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Ontario passes health reform bill that expands private delivery of care

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

Ontario has passed a health-reform bill that will allow more private clinics to offer certain publicly funded surgeries and procedures in an effort to cut long wait lists for care.Cataract surgeries and diagnostic imaging and testing will be expanded while the government will create an entirely new system to perform hip and knee replacement surgeries.There are about 900 private clinics currently operating across the province, the vast majority of them for diagnostic imaging and testing.The moves are part of the government’s plan to decrease wait times and reduce a massive backlog of surgeries, which stands at more than 200,000 procedures.Hospitals have said they are concerned about losing staff to private clinics.The new bill has drawn criticism from opposition parties and health-care workers.RELATED: New data shows for-profit clinics charging significantly more for surgeriesThe Ontario Nurses’ Association says the province should invest in hospitals to perform more surg...

Wildfires rage in Russia’s Ural mountains, Siberia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Wildfires have engulfed large areas in Russia’s Ural mountains and in Siberia this week, with authorities promising to swiftly contain them. A total of over 54,000 hectares of forests in the Sverdlovsk region in the Urals were on fire as of Monday morning, according to local authorities. More than 4,800 firefighters have been battling the blaze, with some 6,000 volunteers helping them. Head of Russia’s Federal Forestry Agency Ivan Sovetnikov said Monday he expected “most major fires in the region to be contained and put out” within two to three days. It wasn’t immediately clear if such a goal was too optimistic: on Sunday night, the area engulfed in flames stood at 33,000 hectares, but it grew significantly overnight. In the neighboring Kurgan region, the fires have already destroyed more than 300 residential houses and 3,900 other buildings, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported, citing local emergency officials. Kurgan Governor Vadim Shumko...

Ex-Neo-Nazi guilty in 2017 slayings of Florida roommates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

A former member of a neo-Nazi group pleaded guilty Monday to fatally shooting his two Florida roommates in 2017, abruptly avoiding the start of a murder trial in which he had planned to use the insanity defense, according to court records.Devon Arthurs, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and will serve a 45-year prison sentence. The plea deal with prosecutors means Arthur will not face a possible life sentence.“This defendant committed a cold and calculated crime and for that he will spend the majority of his life in prison,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez in a statement. “The victims’ families are satisfied with this outcome which allows them to avoid a painful trial while knowing the defendant will have to dwell upon the pain he has caused for the next several decades behind bars.”Arthurs admitted killing the roommates, Andrew Oneschuk, 18, and 22-year-old Jeremy Himmelman, nearly 6 years ago at the Tampa apartment they shared. Arthurs told police after...

TTC union workers win back right to strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

An Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled that provincial government legislation banning TTC workers from striking violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, giving them back the right to strike.Effective immediately, the legislation is declared unconstitutional. The province had called for the court to delay the implementation of the decision until March 31, 2024, but Justice Chalmers said the request was “unreasonable.”A spokesman for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 calls it an “historic and important decision.”In 2011, the then Liberal government under Premier Dalton McGuinty passed a law banning strikes and lockouts at the TTC. It stemmed from a request made by Toronto City Council to declare the transit system an essential service.At the time, the city estimated TTC work stoppages cost the economy $50 million per day.CityNews has reached out to the TTC and the City of Toronto for comment on the ruling.

Charges laid after 700-plus take part in unsanctioned Barrie truck rally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

Barrie Police have laid dozens of charges following an unsanctioned weekend truck rally involving more than 700 people.On Saturday, authorities said Barrie Police Traffic Officers were assisted by officers from the South Simcoe Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police in responding to stunt driving in the parking lot of Bayfield Mall.Police said between 500 and 600 vehicles were present, with more than 700 people in attendance. There were 29 Highway Traffic Act violations, stunt driving charges, and thousands of dollars in damage to the parking lot.There is also a hit-and-run being investigated by local officers that occurred in the Bayfield Street and Coulter Street area.“The Barrie Police Service reminds those that may be considering attending large, unsanctioned events like this that officers work closely with the owners of the large parking lots throughout the city of Barrie,” a police spokesperson said.“Officers are able to act on behalf of the property ow...

Justin Fields has a big weekend at Ohio State

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

COLUMBUS, OH — It was a big day for the Bears quarterback - and it had nothing to do with his exploits on the football field. Justin Fields returned to Ohio State University on Sunday to receive his bachelor's degree in consumer and family financial services from the school. He continued work towards his degree after declaring for the NFL Draft in January 2021.He took part in the ceremony that was held at Ohio Stadium, where the quarterback enjoyed two outstanding seasons with the Buckeyes and was one of the best players in college football. Ohio State football's Twitter account posted pictures of Fields with his diploma after the graduation ceremony. Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren, who was the president of the Big Ten when the quarterback played for the Buckeyes, was also in Columbus for the festivities as well.A native of Kennesaw, Georgia, Fields started his college career at Georgia in 2018 before transferring to Ohio State. With the Buckeyes, he was a two-time Big...

'Outraged' letter carriers demand action to stop robberies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Postal carriers have more worries than snow, rain or the gloom of night keeping them from their appointed rounds. They're increasingly being robbed, often at gunpoint, from Maine to California. Robberies of postal carriers have exploded, surging 78% to nearly 500 in 2022, according to data provided by U.S. Postal Inspection Service to The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. Letter carriers are demanding action from the U.S. Postal Service. String of mail carriers robbed at gunpoint in Chicago continues “The National Association of Letter Carriers is outraged and angered by the assaults, armed robberies and even murders that America’s letter carriers increasingly face as they deliver the mail. These attacks are completely unacceptable,” said Paul Barner, the union’s executive vice president.The Postal Service said it’s adapting and implementing new measures to address the robberies, which are taking a toll on letter carriers tasked with del...

'Forever grateful': Sum 41 announces break up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

Longtime rock band Sum 41 announced Monday they are disbanding following the release of their upcoming album and subsequent final tour.Founded in 1996 in Ajax, Ontario — Sum 41 achieved commercial success with their debut album, "All Killer No Filler" in 2001. They've released a total of seven albums with a final album "Heaven :x: Hell" due out. No release date for the LP has been announced yet.The band said they are continuing their current tour dates and a final tour "to celebrate" the latest album will also take place. May concert calendar: 10 shows to check out "Being in Sum 41 since 1996 brought us some of the best moments of our lives. We are forever grateful to our fans both old and new, who have supported us in every way. It is hard to articulate the love and respect we have for all of you and we wanted you to hear this from us first," part of their statement reads.

Man dies while saving brother from drowning in Kenosha County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

KENOSHA, Wis. — A 39-year-old man died while saving his drowning brother in the Pike River, according to Kenosha County Sheriff's officials.Emergency crews were called to the 2000 block of Sheridan Road, in the village of Somers, around 1:30 p.m. Sunday for reports of a possible drowning.Deputies said that a man was swimming in the river and began to struggle — and a child that was with the man ran to get help. According to officials, the man's brother and another man jumped into the water to save him. As the man was pulled to shore, his brother went under and did not resurface.Kenosha County Deputies and Somers Fire/Rescue arrived to the scene and attempted to locate the 39-year-old man who went under. Authorities searched the river using a remotely operated underwater vehicle.Around 2:50 p.m.. the man was located and was unconscious and not breathing. He was transported to Froedtert South Pleasant Prairie Hospital where he was pronounced dead.The medical examiner has identified hi...

Dean's A-List Interviews: Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert DeNiro; Growing up Italian in 'About My Father' 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:05:13 GMT

Check out Dean's A-List Interview with Robert De Niro on his role as an Italian-immigrant father in the new film, 'About My Father,' with his co-star and son in the movie, Arlington Heights-native actor Sebastian Maniscalco. Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!