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Misconduct by federal jail guards led to Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide, Justice Department watchdog says

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

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jeffrey Epstein, despite his high profile and a jail suicide attempt two weeks earlier, was left alone in his cell with a surplus of bed linens. Nearly all the surveillance cameras on his unit didn’t record. One worker was on duty for 24 hours straight.The Justice Department’s watchdog said Tuesday that negligence, misconduct and poor job performance by the federal Bureau of Prisons and workers at the New York City jail enabled Epstein to take his own life in August 2019.Inspector General Michael Horowitz, saying he found no evidence of foul play, blamed numerous factors for Epstein’s death, including the jail’s failure to assign him a cellmate and overworked guards who lied on logs after failing to make regular checks. Had the guards done so, Horowitz said, they would’ve found Epstein had excess linens, which he used in his suicide.“The combination of negligence, misconduct and outright job performance failures documented in the report all contributed to an ...

S&P/TSX composite up in late-morning trading, U.S. stock markets also higher

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

TORONTO — Strength in the industrial, financial and base metal sectors helped lift Canada’s main stock index higher in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets also rose.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 69.37 points at 19,656.69.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 121.62 points at 33,836.33. The S&P 500 index was up 21.43 points at 4,350.25, while the Nasdaq composite was up 87.76 points at 13,423.54.The Canadian dollar traded for 75.88 cents US compared with 76.04 cents US on Monday.The August crude oil contract was down 45 cents at US$68.92 per barrel and the August natural gas contract was down a penny at US$2.88 per mmBTU.The August gold contract was down US$7.60 at US$1,926.20 an ounce and the September copper contract was down a penny at US$3.80 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Here’s a look at mayor-elect Olivia Chow’s campaign promises

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

Olivia Chow has been elected as Toronto’s 66th mayor following Monday night’s byelection.The former city councillor and NDP MP captured 37 per cent of the popular vote and is set to become the first Toronto mayor who is a person of colour — and the first woman mayor since amalgamation.Her win as a progressive candidate ends more than a decade of conservative rule at city hall.Chow will have be faced with a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall, a housing affordability crisis and aging public infrastructure, among other issues. Her campaign focused on building “an affordable, safe and caring city, where everyone belongs.”Here’s a look at some of her campaign promises.HousingBuilding more affordable housing, with the city as the developer, along with helping better-protect renters from eviction quickly became key promises in Chow’s campaign.Here are more pledges she made in regards to housing:Create the Secure Affordable Homes Fund with a $100 million annual inves...

Potential for funnel clouds in Toronto, GTA; heavy rain, thunderstorms in store

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

Environment Canada has issued a weather advisory for Toronto and the GTA, saying “conditions will be favourable for the development of funnel clouds” on Tuesday.“These types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground,” the advisory states.However, the national agency says there is a chance it could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado.“Landspout tornadoes do not usually cause significant damage but can still be dangerous. They can be strong enough to topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.”The region is also a special weather statement that calls for the possibility of heavy rain.“Slow-moving showers or thunderstorms are expected today across the region and some areas may receive significant rainfall amounts,” the statement reads.Some areas could get between 30-50 millimetres of rain.There is ...

City reminds candidates, citizens to remove byelection signs by Thursday

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

A victorious Olivia Chow isn’t the only person with their work cut out for them in the aftermath of Monday night’s mayoral byelection.Fringe candidate Xiao Hua Gong also has a colossal task at hand — removing the omnipresent signs his team plastered throughout the city in a failed bid to improve his chances at the polls.Despite the prodigious efforts to boost his name recognition, Gong finished with just 0.41 per cent of the vote on Monday.Gong may not sit in the mayor’s chair, but he still has a chance to clean up Toronto, and he’ll have to do so in a hurry.The City is reminding all property owners, residents and candidates that they’re responsible for removing and disposing of all byelection signs displayed on private and public property by Thursday, June 29.“Candidates will be notified if signs are removed by the City and provided information on when and where the signs can be retrieved from,” Toronto’s website states. “...

Travis County data shows drug overdose deaths higher among people leaving jail

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

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Tuesday, Travis County leaders will present data from the 2022 Medical Examiner's report that shows more than 20% of accidental overdose deaths were people who had been in jail less than a year prior. According to the county, the data showed 89 of the 417 people who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2022 had been in jail at least once within 12 months of their death. According to staff, 24 of those people had been flagged for needing mental health treatment in the jail during their last jail stay. The county noted that means someone in our county is more than eight times more likely to die of an accidental drug overdose after being directly released from jail compared to those who had not. Staff also said overall, people with shorter stays at the jail were actually more likely to later die of an accidental overdose death. They attributed that to someone not getting available resources in the jail. "We are continuing to analyze many risk factors that are assoc...

Another MN air quality alert in effect in record-breaking season

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

An air quality alert is in effect until midnight Thursday, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.Smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec continues to hang over southern, east central, and northeast Minnesota. Counties south of St. Cloud and East of Bemidji are expected to have air quality unhealthy for sensitive groups Tuesday and Wednesday. A cold front forecasted for Wednesday afternoon should bring cleaner air from the west and improve air quality across the state by midnight on Thursday.(Courtesy of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)Today’s air quality alert is the 23rd of the season, breaking the record set in 2021, according to an MPCA Tweet on Tuesday. MPCA typically issues 2-3 alerts per season.Air quality alerts are issued when forecasted air quality conditions could be harmful for sensitive groups. MPCA recommends individuals monitor the Air Quality Index, and avoid prolonged outdoor exertion on days when air quality is poor.Related ArticlesLoca...

Man sentenced to workhouse in Ramsey County child sexual exploitation sting

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

A 44-year-old was sentenced to 90 days in the Ramsey County workhouse, with a 15-month prison sentence hanging over his head, after he was caught in a police sting aimed at people who would solicit and sexually exploit children online.In September 2021, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s predatory crimes section and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint operation targeting the solicitation of children for sex via online chat rooms.Working from a St. Paul location, an undercover agent posted a profile on the website “Plenty of Fish” using a photograph of a young-looking female. The agent did not initiate contact, but waited to see who would contact her. A man, later identified as Jeferson Roger Montenegro Gutierrez, responded with a message. The agent said she was 14.Jeferson Roger Montenegro GutierrezMontenegro Gutierrez talked explicitly about sex acts he wanted to engage in with the girl and directed her “to delete their text string after every commun...

Loons sign Teemu Pukki to be goal-scoring fix the club really needs

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

Minnesota United believes striker Teemu Pukki is the best player the club will put on the field since adding attacking midfielder Emanuel Reynoso in 2020.The Loons announced Tuesday the signing of Pukki as a full Designated Player on a two-year contract to June 2025 with club option to December 2025. The experienced 33-year-old Finland international comes on a free transfer, meaning MNUFC will not have to pay a fee to his previous club, Norwich City in England.With 176 goals in a 16-year club career, Pukki will be counted on to help a team starved for goals from the striker position. They have gone eight matches since Sang Bin Jeong scored from that spot on May 6.Luis Amarilla was cast away to Mazatlan in Mexico’s Liga MX for an approximated $800,000 transfer fee after not scoring in 742 minutes of open play this season, and Mender Garcia’s current goalless drought has reached 467 minute since March.Pukki arrives after five season with Norwich, where he played three years in t...

Some families reach settlements with Mavis in Schoharie limo crash lawsuits

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

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — According to documents provided by the Albany County Supreme Court, several families in the fatal 2018 Schoharie limo crash trial reached settlements with Mavis Discount Tire. All settlements and amounts are confidential. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to Tom Mortati of Harding and Mazzotti—who represents the victims' families—these settlements are specifically with Mavis, and other defendants are not impacted by the agreements. This comes on the heels of the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department denying Mavis' appeal to be dropped from civil lawsuits related to the crash in April. The initial civil lawsuits against Mavis allege they were at fault for allowing the limousine to be out on the road. They further allege that Mavis botched the brake repairs in 2016—and again in 2018—but still gave Prestige Limousine an inspection sticker for the limo. C...