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Quebec coroner hears from grieving families; concern over gunman’s medication change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

MONTREAL — The older brother of a mentally ill man who killed three people at random during a 24-hour shooting spree in the Montreal area last year told a coroner Wednesday he questions why his medication regime had been changed before the killings.Sakir Shaikh said that Abdulla Shaikh’s mental health problems first arose in 2018 and resurfaced two years later, leading to two lengthy stays in hospital. But Sakir said Wednesday he questions why the hospital adjusted his brother’s medication from monthly injections to every three months, noting the next injection was scheduled for a few days after he was killed by police. He did not specify what the medication was.Coroner Géhane Kamel is presiding over the inquiry into the August 2022 murders of André Lemieux, 64, Mohamed Belhaj, 48, and Alex Lévis Crevier, 22, as well as the death of Abdulla Shaikh, 26, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police at a Montreal motel. He had two ghost guns — homemade artisanal wea...

1 dead, 2 hurt after RV destroyed in fire at suburban gas station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

STICKNEY, Ill. — One person is dead and two others are injured following a fire at a gas station in the southwest suburbs.Emergency crews remain on scene at the Gas-N-Wash gas station in the 3800 block of South Cicero in Stickney near the border of Cicero and Chicago.The blaze was reported around 3:30 p.m.Video obtained by WGN News from the CitizenApp showed the RV engulfed in flames.The area remains blocked off for an investigation. One lane on southbound Cicero Avenue is open at Pershing, however, as crews continue to investigate. Heavy delays continue in both directions. No word on what caused the blaze at this time.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Skilling: Cloudy remainder of the week, possible showers may hit Chicagoland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

Chicagoan say NO signficant sunshine today. It's been a damp Wednesday marking the 7th consecutive day to log an ABOVE NORMAL TEMP (thanks to all the moisture today holding overnight temps up) and the 8th straight day of easterly wind in Chicago, which has whipped up waves on Lake Michigan.The persistence of the late season "warmth" and of the easterly winds is LIVING PROOF our showery upper air low pressure and a sprawling early autumn Canadian high pressure to the north are "hung up" in an UPPER ATMOSPHERIC BLOCKING PATTERN.  Blocking patterns slow weather system progression thus producing "extended stays" for weather. You essentially get "trapped" in the weather which is in place when the blocking pattern develops for a extended period of timeRainfalls with the current sporadically rainy have been ALL OVER THE MAP in terms of totals—with as much as 1.96" have fallen the past 2 days in Lake Geneva and 1.66" at Pell Lake—both in southern Wisconsin—plus 1.30" in Poplar Gro...

CPS seeking bus drivers as shortage leaves students finding other ways to get to, from school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

CHICAGO -- Many school districts across the nation are experiencing a bus driver shortage, including in the Chicago Public Schools system.The Chicago Public Schools are forcing buses to limit the number of students they can transport to and from school.Incentives such as bonuses and higher hourly wages are being offered by school bus vendors, according to CPS' Operations Chief Charles Mayfield.Despite the efforts, the Chicago Board of Education has been forced to limit bus service to its most vulnerable population: students with disabilities, known as Diverse Learners, and students dealing with temporary living situations.The CPS' Operations Chief has urged parents to check with their school office about travel stipends for families with Diverse Learners and Students in Temporary Living Situations (STLS). A stipend of $500 a month based on attendance.Chicago Public Schools announced new funding to help selective enrollment and magnet schools families, but in a message released on We...

Spotted lanternfly found in Illinois: Should you be worried about them?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

(NEXSTAR/WGN) — Depending on where you live, you may have come face to face (literally, they have flown into people’s faces) with the spotted lanternfly. The invasive species has been detected in more than a dozen states. Add Illinois to the growing list.The Illinois Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first detection of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) in Illinois. But do residents need to be concerned? The short answer, as you may have guessed, is yes. But, you can’t exactly prepare for the lanternfly’s arrival either. The spotted lanternfly is native to China and was first reported in the U.S. in 2014. A Pennsylvania forester noticed the bug, pictured below, found one in the southeastern portion of his state. The bug has since spread to at least 14 other states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia and...

How did Saturn get its rings? NASA might have answers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

(WTAJ) — Saturn is a visual marvel in our solar system, but how did it get those awe-inspiring rings? A new series of NASA supercomputer simulations might have the answer. In fact, they believe the rings formed back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. NASA released a video explaining that the rings potentially evolved from debris created after two icy moons smashed into each other a few hundred million years ago. The debris may have also combined to create some of Saturn's 145 moons.  How to see the ‘ring of fire’ eclipse this October, total solar eclipse in April ’24 “There’s so much we still don’t know about the Saturn system, including its moons that host environments that might be suitable for life,” said Jacob Kegerreis, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “So, it’s exciting to use big simulations like these to explore in detail how they could have evolved.”NASA's Cassini mission made scientists question just how you...

If the government shuts down, will mail still be delivered?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – As Congress remains gridlocked, a government shutdown was looking more and more likely Wednesday. A shutdown, if it did start this weekend, would impact the military, some government benefits, and potentially hundreds of thousands of federal employees. A large group of federal employees who won't be affected, however, are workers with the United States Postal Service. The USPS isn't affected by a government shutdown because it doesn't rely on taxpayer dollars for funding. The agency is funded through the sales of products and services. Government shutdown: Which veterans’ benefits may, may not be affected That means, even if other federal service are disrupted, the mail would continue to be delivered as normal through a government shutdown, even if it lasts weeks. That's good news for folks waiting on a new batch of free at-home COVID tests, set to be delivered by the USPS. As of Wednesday, the USPS site where test kits can be ordered still said deliveries were sc...

"You don't see a lot of players doing that": Ian Happ show appreciation for Cubs fan at home finale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the longest-tenured members of the Cubs made sure one of his biggest fans at Wrigley Field knew he was appreciated at the final regular season home game of 2023.In fact, it's becoming a bit of a tradition for Ian Happ at the end of an 81-game campaign at the Friendly Confines.On Sunday, before the Cubs' victory over the Rockies, the outfielder presented bleachers season ticket holder Jeff Gorski with a $100 bill along with a signed ball that had a message of thanks for his support during the last six months. (Courtesy: Jeff Gorski)"Thanks for the support! You guys are the best in all of baseball," is what Happ wrote on the baseball that was left for Gorski, who goes by the nickname "Bleacher Jeff" on social media, writing to have a good time on him Sunday. "It means a lot," said Gorski to WGN News Now on Tuesday. "It's a nice gesture. You don't see a lot of players doing that in any sport, anywhere, where they just say 'Hey, man, I see you coming out here, I recogni...

Jimmy Carter's 99th birthday celebration moved up to avoid potential shutdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

(The Hill) – Former President Jimmy Carter’s upcoming 99th birthday celebration has been moved up a day amid the looming possibility of a government shutdown. ​​The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum said some events for Carter’s birthday will happen on Saturday instead of Sunday, when current funding levels are set to run out. "The interest in President Carter's birthday is so great, we decided to make it a birthday weekend, both Saturday and Sunday with 99 cent admission, and all sort of birthday activities," the library and museum said in a statement to The Hill.Tony Clark, the museum’s director of public affairs, told CNN that some of the museum’s spaces that are part of the government will be closed if a shutdown does occur, saying “we are starting early to make sure we have a celebration.”  NOAA releases 2023-2024 winter predictions “Some libraries have a non-governmental foundation that operates their museum rather than NARA. Those are able to stay open....

Austin middle school no longer directing traffic after verbal threats, according to principal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Traffic issues at an Austin middle school have turned ugly, according to a recent email sent out by the school.Gorzycki Middle School's principal sent a the letter to parents this week, which highlights issues with parents using profanity, verbally threatening staff and yelling at the staff during school pick up.The letter states: "Starting Tuesday, GMS will have staff on the sidewalk in front of the school monitoring students, but will NOT be helping direct traffic any longer.""Parents are getting very aggressive at pickup," said Becca Lusk, a parent at the school. "They are yelling at our teachers, our volunteers, our staff."Lusk said parents have received instructions on how the pick up works and there is even an online video."It is a time consuming process," she said.Lusk said no matter how long it takes, no one should treat the staff poorly."I don't think it is fair to punish everyone, but it has been happening so often that it is the straw that broke the camel'...