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B.C.-based Helijet orders first electric vertical-takeoff aircraft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

VICTORIA — A British Columbia helicopter airline says it’s placed Canada’s first order for an electric vertical-takeoff aircraft to add to its passenger and cargo fleet.Helijet International president Danny Sitnam says the ALIA aircraft built by Vermont-based BETA Technologies will allow quicker, quieter and more efficient landings and takeoffs from hospitals and other emergency zones.The ALIA is an eVTOL aircraft, standing for electric vertical takeoff and landing, and Sitnam says those capabilities offer tremendous potential for emergency response, air ambulance and organ transfer services in B.C.Sitnam says the zero-emission aircraft, which is currently undergoing regulatory tests, will carry five passengers and a pilot.It has wings, four drone-like horizontal rotors that allow it to take off like a helicopter, and a propeller at the back for thrust.   Helijet, which is based in Vancouver, says the ALIA will be available for private and commercial service in 2026.BETA...

Natalee Holloway’s confessed killer returns to Peru to serve out sentence in another murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A Dutchman who recently confessed to killing American high school student Natalee Holloway in 2005 in Aruba was returned to Peru on Tuesday to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for murdering a Peruvian woman.Joran van der Sloot arrived in Lima in the custody of law enforcement. The South American country’s government agreed in June to temporarily extradite him to the U.S. to face trial on extortion and wire fraud charges.Van der Sloot was long the chief suspect in Holloway’s disappearance in Aruba, though authorities in the Dutch Caribbean island never prosecuted him. Then in an interview with his attorney conducted in the U.S. after his extradition, he admitted to beating the young woman to death on a beach after she refused his advances. He said he dumped her body into the sea.Van der Sloot, 36, was charged in the U.S. for seeking a quarter of a million dollars to tell Holloway’s family the location of her remains. A plea deal in exchange for a 20-year s...

Why are so many ladybugs trying to get into your home right now?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

If you think there are a lot more ladybugs in Toronto than usual, you’re right — and also wrong. While they’re making their presence felt inside homes and garages right now, the sudden increase in ladybug sightings is not an indication of increased numbers.“It’s called the Halloween Beetle, but it’s also called the Asian multicoloured Ladybird Beetle, and its scientific name is Harmonia Axyridis,” explains Antonia Guidotti, entomology technician at the Royal Ontario Museum.They’re looking to get inside at this time of year for the same reason everyone else is — it’s cold.“These ladybird beetles really need a warmer place [to overwinter]. So they’re coming into our homes or garages and they’re looking for the south side of the building because that’s a little bit warmer and they congregate when they come indoors to hibernate,” she explains.That’s partially because they are not native to Ca...

Maine gunman may have targeted businesses over delusions they were disparaging him online

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

Maine State Police documents released Tuesday shed light on why a delusional U.S. Army reservist who killed 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston may have targeted those locations. Robert Card, 40, was found dead Friday, two days after a rampage that also wounded 13 people and shut down multiple communities during a massive search on land and water. Three hours after the shooting began, state police interviewed a woman who said Card believed the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, Schemengees Bar and Grille and several other businesses were “broadcasting online that Robert was a pedophile.” The woman said Card had been delusional since February after a break-up, had been hospitalized for mental illness and prescribed medication that he stopped taking, according to a police affidavit filed in support of an arrest warrant request. Police also spoke to Robert’s brother, who said Card had been in relationship with someone he met at a cornhole competition at the bar. Anot...

Migrants in Chicago face harsh winter conditions as city works to provide aid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Migrants who recently arrived in the city got their first real taste of the brutal Chicago winter on Tuesday afternoon.The freezing temperatures and snowfall echo the growing concerns among migrant families sleeping on the frigid sidewalks of Chicago's Police Districts.Migrant families, deeply concerned about the harsh conditions, say they do not know how much longer it will be before they get moved to shelters, causing worries about their children's safety to grow. 'A complete 180’: City to use shuttered Kmart as migrant shelter after reversing course On Tuesday, the Mayor's office issued a news release offering details about plans to provide aid to asylum seekers and unhoused Chicagoans amid the frigid conditions.According to city officials, 16 warming buses will be provided by the CTA at the landing location and at 16 police district locations from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.Officials said coats and warm clothing will also be provided to those at the landing zone, police ...

ISP releases footage from Springfield State Trooper shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) -- State Police have released dashboard camera and surveillance video footage of a shooting last week that left a State Trooper hospitalized.Authorities said Illinois State Trooper Dakotah Chapman-Green was shot in both legs by 37-year-old Cristobal Santana while performing a traffic stop on Toronto Road in Springfield Tuesday night.Nearby surveillance video shows the suspect chasing after the injured officer, and proceeding to hit him multiple times with his gun. Chapman-Green suffered a brain bleed and skull fracture. Despite his condition, Chapman-Green stood up, and walked back to his squad car, clearly injured. State Police released the video of the incident to their YouTube channel. The video may disturb some readers and viewer discretion is advised. ORIGINAL: Man in custody for shooting Illinois State Trooper allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend in Chicago, family says ISP Director Brenden Kelly commended Chapman-Green's courage at a news conference T...

Tyler Christopher, Joliet native who starred on 'General Hospital,' dies at 50

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

Tyler Christopher, known best for his role as Nikolas Cassadine on daytime's long-running soap opera General Hospital, has died. The Emmy winner actor was 50. Christoper's former co-star, Maurice Benard, who has played mob boss Sonny Corinthos on the soap opera for three decades, confirmed the news on Instagram. ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry dead at 54 "Tyler passed away this morning following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment," Benard wrote. "Tyler was a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting."Benard went on to call Christoper "an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who openly spoke about his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol."Multiple entertainment outlets also confirmed the news.Christoper starred as Nikolas Cassadine, on and off, from 1996-2016. He would join the cast of Days of Our Lives in 2017. He departed the role in 2019.Chris...

Children's hospitals prepare for surge in admissions amid shortage of RSV drug

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

(The Hill) -- A supply shortage means a drug that can prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants won't have a major immediate impact, children's hospitals said, and they are preparing for a surge in admissions this respiratory disease season."Widespread access [to the new antibody drug] will take time across many sectors of the pediatric population and won't have as great an impact on volumes this immediate respiratory season," the Children’s Hospital Association said in a statement.This illustration provided by AstraZeneca depicts packaging for their medication Beyfortus. (AstraZeneca via AP, File)Nirsevimab, marketed as Beyfortus, was approved in August. It’s a single shot that can be given to infants up to 8 months old, and high-risk babies up to 19 months old. The drug is a monoclonal antibody, rather than a traditional vaccine, meaning babies will be able to directly receive antibodies to prevent severe RSV disease, rather than prompting the immune system to develop t...

NFL player brings 'Jeepers Creepers' to life in Halloween display

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

CLEVELAND (WJW) -- Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is known to scare opposing offenses with his terrifying play and frightening stats that make all quarterbacks tremble in fear every season. But Garrett’s other fall festive skill is bringing fictional horror movies to life at his home. From the big screen to Garrett’s front yard, his latest Halloween display is based off the “Jeepers Creepers” horror movie franchise. Originally debuting back in 2001, the four-part movie franchise is now displayed in real life in the Browns Pro Bowler’s front yard.  Why does Halloween occur on Oct. 31? His decorations include the film’s monster “Creeper” above his front door. Garrett even has the famous 1941 Chevy pickup truck with a cow catcher mounted on the front bumper made famous from the original movie parked in his yard. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett decorated his home for Halloween, drawing inspiration from the "Jeepers Creepers" mov...

Longhorns No. 7 in first college football playoff rankings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Longhorns check in at No. 7 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. They are the highest ranked team in the Big 12.Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, Washington and Oregon are the six teams in order ahead of the Longhorns. Rival Oklahoma checks in at No. 9 after losing to Kansas last week.Three Big 12 teams other than Texas and Oklahoma find themselves in the initial rankings. Kansas checks in at 21 with Oklahoma State right behind them at 22. At 23 is Texas' opponent this week in Kansas State.In the weekly Texas football press conference Monday, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian was asked about the rankings and how much belief he has in his team's resume.“I hear so much about how tough the SEC is, but I haven’t seen any of those teams go into Alabama and win,” he said. “I feel pretty good about our team, and over time this will play itself out. We need to focus on what we need to do Saturday and play our best football.”Texas is one ...