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Massachusetts reports the most fatal teen crashes in more than a decade, distracted driving is major cause for teen accidents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

Nearly 50 teenagers died in car crashes last year across the Bay State, as the total number of fatal teen driver crashes reached its highest point in more than a decade.Distracted driving was the top cause of overall teen car accidents last year in Massachusetts, while more than half of teen drivers or passengers who were killed in crashes weren’t wearing their seatbelt.Last year, 49 people were killed in crashes involving 16-year-old to 19-year-old drivers — the first time that yearly total had eclipsed 40 fatalities in more than a decade, according to a new analysis from AAA Northeast.The count of 49 teen deaths was the highest since 56 people were killed in such crashes in 2008. This jump in Massachusetts mirrors the growing number of people killed in teen driver crashes across the country.“Teen driver crashes affect everybody on the road,” said Mark Schieldrop, of AAA Northeast. “Parents and caregivers play a critical role in making sure young drive...

New report shows ‘catastrophic’ cost of not replacing Cape Cod bridges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

A new report commissioned by members of the state’s congressional delegation underscores the “catastrophic” consequences for Cape Cod if the pair of aging bridges carrying traffic to the region are not replaced.According to a report prepared at the request of U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, the 90-year old Bourne and Sagamore Bridges are already costing Cape businesses money and impacting quality of life for the people who live and visit the region.“Failure to replace the bridges would be catastrophic,” the report reads.The federally owned bridges are the only roads for the 260,000 residents and the about 5 million annual tourists heading to or leaving the Cape. The State has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers since 2020 to secure funding for their replacement, expected to cost upwards of $4.5 billion. That process is ongoing.However, due their age and small size, coupled with frequent lane closures for maintenance, the time to replac...

Old North Church crypt comes alive after 10-month, $1.2 million restoration project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

In the crypt of Boston’s oldest surviving church, one may expect to find spider webs, dirt and other signs of a rotting interior.But that’s not the case at Old North Church anymore, as guests are now greeted by a pristine space which contains 37 tombs, the final resting place for 1,100 people.Old North Illuminated, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the historic landmark, and the National Parks Service have completed a 10-month restoration and preservation project of the crypt.Workers put the final touches on the $1.2 million endeavor on Wednesday, installing eight restored original wooden tomb doors. The National Parks Service funded half of the work and provided project management, said Nikki Stewart, executive director of Old North Illuminated.Dozens of workers were involved in the project which focused on restoring the crypt’s masonry and wood surfaces, and excavation for an accessibility ramp, Stewart said.“It is exciting for us to see the space looking so well cared for,” she...

Patriots extra points: Running back, pass rusher replace wide receiver, D-tackle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

The Patriots signed running back Patrick Taylor and defensive end William Bradley-King to their practice squad Wednesday. The team released wide receiver T.J. Luther and defensive tackle Manny Jones in a corresponding move.Taylor was waived by the Packers on Oct. 10 after playing four games this season, carrying the ball 11 times for 31 yards and catching five passes for 28 yards. Since going undrafted out of Memphis in 2020, Taylor has 44 carries for 151 yards with one touchdown and eight catches for 48 yards.The Patriots got a good look at him in joint practices and a preseason game, in which he scored a touchdown, in Green Bay this summer.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | How Patriots are using Malik Cunningham in practice ahead of Bills game New England Patriots | Patriots-Bills injury report: Rhamondre Stevenson among 20 players listed after Wednesday practice New England Patriots | Patriots get bad news at Wednesday practice ahea...

Ticker: Encore slots workers join union; Subscription fee at X to fight bots and spam 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

UNITE HERE Local 26 announced  that 57 slot machine attendants will join a casino union workforce that also includes about 1,200 members of UNITE HERE Local 26 and 200 members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25. The union said the slot attendants will be rolled into what they called a “five-star contract.”Members from both unions, including restaurant workers, drivers and cocktail servers, have bargained together and are governed by the same contract since Encore Boston Harbor opened in 2019, the union said.The slot attendants voted to join the union last Friday, according to a spokeswoman. The union said wage, benefits, and job security measures in a contract that casino workers ratified over the summer, just before a strike deadline, will “automatically apply” to the slot attendants.Subscription fee at X to fight bots and spamIn an effort to combat bots, Elon Musk’s X says it will begin charging new accounts $1 a year to post, like...

Starbucks, Workers United union sue each other in standoff over pro-Palestinian social media post

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

By DEE-ANN DURBIN (AP Business Writer)Starbucks and the union organizing its workers sued each other Wednesday in a standoff sparked by a social media post over the Israel-Hamas war.Starbucks sued Workers United in federal court in Iowa Wednesday, saying a pro-Palestinian social media post from a union account early in the Israel-Hamas war angered hundreds of customers and damaged its reputation.Starbucks is suing for trademark infringement, demanding that Workers United stop using the name “Starbucks Workers United” for the group that is organizing the coffee company’s workers. Starbucks also wants the group to stop using a circular green logo that resembles Starbucks’ logo.Workers United responded with its own filing, asking a federal court in Pennsylvania to rule that it can continue to use Starbucks’ name and a similar logo. Workers United also said Starbucks defamed the union by implying that it supports terrorism and violence.On Oct. 9, two day...

Georgia sheriff releases video showing a violent struggle before deputy shoots exonerated man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

By RUSS BYNUM (Associated Press)WOODBINE, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia deputy fatally shot a Black man at point-blank range during a traffic stop after the man, who had been wrongfully imprisoned years ago, grabbed the officer by the neck and was forcing his head backward, according to video released by a sheriff Wednesday.The family of Leonard Cure, 53, viewed the dash and body camera video before Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor’s office posted it online. Relatives said they suspect Cure resisted being arrested because of psychological trauma from spending 16 years imprisoned in Florida in an armed robbery he didn’t commit.“I believe there were possibly some issues going on, some mental issues with my brother,” Michael Cure said of his slain brother. “I know him quite well. The officer just triggered him, undoubtedly triggered him. It was excitement met with excitement.”The sheriff released the video two days after one of his deputies, who is ...

Chula Vista leaders vote to add more license plate readers in unanimous vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- In a unanimous vote, Chula Vista city leaders are joining cities like El Cajon in adding automated license plate reading cameras at intersections across the city. The vote Tuesday night authorized the purchase of more than 150 cameras to be installed throughout San Diego County's second largest city. While some say it would keep the community safer, others are pushing back while touting privacy concerns. “I do not want my community to be victimized," shared Chula Vista Chief of Police Roxana Kennedy. Rite Aid to close four stores in San Diego County after bankruptcy filing Emotional and familiar testimonies were shared before council chambers Tuesday, one surrounding a well-known name in Chula Vista -- Maya Millete. “I hope and pray that no other family suffers this long in locating their loved ones like we have," shared Maricris Drouaillet who happens to be Millete's sister. “It's been two years and nine months since we've last seen her. As of today, we ha...

Warrant: Drug task force suspected couple of selling meth before raid that left 5 officers injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Drug task force officers suspected a Minnesota couple of selling methamphetamine when they raided their house in an operation that left five officers and one resident wounded last week, according to a search warrant released Wednesday.Gunfire broke out last Thursday when Sherburne County Drug Task Force officers attempted to execute the search warrant at the home of Karl Thomas Holmberg, 64. He was charged the next day with six counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer and six counts of first-degree assault of a peace officer.It wasn’t immediately clear from the documents available Wednesday whether investigators found any drugs at the home, but at least one more warrant had not been released as of Wednesday evening. A second warrant released showed that police also looked for flammable and electrical materials and fire damage after the raid after seeing black smoke inside the residence as Holmberg exited, look back, then went back inside. H...

A sweeping gun bill aimed at tightening firearm laws passes in the Massachusetts House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:56 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts House approved a sweeping gun bill Wednesday aimed at tightening firearm laws, cracking down on unregistered “ghost guns” and strengthening the state’s assault-style weapons ban.The bill, which passed on a 120-38 vote, would also prohibit individuals from carrying a gun into a person’s home without their permission and require key gun components to be serialized and registered with the state.The 125-page bill — a priority for Democratic Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Mariano — is in part a response to a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that U.S. citizens have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense.The proposal would create new laws that bar firing guns at or near homes and outlaw carrying firearms while intoxicated. It would also prohibit carrying firearms in schools, polling places and government buildings.The bill expands the state’s ban on assault weapons by prohibiting new purchases of AR-15-style weapons. It would also ban s...