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Massachusetts State Police wrong in punishing troopers over COVID-19 vaccine, arbitrator rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

A group of state troopers suspended without pay for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious beliefs can return to work, an independent arbitrator has ruled.Massachusetts State Police did not have the right to claim it couldn’t accommodate the request of eight troopers who sought religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate because of “undue hardship,” Arbitrator Bonnie J. McSpiritt determined in a ruling Friday.Seven of the eight troopers have been suspended since October 2021, when former Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID vax requirement for state employees went into effect. One trooper had already returned to his position upon receiving the vaccination before McSpiritt announced her stance.State Police Association of Massachusetts President Patrick McNamara, in a statement, said he alerted his seven union members on Friday that they can return to work. They will receive full back pay and earned seniority, he said.Trooper First Class Luke Bonin, the lone officer to have been va...

CM’s Ryan Higgins A Shot For Life boys champion in impressive fashion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

HANOVER — Ever since his childhood days, the court at Catholic Memorial has served as a sanctuary for Ryan Higgins and his father, Bruce. If you were to stroll into the West Roxbury gymnasium, chances are you would find the two, always striving to improve on their games.On Saturday, years of hard work paid off. Ryan Higgins would go on to convert 87.56% of his shot attempts, winning the 2023 A Shot For Life boys basketball championship at Starland Sportsplex and Fun Park in the process.For Higgins, capturing the title for his dad was an ultimate goal. During the last few years, his father has courageously battled melanoma. Yet in spite of everything, he has always been there, rebounding for his son as a mentor.“The link between him having cancer and this being a fundraiser for cancer, it means a lot,” Higgins said. “Because he’s had cancer for a while now. It’s been off and on. For (us) to win it, it feels great.”Higgins beat out numerous stars for the crown, including the likes of ...

Somerville building housing displaced students from shuttered school closes summer programming early

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

The Somerville building that will house students from a school shuttered due to rotting infrastructure has closed its summer programming early due to the “increasing disruption caused by the construction work currently underway there,” district officials said in a letter Friday.Workers preparing the Edgerly administrative building for students and staffers from the tired Winter Hill Community Innovation School removed asbestos in window caulking, prompting concerns from staffers and parents.Officials said they met with staff and families Friday to “assure them that the building was and remains safe to occupy” before they ultimately decided to cancel the remainder of summer school, which was slated to conclude Wednesday.Relocating Winter Hill students to the Edgerly necessitated improvements to the administrative building’s roofing, masonry and window caulking to keep it “watertight,” officials said. The asbestos removed in the window caulking was described as a type that does not af...

Seven vote centers open for District Four primary election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Registered voters in San Diego’s Fourth Supervisorial District can cast their ballot at any one of seven vote centers starting Saturday, Aug. 5.This comes 10 days ahead of the special election primary -- set for Aug. 15 -- to fill the vacant District Four seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.According to the County of San Diego Communications Office, the vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, Aug. 14 at the locations below: Meet the candidates in the special election for District 4 Supervisor Cuyamaca CollegePerforming Arts Center900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy., Lot 1El Cajon, 92019Encanto VFW Post #15126873 Federal Blvd.Lemon Grove, 91945North Park Recreation CenterMeeting Room4044 Idaho St.San Diego, 92104Columbus Club of San DiegoAssembly Hall4425 Home Ave.San Diego, 92105Father Junipero Serra Hall2540 San Diego Ave.San Diego, 92110North Clairemont Recreation CenterMeeting Room 24421 Bannock Ave.San Diego, 92117Skyline Hills B...

Oregon extends crab fishing restrictions to protect whales from getting caught in trap ropes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon has extended rules restricting the state’s lucrative Dungeness crab fishery in order to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in ropes attached to crab traps, the state’s fish and wildlife department has announced.Humpbacks, which migrate off Oregon’s coast, and other whales can get caught in the vertical ropes connected to the heavy traps and drag them around for months, leaving the mammals injured, starved or so exhausted that they can drown. Oregon’s Dungeness crab fishery is one of the backbones of the Pacific Northwest’s fishing industry, but crabbers fear that overregulation will harm the industry. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted late Friday to extend, with no sunset date, measures that were originally supposed to end after this season, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. The measures include limiting the number of crab traps in the water and how deep they can be placed in the months when...

Eagles reserve lineman Sills acquitted of rape, kidnapping charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (AP) — Josh Sills, a reserve offensive lineman for the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, has been acquitted of felony rape and kidnapping charges in Ohio and will be returning to the team’s active roster.Jurors in Guernsey County reached not-guilty verdicts on both counts Friday after deliberating for about three hours. Sills, 25, showed no reaction as the verdicts were read but immediately stood and thanked the panel when the judge offered him an opportunity to address them.“I’d like to thank my family who have supported me from day one,” he said. “I have done nothing wrong, and I’m glad that was proven today.” Defense attorney Michael Connick said the verdict “ends a nearly four-year nightmare for the Sills family, and particularly Josh.”The Sarahsville, Ohio, native was indicted Jan. 31 by a county grand jury, accused of having engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and holding a woman against her will Dec. 5, 2019. Ohio Attorne...

Man arrested, victims sought in west end assaults

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

Toronto police have a man in custody following a number of assaults in the west end Friday morning. Police say a man was running into traffic and harassing motorists in the area of Jane Street and Wilson Avenue around 9 a.m. He also allegedly assaulted several pedestrians who were in the area at the same time. Police located and arrested the man a short while later. Kevin Ogbogu, 28, of no fixed address has been charged with failing to comply with a probation order. Police are asking anyone who was assaulted by this man to come forward as victims of the alleged attacks had left the area prior to police arriving.

5.4-magnitude earthquake hits northeast China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck northeast China early Sunday morning.The moderate quake occurred about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Jinan, a city of roughly 9 million people.Shaking occurred at a shallow depth, according to Rafael Abreu Paris, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center.“The closer to the surface the earthquake is, the stronger you are going to feel it,” said Abreu Paris.Federal officials have not confirmed any deaths.__The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environmentThe Associated Press

Pence heckled by Trump supporters as 'sell out' after third indictment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

(The Hill) — Former Vice President Pence on Friday faced heckling from supporters of former President Donald Trump outside a campaign stop in Londonderry, N.H.“Why did you sell out the people?” one heckler can be heard saying in a video taken outside of the event and shared across social media. Map: Does your drinking water contain ‘forever chemicals’? Other Trump supporters can also be seen in the video, with one holding a sign with Trump’s name and his infamous “Make America Great Again,” slogan and another wearing a shirt that says “Ultra MAGA.” At one point, Pence responds to a heckler who asks him why he didn’t “uphold the Constitution.”“I upheld the Constitution,” Pence appeared to retort. “Read it!”Other media outlets reported the crowd also calling out that "there’s the sellout! There’s the traitor!” as Pence exited his vehicle.The parking lot confrontation comes in the same week Trump was indicted and arraigned in Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith’s investigat...

Officials responding to wildfire in Hays County, estimated at 70 acres

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:33 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Officials responded to a wildfire in Hays County Saturday, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services (HCOES) website.The wildfire, known as the Oak Grove fire, was reported in the 200 block of Oak Grove Road in San Marcos. It is estimated at 70 acres and 0% contained as of 4:22 p.m., according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Management and the Texas A&M Forest Service.The Hays County Wildland task force responded to the fire. Air assets are also being deployed to drop water on the fire.Officials responded to a large outside fire, known as Fox Fire, in Hays County Saturday, Aug. 5. | David Yeomans/KXAN NewsOfficials responded to a large outside fire, known as Fox Fire, in Hays County Saturday, Aug. 5. | KXAN viewer photoOfficials responded to a large outside fire, known as Fox Fire, in Hays County Saturday, Aug. 5. | David Yeomans/KXAN NewsThe National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio said on Twitter it could see the smoke plum...