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Gov. Pritzker expands utility assistance for low-income homes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO (WMBD)-- Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the expansion of utility bill assistance on Wednesday.A news release from Gov. Pritzker states that income-eligible homes that are disconnected or on the verge of being disconnected from utilities can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assitance Program here.“With temperatures dropping and the winter season just weeks away, my administration is ensuring that every family has the assistance they need to keep the lights and the heat on,” Pritzker said. Peoria finds a way: Jurassic Quest is coming to the Civic Center He continued, “With DCEO’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, we are providing utility bill support to thousands of income-eligible families—and I urge those who are disconnected or facing imminent disconnection to apply. Here in Illinois, we look out for our neighbors, and that’s exactly what LIHEAP is all about.”A tiered application system will be used...

Toyota recalling nearly 1.9M RAV4s over possible fire hazard

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota said Wednesday it is recalling nearly 1.9 million RAV4 small SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with batteries that can move during forceful turns and potentially cause a fire.The recall covers certain RAV4s from the 2013 through 2018 model years. Toyota said in a statement that some replacement 12-volt batteries used in the SUVs have smaller top dimensions than others. If the hold-down clamp is not tightened properly, the battery could move, allowing the positive terminal to contact the clamp and short circuit, the company said. How to see if your vehicle has a recall Toyota said it is still preparing a fix. When the remedy is ready, dealers will replace the hold-down clamp, battery tray and positive terminal cover with improved ones. The company said it will notify owners by late December.Toyota not say in its statement whether the problem has caused any fires or injuries. A message was left seeking comment from a company spokesman.Owners can check to see if...

Fire breaks out on 3 boats at San Francisco marina, 1 injured

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

(KRON) -- Three boats caught fire at the Oyster Cove Marina near Oyster Point in South San Francisco Wednesday morning, according to the South San Francisco Fire Department. Multiple agencies are on the scene responding. Des Plaines man charged with attempted kidnapping in Bridgeport Firefighters were alerted to the blaze shortly before 7:30 a.m., according to South SF Deputy Chief Matt Samson. The three boats were tied together when the blaze broke out.There were several adults onboard the boats, according to Samson. All of them were successfully rescued from the water. One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, firefighters confirmed. Firefighters began fire suppression efforts once they confirmed there was no one on the boats. At that point, crews also began environmental containment efforts to minimize contamination to the bay.Photos from the scene showed several boats engulfed in flames and large amounts of smoke emanating f...

Day one of the Kaitlin Armstrong murder trial wraps up

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong began Wednesday at 9 a.m. Armstrong is accused of shooting and killing up-and-coming professional cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson in May 2022. TIMELINE: Ahead of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial, a look back at pro-cyclist murder case Cameras are allowed inside the courtroom only for opening statements, closing arguments and the verdict, but not during witness testimony. Even though cameras are not allowed inside during testimony, KXAN's Brianna Hollis will be inside the courtroom and will update this story throughout the trial with the latest information. Follow her live on social media below.KAITLIN ARMSTRONG TRIAL: Media has just been let into the courtroom. Opening statements are set to begin at 9 a.m. I will be live tweeting on this thread. @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/muJ2xkJSzr— Brianna Hollis (@BriHollisNEWS) November 1, 2023 Members of the media entering court for the opening statements of the Kaitlin Armstrong murder ...

Buford Tower restoration completed more than two years after fire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, the City of Austin announced it completed restoration work more than two years after a fire broke out at the Buford Tower in downtown Austin from an encampment at the base.After the 2021 fire, the tower needed to be repaired to exact historical preservation standards, according to the city. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fire spreads to historic firefighter drill tower in downtown Austin The Buford Tower is a six-story brick building, which was constructed in 1930. It's even part of the National Register of Historic Places. Originally, it was a drill tower for the Austin Fire Department, and ultimately a memorial.The tower was dedicated in 1978 and named for AFD veteran Capt. James L. Buford, who died about six years earlier trying to rescue a teen who ended up drowning in flood waters from Shoal Creek, according to AFD."People came out of the woodwork to say how much they really cared for this building. I didn't even know people knew what it was. And ...

St. Paul paying $185K, mostly in attorney fees, after officers went in man’s apartment and arrested him without warrant

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

St. Paul is on the hook for $185,000 after a federal judge found three officers violated a man’s constitutional rights by entering his apartment without a warrant, and arresting and searching him.A jury awarded $29,500 to David Elgersma in a September civil trial. The City Council voted on Wednesday to approve a $155,500 settlement that was negotiated separately for Elgersma’s attorney’s legal fees.“We hope this outcome encourages more substantial training and accountability measures to prevent similar unlawful acts in the future,” Tim Phillips, the attorney who represented Elgersma, said Wednesday.Because Elgersma prevailed on his claims that the officers and the city violated his federal civil rights, he was allowed to petition the court for reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation costs.“Though the city would have the right to dispute the amount of the fees, or argue that no fees should be awarded, a fee award is ordinarily granted to pr...

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter backs Dean Phillips’ challenger Ron Harris

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has endorsed Ron Harris, a former employee of the city of Minneapolis, in a political primary bid against U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat running a centrist campaign against U.S. President Joe Biden in the party’s upcoming presidential primary in New Hampshire.Ron Harris, a former chief resilience officer for the city of Minneapolis, has launched a political primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a fellow Democrat representing Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional district, which spans the western Twin Cities suburbs from Bloomington and Eden Prairie to Anoka. In late October 2023, Phillips announced he would challenge U.S. President Joe Biden in the party’s New Hampshire primary. (Courtesy of the candidate)Harris is a former chief resilience officer for Minneapolis, where he was active in efforts to expand paid sick leave to workers throughout the city. He is a current member of the Democratic National Committee’...

Urban containment policies driving up land values and housing costs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

Canada has a severe and intractable housing crisis that could become existential for the middle class, eroding the standard of living. Our new Demographia Housing Affordability in Canada report (published by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy) reveals that more than half (24) of the 46 rated housing markets have severely unaffordable housing.Two of the markets, Vancouver and Toronto, have such costly housing relative to incomes that they ranked the third and 10th least affordable among the 94 major metropolitan markets rated in our Demographia International Housing Affordability report for 2022.Demographia uses the median multiple (median house price divided by median household income) to evaluate housing costs. A median multiple of 3.0 or below is considered “affordable,” while a median multiple above 5.0 is considered “severely unaffordable.” Among the major markets, Vancouver (median multiple 12.0), Toronto (9.5), Montreal (5.4), and Ottawa-Gatineau (5.2) are rated severely un...

Coaldale holds annual organizational meeting, swears in new deputy mayor

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

Southern Alberta NewspapersCoaldale held its annual organizational meeting last week, swearing in Jordan Sailor as the Town’s newest deputy mayor.The Oct. 23 organizational meeting and subsequent council meeting also saw the adoption of the new council meeting and event calendars, in addition to determining board and committee appointments.These meetings are required, as per the Municipal Government Act (MGA) to take place annually.According to a Town-issued release,  Lana Antony, Municipal Clerk for the Town of Coaldale said 2023 was the first year in which Administration presented Council with a comprehensive meeting and community event calendar.“In the past, we would have Council adopt a calendar only for meetings and holidays. But with the adoption of a new communications strategy in April 2022, we decided to consolidate meetings, holidays, and Town events all into one calendar to ensure that everyone can stay on the same page about what’s happening and when,” Antony said.The Oc...

Coalhurst resident launches 2023 banner campaign in honour of local veterans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsA Coalhurst-based resident has spearheaded a banner campaign for veterans in the town of Coalhurst.The banners bring visibility to local veterans and are a visual symbol of remembrance, helping educate community members on the importance of holding space to reflect upon the significance of the reall-world people behind the poppy.Krystal Libbey, is a long-time resident of Coalhurst, and bar manager at the Coalhurst Legion, Branch 273, she said she became involved in bringing banners to Coalhurst because it had not been undertaken yet in town.In taking on the project. Libbey said her life-long connections to people within the community as well as working as the bar manager at the local Coalhurst Legion were helpful in getting the word out to families of her ongoing goals in bringing a banner program into the community.She said, she has been working at the Coalhurst Legion, Branch 273, for about five years. She said it was important to her and her family...