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Toronto, Peel police experiencing ‘exponential’ increase in accidental 911 calls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

Both Toronto police and Peel police say they are experiencing a “exponential increase” in accidental 911 calls due to recent software updates on mobile phones.In Toronto, the 911 call centre received an average 6,500 calls per day in May of 2023, up from 5,200 in 2002. Of those calls, 70 per cent were 911 calls and almost 50 per cent of those were accidental.Anytime a 911 caller doesn’t respond or hangs up on an operator, the operator must make contact by calling back whether there is an emergency or not which can take up to 90 seconds. It comes at a time when 911 call volume and wait times are high.Peel police say recent software updates to the Emergency SOS feature on Android devices makes it easier to dial 911 unintentionally and users are encouraged to turn the setting off.TPS says they are working to reduce call wait times by hiring communication operators, of which it takes up to 18 months to train. They have also introduced text messaging notifications to re...

Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat to visit Iran, latest in restoring diplomatic ties after 7-year rift

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat is coming to visit Tehran, the latest step in the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two Mideast rivals, according to a statement from Iran on Friday. The statement said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, on Saturday. Prince Faisal is also expected to officially inaugurate the kingdom’s embassy in Tehran. Both nations resumed the work of their diplomatic missions in the other country in recent weeks.The Iranian foreign minister’s visit comes after a visit to Saudi Arabia by the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier in June. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions.It was a major diplomatic breakthrough negotiated by China, lowering the chance of further conflict between Riyadh and Tehran — both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.Iran has been blamed...

Cleanup under way after storms hit swath of Southern states, killing at least 5, destroying homes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

PERRYTON, Texas (AP) — Cleanup efforts continued Friday after severe storms — including some that produced tornadoes — tore across a swath of Southern states, killing at least five people as they destroyed hundreds of homes, tossed vehicles into buildings and left hundreds of thousands without electricity.In Perryton in the Texas Panhandle, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard said three people were killed when the tornado struck Thursday afternoon.Another person died Thursday night in the Florida Panhandle when at least one confirmed tornado cut through Escambia County, toppling a tree onto a home, county spokesperson Andie Gibson told the Pensacola News Journal.Also, a Mississippi man died after a tree fell on him during stormy weather early Friday. Canton Police Chief Otha Brown told WLBT-TV the man was killed after high winds toppled over a tree onto his carport as he was entering his car.In Texas, of the homes searched so far in Perryton, all but one occupant had been accoun...

German archeologists find Bronze Age sword so well-preserved it ‘almost shines’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A bronze sword made more than 3,000 years ago that is so well-preserved it “almost still shines” has been unearthed in Germany, officials say.Bavaria’s state office for the preservation of historical monuments says the sword, which is believed to date back to the end of the 14th century B.C. — the middle of the Bronze Age — was found during excavations last week in Noerdlingen, between Nuremberg and Stuttgart in southern Germany.It has a bronze octagonal hilt and comes from a grave in which three people — a man, a woman and a boy — were buried in quick succession with bronze objects, the Bavarian office said in a statement this week. It is not yet clear whether the three were related to each other and, if so, how.“The sword and the burial still need to be examined so that our archeologists can categorize this find more precisely,” said the head of the office, Mathias Pfeil. “But we can already say that the state of preservation is extraordinary. A find like this ...

UPS workers vote to authorize strike in high-stakes negotiations for a new contract

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Unionized UPS workers voted overwhelmingly on Friday to authorize a strike, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage if the package delivery company and Teamsters can’t come to an agreement before their contract expires next month.The Teamsters said 97% of unionized workers voted for the authorization.The Teamsters have urged workers to authorize a strike to give them more leverage in negotiations with the company, but a yes vote does not mean a strike is imminent. UPS agrees to add air conditioning to trucks “This vote shows that hundreds of thousands of Teamsters are united and determined to get the best contract in our history at UPS," Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a prepared statement. "If this multibillion-dollar corporation fails to deliver on the contract that our hardworking members deserve, UPS will be striking itself. The strongest leverage our members have is their labor and they are prepared to withhold it to ensure UPS acts...

Michael Jordan reaches agreement to sell majority stake in Charlotte Hornets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) — Michael Jordan has officially reached an agreement to sell his stake in the Charlotte Hornets, ending his 13-year run as the majority owner. Hornets Sports & Entertainment confirmed Friday that Jordan reached an agreement to sell his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall.Plotkin, who acquired a minority stake in the team in 2019, has been an alternate governor on the NBA Board of Governors since 2019 and is the founder and chief investment officer of Tallwoods Capital LLC. (Charlotte Hornets)+Schnall is co-president of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC, where he has worked for 27 years, and has been a significant minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks and an alternate governor on the NBA Board of Governors since 2015, the Hornets said. How much do NBA All-Star players get paid? Schnall is in the process of selling his investment in the Hawks, which is expected to be completed in the next several weeks, off...

DOJ probe after George Floyd's killing shows Minneapolis police showed 'patterns and practices' of violating rights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department accused Minneapolis police Friday of engaging in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discriminating against Black and Native American people following an investigation prompted by the killing of George Floyd.The sweeping two-year civil rights investigation found that Minneapolis officers used excessive force, including “unjustified deadly force,” and violated the rights of people engaged in constitutionally protected speech. The probe also found that both police and the city discriminated against people with “behavioral health disabilities” when officers are called for help.“We observed many MPD officers who did their difficult work with professionalism, courage and respect,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference in Minneapolis. “But the patterns and practices we observed made what happened to George Floyd possible.”The report included allegations that police for years “used dangerous techniques and weapons ...

Eligible Austin musicians to receive free health services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians kicked off its HAAM Loves You event at 10 a.m. Friday.Organizers said the event would have a variety of health care services available for artists.The money comes from HAAM’s Battle of the Bands event, which raised a record-breaking $250,000. RELATED COVERAGE: HAAM Battle of the Bands benefiting Austin musicians Artists are able to get custom-fitted earplugs, vision exams and glasses, STI testing and a lot of other health services.Last year, this pop-up event provided more than $53,000 worth of health services to HAAM members, and this year, HAAM said it was trying to surpass that number. RELATED COVERAGE: Austin businesses raise $255K for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Organizers said it's also an opportunity to sign up new members.“People that are invited to this event are HAAM members, but they're welcome to bring their musician friends that might qualify or might want to be interested in joining HAAM,” HAAM Progr...

Travis, Hays County Commissioners at odds over the SH 45 Gap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new highway project proposed by Hays County is not going over well with leaders in Travis County.Hays County and the City of Buda hosted their first open house this week on the upcoming SH 45 Gap study.KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes takes an in-depth look at the issue.Thursday night, dozens came to Sunfield Station in Buda to check out for themselves what the new SH 45 Gap project could look like.The SH 45 Gap would connect SH 45 Southeast to SH 45 Southwest, making it easier to access South Mopac from Hays County.Hays County Commissioners are moving forward on the study for the project, despite the fact that Travis County Commissioners don't want them to.Travis County Commissioner, Brigid Shea says, "They are planning to connect I-35 with South Mopac which would create South Mopac as a bypass for I-35."Shea is concerned not just about the SH 45 Gap but CTRMA's plan to add up to two toll lanes on South Mopac from Cesar Chavez to Slaughter Lane. She says CTRMA i...

Minnesota adds 7,700 jobs in May, unemployment rises to 2.9%

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:48:16 GMT

Minnesota added 7,700 new jobs in May and the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point to 2.9%, the state reported Thursday.The rise in the unemployment rate came because the state saw its labor force grow in May, with 8,700 workers entering the job market — the largest over-the-month labor force gain since June 2020, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development said in a news release.Minnesota’s labor force participation rate rose 0.1% percentage point to 68.2%. The labor force is comprised of those in the state who are working full-time or who are actively seeking work, and is used to calculate the main unemployment rate.“A growing labor force is the latest sign of strength for Minnesota’s economy,” said temporary DEED Commissioner Kevin McKinnon said in the release. “Employers constantly tell us that they need more workers to fill their open roles. Now, we’ve seen back-to-back months during which more workers are pursuing jobs around the state. This is...