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Sumner Tunnel closure: Officials warn ‘very widespread congestion’ during coming week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

Though the Sumner Tunnel closed last Wednesday, transportation officials warned again Sunday, the real traffic test will come this week.“We’re here today really though to reiterate to drivers and regular commuters who are returning now from the holiday last week about the impacts that this project has,” said MassDOT Highway Adminstrator Jonathan Gulliver at a press conference Sunday morning. “With the Sumner Tunnel closed, it means that 1/3 of our main ways into the city from the North Shore is now taken out of service.”The Sumner Tunnel, which typically serves an estimated 39,000 vehicles a day, will be closed through August 31 for repairs. This is the first two planned long-term closures, the second of which will take place for two months next summer.There was “extremely light traffic” during the holiday week, Gulliver said Sunday. Starting around Tuesday, the normal crowd is expected to be back in force — which officials have previo...

4 ‘suspicious’ fires reported in Concord at the post office, National Park, and swim center

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

Four “suspicious” fires were reportedly set in Concord on Sunday at the post office, National Park and a swim center, according to officials who have identified a person of interest for the alleged arson spree.Investigators outside of Concord District Court also found items that were possibly related to the other fires. No fire was reported at the courthouse on Sunday.First responders initially at noon received reports of a fire at the Beede Swim and Fitness Center at 498 Walden St., which is located on the campus of Concord-Carlisle Regional High School.Upon arrival, crews found two fires — one of which was behind the swim center and the other was located in front of the center.Then about 30 minutes later, Concord Police and Fire received another report of a fire at the U.S. Postal Service at 34 Walden St.The fourth fire was reported about 30 minutes later at a shed on National Park property at 955 Lexington Road.No injuries were reported in the four fires.“...

Heavy rains cause flooding and mudslides in southwest Japan, where at least 6 people are missing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Torrential rain has been pounding southwestern Japan, triggering floods and mudslides and leaving at least six people missing Monday.Rains falling on the regions of Kyushu and Chugoku since the weekend caused flooding along a number of rivers as well as mudslides, closing roads, disrupting trains and cutting the water supply in some areas.The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency heavy rain warning for Fukuoka and Oita prefectures on the southern main island of Kyushu, urging residents in riverside and hillside areas to take maximum caution. More than 1.7 million residents in vulnerable areas were urged to take shelter. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said at least six people were missing.In the town of Soeda in Fukuoka prefecture, two people were buried underneath a mudslide. One was rescued alive, but the other was found without vital signs, the agency said. Further information on their condition wasn’t immediately available.In the city of Kara...

Lawyer speaks on next possible outcomes following Northwestern hazing investigation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — In the days ahead, Northwestern fans and alumni, Chicagoans, and the greater sports world alike will learn whether or not Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald will face further punishment in the aftermath of an investigation into hazing allegations made against the university’s football program.Lawyer Michael Levine, who has represented victims of hazing across the United States, told WGN News that more actions may be in store."If the coaching staff and others in the athletic department, if they were doing their job, they would have known about this," Levine said. "What the university is doing in response to this, it's too little, too late, a shockingly small slap on the wrist in light of what the allegations are." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: NU football players release statement, student newspaper details hazing allegations made against team Hazing allegations arose against the Northwestern football program last November, prompting the university to task a law ...

15-year-old boy missing from Montclare found safe

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department said 15-year-old Angel Rodriguez has been found safe.

Hays County brush fire 90% contained, officials say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County is about 50 acres in size as of Sunday evening, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services.Hays County said the Vineyard Hill fire was about 90% contained as of 6 p.m. Sunday. County officials said minimum crews will remain on scene overnight to observe and extinguish any potential hot spots.  "We've got plenty of water on hand," Mike Jones, Hays County's director of emergency services, said. No homes are currently at risk from the fire, and Jones added that his agency is not planning any evacuation of civilians. A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County has reached nearly 150 acres as of 9 p.m. Saturday (Photo Courtesy Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra).A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County has reached nearly 150 acres as of 9 p.m. Saturday (Photo Courtesy Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra).A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County has reached near...

Kelsey Plum scores 40 to power Aces to 113-89 blowout win over Lynx

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

On Friday, the Lynx were dominant in the first half and far from it in the second. It was still enough to beat a team with the WNBA’s worst record.Sunday, the league’s alpha team was in town. And Minnesota countered with its worst statistical defense of the season.The result was thus expected: Las Vegas 113, Minnesota 89.It is the most points allowed in regulation in franchise history. The Lynx allowed 127 in a double-overtime loss on July 24, 2010.In ending the Lynx’s five-game winning streak, the Aces shot 59.7% from the field — nearly 9% higher than Minnesota’s previous season-worst. The second-best long-distance team in the WNBA, Las Vegas was 17 of 39 from outside the arc. It’s offensive rating was 141, 30 points above the Lynx.“The Aces are good … but I was hoping for a little more resistance than what we got,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said.Especially against the Aces’ starting backcourt duo of Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray.Plum netted a franchise-record 40 points on...

Twins select high school outfielder Walker Jenkins with fifth overall pick in MLB draft

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

In the days leading into the draft, there was some buzz that the Twins might pick outside of the well-established top-five players if the remaining option was a high school player.Come draft night, that scenario didn’t play out.With the fifth pick in the MLB draft, the Twins selected prep outfielder Walker Jenkins out of South Brunswick High School in North Carolina, the last player available of what seemed to be a consensus top five.The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Jenkins, ranked the top prep player in the draft by MLB Pipeline, is a slugging center fielder with a lefty swing. Jenkins is said to have above average speed and a strong arm. Per MLB Pipeline, Jenkins is regarded as the best prep position player prospect to come out of the state of North Carolina since Josh Hamilton was selected with the first overall pick in 1999.Jenkins hit .417 as a senior with a .632 on-base percentage, earning North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the second straight year and solidifying hi...

Drag queen story time at Chaska children’s store met with outpouring of community support

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

A Chaska children’s boutique’s high-profile drag queen story time drew a supportive crowd Saturday morning in spite of protests.The event drew attention after the store’s owner posted a video on TikTok of an angry customer arguing that it promoted sexual entertainment for children. The video received more than 500,000 likes and thousands of comments supporting Little Roos.Darcie Baumann, who helped run the event, said in part due to these types of threats, the store was prepared when members of the right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys showed up on Saturday and shouted at attendees.Police and members of Minneapolis-based security team Sequeerity helped keep the peace, Baumann said.“We’re very lucky to be on private property and have the support of the property manager, and we were not going to engage,” Baumann said. “Any attention that we give them is just fueling that fire.”But what wasn’t expected was the 200-strong crowd that packed the store to ...

Outdated infrastructure blamed for recent water main breaks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:35:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Crews with the St. Louis Water Division were out Sunday to fix new main breaks from over the weekend, the latest of which happened near Tower Grove Park.City officials cited outdated infrastructure as the reason for the recent water main breaks around town."The concrete was popping up, and the next thing I know, water was shooting out of it. Then they were drilling holes over here. I don't know why," said Larry Luaders, lives across the street from the most recent break, near Magnolia and Grand.Luaders noticed changes throughout the day in the amount of water flowing down Magnolia. Lincoln County deputy killed in motorcycle crash "It started over there. Then it started up on top of the curb over there. Water was shooting out. It's all going down the street," he said. "You can see the street is cracked up all through there and up over there."Luckily, there hasn't been a change in water pressure, according to Luaders, but if it does happen, he's confident the Water Divis...