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Saskatchewan to stop collecting carbon levy from natural gas and electrical heat

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government says its natural gas utility is to stop collecting the carbon levy as of Monday from residential customers. The move comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exempted those who use home heating oil from paying the levy, mostly benefiting residents in Atlantic Canada. Saskatchewan asked for the exemption to cover all other forms of heating, but Ottawa denied the request. In response, the province said it would stop collecting the charge at the start of 2024.Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for SaskEnergy, said the due date to pay the levy to the federal government is the last day of February.Should SaskEnergy not remit those dollars, it would be breaking federal law and executives could face fines or jail time.Saskatchewan passed legislation that aims to shield executives from legal consequences, putting that burden on the province.Duncan said in December that SaskEnergy asked the federal government to remove it as a registered distributor...

Gas tax paused in Manitoba, returns in Alberta at a lower rate

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

As one province pauses the gas tax to provide savings at the pumps, another is bringing it back. The Manitoba government says that starting Monday, motorists won’t have to pay 14 cents per litre in fuel tax for the next six months.The province has said it introduced the measure to help motorists with inflation.Meanwhile, the Alberta government is reintroducing the gas tax after pausing it nearly two years ago. Starting Monday, motorists in Alberta can expect to pay a tax of nine cents per litre at the pumps.Alberta said the rate of nine cents is cheaper than the 13 cents motorists had paid before the pause. Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner said the tax rate is based on the average price of oil. Should the price of West Texas Intermediate average US$80 per barrel, Albertans can expect to save some or all of the fuel tax, he said. “Alberta’s fuel tax is a predictable source of provincial revenue, helping to offset the volatility of other revenue sources,” Horner said i...

German officials detain a fifth suspect in connection with a threat to attack Cologne Cathedral

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities said Monday they detained another suspect in connection with an alleged threat of an attack on the world-famous Cologne Cathedral over the holidays, bringing the overall number of people detained in connection with the alleged plot to five.The latest suspect, a 41-year-old German-Turkish man, was detained Sunday night in the western city of Bochum in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Police detained three people on Sunday morning and one man last week. All of the detained suspects allegedly belong to a larger Islamic extremist network that included people across Germany and in other European countries, according to Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns, German news agency dpa reported.The other four suspects were detained in different cities across North Rhine-Westphalia. The one who was detained last week was identified as a 30-year-old Tajik man. No details were given for the three who were detained Sunday morning.The attack was supposed to hav...

Hundreds of migrants enter Chicago after being flown to Rockford from San Antonio

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

CHICAGO — Hundreds of migrants were dropped off in the Chicago area, some keeping warm on CTA buses in the West Loop, to begin 2024.It's the latest maneuver by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to send migrants to the city in a showdown with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who calls Abbott's actions "a very dangerous task" and "a matter of national security."A private plane chartered out of San Antonio arrived early Sunday morning at Chicago Rockford International Airport carrying 355 migrants. Rockford officials say they were given limited notice about the arrival of the Boeing 777 at about 1 a.m. Sunday.Unlike Chicago, Rockford is not classified as a Sanctuary City for the migrants.Upon landing, the plane's passengers boarded eight buses chartered by Gov. Abbott. Rockford officials say the buses were scheduled to take the migrants to Chicago's designated landing zone in the West Loop at W. Polk St. and S. Desplaines St.However, the buses dropped passengers off in various suburbs, and they are...

Shopping on New Year's Day 2024? From Costco to Walmart, see what stores are open and closed

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

The New Year is almost upon us. And as the world prepares to ring in 2024, many are winding down from the holidays and getting back into their regular routines — give or take some fresh resolutions.If you're planning on grabbing groceries or doing some other shopping to kick off the new year, it's wise to double check stores' hours. While more businesses typically stay open on New Year's Day compared to Christmas Day, a handful of chains still cut back on hours or shut their doors to commemorate the holiday. Some also close up shop early for New Year's Eve.Operations can vary on location. When in doubt, call ahead or check hours of stores in your neighborhood online.Here's a rundown of major store hours and which businesses are open and closed in the U.S. this New Year's Day.IS WALMART OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?Walmart is open with normal hours on New Year's Day.IS TARGET OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?Target is open with regular operating hours on New Year's Day.IS COSTCO OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S D...

What to know about 2024 changes to the electric vehicle tax credit

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

(The Hill) — Changes to the federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credit are set to take effect Jan. 1, reflecting a push by the Biden administration to focus the financial incentives on domestically produced vehicles. The changes to the tax credit, which tops out at $7,500, will exclude certain EVs that include internationally sourced components from eligibility, while for the first time allowing some buyers to access the credit right after buying an eligible vehicle. These changes stem from a central provision of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the sweeping climate and infrastructure law President Biden signed in 2022.  The provision barred vehicles including components or critical minerals from "foreign entities of concern" (FEOC) from being eligible for the credit. In November, the Biden administration issued rules for determining which entities fall under this disqualification. This includes companies fully or partially controlled by the governments of China,...

Missing foreign exchange student was victim of 'cyber kidnapping': Utah police

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (KTVX) — A missing and endangered 17-year-old Chinese foreign exchange student has been located and returned to his family after an alleged "cyber kidnapping," according to Riverdale City Police.Kai Zhuang had been reported as kidnapped on Dec. 28 after his parents in China received a ransom demand for his safe return. The parents contacted school officials in his host city of Riverdale, Utah, where police said even the family he had been staying with did not know he was missing.Authorities originally believed Zhuang may have been forcefully kidnapped, However, in a press release Sunday night, Riverdale Police explained they had determined he was a victim of a "cyber kidnapping."On the night before his disappearance, Zhuang's host family in Riverdale told police he had been home and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They heard him moving around in the early morning hours of Dec. 28, but again had no reason for concern. Police determined Zhuang left the house on ...

Letters: There’s nothing sustainable about endless tax increases

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

Equitable? Sustainable?Ramsey County officials announced their 2024-25 budget and did so using carefully selecting wording to soften the blow.“We’re raising your property taxes by over 6%” doesn’t sound as good as: “an investment in our vision, values and strategic priorities.”We can’t stop spending money is not as eloquent as “a pivotal moment in our community’s journey”, and “more equitable and sustainable” were tossed in for good measure — because who would oppose that? I don’t know what’s so equitable about taxation without representation and I can tell you from experience that there is nothing sustainable about endless tax increases that far exceed a citizen’s ability to pay.There are two facts at play here: First, I am not making enough money to sustain the budget and spending of the county manager and commissioners. Second, a sizeable percentage of my fellow county taxpayers either make a lot more than I do – or they are grossly unaware of what the county is...

Boy, 10, critically injured by shooter who targeted a St. Paul house New Year’s Eve

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

A 10-year-old boy is in critical condition after someone fired gunshots into a home in the 700 block of Sherburne Avenue shortly before midnight Sunday, police said.According to St. Paul police Sgt. Mike Ernster, preliminary information indicates that the shooter fired from outside the home and that it was not a random shooting. Police believe the home was targeted.The boy was taken to Regions Hospital by St. Paul fire medics.Police said it is believed that the boy will survive, noting that his injuries were critical but that he was in stable condition Monday morning.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Man killed at New Year’s gathering, marking St. Paul’s first homicide of 2024 Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul’s 2023 homicides: ‘Every one of these murders matters,’ police chief says as numbers slowly decline Crime & Public Safety | Rochester teen killed in southern Dakota County crash Crim...

Man killed at New Year’s gathering, marking St. Paul’s first homicide of 2024

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:31:31 GMT

Police say a man was shot and killed at a New Year’s gathering in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood of St. Paul early Monday.Shortly after 1:30 a.m. a 911 caller said they “wanted a group of people removed” from a gathering at a home in the 1600 block of Van Buren Avenue, according to a press release from the police department. While officers were on their way, more 911 calls came in saying that shots were fired at the gathering. One caller said they were with someone who had been injured and were taking them to the hospital. That caller then hung up.Officers who arrived at the home didn’t find any victims, but they then were told a man with gunshot wounds was at United Hospital. That man died at the hospital shortly after.Homicide detectives secured the home and began looking for witnesses to determine what led to the shooting and who the shooter was. The police department’s forensic services unit is processing the scene for evidence. Authorities ask any...