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TVA Group lays off more than 500 employees as audiences and ad revenues shrink

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

MONTREAL — The TVA Group says it is laying off 547 employees — nearly a third of its workforce — amid restructuring as the company contends with declining audiences and ad revenues.The Montreal-based broadcaster says the shift involves overhauling its news division, ending its in-house entertainment content production and optimizing its real estate assets — including a reconsideration of the future use of its headquarters east of downtown.Pierre Karl Péladeau, CEO of Quebecor Inc., which owns TVA, says the subsidiary’s deficit is no longer sustainable.He says the company aims to refocus its activities, reduce operating costs and continue to offer original Quebec content.The 63-year-old company attributes its financial strain to the proliferation of streaming services and the shift of advertising spending to web giants rather than legacy media.TVA also took a shot at social media platforms for benefiting from links to news stories without paying for content and at CBC/Radio-Can...

City Council delays vote on Chicago’s status as a Sanctuary City

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

CHICAGO — A special Chicago City Council meeting led to some chaos as the council members met to vote on a possible referendum on the city's status as a Sanctuary City.For the referendum vote to happen, there needs to be at least 26 alderpeople present. The fractured body, throughout the contentious day, made multiple attempts to vote but came up short. Mayor Johnson in Washington D.C. over migrant crisis The meeting comes as Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Washington D.C. in an urgent attempt to get funding to deal with the crisis.The meeting ended with shouts and accusations. Venezuelan migrants accused of stealing nearly $3K in merchandise from Oak Brook Macy’s The lights were turned off in the midst of a chaotic debate as alderpeople argued about what constitutes a quorum."It's becoming very frustrating to get business done in the appropriate manner," 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack said. Dozens of alderpeople argued for citizens to vote on Chicago's decades-old Sanctuary ...

Cash rewards offered in 2 separate armed robberies of mail carriers on West Side

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

CHICAGO — The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to an arrest in a pair of armed robberies on the city's West Side. Getaway vehicle tied to the armed robbery of a mail carrier on Sept. 15, 2022. (Photo: U.S. Postal Inspection Service)Postal inspectors said the incidents occurred last year on Sept. 15 and Nov. 26 in the 5300 block of W. Washington Ave. and the 1300 block of W. Van Buren, respectively. 2 arrested following armed robbery of mail carrier in Harvey In both incidents, a USPS mail carrier is approached by the armed suspect(s) and makes off in a getaway vehicle. USPS provides shipping deadlines ahead of busy holiday season Surveillance photos show a 2018 Gray Jeep Compass linked to the armed robbery of a mail carrier on Nov. 26, 2022. (Photo: U.S. Postal Inspection Service) Concerning the Sept. 15 armed robbery, authorities said the suspect(s) drove away in a silver car, believed to be an early 2000s Audi seda...

CPD: 5-year-old, mother missing from Dunning neighborhood

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department is seeking the public's help after a 5-year-old girl and her mother went missing in the Dunning neighborhood Sunday.Carly Melone, 5, and her mother, Katherine Labellarte, both reported missing from the Dunning neighborhood on Oct. 29. (Courtesy: CPD)Carly Melone, 5, was last seen at her residence in the 6200 block of West Grace Street on Oct. 29.Police believe Melone may be with her mother, Katherine Labellarte, who was also reported missing.Anyone with information that can help CPD find Carly and her mother is encouraged to call Area Five detectives at 312-746-6554.

Police: Man approached brothers with extension cord, zip ties at Des Plaines park

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. -- Des Plaines police have issued a community alert after two boys were approached by a suspicious man carrying an extension cord and zip ties at a neighborhood park on Wednesday.According to the Des Plaines Police Department, a suspicious man carrying an extension cord and zip ties approached two brothers, 8 and 17-years-old, at Jaycee Park on the 1400 block of Wicke Avenue at 5:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1.As he approached, the man realized that one of the brothers was older and then he retreated back to his vehicle. The brothers returned home, but the man followed them in his vehicle until the boys walked into their residence. The suspicious man then fled the scene. Students evacuated after partial ceiling collapse at Lockport Township HS The Des Plaines Police Department later attempted to locate the vehicle, but were unable.The suspicious individual is described as a Hispanic man, in his 30s, wearing all black. The vehicle he was driving was a black SUV with...

Coolest finds from Oprah’s Favorite Things list 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Over 100 gifts are on Oprah’s Favorite Things list this yearYou get a gift! You get a gift! Everybody gets a gift! Oprah Winfrey’s 2023 “Favorite Things” list is out, which means the mogul has released her top product choices in categories ranging from food and home to beauty and style. Oprah has become well known for her annual list, which serves as a gift guide for those who already have everything. It’s like a curated list of everything stylish — and off the beaten path. But one thing is always certain: You can’t go wrong with a gift from Oprah’s “Favorite Things.”The full list is extensive, so if you need some help narrowing it down, that’s what we’re here for. From a charcuterie board that guarantees perfect snack placement to a paint-by-number set that features a photo of your own pet to a luxurious at-home pedicure set — these are the must-haves...

Mary Trump says Ivanka Trump will throw her father 'under the bus' in fraud trial testimony

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

(The Hill) — Mary Trump, the niece of former President Trump, said she thinks Ivanka Trump will throw her father “under the bus” when she testifies in the fraud trial underway in New York.Mary Trump, host of “The Mary Trump Show” podcast and a very outspoken critic of her uncle, previewed the trial with reporter Molly Jong-Fast in a video exclusive to her newsletter subscribers.Brothers Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. testified in the New York fraud trial this week. Both are parties in the lawsuit brought forth by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who claims the family’s business falsely inflated and deflated the value of its assets to receive lower taxes and better insurance coverage.Ivanka Trump was once a party in the lawsuit, but a New York appeals court in June dismissed her from the case. Her lawyers argued that the attorney general’s office did not have the jurisdiction to force her to testify, but Judge Arthur Engoron ruled she would have to. Her attorneys have appeal...

Hays County elementary school closed for one week due to mold discovery

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Hemphill Elementary School in Hays County is closed through Nov. 8 after mold was discovered in 13 classrooms, the Hays Consolidated Independent School District said in a news release.This comes after a "concern about a mold smell in a classroom" at the elementary, the district said. An air quality test was able to confirm the discovery of the mold, and mitigation crews began working to remove the mold from the classroom, according to Hays CISD.The air quality test "revealed the initial classroom had elevated levels of Aspergillus/Penicillium," which can affect people with "weakened immune systems or cause allergies," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.On Wednesday, crews found at least 13 classrooms were "affected in areas behind the walls from the floors up to about three feet above the floors," the district said. Hays CISD then notified parents Wednesday saying the school would be closed from Thursday to Nov. 8, and students w...

Hays County seeking donations, 'elf' volunteers for Brown Santa program

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Hays County Sheriff's Office is seeking volunteers and holiday elf volunteers as part of its Brown Santa program, the department shared in a Facebook post Thursday.The program's annual holiday drive collects money, food and toy donations to help families in need countywide. The program comprises both HCSO staff members along with community volunteers, per the post.More than 650 families received food and toy donations collected last year, officials noted. For toy donations, collections appropriate for those ages 16 and younger will be accepted. Monetary donations can be made via check or cash, with checks made payable to "Hays County Brown Santa" and mailed to the following address:Hays County Brown Santa102 Wonder World Drive, Stes. 304-564San Marcos, Texas 78667Online payments made through Venmo or Square are also accepted online, with links available here. ICYMI: Texas State Parks Day is Nov. 5 — how to get free entry Unwrapped toys will be colle...

Austin ISD debuting new online enrollment system

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Independent School District will roll out a new enrollment system to assist in the registration process ahead of the 2024-25 school year, according to a newsletter sent to district families Thursday."Enroll Austin" is slated to activate on Nov. 8, per the newsletter. The new system will combine online registration, online student transfer requests, common applications and prekindergarten applications into one platform. Through the new system, students who are eyeing more than one school options — including those interested in application-based programs or school transfers — can rank up to seven programs or campuses as part of that process, per the newsletter.Austin ISD officials said the system will then assign all applicants to their top ranked school or program in March "based on eligibility and availability of seats."The registration process this fall will be divvied up into both general registration periods along with priority registration, including for s...