Mexico pledges to set up checkpoints to ‘dissuade’ migrants from hopping freight trains to US border

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Mexico pledges to set up checkpoints to ‘dissuade’ migrants from hopping freight trains to US border MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican officials pledged Friday to set up checkpoints to “dissuade” migrants from hopping freight trains to the U.S. border. The announcement came Friday at a meeting that Mexican security and immigration officials had with a representative of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the border city of Ciudad Juarez. So many migrants are climbing aboard trains that Mexico’s largest railway company said earlier this week it was suspending 60 freight train runs because of safety concerns, citing a series of injuries and deaths.Mexico’s National Immigration Institute did not say where the checkpoints would be established or how migrants would be dissuaded or detained. In 2014, Mexican authorities briefly took to stopping trains to pull migrants off, but it was unclear if the government was planning to resume the raids.The institute said its officers have been detaining about 9,000 migrants per day this month, a significant increase over the daily of average of about 6,...

Zelenskyy, accompanied by PM Trudeau, greets large crowd of supporters in Toronto

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Zelenskyy, accompanied by PM Trudeau, greets large crowd of supporters in Toronto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is greeting a large crowd of supporters at a Canadian Armed Forces facility in Toronto.About 1,000 people have gathered in the Fort York Armoury to show support for Zelenskyy, who is visiting Canada for the first time since Russian troops began a full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022.Zelenskyy arrived at the venue accompanied by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland.The Ukrainian president thanked Canada and Canadians earlier today during an address to Parliament in Ottawa for standing with his country and his people in the war against Russia.“During our talks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and I reaffirmed the strong Ukrainian-Canadian partnership. Canada will train our pilots on F-16s and provide additional air defense missiles,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Today’s new military aid package includes armored vehicles and medevacs.”In my today’s addres...

Paul Lisnek on government shutdown, Incoming CPD superintendent, & more

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Paul Lisnek on government shutdown, Incoming CPD superintendent, & more WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week.The topics include the latest on a potential government shutdown, incoming CPD superintendent Larry Snelling, tipping in Chicago, and much more.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesTune in on Sunday’s for WGN-TV Political Report with Paul Lisnek.

Animal hoarding cases cause struggles for Hill Country Humane Society

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Animal hoarding cases cause struggles for Hill Country Humane Society BUCHANAN DAM, Texas (KXAN) —The Hill Country Humane Society has taken in nearly 70 dogs this week after back-to-back seizures from animal hoarding cases. The influx of animals has caused staff to rush to find fosters and homes for adoptable animals.Paighton Corley, executive director of HCHS, said 19 animals were seized from a home in Granite Shoals Monday. Nearly 50 more were seized from a Bertram home days later Wednesday.Corley said this sudden intake of animals has presented spatial challenges for the humane society as it now has twice as many dogs as it does kennels."All of our kennels are full and doubled up and we have other kennels spread across the entire shelter," Corley said.In an effort to find homes and free up kennel space, HCHS is hosting a free adoption event 11am-2pm Saturday at the Petco, located at 5001 183A Building M, Suite 100, in Cedar Park.Staff have even moved stand-alone kennels into office spaces for individual dogs as space becomes more tight. Corley said...

High school football: Savion Hart runs for five scores as St. Thomas Academy downs Mahtomedi

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

High school football: Savion Hart runs for five scores as St. Thomas Academy downs Mahtomedi Savion Hart is proving to be a rather difficult riddle for opposing defenses to solve.No one this season has found a solution for the St. Thomas Academy senior running back — Mahtomedi now included. Hart ran 14 times for 149 yards and three scores in the first half alone Friday en route to the Cadets’ 42-14 road victory over the Zephyrs.The senior finished with 18 carries for 188 yards and five touchdowns. On his final rushing score of the night — a 22-yard run to put the Cadets up 42-7 late in the third — Hart executed roughly five different cutbacks to evade potential tacklers and find open space.The impressive performance simply kept pace with what Hart did through the season’s first three contests. His game log reads as the following:— 21 carries for 164 yards and four touchdowns in a loss to Andover.— 18 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waconia.— 14 carries for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Cretin-Derham Hal...

Escapee got hot dog during manhunt, found with handcuff key

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Escapee got hot dog during manhunt, found with handcuff key ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - The correctional officers assigned to guard a convicted child sex predator, who escaped custody by walking out of a hospital, are no longer employed by the department.Tommy Wayne Boyd's mad dash for freedom ultimately ended around 8 p.m. on Thursday, nearly 16 hours after walking out the doors of Mercy Hospital South."He had quite a bit of lead time," St. Louis County Police Lieutenant Colonel Jason Law said. Law said officers set up a perimeter but realized Boyd may be in the South City area after a good Samaritan gave him a ride to the area of Chippewa and Arsenal."They didn't know each other. The gentleman was just being a nice person trying to help somebody out," Law said. Officers no longer employed in aftermath of inmate escape from Mercy Hospital Law said the good Samaritan called police after realizing Boyd had been at the center of a county-wide alert.Authorities took no chances Thursday, immediately labeling Boyd as "dangerous," because of his two...

Lawsuits filed against former Robertson fire chiefs over alleged unlawful retirement bonuses

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Lawsuits filed against former Robertson fire chiefs over alleged unlawful retirement bonuses HAZELWOOD, Mo. - The Robertson Fire Protection District in Hazelwood is suing two retired fire chiefs, saying they left with special retirement packages that they weren’t entitled to and cost taxpayers $500,000.A Hazelwood Citizens group took over the Fire District Board after defeating the previous board that they accused of wasting money. They had an audit done after a willing election. Jennifer Guyton is now the Fire District President. She says of the situation, "What we call unlawful retirement packages, they received on their way out the door. We’re trying to get our money back. We did this on behalf of the residents.” Officers no longer employed in aftermath of inmate escape from Mercy Hospital "We are very confident in our case, and we would not do this unless we thought we had a substantial amount of money coming back to us,” she continued. One lawsuit was filed against retired fire chief Don Miner, who left Robertson in 2020. The lawsuit accuses him of getting money from...

Mizzou To The Lou: St. Louis gears up for Mizzou-Memphis showdown

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Mizzou To The Lou: St. Louis gears up for Mizzou-Memphis showdown ST. LOUIS - A big night for college football fans in St. Louis is almost here. The Missouri Tigers are set to take on the Memphis Tigers at the Dome at America's Center on Saturday, marking Mizzou Football's first trip to the Lou since 2010. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Tens of thousands are expected and many will enjoy tailgates ahead of the game. Officers no longer employed in aftermath of inmate escape from Mercy Hospital Celebrations began Friday, as the St. Louis Sports Commission partnered with the University of Missouri to create the new "Mizzou to the Lou" series. Including Saturday's football game, many Mizzou teams will make a quick trip from mid-Missouri to host an athletic event in St. Louis during their 2023-24 seasons. “This is hopefully just the start,” said Marc Schreiber, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission. He said the early evening kickoff on Saturday should give fans plenty of time take in all the festivities, including marching bands an...

Macy’s fined $1.6 million for environmental violations across California stores

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

Macy’s fined $1.6 million for environmental violations across California stores Fashion retailer Macy’s was ordered to pay $1.6 million for environmental violations across its California stores.An investigation into Macy’s Retail Holdings, LLC revealed the illegal disposal of hazardous waste over the last several years across the company’s 98 California retail locations, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.The judgment, which was filed in the Riverside County Superior Court on Friday, involved multiple district attorneys' offices including Alameda, Fresno, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, Shasta and Yolo counties, as well as the L.A. City Attorney’s Office.The lawsuit alleged that instead of disposing hazardous items at authorized waste facilities, Macy’s illegally dumped the waste in regular trash bins and at local landfills, which are not permitted to receive those waste products.Some of the hazardous items discarded include batteries, electronic devices, ignitable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents, items listed as...

2 California destinations named best 'off-the-beaten-path' getaways in America

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:44:51 GMT

2 California destinations named best 'off-the-beaten-path' getaways in America A city along the Central Coast and one of California's nine National Parks were named among the best destinations for people looking to go somewhere "off the beaten path."Tripstodiscover.com, a website that provides trip planning suggestions and resources, named San Luis Obispo and Pinnacles National Park among its best destinations for vacationers looking for a place that's beautiful and inviting, without the hustle and bustle of busier areas.Aerial view of Bishop Peak trail surrounded by chaparral on the hill with San Luis Obispo in the background. (Getty Images)Saying of San Luis Obispo, "It’s often overlooked for places like Morro Bay and Pismo Beach, but it makes the perfect base for exploring world-class wine country." The website said the home to Cal Poly is emerging as a tourist destination and offers easy beach access and a charming downtown."Visit the 18th-century Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, shop the unique boutiques, and don’t ...