How mental health workers and police in Thunder Bay are diverting crisis calls from the ER and jail
CBC
23-05-17 19:02
An initiative in Thunder Bay, Ontario, designed to divert mental health crisis calls from 911 and direct callers to community agencies, is seeing early success. The Integrated Mobile Police Assessment Crisis Team (IMPACT) sends police, mental health workers, and a crisis response team to locations where there have been mental health calls. The IMPACT program received 2,700 calls during its first two years. Around 64% of calls were for mental health services, and the same percentage of callers received support in the community, significantly reducing emergency department and jail visits. The program has led to cost savings, as officers spend less time waiting at the hospital. The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has been particularly impressed by the team’s efforts, which have led to more than 688 fewer visits to the emergency department so far this year. A grant has already been awarded to add another shift running from noon to midnight, but more resources and infrastructure for addiction and substance misuse crises are needed, says Jennifer Hyslop, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Thunder Bay branch.
Valero responds to fire at Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery
Reuters
23-05-17 18:41
Valero Energy is attending to a fire at its 290k bpd Corpus Christi West refinery in Texas, which occurred earlier today. The cause of the fire is unknown, but community air monitoring indicates that there are no serious concerns in the surrounding areas. The West Plant at the refinery is responsible for the production of the majority of the facility’s motor fuels. The fire at Valero’s West Plant is the second of its kind to occur in Texas in days after a blaze at Marathon Oil’s Galveston Bay refinery on Monday killed one worker and injured two others.
The Nunavut government has declared a state of emergency in Kinngait (formerly known as Cape Dorset) due to an electrical issue at the community's water pumphouse limiting the distribution of treated water, resulting in depleted reserves that pose a risk to public health and infrastructure. The declaration will allow for an expedited response and greater authority to control public resources and will be in effect for 14 days. Kinngait is home to around 1,400 people.
An expansion of a coal mine in the Hunter Valley in Australia would undermine the state’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, according to the country’s planning department. Yancoal and Glencore are seeking to extract coal containing methane at the Hunter Valley Operations mine and extend its life until 2050. Up to 4.6 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gases could be released, in addition to forecast government emissions. The Planning agency claims that the increase in emissions would require emissions cuts from other sectors to remain on track to achieve net zero by 2050.
A coal mine expansion in the Hunter Valley is set to blast a large hole in the state’s net zero climate plan, a government agency has warned. The amount of methane leaking from the Hunter Valley Operations mine near Singleton would force other sectors of the economy to make even deeper emissions cuts to compensate, the net zero emissions modelling team in the NSW planning department said in a submission to the miner’s proposal. The operators of the open cut mine complex, a joint venture between Yancoal and Glencore, are seeking to extend its life to 2050 by extracting coal from deeper seams which are rich in methane.
What will Toronto's next mayor do to address food insecurity? Advocates press for solutions
CBC
23-05-18 08:00
Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington hosted the first major debate of Toronto's by-election campaign earlier this week, with a view to exploring how candidates would tackle problems of food insecurity. Hetherington pointed out that housing affordability and low Ontario social assistance rates are directly contributing to the use of food banks, which have seen a doubling of clients during the pandemic. While some candidates set out ideas to address the issue, chef and activist Joshna Maharaj said she would have liked a greater focus on concrete solutions.
Anti-human trafficking official says Windsor sees up to 200 cases a year. New tool could help victims
CBC
23-05-18 13:10
Police in Windsor, Ontario have launched a social media-based initiative to help victims of human trafficking connect with support. Informative videos hosted on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter form part of the Windsor Police Service Community Accessible Resource Education Support initiative, or WPS CARES. The video-based approach is aimed at reaching vulnerable people, including those experiencing intimate partner violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and sexual assault. QR codes and promoted content are also being used by the police to spread the word.
San Francisco has become the first city in the US to appoint a "drag laureate" to represent its LGBTQ+ community. D'Arcy Drollinger, nightclub co-owner and drag performer, will become the first holder of the 18-month position, which carries a salary of $55,000. Her remit includes serving as a spokesperson, producing and participating in drag events and preserving the community's history. Last year, the Proud Boys sparked a hate crimes investigation when they protested against Drag Story Hour, which sees drag queens reading to children.
San Francisco has made history by creating the first “drag laureate” position. The role, which will span 18 months and carry a $55,000 stipend, will be held by D’Arcy Drollinger, a well-known drag performer and nightclub owner. She will serve as an ambassador for the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco, representing the city at a time when many rights are coming under threat across the US. Her duties will include participating in and producing drag events, serving as a spokesperson for San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community, and ensuring that the city’s drag history is “honoured and preserved”.
The position is inaugurated three weeks before Pride Month begins. Drollinger said that while there are still many “anti-drag folks out there,” she was honoured to take up the position and hoped to help “make San Francisco sparkle.” The American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking 474 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the US. Tennessee has the first anti-drag law, which essentially bans drag from public property or in the presence of minors; a federal judge temporarily blocked the measure hours before it was set to go into effect in late March.
West Hollywood and New York are also considering their own drag laureate positions. West Hollywood is expected to name its drag laureate in the coming weeks and will pay $15,000 annually for the two-year term that begins on 16 July, International Drag Day.
A wave of forest fires are affecting different parts of Canada in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and the Northwest Territories. Smoke haze from wildfires spreading across Western Canada were so thick that warnings of reduced air quality reached as far as northern Ontario. Climate change is said to be behind an increase in wildfires in Canada and has made them more frequent and destructive. So far in Alberta, 487 fires have started, with 92 of those still active. Alberta and Western Canada have a history of experiencing regular wildfires, though this year the number of blazes starting has exceeded expectations and the fire season has commenced earlier than predicted. Relentless fires are especially devastating for rural communities as learning about how communities deal with fires and how their people cope with them could provide important insights for emergency responders.
The Governor of Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee, is modernising the state's community oversight boards by replacing the panels with review committees that have no power to investigate police misconduct allegations. The new law takes effect on 1 July, with the boards being transformed into police advisory and review committees that only allow mayor-appointed members to refer complaints to law enforcement internal affairs units, rather than independently investigating the complaints. The move has raised concerns over the lack of accountability and oversight, with Democratic lawmakers and local officials having earlier opposed the move.
The Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation community in Quebec has endorsed the lead investors of a group bidding to buy the Ottawa Senators NHL ice hockey franchise. Chief Dylan Whiteduck said that, while multiple bids had been received, none had been as proactive as that of the lead investors behind the Los Angeles-based businessman Neko Sparks' group. The community has signed a non-disclosure agreement with the investors but has stated that further consultations are necessary. The Algonquins of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg have a land claim on LeBreton Flats, where the Senators intended to build a new arena.
Outcry as Australian police taser 95-year-old woman
BBC
23-05-19 01:50
Police in New South Wales are facing criticism following the alleged tasering of a 95-year old woman with dementia at a care home in the city of Cooma. Officers were called to the Yallambee Lodge care home after reports of the resident carrying a knife. The woman was tasered in the chest and back and received a fractured skull and brain bleed, and is deemed to be in a critical condition. Groups including the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties and People with Disability Australia have responded with concerns over the incident, calling for it to be treated with the "utmost seriousness" by officials.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have removed LGBTQ+ group the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from this year's honourees at the team's annual Pride Night following complaints from conservative Catholic groups. The charity, protest and performance group, whose non-profit mission statement calls for an end to bigotry and promotion of human rights, was due to receive the team's Community Hero Award. Opponents said the group mocks Catholics and nuns. The sisters first appeared in the San Francisco Castro District in 1979, and there are now a number of loosely affiliated groups around the world.
Great-grandmother, 95, tasered by officer in Australia had walking frame and knife, police say
CNN
23-05-19 04:42
Police in New South Wales, Australia are investigating why officers used a Taser against a 95-year-old woman in a care home. Clare Nowland, who has dementia, was armed with a steak knife, which she had taken from the kitchen at Yallambee Lodge in Cooma. Homicide detectives are said to be working on the case. Despite calls for her to release the knife, Ms Nowland allegedly refused to do so. Once she approached officers, one was said to have decided to Taser her. Ms Nowland fell and hit her head, and remains in intensive care. The use of a Taser in such circumstances has been widely criticised. Clare Nowland had been at the home for five years, during which time she had good times and bad. She is the mother of eight children, with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family has appealed for privacy while they deal with their distress at Ms Nowland's treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new recommendations on how government-run public schools should help combat America’s childhood obesity epidemic. The recommendation sparked outrage with some critics saying that it takes decision-making power from parents and gives it to unelected, unaccountable administrators. The AAP’s guidelines call for a “whole child” approach to solving obesity, which would place all medical records, access to healthcare, and social services within each k-12 school. The AAP recognises that many issues that contribute to weight gain—from divorced or single-parent homes, fast food heavy diets in the car, financial stress, to cultural habits, but calls for medical interventions and school-based care. The family is relegated to the fourth position in how effective “whole-child” healthcare can be provided. The days of nutrition, exercise, and educating parents on healthy nutrition are long gone, instead, families play an observant role, supporting the primary work of the school in caring for their children.
The city of San Francisco, known for its support of LGBTQ+ rights, has created the first drag laureate role in the US to represent the famous community. The inaugural two-year role will go to drag performer and nightclub owner D'arcy Drollinger, who will also receive a $55,000 stipend over 18 months. Her responsibilities will include producing and participating in drag events, serving as a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community and preserving the city's drag history. The initiative comes amid the continuing fight to stop anti-trans legislation and violent attacks on those involved in the drag scene.
San Francisco has named the US’s first drag laureate amid growing anti-trans gender-pride legislation. The 18-month role was created by San Francisco Mayor London Breed to represent the city’s LGBTQ+ community and put government resources into supporting drag culture. D'Arcy Drollinger, a well-known drag performer and nightclub owner, will be paid a $55,000 stipend. The responsibilities of the role will involve producing and participating in drag events, helping to preserve the city's drag history, and acting as a spokesperson for San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. West Hollywood's own drag laureate will also be appointed later this month.
Foday Dumbuya, creative director of fashion house Labrum London, has won the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. Dumbuya, who moved to London from Sierra Leone aged 12, said the award was for all young British and Sierra Leone children “who continue to dream”. Established in 2018, the Queen presents the award at London Fashion Week. Dumbuya’s brand Labrum aims to fuse British tailoring with West African inspirations in well-tailored suits, bold colours and interesting prints. Previous winners include Richard Quinn, Bethany Williams and Rosh Mahtani.
Radio 4, a flagship radio show broadcasted by the BBC, has reportedly lost over a million of its listeners within the last 12 months, which would signify a drop of over 6%. According to Rajar, a UK radio listening survey, this marks the station's poorest results since 2010, while its flagship programme, the Today Programme, has experienced a steady decline over the last year, with audiences dropping to a 24-year low. Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, has warned the British public broadcaster to give Radio 4’s ageing listeners “the serious programming they want” or risk a ratings decline, stating that the organisation aims too much of its content towards young audiences. Responding to the report, Radio 4’s controller, Mohit Bakaya, has suggested that the broadcaster’s recent expansion into other platforms such as BBC Sounds has impacted listening figures on traditional linear radio.
