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B.C. on pace for deadliest year in drug crisis as July brings another 198 deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

VANCOUVER — British Columbia is on pace for the deadliest year in its unregulated toxic-drug crisis, with the BC Coroners Service saying another 198 deaths were reported in July.It says there have been at least 1,455 deaths in the first seven months of 2023, the most ever recorded.Fifty-six per cent of deaths this year have occurred in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health authorities, but the coroners service says Northern Health continues to have the highest per-capita toxic-drug death rate at 59.8 per 100,000 residents.Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says in a statement that the unregistered illicit drug market is “highly unpredictable,” and the lack of access to stable, lower-risk alternatives continues to put lives at risk.Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says in a statement the new numbers are “a stark reminder” of the ongoing drug crisis, and the province is continuing to expand access to treatment options and co...

Biden discussing immigration and trade with Costa Rican President Chaves at the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hosting his Costa Rican counterpart, Rodrigo Chaves, at the White House on Tuesday, discussing ways to strengthen an agreement between the two countries on possible legal pathways for the increasing numbers of Central American migrants arriving to the U.S. southern border.The two plan to talk about strengthening U.S.-Costa Rica trade tries, creating new jobs, advancing democracy and promoting a more orderly immigration process. Chaves’ nation has emerged as an immigration hotspot, as migrants increasingly travel through the dangerous Darien Gap from Colombia into Central America and north into Costa Rica. In June, Costa Rica and the U.S. agreed to open potential legal pathways to the United States for some of the Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants who are among the 240,000 asylum seekers in the Central American nation. Last year, Nicaraguans accounted for nine out of 10 applicants.Chaves said in December the policies were being abused by peop...

A look at British Columbia’s 12 wildfires of note

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

Twelve of the 400 or so blazes burning in British Columbia are described by the province’s wildfire service as “wildfires of note,” meaning they are highly visible or pose a threat to public safety. A look at the 12 fires, with information provided by the BC Wildfire Service as of Tuesday at noon, Pacific time:Name: Bush Creek East wildfireLocation: West and east of Adams Lake, north of Shuswap and Little Shuswap lakes, south of Highway 1 between Chase and SorrentoSize: 431 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: Casper Creek wildfireLocation: 24 kilometres west of LillooetSize: 110 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: Kookipi Creek wildfireLocation: 50 kilometres south of LyttonSize: 170 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: Stein Mountain wildfireLocation: 15 kilometres northwest of Lytton, west of Fraser RiverSize: 34 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: McDougall Creek wildfireLocation: Nea...

Editorial Roundup: Alabama

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

Decatur Daily. August 26, 2023. Editorial: Botched medical marijuana rollout is the Alabama wayAlabama’s implementation of medical marijuana is going about as well as could be expected for a program the state Legislature implemented only grudgingly.It’s not going at all.As of Friday, the program remained on hold, and Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson plans to go forward next week with a hearing on accusations that members of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission deliberated in private before selecting the companies that the state would allow to grow, distribute and sell medical cannabis.While committee members maintain that the licensing process — which has already involved one do-over — was fair, those who did not get state medical marijuana licenses naturally disagree.“The entire process has been shrouded in secrecy,” said Will Somerville, an attorney representing Alabama Always, which did not receive a license. “That’s not how government is supposed to work in this...

Blue Jays place Bichette on IL with quad strain, recall McCoy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed shortstop Bo Bichette on the 10-day injured list with a right quad strain, the club announced on Tuesday.Infielder Mason McCoy was recalled from triple-A Buffalo.McCoy, 28, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners on July 26 for reliever Trent Thornton.ROSTER MOVES: ???? SS Bo Bichette (right quad strain) placed on 10-day IL, retroactive to August 28???? INF Mason McCoy selected to the Major League roster and will be active tonight pic.twitter.com/Dhl6GqEllM— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 29, 2023Bichette was on the bench for Monday’s series opener and 6-3 win against the Washington Nationals.Bichette left Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Guardians with tightness in his right quadriceps muscle, but manager John Schneider said the move was precautionary.RELATED: Chapman to IL, Bichette out with injured quad ahead of Nationals seriesErnie Clement started at shortstop in Bichette’s place on Monday and will get the start again...

Muslim call to prayer can now be broadcast publicly in New York City without a permit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Muslim call to prayer will ring out more freely in New York City under guidelines announced Tuesday by Mayor Eric Adams, which he said should foster a spirit of inclusivity.Under the new rules, Adams said, mosques will not need a special permit to publicly broadcast the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan, on Fridays and at sundown during the holy month of Ramadan. Friday is the traditional Islamic holy day, and Muslims break their fast at sunset during Ramadan.The police department’s community affairs bureau will work with mosques to communicate the new guidelines and ensure that devices used to broadcast the adhan are set to appropriate decibel levels, Adams said.“For too long, there has been a feeling that our communities were not allowed to amplify their calls to prayer,” Adams said. “Today, we are cutting red tape and saying clearly that mosques and houses of worship are free to amplify their call to prayer on Fridays and during Ramadan without a permit necessa...

'They're just ready': After summer of turmoil, Northwestern prepares for season opener Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — It's been a surreal summer for so many reasons for the program along with its interim head coach, who couldn't have envisioned himself in this position not even two months ago.Perhaps that's why there was a lot of excitement in David Braun's voice when he stepped up to the microphone on Monday at the Walter Athletic Center in Evanston."We'll we're here," said the current leader of Northwestern football. "Game week."Indeed that is the case as Braun will serve as head coach for the first time during a contest at any level when Northwestern kicks off their season with Rutgers on Sunday at 11 a.m. It's the latest in a whirlwind two months for the Wildcats football program that has also rocked the school's athletic department.From the conclusion of an investigation into hazing, further allegations being revealed, the firing of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and a flurry of lawsuits after made football the farthest thing from many people's minds. Yet Braun has faith ...

Rare blue supermoon, with Saturn in tow, to put on show this week: How to watch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP/NEXSTAR) — Stargazers are in for twice the show this week: a rare blue supermoon with Saturn peeking from behind.The cosmic curtain rises Wednesday night with the second full moon of the month, the reason it’s considered blue. It’s dubbed a supermoon because it’s closer to Earth than usual, appearing especially big and bright.This will be the closest full moon of the year, just 222,043 miles or so away. That’s more than 100 miles closer than the August 1 supermoon.As a bonus, Saturn will be visible as a bright point 5 degrees to the upper right of the moon at sunset in the east-southeastern sky, according to NASA. The ringed planet will appear to circle clockwise around the moon as the night wears on.If you missed the month’s first spectacle, better catch this one. There won’t be another blue supermoon until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.Clouds spoiled Masi's attempt to livestream the ...

As Hurricane Idalia churns toward Florida forecasters warn of storm surge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

CEDAR KEY, Fla. (AP) — Idalia strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday and barreled toward Florida's Gulf Coast as authorities warned residents of vulnerable areas to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding.Idalia was churning in the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 storm, but it was projected to come ashore early Wednesday as a Category 3 system with sustained winds of up to 120 mph (193 kph) in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula. The result could be a big blow to a state still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian.The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend region. Hurricane Idalia forecast to become ‘extremely dangerous’ major hurricane, NHC says On the island of Cedar Key, Commissioner Sue Colson joined other city officials in...

Schenectady County announces rabies vaccination clinic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Schenectady County is hosting a drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic in Princetown on September 23. The clinic is for cats, ferrets, and dogs, and is free to residents of Schenectady County. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Cats and ferrets must be in carriers, and dogs must be leashed. Residents can register online or call (518) 386-2818 to make an appointment. Appointments are limited.“Keeping your pet’s rabies vaccines up to date is crucial for their safety and for the health of ourcommunity,” said Schenectady County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich, Chair of the Health,Housing & Human Services Committee. “Our free drive-thru vaccination clinic offers an easy andconvenient way to ensure your pets are protected against this preventable disease.”The event runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Princetown Town Hall at 165 Princetown Plaza.