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New housing chief eyes state land to ease crunch

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

It’s Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus now.Gov. Maura Healey swore-in Augustus Thursday morning as the brand new secretariat charged with overseeing housing in Massachusetts, lowering associated costs, and dealing with the many different stakeholders in the industry.In his new role, Augustus said he wants to move quickly to inventory surplus state land that can be used for housing production.“There’s a lot of state land that isn’t necessarily being used right now. And that land belongs to the people of the commonwealth and that land should be put to use for the needs of the people of the commonwealth,” he told reporters at the State House. “And there can’t be a more severe and significant and pressing need than creating housing.”The new cabinet-level position completes the split of the original Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development into two entities. The Department of Housing and Community Development will fall under Augustus’ purview.A...

Biden falls on stage during Air Force graduation ceremony

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

President Biden was uninjured after falling on stage congratulating the last of the Air Force Academy graduates at a commencement ceremony Thursday.Biden, who delivered the commencement address and stayed on stage for a couple of hours as diplomas were awarded, could be seen in a video stumbling and falling. He was helped up by Air Force officials and pointed at a sandbag that appeared to be the cause of his tumble."He's fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands," White House communications director Ben LaBolt tweeted.Footage of the fall quickly circulated on social media, with Republican officials among those sharing it.At 80, Biden is the oldest individual ever to serve as president, and his age and fitness for office is likely to be a key factor as he runs for reelection in 2024.Biden has previously acknowledged that it's fair for voters to wonder about his age. But he has responded by saying that he remains up for the job, and those who are unsure should simp...

Rabbi recounts fear and heroism during deadliest antisemitic attack in US history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rabbi Jonathan Perlman took the witness stand Thursday wearing the yarmulke he had on the day a gunman burst into his Pittsburgh synagogue during Sabbath services and began shooting anyone he could find.The skullcap Jews wear as a reminder of God’s presence fell off during the Oct. 27, 2018, assault on the Tree of Life synagogue, which was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Authorities kept it as evidence for years, and Perlman, the rabbi for one of the three congregations who shared the building, only recently got it back.As he recalled the terrifying events of that day, Perlman, 59, also assumed his role as a teacher to explain the stitched Hebrew lettering on his yarmulke, which read, “There is nothing aside from Him,” “This is a God who is present to all aspects of creation,” he told the federal jury.It was one of several moments during the trial over a brutal act of violence against Jews in which survivors used the opportunity to edu...

Store owner charged with killing a teen shot at people he suspected of shoplifting before

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A store owner in South Carolina charged with murder this week after shooting a teen he wrongly thought stole water has shot at suspected shoplifters two other times in the past eight years and not faced charges, authorities said.In 2018, Rick Chow confronted a shoplifter at his Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia and the man attacked him, Richland County deputies said. Chow fired two shots and the man was wounded in the leg, investigators said. The man pleaded guilty to charges in the case.In 2015, Chow fired several shots at a vehicle after he tried to stop someone he suspected of shoplifting, and the suspect got into the vehicle and threatened to shoot Chow, deputies said. No one was hurt.In both cases, authorities said Chow’s actions were not criminal. Self-defense law in South Carolina requires the shooter doesn’t instigate the incident, believes he is in imminent danger and has no way to avoid that danger.Deputies decided that was not the case Sund...

Biden tells US Air Force Academy graduates their leadership needed; trips after speech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday thanked U.S. Air Force Academy graduates for choosing “service over self” but said they now have the “great privilege” of leading in a world that will only get more confusing in the years to come. His appearance was punctuated by a stumble onstage after handing out diplomas to graduates. “Graduates, you made a noble choice to lead a life of service,” Biden told more than 900 cadets in remarks on the sun-splashed field at Falcon Stadium in Colorado. “Now you also shoulder a great privilege and a mighty responsibility. Leadership, yeah leadership.”“In the years ahead, your airmen and guardians are going to look to you for guidance and inspiration because the world is going to get more confusing,” he added. “They’ll put their trust in you. You, in turn, must strive to always be worthy of their confidence.”Near the end of the ceremony, the 80-year-old president turned to walk across the stage and tripped. He was ...

Re/Max report forecasts commercial real estate upswing later this year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

A new report released by Re/Max Canada predicts some Canadian cities could see an upswing in demand for commercial real estate in the next six months.The company says despite evolving conditions in the sector since the pandemic, it sees resilience across the 12 commercial real estate markets it reviewed in the first quarter of 2023.Industrial real estate is leading the way, with rising property values in B.C. and Ontario causing a spillover of demand to cities such as Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, London-St. Thomas, Halifax and St. John’s. But Re/Max says the office sector continues to struggle across the country amid the increase of hybrid work models, which has prompted the repurposing of some office space to residential use in major cities.The report indicates land sales remain “solid” despite continued high interest rates and construction costs.Meanwhile, it says retail is “surprisingly robust” despite the growth of online sales in recent ye...

Authorities recover bodies of 2 sisters after vessel found submerged in Alaska; 2 still missing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Authorities have recovered the bodies of two sisters onboard a fishing charter boat that was found partially submerged off southeast Alaska amid rough seas. Two others remain missing from the charter, which was taken by two vacationing couples. Alaska State Troopers said they believe the bodies are those of Danielle Agcaoili, 53, of Waipahu, Hawaii, and her sister Brandi Tyau, 56, of Canoga Park, California. They were recovered from the boat around 5 p.m. Wednesday and taken to the state medical examiner’s office. Robert Solis, 61, Tyau’s partner, and the boat captain, Morgan Robidou, 32, of Sitka, Alaska, remain missing. Danielle Agcaoili’s partner Maury Agcaoili, 57, was found unresponsive in the water near the boat Sunday and later pronounced dead, according to authorities.The 30-foot (9-meter) aluminum charter vessel was overdue Sunday evening and last seen earlier that day near Sitka, a community about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest ...

Governor raises gay pride flag over Wisconsin Capitol in show of support for LGBTQ+ community

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A gay pride flag rose over the Wisconsin Capitol on Thursday in a sign of support for the LGBTQ+ community as it weathers heightened attacks from conservatives across the country.Democratic Gov. Tony Evers ordered the flag raised during a noon ceremony as dozens of spectators looked on. The flag will fly over the Capitol throughout the month of June in recognition of Pride month below the U.S. and the Wisconsin state flag.The Village People’s “YMCA” and Abba’s “Dancing Queen” played from speakers before the ceremony began. Spectators were decked in T-shirts that read “Be Kind” and “You Are Loved.”The governor told the crowd he was “jazzed as hell” to be there. He acknowledged the LGBTQ+ community is under attack and conservative rhetoric about the community has emboldened hate. Raising the flag sends a message to everyone who wants to belong and find a home, he said.“You belong here. You are welcome here,” Evers said to applause. “It’s a ...

Forest fire forces evacuation of 500 homes in Chapais in northern Quebec

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency said Thursday that two wildfires were burning out of control in the province, including one in northern Quebec that has led to the evacuation of about 500 homes.A forest fire remained out of control in Chapais, a community of just over 1,500 in northern Quebec. On Wednesday evening, the community located east of Chibougamau announced that residents in the southern part of the town had to evacuate.“That fire, just under 1,400 hectares, was declared yesterday, (and) because of conditions on the ground, weather conditions, it quickly became out of control,” said Mélanie Morin, a spokeswoman for the prevention agency, known as SOPFEU.“Water bombers are back on the scene today. As well, we have heavy machinery that are working to create a fireguard between the fire and the town of Chapais.”Chapais Mayor Isabelle Lessard told reporters no major damage was reported in the town but closer inspection will be requ...

Bill Blair blames CSIS director for not passing along memo warning of threats to MP

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:30 GMT

OTTAWA — Bill Blair is blaming Canadian Security Intelligence Service director David Vigneault for the fact he didn’t receive a memo warning about the alleged targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family by a Chinese diplomat.“The director determined this was not information the minister needed to know,” Blair said Thursday afternoon.The former public safety minister made the comments at a meeting of a parliamentary committee that is investigating allegations that members of Parliament were targeted by foreign interference. Blair’s appearance follows the release of watchdog David Johnston’s first report, which found there were serious issues with the way the government handles confidential information.The former governor general’s report concluded that CSIS was aware of indications Chinese officials were contemplating action directed at Canadian MPs, but did not identify negligence at the highest political levels.Johnston concluded th...