TTC increases outreach as expert call for guaranteed income in response to violence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

TTC increases outreach as expert call for guaranteed income in response to violence A rise in violence on Toronto’s transit system signals an urgent need to better support people struggling with homelessness, mental illness and addiction, says a forensic psychiatrist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).“It’s that combination that is giving rise to this (violence),” said Dr. Sandy Simpson, chair in forensic psychiatry at CAMH and the University of Toronto,“It’s really impossible to know how much each of those things is to blame. But it’s not a single issue,” he said.More information is needed about the suspects accused in recent attacks against Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) passengers and employees to make that determination, he said.But Simpson said drug addiction is likely a factor in some cases, especially crystal meth and crack. Unlike opioids, those drugs can be associated with violent acts.Lack of social support for people who are living in poverty and who are homeless, as well as poor acces...

Psychiatric evaluation extended for man accused of crashing bus into Quebec daycare

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

Psychiatric evaluation extended for man accused of crashing bus into Quebec daycare LAVAL, Que. — A court heard Tuesday that a Montreal psychiatric hospital needs more time to evaluate a bus driver’s mental state at the time he allegedly drove a bus into a daycare, killing two young children.The Philippe-Pinel institute has been charged with assessing the criminal responsibility of Pierre Ny St-Amand, 51, on Feb. 8, the day of the killings. However, in a letter addressed to the court, the hospital said that due to the complexity of the file, it needs another 30 days to complete the assessment.“Given the nature of the offence and the complexity of the clinical picture, additional evaluations were requested, in particular a psychological evaluation, which unfortunately could not be completed in time for the upcoming hearing date,” Dr. Kim Bédard-Charette, a forensic psychiatrist, wrote in the letter. She noted Mr. St-Amand’s “exemplary co-operation.” Prosecutor Karine Dalphond told reporters after a brief hearing at the Laval, Que....

SNDL to purchase four Dutch Love cannabis stores in $7.8 million deal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

SNDL to purchase four Dutch Love cannabis stores in $7.8 million deal Calgary-based pot retailer SNDL Inc. says it is buying four Dutch Love cannabis stores from Lightbox Enterprises Ltd.SNDL says it is paying $7.8 million for three stores in B.C., one in Ontario and the right to use some of Dutch Love’s intellectual property.Around $1.5 million of the price will be paid in cash, $3 million will come in the form of cancelled debt owed by Lightbox to SNDL and $3.3 million will be paid in common shares of SNDL.The stores SNDL will acquire generated a combined annual revenue of $11.5 million in 2022, with an average gross margin of 36.5 per cent.The deal is anticipated to close by the end of May, and is the result of a sale and investment solicitation process undertaken by Lightbox as part of its proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. The expected close will be concurrent with the proposed restructuring of Nova Cannabis Inc. and SNDL. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2023.The Canadian Press

‘Here to help’: Ontario pharmacists seek expanded role in managing COVID, other diseases

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

‘Here to help’: Ontario pharmacists seek expanded role in managing COVID, other diseases As we continue to learn how to live with COVID-19, pharmacists in Ontario say they can and should play a larger role in helping manage the disease and other ailments to relieve the pressure from family doctors and an already overloaded healthcare system.Jen Belcher, vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Member Relations for the Ontario Pharmacist Association, said from dispensing vaccinations to now prescribing the COVID-19 pill Paxlovid, pharmacists have played a critical role in the pandemic.“That end-to-end solution in a pharmacy where you can be tested, you can be assessed, you can have your drug interactions managed, you can receive that prescription, and you can actually have it dispensed at that pharmacy […] In our minds, this has made a lot of sense,” she said.Earlier this year, Ontario pharmacists were given the authority to prescribe medication for 13 common ailments like allergies, cold sores and acid reflux and in last Thursday’s provincial budget, six ...

NASCAR makes major announcement on Chicago Street Tuesday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

NASCAR makes major announcement on Chicago Street Tuesday CHICAGO - As the inaugural event in downtown Chicago gets closer and closer, more and more about the Chicago Street Race is being announced.That's the case on Tuesday as NASCAR is being joined by members of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois to make a major announcement ahead of the event on July 1 and 2.You can watch this announcement live from WGN News Now in the video above.

After 32 years, a viewer gets a 2nd chance at 'The Grand Prize Game'

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

After 32 years, a viewer gets a 2nd chance at 'The Grand Prize Game' CHICAGO — The luck was with her on that special day at the WGN studios in 1991, but the timing wasn't great. While in the audience on "The Bozo Show," Michelle Kunath held the number picked by the "Bozoputer" to play "The Grand Prize Game." The problem was that she was only three, so her older sister Jenny was the one who got to play "Bozo Buckets" while she sat on her mother's lap.Well 32 years later, she got her second chance to play.Appearing with Jenny on WGN Morning News on Tuesday, as part of WGN's 75th anniversary celebration, Michelle's 32-year wait to play the "The Grand Prize Game" ended as she tested her skills on the "Bozo Buckets."You can watch this edition of "Second Chance Grand Prize Game" from the March 28 show in the video above. Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

“Canada Rejoins Japanese Beef Market After Two Decades”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

“Canada Rejoins Japanese Beef Market After Two Decades”

Day 1 in court for murder trial of man accused of shooting, killing protester in Austin

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

Day 1 in court for murder trial of man accused of shooting, killing protester in Austin AUSTIN (KXAN) — With Garrett Foster's family sitting front row in the Travis County Courthouse on Tuesday morning, Daniel Perry entered a not-guilty plea. Perry is an Army sergeant, who was stationed at Fort Hood in 2020. He admitted to shooting and killing Foster in the streets of downtown Austin on July 25, 2020, during a Black Lives Matter protest. Trial set to begin this week for man accused of shooting, killing Austin protester in 2020 Opening statements from the state revealed Foster — engaged to a Black quadruple-paraplegic woman at the time — was a frequent BLM protester. In fact, prosecutors said he was protesting nearly every day that summer. Follow reporter Jala Washington's live updates from court below:Tweets by Jala__WashTV Defense opening statements detailed Perry as a dedicated army sergeant from Killeen. They said during the summer of 2020, to help supplement his income from the Army, he drove for Uber. According to Perry's attorneys, he was in Austin on July 25 ...

Rodney Terry officially announced as Texas head men's basketball coach

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

Rodney Terry officially announced as Texas head men's basketball coach AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Rodney Terry era of Texas Longhorns men's basketball has officially begun.Terry was formally introduced as the permanent head coach of the program Tuesday after taking over in December in an interim role following Chris Beard's suspension and eventual firing. Terry signed his contract, reportedly a 5-year deal worth $3 million annually, Monday. Coincidentally, Monday was also his 55th birthday.New Texas NCAA college basketball head coach Rodney Terry celebrates with his team following a news conference Austin, Texas, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Rodney Terry, right, poses for a photo with Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte, left, during a news conference after he was named full-time head basketball coach coach in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)New Texas NCAA college basketball head coach Rodney Terry talks to the media during a news conference in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Rodney Terr...