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Bill O’Brien takes share of blame for Patriots offensive struggles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

Coming off an offensive performance like Sunday’s, it would be easy for people to start pointing fingers and blaming each other for everything that went wrong. Mac Jones in particular would be ripe for criticism for his numerous miscues and poor decisions, but offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said the performance wasn’t all on Jones and that he and the coaches deserved their share of blame as well.“We’re all in it together, we’ve got to do a better job of coaching up some things with him a little better, he’s got to do a better job of making good decisions for us, he knows that. He takes a lot of ownership, you guys saw that after the game, he blames himself,” O’Brien said. “The game wasn’t lost because of one guy, the game was lost on our part because of how poorly we played and coached in the game. Mac is here today, he’s working very hard to get back on the right track and we have a lot of belief in Mac....

How much can you borrow with a home improvement loan?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

Meaghan Hunt | Bankrate.com (TNS)A home improvement loan can be used to fund renovations and projects on your house or property. And while a complete kitchen remodel or new flooring throughout your house can be a substantial undertaking, there are several types of home improvement loans available to help homeowners finance these projects.But as with any loan, terms and rates will depend on which type of home improvement loan you choose.How much home improvement loan can you get?Like with many personal loans, the amount you qualify for will depend on your credit score, current debts and income. Although it can be hard to ballpark what a large project will cost, you need to have a good idea of your budget before submitting any loan applications.The maximum amount of money you can get will also depend on what type of home improvement loan you apply for.•Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) are based on the equity you’ve built in the property and allow you to borro...

Massachusetts House to consider requiring pay ranges on most job listings during Wednesday session

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

House lawmakers plan to consider legislation Wednesday that would require businesses with at least 25 employees to list a salary or hourly wage range on a job posting, a move that advocates argue would primarily help women and people of color boost their pay.The bill would put Massachusetts in line with 10 other states across the country, including Rhode Island, New York, and Connecticut, for requiring pay disclosure but also place the commonwealth ahead of the curve with annual aggregate demographic and pay reports compiled by the state from federal forms.Advocates cheered the House’s plan to take up the bill after the chamber’s Ways and Means Committee made clear Tuesday morning they were advancing a version of the legislation originally co-sponsored by Sen. Patricia Jehlen and Rep. Josh Cutler, co-chairs of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee.Pay disclosure is necessary “to “level the playing field for all workers, close persistent gender and racial wage gaps, and help ...

Matt Poitras is making a strong push for a Bruins’ roster spot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

The Bruins are giving Matt Poitras every test available to them to see if the slick-passing 19-year-old is ready for a National Hockey League season.The latest? He was in the B’s lineup in the second half of a back-to-back coupled with a plum assignment in what would be a top six centerman role. After playing in Monday’s game in Philadelphia, picking up a helper in the B’s only goal of the game, Poitras was set to get right back at it on Tuesday at the Garden against the Washington Capitals, this time playing on a line with Brad Marchand and Trent Frederic.It seems like Poitras has at the very least earned a longer look-see. While the preseason is winding down and opening night is just a week away, coach Jim Montgomery said that the nine-game window in the regular season teams are allowed to test out players who aren’t eligible for the AHL like Poitras could be helpful, though he didn’t definitely say that’s the way the club is going.Poitras certa...

US Rep. Cuellar of Texas is back at work after being carjacked by 3 armed attackers near the Capitol

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was back at work on Tuesday after being carjacked the night before by three armed attackers less than a mile from the Capitol. Cuellar said he was “good” and even joked about the frightening experience. He said the robbers “came out of nowhere, and they pointed guns at me.”“I looked at one with a gun, another with a gun, and I felt one behind me,” he said. “They said they wanted my car, and I said, ‘Sure.’ You got to keep calm under those situations, and they took off.”Cuellar’s chief of staff Jacob Hochberg released a statement Monday night saying: “As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle. Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement.”Monday’s carjacking was the second assault on a member of Congress in the District of Columbia this year. In February, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted in her ...

John Gordon, artist who helped design Packers’ distinctive ‘G’ team logo, dies at age 83

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

DE PERE, Wis. (AP) — John Gordon, an artist who as a young art student helped design the Green Bay Packers’ distinctive “G” team logo, has died at age 83.Gordon died Saturday, said Matt Cotter, the owner of Cotter Funeral & Cremation Care in De Pere, Wisconsin. The funeral home posted an obituary which says Gordon died “surrounded by his family after living with Alzheimer’s disease.”Gordon was an art student at St. Norbert College in 1961 and was working as an assistant for Packers equipment manager Gerald “Dad” Braisher when he was offered the chance to design the team’s logo under then-coach Vince Lombardi, WLUK-TV reported.“Dad came down from his meeting with (Vince) Lombardi with a piece of paper in his hand, and he said that Lombardi wants a logo … and it’s going to be a ‘G’ in a football shape,” Gordon said in a video produced 10 years ago by St. Norbert College.Within 24 hours, Gordon’s sketched design was approved and the Packers’ original logo was born...

Kidnapping suspect who left ransom note also gave police a clue – his fingerprints

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — A fingerprint on a ransom note led police to a kidnapping suspect’s camper in New York where 9-year-old Charlotte Sena was found hidden in a cabinet, ending a two-day search sparked by the girl’s disappearance during a family camping trip, officials said. “We are thrilled that she is home and we understand that the outcome is not what every family gets,” the girl’s family said in a statement Tuesday, WRGB in Albany reported. Craig Nelson Ross Jr., 46, was arrested Monday at the camper parked at his mother’s house, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced at a news conference late Monday. Ross was arraigned overnight in town court in Milton, New York on a charge of first-degree kidnapping, the state police announced Tuesday. He was being held without bail at the Saratoga County Correctional Facility.Police said more charges are expected against Ross, whose age was initially given as 47.A message seeking comment was left with the Saratoga County Public D...

Alberta mountain town loses appeal on order by tribunal to allow major developments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

CALGARY — Alberta’s highest court has dismissed an appeal by a popular mountain community to reverse a decision by a provincial tribunal ordering it to allow two major developments that would almost double the town’s population.Canmore town council had rejected the proposed Three Sisters Village and Smith Creek projects, but the Land and Property Rights Tribunal of Alberta ruled in May 2022 that both developments could go ahead.The town, west of Calgary, had applied for permission to appeal that decision to the Court of Appeal of Alberta.It was allowed to proceed with its appeal on questions of law and jurisdiction.The Appeal Court says in its decision released today that the town has not established a basis for it to interfere with the tribunal’s decisions.The justices say that it’s apparent the planning and development issues underlying the appeal have divided the community, but adds that the role of the court is not to decide who is right.The two proposals...

Schumer to lead a bipartisan delegation of senators to China, South Korea and Japan next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to China next week, traveling to the country amid heightened tensions and after several members of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet visited over the summer. Schumer, along with Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, is visiting government and business leaders in China, South Korea and Japan “with the goal of advancing U.S. economic and national security interests” in the region, his office said Tuesday. Schumer — a long time critic of China — plans to talk to Chinese officials about human rights, concerns about Chinese-made fentanyl in American cities and China’s “role in the international community,” his office said, as well as areas for potential cooperation.Since the administration resumed direct Cabinet-level visits to China this summer after the Chinese spy balloon floated over the country, the two sides have been working to arrange another summit between Biden and Chinese Preside...

Jury hears Manuel Ellis’ last words at trial of Washington officers accused in the Black man’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:31 GMT

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Jurors heard the last words of Manny Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man who was punched, shocked with a Taser, put in a chokehold and held face down, during opening statements Tuesday in the trial of three Washington police officers accused in his death.“I can’t breath, sir. I can’t breath, sir. I can’t breath,” Washington Assistant Attorney General Kent Liu told jurors, describing what he said were Ellis’ last words, uttered several minutes before he died in front of paramedics on the street in Tacoma.“We are here today because this should not have happened,” Liu said. “Mr. Ellis did nothing wrong.” Officers Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank, both white, are charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. Officer Timothy Rankine, who is Asian American, is charged with manslaughter. It’s the first trial under a 5-year-old Washington state law designed to make it easier to prosecute police who wrongfully use deadly force. All three o...