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Wu speaks out about surge of criminal activity, violence around Mass and Cass

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

Mayor Michelle Wu is now sounding the alarm about the situation in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, or Mass and Cass, and said it’s reaching a breaking point.“With additional drug activity, human trafficking and violence, the number of emergency calls have gone up significantly,” Wu said Wednesday. “The workers who’ve been out there day after day after day, are not feeling comfortable and like they can safely be there anymore.” For years, homeless people have flocked to the troubled area around Mass and Cass near where the South End and Roxbury neighborhoods meet. It’s also been a hub for drug dealing and for those with opioid-use disorder.“As always, we’re looking to connect people with housing, services, and supports, but we also know many of the people at Mass and Cass during the day do have housing. We continue to engage regularly with everyone to understand what their needs are,” Wu said.The mayor said she’s worked to sec...

Motorcyclist struck by truck in Plaistow, NH

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

A motorcyclist was hit by a truck in Plaistow, New Hampshire, and witnesses said the driver drove away from the scene without stopping.State and local police responded to the 100 Block of Main Street around 3:30 p.m.A local business shared video of the crash with local police, and while it was not shared for broadcast, it shows the moment of impact and when the truck drove away.Neighbors said speeding is a major issue in the area.“Unfortunately I have to see these things all the time,” said Jay Gordon who lives on the street. “It happens quite a bit here on this road, cars come whipping down here, and sometimes they don’t stop.”

Solve It 7: Gazebo Glitch

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

A Franklin woman wanted to spruce up her backyard to make it a great place to relax. But she says when contractors didn’t show, she contacted Solve It 7. Jen’s backyard is an oasis — with a stunning pool, lush landscaping, and cozy deck.“We love just being out here and being able to entertain with our family and friends,” Jen said.  To make her backyard a perfect paradise, Jen splurged on something special…“We purchased a gazebo,” Jen said. She paid the store an extra $950 to have it installed.  “Then, they transferred me to their installation company that they use to install the gazebo,” Jen said. Jen says she tried scheduling the job several times:“I just felt like I was in a three-ring circus and being bounced around and contractor after contractor canceling on me and not showing up for the job. It was really frustrating,” Jen said. She says she finally asked t...

Shot For Life All-Stars put on sensational show for charity

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

BRAINTREE – In a preliminary matchup, the Shot For Life All-Stars put on a show.In the now-annual All-Star game leading up to the Shot For Life Challenge this Saturday, the Blue and White All-Stars split contests between the best high school shooters in the New England area.Shot For Life founder Mike Slonina basked in the glory of the event and the organization he started has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Dr. Curry Research Lab on the campus of Massachusetts General Hospital in honor of his mother, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor back in 2010.“We fund trials in tandem CAR-T cell therapy. I started this at 17 when my mom was diagnosed, and while she is OK, we do this for the families that don’t have access to the best therapies,” said Slonina. “This (game) gives the athletes an opportunity to go up and down in our logo and our relationships with the athletes are important. This is just a prelude to the big event.”The event the All-Stars primarily participate in...

Mexico says the first body has been spotted near a floating barrier in the Rio Grande river

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government said Wednesday that the first dead body has been spotted along the floating barrier that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott installed recently in the Rio Grande river, across from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said authorities are trying to recover the body, and did not know the person’s nationality. Many had warned about the danger of the barrier, because it is designed to make it more difficult for migrants to climb over or swim under it.The department said Mexico had warned about the risks posed by the bright orange, wrecking ball-sized buoys on the Rio Grande. It also claimed the barrier violates treaties regarding the use of the river, and violates Mexico’s sovereignty.“We made clear our concern about the impact on migrants’ safety and human rights that these state policies would have,” the department said in a statement.The barrier was installed in July, and stretches roughly the length of three soccer ...

The Mega Millions jackpot has soared to $1.25 billion. Here’s how hard it is to win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s no shaking it. Your chances of winning the lottery are extremely slim. After no big winner Tuesday night, the Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.25 billion. If someone wins it all on Friday, when the next Mega Millions drawing takes place, the prize would one of the largest in U.S. lottery history.But don’t plan on entering a new tax bracket anytime soon. The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot — no matter the size — stand at about 1 in 302.6 million. And chances of taking home a top prize for Powerball, which had an estimated jackpot of $95 million Wednesday, are near 1 in 292.2 million.Because of the almost impossible chance of winning big, experts stress that you shouldn’t spend all your money on lottery tickets. If you choose to play, it’s important to be mindful of what you can afford — and maybe consider other places to put your money, even if it’s just a few dollars at a time.Lottery tickets are “definitely not good investments,” Matt...

Brazil coach Sundhage criticized over the team’s lack of flair after Women’s World Cup exit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil coach Pia Sundhage faced widespread criticism in the South American nation after the team was eliminated in the group stage at the Women’s World Cup.Commentators and fans complained about the team’s lack of flair and Sundhage’s tactics following a 0-0 draw Wednesday against Jamaica, a team Brazil beat 3-0 in the previous Women’s World Cup four years ago. The 63-year-old Swedish coach previously led the United States to two Olympic titles and has been in charge of Brazil since 2019. But her team lost in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and finished third in their World Cup group behind France and Jamaica. It is the first time since 1995 that Brazil didn’t reach the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup.The hashtag ParabensPia (CongratulationsPia in Portuguese) flooded social media channels in Brazil after the game, with many fans complaining that the team lacked creativity and that Sundhage was too cautious in mak...

Woman killed, toddler son among 3 others shot standing on sidewalk on Chicago’s South Side

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A 23-year-old woman was killed and three other people — including her 2-year-old son — also were shot Wednesday on Chicago’s South Side, police said.The toddler was hospitalized in good condition after being shot in a foot, as were his 29-year-old father, who also was shot in a foot, and a 62-year-old man, who was shot in the back, Chicago Police Department Chief of Patrol Brian McDermott said in a news conference near the scene in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.The victims were standing on a sidewalk around 3 p.m. when assailants got out of a vehicle and opened fire before fleeing the scene, McDermott said. The woman was shot multiple times and died later at a hospital, authorities said.The woman and the 29-year-old man were the parents of the toddler, McDermott said.No one was in custody.The Associated Press

14-year-old boy missing in waters off Hamilton found dead

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

The search for a missing 14-year-old who went missing in Lake Ontario off Hamilton has ended in tragedy. Hamilton police confirmed Wednesday night that the teen had been found deceased. No further details were provided as to where the boy’s body was recovered. The teen was reported missing last weekend near Beach Boulevard, east of Hamilton Harbour after a group of young people took an inflatable out on the water.Police say the boy went under the water and never resurfaced.Hamilton police, Hamilton fire, Ontario Provincial Police, the Canadian Coast Guard and Hamilton beach rescue were all part of the intensive search over the last several days.

UN given green light to monitor peace deal between Colombia’s government and its largest rebel group

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:54 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Security Council on Wednesday unanimously authorized the U.N. political mission in Colombia to help verify implementation of a cease-fire agreement between the government and the country’s largest remaining guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army.The council also expressed willingness to do the same if a cease-fire is reached with another armed group, the Estado Mayor Central.The U.N. has been monitoring a 2016 peace accord between the government and Colombia’s then largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. It ended more than 50 years of war in which over 220,000 people died and nearly 6 million people were displaced. More than 14,000 FARC fighters gave up their weapons under that agreement, but violence between some rebel groups has grown in parts of Colombia.Colombia’s government asked the council to extend the U.N. mission’s verification mandate to include the June cease-fire deal with the National Liberation A...