Growing B.C. wildfire closes Highway 20 following evacuation alert

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Growing B.C. wildfire closes Highway 20 following evacuation alert BELLA COOLA, B.C. — DriveBC says Highway 20 east of Bella Coola is closed in both directions due to a wildfire that has grown to more than 25-square kilometres in size. The BC Wildfire Service says fire behaviour for the Young Creek wildfire, about 35 kilometres west of Anahim Lake, has increased due to high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.This comes after the Cariboo Regional District issued an evacuation order for 43-square kilometres near the community of Anahim Lake on Friday and residents were told to leave immediately using the highway.More than 100 international firefighters joined BC Wildfire Service members who are battling about 460 active blazes burning across the province. The Canadian Armed Forces, which also deployed members earlier this week to help fight fires, shared photo on social media showing military members using axes to “break up hot spots” and chop charred and still-smouldering brush near Vanderhoof, B.C.BC Wildfire Service officials ...

2 adults, 2 children missing after thunderstorms cause flooding across Nova Scotia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

2 adults, 2 children missing after thunderstorms cause flooding across Nova Scotia An unusually long procession of intense thunderstorms dumped record amounts of rain across a wide swath of Nova Scotia on Friday and Saturday, washing away roads, cutting power to thousands and triggering a search for at least four missing people.Torrential downpours started Friday afternoon across the Halifax region, dumping more than 200 millimetres of rain in the Hammonds Plains, Bedford and Lower Sackville areas. The port city typically receives about 90-100 mm of rain during an average July.The ensuing floods submerged multiple vehicles, and RCMP spokeswoman Cindy Bayers said two such incidents in West Hants north of Halifax have left two adults and two children unaccounted for as of Saturday morning.The two children went missing after the vehicle they were travelling in got stuck underwater, she said, noting the three other occupants were able to escape safely.Two other individuals, who Bayers described as a youth and a man, remain unaccounted for following a separate vehicle ...

Toronto police officer struck in hit-and-run in Parkdale

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Toronto police officer struck in hit-and-run in Parkdale The search is on for two suspects who fled the scene of a hit-and-run in Parkdale on Saturday afternoon that injured one police officer. Toronto police say the female officer was in the area of King Street West and Jameson Avenue attempting to stop a vehicle when they were struck just before 2:30 p.m. The vehicle then fled the scene but was recovered a short while later, however, the occupants were nowhere to be found. Police say they are looking for two males between the ages of 17 and 20. Both were last seen wearing all black clothing.Paramedics transported the female officer to a local hospital in stable condition with minor injuries.

Human remains found in luggage at Texas ranch

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Human remains found in luggage at Texas ranch TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Authorities in Texas are investigating what appears to be a homicide after workers on a ranch in Bexar County discovered human remains inside a piece of luggage.The gruesome discovery was made Thursday morning around 10:45, Sheriff Javier Salazar of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said in a news release this week."Some folks that were out here feeding animals … saw a duffel bag of some sort, a piece of luggage, out in the middle of the property," Salazar said. "They began investigating it and found what appears to be human remains." How hot is too hot for the human body? The suitcase containing the remains wasn't hidden or obscured, but rather left on the side of a hilly area, according to Salazar."There really wasn't a whole lot of effort to hide the body, other than it was inside a suitcase," he said.On Thursday morning, workers feeding animals at the ranch spotted "a duffel bag of some sort, a piece of luggage" and found human remains inside, according to...

Want to design your own Barbie Dream House? Here are the colors the pros suggest — and where to use them

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Want to design your own Barbie Dream House? Here are the colors the pros suggest — and where to use them (NEXSTAR) — You may not be able to afford a real-life Malibu Dream House just yet, but you can still incorporate Barbie-inspired design touches into your current living space.Barbie-approved pinks currently adorn everything from Crocs to popcorn to hamburgers. And now, people are increasingly looking to slather similar colors on their walls, according to Sue Wadden at Sherwin-Williams.A representative for HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams said the brand's Amaryllis HGSW6591 is good for nooks, especially those with "fun lighting." (HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams) Wadden, the company's director of color marketing, told Nexstar that pale, softer pinks had already been growing in popularity, but bolder shades are currently having their moment, partly due to the “Barbie” movie.“Now that the trend is brightening up thanks to the movie, I’m super excited to see how homeowners use these joyful pops of color,” said Wadden. Mural in Austin, Texas, gets Barbie makeover Of course, there’s really o...

4 mistakes travel points experts don't make

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

4 mistakes travel points experts don't make (NerdWallet) - Travel rewards are complicated.Nearly a quarter of travelers (24%) say they have difficulty understanding earning and redemption rules, according to a 2022 survey of 2,041 U.S. consumers by iSeatz, a loyalty program service provider. Yet this complexity makes travel rewards a prime target for spreadsheet-wielding obsessives who want to wring every penny from their points and miles.These experts love to share lavish vacations on social media and online forums, nitpicking over the best overwater bungalow in the Maldives. They rarely share the more mundane expertise they’ve garnered, even though these basic tactics are the most important, especially for beginners.Understanding and avoiding these four simple mistakes can help you make smart travel rewards decisions, whether you’re visiting the Maldives or Milwaukee.1. Accruing credit card debtThis mistake is so critical, it should probably also be Nos. 2, 3 and 4 on this list. Travel credit cards are a great way to earn p...

PHOTOS: 'Splooting' squirrel sightings on the rise in Austin, Central Texas as temperatures soar

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

PHOTOS: 'Splooting' squirrel sightings on the rise in Austin, Central Texas as temperatures soar AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Residents across Central Texas have spotted squirrels in some peculiar spots while the critters attempt to cool off as temperatures soar. This particular position is called "splooting."Over the past month, temperatures in Central Texas have reached triple digits on numerous occasions, oftentimes for several days in a row. Why squirrels are ‘splooting’ in the heat and what we can do to help them Some KXAN viewers noticed squirrels lying flat on their stomachs with their legs stretched out. Some viewers said they have even seen the little critters digging holes in the ground to lie in as well.Squirrel seen splooting in Austin (Courtesy Ryan B)Squirrel seen splooting in Austin (Courtesy Bob P)Squirrel seen splooting in Georgetown (Courtesy Jim H)Squirrel seen splooting in Round Rock (Courtesy Angie K)Squirrel seen splooting in Cedar Park (Courtesy Amy G)Squirrel seen splooting in Round Rock (Courtesy Maggie A)Squirrel seen splooting in Marble Falls (Courtesy Carrie F...

Yankees Notebook: Anthony Rizzo in ‘a really good spot physically’ despite slump, Aaron Boone says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Yankees Notebook: Anthony Rizzo in ‘a really good spot physically’ despite slump, Aaron Boone says Anthony Rizzo seems fine physically, despite a prolonged slump that’s included a two-month drought without a home run, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday.The first baseman hasn’t homered since May 20 — a stretch of 44 games — and entered Saturday’s home contest against the Royals without a hit in his last 18 at-bats.“I do feel like, physically, he is in a really good spot, especially with some of the things he’s had to deal with periodically with his back over the last few years,” Boone said.“I just look at it as one of those funks of a really good player that’s kind of going through it. I think everything suggests from a bat speed and physical attribute [sense] that he’s still very much the same. He’s just been off.”Rizzo, who tied his career high with 32 home runs last season, started the 2023 campaign with 11 homers through his first 46 games. He took a .304 average into June but batted just .173...

Congressman Richard Neal announces $3 Million for Wahconah Park

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Congressman Richard Neal announces $3 Million for Wahconah Park PITTSFIELD, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Congressman Richard Neal announced $3 Million in federal funding for Wahconah Park in Pittsfield. The money will go towards renovations for the grandstand of the historic baseball field. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! A recent structural evaluation revealed significant structural concerns with the stadium and this money will bring it into compliance with building codes while preserving the venue. “For those of us who are sporting fans and former participants, the word iconic is overused in America," Neal said. "But guess what, when it comes to Wahconah Park it’s the appropriate designation, iconic.”“The Wahconah Park restoration committee whose many members are here today they continue to work diligently," Linda Tyer, Pittsfield Mayor, said. "They’ve been soliciting input from the community and working with the design team to create this new vision.” Biden picks female admiral to lead Navy. She’d...

Van with thousands of vapes burns on Connecticut highway

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Van with thousands of vapes burns on Connecticut highway SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — A van carrying over 2,000 vape pens went up in smoke this week in Southington, Connecticut. The car fire, which was initially reported on I-691 Eastbound between Exits 5 and 3 on Tuesday, caused hours of traffic delays. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! (Southington Fire Department)Southington-based Environmental Services, Inc., who assisted the Southington Fire Department with the clean-up, said more than 2,000 vapes were determined to be in the van at the time of the fire. They all burned and were destroyed in the blaze. Congressman Richard Neal announces $3 Million for Wahconah Park No injuries were reported in the incident. The fire department said all of the waste is being removed and will be disposed of properly.Over 2,000 vaping devices were burned or damaged in the fire. (Southington Fire Department) Biden picks female admiral to lead Navy. She’d be first woman on Joint Chiefs of Staff E-ci...