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88-year-old Australian doctor freed 7 years after kidnapping by Islamic extremists in West Africa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An 88-year-old Australian doctor held captive by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than seven years has been freed and has returned to Australia.Kenneth Elliott was safe and well and was reunited with his wife and their children on Thursday night, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. “I’m very pleased to advise that Dr. Ken Elliott, who’s been held hostage in Western Africa for some seven years, has been reunited in Australia with his family,” Wong told reporters in Sydney.Elliott and his wife were kidnapped in Burkina Faso, where they had run a medical clinic for four decades. Jocelyn Elliott was released three weeks later.“We wish to express our thanks to God and all who have continued to pray for us,” Elliott’s family said in a statement released by Wong’s department.“We express our relief that Dr. Elliott is free and thank the Australian government and all who have been involved over time to secure his release,” the family statement said.Ne...

Book on interprovincial trade takes home $60,000 Donner Prize

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

Lawyer Ryan Manucha has won this year’s Donner Prize for his book on interprovincial trade.“Booze, Cigarettes and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada’s Quest for Interprovincial Free Trade” was named Canada’s best public policy book.The award, typically worth $30,000, was doubled to $60,000 this year for the prize’s 25th anniversary.Jurors praised Manucha’s book for “making internal free trade lively.” The shortlisted authors, who each receive $7,500, include Joseph Heath for “Cooperation and Social Justice” and John Lorinc for “Dream States: Smart Cities, Technology, and the Pursuit of Urban Utopias.”Also on the short list were “The Next Age of Uncertainty: How the World Can Adapt to a Riskier Future” by Stephen Poloz and “Canadian Policing: Why and How It Must Change” by Kent Roach.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

Black bear sighted in Georgetown safely tranquillized

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

Halton police say a black bear seen wandering around Georgetown has been safely tranquillized. Just before 7 p.m., police said they had received calls about the bear in the area of McKinnon Avenue and Barber Drive.Pedestrians and bystanders were asked to avoid the area as they worked to remove the bear which had climbed up into a tree. Didn't think I'd end up seeing a black bear near my house in Georgetown, but here we are. After a few hours up in the tree, they tranquilized it and got it down to relocate it. Poor thing. pic.twitter.com/ds7IRORhwN— Rian (@RianWilliams85) May 19, 2023The Ministry of Natural Resources was called in to assist and just after 9:30 p.m. police said the bear had ben safely tranquillized and removed from the tree to be relocated.

New College of Florida students attend ‘alternative commencement’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Hundreds of New College of Florida students, family members and friends gathered at an off-campus art gallery Thursday evening for an “alternative commencement” in defiance of state officials working to change the character of the traditionally progressive school.The ceremony preceded Friday’s official graduation on the tiny public liberal arts college’s Sarasota campus, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The college, which had less than 700 students enrolled this year, has become the focal point of Gov. Ron DeSantis to rid higher education in the state of what the Republican governor calls left-leaning “woke” indoctrination on campuses ahead of his expected presidential candidacy. Sarasota is located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Tampa.The governor and his allies say New College, a progressive school with a prominent LGBTQ+ community, is indoctrinating students with leftist ideology and should be revamped into a more conservative institution.N...

24-year-old man found dead in Des Plaines River in Joliet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. — A man was found dead Thursday in the Des Plaines River in Joliet, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.Jason Bingham, 24, of Joliet, died around 4:15 p.m. after he was pulled to the shore by the Joliet Fire Department. Joliet man found guilty of 2019 Harrah’s Casino stabbing death The coroner's office said an autopsy is scheduled for Friday and a final cause and manner of death will be determined at a later date.The incident is under investigation by the Joliet Police Department.WGN-TV News reached out to police for additional information on Thursday night and is awaiting a response.

Suburban cop once charged with murder didn't let wrongful arrest end his career

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

Brian Dorian is one of the few police officers who know what it’s like to be on both sides of the law. In 2010, he was charged with murder and locked up for six days before police and prosecutors admitted they had made a major mistake.“Why go back to being a cop when you saw how the system can get it so wrong?” WGN Investigates’ Ben Bradley asked Dorian. “I was stubborn,” he responded. “I thought about what my friend told me: ‘Don’t let them be the ones that take that away from you.’” WGN Investigates | Chicago’s shooting victims are increasingly its youngest residents Dorian sought therapy for the mental anguish he suffered but he didn’t give up on serving and protecting the south suburban community where he was raised. Now, 25 years and a day after he became a police officer, Dorian is retiring from the Lynwood Police Department and WGN was with him on his final day on the job. Watch the full story in the video player above.

New details released on fire at Buffalo Grove High School

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. — New information was released Thursday evening at an emergency board meeting about Tuesday's fire at Buffalo Grove High School.School officials said the fire broke out around 7:45 p.m. in the multimedia lab in the English wing. Buffalo Grove High School closed Wednesday due to small fire The cause of the fire is still under investigation.People were at the school for a concert and a volleyball game, but they were evacuated and no injuries were reported.A fire restoration team is working in the area.Classes are scheduled to resume on Friday morning.District 214 shared the following presentation during Thursday evening's emergency board meeting.BG-Fire-Update-051823-BOE-MEETING-33DownloadIt will be the first time students returned to the classroom since the fire and four students were killed in a crash late-Tuesday night. Buffalo Grove High School mourning loss of 4 students killed in Wheeling crash Jesus Rodriguez, 16, Kevin R. Hernandez-Teran, 17 and Richar...

IDPH links 2 Legionnaires' disease cases to LA Fitness in Niles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

NILES, Ill. — Two cases of Legionnaires' disease have been linked to a LA Fitness in Niles.On May 5, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) began an investigation. The department said both individuals used the pool, steam room, hot tub and showers during the last few weeks of April.After they were notified, LA Fitness closed their pool, spa, showers and steam room.An environmental investigation was conducted and on Tuesday, results confirmed Legionella pnemophila S2-14 was detected in samples collected from the facility’s hot tub. Ukrainian artist painting historic section of Uptown ‘en plein air’ The hot tub and associated area will remain closed until additional testing confirms that legionella is no longer detected, IDPH said.A manager told WGN-TV News they aren't concerned with any contamination of other parts of the facility and they are still open for members.People who work out at the gym said they were concerned to hear about the disease and said they will take ex...

12 year-old set to graduate from Fullerton College with 5 degrees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

(KTLA) — Meet the newest graduate of Fullerton College: he can't drive or grow a beard, but he's highly accomplished.On Saturday, the youngest person walking across the stage to accept their diploma during the commencement ceremony will be Clovis Hung, a 12-year-old wunderkind who will be graduating with five degrees from the Fullerton, California, school. Target recalls nearly 5 million Threshold candles due to burn hazard The school says Hung was only nine years old when he enrolled at the community college as part of its Special Admit program, which allowed him to earn college credits while simultaneously completing his home school curriculum.Hung was inspired to enroll at Fullerton College after seeing another young prodigy, Jack Rico, graduate from the school at the ripe old age of 13. Rico graduated with four degrees — a number Hung sought to surpass.The pre-teen will be accepting five Associate of Arts degrees in History, Social Sciences, Social Behavior and Self-Developmen...

Brown smacks 3 HRs, ties Texas total bases record in 12-2 rout of No. 6 West Virginia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Porter Brown had one of those nights where just about everything went his way Thursday against No. 6 West Virginia.The Longhorns outfielder smashed three home runs and ended the night 4-for-5 with eight RBIs in a 12-2 romp to open a 3-game series with the Mountaineers at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersBrown hit home runs to all areas of the field. After he drove in the game's first run with a single in the first inning, Brown powered a 3-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a 3-run homer in the second inning. Two innings later, Brown connected on a 2-run homer to center field, and in the sixth he lined an opposite-field 2-run home run into the Mountaineers' bullpen. He had a chance at a five-hit night and become the first-ever Longhorn to hit four home runs in a game, but he grounded out to third in his last at-bat. Porter is the...