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Flair launches $50-million lawsuit against leasing companies following plane seizures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

TORONTO — Flair Airlines has filed a $50-million lawsuit against several plane-leasing companies over what it claims were unlawful seizures of four of its aircraft over the weekend.The filings in Ontario Superior Court state that a trio of leasing companies found a better deal for the planes with a third party and then set Flair up for default.Flair claims in the court document that is an unlawful termination of leases.The statement of claim says the lessors dispatched agents to three Canadian airports to seize the four Boeing 737 Maxes “in the middle of the night as passengers were boarding planes for spring break vacations.”Flair also claims the lessors — Columba Lights Aviation Ltd., Corvus Lights Aviation Ltd., and MAM Aircraft Leasing 4, all based in Ireland — carried out the allegedly “malicious” seizures despite having made no objection to an arrangement put forward by Flair that would see it initiate payment early this week.Claiming substantial damage...

Jewish Americans press Israeli leaders to compromise

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — A senior delegation of Jewish-American leaders on Wednesday paid a flash visit to Israel to urge leaders to find a compromise over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system.The arrival of some 30 leaders from the Jewish Federations of America marked a rare foray by the American Jewish community into domestic Israeli affairs and reflected concerns that the turmoil inside Israel could spill over to Jewish communities overseas.Eric Fingerhut, the president and chief executive of the Jewish Federations, said the 24-hour visit, coming at short notice, illustrated the “grave concern and worry” the Israeli debate has raised among American Jews.Netanyahu’s allies, a collection of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist parties, launched the overhaul in January days after taking office. The program aims to weaken Israel’s Supreme Court and would give Netanyahu’s allies control over the appointment of the nation’s judges.They s...

5 in custody after attempted robbery on CTA train in Loop

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Five people are in custody after an attempted robbery on a CTA train in the city's Loop.The incident happened in the 1100 block of South State Street around 3:05 a.m. Wednesday. A preliminary report states officers witnessed the attempted robbery involving five individuals.During the incident, one of the offenders discharged pepper spray before attempting to flee the scene.Police said all five individuals are in custody. No one was injured. 3 teens shot in separate shootings on South Side; 1 critical One offender was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.

David Montgomery thanks Bears fans after going to the Lions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

LAKE FOREST - Not long after making the decision to join an NFC North rival, David Montgomery is taking some time to thank his former team and fans this week.On his Instagram account late Tuesday night, the running back posted a video tribute on his time with the Bears and made sure to say thanks to those who have supported him during the first four years of his career"Thank You For taking a chance on a kid who had nothing, I will love you forever !!!! THANK YOU CHICAGO," said Montgomery in his post on Instagram. He also included a lengthy video that featured some highlights from his time with the Bears along with a few interviews he did through the years in Chicago. Bears’ David Montgomery signing with NFC North rival Lions, report says Drafted in the third round by the team in the 2019 NFL Draft, Montgomery was the primary running back during most of his four seasons with the Bears. He rushed for 3,609 yards with a 3.9 per carry average in 60 regular season games that included ...

Retired teacher and daughter scammed out of $200K while trying to buy townhome

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) -- A mom and her daughter in Colorado want to warn others after they were scammed out of almost $200,000 while trying to buy a townhome. They said hackers created spoof emails posing as their lender, title company and realtor as they went through the home-buying process.“At some point, the chain of emails got hacked. I started getting fraud emails and I didn’t realize they were fraud emails," said Vicki Ragle, the victim of the scam. Ragle and her daughter, Sarah, said the fraudulent emails looked identical to the authentic emails they had been receiving before the scammers got involved. Are your old coins and bills valuable? Expert explains what to look for On Wednesday, two days before they were supposed to close on the townhome, Ragle said the people, who she believed at the time were the title company, requested the $196,662.81 due to close. The email said they required the funds to be sent within 48 hours in order to close on the home. “We were suppose...

Wizardry, warfare, and Wii on ballot for this year's World Video Game Hall of Fame class

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Wizardry, warfare and Wii are on the ballot as the World Video Game Hall of Fame narrows down its contenders for the class of 2023.The Hall of Fame on Wednesday announced 12 finalists that are being considered for induction in May. The games for consideration include Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Barbie Fashion Designer, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Computer Space, FIFA International Soccer, GoldenEye 007, The Last of Us, NBA 2K, Quake, Wii Sports and Wizardry.A panel of experts and the public will vote on the winners. ‘Family Feud’ contestant accused of murdering estranged wife “It’s always difficult to narrow the World Video Game Hall of Fame nominations down to just 12 finalists because there are so many games that have had an enormous influence on popular culture or the video game industry itself," said Jon-Paul C. Dyson, director of the The Strong's International Center for the History of Electronic Games in Rochester, where the hall is based.“This ye...

United Airlines wants to turn algae into jet fuel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

(KTLA) -- United Airlines has made a multimillion-dollar investment into a technology company that is hoping to turn algae into jet fuel.United announced the $5 million investment in the biofuel company Viridos on Monday. Viridos specializes in bioengineering microalgae into algae oil, which could one day be scaled to produce sustainable aviation fuel, aka SAF.The airline has made an ambitious goal of being a 100% green company by 2050 and has started a venture fund to identify and invest in technology that will help the company achieve that goal. SAF is made from used cooking oil or agricultural waste, but scientists hope it can eventually be made from such things as household trash, forest waste or, in the case of Viridos, algae.Viridos identifies itself as a leader in bioengineering microalgae and says its algae have already achieved seven times the oil productivity compared to wild algae. With those scientific advancements comes the potential to create a more effective and susta...

Luck Reunion postponed due to weather threat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News Today's morning headlines for March 15, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you have tickets to Willie Nelson's Luck Reunion show, you'll have to wait one more day.Luck Presents announced Wednesday it made the decision to postpone Luck Reunion to Friday, March 17. The festival was originally scheduled to start Thursday, but it was pushed back due to expected severe weather. The KXAN First Warning Weather team is forecasting three rounds of storms Thursday, with the most severe round expected late Thursday into early Friday. Severe risk tomorrow ahead of colder, wet weather "The safety of fans, performers, vendors, and staff remains paramount. Without them, there is no Luck," the announcement said. "Same venue, same vendors, same Willie, and a little more sunshine. Hope to see you out at Luck on Friday."All existing tickets, parking passes and press credentials will be honored for the rescheduled Luck Reunion date on Friday. Any m...

Council to approve $510k for emergency repairs at Candlewood, Northbridge shelters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council is expected to sign off next week on emergency construction contracts for the Pecan Gardens shelter -- formerly the Candlewood Suites hotel -- and the Northbridge shelter, with a price tag of half a million dollars. According to council documents, Belfor USA Group, Inc. responded to both of the locations for water damage. They're owed $510,312, nearly $80,000 of which will come from the Capital Improvement Program budget and the remaining funding from Austin Public Health's capital budget.Pecan Gardens shelterAccording to documents, staff found the Pecan Gardens property had been vandalized on May 9, 2022. The vandalization resulted in pipes being cut or broken which led to "extensive water damage in multiple rooms and hallways." Williamson County sues City of Austin over project to house homeless The company was asked to clear the water and debris out of the former hotel and then "used air mover/carpet blowers, dehumidifiers, air filtration u...

After 30 years, iconoclastic St. Paul Saints will be in new ownership hands

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:53 GMT

The ownership group that brought minor league back to St. Paul in 1993 announced Wednesday morning it’s in the process of selling the team to a group that owns several other minor league teams.Diamond Baseball Holdings owns 13 other minor league baseball teams, including the Saints’ new Class AAA rival the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines. DSH“The decision to sell was a difficult and emotional one for me and it would not have been made were it not to an organization headed by people who ‘get it,’” Saints Chairman/CEO Marv Goldklang said in a statement.Diamond Baseball Holdings chairman Peter Freund has been a co-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs, a Goldklang Group owned team.The Saints started as an independent team playing at Midway Stadium in 1993, bringing minor league baseball back to St. Paul for the first time since the original St. Paul Saints left after the 1960 season. The team’s modus operandi, best explained by team motto “Fun is Good,” was as important — if not more important — a...