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Classroom masking clarified: Montgomery Co. officials emphasize that requirements are limited

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

The medical officer for Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools, Dr. Patricia Kapunan, said in a letter to parents on Wednesday that “classroom outbreaks” of COVID-19 have been reported “in a few schools across the county.”Kapunan explained that when three or more students or staff members in a classroom test positive for COVID-19, that it’s considered an outbreak.The school system’s protocols this year call for masking in those classrooms when an outbreak occurs.“Students who cannot safely and consistently mask due to young age, a medical condition or developmental disability are not required to do so,” Kapunan wrote.During Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s weekly media briefing, Dr. Kisha Davis, the county’s health officer, said “I know everybody wants COVID to be gone and to not talk about it anymore, [but] COVID’s still here.”Davis, who said her office worked closely with Kapunan on the policies in place in the county school system, added, “It...

Great Weather in South Florida, Plus Tracking Lee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

South Florida we’ve been enjoying great weather with a pocket of less humid air. There is only a small chance of seeing a spotty shower at best with highs in the low 90’s. Some changes happen over the weekend with a front moving into the Eastern U.S., humidity/moisture levels rising. Rain chances will go up to 40-50%, so scattered showers return. However, there will still be plenty of dry time. Tracking LeeLee is the 4th hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.It is forecast to pass North of the Northern Leeward Islands this weekend as a powerful hurricane. There is the possibility it will reach Cat 5 status on Sunday, but with storms this intense, the eyewall replacements cycles will have it fluctuating in strength.Right now, it’s still too soon to tell what land areas will be directly impacted by Lee, but for sure Bermuda and U.S. East Coasts, especially the Northeast and Atlantic Canada should be on guard.Have a wonderful day South Florida and make it a...

Rolling Stones announce new album ‘Hackney Diamond’ with release date, debut single ‘Angry’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

The Rolling Stones haven’t released an album of original songs since 2005, but the long dry spell is finally over. They’ve got a new album coming out next month. Today, fans got to check out the video for the latest single and we promise you — nobody was angry.Mick Jagger (in a music video): “Don’t get angry with me.” Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards got together with Jimmy Fallon in London Wednesday morning to livestream a big announcement. Mick Jagger: “We’re here yeah, but we’re here to present our new single, which is called Angry and the video of it.” The track sounds like Classic Stones with pounding drums, massive guitar chords, and Mick’s unmistakable vocals. Mick Jagger (in a music video): “We haven’t made love and I want to know why.” The song is just a taste of the gem that’s coming our way. Mick Jagger: “Angry is the first single from our new album called Hackney Di...

She’s conquered the silver screen. Now Barbie’s new career has more in common with Messi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

New York (CNN) — Barbie isn’t one to rest on her laurels. She’s conquered the box office over the summer, breaking numerous records and turning the “Barbie” movie into a $1 billion global sensation.“Barbie” was distributed by Warner Bros., which is owned by CNN’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.Now, Barbie tackles a career path meant to showcase women at their active best. Mattel, on Wednesday, unveiled Barbie Women in Sports, its 2023 Barbie Career of the Year-themed dolls.“This year, knowing that women are severely underrepresented in the sports industry – from positions on the field to leadership in the locker room – Barbie is proud to introduce the Women in Sports lineup as the 2023 Career of the Year,” Mattel said in a release.The new dolls are dressed to represent four sports-related careers and, more broadly, to encourage girls to pursue involvement in sports which can help develop life skills and raise confidence, the company said.Among the new dolls are General Manage...

Four 1,900-year-old Roman swords found in cave in Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

(CNN) — Archaeologists have found four Roman swords and a shafted weapon known as a pilum dating from 1,900 years ago in a cave near the shore of the Dead Sea in Israel.The rare cache of weapons was found in the En Gedi Nature Reserve, preserved in wooden and leather scabbards, according to a press statement from the Israel Antiquities Authority published Wednesday.“Finding a single sword is rare—so four? It’s a dream! We rubbed our eyes to believe it,” the researchers said.The weapons were probably war booty taken from the Roman army by Judean rebels, according to the authors of a research article published Wednesday in the book “New Studies in the Archaeology of the Judean Desert: Collected Papers.”The first evidence—the pilum and pieces of worked wood that turned out to be scabbards—were found by chance in an isolated and inaccessible cave on cliffs by archaeologists studying a fragmentary ink inscription on a stalactite.Further investigation revealed four swords “in an almost in...

One year of Good Move in Brussels: Fewer cars, more cyclists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

This article is part of POLITICO’s Global Policy Lab: Living Cities, a collaborative journalism project exploring the future of cities. Sign up here.One year ago, central Brussels and cars had a very public divorce.As the summer came to a close, the city began implementing its ambitious version of the regional Good Move plan, which aims to slash automotive traffic by 24 percent by 2030. In a bid to stop cars from traversing across the city center — known as the Pentagon — and divert them onto a ring road, authorities converted major thoroughfares into one-way streets, restricted access to some avenues to public transport and priority vehicles, and even fully pedestrianized some boulevards.Twelve months on, the results are stark.“In a little over a year we’ve seen a 27 percent drop in transit traffic in the city center and an astonishing 36 percent jump in the number of cyclists on our streets,” said Bart Dhondt, the city’s alderman fo...

Small aircraft damaged after missing runway at Norwood Airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

Emergency crews were called to Norwood Airport on Wednesday night after a small aircraft was damaged when the pilot landed short of the main runway.Crews responding around 11 p.m. found the plane about 50 yards short of the runway with two people on board, according to the Norwood Fire Department.Both people refused medical treatment or transport.The plane’s propeller and wings were damaged.The cause remains under investigation.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Boston Public Schools bus drivers aiming to keep kids cool on hot first day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is expected to greet bus drivers as they head out to collect students for the first day of school and work to keep them cool on their way to and from classes amid sweltering conditions.Wu has declared a heat emergency through Friday as the feels-like temperature is expected to reach the high-90s in the city.Buses will be keeping their windows open and schools will be taking extra precautions over the next few days.Stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declares heat emergency through Friday amid sweltering conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a heat emergency through Friday as daily high temperatures are expected to reach into the 90s and the heat index expected to reach the high-90s. Cooling centers will be open at 15 Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) community centers Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A full list of centers can be found at boston.gov/heat. Additionally, 64 splash pads will be open at parks and playgrounds throughout the City. A list of open city pools can be found at boston.gov/pools.Boston Public Library locations are also available for residents to seek relief from the heat.“The impacts of climate change are more palpable than ever, with extreme heat posing risk to our communities,” Wu said in a statement. “Although extreme heat affects Bostonians of all ages, with the new school year starting, our Boston Public Schools staff will be following protocols to ensure our kids have an enjoyable, safe first week back at school. I’m grateful to our ...

Thursday Pickorama

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:44 GMT

We’re back with another year of the Thursday Pickorama. Each week during the regular season, we will attempt to prognosticate 10 of the top games. Sometimes, it goes better than others. Last year, we fell just short of 70 percent, so the gameplan is to exceed that total.Here goes our first attempt at surpassing that.DUXBURY over Hanover: Until proven otherwise, Dragons are still the pacesetter in the Patriot League.CATHOLIC MEMORIAL over Mansfield: Knights get the call here as they extend their winning streak to 30 before heading to Florida.Bishop Fenwick over MARBLEHEAD: Crusaders open the season with a solid victory on the road.Barnstable over BROCKTON: One of the tougher games on the docket to predict.Central Catholic over SPRINGFIELD CENTRAL: John Sexton Era gets off on the right foot.Cohasset over ABINGTON: The return of Liam Appleton makes the Skippers one of the favorites in the South Shore League.LINCOLN-SUDBURY over Methuen: Warriors return a ton of players on both si...