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Smith says Alberta’s CPP exit campaign to continue despite questions over key number

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta will continue its $7.5-million pension-exit advertising and survey campaign, despite acknowledging the key dollar figure is disputed and likely headed to court.Smith says her government stands by its assertion that Alberta deserves $334 billion if it leaves the Canada Pension Plan — a figure that represents more than half of all CPP assets.Smith says the number stands because it’s the only number out there.“We’ve asked the federal government to give us their interpretation. They declined,” Smith told reporters in Calgary on Thursday.“We’ve asked the CPP Investment Board to give us their interpretation, it declined. “So maybe the next step is to go to court to see if the court supports our interpretation.” Smith reiterated comments she made a day earlier in Edmonton that until that transfer number is nailed down, she will not ask Albertans to vote in a referendum on leaving the CPP.“We will have a firm number before we go int...

Houston-area deputy indicted on murder charge after man fatally shot following shoplifting incident

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A Houston-area deputy accused of fatally shooting a man while confronting him after a shoplifting incident has been indicted by a grand jury for murder, officials announced Thursday.Harris County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Garrett Hardin has been charged in the July 2022 death of Roderick Brooks, 47, who was Black.Hardin’s attorney, Justin Keiter, as well as lawyers for Brooks’ family did not immediately return emails seeking comment. Keiter had previously told KTRK that Hardin’s actions were legal and he would be exonerated.Hardin confronted Brooks when he allegedly fled a north Houston Dollar Tree store after taking several items without paying for them, authorities said.Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office showed Hardin telling Brooks at a nearby gas station to stop and get on the ground or he would use a stun gun on Brooks. Hardin fired the stun gun and then knocked Brooks to the ground. “Why are you tasing me?” Brooks asked Hardin before then telling h...

UN chief appoints 39-member panel to advise on international governance of artificial intelligence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday announced the appointment of a 39-member global advisory panel to report on international governance of artificial intelligence and its risks, challenges and key opportunities.The U.N. chief told a news conference the gender-balanced, geographically diverse group which spans generations will issue preliminary recommendations by the end of the year and final recommendations by the summer of 2024. The recommendations will feed into the U.N. Summit of the Future, which world leaders will attend in September 2024.“In our challenging times, AI could power extraordinary progress for humanity,” Guterres said, adding that its transformative potential for good “is difficult even to grasp.”But he said: “The potential harms of AI extend to serious concerns over misinformation and disinformation; the entrenching of bias and discrimination; surveillance and invasion of privacy; fraud, and other violations of human rights.”...

Soil removal from Ohio train derailment site is nearly done, but cleanup isn’t over

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

The removal of contaminated soil from the eastern Ohio site of February’s fiery Norfolk Southern derailment is expected to be completed sometime this weekend, although the larger cleanup effort isn’t over.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials and the railroad announced the milestone Thursday in East Palestine. It comes nearly nine months after the derailment forced thousands from their homes near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Area residents still have lingering fears about potential health effects from the assortment of toxic chemicals that spilled, and the vinyl chloride that was released a few days after the crash to keep five tank cars from exploding.The derailment has inspired nationwide worries about railroad safety and prompted members of Congress and regulators to propose reforms, however that bill has largely stalled.Since the Feb. 3 derailment, the railroad has removed more than 167,000 tons of contaminated soil and more than 39 million gallons of taint...

Indiana State Police trooper finds girl from Amber Alert in Iowa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

HAMMOND, Ind. — An Indiana State Police trooper found a missing 14-year-old girl Wednesday night who was the subject of an Amber Alert from Iowa.ISP Sgt. Glen Fifield said Trooper Adrian Garcia was close to the last known location of the people involved in the Amber Alert and saw their car leaving a Hampton Inn in Hammond. The suspect in the fatal Maine shootings is still at large. Residents are sheltering in place The driver, a 36-year-old woman, of Des Moines, was taken into custody and the girl was safely located, Fifield said.According to Des Moines police, the girl had special care needs and was disabled. Des Moines police said she was taken by the woman, her non-custodial parent.The woman was taken to the Lake County Jail where she is being held for Des Moines police and the juvenile will be reunited with her custodial guardian, Fifield said.

'It was scary': Central Texas woman recounts moment she saw a tornado

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- A tornado touched down in Central Texas Thursday morning.Tornado Warnings were briefly issued in various counties across the KXAN viewing area. RELATED COVERAGE: Tornadoes spotted as severe weather moves through Central Texas 'Hands were still shaking'Some viewers sent us videos of the twister that was spotted near Lockhart. One of those people was Jennifer Vela."When I realized what it was, I had one of those 'Oh, heck. What do I do?' moments," Vela said.While on her way to work from Lockhart to Buda, Vela said she couldn't believe her eyes."It was scary," Vela said. "I think by the time I got to work my hands were still shaking."Vela said her two daughters, who attend Lockhart ISD, sheltered in place twice Thursday morning because of the severe weather."Hard to concentrate on work," she said. "Being away from them during something like that."It was the first time Vela saw a tornado and said she hopes it was her last. "It was kind of a surreal exper...

Northwestern State calls off remaining games following death of Cedar Park player

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A college football program canceled the final four games of its season following the death of a Cedar Park native earlier in October.Northwestern State University, an FCS program in Natchitoches, Louisiana, called off its remaining games and head coach Brad Laird resigned after junior Ronnie Caldwell, 21, died Oct. 12. Caldwell went to Cedar Park High School, then attended Tyler Junior College before transferring to NSU. Maalik Murphy will start at QB for No. 7 Texas Longhorns on Saturday vs. BYU Northwestern State coach Brad Laird calls out to the team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Southern Mississippi won 64-10. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)A press release by the university Thursday said "the mental health and wellbeing of its student-athletes" was the primary reason the school canceled the rest of the season."While our instinct was to return to the field of play...

KBVO Game of the Week: Manor, Westwood clash in key 6A-25 matchup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Manor and Westwood meet Thursday at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in the KBVO Game of the Week to hopefully provide clarity to a wild District 6A-25 playoff picture.Vandegrift is the clear No. 1 in the district, but after that six of the seven remaining teams are either tied at 3-2 or a game behind at 2-3. Westwood is one of the 3-2 teams while Manor needs to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The top four teams in the district advance to the postseason with Vista Ridge, Round Rock and Westwood all knotted at 3-2. McNeil, Stony Point and Manor are 2-3.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersBoth teams love to run the ball and for good reasons. Westwood is led by Demani Stewart, who has rushed for 1,474 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Manor has a bell cow of its own in Titus Petteway who has more than 1,400 rushing yards with 19 touchdowns.Roger Wal...

Drug Takeback Day provides a place to safely dispose of unwanted medication, syringes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

Ramsey County residents with unwanted or expired medications in need of disposal will find a safe place to do just that at an event held by the Opioid Prevention and Unified Services Coalition.The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cub Foods Midway, 1440 University Ave. in St. Paul.Along with drive-through, no-questions-asked drug drop-offs, participants will be able to access Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, and test strips that can detect fentanyl and xylazine in street drugs. For the first time, a Clinic 555 Syringe Services Program van will exchange used sharps and needles for clean ones, according to Lizzie Byrne, a spokesperson for the event. Clinic 555 is another Ramsey County program that beyond syringe exchange also provides overdose reversal medication, wound care, and HIV and Hepatitis C testing.“Proper disposal prevents crime, addiction, and misuse,” Byrne said.Older residents typically account for much of the traffic at takebac...

Larry Elder drops out of 2024 GOP primary, backs Trump

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:27 GMT

Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder is suspending his 2024 campaign for the White House and has endorsed former President Trump for the party nominee."As I look at the path forward, and after careful consideration and consultation with my campaign team, I have made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign," Elder said in a statement announcing the end of his campaign."Now that I am exiting the race," he continued. "I am proud to announce my endorsement of Donald Trump for President of the United States."The conservative radio host jumped into the GOP primary with his longshot bid in April, citing a “moral, religious, and a patriotic duty” to run for the Oval Office.Elder had expressed optimism in August about getting on the GOP’s first presidential primary debate stage, but he failed to meet the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) polling and donor thresholds to qualify to join his fellow candidates. In an opinion piece for The Hill, Elder w...