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Jags unveil ‘stadium of future’ with covered seats, a proposal critical to team’s future

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars unveiled conceptual designs for their “stadium of the future” on Wednesday, providing an initial glimpse into a billion-dollar-plus project that could determine the fate of the small-market franchise.The renderings showed covered seating throughout a 62,000-seat, open-air stadium that includes a 360-degree concourse, which is four times wider than the current space. Capacity could be expanded to 71,500 for the annual Florida-Georgia rivalry, the Gator Bowl or a College Football Playoff game. The project also would include major improvements around the stadium, including a University of Florida satellite campus.The Jaguars believe the proposal would create more opportunities to host major concerts, music festivals and the NFL draft. They stopped short of suggesting a second Super Bowl, clearly aware that the city’s lack of nearby hotels remain an obstacle.“We have reached the end of this important and initial phase of this project — ...

White Florida woman who fatally shot Black neighbor arrested, charged

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

A Florida woman accused of fatally shooting her neighbour last week in the violent culmination of what the sheriff described as a 2½-year feud was arrested Tuesday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, who is white, was arrested on charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault in the death of Ajike Owens, a Black mother of four, Sheriff Billy Woods said in a statement.Authorities came under pressure Tuesday to arrest and charge the woman who fired through her front her door and killed Owens in a case that has put Florida’s divisive stand-your-ground law back into the spotlight.In a video posted on Facebook late Tuesday night, the sheriff said this was not a stand-your-ground case but “simply a killing.”“Now many of you were struggling to understand why there was not an immediate arrest,” the sheriff said. “The laws here in the state of Florida are clear. Now I may ...

Campaigners want fossil fuel firms to pay into climate calamity fund; diplomats dubious

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

BONN, Germany (AP) — Environmental campaigners called Wednesday for fossil fuel producers to contribute to a new fund intended to help poor countries cope with climate disasters.The so-called loss and damage fund was a key achievement of last year’s U.N. climate summit in Egypt. Developing nations have long demanded more financial support for the impacts from global warming, which is historically driven by pollution from rich countries.“It is the prime responsibility for countries to fill that fund, particularly those with the greatest historic responsibility,” said Rebecca Newsom, of the environmental group Greenpeace.“But in order to fill that fund at scale now, we need to really ramp things up,” she said. “The most obvious starting point is, of course, the fossil fuel industry, the creators of the crisis that we are now facing.”Oil, gas and coal firms have faced mounting criticism in recent years for continuing to extract fuels that, when burned, release planet-warming gree...

In Fargo, North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum jumps into crowded Republican race for president

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a former software entrepreneur who enacted a slate of laws this year advancing conservative policies on culture war issues, announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday. Burgum, 66, joins a long list of contenders hoping to dent former President Donald Trump’s early lead in the race. The governor of the nation’s fourth-least populous state made the announcement in the The Wall Street Journal and was expected to kick off his campaign Wednesday in the city of Fargo, where he lives and which is near the tiny farm town of Arthur where he grew up.“We need a change in the White House. We need a new leader for a changing economy. That’s why I’m announcing my run for president,” he said in commentary posted late Tuesday on the newspaper’s website, echoing a slogan he first used as his successful 2016 gubernatorial campaign. Burgum was reelected in 2020 and is eligible to run for a thi...

Tim Hortons to launch credit card through mobile rewards app

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

TORONTO — Tim Hortons is launching a credit card that can be used through its mobile app, the latest move into an increasingly competitive rewards space. Tims Financial is a new division of Tim Hortons that will offer a no-annual-fee Mastercard powered by Neo Financial, the company said in a press release Wednesday. The card will be launched in the coming months, but interested customers can sign up for a waitlist on the Tims Financial website. Customers will be able to earn Tims Rewards Points on most purchases, including on many gas, grocery and transit purchases, and extra points at Tim Hortons restaurants.“There’s millions of Canadians who are actively seeking better and accessible financial products,” said Markus Sturm, senior vice-president of digital, loyalty and consumer goods at Tim Hortons, which is owned by Restaurant Brands International. The Tims Rewards app already has features like mobile order and scan and pay, making a new payment option the logical next step, said ...

New construction on Hwy. 401 in Toronto to run until 2025

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

Drivers on the westbound 401 will have to get used to the major delays that have plagued the commute the last couple of days. A stretch of the westbound 401 express that has been reduced to just two lanes will be under construction until 2025.Right now, the express lanes just before Avenue Road go from four lanes to two – with the two right lanes leading into the transfer to collectors, and two left lanes continuing in the express. This is currently in place until just before the Allen Expressway, then between the Allen and Keele Street it goes to three lanes. This is set to extend a little further to Jane Street, just before Highway 400.Last week the northbound Allen ramp to the westbound 401 express was closed, with traffic forced to take the ramp to the collectors instead.The work is similar to other long-term construction on the 401 – road reconstruction, repaving, and bridge and tunnel maintenance. Crews will be doing work at the overpasses and underpasses at Wilson, Bathurst, ...

Atlanta organizers unveil plan to stop ‘Cop City’ at the ballot box

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Activists announced an effort Wednesday to force a referendum that would allow Atlanta voters to decide whether the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center should proceed, in a potential last-ditch effort to halt the project that its opponents refer to as “Cop City.”A day after the City Council rejected protesters’ pleas to refuse to fund the police and firefighter training facility, the activists returned to City Hall to file a referendum petition, hoping to take the fight to the ballot box. Under the proposed referendum, voters would choose whether they want to repeal the ordinance that authorized the lease of the city-owned land upon which the project is being built.In order for the language to get on the ballot, though, organizers must first gather the signatures of more than 70,000 Atlanta voters over 60 days once the city clerk approves the petition. They would also have to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay canvassers ...

'Sooooo epic:' Taylor Swift's message to Chicago fans after Soldier Field concerts

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Attention Chicagoland Swifties, Taylor has a message for you.The music artist posted to Twitter Tuesday night and addressed all the fans who attended her 'Eras Tour' stops at Soldier Field. The tour took over the Chicago stadium for a total of three nights. "Chicago that was sooooo epic. Playing 3 nights at Soldier Field and getting to sing ‘You All Over Me’ with Maren Morris who I adore. You guys were so much fun to play for, I love you." Taylor Swift fans line up for hours outside Soldier Field for ‘Eras Tour’ merch Swift's next tour stop is Detroit, Michigan this weekend.

Police working to identify body found in missing mother's vehicle on South Side

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department are conducting an investigation after a body was found inside a vehicle matching the description of a missing South Side mother's car.Police responded to the 9400 block of South LaSalle Street in Chicago's Roseland neighborhood around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday and found the body in the driver's seat of an abandoned vehicle.The car matched the description and license plate of Rena Baker's vehicle, a 39-year-old mother who has been missing since Wednesday, May 31.  ‘Stop, stop, stop’: Murder warrant issued for 18-year-old accused of shooting Crown Point teen to death Residents who live nearby noticed the vehicle was parked there for five days.Baker was last seen around 10:30 pm Wednesday evening near 76th Street and King Drive. She was seen leaving a friend's house. Her brother, Andre Baker, says she left her cell phone at home and the direction the car traveled was odd. The family reported her missing when she did not pick her son up from school on ...

Over $600K worth of counterfeit watches, socks, sunglasses seized at O'Hare

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:05:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Over $600,000 worth of counterfeit goods, including fake Rolex watches, were discovered at O'Hare Sunday. Customs agents discovered the goods while inspecting a shipment labeled "fashion sunglasses."In the shipment, officers found 36 pairs of designer sunglasses bearing counterfeit trademarks of designers like Louis Vuitton, Versace, Chanel and others.Officers also found 25 pairs of socks bearing counterfeit Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Dior trademarks.The shipment was arriving from Thailand and was heading to a residence in Bedford, Indiana.In addition to the sunglasses and socks, officers intercepted 22 watches bearing the counterfeit trademarks of Franck Muller, Patek Phillipe, Adidas and Rolex. 10 of the best ‘post-Taylor’ June concerts around Chicago The merchandise would have been worth a total of almost $638,000 had the goods been genuine, authorities said.“CBP protects honest trade and hardworking businesses,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field ...