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National employment numbers for December from Statistics Canada, at a glance

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

OTTAWA — A quick look at Canada’s December employment (numbers from the previous month in brackets):Unemployment rate: 5.8 per cent (5.8)Employment rate: 61.6 per cent (61.8)Participation rate: 65.4 per cent (65.6)Number unemployed: 1,245,200 (1,240,400)Number working: 20,312,600 (20,312,500)Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate: 11.3 per cent (11.6)Men (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.0 per cent (5.0)Women (25 plus) unemployment rate: 4.8 per cent (4.6)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The Canadian Press

Strength vs. strength for CFP title: Michigan’s stingy pass D faces Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

The College Football Playoff national championship game between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington is a contrast in styles and a matchup of strength versus strength when Michael Penix Jr. faces the Wolverines’ defense.“You get a schematic, professional-style matchup and to me you get the Baltimore Ravens versus the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Fox analyst Brock Huard, who has called games for both teams this season. “The Huskies in purple masquerade as the Chiefs and the guys in blue masquerade as the Baltimore Ravens.”Michigan (14-0) is a 4 1/2-point favorite over Washington (14-0), according to FanDuel Sportsbook.WHEN WASHINGTON HAS THE BALLGetting pressure on Penix is difficult. Washington’s offensive line won the Joe Moore Award as the best group in the country and tackles Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten provide excellent edge protection.When teams do pressure Penix, he is often unfazed. In the Sugar Bowl, Texas didn’t sack him once in 38 pass attempts and whi...

A new immigration policy that avoids a dangerous journey is working. But border crossings continue

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (AP) — Five years ago, Alexis Llanos and his family fled Venezuela for Colombia, escaping death threats and political persecution. The family then planned to make the dangerous and deadly journey north, through the Darien jungle leading through Panama, with hopes of eventually crossing illegally into the United States.Their plans changed when a friend mentioned a new migration program from the U.S. government that would allow them to stay put while they pleaded for a chance to come legally. It worked. After a four-month process that included medical exams and interviews with the United Nations and the U.S., Llanos, his partner and their 7-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy arrived in Florida. “It was a unique opportunity, a miracle that God prepared for me,” said Llanos, 27, during an interview with The Associated Press from his new home. “I feel blessed, grateful. … I did not want to take the risk. I would not have forgiven myself if something had happened to...

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius freed after serving nearly 9 years in prison for killing girlfriend

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee who became a global star competing at his sport's highest level while running on carbon-fiber blades, was released from prison on Friday after serving nearly nine years for killing his girlfriend, the model Reeva Steenkamp.Pistorius, 37, was released early Friday from the Atteridgeville Correctional Center in Pretoria and processed at a parole office before being released to his family, Department of Corrections spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told The Associated Press. Nxumalo, who referred to Pistorius' release as an “operation” designed to avoid a media scramble, declined to give further details.“I can only tell you he was released this morning,” Nxumalo said.Pistorius served nearly nine years of his murder sentence of 13 years and five months for the fatal shooting of Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. He became eligible for early release having served at least half his sentence, and then was approv...

4 women injured after jeep rollover crash in Little Italy

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

CHICAGO -- Four women are in fair condition after a jeep struck a poll and rolled over in the city's Little Italy neighborhood overnight.According to police, a woman was driving a jeep at a high speed near the 800 block of West Roosevelt Road around 1:45 a.m. when she lost control of the vehicle and struck a barricade and pole. Attempted carjacking ends in crash on Northwest Side Police said the crash caused the jeep to rollover to its roof before coming to a stop. Four women, including the driver, were transported to Stroger Hospital in fair condition. There were no other injuries reported.

Blinken heads to Middle East in an effort to contain the war

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - U.S. officials are concerned that the conflict in Gaza could spread throughout the region. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East to make sure progress is made on that front.As Israel continues its efforts to crush Hamas, the Biden administration is doing everything it can to prevent a region-wide war from breaking out.Secretary of State Blinken is headed to the Middle East to focus on fears that the Israel-Hamas war could erupt outside of Gaza."It is no one's interest… For this conflict to spread beyond Gaza," said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.This is Blinken’s fourth time traveling to the region in three months."He believes we need to make progress on continuing to try to keep the conflict from escalating which is why he's returning to the region," Miller added.Earlier in the week a senior Hamas leader was killed by an alleged Israeli strike in Lebanon.With international criticism of Israel’s operations in Gaza on t...

Winter storm is forecast to hit Northeast, Mid-Atlantic with heavy snow, dangerous ice

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

(The Hill) -- A substantial winter storm is set to hit much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this weekend, with the worst of the weather expected on Saturday and Sunday.Snow is expected to pile up from western Maryland to southern Maine, with the wide-range Nor'easter also bringing severe ice that could make roads treacherous, the National Weather Service warned Friday.The worst of the snow is set for the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut, Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Manchester, New Hampshire, could see between six and 12 inches of snow, according to local meteorologists.Heavy ice is also forecast for Appalachia as the storm moves north and east, threatening travel. Northeast, mid-Atlantic facing first chance of significant snow in almost two years The major East Coast cities are expected to miss out on much of the storm. Significant snow is not forecast to fall in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, or Philadelphia due to high temperatures that are predicted to bring r...

Dean's Reviews: 'All of Us Strangers'

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

In his latest Dean's Reviews, WGN's Dean Richards reviews "All of Us Strangers," playing in Chicagoland theaters this weekend. And don't forget: The 81st Golden Globes, hosted by Jo Koy, kicks off the awards season Sunday night. Jo Koy talks about hosting Golden Globes with short notice Dean’s Weekender: An Elvis tribute, Tony Award winners and stand-up comedy highlight Chicagoland entertainment Get Dean’s reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean’s Downloads weekly newsletter. You’ll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Dean's Weekender: An Elvis tribute, Tony Award winners and stand-up comedy highlight Chicagoland entertainment

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

WGN's Dean Richards highlights this weekend's Chicagoland entertainment options in his latest Weekender, including an Elvis Tribute Spectacular at Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Ind., to honor what would've been the King's 89th birthday, Tony Award-winning musicals, stand-up comedy and more. Dean’s A-List Interview: Real-life subjects of the Bradley Cooper-directed film ‘Maestro’ Dean’s Home Video: Dan Levy stars in ‘Good Grief’ and much more in the first picks of 2024 Get Dean’s reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean’s Downloads weekly newsletter. You’ll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius freed on parole after serving nearly 9 years for girlfriend's murder

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:30:08 GMT

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on parole early Friday morning and was believed to be at his uncle’s mansion after authorities secretly moved the world-famous double-amputee athlete who killed his girlfriend at an undisclosed time to avoid the glare of news crews waiting outside the jail.South Africa's Department of Corrections announced in a two-sentence statement at around 8:30 a.m. that Pistorius had been released and was “now at home.” It gave no more details other than to confirm Pistorius' new status as “a parolee.”Pistorius, 37, served nearly nine years of his murder sentence of 13 years and five months for the fatal shooting of model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. He became eligible for early release from prison having served at least half his sentence and was approved for parole in November.Department of Corrections spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told The Associated Press that Pistorius was pr...