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Boston City Council approves ordinance allowing police to clear tents, other temporary shelters at Mass and Cass

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

The Boston City Council on Wednesday voted to approve an ordinance to clean up tents and other temporary shelters in the area known as Mass and Cass. Mayor Michelle Wu proposed the ordinance back in August. As part of her announcement, Wu layed out a plan to give police the power to remove tents and tarps on public property and roads in cases where people living inside are offered alternative places to live, services, transportation and space to store their belongings. Months later, the City Council this week voted 9-3 in favor of approving the ordinance.Wu is scheduled to speak on Thursday morning about intersecting crises of substance use disorder, mental health issues and homelessness near the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue. A city spokesperson, in the meantime, said officials “are grateful to the Council for their partnership in approving this ordinance to help address the public safety of patients, workers, and residents in the area so ...

Police investigating after Newport, NH school bus windows shattered in act of vandalism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

Police in Newport, NH, are investigating an act of vandalism that left the windows on multiple school buses shattered.The Newport Police Department shared images of the aftermath Tuesday morning, which featured at least two school buses with over a dozen broken windows at the town’s bus garage.“This senseless act not only costs the taxpayers of our school district substantial money, it also interferes with the ability for our students to safely get to school,” the police department posted on Facebook.As police continue to search for a suspect, the department asks that anyone with information contact Officer Shawn Seymour or Sergeant Alex Marvin at (603) 863-3232.

Clark University students walk out of class to support Palestinian people

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

More than 100 Clark University students walked out of class on Wednesday to show solidarity with the Palestinian people amidst the fighting in the Middle East.“What we need for a short term solution is a ceasefire from our politicians,” said Raquyah Al-Ashabi, a Clark alum, at the event.The rally at Clark is part of a national day of action where young people are demanding their schools stop supporting companies that are providing military aid to Israel. The group peacefully gathered for about an hour.“We believe it’s not fair for our money to essentially be going to killing our own people,” said Laila El-Samra, with the Middle Eastern & North African Student Association, “and we also want them to release a statement acknowledging Palestine and the Palestinians.”“This was a rally of solidarity and to express public support,” said Aaron Kirschenbaum, who organized the rally.These walk-outs come as college campuses deal with rising tensions from students on either side of th...

Search underway for missing MIT professor who also teaches in western New York

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

A search continued in New York Tuesday for a missing MIT professor who authorities say may be in danger. Officials said Heikki Rantakari also teaches at the University of Rochester in New York and never showed up for class on Saturday. Rantakari was subsequently reported missing. “He’s got family back in Boston and, obviously, they’re concerned about him as well,” said Rochester Police Captain Greg Bello. “[T]hat’s what we’re trying to resolve here and try to figure out what happened.”New York investigators spent part of Tuesday searching an Airbnb where Rantakari had been staying. “We did find evidence that he was there,” Bello said. Bello said Rantakari checked into the Airbnb on Friday. “Now, it’s a matter of what happened from there and that’s what we’re trying to track down,” Bello continued. Rantakari is a visiting professor at MIT who also teaches economics at the University of Rochester.“Obviously, it’s concerning that he flew here for a ...

Connecticut dog trainer arraigned on charges connected to French bulldog’s death 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

At just 3-years-old, Charlie the French bulldog should have had plenty of life ahead of him. However, a two-week training session became a death sentence for Bart Hanson’s dog, police said.Josephine Ragland, a dog trainer Hanson hired, is accused of lying about Charlie’s death in order to keep collecting payments and lying to investigators.28-year-old Ragland from Connecticut pleaded not guilty to the charges.North Reading police began investigating when Ragland did not bring Charlie home in mid-September, as scheduled.“Initially, the defendant,who at this point was going by the name Lily, had stated that she got in a car accident and the dog had jumped out of the car,” the prosecutor said.Hanson said at that time, Ragland stopped answering their calls, and investigators said her story kept changing.Police later found Charlie dead near a Connecticut highway. A necropsy did not show any blunt force trauma but did show signs of starvation.“It’s very emotionally disconcerting for...

Ticker: Bud Light to return as UFC’s official beer; Apple hiking fees on streaming plans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

Bud Light is set to return as the official beer of the UFC in the U.S. next year as the brand tries to recover from a conservative backlash to a promotion with a transgender influencer.Under a new multiyear marketing deal between the promoter of mixed martial arts fights and Bud Light maker Anheuser-Busch, the brewer will become the UFC’s “Official Beer Partner” in the U.S. starting Jan. 1, the two companies announced.Outside the U.S., AB InBev, the parent of Anheuser-Busch, will be UFC’s official global partner.Financial details of the deal were not disclosed — but, citing a person familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that the global agreement marks the UFC’s largest sponsorship ever, surpassing a $175 million fight-kit deal signed with Crypto.com back in 2021.This isn’t the first time the UFC and the beer brand have paired up. Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were UFC’s original beer sponsors more than 15 years ago, UFC CEO Dana White ...

Red Sox announce hire of Craig Breslow as chief baseball officer

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

Less than a day after news broke that Craig Breslow would be the guy, the Red Sox made it official.The Red Sox announced Wednesday afternoon that Craig Breslow has been hired as chief baseball officer, handing the keys to the former left-handed pitcher who helped lead the club to a World Series championship in 2013.Breslow will succeed Chaim Bloom, who was fired in mid-September after nearly four years on the job.A 12-year big league veteran, Breslow has emerged as a rising star in the front office world, making a quick impression since joining the Chicago Cubs front office in 2019. Breslow has played an integral role in turning around the Cubs’ pitching development program, rising from director of strategic initiatives to his most recent role as assistant general manager/senior vice president of pitching.The Red Sox hope he’ll be able to get similar results, both in terms of building the major league club back towards contention and ending the organization’s recen...

Bruins notebook: Undefeated Bruins (6-0) still have a lot to prove

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

Bruins fans can be forgiven if they’re not terribly moved by the Bruins’ record-tying start to the season. The 2022-23 B’s broke all sorts of regular season records, of course, and never lived to see the month of May.But the B’s 6-0 start this year, which tied them with the 1937-38 team for the franchise record for best start to a season, is remarkable in that the half dozen performances have all been quite noticeably flawed in one way or another, yet they’ve still managed to come out on top, all in regulation no less.Yes, the B’s have gotten very good goaltending from Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. But they haven’t had to steal games, only hold the fort for a period or so before their teammates got their act together.And yes, the B’s competition has been pretty light. But let’s not forget that the Blackhawks, whom the B’s have beaten twice, went into Toronto and beat the Maple Leafs and the Predators, whom the B’s...

Source: Patriots re-signing Malik Cunningham to practice squad

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

The Patriots are re-signing quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham to their practice squad, according to a source.Cunningham was waived by the Patriots on Tuesday. He cleared waivers Wednesday at 4 p.m. before agreeing to rejoin the practice squad.Head coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday morning that the Patriots planned to bring Cunningham back to the practice squad as long as another team didn’t claim him. Belichick said waiving Cunningham on Tuesday was what was “best for the team.”Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Celtics’ Jayson Tatum discusses relationship with Tom Brady: ‘Tom is the best’ New England Patriots | Patriots receive encouraging news at Wednesday practice before Dolphins game New England Patriots | Mac Jones discloses ‘word of the week’ for Patriots after big win over Bills New England Patriots | Bill Belichick divulges Patriots’ future plans fo...

Murder warrant issued for missing Gardner man after wife found shot dead

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

A murder warrant has been issued for Aaron Pennington, the missing Gardner man wanted after police responded to the family’s home Sunday and found his wife dead after being shot in the face.Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early said the court issued the warrant three days after police began the search for Pennington who was previously sought in connection with his wife, Breanne Pennington’s death.Police responded to the couple’s Cherry Street home in Gardner Sunday morning after their four children went to a neighbor’s house. Upon arrival, police found Breanne Pennington, 30, dead.The four children are in state custody. Police recovered three bullet casings at the scene, but not gun, according to court documents.A massive search for Aaron Pennington began Sunday and has continued since.A bow hunter spotted Aaron Pennnington’s 2013 white BMW 320 Monday in the vicinity of Camp Collier, a Boy Scout camp in Gardner.Early’s office filed for the murder warrant, which was granted by ...