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The carbon price is now off home heating oil — but the cost of oil is still high

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Draft regulations removing the carbon price from home heating oil are now in effect, Finance Canada confirmed Friday, but the change will do little to ease affordability woes for Canadians who rely on oil furnaces to stay warm.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the change in October, saying a three-year pause on applying the carbon price to heating oil will allow people with oil furnaces more time and money to replace them with electric heat pumps. The government also increased the amount of money available from a federal-provincial grant program to help people pay for heat pumps.The policy has been roundly criticized from people on both sides of the carbon-price debate. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who had already been campaigning to eliminate the carbon price entirely, called the heating oil pause divisive because it affected only one kind of heating. On the other hand, environmental activists called it short-sighted and possibly harmful to carbon pricing, w...

Man charged with animal abuse for actions at rodeo in Lockport Township

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, Ill. -- A Lockport Township man faces animal abuse charges after drone footage shows him abusing male bulls with an electric cattle prod.Ezequiel Herrera, 26, of Lockport Township, has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty, According to the Will County Sheriff's Office.On Oct. 2, law enforcement received information regarding animal abuse occurring at an unlicensed rodeo on the 400 block of Oak Avenue in Lockport Township. For more WGN Investigates original pieces, click here A representative from the animal rights organization of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), provided detectives with drone footage of animal abuse that occurred at the rodeo. It allegedly shows Herrera at an unlicensed rodeo in Lockport using an electric cattle prod to shock the steers (male bulls) in the face and head.Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow has been looking into cases of animal abuse at rodeos for the last few months.Herrera is expected to make his fi...

Old Town restaurant latest victim of smash-and-grab robbery

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- A restaurant in the Old Town neighborhood was broken into and robbed Friday morning as people headed to work. According to the Chicago Police Department, an unknown number of offenders robbed the Aloha Poke Co. restaurant on the 100 block of West North Ave around 7 a.m. on Friday. Arrests made in burglaries of Lincoln Ave businesses The offenders reportedly broke the window to the restaurant and took an unknown amount of property from inside before fleeing the scene.No one has been taken into custody at this time.The investigation is ongoing.

FBI search for man who robbed 3 downtown banks

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- The FBI is searching for a serial robber who has targeted several downtown banks over the past few months.According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the suspect allegedly tried to rob three Citibank locations along Michigan Avenue since September. Chicago officer charged, relieved of police powers for hitting 8th grader The suspect is described as a man in his 40s and typically wears a hooded sweatshirt or jacket during the attempts. He is considered armed and dangerous.The FBI has offered an award of up to $1,000 for information regarding these incidents or the suspect in question.

Overdue book returned to Missouri library after 30 years

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. (KTVI) — Someone recently returned an overdue library book to a library in St. Charles County, Missouri, several decades after it was checked out.A copy of Sandra Boynton's book "But Not the Hippopotamus" was returned to the WingHaven Branch within the St. Charles City-County library district. IKEA recalling more mirrors over falling concerns The library shared a photo of the book via Facebook that suggests it was available in August 1993 with a checkout price of $3.95. Library leaders say it's better late than never. "It's never too late to come back to the Library, especially now that we are fine free," said the library via Facebook. "We were happy to see it again but even more happy to welcome the customer back to the library." ‘Simpsons’ producers respond to reports that suggested Homer would stop strangling Bart It appears there will not be any extra fines or late fees, despite the book's late return. Sandra Boynton, the author of the overdue book,...

How to test drive the newest Electric Vehicles in Austin this weekend

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Electrify Expo, an electric vehicle (EV) festival, is coming to Austin this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, and for the first time ever, demo drives will happen on the Formula 1 track.At the expo, attendees can drive and ride in the newest electric cars, trucks, e-bikes, and even electric skateboards.“A growing number of consumers are eager to buy electric, but with the lack of access to test drive and see vehicles first-hand, consumers are reluctant on their path to purchase,” organizers said. "Electrify Expo is making it easier for consumers by providing a fun, new way to experience and try electric vehicles while providing companies a way to interact with potential EV shoppers through a fun and pressure-free environment."The event features the latest technology from well-known companies, as well as new companies trying to make a name for themselves in the electric vehicle industry. Organizers said the exhibitor roster includes BMW, Ford, Giant Bicycles...

Gray skies and brisk temperatures continue

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gray, cooler than normal November weather largely continues through the weekend into early next week as another rain-making storm system heads our way.Cloudy skies with occasional mist and drizzle are expected Friday night into early Saturday. Veterans' Day may bring a few brief peeks of sunshine, but overall, gray skies hold with only a slight chance of sprinkles.The next in a series of storm systems rolls our way Sunday and Monday, thickening clouds and bringing rain back to the area. Sunday night through Monday, light to moderate rain becomes widespread with additional rainfall totals of 1"-1.5" possible in some areas.Look ahead, the wet weather pattern changes mid and late next week with warmer sunshine returning. Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/news...

Wild get captain Jared Spurgeon for Friday’s game in Buffalo

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The captain is back. The question is, can he right the ship?Wild captain Jared Spurgeon was set to play against the Sabres on Friday at KeyCenter Arena, his first game since he suffered an upper body injury in an Oct. 5 preseason game in Chicago.“Are we looking for him to come back and be a savior right away? Of course not,” head coach Dean Evason said before the 6 p.m. CST puck drop. “Everybody’s got to play the right way.”Spurgeon has been skating for the better part of two weeks, and traveled with the team on this three-game trip through New York in anticipation of getting into at least one game. General manager Bill Guerin said Wednesday that was unlikely to happen, but player, trainers and coaches agreed the veteran defenseman could play on Friday.He slotted back into a pair with Jake Middleton, who has struggled in his absence — although the team as a whole has struggled in Spurgeon’s absence. They entered the last game of this trip 5-6-2 overall after a 4-1 lo...

Cheniqua Johnson wins city council seat in St. Paul’s Ward 7, Ward 1 results still pending

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

Cheniqua Johnson has emerged as the winner in the race for the St. Paul City Council Ward 7 seat Friday after a recount and reallocation of ballots.St. Paul Ward 7 City Council candidate Cheniqua Johnson talks with her campaign staff members Nonkululeko Shongwe, left, and Latisha Townsend during ballot reallocation process for St. Paul City Council at the Ramsey County Property Tax, Records and Elections Services building in St. Paul on Friday, Nov., 10, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Johnson, 28, will represent a district in southeastern St. Paul encompassing neighborhoods including Dayton’s Bluff, Mounds Park, Swede Hollow, and Battle Creek. Her win comes after a reallocation of votes in St. Paul’s ranked-choice voting system.She will join a slate of self-described progressive members on the council, where a majority will soon be women of color.“It feels amazing to be able to have the rest of my community to be a part of this historic moment, but not just because it...

Lawmakers want to make it easier for families of veterans to become citizens

Published Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:25:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--In honor of Veterans Day, 16 state landmarks will be lit up green. The Governor also signed a package of veterans' legislation into law. But there is one bill she hasn’t signed that some lawmakers are calling on her to do. It is called the SSG Alex R. Jimenez New York State Military Immigrant Family Legacy Program."Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez went missing in action in July 2007, and his remains were recovered a year later. I remember that because I was in Iraq when it occurred," explained Senator Jake Ashby, who sponsors the bill. "But what I didn’t know at the time, was that his wife is in the process of being deported, which is an unspeakable travesty."To help prevent this from happening in the future, state lawmakers passed a bill that would create a program within the Department of Veterans’ services to help families of veterans become US citizens."This would provide legal resources for them," explained Ashby. "This would provide social workers for them, r...