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Battenfeld: Shannon O’Brien’s surprise suspension creates more turmoil in $3 billion pot industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

Let’s see, put a hack political appointee and a pot industry executive at the helm of the state agency that’s supposed to regulate the $3 billion weed industry – what could possibly go wrong?State Treasurer Deb Goldberg’s incredibly bad decision to put former state Treasurer Shannon O’Brien at the helm of the Cannabis Control Commission has not surprisingly come back to bite her as O’Brien is now out just a year into her tenure.In a shameless and cowardly move, Goldberg leaked the news of O’Brien’s surprise suspension in a Friday news dump while the state was in a hurricane state of emergency – refusing to face the music for her ill-fated move.O’Brien’s ouster – which sounds permanent and ominous – signals new turmoil ahead for the CCC and the already reeling cannabis industry. The CCC has now lost all credibility and Goldberg has lost control.Goldberg would give no details about the reason for O’Brien’s paid suspension, declining to address the reasons behind the decision or how lo...

Bruins notebook: Defense will carry extra burden this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

At first glance, one would think that the Bruins are in good stead to keep its position at the top of the top of the league in keeping pucks out of its net.They are returning in net Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, who combined to win the Jennings Trophy, and their defense corps is mostly intact. They lost Dmitry Orlov to free agency, which was not unexpected yet still significant. But the B’s were already well on their way to establishing a league-best goals against average (2.12) before Orlov arrived here from Washington in a deadline deal.From the net out, the B’s are strong.But coach Jim Montgomery expects his D corps to carry a heavier burden this year. The team has lost three of their four centermen from last year – Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement, Tomas Nosek to free agency – and the centers play a key role in the B’s defensive system. Only Charlie Coyle remains from last year’s crop centers while Pavel Zacha moves to the middle on a f...

Brockton man held without bail after dragging state trooper while fleeing a traffic stop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

A Brockton man is being held without bail after he dragged a state trooper on a busy city roadway as he sped away from a traffic stop.A judge at Brockton District Court set the bail status for Derek Lobo, 31, on Friday, pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Wednesday, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz.Authorities allege Lobo had nearly 11 grams of suspected fentanyl on him when he dragged the trooper.The incident unfolded on Montello Street around 6 p.m. Wednesday, when two Massachusetts State Police troopers, on patrol in the area, stopped Lobo in the Mercedes he had been driving with windows obstructed by a non-transparent tint and no front license plate.An initial record check found the inspection sticker on the Mercedes had expired, according to a release from the Plymouth DA’s Office. One trooper stayed by Lobo’s side while the other went back to their cruiser to conduct a further computer check which revealed Lobo’s license was expi...

Biden set for busy week of foreign policy, including talks with Brazil, Israel and Ukraine leaders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’ s busy agenda for his time at the annual U.N. General Assembly next week will include meetings with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.He’ll then return to Washington for critical talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan also confirmed that Biden will host Zelenskyy on Thursday for talks at the White House. Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with Democratic and Republican lawmakers while in Washington.The sit-down — Zelenskyy’s third visit to the White House since Biden took office — comes as Congress is increasingly divided over providing additional funding for Ukraine as the war is well into its second year. Biden has sought a package of $13.1 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine and $8.5 billion for humanitarian support. It also includes $2.3 billion for financing and to catalyze donors through t...

What are the articles of impeachment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

The Texas Senate is deliberating 16 articles of impeachment against state Attorney General Ken Paxton after a two-week trial. Paxton, a Republican and star of the conservatives legal movement, was suspended from office in May when the GOP-controlled House voted 121-23 to impeach him on 20 articles that include bribery and abuse of public trust. Most of the articles deal with Paxton using his office to benefit a wealthy donor, Nate Paul, prompting eight of the attorney general’s top deputies to report him to the FBI in 2020.The Senate did not take up four of the articles. Three of those date back to Paxton’s pending 2015 felony securities fraud case, including lying to state investigators. The other is related to Paxton’s ethics filings in the impeachment trial. Paxton would be permanently removed from office if he is convicted of any of the articles.A look at the 16 articles the Senate is considering and the four that it set aside:DISREGARD OF OFFICIAL DUTYARTICLE 1 – Protecti...

A Georgia state senator indicted with Trump won’t be suspended from office while the case is ongoing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia state senator won’t be suspended from office after he was one of 18 others indicted along with former President Donald Trump on charges that he sought to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state.A three-person panel didn’t recommend that state Sen. Shawn Still be temporarily removed from office while the case is pending, Garrison Douglas, a spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp, said Friday.Still, a Republican who lives in suburban Johns Creek to the borth of Atlanta, is a swimming pool contractor and former state Republican Party finance chairman. He was one of 16 Georgia Republicans who signed a certificate falsely stating that Trump had won the state and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors.Still was the secretary of that meeting and is one of only three members of that group who was indicted. He faces seven counts, including the main racketeering charge as well as felony counts...

A look at notable impeachments in US history, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial on corruption allegations is among several such proceedings that have occurred in U.S. history.Impeachment is a political proceeding, not a court one. Typically in a U.S. legislative body, it is the House of Representatives that impeaches an officeholder, charging him or her with wrongdoing. The Senate then conducts a trial, and a guilty verdict results in ejection from office. Sometimes that includes a stipulation that prevents future qualification to hold office. In Texas, an impeachment charge from the House results in immediate suspension from office, as is the case for Paxton. The Senate is deliberating articles of impeachment to determine whether Paxton is permanently removed. He is accused of trying to protect an Austin real estate developer who was indicted in June on federal charges of making false statements to banks. In the past 25 years, impeachment has been used three times against two presidents. The current GOP-led...

A Colorado mountain tied to an 1864 massacre is renamed Mount Blue Sky

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Federal officials on Friday renamed a towering mountain southwest of Denver as part of a national effort to address the history of oppression and violence against Native Americans.The U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted overwhelmingly to change Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky at the request of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes and with the approval of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. The Arapaho were known as the Blue Sky People, while the Cheyenne hold an annual renewal-of-life ceremony called Blue Sky.The 14,264-foot (4,348-meter) peak was named after John Evans, Colorado’s second territorial governor and ex officio superintendent of Indian affairs. Evans resigned after Col. John Chivington led an 1864 U.S. cavalry massacre of more than 200 Arapaho and Cheyenne people — most of them women, children and the elderly — at Sand Creek in what is now southeastern Colorado.“It is a huge step, not only for the Cheyenne and Arapaho people, but also for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Sout...

North Dakota panel will reconsider denying permit for Summit CO2 pipeline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota utility regulators in an unusual move granted a request to reconsider their denial of a key permit for a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline.North Dakota’s Public Service Commission in a 2-1 vote on Friday granted Summit Carbon Solutions’ request for reconsideration. Chairman Randy Christmann said the panel will set a hearing schedule and “clarify the issues to be considered.”Reconsideration “only allows additional evidence for the company to try to persuade us that they are addressing the deficiencies,” he said.Denying Summit’s request would have meant the company would have to reapply, with a monthslong process that would start all over again without any of the information in the current case, including lengthy testimony.Summit Executive Vice President Wade Boeshans told The Associated Press that the company appreciates the panel’s decision and the opportunity to present additional evidence and address the regulators...

Women’s World Cup winners maintain boycott of Spain’s national team, coach delays picking her squad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:01 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The new coach of Spain’s women’s team had to delay the announcement of her first squad Friday after nearly all of the country’s World Cup-winning players maintained their boycott of the national team as part of their fight against sexism in soccer.Spain coach Montse Tomé was set to announce her squad Friday. But 20 minutes before a scheduled news conference, the federation said it was postponed to a time to be determined.The federation said the players had rejected their attempts to convince them to return to the team early Friday.That leaves Tomé with the difficult decision of whether to still call up the players revolting, or select a completely different team for upcoming Nations League games against Sweden and Switzerland on Sept. 22 and 26. According to Spanish sports law, athletes are required to answer the call of its national teams unless there are circumstances that impede them from playing, such as an injury.Spain’s women have had ...