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City council approves city-wide expansion of Community Crisis Service

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

Toronto City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the expansion of the 211 Community Crisis Service citywide.The program, referred to as Toronto’s fourth emergency service, will see mental health experts respond to calls involving people in crisis instead of the police service. According to a city report, in 2022 – the first year of the pilot program – the program received 6,827 calls for service and 78 per cent of calls transferred from 911 were “successfully resolved” without police intervention.“We need a different response to people in mental health crisis and an appropriate response that is more caring,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “By having 211 available city-wide police would be able to focus on the cause they need to respond to and hopefully they can respond faster.”The program was introduced after several incidents involving police resulted in the death of those who might have otherwise been helped through a mental heal...

Aurora Cannabis revenues rise in Q2, led by strength in medical cannabis sales

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

EDMONTON — Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it earned $256,000 in the second quarter, up from a loss a year earlier of $45.5 million. The Edmonton-based cannabis company says net revenue for the quarter was $63.4 million, up from $48.6 million during the same quarter a year earlier.The company attributed the increase to growth in its global medical cannabis business and quarterly revenue in its plant propagation business. CEO Miguel Martin says it was the company’s strongest fiscal year to date. He says Aurora is experiencing the benefits of diversification across its cannabis and non-cannabis platforms. The company’s net revenue from medical cannabis rose 42 per cent from a year earlier, while revenues from consumer cannabis were slightly lower. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:ACB)The Canadian Press

Skilling: Cloudy, breezy Friday to start the weekend

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

Chicagoans basked in sunshine Thursday----the first 100% sunny day of the past 11.Temps reached 56 at O'Hare for the second consecutive day—a reading 4-deg above the normal high for Nov 9 of 52-deg.  The day marks the 7th consecutive day in which the average temp will post a surplus—a trend likely to be temporarily broken by modestly below normal readings Friday and Saturday.November's off to a milder than normal start averaging 3.5-deg above normal. Despite that surplus, the month is running 5.2-deg cooler than the opening 9 days of November a year ago.  The official high temp hit 70 on this date a year ago.Northwest winds through the atmosphere are circulating chillier air into the Midwest and the Chicago area.  Temps tonight will dip into the upper 20s in normally cooler locations away from the city and Lake Michigan and to the 36 in the city proper. Clouds will increase as the night goes on as a minor disturbance approaches and traverses the metro area other it would likely be e...

Pro-Palestinian protestors rally outside of Biden donor event in Chicago

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Protestors filled a city block, advocating for Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza, across the street from where President Joe Biden spoke to donors at a private event Thursday.The protest, organized by the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine, moved locations last minute from Ida B Wells and Michigan to the 400 block of North Armour Street after learning of Biden's presence in Chicago.Earlier Thursday, Israel agreed to a four hour daily humanitarian pause in its assault on Hamas in Northern Gaza, where they said they will allow aid to enter the area, and civilians to flee. More from Dana: Charges filed against 2 accused of killing woman during attempted robbery in Worth Biden urged Israel for a multi-day ceasefire in exchange for a release of hostages but said there was no possibility of that happening right now."I’ve been asking for a pause for a lot more than three days, every day," Biden said."I've asked for even a longer pause," Biden added after being asked if...

Grand Lux Cafe on Chicago's Magnificent Mile announces closure

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Grand Lux Cafe has announced it is closing its doors after 21 years later this year.On Thursday, the company said the last full day of service at the Michigan Avenue restaurant will be Dec. 24. Commission weighs whether to discipline Illinois judge who reversed rape conviction The company is working with employees to help transition them to the company's other concepts nearby."We have enjoyed being a part of the downtown Chicago community and hope that our guests will continue to dine with us at our other restaurants in the area," the statement read. Grand Lux Cafe also has locations in Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

Jared Leto climbs Empire State Building to promote band's upcoming tour

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) – Actor and musician Jared Leto climbed the Empire State Building to promote his band’s upcoming world tour.Leto scaled a portion of the Empire State Building Thursday morning to celebrate Thirty Seconds to Mars’ upcoming world tour in 2024. In September, the band released its sixth studio album, “It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day.” President of Chicago local SAG-AFTRA on Hollywood strike ending "The building is a testament of all the things that can be done in the world if we put our minds to it," Leto said in a statement, "which is largely the inspiration behind our most recent album, 'It's the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day.'"Leto began climbing outside the skyscraper's main observation deck on the 86th floor and then scaled his way up to the base of the building's antenna, Vanity Fair reported. A video posted on Leto's Instagram showed him climbing the iconic New York City skyscraper."It was very hard. It was a lot harder than I tho...

Worth Township host Veteran's Day celebration ahead of holiday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

WORTH TOWNSHIP, Ill. -- With Veteran's Day on Saturday, Worth Township provided those who served am early fun filled evening of food, entertainment, and memories. Veteran’s Day Deals 2023: Where to get free food and discounts across Chicagoland WGN's Patrick Elwood has more.

Frank Borman, astronaut who led historic Apollo flight around the moon, dies at 95

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Astronaut Frank Borman, who commanded Apollo 8's historic Christmas 1968 flight that circled the moon 10 times and paved the way for the lunar landing the next year, has died. He was 95.Borman died Tuesday in Billings, Montana, according to NASA.Borman also led troubled Eastern Airlines in the 1970s and early '80s after leaving the astronaut corps.But he was best known for his NASA duties. He and his crew, James Lovell and William Anders, were the first Apollo mission to fly to the moon — and to see Earth as a distant sphere in space.FILE - This late 1960s portrait shows U.S. Col. Frank Borman, commander of the Apollo 8 flight. Borman, who commanded Apollo 8's historic Christmas 1968 flight that circled the moon 10 times and paved the way for the lunar landing seven months later, has died. He was 95. Borman died Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in Billings, Mont., according to a NASA statement Thursday, Nov. 9. (AP Photo/File)FILE - Apollo 8 astronauts, suited up and re...

Officials investigating suspicious package in east Austin

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it was investigating a suspicious package in east Austin.According to police, APD received a call at approximately 2:15 p.m. regarding a suspicious package in the 2300 block of Oracle Way.Austin Police officers responded and evacuated the building as a precaution, according to APD.As of 5 p.m., APD said the scene remained active and was under investigation.This is a developing story. Check back with KXAN for more details.

Travis County congenital syphilis cases are increasing, mirroring national trends

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Public Health said that congenital syphilis cases in Travis County are expected to double in 2022 and 2023 since 2021, mirroring national trends. Congenital syphilis cases in Travis County increased by about 40% from 2018 to 2021. There were eight cases in 2018 and 11 in 2021, according to APH. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report Tuesday revealing that the number of babies born in the U.S. with syphilis in 2022 – over 3,700 – was 10 times higher than the number in 2012. Further, the report said that nearly 90% of those cases could have been prevented.Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant woman passes syphilis on to her baby. The disease can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, miscarriage and death, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. “The congenital syphilis crisis in the United States has skyrocketed at a heartbreaking rate,” CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Hour said in a press release. “New a...