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How Toronto lost its war with raccoons. Badly.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

One hundred years ago, raccoons were so rare in Toronto, that a mysterious creature rummaging in a garbage bin warranted a newspaper report. Today, raccoons are basically the city’s mascot. The war Toronto waged on raccoons spanned decades, but it’s abundantly clear that it’s over. The raccoons won, the people lost, and now we just try to protect our garbage and hope the mess isn’t too bad.Amy Dempsey covered raccoons at length for The Toronto Star , she says that part of the problem for citizens dealing with raccoon infestations, is that the city has essentially abdicated all responsibility for dealing with the issue. “New York City has a rat czar and I kind of think that Toronto needs a raccoon czar,” says Dempsey.So how did Toronto become the raccoon capital of the world?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify. You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.

RioCan REIT records Q3 net loss of $73.5 million amid fair value losses

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

TORONTO — RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust says fair value losses left the company with a net loss of $73.5 million in its most recent quarter.The Toronto-based real estate company says the third-quarter loss compared with a net income of $3.2 million it reported a year prior.It attributed the loss in the period ended Sept. 30 to fair value losses of $199.5 million on investment properties that reflect current market conditions resulting from rising interest rates.Funds from operations totalled $135.4 million, or 45 cents per diluted unit, a slight increase from $134.8 million a year ago, or 44 cents per diluted unit.RioCan’s committed occupancy rate for the quarter was 97.5 per cent, up from 97.3 per cent a year ago.Retail occupancy hit 98.3 per cent, up from 97.8 a year prior.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:REI.UN)The Canadian Press

Astronaut Ken Mattingly, who flew in Apollo 16 and played a key role in Apollo 13, dies

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

(WHNT) — Former NASA astronaut Ken "TK" Mattingly, who commanded two space shuttle missions, has died. Mattingly died Tuesday at the age of 87, said NASA administrator Bill Nelson, noting that the country had lost one of its heroes. "NASA astronaut TK Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo Program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history," Nelson said. Multiple fire departments fight Limestone County field fire Born in Chicago on March 17, 1936, Mattingly was raised in Florida. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1958.His career began in the Navy, where he received his pilot wings in 1960. He eventually joined the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School and was chosen by NASA for the astronaut class in 1966.Nelson said Mattingly not only showed exceptional piloting skills but also contributed to the Apollo Program.Even before flying in space, Mattingly worked in the astronaut sup...

Dean's Reviews: 'What Happens Later' and 'Priscilla'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

Check out Dean's Reviews on the new films 'What Happens Later' and 'Priscilla.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Worlds of Fun and Six Flags Amusement Parks announce merger

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The owners of Worlds of Fun and Six Flags Amusement Parks announced their official merger agreement on Thursday.Cedar Fair, which operates Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, and Six Flags Entertainment Corp. will combine for a total of 42 parks across North America. Disney’s 100 year anniversary celebration coming to Kansas City According to a press release from Six Flags and Cedar Fair, the two companies came to a $2 billion deal, making them a powerhouse in the theme park industry.The president and CEO of Cedar Fair, Richard Zimmerman, will serve as the CEO of the combined company, which will operate under the name Six Flags. “Our merger with Six Flags will bring together two of North America’s iconic amusement park companies to establish a highly diversified footprint and a more robust operating model to enhance park offerings and performance,” Zimmerman said.“Together, we will have an expanded and complementary portfolio of attractive assets and intellectual ...

Missouri getting millions to combat rural area doctor shortage

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Missouri is getting millions of dollars to help combat the doctor shortage in rural areas.Dr. Kathleen Quinn leads the Rural Scholars Program at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. The program encourages students from rural areas of the state to pursue medical school. A $16 million grant will help fund scholarships for students accepted into the program. Since it started nearly three decades ago, about 50% of students are now practicing physicians in rural communities in the state. Florida kidnapping victims rescued from downtown St. Louis hotel Then you get a health care provider and then a business will come into that town because there's a provider. Every physician in a rural community brings in about $1.3 million of revenue for the town.The grant money will also be used to expose students to healthcare careers through the school of medicine's mobile training facility, which has life-like patient simulators.

I-70 eastbound closed in Wheat Ridge hours after crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

Interstate 70 eastbound in Wheat Ridge has been closed for several hours Friday morning due to a crash.The Colorado Department of Transportation reported the crash at 2:42 a.m. in the eastbound lanes near Ward Road.#I70 eastbound: Road closed due to a crash between CO 72; Ward Road and CO 391. https://t.co/luYh0kwpql— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) November 3, 2023As of 6:15 a.m., CDOT traffic cameras show emergency vehicles still at the scene, and CDOT’s trip planning site is still reporting the closure.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | I-70 westbound reopened at Eisenhower Tunnel Crime and Public Safety | Colfax Avenue eastbound reopened west of I-25 after crash Crime and Public Safety | Colorado weather: Snow and ice on Colorado roads cause accidents, closures along interstates Crime and Public Safety | Two lanes of I-70 eastbound reopened after multi-vehicle crash Cri...

Opinion: Too many tourists are robbing locals of the hunt

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

Hunting may be losing popularity nationally, but in the West the number of hunters is climbing.According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2022 there were 10% fewer hunters across the country than there were when hunting peaked in the 1980s. At the same time, four Western states — Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Utah — saw more hunters than ever before.A key driver of this trend is out-of-state hunters who have run out of luck in their home states: elk, deer and other big game species have declined precipitously in many parts of the nation.“Opportunities to hunt elk are very limited where I live,” said Wisconsin resident Erik Rollefson. “My home state only has a few hundred elk and issues fewer than 10 elk hunting permits per year. I have a better chance to get a license in any Western state.”Out West, big game hunting licenses are distributed in state-run lotteries. While most are reserved for local residents, some can be allotted to non-resident hunters. Hunter numbers ...

Fourth-generation pie maker opening store in Washington Park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

Elias Lehnert wanted to start his own legacy when he expanded his family’s fourth-generation pie jelly and cider business, Colorado Cherry Co., from northern Colorado to Denver. So last April, he rebranded his store on Tennyson Street as Legacy Pie Co.“When we branched off into Denver, the Colorado Cherry Co. was a natural name to choose since it already had pretty good brand recognition in the Front Range,” said Lehnert, whose family owns stores in Lyons and Loveland. “But it felt like it was lacking the full picture of what we do. A lot of folks called us ‘Cherry Pie Co.’, and even staff was using that name.”In February 2024, he’s planning to debut a second store at 300 E. Alameda Ave. in Washington Park under the Legacy Pie Co. name.Andy Cross, The Denver PostA slice of cherry pie from Legacy Pie Co. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)Colorado Cherry Co. got its start in 1929 in Lake Geneva, Wis., where Lehnert’s great grandma Katherine Lehnert began selling che...

The environmental crisis: A call to action for a sustainable future

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

The environmental crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. As we stand on the precipice of irreversible damage to our planet, it is essential to recognize the gravity of the situation and take immediate action to address it. This crisis encompasses a wide range of environmental issues, from climate change and habitat destruction to pollution and resource depletion. In this article, we will delve into the various facets of the environmental crisis, its causes, and the urgent need for a global response to secure a sustainable future for generations to come, writes Colin Stevens.The scope of the environmental crisisClimate changePerhaps the most visible and alarming aspect of the environmental crisis is climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have led to a rapid increase in global temperatures. This warming is responsible for a multitude of environmental issues, including more frequent and severe heatwaves...