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Wage increases secured by striking workers shouldn’t be seen as ‘fat cat’: experts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

TORONTO — Labour experts say the wage increases the country’s largest federal public-sector union secured Monday are far from the hefty gains some might perceive them to be.  The experts say the 12.6 per cent wage increase over four years brings the salaries of 120,000 striking workers represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada more in line with the annual inflation rate, which peaked at 8.1 per cent in June last year before sliding to 4.3 per cent in March this year. The union has said inflation has pushed the cost of living up by 11 per cent since 2021, the year its collective agreement expired.The deal offers as little as a 1.5 per cent increase in one year and as much as 4.75 per cent in another, but Jim Stanford, an economist and director at the Centre for Future Work, argues it shouldn’t be seen as “fat cat” because average wages are growing at more than five per cent a year in Canada.“This cannot be described as a gold-plated public sec...

Bill would allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in Wisconsin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Fourteen-year-olds in Wisconsin could serve alcohol to seated customers in bars and restaurants under a bill circulated for cosponsors Monday by a pair of Republican state lawmakers.Under current law, only workers age 18 and above can serve alcohol to customers in Wisconsin. The bill would broaden that to workers ages 14 to 17. They could only serve to seated customers, not drinkers who are at the bar itself.The current age limit on serving alcohol “causes workforce issues due to an establishment’s underage employees only being able to do part of their job,” the bill sponsors Sen. Rob Stafsholt, of New Richmond, and Rep. Chanz Green, of Grandview, said in a memo circulated Monday seeking cosponsors. They said their idea “creates a simple solution” to the state’s workforce shortage problems in the food and beverage industry. The bill requires the licensed operator of the bar or restaurant be on the premises and supervising.Although no one under the age of 2...

Mississippi River crests at Davenport, testing barriers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — After rising for days, the Mississippi River crested at Davenport, Iowa, midday Monday, peaking slightly lower than forecast but still high enough to test the city’s flood defenses and to keep officials on guard.The rising river in southeast Iowa and northwest Illinois was caused by a surge of water from melting snowfall to the north. The peak levels this spring will likely rank in the top ten of all time in many places, but the National Weather Service still said river levels will generally remain well below past records. That should help most towns along the river withstand the floodwaters, though officials will be checking their floodwalls and sandbag barriers closely in the next few days.National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Wilson said the river crested at Davenport on Monday at 21.4 feet (6.52 meters). That’s slightly lower than the 21.6 feet (6.6 meters) predicted for the Quad-Cities area, where several neighboring cities sit along the...

Alberta election campaign kicks off with voting day set for May 29

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

CALGARY — The writ for the Alberta election has dropped, with voters heading to the polls on May 29 in what could be a squeaker of a result. United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith and New Democrat Leader Rachel Notley both kicked off their campaigns Monday in Calgary. Calgary is expected to be a key battleground in the race, given polls suggest Notley’s NDP could retain its dominance in Edmonton while Smith’s UCP could keep control in rural areas and smaller centres.Both parties have been unofficially campaigning for weeks, with both leaders appearing at rallies over the weekend and the NDP releasing a campaign song.Smith launched her party’s campaign by promising a UCP government would create an eight per cent new tax bracket for people who make less than $60,000 per year.Smith said this new tax bracket would save $760 per year for Albertans earning more than $60,000 per year. She said Albertans earning less than $60,000 would see a 20 per cent reduction to their provincia...

Edmunds picks the top convertibles on the road in 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

The arrival of warmer weather across the U.S. will soon have a number of shoppers considering a wind-in-the-hair convertible. That’s because, for many people, having limitless headroom and a mobile means of sunbathing is automobile nirvana — though perhaps not for drivers who prefer loose-fitting hats.There’s no shortage of makes and models available with a folding roof, and at prices on some models that won’t necessarily jeopardize a summer vacation fund. The automotive experts at Edmunds have helped refine these sun-loving car searches by choosing five of their top convertibles for 2023 based on their own testing and evaluations. The vehicles are listed in ascending order of price and include the destination fee. 2023 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA The Mazda MX-5 Miata is all about balance. While the Miata’s not the fastest small sports car by any stretch of the imagination, its affordable price and fun-to-drive nature make it one of Edmunds’ favorite convertibles. With sharp steering reflexes ...

Dust cloud causes crashes, closes I-55 for 28 miles

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) - Illinois State Police have reported that all southbound and northbound lanes on Interstate 55 are closed due to multiple crashes with injuries south of Springfield.Police said that Troopers from Troop 6 and 8 responded to multiple crashes on I-55 near milepost 78 just after 11:00 a.m. ISP is reporting blackout conditions due to wind blowing dirt in the area. Officials said that I-55 is currently shut down in both directions from milepost 63 near Farmersville, to milepost 80 near Divernon. Traffic is being diverted onto the frontage road.  According to a Facebook post from Springfield Fire Fighters Local 37, hazmat workers have been dispatched to the scene. They say more than 20 cars are involved in the crash. One dead after US Rte. 150 crash near St. Joseph: Police, Champaign Co. Coroner Drivers are urged to take an alternative route.  To reunify family members involved in the crash, Divernon City Hall is being...

Why are geese so aggressive and mean?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

(WHTM) -- Spring means you may be encountering more animals out and about as they shake off the winter cold. But not all of those animal encounters are friendly. One animal, in particular, has garnered a bad reputation, mostly because of how aggressive they are: geese.Geese have a reputation for attacking or chasing anyone that crosses their path. According to Varment Guard Wildlife Services, this is because geese are extremely territorial. They like to be in their own space and do not want to share it with anyone else. They are also protecting their young and their eggs. Geese build their nests on the ground, where plenty of threats can come after the geese or their offspring. They tend to hiss and scream if someone or something invades their space. Video shows mountain lion standing over dog it dragged from house During the breeding season, while the female goose is sitting and incubating her eggs, the male goose (also called a gander) is not too far away - keeping an eye on h...

Barbie launches Anna May Wong doll for AAPI Heritage Month

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

Six months after she was immortalized with a U.S. quarter, Asian American Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong has received another accolade affirming her icon status — her own Barbie.Mattel announced Monday the release of an Anna May Wong doll for Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.This image released by Mattel shows a Barbie doll in the image of Asian American Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong, part of their Inspiring Women Series. The doll is dressed in a frock inspired by Wong's appearance in the 1934 movie “Limehouse Blues,” a red gown with a shiny golden dragon design and cape. ( Jason Tidwell/Mattel via AP)This image released by Mattel shows a Barbie doll in the image of Asian American Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong, part of their Inspiring Women Series. The doll is dressed in a frock inspired by Wong's appearance in the 1934 movie “Limehouse Blues,” a red gown with a shiny golden dragon design and cape. (Marci Manklow/Mattel via...

Staying dry for a few days

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The beautiful weather weekend Central Texas had continues to start May. The upper-level flow coming from the west will lead to an increase in fair-weather clouds during the afternoon.This morning was comfortable with most lows in the middle to upper 50s. Camp Mabry's low was 58°, five degrees shy of normal.The increase in clouds we'll see today will keep temperatures a little lower than Sunday with most highs in the middle 80s. A seasonably mild afternoonTuesday morning will be cloudy with areas of fog mainly east of the interstate. Clouds will slowly clear in the afternoon. Wednesday will see a mostly partly cloudy sky.Weather disturbances in the southwest wind aloft will lead to an increase in showers and thunderstorms beginning Thursday and continuing off and on into the weekend. The forecast is hinting at the potential for strong and severe storms Thursday afternoon/evening. Rain chances remain low in the Friday to Sunday forecasts with afternoon highs peaking i...

Dripping Springs ISD launches temporary transfer program amid campus growth surge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) -- With surging growth happening at three of its campuses, Dripping Springs ISD officials announced late last week it would launch a temporary transfer program. The initiative will allow a select number of students to transfer from those campuses during the 2023-24 school year.Dripping Springs Elementary, Walnut Springs Elementary and Sycamore Springs Middle School have each seen substantial student population booms in recent years. As a result, all three campuses have exceeded their functional capacity, DSISD officials said in a release. TRENDING NOW: ‘Monster’ striped bass caught in Lady Bird Lake Beginning Monday morning, DSISD has launched an application period where a limited number of students from those three schools can opt to spend next school year at a different campus. The application opened at 8 a.m. Monday and closes on May 26 at 5 p.m.Parents and families can request a transfer from Dripping Springs Elementary, Walnut Springs Elementary...