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FBI report: Violent crime decreases to pre-pandemic levels, but property crime is on the rise

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Violent crime across the U.S. decreased last year — dropping to about the same level as before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic — but property crimes rose substantially, according to data in the FBI’s annual crime report released Monday.The report comes with an asterisk: Some law enforcement agencies failed to provide data. But a change in collection methods in compiling 2022 numbers helped, and the FBI said the new data represents 83.3% of all agencies covering 93.5% of the population. By contrast, last year’s numbers were from only 62.7% of agencies, representing 64.8% of Americans.Violent crime dropped 1.7%, and that included a 6.1% decrease in murder and non-negligent manslaughter. Rape decreased 5.4% and aggravated assault dropped 1.1%, but robbery increased 1.3%. Violent crime had also decreased slightly in 2021, a big turnaround from 2020, when the murder rate in the U.S. jumped 29% during the pandemic that created huge social disruption and upe...

Olympic committee president Thomas Bach says term limits at the IOC ‘are necessary’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

One day after some Olympic officials urged him to scrap term limits and stay for four more years, IOC president Thomas Bach said Monday they “are necessary.” The German lawyer also took a public swipe at potential successor Sebastian Coe because some colleagues think he is campaigning too early.The proposal on Sunday to remain as president, which Bach declined to dismiss, heaped negative headlines on the International Olympic Committee. It made the Olympic body seem ready to override a key anti-corruption reform passed following the Salt Lake City bid scandal 25 years ago.Bach, whose 12-year presidential term ends in 2025, also said Monday his supporters were opposed to any campaigning by one potential candidate — Coe, the president of track body World Athletics and a two-time Olympic champion runner.“A number of these colleagues think and feel that an election campaign so early before the election would be disrupting the preparations for the Olympic Games Paris, which are so import...

S&P/TSX composite up nearly 200 points, U.S. stock markets also higher

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

TORONTO — Strength in the base metal and technology stocks helped lead a broad-based rally as Canada’s main stock index rose nearly 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 180.22 points at 19,643.08.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 392.41 points at 34,062.70. The S&P 500 index was up 48.95 points at 4,376.73, while the Nasdaq composite was up 147.25 points at 13,554.48.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.40 cents US compared with 73.20 cents US on Friday.The November crude contract was down 64 cents at US$87.05 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down 16 cents at US$3.08 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$8.50 at US$1,933 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$3.58 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Women’s voices being heard at Vatican’s big meeting on church’s future, nun says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

ROME (AP) — A prominent Irish nun said Monday that women’s voices are being heard at Pope Francis’ big meeting on the future of the Catholic Church, and said delegates are also acknowledging the hurt caused by the church’s position on homosexuality.Sister Patricia Murray, executive secretary of the main umbrella group of women’s religious orders, provided an update on the status of discussions halfway through the Vatican’s nearly month-long synod, or meeting.Francis called the gathering to press his vision for a church that is more inclusive and welcoming, where ordinary Catholics have a greater say in decision making than the all-male priestly hierarchy. A central theme has been the role of women in church governance, but other hot button issues are also on the agenda, including acceptance for LGBTQ+ Catholics and priestly celibacy.Murray is one of the 54 women granted the right to vote for the first time at a synod. She was also elected to the commission that will draft the synthe...

EU leaders will meet to deal with the fallout in Europe from the Israel-Hamas war

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders will hold an emergency summit on Tuesday as concern mounts that the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas could fuel inter-communal tensions in Europe and bring more refugees in search of sanctuary.The leaders will also attempt to restore some order after a series of social media messages, statements and visits by EU officials sowed confusion about the 27-nation bloc’s intentions after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, triggering a new war in Gaza.More than 4,000 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza since Hamas launched its bloody rampage and almost 200 Israelis, including children, were taken hostage. Rallies in support of both sides have been held around Europe. Some have been banned.“The conflict could have major security consequences for our societies,” EU Council President Charles Michel said on Monday as he announced the video summit. The meeting will also focus on getting aid to civilians and working w...

Montreal mayor joins mayors of New York, Paris on UN sustainability advisory group

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has joined a new United Nations group to help local and regional governments implement the organization’s sustainable development plan.The Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments consists of 20 elected officials from five continents.Members include the mayors of New York City, London and Paris.The UN says the group will find ways to improve collaboration between cities, regions, national governments and international organizations, and make recommendations ahead of a 2024 summit.Plante says in a news release that her participation will allow Montreal to learn from other cities on how to minimize the impacts of climate change.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told the group that the UN wants to hear the perspectives of local and regional authorities about how to make multi-country organizations more effective. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2023. The Canadian Press

MUST-WATCH: Living the upper-class life with Frasier Crane

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

A reboot of one of the most famous sitcoms of all time has entered the MUST-WATCH Top 10! But will it rise to the top spot, or could it go to a legal drama starring two Oscar-winning actors? Perhaps a new miniseries from the modern master of horror? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!Lessons in ChemistryWhere to watch: Apple TV+Let’s start this week off with some historical fiction!Lessons in Chemistry is a new miniseries based on the book of the same name by Bonnie Garmus. It stars Brie Larson (from Room and Captain Marvel) as a lab tech working in the 1960s. She’s fired from her job and not sure how to proceed with her life, but that all changes when she’s given a opportunity to host a cooking show on television. She uses this opportunity to educate her viewers about cuisine, chemistry, and how women exist in the world. This show also stars Lewis Pullman (from Top Gun: Maverick), Aja Naomi King (from How to Get Away with Murder) and Stephanie Koenig (f...

1 dead after being hit by dump truck in midtown Toronto

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Toronto police say a pedestrian died after being hit by a dump truck on Monday.Authorities were called to the Davisville Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road area just after 10:30 a.m. for reports of someone being struck by a vehicle.The pedestrian was reportedly riding a mobility scooter when they were hit by a dump truck. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. An age and gender were not immediately provided, but Toronto Paramedics said the pedestrian was an elderly person.The intersection will be closed for the investigation.COLLISION:Davisville Av + Mount Pleasant10:41 a.m.– Dump truck struck a person– Reports the person was on a mobility scooter– Police are on scene with @TorontoMedics– They have life-threatening injuries– Intersection is closed for investigation @TTCnotices#GO2403703^lb— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) October 16, 2023

What happens to your body when you sneeze?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

(WHTM) – Everyone has experienced a sneeze — whether it's from allergies, an illness or just a random one that seemed to appear out of nowhere. But have you ever wondered what happens to your body during that split-second sneeze? A sneeze, by definition, is a sudden, forceful, uncontrolled burst of air through the nose and mouth. According to the Library of Congress, a sneeze begins with a sensation similar to a tickle inside the nerve endings of your nose. These nerve endings send a signal to your brain to tell it that it needs to get rid of something that is irritating the lining of the nose. The summer COVID surge is finally waning. Is a winter wave coming soon? After the signal is sent, you end up taking a deep breath and holding it, while the pressure inside your lungs builds. You then close your eyes, your tongue presses against the roof of your mouth and you let a huge breath out of both your mouth and your nose. All of the above happens within a split second. The speed of...

Temps to reach upper 60s mid-week. A look at the season's average first freeze

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Here's a look at when our region sees its first freeze (32º or lower) compared to other parts of the country.  This week is when we see the first freeze on Average at O'Hare - official date Oct. 19For the outlying counties, (north, west or south/southeast) the average freeze is somewhere between Oct. 11-20. Notice in the map below, the city's heat island and lakeside locations which helps keep that first average freeze at bay until October 27-November 5.So far this year, the lowest we've dropped to at O'Hare is 42º on both Oct. 10 and Oct. 11.  There's nothing in the 7-day forecast that signals a drop to freezing at O'Hare either.The record for Chicago's earliest autumn freeze is Sept. 22, 1995 (32º) and the record latest fall freeze is Nov. 24, 1931 (30º). Last year our first freeze occurred on Nov. 11, 2022  (32º)Those leaf bags will get a lot heavier after the leaves soak up the moisture. This may encourage people to rake their leaves when they are dry, even if that mea...