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Air pollution cloaks eastern US for a second day. Here’s why there is so much smoke

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

Intense smoke blanketed the northeastern United States for a second day Wednesday, turning the air a yellowish gray and prompting warnings for people to stay inside and keep windows closed. The smoke is flowing from dozens of wildfires burning in several Canadian provinces. Much of the air was in the “unhealthy or worse categories in areas from the mid-Atlantic through the Northeast and parts of the Upper Great Lakes,” according to an advisory issued by the Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday night. U.S. authorities issued air quality alerts in multiple regions and smoke was expected to persist for days.Conditions were especially bad in parts of central New York, where the airborne soot was at hazardous levels. In New York City, officials on Wednesday said everyone should stay indoors. The conditions arrived late Tuesday afternoon, obscuring views of New Jersey across the Hudson River. Here’s a closer look at what’s happening and what’s in the smoke:GENESIS OF THE SMOKEU...

Tupac Shakur receives Walk of Fame star honor in the same month as birthday

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tupac Shakur received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, just several days before the hip-hop legend’s birthday.The late rapper’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, accepted the star on behalf of their family. During her speech, she shed tears while describing her older brother’s vision of being celebrated with a star in Hollywood.“From the first time he stepped foot on this stage of the Apollo Theater at 13 years old, before anyone recognized his name, he knew he had the dream to have a star here on the Walk of Fame,” said Sekyiwa Shakur, who often took deep breaths between sentences to collect herself. The Walk of Fame said Shakur was selected to receive a star in 2013, but the organization waited for his family and estate to select a date.Shakur was given the 2,758th star on the Walk of Fame. His birthday is June 16.“Now we gather here today to unveil Tupac’s star not only paying tribute to his contributions to the music industry, but also speaks vol...

B.C. First Nation buys back 140-year-old robe, paying almost $40,000 to bring it home

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

ATLIN, B.C. — A man who helped return a 140-year-old Tlingit robe to the British Columbia First Nation where it was created says it’s as if the regalia called out to its people and they are bringing it home.The intricately woven Chilkat robe, made of mountain goat wool and yellow cedar bark, was purchased by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation in northwestern B.C. for almost $40,000 after it went up for sale at a Toronto auction house last year.The robe arrived in Whitehorse Wednesday and will travel 175 kilometres south to the First Nation’s traditional territory in Atlin, B.C., where it’s expected to go on display and may be used in future ceremonies. While the community celebrates the return of a piece of its heritage, the First Nation said Indigenous people should not be forced to buy back regalia that was stolen from them. It’s calling on the federal government to take action to prevent similar situations in the future.Tlingit elder and master carver Way...

Defrocked Nunavut priest arrested on historical sexual assault charges

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

KINGSTON, Ont. — A defrocked Oblate priest and convicted sex offender is facing eight new criminal charges for past sexual assaults he allegedly committed while living in Nunavut.Iqaluit RCMP said Eric Dejaeger, 76, was arrested on a Canada-wide warrant Wednesday in Kingston, Ont., where he was living. Police said he will be transported to Iqaluit to appear on the charges before the Nunavut Court of Justice. Police gave no details about when and where the alleged assaults occurred, but said the charges stem from investigations conducted between 2011 and 2015. Dejaeger, who was born in Belgium and became a Canadian citizen in 1977, has previously been convicted of numerous sexual offences.He served part of a five-year sentence beginning in 1990 for sexual crimes against children in Baker Lake, Nunavut, committed between 1982 and 1989.Following his release, he learned RCMP were investigating his activities in Igloolik, Nvt., and fled to Belgium. He was extradited back to Canada in 201...

Biden vetoes bill to cancel student debt relief

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have canceled his plan to forgive student debt.The measure had been pushed by Republicans, but it garnered a handful of Democratic votes in the Senate as well. “It is a shame for working families across the country that lawmakers continue to pursue this unprecedented attempt to deny critical relief to millions of their own constituents,” Biden said in a statement when announcing his veto. Despite the veto, Biden’s plan still isn’t secure. The U.S. Supreme Court, which is dominated by a conservative majority, is reviewing a legal challenge that could eliminate the program. A decision is expected this summer. If enacted, Biden’s plan would forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 per year. Student loan payments were paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they will resume in August for anyone whose debt is not wiped out...

Structural concerns prompt evacuation at Northwest Indiana apartment complex

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Some residents of a Northwest Indiana apartment complex were forced out of their homes on Wednesday after an inspection revealed structural issues.SkyCam9 flew above the scene in the 1700 block of W. 55th Ave. after the area fire department deemed the Hickory Ridge Apartments buildings in Merrillville, Indiana unsafe.“Since we’ve had so many issues at this apartment complex, our fire inspector was coming through just to take note of some issues that were supposed to be repaired,” said Merrillville Fire Chief, Edward Yerga.Yerga said the inspector realized structural integrity was an immediate concern, and alerted town officials and the Planning and Building Department, which agreed an evacuation was needed.Of the 24 units in the evacuated building, it’s not clear how many residents were displaced, though officials believe a little more than half of the units were occupied.“Our immediate concern now from the fire department is just taking care of the residents,” ...

Both sides rest in battery trial of CPD cop who pinned teen to ground in Park Ridge

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

PARK RIDGE, Ill. — Following three days of testimony, the bench trial of a Chicago police sergeant who pinned a teen to the ground near a Starbucks in suburban Park Ridge is now in the hands of a judge. Michael Viterllaro is charged with official misconduct and aggravated battery after viral video showed him kneeling on the back of a teen he thought stole his son's bike. In court on Wednesday, the law enforcement official, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, opted not to testify. RELATED:Friend who recorded teen pinned by CPD cop wanted ‘hard evidence’ if something bad happened Chicago police sergeant on trial for pinning teen to the ground in Park RidgeViterllaro's son, who on June 1, 2022 told Park Ridge officers that his bike had been stolen from an area library, did take the stand, however.Nicole Nieves says her son, Josh, was moving what appeared to be an abandoned bike out of the way when the encounter occurred. Nieves said her son had his bike with him.While on the ...

Teens hold march demanding change for Black, brown women reported missing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

CHICAGO — Black women and girls account for more than 35% of the missing people reported by Chicago police in the last two decades. On Wednesday evening, youth activists are raising awareness about their plight and marching to demand change. Efforts underway to prevent ‘teen takeover’ Wednesday at North Avenue Beach The teens are heading down King Drive with community members, activists and other youth leaders not far behind. The march was created by a 13-year-old girl in 2017 looking to channel her anger into action.It came after she learned about the lack of attention given to missing Black and brown girls in Chicago.The marchers on Wednesday are demanding thorough police investigations into at least 51 Black women who have been missing since 2001. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Along with shedding a light on the missing and murdered, organizers are calling for widespread policy changes and want a seat at the decision-making table at the local, state and federal l...

Pritzker zeroes in on education investments, signs fiscal year budget for 2024

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — After being unanimously passed by Democrats with no Republican support, Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill containing the fiscal year budget for 2024 into law Wednesday.In signing the bill, Pritzker zeroed in on educational investments that he had been travelling the state, highlighting in weeks prior."You’ve seen we’ve put forward significant dollars to support education in every way possible," Pritzker said at a ceremony for signing the bill Wednesday.Cornerstone tenants of the bill include boosts to funding for K-12 education and higher ed, as well as the launch of Pritzker's early childhood program, Smart Start. White Sox-Yankees Wednesday night game in New York postponed due to poor air quality Smart Start aims to provide every child in Illinois with access to preschool. It's also intended to grow the childcare sector, while also investing in early intervention and home-visiting services."Birth through 5 [year-old] services and kindergarten readiness is ...

When will Lionel Messi play the Chicago Fire FC?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:11:51 GMT

CHICAGO -- Lionel Messi announced Wednesday that he will join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami in another landmark moment for the league and the sport in the United States.After months — years, even — of speculation, Messi on Wednesday finally revealed his decision to join a Miami franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon, David Beckham, since its inception but has yet to make any real splashes on the field.He said in the interviews Wednesday that some final details still need to be worked out, but that he has made the call to “continue my path” in Miami.“After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way,” Messi said. Lionel Messi is going to play in MLS, reports say Messi’s next matches are likely to be exhibitions with Argentina against Australia on June 15 at Beijing and at Indonesia in Jakarta four days later — and then his Inter Miami de...