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‘We’re just hanging on:’ Rocky start to summer patio season puts restaurants on edge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

HALIFAX — Restaurants in Canada are being slammed with a daunting mix of soaring costs, staffing issues and capacity problems, making a slow start to the critical summer patio season a near crisis for some eateries across the country, industry experts say. They say restaurants are struggling with the ballooning price of food, rent, utilities, labour and insurance, with many of the higher costs being absorbed for fear of losing customers if menu prices rise too quickly.Now a rocky start to summer across much of Canada — from cool weather in parts of Eastern Canada to wildfires out west — has eaten into a vital season for restaurants. “You’ve got to be busy in the summer,” said Bill Pratt, a veteran chef and CEO of Dartmouth, N.S.-based Chef Inspired Group of Restaurants. “When the sun shines, you better be making hay.”Restaurant-goers see busy patios or lineups outside eateries and “assume we must be making oodles of money,” Pratt said. ̶...

PEN America, Penguin Random House sue Florida school district over book bans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Writers’ group PEN America and publisher Penguin Random House sued a Florida school district Wednesday over its removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities, the latest opposition to a policy central to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda as he prepares to run for president.The federal lawsuit alleges the Escambia County School District and its School Board are violating the First Amendment through the removal of 10 books from library shelves.The case does not name DeSantis as a defendant though the Republican governor has championed policies that allow the censorship and challenging of books based on whether they are appropriate for children in schools, causing national uproar.DeSantis, who is expected to announce his presidential candidacy in the coming days, has leaned heavily into cultural divides on race, sexual orientation and gender as he moves to win support from conservative voters who decide Republican primary elections.“Books have the capacity to...

Buffalo Grove High School students killed in multi-vehicle crash in Wheeling

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

WHEELING, Ill. — Four students at Buffalo Grove High School were killed in a three-vehicle crash in Wheeling.Three of the victims have been identified, they are: 16-year-old Jesus Rodriguez, 17-year-old Kevin R. Hernandez-Teran and 18-year-old Richards De-lta. The teens were from Wheeling, according to authorities. High School District 214 has confirmed the teens were students at Buffalo Grove High School. According to police, the crash happened around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Dundee and Schoenbeck roads.One student remains hospitalized, according to the school district.Police said speed and a disregard for traffic signals seem to be the primary factors of the crash. Police investigate after reported shooting on I-290; all lanes closed at Central The school district released the following statement:Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these students during this time of tragedy. We also offer condolences to all Buffalo Grove students, famil...

Biden declares 'America will not default,' says he's confident of budget deal with GOP lawmakers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An optimistic President Joe Biden declared Wednesday that he is confident the U.S. will avoid an unprecedented and potentially catastrophic debt default, saying talks with congressional Republicans have been productive as he prepared to leave for a global summit in Japan. Biden's upbeat remarks came as a select group of negotiators began meeting to try and hammer out the final contours of a budget spending agreement to unlock a path forward for raising the debt limit by June 1. That is when the Treasury Department says the U.S. could begin defaulting on its obligations and trigger financial chaos. “I’m confident that we’ll get the agreement on the budget and America will not default,” the president said from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. He said a meeting late Tuesday with Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other congressional leaders was “productive” and that “everyone came to the meeting, I think, in good faith.” Bi...

Ohio high school senior wins state team track title all by herself

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

MARENGO, Ohio (WCMH) -- "I have seven pairs of shoes in my track bag,” said Ohio high school athlete Juliette Laracuente-Huebner.Counting them off on her fingers, she said, “So I have two flats, high jump spikes, long jump spikes, triple jump spikes, and then practice sprint spikes and then competition sprint spikes."It may not be your normal kind of shoe collection, but it helped the Highland High School senior secure a state indoor track and field championship -- by herself."It was crazy being like, going up against teams that have 15 girls there and I was the only one who was representing Highland, and it was like, ‘Oh well, I just beat them out all by myself,’” she said with a shrug.In March, at the Ohio Indoor State Championships held by the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches, Laracuente-Huebner won four individual titles, which ended up giving her enough points to single-handedly win the Division 2/3 team state title."Oh, I was so excited, but I tried to keep ...

Sunken 55-gallon drum comes up empty in search for missing Oklahoma woman

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

GROVE, Okla. (KSNF) – Authorities thought the disintegrating and rusted-out remains of a 55-gallon drum found at the bottom of a northeast Oklahoma lake last month might hold clues to the disappearance of a woman missing since 1998. But after an examination of the barrel and the area surrounding it, Delaware County Sheriff James Beck confirmed they have not discovered any remains or artifacts that indicate a crime.Peggy A. Sweeten was last seen on Jan. 13, 1998. The 52-year-old former special education teacher and grandmother disappeared from her Grand Lake residence without a trace, leaving her car, clothing, photos and personal mementos behind.  Peggy's husband, James "Jim" Sweeten, is considered a “person of interest” in her disappearance and presumed death, according to Delaware County authorities. Illinois girl abducted at 9 found safe 6 years later in North Carolina; mom charged In April, state and local authorities located a 55-gallon drum in a cove near Sweeten’s form...

WATCH: Distressed dolphin calf rescued by off-duty deputy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A newborn dolphin was given a second chance at life thanks to the quick thinking of an off-duty deputy in Florida.The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s said the mission of its Maritime Operations Unit "is to make sure all are safe on the water. On May 10, MarOps corporals were called to assist a different resident: A dolphin calf."Officials said an off-duty deputy was fishing off the coast of Hudson, Florida, when he discovered the hours-old dolphin alone and in distress. The deputy called PSO’s MarOps unit, which rushed the dolphin 30 minutes south to meet with members of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Pause on student loan payments about to end for millions The young dolphin was ultimately transferred to SeaWorld Rescue, which said the male dolphin was in critical condition. Since its rescue, the dolphin has been showing signs of improvement and swimming on his own."We’re proud of the swift actions of our deputies, both on and off duty," the sheriff's ...

City of Austin audit reveals Animal Services employee misused family medical leave

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin revealed Monday that an employee of the Animal Services Office misused family medical leave. According to a report, the employee applied for a job with a Texas county in late 2021 and started working for that county in December.At the same time, the employee went on family medical leave, or FMLA, from the Austin Animal Services Office. The leave ran through February 2022. There were 13 city work days in which the employee worked for the county while taking leave, according to the report. The employee was paid about $2,315 for those days. The city's FMLA procedure prohibits working another job while taking sick leave from the city. Additionally, according to the report, the employee did not disclose their secondary job with the county to Animal Services when they started the secondary employment, which was required under city policy. The city said the employee has since resigned from their position.

Former UMN men’s gymnasts place fourth nationally

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

Minnesota GymACT, a team comprising former University of Minnesota men’s gymnasts, finished fourth at the GymACT nationals last Saturday in Oklahoma City. The competition included athletes from schools that have dropped their programs.Minnesota’s Kellen Ryan finished fourth on the vault, and Yaroslav Owens-Pochinka tied for sixth on rings to earn All-American honors at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. The team finished with 296.1 points to finish behind champion Arizona State (320.2), Washington (305.55) and Texas Armadillos (299.05).Minnesota GymACT still operates out of Cooke Hall on the UMN Campus but outside of scholarship money owed to athletes when the program was dropped. It is now funded by donors. The team, which finished first in the GymACT team championships in March, raised about $100,000 last year.The program has applied to become part of UMN’s Campus Life Program, which would allow it to use university branding and tap into UMN Foundation Funding already earmarked ...

Free Saturday film series returning to Greene County

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:58 GMT

ATHENS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Athens Cultural Center has announced the return of its Third Saturdays Free Film Series. The screenings take place outdoors at Athens Riverfront Park. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Screenings are scheduled to begin at sunset with rain dates set for the following Sundays. Organizers recommend attendees arrive to enjoy before the pre-screening events start.LineupMay 20: "War of the Worlds" (2005), directed by Steven SpielbergThe ferry scene was filmed in Athens on Second Street. Extras from that scene will speak on their experience before the showing.June 17: "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" (1995), directed by Beeban KidronIn celebration of Pride Month, Stewart House's River Grill will be serving up Chi Chi Tini’s drink specials in honor of the night, with a portion of all drink sales donated to support the free film series. A block party will also kick off at 5 p.m. on Second...