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Mexico issues decree forcing private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s government issued a decree Monday that will force private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger train service over their normal freight runs.The decree gives the two main private concessionary rail operators until Jan. 15 to present proposals for offering the passenger service themselves. If they decline, the government will put the army or the navy, which have no experience operating railways, in charge of the services.Almost all of Mexican railway traffic currently carries freight except for minor tourist train services like northern Mexico’s Copper Canyon and the western tequila-producing region around Jalisco.The government wants four short inter-city routes where passenger trains would run on tracks normally used only for freight.But the biggest challenge could be three long passenger routes the government also wants to establish from central Mexico to the U.S. border: the 700-mile (1,120-kilometer) proposed passenger service from Mex...

Students, parents speaking out over closure of downtown music school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

Students and parents who attend the Downtown Vocal Music Academy are speaking out after learning their beloved school will be permanently closing next year.The TDSB announced they will be shutting down the specialty school, housed in the Ryerson Community School, displacing dozens of Grade 4 to 8 students, due to low enrollment.One Grade 7 student is heartbroken over the decision. “[the TDSB] is bullying us, and they’re pushing us back into the schools we tried to get away from where we were already bullied. It’s not fair,” said Claire Lennox.Lennox, along with her peers, received the news earlier this month when the TDSB informed them it will be their final year attending the school.The academy, just steps from Kensington Market, focused on learning through the arts. Many students and parents say it had become a safe haven for students who experienced bullying at the schools within the vicinity of their homes.“We’re going to be going back to our ...

OSHA finds plant explosion that killed 1 person could have been prevented

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found an explosion that killed one worker at a pharmaceutical chemical plant in Massachusetts could have been prevented, and proposed nearly $300,000 in penalties.The May explosion at the Seqens plant in Newburyport, Massachusetts, killed Jack O’Keefe, 62, of Methuen. Video showed most of the roof torn off a building.Results of the OSHA investigation announced Thursday found Seqens and its subsidiary PolyCarbon Industries Inc. “lacked safeguards” in the chemical-making process. The investigation found numerous deficiencies in the facility’s safety management program for highly hazardous chemicals. It also found the company did not determine the combustibility hazards of materials used in the production of the chemical Dekon 139 and did not include safe upper and lower temperature limits to prevent the decomposition of Dekon 139.O’Keefe was killed when a pressure vessel exploded.The conditions found dur...

Shapiro says unfinished business includes vouchers, more school funding and higher minimum wage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday that his list of unfinished business for the state Legislature includes passing a private school voucher program, increasing the minimum wage and approving bills to curb gun violence.Shapiro also said he wants lawmakers to lift limits that prevent adult victims of childhood sexual assault from suing their assailants and institutions.“I consider this to be unfinished business, along with making sure we raise the minimum wage, along with passing statute of limitations reform, along with making sure that we do something about gun violence in our communities,” Shapiro said.Looking forward to next year, the governor said he will prioritize addressing a court ruling that found Pennsylvania unconstitutionally discriminates against the poorest school districts.Speaking at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon, Shapiro, repeatedly couched his remarks by acknowledging that he must contend with a politically divided Legislature.He ...

GoFundMe for man killed in attack near House of Blues nears $6K

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

CHICAGO — An online fundraiser for a man who died last week following an attack amid an attempted robbery near the House of Blues has raised nearly $6,000 as of Monday afternoon.The GoFundMe aims to raise $50,000 to help with Drew Hulburt's burial services and a potential scholarship in his name at  Osage Community High School.Hulburt, 47, was attacked around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the 300 block of North Dearborn Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, police said. 72-year-old man fatally shot in Logan Square after celebrating grandson’s birthday The 47-year-old was walking on the sidewalk when he was approached by two men who asked for money, police added. He was reportedly struck on the head by one of the men with a closed fist, causing him to fall to the ground. According to police, Hulburt was discovered unresponsive on the sidewalk sometime later. He was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, where he later died. It is uncle...

Portion of S Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn closed after car crashes into business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

OAK LAWN, Ill. — A portion of South Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn is closed on Monday afternoon after a car crashed into a business near 105th Place, police say. According to a post shared by the Oak Lawn Police Department on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, both directions of South Cicero Avenue are closed between 105th place and 107th Street after a car crashed into the Dollar Tree store in the area.  Chicago Traffic: Visit the WGN News traffic map for the latest real-time updates Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash or how long the closure will last. This is a developing story, stay with WGN for the latest updates.

First lady Jill Biden receives official White House Christmas Tree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – First lady Dr. Jill Biden received the 2023 White House Christmas Tree alongside military-connected families Monday afternoon. The 18-and-a-half-foot tall Fraser fir came to Washington, D.C. from Fleetwood, North Carolina.Sticking with tradition, the tree was delivered to the White House by a horse-drawn carriage. Dr. Biden called the tree “magnificent” before mingling with military families who were invited to the annual holiday event. President Biden celebrates 81st birthday pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys This year’s tree was presented to the first lady by siblings Amber Scott and Alex Church from Cline Church Nursery. The nursery was crowned the 2023 Grand Champion Growers in the National Christmas Tree Association’s annual contest.The tree will stand floor to ceiling in the White House’s Blue Room. Every year the room’s chandelier is removed to accommodate the tree’s full height, according to White House officials.

100+ schools undergo safety upgrades via Austin's 'Safe Routes to School' program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin's Safe Routes to School program has completed improvements at more than 100 schools in the city's jurisdiction, with a goal to hit all 137 schools in the city's jurisdiction by late 2024, program leadership told city officials at a mobility committee meeting Thursday. Of the more than 100 schools already attended to, over 400 projects have been completed. Those tend to center on enhancing mobility to allow students and their families to safely walk or bike to campus, with upgrades including sidewalks, curb ramps, shared-use paths, bike facilities and trails.Safe Routes to School comprises four programs, including the city's nearly 200-crossing guard network that services almost 100 schools in Austin. Elsewhere in its coverage scope is its infrastructure program, born out of 2016 Austin Mobility bond dollars. The infrastructure program received $27.5 million to be divvied up equally among Austin's 10 council districts to address and mitigate safety ...

Police investigating crash between semi-truck, train in Hutto

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — A crash between a semi tractor-trailer and a train in Hutto left no injuries on Monday, the Hutto Police Department confirmed to KXAN.At approximately 1:50 p.m., police responded to Highway 79 and County Road 132 for a report of the crash.Crews responded to a crash involved a semi tractor-trailer and a train in Hutto on Monday | Jordan Belt/KXAN NewsCrews responded to a crash involved a semi tractor-trailer and a train in Hutto on Monday | Courtesy Hutto Police DepartmentCrews responded to a crash involved a semi tractor-trailer and a train in Hutto on Monday | Courtesy Hutto Police DepartmentCrews responded to a crash involved a semi tractor-trailer and a train in Hutto on Monday | Courtesy Hutto Police DepartmentCrews were still on the scene at the time this was published. Hutto PD said it is still investigating the crash, which will impact traffic.Drivers are urged to avoid the area or seek an alternate route.

Ben Johnson put Gophers men’s basketball team through ‘Winners Week’ to prepare them for season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:40 GMT

When Dawson Garcia was named Big Ten player of the week last week, the forward from Prior Lake credited cardio workouts he and his Gopher men’s basketball teammates did during preseason.“I’m in a lot better shape this year to start the season,” said Garcia, who leads Minnesota with 18.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. “This is a big testament to the work we put in as a team in the offseason. We had a Winners Week, and I really think that helped out tremendously — as it did the rest of the guys.”That is music to coach Ben Johnson’s ears.In September, Johnson set up a week’s worth of difficult cardio workouts for before sunrise and basketball activities for the afternoon. The team broke into groups and kept score throughout one week, hence the name “Winners Week.”“Finding ways to get these guys to understand they are winners and develop that mindset,” Johnson said Monday. “… Especially when you haven’t won, you have to find wins every day to build that self confidence and to view yo...