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Stock market today: Wall Street quiet ahead of more retail earnings, Fed minutes release

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

TOKYO — Wall Street trading is stable early Wednesday, a day after another economic red flag for China’s economy overshadowed more evidence that consumer spending in America, a dominant driver of the U.S. economy, remains very strong. Futures for the Dow Jones industrials and S&P 500 were essentially unchanged before the opening bell Wednesday.In a week heavy with retail sales data, the government reported Tuesday that Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month, a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy.Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.7% in July from June, and higher than a revised 0.3% increase the previous month. While economists pointed out that some of that spending got a jolt from events like Amazon’s annual sale, it was also the fourth consecutive month of increased spending. How long Americans can absorb elevated in inflation and rising interest rates is still a hotly contested subject. “This is ...

Section of Oshawa roadway closed following vehicle rollover

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

A portion of a roadway in Oshawa is closed following a two-vehicle collision on Wednesday morning.Durham Regional Police officers were called to the scene on Winchester Road near Highway 7 around 6:30 a.m.CityNews flew over the scene and saw a vehicle that was rolled over in the grassy area.Injuries are unknown at this time.Winchester Road is closed both ways between Thornton Road and Simcoe Street.There is heavy damage to both vehicles and reconstruction is underway.Road Closure – Oshawa – Winchester Rd is closed between Simcoe St and Thornton Rd for a motor vehicle accident. Please avoid the area, will update when reopened. Thank you.— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) August 16, 2023

Muslim mob attacks 3 churches after accusing Christian man of desecrating Quran in eastern Pakistan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — A Muslim mob on Wednesday stormed a Christian locality in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, burning one church, damaging two others and demolishing the house of a man after accusing him of desecrating the pages of Islam’s holy book, police said.The attack happened in the district of Faisalabad in eastern Punjab province, local police chief Rizwan Khan said. He said the mob attacked the Christian colony after some of the Muslims living nearby accused a local Christian, Raja Amir, and his friend of desecrating pages of the Quran.Khan said the accusations angered Muslims who had begun gathering there, and the demonstrators then started attacking multiple churches before they were dispersed by police swinging batons. Authorities are trying to restore order with help from elders and clerics in the area of Jaranwala where the attack happened, he said. Police say they are registering cases against those who desecrated the Quran.He said all those Muslims who ...

Why does (most of) Canada suck at building transit?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

By now you might be familiar with the long, sad story of the Ottawa LRT—which just returned from being totally shut down for a month. But that project is far from the only large Canadian transit project to run into delays, mistakes, errors, sky-high budgets and everything else that can turn an ambitious idea into a headache.Reece Martin is a former transportation planner and the creator of the RM Transit YouTube channel and substack. He says that mistakes can often stem from a lack of institutional knowledge on how to properly build transit. “These are extremely complicated projects, and you want to get the details right, and when you don’t, you have an Ottawa LRT situation,” says Martin.So, why does it seem so difficult to get new transit built in Canada? Are we really awful at building this stuff, or do we just love to complain about our infrastructure?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

D-Box Technologies launches strategic alternatives review

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

MONTREAL — D-Box Technologies Inc. says it has launched a review of strategic alternatives.The company, which makes movie theatre seats that move audience members with the action on the screen, says it has held talks in the last few months with a number of parties.A strategic review by a company is often a prelude to a sale or other transaction.D-Box says it has not set a timetable to complete the review process and no decisions have been made relating to strategic alternatives at this time. It says there can be no assurance that the review will result in a transaction.D-Box chair Denis Chamberland says the board of directors is committed to evaluating the strategic alternatives while supporting management as they work to strengthen company’s leadership position in the theatrical market and grow its business.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:DBO)The Canadian Press

Bond set at $5M for 16-year-old accused in fatal shooting of teen in Highland Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Bond is set at $5 million for the 16-year-old boy charged in the fatal shooting of another teen in Highland Park.Estiven Sarminento is being charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of 16-year-old Omar Diaz.On Sunday, police responded to the 2300 block of Green Bay Road to a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located Diaz and transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.Police said preliminary investigation shows Diaz walking down the sidewalk when he was approached by Sarminento. The two engaged in a brief conversation before Sarminento shot and killed Diaz.   16-year-old suspect arrested, charged with murder after 16-year-old killed in shooting in Highland Park According to information collected by the police during their investigation, Sarminento was an acquaintance of Diaz and there was an ongoing dispute between the two before the shooting occurred.His next court date is on August 23.

Taylor Swift fan with cancer who was discharged just in time for show has died

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Earlier this year, Tessa Wiseman was ecstatic for Taylor Swift to come to Tampa for her "Eras Tour." So much so that Wiseman and her healthcare team at Moffitt Cancer Center made it their mission to get her well enough to attend the star's April 15 concert. Wiseman, who grew up in Tampa, fell ill earlier this year. Ahead of Swift's concert, Wiseman's family told Nexstar's WFLA that she was rushed to the hospital in early May after developing a life-threatening infection following chemotherapy treatment. Taylor Swift now has more No. 1 albums than any woman in history Wiseman and her team of doctors never gave up, and she recovered from sepsis just in time to see Swift take the stage. However, her family said her battle with cancer was far from over. Wiseman was previously scheduled to undergo a liver transplant in February, but it was canceled mid-surgery after doctors with the Mayo Clinic discovered her cancer had progressed. At the time of the concert, Wis...

Dean's Home Video: 'Killing It,' 'Reinventing Elvis,' & more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

CHICAGO — A native of Chicago is going into his second season of a unique show while a new documentary is out on the "King of Rock and Roll.""Killing it" season two with Craig Robinson, a Whitney Young High School, Illinois State, and St. Xavier graduate, is set to premiere on Peacock on Thursday while "Reinventing Elvis," which explores his famous 1968 comeback special, is out now on Paramount+.Dean Richards previewed these new streaming options on his edition of "Dean's Home Video" on Wednesday's WGN Morning News. Along with those programs, he also talked about "Harlan Coben's Shelter," season four of "Solar Opposites," season 4 of "The Upshaws," "Miguel Wants to Fight," "Depp v. Heard," and more during the segment.You can watch this edition of "Dean's Home Video" from the August 16 WGN Morning News in the video above.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!

Lockhart encourages water conservation as city inches closer to Stage Two restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) – The City of Lockhart asked water customers to conserve Monday because the city was moving closer to Stage Two water restrictions. It blamed a rising increase in water usage over the weekend of Aug. 12-13. According to the city, Stage Two occurs when total daily demand equals or exceeds 2.4 million gallons per day (mgd) for three consecutive days. Lockhart said, on average, Lockhart residents used 1.5 million gallons per day (mgd) in 2022.The city said Stage Two restrictions include:Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an EVEN number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) and Saturdays and Wednesdays for customers with a street address ending in an ODD number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) from midnight to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight. NOTE: Watering of landscaped areas is permitted anytime if it is by means of a hand-held hose, faucet-filled bucket, drip ir...

Texas State Fair launches new rules for minors and adults

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:31 GMT

DALLAS (KXAN) – The State Fair of Texas said it will implement a safety policy for minors who visit the 2023 Fair. According to the Aug. 8 announcement, everyone 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone (21+) when entering the Fair after 5 p.m. everyday during the fair. The fair said parents, guardians or chaperones may accompany no more than six minors 17 years of age and under. The State Fair will require all accompanying parents, guardians, and chaperones (21+) to present a valid ID upon entry starting at 5 p.m. daily, according to the announcement. Once inside the fairgrounds, the fair said parents, guardians or chaperones are not required to remain with the minors; however, the State Fair encourages that they stay in communication with each other and be aware of their location on the fairgrounds during their visit. “Comparable policies are being instated industry-wide, and the State Fair of Texas believes this policy is the best course of action to e...