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Businesses expect slower sales in short term as cost, labour issues persist: survey

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Businesses expect subdued sales in the short term as they face continued cost and labour pressures, despite slowing inflation, according to a survey by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.The chamber’s Business Data Lab released the results of its first-quarter poll on business conditions on Thursday, which found one-third of companies expect to raise prices next quarter.The retail, accommodation and food services sector, along with wholesale trade, construction and manufacturing sectors, reported feeling the most impacted by ongoing price pressures.Businesses said they expect inflation to remain the top obstacle over the next three months at 58 per cent, followed by input costs at 46 per cent and interest rates and debt costs at 40 per cent.Inflation slowed to 5.9 per cent in January, down from 6.3 per cent the month prior. Statistics Canada is expected to release February’s inflation rate next Tuesday.Most companies with at least five employees said they are stil...

AP sources: Banks working on rescue plan for First Republic

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A group of Wall Street banks is planning a rescue package of around $30 billion for First Republic Bank, sources told The Associated Press on Thursday. The rescue package comes as San Francisco-based First Republic has been battered by investors and worries have grown that the midsized bank might be the next to fail, after Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.Sources familiar with the matter said that JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs are part of the group of banks pulling together the package. It is likely to consist of $30 billion in deposits and capital for First Republic.The list of 11 banks involved also includes Truist, Morgan Stanley, BNY Mellon, State Street, US Bank, PNC and Bank of America, a source said.The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the package was still being developed.A First Republic spokesman declined to comment on the reports.First Republic serves a similar clientele as Silicon Valley Bank, which fail...

Father-to-be and ‘snow angel’: Edmonton officers shot and killed on duty remembered

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

One of the police officers killed in Edmonton was about to be a father and the other was called a “snow angel” for going beyond the call of duty to help people.Const. Brett Ryan, 30, and Const. Travis Jordan, 35, were shot and killed responding to a domestic violence call Thursday morning.Ryan, who had been with the Edmonton force for 5 1/2 years, is being remembered as a pillar of the community and a longtime minor hockey referee. Darcy Carter, with the Spruce Grove Minor Hockey Association, said Ryan and his wife are expecting a child.“I was alongside him growing up as he grew as an official and grew into a person and a husband,” Carter said.Ryan, who lived in Spruce Grove just west of Edmonton, was always willing to give back, helping younger hockey officials develop their skills, Carter said. The officer was also active in the slow pitch community.Ryan was a paramedic before he became a police officer, Carter said, adding the officer was passionate about his work and his d...

Recently opened restaurants in the Chicago area

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

Stacker compiled a list of recently opened restaurants in Chicago from Yelp. Restaurants listed as hot and new were included. Read on to see restaurants that opened near you that are worth checking out.1 / 20 YelpBandol- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (11 reviews)- Categories: French- Address: 100 W Monroe Chicago, IL 60603- Read more on Yelp2 / 20 YelpKyuramen - Downtown Chicago- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (106 reviews)- Categories: Ramen- Address: 6W Hubbard St Chicago, IL 60654- Read more on Yelp3 / 20 YelpThe M Room- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (6 reviews)- Categories: Japanese- Address: 450 N Clark St Chicago, IL 60654- Read more on Yelp4 / 20 YelpKindling Downtown Cookout & Cocktails- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (11 reviews)- Categories: American (New)- Address: 202 S Franklin St Willis Tower Chicago, IL 60606- Read more on Yelp5 / 20 YelpRaising Cane's- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (7 reviews)- Categories: Chicken Shop- Address: 2 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60603- Read more on YelpYou may also like: Most...

Experts urge lawmakers for funding, regulations after healthcare cyber-attacks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – On Capitol Hill, senators held a hearing about cyber security threats that hospitals and health care groups face, which can impact both the care and personal information of patients.Cyber-attacks on hospitals and health care groups are becoming more frequent and dangerous because they disrupt the use of critical equipment.Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) pointed out an “infant tragically passed away because of delayed medical care.”California Senator Alex Padilla says bad actors don't just get a payoff from ransomware attacks; they also benefit from selling patient information on the black market.Stirling Martin of Epic Systems, says health information “isn't something that can be reset or changed, like a password or credit card number.”At Thursday’s hearing, Senator Josh Hawley highlighted why rural providers are especially vulnerable, which Kate Pierce of Fortified Health Security added, “most of them have no staff that are directly assigned to cyber.”Experts told la...

2 people shot in car on Chicago's South Side

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Two people were found shot in a car Thursday afternoon on Chicago's South Side, a little more than a mile and a half away from where they were shot, according to police.Chicago Police Department officers found a man, 29, and a woman, 33, both shot around 1 p.m. inside a vehicle near West 63rd Street and South Ashland Avenue. Eric Carter selected as CPD’s interim superintendent Police later said the shooting happened in the 1000 block of West Marquette Road in Englewood.The man was shot in the back and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, according to police. Chicago’s top cop checks out early The woman was shot in the buttocks and arm and was also taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, according to police.On the other side of the Jeep, you can see several bullet holes and shattered glass. pic.twitter.com/Rx1m7uBGa4— Courtney Spinelli (@CourtSpinelliTV) March 16, 2023No one has been arrested yet and de...

Pfizer recalls millions of packs of migraine prescription drugs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

(WHTM) – Pfizer is recalling more than 4 million tablet packs of a prescription migraine treatment that do not meet child-resistant packaging requirements.According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4.2 million Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) orally disintegrating 75 milligram tablets, packaged in eight-unit blister packs, lack the child-resistant packaging required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, creating a child poisoning risk. The affected products have an NDC number of 72618-3000-2 and expiration dates through June 2026. Pharmacies nationwide have distributed the prescribed medicine since December 2021. IKEA mirrors recalled over laceration hazard According to Pfizer, Nurtec ODT is prescribed to adults for acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura and the preventive treatment of episodic migraine.Consumers should immediately take the recalled product out of the sight and reach of children and contact Pfizer for a free child-resistant pouch to store...

Jalen Carter will visit with the Bears at Halas Hall

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

LAKE FOREST - Now that the Bears have settled the question of what to do with their No. 1 overall pick, they now have to consider who to select with the ninth pick they acquired in that trade with the Panthers.That could include a player who has run into legal trouble since the end of his final college season.On Thursday at a news conference at Halas Hall, Bears general manager Ryan Pace confirmed that the team will bring former Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter to Halas Hall for a visit ahead of April's NFL Draft.He has just pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in Georgia related to an incident in Athens on January 15 where two members of the Bulldogs' football program died: Offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy.Poles along with head coach Matt Ebeflus traveled to Georgia's pro day to watch Carter workout out this week."Like the combine, it's a collection of information. We got some there, we got more at the (...

What are the most popular dog names in Illinois?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

Illinois and Iowa may disagree on many things, but when it comes to the three most popular dog names, they’re perfectly paired. They also buck national trends together.Bark, a pet toy company that specializes in subscription services for dogs, pawed through 10 years’ worth of subscriber data and information from 3.2 million dogs in a 2022 survey to determine the most popular dog names in the U.S. The data showed that “Luna” came in at #1 in 35 states, followed by “Bella”, “Max”, “Cooper” and “Daisy”.“When we analyze the names of dogs by state, the data is surprisingly homogenous,” Bark says in a blog post on their website. “Regardless of region or political leaning, we have commonalities in what we name our pups as Americans, and the most popular name is Luna.” Illinois bill would make driving with pet in your lap illegal Hawaii was the only state whose top dog name (“Kona”) wasn’t in the nationwide top three. Illinois and Iowa both went their own way with their top three favorite...

Operation Burnout: 17 more charged in February 'street takeover' investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Officials held a conference Thursday to provide an update on the Austin "street takeover" investigation for incidents that occurred Feb. 18-19, which has now been named Operation Burnout. Arrest warrants issued for 3 linked to Austin street takeovers The Austin Police Department said 17 more individuals were charged—with an additional 38 criminal charges. In total, 24 individuals have been charged in connection to the investigation.According to officials, two of the individuals were identified as juveniles, but their names were not shared.According to police, 11 of the 17 have been taken into custody, and officials continue to search for the remaining six."The suspects that I'm talking about today range in age from 32 years of age at the oldest down to 15 years of age at the youngest—these were principally the organizers of the event and those who are most involved," APD Chief Joseph Chacon said.Charges for the individuals included:seven counts of obstruction of a ...