes through the facility, gets processed and goes out the other end on a truck going to its final destination in four minutes,” explained Canada Post Chief Executive Officer Doug Ettinger at an inauguration event for the plant on Thursday.“Thanks to the Albert Jackson plant … on-time delivery is getting to record levels in Ontario … in the end this will turn around parcel delivery quicker.”The facility has been running since March and has been working to ramp up processing volume. When it’s running at full ...

Teen rescued after stunt mishap leaves him dangling from California’s tallest bridge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

FORESTHILL, Calif. (AP) — A 19-year-old was rescued after a stunt went wrong and left him dangling by a rope from California’s tallest bridge, authorities said. Deputies responding Monday evening to the Foresthill Bridge northeast of Sacramento determined the teen and his 17-year-old friend had been shooting video of him swinging from the steel span, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said. “The 19 year-old became stuck, hanging approximately 30 feet from the underside of the catwalk when his equipment failed. His friend called 911 after they determined he was stuck and needed assistance,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.Rising 730 feet (223 meters) above the North Fork American River in Sierra Nevada foothills, it’s the tallest bridge in the state and third tallest in the United States. Cal Fire’s Technical Rescue Team assisted sheriff’s deputies in pulling the teen to safety. He was not injured. Both teens, who were not identified, were cited for t...

China, at UN, presents itself as a member of the Global South as alternative to a Western model

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — China told assembled world leaders Thursday that it considers itself part of the Global South, saying it identifies with the goals and challenges of less-developed nations and offering them an alternative to what it has long called “Western hegemony.” The message came from a second-tier official after the country’s powerful president, Xi Jinping, skipped the annual U.N. meeting again. Xi sent Vice President Han Zheng to deliver a policy statement at the General Assembly’s leaders’ meeting that covered the government’s usual positions with familiar language but appeared to focus on building coalitions around its approach to development and international relations.“As the largest developing country, China is a natural member of the Global South. It breathes the same breath with other developing countries and shares the same future with them,” Han said. He also said China supports those nations’ development path “in keeping with their...

'Just shocking': North Side armed robbery spree rattles residents

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:53:48 GMT

CHICAGO — Police believe at least 10 armed robberies were committed within an hour on the city's North Side overnight.Latest police records show robberies for the area were 54% from 20201 and city-wide robberies are up more than 25% from last year."That’s just shocking and it was unbelievable," said North Side resident Samantha Gada.In the first incident reported by police around 12:50 a.m., a 78-year-old man was walking near the 1900 block of West Wolfram Street when he was approached by six male offenders. The individuals demanded the man to hand over his belongings and he complied. One of the individuals struck the man before fleeing in a dark-colored sedan."I couldn’t believe that people would do something so inhumane, especially, not that it should be done to anyone, but such an elderly man who’s defenseless," Gada said.The man was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital and is listed in good condition.VIDEO: 78-year-old man robbed and battered on North Side ...