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Ontario man charged in GTA lottery scratch ticket fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

An Ontario man is facing charges for his alleged involvement in lottery scratch ticket frauds spanning the GTA.Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said an investigation commenced in October 2023 after multiple GTA residents claimed their lottery scratch tickets had already been scratched.An OPP spokesperson said authorities determined that lottery tickets at several locations were tampered with and placed back into ticket displays without the store clerk’s knowledge.Police said 44-year-old Stephen Michael Dea of Pickering was arrested on Dec. 6. He’s been charged with four counts of fraud under $5,000 and four counts of theft under $5,000.The accused was not an employee at any retail outlet selling lottery scratch tickets.The man was released from police custody and is expected to appear in court on Feb. 15, 2024. The OPP has charged a Pickering resident in connection with lottery scratch ticket fraud. In October, people across the GTA reported their scratch tickets had alre...

3 Chilean nationals accused of burglarizing high-end Michigan homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

Three Chilean nationals have been arrested in connection with a series of burglaries of mansions and other high-end homes in suburban Detroit and across Michigan.The charges were announced Monday by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel who said the three are suspected in eight break-ins after they arrived in the Detroit area on a Feb. 1 flight from Los Angeles.Nessel called them part of “an international crime ring” that “targeted lavish homes of affluent Michigan residents.”They “employ technology to thwart alarm systems and take extensive precautions to avoid being identified on home security systems and to avoid leaving forensic evidence at the crime scenes,” Nessel told reporters.Several law enforcement agencies believe the crimes are conducted by “non-citizen, temporary residents from countries in South America who travel to the United States and the state of Michigan specifically in order to conduct these burglaries,” Nessel added. “There are more out there.”Each of the...

Rogers selling all its Cogeco shares to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

TORONTO — Rogers Communications Inc. says it is selling all of its shares in Cogeco Inc. to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec for $829 million in a move to reduce its debt leverage ratio.The Toronto-based telecommunications company says it is now six months ahead of its deleveraging plans and expects to achieve a debt leverage ratio of 4.7x by year end, down from 4.9x at the end of the third quarter.Cogeco says the Caisse will become an anchor investor in its cable and internet subsidiary Cogeco Communications Inc.President and CEO Philippe Jetté says the transaction is “a unique opportunity … to realize multiple benefits while ensuring we have the ability to deliver our strategic plan.”Caisse executive vice-president Kim Thomassin calls the share purchase “key for the company and its plan to develop the North American market,” adding the fund “is supporting the growth projects of this leading telecommunications company as connectivity needs ...

Lawyers for New Hampshire casino owner fight fraud allegations at hearing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former state senator and casino owner accused of buying luxury cars with a fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief loan kept financial records that were “sloppy at best” and nefarious at worst, an auditor testified Monday. But his attorney argued that the state is trying to destroy his business based on a sloppy investigation.Andy Sanborn, a Republican from Bedford, did not attend the hearing he requested to appeal the state Lottery Commission’s August decision to permanently revoke his gaming operator’s license. His attorney said Sanborn was at a Boston hospital, accompanied by his wife, Laurie, a leader in the New Hampshire House.Sanborn owns the Concord Casino within The Draft Sports Bar and Grill in Concord and is seeking to open another, much larger, charitable gaming venue a few miles (kilometers) away. But the commission argues that his license should be revoked for four reasons, though it only needs one. It said he improperly obtained federal funds, misr...

Firefighters search for anyone trapped after corner of six-story Bronx apartment building collapses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A six-story corner of a Bronx apartment building collapsed Monday afternoon, leaving apartments exposed like a stack of shelves, according to authorities and bystander and news video. There were no reports of injuries by early evening, but firefighters were continuing to search. A worker at a nearby deli, Julian Rodriguez, said he was behind the counter when he heard people screaming about a building collapse. “When I went outside, all you could see is the debris and a smoke cloud in the street,” said Rodriguez, 22. “And you could see inside the structure: people’s beds, their doors, closets, lights, everything. It was really scary.”Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said on X, formerly Twitter, that there were no reports of injuries as of about 5 p.m. She said firefighters and search dogs were looking for any people trapped in the building, which is near the University Heights neighborhood.A corner of the six-story building stood with its walls sheared off and floors ...

Missing Carpentersville teen's car pulled from pond in Vernon Hills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. — Authorities offered new details in the search for a missing teenager from Carpentersville, one week after her disappearance.Suburban authorities held a press conference on Monday to provide an update on the search for 17-year-old Brissa Romero, who disappeared while traveling to a bowling alley in Vernon Hills for a holiday party. ‘A Call from Gaza’: Chicagoland businesses, schools strike to call attention to thousands of Palestinian deaths Authorities say a review of Romero's cellphone data brought investigators to a retention pond in Vernon Hills and while on the scene, a resident in the area notified officers about a backpack that appeared to have floated to the edge of the pond near Lakeview Parkway & Executive Way.Police say they believed the items belonged to Romero and crews were brought in to conduct a search. Authorities later pulled Romero's badly damaged Nissan Rogue from the pond.Authorities say that based on the condition of the vehicle, it...

CDC says vaccinate before holidays — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

Medical Watch for Dec 11Vaccines before holidaysHealth officials say now is the time to prepare, if you plan to spend the holidays with your loved ones.The director of the CDC says get vaccinated, if you haven't already.She points to the rise in respiratory viruses across the country, including the flu, Covid and RSV.Dr Mandy Cohen says it takes about two weeks for vaccines to provide optimal protection, so getting the shot now would lead right into Christmas.But, the shots offer some additional protection before that.STDs Surging Vaccination rates are low so far this season, but respiratory virus transmission is high.The CDC continues to sound the alarm on surging infections of sexually transmitted diseases.The agency is stressing protected sex and testing.Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis saw significant increases between 2020 and 2021.Some strains of gonorrhea have become resistant to antibiotics.The CDC urges sexually active individuals to get tested in order to avoid advanced d...

6-story building partially collapses in the Bronx: FDNY

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) – A multi-story building in the Bronx partially collapsed Monday afternoon, New York City fire officials said.A six-story building at 1915 Billingsly Terrace in Morris Heights partially collapsed around 3:30 p.m., according to the FDNY.Citizen App video showed several stories of the building exposed with what appeared to be a home appliance, possibly a washing machine or dryer, visible on one of the floors. A pile of a debris could be seen in the street around the base of the building after the partial collapse. A Google Street View image shows a bodega located in the building where the collapse occurred.The building is located roughly two blocks away from an FDNY fire station.Additional information regarding possible injuries was not immediately available.The NYPD asked people to avoid the area of West Burnside Avenue between Osborne Place and Phelan Place in the Bronx. New York City Emergency Management told the public to expect traffic delays and road closures in ...

Clouds increase Tuesday, with rain to follow late-week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following Austin's first freeze of the season Monday morning, clouds increase Tuesday with rain to follow late this week.Morning low temperatures bottomed out at 31° in Austin -- our first freeze of the season about a week behind schedule -- and were even colder in rural valleys. Austin-Bergstrom tied a record low temperature of 24° set in 1978.South winds have returned, warming overnight temperatures for the rest of the week.Tracking our next storm systemClouds increase Tuesday, then a slight chance of rain showers enters the forecast Wednesday and Thursday. This is the result of a strengthening low pressure system diving into the Four Corners early this week, then lumbering into Texas on Friday.DETAILS: Wet weather expected late weekRain and thunderstorms are nearly guaranteed at times on Friday as the storm plows through the state. While the storm is still several days away, it appears that it could bring the heaviest rain since October to our area with rain tota...

How to get to, from Austin's Trail of Lights this holiday season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's the most wonderful time of the year! With the holiday season in full swing, so, too, is the annual Austin Trail of Lights. After celebrating its 59th annual opening night Friday evening, the holiday display will be open to the public most days through Dec. 23.For those hoping to walk through a winter wonderland, here's what you need to know about how to get to and from the event, as well as event parking details and street closures.Pre-paid event parking onlineThose parking on-site are required to purchase their pass in advance of the festivities. There aren't any drive-up parking sales available day of, officials said. Those who did pay in advance have access to the event parking between 5:30 and 10 p.m. on operational days.Event shuttle services availableShuttle services will run from Republic Square at 422 Guadalupe St. and Toney Burger Event Center at 3200 Jones Rd. to Zilker Park. Shuttles begin departing at both locations at 6 p.m. each night, with departu...