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Montana miner backs off expansion plans, lays off 100 due to lower palladium prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

The owner of two precious metals mines in south-central Montana is stopping work on an expansion project and laying off about 100 workers because the price of palladium fell sharply in the past year, mine representatives said Thursday.Sibanye-Stillwater announced the layoffs Wednesday at the only platinum and palladium mines in the United States, near Nye, Montana, and other Sibanye-owned facilities in Montana, including a recycling operation. Another 20 jobs have gone unfilled since October, officials said. Another 187 contract workers — about 67% of the mining contract workers at the mine — will also be affected. Some contract work has been phased out over the past couple of months, said Heather McDowell, a vice president at Sibanye-Stillwater. The restructuring is not expected to significantly impact current mine production or recycling production, but will reduce costs, the company said.Palladium prices have since fallen from a peak of about $3,000 an ounce in March 2022 to abou...

Federal judge blocks Montana’s first-in-the-nation ban on TikTok, says it’s unconstitutional

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana’s first-in-the-nation law banning the video-sharing app TikTok in the state has been blocked while a legal challenge to the law moves through the courts, a federal judge ruled Thursday.U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said the ban “oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses.”The ban had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.Montana’s Republican-controlled Legislature made the state the first in the U.S. to pass a complete ban on the app, based on the argument that the Chinese government could gain access to user information from TikTok, whose parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing.Western governments have expressed worries that the popular social media platform could put sensitive data in the hands of the Chinese government or be used as a tool to spread misinformation. Chinese law allows the government to order companies to help it gather intelligence.Attorneys for TikTok and the content creator...

Watchdog flags ‘risk of discrimination’ in border agency’s air traveller targeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

OTTAWA — The national spy watchdog says Canada’s border agency needs to do a better job of documenting how and why it singles out certain air passengers for possible additional scrutiny.The Canada Border Services Agency’s targeting program uses pre-arrival risk assessments to identify inbound air travellers more likely to be ineligible to enter Canada.As a first step, the border agency looks at information about passengers routinely provided by commercial air carriers, including age, sex and national or ethnic origin.The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency found the border agency relies on information and intelligence from a variety of sources to determine which data elements to treat as indicators of risk.A report from the intelligence watchdog released late Thursday says the border agency has the legal authority to conduct such air passenger targeting.However, it details shortcomings in the border agency’s documentation of its program activities that...

Bulls star LaVine misses game against Bucks because of sore right foot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago star Zach LaVine missed the Bulls' game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday because of a sore right foot.LaVine, averaging 21 points, exited Chicago's blowout loss at Boston on Tuesday. Coach Billy Donovan wasn't sure how much time the two-time All-Star will miss. ‘I am embarrassed’: Corey Perry releases statement after getting cut by Blackhawks “I know he's going to be out tonight, but that's really kind of all I have at this point in time,” he said. “It's just something that I think flared up for him in the Boston game and is still dealing with the soreness.”DeMar DeRozan was a game-time decision because of a sprained left ankle, and Alex Caruso was available after being listed as questionable with a strained left toe.Chicago was 5-14 with five straight losses heading into the game.

A month later, Columbia College adjunct professors still on strike, impacting students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

CHICAGO — Part-time faculty members remain on strike more than one month after they walked off the job to protest a cut in their courses.While both parties remain at the bargaining tables, students who spoke with WGN News say the strike continues to impact them and their education."I have to have five classes every semester to keep my status and three of them were impacted by the strike and all three have been substituted," said international student Mitchell Oliveira Bueno. You need up to $15,000 more just to live like you did in 2021, analysis finds As the Brazilian native prepares to wrap up the last semester at Columbia College, Oliveira Bueno, along with many other students, said the safe haven and supportive atmosphere that was standard at the school has since changed with the strike.On Oct. 30, adjunct professors left the job about two months after the fall semester began."Recently, they decided to bring in these replacement teachers to come in three weeks before the semes...

Kaitlin Armstrong gives notice of appeal on murder conviction, Travis County DA drops escape charge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas -- Kaitlin Armstrong gave notice of an appeal Thursday after she was sentenced to 90 years for the murder of pro cyclist Mariah “Mo” Wilson. Additionally, the Travis County District Attorney's Office announced it filed a motion to dismiss the escape charge she committed in early October. Kaitlin Armstrong receives 90-year sentence following several hours of deliberation from jury Armstrong was previously charged with escape causing bodily injury. She was arrested on Oct. 11 after her brief escape during a trip to a medical facility, Ascension Orthopedics in Austin, outline months of planning before evading two Travis County correctional officers on foot.Police issued an arrest warrant for Armstrong on May 17, 2022, six days after she shot and killed Wilson at an east Austin apartment. Wilson was staying with a friend in town ahead of a nearby gravel race. ‘Vigorous’ exercise, thermal pants part of Armstrong’s escape plan, court records reveal According to a ...

Win over Blues cleared bad vibes, but Wild have a lot of work ahead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Wild’s 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday was just the first step in what Minnesota believes will be a surge that will put the team right into the Western Conference playoff picture.But after three weeks without a single win, it worked like burning sage works on bad vibes.“It’s one game, but, obviously, you go through a few weeks there where you forget what it even feels like to win,” rookie defenseman Brock Faber said after Wednesday’s practice. “Fans aren’t happy with us, there’s things all over Twitter and social media. It’s tough.”It wasn’t just the losses, either. As the skid grew longer — ultimately 11 losses in 13 games — the negativity surrounding the team deepened, and in the end cost head coach Dean Evason his job.The next small step was scheduled for Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena, where the Wild were set to play the streaking Nashville Predators, winners of their previous six games.“I think there’s a lot of outside noise that you ...

College of Saint Rose to close end of 2023-24 academic year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The College of Saint Rose will close its doors at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. A letter from College President Marcia White confirmed the decision. The closure comes in the wake of the college's recent announcement declaring the need for financial aid from the city of Albany and New York State. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The college said they have faced a significant drop in enrollment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school reportedly relies on tuition for 80% of its total budget. Saint Rose President Marcia White had intended on addressing the college about the closure on Friday but sent a letter to the school community late Thursday evening to confirm the news. In the letter, she said the The College of Saint Rose’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday "to cease academic instruction after the end of the 2023-2024 academic year."According to the Capital Region Delegation, the c...

Bills star Von Miller to be charged with assaulting pregnant girlfriend in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Bills pass rusher Von Miller turned himself into a Dallas-area police department Thursday after 34-year-old allegedly assaulted his pregnant girlfriend in their luxury apartment Wednesday morning.Police told News 4 that Miller and the victim "got into a verbal argument and the suspect assaulted the victim," who suffered minor injuries but was not hospitalized. Under Texas law, assault against a pregnant person is a third-degree felony.The Buffalo Bills said the team was made aware of an incident involving Miller and is "in the process of gathering more information.” The Bills are currently on their bye week. They visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 10. Snow sculpture recreates Josh Allen horse-collar tackle no call Miller and the victim have been in a romantic relationship for 7 years and have children together, according to the warrant for his arrest. The document also states that the victim, whose name is being withheld by...

Kitten with severely deformed hind legs finds forever home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:18 GMT

BOSTON (WWLP) – A Massachusetts animal shelter that was in search of a special adopter for a kitten with severely deformed hind legs announced Wednesday that a Boston radio host has come to his rescue.The young kitten, named Gumby, was sent to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA) on Nov. 11 from the SPCA of Texas for medical treatment and a loving home. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “We’ve never seen a cat quite like this,” said Dr. Rebecca Fellman, MSPCA-Angell lead clinician of community and shelter medicine. “Both of Gumby’s back legs are severely deformed with muscle contracture that limits his joint mobility, but he still manages to get around —.often on all fours.”“We’re working with Angell specialists to explore all pathways to manage his condition, but Gumby’s quite remarkable in that he’s actually doing well, despite the deformities.”After two days ...