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Wildfire smoke from Canada again impacts Massachusetts, sparks ‘air quality alert’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

That pesky smoke from the raging Canadian wildfires is yet again impacting the region, sparking an “air quality alert” for parts of the Bay State.The smoke from the out-of-control wildfires in Canada has wreaked havoc on the U.S. for several weeks now, since the beginning of June. Depending on how the wind blows, the smoke and hazy skies will likely come back to the region at various points over the next few months.One of those unfortunate times is this week, as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on Monday issued an air quality alert for five counties in central and western Massachusetts.Those counties under the air quality alert for elevated fine particle pollution (PM2.5) on Monday were: Worcester, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties.“Air quality is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups,” the state Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement. “Sensitive groups include people with heart or l...

How’s the market? How to hire for home repairs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

Are you considering a home remodel or building a new house? Here are some questions you should ask before you choose a contractor or other licensed professional.How long have you been in business?In a community as small as ours, word gets around if you don’t know what you’re doing. In big metropolitan areas, there’s an endless supply of people who need work done and have no idea whether a contractor is any good, but in the Ukiah Valley it’s hard to stay in business for very long doing shoddy or unscrupulous work.Are you licensed and insured?A license doesn’t guarantee quality work, but it does increase the chances that your contractor will have the skills to do the job. Be sure your contractor is licensed to do the specific work you need — and that he or she carries both liability and workers’ compensation insurance.Hiring a licensed and insured professional not only increases the likelihood of quality, but it may also provide financial security if something goes wrong.Years ago, a ...

Deaths of four Oregon women over three months are linked, authorities say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The deaths of four women whose bodies were found over the course of three months in or near Portland, Oregon, are linked, and at least one person of interest has been identified, authorities said Monday.The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in Portland says no charges have been filed against anyone but that the community is not currently in any danger. Local media reported that a man is in custody.The women’s bodies were found in Portland and rural areas starting in February, with the latest one found in May. One body was found about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Portland, near a creek in Polk County. Authorities said the state medical examiner has not determined the cause or manner of death for any of the women. They were all from the Portland area.Officials did not use the word “serial killer” in announcing the connection between the deaths. “Investigators and prosecutors from multiple law enforcement agencies have been working collaboratively ...

Floods wash away children, scorching heat envelopes the West as wildfire smoke overtakes northern US

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) — Emergency crews in suburban Philadelphia intensified their search Monday for a missing 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister who were swept away in a family car when torrential rains flooded a roadway. While the East Coast grappled with the aftermath of downpours that closed roads and rendered the water supply undrinkable in places, the West and other parts of the country contended with sizzling temperatures and unsafe air quality attributed to Canadian wildfires.In eastern Pennsylvania, authorities described Monday’s search for missing Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils as a “massive undertaking” including 100 search crew members and numerous drones dispatched along a creek that drains into the Delaware River. The children are members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family that was visiting relatives and friends when they got caught in a flash flood Saturday. “As they tried to escape the fierce floodwaters, dad to...

Israel recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel announced Monday it was recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, joining the United States as the only countries to acknowledge the kingdom’s annexation of the disputed north African territory.The announcement came shortly after Morocco’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying King Mohammed VI had received a letter from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognizing Morocco’s claim over the territory. Netanyahu’s office later confirmed the announcement. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said recognition of Western Sahara as Moroccan territory “will strengthen relations between the countries and the nations” and advance regional stability. Israel and Morocco reestablished diplomatic relations as part of the “Abraham Accords” brokered by former President Donald Trump between Israel and Arab states. The two countries had low-level diplomatic ties in the 1990s that were disrupted by the Palestinian uprising that began in 2000. I...

‘Nobody’s working’: Canada’s film, TV labour force feels sting of twin Hollywood strikes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

TORONTO — Canadian film and television workers are feeling the sting of twin strikes by Hollywood writers and actors.Vancouver-based Derek Baskerville, who rents costumes mostly to U.S. film shoots, says he laid off a part-time worker last week and has scaled back the hours of other staff as work dried up.Toronto writer-director V.T. Nayani says she’s put off plans to move out of her parents’ home while the strikes continue, and is pursuing Canadian commercial work to make ends meet.And although unionized actors walked off the job just days ago, Toronto agent Karin Martin says many of her clients haven’t worked since winter because U.S. studios anticipated job action and scaled back orders.Hollywood’s biggest labour fight in decades pits unionized writers and actors against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents streamers and studios including Disney, Netflix and Amazon.The Writers Guild of America walked off the job May 2 and was joined on t...

Man facing more than 200 charges for locker room thefts at Durham community centres

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

Police have arrested a man accused of stealing from lockers at community centres across Durham region and then shopping with stolen credit and debit cards.Durham Regional police arrested the suspect, 43-year-old Jeremy Marcoux of Oshawa, last Wednesday.He’s facing more than 200 theft and fraud-related charges.“The suspect would enter the locker rooms, stealing the contents of the lockers, and use stolen credit and debit cards to purchase items,” police said in a release.Police say Marcoux was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

Biden to meet with pope’s Ukraine peace envoy, with the plight of children top of cardinal’s agenda

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

ROME (AP) — President Joe Biden will meet with Pope Francis’ peace envoy on Tuesday as part of the Holy See’s peace and humanitarian initiatives for Ukraine, the White House and Vatican said Monday.Cardinal Matteo Zuppi’s visit to Washington, which lasts through Wednesday, follows his recent mission to Moscow and an earlier stop in Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden would meet with Zuppi on Tuesday to “discuss the widespread suffering caused by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine.” In a statement, she said they would also “discuss efforts by the United States and Holy See to provide humanitarian aid to those affected, and the Papal See’s focus on repatriating Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russian officials.”Zuppi is a veteran of the Catholic Church’s peace initiatives and has been tasked by Francis to try to find “paths of peace” between the warring sides.In...

Judge strikes down law allowing Tennessee attorney general to argue certain death penalty cases

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Republican lawmakers violated the Tennessee Constitution when they passed a law this spring giving the state attorney general more authority to argue certain death penalty cases, according to a judge’s ruling Monday.The new law allows the attorney general to step in and take over post-conviction capital cases. But Shelby County Judge Paula Skahan said that’s unconstitutional because it removes the power of the locally elected district attorney to argue them. The state attorney general is an appointed position, not elected.The office of Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said it will appeal Monday’s decision, which affects death row inmate Larry McKay’s motion for another trial based on new evidence. Some attorneys and Democratic lawmakers say the new law targeted progressive district attorneys who have expressed reluctance to pursue the death penalty. Attorneys for inmates fear the state could use the law to argue against considering DNA evide...

After heat wave, wildfires force thousands to flee seaside resorts outside Greek capital

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

LOUTRAKI, Greece (AP) — Wildfires outside Athens forced thousands to flee seaside resorts, closed highways and gutted vacation homes Monday, as high winds pushed flames through hillside scrub and pine forests parched by days of extreme heat. Authorities issued evacuation orders for at least six seaside communities as two major wildfires edged closer to summer resort towns and gusts of wind hit 70 kph (45 mph). The army, police special forces and volunteer rescuers freed retirees from their homes, rescued horses from a stable, and helped monks flee a monastery threatened by the flames. Before nightfall, water-dropping planes and helicopters tackled the flames near Lagonisi, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of the capital. The second large wildfire broke out in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) west of Athens, where a children’s summer camp and rehabilitation center for seniors were evacuated, local officials said.Fire Service s...