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Guyana girls dorm fire that killed 19 was deliberately set by student, official says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Investigators in Guyana believe a fire that killed 19 mostly girls trapped in a school dormitory was deliberately set by a student who was upset that her mobile phone was confiscated, a top official said Tuesday.The suspect in the fire late Sunday, who is among several injured people, had been disciplined by the dorm administrator for having an affair with an older man, National Security Adviser Gerald Gouveia said. The student allegedly threatened to torch the dorm and later set a fire in a bathroom area, Gouveia said.The fire raced through the wood, concrete and iron-grilled building after it had been locked for the night by the dorm administrator — or house mother — to prevent the girls from sneaking out, Gouveia said.“She did this out of love for them. She felt she was forced to do so because many of them leave the building at night to socialize,” Gouveia told The Associated Press. “This is a very sad situation, but the state is going to work with the s...

Illinois attorney general to discuss investigation of Catholic clergy sexual abuse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ attorney general on Tuesday will discuss his office’s more than four-year investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy in the state going back decades — a probe launched by his predecessor after she found the church’s own investigation to be seriously lacking.Kwame Raoul continued Lisa Madigan’s investigation after he took over from her as the state’s top law enforcement official in 2019. Madigan issued a blistering preliminary report on the state’s investigation in 2018 just before she left office, saying Catholic dioceses in Illinois had not released the names of at least 500 clergy who had been accused of sexually abusing children.The preliminary report found that the church’s six dioceses had done a woefully inadequate job of investigating allegations, and in some cases didn’t investigate them at all or notify the state’s child welfare agency. The abuse claims dated back decades and were m...

Investor-occupants made up almost 10% of B.C. homeowners in 2020: Statistics Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

Investor-occupants made up almost 10 per cent of homeowners in British Columbia in 2020, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.A new report from the data agency shows B.C.’s share of investor-occupants, who own a single property with multiple units, including their primary residence, sat at 9.6 per cent that year, much higher than in other provinces.Investor-occupants made up 2.5 per cent of New Brunswick’s homeowners, 1.8 per cent in Nova Scotia, 0.8 per cent in Ontario and 0.7 per cent in Manitoba, while other provinces weren’t part of the study.Statistics Canada attributed the high numbers of investor-occupants in B.C. to incremental forms of density, such as single-detached houses with secondary suites or laneway units, duplexes, or triplexes.About 12.5 per cent of Vancouver owners and 12.2 per cent of Victoria owners were investor-occupants in 2020.The average income for investor-occupants in Vancouver was $65,000, equal to the income for non-investors, while in-prov...

Zellers expanding pop-up locations across Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

Perhaps this is an indication the relaunch of Zellers is doing well. Hudson’s Bay says it has raised $240 million in additional liquidity to invest in expanding more locations of the discount retailer across the country.“We have always said that we will listen to Canadians, and they will tell us where to grow,” said Sophia Hwang-Judiesch, Hudson’s Bay president. “With these pop-ups, our expansion strategy will be fueled by the interest and feedback from our customers across the country.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zellers (@zellersofficial)Zellers locations are currently tucked away in certain Hudson’s Bay locations nationwide.“Initially through a series of pop-up boutiques within Hudson’s Bay stores, Zellers intends to open larger footprint stores in some or all of those same locations. The first pop-up will launch at Hudson’s Bay’s flagship downtown Toronto Queen Street store in June, wit...

Italy OKs aid mega-package for flooded north, with museum ticket surcharge to help pay for it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

ROME (AP) — The Italian government on Tuesday approved more than 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in aid for the flood-stricken region of Emilia-Romagna in the north, including for farmers and business owners in one of the country’s most productive regions.The government is envisioning raising by 1 euro ($1.1) the price of admission tickets to state museums, Premier Giorgia Meloni said. The money would be earmarked to help pay for repairs to damaged cultural institutions. Also being considered is a special lotto game to raise funds. Meloni told reporters that the assistance approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday includes the suspension of tax payments as well as utility bills over the coming months. Mortgage payments in areas considered disaster zones will also be suspended.“In the situation which Italy finds itself, finding 2 billion euros in a few days isn’t an easy thing,” Meloni said. She cited many of the categories receiving aid, including education, wh...

WATCH LIVE: Illinois AG to provide 'significant update' on clergy sex abuse investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is holding a press conference Tuesday morning to provide a "significant update" on his office's clergy sex abuse investigation.The press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in downtown Chicago.In late 2018, then-Attorney General Lisa Madigan began the investigation after accusing the Catholic Church of dramatically underreporting the allegations of clergy sex abuse in the state.At the time, her investigators said they found at least 500 accusations against priests and clergy.In a release, Raoul stated his investigation continues what Madigan started and follows the recent Maryland attorney general investigation. ‘The damage this does is chronic:’ Clergy sex abuse survivor shares story According to the Maryland report, more than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused over 600 children and often escaped accountability.This year, Pope Francis updated a 2019 church law aimed at hol...

'Food was amazing': Bride feeds 99 wedding guests for $1,950 by ordering from fast-casual chain, reheating food hours later

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

(WJW) — With the average cost of weddings continuing to break bank accounts across the country, it makes sense people would take note of a bride who found a sneaky way to cut costs on catered food.Vlogger and TikTok creator Madison Mulkey recently revealed she spent just $1,950 on food for her 99 wedding guests — and she did it by getting Chili's to cater the dinner."We loved the price point, I mean you really can't beat that price point — you just can't," she told her TikTok followers in a viral video posted earlier this month. "It's insane that we only spent that much money for our wedding food."The menu, Mulkey said, included chips, salsa, salads, egg rolls, chicken tenders, sliders, Cajun chicken pasta, and even five specialty meals for guests with dietary restrictions. How much does the average wedding cost in your state? Mulkey and her family also offset the cost by picking up the food themselves instead of paying for delivery. And since her nuptials took place over a busy S...

Man accused of poisoning 50+ fish at Rhode Island inn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

FOSTER, R.I. (WPRI) — A man accused of killing dozens of pet fish at a Rhode Island inn is facing an animal cruelty charge.Jeffrey Gronski, 59, was arrested following the incident last Thursday, according to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA). Report: 8,000 vehicles in RI pose serious safety risk The RISPCA said it was contacted by Foster police after a long-term resident of Stone House Motor Inn in Foster allegedly put Miracle-Gro in the koi and goldfish pond during a dispute with management.Around 50 fish died as a result, some of which were more than 20 years old, according to the RISPCA.Gronski was charged with malicious injury or killing of animals. He was released on personal recognizance after his arraignment and is due back in court in August.

First look at Lyric Opera's production of 'West Side Story'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards sits down with some of the cast of the Lyric Opera's new production of "West Side Story" that opens next week.The show features almost 100 artists who will perform on the massive Lyric Opera stage.Dean interviewed stars Yurel Echezarreta, who plays Bernard, and Amanda Castro, who plays Anita. Watch the interview in the player aboveGet Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

LIVE: Recommended Project Connect light rail plan unveiled

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The transportation entity tasked with constructing Austin's Project Connect mass transit system unveiled Tuesday which light rail route they want to see built in the capital city.The Austin Transit Partnership is recommending Austin's initial light rail system runs from 38th Street down south to Oltorf Street, as well as southeast to Yellow Jacket Lane. The 9.8-mile route would feature 15 stations and service an average ridership upwards of 29,000 people per day, if adopted.ATP Project Connect Light Rail RecommendationDownloadThe recommended route's sticker price comes in between $4.5 billion and $4.8 billion, with possible Phase 1 buildout points to Crestview in the north and the airport to the southeast, depending on costs and available funding. Future light rail extensions post-Phase 1 could carry the two-line system to the North Lamar Transit Center and Stassney Lane, with southern stops proposed at St. Edward's University and the South Congress Transit Center. ...