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MIA: No sign of Canadian quick-reaction force first pledged to UN in 2017

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

OTTAWA — The United Nations may soon start questioning Canada’s definition of “quick” now that the government has given itself three more years to deliver a 200-soldier force for peacekeeping.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first committed Canada to providing a quick-reaction force in November 2017 when he hosted a major international peacekeeping summit in Vancouver.UN officials at the time welcomed the commitment, which coincided with Canada’s campaign for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council.But Canada ended up losing that campaign, and six years later, it still hasn’t made good on the promise to deploy a quick-reaction force.The UN and the United States have pressed Canada since then to create the force, and the Liberals insist it remains on the table.But after having already given itself an extension last year on an initial five-year deadline, the government says it now has until March 2026. This report by The Canadian Press was first publishe...

'Mr. Beef': Free adoption for dog who honors Chicago Italian beef legend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

CHICAGO — In honor of a local Italian beef legend, a pair of companies and a local shelter teamed up to try to get a "beefy" dog adopted.Last month, the founder of Mr. Beef, Joseph Zucchero, died unexpectedly at the age of 69. The longtime shop stands at 666 N. Orleans St. and was the inspiration for the hit FX show "The Bear."According to the Associated Press, the Italian beef legend was “elated” when Christopher Storer, creator of “The Bear” and a childhood friend of Zucchero's son, centered the show on his shop.“He was very proud of that,” son Christopher Zucchero said.After his death, in lieu of flowers — family directed donations to the Chicago shelter One Tail at a Time.One Tail at a Time wanted to pay tribute to such a generous gesture, so they got to work on finding a perfect dog to represent Zucchero."It was extra special to pay tribute," said Director of Development Maggie Hudson. "We reached out to the intake team and said, 'can you find an extra beefy dog to name Mr. Bee...

DOJ will ask Supreme Court to pause restrictions on abortion pill use, mailing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will ask the Supreme Court to pause a ruling that would roll back changes that make it easier to access mifepristone, the common abortion pill.U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk last week ruled that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) violated federal standards when it first approved mifepristone 23 years ago, staying the agency’s initial approval of the pill.Late Wednesday night, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mifepristone may remain on the market as the federal government’s appeal proceeds, but it meanwhile allowed portions of the Texas judge's ruling to stand that would roll back a series of actions the FDA has taken since 2016 that eased access.Those changes included allowing the mifepristone to be sent through the mail, lifting a requirement for three in-person visits, approving a generic and approving the drug’s use up to 10 weeks into a pregn...

Former Illinois labor union president admits embezzlement scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

BENTON, Ill. - A former labor union president from Alton, Illinois, appeared in federal court Tuesday and admitted embezzling more than $200,000 from the organization.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois said Byron Clemons, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen money.According to court documents, Clemons served as president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 124 from June 2017 through January 2022. Between February 2021 and January 2022, Clemons withdrew $202,100 from the union's U.S. Bank account, and used that money for personal expenses and to gamble at casinos.“Labor unions exist to promote the interests of the working men and women who make up their ranks. But instead of promoting the interests of his members, Clemons used his position to enrich himself and get cash to gamble at casinos,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Cutchin said. Clemons will ...

Lake Mead's unexpected water level rise continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — In a surprising move, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is releasing much more water from Lake Powell in an effort to shore up Lake Mead's water level. Beginning on April 1, 2023, Reclamation began the process of releasing more than twice the previously scheduled amount of water downriver through the Glen Canyon Dam. "The release volume from Glen Canyon Dam for April 2023 will be increased to 910,000 acre-feet because of the increased snowpack throughout March," Reclamation Public Affairs Officer Becki Bryant told Nexstar's KLAS.Historic (10-year) release volumes from Lake Powell. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)This directive came from Reclamation's Upper Colorado Basin office. The spike in the total amount of water being released can be seen on charts provided by Reclamation. The last time this amount of water was suddenly released, according to Reclamation, was at the end of March 2021."They are doing several things at once. And they a...

El Niño watch issued: Here's what that means

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The likelihood of transitioning to an El Niño climate pattern has continued to increase, prompting the Climate Prediction Center to issue an El Niño watch.According to the Climate Prediction Center an El Niño Watch is issued "when conditions are favorable for the development of El Niño conditions within the next six months." El Niño: The history and impacts We're currently not experiencing El Niño. In fact, we're in an ENSO Neutral pattern, which means neither La Niño or El Niño. Remember, ENSO stands for El Niño Southern Oscillation and is the name for the climate pattern impacted by the warmer- or cooler-than-normal waters of the Eastern Equatorial Pacific. When the waters are within 0.5ºC of normal, we're considered ENSO Neutral, and no predictable changes in our weather pattern are expected to result from the water temperature in that part of the Pacific.Chances of El NiñoThe odds of El Niño have ramped up significantly over last month's update. Last month ENS...

Daniel Perry's attorney sends letter to Texas pardon board after guilty verdict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 13, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Daniel Perry's attorney released a letter he sent to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Thursday, following Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request for the board to review the guilty verdict and the Travis County District Attorney's response to Abbott's request.Perry was found guilty of murder on April 7 in the deadly shooting of an Air Force veteran and Black Lives Matter protester, Garrett Foster, during a racial justice protest in July 2020 in downtown Austin. Foster was armed with a rifle. Perry's attorneys said the shooting was in self-defense. READ: Full letter to Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles from Perry's attorney Clinton Broden, Perry's attorney, wrote in the letter Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza prevented the lead detective in the case from "mentioning a great deal of exculpatory evidence to the grand jury," and calling an indictment in this case "politica...

Austin to explore new safety improvements to Rainey Street district

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin city leaders are working toward creating an interim pedestrian safety plan for the Rainey Street Historic District, following council action taken Thursday.Austin City Council approved the resolution directing Interim City Manager Jesús Garza to "explore the capacity for Park Rangers to patrol and have EMS stationed at the Rainey Street Trailhead." Following council action Thursday, Garza is expected to present an initial report to the body by April 20. RELATED: Weekend Rainey St. patrols helped APD find missing man This comes after city officials have documented five late or overnight drownings near Rainey Street. Austin Police have said no foul play is suspected in these cases, but Council Member Zo Qadri said work remains to improve public safety in the entertainment district.Alongside exploring additional Park Rangers and EMS resources, Garza said he would also look into the possibility of adding more HALO security cameras throughout the entertainment d...

Report: UT Austin with nation's highest bed count for student housing projects under construction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

AUSTIN, (KXAN) - The University of Texas at Austin has the highest bed count in the nation for student housing projects currently under construction, according to real estate company Berkadia’s 2023 Student Housing Market report.The report shows UT coming in at the top spot with 5,522 total beds. That's nearly double the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which is ranked second on the 50-school list.The top-ten bed count: University of Texas at Austin 5,522University of Wisconsin - Madison 2,814University of Maryland 2,648University of Central Florida 2,634Georgia Institute of Technology 2,630University of Florida 2,390Indiana University 2,320Florida International University 2,287Pennsylvania State University 1,940University of South Florida 1,820West Campus housing high-rise boomThis comes as new housing high-rises are popping up all across the West Campus area. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 30-story, all-glass student housing high-rise coming to West Campus Tuesday, Birmingham-based Hoar...

TxDOT unveils new design proposals for I-35 expansion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Transportation is giving new insight into some design options related to the I-35 Capital Express Central expansion project. The eight-mile project scope runs along the I-35 corridor from U.S. Hwy. 290 East down south the SH 71 and Ben White Boulevard. ICYMI: How I-35’s expansion proposal could impact Austin congestion, displaced properties TxDOT unveiled the conceptual renderings during a public aesthetics meeting Tuesday evening. The designs highlighted key markers along the proposed highway expansion, including at Lady Bird Lake, 6th Street and Cesar Chavez Street.A conceptual view beneath the bridge running along Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin (Courtesy: Texas Department of Transportation)A southbound look along Lady Bird Lake in the evening (Courtesy: Texas Department of Transportation)A northbound look along Lady Bird Lake in the evening (Courtesy: Texas Department of Transportation)Conceptual art highlights Austin's nickname as th...