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Opinion: Ontario’s new child welfare policy is promising, but youth leaving care need more support

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

By: Marsha Rampersaud, York University, CanadaDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services placed a moratorium on its child welfare policy that requires youth to leave foster care and group homes once they turn 18. At the same time, the province committed to a child welfare redesign to strengthen support for youth leaving care.The moratorium expires on March 31, with a redesigned policy coming into effect on April 1. While the new policy appears promising for youth leaving care, there are some important gaps that require the Ontario government’s attention.Aging outThe pandemic illuminated shortcomings in Ontario’s child welfare policy. High numbers of youth aging out of care face poverty and homelessness, do not complete high school and have significant mental and physical health challenges.Under these circumstances, many experience victimization and criminalization. It is clear this framework does not effectively support youth leaving ...

Policy under review after 14 teachers left campus during school shooting threat 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

LOVELAND, Colo. (KDVR) — The Thompson School District confirmed that more than a dozen teachers left campus during a shooting threat at Loveland High School on Wednesday.A district spokesperson said 14 teachers “departed the Loveland High School campus” while school was still in session, following a Safe2Tell tip about a planned shooting at the school. Democratic analyst: Assault weapons ban bill not going to pass Aubrey Livermore said some students were told to go to the cafeteria, while others mingled in the hallway.“There was no direction on what to do,” she said. “We were all kind of just confused and lost.”Her brother, Hunter, said he showed up to class to find the door locked and the lights out. He waited in the cafeteria with a friend until school was officially canceled just after 10 a.m.“It seemed that no one was there, and I didn’t know what to do," he said. “I didn’t really know what was going on.”'These kids had no idea what to do'The lack of communication has drawn ba...

1,000-acre wildfire forces evacuations in Park, Teller counties

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

PARK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Evacuations have been ordered for a wildfire in Park and Teller counties.The fire had grown to 1,047 acres by around 8:40 p.m., according to the Teller County Sheriff's Office.High winds meant air resources could not fly to help with the fire response.Evacuations in Park CountyIn Park County, evacuation orders were issued for:the 1-mile area of County Road 403 and Alpine Meadow LaneAn emergency shelter was opened at the Lake George Community Center located at 39141 U.S. 24, Lake George.For large animals and livestock, a shelter was opened at the Lake George Fairgrounds located at 37371 U.S. 24 in Lake George.Residents were advised to call the evacuation line at 719-836-4200 for updates.Evacuations in Teller CountyThe Teller County Sheriff's Office said evacuation orders were issued for: Wilson Lakes Forest Glenn County Road 46 to Wilson DrivePre-evacuation warnings were issued for Valley Hi and Florissant Heights subdivisions around 8 p.m. Power and gas w...

What GOP, Dems are saying about Trump's indictment

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Democrats and Republicans are showing strong reactions to the indictment against former President Donald Trump. A key question is whether Trump can receive a fair trial.FOX31 legal analyst George Brauchler, a former Republican district attorney and attorney general candidate, said the charges hinge on "where the money came from." Trump lashes out at indictment, says he’s ‘completely innocent’ "It’s not about paying money to some porn star to keep her from saying things about an alleged affair that took place in advance of the presidency — that's completely legal — but where that money comes from, how it’s reported," Brauchler said.The Colorado Republican Party issued a response saying the indictment has “weaponized the legal system to attack and politically persecute President Donald J. Trump."Karin Asensio, executive director of the Colorado Democratic Party, issued a statement to FOX31, stating, “We welcome the news of Trump’s indictment. We believe it i...

Style & Grace exhibit at Arlo Wynwood Gallery showcases digital works by 6 female artists

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

In the famous words of Coco Chanel, a girl should be two things: who and what she wants. Here at Deco Drive, we’re all about female empowerment. Same for the ArtRepublic at the Arlo Wynwood. They’re showing digital works of art from trailblazing local and international female artists.You’ve heard Beyoncé: girls run the world. At Style & Grace at the new Arlo Gallery in Wynwood, it’s all about girl power.Jessica Santiago: “It’s a predominantly woman show, very, very strong and powerful women artists in it.And the message?Jessica Santiago: “For us, it’s really a story about the resilience, the strength, the fortitude that it takes to actually become self-actualized, so, for us, we really believe that once you’re self-actualized, you’re really standing in your own power.”This exhibit of power is a 360-degree digital immersive experience.Jessica Santiago: “What’s really unique is that we’re mixing an...

Patient who dealt with cancer at 12 years old reunites with Broward Health team who saved his life

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

A young South Florida man who conquered cancer after an intense operation and dozens of chemotherapy treatments reunited with the doctors and medical staff who helped save his life.Chad Leventhal was just 12 years old when doctors found a tumor in the back of his head.“I used to be a completely normal kid playing baseball, just having a normal childhood, and then, all of a sudden, I couldn’t do anything,” he said.“When you hear those first devastating words, ‘Your child has cancer,’ everything just goes blank,” said his mother, Michelle Leventhal.The surgery to remove the tumor was so risky that he was given just a 1% chance of survival.“It was in the posterior fossa, which is the back of the head, a very dangerous area,” said Leventhal’s surgeon, Dr. Chris “Chadwick” Roberts.He would beat the odds only for the cancer to spread to his spine, but no one gave up, starting with his doctors.“My name is Chad, too, an...

Your questions about the Trump indictment, answered

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

The unprecedented indictment of former President Donald Trump plunges the legal system into murky waters.The Manhattan grand jury’s decision to charge Trump for his alleged involvement in a hush money scheme raises a bevy of questions about the soundness of the case, the logistics involved in forcing a former president into criminal court and the ramifications for other ongoing state and federal investigations of Trump.Here’s POLITICO’s look at some of the key questions posed by the indictment.What is Trump accused of?While the precise charges are secret for now, prosecutors have concluded they can prove a criminal case against Trump because of the apparent subterfuge surrounding a $130,000 payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her from publicizing her claim about a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen funded that payment through a home equity line of credit.Trump insisted in April 2018 he did not know about the hush money, but Cohen provided Cong...

Reaction pours in following Donald Trump indictment

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

Reaction poured in Thursday following a Manhattan grand jury’s vote to indict former president Donald Trump. Democrats have said this should not be a partisan issue, saying that no one is above the law. Some Republicans, though, have said the indictment is proof that Democrats are weaponizing the law. “It is sad that this is the first time in our country’s history that we’ve got a former president that’s going to be charged criminally and it will be surreal, I think, in some aspects,” Congressman Stephen Lynch said in an interview. Lynch said while he was suprised by the timing of the indictment, he was not surprised by the outcome. “I thought it more likely than not there would be some charges,” Lynch said. Another member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, Congressman Seth Moulton, called Thursday “a sad and frankly embarrassing day for America” while live on 7NEWS. He also said, however, that the indictment sends a clear ...

Malaysia’s top court refuses ex-PM Najib’s bid for review

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s top court refused Friday to review its 2022 decision to uphold former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s conviction for graft and 12-year jail sentence, saying he was “the author of his own misfortune.” A five-member Federal Court bench unanimously rejected his final appeal in August in a case linked to the looting of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, sending Najib straight to prison to start serving his sentence. But Najib has sought a review to overturn the decision, saying he has been denied a fair trial. A new Federal Court panel rejected Najib’s assertion in a majority judgement. This effectively shut the lid on the case, which means that Najib will have to serve out the duration of his sentence. If he had won a review, he could have been freed on bail pending a new appeal hearing. Najib was stone-faced when the judgement was read out.Four of five judges said they found “no failure of justice.” They dismissed d...

Conservative media figures leap to Donald Trump’s defense

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Conservative media figures leaped to Donald Trump’s defense with apocalyptic language Thursday, claiming the former president was being unfairly persecuted by a Manhattan grand jury’s indictment and predicting his 2024 bid for the White House would get a boost from his perceived martyrdom.“This is totally unacceptable and a disgrace to this country,” said Fox News Channel host Jesse Watters.“This is repulsive,” said Fox’s Sean Hannity, three days after he interviewed Trump on his show. “This is a disgusting political hit job the likes of which we have never seen in this country anymore.”“It’s insane,” said Newsmax’s Eric Bolling.The actual charges in the grand jury indictment against Trump have not been made public. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has investigated payments made during the 2016 presidential election to silence claims of an extramarital affair.For conservative-oriented media, Thursday’s fury represented a ra...