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Lawsuit alleges negligence in train derailment and chemical fire that forced residents from homes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court alleges negligence by CSX Transportation caused a train derailment and ensuing chemical fire that forced residents of a small Kentucky town out of their homes for more than a day, including most of Thanksgiving.The train derailed on Nov. 22 around 2:30 p.m. that Wednesday near the remote town of Livingston. Residents were advised to evacuate just a day before the Thanksgiving holiday and were only cleared to return to their homes that Thursday after the fire was put out. An investigation by the railroad company found that the derailment occurred after a wheel bearing on a train car failed.Morgan & Morgan filed the lawsuit seeking class-action status on behalf of the town’s affected residents, saying the derailment could have been prevented if CSX had monitored the train’s wheel bearings more closely and had placed trackside detectors that sound an alarm when wheel bearings overheat closer together. “Because of CSX...

Woman found guilty of 1st-degree murder in 2019 Aurora house fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

A woman from Aurora has been found guilty of first-degree murder and arson in a deadly house fire more than four years ago.At around 2 a.m. on July 27, 2019, York Region firefighters discovered the body of 38-year-old Troy Stephen Oakley inside a house on Edward Street after the building was fully engulfed in flames.He was pronounced dead at the scene, and authorities deemed the death as suspicious.38-year-old Troy Stephen Oakley was found dead inside the home on July 27, 2019. Photo: York Regional Police handout.Melissa Galea, now 41, of Aurora, was arrested and charged that same day with second-degree murder, which was later upgraded to first-degree murder. Galea was convicted of first-degree murder and arson on Nov. 24, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled to take place on Jan. 5, 2024.

Indigenous signage aims to make B.C. legislature more inclusive, accepting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

VICTORIA — The Speaker of British Columbia’s legislature says the unveiling of Indigenous-themed signs outside the building is a necessary step toward opening doors that have been historically closed.Raj Chouhan says the B.C. legislature is the province’s largest symbol of colonialism, but it’s his priority to make the building a more welcoming and inclusive place.He says a ceremony today where engraved Indigenous language signs were permanently attached to the stone sidewalk perimeter of the building represent symbols of progress that would not have been welcome years ago.Hereditary Chief Edward Thomas Sr. says the presence of Indigenous language signs at the legislature, the former site of a village for the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, is a show of respect to the past and an open door to the future.He says he can see more Indigenous people coming to the legislature now that the signs are there to acknowledge their history and contributions.Chouhan says the signs i...

Mississippi GOP challenges election night court order that kept polls open during ballot shortage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — After ballot shortages in Mississippi’s largest county sowed chaos and confusion on the evening of the November statewide election, the state Republican Party has filed a petition challenging a court order that kept polls open longer than usual.The Mississippi GOP filed papers Tuesday asking the state Supreme Court to dissolve a lower court order that kept polls open an extra hour as voters endured long lines and election officials scrambled to print ballots. The petition would not invalidate any ballots or change the election results. It was filed to clarify for future elections that the lower court lacked jurisdiction and that its order violated Mississippi’s election laws, said Spencer Ritchie, an attorney representing the state GOP. In the Nov. 7 general election, up to nine voting precincts in Hinds County ran out of ballots. The county is majority-Black and is a Democratic stronghold. People waited up to two hours to vote as election officials made franti...

Online harms bill: Don’t link boy’s suicide with government actions, Trudeau says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it’s inappropriate to draw a link between government actions and the death of a British Columbia boy who killed himself last month after falling prey to online sextortion.NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh referred to the death of the 12-year-old in Prince George, B.C., during question period today as he asked Trudeau when the Liberal government will table long-promised legislation designed to mitigate online harms. Trudeau first promised to introduce legislation tackling hate speech, terrorist content and sexual abuse material in the 2019 federal election campaign. He made a similar promise in the 2021 contest, specifying that a re-elected Liberal government would table a bill within its first 100 days, but it has yet to do so. Trudeau told MPs today that the government needs to strike the right balance between freedom of expression and addressing the needs of communities subject to “discrimination and marginalization.” The prime ...

Woman suffers critical injuries being pulled from apartment fire in North York

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

A woman has been rushed to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries after she was pulled from a three-alarm apartment fire in North York.Toronto Fire Services were called to the high-rise building on York Mills Road east of the Don Valley Parkway just before 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. TFS said crews arrived to heavy smoke and fire from the fifth-floor unit, where one occupant was without vital signs. Life-saving measures were performed by first responders.A woman in her 50s was taken to a trauma centre in life-threatening condition.Toronto police said shelter buses have been ordered for displaced residents, and roads are currently blocked on York Mills for emergency vehicles.It’s unclear what caused the fire.My photos/videos pic.twitter.com/Xsso8KJadW— Timmy Martini ???????? (@TimmyMartini) November 29, 2023

Vehicle wanted in Chicago homicide crashes into Milwaukee school bus during police pursuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A vehicle wanted in connection with a homicide in Chicago crashed into a school bus during a police chase in Milwaukee on Wednesday, sending multiple people to area hospitals.Police in Milwaukee said in a statement that they began chasing the vehicle shortly before noon. The vehicle collided with the school bus, which flipped and crashed into several other vehicles.The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 26-year-old man, fled but was captured after a brief foot chase, police said. The statement did not offer any further details about the suspect or the homicide. Suburban man accused of attacking driver, strangling good Samaritan after ramming car into traffic Two passengers in the suspect vehicle, one a 26-year-old and the other a 3-year-old, were hurt. The 26-year-old suffered what police called “non-fatal” injuries and the 3-year-old suffered serious injuries. They were both taken to a hospital for treatment.The 71-year-old school bus driver and the 30-year-old dri...

2034 Winter Olympics could come to US: Salt Lake City named 'preferred host'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) — Salt Lake City has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee to enter "targeted discussions," bringing the city just short of the finish line in hosting the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. The last American Olympics was held in Salt Lake City in 2002, though Los Angeles is set to host the Summer Games in 2028. The IOC has chosen France as its preferred partner for the 2030 Winter Games.In a press conference Wednesday, chair of the IOC's Future Host Commission Karl Stoss praised Salt Lake City's vision for the games, and he pointed to its existing infrastructure from the 2002 Winter Games as a positive. He said additional positives include Utah's previous experience in hosting such a major event, exceptional public support, and a "very complex" master plan with no capital investment.Being invited into targeted discussions does not necessarily guarantee the Games will be coming to Salt Lake City as there is still plenty of work to be done. The Salt Lak...

Your CPAP machine might have a safety issue, FDA cautions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

(WKBN) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert on Tuesday about an "emerging safety issue" with some CPAP machines. According to the FDA, the Philips Respironics’ DreamStation 2 CPAP machine was having thermal issues that caused patient injuries. CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines are used for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The FDA recently received medical device reports (MDRs) associated with issues such as fire, smoke, burns, and other signs of overheating while using the machine. Reports gathered and analyzed by the FDA indicate the thermal issues may be related to an electrical and/or a mechanical malfunction that may cause the machines to overheat in certain situations. However, the FDA does not believe the safety issue is related to the foam used in the machine.The FDA first became aware of this issue during a routine analysis of MDRs. The agency noted a sharp increase in the number of MDRs (more than 270 reports) associated w...

Rep. George Santos faces third expulsion vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)—Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is facing a huge challenge in the coming days, as more lawmakers call for removing him from Congress."He's a crook," Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) said."He's a serial fraudster," Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said.Not once, not twice, but for the third time, Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) faces a resolution to expel him from Congress."We're going to allow people to vote their conscience. I think it's the only appropriate thing we can do," House Speaker Mike Johnson said.Fellow New York Republican Rep. Anthony D'Esposito brought the resolution forward."I think Santos has tainted himself," he said. "He shouldn't be a member of Congress. We were the first to call for his resignation. We were the first to support his expulsion. Santos is not part of the party."A growing list of GOP House members are joining the effort, but not everyone is on board, like Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Ky.)."I'm really not sure. I'm leaning against it," Burchett said.House...