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Mississippi civil rights lawyer arrested filming traffic stop, attorney says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi civil rights lawyer was arrested Saturday after filming a traffic stop conducted by officers from a police department she is suing in federal court, her attorney says.Jill Collen Jefferson is the president of JULIAN, the civil rights organization that filed a federal lawsuit last year against the Lexington Police Department on behalf of a group of city residents. Michael Carr, Jefferson’s attorney, told The Associated Press she was arrested late Saturday evening after she filmed officers after they pulled someone over.The Lexington Police Department did not immediately respond to request for comment in voicemails and phone calls.Jefferson was arrested nine days after Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division traveled to Lexington to meet with community members about allegations of police brutality in the small town.Jefferson’s lawsuit claims police have subjected Lexington resid...

Toronto Fire Services honour eight firefighters in annual ceremony of remembrance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

Toronto firefighters gathered to honour eight more fallen comrades at the City’s annual ceremony of remembrance on Sunday. City officials, Toronto residents, and the family and loved ones of the fallen firefighters paid tribute at the Last Alarm memorial sculpture outside Toronto Fire and Marine Station 334. The city says 327 firefighters have died in the line of duty in Toronto since 1848. Line-of-duty deaths include deaths related to incidents or illness in the course of firefighting duties. Several firefighters added to this year’s memorial honour role died years ago, as it can take a long time for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to attribute the cause of death to firefighting, particularly in cancer cases caused by occupational exposure.“The loss of these men was not in vain, they made a real difference,” said Kim Scanlan, the sister of late district chief Christian L. Cauchon who passed away on Nov. 18, 2022, following a long battle with cancer. Jason Pal&#...

New Canada Post stamp honours first Indigenous woman to lead a Canadian government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

ULUKHAKTOK, N.W.T. — The first Indigenous woman to lead a provincial or territorial government in Canada is being honoured with a new stamp.Canada Post says it has unveiled a stamp in honour of Nellie Cournoyea, known as a champion of her people in Canada’s western Arctic.Cournoyea was the first Indigenous woman, and second woman, to head a provincial or territorial government in Canada, serving as premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995.Canada Post says in a statement Cournoyea is known for the unwavering vision, work ethic and heart that have guided her fight for Indigenous self-determination and Inuit empowerment.Canada Post says the stamp is one of three Indigenous leaders stamps that will be released on June 21.The postal operator is also issuing stamps paying tribute to B.C. Indigenous leader George Manuel and Alberta Indigenous leader Thelma Chalifoux.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2023.The Canadian Press

Philippine volcano spews lava in gentle eruption, more villagers asked to brace to evacuate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

DARAGA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines’ most active volcano has begun spewing lava in a gentle eruption, putting thousands of people on heightened alert for the possibility of a violent explosion that would force them to evacuate from their homes, authorities said Monday. More than 12,000 villagers have abandoned their homes in mandatory evacuations thus far mostly from poor farming communities within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of Mayon volcano’s crater in northeastern Albay province. Those evacuations began after the volcano begun showing signs of renewed restlessness last week.But thousands more remain within the permanent danger zone below Mayon, which has long been declared as off limits to people.With the volcano beginning to expel lava Sunday night, the high-risk zone around Mayon may be expanded if its eruption turns violent, said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Bacolcol said if tha thappens, people l...

Another horse dies at Belmont Park, 2nd fatality since Belmont Stakes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Another horse has died after racing at Belmont Park, the second fatality in 24 hours after the Belmont Stakes.Mashnee Girl fell near the quarter pole and sustained a catastrophic injury to her left front leg, according to New York Racing Association spokesman Pat McKenna. The 5-year-old mare was euthanized due to the severity of the injury.McKenna said in a statement that a necropsy will be performed at Cornell University, with the results to be analyzed by Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) officials, as well as the New York State equine medical director.NYRA, HISA, and the New York State Gaming Commission will review the circumstances around the incident, he said. Airline employee injured after emergency slide deploys in plane Mashnee Girl had three wins in 19 career starts and earnings of $194,065, according to Equibase, the industry database.She was trained by Mark Hennig, whose Excursionniste suffered a catastrophic left front leg inju...

Get ready for the hottest week of the year (so far)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures were hotter on Sunday with highs up near 100º in Austin during the afternoon. Feels-like temperatures ranged from 105-110º thanks to dew points near 70º+.A heat advisory remains in effect for Fayette County through 7 p.m. where heat index values will be highest.A Heat Advisory is in effect for Fayette countyWe're watching a slight rain or storm chance for our northwestern counties (San Saba, Lampasas etc.) through mid-evening, but most areas won't get a drop of rain for a while.Through the work-week most areas will see similar weather day-to-day with some patches of morning low clouds giving way to abundant sunshine. We've got the possibility for an isolated storm late in the day on Monday, with a marginal (1 out of 5) severe weather risk for our northern counties. Aside from Monday, rain chances are close to zero the rest of the week.Monday severe threat (SPC)As high pressure builds in temperatures will only climb. Right now we expect the heat peaks Th...

Barton Skyway southbound entrance closed for upgrades, extension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The southbound Barton Skyway entrance ramp along MoPac Expressway will be shut down for approximately two months as part of scheduled work.Construction began Sunday on the project, designed to allow the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) team to do earth work, stormwater drainage improvements and pavement widening work "to extend the ramp at this location." Drivers will be asked to detour through the signalized intersection at Loop 360 before using the next entrance ramp to access southbound MoPac Expressway, per a project release. Check out KXAN traffic maps to help with your daily commute 230611_Barton_Skyway_ramp_closureDownload"Our team will make every effort to minimize disruption, including directing construction lights away from residential areas and using a non-intrusive, self-adjusting noise level reverse signal alarm on equipment," officials said in the project release. "However, residents should expect typical construction impacts due to t...

Austin Fire Dept. hosts community training demo to highlight emergency responses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department hosted a community demonstration Sunday morning to showcase training exercises crews undergo.AFD and home builder Gossett & Co. collaborated on the event, which featured a home scheduled for demolition in Austin's Tarrytown neighborhood. As part of the event, firefighters underwent various scenarios "designed to replicate real-life emergency situations," per a news release.“As part of our ongoing commitment to community engagement and public safety, we believe it is crucial for us all to witness the training that prepares our firefighters for the demanding and dangerous nature of their job,” said Jared Gossett, President and CEO of Gossett & Co., in the release. “This event will highlight the incredible efforts they put forth every day to protect our community.”

Twins lose lead late, fall 7-6 to Blue Jays in series finale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

TORONTO — The Twins looked as if they were in prime position to salvage a road trip that couldn’t have started out much worse.They were outmatched in Tampa Bay by Major League Baseball’s best team, dropping three straight games to the Rays as their losing streak hit five games. But after they headed north of the border, they rallied for a pair of wins over the Blue Jays and looked well on their way to a series sweep on Sunday.Not so fast.The Twins, who had been leading since the first inning, saw that lead quickly dissipate in the eighth when Emilio Pagán gave up singles to the first two batters he faced and then allowed a three-run blast to Cavan Biggio that gave Toronto a 7-6 lead. That would be the final score in their series-ending loss on Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre.The game couldn’t have started out much better for the Twins, who after collecting one run in 5 1/3 innings against Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman last month, ambushed the starting pitcher.For the second ...

Nuggets treating NBA Finals closeout chance as must-win situation: Act like we’re down 3-1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

If coaching doesn’t work out — and there’s little evidence to suggest it won’t — perhaps Nuggets coach Michael Malone can take up a career in psychology.Before the Nuggets took part in shooting contests and basic drills as part of their practice Sunday, Malone relayed a message as they’ll vie for their first-ever NBA championship on Monday night at Ball Arena.“My biggest concern going into any close-out game is human nature and fighting against that,” he said. “You’re up 3-1. Most teams, when you’re up 3-1, they come up for air. They relax and they just kind of take it for granted that, oh, we’re going to win this.”The Nuggets don’t have to look very far for recent examples of teams blowing commanding leads in the postseason. They stormed back, twice, in the Orlando bubble in 2020, against the Jazz and the Clippers, who each owned 3-1 leads against Denver. But the Nuggets wound up on the right side of history that year and forged their way to the conference finals....