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Centre Block on pace to reopen in 2032, include new public area under Parliament Hill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

OTTAWA — A massive overhaul of Centre Block on Parliament Hill is expected to be completed by 2031 and open to the public by 2032. Rob Wright, an assistant deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, says structural strengthening and heritage restoration is currently underway. A new three-level welcome centre is being built underneath the building and around the core of the Peace Tower. Wright says crews are digging 23 metres deep to clear space for the 32,000-square-metre centre.The new public entrance will be designed with two accessible pathways leading from the eternal flame and courtyard in front of Centre Block to the welcome centre’s main floor, its security checkpoints and elevators.The lowest level of the centre is expected to feature museum-esque exhibits, a multimedia theatre and on-site classrooms to educate visitors about Parliament. Wright told reporters during a tour of the ongoing renovations on Thursday that getting parliamentarians themselves i...

Friday Forecast: Mostly sunny, mid to high 80s

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

Friday: Mostly sunny, cooler lakeside, NE 5-10 mph G20. High: 86, low: 77Friday Night: Mostly clear, calm, NE 0-5. Low: 64Saturday: Mostly sunny, 20% thunderstorms late day, ESE 10-15. High: 91, Low: 83Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)

Tropical Storm Cindy forms in the Atlantic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Tropical Storm Cindy formed Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving west-northwest at 15 mph. It is forecast to remain well northeast of the northern Leeward Islands through next week.The storm's winds have increased to 45 mph and it is expected to strengthen over the next few days."It is rare to have one storm in the Atlantic during the month of June, but since record keeping began, it has never been recorded to have two tropical cyclones in this region in June," WFLA Meteorologist Amanda Holly said. "The good news is that neither seem to be a threat to the United States."Tropical Storm BretTropical Storm Bret strengthened overnight but remains a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. Bret has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and is moving west at 18 mph. It's expected to impact the Lesser Antilles on Thursday as a strong tropical storm. A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect fo...

FDA warns stores to stop selling the top disposable e-cigarette

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it has sent warning letters to dozens of retailers selling fruit- and candy-flavored disposable e-cigarettes, including the current best-selling brand, Elf Bar.It’s the latest attempt by regulators to crack down on illegal disposable vapes that have poured into U.S. stores in recent years.Last month, the FDA issued orders allowing customs officials to seize shipments of Elf Bar, Esco Bar and two other brands at U.S. ports. None of the products have received FDA authorization and they come in flavors like cotton candy, which regulators say can appeal to teenagers.In the latest action, the FDA said it issued warnings to 189 convenience stores, vape shops and other retailers. CDC: E-cigarette sales spiked nearly 50 percent between 2020 and 2022 “We’re not going to stand by as bad actors are profiting off the sale of illegal products that are addicting our nation’s youth,” Brian King, the FDA’s tobacco cente...

Biden to sign executive order to expand birth control access

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

(The Hill) - President Biden will sign an executive order Friday aimed at increasing access to contraception and family planning.The order is part of the administration's efforts to promote reproductive health care and comes one day ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.It will also be the administration's only policy response to mark the anniversary. While the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization dealt with the constitutional right to an abortion, Justice Clarence Thomas in a concurring opinion said the high court should also reconsider whether there is a constitutional right to birth control. "Access to contraception has become even more important in the wake of Dobbs and the ensuing crisis in women’s access to health care," Jennifer Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council told reporters.The order directs the secretaries of the Treasury and Labor Departments, as well as Health and Hu...

Sub's implosion draws attention to murky regulations of deep-sea expeditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — When the Titan submersible made its fateful dive into the North Atlantic on Sunday, it also plunged into the murkily regulated waters of deep-sea exploration.It's a space on the high seas where laws and conventions can be sidestepped by risk-taking entrepreneurs and the wealthy tourists who help fund their dreams. At least for now.“We're at a point in submersible operations in deep water that's kind of akin to where aviation was in the early 20th century,” said Salvatore Mercogliano, a history professor at Campbell University in North Carolina who focuses on maritime history and policy.“Aviation was in its infancy — and it took accidents for decisions to be made to be put into laws,” Mercogliano said. “There’ll be a time when you won’t think twice about getting on a submersible and going down 13,000 feet. But we’re not there yet.”Thursday's announcement by the U.S. Coast Guard that the Titan had imploded near the Titanic shipwreck, killing all five people on boar...

Historic heat wave extends through end of June

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Despite a bit of "relief" yesterday afternoon (high of 94°), our temperatures begin to climb again today... and they won't stop rising in the days to come.A few isolated storms are possible late day today and Saturday, but the big story continues to be the heat. Afternoon highs will return to the upper 90s today before reaching and exceeding 100° this weekend and all next week.Forecast heat index values Friday afternoonHeat and humidity are still prompting a Heat Advisory in effect until 9 p.m. Friday for dangerous heat indices.Heat Advisory in effect until 9 p.m. FridayThe heat ridge is expected to build back into Texas, even stronger than it has been, through the entirety of next work week. This will send temperatures to near-records both in the afternoon and overnight.Ridge of high pressure settles in over the area, hotter temperatures next weekTropical UpdateTropical Storm Bret and CindyWe are tracking two tropical storms in the Atlantic, but both are expected t...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Shouldn't I Be Able to Take A Nap at Lunchtime at Work?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Richard and it's about napping. Here's his email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I recently got into a bit of an argument with my boss over how I spend my lunch hour. I think we can all agree that some days are tougher than other at the office, and on those days, I choose to take a nap during my lunch hour. We have a break room where people will go to eat or have coffee and on my busy days, I'll go in there, head to a corner and take a nap. I always set an alarm and I never oversleep. However, last week, my boss saw me napping and woke me up and was really ticked off about it. He said the office was no place to sleep. I said it was my time and instead of spending an hour eating, I could eat for five minutes and nap the rest of the time. He said it would lower my productivity and therefore, no napping during work hours. I don't want to go over his ...

John Legend to perform at Tanglewood Music Festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

LENOX, Mass. (NEWS10) -- John Legend has been added to the 2023 Tanglewood Music Festival and is set to perform on Sunday, September 3. Tickets for Legend go on sale to the public on Wednesday at 10 a.m. online. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The concert series begins on Thursday, June 22, with an NPR new quiz program called “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” Musical performances will be held at the Koussevitzky Music Shed. Other artists set to perform at this year's festival include:Friday, June 23 – Steve Miller Band with special guest Bruce Hornsby & The NoisemakersSunday, July 2 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss with special guest JD McPhersonMonday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4 – James TaylorThursday, August 24 – Train with special guest ParmaleeThis year marks the 85th Tanglewood artist series.

St. Louis Board of Alderman likely to approve water rate hikes Friday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis City Board of Aldermen is poised to give final approval Friday to one of the largest city water bill increases in recent history.The board will meet at City Hall around 10 a.m. and expects to give final approval to a plan supported by a 12-2 vote last week. Before the initial vote last week, FOX 2 captured video inside a city water treatment. We captured leaking pipe and broken pumps. Woman charged with ramming, shooting thieves who stole sister’s car Curt Skouby, the city's public utilities director, tells us his department has been dipping heavily into its reserves to help keep things running. In fact, he says his reserves have dwindled from 33 million all the way down to two million. The proposed plan would increase water bills in the city by $30 a quarter come early next year.If approved, the first increase of 15 dollars would come next month, then another $15 increase would go into effect in January. Proponents of the bill say it will help with repai...