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Oak Flat Timeline: Native American vs. pro-mining interests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

SUPERIOR, Ariz. (AP) — Oak Flat, a piece of national forest land in central Arizona, is at the heart of a years long struggle between Native American groups and mining interests that both consider it important for their future. Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of international mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP, wants to develop the large deposit of copper ore deep under Oak Flat into a massive mine. The nonprofit Apache Stronghold considers the land sacred and say it should be preserved for religious ceremonies. The project is on hold pending an environmental review that the Forest Service earlier withdrew to consult further with tribes and others. There is no time frame for its completion. Here is how developments have played out over nearly a decade: November 2013: Resolution Copper introduces its initial general plan of operations for a proposed mine at Oak Flat.Dec. 12, 2014: The U.S. Senate approves a must-pass military spending bill that included the Oak Flat land swap, giving th...

Indigo reports $49.6M full-year loss compared with $3.3M profit a year earlier

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

TORONTO — Indigo Books and Music Inc. reported a loss of $49.6 million its latest financial year which saw a cyberattack take down its website and payment systems and compromise the personal information of some current and former employees. The retailer says the loss amounted to $1.78 per diluted share for the 52-week period ended April 1 compared with a profit of $3.3 million or 12 cents per diluted share in the same period a year earlier.Revenue totalled $1.058 billion, down from $1.062 billion in the prior year. Indigo also announced the appointment of Donald Lewtas, Joel Silver and Markus Dohle to its board of directors. Earlier this month, four directors quit the retailer’s board including Chika Stacy Oriuw, who stepped down “because of her loss of confidence in board leadership and because of mistreatment.”The company also said in the same statement on June 7 that founder and executive chair Heather Reisman, who stepped down as chief executive last year, will...

Airline travel delays pick up early and are expected to grow steadily worse as holiday weekend nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers.As of early morning, more than 900 flights have been delayed in the U.S., according to FlightAware. Cancellations topped more than 670 flights. Cancellations and delays were most severe along the East Coast early and were growing worse rapidly. Disruptions are expected to spread West. The delays are being compounded by thunderstorms that raked the Northeast on Tuesday. At various times, the Federal Aviation Administration held up flights bound for LaGuardia Airport in New York and Reagan Washington National and Baltimore-Washington airports near the nation’s capital.About 6,500 flights were delayed and about 1,900 canceled on the East Coast Tuesday. United Airlines, with a major hub in Newark, New Jersey, canceled about 500 ...

Stock market today: Wall Street mixed following an early week rally

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

TOKYO — Trading is uneven on Wall Street early Wednesday, one day after a rally that was fueled by optimism over economic data suggesting the American economy is in better shape than feared. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1% before the bell and futures for the S&P 500 ticked down 0.1%. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 gained 1% and resumed the upward climb that had carried it earlier this month to its highest level in more than a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6% Tuesday, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1.6%.Reports on the U.S. economy have been largely stronger than expected. A reading on consumer confidence jumped to its highest level since the start of 2022, and orders for long-lasting manufactured goods unexpectedly grew, beating economists’ forecasts for a pullback. “Following some early week jitters, we’ve now seen a return to business-as-usual in global equities. Markets are taking some comfort from U.S. economic indicators which are showi...

More than 1,000 people told to evacuate as brushfire threatens homes in Scottsdale, Arizona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — A brushfire threatened dozens of homes in northern Scottsdale and prompted evacuations as about 250 firefighters aided by air tankers battled the blaze, fire officials said.More than 1,000 people were under evacuation orders Tuesday night, authorities said.The blaze, called the Diamond Fire, broke out at around 5:15 p.m. and within hours had burned 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) of land without any containment, fire officials said. The fire was near McDowell Mountain Regional Park.Carlos Aguirre lives in a new community in north Scottsdale and said his wife called saying that their community was being evacuated.“She got out and didn’t take the dog so we’re a little nervous,” he said.Brendan Birdoes said he is building a home in the area that was being evacuated.“Our friend told us this was happening,” Birdoes said. “He was out here mountain biking and so we came out to see what was going on.”No homes had burned and no injuries were reported. T...

Countdown to 250th anniversary begins in the US with planners hoping it can unify a divided country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

It’s three years until the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, but festivities are already starting.The anniversary push will formally launch July 4 with an event during a Major League Baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The organization spearheading the celebration, known as America250, will start recruiting people to share their stories of what the country means to them.The country is headed toward the anniversary date as it remains riven politically, its citizens divided over how to view the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol and whether President Joe Biden was legitimately elected. Even decisions on where to shop or what beer to drink have been caught up in political fighting.Before the U.S. reaches its semiquincentennial — try saying that out loud — it will have to survive the 2024 presidential election, which is shaping up to be as divisive as its prior two contests.Times also were fra...

16-year-old boy shot, killed in Lawndale drive-by

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon in Lawndale.Just after 1:05 p.m., police said the boy, later identified as Samuel Sprewer, was walking in the 4100 block of West 15th Street when a dark-colored Kia Shortage drove by.Someone inside the Kia fired shots at the boy, striking him in the head and the hand.He was pronounced dead at the scene. After more than 3 years, family of woman killed in Logan Square wants answers; $15K reward No one is in custody.

Biden to deliver 'Bidenomics' remarks in Chicago Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will visit Chicago Wednesday to deliver a speech on what the White House has called "Bidenomics."Biden is due to arrive in Chicago around 10 a.m. and will deliver his address at The Old Post Office in downtown around noon. The speech is to begin a new effort to actively convince a worried public that the U.S. economy is not heading for recession but actually thriving because of his leadership. For him, there's a happy confluence of the coming 2024 reelection campaign and a favorable turn in recent economic data, leading the White House to believe that public messaging about “Bidenomics” will help to rally Democratic voters going into next year.But polling has consistently shown the economy to be a weak spot for Biden's reelection hopes. Just 33% approve of his leadership on the issue, according to a May survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs.Biden is eager to take full political ownership of the U.S. economy — a reflection...

Widespread flight delays expected to worsen as holiday weekend nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers.As of early morning, more than 900 flights have been delayed in the U.S., according to FlightAware. Cancellations topped more than 670 flights.Cancellations and delays were most severe along the East Coast early and were growing worse rapidly. Disruptions are expected to spread West.The delays are being compounded by thunderstorms that raked the Northeast on Tuesday. At various times, the Federal Aviation Administration held up flights bound for LaGuardia Airport in New York and Reagan Washington National and Baltimore-Washington airports near the nation’s capital. Hundreds of East Coast flights canceled due to severe weather About 6,500 flights were delayed and about 1,900 were canceled on the East Coast on Tuesday. Uni...

WATCH: Florida man points laser at sheriff's office helicopter, temporarily blinds crew

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:27 GMT

Warning: Video above contains flashing.ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida man was arrested Saturday after deputies said he pointed a laser at a sheriff's office helicopter and temporarily blinded the crew. Robert Raymond Kasprzak, 34, of Port St. Lucie, allegedly flashed the green laser at the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office helicopter multiple times, according to the sheriff's office. The crew on board was temporarily blinded by the laser, the sheriff's office said. Americans are keeping their credit card debt a secret Kasprzak was tracked to a turnpike service plaza, where he was arrested by the Port St. Lucie Police Department and charged with misuse of a laser lighting device, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to deputies. Sheriff Ken Mascara said it was important to remind the public that pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. "Doing so triggers temporary blindness and could have deadly consequences for the c...