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Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

KELOWNA, B.C. — The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.David Eby says the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 or more people who were forced from their homes across B.C.The order, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.The province says the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.In Kelowna, where nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands, watercraft rental businesses have closed their doors, leaving boats and jet skis sitt...

Starbucks told to pay $2.7 million more to ex-manager awarded $25.6 million over firing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — A judge has ordered Starbucks to pay an additional $2.7 million to a former regional manager earlier awarded more than $25 million after she alleged she that and other white employees were unfairly punished after the high-profile arrests of two Black men at a Philadelphia location in 2018.In June, Shannon Phillips won $600,000 in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages after a jury in New Jersey found that race was a determinative factor in Phillips’ firing, in violation of federal and state anti-discrimination laws.The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that U.S. District Judge Joel Slomsky on Wednesday also ordered Starbucks to pay Phillips another $2.73 million in lost compensation and tax damages, according to court documents. The company opposed paying any amount, saying Philipps had not proven she couldn’t have earned the same or more in the future.In April 2018, a Philadelphia store manager called police on two Black men who were sitting in the...

Houstonians worry new laws will deter voters who don’t recall the hard-won fight for voting rights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Sylvia Ann Miller-Scarborough remembers when people of color had to pay a poll tax to vote in Houston. She recalls her grandmother, undeterred by such obstacles, reminding her how important it was to be heard at the ballot box.Miller-Scarborough worries that much of the hard-won progress she’s seen in more than a half-century of voting in the largest county in Texas could be erased by Republican lawmakers. And she says it’s gotten harder to convince her own grandchildren that it matters.“They don’t believe in voting,” she said. “They are all in their thirties, but they don’t vote. They won’t go to a political rally with me. They say what’s the use? Nothing has changed, as far as they can see.”Harris County, a Democratic stronghold in a state long dominated by Republicans, is one of the most diverse places in Texas, where the minority population has been growing for decades. Democrats have long predicted the state would turn in their favor, but those dreams...

Man, 38, killed in Austin hit-and-run ID'd

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

CHICAGO -- A man killed after a hit-and-run in the city's Austin neighborhood has been identified by the medical examiner's office. Police said they found the man struck by a vehicle in the 5200 block of West North Avenue around 12:55 a.m. He sustained trauma to the body and was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Preliminary investigation revealed that the man was struck by a silver sedan travelling eastbound on North Avenue. String of 7-11 robberies within 30 minutes on North Side The car stopped momentarily after striking the man but proceeded to leave the scene. The man was not in the crosswalk.There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Best colleges in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

(Stacker) -- Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Illinois using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school's appeal, whether it be a bea...

California store owner allegedly killed over Pride flag, suspect dead: sheriff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

(KTLA) — Authorities are investigating after a store owner was allegedly shot and killed for hanging a Pride flag outside her Southern California shop Friday night.San Bernardino County deputies responded to a shooting at the Mag Pi clothing store located in Cedar Glen around 5 p.m.Arriving deputies said they found the victim, 66-year-old Laura Ann Carleton suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 3 arrested for $30,000 luxury handbag theft in Glendale The suspect, who was not identified, allegedly fled the area on foot but was soon found by deputies.While confronting the suspect, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, a “lethal force encounter occurred” and the suspect was killed, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. No deputies were injured, and no additional details were released about the shooting. Detectives say they determined the suspect had made “several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the...

Study says this is Illinois' most popular state park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

ILLINOIS (WMBD) — Summertime is almost over, but it’s still a great time to enjoy the great outdoors. And for Illinoisans, one state park is their top choice to do so.Digital insurance comparison and marketplace website Insuranks calculated the most popular state or national park in each state based on searches over the past three years. Starved Rock State Park is the most popular Illinois state park, according to that study.It’s no surprise Starved Rock edged out other state parks in Illinois. After all, Stacker compiled data from TripAdvisor and ranked it among the highest-rated things to do in Illinois.Additionally, the park has more than 1,600 reviews on TripAdvisor, where it holds a 4.5-star rating. Some of the most recent reviews praise the location for its views and various trails, giving visitors a plethora of options for hiking.Along with hiking and horseback riding trails, the state park also allows fishing and boating on the Illinois River. It has gorgeous rock formations...

Hilary downgraded to tropical storm as it begins impacting Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP/KTLA/KSWB) — Hilary has been downgraded to a tropical storm after hitting Mexico's Baja California peninsula as a Category 1 hurricane early Sunday. Forecasters are still calling the storm "catastrophic and life-threatening."The National Hurricane Center in Miami said that as of 5 a.m. the storm was “very near” the Baja coast south of Ensenada, and 285 miles from San Diego, California. The maximum sustained wind speed dropped to 80 mph while spreading “heavy rains” northward over the peninsula.Maximum winds are expected to hit 70 mph as Hilary moves through Southern California, with gusts up to 85 mph.Light to moderate rain began falling in Southern California early Sunday morning. The Los Angeles County Fire Department has warned people to stay away from waterways and river channels due to swift-moving water. Real-time updates: Hilary treks north toward Southern California A tropical storm warning remains in effect for much of the southern portion of th...

Heavy police presence in Guilderland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- There is currently a heavy police presence in the area of Brandywine Parkway in Guilderland. State police and Guilderland Police are on the scene. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Motorists in the area are advised to use caution. No further information is available at this time. Stay with NEWS10 as this story continues to develop.

Hedge apples: Can we eat them?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS – As autumn approaches, hedge apples make their presence known. But what exactly is the purpose of these intriguing fruits? Contrary to the belief that they repel all spiders or roaches, hedge apples have a different historical role. These peculiar fruits have endured through time, even during the ice age, when prehistoric animals consumed them.Hedge apples are most renowned for their role in creating decorative pieces and the use of their wood for crafting natural boundary fences. Familiarly known as horse apples, monkey balls, Bois d'Arc, and Osage orange, these fruits hold a rich array of names.Can we eat them?Osage Oranges (Maclura) Isolated on White Background. Hedge Apple close up"nWhile they have a rich array of names, the fruit does not taste so rich. They are actually bitter, and most people would consider them unpalatable, but you can eat them. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, the fleshy fruit is about 80 percent digestible.Also, b...