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Jamaica Plain Progressives committee backs Kendra Lara for Boston City Council, despite crash ‘concerns’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

Despite its “concerns” over the pending charges leveled against Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara, the Jamaica Plain Progressives steering committee recommended that she receive the group’s coveted endorsement for the District 6 race.Citing the fallout from a late June car crash, which led to revelations that Lara had been driving without a valid license for the past decade, the 12-member JPP steering committee said its decision to back her was not one it came to “lightly.”“Over the past two months, we have listened for many hours to the many thoughts and opinions of our members, our JP neighbors, our partners, our spouses, and our friends,” the JPP committee said in a late Sunday night email.“We understand many are disappointed and angry and wanted a better explanation than they feel they’ve been given by Councilor Lara. They are questioning whether their trust in the councilor was well placed. We understand and share these concerns.”Looking at its endorsement criteria, the committ...

Clutch Casas leads Red Sox to 7-3 victory, ending 13-game Tropicana Field losing streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

For most of the last decade, two things have been almost universally true:The Tampa Bay Rays are relentless, and the Boston Red Sox fall apart against them, especially at Tropicana Field; entering Monday’s series opener, the Red Sox were 26-49 against the Rays since the start of 2019, their most losses against any club during that span. They also arrived with a 13-game losing streak at the American League’s southernmost ballpark.But that was then; this is the Triston Casas era.On Monday afternoon, the 23-year-old rookie again put his team on his back, going 2-for-4 with a go-ahead home run, two runs, and four RBI in the Red Sox’s 7-3 come-from-behind victory.“It was a good overall game,” the always-modest Casas told NESN’s Jahmai Webster.Boston’s 72nd win of the season was a true team effort, but early on, it looked like this would be just another notch in their losing streak at the Trop. While Rays starter Aaron Civale mowed down the visiting lineup, Brayan Bello faced six ba...

Essential workers head back early to Yellowknife to be ready for everyone else

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Officials in Yellowknife, as well as staff with the Northwest Territories, are getting ready for the start of a mass migration home of wildfire evacuees that’s still on track for Wednesday.Yellowknife city manager Sheila Bassi-Kellett said workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, home-heating providers, and even some taxi drivers and daycare providers are on their way back to the city in advance of Sept. 6 — the date announced last week for the lifting of the evacuation order when all city residents will be allowed to return.“At a very, very high level — a 30,000-foot level — I’d say there’s a third of our evacuees that are returning before our overall evacuation order is lifted,” Bassi-Kellett told an online news conference Monday afternoon.Jeffrey Edison, acting assistant deputy minister with the Department of Infrastructure, said other essential workers that are coming home early include staff at the city’s airport...

4 alleged gunmen have been killed in a clash with marines in a Mexican border city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Four people were killed Monday in a shootout with marines in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, triggering an alert to shelter in place from the U.S. consulate in the city across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas.The Tamaulipas state communications office said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the clash occurred during an operation related to the investigation of a kidnapping. It said four civilians were killed. Authorities recovered guns and radios. No marines were injured.The Navy confirmed that its personnel were involved, but did not provide any details.The federal Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a request for information.On Monday morning, the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros issued an alert via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that employees were under a shelter in place order until 1:30 p.m. “due to gun violence occurring in the city.”In March, four Americans were abducted in Matamoros when one went for a schedule...

Accusers in Japanese boy band producer’s sex abuse scandal hope for company apology and compensation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A group of men who say they were sexually abused by a Japanese boy band producer have expressed hope the company will provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence. They say producer Johnny Kitagawa sexually preyed on young dancers and singers for decades, having them stay at his luxury home, handing them cash and leveraging promises of potential fame. The company, Johnny & Associates, is a powerful force in Japan’s entertainment industry.The men said at a news conference Monday that they have been ignored for decades by the company, Japanese society and mainstream media.Company Chief Executive Julie Keiko Fujishima released a brief statement on YouTube in May about the accusations but has not appeared before reporters. The company has set a news conference for Thursday.“We want Julie to apologize, as the chief executive and company owner,” said Shimon Ishimaru, one of nine men who have formed a group demanding an apology and co...

John Shipley: Vikings have plenty of work ahead as they press on with ‘competitive rebuild’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

The Vikings are, by most accounts, in a transition year, which generally doesn’t instill confidence in oddsmakers or fans. It implies a team isn’t what it used to be, yet isn’t quite what it wants to be. Second-year general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is calling it a “competitive rebuild.”I don’t know if that inspired phrase simply burst one day from Adofo-Mensah’s lips, if he heard it elsewhere or if it was concocted by a roomful of crisis managers, but it’s a smart one. Like “fighting retreat,” it implies both confidence and circumspection, and like “fighting retreat,” it sits perilously close to oxymoron.Is there such a thing as a competitive rebuild? Vikings fans are about to find out.It’s important to remember that a transition period can be more than marking time. A transition period can itself produce something as worthwhile and memorable as what is, let’s face it, an often elusive end game. Think, say, “The Who Sell Out” — the bridge between the early Mod records and “Tommy” ...

Sick, dying and dead ducks washing ashore at park in Boyle Heights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

An unfortunate mystery is playing out at a park in Boyle Heights where ducks have been found sick, dying and dead, and now those who live near the park are looking for answers.  Those who live nearby and others who visit Hollenbeck Park on a regular basis say the discovery of the dead and dying ducks has been heartbreaking and concerning.  “I usually come running here around the lake and, you know, sometimes you’ll see birds, but there’s just any number of them, like at least 15 or so just washed up on the shore,” said a woman who didn’t want to give her name.  She said she first saw the ducks Saturday, and that when she returned to the park on Sunday, there were even more, five of them that were dead and a sixth one that was struggling to survive. Margarito Garcia, who was visiting the park, noticed a goose hovering around the dying duck, seemingly protecting it.  “I come every weekend to walk my dog through here,” he said. “Unfortunately, it looks like someone ...

Oakland: Innocent bystander walking dog at lake is badly wounded by gunfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

OAKLAND — A woman was shot Monday afternoon as she walked her dog along the shore of Lake Merritt near Madison street and was struck by random gunfire aimed at a car driving by, Oakland police said.Multiple people got out of a car and shot at a second vehicle traveling on Lakeside Drive, police said. The unidentified woman was hit at least once. She was taken to the hospital and was in critical but stable condition, according to police. Her dog was not injured.Police technicians gather evidence at a shooting scene at the intersection of Lakeside Drive and Madison Street in downtown Oakland. Lake Merritt is visible in the background. (Harry Harris/Bay Area News Group)Oakland Police officers raced to the scene after receiving multiple calls of the reported gunfire. Both vehicles had already sped away.Oakland police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooters.People are asked to call the Oakland Po...

Oakland A’s outfielder: ‘People might think of us as a laughingstock … but next year’s going to be a different story’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

OAKLAND – Say this about rookie outfielder Lawrence Butler, he doesn’t lack confidence in himself, or in the Oakland A’s.Butler hit two of Oakland’s four home runs on Monday as the A’s had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Toronto Blue Jays before an announced Labor Day crowd of 9,062 at the Coliseum.The loss dropped the A’s record to an MLB-worst 42-96, which includes a 7-23 mark against American League East opponents. Still, all five runs came courtesy of A’s rookies, with infielders Ryan Noda and Jordan Diaz hitting solo home runs.“The A’s have a really bright future,” “People might think of us as a laughingstock of the league this year, but next year, it’s going to be a whole different story.”The A’s front office is using this time with just under four weeks left in the regular season to help determine which players can be a part of the solution going forward.It sure l...

Westbound I-80 reopens ahead of schedule Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

(KRON) -- The full highway closure of westbound Interstate 80 between I-780 and State Route 4, including the Carquinez Bridge has reopened Monday evening, according to Caltrans. The section of roadway was closed following major pavement repair work during Labor Day weekend.Caltrans made significant progress throughout the long weekend and the roadway reopened a day earlier than previously expected. Hundreds of drug users arrested in San Francisco FridayCrews began ripping the highway's old pavement in preparation for a concrete pour.Photo: CaltransSaturdayCrews completed the concrete pour on the number three lane and worked to rip out the old concrete from the number one lane.CA Department of TransportationCA Department of TransportationCA Department of TransportationCaltrans crews also performed vegetation management work along the westbound lanes.CaltransCaltransCaltransThe full highway closure for westbound I-80 began Thursday at 9 p.m. "The roadway has become worn and in need ...