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Quebec teachers’ unions call for better working conditions to address staff shortages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

MONTREAL — Unions representing Quebec teachers are calling on the provincial government to address staff shortages by improving working conditions, after a recent report indicated as many as 5,000 positions were vacant ahead of the start to the school year. Labour leaders held a joint news conference on Monday morning to issue what they characterized as an urgent plea for the government to better support school employees, including teachers, administrators, psychologists, speech therapists and other professionals.The appeal came as teachers’ unions renegotiate a collective agreement with Quebec that expired at the end of March.Josée Scalabrini, president of the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement, an association of 34 Quebec teachers’ unions, told reporters that classrooms have become unmanageable due to chronic neglect by successive governments over the past two decades.“We’ve been saying for a long time that the composition of classes in Quebec no lo...

Dominican Republic offers economic aid to families of 32 killed in explosion as probe continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican government announced Monday that the families of the 32 people killed in an explosion last week will each receive a one-time payment of nearly $900 in economic aid and monthly payments of $350 until December.The Aug. 14 explosion occurred at a plastics factory in the city of San Cristobal, which lies just west of the capital of Santo Domingo. More than 50 people were injured, according to authorities.The average monthly salary last year in San Cristobal was around $440, the second highest in the country, according to the Ministry of Economy.An investigation is underway to determine what caused the blast in a busy commercial center. It took firefighters three days to extinguish the blaze.Authorities have said it could take up to three months to identify all those killed.The Associated Press

Boy, 14, arrested in carjacking, police say victim was pepper sprayed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

Toronto police have arrested a 14-year-old boy in the alleged carjacking of a motorcycle that involved the victim being pepper sprayed after meeting a group of suspects through an online ad.Authorities were called to the Kingston Road and Celeste Drive area in Scarborough just before 9 p.m. on August 12 for reports of a carjacking.It’s reported that a man arranged to meet with the suspects to complete an online motorcycle purchase. Police said the victim arrived at the agreed meeting place when the three suspects approached him.One suspect allegedly sprayed the victim in the face with pepper spray while two fled the scene on foot. A third suspect fled the location on the victim’s motorcycle.Investigators say a youth was observed riding the stolen motorcycle by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers on August 18. The boy evaded the police but was taken into custody two days later, on August 20.A 14-year-old boy faces multiple charges, including robbery with an offensive...

Stock market today: Wall Street holds firmer after three-week slide as Big Tech stocks rebound

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is holding a bit firmer Monday following its three-week losing streak.The S&P 500 was 0.7% higher in afternoon trading. Gains Tesla, Microsoft and other Big Tech stocks lifted the index even though the majority of stocks were falling. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 8 points, or less than 0.1%, at 34,491 with just under an hour remaining in trading, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.6% higher.It was a return to form for Tesla and other market behemoths, which have struggled recently under the weight of rising yields in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose again Monday, touching its highest level since 2007 after briefly climbing above 4.34%. That’s up from 4.25% late Friday and from less than 0.60% in 2020.Higher yields are good for people buying bonds, who get paid more in interest for their investments. But it also makes investors less willing to pay high prices for stocks and other investments that are less steady, p...

‘Resilience’: First Nation hosts healing gathering to recover from stabbing rampage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

JAMES SMITH CREE NATION — Chiefs representing a Saskatchewan First Nation that was the site of a mass killing last year offered condolences and prayers Monday as part of a traditional healing gathering.Chief Robert Head of Peter Chapman First Nation, one of three bands that make up James Smith Cree Nation, told a crowd that the stabbing rampage affected so many.“Each and every one of us lost family members that day on Sept. 4 and, not only that, but all of the membership here, all the families here that had tended to their loved ones that day (were) all traumatized, by the sights, the chaos, the devastation of that day,” Head said.Eleven people were killed and 17 were injured on the First Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon. Myles Sanderson, the 32-year-old killer, died in police custody a few days later. James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns said up to 3,000 people from across North America were expected to be in the community north of Saskatoon this week to ...

Group of House conservatives unveils demands to support spending bill and avoid shutdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House conservatives in a group known as the Freedom Caucus have unveiled a list of demands that they want included in a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government running after the end of September. It’s a smorgasbord of non-starters for the Democratic-controlled Senate and the White House, signaling the challenges House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will face next month to get a bill passed in the House without alienating a sizeable share of his conference. Historically, members of the Freedom Caucus rarely support short-term spending bills to keep the government open, but with Republicans holding just a five-seat majority in the House, they have significant leverage over the agenda. Still, McCarthy will likely need votes from Democrats to pass a short-term funding measure than can also get through the Senate and be signed into law.Among the demands from the House Freedom Caucus: —Spending levels below the top-line numbers that McCarthy had agreed to w...

Suburban woman charged with threatening to kill Trump, son Barron

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A suburban woman accused of threatening to kill former President Donald Trump and his son Barron has been arrested. According to charging documents, Tracy Marie Fiorenza, of Plainfield, has been charged with Transmitting Threats to Kill or Injure Another Person in Interstate Commerce. Georgia Trump indictment invokes justice for election workers The charging documents state Fiorenza allegedly sent threatening emails to the headmaster of an educational institution in Palm Beach County, Florida.According to the documents, on May 21, 2023, Fiorenza allegedly sent an email to the headmaster which read: “I will state that I will shoot Donald Trump Sr. AND Barron Trump straight in the face at any opportunity that I get!”  Trump says he will skip GOP presidential primary debates The documents allege that she sent another email on June 5, which read: “I am going to slam a bullet in Baron Trump’s head with his father IN SELF DEFENSE!”U.S. Secret Service agents contacted Fi...

New Publix signs tell customers to keep emotional support animals, pets out of stores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Publix customers may have noticed a new sign reminding them to keep their fur babies at home if they want to shop.In recent days, Publix stores have had signs at the entrance saying that pets are not allowed to enter, including emotional support animals. Snake found in Target shopping cart in Iowa gets new home Service animals are allowed, but the store asked that people keep them away from carts or baskets for sanitation reasons. The animals must also be under the control of their handlers."A service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks to assist an individual with a disability," the sign says. "Dogs, miniature horses, or other animals that provide only emotional support, comfort, or companionship are not considered service animals."(Credit: Nathaniel Rodriguez/WFLA)The policy isn't new, but the signs were enacted to further reinforce it.According to FDA regulations, grocery stores must take "reasonable p...

Water main break shuts down streets, leads to loss of service in Leander

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Water is shut off Monday afternoon to businesses and homes within an area of Leander due to a water main break. The City of Leander reported the break happened near the intersection of South West Drive and West South Street in the area known as Old Town, according to social media posts. This is west of U.S. Highway 183 and close to the Leander Presbyterian Church. "Water is currently off in the area and intersection is closed," one post read. "Please avoid the area or find alternate routes. It's unclear what caused the water main to break or how many homes and businesses are affected by it. KXAN will keep following this developing story and share any updates when they become available.

Fargo police officer who stopped shooter ‘saved countless lives,’ US attorney general says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

FARGO – The actions of a Fargo officer who fatally shot a gunman who opened fire on police last month “saved countless lives,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said as he visited the city.U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)The head of the U.S. Justice Department said he came to Fargo on Monday to meet with local, state and federal law enforcement leaders to discuss what agencies “need in order to get our common mission accomplished.” The meeting was held behind closed doors at the downtown federal courthouse, but not before Garland gave remarks to the media about his visit.“We are here gathered in the wake of last month’s horrific ambush on four Fargo Police Department officers that resulted in the death of Officer Jake Wallin and serious injuries to two other officers, Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes,” Garland said.Wallin, Dotas, Hawes and Officer Zach Robinson were responding to a routine crash the afternoon of July 14 at Ninth Avenue a...