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Boston City Council approves ordinance to ban tests, other temporary shelters at Mass and Cass

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

The Boston City Council on Wednesday voted to approve an ordinance that will ban tents and other temporary shelters in the troubled area known as Mass and Cass. Mayor Michelle Wu proposed the ordinance back in August. As part of her announcement, Wu layed out a plan to give police the power to remove tents and tarps on public property and roads in cases where people living inside are offered alternative places to live, services, transportation and space to store their belongings. Months later, the City Council this week voted 9-3 in favor of approving the ordinance.City Council President Ed Flynn spoke during a city council meeting Wednesday, detailing his reason for voting “yes.”“The number one reason is these tents need to come down,” Flynn said. “They’ve been up long enough. We should never have this situation in the city of Boston again.”Wu is scheduled to speak on Thursday morning about intersecting crises of substance use disorder, mental health issues an...

Former patient willed $500,000 to Auburn Fire Department for new ambulance, equipment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

The Auburn Fire Chief says they often get thank you cards and the occasional donation, but nothing has ever been so large that it will help for years to come. A few months ago, the chief got the surprise of a lifetime when a former patient donated $500,000.“This is the ultimate in paying it forward,” Chief Stephen Coleman said. “She’s going to still be able to provide assistance for people in a final act of kindness.”The donor was Debbie Virgilio, who was a regular patient of Auburn first responders toward the end of her life. With the donation, the fire department purchased a brand new, fully loaded ambulance, as well as new equipment for the department’s three other ambulances.“She was just always impressed with the level of care and compassion she received from the paramedics,” Coleman said.The department already had funds set aside to buy an ambulance, so Virgilio’s donation allowed the department to upgrade other parts.“Some very needed building repairs at our fire h...

Solve It 7: Loan Payment Problem

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

A local mom wanted to help her daughter with her student loan. But when her payment didn’t get posted to the account, she turned to Solve It 7 for help.  Brandon Gunnoe has the story.  Angela beams with pride showing us her daughter Valerie’s graduation photos.“It’s a proud moment to see her finish school and have done so well,” Angela said. Valerie graduated from Assumption University this year with her degree and student loan debt.“Student loans were a hot topic in the news telling us the grace period was ending,” Angela said. Knowing interest would start accruing in September — Angela made a $5000 payment on Valerie’s loan — in July.“I thought, let’s get the ball rolling. Let’s drop the balance down a little bit,” Angela said. The student loan servicing company sent an email saying:“Thank you for your payment,” which “will be poste...

Orioles make pitching coach changes, with Chris Holt remaining as director of pitching

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

Neither of the Orioles’ pitching coaches will be back on manager Brandon Hyde’s staff in 2024, though one will remain in the organization.Chris Holt will focus on his duties as Baltimore’s director of pitching and no longer also serve as the club’s major league pitching coach, while assistant pitching coach Darren Holmes is the lone other member of the staff not expected to be back next season, a source with direct knowledge of the team’s plans confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.Holt, 44, was one of Mike Elias’ first hires after the latter became the Orioles’ executive vice president and general manager in November 2018, with Holt having served as a minor league pitching coach and coordinator in the Houston Astros’ system while Elias was in their front office. Holt has since played a major role in both Baltimore’s pitching program overall and the growth of individual pitchers, notably helping left-hander John Means in the spring of 2...

At least 10 dead in Maine shooting and number expected to rise, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

By David Sharp, Associated PressLEWISTON, Maine (AP) — At least 10 people were killed Wednesday in shootings in Lewiston, Maine, and the death toll is expected to rise, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.The officials said multiple people had also been wounded. Investigators were still processing the crime scenes and working to gather evidence. Police were searching for the man who opened fire Wednesday at two locations in the Maine city.The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.Lewiston Police said in an earlier Facebook post that they were dealing with an active shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley.“Please stay off the roads to allow emergency responders access to the hospitals,” police said.On its website, Central Maine Medical Center said staff were “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event” and were coordinati...

2003 Cedar Fire: Residents, first responders remember destruction of blaze

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Wednesday marks 20 years since the devastating Cedar Fire ripped through San Diego.October 25, 2003, is a day etched into the minds of so many San Diegans.The Cedar Fire impacted the lives of thousand of people, and changed the way our local officials fight fires.At the time, the Cedar Fire was the largest wildfire in California History."I remember that day so vividly clear," said Bob Ilko, a Scripps Ranch resident and president of the Scripps Ranch Civic Association. "It was a war zone."The fire killed 15 people, burned about 280,000 acres and destroyed 2,800 buildings, including 312 homes in Scripps Ranch.Ilko talked with FOX 5 and showed the damage. He pointed out one street, Pinecastle, where all of the homes, but for one, burned down. 7 hospitalized amid E. coli outbreak linked to Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch "That was quite the shock," Ilko said. "It was hell for Scripps Ranch and it's something that we weren't really prepared for as a community."  On the date,...

New Terminal 1 entrances at SAN to open this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego International Airport (SAN) is opening new entrances to Terminal 1 starting Friday.The new entrances, located on N. Harbor Drive, will be available to both pedestrians and drivers, Nicole Hall with SAN said in a press release Wednesday.New Terminal 1 Entrance Road (San Diego International Airport)Drivers traveling westbound on N. Harbor Drive will notice a difference as the new Terminal 1 entrance comes up earlier for motorists than the previous one, according to airport officials. Pedestrians will use a new path that begins near the intersection of N. Harbor Drive and Harbor Island Drive."Drivers should slow down, watch for signage, and be prepared to share the road with construction vehicles," Hall said.Meanwhile, crews will continue to work on the New T1 Parking Plaza, a five-level structure that features 5,200 parking spaces. It is set to open in late 2024.The changes are part of the airport's plan to renovate Terminal 1 that began in Nov. 2021. Phase ...

No, 1 pick Victor Wembanyama is set to debut with the San Antonio Spurs and the world is watching

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama is set to make his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks, and the world is watching.“How can I deny that,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “It’s pretty obvious. Victor’s had a lot of attention pointed toward him for a very long time and that’s not going to change. Fortunately for us, he’s a really mature, prioritized young man that knows what he wants. He’s already a pro.”The No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft drew the undivided attention of fans and media filling the lower bowl of the Frost Bank Center while simply practicing free throws before Wednesday night’s season opener.Dubbed “The Extraterrestrial” by Nike, the 19-year-old from France who stands nearly 7-foot-4, has been astounding with his otherworldly play. In preseason action, he blocked 3-point shots with his 8-foot wingspan and Euro-stepped from the free throw line to the rim for a dunk in two strides without a dribble.Wemb...

Thousands of Las Vegas hotel workers fighting for new union contracts rally, block Strip traffic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Thousands of hotel workers fighting for new union contracts rallied Wednesday night on the Las Vegas Strip, snarling traffic during rush hour as dozens took to the street vowing to be arrested to bring attention to the labor union’s negotiations with three major casino companies.Dozens of workers sat in two separate circles across multiple lanes of the Strip, stopping cars in both directions. Police officers stood by with zip ties but did not immediately arrest the workers.The Culinary Workers Union said ahead of the protest that 75 workers could be arrested for “civil disobedience” after they blocked traffic between the iconic Bellagio and Paris Las Vegas resorts — an area already facing significant road closures due to construction for the Formula 1 races scheduled to take over the Strip next month.Kimberly Dopler, a cocktail server at Wynn Las Vegas since it opened in 2005, said in an interview as the protest began Wednesday that she was among those who pla...

Imprisoned ‘apostle’ of Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo charged with federal child pornography

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The head of a Mexican megachurch who is serving more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing young followers was charged Wednesday with two federal crimes involving a 16-year-old girl, prosecutors said.A federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted Naasón Joaquín García, 54, on two charges of possessing and producing child pornography, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.When he was arrested in California in 2019, Garcia had an iPad that contained five videos depicting the then-teenaged girl engaging in sexual activity, the statement said. “We did not indict until after the state case was finished,” the U.S. attorney’s office added in an email.Garcia is the head of La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World), which claims to have 5 million followers worldwide. Believers consider him to be the “apostle” of Jesus Christ.But prosecutors in California say Garcia used his spiritual sway to have sex with girls and young wom...