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B.C. Appeal Court sides with mom in case involving access to parental medical records

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Court of Appeal has struck down a section of the province’s child protection legislation that allowed social workers to access a parent’s medical records without their consent, a search warrant or a court order. The three-judge panel says a section of B.C.’s Child, Family and Community Service Act is unconstitutional, finding the legislation lacked safeguards to protect parents’ deeply personal medical information.The ruling says the act allowed child welfare workers with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to access private medical information on parents from public bodies, including hospitals and medical clinics. The panel says the section of the act allowing broad access to parents’ medical history was not “minimally intrusive” as a lower court found, and could give access to “intensely private information” that was not a necessary part of an investigation. The appeals court ruling ...

‘Mojave Max’ tortoise emerges in Vegas; latest since 2000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A desert tortoise that is the focus of schoolchild predictions and local lore about the start of spring has emerged from its winter burrow at a nature preserve in Las Vegas, officials said Tuesday.Mojave Max’s appearance above ground with burrow-mate at 3:40 p.m. Monday at the Springs Preserve marked the latest date since an annual watch contest began in 2000 for the critter compared locally with Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. Phil’s handlers said Feb. 2 that their groundhog predicted their spring wouldn’t arrive until April.In Las Vegas, where the threatened species’ reptilian winter rest is called brumation, the earliest a Mojave Max has emerged since 2000 was a little before noon on Feb. 14, 2005. The latest had been April 17, 2012.Three male tortoises since 2000 have borne the moniker Mojave Max. Today’s Max is marked with a radio transmitting device attached to his shell. The tortoise seen with Mojave Max on Monday does not hav...

Judge mulls evidence for 3 of 6 in Alabama birthday shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

DADEVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama investigator described a bloody and chaotic crime scene filled with 89 bullet casings and other evidence after a shooting killed four young people and wounded dozens at a Sweet Sixteen birthday party. Authorities have charged six people with murder.Tuesday’s court hearing could determine if the three adults accused of last week’s shooting will be held without bond. A judge did not immediately issue a ruling. Hearings will be held later for the three juvenile defendants.“Multiple shell casings. Blood everywhere,” testified Special Agent Jess Thornton of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Thornton said he’d never encountered a crime scene like the one at the dance studio just off Dadeville’s town square. He said shell casings from four types of handguns were recovered at the scene, and evidence indicates at least one of the handguns had been altered for rapid fire. Thornton said statements from the six defendants, either about...

Stock market today: Stocks tumble on profit, economy worries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is tumbling Tuesday toward its worst day in a month on worries about the strength of corporate profits and the economy following some mixed reports. The S&P 500 was 1.4% lower in late trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 332 points, or 1%, at 33,542, as of 3 p.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 1.7% lower. First Republic Bank plunged 43.4% for the sharpest loss in the S&P 500 after it said customers withdrew more than $100 billion in deposits during the first quarter. That doesn’t include $30 billion that big banks plugged in to build faith in their rival after the second- and third-largest U.S. bank failures in history shook confidence.The size of the drop in deposits overshadowed First Republic’s beating analysts’ expectations for earnings at the start of the year.The majority of companies so far this reporting season have been topping expectations, but the bar was set considerably low. Analysts are forecasting the wor...

Search underway for missing Chicago man who requires medication

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department are asking for the public's help locating a missing man who requires medication.Oscar Pena, 32, was last seen by his family on the 2100 block of North Pulaski Avenue at 11 p.m. on Sunday, April 23.Pena is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 210 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a dragon tattoo on his right arm. He has a medical condition that requires medication. Five $1 million lottery wins in Illinois remain unclaimed Pena was last seen wearing a blue raincoat, black shirt, and camouflage pants. He's known to frequent the area near the Walmart on the 4600 block of West Diversey Avenue.Anyone with information on Pena's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-746-6554.

'Get her': Suburban parents accused of encouraging daughters to beat classmate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The parents of two junior high school students in Naperville have been charged after allegedly encouraging their daughters to beat up a fellow classmate.On April 3 at around 7 a.m., authorities allege a junior high student was walking to her bus stop while being followed by two other girls and a vehicle. Police said parents Steven Teague, 36, and Terika Thomas, 30, both of Naperville, were inside the vehicle.When the girl reached her bus stop, the daughters of Teague and Thomas allegedly attacked the girl, a fellow classmate, by throwing her to the ground and punching her.While the incident was happening, authorities allege Teague stood by and Thomas encouraged the daughters to "get her." Warrant issued for driver accused of killing elderly man while drag racing in Beach Park DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said the girl did not sustain serious injuries.The next court appearance for Teague is scheduled for May 15 and the next court appearance for Th...

Illinois' 10 most popular baby names revealed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

CHICAGO — The most popular boy and girl baby names in Illinois are Noah and Olivia, respectively, according to a list compiled by Names.org, using data from the Social Security Administration.Names.org on Tuesday released a list that shows seven of Illinois’s top 10 boys’ names are also on the national top 10 list for 'Most Popular Names of the Decade', with Liam, Noah and Oliver finishing first, second and third, respectively. Olivia and Emma top the list for 'Most Popular Names of the Decade' for girls. Wicker Park bar named one of the nation’s best by Food & Wine Most popular boy names in Illinois 1.) Noah2.) Oliver3.) Liam4.) Benjamin5.) Henry6.) Theodore7.) Mateo8.) William9.) Jack10. AlexanderMost popular girl names in Illinois: 1.) Olivia2.) Emma3.) Amela4.) Charlotte5.) Sophia6.) Ava7.) Camila8.) Isabella9.) Evelyn10.) Mia

Deadlines: When to use Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby coupons, gift cards and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – It's time to use those Big Blue coupons that have been pinned to the fridge for weeks or forever lose them in the wake of Bed Bath & Beyond's bankruptcy announcement.The beleaguered home goods chain made the filing Sunday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey and said it will start an orderly wind down of its operations, while seeking a buyer for all or some of its businesses. In the bankruptcy filing, the retailer said it anticipates closing all of its stores by June 30.For now, the company's 360 Bed Bath & Beyond stores and its 120 Buy Buy Baby sites as well as its websites will remain open to serve customers. Walmart closing locations across 12 states this year: Here’s where However, there are some key dates if you want to avoid missing out on your coupons, gift registries, gift cards and more.On Wednesday, April 26, stores will stop accepting coupons as they start to deeply discount items for closing sales which are slated to begin that day.You'll have a lit...

Barbie reveals first doll with Down syndrome

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

(KTLA) – Barbie is launching its first doll representing a person with Down syndrome in an effort to help more children find a toy that represents themselves. The doll is a part of this year's Barbie Fashionistas lineup. To ensure accuracy, Barbie worked closely with the National Down Syndrome Society. The organization helped the brand sculpt the doll as well as provide guidance on accessories. Facebook privacy settlement: Who is eligible for a payment? The doll features a new face shape and body sculpt to be "more illustrative of women with Down syndrome," Mattel said in a news release. The palms include a single line, "which is a characteristic associated with those with Down syndrome."Photo: Mattel/Barbie The doll's puff-sleeved dress features butterflies and yellow and blue colors, which are symbols and colors associated with Down syndrome awareness, the toymaker explained. The doll also wears a pink pendant necklace with three upward chevrons, which represent the three copie...

Police searching for suspect accused of sexually assaulting child at southeast Austin apartment complex

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police are searching for a suspect who is accused of sexually assaulting a child at a southeast Austin apartment complex earlier this month. It happened April 1 at an apartment complex on Willow Creek Drive. A neighbor of the victim captured the incident on their doorbell camera and saw the footage after it happened, then reported it to the police, saying they believed the child had been sexually assaulted. The Austin Police Department said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon that the investigation revealed the victim -- an 11-year-old girl -- had been sexually assaulted. APD said members of the community confronted the suspect after the incident, and the suspect fled the scene. The suspect is described by APD as:Hispanic man around 30s-40s5'5 to 5'7 in height and heavy-set in weightHas black hair and facial hairReportedly speaks SpanishLast seen wearing a short sleeve red shirt, dark grey or green shorts and yellow and purple shoes APD believes the s...