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Circle back: Maine reclaims biggest ice disk, at 1,776 feet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

MADAWASKA, Maine (AP) — Volunteers cut a big ol’ circle in a frozen lake and set it in motion, reclaiming a world record in a category that few people know exists: The biggest ice carousel.With a diameter of 1,776 feet — or 541 meters — the giant piece of ice estimated at 146,000 tons moved slowly like a Lazy Susan to hoots, hollers and high fives on Saturday.Northern Maine Ice Busters had to cut through ice nearly 30 inches thick on a path painstakingly measured by survey crews to create a perfect circle measuring nearly six football fields across. It’s a laborious-but-fun way to provide entertainment during the long, cold winter, and it has turned into something of a rivalry in places like Finland, Minnesota and Maine. There’s even a World Ice Carousel Association.“It’s a friendly competition,” said John Mazo, media liaison for the Northern Maine Ice Busters.On Saturday, it took a herculean effort to get the giant disk moving with 10 outboard boat engines, farm e...

Minnesota gun ruling is latest citing Supreme Court decision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A federal court ruling that a Minnesota law prohibiting 18-to-20-year-olds from obtaining permits to carry handguns in public is unconstitutional remained on hold Monday while the state pursues a potential appeal.A reluctant U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez struck down the state law on Friday, citing a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on gun rights last year. But after the state attorney general’s office filed an emergency motion for a stay, she agreed to hold off, meaning 18-to-20-year-olds still can’t apply for carry permits in Minnesota until the matter is resolved.The ruling is the latest example how the Supreme Court case, known as the Bruen decision, has upended gun laws nationwide, dividing courts and sowing confusion over what restrictions can remain in force.The plaintiffs are three gun rights groups, including the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and three individuals who were over 18 but under 21 when the lawsuit was filed in 2021....

Death toll in Mexico migrant detention center fire up to 40

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The death toll in a fire last week at a migrant detention center in a Mexican border city has risen to 40, after one of the injured men died while being flown to a specialized hospital in Mexico City. The federal public safety department confirmed the death Monday. Mexico had previously turned down a U.S. offer to help provide medial treatment to the injured, most of whom suffered smoke inhalation, saying they were too ill to be moved. But the department said a medical decision was made to fly some of the injured to a specialized respiratory hospital in the capital.The fire in Ciudad Juarez injured 27 men, 23 of whom remain hospitalized. Six people have been charged with homicide in the fire, including an inmate accused of igniting it and officials who failed to get victims to safety. The fire allegedly started when a small group of migrants protested against a feared deportation, and at least one set mattresses on fire. That migrant, along with three officials fr...

Former Hoosiers coach Knight battling undisclosed illness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

Former Indiana Hoosiers coach Bob Knight was hospitalized over the weekend with an undisclosed illness but was not listed as a patient on Monday at two hospitals in Bloomington, Indiana, where he lives.An email from the university about Knight’s health was sent to former Indiana basketball players on Friday asking for prayers and saying the former coach hoped to return home soon.The university did not have an update on Knight’s condition on Monday.The 82-year-old Knight won three national championships, 11 Big Ten titles and 662 games at Indiana before being fired in September 2000 after he allegedly grabbed a student by the arm in a hallway. The incident violated a zero-tolerance policy instituted by the university following an investigation into accusations of physical and verbal abuse made by former player Neil Reed, who died of a heart attack in 2012.Texas Tech hired Knight in 2001, and he stayed there until retiring in 2008 with a then-Division I record 902 career wins.Knight w...

A Florida toddler found in an alligator’s mouth was put in the lake by his father, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

CNN) — The missing Florida toddler who was found dead in the mouth of an alligator last week was put in the lake by his father, who is also accused of killing the child’s mother, according to St. Petersburg police affidavits.Thomas Mosley, 21, is facing two counts of first-degree murder, according to the affidavits.Thomas Mosley (Courtesy St. Petersburg Police Department)“Due to the extremely serious allegations surrounding these tragic losses, our investigation is currently focused on gathering information about the facts and circumstances of the case, as well as our client’s mental state,” a spokesperson for Sixth Judicial Circuit Public Defender Sara Mollo said in a statement.Mosley allegedly “did throw or place” his 2-year-old son, Taylen, into a lake, inflicting “mortal wounds” that caused the child’s death, according to one of the affidavits.Taylen had been reported missing after his mother, 20-year-old Pashun Jeffery...

More severe weather forecast for parts of US still reeling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — While residents across parts of the South and Midwest pummeled by deadly storms and wildfires sifted through the wreckage of their homes Monday, forecasters warned of more severe weather and fire danger in the days ahead across much of the same region.The fierce storms that spawned tornadoes in 11 states killed at least 32 people as the system that began Friday plodded through Arkansas and traveled northeast through the South and into the Midwest and Northeast.Here’s a look at the severe storms over the weekend and what’s expected in the days ahead:WILDFIRE DANGER REMAINS HIGHOn the western side of the storm lines that developed Friday were extremely dry conditions in Oklahoma that combined with high winds to fuel several large wildfires that forced interstate closures and sent residents fleeing from their homes.More than 40 homes were destroyed across Oklahoma, including 30 in an area near the town of Guthrie, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of...

Officials: Elderly woman killed in Westborough house fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

A house fire in Westborough is under investigation after authorities say at least one person was killed.Officials said it was around 1:45 p.m. when a report of a fire on Belknap Street came in. Authorities with the Westborough Fire Department said they received a 911 call from the daughter of an elderly woman who lived at the address, who described how she had arrived at the property to find the building burning.Officials told 7NEWS a police officer and the fire chief were the first to arrive on scene and learned the elderly woman was trapped.They said the fire soon grew to a point where flames were shooting out of all of the home’s windows. Propane tanks were also found on the property, including one for a grill that exploded during the blaze.Firefighters also had to contend with a small fire that extended from the home to nearby brush.Crews were eventually able to get inside of the property and found the body of the elderly woman in the home’s living room.Officials hav...

Two people hurt in pedestrian crash in Lawrence 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

An investigation was underway in Lawrence on Monday after two people were hit by a van. SKY7-HD was over the scene on Lawrence Street Monday afternoon where police said the two people were taken to an area hospital.Police said the driver of the van stayed on the scene and was cooperating with police. Information on the severity of injuries for the people who were hit was unknown as of Monday afternoon. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Lowell police arrest student found with firearm at Career Academy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

Police in Lowell say they arrested a student after he allegedly entered a school with a firearm Monday morning.Lowell Police Deputy Superintendent Mark LeBlanc said officers were called to The Career Academy on Smith Street around 11:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a student bringing a gun into the school.“Upon arrival, officers spoke with school staff members and were advised that the firearm was located in the student’s jacket; which he had allegedly entered the school with, then left in the Main Office,” LeBlanc said in a news release.The male student was arrested without incident, according to the deputy superintendent, and was charged with Carrying a Firearm Without a License and Carrying a Firearm in a School.Police later performed a full sweep of the school as a precaution with NEMLEC police K-9s trained to detect firearms.“The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to the Lowell Police Department,” Interim Police Superintendent Barry Gol...

Ticker: McDonalds prepared for layoffs; Starbucks fires union activist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:15:06 GMT

McDonald’s has closed its U.S. offices through Wednesday and told its corporate staff to work remotely as it prepares to announce a round of layoffs.In a memo to workers posted on the website TheLayoff.com, the Chicago-based burger giant said it wanted to “ensure the comfort and confidentiality of our people during the notification period” and would hold all notification meetings virtually. It told international corporate staff to follow guidance in their particular regions.The company said in the memo that the layoffs are intended to make McDonald’s more efficient.“We have a clear opportunity ahead of us to get faster and more effective at solving problems for our customers and people and to globally scale our successful market innovations at speed,” the company said.Starbucks fires union activistStarbucks has fired one of the workers who helped kick off a unionization effort at the company.Lexi Rizzo was an eight-year Starbucks employee and shift supervisor. She ...