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US unemployment claims tick up to 245,000, but still low

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remains low by historic standards.U.S. jobless claims rose by 5,000 to 245,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out week-to-week ups and downs, fell by 500 to 239,750. At the start of the year, weekly claims were running around 200,000 and they have gradually moved higher.The weekly claims numbers are a proxy for layoffs, and they show that American workers enjoy unusual job security despite rising interest rates, economic uncertainty and fears of a looming recession. The U.S. job market is healthy overall. At 3.5% last month, the unemployment was a tick above January’s half-century low 3.4%. Employers added 236,000 jobs in March, down from 472,000 in January and 326,000 in February but still strong by historic standards.The inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve worry that a tight job market puts upward pressure on wages...

Netanyahu taps far-right minister for New York consul post

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated a Cabinet minister known for inflammatory comments and for leading a grassroots campaign against African migrants to the post of consul general in New York, a high-profile job that deals with outreach to American Jews.May Golan, currently a minister without portfolio in Netanyahu’s government, built her political career on staunch opposition to African migrants in Israel. She calls them “infiltrators” and has portrayed the estimated 40,000 migrants, mostly concentrated in poor neighborhoods of the southern part of the city of Tel Aviv, as threats to security.After a failed bid to enter parliament with the ultranationalist Jewish Power party in 2013, she joined Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party and was first elected to parliament in 2019. Netanyahu recently promised Golan the role of the as yet uncreated Ministry for the Status of Women. His office confirmed media reports on Wednesday that he has offere...

In B.C., the kids are not alright

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

In today’s Big Story podcast, people in and around the B.C. school system report seeing many kids struggling with disciplinary issues, socialization struggles, attention trouble and anxiety. It’s causing disruptions and delays in classrooms, and severely straining a system that was struggling even without the added load. Sonia Aslam and Mike Lloyd are reporters at CityNews Vancouver, they join The Big Story to discuss the many different stories of hardship they heard while reporting their recent series about the state of B.C. public schools. “These parents are struggling to get answers, and they’re struggling to get help for their kids,” says Aslam. “You’re not in school every day with your children … and when you see the consequence of it at home, that’s a really tough pill to swallow.”So what’s happening with school-aged kids, and what do they need to get back on track?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You ca...

Michelin recalls snow tires that don’t have enough traction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Michelin is recalling more than 542,000 snow tires in the U.S. because they don’t have enough traction to work in all snowy conditions.The recall covers certain Agilis CrossClimate C-Metric tires that Michelin says don’t meet U.S. safety standards. The tire maker says in documents posted Thursday by safety regulators that tires without sufficient traction can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the tires at no cost to owners. Owners will get interim notification letters starting June 12. They’ll get another letter once the replacements are available.The company says initial tire testing was done with the wrong tire pressure. Later tests by Michelin discovered the problem.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has posted a document with the tire sizes on its website. The Associated Press

UNICEF: 12.7 million children in Africa missed vaccinations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nearly 13 million children missed one or more vaccinations in Africa between 2019 and 2021 because of the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the continent vulnerable to even more outbreaks of disease and facing a “child survival crisis,” a new report from UNICEF said Thursday.Amid a global “backslide” in childhood immunization over those three years, which the United Nations Children’s Fund said is the worst regression for childhood vaccinations in 30 years, Africa is the region with the highest number of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children. UNICEF said that 12.7 million African children missed one or more vaccinations and 8.7 million didn’t receive a single dose of any vaccine from 2019-2021.The report, “The State of the World’s Children 2023,” confirms previous indications and lays out more data showing that the pandemic “interrupted childhood vaccination almost everywhere,” UNICEF said.Half of the 20 countries in the w...

Tornadoes kill 2 in central US; new storms possible Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

COLE, Okla. (AP) — Strong storms with tornadoes and hail killed at least two people in the central U.S., injuring others, destroying homes and leaving thousands without power. More severe storms were predicted for Thursday night.The National Weather Service began issuing tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings Wednesday evening in Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa, with forecasters warning people to find shelter.Central Oklahoma saw tornadoes, including one that raced through the communities of Shawnee and Cole.At least two people were killed in the small town of Cole in McClain County, about 25 miles (41 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City, authorities said. There also were injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to some requiring hospitalization, although the numbers weren’t immediately clear as hundreds of people fanned out in search operations.“It is reasonable to expect possibly more based on the damage that we’ve seen,” McClain County Deputy Sheriff Scott Gibbons said on NBC’s “T...

EU lawmakers approve migration plan, set clock ticking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers on Thursday approved a series of proposals aimed at ending the yearslong standoff over how best to manage migration, a conundrum that has provoked one of the bloc’s biggest political crises.The proposals — passed in a series of votes by a roughly two-thirds majority — include an emergency plan that would oblige the 27 EU nations to help one of their number should that country’s reception capacities be overwhelmed by the sudden arrival of people hoping to enter.The measures make up the European Parliament’s position for negotiations with the EU member countries and set a clock ticking. The member countries now have a year to finally reform their creaking asylum system before Europe-wide elections are held in May 2024.Should they fail to do so, the project might have to be abandoned or completely overhauled as it’s taken up by the next European Commission — the EU’s executive branch — and the new members of parliament.“If we miss th...

Man stabbed several times during business robbery in Loop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was stabbed several times during a robbery in the city's Loop Thursday morning. According to police, the victim was inside a business at the 400 block of South Clark Street around 5:20 a.m. when a group of unknown male offenders approached the man and demanded money. Police said one of the offenders produced a sharp knife and stabbed the man several times. Missing Navy sailor recovered from Lake Michigan in Waukegan The offenders took an unknown amount of money and merchandise before fleeing eastbound on foot. The victim sustained lacerations to the wrist and forehead and was transported to the hospital in fair condition. No other injuries were reported and police are investigating the incident.

3-year-old girl shot inside Gary home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

GARY, Ind. — A 3-year-old girl was shot inside a Gary home Tuesday morning.Authorities were dispatched to a home in the 4200 block of West Jackson Street on the report of a shooting. At the scene, an officer located a mother and a 3-year-old girl on the porch. Gary police said initially, they were told conflicting reports on what happened.Police believe the shooting happened inside of the home in an upstairs bedroom as the occupants were watching television.The shooting suspect is at-large, police said. No other details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting have been released at this time. Elderly man dies following crash in north suburbs The girl was hospitalized and police said her condition is unknown.Anyone with information can leave a tip at 219-881-7300.

Thursday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, chance of storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, a few storms this AM with small hail chance, isolated afternoon storm chance, chance for storms again late day/evening with slight severe risk, South winds of 15-20 mph and gusts of 35 mph. There will be a high of 76.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterThursday Night: Mostly cloudy, evening storms, W 10-15 G30. High is 47. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Friday's weather is looking mainly cloudy, isolated shower, SSW 5-15 G25. 63