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Canadian consumer a ‘bright spot’ for Couche-Tard amid grab bag of pressures: CEO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

LAVAL, Que. — Canada appeared to be a “bright spot” for Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. in its latest quarter as the convenience store giant battles a slew of pressures. President and CEO Brian Hannasch told analysts that the company’s Canadian operations led the way for a strong start to the convenience store giant’s financial year, while U.S. consumers seemingly feeling the financial pinch. “When we look at our sales in the U.S., we’re seeing certainly some trading down to more budget and price-conscious decisions,” Hannasch said on a conference call Thursday to discuss the company’s latest results. “We continue to see double-digit growth year over year on private label. So that tells me a certain segment of our customer base is stretched … a little bit.”However, he noted continued resilience in Canada. “We continue to see that be a bright spot in our business,” Hannasch said.Same-store merchandise sales, or sales at ...

Brussels Midi Station, once a stately gateway to Belgium, has turned into festering sore of nation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium acknowledged Thursday that its major rail gateway, the Brussels Midi Station, has become a festering sore of drug abuse, poverty and violence that is a major stain on a nation preparing to take on the presidency of the European Union. The government vowed to tackle the problem, but some critics say action is coming way too late, while others say that any cleanup operation will only push the big-city problems to other neighborhoods. Belgium, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, with a major tourism industry, has neglected the once-stately Midi Station for decades. It has become a symbol of dysfunctional government as increasingly many of the 160,000 daily commuters and tourists no longer fully feel safe.The increasing spread of crack cocaine and open dealing and use of drugs in the neighborhood over the past year have exacerbated an already bad situation to the point that petty theft, fights and harassment of tourists have become everyday headline news ...

Interest rate hikes might be over but don’t expect housing market to flare up: BMO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

TORONTO — One Bay Street economist says it’s unlikely the housing market will flare up, despite the Bank of Canada’s decision to keep its key interest rate on hold on Wednesday.Robert Kavcic, senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, said softer job markets, new listings on the housing market and a restrictive mortgage market are all working against the housing market this fall. “The lowest mortgage rate available today would still be about (one percentage point) higher than the lowest rate we saw available back in the spring,” Kavcic said in an interview.“That makes a big difference,” he added.Earlier this year, Kavcic said, the market was expecting a recession, the bond market rallied and pulled the yields down. Those factors, combined with the Bank of Canada’s pause on interest rate hikes, filtered through the mortgage market to heat up the real estate sector.“But right now, we’re not getting that relief,” he said. Kavc...

‘That ’70s Show' actor Danny Masterson gets 30 years to life in prison for rapes of 2 women

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge sentenced “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson to 30 years to life in prison Thursday for the rapes of two women two decades ago.Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to the 47-year-old Masterson after hearing statements from the women about the trauma they experienced and the suffering caused by the disturbing memories in the years since.The actor, who has been in custody since May, sat in court wearing a suit. Masterson watched the women without visible reaction as they spoke.“When you raped me, you stole from me,” said one woman who Masterson was convicted of raping in 2003. “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.”“You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent,” she said. “The world is better off with you in prison.” Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion The other woman Masterson was found guilty of raping said he “has not shown an ounce of remorse for t...

'Murdaugh Murders: The Movie' to premiere on Lifetime in October

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A drama centered around Alex Murdaugh, a once-prominent attorney turned convicted killer in South Carolina's Lowcountry, and his family is set to premiere on the Lifetime Network this fall.The network announced Wednesday that its milestone 500th original movie will follow the “true story” of Alex Murdaugh, played by award-winning actor Bill Pullman ("Independence Day" and "The Sinner"). Murdaugh was found guilty in the double murder of his wife, Margaret, and youngest son, Paul.Margaret and Paul Murdaugh were found shot to death near hunting kennels on the family’s sprawling Colleton County property in June 2021. After a lengthy trial in early 2023, Alex Murdaugh was ultimately found guilty of their murders and sentenced to life in prison. Former WWE pro wrestling star dies: reports Lifetime's synopsis of the movie reads in part: "Even with all of Alex’s influence, he couldn’t prevent The Murdaugh Family’s legacy from being tarnished after Paul was invo...

Biden trails Haley, polling neck-and-neck with other Republicans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

(The Hill) – Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is the only GOP presidential candidate who is leading in a hypothetical matchup with President Biden, according to a new poll. The CNN poll, released Thursday and conducted by SSRS, found that Haley led Biden 49 percent to 43 percent, while every other major Republican candidate remains neck-and-neck with Biden. No other GOP hopeful — including former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former President Trump — showed more than a 2-point margin in the matchup with the sitting president.When asked about a potential rematch between Trump and Biden, 47 percent said they would choose the former president and 46 percent said they would chose the current president. Five percent said they would choose a different candidate and 2 percent said they did not plan to vote.The poll also found that 46 percent of voters said a...

Huston-Tillotson launches music business education program, first of its kind in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Huston-Tillotson University launched a new certificate program. It's called Music Business Foundations, and, according to a release from the school, it's the first music business education program in the City of Austin. The program starts this fall, with enrollment already available for local residents. The six-week certificate program will be housed at HT's Center for Entrepreneurship and will be open to Austin-area undergraduates and adult learners featuring a curriculum developed and taught by working industry professionals, the release said. "This is the next step in the university becoming foremost here in Austin. Embarking on this new Music Business Foundations Certificate is like opening a door to a world with endless possibilities. We are thrilled to unveil this exciting addition to our esteemed institution's certificate offerings. This certificate represents a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering academic excellence, innovation, and continued...

Saratoga County to host free Narcan training

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

WILTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Saturday, Saratoga County is hosting a free Narcan training and distribution event at Gavin Park. The drive-through event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Participants will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer Narcan. Participants will also be able to take home a Narcan rescue kit that includes two doses of Narcan, a rescue breathing face shield, a certificate of training, a drug disposal system, and a mental health and substance use disorder resource guide.Residents who are unable to attend can register for an overdose rescue kit. To register or view upcoming distribution events, click here.

Albany man sentenced for unemployment insurance fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man has been sentenced for engaging in a fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits scheme, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Taliek Lanier, 23, faces one year in prison. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Lanier pled guilty back in March to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, admitting to providing fellow conspirator Jamie Johnson with personal identifying information of three other people, which Johnson used to file false claims online with the Department of Labor. Lanier further admitted that as a result of the fraudulent applications, the DOL paid out $113,936 in unemployment insurance benefits.In addition to the one-year sentence, Lanier also faces a three-year supervised post-release term and was ordered to pay $113,936 in restitution to the State of New York.

Testers needed for new Adirondack history app

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - History is coming alive in a new way in Warren County. A soon-to-be-released smartphone app is set to use GPS to bring local stories from the past to life, one at a time. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Thursday, Sept. 28, Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls will host a presentation introducing history fanatics to the new "Explore Warren County" app, launching early in 2024. Led by Warren County Geographic Information Systems Coordinator Sara Frankenfeld and Cliff & Redfield Interactive founder Dan Forbush, "Spatial Storytelling in Western Warren County" will be hosted at 7 p.m. at the library's Community Room.The Explore Warren County app will launch next year with three audio tours. Each one is triggered by GPS location.The app will feature a "First Wilderness Audio Tour," following the Central Adirondack Trail to Thirteenth Lake and Garnet Hill in the southern Adirondacks. Other tours include a l...