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The U.S. northeast is preparing for a weekend storm that threatens to dump snow, rain, and ice

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

Millions of people across the eastern U.S. are preparing for a wintry mix of precipitation as a potent storm system looks to bring snow, freezing rain and ice to the region. The system is expected to reach North Carolina by Saturday morning and then track along the northeastern coastline throughout the weekend. It could bring to Philadelphia and other major cities amounts of snow not seen in several years.The heaviest snowfall is expected in regions including the Poconos in Pennsylvania, parts of the Hudson Valley and portions of New England. However, winter storm warnings and watches were in effect throughout much of the Northeast.Chris Stachelski of the National Weather Service said localized accumulations of snowfall could exceed one foot in areas of higher elevation.Elsewhere, the concern is ice — with up to a quarter of an inch forecast for parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city was preparing for the snowstorm...

F.D.A. move to allow Canadian drugs to be exported to U.S. creates shortage fears

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

OTTAWA — A major shift in United States pharmaceutical policy allowing for the importation of drugs from Canada is creating fears about future drug shortages in this country.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to allow Florida to import millions of dollars worth of pharmaceuticals from Canadian wholesalers as a way to avoid high costs in the U.S.Joelle Walker, vice president of public affairs for the Canadian Pharmacists Association says the decision is not great news for Canada, which has more frequently faced acute drug shortages over the last several years.Walker says Canada does not have the capacity to become a pharmacy for the United States. But she says people should not rush to refill their prescriptions because the threat to Canada is not immediate, and Florida still has more work to do to prove imports would actually save Americans money.She says Canada has several safeguards to try to prevent manufacturers from shipping medication south, and to make the idea less ...

US actor Christian Oliver and his 2 daughters died in a plane crash in the Caribbean, police say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. actor Christian Oliver and his two daughters died in a plane crash near a tiny private island in the eastern Caribbean, according to police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.The crash occurred Thursday just west of Petit Nevis island near Bequia as the plane headed for nearby St. Lucia, police said in a statement.They identified the daughters as Madita Klepser, 10, and Annik Klepser, 12, adding that the pilot, Robert Sachs, also died.It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash, according to police.Authorities said fishermen and divers in the area went to the crash site to help as the St. Vincent and Grenadines Coast Guard headed to the area.“The selfless and brave acts of the fishermen and divers is very much appreciated,” police said.Oliver had dozens of crediting film and television roles, including in the 2008 film “Speed Racer” film and “The Good German,” a 2006 World War II film by Stephen Soderbergh that starred George Clooney and Cate B...

Consumer and business insolvencies continued to rise in November

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

Insolvencies in November were 5.1 per cent higher than in October, and 24.4 per cent higher than a year earlier. The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy says consumer insolvencies were up 24 per cent in November compared with a year ago, while business insolvencies rose 36.8 per cent. The data, which takes into account proposals and bankruptcies, shows insolvencies for both consumers and businesses continued to rise from pandemic lows.Business insolvencies rose 41.8 per cent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. However, consumer insolvencies in the third quarter were still below pre-pandemic levels. In November, that trend continued — business insolvencies were higher than in November 2019, while consumer insolvencies were a little lower. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 20240105120144-659840bf3008a181617f9aabjpeg.jpg, Caption: Insolvencies in November were 5.1 per ...

New gun law has blocked over 500 firearms from being bought by young people, attorney general says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 500 gun purchases have been blocked since a new gun law requiring stricter background checks for young people went into effect in 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday, the day after a school shooting in Iowa left a sixth-grader dead.The bipartisan law passed in June 2022 was the most sweeping gun legislation in decades and requires extra checks for any gun purchases by people under age 21. Those denied a gun purchase include a person convicted of rape, a suspect in an attempted murder case and someone who had been involuntarily committed for mental-health treatment, according to the Justice Department. President Joe Biden applauded the news, calling it an important milestone.“Simply put: this legislation is saving lives,” Biden said in a statement where he also called for additional measures such as universal background checks and a ban on firearms often referred to as assault weapons. The Democratic president said he was “proud to have take...

Illinois man charged in Fourth of July parade shooting rehires lawyers weeks after dismissing them

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — The man charged with killing seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago asked to again be represented by public defenders after firing them last month and insisting on handling his own case.Robert Crimo III is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder — three counts for each person killed — as well as 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery. Dozens of people were wounded in the 2022 shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, including a 8-year-old who was left partially paralyzed. Last month, 23-year-old Crimo told a judge he wished to represent himself at his trial, and asked to move his court date up by a year, to February of this year rather than next.Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti asked Crimo several times if he understood the possible penalties — including consecutive life sentences — if a jury finds him guilty, and then she granted both requests. In response to the judge’s questions, Crimo acknowledged h...

Canada’s first conflict of interest and ethic commissioner, Mary Dawson, dies

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

OTTAWA — Former conflict of interest and ethics commissioner Mary Dawson has died.The commissioner’s office posted a statement on its website today announcing it is saddened to learn of Dawson’s death on Dec.24.Dawson was nominated to the role in 2007 by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper and she served until 2018.Before that she had a lengthy career as a federal bureaucrat, including as the associate deputy minister of the Justice Department.During her tenure at that department she helped draft major pieces of legislation including the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Canada Health Act and the Official Languages Act.During her time as ethics commissioner Dawson made many rulings, but among her last was her explosive report that found Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated conflict of interest rules by accepting a vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island in the Bahamas in 2016.The statement from the ethics commissioner’s office ...

Stars converge in Palm Springs to celebrate year’s best films, Emma Stone’s career

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Emma Stone reflected on her career highlights and Meryl Streep praised Billie Eilish and “Barbie” with saving the movie industry Thursday during one of the first stops of Hollywood’s awards season.Stone, Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cillian Murphy were among the A-listers who descended on the desert for the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s annual opening gala. Stars were in an upbeat, and generally grateful, mood at the gala after a tumultuous year for their industry that included two strikes and rapid changes to the theatrical and streaming landscape.Stone, who snagged a best actress nomination for Sunday’s Golden Globes for her performance in “Poor Things,” accepted the career achievement award, which was presented by her co-stars Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe.“I’m grateful that I get to keep trying new things and for the opportunity to make choices when it comes to work because I know how rare and fleeting it can be to choose what you want ...

Calgary teens arrested in terrorism-related cases in court for appearance, hearing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

CALGARY — A 16-year-old boy who was arrested in Calgary as part of an ongoing national security investigation made a brief court appearance this morning with his lawyer and his father.The teen, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was the fourth Calgarian to be arrested since last June.A 20-year-old and two other boys, who are 15 and 17, were previously arrested as part of the same investigation, which is linked to terrorism-related posts on TikTok and other social media sites.An Ottawa teenager was also arrested in mid-December and charged in connection with an alleged plot against that city’s Jewish community.The 15-year-old Calgary boy who was arrested in October is to have a peace bond hearing this afternoon.Under a provision of the Criminal Code, the Crown can ask for conditions to be placed on the youth provided there are reasonable grounds he may commit a terrorism offence.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The C...

The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A new online application designed to make applying for federal student aid easier went live this week, but not everyone has been able to access it.That’s led to worry and frustration for students like Simea Turner of Arlington, Texas, who will be a college freshman in the fall. Turner has been trying to access the application known as the FAFSA since Sunday, but she hasn’t been able to get past the first question.“I’m nervous because I really need this money,” said Turner, a first-time applicant who expects to receive a significant amount of aid.The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, typically opens at the beginning of October, but it was delayed three months due to the launch of the new application. Then, a few days before Sunday’s launch date, the Department of Education announced that a soft launch would continue until all of the bugs in the new application are fixed. As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the department had received over hal...