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Suffolk DA Hayden gives quarter million in seized funds to nonprofits

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced Sunday his office had taken over a quarter-of-a-million in seized alleged drug money and given it to several local nonprofit organizations.Through a Community Reinvestment Grant program, 45 nonprofit organizations were awarded up to $7,500 each, the “largest amount in Suffolk County CRG history.”“I am extremely proud our office has been able to provide the most funding ever from this important program. The mission-driven work undertaken by all of these organizations is inspiring and important,” Hayden said in a statement.According to the DA’s office, the program draws money from seized cash and assets taken during law enforcement activities and redirects it to organizations which help prevent youth violence or that treat substance abuse.“Throughout my career as a prosecutor and a defense attorney, I have witnessed young people with promise veer onto dangerous paths due to lack of opportunity and guidance. We fail these children...

‘A crisis of public safety’: Rivers calls for help curb violence; superintendent says safety ‘top priority’ 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

Following the recent assault and hospitalization of a paraprofessional at the Henderson Inclusion School in Dorchester, the discussion of school safety emerged again Sunday in remarks from the superintendent and a community advocate who said the district was facing a “crisis.”“We have in the city of Boston a crisis of public safety in the schools, which has been ignored by Mayor Wu,” said Rev. Eugene Rivers at a Father’s Day press conference calling on Black fathers to organize against violence.“We want to get together roughly 100 Black men that would work trying to to engage the principals of these schools where there is recurring violence,” Rivers said, gesturing to children present at the conference. “We’re here to defend young kids like this.”Rivers’ remarks, made on a front porch in Dorchester, came just hours after Superintendent Mary Skipper spoke on the issue WCVB’s On the Record.“Safety is our top priority,&#...

Div. 4 softball: Senior-laden Joseph Case tops Hampshire for crown

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

WORCESTER – After failing to score during a one-run loss in last year’s Div. 4 state title game, the senior-laden Joseph Case softball team made a vow to never let offense be an issue this season.Back in the Div. 4 state final for a second straight year, the top-seeded Cardinals (24-1) saw that through to the end with a 7-2 win over No. 2 Hampshire (20-5) Sunday night at Worcester State for their first state title since 2001.Seniors were at the forefront, led by a grand slam from Brooke Orton, a two-run single from Jamie Moniz, a double from Skye Dupre, and a three-hit performance from Lexi Yost. Senior pitcher Hailey Berube also allowed just two runs in a complete game (seven hits, one walk, three strikeouts) from the circle.“I’m so proud of my girls,” said Case head coach Shannon Silva, who pitched for the state champion Cardinals in 1995 and 1996. “This has been five years in the making since this group of seniors was in fifth grade, and every year we’ve gotten a little bit close...

Reading boys land elusive lacrosse title

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

BURLINGTON — If there ever was a time for Reading to capture a state lacrosse title, it was this spring, where the perfect collection of talent and coaching all came together for one extended playoff run. On Sunday, they completed their dream season in the best way imaginable.Senior Robbie Granara led his team with a pair of goals, as top-seeded Reading captured its first Div. 2 title since 2018 with a 9-4 victory over No. 3 Duxbury at Burlington High School.“It feels wonderful,” Granara said afterward. “I mean, we’ve been working for this moment for 13 years now. The same group. The same crew of (athletes). We’ve been best friends since we were little kids. Just feels unbelievable to finally get to this moment.”Reading (22-1) entered the game missing key contributors such as senior attackmen Ethan Haggerty (broken wrist) and Jack Jaynes (broken jaw)— a problem since Duxbur is one of the state’s premier defensive squads. Granara opted to wear Haggerty’s jersey No. 22 with hopes of f...

Battle over bags back on Beacon Hill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

Time’s up for single-use plastics.Or at least that remains the hope of representatives from ten environmental organizations who gathered last  week on Beacon Hill to promote bills that would ban the distribution of plastic shopping bags at retail stores statewide.Sen. Becca Rausch and Rep. Mindy Domb stood with advocates outside the State House last week and said the state should follow the lead of many of cities and towns where single-use plastic bag bans or limitations have already been put into effect.“The fact that we haven’t done it has allowed 156 towns to take the lead,” Domb said. “We have to level the playing field across the state and have every town sort of be the same so that — stores and customers and municipalities — no one’s put at a disadvantage.”Supporters of the legislation imagined a future where Massachusetts leads the country in plastic waste reduction.“The Commonwealth is behind where it should and can...

Under review: Eng exploring delays, overruns on MBTA’s $1B fare system

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

It seems the MBTA’s new General Manager, Phil Eng, is still getting his feet underneath him in his somewhat unenviable role as the person responsible for fixing the state’s perennially problematic mass transit system.The former president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Long Island Rail Road, who began his job as chief of the state’s beleaguered transportation network in March, was unable to explain why the MBTA hasn’t implemented a tap-and-go fare system used by many modern transportation agencies, despite an already existing but severely over cost five-year-old contract to do just that.As originally planned, the new technology was meant to go live in 2021, but in February the MBTA announced they did not expect to fully implement the nearly $1 billion automated fare collection system until 2024The upgrade, contracted out in 2018 to Boston AFC 2.0 OpCo LLC, a subsidiary of Cubic Transportation Systems, would replace the CharlieCard system installed in 2006 with a conta...

Journalism schools in Ontario adapting to the changing news industry amid layoffs, pressures

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

Journalism schools across Ontario say they are adapting their programs to better reflect changes in the industry, teaching students how to become storytellers not just in traditional newsrooms, but in other fields as well.It’s a shift media educators say will prepare graduates for careers that might have to withstand several shocks — a reality underscored as many journalism students received their diplomas this week while massive layoffs took place at Bell Media.“In the same week we have this joyous occasion of convocation, we have this job massacre at Bell Media, which is significant and not good,” Allan Thompson, journalism program head at Ottawa’s Carleton University, said in an interview.BCE Inc. said on Wednesday that it would be cutting 1,300 positions, closing two foreign bureaus and shutting or selling nine radio stations under the Bell Media banner. A staff memo said Bell Media was “moving to a single newsroom approach across brands,̶...

1 dead, 3 wounded after shots fired during fight inside garage in Austin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

CHICAGO — One man is dead and three others are injured after shots were fired during a fight inside a garage early Saturday morning in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, according to police.Chicago Police Department officers were called just before 3 a.m. to the shooting in the 5400 block of West Crystal Street. Sheriff: 22 injured,1 dead in shooting at Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook Township They found a 31-year-old man who was shot multiple times, according to police. He later died.Another man was shot in the ankle and taken to a hospital in good condition. Two other men took themselves to Stroger Hospital, police said. One man is in critical condition and one man is in fair condition.During the investigation, police learned there was a fight inside a garage when a man pulled out a gun, started shooting and left the area, according to police.No one has been arrested yet.The incident is still under investigation by Area Five detectives.

Abbott breaks personal veto record as property tax fight with Senate continues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Abbott is closing out the 88th legislative session with a flurry of vetoes as his battle against the Senate and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick over property tax continues. Which bills made it to the governor’s desk? The Texas State Constitution grants the Governor 20 days after the end of a regular legislative session to veto bills passed by Congress. If not vetoed, those bills become laws.As of Sunday night, Abbott has vetoed 74 bills.According to the Texas Legislative Research Library, Abbott's previous personal record for most vetoes came in 2019 with 58 vetoes. But the statewide record is still held by former Gov. Rick Perry, who issued 83 vetoes during the 2001 legislative session. In fact, Perry vetoed 78 bills in a single day during that session.Which bills have been vetoed?Abbott vetoed two bills prior to the legislative session's end: SB 1615, which would have entered Texas into an interstate compact for cosmetology licensure, and HB 279, which he said was ...

Isolated storm threat as intense heat rolls on

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Happy Father's Day from the First Warning Weather team! Highs on Sunday were record-tying as we reached 106º at Austin's Camp-Mabry tying the previous record from this day in 2011. This also made it the hottest day of the year.HeatThe National Weather Service has extended its heat alerts to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The Excessive Heat Warning is for heat index readings up to 120°. The Heat Advisory for the Hill Country is for heat index readings up to 112°.Heat Alerts extended until Tuesday eveningHigh temperatures should peak Tuesday when we should get close to 106º again with oppressive humidity. A subtle temperature drop and slight humidity drop brings some relief later in the week.Highs this weekStormsIsolated severe storms remain possible this evening with large hail being our primary concern. Most of the area is at a 1 out of 5 severe weather risk as coverage will be limited. Severe weather risk Sunday evening CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS Another low-end severe weath...