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Report finds Austin had 'unusually high' mass layoffs during 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A December analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found the Austin metro saw an "unusually high level" of mass layoffs throughout most of 2023, particularly compared to larger metro regions like Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.Reporting from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found there were 3,552 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) layoffs in Austin from January to October 2023. WARN notices are a federal requirement that mandates employers notify state officials when there are impeding mass layoffs or facility closures. "The notices can signal the shutdown of a job site of at least 50 workers, a layoff of a third of a location’s workforce involving fewer than 500 workers or outright dismissal of more than 500 employees," the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said.In Austin, the Dallas Reserve's findings revealed Austin made up about 20% of the total ...

Patient at St. Peter mental health facility charged with murder of roommate

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

ST. PETER — A patient at the state-operated mental health facility in St. Peter is accused of using an electric guitar to murder his roommate Monday, according to charges filed in Nicollet County.David Michael Otey, 43, was charged with two felonies for second-degree murder with and without intent and three felonies for first-, second- and fourth-degree assault Tuesday in Nicollet County District Court.Otey is accused of “bashing” his roommate at the Forensic Mental Health Program over the head with the guitar, causing fatal blunt force trauma, before choking a staff member, according to a criminal complaint.In a statement, Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead said the “tragic incident has left our patients and staff badly shaken.“Our thoughts now are with the victim’s family and friends who have suffered a terrible loss,” she stated. “We are cooperating with law enforcement and have begun our own internal...

Coalhurst Fees and Rates Bylaw awaiting third reading

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsA new Fees and Rates bylaw for Coalhurst is waiting on its third and final reading.Presented during Coalhurst town council’s regular Dec. 19 meeting, Town CAO Shawn Patience said the bylaw was given an overhaul in terms of updating some rate structures and replacing other antiquated rate structures. There were also some minor adjustments to utility rates, clarifications on development applications, security deposits on demolition permits, and a penalty section, among others.“This Fees and Rates bylaw is a brand new bylaw for the Town of Coalhurst. In 2023, previously it was fees were just kind of found everywhere. This brought everything all together into one (bylaw) last year, and this is just a continuation of work and trying to pull some of those things that may have been overlooked last year and brought into this as well,” said Mike Passey, director of corporate services for the Town. “We also reviewed a number of similar municipalities in southe...

The 2023 Year in Review

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

JanuaryThe St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) has announced the proposed terms of reference for the Chin Reservoir expansion project.Following the publication of the proposed terms of reference (PTOR) on Nov. 3, a public engagement period commenced. The current project stage allows for public comment to be submitted to the director by Jan. 3, 2023. The director in this case is the Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA).After many years of planning and development, the Town of Coaldale’s offices will soon be fully operational on the second floor of the new Civic Square building at 1801, 20th Avenue.While planning dates back several years, the Civic Square project, built in collaboration with the third-party private developer, Shift Real Estate Investments LP, initially broke ground in June 2021. The completion of Phase 1, is part of a three-phase economic development project and will serve the community with indoor and outdoor spaces, including a seasonal outdoor rink...

Property crime continues as trend for Lethbridge County: RCMP

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterDuring the County of Lethbridge Council Meeting that took place on December 21, 2023, Staff Sergeant Mike Numan, Detachment Commander of the Coaldale and Picture Butte RCMP Detachment, reported to Council that the detachment had a busy summer both in terms of calls and community events. Numan stated that the detachment’s community priorities are broad but consistent; in every community, the same concerns come up: traffic or road safety, relationship building, the RCMP being involved in the community and enhanced awareness and education in relation to crime prevention and some crime reduction. Council did inquire about what Numan meant regarding the education sector and Numan explained that the detachment does not have a dedicated school resource officer anymore, as there are not enough officers to dedicate one person to do just that. That said, Numan stated, each member of the detachment has been assign...

Year in review: Taxpayers release Naughty and Nice List

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

Canadian Taxpayers FederationCBC President and CEO Catherine Tait tops the Taxpayer Naughty List for announcing hundreds of layoffs weeks before Christmas without cancelling bonuses for executives.“It takes a special type of Scrooge to lay off hundreds of employees weeks before the holidays and not be willing to give up your own bonus, but that’s exactly what taxpayers heard from CBC big shots,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Meanwhile, Senator Pierre Dalphond delayed and watered-down carbon tax relief for farmers and now Santa’s furious because the bills for his candy cane farm and reindeer barn are through the chimney.”Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the Taxpayer Naughty List for removing the carbon tax from furnace oil for three years while leaving 97 per cent of Canadian families out in the cold. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston also found himself in Santa’s bad books for taking more money from taxpayers through the sneaky income tax hike known as bracket creep...

Canada’s Premiers have failed the basic needs test

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

In days of old, kings and queens were often judged by some pretty basic criteria: Did the people have enough to eat? Did they have a safe, warm place to lay their heads at night?Looking around Canada today, it’s pretty clear that our elected leaders wouldn’t pass these simple tests. Food bank use is at record levels. Practically every city has a tent city, populated by people who can’t find – or can’t afford – a bed indoors.Your local radio station may be playing Andy Williams singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but for too many people, it’s not: winter is the hardest time. And with very few exceptions, Canada’s premiers, snug in their beds, don’t seem to see it. Or if they do, they don’t seem to care.In recent years, Canadians have seen the federal government take concrete steps to reduce poverty. For example, Ottawa introduced the Canada Child Benefit in 2016 and passed the Canada Disability Benefit Act in 2023. The former has cut poverty for children and families ...

FCSS Cancer Support Group providing assistance to area residents

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterStarting January 10, Family and Community Support Services in Coaldale will be facilitating a drop-in support group for cancer patients and family of cancer patients from 7pm-8pm on every second and fourth Wednesday of each month.“The Cancer Support Group is designed to encourage mutual support between participants, develop greater openness and emotional expressiveness about the challenges resulting from receiving a cancer diagnosis, treatment and living well with cancer,” said Michael Fedunec, Counselling Services Supervisor at FCSS. “This group is supported by FCSS but is being facilitated by a volunteer resident of Coaldale who has a heart and passion to see that those who are struggling with cancer and their families are not forgotten and that help is just a call away.”The group participants, Fedunec says, will have an opportunity to share their challenges and their successes in a non-structured fac...

Coaldale’s Gem of the West Museum strives to preserve local history

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterCoaldale’s Gem of the West Museum is truly a gem of Coaldale.Craig Day, the Museum Manager and member of the Gem of the West Museum Society, says that the Museum is located at 1306 – 20 Street in Coaldale, the old Mennonite Brethren Church, and operates on regular summer hours from the beginning of May to the end of September. In the off-season months, Day says, the museum works on fundraising events and exhibit redesigns but also advertises that visitors can contact them and schedule a visit during these months.  The Gem of the West Museum Society, Day says, was formed in 1995 by the first president, local Erna Goertzen, who worked with the Town of Coaldale to have them purchase the building, allowing the society to operate the museum within it and it took six years of building restorations and artifact accessioning before the museum could officially open the doors to the public in 2001. Day says...

MP reflects on 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:20 GMT

By Al BeeberSouthern Alberta NewspapersWhen Rachael Thomas looks at the year that 2023 was, the Conservative MP for Lethbridge sees both accomplishments and concerns.Thomas, in a year-end interview with Southern Alberta Newspapers recently, discussed the highs and lows of 2023.“This was the first full year with a new Conservative party leader at the helm,” said Thomas, noting “I’m certainly very impressed with Pierre Poilevre as our leader. It’s been a pleasure to serve under him. I appreciate his vision for Canada. I appreciate that he’s a hard worker and I appreciate that he has a plan to bring Canadians back into a place of prosperity.”Thomas said “under his leadership, we’ve enjoyed tremendous unity and it’s been really energizing to have him as leader. I would say that his leadership has been one of the big highlights of 2023.”She said recent poll numbers are positive for the Conservatives but the party wants to continue working hard to maintain and gain the trust of Canadians....