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Anti-racism trainer accused of bullying TDSB principal who later died welcomes review

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

An anti-racism trainer accused of denigrating a Toronto principal who later died by suicide welcomed a review launched by Ontario’s education minister, saying the allegations against her are false and mischaracterize what happened during two training sessions. Kike Ojo-Thompson, the founder and CEO of a diversity consultancy group — whose listed clients include major corporations, government ministries and national media organizations — said she would co-operate fully with an investigation launched by Minister Stephen Lecce into 2021 sessions she facilitated for the Toronto District School Board. “We believe the Ministry of Education is best positioned to investigate this matter to get to the bottom of what transpired at the Toronto District School Board after our workshop concluded over two years ago,” Ojo-Thompson wrote in a blog post on the KOJO Institute website Thursday.Richard Bilkszto filed a lawsuit against the board in April, claiming the sessi...

Geese in ‘good condition’ after landing on contaminated lagoon: Imperial CEO

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

CALGARY — The latest in what has been a string of environmental incidents at Canadian oilsands sites was addressed Friday by the CEO of Imperial Oil Ltd.On a conference call with analysts to discuss Imperial’s second-quarter financial results, Brad Corson spoke briefly about the 12 Canada geese that were recently found stained with oil after landing on a lagoon at the company’s Mahihkan plant northwest of Cold Lake, Alta.The incident was made public Monday by the Alberta Energy Regulator, which said the lagoon had been contaminated by an inadvertent release of an estimated 900 litres — approximately six barrels — of crude oil.“I’m disappointed that this has occurred. And we will be making every effort to learn and apply any preventative measures that are identified,” said Corson.He said all of the geese have been removed from the lagoon and taken to a specialist site for cleaning and rehabilitation.“We are monitoring their status and they are currently in goo...

Bay Area man fatally stabbed woman and posted video of it on Facebook, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) — A man allegedly stabbed a woman to death in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday and then posted a video of the slaying to Facebook, authorities said.The gruesome footage helped police track down the suspect, who was later identified as 39-year old Mark Mechikoff. He was arrested about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) south of where the victim was found dead in a San Mateo apartment complex.“While the motive for stabbing the victim is still under investigation, we do know Mechikoff mercilessly filmed the last moments of the victim’s life and posted the video to Facebook, then fled the area,” San Mateo police said in a statement.Prosecutors identified the victim as Claribel Estrella. The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office plans to file a case against Mechikoff Friday and charge him with a single count of murder with an enhancement for use of a knife.His arraignment is scheduled for Friday afternoon, where an attorney will be appointed to represen...

Attorneys preserve the right to invoke insanity in shootings that killed 4 in Maine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

WEST BATH, Maine (AP) — A man who told police he killed his parents and their friends and shot at motorists on a busy interstate highway might try to show he was insane, based on pleas he entered Friday.The 34-year-old ex-convict Joseph Eaton entered pleas of both not guilty and not criminally responsible, leaving him the option of an insanity defense against charges including four counts of murder.“At this point we are preserving the ability to move forward with the so-called insanity defense. Once we have more forensic information, full discovery, and are able to view the case as a whole, we will then decide how to proceed,” Andrew Wright, one of his attorneys, told The Associated Press before the hearing in West Bath.Law enforcement officials say Eaton confessed to the killings at a property in rural Bowdoin, and to wounding three people while shooting at vehicles on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth. Eaton has been jailed since his arrest on April 18 near the chaotic scene along the hi...

Chow needs to speak publicly on recent violence against officers, K9 Bingo: Toronto police union

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

Mayor Olivia Chow is facing criticism from Toronto’s police union that she has not spoken publicly on the recent incidents of violence against officers, including Bingo, a member of the K9 unit.“In the last five days, we have had a police officer struck and injured by a stolen car, officers shot at, and a police dog killed in the line of duty. Will Mayor Chow offer any words of condolence or support for our members?” the Toronto Police Association (TPA) said a tweet on Thursday.@oliviachow ? pic.twitter.com/GO3Ud8GRr5— Toronto Police Association (@TPAca) July 27, 2023In a statement to CityNews on Friday, the mayor’s office said Chow has been in constant communication with Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw after each incident to send along her best to each officer involved.“The Mayor is in frequent communication with the Chief of Police. She sincerely hopes that the injured officers recover quickly, and she is grateful for their service. The Mayor ...

Carlee Russell charged with filing a false police report following kidnapping hoax

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — In a press conference held Friday afternoon, the Hoover Police Department announced that Carlee Russell had been charged with filing a false police report and filing a false statement to law enforcement authorities, a Class A misdemeanor.The Hoover Police Department (HPD) revealed that Carlee had turned herself in Friday to the Hoover City Police and was released on a $2,000 bond - $1,000 per charge. “Judging from the amount of phone calls and emails that we have received from all over the country, I know that many are shocked and appalled that Miss Russell is only being charged with two misdemeanors, despite all the panic and disruption her actions caused," Derzis said. "Let me assure you, I, too, share the same frustration, but existing laws only allow the charges that were filed to be filed.”Derzis said he will be contacting Alabama legislatures and asking them to look at this law and “urge them to add enhancement to current legislation” for when an...

Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly are the next White Sox pitchers to get traded, reports say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

CHICAGO — For the second time before the Major League Baseball trade deadline, the White Sox are trading a pair of pitchers together as they continue to sell in the midst of a disappointing season.Once again, they're making a deal with a team in California. Per reports from Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the White Sox have traded starting pitcher Lance Lynn and reliever Joe Kelly to the Dodgers. This comes less than days after trading Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels for two highly-touted prospects,There is no word yet on a return in the deal and the club has yet to confirm the move.This comes as the club remains mired in a terrible season, sporting a 41-63 record just two years after winning the American League Central division. Lynn's run with the White Sox ends after two-and-a-half seasons, which started with his acquisition in the 2021 offseason from the Rangers. In his first season, he was one of the best pitchers in the American L...

States where people live the longest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

(Stacker) - American life expectancy dropped in 2021 for the second year in a row and represents the largest two-year decline since 1921-1923. The average life span across the entire population is 76.1 years—the lowest since 1996. Life expectancy can be affected by numerous factors, from genetics to air quality to economic opportunities.Stacker used data from the 2023 County Health Rankings to determine the 25 states where people live the longest. The 2023 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2018-2020 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2021 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2023 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively. Please note that in the data below, the demographics for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders were left out due to...

Trump says it's 'unpleasant' to discuss indictments with Melania

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Donald Trump says he’s not a fan of sharing news about his multiple criminal indictments with his wife, Melania.“It’s always unpleasant when you have to go in and tell your wife that, ‘By the way, tomorrow sometime I’m going to be indicted,’” the 45th president said during a Friday interview on “The John Fredericks Show.”Trump continued the reenactment of a supposed conversation between him and the former first lady about the multiple probes.“And she says, ‘For what?’ And I say, ‘I have no idea. I have absolutely no idea,’” he said.On Thursday, the Justice Department accused Trump in a superseding indictment of attempting to delete surveillance footage at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida related to his classified records case, which is scheduled to go to trial in May. Former Trump administration lawyer on Mar-a-Lago investigation: ‘The evidence is so overwhelming’ Last week, Trump announced that he had been informed that he is a t...

Stretch of I-35 in Georgetown to close Friday, Saturday nights for bridge repair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:20 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 28, 2023GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- A section of Interstate 35 in Georgetown will close overnight Friday and Saturday while crews work on reconstruction of the Williams Drive Bridge. The main lanes of northbound and southbound I-35 will be closed between Lakeway Drive and State Highway 29 starting at 9 p.m. both nights. The lanes should be back open by 10 a.m. each morning, weather permitting.Northbound I-35 traffic will detour to the frontage road at the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the main lanes north of Northwest Boulevard. Southbound I-35 traffic will use the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the main lanes at the SH 29 entrance ramp.The Williams Drive bridge will also be closed. Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at SH 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at the s...