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$10-a-barrel oil price plunge should bring relief at gas pump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

Ron Hurtibise | (TNS) South Florida Sun SentinelWhat’s bad for the economy is sometimes good for motorists.High-profile bank failures sent stock market and crude oil prices plunging last week amid renewed concerns that a global recession could be taking shape.U.S. crude oil prices dropped about 13% over the past week, from $74.43 a barrel on March 14 to $64.54 in early morning trading on Monday. By mid-afternoon Monday, the price was hovering around $66.15.Oil prices fell 17% over the past two weeks and oil futures were trading on Monday at their lowest prices since December 2021.That’s a deep enough slide to put downward pressure on gas prices. According to travel club AAA’s weekly Gas Price Brief, on Monday a gallon of unleaded regular cost $3.44 nationwide, AAA statistics showed.“There were significant losses in the oil market last week, which should enable gas prices to move lower again,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. “The failure of two U.S. banks raised concerns of a ...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued by National Weather Service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for parts of San Diego County.The warning is in effect until 12 p.m. Tuesday and covers a large part of San Diego County, including Chula Vista and El Cajon, NWS San Diego said in a tweet.Winds up to 60 mph could be felt during the warning period and pea-sized hail drops are possible as well. Weather radar: Track the storm The warning covers an area of San Diego County ranging from the border up to Del Mar along the coast, ranging to El Cajon in the East and up to Escondido inland.The Severe Thunderstorm was originally expected to last until 11:15 a.m., but NWS later updated that until 12 p.m. A brief Special Marine Warning was also issued by NMW San Diego, as high winds and steep waves were reported in the ocean from the border up to San Mateo Point.The warnings come as a strong atmospheric river is making its way through region, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the county.Floodin...

‘I demand you provide a sample’: Barrie man ordered to give breath sample at home after driving complaint

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

A video showing police arriving at a Barrie home and demanding a man provide a breath sample is raising questions about just how far the long arm of the law can extend.In the video posted to TikTok by Micah Colbert, Barrie police arrive at his family’s home, informing Colbert, aged 20, that they’ve received a traffic complaint from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) “advising of a possible impairment.”“You were swerving in and out of lanes, so now I’m here to administer an alcohol screening device,” the officer explains. “Right now I demand that you provide a sample of your breath into an approved screening device.”“I understand,” Colbert replies, after which the officer demonstrates how to use the device.“Blow it up just like you’re blowing up a balloon,” the officer explains.Colbert never seems to question the request, but does speak up when he notices more officers arriving at the home.“Do ...

Families of Montreal fire victims facing agonizing wait for answers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

MONTREAL — Loved ones of the presumed victims of a deadly fire in Old Montreal were facing an agonizing wait for answers on Tuesday, as a recovery team worked to enter the charred shell of the building where one body has been found and six people remain missing.Yukun Zeng said the wait to hear about what happened to his friend An Wu was “so heartbreaking.”“I also talked with An’s other friends and other relatives, we still cannot totally understand why it takes so long,” he told reporters near the building. While he understands the investigation is complex, he doesn’t understand why police don’t share more about what they’re doing. Wu is one of the six people who remain missing after a fire ripped through a historic building in Old Montreal on Thursday. The body of one woman was recovered, but she has not been identified.Zeng described Wu as a neuroscientist doing post-doctoral work at the University California San Diego who was in Mon...

Food inflation in Canada shows signs of easing, but grocery prices to remain high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

Food inflation appears to be easing in Canada, but experts say shoppers shouldn’t expect lower prices at the grocery store. Statistics Canada said Tuesday the cost of groceries in February rose 10.6 per cent compared with a year before, down from an 11.4 per cent year-over-year increase in January.Yet a falling food inflation rate doesn’t mean the price of food is coming down. Instead, it means prices are rising less quickly, signalling the worst of the grocery price hikes could be behind us.“Consumers may still feel sticker shock at the grocery store because the products they buy are up closer to 15 or 20 per cent,” said Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.In the month of February, multiple pantry staples increased by nearly double the overall inflation rate for food purchased from stores. Pasta prices rose 23.1 per cent last month compared with a year earlier, flour jumped 22.9 per cent and butter increased 19...

Uganda’s legislature passes harsh new anti-LGBTQ bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan lawmakers passed a bill prescribing jail terms of up to 10 years for offenses related to same-sex relations, responding to popular sentiment but piling more pressure on the East African country’s LGBTQ community.The bill was passed late Tuesday inside a packed parliamentary chamber, and after a roll call ordered by the House speaker, who had repeatedly warned it was necessary to identify those who might oppose the bill. It was supported by nearly all of the 389 legislators present. “Congratulations,” said Speaker Anita Among. “Whatever we are doing, we are doing it for the people of Uganda.”An earlier version of the bill enacted in 2014 later was nullified by a court on procedural grounds. Human Rights Watch has described the legislation as “a more egregious version” of the 2014 law, which drew widespread international concern and was struck down amid pressure from Uganda’s development partners. The bill now will go to President Yoweri Museveni, who ca...

Residents sue Louisiana parish to halt polluting plants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

Residents of a Louisiana parish located in the heart of a cluster of polluting petrochemical factories filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday raising allegations of civil rights, environmental justice and religious liberty violations.The lawsuit names St. James Parish as the defendant and says the parish council approved the construction of several factories in two Black districts of the parish that emit harmful amounts of toxic chemicals. It said the pollution negatively affected the health of the area’s Black residents.Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are calling for a moratorium on petrochemical plants like one being built by Formosa Plastics that was approved by the council in 2019. The Associated Press reached out to the council for comment but did not receive an immediate response.For several years, Black residents of St. James Parish have lobbied the parish council and state government to do something about petrochemical plants emitting toxic chemicals into the air they breathe. But ...

Chief recommends firing officers in paralyzed prisoner case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

The police chief in New Haven, Connecticut, recommended Tuesday that four officers be fired for mistreating a Black man who became paralyzed from the chest down last year in a police van that braked suddenly.Police Chief Karl Jacobson’s recommendations in the case of Richard “Randy” Cox now go to the city’s police commissioners, who have the sole authority to fire officers. The commissioners are expected to hold hearings beginning in late April or early May, he said.“The message to the community is that we will be transparent and we will be accountable, and we will hold our officers accountable,” Jacobson said at a news conference at police headquarters. “The message to the officers is that this administration does have your back and that mistakes do happen, but we will not treat this community disrespectfully as happened in the Randy Cox situation.”Jacobson also announced that internal affairs investigations found the officers violated conduct rules on integ...

Brookfield Zoo named 5th best zoo in new poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

BROOKFIELD, Ill. — Brookfield Zoo has been named one of the top zoos in the country, according to a new readers' choice poll.USA Today announced that the zoo placed fifth out of 10 in their latest "10 Best Readers' Choice 2023" poll.Nominees for the “Best Zoo” category were chosen by a panel of travel experts and industry professionals. Once nominees were selected, the public was then asked to go online and vote for their favorite zoo. Brookfield Zoo animals celebrate Valentine’s Day with special enrichment treats Below is the ranking.Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumCincinnati Zoo & Botanical GardenBrevard ZooCheyenne Mountain ZooBrookfield ZooZooTampa at Lowry Park Audubon ZooSaint Louis ZooColumbus Zoo and AquariumIndianapolis Zoo

Gwyneth Paltrow's trial over Utah ski collision begins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow's lawyer called the story of a retired optometrist who is suing her over a 2016 ski collision “utter B.S.” on Tuesday during the trial's opening day in Utah.Terry Sanderson claims that the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer was cruising down the slopes so recklessly that they violently collided, leaving him on the ground as she and her entourage continued their descent down Deer Valley Resort, a skiers-only mountain known for its groomed runs, après-ski champagne yurts and posh clientele."Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control," Sanderson's attorneys claim in the lawsuit, “knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries. Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured.”In a case that has lasted years, Sanderson is suing Paltrow for $300,000 — claiming that the accident in Park City was a result of negligence, and left him with p...