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Food Banks Canada report paints dire picture of Canada-wide affordability crisis

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

VANCOUVER — There are many heartbreaking tales behind the record number of Canadians using food banks as they struggle with high inflation and mounting housing costs, says a Vancouver food bank executive. “We see parents who are skipping meals so that their children can eat. We see people who haven’t eaten in days. We see seniors who haven’t had produce in months,” said Cynthia Boulter, chief operating officer with Greater Vancouver Food Banks. More and more people are accessing its services each year, and with greater frequency than in the past, Boulter said, as low wages and high rents squeeze people between inflation and other rising costs. Boulter said the “unprecedented, record-breaking times” are being felt by food banks across the country, where nearly two million people visited in the month of March, 32 per cent more than the same month the year before, and a 78 per cent increase compared with March 2019. The numbers, contained in Food Ban...

109 miners escape from gold mine in South Africa but others continue union standoff, official says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

SPRINGS, South Africa (AP) — More than 100 miners escaped from a gold mine in South Africa on Wednesday after being held underground for three days by fellow employees in a union dispute, a company official said.Around 450 workers remain in the mine, the official said, with an unknown number of them preventing the others from leaving as they demand formal recognition of their labor union. The company that runs the mine says it has rough estimates that around 110-120 of the miners underground might be supporters of the unregistered union and were holding the others, although it was not certain.The union – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union – gave another version of the events and says the miners were staying underground willingly as a protest in support of the union.Police and mine officials have called it a “hostage” situation.The standoff at the Modder East mine in Springs, east of Johannesburg, began early Monday after 562 miners and other workers re...

International terror defendants face longer prison terms than domestic counterparts, new study finds

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

People convicted of crimes related to domestic extremism face far shorter prison terms than those convicted in international terrorism cases, even when the crimes are similar, a new report on the outcomes of hundreds of federal criminal cases has found.The first-of-its-kind analysis, completed by terrorism researchers at the University of Maryland, was provided exclusively to The Associated Press. It comes after federal officials and researchers have repeatedly identified domestic violent extremists such as white supremacists and anti-government groups as the most significant terror threat to the U.S. And it follows scrutiny of the outcomes of Jan. 6 cases, including for some Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who received sentences years lower than what was called for by prosecutors and sentencing guidelines. President Joe Biden has echoed the concerns about domestic terrorism, calling it a “stain on the soul of America” and the “ most urgent terrorism threat ” faced by the country, yet t...

Watch for these 3 Medigap shopping surprises to avoid overpaying

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

Medicare beneficiaries can buy Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, to help cover certain out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare Part A and/or Part B. (If you’re shopping during open enrollment, Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, remember that people with Medicare Advantage can’t buy Medigap plans.)For example, depending on which plan type you choose, a Medigap policy could cover the 20% Medicare Part B coinsurance for office visits and the $1,600 deductible before Medicare Part A starts to pay for inpatient hospital care.Medigap policies are sold by private health insurance companies. They’re regulated by the federal government and have certain standard benefits. But shopping for them isn’t always straightforward.Shoppers might expect higher prices to come with more benefits, but that’s not always the case. Here are three scenarios to watch for so you don’t end up paying too much.1. PAYING MORE FOR THE SAME COVERAGENew Medicare beneficiaries in most states can choose from up to eight o...

Police chief’s son who was wanted in shooting of 2 officers is found dead, Tennessee officials say

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The estranged son of Nashville’s police chief, who was wanted in the shooting of two police officers outside a Dollar General store, has been found dead, authorities said.Officers responded to 15th Avenue South in Nashville on Tuesday night, where they heard a muffled gunshot from an outbuilding and then found John C. Drake Jr. dead with a gunshot wound that was apparently self-inflicted, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement posted on social media. TBI will investigate Drake’s death at District Attorney Glenn Funk’s request and a full autopsy will be performed as a part of the investigation, the agency said.Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said the younger Drake stole a car at gunpoint from a home southeast of downtown on Tuesday evening, WSMV-TV reported. Drake asked a man and woman in front of a home for a ride and when they were unable or unwilling to give him a ride, he pulled out a gun and demanded the car in the driveway, ...

Security tensions running high in Belgium on eve of EU summit

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Security tensions were running high on Wednesday ahead of a European Union summit in Brussels, with police launching a search for a man they wanted to question over reports of unspecified threats.The Brussels prosecutor’s office later said authorities had detained a man in the case and were checking his identity.The police operation came one week after an Islamic extremist shot dead two Swedes and wounded a third. Authorities said the Tunisian suspect died following a police operation trying to arrest him.The search for the man wanted in connection with the unspecified threats came on the eve of the two-day European Union summit, which starts Thursday in Brussels, where the 27 EU leaders will discuss, among other things, the Israel-Hamas war.Last week’s killings laid bare inefficiencies within the government and judicial apparatus, which had allowed the suspect to roam free in Brussels even though Tunisia had actively sought his extradition. The justice m...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in mid 60s with showers likely

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Cloudy conditions Wednesday with morning rain likely, scattered afternoon rain. Winds: 10-15 G25. High: 65. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Cloudy tonight with rain and thunderstorms. Winds: SSW 5-15 G20. Low: 62.Thursday Forecast: Cloudy, rain and thunderstorms, breezy. Winds: SSW 10-15 G30. High: 69.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

B-52s call off White House state dinner performance

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

(The Hill) -- The B-52s are bowing out of their White House performance at the state dinner for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with first lady Jill Biden suggesting the band would opt out due to the Israel-Hamas war.The “Love Shack” singers were poised to entertain guests on Wednesday at the black-tie event. But at a media preview held on the eve of the dinner, the first lady announced, “While we had initially planned for the legendary B-52s to perform their iconic dance and party music, we are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain.”“So we made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening,” she said. Hundreds of Hollywood celebrities praise Biden’s handling of Israel-Hamas war The group will instead attend the state dinner as guests, according to Biden.“The president’s own Marine Band and the Army and Air Force Strolling Strings will provide instrumental music for the dinner,” she added.While Biden didn’t specifically cite...

Williamson County Fair and Rodeo kicks off today in Taylor

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — This ain't their first rodeo.The third annual Williamson County Fair and Rodeo returns on Wenesday and runs through Saturday at the Williamson County Expo Center, located at 5350 Bill Pickett Trail in Taylor. The festivities will include carnival rides, a rodeo, a beer and wine garden, food, local craft vendors, music, pig races and a petting zoo.The fair is offering free gate admission to all attendees tonight. This evening will also feature a junior rodeo.On Thursday, free admission will be available for veterans, first responders and active military members as part of the Central Texas Community Foundation Veterans Night, per the release.The rodeo will take place in the evenings on Friday and Saturday, with concerts held after the rodeo. Friday's Tejano Night musical theme will feature a Selena tribute by singer Amanda Solis, along with music from Mariachi Del Toro and a performance done by the Round Rock Ballet Folklorico.The third annual Willia...

DEA agents to visit Georgetown ISD schools Wednesday for Red Ribbon Week

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:17:41 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration will visit two Georgetown Independent School District Elementary schools by helicopter on Wednesday to bring an anti-drug message to students, the district said.The agents will be on board a Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force (JCDTF) helicopter that will make stops at Purl Elementary and Wolf Ranch Elementary, according to the district announcement. The district said the DEA agents will educate students on "drug demand awareness, reduction and prevention." 2 arrested after Georgetown students fentanyl related death According to the district, the agents will give a 15 minute anti-drug presentation to the students, and then the students and teachers will tour the JCDTF helicopter and take pictures with the pilots.The helicopter will be at Purl Elementary from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and Wolf Ranch Elementary from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., according to the district.The district said the task force and DEA partner during O...