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Wayne Johnston’s memoir ‘Jennie’s Boy’ wins Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

Wayne Johnston is the winner of this year’s Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.The novelist’s memoir “Jennie’s Boy,” published by Alfred A. Knopf Canada, took home the $25,000 prize. “Jennie’s Boy” tells the story of Johnston’s Newfoundland childhood, his family and community. Two runners-up, author and creative writing professor Susan Juby and the creator of CBC hit series “Little Mosque on the Prairie” Zarqa Nawaz, each received a prize of $4,000. Juby’s comedic murder mystery novel “Mindful of Murder” was published by HarperCollins, and Nawaz’s satirical novel “Jameela Green Ruins Everything” was published by Simon and Schuster Canada. The winner and the two finalists were selected from 71 entries for meeting the judging criteria for humorous books that are written with style and depth.The prize was handed out at a gala dinner on Saturday near Orillia, Ont. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2023.The Canadian Press

Donald Trump’s GOP rivals try to attract social conservatives in Iowa at an event he skipped

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hoping to cut into Donald Trump’s support at a major Iowa gathering of evangelical Christians, several of his top rivals on Saturday mostly avoided direct criticism of him on abortion and other issues key to social conservatives. The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s annual banquet is traditionally a marquee event on the Republican primary calendar. But the former president skipped it, leaving a mostly muted crowd of more than 1,000 pastors and activists to instead hear from several candidates running far behind Trump. The primary field’s split on abortion was once again on display, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis saying restrictions on the procedure should be left to the stages — a position similar to Trump’s — while former Vice President Mike Pence referred to Trump as his “former running mate” and said he was wrong to oppose a national abortion ban. While the audience was overwhelmingly anti-abortion, Pence’s push for a 15-week ban ...

James Barker Band, Jade Eagleson, Tenille Townes: List of top winners at the CCMA Awards

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

A list of awards handed out Saturday night during the Canadian Country Music Association Awards broadcast. ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Jade EaglesonALBUM OF THE YEAR: Tim & The Glory Boys – Tim & The Glory BoysFEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tenille TownesMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Jade EaglesonGROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: James Barker BandSINGLE OF THE YEAR: Right On Time – Lindsay EllTD AEROPLAN VISA FANS’ CHOICE AWARD: James Barker BandBREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Josh RossThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2023. The Canadian Press

Saturday Night Forecast: Chance of showers, isolated T-storms

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

Saturday Night: Chance of showers / isolated thunderstorms. NNE 5-10 mph. Low: 59Chicago Area Radar | WGN TVSunday: AM showers likely then decreasing clouds. NNE 5-10 mph. High: 68Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for more sunshine on Monday with temps getting back into the low 70s. Mid 70s on Tuesday with mostly sunny skies. Even warmer for Tue/Wed as highs likely get into the low 80s. 

Princess Diana's sheep sweater smashes records to sell for $1.1 million

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A red sweater adorned with a flock of sheep worn by the young Princess Diana has sold at auction for $1.1 million, many times its presale estimate and a record for an item owned by the late royal.The playfully patterned wool jumper featuring a single black sheep in a grid of white ones was bought by an unidentified bidder at Sotheby's online Fashion Icons sale.The auction house had valued it at between $50,000 and $80,000 ahead of two weeks of bidding that ended Thursday. With 15 minutes left until the sale closed, the highest offer stood at $190,000, but leapt to $1.1 million after a final flurry of bids.The previous record for a piece of Diana memorabilia was $604,800 for a Victor Edelstein-designed ballgown sold by Sotheby’s in January.The sale also smashed the existing auction record for a sweater, the $334,000 paid in 2019 for Kurt Cobain’s green cardigan from Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged concert.The 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer was photographed in the eye-catching o...

Missing wallaby reunited with owners in Monee

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

MONEE, Ill. — A wallaby named Rupert has been reunited with his owners after going missing this week, according to the animal's owner.Rupert's owner Josie Hange said the search came to an end on Saturday after Rupert was found a couple of miles away from his home in Monee. ‘It’s been a blessing’: Police K9 and handler part of more than 300 rescues, apprehensions The 2-year-old wallaby went missing from the Hange family’s backyard on Tuesday night.According to Hange, Rupert was in great condition when he was found and did not have any cuts or bruises.Will County Animal Control officials notified Monee residents about the loose wallaby on Thursday and asked the public to be on the lookout and document areas where he was spotted.The family has a license for the animal and it is registered with the county.

Loons continue to struggle at home, falling 1-0 to Kansas City

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

Minnesota United squandered another home match on Saturday.The Loons’ new, young left back Ethan Bristow was badly beat by Sporting Kansas City attacker Gadi Kinda for a goal in the 84th minute. Bristow was sorely out of position, forced teammate Bakaye Dibassy to cover for him, but Kinda made the most of the space and slotted home a goal past Dayne St. Clair.The Loons (9-9-11, 38 points) had their seven-match unbeaten streak snapped by Sporting Kansas City (9-12-9, 36 points) in a 1-0 loss.MNUFC has only three wins in 14 matches in St. Paul this season.Sang Bin Jeong had a chance for an equalizer in the 95th minute, but his attempt went wide. Michael Boxall appeared to score on a header in 79th minute, but was ruled offside. Teemu Pukki had a great scoring chance in the 74th minute, but Tim Melia made the save.The Loons started Dibassy at center back with Micky Tapias suffering a thigh injury during the week. Loons manager Adrian Heath said early this week he is not intereste...

Twins fall into first-inning hole, never recover in loss to White Sox

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

CHICAGO — For most of his start, Pablo López looked like the top-of-the-rotation starter that he has been all season. But that, the version of López that the Twins are well used to seeing at that point, came after a turbulent first inning in which the starter gave up five runs.Though they put up five runs of their own in the final two innings, the Twins never recovered from that hole on Saturday night, falling 7-6 to the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.The Cleveland Guardians also won their game, meaning the Twins’ magic number to clinch the American League Central Division remains at seven.“The first inning was just one of those where good pitches got hit for infield singles, broken-bat singles and then bad pitches got hit for homers with people on base,” López said. “But that’s just the way baseball is at times.”López was one out away from getting out of that inning when the White Sox (57-92) struck. Designated hitter Eloy Jiménez got ahold of a fastball, sending ...

Atlantic storm Lee brings fierce winds, surf to Canada and New England; 1 man killed in Maine

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

By ROBERT F. BUKATY and DAVID SHARP (Associated Press)BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — Atlantic storm Lee pummeled a large swath of New England and Maritime Canada with destructive winds, rough surf and torrential rains that toppled trees, flooded roadways and cut power to tens of thousands on Saturday. One person was killed in Maine when a tree limb fell on his vehicle. The center of the sprawling post-tropical cyclone made landfall about 135 miles (215 kilometers) west of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. That’s about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Eastport, Maine. It had near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph (110 kph), though the storm was weakening as it headed north to New Brunswick and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.Lee flooded coastal roads in Nova Scotia and took ferries out of service as it fanned anxiety in a region still reeling from wildfires and severe flooding this summer. The province’s largest airport, ...

Model found dead in downtown L.A. apartment; second case in a week

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:31:29 GMT

Loved ones are distraught after a young model was found dead inside her apartment in downtown Los Angeles, marking the second time a similar incident has occurred within a week.Family members who discovered the body of Nichole Coats, 32, known as Nikki, inside her apartment are devastated and frustrated at the lack of answers and information coming from investigators.“This is senseless and I want some answers because my daughter is gone,” Sharon said. “And it’s not fair. I want everybody to find out who did this to her. She shouldn’t be gone.”“We need to know what happened,” said May Stevens, Nikki’s aunt.The last time anyone heard from Nikki, she told friends she was going out on a date on Friday, Sept. 8. That would be her last conversation with loved ones.When she didn’t answer any calls or texts that weekend, her father and aunt decided to visit her apartment complex, Eighth & Grand on Sept. 10.Loved ones are distraught after model Nichole Coats, 32, known as Nikki, was foun...