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Poilievre’s office, Calgary MP silent over latest photo with controversial message

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s office is tight-lipped over a photo of one of his Opposition critics posing with two people wearing slogans against measures addressing sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.The image, shared to social media, surfaced not long after Poilievre distanced himself from another photo in which he stood next to a man wearing a T-shirt referring to “straight pride.”The latest photo shows Calgary MP Jasraj Singh Hallan, the Conservative finance critic, standing with three other men during a pancake breakfast that was open to the public last week as part of the Calgary Stampede.Two of the men are wearing white T-shirts with black letters that read “leave our kids alone.” The shirts also show a smaller, stylized image of a family beneath an umbrella sheltering them from the rainbow of colours associated with LGBTQ Pride flags.The offices of Poilievre and Hallan, who represents the riding of Calgary Forest...

Person fires shots at Chicago police officers in Logan Square

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

CHICAGO — A person fired shots at Chicago police officers early Sunday morning in Logan Square, according to police.According to information from the Chicago Police Department, officers were called around 12:45 a.m. to the 3500 block of West Shakespeare Avenue on the report of a person with a gun. 5 people shot, 1 fatally, in Garfield Park drive-by: CPD When they arrived and approached the person, described as a male, he shot at the officers before running away, according to police.Officers took cover and weren't injured, police said. They did not fire any shots.They searched for the person who fired shots but weren't able to locate him.

Man, 71, critical after accidental fall in water on South Side

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 71-year-old man is in critical condition after he was pulled from the water near DuSable Lake Shore Drive Saturday night. According to police, the man was pulled from the water after an accidental fall near the 4900 block of South DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Jackson Park around 11:59 p.m. Saturday Night. 5 people shot, 1 fatally, in Garfield Park drive-by: CPD He was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition. The incident was classified as non-criminal and WGN will update as more information is recovered.

Some Texans are relying on lifesaving cooling centers. Find yours here.

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- As Texans brace for another week of record hot temperatures, cities across the state are offering cooling centers for those without reliable access to air conditioning or water.The Texas Division of Emergency Management has compiled the local centers into a statewide map. Texans can find the one closest to them at tdem.texas.gov/cool."We know it's hot, but there are things that you can do to try and minimize your heat exposure, like staying hydrated, like seeking shade and finding a local cooling center near to you," TDEM Communications Office Wes Rapaport said. "All disasters begin and end at the local level. So the Texas Division of Emergency Management works to support requests for assistance from local officials, should they have any needs, and one of the tools that the state is able to utilize is this cooling center map."In Austin, city officials offered free water and misting tents throughout the weekend in downtown's Republic Square Park. It was a lifeline...

Seen one of these cones around Texas? They're a radioactive relic of a bogus health treatment

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Lubbock was once a player in the health fad falsely promoting the medical benefits of drinking radioactively-charged water, and the artifacts are still around today.  A coworker recently brought a small concrete cone into the newsroom, calling it a “Lubbock Cone.” She said it was radioactive, and people would put it in water to infuse the water with radon.The newsroom at EverythingLubbock.com wanted to know why anyone would do that, so we asked Dr. Paul Frame from the Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity. He said the actual name of the object was “The Thomas Cone.”“It was a radioactive quack cure,” Frame said. “You could put the cone in a jar of water, typically overnight... You would drink the water.” In the mid-1900s, makers promised “all these health benefits,” but radioactivity is not safe for humans, and such claims led to trouble for the manufacturers. A Thomas Cone in Lubbock, Texas (Nexstar/Staff) A Thomas Cone in Lubbock, Texas (Nexstar/Staff) A Thomas Co...

Barbie collaborations released in anticipation of movie premiere

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Come on Barbie let's go ... shopping? With the anticipation of the new Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, many brands have announced their marketing collaboration for the movie. The Barbie movie has been trending online since fans got a first look at the pink utopia of Barbie Land in the May trailer. The all-star cast has many fans ready for the premiere and to stores for the latest partnerships. As many as 30 collaborations have been announced for the movie and there is still plenty more to come. Build-a-Bear is one of the 30 collaborations that got on the Barbie train and released its own pink Barbie bear with three Barbie outfits and one pair of Ken swim trunks. Van's teased its new Barbie collection on its website and across social media, which includes the 1990s to 1999 Barbie logo with a 90s color scheme background.(Source: Build-a-Bear Twitter page) Source: AirBnB twitter page(Source:NYX Cosmetics Twitter page) The Barbie...

Texas ranked among cheapest energy states in the nation

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

TEXAS (KIAH) – As the U.S. continues to experience record-breaking heat, many want to keep the air conditioning on as much as possible – but that’s more costly in some states.A recent ranking from WalletHub, a personal finance website, aimed to rank “the most and least energy-expensive states.” Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, WalletHub compared the average monthly energy bills in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.To do this, WalletHub used an equation that factored in the average monthly consumption of electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and fuel, as well as the average prices of these types of energy.According to the study, Texas is the third least energy-expensive state in the U.S. and stood out for its low motor fuel price and its home heating-oil consumption per consumer.  Data shows Texans pay $153 on average for their monthly electricity and $68 for their monthly natural gas. They also typically pay about $158 a month to fill ...

PD: Texas tattoo artist arrested after minor posing as adult gets tattoo without parent's permission

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Texas tattoo artist was arrested after a minor posing as an adult got a tattoo without her parent's consent, documents detail.Edith Cuthbertson, of McAllen, was arrested on a charge of tattoo regulation requirements, according to Hidalgo County Jail records.A probable cause affidavit stated that on March 22, the mother of a 14-year-old girl reported to police that her daughter got a tattoo without her permission.The mother told police that when she confronted Cuthbertson, she apologized and told her the girl claimed to be 19 years old. Police spoke with the 14-year-old girl, who said she went in an Uber without her mother's consent and signed a contract stating that she was 19 years old. She said the artist never asked for identification. When investigators spoke with Cuthbertson, she said she originally requested a $50 payment and identification. The girl said her wallet had been stolen and did not have an ID, but asked if she could send a birth c...

Central Texas counties part of 150 Texas counties deemed primary natural disaster areas

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

(FOX 44) - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 150 Texas counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a qualifying drought. The list includes Travis, Williamson, and many other Central Texas counties.This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. These loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or to refinance certain debts. The FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. The application deadline is November 17, 2023.According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of a severe drought for eight or more consecutive weeks, and extreme drought or exceptional drought.The primary c...

Texas duo sent to prison for attempting to transport 558 lbs of liquid meth

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:39:26 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Brownsville resident was ordered to prison for helping traffic 558 pounds of liquid meth in a gas tank, the United States Attorney's Office announced. Ernesto Vargas, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute liquid meth from south Texas to Dallas.According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Vargas was responsible for helping Pedro Rodriguez III, 45 of San Benito, transport the meth across the state in early January.On Jan. 11, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Rodriguez was driving after he switched lanes without signaling.During the traffic stop, officials discovered Rodriguez had pending state warrants and took him into custody. Authorities later conducted a search of Rodriguez's vehicle and found approximately 558 pounds of liquid meth, valued at $650,000, hidden inside a gas tank.Rodriguez admitted he knew the meth was in the gas tank and agreed to transport the drugs to the Dallas area.The U.S. Atto...