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Black Friday, Cyber Monday shoppers to focus on quality, timing this year: experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

TORONTO — For Harley Finkelstein, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are akin to the Super Bowl.Staff at his e-commerce software company Shopify Inc. start preparing for the big week during the summer by stress-testing systems and ensuring checkout will be as seamless as possible for the firm’s thousands of merchants during the November shopping stretch.“I don’t sleep for that five-day period,” said Finkelstein, Shopify’s president. “My wife knows about it. My kids know about it. I am in full Black Friday, Cyber Monday mode.”This year the e-commerce heavyweight expects the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales period to be just as frenzied, but something will be different: shoppers’ moods.Inflation, high interest rates and layoffs are weighing on wallets — and Finkelstein thinks it will make shoppers more intentional about what they buy.“I think ‘less but better’ is probably going to be one of the themes,” he said.R...

CP NewsAlert: Saskatchewan man pleads guilty to killing wife with strychnine drink

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

A Saskatchewan man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the poisoning of his wife on their family farm.Cindy MacKay of Meota, who was 38, died in February of 2020.Court in Battleford has heard Michael MacKay mixed strychnine, a toxic pesticide, into a drink he served his wife, causing her a painful death.Medical staff contacted RCMP because her death seemed suspicious.An agreed statement of facts read into court says Michael MacKay was having an affair.Family members told court Cindy MacKay was a loving mother and her death has left them shattered and fearful.The Canadian Press

Commission investigating Lewiston mass shooting seeks to subpoena shooter’s military records

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — An independent commission investigating the mass shooting that killed 18 people in Maine last month moved Monday to seek subpoena power so it can obtain the military service records of the shooter.Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey have tasked the commission with performing a review of the events leading up to the Lewiston shootings and the response to it. Army reservist Robert Card, 40, killed 18 people in a bowling alley and a restaurant on Oct. 25 before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.The commission held its first meeting on Monday and members unanimously voted to request subpoena power from the Maine Legislature.“We will be seeking military records, and those might not be accessible to us without subpoena power,” said Toby Dilworth, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Maine and a commission member. “It’s essential that we have this subpoena power.”The commission is chaired by Daniel Wathen, former chi...

Solar panels will cut water loss from canals in Gila River Indian Community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

In a move that may soon be replicated elsewhere, the Gila River Indian Community recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to put solar panels over a stretch of irrigation canal on their land south of Phoenix.It will be the first project of its kind in the United States to actually break ground, according to the tribe’s press release. “This was a historic moment here for the community but also for the region and across Indian Country,” said Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis in a video published on X, formerly known as Twitter. The first phase, set to be completed in 2025, will cover 1000 feet of canal and generate one megawatt of electricity that the tribe will use to irrigate crops, including feed for livestock, cotton and grains.The idea is simple: install solar panels over canals in sunny, water-scarce regions where they reduce evaporation and make renewable electricity.“We’re proud to be leaders in water conservation, and this project is...

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2:Nov. 26: Impressionist Rich Little is 85. Singer Jean Terrell (The Supremes) is 79. Bassist John McVie of Fleetwood Mac is 78. Actor Marianne Muellerleile (Film’s “Memento,” TV’s “Life With Bonnie”) is 75. Actor Scott Jacoby (“That Certain Summer”) is 67. Actor Jamie Rose (“Falcon Crest,” “St. Elsewhere”) is 64. Country singer Linda Davis is 61. Actor Scott Adsit (“30 Rock”) is 58. Actor Kristin Bauer (“True Blood”) is 57. Actor Peter Facinelli (“Nurse Jackie”) is 50. Actor Tammy Lynn Michaels (”The L Word,” “Popular”) is 49. Hip-hop artist DJ Khaled is 48. Actor Maia Campbell (“In the House”) is 47. Country singer Joe Nichols is 47. Musicians Randy and Anthony Armstrong of Red are 45. Actor Jessica Bowman (“Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman”) is 43. Singer Natasha Bedingfield is 42. Actor Jessica Camacho (“Taken,” “The Flash”) is 41. Singer-guitarist Mike Gossin of Gloriana is 39. Drummer Ben Wysocki of The Fray is 39. Singer Lil Fizz of B...

Finland’s prime minister hints at further border action as Russia protests closings of crossings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Finland’s prime minister on Monday said the country may need to take further actions on its border with Russia after closing four border crossings in an attempt to stem a recent increase in asylum-seekers.Finland, which joined NATO this year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has accused Moscow of letting migrants from the Middle East and Africa without valid travel documents through to the Finnish border. The government closed the border crossings in southeastern Finland last week, but new migrant arrivals were reported at border checkpoints farther north.“The situation has progressed in a bad direction,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was quoted as saying by Finnish public broadcaster YLE during a visit to the Vartius border crossing in east-central Finland. “If there is no change, we will take more measures, and if necessary, quickly. The message is clear that we do not accept this behavior.”He did not rule out closing more border crossings along the 1,340...

After trying to buck trend, newspaper founded with Ralph Nader’s help succumbs to financial woes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — After trying to buck a national trend of media closures and downsizing, a small Connecticut newspaper founded earlier this year with Ralph Nader’s help has succumbed to financial problems and will be shutting down.An oversight board voted Monday to close the Winsted Citizen, a broadsheet that served Nader’s hometown and surrounding area in the northwestern hills of the state since February.Andy Thibault, a veteran journalist who led the paper as editor and publisher, announced the closure in a memo to staff.“We beat the Grim Reaper every month for most of the year,” Thibault wrote. ”Our best month financially resulted in our lowest deficit. Now, our quest regrettably has become the impossible dream. It sure was great — despite numerous stumbles, obstacles and heartaches — while it lasted.” Nader, 89, the noted consumer advocate and four-time presidential candidate, did not answer the phone at his Winsted home Monday morning.The Citizen’s fate...

Truck driver killed in crash involving freight train on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

CHICAGO — A truck driver was killed in a crash involving a freight train Monday morning.The crash happened just before 7 a.m. at Norfolk and Southern rail yard at 350 West Garfield Boulevard on the city's South Side. According to officials, the freight train struck a semi-truck that was stopped on the tracks.Fire officials have confirmed the truck driver was killed. The driver's identity has not yet been released.Skycam9 captured the recovery effort by emergency crews on scene.Norfolk Southern has released the following statement:Norfolk Southern is aware of an incident involving a truck driver at our 47th street intermodal facility in Chicago this morning. Our thoughts are with their family and colleagues during this difficult time. We are working with first responders at the scene, and will fully investigate the incident.Norfolk SouthernThe cause of the deadly crash is under investigation.

Texas State University to host presidential debate in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — It's a historic first for Texas, with Texas State University poised to host a presidential debate next fall. It's the first time a Texas university will house presidential candidates in a general election debate as part of their race to the White House, TXST officials said in a Monday release.Texas State University will host the first of four scheduled general election debates on Sept. 16, 2024. Not only does TXST lay claim to being the first Texas university to host a presidential debate, but it is also the only Texas university with a U.S. president as an alum. President Lyndon Baines Johnson graduated from TXST in 1930 with both a bachelor of science in history and a teaching certificate, the release added.“It’s fitting that the only university in Texas to graduate a U.S. president will be the first university in Texas to host a presidential debate.” Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall said in the release. “This is an exciting time at ...

Austin could tap private developers to help fill public safety gaps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a downtown Austin Fire and EMS station temporarily closed for emergency renovations — highlighting the need for additional public safety spaces in busy parts of town — some city leaders are looking at ways to incentivize the private sector to help.Austin City Council could vote next week to kickstart the process of adding public safety incentives to its density bonus programs, according to council documents. The adjustment could convince private developers to build fire, EMS and police space into their buildings in exchange for city breaks. It's something the city already does in exchange for community benefits like affordable housing."It is way too expensive for the City of Austin to buy property downtown in order to put a station in," Austin EMS Association President Selena Xie said. She pointed to the closure of the downtown station and the number of calls EMS gets in that area, especially on weekend nights. PREVIOUS: Downtown fire station closes — is it ...