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Senate ordered to reinstate executive who alleged he was fired because of racism

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

OTTAWA — A federal tribunal has ordered the Senate to restore an executive who said he was fired on the basis of racial discrimination. Darshan Singh served two years as the Senate’s human-resources director, but his lawyer says he has no interest in returning to the role.Senate administrative officials told the public sector labour tribunal that Singh was fired in December 2015 due to his “attitude and behaviour” toward his supervisor, but Singh says his manager undermined him because of racial prejudice.Senate lawyers disclosed during the tribunal process that emails sent by Sen. David Wells and former Sen. George Furey discussed Singh with former Speaker Sen. Leo Housakos days before his firing.The tribunal ordered the Senate to provide the emails, but its lawyers argued they were protected by parliamentary privilege, a kind of legal immunity meant to help Parliament maintain its independence.Senators were set to vote on whether to provide the emails, but before...

Man arrested for allegedly recording victims as young as 14 in washrooms near U of T

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

A Kitchener man is facing nearly a dozen charges after several alleged voyeurism incidents near the University of Toronto.Toronto police say the University of Toronto Campus Safety were alerted to a number of incidents between July 2023 and October 2023 near Spadina Avenue and Willcocks Street.Police investigated the reports and allege that a man would loiter inside women’s washrooms and gender-neutral showers in the area. The suspect would sometimes place a cellphone under stalls and record victims.Investigators say the victims ranged in age from 14 to 21.Kitchener resident Dang Pham, 28, was arrested on Thursday. He is facing 11 charges including five counts of voyeurism and six counts of mischief.Police have released photos of the suspect and say there could be more victims. Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.

Here's where to recycle your holiday tree in Chicago

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

CHICAGO — Starting this weekend, you can recycle your holiday tree at multiple locations across Chicago.The city’s annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program will start this Saturday and run through January 21 at 27 citywide locations.Thousands of trees are mulched through the program. The free mulch is available to residents starting January 8.The city wants to remind residents to remove all tree decorations before recycling.The recycling locations are listed below:Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave. Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St. Forestry Site*, 900 E. 103rd St. Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave. Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Dr. Hiawatha Park, 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr.Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1369 N. Sacramento Ave. Jackson Park Fieldhouse Parking Lot, off S. Cornell Ave. Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St. Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave. Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave. Lincoln Park*, Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave. (East Side ...

Exploding toilet at Dunkin' in Florida left a customer injured and filthy, lawsuit claims

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A customer has filed a negligence lawsuit against Dunkin', claiming he was injured by an exploding toilet at one of the coffee chain's locations in central Florida.Paul Kerouac is seeking more than $100,000 in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court in Orlando, claiming he suffered “severe and long term injuries” following the explosion of a toilet in the men's room of a Dunkin' location in Winter Park, Florida, a year ago.After the explosion left Kerouac covered in human feces, urine and debris, he walked out of the men’s room seeking help from workers and the store’s manager, according to the lawsuit. An employee told him that they were aware of the “problem with the toilet” since there had been previous incidents, the lawsuit says, without diving into further details about the explosion. The original 'Dunkin' Donut' had a unique feature When contacted Thursday by email for more details on Kerouac’s injuries, his attorney, Scott Spradley, said he was tied u...

Verizon customers could get $100 each thanks to new settlement: Who qualifies, how to get paid

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Verizon customers may be entitled to a piece of a $100 million sum the company agreed to pay to settle a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges Verizon customers were hit with an administrative charge as part of a "deceptive scheme." Verizon denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to pay affected users up to $100 each.The group of people who qualify includes all Verizon customers, current or former, in the U.S. who "received postpaid wireless or data services from Verizon and who were charged and paid an Administrative Charge and/or an Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge between January 1, 2016 and November 8, 2023." AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile? Maps show which cell provider gives your area best coverage "Postpaid" phone plans are the opposite of prepaid plans. With postpaid plans, you sign a contract with a phone provider, and then you're billed monthly based on your usage.People who qualify should have also received a notice by mail or email.To claim yo...

Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin resident and fellow nurses vote to join union of registered nurses

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, National Nurses United (NNU) said registered nurses in the resident and fellow programs at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin (ASMCA) voted to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC).NNU said that 96% of the nurses voted in favor of joining. The secret-ballot election was conducted Wednesday, according to NNU.The union said the 225 registered nurses in the programs would join the 825 registered nurses who elected to join the NNOC/NNU in September 2022.NNU said there were now more than 1,000 nurses represented by the union at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin and more than 2,500 represented throughout the Ascension system.“The nurse residents and fellows at ASMCA have ushered in the new year with a wonderful victory for their patients and for the RN movement nationwide,” said Jean Ross, RN and President of NNU. “On behalf of thousands of...

Report finds Austin had 'unusually high' mass layoffs during 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A December analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found the Austin metro saw an "unusually high level" of mass layoffs throughout most of 2023, particularly compared to larger metro regions like Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.Reporting from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found there were 3,552 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) layoffs in Austin from January to October 2023. WARN notices are a federal requirement that mandates employers notify state officials when there are impeding mass layoffs or facility closures. "The notices can signal the shutdown of a job site of at least 50 workers, a layoff of a third of a location’s workforce involving fewer than 500 workers or outright dismissal of more than 500 employees," the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said.In Austin, the Dallas Reserve's findings revealed Austin made up about 20% of the total ...

Patient at St. Peter mental health facility charged with murder of roommate

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

ST. PETER — A patient at the state-operated mental health facility in St. Peter is accused of using an electric guitar to murder his roommate Monday, according to charges filed in Nicollet County.David Michael Otey, 43, was charged with two felonies for second-degree murder with and without intent and three felonies for first-, second- and fourth-degree assault Tuesday in Nicollet County District Court.Otey is accused of “bashing” his roommate at the Forensic Mental Health Program over the head with the guitar, causing fatal blunt force trauma, before choking a staff member, according to a criminal complaint.In a statement, Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead said the “tragic incident has left our patients and staff badly shaken.“Our thoughts now are with the victim’s family and friends who have suffered a terrible loss,” she stated. “We are cooperating with law enforcement and have begun our own internal...

Coalhurst Fees and Rates Bylaw awaiting third reading

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsA new Fees and Rates bylaw for Coalhurst is waiting on its third and final reading.Presented during Coalhurst town council’s regular Dec. 19 meeting, Town CAO Shawn Patience said the bylaw was given an overhaul in terms of updating some rate structures and replacing other antiquated rate structures. There were also some minor adjustments to utility rates, clarifications on development applications, security deposits on demolition permits, and a penalty section, among others.“This Fees and Rates bylaw is a brand new bylaw for the Town of Coalhurst. In 2023, previously it was fees were just kind of found everywhere. This brought everything all together into one (bylaw) last year, and this is just a continuation of work and trying to pull some of those things that may have been overlooked last year and brought into this as well,” said Mike Passey, director of corporate services for the Town. “We also reviewed a number of similar municipalities in southe...

The 2023 Year in Review

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:09 GMT

JanuaryThe St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) has announced the proposed terms of reference for the Chin Reservoir expansion project.Following the publication of the proposed terms of reference (PTOR) on Nov. 3, a public engagement period commenced. The current project stage allows for public comment to be submitted to the director by Jan. 3, 2023. The director in this case is the Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA).After many years of planning and development, the Town of Coaldale’s offices will soon be fully operational on the second floor of the new Civic Square building at 1801, 20th Avenue.While planning dates back several years, the Civic Square project, built in collaboration with the third-party private developer, Shift Real Estate Investments LP, initially broke ground in June 2021. The completion of Phase 1, is part of a three-phase economic development project and will serve the community with indoor and outdoor spaces, including a seasonal outdoor rink...