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Ontario autism program now funding over 8,000 kids for core therapy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

The number of children with autism receiving publicly funded, needs-based core therapy in Ontario appears to have only now returned to the level it was at five years ago before changes by the Progressive Conservative government upended the system, new figures suggest.Documents obtained through a freedom-of-information request show that as of mid-July there were 8,758 children whose families had a signed funding agreement for core therapy services. Enrolments were steadily rising, the documents show, and that likely continued after July, though the government refused to provide current numbers.Back in 2018-19, mostly before the Tories’ changes took effect, 10,365 children received needs-based services under the Ontario Autism Program, the province’s Financial Accountability Office reported. That number then declined, as children aged out of the program and others were not being added in the same way when the government switched to a new funding model.Alina Cameron, p...

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ dances to No. 1 at the box office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

Movie theaters turned into concert venues this weekend as Swifties brought their dance moves and friendship bracelets to multiplexes across the country. The unparalleled enthusiasm helped propel “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” to a massive, first place debut between $95 million and $97 million in North America, AMC Theatres said Sunday.It’s easily the biggest opening for a concert film of all time, and, not accounting for inflation, has made more than the $73 million “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” earned in 2011. In today’s dollars, that would be around $102 million. And if it comes in on the higher end of projections when totals are released Monday, it could be the biggest October opening ever. The one to beat is “Joker,” which launched to $96.2 million in 2019.A unique experiment in distribution, premium pricing, star power and loose movie theater etiquette—more dancing and shouting than a Star Wars premiere—have made it an undeniable hit. Compiled from Swift’s summer shows at Sou...

"It's a genocide:' Palestinian Americans express frustration with Western leaders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- In the second week of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, thousands of lives have been lost and thousands more are globally protesting, what they say is an active genocide being committed against the Palestinian people. "It's a genocide," Hatem Abudayyeh, the National Chair of US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) said. More than 2,400 Palestinians have been killed, including 724 children and 9,2000 wounded in Israeli air raids. “The Israelis are committing war crimes on an hourly basis and unfortunately the U.S. government is complicit,” Abudayyeh said. In an in-depth reporting of the Israeli military spending, Al Jazeera found that Israel receives over $3.8 billion dollars of military aid a year from the US.  ‘A humanitarian disaster:’ Chicagoans voice concerns for loved ones trapped in Gaza “Lip service from the president means nothing when he’s doing nothing about it. Just like other Western countries are doing,” Abudayyeh said in response to...

Family faces multiple E. coli infections after kindergartner's Tennessee field trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — Less than three weeks ago, some Tennessee elementary school students took a field trip. Now, one family is facing multiple E. coli infections.Grayson Hefflin, a kindergartener at Avoca Elementary, was among those who visited the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, Tennessee, on September 26. He is now one of at least seven children hospitalized as part of an outbreak of E. coli infections. E. coli is bacteria, the CDC explains. Many strains are harmless, but there are some that can make you sick. Among those is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the strain health officials have determined the children were exposed to during their field trip. Officials: Multiple kids seriously ill with E. coli from local field trip Though health officials have not identified an exact source for the infection, they did provide resources on staying healthy around animal exhibits - a common place for germs like E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and Salmonella, according to the CDC. Symptoms ...

1 dead after crash on I-35 southbound ramp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead following a crash on Interstate 35 Sunday afternoon, according to a social media post from the Austin Fire Department.Per AFD, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services confirmed an adult man is dead from a fatal crash on the I-35 southbound at Ben White ramp. A second patient is being analyzed by medics, per the post.Heavy traffic delays are expected in the area, AFD officials added.Austin Police Department's Watch Command confirmed to KXAN one I-35 lane is closed alongside the southbound frontage road. The other vehicle involved in the fatal crash is cooperating, per APD.ATCEMS added in its own social media post the fatal crash involved two vehicles. No additional information is available, officials noted.

Texas didn't have to play to move up in AP Top 25

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas had the week off but still made a move in the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings.The Longhorns rose one spot to No. 8, swapping places with No. 9 Oregon after the Ducks' 36-33 loss to now No. 5 Washington. Texas gets back on the gridiron at 2 p.m. Friday against Big 12 newcomer Houston on the road.Full AP Top 25The top four teams in the poll — Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida State — remained with the Huskies joining the top five. By virtue of the Huskies' win, it vaulted them over Oklahoma to move the Sooners to No. 6. Penn State is at No. 7 followed by Texas and Oregon while North Carolina moved up two spots to No. 10.Notre Dame flew six spots up in the rankings top No. 15 after it pounded Southern California 48-20. The loss dropped the Trojans eight spots to No. 18. Louisville dropped seven spots to No. 21 after a 38-21 loss to Pitt and UCLA also seven spots to No. 25 following a 36-24 loss to No. 12 Oregon State.In the US LMB Coaches poll, Tex...

Austin, San Antonio mayors eye Central Texas rail among mobility developments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As populations continue to boom in Austin and San Antonio, both cities' mayors shared interests and focus on expanding mobility and infrastructure workforce opportunities -- and possible rail connections between the two cities.On Friday, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg spoke at Workforce Solutions Capital Area's Moving Forward: Mobility & Infrastructure Workforce Summit. During their conversations, both cities' mayors said they're eyeing infrastructure funding opportunities to expand rail services between the two Central Texas metropolitan areas. RELATED: How many jobs will Austin’s mobility workforce add in the next 20 years? "There's a lot of talk about our ability to maybe get some of that infrastructure money between Austin and San Antonio," Watson told KXAN. "Another tie between our two cities and tying our two cities, and tying this region together."Here in the Austin area, key transportation developments like the Austin-Berg...

Vikings escape Chicago with ugly win over Bears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

CHICAGO — It shouldn’t surprise anybody that the Vikings lacked explosiveness in their first game without star receiver Justin Jefferson. There were prolonged stretches on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field during which the offense was borderline unwatchable. It was a slog for most of the game as quarterback Kirk Cousins couldn’t find a rhythm without his No. 1 target.None of it mattered. Not with the Chicago Bears on the other side.On a beautiful day in the Windy City, the Vikings played in the ugliest game imaginable, walking away with a 19-13 win over the Bears in the process. That helped the Vikings improve their record to 2-4 this season as they attempt to dig themselves out of a hole.Though it wasn’t a banner day for the offense in the slightest, the defense stepped up to lead the Vikings to a win. That group forced a trio of turnovers in the game, including a 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown by linebacker Jordan Hicks that broke the game open.It he...

Inmate captured days after escaping Los Angeles County facility

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

An inmate who escaped a Los Angeles County conservation camp in Santa Clarita Thursday has been apprehended, officials announced Sunday. Marcelo S. Caparrotta, 53, was discovered missing from the Francisquito Conservation Camp around 9:40 p.m. and managed to elude authorities for several days. No details about Caparrotta's capture were released in the email shared by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Sunday.News of Caparrotta's capture was announced around 9:30 a.m. Bruce Willis rendered ‘incommunicative’ by disease, ‘Moonlighting’ creator says Caparrotta had been admitted from San Bernardino County to serve a 6-year sentence for "injury to an elder causing death/GBI and is a second striker," the CDCR stated.Since 1977, 99% of all people who have left an adult institution, camp or community-based program without permission have been apprehended, according to the Department of Corrections.

Man lures, kidnaps teenage girl; drives her nearly 70 miles against her will 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:00 GMT

A man has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a teenage girl and coercing her to travel with him. According to a release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to reports of a kidnapping in the 12000 block of Frederick Street in Moreno Valley at 7:16 a.m. Saturday morning. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Chance Willis, had met the girl, lured her into his vehicle and took her to Gardena against her will, authorities said.  Woman arrested near burning car after allegedly slamming into Los Feliz businesses Officials from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office were able to track the girl to Gardena and notified the Gardena Police Department, who subsequently located and detained Willis. He was arrested for kidnapping and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in lieu of $250,000 bail. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact M...