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Quebec wildfire smoke causes widespread smog warnings, grounds some water bombers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

MONTREAL — Smoke from the wildfires burning across northern Quebec has forced the grounding some of the province’s water bombers and is causing widespread smog warnings farther south. A spokesman for the province’s forest fire prevention agency says there are 29 fires burning out of control. Nicolas Vigneault says the heavy smoke has reduced visibility, meaning that some water bombers and helicopters haven’t been able to take off. However, he says heavy rain and some wind is expected in the most affected parts of the province in the coming days, which should help firefighting efforts.While he says no towns are under immediate risk of burning, the fires have forced thousands of Quebecers from their homes.Environment Canada has issued smog warnings for much of the province, including Montreal and Quebec City, due to poor air quality caused by fine particles in the air.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2023.The Canadian Press

Chicago pharmacist found guilty after stealing, selling COVID-19 cards online

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

CHICAGO — A former pharmacist in Chicago was convicted Friday in federal court for stealing and then selling COVID-19 cards online.During a three-week timeframe in March and April 2021, Tangtang Zhao, 36, of Chicago, posted online listings for over 650 COVID-19 vaccination cards that he advertised as “authentic” and “straight from the CDC.”In total, he sold 630 cards to approximately 200 unique buyers, who paid Zhao more than $5,600. Original story: Chicago pharmacist charged with selling COVID-19 vaccination cards online The jury convicted Zhao of 12 counts of theft of government property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 28 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Brookfield Zoo names 2-month-old wolf pup after Native American tribe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

BROOKFIELD, Ill. -- Brookfield Zoo's newest wolf pup has finally been named. The two-year-old pup was named Ahote pronounced Ah-ho-teh), a Native American Hopi origin and means "restless one." Ahote is one of seven pups who were born at the zoo on April 27. In May, his siblings were transferred to be fostered by wild Mexican wolf packs in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico as a part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wolf Recovery Program.The goal of the program is to enhance the genetic diversity of the overall population of the species. Ahote and his mother, Vivilette, can be seen at Brookfield Zoo’s Regenstein Wolf Woods habitat.

See the highlights of the Cubs' games in London

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

LONDON — This past weekend was as rare as it gets for the Cubs and their fans. That's because the team was playing games overseas for just the second time in their history and for just the third time outside the continental United States or Canada. On Saturday & Sunday, the Cubs faced the Cardinals at London Stadium in the United Kingdom as part of Major League Baseball's continued push to play games internationally. Fans of both teams made their way across the Atlantic Ocean to see the teams participate in a road trip like no other. It was the first time since 2003 that the Cubs played outside the continental United States or Canada, when they faced the Expos for a three-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their last international trip before this weekend was to face the Mets in Tokyo, Japan in March 2000.Here are a few highlights of the weekend in London.(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)A Happ-y StartIan Happ was a big part of the Cubs' strong offensive start to the...

Larry's List: The Backstory of Chicago Neighborhood Names

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

Larry dives into the origins of Chicago neighborhood names in today's 'List'.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Uber launches teen accounts for rideshare, delivery services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Uber announced Monday it had rolled out specialized account services for teenagers in Austin. Through the program, teens ages 13-17 with parental supervision could use the app to request rideshare and food delivery services.Parents or guardians can set up a teen's account via the Uber app's Family Profile section. The parent or guardian can invite the teen to make an account, sending an invitation link to the teenager to download the app, create a teen-specific account and "complete the mandatory safety onboarding process." PAST COVERAGE: Uber letting teens take rides on their own The app employs live trip and delivery tracking technology for families to receive real-time updates and live trip tracking for teens who request a ride or place a delivery order. Parents and guardians will receive the driver's name, vehicle information and requested drop-off location for any teen-requested rides.Teens using the service will be required to give their driver a unique PIN. ...

Bloodsicles, popsicles, and misters — how the Austin Zoo keeps its animals cool

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the temperature continues to turn up in Central Texas, animals left out in the elements are feeling the heat.While pet owners know to bring their cats and dogs inside when the weather reaches dangerous temperatures, the animals at the Austin Zoo have some other options.To keep them cool, zoo staff members have a creative assortment of tricks up their sleeves, ranging from blood-filled popsicles, frozen juice and fruit to misters and hoses. "For our herbivorous animals, we may give them a fruit juice or a fruit popsicle," Education Manager Hope Carr said. "For our carnivores, to cool them off we’ll give them something called a bloodsicle, which is like frozen meat juice that they tend to really enjoy."The first step in taking care of the animals is providing them with a shaded shelter. Afternoon zoo visitors will be disappointed to find many of the animals out of sight when it starts to get hot. Instead, they're inside shelters at the edge of their enclosures equip...

'Days of Our Lives' actor Cody Longo died from alcohol abuse, examiner report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 26, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — "Days of Our Lives" actor Cody Longo died from chronic alcohol abuse, according to the medical examiner's report obtained by KXAN.The 34-year-old Denver native was found unresponsive in February at an Austin home, TMZ previously reported. A family member said Longo had "a history of significant alcohol consumption," the summary states. Texas inmates ‘being cooked alive’ in heatwave with no air conditioning "Numerous bottles of alcohol [were] found at the scene," the medical report said.The report states Longo's manner of death is considered "natural."Stephanie Longo, the actor's wife, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about two weeks after his death. "I’ve cried..I’ve screamed..I’m angry..I feel bitter…I’m laughing thinking back at our silly moments together, I’m crying happy tears looking back on our beautiful life..I'm mourning the life we could’ve had…I’m beating myself u...

Unusual start to the tropical season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As June winds down it's clear that the starts of both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific hurricane seasons are, for lack of a better word, backward.The Atlantic basin's hurricane season, which includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, started June 1. Three named storms made June more active than normal. Tropical Storm Arlene formed on June 2 in the Gulf of Mexico. It died the next day.Tropical Storm Bret was "born" on June 19 and was forecast to become the first hurricane of the season. That did not happen as Bret's winds never reached 74 mph. This storm died on June 24.Tropical Storm Cindy formed on June 22. It is weakening and will likely be gone on Monday, June 26.Active beginning to the Atlantic hurricane seasonFor a few days, there were two storms in the central Caribbean. Hurricane experts suggest it to be a rare event given that this tropical zone remains a bit quiet in June. They also suggest the warm water of the ocean are allowing for high heat that all...

Watervliet woman sentenced for wire fraud

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A Watervliet woman was sentenced on Monday to two years of probation for wire fraud. Ouida Cordell, 47, submitted a fraudulent economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) application to the Small Business Administration (SBA) nearly three years ago. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Cordell admitted to submitting the online application on behalf of her company, Bashment Entertainment, in her guilty plea. The FBI investigated the case—with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finances, the Office of Internal Affairs, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for the Tax Administration—and found that she falsely overstated Bashment's annual revenue.According to the Department of Justice, Cordell's company got a $149,500 EIDL as a result of her fraudulent application from July 13, 2020. She was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and to pay $149,400 in restitution.The low-interest, government-backed loans we...