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Folk singer lends name to a program to provide healthy food to rural N.S. children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia folk singer is lending his name to a program that provides healthy food to rural schoolchildren in the province.Dave Gunning’s music has included tunes such “Coal From the Train,” with lyrics telling how his grandfather would shovel coal from his passing train onto the properties of people struggling to heat their homes in Pictou County.Now, the Pictou County resident is becoming the artistic sponsor of a drive to set up centres that will stock rural schools in Nova Scotia with nourishing food and other necessities for students.   The Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia, which operates the program, says child poverty in the province is most acute in rural areas.Statistics Canada data published in 2020 says the child poverty rate was 26 per cent in Annapolis county,  27 per cent in Digby county and 22 per cent in Cape Breton’s Victoria county.Gunning says he started to appreciate the problem when his school teacher wife told him...

Bodies of 4 men, 2 women found near northern Mexico city of Monterrey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The bodies of four men and two women were found lying on the side of a street near the northern city of Monterrey early Tuesday, authorities said. Prosecutors for the border state of Nuevo Leon said the victims appeared to have been shot and had their hands tied. The bodies were discovered in Apodaca, a suburb of Monterrey. Local media reported the six might have been tortured before being shot in the head. Monterrey was hit by a wave of drug cartel violence in the 2010s, but had been somewhat more peaceful in recent years.The Associated Press

CBRE report says office vacancy rate in Q2 rose to highest level since 1994

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

TORONTO — The national office vacancy rate in Canada climbed in the second quarter to its highest level since 1994, according to a report by commercial real estate firm CBRE.The firm said Tuesday that the national office vacancy rate rose to 18.1 per cent in the second quarter, up from 17.8 per cent in the first quarter.It was the highest level since the first quarter of 1994 when it was 18.6 per cent.“Canadian office markets are grappling with a perfect storm of a recession threat, interest rate hikes, tech sector weakness, tenants rightsizing and new supply of office space,” CBRE said in a news release. “All of this is compounded by the continued uncertainty around remote work.”The increase in the overall rate came as the downtown office vacancy rate in the second quarter rose to 18.9 per cent compared with 18.5 per cent in the first quarter. The suburban office vacancy rate was 17.1 per cent, up from 16.9 per cent.CBRE said downtown vacancies in the second...

Competition Bureau movie ticket price dripping case should be dismissed: Cineplex

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

TORONTO — Cineplex Inc. says a case the Competition Bureau recently launched against the theatre chain should be dismissed because it’s based on a “mischaracterization.”The case from the competition watchdog is based on the premise that fees applied to some Cineplex movie tickets bought online constitute price dripping, where customers are drawn into a purchase without full disclosure of the final cost.The bureau alleged in May that consumers can’t buy tickets online at advertised prices because there is a mandatory $1.50 fee for booking online.In a court filing, Cineplex says there is no price dripping in its purchase process because moviegoers are told about fees they may face as soon as they select a screening and type of ticket.Cineplex says a customer who decides to purchase a ticket online is shown the price, including fees, on the first page of the buying process.It adds that moviegoers can skip the fee entirely by making a purchase in theatres or by b...

York police warn of fentanyl overdoses after fatal case, others to hospital over weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

York Regional Police put out a warning about the dangers of fentanyl after one person died and five others overdosed over the long weekend.Officers responded to two calls in Vaughan, Ont. overnight Saturday into Sunday.Police said the two victims attended the same party in the area of Beverley Glen Boulevard and Dufferin Street, and both are believed to have ingested cocaine laced with fentanyl.On Saturday, a male was found unresponsive in a bus shelter in Vaughan, Ont. Police said he was later pronounced dead in a local hospital.Investigators said the male victim had cocaine on him when he was discovered by responding officers.There were three other suspected fentanyl overdoses in Newmarket, Ont. and Georgina, Ont., with one of them again involving cocaine believed to have been laced with fentanyl.“The community is reminded that any drug is considered dangerous and potentially lethal,” a police spokesperson wrote in a news release.“Street drugs can contain other d...

Alcaraz opens with a win at rainy Wimbledon. Murray and defending champion Rybakina also advance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — In only his third Wimbledon tournament, Carlos Alcaraz is already one of the main men to beat.The top-seeded Spaniard hasn’t been past the fourth round at the All England Club, but he has become the primary threat in Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record-equaling eighth men’s title at the grass-court Grand Slam.On Tuesday, Alcaraz beat Jeremy Chardy 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 on No. 1 Court — a fitting location for the No. 1 player in the world.The match was played under the roof because rain affected play on the outside courts for the second straight day.“Obviously without the roof, with sun, is much better for me. I think for everyone as well,” Alcaraz said on court. “With the roof or not, I have to show my best level.”His best led Alcaraz to his first major title at the U.S. Open last year. He reached the semifinals at this year’s French Open, but Djokovic ended up winning that match en route to his 23rd Grand Slam title.At Wimbledon, Alcaraz reached the second r...

Rogers launches voluntary departure program to eliminate ‘overlap’ after Shaw merger

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

TORONTO — Rogers Communications Inc. is offering voluntary departure packages to some employees as it integrates Shaw Communications Inc. following its $26-billion purchase of the carrier in April.In a memo to staff on Tuesday, CEO Tony Staffieri says Rogers has been looking to reduce some overlap in roles since the companies combined.The memo says eligible employees can apply to receive a voluntary package through the program.It says most employees in customer-facing roles and media production teams will not be eligible for the packages.Staffieri says that although duplicate positions are being reduced, Rogers continues to hire new employees to support customers.As part of a set of conditions Ottawa attached to its approval of the merger, Rogers must create 3,000 new jobs in Western Canada.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:RCI.B)The Canadian Press

Miki Sudo defends women's hot dog-eating title; men's contest delayed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Defending champion Miki Sudo forced down 39 1/2 hot dogs and buns to claim a ninth women's title in Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, before stormy weather moved in and delayed the men's competition.Sudo beat Mayoi Ebihara’s 33 1/2 hot dogs in 10 minutes Tuesday in a contest that appeared to be much closer until the final count was announced. The unofficial real-time counter showed the two women tied throughout much of the competition. A final count of plates settled the score.Sudo, 37, was disappointed in her winning total, which was nine hot dogs short of her all-time high. She said competition from the 27-year-old Ebihara had thrown her off. Substance found at White House tests positive for cocaine “The first couple minutes, I found myself watching her, which I never want to do. I never want to be distracted by the other competitors,” Sudo, of Port Richey, Florida, said after the competition. “Watching her, I fumbled my hands. I got stuck wi...

Fourth of July parades, celebrations held throughout Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

CHICAGO — Fourth of July celebrations and parades were held across Chicago on Tuesday.Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was on hand for the 53rd Street Parade Tuesday morning.In his first parade as mayor, Johnson said seeing so many people together for that sense of community brings him great joy. FULL LIST: 4th of July celebrations across Chicago area for 2023 Other elected officials at the parade included Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and 4th Ward Alderman Lamont Robinson.This parade has been a tradition in the Hyde Park neighborhood dating back to 1992.The parade route is about a mile long and it will end at Nichols Park for a picnic and festival.Johnson also plans to attend 30th Anniversary African/Caribbean International Festival of Life Tuesday evening.

Alligator found guarding woman's body near South Carolina lagoon: authorities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:31 GMT

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV/WCBD) — A woman is dead after apparently being attacked by an alligator on South Carolina's Hilton Head Island.According to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, officials responded to Spanish Wells for a reported alligator attack shortly before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.There they found a 69-year-old woman, a resident of the community, unresponsive at the edge of the lagoon. While crews were working to rescue the woman, an alligator reportedly appeared and guarded the woman, interrupting emergency efforts. The gator was safely removed from the area and the woman’s body was recovered. Substance found at White House tests positive for cocaine Deputies say the woman was walking her dog when the attack occurred. It's unclear where she was taken into the water. They believe she is a 69-year-old member of the Spanish Wells community. Her identity has not been released, and an autopsy is set to be conducted by the Beaufort County Coroner's Office.The app...