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Hot and dry conditions persist as wildfires rage through Western Canada

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue as wildfires throughout Western Canada have forced thousands of evacuations and air quality warnings due to smoke as far east as northern Ontario.  Roughly 2,500 people are fighting the fires throughout Alberta and 25 of 88 active wildfires are considered out of control.Wildfires have also been a concern for Alberta’s neighbours, including the Northwest Territories, where the K’atl’odeeche First Nation and town of Hay River, about 120 kilometres from the Alberta boundary, are under evacuation orders. A convoy of vehicles was allowed to leave a northern Saskatchewan village early this morning after Buffalo Narrows issued a mandatory evacuation order.In British Columbia, the City of Fort St. John, about 200 kilometres northwest of Grand Prairie, Alta., also issued an evacuation alert for its roughly 21,000 residents in response to a wildfire that’s more than 130 square kilometres in size.The British Columbia Wildf...

12-year-old Texas boy arrested after fatal shooting at Sonic restaurant

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

KEENE, Texas (AP) — A 12-year-old boy has been arrested on a murder warrant in the fatal shooting of a Sonic Drive-In employee in Texas, police said.Matthew Davis, 32, was shot and killed Saturday night as he fought with Angel Gomez, 20, in the parking lot of the restaurant in Keene, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Dallas, police said.The boy was at the restaurant with Gomez, who was causing an unspecified disturbance in the parking lot, and shot Davis several times after taking a gun from Gomez’s vehicle, according to a police statement.Davis was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. The boy used an AR-style rifle in the shooting, Police Chief James Kidd told The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.Both Gomez and the boy fled the scene, but Gomez later returned and was arrested on a murder warrant and the boy, whose name has not been released, was found and arrested in the nearby town of Rio Vista, police said.Court records do not show that formal ch...

Pact gives 3 Minnesota tribes stronger voice on land ceded in 1854

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — The Superior National Forest and three Ojibwe tribes in Minnesota have signed an agreement that gives the bands a stronger voice in managing natural resources on land that they ceded to the federal government nearly 170 years ago.The agreement protects the treaty rights of the Fond du Lac, Grand Portage and Bois Forte bands within the territory they gave up in 1854 in exchange for hunting, fishing and gathering rights. More than 3 million acres of the ceded territory — about half of it — fall inside the national forest, which covers a huge swath of northeastern Minnesota. The tribes have about 9,000 enrolled members combined.“These bands have been on this landscape from time immemorial, connected to the work of how we sustain these lands,” Tom Hall, supervisor of the Superior National Forest, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. “This is really us standing shoulder to shoulder with the bands, knowing we’re going to face issues and making sure we’re having the r...

Ottawa taps former MTA executive as new president and CEO of Via Rail

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

Ottawa has appointed Mario Péloquin as the new president and CEO of Via Rail Canada Inc., effective June 12.Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says Péloquin will serve a five-year term at the helm of the Crown corporation.Péloquin replaces Martin R. Landry, who stepped into the role last May when previous president and CEO Cynthia Garneau resigned after three years.In a press release, the federal government says Péloquin brings nearly 40 years of experience in the transportation and rail industry to his new job.Péloquin has previously served as the chief operating officer for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and as senior vice-president at SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.Alghabra says the federal government held an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:SNC)The Canadian Press

South Elgin girl abducted at 9 found safe 6-years later in North Carolina; mom charged

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

SOUTH ELGIN, Ill. — A girl who was abducted from South Elgin when she was 9-years-old was found safe in North Carolina — six years later, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.Kayla Unbehaun at 9 years old, shortly before she went missing in 2017. Kayla Unbehaun was abducted by her mother — Heather Unbehaun — on July 5, 2017 while on a camping trip in South Elgin. After going on the trip with her daughter, the two dropped out of sight.Ryan Iserka, Kayla's father, was supposed to pick up his daughter from her mother's Wheaton home, but neither turned up. Unbehaun did not have custody rights of Kayla. 2018 PREVIOUS COVERAGE: South Elgin dad asks for public’s help on anniversary of 10-year-old’s abduction Unbehaun, 40, was arrested after Kayla was found Saturday in Buncombe County, North Carolina and reunited with her father. Unbehaun faces child abduction charges out of Kane County and is set to be extradited to Illinois.Heather Unbehaun, 40Iserka issue...

Second man charged in robbery, shooting that critically injured Dakotah Earley last year

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A second person has been charged in the shooting and robbery of Dakotah Earley in May 2022.An 18-year-old man faces one felony county of attempted first-degree murder, one felony count of armed robbery, one felony count of receive/possess/sell a stolen vehicle and one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to a vehicle, according to police.Police said the 18-year-old was arrested Monday after being identified as one of the offenders who robbed 23-year-old Earley at gunpoint before seriously injuring him on the 1300 block of West Webster in Lincoln Park on May 6, 2022. Dakotah Earley, Lincoln Park robbery victim, now walking, mother says Earley underwent numerous surgeries, including having his leg amputated, before being discharged from the ICU at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in June. By September, Earley was back home, four months after the shooting.A GoFundMe account raised nearly $130,000 for Earley’s medical expenses.The offender was 17-years-old wh...

See the 2023 Riot Fest lineup

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

CHICAGO — The lineup for one of the biggest music festivals in Chicago this year was announced Tuesday morning. A few well-known headliners will take the stage for the event at Douglass Park from September 15-17.Friday night will be headlined by the Foo Fighters along with Turnstile while Saturday features The Postal Service/Death Cab for Cutie along with Queens of the Stone Age. On Sunday, the festival concludes with The Cure along with The Mars Volta. Tickets for the event go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the festival's website. Related: ‘Sickened’: Robert Smith blasts Ticketmaster fees ahead The Cure’s upcoming tour Started in 2005 in Chicago, Riot Fest has been outdoors since 2012, starting out in Humboldt Park before moving to Douglass Park in 2015. The punk rock music festival has been staged their every year since with the exception of 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Other artists and bands playing the festival include Ani DiFranco, Parliament Funka...

Funeral services set for slain CPD officer Areanah Preston

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Visitation and funeral services will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday for fallen Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston.The 24-year-old officer had just returned from a shift in the 5th District when she was shot and killed in the 8100 block of South Blackstone Avenue. Four suspects have been charged in her fatal shooting.Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, located at 4727 W. 103rd St in Oak Lawn.Funeral services will be held Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, located at 400 W. 95th Street.  ‘It was my work’: Teen bragged to friend after officer Aréanah Preston’s slaying, prosecutors allege The procession route from Blake-Lamb Funeral Home to Trinity United Church of Christ proceeds eastbound on 103rd Street to Western Avenue, north on Western Avenue to 95th Street, east on 95th Street to Lowe Avenue, north on Lowe Avenue to 93rd Street, east on 93rd Street to Eggleston Avenue, south on Eggleston Avenue t...

Tim McGraw announced as Illinois State Fair headliner

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — County music superstar and three-time Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw is coming to the Illinois State Fair, fair officials announced.McGraw will headline the State Fair Grandstand on Thursday, Aug. 17. He's the last headliner to be announced for the 2023 fair, with Old Dominion, REO Speedwagon, Alter Bridge, Maren Morris and Nelly and Ashanti having been previously announced. Illinois State Fair announces new theme days for 2023 "We are excited to add one of country music’s biggest artists to the 2023 Illinois State Fair Grandstand lineup,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. “The extensive music catalog Tim McGraw brings to the stage will have hits for every generation to sing along to.”That catalog includes “Live Like You Were Dying," “Humble and Kind” and his latest single "Standing Room Only."McGraw will be joined on stage by rising star Landon Parker. Since the release of his debut EP in December, Parker has landed on Amazon Mus...

Man shot, killed in Old Irving Park

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was shot and killed late Monday night in Old Irving Park.Just after 11:25 p.m., officers discovered a 44-year-old man in the 3700 block of North Kenton with multiple gunshot wounds to the body inside a vehicle.He was pronounced dead at the scene.The shooting is being investigated as a homicide and police said circumstances are not known at this time. ‘What would happen if I bashed you with this bat?’: $800K bond for Chicago woman accused of battery spree No one is in custody.