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Parents, siblings, friends: Remembering the lives lost in the Toronto van attack

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

It has been five years since a man deliberately drove a van down a bustling sidewalk in north Toronto, committing one of the country’s worst mass murders. Ten people died in the van attack in April 2018 and another died from her injuries more than three years later. Here’s a look at the lives that were lost, based on interviews with family and friends and victim impact statements filed in court.Betty Forsyth, 94Betty Forsyth was a walking library, family historian and a good friend to birds and squirrels.She was born on July 30, 1923 in Peacehaven, East Sussex in the United Kingdom. She left for Canada in 1968, with nine poodles in tow, and remained a loyal servant to the queen.Tragedy befell the family early on. Her father, Charles Speedie Forsyth, was a member of the British army and vanished at sea in 1928, near Gibraltar. But Betty, her quick wit and macabre humour at hand, used her missing father as material for family gatherings.“Was he our real father?”...

First months on throne show King Charles wants to engage, but Canadians skeptical

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

King Charles III’s first months on the throne have shown he’s a monarch who will take an active role in different causes and is ready to engage with the public, royal experts say, but he still has work to do to win over a skeptical Canadian public.Nathan Tidridge, the author of a book about Canada’s constitutional monarchy and vice-president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, says Charles thus far appears to be a more “active and engaged” ruler than his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.As examples, he cites the King’s decision to host a Buckingham Palace reception for key players ahead of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, and the palace’s direct request to Australia that it include Indigenous people in its delegation attending his May 6 coronation.Tidridge believes the late queen, in contrast, kept more of a distance.“There was a removed sense (with Queen Elizabeth), where with Charles we’re not seeing that,” ...

What happens to animals who die at the zoo?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — When your family pet dies, you likely work through your veterinarian on a cremation plan or head to the backyard to find a final resting place. But when the local zoo loses a resident, the next steps can be a little more secretive. Early in April 2023, the Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) announced the death of an Arctic Fox named Rehn, who was humanely euthanized following a losing battle with kidney disease.Great Planes Zoo President and CEO Becky Dewitz says death is part of the whole-life care process at many accredited zoos. The GPZ's accreditation comes from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). "It is the highest standard as it applies to animal welfare and wellbeing of any of the accrediting agencies in the zoo and aquarium business," Dewitz said. "As an accredited zoo, we are required to have an internal process that measures the animal's welfare on a state of good to bad on a continuum of life."Most zoo animals these days are born in cap...

Dallas ranked among the 5 'Best Diners' in the US—where did they rank?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

DALLAS (KDAF) — If you're a foodie looking for the best diner experience, a new poll has revealed that Dallas is a top destination you won't want to miss. A new poll by a website providing restaurant tips, RestaurantClicks.com, listed Dallas as one of the top diner destinations. After surveying 3,000 travelers in the top 100 locations, polls concluded that the majority of travelers prefer a personalized experience when they travel. Dallas offers a variety of different restaurants from all over the world. Expert, Brian Nagele of RestaurantClicks.com, said "Some diners in Dallas have been around for decades and have become a part of the fabric of the city. These diners may have loyal customers who have been coming to them for years, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort". Check the list of cities with the best top diner destinations:New York, NYHonolulu, HIDallas, TXMiami Beach, FLRoscoe, NY

Senator fueling push for conservative priorities named to budget conference committee

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - “We’re gearing up to advance one of the most conservative sessions in Texas History,” Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, announced at January’s inauguration ceremony. The line from his speech introducing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick drew applause from the audience outside the Capitol. Since that January day, Creighton has been on the front line of several battles over priority legislation for conservatives. He chairs the Senate Education Committee and authored Senate Bill 8, which would create Education Savings Accounts. The plan to allow parents to use public dollars to go toward private education is a key issue for both Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick.Creighton also authored bills to end tenure at public universities, as well as a measure to require those institutions to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices. This week, Patrick named Creighton as one of the Senate members who will serve on the budget conference committee. That committee will work to res...

Skywatch: Honey, I shrunk the universe

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

In the history of my column, I’ve bombarded you with many numbers about the sizes and distances of the stars and planets in our night sky. The numbers can get so enormous that it’s impossible to truly grasp their enormousness. I still struggle with these figures and have been into amateur astronomy my entire life.One way to get a mental handle on it is to scale down or miniaturize the universe so its size is a little easier to relate to. For example, you can do that with things around your house, and I especially like to go into my kitchen and use fruits, nuts, and seasonings. First, let’s start with the solar system. Put an orange on the kitchen table and make that our sun. In reality, our sun is nearly 900,000 miles in diameter, so we are really scaling down.The Earth on that scale would be a single grain of salt from your saltshaker. The actual distance from Earth to the sun is about 93 million miles. That’s so far that if you drove your car to the sun at ...

New St. Paul candy store hopes to inspire next generation of Black entrepreneurs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

The Tooth Fairy Candy Store, owned by Aretta-Rie Johnson, is her latest endeavor to give back to her community. The store’s grand opening is on April 26.Located at 861 Selby Ave., the Tooth Fairy Candy Store will sell candy, chips and pop in an effort to teach young Black girls about entrepreneurship and spread some joy to the community, Johnson said.Although it is a candy store, Johnson said the Tooth Fairy stands apart because of its mission to “serve your sweet tooth responsibly.”In the Black community there are health disparities, Johnson said, which is why the store will advocate for healthy hygiene practices by handing out free toothbrushes at Wednesday’s grand opening. The store also will have occasional visits from local dentists to teach kids how to brush properly, Johnson said.While she is a first-time candy store owner, Johnson wears many hats including launching the DIVINE Institute in St. Paul, which offers educational summer programs for youth and DIVINE Interven...

Frost Advisory and Freeze Warning early Monday morning, temps in 60s through week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS - We'll still be dealing with some cloud cover Sunday at times, with temperature highs a bit warmer than Saturday in the mid to upper 50s. Another concern for a frost and freeze Sunday night as temps fall back down into the low to mid 30s. A Frost Advisory and Freeze Warning will take place from 1:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Monday is looking better, with highs in the low to mid 60s. Rain chances increase later in the day on Tuesday, and last on and off through the rest of the work week. Temps through the week stay in the 60s. 

Nuggets Journal: Aaron Gordon says the quiet part out loud, admitting postseason fate is “on us”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS – This postseason, the Nuggets can’t blame a torn ACL, a third back surgery, a lack of perimeter defenders or claim that two-time MVP Nikola Jokic ran out of gas without much help.They can’t say Aaron Gordon had too much responsibility on his plate or that their roster was devoid of title experience.Kentavious Caldwell-Pope checks that championship box, and a whole bunch of other invaluable ones, too.In Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown and Christian Braun, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth added rugged defensive pieces that former president Tim Connelly, who’s now shepherding Denver’s first-round playoff opponent, did not. What’s the difference so far this postseason, as the Nuggets have built a commanding 3-0 lead over Minnesota? It’s the defense.They can’t say the roster didn’t have a healthy balance of veterans, either, with Jeff Green, DeAndre Jordan and Ish Smith giving them an unofficial leadership council that can soothe locker room turmoil and set an example for the...

Late nights, position clusters and “a lot of work”: Sean Payton and George Paton’s pre-draft dash has been a football get-to-know-you

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:57 GMT

Mickey Loomis pondered the question, straightened his face and prepared his best deadpan.A year ago, the longtime New Orleans general manager was asked how the pre-draft process changed without Sean Payton, who was settling into what ultimately would be one year away from coaching.“Quieter,” Loomis said, pausing for the laughter he knew was coming from reporters.“I’m making a joke at his expense,” he continued, explaining that he found the Saints’ preparation similar overall but altered without Payton, the veteran coach with a “strong voice.”That strong voice now shares a draft room with Broncos general manager George Paton after 15 years of going through the process with Loomis.In Denver, the pre-draft process is in many ways the ultimate football get-to-know-you between Payton and Paton. The two have not only spent hours together watching prospects ahead of the NFL Draft, which runs Thursday through Saturday, but they’ve bonded over their affinity for the art of scouti...