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Minor league pitchers Luis Moreno, Alejandro Crisostomo suspended after positive drug tests
Wildwood Wildlife Shelter operator Pam Turner wasn’t going anywhere on Boxing Day despite her fears the Grampians bushfire could head her way – she had a lounge room with 20 joeys in it to look after. She and the rescued roos sheltered inside her Victoria Valley house as sprinklers doused the roof and sheds outside. “I was extremely anxious. I was preparing myself for a giant fireball to come over the mountains,” Turner said. “I chose to stay for the very reason that I had a cottage full of joeys. How could I leave them locked in the cottage?” The forecast 70-kilometre northeasterly winds that threatened to blow the fire towards Wildwood failed to eventuate, and rainfall on Saturday brought some relief to the shelter. But Turner remains worried about what may be yet to come. Three homes in the town of Moyston and 11 outbuildings in the surrounding area have been reported as destroyed by the Grampians blaze so far, and animal rescuers are waiting for permission to enter the Grampians National Park to assess wildlife losses. Pam Turner caring for one of the joeys she kept safe during the Grampians bushfires. The blaze, whose perimeter stretches more than 380 kilometres, has scorched more than 75,000 hectares and is expected to burn into the new year due to dry conditions and difficult, mountainous terrain. Authorities have reported stock losses, as well as beehive, fencing, pasture and hay losses from the fire, which began early last week. Turner was part of the wildlife rescue effort following the Mount Lubra fire, which burnt half the Grampians in 2006. She said the loss of life had left her traumatised. “For months afterwards we were finding injured kangaroos, burnt on the pads of their feet. They were starving because there was no food,” she said. “At this stage, we don’t know what to expect – [the current fire] will certainly be ongoing for weeks and weeks.” An officer from the Environment Department was deployed to assess wildlife losses outside the fire zone this week and was expected to determine whether a triage centre was required to treat injured animals in coming days. Emergency services described the Boxing Day conditions as some of the worst they had seen since the Black Summer fires of 2019-20. Credit: Justin McManus Wildlife Victoria has experienced an increase in calls about heat-stressed animals since summer began and expected calls for burns and dehydration to spike as people returned to the Grampians. Residents of Halls Gap were given permission to return to their homes on Friday, but the park remained closed to tourists. McKenzie Creek resident Brendan Stemp was on alert for changes to weather conditions that could blow embers towards his cattery and neighbouring farmland. Stemp said the more than 30 cats at his property had been kept comfortable during the worst fire conditions, but he was expecting significant damage to wildlife inside the park. “Because it’s such a huge area, there’s millions of animals in there, and all these other critters and insects that the fire’s going to take a huge toll on,” he said. Stemp said the other concern was wildlife being pushed out into grazing land and having to compete with sheep and cattle for food. “Often wildlife come off second best when that happens.” Three homes and 11 outbuildings have been lost in the Grampians fire so far. Credit: Justin McManus Cooler conditions in the Wimmera at the weekend are forecast to be replaced by warmer weather next week. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted temperatures in the low 30s on Monday and up to 35 degrees on Tuesday. Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said the next week would provide favourable conditions for firefighters. “Weather over the next week looks relatively stable. This will allow us time to stabilise the fires and continue back-burning operations, and look to support the community further,” Nugent said. In addition to state and federal support for local government areas affected by the Grampians fire, personal hardship payments are now available. One-off payments of $680 for adults and $340 for children up to $2380 per affected family are being provided to help cover essentials. Loading Forest Fire Management Victoria spokesman Chris Hardman said it was thanks to firefighters that the fire situation had not been worse in recent days. “Without their hard work, we would have had much bigger fires causing much bigger damage,” Hardman said. “On behalf of all Victorians I would like to thank them because what they did on Boxing Day in extreme fire danger saved a lot more anguish and pain that Victorians now don’t have to suffer.” The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Bushfires Animals Wildlife Fire Grampians Alex Crowe is an education reporter. She joined The Age as a breaking news reporter in 2023. Connect via Twitter , Facebook or email . Most Viewed in National Loading
Drought, fires and deforestation battered Amazon rainforest in 2024LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Boise State did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. “Utah State is reviewing the court’s order," Doug Hoffman, Aggies associate athletic director for communications, said in an email. "Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on.” San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
Is he a hero? A killer? Both? About the same time the #FreeLuigi memes featuring the mustachioed plumber from “Super Mario Brothers” mushroomed online, commenters shared memes showing Tony Soprano pronouncing Luigi Mangione , the man charged with murdering the UnitedHealthcare CEO in Manhattan , a hero. There were posts lionizing Mangione’s physique and appearance, the ones speculating about who could play him on “Saturday Night Live,” and the ones denouncing and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s for spotting him and calling police. It was all too much for Pennsylvania's governor, a rising Democrat who was nearly the vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro — dealing with a case somewhere else that happened to land in his lap — decried what he saw as growing support for “vigilante justice.” The curious case of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangione captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation. It also offers a glimpse into how, in a connected world, so many different aspects of modern American life can be surreally linked — from public violence to politics, from health care to humor (or attempts at it) . It summons a question, too: How can so many people consider someone a hero when the rules that govern American society — the laws — are treating him as the complete opposite? Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, on Monday at the police station in Altoona, Pa. Writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed and an expression of anger toward “parasitic” health insurance companies. Bullets recovered from the crime scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” reflecting words used by insurance industry critics, written on them. A number of online posts combine an apparent disdain for health insurers — with no mention of the loss of life. “He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. he was a brave italian martyr. in this house, luigi mangione is a hero, end of story!” one anonymous person said in a post on X that has nearly 2 million views. On Monday, Shapiro took issue with comments like those. It was an extraordinary moment that he tumbled into simply because Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania. Shapiro's comments — pointed, impassioned and, inevitably, political — yanked the conversation unfolding on so many people's phone screens into real life. “We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint,” the governor said. “In a civil society, we are all less safe when ideologues engage in vigilante justice.” But to hear some of his fellow citizens tell it, that's not the case at all. Like Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, D.B. Cooper and other notorious names from the American past, Mangione is being cast as someone to admire. Luigi Nicholas Mangione is escorted into Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Regina Bateson, an assistant political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied vigilantism, the term to which Shapiro alluded. She doesn’t see this case as a good fit for the word, she says, because the victim wasn’t linked to any specific crime or offense. As she sees it, it's more akin to domestic terrorism. But Bateson views the threats against election workers , prosecutors and judges ticking up — plus the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump this past summer — as possible signs that personal grievances or political agendas could erupt. “Americans are voicing more support for — or at least understanding of — political violence,” she said. Shapiro praised the police and the people of Blair County, who abided by a 9/11-era dictum of seeing something and saying something. The commenters have Mangione wrong, the governor said: “Hear me on this: He is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning." A person demonstrates Monday near the McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police earlier in the day arrested Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, in the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO in Manhattan. Even shy of supporting violence, there are many instances of people who vent over how health insurers deny claims. Tim Anderson's wife, Mary, dealt with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2022. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio, told The Associated Press . The discourse around the killing and Mangione is more than just memes. Conversations about the interconnectedness of various parts of American life are unfolding online as well. One Reddit user said he was banned for three days for supporting Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after testifying he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot two people in 2020 during protests. “Do you think people are getting banned for supporting Luigi?” the poster wondered. The comments cover a lot of ground. They include people saying the UnitedHealthcare slaying isn't a “right or left issue" and wondering what it would take to get knocked off the platform. “You probably just have to cross the line over into promoting violence,” one commenter wrote. “Not just laughing about how you don’t care about this guy.” Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Memes and online posts in support of the 26-year-old man, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.As it continues to tout a ‘Team Canada’ approach, the federal government is downplaying differing opinions from premiers on how Canada should respond to a potential 25 per cent tariff from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. “One should be careful not to confuse the odd public comment, with what is a clear desire to work together with the Government of Canada,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters on Friday in Saint John, N.B. “This is an important moment for the whole country, and I don't think Canadians would be very forgiving if their politicians weren't trying to work on the national interest together.” LeBlanc’s remarks come one day after some provinces pushed back against Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s threat to cut off his province’s energy supply to the U.S. if Trump follows through on his tariff warning. Trump has said he will impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico unless both countries address the flow of illegal migrants and illegal drugs at the border. On Wednesday, following a premiers’ meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ford said Ontario “will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York state and over to Wisconsin” to retaliate. According to Ford, Ontario sends energy – mostly electricity – to power 1.5 million homes in Michigan, New York and Minnesota. But the following day , Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey pushed back against cutting off energy to the U.S. as a retaliatory measure. "Let me be clear, from the Alberta perspective, under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports," Smith told reporters on Thursday. Meanwhile, in a separate press conference, Legault said “I won't threaten Donald not to send electricity," while Furey said his province has “no interest in stopping the flow of oil and gas." Asked about the public disagreement on Friday, Ford stood by his position and said he “was speaking very clearly for Ontario, and I still speak for Ontario. I don’t speak for the rest of the country.” Ford also said he spoke to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday, saying “they fully understood where I was coming from.” “My comment to the two governors yesterday, we want to sell you more energy. We want to make sure that we sign this deal,” Ford said. And when it comes to avoiding Trump’s tariffs, Ford said all premiers are united in their belief that securing the Canada-U.S. border and boosting defence spending are the two ways to “make a deal with the U.S.” “It was very clear that all premiers believe we should hit our two per cent when it comes to NATO. So, we're all in agreement,” Ford said Friday. “Every one of us are in agreement that we have to tighten up the borders.” The federal government is working on a border plan , which is expected to be unveiled in the coming days. Freeland 'confident' Canadian response to tariffs would be 'effective' Speaking to reporters on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is leading the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations, said she is “confident” that Canada’s response to potential tariffs would be “effective.” “The Prime Minister has been clear that in the event that the United States were to impose unjustified tariffs on Canada, of course we would respond,” Freeland said, adding “the Canadian response would necessarily be robust.” In her argument, Freeland pointed to Canada’s previous experience with tariffs during Trump’s first term in office, which she said, “led to a great outcome.” In 2018, Trump triggered a nearly yearlong trade war imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel products and 10 per cent on Canadian aluminum. In response, Canada unveiled a 25 per cent counter tariff on a long list of American steel and aluminum products, along with a 10 per cent surtax on miscellaneous U.S. goods including coffee, prepared meals and maple syrup. Those retaliatory tariffs were eventually lifted in 2019 after Canada, the U.S. and Mexico reached a deal. The federal government says it is currently working on a list of potential retaliatory measures. Freeland – who just spoke with Ford, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and British Columbia Premier David Eby – also said provinces “are an essential part of what needs to be a team Canada effort.” “For a Canadian response to be strong and effective, Canada needs to be united, and that's why we need to have good ongoing conversations with the premiers of provinces and territories,” Freeland said. “The ultimate response we come up with needs to be one that all of our country stands behind.” MORE POLITICS NEWS Federal government says 'not to confuse' premiers' differing opinions on Trump tariff retaliation, 'confident' in Canada's response Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canadian officials eyed 'new opportunities' no matter who won U.S. election: memos 'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves Alberta premier says federal border plan coming Monday Ottawa has sold its stake in Air Canada: sources Premiers disagree on cutting energy to U.S. in response to Trump's tariff threat Housing unaffordability still rising despite billions in government measures: PBO IN DEPTH Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power. 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But will it work before the next election? opinion | Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus. opinion | Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place. opinion | Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. 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Canada's homicide rate down in most provinces, with 2 exceptions The homicide rate is declining in Canada, and the country’s three largest cities all saw double-digit percentage decreases in homicides per capita, according to data released this week. 'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance. Top musician forced to cancel Toronto concert after Air Canada refused to give his priceless cello a seat on plane Famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who became a household name after performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has said he had to cancel a concert in Canada after the country’s largest airline denied his pre-booked seat for his cello. 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Instead, aides, officials and even relatives were deceived or kept in the dark, more than a dozen people with knowledge of the events told Reuters. UnitedHealthcare CEO killed in New York tried to improve 'patchwork' system, exec says The leader of UnitedHealth Group conceded that the patchwork U.S. health system 'does not work as well as it should' but said Friday that the insurance executive gunned down on a Manhattan sidewalk cared about customers and was working to make it better. Dutch court rejects lawsuit from rights groups seeking to halt arms sales to Israel A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid from human rights groups to block weapons exports to Israel and trading with the occupied territories, after finding there were sufficient checks already in place to comply with international law. 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New Democratic and Green parties have reached an "agreement in principle" on a "co-operation and responsible government accord" that will see the smaller party support the government on confidence matters. Nanaimo liquor store robbed at knifepoint, RCMP seek suspect Nanaimo RCMP have released a photograph of a suspect who allegedly robbed a liquor store in the city in an effort to garner new information from the public. B.C. girl inspired by Hollywood star to donate turkeys to local families in need When Maria-Clara Patrick first watched that video of Arnold Schwarzenegger, she assumed they had nothing in common. Toronto 'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance. Top musician forced to cancel Toronto concert after Air Canada refused to give his priceless cello a seat on plane Famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who became a household name after performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has said he had to cancel a concert in Canada after the country’s largest airline denied his pre-booked seat for his cello. Transit woes continue into the weekend for GTA commuters Following the service disruptions on Monday and Wednesday, Line 1 (Yonge-University) will be closed between York Mills and St Clair stations though this weekend due to planned track work. Calgary Alberta's new CTrain Green Line plan includes elevated downtown tracks, more stops The province has released a “reimagined” plan for the Green Line CTrain track that it says is longer and less expensive than what the City of Calgary had planned. Youth in serious condition after southwest Calgary crash Three people are in hospital, including one in serious condition, after a Friday morning crash in the southwest Calgary community of Belmont. Section of QEII highway northbound closed because of 'serious' crash: RCMP The QEII is closed northbound near Lacombe because of a serious crash as of 10:50 a.m. on Friday, RCMP say. Ottawa Eight people injured after horse-drawn wagon went out of control in eastern Ont. Eight people were injured after horses became out of control while a man was offering a horse-drawn wagon ride Thursday in eastern Ontario, according to the Brockville Police Service. More than 1,500 vehicles reported stolen in Ottawa in 2024: Here are the hotspots for thefts Statistics on the Ottawa Police Service's Crime Map show 1,559 vehicles have been reported stolen in Ottawa between Jan. 1 and Dec. 12. Vehicle thefts include joy rides, opportunistic thefts, and "single-use crimes," according to police. Ontario Premier standing firm on retaliatory measures to Trump tariffs Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will use every tool at his disposal to manage the threat of tariffs from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump. Montreal Quebec, Ottawa announce $100-million deal to fight homelessness, add shelter spaces The federal and provincial governments have announced a $100-million agreement to help fight homelessness in Quebec. Two Montreal anesthesiologists suspended for questionable practices: College of Physicians Two anesthesiologists at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital were brought before the Quebec College of Physicians disciplinary board for questionable practices and were suspended. Search launched for migrants in Akwesasne The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service launched a search operation Thursday after receiving a report of migrants on its territory in Montérégie, southwest of Montreal. Edmonton Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week. Section of QEII highway northbound closed because of 'serious' crash: RCMP The QEII is closed northbound near Lacombe because of a serious crash as of 10:50 a.m. on Friday, RCMP say. Lights, shows, action: Here's what's happening in Edmonton this weekend Here are the events happening in and around Edmonton this weekend. Atlantic NEW | 'It changed the City of Moncton': Murdered police officers remembered 50 years later Dozens gathered at a police memorial in Moncton, N.B., Friday morning to remember and honour Const. Michael O’Leary and Cpl. Aurèle Bourgeois on the 50th anniversary of their tragic deaths. Man charged with manslaughter in death of missing Cape Breton man A man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the disappearance and homicide of a man in Cape Breton this past summer. Mike Savage to be sworn in as Nova Scotia’s next lieutenant-governor Former Halifax mayor Mike Savage will be sworn in as Nova Scotia’s next lieutenant-governor on Friday. Winnipeg Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week. ‘My mom was iconic’: Saying goodbye to a Winnipeg restaurant owner with a legacy of kindness Shirley Eng, the charismatic, down-to-earth owner of the famous chicken finger restaurant Mitzi’s, unexpectedly passed away at the beginning of December at age 78, according to her family. Winnipeg to see above seasonal temperatures this weekend after extreme cold snap Manitoba and northwestern Ontario felt some relief Friday after an extreme cold snap swept through the area. Regina Grand opening held for Regina's integrated youth services hub A grand opening for a new youth services community hub was held in Regina on Friday. Regina police stats show year-over-year increase in crimes involving people, property A Regina police report shows that both crimes against people and property have seen a year-over-year increase when comparing this November to last. Assiniboia rolls out red carpet for SJHL's Weyburn Red Wings after rink closure The Weyburn Red Wings are carrying on with their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season, despite their hometown rink being temporarily shuttered, thanks to the generosity of those in Assiniboia, Sask. Kitchener Guelph man arrested for attempted murder A Guelph man is facing an attempted murder charge after a disturbance Thursday morning. Waterloo crash sends cyclist to hospital with serious injuries A cyclist has been sent to hospital after he was hit by a driver in Waterloo on Friday morning. This little piggy went to the Humane Society The Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth Humane Society has an unusual animal up for adoption after it was found wandering the streets. Saskatoon 'Gong show': Emergency patients overflow into ambulatory unit at St. Paul's Hospital The emergency department at St. Paul's Hospital is so full its turning to the ambulatory unit. Saskatoon man faces child porn charges A 28-year-old Saskatoon man has been charged with child exploitation offences following an online investigation by the Saskatchewan ICE unit. 'Not even our project': Saskatoon city spends more than $5 million on homelessness with no provincial commitment Saskatoon City Council held a special meeting Thursday morning to address homelessness years into the future, but frustration grew throughout the meeting as the province was absent from the conversation. Northern Ontario Northern Ont. bank employee taken to hospital with serious injuries after shooting An employee at Northern Credit Union in Wawa, Ont., was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a shooter entered the branch and opened fire Thursday morning, the financial institution said in a statement. Teen facing child porn charges after sending ex-boyfriend's photos to his parents A teenager in Guelph is facing child pornography charges after sending nude photos of her ex-boyfriend to his parents. Elliot Lake fire crews continue to battle massive apartment fire Fire crews continue to battle an apartment building fire on Hirshhorn Avenue in Elliot Lake. Damage is extensive. London Stevenson disagrees with Integrity Commissioner ruling she bullied Deputy City Manager and deserves financial punishment Councillor Susan Stevenson is speaking out against the findings of the latest Integrity Commissioner investigation into her conduct and social media posts about homelessness. Brother charged in St. Thomas homicide The St. Thomas Police Service has deemed a suspicious death a homicide. Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week. Barrie Driver sentenced to jail time in 2019 dangerous driving causing bodily harm case An Aurora man convicted of dangerous driving causing bodily harm for a crash that sent a woman to hospital where she later died was sentenced Friday in a Newmarket courtroom. What police want you to know about a new sophisticated scam It’s no longer just phone calls or emails — fraudsters could now show up at your front door. Pop-punk music festival to return to Burl's Creek event grounds 'All Your Friends Fest' will return to Burl’s Creek event grounds in Oro-Medonte in June. Windsor CUPW Local 630 leader 'disappointed' by government’s plan amid strike Windsor-Essex union leaders for Canada Post workers aren’t happy with the latest plans from Canada’s labour minister about the ongoing strike. UWindsor among top 20 in Canada for sustainability leadership The University of Windsor has been ranked in the top 20 among Canadian universities in sustainability leadership, according to the 2024 QS World University Rankings. 21st annual Cans for a Cause returns The 21st annual Cans for a Cause has returned Friday, taking place at Devonshire Mall. Vancouver Island BREAKING | B.C. Greens to support NDP on confidence votes, work together on shared priorities The B.C. New Democratic and Green parties have reached an "agreement in principle" on a "co-operation and responsible government accord" that will see the smaller party support the government on confidence matters. Nanaimo liquor store robbed at knifepoint, RCMP seek suspect Nanaimo RCMP have released a photograph of a suspect who allegedly robbed a liquor store in the city in an effort to garner new information from the public. B.C. girl inspired by Hollywood star to donate turkeys to local families in need When Maria-Clara Patrick first watched that video of Arnold Schwarzenegger, she assumed they had nothing in common. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Lethbridge Lethbridge man wins lottery for a third time A Lethbridge man won big earlier this year, but now he's won even more. Eight people facing charges after crackdown on fentanyl dealers in Lethbridge Eight people are facing charges after a drug bust in Lethbridge targeting fentanyl dealers in the downtown core. Lethbridge Fire and EMS offering safety reminders ahead of holiday season As the holidays quickly approach, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) is putting out a reminder to celebrate safely this year. Sault Ste. Marie Elliot Lake fire crews continue to battle massive apartment fire Fire crews continue to battle an apartment building fire on Hirshhorn Avenue in Elliot Lake. Damage is extensive. First group of internationally trained family doctors already making a difference in northern Ontario With doctor shortages across the country, Ontario is tapping into the availability of internationally trained family physicians to solve part of the health care crisis. Northern Ont. bank employee taken to hospital with serious injuries after shooting An employee at Northern Credit Union in Wawa, Ont., was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a shooter entered the branch and opened fire Thursday morning, the financial institution said in a statement. N.L. 'Breaking of gridlock' between Quebec, N.L. is the envy of former premiers Former Newfoundland and Labrador premiers say a draft energy agreement signed Thursday with Quebec marks a historic break in a long-standing political standoff. Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador announce energy deal worth billions Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have signed a sweeping new deal to build new energy projects and throw out a decades-old contract that has long been a source of strife and bitterness for Canada's easternmost province. Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador expected to sign Churchill Falls energy deal Quebec Premier François Legault and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey are scheduled to announce an energy agreement Thursday that could end decades of friction between the two provinces. Stay ConnectedThe Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti won 235 of the 288 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra, with the BJP itself winning 132 of the 149 seats it contested for a strike rate of 88.5%; its allies the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party won 57 and 41 of the 81 and 59 seats they contested, respectively. Also Read: Mahayuti seizes a Maha mandate, Soren keeps his Jharkhand crown If the results were surprising –– in terms of magnitude if not the direction –– attribute it to the summer’s Lok Sabha election, when, of the state’s 48 seats, the Mahayuti could win only 17, with the opposition, the Maga Vikas Aghadi winning 30. If the results were surprising, attribute it to the fact that the Mahayuti was the incumbent, facing charges of poor governance and mismanagement. And if the results were surprising, attribute it to the fact that the Mahayuti came to power after the BJP engineered a split in the Shiv Sena, and that it consolidated power by engineering another split, in the Nationalist Congress Party, and many experts believed the cynical alliance-making had turned off some voters. But the Mahayuti surprised everyone. For it ran a much better campaign than the MVA –– in terms of not just issues but also managing the dynamics of the alliance. Also Read: Mahayuti’s nuts-and-bolts campaign Party leaders credit the win to the Mahayuti’s welfare schemes, notably the Ladki Bahin one that was launched in August, and which gives Rs1,500 to eligible women beneficiaries. They credit the win to the BJP’s gambit of doubling down on its Hindutva agenda, consolidating the Hindu vote across classes and communities. They credit it to an efficient, and region-specific campaign that addressed hot-button local issues. And they credit it to the role played by the Rashtriya SwayamsevakSangh, the BJP’s ideological parent which was conspicuous in its absence during the Lok Sabha campaign. Preparation The preparation for the Maharashtra battle began in earnest within days of the June 4 Lok Sabha polls verdict, which left the BJP smarting. According to a senior party functionary who asked not to be named, within days , the party had met with state-level leaders to understand what went wrong. Within a fortnight, on June 17, the party announced state-in-charges to oversee the election campaign . The party chose union ministers Bhupender Yadav and Ashwani Vaishnaw as state in-charges. “The main reasons for the poor showing were apathetic and demotivated cadre, internal rifts , and the challenges that come from a leading a coalition; yet another crucial reason was the disconnect between the Sangh (RSS) and the party,” added the functionary. Union home minister and the BJP’s chief election strategist Amit Shah met state leaders in several closed door meeting and , in a meeting on July 21, is believed to have insisted that the fight would be between alliances. “There was a whisper campaign that the party would fair badly by aligning with Ajit Dada (Ajit Pawar’s NCP), and there was a group that felt that Uddhav Thackeray (of the Shiv Sena-UBT) would walk away with the sympathy vote as the BJP was seen as the driving force behind the spilt in the party. That is when Shah, in a terse message said the narrative would be set by the BJP and it would be the Mahayuti versus the MVA,” said the functionary quoted above. To ensure this message distilled down, Shah and party chief JP Nadda met with workers from every zone. “Shah directly addressed over 10,000 workers,” said the functionary. To counter voter apathy and indifference among workers, the party reset its booth management programme, with a focus on smaller communities. “Across the state, we carried out meetings with voters from a bunch of smaller caste groups (from the SC and OBC categories), that had between 200 and 250 people in attendance. There was a fresh approach to both the SC and OBC voters,” said a second functionary who asked not to be named. The party also identified booths where it had lost by narrow margins and set out to increase its vote share in these by 15%. And in each case, the party picked issues that it believed would have the most impact on the ground. “We studied the caste, party affiliation and the issues in each of the constituencies to draw up a campaign that would resonate the most,” added the second functionary. The role of the RSS With the differences between the party and the Sangh ironed out, the BJP chose to roll out its election campaign on the twin poles of development (which included welfare) and ideology. While on the one hand it showcased massive infrastructure projects such as the Atal Setu and policies for the empowerment of women and farmers, on the other it ran with the ‘Ek hai to safe hai’ (we are safe as one) theme raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in the state. Political watchers said the thrust on Hindutva was meant to counter the call for caste census by the opposition, notably the Congress; both the BJP and the RSS asserted that this was a call for the unity of the larger Hindu community in the interests of peace and national security. “Why call it polarisation...it is consolidation of the Hindus who were divided on the basis of caste,” said a senior functionary of the RSS who asked not to be named. He said the Sangh’s volunteers were active on the ground, creating “awareness” about issues, motivating the voters to cast their ballot and to counter the “false narrative” of the opposition. “Swayamsevaks undertook Janajagran (door-to-door) and addressed small meetings for creating awareness about issues that are crucial for India’s development and security...” the functionary said. The Sangh’s vast network of foot soldiers was used to shore up the party’s campaign to flag the opposition’s “failures and misdemeanours” such as the Emergency; the 1984 pogrom against the Sikhs and the demand for restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Also Read: RSS plays a key role in BJP-led Mahayuti’s big win in Maharashtra “The (BJP’s) win in Haryana, despite the predictions of a big loss came as a shot in the arm for the karyakartas who were motivated to give their best,” said the RSS functionary. The Sangh’s renewed push also ensured that voters turned up on the day. “In the LS polls about 4-5% of the BJP’s committed voters did not show up...this time we spared no effort to ensure that the problem does not recure,” said the second BJP functionary. The turnout in Maharashtra, at 66.05%, was 4.5 percentage points higher than in the Lok Sabha polls, and 4.5 percentage points higher than in the 2019 assembly elections. Interestingly, turnout among women voters was 65.22% –– an indication, analysts say, that the Ladki Bahin scheme was working. Targeting the opposition And while the Mahayuti went to the masses with its own “good governance record”, it undertook a simultaneous campaign to “discredit” the opposition . Thus, the e BJP accused Uddhav of walking away from Hindutva that his father Bala Saheb espoused, and it painted Sharad Pawar’s party as a dynastic entity. “On the day the Congress released its manifesto, the BJP ran advertisements highlighting the failures and the unmet promises of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.,” said a third party leader speaking on condition of anonymity. “Thackeray’s alliance with the Congress, his decision to become CM, his appeasement of the Muslims was all against what Bala Sahab stood for...it became a rallying point against him during campaigns,” said the third leader. To counter the question of who would the the face of the Mahayuti, the party showcased three faces, Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis as the three pillars of the coalition and sidestepped the tricky issue of chief ministerial candidate. The party was unable to achieve the same in Jharkhand, as it failed to woo tribal communities in the absence of a a strong local leader, party functionaries aware of the details said. The BJP conceded defeat to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance on Saturday, winning 21 of 68 seats it contested. According to senior party leaders, although the party’s election narrative that tilted more towards ideological issues, found a resonance across the state, the party failed to pitch a local face as a counter to JMM’s Hemant Soren. “The central leadership identified two strong leaders who have a record of winning elections, union minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to oversee elections, but it failed to project a strong local leader, who could take on Soren,” said a party functionary. With tribal voters making up 26.21% of Jharkhand’s population, BJP pulled out all the steps to win the 28 ST-reserved seats, but could win only 1 of the 25 seats it contested. In 2019, the BJP, which contested 79 seats won two of these 28, while its overall tally was 25 with a 33.37% vote share. The party’s bid to woo the tribal vote bank by inducting Champai Soren into the party fold also did not yield results. “There was a section of leaders in the state who had suggested letting Soren float his own party, which would have helped dent the JMM’s vote share,” said the leader. Social media Even the alliance’s social media strategy was designed to ensure the coalition partners appeared in sync with each other. About 30 broad issues including infrastructure, women, farmers, employment, and internal security were identified for social media campaign. Of these eight were region-specific. In addition to the party’s own social media handles, third-party handles on platforms such as Youtube were given details of the issues that needed to be amplified. Like it did in Haryana, the party also refrained from making the election a battle of personalities, avoiding over-reliance on the PM and focussed on leveraging the benefits of boots on the ground to retain power. “In the end the BJP was able to balance the politics of indirect benefit (development and infrastructure) and direct benefit (doles and sops) and capitalise on the goodwill of women who are a game changer,” said the second functionary.
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings waived cornerback Akayleb Evans on Saturday in another setback for their beleaguered 2022 draft class. Evans started 15 games last season, but he had been relegated to a special teams role this year after the Vikings added veteran cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin. Evans was a fourth-round pick out of Missouri, one of three defensive backs among Minnesota's first five selections in 2022. Lewis Cine (first round) was waived and Andrew Booth (second round) was traded earlier this year. One of their second-round picks, guard Ed Ingram, lost his starting spot last week. Evans was let go to clear a roster spot for tight end Nick Muse, who was activated from injured reserve to play on Sunday at Chicago. The Vikings ruled tight end Josh Oliver out of the game with a sprained ankle. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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