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Why Ursula von der Leyen matters to Biden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

It was former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger who captured a conundrum that has long bedeviled U.S.-Europe relations: “Who do I call if I want to call Europe?”Today, it looks like America has settled on an answer: Ursula von der Leyen. The 64-year-old president of the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm — who meets President Joe Biden Friday at the White House — has become the closest thing to a president the 27-country bloc has got.Biden has struck up a strong relationship with von der Leyen over the past year of conflict in Ukraine, especially. A former German defense minister and mother of seven, she was parachuted into the job of Commission president in 2019 by Germany’s leader at the time, Angela Merkel.In late 2021 when Washington was warning of the looming threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the big European capitals of Paris and Berlin were too distracted to pay much attention.Then von der Leyen stepped in. In November 2021, she met Biden in the White House a...

Longtime Patriots player Devin McCourty retires from football

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

Three-time Super Bowl champion and career New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty has retired from the NFL.Interviewed by his twin brother Jason McCourty, the 35-year-old player posted the announcement to his Instagram account Friday afternoon, saying “BREAKING NEWS…It’s not about the destination, it’s about the JOURNEY.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Devin McCourty (@devinmccourty)Serving as a team captain for much of his career, McCourty spent 13 seasons with the Patriots organization after being drafted out of Rutgers in 2010 as a first round pick.By the end of the 2022 season, he had played in some 205 games, making 740 solo tackles, among other feats.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Burlington-based lab, owner accused of $400K in drug test fraud claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A clinical laboratory and its owner have been accused of submitting over $400,000 in Medicaid claims for unauthorized urine drug tests, the attorney general’s office in Massachusetts said Friday.The residential sobriety tests were medically unnecessary, the office said in a news release. Laboratories may not bill Medicaid for them.The Burlington-based lab and its owner were indicted last month by a statewide grand jury on two counts each of Medicaid false claims, false claims and larceny over $1,200.The lab and owner are scheduled to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on March 21. It wasn’t immediately known if they had attorneys.The attorney general’s office said last year, one of its Medicaid Fraud Division investigations resulted in charges against several clinical laboratories, their owners, marketing companies, and a doctor in connection with Medicaid fraud, money laundering and kickbacks involving over $2 million in urine drug tests.

University of Rhode Island removes partial Malcolm X quote that sparked protest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — The University of Rhode Island has removed a partial Malcolm X quote from the façade of its main library 30 years after members of the school’s Black Student Leadership Group and others protested because they said the shortened quote misrepresented the fuller meaning of the civil rights leader’s message.The inscription on the Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons was installed in 1992 and was meant to be a tribute, but instead, led to the takeover of a campus building, the university said in a statement Friday.The inscription read, “My alma mater was books, a good library … I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.”The full quote, from “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” reads: “I told the Englishman that my alma mater was books, a good library. Every time I catch a plane, I have with me a book that I want to read — and that’s a lot of books these days. If I weren’t out here every day battling the white man, I...

Investigators increase reward amount in search for suspect accused of robbing postal worker in Randolph

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

Investigators doubled a previous reward offer Friday as they search for a suspect who officials said robbed a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in Randolph on Wednesday. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said the worker was approached from behind while in the vicinity of Canton Street delivering mail around 1:50 p.m. Officials initially offered a reward of up to $25,000 for anyone with information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case. In an update, the Postal Inspection Service announced a new reward of up to $50,000. Officials said the suspect fled on foot after the robbery. Officials said the suspect is described as a Black male, standing 5’7″, wearing a black puffy jacket, a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and white sneakers at the time of this incident.The worker was not hurt, according to the Postal Inspection Service, which is investigating alongside Randolph police.The Postal Inspection service said the safety and well-bein...

Oscars 2023: Everything you need to know about Sunday’s show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

The 2023 Oscars are setting up for a dramatic finish.Seemingly everyone, everywhere is talking about the breakout indie darling “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” but it will need to beat big-budget blockbusters and acclaimed films by Steven Spielberg and Martin McDonagh to claim top prizes at Sunday’s ceremony.Here’s everything you need to know before the Academy Awards at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.How to watchSunday’s ceremony kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and will air live on ABC. Subscription streaming services including FuboTV, YouTubeTV and Hulu Live TV are carrying the awards show as well.ABC will also air pre-ceremony coverage throughout the day, starting with “On the Red Carpet Live” from 1-4 p.m. and followed by a “Countdown to the Oscars” special beginning at 6:30 p.m.Who is hosting?Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returns for his third Oscars hosting gig and first since 2018. He famously emceed the 2017 ceremony where Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty mistakenly announced “La La Lan...

Heat’s Kevin Love anxious for opportunity alongside Kyle Lowry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

Being in a hole has largely been the story of this uneven Miami Heat season.Being whole is something that mostly has been an abstract, particularly since Feb. 2, Kyle Lowry’s last game before being sidelined by knee pain.But now with Lowry regularly scrimmaging in recent days, the expectation is of an imminent return, possibly in Saturday night’s road game against the Orlando Magic.For Kevin Love, playing with Lowry is part of the reason that the Heat stood as such an attractive option on the buyout market, with Love to this point limited to starting games alongside fill-in starting point guard Gabe Vincent.“Gabe, love how he plays, I love what he brings to the table,” Love said as the Heat turned their attention to Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami-Dade Arena, “and I think it’s a great blend and a great marriage with those two when they’re both within our lineup.“But Kyle’s a Hall of Fame player....

Dolphins picking up Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, affirming commitment to quarterback

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

In a move that reaffirms the franchise’s confidence in its quarterback, the Miami Dolphins are exercising Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, according to a league source Friday.The decision locks in Tagovailoa through the 2024 season. The Dolphins had already said they were committed to Tagovailoa for the 2023 season, Tagovailoa’s fourth after being drafted at No. 5 in 2020.Now on the fifth-year option, he is set to make $23.2 million in 2024, a figure that’s a bargain compared to many of the NFL’s high-priced quarterback contracts. The team can still decide to sign Tagovailoa to a long-term extension next offseason or, if it continues to go year to year with him, utilize the franchise tag in 2025.In 2022, Tagovailoa lead the league in passer rating (105.5) and yards per pass attempt (8.9). He threw a career-high 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions, completing 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,548 yards.The greater concern now, beyond his performance, ...

Arizona city to change name in honor of Taylor Swift as Eras Tour kicks off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

Taylor Swift will have an entire city named in her honor when the much-anticipated Eras Tour kicks off in Glendale, Ariz. next week.Mayor Jerry P. Weiers is planning to read a proclamation on March 13 that will temporarily change Glendale’s name while the pop superstar performs her sold out set at the city’s State Farm Stadium — home to the Arizona Cardinals.The marketing stunt, according to 12 News, was inspired by the city’s desire to do “something highly unusual” to celebrate Swift’s selection of the city as the first stop on her wildly popular tour.However, no information is yet available as to what temporary name has been chosen to celebrate the “Shake It Off” chanteuse.Swift is playing a pair of shows at the venue March 17 and March 18, with GAYLE and Paramore serving as opening acts. The State Farm Stadium is the same location where Rihanna made history last month as the first woman to perform pregnant as a headliner of Su...

Patriots S Devin McCourty announces NFL retirement after 13 seasons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:59:26 GMT

Patriots safety Devin McCourty announced his NFL retirement Friday in an Instagram posts.McCourty ends his playing career after 13 seasons, three Super Bowl championships and two Pro Bowl nods. McCourty grew into a franchise great in New England, where he was named to the franchise’s 2010s All-Decade team. He ranks third in Patriots history with 35 career interceptions, one behind Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Ty Law and Patriots Hall of Famer Raymond Clayborn.“It has been a great ride,” McCourty told his twin brother and NFL Network analyst, Jason McCourty, on Instagram. “I got the opportunity to talk to Mr. Kraft, to talk to Bill (Belichick), a lot of the guys on the defensive staff. Unbelievable ride.”Nicknamed “red coat” by his teammates, McCourty is a lock to enter the Patriots Hall of Fame one day. The 35-year-old was voted a captain every season after his rookie year of 2010. McCourty entered the league as a first-round draft p...