Latest news with #Wesley
Global News
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Global News
Manitoba wildfires: Officials warn ‘fake news' is harming response efforts
With Manitoba wildfires continuing to grow, those affected and concerned citizens are anxiously seeking fast, up-to-the-minute information. 'There's a tendency among folks that's just natural to want to be in the know and to spread a piece of information that seems novel or seems important,' says Jared Wesley, political science professor at the University of Alberta, 'but unless you are re-tweeting or reposting something directly from a government agency, you could become part of a misinformation campaign unintentionally' During such emergencies, governing agencies as well as first responders choose direct forms of communication to send their message using phone alerts, door-to-door notices and social media. The RM of Kelsey posted on their official Facebook page about misinformation circulating regarding firefighters on June 1. RM of Kelsey / Facebook But a dangerous side effect of this urgent need for news is the rapid spread of unverified and often false information online. Story continues below advertisement A recent incident in Flin Flon brings light to such instances, when Manitoba RCMP and town officials were forced to step in and publicly fact-check false claims circulating about the wellbeing of firefighters, adding an unnecessary burden during a critical time. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It stops everything that I am doing and it becomes a priority,' says Lori Forbes, the emergency coordinator for the R.M. of Kelsey, 'There are many many people in Canada who have firefighters here in Manitoba and Saskatchewan that are working hard, putting their lives at risk and the last thing we need to do is upset families.' She adds 'It's fake news, it's mean, and I wish people would stay away from it.' In recent times, some social media giants have reduced their fact-checking efforts. 'It's also important to note that in the case of Meta; Facebook and Instagram', Wesley says, 'they've actually banned all of the legitimate news sources in a battle against federal government over taxation' Given these complexities, Wesley and other officials stress that it is critical for social media users to track down the original source of information before sharing it on public platforms. 'After most natural disasters, there's often a public inquiry into these kinds of things. And if the government turns out to be untrustworthy in those situations, voters have an opportunity to weigh in at the ballot box,' Wesley says Story continues below advertisement 'But during the emergency itself, it's crucial for folks to listen to governments directly and to take their news from reputable sources.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Nelson County paramedic dies after on-duty crash
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Nelson County paramedic died after a May car crash believed to be linked to a heart attack. On Monday, Supporting Heroes, a nonprofit, said 41-year-old Wesley England was taken off of life support earlier that day at a Tennessee hospital. Airbnb generates an estimated $590 million in Kentucky in 2024 Nelson County paramedic dies after on-duty crash Vikings' Purple People Eater, Kentucky native, Jim Marshall, dies at 87 On May 27, Nelson County EMS said England, a full-time critical care paramedic, was involved in a 'serious' crash and was airlifted to a Level I trauma center in Nashville. On Tuesday, Nelson County EMS said England's legacy of service will be remembered. Wesley wore many hats throughout his remarkable career—serving as a dedicated critical care paramedic, firefighter, and police officer. His unwavering commitment to the emergency services touched countless lives across our communities and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We extend our deepest gratitude for Wesley's years of service and sacrifice. Please keep his family, friends, and coworkers in your thoughts and prayers during this profoundly difficult time. Nelson County EMS According to the Supporting Heroes website, England is survived by his children, ages 9 and 18, his brother, and his parents. His funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Learn the ins and outs of viral success at upcoming SocialCon
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Mastering social media is not easy. Still, an upcoming event in downtown Shreveport promises to help guide social media users and teach them how to increase their business or monetize their platforms. SocialCon 2025 is on June 7 at the Eleven Events Center and is the first of its kind digital marketing and networking event in the ArkLaTex. Dezerra Wesley, also known as Shreveport's Sunshine to her Facebook followers, was selected to join a list of notable individuals locally and nationally, helping to highlight and promote the event. While her journey to becoming a digital marketing master is like a fairy tale, it was born out of necessity. Social media trolls can't dim Leona Gray's shine as she preps for SocialCon 2025 'I was working at a coffee shop and, took over the responsibilities of all the social media for that coffee shop, and, I got good at it,' Wesley said. People used to always be like, oh, does this. Who does this? Who made that? Who does this? And I'd be like, it's me, guys. It it's me. I'm like, wow. And once people started learning that, it was always, you know, can you help me? Can you help me? And at the time when I was doing it, I didn't think much of it. Wesley said the growth she helped contribute to at the coffee shop led to her business, which now involves training and consulting others who want to understand the art of digital marketing better. In a place like Shreveport, where word of mouth is still the go-to way to promote your business, little Miss Sunshine was forging a new path for herself and others by creating a social media manager position that had not existed before. That is the case with the multibillion-dollar digital content creator space. Someone has to be willing to create something that did not exist the day before. She said the keys are consistency and trial and error, and notes that if you never start, you'll never know what online success awaits you. Shreveport media personality ready to share digital talents, expert insights at SocialCon 'You just have to be consistent. I don't think there's any bigger tip than being consistent. Post the video. It isn't. Your first one might get 50 views, but but by the 10th time you're working with something, you just have to do it. And I think a lot of times people wait until like, oh, I'm not that good. I don't really, I don't I don't really take that great of pictures. I don't it it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because you can't go viral like people want to. If you never post anything.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
What Hungry Cat Does in the Kitchen Shocks Internet: 'They're Evolving'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A rescue cat named Klaus has gone viral after pulling off an unexpected kitchen trick that has left internet users both amused and slightly concerned. The viral TikTok video shared on Friday by his owner, under the username @caits182, shows the black and white cat perched on the kitchen counter, energetically pawing at the microwave door, until he finally manages to open it. "Ever seen a cat open a microwave?" the caption says, as the poster rushes to remove the cat from the appliance. In a post shared later in the week, the poster explains that Klaus, who has a history of documented shenanigans on social media with his lookalike sibling, Wesley, is a 1.5-year-old who was rescued at 5 months and is a "a softie who loves cuddles." Cats are indeed smart creatures, but unlike humans their intelligence isn't measured by an IQ but rather by their cognitive abilities and the way they interact. Studies have found that cats have a sense of object permanence, and are able to recognize when an object is hidden from their sight. They have working memory and a well-developed long-term memory, which helps them achieve their goals. They can also distinguish between different time intervals and can recognize different quantities. They also look for human cues and gestures, to respond to human moods, and are able to recognize specific human voices and become attached to people in their lives. Compared to dogs, a cat's intelligence manifests differently. Dogs often seek human guidance while cats prioritize independence. Signs of a smart cat can vary, but they usually include problem-solving, demonstrating persistence, or immediately sensing when you're having a bad day and cheering you up. The smartest cat breeds include Abyssinian, Siamese, Scottish Fold, Persians, Cornish Rex, and Turkish Angora. A stock image shows a tuxedo cat hanging out on his owner's kitchen counter. A stock image shows a tuxedo cat hanging out on his owner's kitchen counter. getty images The video quickly went viral on TikTok and it has so far received over 3.8 million views and 737,600 likes on the platform. One user, LoveSyrinaIRL, commented: "As a cat expert, this can be very dangerous for him, as he might start cooking his own food and become a chef and open his own 5-star restaurant." Ednc said: "God forbid a cat shows he's capable of reheating his own food." Laura added: "They're evolving. The end is in sight for us." Newsweek reached out to @caits182 for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hamilton landlord fined $100K for illegal renovictions that had 'devastating' impacts on tenants, court hears
A Hamilton tenant says she's impressed with a "fantastic" judge's recent decision to fine her former landlord $100,000 for illegally renovicting her and three other tenants, even if they'll never get their homes back. "That's a good place to start to show the landlords of Ontario they can't just throw their tenants out," Darlene Wesley told CBC Hamilton. The senior had lived in her downtown apartment for nearly 20 years and never missed a rent payment when, in February 2023, the building's owner Kevin Moniz evicted her in order to carry out extensive renovations. Wesley informed him in writing and in person she intended to move back in after the work was done — as is her right under Ontario law. But within months, he'd rented it out to someone else. He did the same to three other tenants living in the five-unit building, including Wesley's daughter. The tenants testified during a trial against Moniz and property management company Cornerstone Select Properties at Hamilton's provincial offences courthouse on May 12. Justice of the Peace Linda Crawford found Moniz guilty on four counts of knowingly failing to give the tenants the right of first refusal for their units and fined him $25,000 for each. "A general deterrent in my view is very important in these kinds of circumstances, where there's a landlord with a small building that was once affordable for people," Crawford told the court. Moniz was not present for the trial and did not respond to requests for comment. Crawford gave him two weeks to pay the $100,000 — a high amount for Residential Tenancy Act violations. The charges against Moniz were laid last year by Ontario's Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU), which is mandated to uphold landlord and tenant rights and investigate complaints. It works independently from the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). By comparison, in all of 2022, fines stemming from charges laid by RHEU totalled $121,800. Tenant can't afford new place Crawford found Moniz acted deliberately and the impacts on the tenants have been "devastating." "In my view, there was quite a bit of foresight to renovate apartments and he made a decision to essentially flip them and rent them out more than double what he had been getting before," she said. Before being evicted, the four tenants said they each paid less than $700 a month in rent. A new tenant who moved into one of the units after the renovations told the court she currently pays $1,500. The eviction process began for the four tenants in March 2021, when they received N13 notices from Moniz. Their cases went to the LTB, which ruled in Moniz's favour that the units did need to be empty for him to complete renovations. Three of the tenants moved out before Wesley. They all testified they told Moniz in writing that they'd move back into their units when the work was done. Tenant Robert Jewel said he had no other option. He worked a minimum wage job and wanted to keep the unit he'd been able to afford for 25 years, he testified. But one night, when renovations were supposed to still be happening, he walked by the building and through a window saw someone in his unit's living room, watching TV. He later learned it was a new tenant. "And to be honest, I cried that night when I discovered my apartment had been taken away from me," Jewel said. "It's like I'm a second class citizen all of the sudden just because this greedy person comes along." Unable to afford to rent a new place, Jewel said he has been couch surfing at friends and family's homes since he was evicted. "I'm almost out on the street and I don't have my own place anymore and that loss of freedom, I really, keenly feel," Jewel said. Property management company fined Wesley and her daughter had no choice but to find a place together and now pay $2,000 a month, an arrangement Wesley described as a "nightmare." "Now I've got nothing because all my money goes to rent," she told the court. She said she left her place in 2023 thinking she'd definitely be coming back as she took all the steps she was supposed to. In the weeks before she moved, she had provided Moniz with several copies of a signed letter stating her intentions, and verbally told him the same thing in front of a representative from Cornerstone — the property management company Moniz had hired to find new tenants. Welsey testified that on another occasion somebody from Cornerstone was showing a unit to prospective tenants. She told that person, "'all of the apartments ... have the right of first refusal' and he said, 'I know, I know, I know.'" Company president Jeff Varcoe represented Cornerstone in court. He denied the allegations, saying nobody at his company knew about the "entire building being renovicted" and he hasn't been able to substantiate Wesley's account. Crawford said she did not find Varcoe's testimony credible and fined Cornerstone $25,000, plus a $6,250 victim surcharge, for not ensuring Wesley had the opportunity to move back into her unit. "That's not something we have the financial ability to cover at all," Varcoe said. "This will bankrupt us." Crawford gave the company a year to pay.
