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Brazil’s prosecutors block zipline construction at Rio’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s federal prosecutors blocked a decision to authorize the installment of ziplines at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, claiming they will damage the environment around a UNESCO world heritage site.Prosecutors announced the decision late Thursday, arguing that Iphan, a federal agency under the Ministry of Culture, “illicitly” authorized the project after construction had already begun in September 2022.Now, both Iphan and the company responsible for the construction of the ziplines are defendants in a civil lawsuit and each must pay a fine of at least US$9.5 million (50 million reais). Prosecutors gave the company a 60-day deadline to present a schedule to work on repairing a damaged area and to remove every structure and the residuals from the construction site.Sugarloaf — known in Portuguese as Pao de Açucar — juts out of the earth at the entrance to Rio’s bay. The U.N. agency named it a World Heritage Site in 2012 along with Rio’s oth...

What happens next as Buttonville airport in Markham prepares to shut down?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

With news that Buttonville airport in Markham will be closing by the end of November 2023, there are questions about what will come next at the massive property and where companies will relocate.“It is really sad to see the airport have to close down, but as a city councillor, I have been hearing from residents it is time,” City of Markham Ward 2 Coun. Ritch Lau said while surveying the property Friday afternoon.He recalled his time as a student pilot at Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport, which is located at the southeast corner of Highway 404 and 16th Avenue, and added fellow pilots have been sharing feelings of nostalgia.“This is something I hear … ‘I treasure this airport, it’s a good memory, it’s a really remarkable landmark for Markham,'” Lau said.“It is time for the airport to come to a conclusion here. It is not a surprise for residents and City staff.”While many skilled pilots operate out of Buttonville airport ...

Paul Lisnek on Chicago violence, debt ceiling and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN News at 9 to discuss the latest political news.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesHe discussed Chicago violence, Mayor Brandon Johnson's first few weeks as Chicago's mayor, the city's migrant plan, the debt ceiling plan, the Illinois 2024 budget, former Vice President Mike Pence run for president, and much more.Watch the full report in the player above.

West Australia opening first, only US investment and trade office in Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The government of Western Australia is investing $10.1 million in a new investment and trade office in Austin. The office, set to open in early 2024, aims to bolster and diversify Western Australia’s economy.A delegation of Western Australian government officials held a reception at Two Hands on South Congress on Thursday regarding the opening of the new office. Simone Spencer, the deputy director general for strategy and international engagement at the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, said the office will have a great impact on Western Australia’s economy.“We’re opening America’s hub in Austin, and we are really excited about that because Western Australia has never had a presence in America before,” Spencer said.Apart from existing relationships between Western Australia and the U.S. within the oil and gas industry, this office would help facilitate two-way trade and investments from businesses. When asked why Austin was picke...

Saints’ 5-game winning streak ends in Buffalo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

The St. Paul Saints’ offense was humming during their five-game winning streak, having scored 50 runs during that period. That offense stalled on Friday.The Saints wasted a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs in the first inning and were held in check throughout a 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Bisons at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, N.Y. Their lone run came in the sixth inning thanks to a solo home run from Kyle Garlick.Randy Dobnak got the start and took the loss for the Saints (30-23), going 4 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out two. Tanner Morris hit a solo home run off him in the third inning and Wynton Bernard hit an RBI single in the fifth for the Bisons (25-30).They added another run in the sixth when Cam Eden and Rafael Lantigua hit back-to-back doubles, and in the seventh they got three straight hits from Spencer Horwitz, who led off with a double, Bernard and Rob Brantly — both singles — to plate the final run.The two teams meet for...

Summer SPACtacular fundraising event kicks off

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Hundreds gathered at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Not for a concert, but to make sure students in the Capital Region have access to arts education.President and CEO, Elizabeth Sobol, says fundraising is a big part of SPAC's events. “We’re fundraising overall for everything SPAC does. A lot of people don’t realize how SPAC has expanded it’s mission over the last six plus years. It has truly taken a village to both dream and then implement this massive event. A brand-new event that’s meant to inhabit the whole campus," said Sobol. U.S. Route 20 renamed in New York The performing arts center has upped their knack for fundraising to help keep the arts alive in schools. Vice President of Education, Dennis Moench, says when schools lose funding, the arts tend to be the first thing to go. “We reach more than 50,000 students all over the Capital Region every single year, working with more than 120 nonprofits and schools," explained Moench. Get the la...

Northway reopens after three-vehicle crash at Exit 19

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Multiple people were injured after a three-car crash on the Northway Friday night. The crash took place around 8:19 p.m. between Exits 19 and 18 southbound. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police said the crash included a rollover with entrapment and a vehicle fire. Three people were reportedly injured with one taken out of the scene on a med flight.Three lanes of the Northway southbound were closed for a few hours but have since reopened.

No plans to make changes near St. Louis Zoo despite cars blowing stop signs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis alderman said there are no immediate changes on the horizon for a popular intersection near the zoo, even though cars blow through the stop signs.St. Louis Alderman Bret Narayan represents Ward 4, which includes the intersection of Tamm and Oakland avenues, where some drivers have no regard for the law.A video captured car after car running the stop sign; one driver even stopped in the middle of the intersection."This isn't an issue of not seeing the stop sign, it's an issue of people just recklessly disregarding the stop signs," Narayan said. Woman claims weight-shaming at a St. Charles water park Narayan said a stop light doesn't work because the same people running stop signs also run stop lights.The intersection leads to Turtle Park, and it's not far from the St. Louis Zoo."We have parks all over the city, Forest Park is special to me, but we do have parks all over the city," Narayan said. "Anytime you have people driving at high rates of speed and igno...

Irvine student makes top 5 in Doodle for Google competition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

Alison Rhee, an Irvine elementary school student, advanced to the final five in the 15th annual Doodle for Google national contest last Friday. Doodle for Google is an annual art contest, open to students in grades K-12. The competition encourages students to create their own Google Doodle for the chance to have it featured on Google.com. By entering into the contest, students also have a chance to win scholarships and technology materials for their schools. This year, students were challenged to create a Doodle that illustrated something they are grateful for. Rhee illustrated what she calls “Joshua Tree,” and wrote about a special moment visiting the landmark with her family. “I was grateful when I went to the Joshua tree with my family,” Rhee wrote in response to her Doodle prompt. “I loved seeing the stars and making smores. It made me realize how small we are compared to the universe. I was thankful that I was brought into this world from the best family in the w...

Authorities search for missing Los Angeles County teenager

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:28 GMT

Authorities are searching for an at-risk teenager who disappeared in Lancaster on Wednesday.The missing teen, Harmony Elizabeth Boyd, 16, was last seen on the 43900 block of Emile Zola Street around 2 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Boyd is described as a Black female standing 5 feet 1 inches tall and weighing 125 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown braided hair. She was last seen wearing a gray shirt, dark jeans and black shoes.Boyd also has burn marks on her hands, authorities said.The teen’s family has not heard from Boyd and is concerned for her well-being. They’re hoping the public can help locate her.Anyone who may have seen Boyd or knows of her whereabouts is asked to call the LASD’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.Harmony Elizabeth Boyd in a May 2023 photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Anonymous tips can be submitted to "Crime Stoppers" at 800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.