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Wildlife conservation groups sue over lack of plan for railroad to reduce grizzly deaths in Montana

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Two wildlife conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against BNSF Railway over delays in finalizing a plan to reduce the number of federally protected grizzly bears that are killed by trains in northwestern Montana and northern Idaho.WildEarth Guardians and the Western Environmental Law Center filed the lawsuit in federal court in Missoula on Thursday arguing BNSF and other railroads that use their tracks, including Amtrak, have been killing grizzly bears without an incidental take permit for decades. Such permits, required under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, allow a certain number of protected animals to be killed in exchange for efforts by a company to try to reduce the deaths.BNSF Railway says that even though it doesn’t have a permit, it is taking measures to prevent grizzly bear deaths.The railroad’s first efforts to obtain an incidental take permit began in 2004 and have still not been completed nearly 20 years later, the lawsuit filed by t...

NCAA, states seek to extend restraining order letting transfer athletes play through the spring

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization asked a federal court Friday to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters.The motion seeks to extend the 14-day temporary restraining order barring the NCAA from enforcing a rule for those athletes who transfer multiple times. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The ruling, part of a lawsuit by a coalition of seven states, said athletes who previously were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can compete in games for 14 days.The NCAA then circulated a document to its member schools clarifying that the redshirt rule for athletes would still apply if the court’s decision is reversed: Basketball players who compete during the two-week window would be using up a season of eligibility. Now, the two sides apparently...

Video released of man wanted for allegedly setting Mississauga restaurant on fire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

Peel Regional Police have shared a video of a man wanted for arson after he allegedly set fire to a restaurant in Mississauga.Investigators said just after 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 28, the male suspect attended a restaurant in the area of Drew Road and Bramalea Road.Video shows the man breaking into and setting fire to the restaurant. The suspect then entered a dark-coloured sedan driven by a second suspect and fled the area. No injuries were reported.The man in the video was last seen wearing a baseball hat, dark-coloured clothing and a handkerchief over his face. There is no description of the second suspect.

UN peacekeeping chief welcomes strong support for its far-flung operations despite `headwinds’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations peacekeeping chief says he was very satisfied with the strong support of many countries for its far-flung operations at a recent ministerial meeting, despite “headwinds and challenges and problems.”Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the undersecretary-general for peace operations, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the bi-annual ministerial meeting in Ghana’ s capital, Accra, earlier this month was attended by nearly 100 countries.He said 33 countries made pledges of 117 military and police units for the U.N.’s peacekeeping operations – and 45 countries made over 100 pledges related to training peacekeepers and partnerships.“We had really a strong level of support towards peacekeeping, which is great … and the pledges were very good,” Lacroix said.The number of U.N. peacekeepers and staff has fallen from over 100,000 worldwide to 70,000 as missions have ended, some more successfully than others. There are now 12 peacekeeping operations in ...

Dad who said ‘If I can’t have them neither can you’ pleads guilty to killing 3 kids

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago man who told his estranged wife “If I can’t have them neither can you” pleaded guilty but mentally ill Friday to three counts of first-degree murder for killing their three young children, a prosecutor said.Jason Karels, 36, of Round Lake Beach will be sentenced to life in the Illinois Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.Karels admitted to killing by drowning 5-year-old Bryant Karels, 3-year-old Cassidy Karels and 2-year-old Gideon Karels on June 13, 2022.Officers sent to his home to check on the welfare of the children found a note for his estranged wife saying, “If I can’t have them neither can you,” prosecutors have said.“This case has devasted the Round Lake Beach community and beyond,” Rinehart said in a news release. “We hope that today’s resolution provides some measure of closure, and we will continue to provide support to the family.” Several members...

Travis Scott performance at United Center postponed hours before show

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

CHICAGO — A concert taking place at United Center on Friday has been postponed only hours before it was set to begin.Gates were set to open at 6:30 p.m. for Travis Scott's show that was set to begin at 8 p.m., but only hours before showtime, the venue announced that Friday's show would be postponed to a later date.  Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The announcement came in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and venue officials said all previously purchased tickets will be honored for the show's new date, once it is announced.Officials did not provide details on the date for the rescheduled show and said more information would be shared as it becomes available. Currently, it is unclear why Friday's show was postponed. Man in custody after chase ends in crash in Waukegan United Center will host Scott on January 22, during the second leg of his tour.Scott is currently on his Circus Maximus Tour, his first tour since the deadly crowd surge that happene...

APD releases police footage following south Austin shooting involving officer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, the Austin Police Department released body-worn camera footage from officers involved in a shooting that occurred Dec. 2 in south Austin. Per APD policy, the video related to this incident was required to be released within 10 business days. APD said two department officers were under investigation after shooting a man allegedly suffering a mental health crisis. A detective and officer involved in the incident were identified as Detective Manuel Delgado-Eberhardt and Officer Robert Mattingly.Mattingly, who shot his department-approved firearm, has been with APD for five years and 11 months. Delgado-Eberhardt, who also shot his department-approved firearm, has 11 years and nine months of service with the department, according to APD.APD released body camera video from two officers and 911 audio on its YouTube FridayAPD said both the detective and officer were placed on administrative leave.  PAST COVERAGE: APD officers under investigation after shooting m...

For first time ever, 'exceptional drought' declared by Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The leaders managing the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District took the unprecedented step Thursday night of moving to a Stage 4 Exceptional Drought declaration, meaning tougher water-saving measures are coming for well operators. The district's board of directors voted for the first time in the organization's history to take this step, even though they predicted it may eventually come to this. According to a news release from the district Friday, crossing into Stage 4 drought status means significant pumping restrictions and permanent reclassification for certain District permittees starting Jan. 1, 2024.  FORECAST: Wet weather Friday followed by beautiful weekend This happened as a result of levels dropping at the Lovelady monitor well, which is one of the two drought trigger determinants. "This decline is representative of the alarmingly low water levels of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer, which serves as a drinking water so...

This updated ‘Peter Pan’ will still delight Ordway Music Theater audiences

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

Can “Peter Pan” be saved?Of course, the “boy who wouldn’t grow up” from J.M. Barrie’s 1904 play will inevitably triumph, but could the story itself fade from view, a victim of outdated stereotypes about women and indigenous people? Could the 1954 musical — and a TV version that was once the most watched program in history — become forgotten artifacts of a bygone era?Not if the new adaptation that premiered Thursday night at the Ordway Music Theater has a say. The musical has been updated by South Dakota-raised playwright Larissa FastHorse, a Lakota woman who seems clear-eyed about Barrie’s blind spots. She’s helped fashion a tremendously enjoyable musical comedy that sparkles like fairy dust in its high-energy debut.After nine days of smoothing out the kinks during previews, NETworks Presentations’ production looks more than ready for its 19-city, nine-month North American tour. And it’s to local audiences’ advantage that it’s being presented alongside the winter wonderl...

Vikings at Bengals picks: Jake Browning get the nod in battle of backup QBs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:08 GMT

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff forecast the Vikings’ game against the Bengals on Saturday in Cincinnati:DANE MIZUTANIVikings 24, Bengals 21Nick Mullens has experience in the offense, so the Vikings should be able to move the ball. On the flip side, defensive coordinator Brian Flores is going to make Jake Browning’s life a living hell, like he’s done for everybody else the Vikings have played the past couple of months.JOHN SHIPLEYBengals 19, Vikings 17Wait, the Vikings just shut out a team that, on Thursday night, scored 63 points? It makes one pause for thought. Still, Bengals.CHARLEY WALTERSBengals 21, Vikings 17Vikings backup QB Nick Mullins is game, but Bengals backup QB Jake Browning, the former Vikings reserve, is playing well. Plus, the game’s in Cincinnati.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | Vikings at Bengals: What to know ahead of Week 15 matchup Minnesota Vikings | ‘I know how good I am’: Vikings undrafted...