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Driver faces first-degree murder charges in deaths of Quebec pedestrians

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

AMQUI, Que. — The Quebec man charged after a pickup truck plowed into pedestrians last month is now facing three counts of first-degree murder.According to charges outlined in an arrest warrant filed Tuesday at the courthouse in Amqui, Que., Steeve Gagnon also faces nine counts of attempted murder.On March 13, a truck hit several groups of pedestrians on a main street in Amqui, about 350 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, in what police have described as an intentional act.Gagnon, 38, was facing two counts of dangerous driving causing death, but the prosecutor had indicated more charges were expected, and a third victim has since died.Three men were killed in the crash: Gérald Charest, 65, Jean Lafrenière, 73, and Simon-Guillaume Bourget, 41.Charest and Lafrenière were killed the day of the crash while Bourget died several days later in a Quebec City hospital.The truck hit 11 people ranging in age from less than a year old to 77.Gagnon, who has been in custody since the incident, ...

About 5K GM salaried workers take buyouts, avoiding layoffs

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

DETROIT (AP) — About 5,000 white-collar workers at General Motors took the company’s buyout offers, which the automaker says is enough to avoid layoffs at this time.GM said Tuesday that the offers will save about $1 billion per year in costs, about half of the $2 billion it wants to cut annually by the end of 2024. The company now has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.“The steps we are taking will allow us to maintain momentum, remain agile, and create a more competitive GM,” the company said in a prepared statement.GM hopes to get the remaining $1 billion in savings by reducing vehicle complexity and expanding use of shared parts on internal combustion and electric vehicles. It also plans to cut spending across the company, including for travel and marketing, the statement said.Last month GM offered buyouts to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, and global executives who have been with the company at least two years.The decision to offer buy...

Stocks fall on Wall Street after weaker reports on economy

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

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling on Wall Street Tuesday after two reports on the economy came in weaker than expected. The S&P 500 was 0.7% lower in midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 259 points, or 0.8%, at 33,341, as of 12:05 p.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% lower. Investors are still split on whether the U.S. economy will fall into a recession and how badly corporate profits are set to drop. The biggest question remains what the Federal Reserve will do next with interest rates after hiking them furiously over the last year to get high inflation under control. The reports on job openings and factory orders released Tuesday may have heightened recession fears. But they may also give the Fed reason to hold rates steady at its next meeting in May for the first time in more than a year, offering a possible upside for markets.One report showed employers advertised 9.9 million job openings in February, a sharper fall-off than economi...

At least 10 students abducted by gunmen in northwest Nigeria

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

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 10 students were abducted by gunmen in northwest Nigeria, authorities said on Tuesday.Students from the Government Secondary School in Kaduna state were abducted during an attack Monday, however it was unclear exactly where they were kidnapped from, said Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner of security. “The exact location of the incident is yet to be ascertained but detailed reports being awaited will clarify whether the incident occurred within the school premises or elsewhere,” he said. Abductions of students from schools in northern Nigeria are common and have become a growing concern since 2014, when Islamic extremists kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in Borno state. More than 1,000 students were kidnapped from schools in the northwest and northcentral regions in 2020 and 2021, according to a United Nations report last year. Authorities blame the abductions on armed groups who often target remote communities. Most of the gunmen are thought to be yo...

Former Quebec doctor faces manslaughter charge after patient dies following surgery

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

MONTREAL — Laval police say a former doctor is facing a manslaughter charge after an 84-year-old patient died following a 2019 surgery.Isabelle Desormeau was arrested March 30 and released under conditions and a promise to appear for her arraignment on April 21.Police say the 52-year-old Desormeau faces one count of manslaughter in connection with the death of the patient on Nov. 1, 2019, at Cité-de-la-Santé hospital in Laval, Que., a Montreal suburb.Authorities say Desormeau was the anesthetist at the time of the surgery.Quebec’s college of physicians says Desormeau quit the profession in December 2019. Laval police are asking anyone with information about the accused or the incident to contact them.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

Avian Flu cases confirmed in Mississauga

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

Birds found dead in Mississauga have tested positive for H5N1, also known as the avian flu, the City of Mississauga confirmed in a release on Tuesday.Manager at Mississauga Animal Services, Jay Smith, warned that the illness can “quickly devastate bird and wildlife populations, which can profoundly impact our environment and food chain.”“We’ve received multiple calls from residents reporting sick, dying or dead birds and are working closely with Peel Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative to assess risks,” he added.“With many birds migrating back to Ontario for the spring migration, our investigation and response will be ongoing.”Avian flu is transmitted from bird to bird through secretions, feces, contaminated feed, water and equipment, and while the risk to human remains low, Smith warned residents to take common-sense precautions.“Despite the low risk of humans contracting the flu, people should still be cautious and avoid going near or...

Woman followed, sexually assaulted outside Scarborough home; suspect sought

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

Police are searching for a suspect after a woman was allegedly followed home and sexually assaulted in Scarborough.The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Monday in the area of Birchmount Road and St. Clair Avenue East.Police say a woman was walking home when she suspected someone was following her. Once she made it to her residence, the suspect ran up, grabbed her from behind, and sexually assaulted her.The victim was able to fight off the suspect and made it inside her home.The suspect fled the area on foot.Police are searching for a white clean-shaven male. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweater and a dark-coloured backpack.Anyone with additional information is being asked to contact police.

Highland Park High School on lockdown due to student 'potentially' in possession of gun

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

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Highland Park High School is currently on lockdown due to a student potentially in possession of a gun, city officials said.There have been no reports of shots fired at this time and a heavy police presence is surrounding the school.Students and staff have been asked to remain in place.Earlier in the morning, students planned a walkout over gun violence. At this time, it's unknown if that occured.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

2 Georgia men electrocuted during substation break-in

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

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Two northeast Georgia men died Monday after they were electrocuted while breaking into a power company substation.The deaths happened before dawn at a Georgia Power Co. substation in an industrial area south of downtown Gainesville, news outlets reported.Hall County Deputy Coroner Kevin Wetzel identified the dead to local news outlets as Shane Joseph Long, 45, and Christopher Blair Wood, 44, both of Gainesville. Their bodies are undergoing autopsies. Trump indictment live coverage: Former president set to be arraigned in NY Gainesville Police say the two men broke into a fenced area and were trying to steal something, possibly copper wiring, when they were killed. Emergency crews were called to an explosion and possible fire and could not recover the bodies for hours because of the danger posed by the electricity.Pap Datta, owner of the adjoining Liquid Nation Brewing, told The Times of Gainesville that the substation is securely fenced and well...

UConn fans tear down lampposts, set fires after Huskies championship win, videos show

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

STORRS, Conn. (WTNH) – Chaotic scenes broke out on the University of Connecticut campus following the UConn Huskies' NCAA championship win on Monday night, resulting in 15 people being arrested and charged with various crimes while 16 others were hospitalized, according to school officials.About 10,000 people were watching the game in the university's Gampel Pavilion arena. Police were present across the campus, keeping an eye on the crowds, and then interfering once the celebrations took a turn. UConn wins March Madness with 76-59 smothering of San Diego State University spokesperson Stephanie Reitz claimed the vast majority of those celebrating the victory last night on the campus in Storrs, Connecticut, did so safely and responsibly. But "a small number chose to risk their safety and that of others by vandalizing or destroying property after the game," she said.UConn fans pushed a lamp post through a van on April 4, 2023, following a victory over San Diego State University. (WT...