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First Quantum says Panama hasn’t provided legal basis for mine closure plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

TORONTO — First Quantum Minerals Ltd. says the Panama government hasn’t provided a legal basis for pursuing a closure plan for its Cobre Panama copper mine. The company says that earlier this week, the government announced it’s pursuing a plan to close the mine that it intends to present in June.But First Quantum says its subsidiary Minera Panama S.A. has been unable to formally engage with the Panama government “to clarify the legal situation and associated environmental obligations.” The company suspended operations at the mine in late November after Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that a 20-year concession agreement covering the copper mine was unconstitutional.The agreement has raised both nationalist and environmental concerns, prompting widespread protests. First Quantum says it’s crucial that steps are taken to ensure the mine is maintained safely, and the company will “pursue all appropriate legal avenues to protect its investment and r...

Utah man is charged with killing 2-year-old boy, and badly injuring his twin sister

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

ROY, Utah (AP) — A Utah man who served two years in prison breaking a child’s arm seven years ago was charged Friday with killing a 2-year-old boy and badly injuring his twin sister, Weber County prosecutors said.Jonathan Allen Dunn of Roy is charged with aggravated murder, aggravated child abuse and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. The aggravated murder charge carries the possibility of the death penalty, court records said.Dunn, who told officers he had been babysitting the children, called 911 on Thursday morning to report the boy was not breathing, an affidavit supporting the charges said. After his arrest, Dunn, 36, acknowledged punching the children in the back, sides and chest on Wednesday night and said that “he was hitting them harder than he should have,” court records said.He also reported pinching the children and pushing them into a door frame, court records said. He said he gave them both Tylenol, gave the boy cough medicine and the girl some chi...

The head of Arkansas’ Board of Corrections says he’s staying despite governor’s call for resignation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday called for the head of the Board of Corrections to immediately resign in the latest round of a dispute over who runs the state’s prison system.Sanders’ letter came after Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness requested Wednesday that 138 National Guard members be deployed to work full time in the state’s prisons to “help fill in staffing gaps.”Magness intends to finish his term, which ends in two years, Corrections Department spokesperson Dina Tyler said in an email Friday to The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Magness was appointed to the board in 1999 by Sanders’ father, then-Gov. Mike Huckabee.The dispute stems from the Sanders administration moving forward with opening 622 temporary prison beds that the board has not approved. Board members have said opening the temporary beds would jeopardize the safety of inmates and staff.Arkansas’ prisons are currently above capacity, with more than 1,600 additiona...

Canadian death toll in cantaloupe salmonella outbreak rises to seven

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

OTTAWA — The Public Health Agency of Canada is reporting another death from a salmonella outbreak involving cantaloupes, bringing the total to seven. The agency says there have been 164 lab-confirmed cases of salmonella in eight provinces linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes so far.Quebec has been hardest hit with 111 of those cases. There have also been illnesses in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. The majority of people who became sick are children aged five and younger and adults aged 65 and older. The agency says 61 people have been hospitalized.  It says if people have fresh or frozen cantaloupe at home and they are unsure what brand the fruit is, they should throw it out and wash their hands.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency first issued recall warnings on Nov. 1. The affected Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes were sold between Oct. 10 and Nov. 24.&...

Housing crisis brings high and low point to Chow’s first six months as mayor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

In the first six months of her time as mayor, Olivia Chow said the housing crisis has led to both her highest and lowest point since getting elected. She’s hoping there will be more highs in 2024. Chow’s highlight was opening the building purchased through the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Fund.“Seeing the joy of the tenants, feeling so proud of her space. Now she’s going to be secure in that space because it’s now our land trust, meaning that she will have complete control. She wouldn’t have to get evicted, which she was facing for several years,” explained Chow.But her low point was visiting a church that had a wall of refugees sleeping on mattresses on the floor plus the fact they have not been able to help them completely. “You deserve better, more respect, more dignity than just sleeping in a church basement on a mattress,” she said. “It’s sad. It’s disappointing. I’m not giving up, though. I kee...

Bidens make traditional pre-Christmas visit to children’s hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden joined his wife, first lady Jill Biden, on Friday for a Christmas season visit to Children’s National Hospital to meet young patients and their families. The first lady read the children “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” as the president waved and flashed smiles at the children and their family members. President Biden also thanked the hospital staff for their work and encouraged the children and their parents to “keep the faith.”“Next Christmas when I see you, maybe I’ll see you at the White House,” Biden told the children.The visit continued an 81-year annual tradition, that dates back to first lady Bess Truman, of presidents’ wives bringing holiday cheer to children who are too ill to be at home on Christmas. President Biden has joined his wife at Children’s National during her holiday visit each of the last three years.The Bidens on Saturday are scheduled to travel to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Md...

Man killed in shooting outside Wheaton pub after apparent argument, witnesses say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

WHEATON, Ill. — An apparent argument at a popular pub in unincorporated Wheaton on Friday morning ended in a shooting that left one man dead.The DuPage County Sheriff's Office says it responded to a shooting at Rosie O Reilly's Pub, 0N131 Gary Ave., just before 8:45 a.m. on Friday. Witnesses described what seemed like an argument happening inside the pub, which eventually resulted in a fatality.Authorities have not yet confirmed the homicide or released the victim's identity, but Rosie O Reilly's owner John Dwyer confirmed to WGN that a man died in the incident. SkyCam 9 also captured images of the aftermath, including spent shell casings scattered across the pavement and deck behind Rosie O Reilly's.The victim was evidently well-known to the owners and patrons of the pub. Described as a friendly guy, WGN was told he leaves behind two children, with another on the way.Dwyer struggled to understand how such a tragedy could unfold so suddenly."This could happen anywhere, anytime, for...

Architecture & Design Film Festival returns to Chicago in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

CHICAGO — A festival showcasing films about architecture and design from around the world is making a return to Chicago in 2024. The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) announced Thursday that it will host the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) for the second year in a row. Naperville man sentenced to 10 years for attempted murder of wife “We are honored to bring the Architecture & Design Film Festival to the CAC once again,” CEO and President of the Chicago Architecture Center Eleanor Gorski said. “This year’s cinematic celebration not only showcases the diverse narratives of architecture and design but also serves as a reflection of Chicago's rich architectural history, including our importance to the Modernist movement.”The festival will feature 20 films curated for the Chicago market, spanning a variety of architecture and design topics, as well as programming featuring conversations with filmmakers and major players in the city's architecture scene.“As...

Dense fog, periods of rain this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another round of widespread, dense fog may disrupt some travel plans early Saturday. Fog clears by noon, but rain and storms increase Saturday evening through Sunday morning.Like Friday morning, widespread fog may lead to a Dense Fog Advisory early Saturday with visibility dropping below 1/2 mile in some areas. Be cautious if you're hitting the road for the holidays before noon.Dense fog will lower visibility Saturday morningFog breaks up midday, but clouds and damp weather continue. As the much-advertised western storm system causing the recent wet weather finally moves into our area, rain and thunderstorms increase locally Saturday evening through Sunday morning.There is a very low chance of a strong to severe storm early Sunday morning, though Central Texas is not currently included in an official severe weather threat. Stay tuned for updates.Many communities may tally another 1"-1.25" of rain from now through midday Sunday when rain clears.Colder, breezy weather...

Nashville Zoo animals dig into holiday gift boxes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:58 GMT

Video credit: Nashville Zoo via StoryfulNASHVILLE (Storyful) — Animals at the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee enjoyed holiday-themed enrichment time on Thursday, Dec. 21.This footage shows clouded leopard cubs, meerkats and siamangs (gibbons) playing with boxes wrapped in Christmas paper.Zookeepers provide animals with different kinds of enrichment every day, which “is designed to play into their natural instincts and provide the animals with a creative outlet for physical activity and mental exercise,” according to Nashville Zoo officials.