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Federal safety officials launch probe into Chicago commuter train crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Federal safety officials said Friday they have launched an investigation into a Chicago commuter train crash that injured nearly 40 people but they’re likely more than a year away from releasing any conclusions about what caused the incident.National Transportation Safety Board Chairperson Jennifer Homendy said during a short news conference Friday that a team of seven investigators from her agency has started documenting the scene of the crash. They expect to spend about five days on the scene.The investigators have not reviewed event recorders or video of the incident yet, she said. The agency expects to issue a preliminary report in a matter of weeks, she said, but didn’t specify when. The agency will likely need a year to 18 months to produce a final report with an analysis of what happened, conclusions and recommendations, Homendy said. The Chicago Transit Authority train was heading south from Skokie on Thursday morning when it rear-ended snow-remova...

Guatemalan prosecutors request that President-elect Bernardo Arévalo be stripped of immunity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s Attorney General’s office formally requested Friday that President-elect Bernardo Arévalo and others be stripped of their immunity so it can investigate them for allegedly encouraging the student occupation of the country’s only public university.Cultural Heritage prosecutor Ángel Saúl Sánchez had announced on Thursday that he planned to make the request while federal agents executed search warrants and sought to arrest dozens of members of Arévalo’s Seed Movement party.That announcement drew waves of criticism from within and outside Guatemala.Sánchez formally requested that immunity be lifted for Arévalo, Vice President-elect Karin Herrera, three lawmakers and a deputy-elect from the Seed Movement. Stripping them of immunity allows prosecutors to pursue a formal investigation.Among the crimes prosecutors plan to pursue against Arévalo and others in the new case are exploitation of cultural assets, influence peddling and illegal association.In Apri...

Do you know the difference between roommates, subletting and lease assignment?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

As per the Rental Tenancies Act (RTA), there are a few ways in which tenants can legally share their rental home or have someone else take it over from them in Ontario, but each is different and governed by a specific set of rules.RoommatesA tenant in Ontario can choose to share their rental home with roommates or move in a partner or spouse with no legal obligation to inform or take permission from the landlord.“The way that I like to frame it generally is it’s frankly none of the landlord’s business who else lives in your unit,” says Don Valley Community Legal Services staff lawyer Karly Wilson.“If you wanna add a tenant to a lease, then you have to obviously communicate that to the landlord because that’s a contract between the two of you. But if it’s just someone moving into the unit and they’re paying rent to you directly, and then you pay it to the landlord, that’s totally fine. As long as you’re not overcrowding the ...

East York brewery moving out of Toronto due to rising costs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

An East York brewery said it’s closing it doors in Toronto and moving out of town due to rising costs.Jeff Manol, co-founder of Muddy York Brewing Co. first opened the brewery nine years ago with his wife Susan and now employs eight people.But rising costs have led them to make the decision to move the business out of Toronto to Stouffville.“We were hoping the business would grow, we could gain capital and then eventually buy the building and it stayed out of our reach the whole time. Every time we had enough money, the building [cost] doubled. So it’s triple what it was worth 10 years,” Manol told CityNews.The building has now been conditionally sold, the lease isn’t being renewed. He described leasing another space nearby as “potentially doable” but added lease rates have shot up too and industrial spaces in the size he needs are hard to find. “That would definitely put a strain on what we’re doing. Margins are huge in the craft brewing industry...

2 transgender boys sue after University of Missouri halts gender-affirming care to minors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

Two transgender boys are suing the University of Missouri over its decision to stop providing gender-affirming care to minors over concerns that a new state law could create legal issues for its doctors.The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court, alleges that the university is discriminating against the teens based on their diagnoses of gender dysphoria. The new Missouri law, which took effect Aug. 28, outlawed puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgery for minors. But there are exceptions for youth who were already taking those medications before the law kicked in, allowing them to continue receiving that health care. The suit said that the teens, who are identified only by their initials, should be covered under that “grandfather clause” and allowed to continue receiving treatment. University of Missouri spokesperson Christian Basi said Friday that the four-campus system is reviewing the lawsuit and is not in a position to discuss it. Asked about it Thursday after a...

Missouri nurses save man having heart attack in Austrian cave

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — "The Fantastic Four" — that's what one Missouri is calling its nurses who jumped into action when a man had no pulse, lying in a cave while having a medical emergency in another country. The four heroes said it was a team effort to save the man's life. Call it the right place at the right time. Four nurses who normally take care of patients at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City were on hand to save a man's life while on vacation in Austria. Kansas woman who beat the odds meets Taylor Swift at Chiefs game "Nurse mode kicked in, and we ran," nurse Meg Green said. Green said they were in a remote ice cave on top of a mountain when a man collapsed. "With my hand still on his neck, feeling for a pulse, I was screaming up at the girls that he didn't have a pulse, and they were down there in seconds," nurse Fallon Olf said. Olf said strangers shined their phones and lanterns where they needed light and they got to work."We immediately w...

'Everyone deserves a dignified home': West Side company offers housing option for migrants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

CHICAGO — As the city struggles to find adequate housing for migrants, the founder of a West Side-based company says a home prototype could be part of the solution."Our fundamental belief at Inherent is that everyone deserves a dignified home," said Inherent L3C Founder and CEO Tim Swanson.After months of conversations, the microhome only took a few days to build before being transported to Monroe and Adams in the West Loop. Fewer migrants in police stations, more in shelters, data shows "This was actually produced in our K-town facility in North Lawndale with an amazing crew of 20 women men from the West and South sides of Chicago," Swanson said. "Some of which have trade experience, many of which have been building homes for the first time." Swanson said he and his 8-year-old daughter plan to spend the weekend living in the microhome."It’s 80-square-feet," Swanson said. "It has electricity, so it's heated and cooled. There's fresh air, so it's isolated but it doesn’t have plumb...

Hi Barbie! Mariah Carey has her own doll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

Hi Barbie!Award-winning singer and songwriter Mariah Carey has been Barbie-fied.Mattel unveiled the doll on Friday to ring in the holiday season. MattelThe Barbie is outfitted in a glittery red dress with a ruched overlay complete with a dramatic hem slit. Of course, the doll has red stilettos and sparkling accessories like a butterfly ring all accompanied by gorgeous curls. The List: Christmas songs that are worse than Mariah Carey’s, according to Larry Potash MattelFor Carey, the doll is a sweet sweet fantasy come true. “It's a once in a lifetime dream to have my own Barbie! If I could go back and tell my little girl self that one day, I would have a Barbie made in my likeness, I think she would flip out!" Mariah Carey said. "I hope all collectors and fans everywhere enjoy the holiday season and hopefully the Mariah Barbie will be a wonderful addition to it!”MattelThe Mariah Carey Barbie is available for purchase at Mattel Shop for $75.  Carey's Barbie is on sale...

'Rest easy brother, we'll take it from here.' Crowds, law enforcement honor fallen Austin Police Officer Jorge Pastore

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police Officer Jorge “George” Pastore, who died in the line of duty Nov. 11, was honored in Austin Friday.Law enforcement began setting up at 7 a.m., and Pastore’s final patrol began at 8 a.m. Hundreds of Austinites lined the route to show support for the family and honor the fallen officer. MAP: Funeral procession route for fallen Austin Police officer The bustling streets of Austin took the morning off as dozens of first responder vehicles traveled from north Austin to the Circuit of The Americas Amphitheatre, where the funeral was held. There, Austin officials, colleagues and friends of Pastore spoke through tears to a crowd of thousands. Austin Police officer salutes as Officer Jorge Pastore’s procession moves past Interstate 35 and St. Johns (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)All vehicles equipped with emergency lights and sirens were invited to join the funeral procession for Officer Jorge Pastore's final patrol. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Crowds gather to show...

Person identified as gunman arrested in connection to deadly southeast Austin shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man identified as the gunman in a deadly southeast Austin shooting that happened in September was arrested, according to an arrest warrant obtained by KXAN.That man was identified Dekatur Dalon Richey, 24, according to the warrant.Previously, 22-year-old Moses Wangobe Mohinga was charged with murder in connection with the Sept. 26 death of 40-year-old Keith Bedford.On Sept. 26, officials responded to the 2300 block of Greenfield Parkway and found Bedford on the ground with “multiple apparent gunshot wounds,” according to an affidavit. He was pronounced dead at the scene, court records said. Man accused of driving shooter to southeast Austin homicide faces murder charge At the scene, Austin police said officers found multiple spent bullet casings on the ground near Bedford.Police believe Mohinga picked up the suspected gunman, later identified as Richey, and drove him to the scene of the murder, murdered Bedford, and then left the scene before abandoning the susp...