No. 25 UConn working on climbing back up poll, faces No. 15 BaylorJonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family’s home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note had been left behind. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet’s killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey.” In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. “What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come into detectives," he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the “media circus” surrounding the case. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet's clothing that pointed to the involvement of an “unexplained third party” in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys “victims of this crime.” John Ramsey has continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado’s governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he has been advocating for several items that have not been prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators have identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn’t been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be “consumed” if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review had ended but that police continue to work through and evaluate a “lengthy list of recommendations” from the panel. Amy Beth Hanson contributed to this report from Helena, Montana.Sue MacPherson: 'Honor and commitment to our veterans and Butte'

After Iranian arrest tied to U.S. military murders, town advances sanctuary policies

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A Pennsylvania mother came forward against a Commercial Township man who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly using the social media platform Snapchat to talk and share explicit content with several underage girls, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. Michael A. Romig, 29, was charged Monday with causing or permitting a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act or to be portrayed in a sexually suggestive manner, engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of a child and luring. These charges are in addition to the Dec. 12 charges of possessing, viewing or having under his control less than 1,000 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, causing or permitting a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act or to be portrayed in a sexually suggestive manner, and engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of a child. Contractors continue to remove rides at former Gillian's Wonderland site in Ocean City Ocean City group has no shortage of ideas for area near Gillian's Wonderland 'Great Day Express' takes its maiden voyage to Big SNOW at American Dream Mall Body found in fridge in Belleplain State Forest 'He was one of a kind': Ex-Beach Haven lifeguard chief recalls officer killed in North Carolina shooting DEEM says financing ready to start Bader Field development in Atlantic City Long Beach Island fire damages multimillion-dollar bayfront home New Jersey 'homelessness czar' at work in Atlantic City, DCA says The heartbeat of Atlantic City: How Midtown is redefining its future Atlantic City police officer accused of assaulting, pointing gun at wife Lower Township man charged with possession of child porn 2 Wildwood men accused of sexually assaulting juveniles Who are The Press' 2024 High School Football All-Stars? Who are The Press' football Player, Team and Coach of the Year? Mays Landing's Level Up comic and video game shop to close after 18 years In October, police in Columbus, Ohio, told the Prosecutor's Office that someone in the county was soliciting and sharing child sex abuse material with a 10-year-old girl on social media, the county officials said in a Dec. 13 release. Investigators identified Romig as the suspect and determined he had used multiple Snapchat accounts to communicate with juveniles ages 10 to 15, the Prosecutor's Office said. Romig is alleged to have possessed 276 files of child sex abuse material, including 16 photos and 26 videos, and he allegedly told the juveniles how he wanted the pictures taken, the Prosecutor's Office said. On Dec. 19, Prosecutor's Office Det. Kyle Mecouch received contact from a woman in Galeton, Pennsylvania, who said her 15-year-old daughter had been in an online relationship with a person she had believed to be a teenager. On the day prior, the girl approached her mother and was upset she had lost contact with a "teenager" she had been talking to, police said. The teen admitted Romig's true identity — a 29-year-old man — and said she had been unable to contact him since Dec. 12, the day of his initial arrest. After learning of Romig's true identity, the mother searched his name on the internet and came across the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office's Dec. 13 news release about his arrest, police said. Romig is alleged to have randomly added the 15-year-old girl as a friend on Snapchat in December 2022, police said. He initially told the girl his name was "Jason" and that he was 17. Both began to talk daily on Snapchat and other online platforms. During that time, Romig is alleged to have sent nude photographs of himself and requested the victim send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Romig eventually told the victim his real age and name and convinced her to not tell her parents about him, police said. They continued to talk daily until Romig's arrest Dec. 12. After not being able to contact him, the victim told her parents, police said. Romig continues to be held in the Cumberland County jail. The state will move for pretrial detention following the latest charges, police said. Contact John Russo: 609-272-7184 jrusso@pressofac.com Twitter: @ACPress_Russo Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Digital producer Author twitter Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.None

What the Options Market Tells Us About RobloxNone

World junior roundup: Finland bounces back with 3-1 win over Germany

hile sales of electric vehicles surge in China, adoption of more environmentally friendly vehicles is stumbling in the United States and Europe as carmakers and governments struggle to meet years-old promises about affordability and charging stations. Adding to those headwinds: an incoming new U.S. president who has disparaged government support for electric vehicles. China is the exception. Driven by government subsidies and mandates, vehicles with electric motors, including plug-in hybrids that combine electric and fossil fuel motors, topped 50% of sales in the month of July. Concerns about range, charging infrastructure and higher prices are sore points among both electric car enthusiasts and skeptics in Europe and the U.S. Solar panels power charging at Detlef Mueller-Salis’ home in Mainz, Germany, so he thought he was all set to go electric. But range concerns, charging times and confusing charging payment methods proved frustrating. So after four years, he and his wife sold their Porsche Taycan and Fiat 500 electrics and bought a BMW 5-Series and a Volkswagen Polo, both internal combustion. The smaller Fiat could run about 136 miles on a charge in summer and 112 in winter, he said, against the manufacturer’s specification of 198 miles. Constantly checking the battery before quick trips to visit grandchildren and elderly parents grew annoying. So did going on vacation with payment cards from five charging plans. The Porsche took 30 minutes to charge instead of the 22 minutes advertised, not a huge difference but “not what the company promised,” said Mueller-Salis, who is retired from a logistics company. Driving fast on the autobahn reduced range so that “you paid for it with charging time.” Both retirees in their 70s, Ken and Roxanne Honeycutt mainly drive their used Kia Soul around their town near Oakland, California. They charge the EV, with a range of about 111 miles, in their garage and don’t rely much on public infrastructure. But for longer trips they have to plan fast-charging stops ahead of time. “We wanted to try it,” Roxanne said of the EV. “Sometimes we found that the charging stations don’t always work, they’re broken down, so that gives you a little bit of anxiety if you know, OK, I need to charge.” On one cold, rainy January day, the Soul’s range dropped faster than expected, so they had to stop twice to charge. Another time, they hit multiple nonfunctioning chargers — even in California, where EV adoption leads the rest of the country. Their range dropped to 13 miles. “We’re used to having a gas station on every corner, 24 hours a day,” Roxanne said, adding they still like the vehicle. Electric cars aren’t going away. They are essential for planet-warming carbon emissions reductions governments agreed to under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Electrified vehicle sales will reach 17 million this year, or one car in five sold globally, according to the International Energy Agency. That includes plug-in hybrids that combine electric with internal combustion motors. But about 60% of those sales are in China. In Europe, sales of electric-only cars fell 5.8% in January-September from a year earlier, while their market share fell to 13% from 14%. Pure EVs accounted for 8% of overall U.S. vehicle sales in October. So, the market is growing, but sales slowed. They’re not plunging, but they’re not yet growing fast enough to meet climate goals. Higher prices matter. A Volkswagen ID. 3 hatchback costs about $42,090, compared to the similar-sized Volkswagen Golf fuel engine version at $29,136, according to the ADAC auto association. U.S. EV prices have fallen significantly since 2022, but the average price in October for a new one, $56,902, still exceeded the average $48,623 for a new vehicle. Cost remains an issue for the more mainstream American consumers EV makers hope to target, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Uncertainty over purchase subsidies also complicates price comparisons. EV sales plunged in Germany early this year after the government abruptly canceled the purchase premium of roughly $7,100 for cars up to $42,000 and about $4,700 for cars up to about $68,000. ADAC says that means most internal combustion models are a better deal over a car’s lifetime. Conservative political parties and the industry are now questioning the EU’s goal of eliminating most fuel engine vehicles by 2035, a decision that’s up for review in 2026. The European Auto Manufacturers’ Association is urging that carbon dioxide limits, which carmakers must meet by 2026 or face heavy fines, be relaxed. Some carmakers have pushed back electrification plans. Republican President-elect Donald Trump vowed to end what he called the Democratic Biden administration’s EV “mandate,” though he softened his anti-EV stance as his ties with Tesla CEO Elon Musk grew closer. Automakers are not required to sell EVs under the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas emissions standards regulating tailpipe pollution, though they need EVs to make up at least 56% of their total sales to meet the ambitious standards for cutting emissions. Trump may also eliminate critical EV tax credits. Even if fewer buyers choose EVs, tax credits or not, auto companies show no intention of fully retreating from the transition away from gas-burning cars and trucks. China’s auto market, the world’s largest, was transformed by billions of dollars in subsidies, with EV sales reaching 25.8% of the 13.5 million vehicles sold in January-August, according to the China Passenger Car Association. The government is encouraging car buyers to go electric, and many are buying EVs or plug-in hybrids under an economic stimulus program. The phasing out of earlier subsidies in 2022 unleashed a fierce price war, toppling some weaker automakers. Some Chinese EVs sell for less than $20,000 in their home market. The government push encouraged many start-ups that took the Tesla model and ran with it. They simplified car designs to cut costs and filled interiors with gadgetry appealing to a smartphone-savvy generation. Photographer Wu Cong sat inside his $23,000 Hongqi E-QM5 as it recharged in Beijing. He travels often for work, racking up 50,000 miles in the past two years. The EV saves him about $7 in fuel costs for every 62 miles, he said, which would add up to $5,600 over two years. The sedan’s navigation system reminds him to recharge after driving a distance of his choosing. “It will tell you if there are charging stations ahead and if anyone is using them,” he said. Beijing tech worker Shang Wenting said her family hardly uses its gasoline-powered car anymore except for on long trips, preferring a sapphire Tesla Model Y that cost about $37,000. During a weekly trip to a charging station 10 minutes from her home, Shang said the Tesla is cheaper to drive and she loves its “smart features,” like an energy recovery system that means she can press on the accelerator less. “It feels like switching from an old phone to a smartphone,” she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Brittany Mahomes' Thanksgiving Post Catches Attention

AP Signs 2 MoUs With Tony Blair Institute To Modernise Higher Education

Stock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the marketBy Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. data-center power demand could nearly triple in the next three years, and consume as much as 12% of the country’s electricity, as the industry undergoes an artificial-intelligence transformation, according to a Department of Energy-backed study that was first reported by Reuters on Friday. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory produced the report as the U.S. power industry and government attempt to understand how Big Tech’s data-center demand will affect electrical grids, power bills and the climate. By 2028, data centers’ annual energy use could reach between 74 and 132 gigawatts, or 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption, according to the Berkeley Lab report. The report included ranges that depended partly on the availability and demand for a type of AI chip known as GPUs. Currently, data centers make up a little more than 4% of the country’s power load. “This really signals to us where the frontier is in terms of growing energy demand in the U.S.,” said Avi Shultz, director of the DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office. Swelling data-center electricity needs are accompanied by rising power consumption from onshoring of U.S. manufacturing and electrification of buildings and transportation. Overall U.S. power demand peaked in 2024 and is expected to hit another record next year. “What this report is highlighting is what’s actually growing the fastest, and the leading edge of demand growth in the U.S. is the very new growth in artificial-intelligence data centers,” Shultz said. Findings may inform DOE efforts to increase the flexibility and resiliency of the grid, including construction of long-duration battery storage at data-center sites and commercialization of new technologies such as small nuclear reactors and advanced geothermal, Shultz said. POWER DOUBLING Starting in 2017, deployment of GPU-accelerated servers led to a more than doubling of the sector’s power use over a six-year period, the report said. AI, which requires increasingly powerful chips and intense cooling systems, is the primary driver for the projected data-center growth. When the last report was released in 2016, AI servers in data centers accounted for about 2% of total server energy use. The report’s lead researcher Arman Shehabi and his team recommend publishing the report annually, or biannually, to more closely track data-center trends. Estimates in the report are based on calculations of electricity use from installed GPUs and other data-center IT equipment, using publicly available information, market-research firms and reviews by power-sector and data-center executives. “By showing what the energy use is and, more importantly, what’s causing the growth in energy use, it helps us think about what opportunities there are for efficiencies,” Shehabi said. The report also makes suggestions to further research and develop energy-efficiency strategies for the country’s booming AI data centers. New AI data centers are being built with power capacity as big as one gigawatt, enough to power all homes in Philadelphia. (Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Rod Nickel) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Introducing St. Maarten's New Sports Landmark: Vie L'Ven's Multi-Court With Panoramic Views of Indigo Bay and Limited-Edition Pickleball PaddleNetflix set for biggest weekly gain since January after Paul-Tyson fight

Shift4 Payments Is A Growth Beast And A Reasonable BuyTechnical Specifications and Application Examples of High-end Industrial Computers

Oncology Advancements Accelerate Amid Rising Early-Onset Cancer DiagnosesA Port Elgin woman has been named one of three of Canada’s Favourite Crossing Guards in a recent contest. Fay Eggleston is a crossing guard for Port Elgin Saugeen Central School in Port Elgin, Ont. The contest is held by Parachute, a Canadian charity dedicated to preventing injury. “Fay’s warm smile and unwavering dedication make her a pillar of her community,” read the 2024 winners page on Parachute’s website . “A former local business owner, she’s been a crossing guard for years, guiding children safely across a busy highway intersection. One nomination shared how Fay went above and beyond by noticing a child without globes on a cold day and giving them a pair from her personal stash.” The post continues, saying that Eggleston is loved by children and parents alike for her kind, cheerful greetings, care of kids’ safety and constant vigilance on the job. The Saugeen Shores Police Service shared the news and added that $500 is to be donated to Port Elgin Saugeen Central School after the influx in nominations. Other guards that won were Jean Marc Auclair from Quebec City, Que. and Clayton Ross from Kingston, Ont. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada These Walking Pads Will Help You Get 10,000 Steps Every Day (And They're On Sale In The Name Of Boxing Day) 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Home Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) 13 Of The Best Fidget Toys For Adults Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada London Top Stories Sarnia police respond to Christmas Day stabbing, robbery How do I get rid of my Christmas tree? Port Elgin, Ont. woman named Canada’s Favourite Crossing Guard Police warn of dangers of ice after someone falls through SIU investigating after arrested suspect hospitalized These are Dr. Theresa Tam's top health concerns for Canada in 2025 Industrial building fire results in $250,000 of damages Teenage phenom Gavin McKenna scores, Canada tops Finland 4-0 in world junior opener CTVNews.ca Top Stories Conservatives call for no-confidence vote by late January Conservative MP Jonathan Williamson says he'll get the ball rolling early in the New Year on no-confidence vote that could bring down Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government in a little more than a month. Northern Ont. police shoot man carrying a shotgun on Hwy. 11/17 The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a police office near Thunder Bay, Ont., shot and wounded a man who fired on a police cruiser with a shotgun. 9-year-old girl dead in Calgary Boxing Day crash A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Freezing drizzle, low of -30 C: Mix of wintry weather in the forecast across Canada From freezing rain to brutal cold, wintry conditions are in the forecast across Canada this weekend. Ukrainian drone attack was underway before Azerbaijani plane crashed, Russian aviation chief says Russia's aviation chief said Friday that a Ukrainian drone attack was underway in the Russian region that an airliner was destined for before it diverted and crashed earlier this week. Bloc Quebecois as official Opposition? Leader says Canadians 'don't have to fear us' Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says he's staying modest about the prospect of his party forming official Opposition in the next federal election, though it would be a 'spectacular' result. LeBlanc, Joly to meet with incoming Trump administration officials in Florida Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly are in Florida to meet with officials from president-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. Another stowaway is caught on a Delta flight this holiday season – raising major concerns about airport safety Yet another stowaway managed to board a major airline’s plane – renewing serious questions and concerns about airport safety during the busiest travel season of the year. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Kitchener Fire rips through former Peter Hay Knife Company building in Cambridge Emergency responders were called to a fire in Cambridge on Thursday as flames ripped through the building that formerly belonged to the Peter Hay Knife Company. Guelph Police looking for man as part of fraud investigation Police in Guelph have released several photos in an attempt to identify a man connected to a fraud investigation. Sawed-off shotgun and three knives seized during Cambridge arrest Two people from Thunder Bay are facing drug trafficking and weapons charges after they were arrested in Cambridge. Barrie Police in Barrie searching for missing man Police in Barrie are searching for an individual who was reported missing on Thursday. Are your bins still at the curb? Here are the changes to curbside collection Curbside collection is delayed by one day this week due to the holidays. 2 scrooges busted for Christmas thefts Two men were arrested after a string of thefts in Collingwood over Christmas. Windsor City of Windsor looks to reduce wastewater charges The City of Windsor is making a change in the new year in an effort to reduce your wastewater charges on your water bills. Hockey for Hospice tournament returns for 28th year The Hockey for Hospice tournament is returning to Windsor-Essex, spanning over three days. Teenage phenom Gavin McKenna scores, Canada tops Finland 4-0 in world junior opener Teenage sensation Gavin McKenna scored late in the first period and Carter George made 31 saves for the shutout as Canada picked up a 4-0 victory over Finland in the host country's opener at the world junior hockey championship Thursday. Northern Ontario Northern Ont. police shoot man carrying a shotgun on Hwy. 11/17 The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a police office near Thunder Bay, Ont., shot and wounded a man who fired on a police cruiser with a shotgun. Erratic driving leads to discovery of $28K in drugs, $15K in cash, Sudbury police say Bad driving in the Flour Mill area of Greater Sudbury led police to find a cache of drugs believed to be 280 grams of cocaine, as well as magic mushrooms. Five-vehicle crash closes Hwy. 11 in New Liskeard A collision involving five vehicles closed Highway 11 in both directions Friday morning between Golf Course Drive in New Liskeard and Highway 66 in Kenogami. Sault Ste. Marie Northern Ont. police shoot man carrying a shotgun on Hwy. 11/17 The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a police office near Thunder Bay, Ont., shot and wounded a man who fired on a police cruiser with a shotgun. Average home sale prices in the Sault set new record last month Homes sales edged upward in many markets in northern Ontario last month, including Sault Ste. Marie, where average sale prices set a new record. Sault shopper caught with stolen credit cards A Sault man’s illegal shopping spree came to an abrupt end over the weekend. Ottawa Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect The Ottawa Police Service says the victim who had been killed on Christmas Day in Hintonburg has been identified. Teenage phenom Gavin McKenna scores, Canada tops Finland 4-0 in world junior opener Teenage sensation Gavin McKenna scored late in the first period and Carter George made 31 saves for the shutout as Canada picked up a 4-0 victory over Finland in the host country's opener at the world junior hockey championship Thursday. What's open and closed in Ottawa over the holidays CTVNewsOttawa.ca takes a look at what's open and closed over the Christmas and New Year's holidays this year. Toronto 3 men wanted after Pickering business set on fire twice in one month Two fires at a business in Pickering in May have police on the lookout for three suspects wanted for arson. Man arrested after alleged choking and armed robbery in downtown Toronto Police have arrested a man after an alleged assault and robbery in downtown Toronto on Christmas Eve. Free Wi-Fi service in TTC subway stations ends Free Wi-Fi in TTC subway stations has ended. As of Friday, riders could no longer access TConnect service. Montreal Tugboats, crews try to refloat ship stuck in St. Lawrence River near Montreal A team of tugboats is being deployed to refloat a ship that has been stuck in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Montreal since Christmas Eve. Should Quebecers consider earthquake home insurance? Experts weigh in You may not notice the rumbling and the shaking, but hundreds of earthquakes hit eastern Canada every year. WEATHER | Freezing rain coming to Montreal, smog warning remains in effect As the smog warning continues in Montreal, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special weather statement, warning that freezing rain may be on the way as the weather warms. Atlantic Halifax police investigate sudden death in Dartmouth Halifax Regional Police is investigating a sudden death in Dartmouth, N.S. Freezing drizzle, low of -30 C: Mix of wintry weather in the forecast across Canada From freezing rain to brutal cold, wintry conditions are in the forecast across Canada this weekend. New Brunswick RCMP investigate mail thefts The Saint-Léonard RCMP is asking the public for help with its investigation following mail theft and damage to community mailboxes in Grand Falls, N.B. Winnipeg Manitoba government questioned over push for rate freeze on electricity Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says a rate freeze on electricity in 2025 is achievable, despite another forecasted financial loss at Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro. Man found dead after skid steer falls through ice: Manitoba RCMP A 58-year-old man is dead after a skid steer fell through the ice on a Manitoba pond on Christmas Eve. 16-year-old boy found with machete: Police A 16-year-old boy is in custody after police said they found him with a machete. Calgary 9-year-old girl dead in Calgary Boxing Day crash A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Calgary police investigate two separate stabbings Calgary police say two people are in hospital after they were assaulted in two separate incidents on Friday morning. 10 New Years Eve events in Calgary this year Ten ways to celebrate New Year's Eve in Calgary. Edmonton Premier Smith proud of Alberta's 'major transformation' of health care in 2024 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says transforming the province's health-care system defined her government in 2024. 'Failure is not an option': Fire-torn Jasper entering new year with hope and anxiety Anxiety over temporary living situations and what may be a long and slow rebuild process has many Jasper residents and municipal leaders feeling unsettled heading into 2025. Former NFL star Mayes pulling for Panthers' Hubbard to break his NFL rushing mark Long the standard by which Canadian running backs are measured in the NFL, Rueben Mayes is hoping Chuba Hubbard can set that bar even higher. Regina Travel not recommended for parts of Saskatchewan under risk of freezing rain Travel advisories are in effect for parts of south and central Saskatchewan on Friday, with icy roadways and the risk of freezing rain making for dangerous driving conditions. Yorkton RCMP seek tips to locate unlawfully-at-large inmate Yorkton RCMP is seeking tips from the public to locate an inmate after staff noticed he was not present at the Whitespruce Provincial Training Centre. Pedestrian collision sends man to hospital with life-threatening injuries One man has been sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a vehicle in the early hours of Wednesday in Regina. Saskatoon Travel not recommended for parts of Saskatchewan under risk of freezing rain Travel advisories are in effect for parts of south and central Saskatchewan on Friday, with icy roadways and the risk of freezing rain making for dangerous driving conditions. Raised in Sask. after his family fled Hungary, this man spent decades spying on communists for the RCMP As a Communist Party member in Calgary in the early 1940s, Frank Hadesbeck performed clerical work at the party office, printed leaflets and sold books. IN PICTURES: CTV Saskatoon viewers send us their holiday photos A living gallery of viewer-submitted photos from the holiday season. Share your pictures with us at SaskatoonNews@bellmedia.ca Vancouver 5 hospitalized after crash in Mission Lougheed Highway was closed for about six hours in Mission, B.C., after a car crash Thursday morning that sent five people to hospital. What Canada can learn from Trump's 2024 presidential campaign Donald Trump smiled wide in front of cheering supporters after millions of Americans went to the polls, choosing the divisive Republican leader as the next president of the United States in an astonishing comeback that signalled an American turn to isolationism, protectionism and tariffs. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Vancouver Island Year-end interview: John Rustad on B.C. Conservatives' remarkable 2024 It's been quite the year for B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad – his party soaring from less than two per cent of the popular vote and no seats in the 2020 election to nearly winning this year’s election. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Avalanche risk 'extreme' for parts of B.C. coast The avalanche danger rating for mountains on B.C.’s South Coast was “extreme” on Boxing Day, according to Canada’s non-profit forecaster. Stay Connected

Workers at Starbucks stores began a five-day strike Friday to protest lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company. The strikes by baristas and other workers were scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle and could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve. Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing Starbucks' baristas, said at least 10 locations were closed down as of midday Friday. The walkouts came a day after the Teamsters union announced strikes at seven Amazon delivery hubs . Starbucks said early Friday there was “no significant impact” to its store operations. “We are aware of disruption at a small handful of stores, but the overwhelming majority of our U.S. stores remain open and serving customers as normal,” the Seattle-based coffee giant said in a statement. Workers at 535 company-owned U.S. stores have voted to unionize, but Starbucks has nearly 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores Starbucks Workers United, which began the unionization effort in 2021, said Starbucks has failed to honor a commitment made in February to reach a labor agreement this year. The union also wants the company to resolve outstanding legal issues, including hundreds of unfair labor practice charges that workers have filed with the National Labor Relations Board . The union noted that Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol , who started in September, could make more than $100 million in his first year on the job. But it said the company recently proposed an economic package with no new wage increases for unionized baristas now and a 1.5% increase in future years. “Union baristas know their value, and they’re not going to accept a proposal that doesn’t treat them as true partners," Starbucks Workers United President Lynne Fox said. Starbucks said Workers United prematurely ended a bargaining session this week. “We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table,” the company said in a statement. Starbucks said it proposed an annual pay increase of at least 1.5% that could be higher in some years. If the company said if it offered a lower increase to non-union stores in any given year, it still would give union workers a 1.5% increase. Starbucks said the union wants to increase the minimum wage for hourly workers by 64% immediately and 77% over the life of a three-year contract. Starbucks said it already pays an average of $18 per hour. With benefits — including health care, free college tuition and paid family leave — Starbucks' pay package is worth an average of $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week. The strikes won't be the first for Starbucks during the busy holiday season. In November 2023, thousands of workers at more than 200 stores walked out on Red Cup Day , when the company usually gives away thousands of reusable cups. Hundreds of workers also went on strike in June 2023 to protest after the union said Starbucks banned Pride displays at some stores. The union and the company struck a different tone early this year, when they returned to the bargaining table and pledged to reach an agreement. Starbucks said it has held nine bargaining sessions with the union since April, and has reached more than 30 agreements with the union. But Starbucks has struggled with falling sales and lower customer traffic in the U.S. and abroad this year, and the CEO who promised to work for a labor agreement, Laxman Narasimhan , was forced out this summer. Niccol quashed a unionization campaign at Chipotle when he was the CEO there, but he pledged to work constructively with the union in a September letter. Now, Starbucks and the union appear to be at an impasse. “In a year when Starbucks invested so many millions in top executive talent, it has failed to present the baristas who make its company run with a viable economic proposal,” Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a Starbucks barista from Texas and bargaining delegate, said in a statement.