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Doctors, nurses call for reforms to prevent overcrowding in Canada’s emergency rooms

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

Overcrowded emergency rooms are frustrating patients and staff in parts of the country as respiratory illness season exacerbates long waits for care. Combined with bed shortages, an aging population and a lack of community care, it’s converging to create a crisis, health professionals say.“Wait times are through the roof,” Erin Ariss, president of the Ontario Nurses Association, said Wednesday. “Nurses are beginning their shifts in the morning and coming on to emergency departments that are full or over capacity with admitted patients.”Packed emergency rooms are also a major concern in Quebec, where Health Minister Christian Dubé said Wednesday that the public should avoid going to ERs altogether if they can, and instead seek care at family medicine clinics, or clinics led by nurse practitioners. He made the announcement after a group representing chief doctors in the province’s ERs sent a letter saying overcrowding is “out of control.&...

California lawsuit says Ralphs broke the law by asking job-seekers about their criminal histories

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California sued the Ralphs supermarket chain on Thursday, alleging that it violated state law by asking job-seekers whether they had criminal records and illegally rejecting hundreds of applicants.The California Civil Rights Department contends that Ralphs Grocery Co. “has ignored and continues to ignore” the Fair Chance Act “by screening out otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of criminal histories that do not have any adverse relationship with the duties of the job for which they were applying,” according to a departmental press statement.The law, which took effect in 2018, was designed to reduce the chance of ex-convicts reoffending by giving them opportunities to earn a living.In general, employers with five or more workers can’t ask applicants about their criminal histories before making job offers, and must follow specific procedures for rejecting them. The law says employers can’t rescind a job offer if the applicant’s conviction, ...

Freeland approves Royal Bank takeover of HSBC Canada with conditions

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has approved RBC’s $13.5-billion takeover of HSBC Canada despite calls from opposition politicians and other groups to block it.Freeland’s approval was the last hurdle for the deal, after the Competition Bureau approved it in September.The minister’s approval comes with conditions on RBC, including that HSBC’s Canadian workforce be protected and that banking services continue to be provided at a minimum of 33 HSBC branches for four years.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre had called for the deal to be blocked, saying Canada’s banking sector is overly concentrated and the loss of HSBC Canada will only make it worse.The House of Commons finance committee also expressed concerns that it would hurt competition.RBC chief executive Dave McKay has said a rejection of the deal would have been a bad signal to foreign investors.

Police search for Schaumburg shooting suspect released from hospital without officers knowing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- Police are searching for a man suspected to be involved in a shooting in Schaumburg last week who was released from the hospital without them being notified first.According to the Schaumburg Police Department, officers responded to the 1200 block of East Higgins Road on reports of a shooting just before 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Family files lawsuit after vicious attack at Kankakee group home No one was injured during the shooting, but 23-year-old Dion Rodgers was located a short time later and arrested. He sought medical treatment unrelated to the incident while in custody.Upon further investigation, the Circuit Court of Cook County issued a warrant for Rodger's arrest regarding his involvement in the shooting. Detectives shared the warrant with the medical facility, but were later informed that Rodgers was no longer in their care.Currently, Rodgers location is unknown at this time. Strangers throw ‘dream wedding’ for couple while husband battles canc...

Two sisters sue city, APD officer after mother's fatal crash

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- Two sisters are suing the City of Austin and an Austin Police officer after a crash killed their mom. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Family sues City, APD officer in a wrongful death lawsuit following crash with officer Maria Casillas Reyes, 43, died at the scene of the crash on June 30 in the 13000 block of N. U.S. Highway 183 northbound after a collision with an on-duty APD officer, Alyssa Preuss, who was driving a marked patrol car. Preuss was injured in the crash and was taken to the hospital for treatment but has since been released, according to APD.Reyes' daughters, Ana and Breana Casillas, filed a vehicle collision and wrongful death lawsuit and are seeking $1 million in damages.'Never going to be the same'For many, the holidays are a time for loved ones to come together. But for the Casillas family, the person they love the most won't be there this year. "New Year's, Christmas-- anything coming forward is never going to be the same," Breana said.A police offic...

Men’s basketball: Gophers get comfortable 80-63 win over Ball State

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

Gophers guard Cam Christie hit a contested 3-pointer to beat the shot clock early in Thursday’s game against Ball State. On the next possession, he had a better look from deep, but passed it up and found Josh Ola-Joseph for an easier layup.Coach Ben Johnson appreciated the heady play, pointing at his true freshman after the play.Christie’s assist, part of a career-high six, contributed to the Gophers hot start in a 80-63 win over Ball State at Williams Arena.The Gophers (9-3) extended its winning streak to four, while Ball State (8-4) lost its second consecutive.Minnesota, a 12-point favorite, didn’t put away from Ball State until late in the game, despite a huge gulf between the teams’ in NET ratings — Minnesota at 95, Ball State at 223.After a nine-day layoff for class finals, the U bucked a recent trend and started hot even before Christie’s heady assist. Mike Mitchell Jr. hit two 3-pointers from the wing to start the game. The Pepperdine transfer ended with a season-high 20 poin...

Native American translations appearing on US road signs, building facades to promote language and awareness

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

By MICHAEL CASEY (Associated Press)CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A few years back, Sage Brook Carbone was attending a powwow at the Mashantucket Western Pequot reservation in Connecticut when she noticed signs in the Pequot language.Carbone, a citizen of the Northern Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, thought back to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she has lived for much of her life. She never saw any street signs honoring Native Americans, nor any featuring Indigenous languages.She submitted to city officials the idea of adding Native American translations to city street signs. Residents approved her plan and will install about 70 signs featuring the language of the Massachusett Tribe, which English settlers encountered upon their arrival.“What a great, universal way of teaching language,” she said of the project done in consultation with a a member of the Massachusett Tribe and other Native Americans.“We see multiple languages written almost everywhere, but not on municipal sign...

MN pharmacist refused to fill emergency contraception prescription. Court to decide if that was discrimination.

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

Attorneys for a woman who was denied emergency contraception in 2019 told the Minnesota Court of Appeals Thursday that the pharmacist who refused to fill the prescription discriminated against her on the basis of her sex.But an attorney for George Badeaux, the pharmacist at Thrifty White in the central Minnesota town of McGregor, said his refusal to provide the drug due to his religious beliefs was not a violation of state and federal law.A jury ruled last year that Badeaux did not discriminate against Andrea Anderson, a mother and foster parent, when he refused to fill her prescription for Ella, a drug that is used to stop a pregnancy before it starts. The jury also awarded Anderson $25,000 due to emotional harm — money she can’t collect because there was no finding of discrimination, said Jess Braverman, one of Anderson’s lawyers.Gender Justice, an advocacy organization for gender equity, and other lawyers for Anderson appealed the jury’s ruling this year.“This was pre...

Offshore wind facility economic impact report released for Ports of Albany, Coeymans

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

COEYMANS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new report indicates that offshore wind projects at the Port of Albany and the Port of Coeymans would support thousands of jobs and billions in financial activity. The report says that these benefits would transform local communities, schools, and businesses. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The assessment talliess:Up to 10,000 construction jobsOver 3,200 permanent jobsUp to $5 billion in economic impactThe Capital Region's wind turbine manufacturing scene is growing, with the Port of Albany construction already underway and the Port of Coeymans project set for 2024.The assessment comes from the owners and operators of the ports, along with the Center for Economic Growth, Advance Albany County Alliance, and National Grid’s Strategic Economic Development Program.Take a look at the report below:Offshore-Wind-Economic-Impact-AnalysisDownload

Safety Kareem Jackson’s return from four-game suspension forces Broncos to make tough decisions

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:48 GMT

Surrounded by reporters in front of his locker room on Thursday afternoon, Broncos safety Kareem Jackson expressed happiness for being back on the practice field after serving a four-game suspension.At the same time, Jackson understands his reality is a bit different compared to when he returned from a two-game suspension earlier in the season.While Jackson was sidelined, safety P.J. Locke was inserted into the starting lineup and became an impactful player. He totaled 26 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles while thriving in a starting role.Jackson said he was happy to see Locke step up to the plate in his absence and knows it’s up to the coaching staff to decide what his role will be moving forward.“(Locke) got the opportunity and he took advantage of it. That’s how guys in the league get paid,” Jackson said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about getting wins no matter who is out there.”Jackson hasn’t played in a month since his hit on Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs ...