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Feds blast MBTA for using lone workers with ban in place, threaten to strip funding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

Federal transit regulators blasted the MBTA Friday for violating an order prohibiting the use of lone workers on tracks put in place last week, and threatened to take away federal funding if the agency does not get its act together.In a letter to MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng obtained by the Herald, Federal Transit Administration Chief Safety Officer Joe DeLorenzo said regulators found the MBTA directed a lone MBTA employee onto tracks to assist a disabled train Wednesday, which “constitutes a direct violation of FTA’s” Sept. 14 restriction.A special order issued by the MBTA the same morning permitting the use of lone workers in emergency situations also crossed the FTA’s restriction, DeLorenzo wrote in the letter. The FTA determined that the MBTA used lone workers “in other instances since issuance” of the Sept. 14 ban.The FTA granted an exception to the restriction on lone workers Eng pushed for in a letter sent to the FTA this week. Eng argued the MBTA should be able to use lo...

Patriots-Jets preview: How Bill Belichick, Mac Jones can earn their first win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

At 0-2, there is no hiding.The Patriots know it. They feel it.Last weekend, Mac Jones called for his teammates to do more, a call that echoed across the team’s locker room. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley said Wednesday his defense got off to “a hell of start” at practice as they try to turn a corner. A day later, longtime captain David Andrews gave voice to the stakes of the Patriots’ upcoming kickoff against the Jets.“This is a huge game,” Andrews said.Few believe Sunday’s showdown with the Jets will be anything but close, whether because of recent series history (both games last year were decided by one score), the state of the Pats’ offensive line or inclement weather. What else can be expected?Start here.When the Patriots runDespite averaging a measly 3.5 yards per rush through two weeks, there are flickering signs of hope for the Patriots’ run game.Patriots have ideas on how to fix ineffective running gameStarting left ta...

Biden has gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine and the annual flu shot, the White House says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu shot, the White House said Saturday.The White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, said in a memo that Biden received both shots on Friday. O’Connor said Biden, 80, also was vaccinated several weeks ago against the respiratory illness known as RSV.“As we enter the cold and flu season, the President encourages all Americans to follow his example and to check with their healthcare provider or pharmacist to assure that they are fully vaccinated,” O’Connor wrote.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month endorsed the new COVID-19 shot for everyone 6 months and older. The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has faded, but there are still thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths in the United States each week. Experts worry that immunity from previous vaccinations and infections is fading in many people, and a new shot would save many lives.First ...

Teenage skateboarder critically injured by pickup truck in Durham region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

Police say a 16-year-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being run over by a vehicle in Uxbridge on Friday night. Durham Regional Police say they were called to the parking lot at 335 Main Street North just before 6:30 p.m. following a reports someone had been struck by a vehicle. Witnesses tell police the teenage girl was skateboarding behind a silver Dodge pickup truck while holding onto the rear side of the vehicle, near the wheel, when she lost her balance and fell to the ground before being run over by the truck. The teen was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a trauma centre in Toronto in life-threatening condition. The driver of the truck remained on the scene for the investigation.

At UN, African leaders say enough is enough: They must be partnered with, not sidelined

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — If you listen to the African leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly this year, the message is emphatic and unanimous: The continent is done being a victim of a post-World War II order. It is a global power in itself and must be partnered with — not sidelined.Most of Africa has logged a lifetime of independence — roughly 60 years — and the continent of more than 1.3 billion people is more conscious of the challenges stifling its development. There’s also a new boldness that comes with the African Union’s G20 seat.“We as Africa have come to the world, not to ask for alms, charity or handouts, but to work with the rest of the global community and give every human being in this world a decent chance of security and prosperity,” Kenyan President William Ruto said.In recent years, Africa has been clear about its capacity to become a global power, from efforts to tackle climate change at home — such as the existential threat of climate change upending lives and ...

National Cathedral replaces windows honoring Confederacy with stained-glass homage to racial justice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

The landmark Washington National Cathedra l unveiled new stained-glass windows Saturday with a theme of racial justice, filling the space that had once held four windows honoring Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.The new windows depict a march for justice by African Americans, descendants of the very people who would have remained in slavery after the Civil War if the side for which the officers fought had prevailed. The cathedral had removed the old windows after Confederate symbols featured prominently in recent racist violence. The dedication service was attended by many clergy from the Washington area’s historically Black churches, as well as leaders of social justice organizations. The prayers, Bible readings and brief speeches were interspersed with gospel music and spirituals, as well as the contemporary song, “Heal Our Land.”Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, read excerpts from the Rev. Martin Luther ...

Elderly man dead after Auburn Gresham shooting: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

CHICAGO -- An 86-year-old man is dead after he was suffered a gunshot wound in Auburn Gresham Saturday morning. According to police, the man was discovered near the 8100 block of South Throop Street with a gunshot wound to the thigh. He was transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead shortly after. Police: 2 teens killed in Palatine shooting were victims of targeted, gang-related incident There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

$1.5M bronze Buddha statue stolen from Los Angeles art gallery: 'Like a museum heist-type thing'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

(KTLA) – Security cameras captured the moment a valuable Buddha statue worth $1.5 million was stolen from a Los Angeles art gallery earlier this month.The bronze statue, weighing 250 pounds, dates back to Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1867), according to the operators of the Barakat Gallery in Beverly Grove. It was believed to have been commissioned for the centerpiece of a temple, but it's been in the possession of gallery owner Fayez Barakat more than half a century.“I prize it so much,” said Barakat. “I had it in the backyard of my home and when I moved into this gallery, I put it in the backyard of the gallery for everybody to admire and enjoy.”Historical bronze Buddha statue worth $1.5 million stolen from the Barakat Gallery in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2023. (Barakat Gallery)Security camera catures a thief stealing a historical bronze Buddha statue worth $1.5 million from the Barakat Gallery in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2023. (Barakat Gallery)Security camera catures a thief stealing ...

Missouri correctional officers fired after inmate escapes St. Louis hospital, is found with a handcuff key

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KTVI) – The Missouri correctional officers assigned to guard a convicted child sex predator, who escaped custody by walking out of a hospital, are no longer employed by the department.Tommy Wayne Boyd's mad dash for freedom ultimately ended around 8 p.m. on Thursday, nearly 16 hours after walking out the doors of Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis."He had quite a bit of lead time," St. Louis County Police Lieutenant Colonel Jason Law said. Man accused of killing 18 elderly women is slain in Texas prison by cellmate: official Law said officers set up a perimeter but realized Boyd may be in the South City area after a good Samaritan gave him a ride."They didn't know each other. The gentleman was just being a nice person trying to help somebody out," Law said.Law said the good Samaritan called police after realizing Boyd had been at the center of a county-wide alert.Authorities took no chances Thursday, immediately labeling Boyd as "dangerous" because of his tw...

TribFest speakers say overturning of Roe V. Wade worsened health care shortage in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Tribune hosted Saturday a panel discussion on female reproductive health, with panelists discussing the ripple effects of some substantial recent events, like the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, as well as efforts to undo some damage in the legislature. Evelyn Delgado, chair of the Texas Women's Health Care Coalition and CEO of Healthy Futures of Texas, and Texas State Representative Donna Howard (D-Austin) talked about how staffing shortages in health care roles are already extensive but that we may see them get even worse with stern laws surrounding abortion on the books in Texas.  READ MORE: Number of abortions in Texas dropped 99.5% in the months after Roe v. Wade was overturned “One of the challenges we have with obstetrics and gynecology, in particular, is the difficulty we have now as a result of living in the post-Roe era,” Howard said. “So many of our medical schools are having to make arrangements with other states to ...