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Quebec power utility studies possible reopening of Gentilly-2 nuclear reactor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s hydroelectric utility says it is studying whether to reopen the province’s only nuclear power generating station.Hydro-Québec says that as demand for electricity rises in the province, it is looking into restarting the Gentilly-2 reactor in Bécancour, Que., on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River about halfway between Montreal and Quebec City.The Hydro-Québec facility was shut down in 2012 by the provincial government after it reached the end of its service life and needed refurbishment.But the utility says it would be “irresponsible” to exclude nuclear power as an option for meeting the growing energy needs of the province, adding that it is studying the current state of the facility.Hydro-Québec says the utility’s new president and CEO, Michael Sabia, has affirmed his openness to different options for generating power in light of the strong demand.Gentilly-2 opened in 1983, operating with a CANDU reactor designed to produce up...

Northern Ireland’s top police officer apologizes for ‘industrial scale’ data breach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Northern Ireland’s top police officer apologized Thursday for what he described as an “industrial scale” data breach in which the personal information of more than 10,000 officers and staff was released to the public.The incident is particularly sensitive given the delicate security situation in Northern Ireland, which is still trying to overcome decades of sectarian violence known as “The Troubles.” Twenty-five years after a peace agreement largely ended the violence, many police officers continue to shield their identities because of continuing threats from dissident elements of the republican and unionist communities.Chief Constable Simon Byrne told reporters that dissident republicans claim to be in possession of information about police officers circulating on WhatsApp following the incident, and that authorities are “advising officers and staff about how to deal with that and any further risk they face.”“An early worst-case scenario that we have been dealing with...

At least 6 Turkish soldiers killed in attacks by Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq, Ankara says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s defense ministry said on Thursday that a spate of attacks the previous day and overnight by Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq killed at least six Turkish soldiers. The attacks prompted retaliatory airstrikes that left four members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, dead on Thursday, according to a social media post shared later by the ministry.The violence is the latest in a monthslong escalation between Turkey and Turkish-backed groups on one side, and Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria on the other.Ankara considers the PKK — which has waged a decadeslong insurgency within Turkey — and allied Kurdish groups in Syria and Iraq as terrorist organizations. It claims members of the PKK regularly find sanctuary in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. There was no immediate comment from Iraq’s central government in Baghdad. Earlier, authorities in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region said two separate Turkish drone strik...

3 in custody after 2 teens injured in Hoffman Estates shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Three people are in custody after a shooting left two teenagers injured in Hoffman Estates.Authorities received a 911 call around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday advising that a person had been shot in the 1700 block of Queensbury Circle and a vehicle had fled the scene.Upon arrival, officers found a 17-year-old boy on the lawn with a gunshot wound to the chest and leg. He was transported to Lutheran General Hospital and is listed in stable condition.According to police, other officers respnded to local area hospitals to check for any potential gunshot victims. While at the hospital, a vehicle was dicovered with multiple bullet holes in the parking lot. Man, 21, found beaten to death in Gage Park home ID’d Police said officers then located an 18-year-old man with a gunshot graze wound to the back, who was reported to be the passenger in the vehicle. The teen was treated and released from the hospital.According to police, three people are in custody and charges are pend...

Odds of a 'strong' El Niño grow again: Will you feel it locally?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – As the months go on, El Niño grows stronger over the Pacific. On Thursday, national forecasters gave it a larger than 95% chance of lasting through early next year. "Given recent developments, forecasters are more confident in a 'strong' El Niño event," National Weather Service forecasters said. The odds of a historically strong El Niño are now a 2 in 3 chance. This El Niño is expected to continue strengthening until it reaches its peak sometime in winter. That’s when the climate pattern can have the biggest effects on weather around the country. What a ‘historically strong’ El Niño means for winter The southern third to half of the United States, including California, is likely to be wetter this winter. (Exactly where that dividing line falls varies from year to year.) Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Ohio Valley tend to be dry and warm.Hawaii also often sees below-average rain during an El Niño fall, winter, and spring season.But El Niño's ...

Who is cutting the tails off these horses -- and why?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

KEN CARYL, Colo. (KDVR) — Megan Morrison loves to spend time with Eleanor, her 5-year-old Holsteiner and partner in equestrian contests. "Just a peace, the calm that they bring," said Morrison, who participates in hunter/jumper competitions.But recently, she was shocked to find that her horse's tail had been cut. Colorado teen among sick at World Scout Jamboree in South Korea The condition of a horse’s tail can affect a rider's standing in competition, so Morrison carefully cares for Eleanor’s appearance. “We all want a nice full, long tail, especially with a hunter/jumper discipline that I do," she said. Jumpers are judged objectively and scored based on the fastest time and fewest faults on a course. Hunters are judged subjectively, based on rider and horse ability and style. When Morrison visited Colorado's Ken Caryl Equestrian Center this week, she discovered that someone had cut a large portion of Eleanor’s tail off during the night.Horses rely on their tails“Horses, they com...

Delta settlement offers refunds to some passengers affected by COVID cancelations: Do you qualify?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — If you tried flying during the pandemic, you likely encountered some sort of hiccup. Countless flights were delayed or all-out canceled, causing headaches during an already confusing time. Certain passengers — or rather, would-have-been passengers — are now eligible to receive a refund for their troubles. Delta Air Lines has agreed to a class action settlement in a lawsuit that accused them of breaching its contracts of carriage. According to the suit, Delta refused to provide passengers refunds, giving them credit for future travel on flights Delta canceled between March 1, 2020 and April 20, 2021.  Use Batiste dry shampoo? You could claim part of $2.5M settlement Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say that while they received ticket credits, they should have received cash refunds in accordance with ticket agreements, Top Class Actions explains.Delta has denied any wrongdoing but has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount as part of the settlement. You can qua...

Williamson County voters to weigh in on nearly $1B+ roads, parks bond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 10, 2023WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Williamson County voters will have a say in November on nearly $900 million's worth of roads and parks projects included in a bond election.The bond package will be divvied into two propositions. The first will ask voters to decide whether to issue $825 million in bonds on road projects, while the second concerns $59 million allocated to parks improvements.County officials estimate that, if approved by voters, the two bond propositions won't lead to an increase in the county's debt service tax rate of $0.1339 per $100 of valuation, according to a county release.The bond election comes after the Williamson County Commissioners Court first approved a citizens bond committee in late March. The committee met six times between March and June to evaluate the need for bond elections and which projects should be included for consideration. The committee did recommend calling fo...

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter unveils 3.7 percent tax levy increase — and a plan to buy every city resident’s medical debt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter on Wednesday proposed keeping property taxes fairly flat for owners of median-value houses — and buying $100 million of medical debt citywide.Before a crowd of onlookers at Highland Bridge, Carter unveiled an $820.5 million budget proposal for 2024 that would increase the city’s property tax levy — the sum total of all taxes collected from property owners — by 3.7 percent. Owners of median-value houses likely would see little difference in their property taxes, and some could see a decrease of about $26, due in part to large commercial and industrial properties gaining value at a faster clip in the era of same-day home delivery.The total property tax levy would be $208.5 million, or $7.4 million more than this year’s levy, which is $201.1 million.Among additional offsets against “runaway inflation,” the mayor noted the state Legislature increased local government aid to St. Paul by $8.8 million, restoring state a...

St. Thomas sports available to stream in 2023-24

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:08:36 GMT

Fans of University of St. Thomas sports will be able to stream the school’s Summit League events this season on their computers, phones and televisions on a subscription basis.Through a partnership with Midco Sports, Summit League volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and baseball will be able to stream. Cost is $9.99 a month or $79.99 for an annual plan.St. Thomas also announced that the football team, which plays in the Pioneer Football League, will have its 2023 games streamed, as well. Details will be released in “the upcoming days,” the school said. Tommies men’s and women’s hockey will continue to be streamed through FloHockey and BTN+.The school’s Summit sports will be available through the Midco Sports Plus app on tablets, TVs and computers. Additionally, the app and its content will be available on AppleTV, Fire TV and Roku devices.“The relationship with Midco represents an exciting next chapter for St. Thomas and the Summi...