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Federal spending on staff grew rapidly during pandemic: parliamentary budget officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget officer says the federal government’s spending on employees saw record growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. A newly published report says federal spending on personnel increased by almost 31 per cent between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 fiscal years. Spending on salaries, pensions and other employee compensation rose from $46.3 billion to $60.7 billion over that time period. The report says the public service expanded by the equivalent of 31,227 full-time employees between April 2020 and March 2022, with the government spending an average of 6.6 per cent more on each full-time worker.The Parliamentary Budget Office says the increase in salaries was the largest contributor to the rise in total compensation, but spending on pensions, overtime and bonuses also grew at a faster rate.The PBO says expenditure could rise further, with 26 out of 28 bargaining groups currently negotiating collective agreements.This report by The Canadian Press was first pub...

‘He’s a war criminal’: Elite Putin security officer defects

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — On October 14, a Russian engineer named Gleb Karakulov boarded a flight from Kazakhstan to Turkey with his wife and daughter. He switched off his phone to shut out the crescendo of urgent, enraged messages, said goodbye to his life in Russia and tried to calm his fast-beating heart.But this was no ordinary Russian defector. Karakulov was an officer in President Vladimir Putin’s secretive elite personal security service — one of the few Russians to flee and go public who have rank, as well as knowledge of intimate details of Putin’s life and potentially classified information.Karakulov, who was responsible for secure communications, said moral opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and his fear of dying there drove him to speak out, despite the risks to himself and his family. He said he hoped to inspire other Russians to speak out also.“Our President has become a war criminal,” he said. “It is time to end this war and stop being silent.” Karakulov’s account general...

Warning, watch issued as severe weather moves into area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

CHICAGO — A potential for a severe weather threat is expected for the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.There is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for LaSalle County until 11:45 a.m. Additionally, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Cook, Grundy, Kendall, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle, Will, DuPage, Lake (IN) and Kankakee counties until 3 p.m. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast Tuesday, with more potent storms —strong to severe — anticipated in the afternoon. Winds: E 10-15, G25 mph. High: 64. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with showers and thunderstorms expected, some strong to severe. Winds: S 15-25, G40 mph. Low 61.Wednesday Forecast: Some morning showers and thunderstorms are expected for Wednesday morning's commute, then clearing and colder temperatures with very windy conditions. Winds: SW 20-30, G50mph. High 70 early and then falling temps.Extended outlook calls for cooler tem...

Suburban man accused of exposing himself to 2 girls near playground

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

BATAVIA, Ill. — A suburban man was arrested Monday after he allegedly exposed himself to two pre-teen girls near a Batavia playground.On Sunday at around 4:30 p.m., a man reported to police that his daughter and another girl encountered a man who exposed himself to the girls near the playground at H.C. Storm School, located in the 300 block of North Van Nortwick Avenue.The man was last seen riding a bicycle southbound on the same street, police said.The next day, Matthew Mroz, 36, of St. Charles, was arrested by a Batavia police officer. ‘Covered with soap’: Driver accused of fleeing to car wash after Portage crash Following an investigation, he was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, public indecency within 500 feet of a school, public indecency and disorderly conduct.Anyone with more information on the incident can call police at 630-454-2500.

27-year-old woman reported missing on West Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Authorities issued a missing person alert Tuesday after a woman was last seen in Hermosa.Antoniette Mathis, 27, was last seen at around 11:45 a.m. March 30 in the 2100 block of North Kildare.She is 5'5", 140 lbs., and has black hair with brown eyes. Mathis also has the word "Sagittarius" written on her right hand.Anyone with information can call police at 312-746-6554.

A public perp walk into a Manhattan courtroom could energize – not humiliate – Donald Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

(The Conversation) - Manhattan may be the scene of the perp walk of the century on April 4, 2023, when former President Donald Trump answers to his recent indictment and turns himself in to authorities in court.Trump has reportedly told his aides that he has no desire to hide from the cameras and is ready for a perp walk through a crowd of photographers, police and other onlookers to create a “spectacle.”It is not yet clear how Trump will actually enter the courthouse, given security concerns that could lead to a quiet surrender. Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina has said that Trump will not be handcuffed when he enters the courthouse and appears before a judge.Some of Trump’s detractors have hoped for a public moment of reckoning for alleged crimes for years, but Trump – and his supporters – are not likely to treat it as a walk of shame. Indeed, a high-profile event like a perp walk could further fuel Trump’s run for presidency.I have studied perp walks...

Rep. Jesús 'Chuy' García announces death of daughter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

(The Hill) -- Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.) announced on Tuesday that his daughter Rosa died Monday night at the age of 28.García did not disclose a cause of death in his brief statement, writing, "Last night our beloved daughter, Rosa, passed away at the age of 28."García said his daughter “joined our family as a young girl who had been in the foster care system.” Trump backers rally outside Manhattan courthouse ahead of arraignment: Live coverage “We did our best to provide a stable, loving, and welcoming home for her,” he continued. “Our family asks for privacy and welcomes your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.”“Our family is completely heartbroken,” he added.News of Garcia’s daughter’s death came on the same day as the runoff election for Chicago’s mayoral race. Garcia ran for the post but came in fourth in February, eliminating him from the race.

Dean's A-List Interview: Keegan Michael Key and Cecily Strong on 'Schmicago: Schmigadoon Season 2'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

WGN's Dean Richards sits down with Keegan Michael Key and Cecily Strong to talk about 'Schmicago: Schmigadoon Season 2.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Lake Mead water level rises, defies projections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- When it comes to water and Lake Mead, every little bit helps, right? That is proving to be correct this spring as the water level at Lake Mead fights to stay above the most recent projections put out by the government. When could remains at Lake Mead, including body in barrel, be identified? According to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's "Most Probable 24-Month Study" published in March, Lake Mead was projected to have dropped to approximately 1,043.06 feet (above sea level). But, as of Monday morning, Lake Mead's water level was at 1,045.91, almost 3 feet above the projected level. It's a positive trend seen in the last three months of projections.End-of-month projections for Lake MeadLake Mead's elevation is shown as feet above sea level.Elevation as of April 3: 1,045.92Source: US Bureau of ReclamationDATEJAN 2023FEB 2023MAR 2023MAR 20231040.831042.841043.06APR 20231035.851038.851036.30MAY 20231030.531034.561031.53JUN 20231026.471031.891030.27JUL 20231026.0310...

Dean’s A-List Interview: Jane Krakowski on 'Schmicago: Schmigadoon Season 2'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards sits down with Jane Krakowski to talk about 'Schmicago: Schmigadoon Season 2.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!