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Ontario public high school teachers head to arbitration for new contract

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

Ontario’s public high school teachers are now turning to binding arbitration to get a new contract, as bargaining has concluded with the union unable to reach a negotiated deal with the province.The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation agreed to a novel process that eliminates the possibility of strikes during bargaining and for the next three years.The union ratified a deal last month with the government that would see negotiations continue until Oct. 27, after which any outstanding issues would be decided by an arbitrator. The last day of talks before that date wrapped up Wednesday.Both union president Karen Littlewood and Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the parties made good progress recently in negotiations.Monetary issues will be settled by binding arbitration, Littlewood said.“The last two months of bargaining was way more productive than the 14 months before that and we were able to accomplish a lot – still nothing to do with money,...

'He cared so much': Family, The Vic mourn loss of longtime production manager

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

CHICAGO — If you've ever rocked out to one of your favorite bands at The Vic, Jason Plahutnik was one of the reasons why it sounded so good.Plahutnik was unfortunately found dead inside the venue Sunday, Oct. 15 at just 44 years old."He was found unresponsive and the paramedics worked really hard," sister Kristin Hebda told WGN News. "But we still don't have answers."Starting out at Park West, The Vic ended up being Plahutnik's "home away from home" — where he rose from a sound assistant to production manager over 25 years."He is one of those guys who is irreplaceable, he was infectious," JAM Productions owner Jerry Mickelson said. "Jason lived and breathed The Vic."Jason PlahutnikIt was in his blood — Jason's father has an audio background and also used to run sound at The Vic. Long before getting used to being around rock stars regularly, his father played a joke on him involving the one, the only — Iggy Pop."My dad goes - 'Iggy Pop wants to talk to you,'" Hebda recalled. "'Dad, s...

'Ambushed': Delphi defense attorney says judge coerced him to leave double murder case, asks for her removal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. — The remaining attorney left defending Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen is asking that the judge overseeing the case be thrown out, claiming she "ambushed" and "coerced" the defense team to drop out.Attorney Bradley A. Rozzi, the sole defense counsel still representing Richard Allen in the highly-publicized double murder trial, filed several motions Thursday in Carroll County Court arguing why he believes he should continue to represent his client and that the judge should be recused.Allen, who is charged with two counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, has been represented by Rozzi as co-counsel in the case since Nov. 14, 2022. For the past 11 months, Rozzi and court-appointed attorney Andrew J. Baldwin had been preparing a defense case for Allen. PREVIOUSLY: Attorneys for Delphi murder suspect withdraw from case The suspect and defense team were scheduled to make an appearance ...

Bipartisan bill would crack down on organized retail theft

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A bipartisan plan in Congress aims to help law enforcement crack down on organized retail theft, which has surged nationwide in recent years."This is a problem that we have to deal with," Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said at a news conference Thursday."It's happening in every community," Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., added. "It's not a one-off, it's not one person." Retail theft is the worst in these 10 US cities, study finds They are part of a bipartisan group that has introduced a bill that would create a centralized agency to help law enforcement investigate and prosecute retail thieves, even across state lines, with "the same penalties applied whether it happens in California or in Iowa," Grassley said.The National Retail Federation says store theft surged 20% from 2021 to 2022, costing retailers more than $112 billion. Lawmakers acknowledged the increase started during the pandemic, but said they don't believe it's linked to rising prices."Retail...

Most Americans say they’re falling behind on emergency savings: survey

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

(The Hill) -- A majority of Americans say they are behind on their emergency savings, according to a new poll.Thirty-eight percent say they are significantly behind on saving for emergencies and 22 percent say they are slightly behind, while only 18 percent say they are ahead on their savings, the survey from Bankrate found.Thirty percent of respondents said they have about the same amount of emergency savings now compared to the beginning of the year. One in five households, 19 percent, say they have increased their emergency savings in 2023, and 32 percent say they have less than they started the year with. Twenty percent said they had no emergency savings at the beginning of the year and still have none, the survey found.“Despite 60 percent of all Americans feeling behind on their emergency savings, just 19 percent have increased their emergency savings balances since the beginning of the year,” Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride said in a statement. “Rising prices and...

Austin's MetroBike program awarded $11.3M federal grant

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Enhancements are en route to Austin's MetroBike program, following news it was named the recipient of an $11.3 million federal grant.The funding will help expand the MetroBike bike share program and transit it to a completely electric bicycle fleet, per a Thursday city release. Right now, only 43% of the 800-bicycle fleet are electric bicycles, with the remainder classified as traditional bikes.The dollars were awarded by the Texas Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternative Set-Aside program, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, the release added.While the city owns the MetroBike bikes and stations, it has entered into an agreement with CapMetro. The transit authority operates and oversees the bike share system as part of that agreement, per the release.Through the new funds, Austin is working to expand the 81-station, 800-bicycle network, enhancing its reach throughout downtown as well as north and east...

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and the pursuit of perfection

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

The result was good. The process was bad. That’s what quarterback Kirk Cousins kept going back to after the Vikings upset the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football earlier this week.There was a particular play before halftime during which Cousins hung in the pocket against a zero blitz, then unleashed a deep pass to rookie receiver Jordan Addison downfield.It probably should have been intercepted as cornerback Charvarius Ward undercut the throw while it was in the air. Instead, Addison ripped it away from Ward at the last second, kept his balance in the open field, and raced toward the end zone for a 60-yard touchdown. He hit the Michael Jordan shrug as he crossed the goal line for good measure.“I thought it was getting picked,” Cousins said of the pass. “I still don’t know how Jordan came away with it.”Looking back on it roughly 48 hours later, as much as Cousins made sure to praise Addison for bailing him out, he couldn’t get over t...

NCAA investigators interview Jim Harbaugh’s staff about sign-stealing scheme, AP source says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

By LARRY LAGE (AP Sports Writer)ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — NCAA investigators interviewed members of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff Thursday about a sign-stealing scheme, a person familiar with the governing body’s visit told The Associated Press.The investigation has rocked the undefeated and second-ranked Wolverines on their march toward a potential spot in the College Football Playoff. The interviews were confirmed by the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to speak publicly about the details. The NCAA inquiry was triggered by an outside firm’s investigation, which turned up videos of and documented plans and budgets for impermissible scouting of opponents. The Washington Post reported the firm obtained computer drives maintained and accessed by multiple Michigan coaches.The firm presented evidence to the NCAA and suggested Connor Stalions, a low-level staffer who has been suspended by Michigan, was...

RCMP investigating vehicle thefts in Coalhurst

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

RCMPIn the early morning hours of Oct. 19, three vehicles and a trailer were reported stolen from 6 Street and 4 Street in Coalhurst. The vehicles include:• 2004 Chevrolet Silverado dark blue in colour• 2005 Chevrolet Silverado white in colour• 2007 GMC Sierra white in colour• 2021 Royal enclosed trailer red in colour“It appears that the vehicles were forcefully entered, hot-wired, and driven away,” stated Coaldale RCMP. “There may have been 3 – 5 suspects involved.”If you have any information regarding these thefts, please contact Coaldale RCMP at 403-345-5552. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Letter: Bill C-69 ruling good news for Alberta

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

The Supreme Court of Canada recently ruled Bill C-69 – also known as the “no more pipelines law” – unconstitutional. The reversal of this intrusive legislation is a real victory for Alberta. But it’s also a victory for all provinces. And a confirmation of the principles our nation was founded on:provincial rights, respect, and cooperation between all levels of government.Bill C-69 was first introduced in 2018 by the federal government. It was immediately obvious just how harmful it would be to Alberta’s economy. Unfortunately, the premier of the day, Rachel Notley, did nothing to push back and defend Alberta’s best interests.Bill C-69 was a gross overreach of federal power that scared off investors and killed thousand of jobs across Alberta and Canada.Former Premier Jason Kenney understood that this legislation was harmful and unconstitutional. He realized it wasn’t just bad for Alberta, but a threat to the economic wellbeing of all provinces and regions. His government was instrume...