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Canadian landscape architect Claude Cormier, designer of public spaces, dies at 63

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

MONTREAL — Claude Cormier, a celebrated Canadian landscape architect who helped design some of Montreal and Toronto’s best-known public spaces, has died at 63.His firm, Claude Cormier + Associés, said Cormier died Friday in Montreal following complications from Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that predisposes carriers to multiple cancers.  An obituary on the firm’s website says Cormier was the creative force behind some of Canada’s most “beloved, joyous and critically acclaimed” public spaces, including Toronto’s Berczy Park with its famous dog fountain, and the canopy of pink — and later multicoloured — plastic balls that hung for years in rows above Montreal’s Village district.“Cormier’s joyful and subversive designs blended conceptual clarity with a studied instinct for making enduring places,” the obituary says.“His ability to design public spaces with broad public appeal stemmed from multiple qualities: audaci...

Stock market today: Wall Street slips, on track for second straight weekly loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

NEW YORK — Major stock indexes turned lower on Wall Street in afternoon trading Friday, on track to wipe out the market’s gains for the week.The S&P 500 fell 1.2%. The benchmark index is headed for its first loss in three days and its second straight weekly pullback. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 261 points, or 0.8%, to 34,646 as of 2:22 p.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.7%.Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market. Microsoft fell 2.4% and chipmaker Nvidia fell 3.7%. U.S. automaker stocks were proving to be resilient after members of the United Auto Workers union walked off the job at several plants overnight. Ford edged up 0.1% and General Motors rose 1.1%. Shares in Stellantis gained 1.9% in trading on the Milan Stock Exchange in Italy.Bond yields gained ground. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which influences interest rates on mortgages and other loans, rose to 4.31% from 4.29% late Thursday. The yield on the 2-year Treasury held steady at...

Ng postpones ‘Team Canada’ trade mission to India amid strained relations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

Canada is postponing a trade mission to India that federal Trade Minister Mary Ng had promoted as key to the Indo-Pacific strategy.Ng’s office has not explained why the trip, which was scheduled to start Oct. 9, has been postponed.Canada has paused negotiations for a trade deal with India, and relations between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his counterpart in New Delhi were frosty on a recent visit.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 leaders’ summit last weekend, and Modi’s office said he focused on Sikh separatists in Canada.Ng was set to visit Mumbai with Canadian business leaders to form ties with their counterparts in the world’s most populous country.Ng is set to speak publicly this afternoon to conclude a meeting with her provincial and territorial counterparts.Earlier this week, the Saskatchewan government claimed Ottawa left provinces in the dark for months over the status of trade talks with India.Indi...

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Jackman separate after 27 years of marriage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Jackman have decided to end their marriage after 27 years and two children.“We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,” they said in the joint statement. Their separation was first reported by People magazine.They said the statement would be their only one on their breakup. They added that their family is their highest priority and that they’ll undertake “this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.”A representative confirmed the statement to The Associated Press Friday.The couple met in 1995 on the set of an Australian television show where both were actors. Deborra-lee Furness at the time was the more established of the two. They married in 1996 and had two children: Oscar, now 23, and Ava, now 18. Jackman also ascended to become a major star in Hollywood and on Broadway....

Third man charged in West Side murder of Ohio State football player’s mother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Another man has been charged with the murder of Ashley Griggs, who is the mother of Ohio State freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate.On the morning of July 16 at around 2 a.m., CPD responded to the 4000 block of West Washington Boulevard, located in Garfield Park, on the report of a shooting involving multiple victims.Police at the scene located five people suffering from various gunshot wounds, including Ashley Griggs, 41. Griggs died as a result of the shooting.The other four victims were transported in fair condition.Lopez is the third man charged in connection to the shooting. He was taken into custody on Tuesday in Peoria and is facing first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder. 2 men charged in West Side murder of Ohio State football player’s mother Last month, Chicago police announced that Manuel Bahamon, 22, of Chicago, and Ismael Lozada, 23, of Elmwood Park, were charged in connection with first-degree murder and four counts of attempted first-degree ...

10 hospitalized after Salmonella outbreak at Avondale taqueria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Two health agencies are investigating following a Salmonella outbreak at a taqueria in Avondale that has hospitalized 10 people.As of Friday, the Chicago Department of Public Health and Illinois Department of Public Health have identified 20 individuals sickened with Salmonella — 10 have been hospitalized.The source of the outbreak is the the taqueria within the Mexican grocery store Carniceria Guanajuato, located in the 3100 block of North California.Carniceria Guanajuato voluntarily closed the taqueria on Sept. 8.Health officials said if anyone purchased from the prepared food section (taqueria or prepared foods in the grocery section) since Aug. 29, you may have been exposed to Salmonella. Le Bouchon in Bucktown closed due to kitchen fire Symptoms usually last four to seven days and most individuals recover without any treatment.Although most infections resolve without antibiotics, older individuals or those with weakened immune systems may need medical evaluation and...

Video shows Boebert vaping after blaming smoke on fog machine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

(The Hill) -- New video surfaced Thursday showing Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) vaping indoors at a concert and being disruptive before she was escorted out of a performance of the musical “Beetlejuice” on Sunday night. The video, obtained by 9News.com, appears to contradict a statement from Boebert's office after the incident denying that she had been vaping indoors. The video shows Boebert leaning down to grab an object from her handbag under her seat. She then brings the object to her mouth and is seen blowing smoke from it while other attendees around her try to find their seats.A woman sitting behind her is seen speaking to her during the incident. The woman, who is pregnant, told The Denver Post that she asked Boebert to stop vaping and that the lawmaker refused.Boebert was then also seen taking flash photos during the performance before security approached her and asked her to leave. McCarthy drops f-bomb, venting frustration with GOP members Boebert’s campaign manager, D...

Fans continue to show their support for Steve McMichael after Hall of Fame vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A surge of support for a popular member of the Bears alumni has continued even after he took a major step toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame.That continues to help Steve McMichael as he along with his family battle ALS, and two events showed how much appreciation people have for the former defensive tackle. It came just after he was named a Seniors Committee finalist for the Hall of Fame's Class of 2024.Steve McMichael Fundraiser at Bridges Scoreboard in Griffith, Indiana on September 8, 2023.Steve McMichael Fundraiser at Bridges Scoreboard in Griffith, Indiana on September 8, 2023.Steve McMichael Fundraiser at Bridges Scoreboard in Griffith, Indiana on September 8, 2023.Steve McMichael Fundraiser at Bridges Scoreboard in Griffith, Indiana on September 8, 2023.Steve McMichael Fundraiser at Bridges Scoreboard in Griffith, Indiana on September 8, 2023.A number of people showed up to a fundraiser at Bridges Scoreboard in Griffith, Indiana on September 8 in hopes of generati...

Winter gas is returning: What does that mean for your wallet?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Starting Saturday, gas stations will begin selling the winter blend of gas, which will likely affect your spending at the pump.Between May 1 and Sept. 15, gas terminals are required to use a less volatile and slightly more expensive blend of fuel, or "summer blend" gas. After that time, they can begin selling "winter blend" gas. According to AAA, winter blend gas is cheaper than summer blend gas because it is able to contain more butane. Butane is less expensive compared to other gasoline ingredients but also helps your gas ignite in lower temperatures. However, this added butane makes the gas slightly less energy-efficient. These are the best employers in West Virginia, according to Forbes During this winter gas period, GasBuddy says, you may notice a price drop from 10 to even 30 cents per gallon, but you also might notice slightly lower gas mileage overall. To mitigate this decrease in gas mileage, AAA recommends the following tips for getting the mos...

City of Austin to create tourism improvement district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin is one step closer to creating a Tourism Public Improvement District (PID) to help bring in new revenues while the Austin Convention Center is under construction. The city council signed off on the service plan Thursday.It will go before hotels within Austin's city limits for approval before it's brought back to the council for a final consideration later this fall.Under the plan, Austin hotels with at least 100 rooms would be taxed 2% of the gross room revenue.Money generated would be used to try to attract new events to Austin and bring more tourism revenue into town, as well as fund improvements toward safety and homelessness issues.Austin City Council member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri spoke on the plan."I know we've been working on this thing for years and years and years, and that's why I'm so glad we're finally at the finish line," Qadri said.In a statement, the Austin Hotel & Lodging Association said the PID, which would run for 10 years, would p...