When Willie Wilkerson Jr. first met Aretha Franklin -- whom she called her "forever friend" -- during the mid-80s, his daughters say he wasn't sure who she was.

The two were living at Detroit's Riverfront Apartments and were each outside getting some air, Wilkerson with his leg in a cast.

Franklin motioned for him to come over and signed his cast, and that began a relationship that lasted until Franklin's death in August of 2018, with Wilkerson at her bedside. "She was a very large part of his life," his youngest daughter Tequila "Tiki" Wilkerson tells Billboard. "They loved each other.

They were like best friends. They called each other sweetie. She called him all the time. There’s nothing he wouldn't do for her.

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Super Bowl LVI could be the hottest ever

LOS ANGELES - The Super Bowl is the hottest ticket in town, but this year's game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood could be the hottest ever, literally.Temperatures are rising this week, as a high-pressure dome sits over the west. Highs will continue to go up through the end of the week, pushing into the 80s. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties from Wednesday morning through Friday afternoon. And the heat won't just be hitting Southern California.

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Biden administration to fund programs to hand out crack pipes

(Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) NEW YORK - The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is reportedly seeking to give grants to programs that hand out crack pipes to drug addicts as part of a program to keep drug users safe.

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FOX Weather expands to new streaming platforms, local FOX TV stations

NEW YORK - FOX Weather, home of America’s Weather Team, is getting even easier to find. The free streaming channel is now available on a wider range of streaming platforms and TV stations, FOX announced Tuesday."Following our successful launch this past fall, we are excited to significantly expand our distribution footprint and deliver FOX Weather’s innovative coverage to millions of viewers on many of television’s most popular streaming services and devices," offered FOX Weather’s president, Sharri Berg.FOX Weather launched in October and was already available on many popular streaming services, including Tubi.

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How covid altered the financial behaviour of Indian households

₹5 trillion, or nearly 6%. It fell by a more modest ₹2 trillion (1.7%) in terms of current rather than constant prices.

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Man shot 19 times during hail of gunfire in West Oak Lane, police say

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say a young man was shot nearly a dozen times during a shootout Monday night in West Oak Lane. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters that at least 35 shots were fired on the 7700 block of Cedarbrook Avenue around 8:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a 24-year-old man shot 19 times in the arms, legs, back torso, and buttocks. Officers drove the victim to Temple University Hospital where he was placed in critical condition. Authorities are still unsure of how many gunmen were involved in the shootout.

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Florida drawbridge death: Police identify victim who died from fall as 79-year-old woman

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Police in South Florida have identified the victim who fell to her death from a drawbridge that began rising while she was still on it.West Palm Beach police say the victim was identified as a 79-year-old woman from Palm Beach County, but would not release her name due to Marsy's Law, WPTV reports.The accident happened just after 1 p.m. Sunday on the Royal Park Bridge, when the woman was walking her bicycle westbound from Palm Beach toward West Palm Beach.PREVIOUS: Woman falls to her death from rising Florida drawbridgePolice said she was within 10 feet of the barrier arms that halt traffic when the drawbridge began to open."The woman tried to hang on.

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Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor to Detroit sees delays amid trucker protest in Canadian city

The Ambassador Bridge which links Windsor, Ont., to Detroit, saw long delays on Monday evening as protesters demonstrated in solidarity with the ongoing anti-mandate protests, at first blocking traffic for Canada-bound travellers and truck traffic.

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COVID-19: Quebec reports 56 more deaths, another drop in hospitalizations

3 arrested in Quebec City trucker convoy protest, dozens of tickets issued Another 2,504 infections were added on Tuesday, but case counts are not reflective of the current situation because official testing is reserved for high-risk priority groups including teachers and health-care workers.The latest data available shows 69,480 tests were screened on Sunday.Meanwhile, Quebecers registered 69,480 rapid test results on the government’s website, including 53,689 positive tests.Vaccination continues with more than 18 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered since the campaign started in December of 2020, including 32,507 shots given in the last 24 hours. Quebec adds 20 new COVID-19 deaths as hospitalizations rise by double digits Quebec has reported 885,696 cases and 13,551 deaths over the course of the health crisis, while 838,185 people have recovered.Quebec Premier François Legault will be providing an update on the situation Tuesday at 1 p.m.

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How the pandemic may be negatively impacting kids

An international study finds many kids and adolescents have been negatively impacted by pandemic lockdowns, isolation and school closures. Sharmeen Somani reports.

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New Brunswick reports 6 new COVID-19 deaths, hospital occupancy above 90%

COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 269.According to the provincial COVID-19 dashboard, the deaths involve a person in their 70s in Zone 1, a person aged 90 or older in Zone 2, two people in their 70s in Zone 3, a person in their 80s in Zone 4, and a person in their 70s in Zone 7. COVID-19: N.B.

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Over 171 crore COVID vaccine doses administered in India so far

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Foreign influence concerns rise as Ottawa convoy galvanizes U.S. far-right

As the disruptive trucker convoy protest drags on in Ottawa, there are fears of foreign interference, as the U.S. far-right and media also weigh into the unrest.

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Neil Young tells Spotify workers to quit before company 'eats up your soul'

criticism against Spotify over concerns of Joe Rogan’s podcast promoting skepticism about the COVID-19 vaccines, said this week that the company’s employees should quit their jobs before the place "eats up your soul."The singer-songwriter posted a statement on his website on Monday that took aim at the audio streaming platform’s CEO, Daniel Ek, saying he served as the workers’ "big problem — not Joe Rogan.""Ek pulls the strings. Get out of that place before it eats up your soul," Young’s message read in part.

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Ex-Air Force sergeant to plead guilty in killing of federal security officer in Oakland

This booking photo from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office shows Steven Carrillo on June 7, 2020. Photo: Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office SAN FRANCISCO - A former U.S.

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Maharashtra sees slight decline in new Covid-19 cases, active tally drop below 1 lakh

Maharashtra in the last 24 hours – a decline of 329 cases as compared to the day before – said the state health department on Tuesday.

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Covid: 3,780 PCR-confirmed cases, 5,585 antigen test

There have been 3,780 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health.

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Nicola Sturgeon Covid update - six key points from announcement today

Nicola Sturgeon delivered another Covid update to the Scottish Parliament earlier today.

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Video shows man attacking woman with baseball bat in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood

SEATTLE - The King County Prosecutor’s Office released surveillance video Monday that showed the moment a woman was attacked with a baseball bat last week in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.On Jan. 31, investigators said a woman was walking on Cedar Street at about 6:30 p.m.

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Ontario COVID numbers: 2,254 people in hospital, 474 in intensive care

COVID on Tuesday, with 474 in intensive care units.This is up by 99 hospitalizations but a decrease of 12 in ICUs since the previous day. Last Tuesday, there were 3,091 hospitalizations with 568 in ICU.The province recently began distinguishing between those who were admitted to hospital directly because of COVID, and those who were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.Of the 2,254 people in hospital with COVID-19, 56 per cent of them were admitted because of the virus, while 44 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.Of the 474 people in ICUs with the virus, around 82 per cent were admitted because of COVID, while around 18 per cent were admitted for other reasons.

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OmiSure Covid test kits upgraded to detect Omicron subvariant BA.2

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Kerala to further ease Covid-19 curbs. Details here

Kerala government has decided to further ease the Covid-19 restrictions, reported PTI on Tuesday.

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Delhi logs 1,114 new COVID cases, 12 deaths; positivity rate at 2.28%

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FIFA and WHO reiterate call on world to #ACTogether to end COVID-19 pandemic

FIFA is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to encourage football fans, world leaders and policymakers to #ACTogether to end the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special campaign running throughout the FIFA Club World Cup 2021™ in Abu Dhabi.“Football provides a unique platform to convey positive impactful messages for society,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Health comes first and during the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021, FIFA is united with all participating clubs to highlight the need for equitable access to tools to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide. Teamwork is essential, a

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Beyond Omicron: How can we identify the next COVID variant?

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Karnataka sees another big drop in daily COVID tally; logs 4,452 new cases today

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‘Incredibly scary’: How Canada’s trucker convoy protest is galvanizing the U.S. far right

The trucker convoy protest against COVID-19 measures that has brought Canada’s national capital to a standstill for the past 11 days is garnering growing interest across the border in the United States.

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Child Tax Credit: White House urges parents to file taxes to get 2nd half of payments

WASHINGTON - The White House on Tuesday is launching an outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their tax returns in 2022 so they can receive the second half of payments from the expanded child tax credit.Vice President Kamala Harris, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House senior adviser Gene Sperling are hosting a "Day of Action" virtual event in the morning to encourage people to send their 2021 tax return forms to the IRS, including those whose incomes are so low that they might not have traditionally filed.The event, which begins at 9:20 a.m. ET, will include several lawmakers and nonprofits.

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Scottish Government announces 14 deaths and 6,630 covid cases in last 24 hours

The Scottish Government has confirmed 14 people have died from coronavirus in the last 24 hours,

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Mumbai shows a slight jump in COVID cases; 447 new infections today

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Tearful video: Palo Alto skater Vincent Zhou withdraws from Olympics due to COVID

BEIJING - Bay Area-born U.S. Olympic figure skater Vincent Zhou has dropped out of the Beijing Winter Games, after testing positive of COVID-19.In a raw and emotional video posted to Instagram on Monday, the 21-year-old athlete announced, "Unfortunately, I will have to withdraw from the individual event starting tomorrow." He described the turn of events as "pretty unreal," as he admitted he was still processing it all."I have been doing everything I can to stay free of Covid since the start of the pandemic," Zhou said, adding, "I've taken all the precautions I can. I've isolated myself so much that the loneliness I've felt in the last month or two has been crushing at times." He went on to say, "The enormity of the situation, the pain of it all is pretty insane." Zhou tested positive during a routine screening, the U.S.

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Judge bans honking from truckers in downtown Ottawa for 10 days

granted a 10-day injunction on Monday that forbids truckers parked on city streets in downtown Ottawa from constantly honking their horns."Tooting a horn is not an expression of any great thought I'm aware of," Ontario Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean said during court proceedings, according to the CBC.McLean said he had heard sufficient evidence that the incessant honking from the convoy in protest of government vaccine mandates is impinging on Ottawa residents' right for "quiet, if we can use that term," which he said trumped the trucker's right to protest.McLean emphasized that his injunction was temporary because a "myriad of people" might wish to be heard before the court on the issue.Paul Champ, a lawyer for a 21-year-old public servant named Zexi Li, sought an injunction that would prohibit anyone in the ongoing Freedom Convoy protest from sounding their horns while near downtown. The Freedom Convoy has remained in Ottawa for more than a week.Protesters of the Freedom convoy gather near the parliament hill as truckers continue to protest in Ottawa, Canada on February 7, 2022.

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Oscars: List of 2022 nominations

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Academy Awards Oscar trophies are displayed backstage during the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric LOS ANGELES - This year’s Oscar nominees have been announced.Actors Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan are announcing the nominees for the 94th Academy Awards live on multiple platforms, including Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the academy’s social media accounts and on ABC’s "Good Morning America."RELATED: LeBron James, 'Space Jam' nominated for 4 Razzie AwardsThe nominees for best actress are: Jessica Chastain, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"; Olivia Colman, "The Lost Daughter"; Penélope Cruz, "Parallel Mothers"; Nicole Kidman, "Being the Ricardos"; Kristen Stewart, "Spencer."The nominees for best supporting actress are: Jessie Buckley, "The Lost Daughter"; Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"; Judi Dench, "Belfast"; Kirsten Dunst, "The Power of the Dog" and Aunjanue Ellis, "King Richard."The nominees for best supporting actor are: Ciarán Hinds, "Belfast"; Troy Kotsur, "CODA"; Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"; Jesse Plemons, "The Power of the Dog" and J.K.

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Windsor-Detroit Ambassador Bridge access resumes after trucker protest blocked traffic

Access to the bridge had been blocked Monday due to demonstrations in solidarity with the so-called “Freedom Convoy” protests in Ottawa. But just before 6 a.m. Tuesday, police said that U.S.-bound traffic was now able to access the border crossing via Wyandotte Street, which connects to the border crossing station from the north.

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Ottawa police take action as politicians seek swift end to trucker convoy protests

After 11 days of protesters occupying and disrupting the nation’s capital, Ottawa police are now taking action as they begin to dismantle protest encampments and seize supplies. As David Akin reports, protesters remain defiant, as pressure and frustration among federal politicians rise.

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Trucker convoy protest ‘has to stop,’ Justin Trudeau says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the ongoing anti-vaccine mandate protest in Ottawa is “trying to blockade our economy, our democracy and our fellow citizens’ daily lives.”

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Ambassador Bridge reopens after Canadian trucker protest blocks traffic

(FOX 2) - The Ambassador Bridge has reopened following an hours-long shutdown due to a protest among Canadian truckers upset with COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine rules in the country.The Windsor Police said early Tuesday morning that U.S. bound traffic was open on the bridge and could be accessed from the Wyandotte Street west entrance.Border wait times listed on the U.S.

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Richland Fred Meyer shooting: Police arrest suspect accused of killing 1, injuring another

RICHLAND, Wash. - The man who police say opened fire Monday at a Fred Meyer grocery store in Washington state, that killed one person and injured another, was taken into custody.Police identified the suspect as 38-year-old Aaron Christopher Kelly and a warrant for first-degree murder was issued for him. He was arrested on Interstate 90 between Sprague and Spokane before midnight. Richland police said he was taken to the Tri-Cities and will be booked into the Benton County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder.

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Scots nurse suspended after 'starting relationship' with mental health patient then claiming she was 'blackmailed'

An NHS mental health nurse has been suspended for six months after she admitted socialising with a patient she had met on the ward and hiding it from bosses.

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Lanarkshire charity are back in business as they resume activities after COVID closure

A Lanarkshire charity for older people has resumed its activities after being forced to shut down due to the latest wave of COVID.

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Pfizer forecasts $54 billion in 2022 sales from its Covid-19 vaccine, treatment

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Kerala reports 29,471 new Covid-19 cases, 824 deaths added to toll

Kerala in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative case tally to 63,23,378, said the state health department on Tuesday.

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Health Strike : Talks fail and Trade Unions to continue strike

COLOMBO (News 1st); Talks between the Health Minister and the Health Trade Unions to solve a series of issues failed on Tuesday (8).Trade Union leaders have vowed to continue with their strike action.Earlier in the day, heavy traffic was reported along Deans Road in Colombo opposite the Health Ministry due to a protest by health workers.Hundreds of health workers marched from the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo to the Health Ministry against the government’s failure to remove salary anomalies and address their grievances, despite recent token strikes.The unions demand that the authorities eliminate existing salary disparities in the sector just as they eliminated the teacher and principal salary anomalies.Health workers across Sri Lanka including nurses, and Public Health Inspectors are on strike citing multiple demands.They resorted to the indefinite trade union action from Monday (7).As a result of the strike activities at the Colombo General Hospital, Kandy General Hospital, 24 Teaching Hispitals, 26 General Hospitals, 46 Base Hospitals, 410 District Hospitals and 293 MOH Officers came to a complete standstill.

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‘Withdraw Gazette on Surcharge Tax Bill’ – Opposition Leader

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Sri Lankan Government is preparing to include articles into the Surcharge Tax Bill, which will also include the Employees Provident Fund and the Retirement Gratuity.The relevant bill on the Surcharge Tax was published via gazette on Monday (7).Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa on Tuesday (8) requested the government to withdraw the Gazette Notification pertaining to including the Employees Provident Fund and the Retirement Gratuity Fund in the Surcharge Tax Bill.He claimed that by imposing a 25% surcharge the government is attempting to secure Rs.65 billion from the working class.According to the bill, the Surcharge Tax will be levied from any individual, partnership or company, whose taxable income calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, exceeds rupees two thousand million, for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, 2020, at the rate of twenty-five percent.According to the definition of the Inland Revenue Act, a company is included in the definition of a provident fund, a pension fund, a pension gratuity fund, or a similar fund.The Opposition Leader requested Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa to state the EPF and the Retirement Gratuity Fund will not be included in the Surcharge Tax Bill.

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Peloton CEO steps down, company to cut 2,800 jobs globally

FILE - John Foley, co-founder and chief executive officer of Peloton Interactive Inc., stands for a photograph during the company's initial public offering (IPO) in front of the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, U.S., on Sept. 26, 2019.

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Donors making a difference: whatever the weather

This week we highlight how contributions to WHO are providing health services and supplies to snow-blanketed refugee camps, and vaccines to flood zones threatened with cholera.

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Canada truckers block busiest bridge with US

Canadian truckers were blocking the busiest crossing with the United States, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepared to face legislators later in the day to discuss the growing crisis.

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Gov. Wolf's last budget, like his first, will feature schools

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov.

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Aretha Franklin's 'Forever Friend' Willie Wilkerson Dies of COVID-19 at 72

When Willie Wilkerson Jr. first met Aretha Franklin -- whom she called her "forever friend" -- during the mid-80s, his daughters say he wasn't sure who she was.The two were living at Detroit's Riverfront Apartments and were each outside getting some air, Wilkerson with his leg in a cast.

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United States	Cases: 46 252 513 Deaths: 750 423 Recovered: 0
India	Cases: 34 321 025 Deaths: 459 652 Recovered: 0
Brazil	Cases: 21 835 785 Deaths: 608 235 Recovered: 0
United Kingdom	Cases: 9 215 683 Deaths: 141 607 Recovered: 0
Russia	Cases: 8 494 589 Deaths: 237 619 Recovered: 0

Aretha Franklin's 'Forever Friend' Willie Wilkerson Dies of COVID-19 at 72

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