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Unifor president demands SNC-Lavalin reinstate fired union head

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

MONTREAL — The head of Canada’s largest private sector union is calling out SNC-Lavalin for firing the head of a separate union that represents 900 of its engineers, scientists and technicians.In a release Tuesday, Unifor national president Lana Payne said SNC should reinstate Mark Chudak, who led the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) until he and another staffer at the engineering firm’s Candu Energy Inc. subsidiary were dismissed last month over allegations of sharing confidential information with an outside organization.Payne said the move marked “an alarming signal of anti-union behaviour” at the SNC.“Workers have the right to organize and advocate for their rights without fear of retaliation. This company must understand the severity of their action and the impact it has on labour relations and employee morale,” she said.The statement comes after a filing by SPEA to the Canada Industrial Relations Board earlier this year...

Stock market today: Wall Street falls with markets worldwide on worries about banks and the economy

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling Tuesday as more caution creeps into financial markets worldwide amid worries about the banking system and the global economy.The S&P 500 was 0.5% lower in late trading after paring an earlier loss that was more than double that. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 198 points, or 0.6%, at 35,275, as of 3 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% lower.On Wall Street, bank stocks fell after Moody’s cut the credit ratings for 10 smaller and midsized ones. It cited a list of concerns about their financial strength, from the effects of higher interest rates to the work-from-home trend that’s leaving office buildings vacant.Across the Pacific, stocks sank after a report showed exports for China’s troubled economy shrank by the most since the start of the pandemic in 2020. And in Europe, bank stocks tumbled in Italy after its Cabinet approved a proposal to tax a chunk of their profits this year. The worries layered on top of a m...

CPD: 23-year-old missing man last seen in Bucktown

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been missing from Bucktown for over a week.Dylan Baxter, 23, was last seen via surveillance footage near his residence in the 2400 block of West Armitage on July 30 at around 7:30 p.m.Baxter is 5'11", 160 lbs. and has black hair. He also has a ninja turtle tattoo on his left arm.Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact detectives at 312-746-6554.

Here's what's more — and less — likely to happen than you winning the lottery

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Being struck by lightning, being killed by a shark and dying from sunstroke. What do they have in common?They're much more likely to happen than you winning the lottery.Both the Powerball and Mega Millions have been gigantic jackpots in recent years. The trick to winning one of those gigantic jackpots? You need a gigantic amount of luck.The odds of winning the Powerball are roughly 1 in 292,201,338, or 0.0000003%. The odds of winning the Mega Millions are even lower, at 1 in 302,575,350Here are some things that are more likely to happen:But 1 in 302 million — or 1 in 292 million — is still a chance, right?! In fact, you're much more likely to win big than being hit by a meteorite (thankfully!).How's this for a mind-blowing fact: You are 30.4 billion times as likely to win the Mega Millions than you are to get a perfect NCAA bracket, if you just guess or flip a coin to determine your teams. That's right, billion with a B.Even if you know a little about basketball and ...

Austin's 32-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the longest in recorded history

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing the longest stretch of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means temperatures have reached the century mark for 32 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that's the longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The previous record of 27 days was set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Meanwhile, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's streak of triple-digit days came to an end Thursday, July 27, with temperatures only reaching 99°. The airport had been above 100° every day since July 9. The 18-day streak ranks as the fourth-longest triple-digit streak since records began t...

Travis County pursuing historic courthouse restoration

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 8, 2023TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Travis County Commissioners Court approved Tuesday $100,000 to hire a professional preservation architect to help develop plans for restoration of the Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse.The Texas Historical Commission (THC) operates the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation program, which provides matching grants to Texas counties working on restoration projects with historic courthouses. Grants are offered in three categories:Planning grants to fund architectural plansConstruction grantsEmergency grants issued for endangered historic courthousesEligible courthouses must have served or currently serve as county courthouses, be at least 50 years old and have a current master plan that's been approved by the THC.Currently, the Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse isn't eligible for funding, since it doesn't have a THC-approved master plan. County staff c...

Uncommon plant discovered in the Berkshires for the first time

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) — For the first time in Massachusetts, a rare plant that is considered endangered in nearby states has been located in the Berkshires. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to MassWildlife, amateur botanist Syke van der Laan was out in the Berkshires when he found a strange-looking plant. He thought it was best to report the discovery to MassWildlife.From MassWildlife, state botanist Robert Wernerehl and retired biologist Tony Gola went to take a look at the plant. They discovered that this was the first time ever that "pine-drops" was discovered in Massachusetts on record. DEC hosts 12th annual Great Hudson River Fish Count Pine-drops discovered in the Berkshires (Credit: MassWildlife)Pine-drops is a unique because it contains no chlorophyll, relying instead on mycorrhizal fungi in the soil for nutrients. The creamy-white flower can appear after rain in the mid-summer. MassWildlife says pine-drop...

DEC: Backpacker encounters a bear in Greene County

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, a backpacker reported a bear followed her near North Point in the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness. The individual claimed she tried to frighten the bear, but when that did not work, she dropped her bag and continued up the trail to call for help. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Ranger Clute reached the subject and was able to locate the bear and scare it away from the backpack. The backpacker hiked down the trail and secured a campsite for the night. Ranger Clute ensured the bear did not attempt to follow the hiker.

Over 80 cats found in Berkshire County 1-bedroom apartment

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) — More than 80 cats were found inside a one-bedroom apartment in Berkshire County last Tuesday. According to a news release from Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, the animal shelter assisted in two separate hoarding cases. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On August 1, the organization brought back several of the more than 80 cats found inside a one-bedroom apartment in Berkshire County to their facility to provide care. And on August 5, Dakin assisted animal control in Hampden County with the intake of over 30 cats and kittens, several of them Siamese and Ragdoll breeds. Dakin brought back 21 cats to their facility to provide care.“It’s very unusual that Dakin responded to two hoarding cases just days apart, but it’s a vital part of our mission to answer the needs of our community," said Dakin’s Executive Director Meg Talbert. Cats that come from these circumstances tend to be very shy, and are typic...

Go-kart race Tuesday in support of Operation Santa Claus

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:45:40 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The engines are purring, and the wheels are spinning fast. On Tuesday night, a race roars through a Queensbury entertainment center, all in the name of the kids. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Starting at 6 p.m., Adventure Family Fun Center is hosting the annual Pajama 500 go-kart race in support of Operation Santa Claus. Entry is priced at $200 per racer at the door. Checks can be made out to Operation Santa Claus. On Facebook, the owners of Coach's Corner Food Truck declared some father-child competition among the participants. The business is accepting additional donations directly.Every dollar raised goes right to Operation Santa Claus, a nonprofit that has worked since 1974 to benefit underprivileged children during the holidays. The organization works with individual school districts across Warren, Washington and Saratoga County to get new clothes and other items to kids in need through the ho...