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A Wildfire Scorching The Texas Panhandle Has Grown To The Largest In State History

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Canadian, Texas – A wildfire raging over the Texas Panhandle became the largest in state history Thursday, as a dusting of snow covered scorched grassland, dead cattle, and burned-out homes, giving firefighters a little respite in their desperate efforts to contain the inferno.

The Smokehouse Creek fire spread to around 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometres). It joined with another fire and is just 3% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Grey sky from early cloud cover and snow portrayed a gloomy landscape: miles of burnt grassland, charred dwellings that still smouldered, and burned-out cattle stiff in the cold. Someone in Stinnett hoisted up an American flag outside a wrecked home.

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A Wildfire Scorching The Texas Panhandle Has Grown To The Largest In State History

The Smokehouse Creek fire’s initial expansion slowed as snow fell, winds shifted, and temperatures dropped, but it remained feral and dangerous. It is the largest of many huge fires in the state’s rural Panhandle. It has also crossed into Oklahoma.

Authorities said that 1,640 square miles (4,248 square kilometres) of the fire were on the Texas side of the border. Previously, the greatest fire in recorded state history was the 2006 East Amarillo Complex fire, which burnt around 1,400 square miles (3,630 square kilometres) and claimed 13 lives.

Firefighters have made little headway in containing the Smokehouse Creek blaze, but Thursday’s prediction of snow, rain, and temperatures in the 40s provided a brief opportunity to make progress before temperatures and winds rose again Friday and into the weekend. Authorities have not revealed what started the flames, but high winds, dry grass, and unusually warm temperatures fueled the blazes.

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Samuel Scoleri, less than an inch of snow is forecast, but moisture will not be the sole benefit.

“It will help keep relative humidity down for the day, and that will definitely help firefighters,” he said.

The only verified death thus far was that of an 83-year-old woman. But, with flames still threatening a large region, authorities have yet to undertake a thorough search for victims or count the number of homes and other structures damaged or destroyed.

According to Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the most difficult problems for firefighters are the weekend forecast and the “sheer size and scope” of the fire.

“I don’t want the community there to feel a false sense of security that all these fires will not grow anymore,” Kidd said. “This is still a very dynamic situation.”

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A Wildfire Scorching The Texas Panhandle Has Grown To The Largest In State History

This week, fierce winds drove walls of flames as huge plumes of smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air over the sparsely populated region. The smoke hampered aerial surveillance of the damage in certain regions.

“There was one point where we couldn’t see anything,” said Greg Downey, 57, recounting his escape as flames engulfed his area. “I didn’t think we’d get out of it.”

Family members recognized the woman who died as Joyce Blankenship, a longtime substitute teacher. Her grandson, Lee Quesada, said he had posted in a community forum asking for help locating her. Quesada said authorities informed his uncle on Wednesday that Blankenship’s remains had been discovered in her burned-out home.

Quesada said she occasionally surprises him with humorous stories “about her more ornery days.”

“Just talking to her was a joy,” he recalled, noting that she went by the moniker “Joy”.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott declared a catastrophe in 60 counties. The key facility that disassembles America’s nuclear weapons was forced to suspend operations Tuesday night due to advancing flames, but it resumed normal operations Wednesday.

Bill Kendall, Hemphill County’s Emergency Management Coordinator, described the scorched terrain as “like a moonscape.” It’s just all gone.

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A Wildfire Scorching The Texas Panhandle Has Grown To The Largest In State History

Kendall stated that approximately 40 residences were burned around the boundaries of the town of Canada. Kendall also claimed that he witnessed “hundreds of cattle just dead, laying in the fields.”

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller warned that the flames might be “catastrophic” for cattle ranchers. He stated that more than 85% of Texas cattle are raised on ranches in the Panhandle.

“There are millions of cattle out there,” Miller explained. “Farmers and ranchers are losing everything.”

Tresea Rankin captured video footage of her own burning home in Canada.

“Thirty-eight years of memories, that’s what you were thinking,” Rankin remarked while seeing the wreckage. “Two of my children got married there… But don’t worry, the memories will not go away.”

The small community of Fritch, located north of Amarillo, lost hundreds of homes in a 2014 fire and appears to be slammed hard again. According to Mayor Tom Ray, approximately 40-50 homes were damaged on the southern fringe of the 2,200-person town.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

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The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland

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Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

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Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

  1. Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
  2. Numbers cannot be repeated
  3. Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
  4. Each play buys 3 lines
  5. Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)

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