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US officials block Elf Bar-maker from importing 1.4 million illegal e-cigarettes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. agents recently seized more than 1.4 million illegal e-cigarettes from the Chinese manufacturer behind Elf Bar, a line of fruity disposable vapes that has become the top brand among American teens, officials said Thursday.Officials pegged the value of the e-cigarettes seized at Los Angeles International Airport at $18 million and said they included several related brands, including Lost Mary, Funky Republic and EB Create, according to a statement from the Food and Drug Administration. The agency announced the seizure with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which helped conduct the operation.Many of the containers were deliberately mislabeled as toys, shoes and other household items in order to evade customs, the agencies said. FDA records show regulators intercepted the shipment on Nov. 6 from iMiracle Shenzhen, which makes Elf Bar and other disposable electronic cigarettes.It’s the first time authorities have reported successfully blocking the company ...

Indiana State Police K9 suffers gunshot wound Thursday morning; injuries not life-threatening

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

GARY — An Indiana State Police K9 suffered a gunshot wound Thursday morning during an incident in Northwest Indiana.According to Indiana State Police, the K9 suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is being treated at a local vet hospital.The incident occurred after Indiana State Police troopers pursued a suspect in a vehicle on Interstate-80/94. At some point, Indiana State Police say, the suspect left the vehicle and was pursued on foot.During the apprehension of the suspect, the K9 suffered a gunshot wound. At this time, it is not clear who fired the gunshot that struck the K9.Following the foot chase, the suspect was taken into custody in the area of Wisconsin and 21st in Gary.Indiana State Police is working to investigate the incident and the circumstances surrounding the K9 shooting.

Lawmakers call for gun safety measures on 11th anniversary of Sandy Hook

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Today marks 11 years since the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school and some lawmakers are again calling for more gun safety measures.But any movement on this issue of gun safety or restrictions is unlikely given the makeup of Congress.Some lawmakers in Washington say the country still hasn’t learned lessons from Sandy Hook.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says, “The country said we must never allow it to happen, but this year alone there have been 635 mass shootings in the United States of America.” Democrats and the Biden administration say a renewed assault weapons ban is needed."I am absolutely in favor of the Second Amendment, and I am also in favor of an assault weapons ban, a universal background check," said Vice President Kamala Harris.But Republicans say that’s not the answer. Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance says, “They seem to be saying let's impose a new set of legal standards on law abiding gun owners. And as a law-abiding gu...

Connecticut police officer saves girl's life, becomes part of her family: 'I'll be there for her graduation and wedding'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – When Tooka gets home from school, she runs into the outstretched arms of her Uncle Mike."I missed you!" she tells Uncle Mike, aka Det. Michael Harton of Connecticut's North Haven Police Department.Harton been a constant in Tooka's life for the past several years, ever since saving her life."They call her Tooka but not for me — [it's] 'little angel,'" said Harton.Det. Mike Harton of the North Haven Police Department is pictured with Tooka, the girl whose live he saved four years ago. (WTNH)Their paths first crossed four years ago. Tooka, just a few months old at the time, was with mom Nikki Huckaby at a movie theater in North Haven when a scary situation unfolded. "I went to pick her up when the movie was over, and I realized she wasn't breathing," said Huckaby. "I was like, 'Oh my God!' I was hysterical.""I see Nicole running towards me with a little angel in her arms," remembered Harton, who just happened to be stationed at the theater that night. 7 Virg...

7 Virginia 4th-graders sickened by gummies eaten from fentanyl-laced bag

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) – Seven fourth-grade students in Amherst County, Virginia, are recovering after eating gummy candy from a bag that later tested positive for fentanyl residue."A student brought a sandwich bag containing gummies to school, and then shared those gummies with six classmates during lunch," said Dr. William Wells, the Amherst County Public Schools superintendent,. Not long after, it was clear something was wrong."Students who ingested the gummies exhibited symptoms of nausea, vomiting, headache, and some muscle spasm," said Dr. Wells. What to do if someone overdoses on an opioid, such as fentanyl The Amherst County Sheriff's Office was then called to investigate, testing the gummies for multiple substances."We tested further and found actually what it was," said Lt. Dallas Hill.The issue? Fentanyl residue, found on the plastic bag that the gummies were in.After that discovery, Dr. Wells says the school was cleaned to prevent further exposure to students.On W...

Austin approves more than $15M to kickstart I-35 'cap and stitch' design work

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council approved Thursday millions of dollars in funding agreements with the Texas Department of Transportation for the city's Our Future 35 "cap and stitch" program.TxDOT is working toward its eight-mile I-35 Capital Expression Central project in downtown Austin, which features added lanes along with the removal of the upper decks and lowering of the highway. The cap and stitch program calls for the installation of caps — or deck plazas that can host community and green spaces, pavilions, public art or cultural facilities — on top of those sunken highway lanes. City officials outlined Nov. 7 several sites where “caps” — or deck plazas that can support community and green spaces, pavilions, public art or cultural facilities — could exist over the lowered highway. (Courtesy: Our Future 35)During a Nov. 7 council work session, highlighted locations for caps included some running from Cesar Chavez to 4th streets, one from 4th to 7th streets, one over 11th an...

Thank you from Blanket for Canada Coaldale group

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

Dear Editor,This is our annual Thank-You message from Blanket for Canada Coaldale group.This year, nationally we celebrated 25 years of making blankets. We met October 26 at the Southminster United Church in Lethbridge. We had coffee and goodies, and also some speakers who congratulated us and special thanks to Nancy Panting who started this. It was a snowy day, so there were seniors who did not come. Coaldale group was there and I was able to report that we still meet every Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.We want to thank all those who have donated blankets, yarns and materials to make more than 200 blankets this year, and that we have in the 17 years in Coaldale made more than 3,000 blankets.We thank God for giving us helpers and supplies to make it all possible. Feel free to stop by on a Thursday or phone Nellie at 403-345-3205 for an appointment, not on a Sunday. We are at 2226 – 23 Ave., in Coaldale.Wishing you all Gods blessings for 2024.Nellie Slingerland, Blankets for Canada

The problem with Trudeau’s fiscal responsibility message

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

There’s only one problem with the federal government’s messaging about saving money: the feds aren’t actually saving money. “The foundation of our Fall Economic Statement is our responsible fiscal plan,” said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.The mid-year budget update shows the government increasing spending by $15 billion this year. A far cry from Freeland’s March promise to find “savings of $15.4 billion over the next five years.”Next year, the government will increase spending by $30 billion. And that comes on top of an already ballooned baseline.The feds spent all-time highs before the pandemic. That means Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was spending more before the pandemic than the feds did during any single year during World War II, even after accounting for inflation and population growth.Freeland is trying to put Canadians’ minds at ease by claiming her deficits are “modest.” Canadians have heard this before.When running for prime minister in 2015, Trudeau promised to run a...

RCMP hosts Auto Theft Prevention Information Session

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn November 22, the RCMP Detachment in Coaldale, Alberta hosted an Auto Theft Prevention Information Session and steering wheel locking giveaway event at the Coaldale Sportsplex.“The Coaldale detachment area has seen an increase in auto theft in the previous months and this event was held to provide information and resources about preventing auto crime to compliment ongoing enforcement efforts,” said Staff Sergeant Mike Numan, Detachment Commander of the Coaldale RCMP. “In Alberta Auto theft is one of the main drivers of crime. Most stolen vehicles are used to commit further crimes and thus increase the harm in communities. There are many ways to reduce and prevent thefts and the RCMP wanted to take this opportunity to discuss this.”The event, Numan said, involved members of the Coaldale Detachment and the Alberta RCMP. Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch engaging with citizens of the Coaldale Detachm...

Town of Picture Butte council meeting briefs from November 27

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe following are select briefs from the Town of Picture Butte Council meeting that was held on November 27, 2023.Delegation from Southern AlbertaKanadier AssociationDan Doerksen from the Southern Alberta Kanadier Association gave a presentation to Council about what the Kanadier Association is and how it works. The Association, Doerksen says, is an umbrella organization, that is pretty much across Southern Alberta and is a group of community service providers that works to improve the health and wellness of the Low German Mennonite population in Southern Alberta. Doerksen says that as an organization, the Kanadier Association meets five times a year, plus the AGM, and has been meeting via Zoom since COVID. Doerksen also briefly recapped highlights from the year, stating that the big event that happened was on June 6, 2023 and that event was the SAKA Conference for Service Providers of the Low German Co...