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An ailing Thai elephant returns home for medical care after years of neglect in Sri Lanka

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — An ailing elephant that Thailand had presented to Sri Lanka more than two decades ago returned to his native land for medical treatment Sunday following allegations that the animal was badly abused while living at a Buddhist temple. The male elephant, known in Sri Lanka as Muthu Raja, or Pearly King, and as Sak Surin, or Mighty Surin, in Thailand, was flown directly from the South Asian island nation’s capital to Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand on a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane.A six-person team, including two veterinarians and four mahouts, or professional elephant trainers, accompanied the elephant on the flight, which took about six hours.A special container was built to hold the 275-centimeter- (9-foot-) tall, 4-ton pachyderm. Several mahouts went to Sri Lanka in advance to accustom the animal to being caged so he wouldn’t panic during the trip to Thailand.Video footage of his arrival in Chiang Mai showed the elephant conscious and appearing c...

US group decries as ‘troubling’ pope’s pick to head Vatican office handling sex abuse allegations

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

ROME (AP) — A U.S.-based group that keeps track of how the Catholic hierarchy deals with allegations of sexual abuse by clergy says Pope Francis made a “troubling” choice in appointing an Argentine prelate to a powerful Vatican office that handles such cases. On Saturday, the Vatican announced that the pontiff had picked Monsignor Victor Manuel Fernández, who is archbishop of La Plata, in the pope’s homeland, to head the Holy See’s watchdog office for doctrinal orthodoxy. That office’s mandate also includes handling of sex abuse allegations lodged against clergy. BishopAccountability, which is based in Massachusetts, said in a written statement that the prelate in 2019 refused to believe victims who accused a priest in the La Plata archdiocese of sexually abusing boys. Francis “has made a baffling and troubling choice,” the group said in statement emailed late Saturday in the United States. The statement cited what it said was Fernández’ handling of the case in the Argen...

‘Open for business:’ Top N.W.T. Mountie says Indigenous recruitment a priority

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — The head of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories says one of his top priorities is recruiting more Indigenous members and staff.In his first media address since taking over as commanding officer of the RCMP’s G division in November 2022, Chief Supt. Syd Lecky said recruitment and retention has long been a challenge for police in the territory.“We’re open for business,” he said. “Recruiting in the Northwest Territories is alive and well, especially if we can get folks with the language skills to be able to help support our calls for service,” he said Thursday.Indigenous people account for about half of the territory’s population. Lecky said there are currently about six Mounties in the N.W.T. who are Indigenous.Lecky, who is a member of the Peskotomuhkati First Nation in New Brunswick, said employing Indigenous people from the N.W.T. increases the likelihood they will stay long-term.Final planning is underway for an Indigenous ...

Labour shortage in construction adding extra pressure to housing supply gap: experts

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

The construction industry is short tens of thousands of workers, and experts say a coming wave of retirements could make the problem worse even as Canada is millions of homes behind what’s needed to reach housing affordability this decade.“That labour shortage is going to remain, and it’s only going to increase,” said Reva Bond, dean of the construction school at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.The job vacancy rate in construction is at a record high with around 80,000 vacancies in the industry, said CIBC deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal in a recent note.Those vacancies, which push up building costs and impede productivity, come at a time when the residential construction industry is under pressure to meet the demands of a growing population.The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation forecasts a need for 3.5 million more homes by 2030 than the country is currently on track to build.The number of new homes built, however, has been in decline, from just over 271...

Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago: Opening delayed due to weather

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Organizers are hoping the weather cooperates Sunday for Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago.Gates were scheduled to open at 9 a.m. but officials tweeted that it would be delayed due to weather.#UPDATE on #NASCARChicago per spokesperson: “Due to the threat of severe weather this morning, the opening of gates to the Chicago Street Race will be delayed. NASCAR will provide timing updates as they are available for today’s schedule of events.” @WGNNews— Courtney Spinelli (@CourtSpinelliTV) July 2, 2023Day one of the first ever street race in Chicago was partially washed away by rain.Saturday’s events started with Xfinity practice and qualifying. Then the checkered flag waved to start the race. But about halfway through, lightning and rain threats forced NASCAR to postpone it until Sunday.The Loop 121 race will resume at 10 a.m. Sunday on lap number 26. What happens if bad weather hits the NASCAR Chicago Street Races? The green flag for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 has been mo...

Flash Flood Warning issued

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

It's a soggy start to Sunday in the Chicago area.A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for Cook, DuPage and Will counties until 1:15 p.m.The National Weather Service says between 1 and 2 inches of ran have already fallen and total amount of 1 to 3 inches are possible. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Thunderstorms are likely throughout the day Sunday. Cooler but still muggy. Air quality: Moderate. High of 75.Decreasing clouds Sunday night. Low 63Monday will be mostly sunny, warmer with a slight chance of afternoon showers and storms. High mid 80s inland, lower 80s lakesideExtended outlook calls for partly cloudy skies Monday night with lows near 70.Independence Day this year looks hot with highs near 90 and muggy. A slight chance-- around 20% of showers/storms in the afternoon/evening.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Near 90 on Wednesday with a chance of showers/thunderstorms in the afternoon.More clouds and cooler on Thursday with highs...

Someone paid almost $6M for Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari Enzo

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

(Motor Authority) -- A Ferrari Enzo direct from the private collection of two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso was sold at a Monaco auction earlier this month.The final price paid, including the buyer’s fee, was a staggering 5.4 million euros (approximately $5.9 million). That’s more that double what Enzos normally sell for, even with today’s inflated prices for classic and specialty cars.The celebrity ownership was no doubt one factor that juiced this particular Enzo’s price at auction. Alonso even left a video message that was played during the sale.“It means a lot to me, and I’ve had a great time with the car…it’s a magic piece of art,” he said in the video. “I know that it’s going to be in good hands…please take care of the car and enjoy it.”Fernando Alonso with his Ferrari Enzo – Photo credit: Monaco Car AuctionsHowever, the car also boasts the first completed Enzo body—Scocca no.1—meaning it’s one of the earliest Enzos built. The provenance is confirmed ...

Schaumburg Boomer offer fun for the whole family

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

The Schaumburg Boomers games offer fun for the whole family.Special theme nights, post-game events and promotions fill their schedule.The team plays at the Wintrust Field located at 1999 S Springinsguth in Schaumburg.More information on their website.

An affirmative reaction: Focus on family income levels and end the legacy boost for connected kids

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

The Supreme Court has spoken, invalidating racial preferences in college admissions as was widely anticipated. The six-justice conservative majority deemed the boost that universities give some applicants purely on the basis of their ethnicity or skin color incompatible with the U.S. Constitution’s promise of equal protection under the laws.There is plenty we disagree with in the reasoning as articulated by Chief Justice John Roberts. He — and a concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, tapped for the court by George H.W. Bush in part, let’s be honest, because he is Black — gives too-short shrift to the educational benefits of diversity. Colleges seeking to give their students a well-rounded education and mint future leaders have very good reason to go out of their way to admit all types of people from different walks of life and backgrounds, including different racial backgrounds.We cannot, however, dispute that racial preferences that disadvantage Asia...

Lunds and Byerly’s workers poised to strike reach agreement with company

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Grocery workers who had been poised to strike last week instead “overwhelmingly” agreed to a two-year contract with Lunds & Byerlys that provides “historic wage increases and pay equity” to the 2,500 employees at 22 stores in the west metro, union officials announced Saturday night.Members of UFCW Local 663 will see average raises of $3.00 to $4.00 an hour by the spring of 2024, the union said in a press release.The workers on Tuesday had called off a planned holiday weekend strike after reaching a tentative agreement with corporate leaders to raise wages and preserve worker oversight of health care.The deal cemented Saturday affects full- and part-time employees.One full-time employee quoted in the press release said she was excited for her part-time colleagues.“They work hard and they deserve it,” said Anita Pitcher, a 45-year union member who works full time in the deli at the Maple Grove store. “They are a major part of this team — f...