Tight race for the North Carolina Supreme Court is heading to another recountAs the 2024 elections draw near, residents of the Sagnarigu District in the Northern Region have made their concerns known, urging parliamentary candidates to present concrete, actionable plans for the region’s development. A dialogue session organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) served as a platform for constituents to voice their pressing concerns across various sectors, seeking detailed responses from the candidates regarding their vision for the district. Economic challenges have taken center stage in the district, with micro-businesses collapsing and livelihoods being severely affected. Constituents called on candidates to outline strategies to revive small businesses and create sustainable economic opportunities. There was a strong demand for innovative policies that would support the growth of the local economy and ensure the viability of economic sub-sectors. Agriculture, a key source of livelihood in the region, has been underperforming. Residents voiced concerns about the loss of farmland to urbanization and asked candidates to present plans to make agriculture more attractive to the youth. They also highlighted the difficulty in accessing subsidized fertilizers and called for measures to ensure farmers benefit from government policies. The lack of agricultural extension officers and veterinary services was also raised, as these are crucial for improving crop and livestock productivity. Infrastructure issues were another critical concern. The district’s poor road networks, which hinder the movement of goods and people, were flagged as a major obstacle to economic development. Constituents also expressed frustration over inadequate drainage systems, which contribute to flooding during the rainy season, causing damage to properties and lives. Candidates were urged to propose practical solutions to improve infrastructure and address the challenges posed by inadequate drainage. Education also emerged as a key issue. Constituents pointed out the lack of access to basic learning materials, poor performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and limited opportunities for ICT learning. The high cost of secondary and tertiary education was another concern, with many parents struggling to afford educational expenses for their children. The residents called on candidates to present actionable plans to improve education outcomes and reduce the financial burden on families. The dialogue session was a dynamic and hopeful exchange, with residents emphasizing the need for real, tangible solutions to their challenges. As the election approaches, the people of Sagnarigu are eager for candidates to demonstrate their commitment to addressing these critical issues.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to congressional leaders Monday about the ongoing security issue of drones on game days, a person with knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press. The person, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because the discussions weren't publicized, said Goodell also joined Washington Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris in a series of meetings concerning the RFK stadium proposal and other league matters. Unapproved drones have become a problem for various sports leagues. There was a stoppage during the AFC championship game in Baltimore last January because a drone violated the restricted airspace. Another game in Baltimore in November 2023 was delayed twice because of a drone. The NFL said there were 2,845 drone flights into restricted air space during games in 2023. That number was up from 2,537 in 2022. The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits drones from flying within 3 nautical miles — about 3.45 miles — of stadiums during major sporting events with a seating capacity of 30,000 or more. The ban starts one hour before the scheduled time of a game or event and extends until one hour after it ends. The FAA banned drones within a radius of 30 nautical miles — about 35 miles — of Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl last February.
The City of Ottawa has closed a recently opened pedestrian pathway spanning the Rideau River for the winter season. The bridge, which connects Carleton University to Vincent Massy Park, officially opened to the public in June after lengthy delays. The city closed the bridge on Friday for the winter because it was "no longer safe for public use." The city says the National Capital Commission (NCC) pathways on the south end of the bridge are not winter maintained or groomed for winter recreational activities and the city does not plan to maintain the bridge for winter. "With the snow accumulation this past weekend and colder temperatures expected to continue, Public Works closed the bridge," said the city's director of roads and parking services Quentin Levesque. "Public safety is our top priority, and this decision was made to ensure everyone's safety during winter conditions. We are working with all parties, including the NCC and the City of Ottawa's Rail Construction Program, to explore the feasibility of maintaining the bridge during the winter." The massive one-piece steel structure was originally installed in July 2022 and expected an opening four months later. The bridge and its installation was part of the Line 2 north-south LRT proposal, which kept the footbridge closed until the train got the green light to open. The decision to close the path follows the controversial decision to close the Chief William Commanda Bridge over the Ottawa River for the season last week. Residents and some city councillors have expressed frustration that the bridge was not designed for cycling or pedestrian use in the winter. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate. Vancouver Toxic drug deaths in October lowest in 4 years, B.C. coroners service says Toxic drug deaths in October reached a low not seen in years, according to new preliminary data from the B.C. Coroners Service. 'Bombshell': Small Business BC abruptly declares bankruptcy A decades-old non-profit with a mandate of supporting B.C.'s small businesses abruptly declared bankruptcy – resulting in dozens of employees losing their jobs weeks before Christmas. 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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief of staff denies that she recommended using a “peace circle” to address allegations of sexual harassment or misogyny against former communications director Ronnie Reese , saying that recommendation was made to address other issues Reese was facing in the office. In an interview with WBEZ, Cristina Pacione-Zayas defended the actions she took in response to three complaints made against Reese but said the “peace circle” idea was meant to address other broader communication and management issues that Reese faced. She said those broader issues put Reese on a performance improvement plan, and Pacione-Zayas indicated those issues predated the allegations of misogyny or sexual harassment. “I did not and would not have ever offered [a peace circle] for a serious allegation like sexual harassment,” Pacione-Zayas said. Pacione-Zayas was made aware July 30 of three complaints, including one from a press office staff member that included allegations of misogyny and an alleged inappropriate incident where Reese told a staffer “Love you” after an unwanted hug, according to documents WBEZ obtained. Pacione-Zayas received an email from the city’s human resources department, in which a HR staffer described the allegations generally but did not attach the 29-page complaint. The next day, according to Pacione-Zayas’ email response to the HR department, Pacione-Zayas held a previously scheduled meeting with members of the mayor’s press office. It was there she said she referenced a “restorative justice” model for Reese. A restorative justice “peace circle” is a process where a group can attempt “to restore ‘the peace’ or repair relationships. There’s usually an acknowledgement of harm, and then from there, there is a shared responsibility for repairing the harm,” Pacione-Zayas said. But the suggestion was opposed by staffers who feared retaliation, according to the complaint. The suggestion of “peace circles” became a flashpoint in a budget hearing last week, in which some alderpersons pressed the human resources department commissioner on whether it’s a recommended tool to address sexual harassment complaints. Despite being aware of the general complaints of misogyny at the time she suggested the peace circle, Pacione-Zayas insisted to WBEZ that the suggestion was “separate and apart” from those allegations, and meant to address broader management issues. And she stressed a need for “due process” around allegations of sexual harassment. “There is another opportunity for somebody to give ‘Hey, this is my side of the story,’ and you then monitor and check for any changes or any other complaints,” Pacione-Zayas said. “So that was one track, and then I was dealing with the writ large general concerns.” In response to the formal complaints of misogyny and more, the city’s human resources department recommended Pacione-Zayas provide coaching to Reese, in addition to him enrolling in two training courses, according to emails obtained by WBEZ via an open records request. The HR department stressed “Reese should also be informed that as a higher-level supervisor with public-facing duties, he is also held to higher standards and may be subjected to a higher level of discipline, including discharge.” When asked whether she felt training and coaching was sufficient, Pacione-Zayas said she followed the recommendations of the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, including meeting with Reese on Aug. 5, less than a week after being notified of the complaints. On Aug. 5, Pacione-Zayas also began a performance improvement plan, she said to address the broader management and communication issues. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office said that plan had a Sept. 27 deadline, which Reese failed to meet. Reese asked for an extension and still did not complete the goals of the plan, a spokesperson said. At that point, the process of termination began. The mayor’s office declined to provide copies of the plan, stating it was protected for privacy. Reese did not respond to a request for comment. When asked whether there was anything Pacione-Zayas withheld from the mayor throughout the entire process, she said she informed the mayor of the formal HR complaints against Reese, how she was addressing them and “generally what I was doing across the entire office.” But Pacione-Zayas echoed Johnson’s explanation that neither she nor the mayor were aware of more specific details of the sexual harassment allegations until the complaints were made public a month after Reese was fired. Reese has since been placed on the city’s do-not-hire list in the wake of the complaints’ release, Pacione-Zayas said. Pacione-Zayas said for the last several months she has been working with the city’s law and human resources departments to review the city’s personnel rules, which were last updated in 2014 . “With the recent news people are asking if we’re living up to our values, and you know, I want them to know that I am forcing that question in every single aspect of the infrastructure throughout the city,” Pacione-Zayas said. Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg cover city politics and government for WBEZ.International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading day
