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Churchill Downs to improve track maintenance, veterinary resources for fall meet after horse deaths

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Churchill Downs will implement safety measures for its September meet including new track surface maintenance equipment and additional monitoring and equine care following 12 horse deaths before and after the Kentucky Derby that spurred suspension of its spring meet.Racing is scheduled to resume Sept. 14 and run through Oct. 1 at the historic track, which paused racing operations on June 7 to conduct an internal safety review following the spate of horse deaths from racing or training injuries. Seven died in the days leading up to the 149th Derby on May 6, including two in races preceding the premier event.The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority recommended suspending the remainder of the meet, which moved to Ellis Park in western Kentucky. Training continued at Churchill Downs during the investigation, and a release on Monday stated that while industry experts found no issues with the racing surfaces, the track invested in new maintenance equipment. It...

Nathalie Stutzmann become second woman to conduct at Bayreuth, 2 years after gender barrier broken

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) — Two years after the debut of the Bayreuth Festival’s first female conductor, Nathalie Stutzmann became the second to lead a Richard Wagner opera in the Festpielhaus’ famous covered pit.The 58-year-old former contralto, fresh off her first season as Atlanta Symphony Orchestra music director, drew a luminous performance of “Tannhäuser” on Friday night in a revival of the Tobias Kratzer 2019 production — the one featuring the title character in a clown suit and a murder in a Burger King parking lot.“It’s good news to be second,” Stutzmann said. “It proves that things are moving.”Launched by Richard Wagner in 1876 and currently run by great-granddaughter Katharina Wagner, the festival broke its conductor gender barrier when Oksana Lyniv led a new staging of “Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman)” in 2021. The 45-year-old returned this summer to preside over the Dmitri Tcherniakov production for the third straight year.“They are very highly ac...

8-year-old survives cougar attack in Washington state national park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) — An 8-year-old child survived a cougar attack with minor injuries while camping in Olympic National Park in Washington state over the weekend.“The cougar casually abandoned its attack after being yelled and screamed at by the child’s mother,” the National Park Service said in a statement. After being assessed by park personnel, the child, who was not identified, went to a hospital for further evaluation.Rangers shut down the campsite and surrounding areas following the Saturday attack. Park law enforcement and cougar specialists began looking for the animal on Sunday at Lake Angeles. If located, the cougar will be euthanized and officials hope a necropsy will provide clues as to why it attacked.Cougars are rarely seen and attacks on humans are extremely rare, park officials said. The lethal removal of the cougar is in line with the park’s protocol for wildlife observations, interactions and attacks.The entirety of the 1,562-square-mile (4,045-square-kilomet...

Winds play key role as wildfire continues to threaten Osoyoos, B.C.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

Winds will likely be a major factor in the battle to save the southern British Columbia town of Osoyoos from a raging wildfire, but the latest forecast offers some hope.Environment Canada is calling for northwest winds through the day before gusts of 20 kilometres per hour ease late in the day.The BC Wildfire Service says that will help push the nearly nine-square-kilometre Eagle Bluff wildfire away from Osoyoos, less than two days after flames sparked in Washington state raced across the Canada/U.S. border on Saturday evening.The wildfire service says although the blaze remains out of control, it did not grow overnight as crews kept a close watch on its east flank, closest to Osoyoos.About 700 properties in the area west of Osoyoos remain on evacuation order, while 2,000 more, including the entire town of Osoyoos, are on evacuation alert.The wildfire service is reporting more than 350 active blazes around B.C., with just under 200 classified as out of control and 14 ranked as fires...

Canadian small businesses push for CEBA repayment extension

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

Small businesses from coast to coast to coast are pushing the federal government to extend the deadline to repay pandemic loans, claiming a quarter of a million companies are at risk of closure.According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), businesses need another year or two to pay back the financial assistance, including the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which provided interest-free loans of up to $60,000.A portion of the CEBA loans — $20,000 — is forgivable by the federal government if the money is repaid by Dec. 31, 2023. If not, the full amount is due with five per cent interest tacked on.“Just all of a sudden, they’re paying a lot more back in loan or their debt amount has increased, and they’ll have to pay interest charges, of course, on the full amount,” said Christina Santini, director of National Affairs at the CFIB.Related articles: Struggling B.C. restaurants face COVID-19 debt repayment deadlineCanadi...

Nearly 40 teens charged after reckless gathering in South Loop: CPD

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago police reported 37 teens were charged after a reckless gathering ensued in the city's South Loop Sunday night. Police reported 30 teens between the ages of 12 to 17 were charged with a misdemeanor of reckless conduct. Officers responded to a large gathering near the 100 block of West Roosevelt Road near the intersection of Canal Street and Roosevelt Road around 8:00 p.m. Sunday night.Courtesy of ChitownCrimechasers-CCCPolice said many teens and 18 to 20-year-olds were placed into custody after disregarding commands by police to disperse. 2 shot — 1 critically — in road rage incident on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Several teens were charged with misdemeanors of criminal trespassing to obstructing identification and failing to obey police. A 15-year-old boy was charged with a felony of unlawful use of a weapon and another teen, 17, faces felony charges for unlawful use of weapon with a machine gun.Courtesy of ChitownCrimechasers-CCCWGN is actively following the inci...

Man arrested for DUI with 5-year-old inside in Lisle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

LISLE, Ill. — A man was arrested for a DUI Sunday his 5-year-old son was inside the vehicle.Just after 1:15 a.m., a Lisle officer stopped a vehicle in the 4400 of Route 53.Thaddeus Thompson, 38, of Chicago, was taken into custody after allegedly showing signs of impairment. Officers observed his 5-year-old son in the vehicle.During a search, 100 grams of marijuana and a container of open alcohol were discovered. Police said Thompson's license plate was revoked for a prior DUI.He was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, aggravated driving while a license revoked, diving under the influence with BAC over .08, and disobeying a traffic control device.The child was turned over to another family member and was not injured.

Notre Dame unveils latest football green jersey design

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

SOUTH BEND, IN — Once again, Notre Dame is going to be donning their most famous alternate jersey, doing so with a design that's both new and old. The Fighting Irish will do so during arguably their biggest home game of the upcoming 2023 season.On Monday morning, the school unveiled the green jerseys that they'll wear during their game against Ohio State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. central time. In a creative twist to the announcement, Notre Dame's media productions created a spoof of the "Jerry Maguire" movie featuring head coach Marcus Freeman, running back Audric Estime, and quarterback Sam Hartman.This marks the second-straight year that the Irish have worn the green jerseys, having done so against California last September. This year, they're replaced blue numerals on the jerseys with white and gone away from the gold pants in favor of green. Players will also have green gloves along with green cleats. Notre Dame will wear the uniforms on what i...

APD: Body found on Ed Bluestein Boulevard

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for July 31, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police are investigating after a body was found in east Austin Monday morning. The Austin Police Department responded to an urgent welfare check call at 9:30 a.m. on Ed Bluestein Boulevard between the 1900 and 2700 blocks of the road. That area is just north of the Bolm District Park area. APD said the incident is not being investigated as a homicide at this point. It's unclear what the person's cause of death was. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Norbi, Troy Police K9, returns to work after stabbing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:17:54 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Norbi, the Troy Police canine (K9) who was stabbed 12 times responding to a burglary on Wednesday, July 5, has made a full recovery and is back to work. Norbi will again be working with his handler, Sergeant Daurio, as both resume their duties. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On the day of the attack, police responded to reports of an unknown suspect attempting to break into residences in the area of Donegal Avenue in the Emerald Greens neighborhood. K9 Norbi and his handler were one of the first arriving units in search of the suspect. Troy police say K9 Norbi began tracking the suspect and led the officers into a wooded area near Donegal Avenue. Norbi and his handler found the suspect in a wooded area and tried taking him into custody.Barker says the suspect stabbed Norbi with a knife multiple times. The dog was removed from the situation by his handler and was taken to nearby Upstate Veterinary Specia...