Biden administration to fund programs to hand out crack pipes

There are 8,529 new cases being reported in the Auckland Region today, representing 56 percent of the total new cases – down from 61 percent of total new cases a week ago. This number is still high and the outbreak is still very active in the Auckland region, but numbers have levelled off there in the last week. We will know in the next few days if this signals that the outbreak has peaked there.

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke University doctors say a baby is thriving after a first-of-its-kind heart transplant -- one that came with a bonus technique to try to help prevent rejection of the new organ.The thymus plays a critical role in building the immune system. Doctors have wondered if implanting some thymus tissue that matched a donated organ might help it survive without the recipient needing toxic anti-rejection medicines.Easton Sinnamon of Asheboro, North Carolina, received his unique transplant last summer when he was 6 months old.

report from Castellum.ai, a global sanctions-tracking database. Russia has now become the target of nearly 3,000 new sanctions after dozens of nations condemned President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to overthrow the Ukrainian government. With the combination of sanctions against Russia that had already been put in place before the invasion as well as the latest penalties, Russia has racked up a historic 5,532 sanctions.Russian sanctions even surpassed Iran who faces over 3,600 sanctions mostly for its continued efforts to manufacture a nuclear program as well as its financial support of well-known terrorist organizations. The United States and its allies have retaliated against Russia with a series of financial penalties, reflecting a massive change in how conflicts can be waged in a world that is globalized, digital and highly dependent on accessing money electronically.There have been economic targets in the past that depended on military maneuvers such as factory bombings, blockades and the capture of strategic resources.

child-care deal.The province stands to lose more than a billion dollars in federal funding if a deal isn’t struck.Ontario remains the only jurisdiction in the country to not pen a deal with the Trudeau government for $10-a-day childcare. The Ford government has maintained the federal offer to the province of $10.2 billion is not enough to deliver the program.If the province doesn’t sign a deal by end of the fiscal year, March 31, it risks losing more than $1 billion in first year funding.The federal minister in charge of the program has said repeatedly that the Ford government still needed to submit an action plan to enter negotiations.

Toronto police are warning the public about an unusual amount of overdoses that happened within the span of three days. The calls are linked to the consumption of fentanyl. Brittany Rosen has more.

Ontario has until the end of March to pen a deal with the federal government for $10 a day child care. Without one, the province stands to lose more than a billion dollars in first year funding. Matthew Bingley reports.

Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said after two years, many adjustments will be needed as society moves from dealing with COVID-19 as a pandemic to living alongside it as an endemic disease.

The purpose of International Women’s Day is to recognize women’s achievements and bring attention to women’s rights and advance gender equality. Caryn Lieberman reports

From the so-call “Freedom Protests”, to when will the border completely reopen, Paul Haysom talks with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino about some of the biggest issues his ministry faces.

PHILADELPHIA - The price of gas across the country will likely continue to balloon after President Joe Biden banned Russian oil imports Tuesday to turn the screws on Russian leader Vladimir Putin's assault of Ukraine. "We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be accepted at U.S.

TAMPA, Fla. - A Tampa doughnut shop worker accused of punching and killing a customer for using a racial slur against him will spend two years on house arrest after pleading guilty to felony battery.The judge on Monday also ordered former Dunkin' employee Corey Pujols, 27, to complete 200 hours of community service and attend an anger management course.Pujols had initially been charged with aggravated manslaughter following the May 5, 2021 incident that took place at the Dunkin' location at 410 South 50 Street in Tampa.Investigators said the victim, 77-year-old Vonelle Cook, had gone through the drive-thru and was angry about the lack of service. He then parked his car and walked into the restaurant, yelling about customer service.PREVIOUS: Dunkin Donuts customer who used racial slur dies after being punched by employee, Tampa police sayEmployees said Cook was a frequent customer and described him as "regularly troublesome and abusive," a release from the State Attorney's Office noted.When Cook walked into the restaurant on May 5, 2021, prosecutors said he was aggressive and verbally abusive toward employees and Pujols.(Tampa Police Dept.) When Pujols, who is Black, asked Cook to leave, police said Cook called him the "N" word.Pujols told Cook not to call him the racial slur again.

The USFL is a new, independent American football league controlled by FOX Sports through NSFL HoldCo, LLC, a new business entity. (Source: USFL) WASHINGTON - The highly-anticipated United States Football League (USFL) kicks off in April, but fans don’t have to wait to see who their teams will play after the league released the full schedule for the 10-week regular season Monday. The first game of the new season kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - A Cobb County grandfather has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of raping and molesting multiple generations of victims for years.In February, a Cobb County jury found 66-year-old Bennie Johnson guilty of rape, aggravated child molestation, and two counts of child molestation.Officials say the investigation into Johnson began in 2017 after he was accused of committing multiple acts of sexual assault on an 8-year-old girl. In their investigation, police say they found the child's mother had also been sexually abused by Johnson as a child.At the trial, the evidence included testimony of law enforcement agents, medical personnel, and the now-12-year-old victim.

Health Minister Jason Copping announces he has directed Alberta Health Services to lift its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for staff on March 10, five days earlier than a draft directive leaked last week indicated.

It’s been exactly two years since Alberta’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said while looking back at how the pandemic played out and where the province goes from here.

Starting March 14, Health Minister Jason Copping said Alberta youth between the ages of 12 and 17 will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as long as their second jab was at least five months ago.

NEW YORK (AP) - A juror told a judge Tuesday that failing to disclose his child abuse history during jury selection at the trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was one of the biggest mistakes of his life — but an unintentional one."I didn't lie in order to get on this jury," the juror said.A U.S. judge questioned the juror extensively as part of an effort to decide whether the revelation about his personal history as a sex abuse survivor will spoil the verdict in the sex trafficking trial.Maxwell was convicted in late December of helping the financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse multiple teenage girls from 1994 to 2004.Sitting in a courtroom witness box, the juror repeatedly expressed regret as U.S.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada’s NATO “Operation Reassurance” had been extended early, in a multi-year renewal on Tuesday. The operation supports NATO military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday.In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, the Ministry of Health said Kieran Moore will “provide an update on Ontario’s plan to live with and manage COVID-19.”Moore is scheduled to deliver remarks at 11 a.m.The news comes as the province continues with its plan to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions. Earlier this month, capacity limits at indoor public spaces including restaurants and gyms were dropped.

Peter Andre revealed to fans that his mum Thea's health is "really declining" as she gets older.The 49-year-old star who is only one year away from turning 50, is oping to visit his elderly parents in Australia as soon as possible, with the current situation making him "sad".In particular, the last two years have been tough for Peter and his family due to the Covid-19 pandemic - with Australia enforcing a strict ban on travel.While the Mysterious Girl hitmaker had been looking forward to marking his milestone birthday, the chart topper also admitted that he is riddled with worry that Thea's health is getting progressively worse.The doting father of four wrote in his weekly New magazine column: "I feel great about being a year away from 50."I dreaded turning 40 but actually my forties have been really amazing, I feel relaxed, and in a very happy place career wise and personally."The only thing that worries me about turning another year older is that my parents are getting older and my mum's health is really declining, which makes me sad.""But everything else is going well and I feel great," he added.Just weeks ago, Peter was overwhelmed as he took to social media to share his glee that coronavirus restrictions were finally lifting in the country that he grew up in.Peter, who was born in London but raised in Australia had even toyed with the idea of moving back to his homeland but knew this would be tricky because of his four children and wife Emily who are UK-based.The singer showcased a news article from the BBC that stipulated restrictions changes down under.He said: "I am so, so, so, happy."As a desperate attempt to see his family, Peter even contacted the Australian embassy, explaining that his mother Thea had been

Three percent of 10,403 adults with COVID-19 pneumonia were diagnosed as having new-onset dementia after a median of 182 days, a significantly higher proportion than that observed with other types of pneumonia, finds a study yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.University of Missouri at Columbia researchers conducted a case

The World Health Organization (WHO) technical advisory group on COVID-19 vaccines today weighed in on potential updates to COVID-19 vaccines in light of emerging variants such as Omicron, outlining different options and what data are needed to guide new strategies.

Ukrainian servicemen captured from Zmiinyi Island, or "Snake" Island, were brought to Sevastopol in Crimea, Feb. 26, 2022.

Coca-Cola cap and Russian flag displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on March 6, 2022. (Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) ATLANTA - The Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company said it would be suspending business in Russia following the country’s attack on neighboring Ukraine.The move comes amid the growing pressures for American companies to break ties with the waring country.In a statement released Tuesday, The Coca-Cola Company wrote:"Our hearts are with the people who are enduring unconscionable effects from these tragic events in Ukraine. "We will continue to monitor and assess the situation as circumstances evolve."A growing number of multinational businesses have cut Russia off from vital financial services or stopped operating in the country.

Russia-Ukraine crisis continues. President Joe Biden announced Tuesday the U.S. will ban all Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, but he acknowledged it will bring costs to Americans, particularly at the gas pump.According to auto club AAA, the price of regular gasoline on average across the U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - The School District of Philadelphia said it will move ahead with its plan to make masks optional for students and staff on Wednesday. In a letter to families shared a week ago, Superintendent William Hite Jr. wrote that masks will be optional for students and faculty starting Mar.

A view of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from the Petronas Twin Towers. (Photo from CIA World Factbook) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia will reopen its borders on April 1 after two years and lift remaining coronavirus restrictions on businesses as it moves to restore normal life, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced Tuesday.

COVID-19 can cause the brain to shrink, memory loss, U.K. study finds At least 130 staff cases are currently active at LHSC, down from 136 on Monday, March 7. Monday’s tally was the first update to be released by LHSC since Feb.

Adult COVID-19 survivors—even those with mild illness—who underwent scans showed changes in brain structure beyond that expected from normal aging, including in areas tied to smell and memory, according to a UK study published yesterday in Nature.

With Russia intensifying its war on Ukraine, killing civilians and triggering a mass refugee crisis, President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a U.S. ban on imported Russian oil. Critics of Russia have said that sanctioning its energy exports would be the best — perhaps only — way to force Moscow to pull back.

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - A South Florida elementary school teacher who had to be hospitalized after she was attacked by a 5-year-old student in her classroom was so severely injured, she had to be intubated and will need surgery, her union says.The attack happened Wednesday morning at Pines Lakes Elementary School.According to the police report, "The incident began when two students in the classroom, 4 and 5 years old, began throwing things around the classroom and at the teachers along with flipping the chairs."Several faculty members split up the students, and teacher Trisha Meadows brought the 5-year-old into another room.That's when the boy attacked Meadows, Broward Teachers Union President Ana Fusco says."He actually ran and attacked and jumped on her with his whole body weight. She fell and hit her head, which caused the severe injury and other bodily injuries where she is going to need surgery," Fusco told WSVN.PREVIOUS: South Florida teacher hospitalized after 5-year-old attacked her in classroom, police sayStaff members then heard the teacher using her school radio, saying she needed help.

McDonald's restaurant in St. Petersburg, Russia (Photo by Sergei Mikhailichenko/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) DETROIT - McDonald’s said Tuesday it is temporarily closing all of its 850 restaurants in Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.The burger giant said it will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia "who have poured their heart and soul into our McDonald’s brand." But in an open letter to employees, McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempckinski said closing those stores for now is the right thing to do."Our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine," Kempczinski said.RELATED: Mastercard, Visa suspend operations in Russia amid Ukraine invasionKempczinski said it’s impossible to know when the company will be able to reopen its stores."The situation is extraordinarily challenging for a global brand like ours, and there are many considerations," Kempczinski wrote in the letter.

COVID-19 milestone on Tuesday as Waterloo Public Health says that more than 40,000 people have been officially cleared of the virus.The agency says that another 45 people are considered to be cleared of the virus, raising the total number of resolved cases in the area to 40,018. Ontario offering nurses up to $5,000 as job retention incentive Naturally, the numbers could be higher as the province limited testing availability a few months back once the fast-spreading Omicron variant established itself as the dominant strain throughout the province.Waterloo Public Health also reported another 38 positive tests for the coronavirus on Tuesday, lifting the total number of cases in the area to 40,896.This drops the rolling seven-day average number of new daily cases down to 49.

Karla Sindy's "FART" license plate. (Credit: Karla Sindy) ASHEVILLE, N.C. - A North Carolina woman is fighting to keep her ‘FART’ vanity license plate after the DMV issued it to her but then said it might be recalled.Karly Sindy, 37, of Asheville, North Carolina, said she requested her license plate last October and received it in November. "I was re-registering my truck online and it had the option to customize my plate so on a whim I tried FART," Sindy told FOX Television Stations.

Image of an iHealth at home Covid-19 rapid antigen test supplied for free by the U.S. Postal Service.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw says an officer violated the department’s use of force directive in the shooting that left 12-year-old Thomas Siderio dead near 18th and Barbara streets last week. That officer - who has only been identified by police as ‘Officer #1’ due to threats - will be suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss, Outlaw announced during a briefing Tuesday afternoon. "I have made the decision to utilize Commissioner’s Direct Action to suspend Officer #1 with the intent to dismiss the officer at the end of 30 days due to violations of our use of force directive," Outlaw said. Investigators say four plain-clothed officers assigned to the South Task Force were in the area in an unmarked car as part of an ongoing investigation.Authorities have said the officers saw Siderio and a 17-year-old boy on the corner of 18th and Barbara and recognized one of them as someone wanted for questioning in another investigation. Thomas 'TJ" Siderio, 12, died Tuesday after he was shot by police. Police say the officers opened fire after their unmarked vehicle as struck by gunfire.

PHOENIX - The wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia last month, thanked everyone for their support of the Phoenix Mercury center while she deals with apparent legal troubles.Cherelle Griner posted a picture Sunday of her with the basketball star and wrote a message to fans awaiting more details about the WNBA player’s incident."Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wife’s safe return from Russia. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated," Cherelle Griner wrote on Instagram.

The Des Moines shooting scene (via WOI) (via WOI)DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Authorities arrested six teenagers, including a 14-year-old, in a shooting outside a school that killed a 15-year-old boy and seriously wounded two teenage girls, Des Moines police said Tuesday.The suspects are each charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the Monday afternoon shooting on the grounds of East High School, near Des Moines’ downtown, about a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) from the Capitol. Police said gunshots fired outside the school came from several shooters from multiple vehicles.Police named the suspects as Octavio Lopez, 17; Henry Valladares-Amaya, 17; Manuel Buezo, 16; Romero Perdomo, 16; Alex Perdomo, 15; and Nyang Chamdual, 14.

The vast majority of adverse events (92%) recorded after people received the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during the first 6 months of the US vaccine rollout were mild and transient, according to an observational study published yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

banned Russian oil imports.Prices at the pump were rising long before Russia invaded Ukraine and have spiraled faster since the start of the war. The U.S.

GENEVA - An expert group convened by the World Health Organization said Tuesday it "strongly supports urgent and broad access" to booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine amid the global spread of omicron, capping a reversal of the U.N. agency’s repeated insistence last year that boosters weren't necessary for healthy people and contributed to vaccine inequity.In a statement, WHO said its expert group concluded that immunization with authorized COVID-19 vaccines provide high levels of protection against severe disease and death amid the continuing spread of the hugely contagious omicron variant.

WHO has issued an appeal for funding to support Ukraine’s health services and care for the country’s refugees. To learn more, or to donate, visit the WHO Foundation.

A box of human heads was stolen from medical researchers in Denver, Colorado, after a training event and remains missing, the donor company and authorities said this week. The theft occurred sometime between 2:30 p.m. local time on March 2 and 9:30 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and members of the department’s executive team will provide an update on the police shooting that left a 12-year-old boy dead last week. Outlaw will speak in the lobby of the Police Administrative Building at 2 p.m. The press conference comes exactly one week after the shooting that killed Thomas Siderio near 18th and Barbara Streets on the night of March 1. According to investigators, four officers assigned to the South Task Force were in an unmarked car in the area of 18th and Johnston Streets as part of an ongoing investigation.Authorities have said that the officers saw two males on the corner of 18th and Barbara Streets and as they approached with police lights flashing, the juvenile fired a gun at officers. Thomas 'TJ" Siderio, 12, died Tuesday after he was shot by police. Police say the officers opened fire after their unmarked vehicle as struck by gunfire.

BARTOW, Fla. - A Florida teacher was suspended, reassigned to a different school and now faces charges after being accused of biting two students over a jar of pickles. A spokesperson with Polk County Public Schools in Bartow, Florida, said a complaint affidavit of two counts of battery was filed against Rhonda Rice, who used to be a teacher at Bartow Middle School.The school district said last November, two students reported that Rice bit their arms as they tried to grab a jar of pickles away from her. Rice told the school district she was "playing both students over the jar of pickles" and when they grabbed it, she "licked their arms to get them off."RELATED: Prince William County teacher charged after alleged assault against studentOne of those students is Kathy Toro’s 15-year-old nephew.

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 18: Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right group, is seen at a "Stop the Steal" rally against the results of the U.S. Presidential election outside the Georgia State Capitol on November 18, 2020 in Atlanta, Georg WASHINGTON - The U.S.

A Grenfell Tower Inquiry chief has been appointed as the new boss of the NHS in Greater Manchester - as the health service undergoes sweeping changes.