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Giant puppet to visit Austin on cross-country journey raising awareness about immigration

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A giant, 12-foot puppet known as "Little Amal" is making a stop in Austin Friday as part of a cross-country journey. Little Amal is a puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee. She has been journeying across the United States this fall, visiting key places in America’s history to raise awareness about immigration and migration, the Associated Press reported. Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a Syrian refugee, will travel the US Little Amal has become a global symbol of human rights and refugees, her website states. Since 2021, she has traveled over 6,000 miles to 14 different countries. Her latest journey, which started on Sept. 7, is taking her 11,000 miles across the United States and Mexico in "one of the largest free public festivals ever created," according to her website. Before her journey concludes Nov. 26, she'll make a stop in Austin. Amal will be at Huston-Tillotson University Friday, Oct. 20, starting at 5 p.m., in partnership with Interfaith Action of Ce...

$59 million bond proposition on the ballot for Williamson County parks

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — One part of a two-proposition bond election for Williamson County voters will determine if $59 million will be allocated for improvements to the county's parks, expo centers, and shared-use path projects.Proposition B of the November 7 bond election would fund the purchase of parkland for the county, facility developments to Berry Springs Park and Preserve, Twin Lakes Park, and the Williamson County Expo Center.The bond election will also bring a $825 million road bond before voters. Proposition A names 38 proposed road projects throughout the county that vary from right-of-way acquisition to designing and construction. $800 million Williamson County road bond on November ballot KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes spoke with Williamson County about the road bond last week.Connie Odom, Williamson County communications director, said many of these projects are related to the county's fast-growing population.“And in certain cases, then they can bypass ...

Rep. McCaul: 'We have to prepare for' U.S. troops on ground in Middle East

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul told Nexstar on Wednesday his committee has been asked to consider an Authorization for Use of Military Force relating to the Israel-Hamas war, opening the possibility that American troops may again fight in the Middle East if the war attracts more adversaries through the region."I would not want to see that at all," Rep. McCaul said. "I prefer not see any of our troops on the ground. However, if it escalates to out of control, that's always a contingency that we have to prepare for."Rep. McCaul stressed the urgent need he sees for more U.S. aid for allies facing war and threats overseas, including Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, as well as border security legislation to address threats on the southern border.He urged the House of Representatives to unite behind a leader, as any pending aid requests remain paralyzed while House Republicans struggle to elect a Speaker."It's a very dangerous game to play politically. We ne...

Will Canada commit to ending tuberculosis?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

While there has been a reduction in Tuberculosis (TB) diagnoses in 2020 and 2021, this apparent decline does not signify a shrinking TB problem as mentioned in the recent report of the World Health Organization. Instead, it points to a concerning issue – a growing population of undiagnosed and untreated individuals, leading to an alarming rise in TB-related death.Among the estimated 10.6 million people affected by TB annually, a staggering 4.2 million are left unaccounted for by healthcare systems. This means they do not receive both diagnosis and essential care.Fortunately, there is part of a solution at hand. By ensuring equitable access to non-sputum-based diagnostic tests in TB-affected regions, there is an opportunity to prevent countless cases from remaining untreated.To make this vision a reality, it’s imperative that Canada actively participates in the United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB. Furthermore, if Canada commits an impactful 0.15 per cent of its annual resea...

Fair trade products gain recognition despite price premiums

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

October is Fair Trade Month, a period dedicated to spotlighting fair-trade products, even amid the backdrop of escalating food costs. This naturally raises the question: Why commemorate fair trade when many of its products bear a higher price tag, rendering them less budget-friendly for consumers wrestling with rising food expenses?Indeed, Fairtrade-certified products frequently bear price tags anywhere from 20 to 50 percent higher than their conventional counterparts. Nevertheless, it remains crucial for us to discuss fair trade, given our collective concerns regarding sustainability and social justice for farmers globally.While Fairtrade food products may not have yet attained widespread popularity, their recognition and credibility have undeniably surged. According to a recent survey by Globe Scan, over 57 percent of Canadians have encountered Fairtrade logos while grocery shopping. The primary products that receive certification include coffee, chocolate, tea, and bananas, with ...

Alberta Fire Training Conference this week in Lethbridge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

By Heather CameronSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe 18th Annual Alberta Fire Training Conference will take place from Oct. 19-21 at the Coast Lethbridge Hotel and Conference Centre.“It’s aimed at firefighters from all different levels, so right from chiefs to right down to the frontline guys that are on the hose line,” said Nathan Coté, President of the Fire Training Planning Committee and Regional Fire Chief at M.D. of Taber Regional Fire Services. “The idea is to bring good solid training and speakers to those guys, so they can learn and grow as firefighters and take that information back to their departments and hopefully everybody improves.”Coté says that the conference will include both training and speakers, with this year’s keynote speakers being John Ceriello, a Captain with New York City Fire Department (FDNY); Sean Gray, a Captain with Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services; and Derek Alkonis, Research Program Manager with UL’s Fire Safety Research I...

CFIB launches new contest in October

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

By Heather CameronSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFID) has launched a new the “Big Thank You” contest as part of the #SmallBusinessEveryDay campaign in 2023 to help promote the growth of small businesses.“The contest invites Canadians to take a moment to send a thank you note to their favourite small businesses, and CFIB (then) shares the messages with the businesses,” Andrew Sennyah, Alberta senior policy analyst, said. “The entrant and they thank are entered into draws to win amazing cash prizes and a Big Thank You box of small business goodies from every province and territory.”Sennyah said that business owners can get involved by encouraging their customers to take part in the contest using the free contest toolkit found at: https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/celebrate-small-business/toolkits and more information about the contest and enter here: https://www.smallbusinesseveryday.ca/big-thank-you-contest.According to ...

Low tax rate pays dividends for Alberta business

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

By Heather CameronSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterAccording to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Alberta currently has the lowest effective payroll tax rate in Canada.Andrew Sennyah, senior policy analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), says the report examined the effective payroll tax rates based on a typical salary of $50,000 in a business with a payroll of $2.5 million. Sennyah says that payroll taxes included in this analysis are Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, and parental benefits, workers’ compensation, and provincial payroll taxes (when applicable).Taking the above-mentioned taxes into account, Alberta has the lowest effective payroll tax rate compared to other provinces. This means that an employer in Alberta pays 9.1 per cent ($4,538) on top of a $50,000 salary,” Sennyah said. “Nationally – the rate is 10.1 per cent or $5,067.”Sennyah says that businesses across ...

Butte’s Wildrose Essentials offers gifts, toys, and barber services

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsA locally-owned toy and gift shop is getting ready for the busy shopping season on Picture Butte’s Main Street.Regina and David Braun opened up a retail business in Picture Butte in January 2023.Wildrose Essentials sells high quality men’s care products, handmade soaps, candles, and body care, and children’s toys. David is also an experienced barber, and offers men’s haircuts on Saturdays in an designated barber space within the retail space.The Brauns opened Wildrose Essentials in January but are from just outside of Picture Butte.Regina explained the inspiration for opening the business stemmed, in part, from David wanting to open a barbershop one day., and said so far, things have been going well.“My husband’s been wanting to I have a barber shop for a long time. He’s been doing haircuts like just for friends and family for many years and we used to live in manitoba and he had wanted to Start of barber shop there already but it never worked out,” a...

Sinclair Plumbing Solutions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:59 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsSinclair Plumbing Solutions is setting the standard for local small businesses in Coaldale and area.Based in Coaldale, owner, of Sinclair Plumbing Solutions, Kevin Sinclair opened less than a year ago in late 2022.As a one-man-show, Sinclair Plumbing Solutions offers services from leaks, boiler issues, and hot water heater replacements, to faucets, installations, and plumbing for major renovations, and drain cleaning, Sinclair said his principles as a small business owner are centred on honesty, integrity, and customer service.With a firm belief in fairness and pricing transparency, Sinclair said, “being a smaller outfit, a one-man-show, I am able to keep my fees reasonable,” adding there is no commission, and services are based on hourly rates.“I just try to be honest and transparent and reasonable. That’s kind of my thing.”Sinclair, who is a journeyman, red seal-endorsed plumber said, “I have always kind of I wanted to do my own thing for plumbing,”...