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COVID wastewater data jumps south of Boston; Massachusetts launches new viral respiratory illness dashboards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

The COVID wastewater data for the south-of-Boston region has been jumping in the last few days, while overall reported virus cases across the Bay State ticked down last week.Meanwhile, Massachusetts health officials on Thursday launched several new dashboards to track viral respiratory illness trends in the state. The new dashboards are focused on COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial syndrome (RSV).“As we experienced to a certain extent last year, we’re heading into a winter where COVID-19, influenza and RSV are likely to co-circulate,” State Epidemiologist Catherine Brown said during a recent briefing about the dashboards.“We all experienced kind of the predominance of COVID for so long, and then last season with the tripledemic, we started to really see what our future might look like,” Brown added. “And it was during that tripledemic where everybody needed information about what was happening with more than just COVID. We needed to lo...

What would be banned under proposed Massachusetts gun law? Here’s a brief rundown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

A broad-ranging new gun control bill unveiled in Massachusetts on Thursday would ban most so-called “assault-style” firearms.“No person shall possess, own, offer for sale, sell or otherwise transfer in the commonwealth or import into the commonwealth an assault-style firearm, or a large capacity feeding device as defined in section 121,” it reads.What are those guns? The bill would change section 121 of the state’s Chapter 140 laws to replace “assault weapon” with “assault-style firearm” and define the latter as one of five things.Any semi-auto, magazine-fed centerfire rifle with a folding or telescopic stock, thumbhole or pistol grip, forward grip, the ability to accept a flash suppressor, or that has a heat shield on the barrel.Any semi-auto, magazine-fed pistols threaded to accept a flash suppressor or silencer, a forward grip, or that has a heat shield that isn’t part of the slide.Any semi-auto, magazine-fed shotgun wit...

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Worst Chicago pro sports teams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

If you’re a fan of Chicago’s professional sports teams, then it’s been a mostly forgettable year.Okay, there have been a few highlights. The Blackhawks selected 17-year-old Canadian phenom Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft. The Bears also had the first pick for the first time in 77 years in April’s NFL draft but traded it to the Carolina Panthers.Otherwise, disappointment has been a common theme. The Bulls let a late lead slip away in a 102-91 loss to the Miami Heat on April 14, ending their season 1 win shy of a playoff berth and then lost the NBA lottery for a first-round pick. The Sky, despite losing star players and their coach/general manager James Wade, made the first round of the WNBA playoffs in September — but were quickly swept by the Las Vegas Aces, the league’s reigning champions.Need more proof? Take Sunday, for example. The Cubs were shutout 4-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field and closed the s...

Patriots-Saints injury report: Rhamondre Stevenson (thigh) limited again Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was limited for a second straight practice, along with nine other players who did not fully participate.Outside linebacker Matt Judon and cornerback Christian Gonzalez were the only players missing. Both are expected to miss most of, if not all, of the rest of the season.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | J.C. Jackson appears in Massachusetts court one day after returning to the Patriots: He must complete reckless driving course by next week New England Patriots | Patriots captain explains what he really loves about veteran addition New England Patriots | J.C. Jackson wears new number, chats up Robert Kraft at Patriots practice Thursday New England Patriots | Patriots veteran expects J.C. Jackson to make immediate impact New England Patriots | Callahan: J.C. Jackson trade a no-brainer for the Patriots, so what’s next? In New Orleans, three players ̵...

How Celtics view championship window after Jrue Holiday trade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

Brad Stevens long coveted Jrue Holiday dating back to his days as the coach of the Celtics. Now that he has him, and now that he has the power to do so as the team’s president of basketball operations, he can keep him even longer.Holiday has two years left on his contract – including a 37.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season – and while he will be 35 when he’s set to his free agency in 2025, it seems as though the Celtics are interested in signing their new guard to a contract extension.“We’ve wanted him here for a long time and when the time comes and we’re allowed to talk about those types of things, this is something we hope can be a long-term relationship,” Stevens said Wednesday.The financials to make such an extension possible certainly get complicated going forward. Jaylen Brown’s supermax extension kicks in next summer. Jayson Tatum’s expected supermax would start in 2025. The C’s already have Kristaps Porzingis locked in through 2026.The Celtics, as it stands now,...

'Ravioli-sized' big skates born at Birch Aquarium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- There's a new sight to see at Birch Aquarium -- but look closely, or you might miss them.Several big skate babies were born this week, the aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego announced Wednesday. Though the newborns are the size of raviolis right now, big skates can grow to be eight-feet long -- about the size of a surfboard. As their name implies, big skates are the biggest skates species found in North America. California man comes face-to-face with coyote that entered through doggie door While skates look a lot like stingrays, they're a different species. Skates don't have a stinging barb and don't give live birth.The newborns will live in the nursery habitat in the Hall of Fishes and "behind-the scenes," the aquarium said. When they get bigger, they'll be moved around the aquarium.

Ex-USC gynecologist charged with sexually assaulting students dies before going to trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former University of Southern California campus gynecologist at the center of more than $1 billion worth of university payouts stemming from sexual abuse allegations by hundreds of women was found dead inside his home Wednesday, his lawyer said.George Tyndall, 76, was awaiting trial on more than two dozen criminal counts of sexual misconduct between 2009 and 2016 at the university’s student health center. He pleaded not guilty in 2019 and was free on bond ahead of a trial that had not yet been scheduled. His lawyer, Leonard Levine, confirmed his death Thursday.A close friend went to Tyndall’s home in Los Angeles on Wednesday after he had not answered her phone calls, Levine said. She found him dead in his bed.Levine said there is “no evidence of foul play or suicide.”Levine said Tyndall was due back in court later this month to set a date for his trial. His client had denied any wrongdoing and wanted to present his case before a jury.“He’s always maintained hi...

‘Prophet of Doom’ who wounded 10 in New York City subway shooting is sentenced to life in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who sprayed a New York City subway car with bullets during rush hour, wounding 10 people and sparking a citywide manhunt, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison after several of his victims tearfully and angrily recounted their ongoing trauma.Frank James, 64, pleaded guilty earlier this year to terrorism charges in the April 12, 2022, mass shooting aboard a Manhattan-bound train. He received a life sentence on 10 counts and 10 years for an 11th count for discharging a firearm during an act of violence.Three of his victims spoke in court of the physical and emotional pain they continue to experience more than a year after the bloody attack in a packed subway car.“I have not been able to make sense of it,” said a young man identified as B.K. At times his voice cracked as he spoke and his eyes turned glassy from tears.Another victim, a 51-year-old man identified as L.C., told the court he had post traumatic stress disorder and thoughts of suicide. L.C., who said...

Outgoing Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson wins Winnipeg seat in election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

WINNIPEG — Outgoing Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson has hung on to her legislature seat for the Progressive Conservatives. Unofficial results from Elections Manitoba following Tuesday’s provincial election show she is the successful candidate in Winnipeg’s Tuxedo riding.Stefanson nudged out NDP candidate Larissa Ashdown by 263 votesStefanson announced she was stepping down as leader of the Tories after Wab Kinew’s New Democrats won a majority government.The outgoing premier met briefly with Kinew Thursday morning one-on-one to discuss the transition of power. A date for when the New Democrats take office has yet to be set.Stefanson has not said whether she plans to continue as a legislature member. The Tories say she will speak about her next steps in the coming days. On election night, Stefanson thanked the residents of Tuxedo where she has served for the past 23 years. “I have served in Opposition in the past so I understand the fundamental role that Opp...

Nova Scotia to address housing shortage by boosting tax for short-term rentals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:07 GMT

HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government’s plan to increase the annual registration tax for short-term rentals, such as apartments and Airbnbs, is being panned by the province’s opposition parties as inconsequential.Housing Minister John Lohr said following a cabinet meeting Thursday the government’s goal by raising taxes is to encourage people to convert their short-term rentals into long-term ones, but he admitted the plan likely won’t do much to address the housing shortage.“We recognize that it won’t be many, but I will say every unit counts,” said Lohr, about the number of additional long-term rentals the higher taxes would bring. “There will certainly be some.”The minister said legislative amendments would be introduced during the legislature’s fall sitting, which begins Oct. 12, to be followed by regulations that will take effect in April.Under the changes, Lohr said, the annual tax for owners who rent a room in a home will be $10, while the tax to list an entir...