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Court rejects Connecticut officials’ bid to keep secret a police report on hospital patient’s death

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Police reports about deaths and other incidents in public hospitals cannot be kept secret, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, citing the importance of government transparency and the public’s right to know what happened.A majority of the justices rejected an attempt by state officials to prevent the release of a police report about a patient who reportedly choked to death on food in 2016 while being restrained by staff members at Connecticut’s only maximum-security psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.State officials argued the report was confidential under the patient-psychiatrist privilege as well as under the federal medical privacy law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA.While the court majority acknowledged the harm that could result from publicly releasing a patient’s medical information, “we must also acknowledge the unfortunate and undeniable reality that governmental secrecy can be used to...

Canada ‘trailing partners’ on securing vital utilities and services: internal memo

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

OTTAWA — A newly released federal memo concedes Canada is “trailing key international partners” who have updated their approaches to securing vital utilities and services from a growing array of risks. The Public Safety Canada memo says “new and rapidly evolving threats pose a greater risk of harm to Canadians and their cyber, economic and national security.” The Canadian Press used the Access to Information Act to obtain the internal briefing note, prepared in advance of a January meeting of deputy ministers.The federal government is looking to update a 2009 national strategy intended to protect critical infrastructure in sectors ranging from energy and water to manufacturing and transportation. An updated strategy would bring Canada into greater alignment with international partners as officials manage risks from extreme weather events, supply chain failures, cyberattacks or espionage, said Public Safety spokesman Tim Warmington.“With a renewed unders...

Quebec boy acquitted of assault after ‘teasing’ sister as they were watching movie

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

SHAWINIGAN, Que. — A child has been acquitted of assaulting his younger stepsister after what a Quebec judge deemed to be a harmless bit of teasing.The boy, who was 12 years old at the time, admitted to having touched his then-11-year-old sister’s thighs while the two were watching a movie one evening.But the girl suffered no harm as a result of her brother’s actions, Quebec court Judge Geneviève Marchand wrote in her June 14 decision, which was published this week.Though the boy admitted to touching his sister, the judge ultimately acquitted him of assault on the basis of a defence known in Latin as de minimis non curat lex — “the principle that the law does not concern itself with trivial matters,” Marchand explained. The boy’s only intention was to tease his sister, and this teasing was consistent with their playful relationship, the judge said.“The accused’s actions are so harmless and devoid of any violence or malicious intent that they...

Acuña’s encounter and Guaranteed Rate Field shooting raise questions about safety of players, fans

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A shooting that likely happened inside of Guaranteed Rate Field, followed by a scary moment for Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. in Colorado. Both in a span of four days.While Major League Baseball is on track for a marked increase in attendance this year, the pair of high-profile incidents raised questions about the safety of players and fans inside and outside of big league ballparks.A spokeswoman for the Major League Baseball Players Association said Tuesday that the union takes player safety “very seriously” and that it reviews club and stadium protocols throughout every season “to mitigate the possibility of similar future incidents.”Acuña had an encounter with two fans during Atlanta’s 14-4 win over Colorado on Monday night.One fan got his arms against Acuña during the middle of the seventh inning. Two security people quickly grabbed the fan and, as they tried to drag him away, a third security person approached.A second fan then sprinted t...

S&P/TSX composite gains 265 points Tuesday, U.S. markets also rise

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

TORONTO — Gains in energy, technology and base metals helped lead a broad-based rally on Canada’s main stock index Tuesday, which rose 1.32 per cent, while U.S. markets also posted gains. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 265.27 points at 20,290.41.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 292.69 points at 34,852.67. The S&P 500 index was up 64.32 points at 4,497.63, while the Nasdaq composite was up 238.63 points at 13,943.76.Stocks rose on a pair of economic reports that showed a continued downtrend in the data that informs central bank decisions on interest rates, said Lesley Marks, chief investment officer of equities at Mackenzie Investments.“I guess it’s the case of bad news is good news,” said Marks. The U.S. government reported that job openings in July fell to the lowest level since March 2021. “Job openings are a key indication of the health of an economy,” said Marks. Meanwhile, the Conference Board reported that consumer confidence fell in Au...

HeyJB LIVE: Hurricane Idalia becomes Category 2 hurricane

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Idalia strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday and is expected to rapidly intensify in the Gulf of Mexico.As of a 5 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Idalia is about 195 miles southwest of Tampa, moving north around 15 mph. The storm's wind speeds have increased to 100 mph. Real-time wobble tracker monitoring Hurricane Idalia’s shifts in Gulf of Mexico Idalia is forecast to track west of Tampa and make landfall along the northwest Gulf Coast of Florida sometime on Wednesday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 major hurricane, to the NHC said.Storm surge remains the biggest threat with Idalia, with some areas north of Tampa Bay expected to see 8 to 15 feet of storm surge, with 4 to 7 feet in the Tampa Bay area and 3 to 5 feet south of Tampa Bay.The storm surge threat is increased thanks to higher-than-normal high tides due to Wednesday's Super Moon. Do I need to evacuate? Orders issued for several counties ahead of Idalia A hurrican...

CPD: Bronzeville man who may need medical attention missing since 2019

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 54-year-old man who was last seen in August of 2019.Michael Thomas, 54, was last seen on the 3400 block of South Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood on August 20, 2019. CPD: Man diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar missing since last week Thomas is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 125 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt, dark shorts, and uses a wheelchair to move around.Thomas may be in need of medical attention.Anyone with information regarding Michael Thomas' whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 213-747-8380.

3M agrees to pay $6 billion to settle earplug lawsuits from service members

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Chemical and consumer product manufacturer 3M said Tuesday it has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries after using faulty earplugs made by the company.The settlement, consisting of $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in 3M stock, will be made in payments that will run through 2029.Hundreds of thousands of veterans and current service members have sued 3M and Aearo Technologies, a company that 3M acquired in 2008, over their Combat Arms Earplugs. The service members alleged that a defective design allowed the products — which were intended to protect ears from close-range firearms and other loud noises — to loosen slightly and allow hearing damage, according to Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, & Overholtz PLLC, one of the law firms representing plaintiffs.In an online summary about the litigation, the Florida-based law firm notes that 3M previously agreed to pay $9.1 millio...

Cause of house explosion that killed NFL player Caleb Farley's father released

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (WJZY) – North Carolina authorities have identified the cause of a catastrophic house explosion that killed NFL player Caleb Farley's father.Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management announced Tuesday that a natural gas explosion with unknown origin leveled the Mooresville home.Dominion Energy tested the regulator in the gas meter that was recovered from the scene at its facility in Gastonia, and the regulator was normal.Authorities could not read the hour-by-hour usage because of an issue with the software, Director Kent Greene explained. Authorities are unsure if they'll be able to read it in the future. 911 calls released in Mooresville house explosion that killed NFL player’s father Robert Matthews Farley, 61, was killed in the house explosion while staying in the home, which was owned by his son, who plays cornerback for the Tennessee Titans. Farley's body was recovered around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, as crews searched the debris.A friend of C...

Pence outlines Day 1 executive actions if elected president

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:20:49 GMT

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday outlined a slew of executive actions he would take on Day 1 if he is elected president in 2024, making clear he would seek to roll back federal support for abortion and for transgender youth.Pence detailed his plans on a call with reporters, arguing numerous executive actions would be needed to unwind the Biden administration’s agenda.“As I’ve said since I launched my campaign, I'm running for president because I think this country is in a lot of trouble,” he said.“Our Day 1 executive action plan is an attempt to lay out a vision for those initial actions that we believe would begin to set our nation aright,” he added.Here’s a look at some of the executive actions Pence said he would take upon assuming the presidency:Repeal federal support for abortionPence said he would rescind any executive actions taken by the Biden White House to promote abortion and provide resources to those looking to get the procedure, as well as drop all federal l...