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Revolutionary gene therapy may offer new life for patients battling chronic sickle cell disease

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

Robert McCoppin | Chicago TribuneLyric Porter wanted her life back. Born with sickle cell disease, she had a fever at age 5 that scarred her lungs and required her to roll an oxygen tank to school. When she was growing up, clogged blood vessels racked her body with stabbing sensations and forced her to be hospitalized again and again.When she learned of a new experimental treatment at the University of Chicago Medicine to alter her genes and possibly cure her, she decided to take it. The process itself was an ordeal, but more than a year later, at age 27, Porter is feeling better, has more energy and has stayed out of the hospital.“I had to take the risk,” she said. “I wanted a better quality of life. And I lost so many friends who had sickle cell disease.”Now, other patients may benefit from a similar new treatment. Federal regulators recently approved a groundbreaking protocol that has the potential to relieve some of the 100,000 Americans, most of them Black, who suffer from this...

Two companies will attempt the first US moon landings since the Apollo missions a half-century ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

By MARCIA DUNN (AP Aerospace Writer)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — China and India scored moon landings, while Russia, Japan and Israel ended up in the lunar trash heap.Now two private companies are hustling to get the U.S. back in the game, more than five decades after the Apollo program ended.It’s part of a NASA-supported effort to kick-start commercial moon deliveries, as the space agency focuses on getting astronauts back there.“They’re scouts going to the moon ahead of us,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard a brand new rocket, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan. Houston’s Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February, hopping a flight with SpaceX.Then there’s Japan, which will attempt to land in two weeks. The Japanese Space Agency’s lander with two toy-size rovers had a big head start, sharing a September launch w...

Police pursue suspect on southbound I-5 to San Diego County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A high-speed chase of a suspect on southbound Interstate 5 ended in San Diego County Thursday morning.The vehicle, a gray Honda Civic, was seen driving at a high-rate of speed moving into the county. It is unknown at this time where and when the pursuit started.The chase ended just after 10:45 a.m. in Encinitas near the I-5 Birmingham Drive exit, according to California Highway Patrol. At least one suspect was taken into custody. No details were immediately available about the case or the individual.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Update: Multiple gunshot victims at Perry High School, gunman is dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

PERRY, Iowa -- Multiple people were shot Thursday morning at Perry High School according to Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante.Law enforcement was notified about an active shooter at the school at 7:37 a.m. When emergency responders arrived on the scene just seven minutes later they found multiple gunshot victims.At a news conference shortly after 10:00 a.m., Sheriff Infante said it's unclear how many victims were shot and the extent of their injuries at this time, but the threat is over and there is no danger to the public. Another news conference has been scheduled for 3:00 p.m. to release updated information about the shooting.NBC News is reporting the shooter is believed to be dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and may have been a student. At least three others were injured including two students and an administrator. WHO 13's Lindsey Burrell spoke with a representative for UnityPoint Health in Des Moines and confirmed they are treating two victims with gunshot w...

New York governor pushes for paid medical leave during pregnancy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Pregnant people in New York would have 40 hours of paid leave to attend prenatal medical appointments under a new proposal by Gov. Kathy Hochul after the state’s legislative session kicked off this week. The Democrat’s plan to expand the state’s paid family leave policy, which would need to be approved by the state Legislature, aims to expand access to high-quality prenatal care and prevent maternal and infant deaths in New York, an issue that especially affects low-income and minority communities. The U.S. infant mortality rate, a measure of how many babies die before they reach their first birthday, is worse than other high-income countries, which experts have attributed to poverty, inadequate prenatal care and other possibilities. The U.S. rate rose 3% in 2022 — the largest increase in two decades, according to a 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“We hope what we’re doing in New York will raise the bar for the rest...

Vancouver police deploy body-worn cameras to 85 officers in pilot project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

VANCOUVER — Dozens of Vancouver police officers are now recording their interactions on body-worn cameras in a pilot project the department says is aimed at improving public trust.Deputy Chief Howard Chow announced 85 officers in the traffic section, and those who work in the downtown core and in east Vancouver will begin patrolling with chest-mounted cameras. The department says in a statement that officers are expected to activate their cameras as soon as it’s safe and when there’s a reasonable belief that there will be a use of force or violent behaviour. After extensive community consultation, Chow says they believe they’ve reached a balance that protects peoples’ rights and privacy, while enhancing public trust. A coroners’ jury in the 2015 police beating death of Myles Gray recommended last May that Vancouver police expedite its plans to use body-worn cameras for all patrol officers. The statement says the results of the pilot project will guide t...

Judge rejects federal bid to recoup legal expenses in Muslim charity court case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

OTTAWA — A judge has rejected the federal government’s request to recover legal costs it incurred during a major Muslim charity’s court bid to halt an audit of its activities.In his ruling, handed down last month, Ontario Superior Court Justice Markus Koehnen says the Muslim Association of Canada’s case served a valid public interest, even if it was unsuccessful. The association, a grassroots Muslim charity, contends that a long-running Canada Revenue Agency audit of its activities is fundamentally tainted by systemic bias and Islamophobia. In a decision last September, Koehnen dismissed the charity’s application to halt the audit, saying it was too early to intervene in the federal examination.The federal attorney general sought more than $220,000 in expenses, while the association said no costs should be awarded. In his latest ruling, Koehnen says while the ordinary rule is that the successful party is entitled to its expenses, in this case each party shoul...

Parkland Corp.’s largest shareholder will no longer have voice on company’s board

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

CALGARY — Parkland Corp.’s largest shareholder will no longer have a seat on the fuel retailer’s board after the recent resignation of two board members.The Calgary-based company announced on Dec. 31 the resignations of Simpson Oil nominees Michael Christiansen and Marc Halley from Parkland’s board of directors.Parkland also says it is in discussions with Simpson about its shareholding in the company.Simpson Oil is headquartered in the Cayman Islands and has been a Parkland shareholder since 2017.Since 2022, when Parkland consolidated its ownership of Sol, a Caribbean fuel retailer formerly owned by Simpson Oil, Simpson has owned about 20 per cent of Parkland shares.Going forward, Simpson Oil has waived its previously agreed-upon right to nominate two members to Parkland’s board.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 4, 2024.Companies in this story: (TSX:PKI)The Canadian Press

Senate ordered to reinstate executive who alleged he was fired because of racism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

OTTAWA — A federal tribunal has ordered the Senate to restore an executive who said he was fired on the basis of racial discrimination. Darshan Singh served two years as the Senate’s human-resources director, but his lawyer says he has no interest in returning to the role.Senate administrative officials told the public sector labour tribunal that Singh was fired in December 2015 due to his “attitude and behaviour” toward his supervisor, but Singh says his manager undermined him because of racial prejudice.Senate lawyers disclosed during the tribunal process that emails sent by Sen. David Wells and former Sen. George Furey discussed Singh with former Speaker Sen. Leo Housakos days before his firing.The tribunal ordered the Senate to provide the emails, but its lawyers argued they were protected by parliamentary privilege, a kind of legal immunity meant to help Parliament maintain its independence.Senators were set to vote on whether to provide the emails, but before...

Man arrested for allegedly recording victims as young as 14 in washrooms near U of T

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:22 GMT

A Kitchener man is facing nearly a dozen charges after several alleged voyeurism incidents near the University of Toronto.Toronto police say the University of Toronto Campus Safety were alerted to a number of incidents between July 2023 and October 2023 near Spadina Avenue and Willcocks Street.Police investigated the reports and allege that a man would loiter inside women’s washrooms and gender-neutral showers in the area. The suspect would sometimes place a cellphone under stalls and record victims.Investigators say the victims ranged in age from 14 to 21.Kitchener resident Dang Pham, 28, was arrested on Thursday. He is facing 11 charges including five counts of voyeurism and six counts of mischief.Police have released photos of the suspect and say there could be more victims. Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.