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Police say deadly Montreal fire last March now a criminal investigation

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

MONTREAL — Police say a fire last March that killed seven people in a heritage building in Old Montreal has turned into a criminal investigation.Montreal police Insp. David Shane says traces of fire accelerants were found at the site, which can help explain why the flames spread so quickly.Shane says experts have found out where the fire started, and have ruled out an accidental cause. Seven people died in the March 16 blaze, including a long-term resident of the building and six people who were staying in short-term rentals. Inspectors had reported multiple fire code violations during visits in the years leading up to the fire in the building.Shane says a coroner’s inquest into the deaths has been suspended while the criminal investigation follows its course.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2023.The Canadian Press

Guatemala arrests former UN anti-corruption commission representative

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan prosecutors on Monday arrested the former representative of a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission that was expelled from the country several years ago. The arrest of Claudia González is the latest chapter in the government’s systematic pursuit of those who worked with the U.N. anti-corruption mission, best known by its Spanish initials CICIG. Interviewed outside the courthouse after her arrest, González said the charges were strange. She said she was charged with abuse of authority by a public servant, when in fact she was not a government employee when she served as legal representative of the CICIG. González has most recently been acting as defense attorney for some of the dozens of former anti-corruption prosecutors and officials facing legal action from the current administration.President Alejandro Giammattei’s administration has been accused by civil society organizations and foreign governments of systemically pursuing those...

Kansas college reaches settlement in lawsuit alleging discrimination against Black athletes

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

HIGHLAND, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas community college that was accused of trying to reduce the number of Black student-athletes has agreed to a settlement, the Justice Department announced Monday. The department said in a news release that the agreement requires Highland Community College to make its disciplinary proceedings more fair, to provide more training and to improve its procedures for responding to student complaints. A university spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a phone message or email seeking comment. The agreement resolves the department’s investigation into complaints that Black students were targeted for searches and disciplined more severely than their white peers, resulting in their unfair removal from campus housing, or even expulsion, the department said in the release.“No college student should have their educational experience marred or disrupted by discrimination based on their race,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Justi...

UN envoy warns resumption of war remains threat in Yemen unless parties reach new cease-fire deal

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations’ top official in Yemen warned Monday that the Arab world’s poorest country will remain a powder keg for renewed war unless its rival factions work out a new cease-fire deal. Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, told The Associated Press the situation in the conflict-stricken country is fragile nearly a year after the internationally recognized government and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels failed to renew a U.N.-brokered cease-fire.The conflict has been restrained since then, with only sporadic clashes, but Grundberg said a resumption of all-out fighting is a threat.“The risk of a flare-up is always there,” he said. “The situation remains fragile and will remain fragile until we have reached an agreement that offers a cease-fire agreement.”The end to the cease-fire arrangement was a blow to U.N. efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict, which has devastated the country and created one of the world’s wo...

UNC police release photo of gunman at large on or near campus, university on lockdown

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

CHAPEL HILL (WNCN) — Police have released a photo of a gunman at large on or near UNC-Chapel Hill's campus on Monday afternoon. According to the UNC website, the suspect image matches an ID photo for a student named Tailei Qi. The alert, which went out at about 1 p.m. urged everyone on the school's campus to stay inside and avoid windows.Tailei Qi A massive presence of law enforcement and EMS vehicles are lining the road outside of the Genome Sciences Building and South Road is largely blocked off. At least four agencies are responding on the scene as of 2:15 p.m.Chapel Hill area buses are on hold due to the incident, according to a tweet sent by Chapel Hill Transit. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are also under a "Secure Mode" across all campuses and offices, according to an update posted on their Facebook page.CHCCS says that building doors are closed and locked and no one is able to enter or leave the school building until given an "all-clear" by authorities. As of 3:40 p.m.,...

See the Blackhawks' 2023-2024 promotional schedule

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

CHICAGO — With a new boost of positive energy thanks to the selection of Connor Bedard in the NHL Draft, the Blackhawks have set a few specialty dates for their home games this upcoming season. It's a list of promotional events that starts in September and continues through the end of the 41-game regular season schedule in April.Along with their announcement on single-game tickets going on sale Thursday, the Blackhawks also announced their initial promotional schedule for home games in 2023-2024..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/v0O7LKt31w— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) August 28, 2023In their announcement of the start of single-game ticket sales, the Blackhawks announced their theme nights throughout the season, which will include the pre and regular season. For the exhibition part of the schedule, the team will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on Tuesday, October 3 during their game against the Red Wings at 7:30 p.m. The first 5,000 fans at each of the preseason games will get a 202...

DOT fines American Airlines $4.1M over tarmac delays

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Department of Transportation (DOT) fined American Airlines $4.1 million for allegedly violating federal rules during tarmac delays, including those governing the length of time flights can keep passengers onboard without providing an opportunity to deplane.The DOT said in a statement that the fine is the largest ever levied against a carrier for violating its tarmac delay regulations. The department also ordered American to cease and desist from violating the law.“This is the latest action in our continued drive to enforce the rights of airline passengers,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the statement. “Whether the issue is extreme tarmac delays or problems getting refunds, DOT will continue to protect consumers and hold airlines accountable.”The DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) ordered American to pay $2.05 million within 30 days of the order being issued. The other half of the penalty will be credited to American for compensati...

APD searching for missing elderly woman in east Austin

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking the public's help finding a missing elderly woman who was last seen on Monday, the Austin Police Department said.The woman is described as a white woman, who is hearing impaired, is 5 feet 2 inches and weighs approximately 145 pounds, according to police. She was last seen wearing a red and blue plaid shirt, black pants and slippers.Police said the woman was last seen around the 3800 block of Rogge Lane. Anyone who may know the whereabouts of the woman should call 911, police said.

Sarkisian responds to Big 12 commissioner telling Texas Tech to 'take care of business'

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Steve Sarkisian and Big 12 Conference commissioner Brett Yormark won't be eating turkey and watching football together while Yormark is in Austin for Thanksgiving.In his first game week press conference Monday, Sarkisian responded to Yormark's comments while at a Texas Tech football booster function, saying to Red Raiders head coach Joey Maguire, "you better take care of business like you did right here in Lubbock last year." Sarkisian wants Longhorns to play with ‘fanatical effort’ Saturday vs. Rice in season opener With Texas leaving the Big 12 after this season for the Southeastern Conference, the comment didn't seem like innocent banter or Yormark playing to his audience, and Sarkisian was delicate with his response."I got a letter from the commissioner about sportsmanship the day before that speech," Sarkisian said. "So I'm trying to figure out what we're promoting for our student-athletes, and then to go say those types of things. I'm guessing he's not going...

APH: 33% increase in COVID-19 cases in past week as new strain emerges nationally

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting an uptick in hospitalizations nationwide related to a new strain of COVID-19 -- and Austin Public Health are seeing similar upticks in case counts locally.Between Aug. 6 and Aug. 12, the CDC's COVID Data Tracker tool reported a 21.6% increase in hospitalizations throughout the United States. It comes as the latest COVID-19 strain Eris -- more formally referred to as EG. 5 -- emerged earlier this summer and became the dominant virus strain infecting people.What are local COVID-19 levels looking like in Austin?Janet Pichette serves as Austin Public Health's chief epidemiologist. Since last week, she said APH has seen a 33% increase in the number of positive COVID-19 laboratory tests reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services. However, that doesn't represent the true scope of infections happening in the greater Austin community, she said."People are doing self-testing, or they're not testing at ...