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Metrolinx removing plastic COVID barriers on GO, UP Express trains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

Metrolinx says it is removing the plexiglass COVID dividers that went up on GO and UP Express trains at the start of the pandemic.“During the pandemic, Metrolinx followed the guidance of public health officials and implemented measures to keep customers and employees safe,” Metrolink said in a statement to CityNews.“In consultation with Metrolinx’s health and safety team and in line with public health guidance, the decision has been made to now remove these measures from GO and UP Express trains.”Along with the dividers, decals and hand sanitizer dispensers will also be phased out.“Customers may notice a mixture of GO trains with and without dividers, decals, and hand sanitizer dispensers, while work is underway to remove them,” Metrolinx added.The provincial transit agency first installed the plexiglass barriers between seats in June 2020 as part of a suite of COVID safety measures.The province lifted its mask mandate for public transit in June 2...

Search underway for man missing since November

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A search is underway for a missing man who was last contacted in November of 2022, according to Chicago police. Officers say they are searching for Michal Serafin, a 37-year-old man who police say has connections to the North Side of Chicago and in Evanston. According to police, Serafin, who has brown hair and brown eyes, stands 5'8" and weighs around 2502 Lbs. Police have not provided details on what may have led to Serafin's disappearance.Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 37-year-old Michal Serafin is asked to call Area Three detectives at (312)744-8266.Tips for police can also filed at CPDtip.com. Tips can be left anonymously.

USPS payroll error impacts 45K rural postal workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

(WHNT) - An "egregious payroll error" reportedly kept over 45,000 rural United States Postal Service (USPS) workers from getting their recent paychecks. In a letter on its website, the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) confirmed they have been in talks with the USPS about the issue. Walmart, Sam’s Club customers across Alabama mischarged after grocery tax change The union said that all of the affected carriers are entitled to a salary advance starting Friday, Sept. 1. NRLCA stated those advances would be sent to local offices to be processed into a money order.Impacted carriers will get a 65% advance of their gross pay. That number will be calculated to be close to the average net take-home pay.Those carriers will be required to pay the advance back when the U.S. Postal Service has repaid them the correct amount. USPS officials told the union that the issue that caused the problem has been found and is being fixed, so this should not happen again.

Ohio dog found 10 years after going missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A family was reunited with their furry friend after she went missing 10 years ago.A dog named Abby was recently found in really heartbreaking conditions. According to the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center (ARC), she could barely stand or walk. Rabid bats being found inside Ohio homes The shelter discovered Abby had a microchip, scanned it and contacted the family, which had not seen the dog in 10 years. When the family came to pick Abby up, she became exuberant.Since Abby returned to her owners, it is reported that she is doing very well and is happy. Where’s my Facebook settlement check? Why payments haven’t arrived – and when they might Abby's mama reports she's gained a whopping 16 pounds since coming home and loves playing with her family and going on walks, despite everything she's been through, said the ARC.If you have a pet, you are encouraged to get your pet microchipped. Microchipping your pet takes only a few minutes to complete. For inform...

Canyon Lake drops to lowest level on record as drought persists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Canyon Lake has dropped to its lowest lake pool elevation ever recorded, according to data from the Texas Water Development Board.As of Sept. 1, the water level is at 892.38' above mean sea level. The previous record low was 892.70' on Sept. 8, 2009.The lake is west of San Marcos and is the main water source for the city, along with the Edwards Aquifer and the San Marcos River, both of which are also seeing low levels."With all our water sources experiencing low levels, SMTX Utilities is taking extra steps to encourage water conservation in our community," Tyler Hjorth, the city's director of utilities, said. "Water conservation is a community effort, and we want everyone to get involved as extreme heat and drought conditions continue in our region."San Marcos is currently in Stage 4 water restrictions, meaning customers can only use automatic irrigation once every other week. LIST: What are the current water restrictions in your city? In an effort to ra...

LIVE: State of Texas preview: Outside influence ahead of Paxton impeachment trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — People are used to tuning in every Sunday morning to hear in-depth analysis on that week’s biggest political news during the “State of Texas” program, and now they have a chance to find out ahead of time what that award-winning coverage will include.KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree will lead a conversation Friday at 4 p.m. with a member of the KXAN politics team to preview the stories that will serve as the focus on that week’s show. The second edition of this live stream will include Capitol correspondent Ryan Chandler. Watch the live stream in this story and on the station's Facebook page. State of Texas preview: New Paxton impeachment documents, SB 14 lawsuit ruling expected During the show, Will and Ryan will discuss the following headlines:The impeachment trial for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton will begin next week in the Texas Senate. The Republican official is facing 20 articles of impeachment approved by the Texas House of Representatives earlier ...

Multiple Texas school districts claim exemption to armed officer requirement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

KXAN (AUSTIN) – A new Texas law requiring an armed officer on every public school campus went into effect on Friday. But several districts in Central Texas – and across the rest of the state – won’t have an armed person at every school today.  In recent months, school board trustees in Leander, Bastrop, Hays, and Dripping Springs have passed resolutions claiming a good cause exemption to the law over lack of funding and qualified applicants.The bill requires school districts that claim an exemption to also establish an alternative standard and plan. In Dripping Springs, for example, district officials say they are moving forward with armed employees who can defend students from an armed intruder – otherwise called a school guardian. Schools struggle to find money, hire more officers after lawmakers gut safety bill Some districts, like the Austin Independent School District, have not claimed an exemption, but won’t have an officer on every campus day one of the law going into ...

Tommies football: Head coach Glenn Caruso, defensive coordinator Wallie Kuchinski are kindred spirits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

Shortly after taking over as head football coach at the University of St. Thomas in January 2008, Glenn Caruso went to work to add to a staff that consisted of only two full-time assistant coaches.As an offensive specialist, Caruso identified the need to hire a defensive coordinator. He put together a list of a dozen potential candidates and began reaching out to gauge interest.He knew the type of defense he wanted to run — a three-linemen, four-linebacker scheme modeled after the one used by North Dakota in its 2001 national championship team, a defense Caruso coached against as offensive coordinator at North Dakota State.Caruso also knew that the right hire would be able to take the fundamentals of that defense and make it his own.Before long, Caruso whittled down his list to three candidates to be interviewed on campus, including a long shot named Wallie Kuchinski, a young defensive coordinator at Division IITruman State, and a native of Blaine looking to come home.While lacking ...

Ellison’s office has charged 18 with Medicaid fraud that netted nearly $10 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

Five people face charges in an alleged scheme to defraud the Minnesota Medical Assistance program of nearly $10 million.The complaints filed in Hennepin County District Court allege owners and employees of a personal care company called MN Professional PCA billed for services that were not performed and for services that were not supervised by a nurse or other qualified professional.Owners Abdikarim Mohamed and Ahmed Nur, along with three managers of MN Professional, are charged with racketeering, engaging in business of concealing criminal proceeds, and aiding and abetting theft by swindle.The fraudulent activity is alleged to have occurred between 2016 and 2021.Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the case the largest Medicaid fraud prosecution by his office.A total of 18 people have been charged as part of the ongoing investigation.The complaint alleges the company billed Medicaid for more than 25,000 hours of services that were not provided.The company also provided s...

Warroad man arrested after confessing to fatally shooting wife, 66, during argument

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:41 GMT

WARROAD, Minn. — “My mom didn’t deserve this,” Ciara Meyers said.She identified her mother, 66-year-old Mary Corneliusen, as the victim of fatal shooting Monday night in the northwestern Minnesota community of Warroad.Meyers said it is still all too surreal. She is remembering her mother as a strong and resilient woman who had a fun side to her, too, saying she was hilarious, witty and fluent in sarcasm.According to the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office, 63-year-old David Corneliusen called 911 just after 8 p.m. Monday from a home west of Warroad.He told the dispatcher that “he just shot his wife and she is beyond help,” and that she was dead on the couch.David Corneliusen then reportedly told the dispatcher,”There is nothing to talk about.”The sheriff’s office says David Corneliusen surrendered without incident when they arrived and that he agreed to talk with deputies. However, court papers did not shed much light on what he said ...