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How do you hold an election in a province on fire?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

In today’s Big Story podcast, wildfires continue to ravage parts of Alberta, and there are questions about how they will impact the provincial election at the end of May. And with scorching weather forecasted to return, it’s unclear when the blazes will be brought under control.Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta, has called the ongoing wildfire situation “unprecedented,” a state of emergency was declared over the weekend, and the federal government has pledged support.Courtney Theriault, a reporter with CityNews Edmonton, says that the election will proceed as planned despite the wildfires. “The election itself is very much slated to go May 29, and it would take a substantially larger disaster than this already unprecedented disaster, to move that date,” he says.So what happens now? How has campaigning changed? And what might election day look like?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigsto...

1 killed in crash on Dan Ryan Expressway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

CHICAGO — One person was killed in a fatal crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway.The accident involving two vehicles happened around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday on the southbound Dan Ryan near 95th Street. According to Illinois State Police, one of the vehicles was rear-ended by the other. The driver of the vehicle that was rear-ended was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead. Woman in custody in connection with 6 baseball bat attacks on Northwest Side: police The driver of the other vehicle was transported to an area hospital with injuries.All southbound lanes were closed for several hours as authorities investigated the scene. Lanes reopened to traffic around 5:30 a.m.

Wendy's to test AI chatbot at Ohio drive-thru

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A fast food chain is teaming up with Google to add artificial intelligence to its menu.Wendy's is planning to launch an AI chatbot to automate its restaurants' drive-thrus, a representative for the company told Nexstar's WCMH on Tuesday. Dubbed FreshAI, the AI tech will hold limited conversations with customers, handling their food orders and answering frequently asked questions. The bot will integrate with the store's hardware and cash register systems for processing orders.A Wendy's drive-thru which would be capable of hosting the FreshAI chatbot for taking orders in the future. (Courtesy Photo/Wendy's)A Wendy's drive-thru which would be capable of hosting the FreshAI chatbot for taking orders in the future. (Courtesy Photo/Wendy's)The burger chain, founded in Columbus in 1969, tapped Google to power FreshAI with its existing cloud-based generative AI and large language models. The language models include the restaurant's menu as data, and will allow the dr...

Biden administration outlines added measures to deal with expected Title 42 fallout

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Biden administration on Wednesday announced additional measures it will implement to respond to the expected fallout when Title 42 lifts on Thursday with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.Administration officials have been preparing for months for the end of Title 42, a Trump-era policy allowing immigration officials to more quickly expel asylum-seeking migrants attempting to cross the border.With the rule expiring Thursday and a surge of migrants at the southern border expected to follow, administration officials detailed a series of steps that fall under three broad categories: Enforcement, deterrence and diplomacy.The administration will surge resources to the border to improve processing efficiency, a senior administration official said. The new steps being taken include sending 24,000 law enforcement personnel and 1,100 new border patrol processing coordinators to the U.S.-Mexico border. Migrants without CBP One appointment urged to stay away f...

Dodgers' Mookie Betts rents Airbnb to avoid suspected haunted hotel in Milwaukee

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

(KTLA) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are in Milwaukee this week for a three-game series with the NL Central-leading Brewers, and while team unity is important during long road trips, one Dodger star is keeping his distance from the rest of the team "just in case."According to Orange County Register reporter Bill Plunkett, outfielder Mookie Betts rented an Airbnb with some friends while the rest of his Dodger teammates stayed in a legendary 130-year-old hotel in Milwaukee.The reason, Betts said, is due to long-rumored reports of hauntings and other creepy happenings at the Pfister Hotel.The Pfister Hotel is one of the most historic buildings in Milwaukee. The famed luxury hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has hosted billionaires, diplomats and more — it's also rumored to be home to an intrepid spirit or two. This is the lobby of the Pfister Hotel seen Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in Milwaukee. The Pfister is Milwaukee's most regal address, having hosted every U.S...

Why two dozen KXAN journalists took on TxTag troubles … again

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Another TxTag investigation? That’s the question I expected when we pitched this project. Concerns over the state’s tollway operations and billing system are nothing new. We’ve been telling such stories for at least the past decade. Each time, the Texas Department of Transportation has told us things are getting better and change is on the way. They’ve hired and fired vendors… again...

Director: TxTag vendors doing better, but still not satisfied

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The top official at the Texas Department of Transportation said he believes current vendors operating the state’s tollway systems are performing better than the previous ones, despite “documented deficiencies” with one company’s handling of back-office systems and millions of dollars in liquidated damages assessed to another business in charge of customer service and billing.“We had...

Money, politics and TxTag: Abbott donors on oversight board

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — All five members of a commission tasked with overseeing the Texas Department of Transportation — and by extension, its troubled TxTag toll system — appear to have little or no prior experience with transportation but collectively donated nearly $1.5 million to Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed them, a KXAN investigation found.The Texas Transportation Commission, or TTC, has the ultima...

Austin Energy crews help get power to Navajo Nation families

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Families in the Navajo Nation were able to turn on the lights in their homes for the first time after crews from Austin Energy travelled to Leupp, Arizona to instal nearly 100 power poles and more than eight miles of overhead wires.According to Tuesday's announcement from Austin Energy, 11 crew members and 10 trucks traveled 4,152 round-trip miles and worked for two weeks alongside Navajo tribal utilities and other public power providers from across the country.The crews left Austin on April 22 to work on the Light Up Navajo Project. According to Austin Energy, this is what crews accomplished: Holes Dug - 124Pole Installs - 96Transformer Installs - 12Meter Installs- 12Overhead Wire Installed (feet) - 2,216Total Miles Traveled - 4,152“Witnessing the pride and gratitude of the Navajo Nation for the work we did is something I’ll never forget,” said Norris Eason, an Austin Energy distribution electrician supervisor. “Bringing power to those that have ...

Water main break slows traffic at Elsmere Avenue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:04:31 GMT

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to 511 NY, a water main break on NY 32 southbound at Elsmere Avenue in Bethlehem (NY 335) has slowed traffic. 511 NY reports that one right lane has been closed, and the Albany Water Department confirms crews are on the scene.Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!Anyone driving in the area should expect delayed traffic. Stick with News10 as more information regarding the water main break becomes available.