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1crime

Police investigating active shooter scene at Perry, Iowa, high school

The Perry Police Department is responding to an active shooter scene at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa, on Thursday morning, Fox News Digital has learned. Multiple law enforcement agencies are responding to reports of an active shooter situation at the school, according to local reports. Police officers were dispatched to the scene on Thursday morning after receiving a report of an active shooter, the Perry Police Department confirmed. Multiple EMS vehicles were sent to the scene at 1200 18th Street, according to public safety radio traffic. Officials have not released further details at this time. Perry High School belongs to the Perry Community School District, about 25 miles northwest of Des Moines. About 1,785 students are enrolled at the school, according to its website. Thursday was the first day of school after winter break, according to the school's calendar. This is a developing story and will be updated.

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7weather

Mostly clear skies over Boston area for Geminid meteor shower

Mostly clear skies over Boston area for Geminid meteor shower Share Copy Link Copy WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT WIND IS GOING TO BE KICKING UP. SO THE WIND CHILL REALLY DOESN’T GET OUT OF THE 30S TODAY. SO THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO BE DRESSED FOR. HERE COME THOSE CLOUDS. MAYBE 1 OR 2 FLURRIES HERE ALONG THAT ROUTE, TWO QUARTER INTO THIS EVENING. AND THEN THE SKIES ARE GOING TO CLEAR OUT TONIGHT, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ANNUAL GEMINID METEOR SHOWER PEAKING TONIGHT. YOUR BEST VIEWING IS WHEN IT IS DARKEST. SO ABOUT 10 P.M. TO 2 A.M. YOU WANT TO FIND A DARK SPOT AND LOOK UP AND YOU MIGHT SEE UP TO ONE SHOOTING STAR PER MINUTE. AND THE GEMINIDS ARE KNOWN TO PRODUCE FIREBALLS. SO MAYBE CHECK THAT OUT TONIGHT IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT, SPENDING SOME TIME OUTSIDE TONIGHT, BE BUNDLED UP, IT’S GOING TO DROP DOWN INTO THE 20S BY TOMORROW MORNING. AND TOMORROW IS A CHILLY DAY, SUNSHINE. WE WON’T GET OUT OF THE 30S TOMORROW AND THAT BREEZE KICKS UP A LITTLE BIT. SO IT IS DEFINITELY FEELING COLDER TOMORROW, BUT IT DOESN’T LAST. HIGH PRESSURE IS GOING TO KEEP THE SUNSHINE GOING INTO LATE WEEK. AND AS IT SHIFTS OUT, WE’LL S GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Your Email Address Submit Privacy Notice

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3entertainment

Being a Woman in Magic May be the Hardest Trick of All

Though it was nearly five decades ago, Gay Blackstone can still vividly recall the first time she was sawed in half onstage. Her screams were an intended element of the illusion, but nerves and fear made them genuine that time. For Ms. Blackstone, that gig assisting the master illusionist Harry Blackstone Jr. turned into a love affair and, later, marriage. After her husband died in 1997, Ms. Blackstone moved center stage and went on to a successful career as an illusionist, coach, producer and director. But she is an exception. Only around 8 percent of professional magicians are women, according to a spokeswoman for the Magic Castle, a private clubhouse in Los Angeles for members of the Academy of Magical Arts. Ms. Blackstone and others say a number of factors are to blame for the stubborn disparity, including sexism, wardrobe limitations and the enduring stereotype that women best serve as the audience’s distraction. “I think for many years, no one really thought of the need for women to be the magician,” Ms. Blackstone said. “But now, as we’re coming up with different roles and different things we want to be doing, then there’s no reason why women can’t be just as great as men.”

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0business

Single-family home in Bolton sells for $1.2 million

A 3,598-square-foot house built in 1993 has changed hands. The spacious property located at 72 Golden Run Road in Bolton was sold on Nov. 15, 2023 for $1,235,000, or $343 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, three baths, an attached garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on a 4.5-acre lot. Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:

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4politics

G.O.P. Debate Takeaways, and a Tech Start-Up Collapse

The New York Times Audio app is home to journalism and storytelling, and provides news, depth and serendipity. If you haven’t already, download it here — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter. The Headlines brings you the biggest stories of the day from the Times journalists who are covering them, all in about five minutes.

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0business

Here is message Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank will bring to womens leadership conference

LONGMEADOW — “Shark Tank” panelist Barbara Corcoran is bringing her personal brand, wisdom and advice to more than 1,600 people expected to attend Bay Path University’s 27th Women’s Leadership Conference. The school’s president says the topic will be going over hurdles. “Our conference theme this year is “Break Through,” and Barbara Corcoran embodies this powerful concept of digging deep, pushing yourself beyond obstacles, and breaking through,” Bay Path University President Sandra Doran said in a statement. The conference will be held April 4 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Corcoran is real estate investor, best-selling author, entrepreneur, producer and “Shark Tank” panelist. She chronicled her rise from waiting tables in a New York diner to heading a $5 billion real estate company in her bestselling book, “Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business.” “If you’re a fan of ‘Shark Tank,’ you’ve seen her dynamic blend of business acumen, storytelling, and humor. Her drive, work ethic, and the lessons she’s learned along the way will undoubtedly resonate with our attendees,” Doran said. Over two decades, more than 27,000 people have attended the Women’s Leadership Conference. Corcoran joins a roster of prominent speakers like Barbara Walters, Queen Latifah, Dr. Maya Angelou, Robin Roberts, Tyra Banks and Gloria Estefan. Other conference speakers include Amy Purdy, a three-time paralympic snowboarding medalist for Team USA. Breakout sessions will be led by business experts and authors. They include Yvonne Camus, former chief operating officer of Canada’s largest indoor cycling brand, SPINCO, and Sylvia Baffour, an author and motivational speaker.

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4politics

Spelman, a Historically Black Womens College, Receives $100 Million Gift

Spelman College, the women’s school in Atlanta, announced on Thursday that it had received a $100 million donation, which its officials called the largest-ever single gift to a historically Black college. The gift comes from Ronda E. Stryker, a trustee of Spelman, and her husband, William D. Johnston, chairman of the wealth management company Greenleaf Trust. Ms. Stryker serves as director of the medical equipment company Stryker Corporation, which was founded by her grandfather. In an announcement, Spelman College said that $75 million of the gift had been earmarked for scholarships, and that the remaining money would go toward improving student housing and developing an academic focus on public policy and democracy. In a statement, Spelman’s president, Helene Gayle, said the college was “invigorated and inspired” by the couple’s generosity, adding, “This gift is a critical step in our school’s mission to eliminate financial barriers to starting and finishing a Spelman education.”

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4politics

Hundreds rally for Palestinians at demonstration in Copley Square

The rally came as Israeli airstrikes persist in the Gaza Strip , killing more than 6,500 Palestinians since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. On Tuesday, the US rejected growing support for a ceasefire in the war, which started after a Hamas sneak attack on Oct. 7 in Israel that left more than 1,400 Israelis killed or captured. Demonstrators spilled across the sidewalk outside the Dartmouth Street entrance of the Boston Public Library’s main branch. Many held handmade signs, some reading “Free Palestine,” “Jews for a free Palestine,” and “End all US aid to apartheid Israel.” For a second time in recent days, hundreds filled Copley Square Wednesday evening for a rally in support of Palestinians as the Israel-Hamas war continued into a third week. Advertisement Several attendees spoke to the crowd gathered below the BPL’s steps. One speaker called Gaza the “largest open-air prison in the world.” Another called upon colleges and universities to take a “clear moral stance” against genocide. The protest was the second held in recent days in Copley Square in support of Palestinians. Erin Clark/Globe Staff In between speakers, the crowd shouted multiple chants, including “We will free Palestine within our lifetime” and “Hey, Hey! Ho, Ho! The occupation has got to go” to the beat of a drum. Lea Kayali, of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said she’s been protesting in support of Palestinians for the last two weeks. “I think it’s important that folks understand, beyond just the numbers of Palestinians that have been killed, the fact that nowhere in Gaza is safe.” The rally was organized by multiple pro-Palestinian groups based in Boston and on local college campuses. Throughout Wednesday, multiple college students across Massachusetts protested against Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Two of the groups that helped organize the Copley rally included the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Harvard University African and African American Resistance Organization. Advertisement Amari Butler, a Harvard student, said she was at the rally on behalf of both groups. “We’re here to show our government and to show the people here in the United States that we are all for a free Palestine,” Butler said. Butler added that she wants to see “an end to the siege on Gaza” and “an end to all US aid to Israeli apartheid.” Emily, who requested that her last name not be used, is a student at the University of Massachusetts Boston and a first-generation Palestinian who attended the rally with several of her cousins. In regard to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, she said, “I think everyone’s here today to clarify that this isn’t a war that’s happening. It is genocide.” Kayali said “an immediate ceasefire” is needed in Gaza. “I think the reason people keep coming and taking to the streets again and again, day after day, is to just send that message that we need to stop this genocide,” she said. Maeve Lawler can be reached at maeve.lawler@globe.com. Follow her @maeve_lawler.

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3entertainment

FanDuel promo code: Vikings-Bears, NBA $150 bonus offer

Sports Betting Dime provides exclusive sports betting content to MassLive.com, including real-time odds, picks, analysis and sportsbook offers to help sports fans get in on the action. Please wager responsibly. After activating the no-brainer “bet $5, get $150″ FanDuel promo code offer here, new customers can score 30-1 odds on any team to win. This deal is perfect for FanDuel Massachusetts bettors and other new users who want a sizable payout from any NFL or NBA moneyline tonight. FanDuel Sportsbook BET $5, WIN $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. NFL Week 12 concludes with Bears-Vikings. Meanwhile, five NBA games tip off on Monday night. Thanks to FanDuel, new users can target any team, bet $5 on its moneyline and root for a $150 bonus. Even the most significant betting favorites qualify for a $150 bonus bet payout once you secure this limited-time promo. FanDuel promo code: How to turn $5 into $150 It’s all about moneylines with FanDuel’s revamped “bet $5, get $150″ offer. After a brief registration, pick any team from the NFL, NBA or another sport to win its next matchup. If the bet is a success, you’ll score $150 in bonus bets plus every dollar of expected cash profit. We’ll go over the best strategy for obtaining the bonus later. First, here’s how to qualify for the offer: FanDuel promo code . You won’t need to input a specific promo code when you use our links. Click here to trigger our. You won’t need to input a specific promo code when you use our links. Select your playing, fill out the requested info and create an account. Pick any available payment method and deposit cash (min. $10). Place at least $5 on any team’s moneyline. Receive $150 in bonus bets and the expected cash winnings after a victory. Favorite moneyline bets for Monday night FanDuel’s welcome bonus only arrives if you win your first bet. So don’t get cute and bet an underdog because you want more cash winnings. There are a few sizable betting favorites tonight. For example, the Pacers are -600 moneyline favs versus the lowly Trail Blazers. Using your first $5 wager on Indiana means a Pacers victory nets $150 in bonus bets. You’ll only get $0.83 in cash, but the bonus bets are far more important. I’d also consider the Vikings (-162 vs. Bears) and 76ers (-230 vs. Lakers). Neither team is a lock (no teams are), but each has a great chance to secure the bonus. Plus, betting on the Vikings to win will produce more than the few cents you’d get from a Pacers win. Odds boosts + promos If you’re a first-time FanDuel customer, the “bet $5, get $150″ FanDuel promo code offer isn’t your only promo. Download FanDuel’s free mobile app and explore various promos, like “no sweat” same game parlays and exclusive profit boosts. One boost for new and existing FanDuel bettors focuses on Bears-Vikings, specifically quarterbacks Justin Fields and Josh Dobbs. FanDuel boosted the odds of Fields and Dobbs each recording 25+ rushing yards and 1+ passing touchdowns tonight. Instead of +150 odds, bettors now have +200 odds on a parlay that can easily hit. FanDuel Sportsbook BET $5, WIN $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist to receive support. Specialists are available 24/7. Services are available in multiple languages and are free and confidential. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Get the latest sports betting news, advice and promos sent straight to your inbox. Enter your email here: Think you know Patriots football? Play the MassLive.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes!

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3entertainment

Christina Applegate Presents the First Emmy

New England Boat Show docks in Boston with hundreds of boats, waterskiing squirrel The Discover Boating New England Boat Show has docked at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston.The BCEC has been transformed into a boating playground covering more than half a million square feet -- complete with the new Discover Boating Beach Club and Indoor Paddle Pool.America’s favorite waterskiing squirrel, Twiggy, cruises to the boat show with daily performances; kids can enjoy boating in their own paddleboat on a mini lake; and attendees will have the chance to participate in fishing workshops and boating 101 courses -- plus, climb aboard and shop hundreds of boats, from yachts and center consoles to pontoons and wake sports boats.Video below: Meet Twiggy, the waterskiing squirrelThe show runs through Sunday and is open Friday noon to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Tickets are $18 for adult tickets purchased online at NEBoatShow.com; $20 for adult tickets purchased on site during the days of the show; children 12 and under get in free. The Discover Boating New England Boat Show has docked at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston. The BCEC has been transformed into a boating playground covering more than half a million square feet -- complete with the new Discover Boating Beach Club and Indoor Paddle Pool. Advertisement America’s favorite waterskiing squirrel, Twiggy, cruises to the boat show with daily performances; kids can enjoy boating in their own paddleboat on a mini lake; and attendees will have the chance to participate in fishing workshops and boating 101 courses -- plus, climb aboard and shop hundreds of boats, from yachts and center consoles to pontoons and wake sports boats. Video below: Meet Twiggy, the waterskiing squirrel The show runs through Sunday and is open Friday noon to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adult tickets purchased online at NEBoatShow.com; $20 for adult tickets purchased on site during the days of the show; children 12 and under get in free.

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5science

How Much Ice Is Greenland Losing? Researchers Found an Answer.

Greenland’s expansive ice sheet is known to be shrinking, especially since the 1990s, because of warming from climate change. It’s a fate shared by the Antarctic Ice Sheet as well as glaciers around the world. Now, a new study reveals that about 20 percent more of the Greenland ice sheet has disappeared than previous estimates show. The missing ice has been breaking and melting from the ends of glaciers around Greenland’s perimeter. The new research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, provides a detailed accounting of a process that scientists knew was happening but had struggled to measure comprehensively. “Almost every glacier in Greenland is retreating. And that story is true no matter where you look,” said Chad Greene, a glaciologist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the lead author of the study. “This retreat is happening everywhere and all at once.”

ae5964162d92a2c4a4533f29ddca86a3

4politics

Why did Claudine Gay resign? The Harvard president tenure ends

But she said that “after consultation with members” of Harvard’s top governing board, it became clear to her that “it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.” She will return to teaching and scholarship as a tenured faculty member. A daughter of Haitian immigrants who rose through the sharp-elbowed politics of higher education to reach the pinnacle of academia, Gay described her decision to resign as “difficult beyond words” in a message sent to the Harvard University community. CAMBRIDGE — Claudine Gay’s tenure as the first Black president of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious university came to a bitter end Tuesday after her brief term was derailed by controversies stemming from the Israel-Hamas war, campus antisemitism, and allegations of plagiarism in her scholarly works. Harvard provost Dr. Alan Garber will serve as interim president, the board said Tuesday. Advertisement Gay’s resignation is an embarrassment for the elite university and its powerful oversight board, known as the Harvard Corporation, which selected Gay and helped orchestrate her ascension from within Harvard’s ranks. Gay’s six-month tenure as president is the shortest in Harvard’s history. Since Oct. 7, Gay pinballed from one controversy to another, never managing to fully resolve the last before the next arose. It began with withering criticism that her initial statement about the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel was late and weak, and then escalated with allegations that she was too slow to respond to reports of resurgent campus antisemitism. Public pressure for her ouster intensified after she gave legalistic answers during a Dec. 5 congressional hearing to questions about whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate Harvard’s rules. Finally, allegations emerged in December that she had committed plagiarism in some of her scholarly works. Harvard has publicly acknowledged instances of “inadequate citation” and “duplicative language” in two of Gay’s peer-reviewed journal articles and in her PhD dissertation, completed in Harvard’s government department in 1997. Advertisement Gay’s decision comes at an unsettled and anxious moment for higher education, especially the country’s most elite institutions. Conservative leaders have denounced universities as incubators of a rigid progressive ideology, at odds with meritocracy and open debate. Supreme Court justices and lawmakers have moved to restrain, through political force, what they view as universities’ excesses, including the way top universities factored race and ethnicity into admissions decisions. Those battles were the backdrop for an extraordinary political conflagration in recent weeks in which some conservatives attacked Gay’s academic lapses and caricatured her as a kind of diversity, equity, and inclusion apparatchik, while Harvard professors denounced the attempts of lawmakers to intervene in the university’s affairs. The partisan rancor, and a sense that right-wing elements were weaponizing Gay’s missteps to fight other ideological battles, scrambled internal debates, especially among faculty, about the gravity of the plagiarism claims and the seriousness of her misstep at the congressional hearing. Asked at the hearing whether calls for genocide of Jews would violate Harvard’s rules, Gay said, “It depends on the context.” She later apologized. University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill was criticized for offering similar testimony at the hearing, and subsequently resigned on Dec. 9. MIT president Sally Kornbluth, who also answered similarly and faced denunciations, received a public and unconditional vote of confidence from the executive committee of MIT’s governing board days after the hearing. Advertisement Some Harvard professors and students viewed the backlash over Gay’s testimony as motivated, at least in part, by racism. Some also viewed the unearthing of the plagiarism allegations as a partisan campaign to damage a university known for left-leaning values, and to smear a leader who has championed diversity initiatives and affirmative action in higher education admissions. (The plagiarism allegations were first widely circulated by a conservative activist and a conservative news outlet, the Washington Free Beacon.) A Globe review of the allegations found that some sentences and passages in Gay’s work matched, nearly verbatim, language from other sources. Several scholars said some amounted to plagiarism. Some faculty members and students also argued that an undergraduate would face discipline, including suspension, for similar transgressions. On Monday, the Free Beacon published additional allegations of plagiarism against Gay. By that time, Gay had already decided to resign, according to a person close to her. “[I]t has been distressing,” Gay wrote in her Tuesday message, “to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor — two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am — and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus.” Gay, 53, will now “return to the faculty, and to the scholarship and teaching that are the lifeblood of what we do,” she wrote. Advertisement Lawrence Bacow, Gay’s predecessor as president, said he was saddened by Gay’s resignation. “Claudine is a person of great intellect, integrity, vision and strength,” he said in an email. “She had much to contribute not just to Harvard, but to all of higher education. I regret that she will not have that opportunity.” Her resignation follows months of unrest at American universities prompted by the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, and Israel’s retaliatory war in Gaza. Protesters at numerous campuses have occupied buildings and barged into lecture halls with megaphones to protest Israel’s prosecution of the war, which has killed more than 20,000 people, according to Palestinian officials. “People are calling this the Vietnam War moment of our generation,” Nadine Bahour, a recent Harvard graduate who is Palestinian, said of the protests. Meanwhile, some Jewish students, at Harvard and other campuses, have reported that antisemitism is on the rise. They pointed to controversial protest slogans, such as “Globalize the intifada” or “From the river to the sea,” that some Jews hear as calls for violence against Jews and Israelis, but that pro-Palestinian protesters say are peaceful calls for liberation. The maelstrom over antisemitism and free expression came to a head at the Dec. 5 congressional hearing, convened by a Republican-controlled committee. Gay’s answers to the genocide question prompted new calls for her resignation, and pushback from faculty against outside influence on the university. After the plagiarism allegations emerged several days later, the corporation publicly backed her on Dec. 12. Advertisement “Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing,” the board’s 11 appointed members formally known as the Fellows of Harvard College wrote in a statement. But they also acknowledged her missteps and said an independent review of her academic writings had revealed “a few instances of inadequate citation.” Calls for her resignation intensified after Harvard announced, on Dec. 20, a second round of updates to her scholarly work due to “duplicative language” in her PhD dissertation. In her resignation message, Gay wrote, “Sad as I am to be sending this message, my hopes for Harvard remain undimmed. When my brief presidency is remembered, I hope it will be seen as a moment of reawakening to the importance of striving to find our common humanity — and of not allowing rancor and vituperation to undermine the vital process of education.” Gay is the second Harvard president in two decades to step down amid controversy, following the resignation of Lawrence Summers in 2006 after clashes with faculty members and blowback about remarks he made about women in science. His tenure lasted five years. Garber, an economist and physician, who is Jewish, will serve as interim president “until a new leader for Harvard is identified and takes office,” according to the corporation’s Tuesday message. He has been Harvard’s provost since 2011 and helped guide the university through the COVID-19 pandemic. But his ascension isn’t stopping the cavalcade of critics taking aim at Gay. In October, in the days after the Oct. 7 attack, an activist group called Accuracy in Media sent trucks to Harvard Square displaying photos of pro-Palestinian students beneath the words “Harvard’s Leading Antisemites.” This week, the group’s president, Adam Guillette, said he will send U-Haul trucks to Harvard as Gay moves out of the presidency. Mike Damiano can be reached at mike.damiano@globe.com. Hilary Burns can be reached at hilary.burns@globe.com. Follow her @Hilarysburns.

40042eb6490496a7ba0945ccefd0f7ad

5science

For Trustees head Katie Theoharides, open space is key to solving climate change

A scientist by training, she spent five years orchestrating the state’s ambitious climate goals as part of the Baker administration, where she served as secretary for Energy and Environmental Affairs. But this year, she stepped into a new role , one that in many ways she said she’s been working toward her entire career: She became President and CEO of the Trustees of Reservations, the country’s oldest land trust, which maintains over 120 properties in the state. If you care about climate change in Massachusetts, you’ve likely come across the work of Katie Theoharides. “My heart and my passion has always been land conservation,” Theoharides said. Advertisement Theoharidies sat down with Boston Globe business reporter Janelle Nanos for the latest interview in the Globe’s Bold Types video series. The Trustees has seen significant growth in the wake of the pandemic — membership has spiked by 66 percent since 2019 — and today Theoharides sees each property as an engine of hope. She says her goal is “accelerating the pace of land conservation, addressing climate change and really connecting more people to this mission and to the work of saving our special places everywhere.” Right now, Theoharides is overseeing the acquisition of new properties into the Trustees portfolio, including the Millborn Farm in Sherborn, which would provide a vital link in the Charles River Valley to several other Trustees properties and create a nine-mile navigational “blue trail” for paddlers. The Trustees is also pushing into urban landscapes, and has raised over $30 million to develop a salt marsh, sandy beach, and kayak launch at Piers Park III in East Boston. But Theoharides is looking to Western Massachusetts, where she grew up, in the hopes of expanding the organization’s reach even further, and is currently leading a coalition of land conservancies to preserve some large tracts of open farmland in the southern Berkshires and northwest Connecticut. Advertisement “We have significant rural area remaining in Western Mass that’s unprotected that will see generational turnover as people sell off and move on,” she said. “And that land is really important from a climate perspective.” For Theoharides, keeping special places special isn’t just an aesthetic goal (though she does believe a walk in the woods can do everyone a bit of good). There’s a bigger mission too. “There is work to do to provide hope on climate change and solve climate problems and I really do believe our properties can be the center of those solutions,” she said. Preserving green spaces helps with carbon sequestration and land management to mitigate the effects of climate change. So she’s looking at every property from that perspective: hoping to ensure the 350 buildings, 120 miles of coastline, and roughly 47,000 acres the Trustees manages across the Commonwealth are doing their part. “We are net negative as an organization in terms of our emissions because of all of the land that we hold and the sequestration that we have, but we want to do much more,” she said. “We have historic buildings, we have art museums, and we have working animals on our farms and we want to decrease those emissions significantly.” She’s also working to ensure more Massachusetts residents have access to green spaces, and putting an emphasis on trying to be more inclusive in the organization’s outreach. Last year, the Trustees had 230,000 people attend its varied events, like hikes, cooking classes, and mushroom foraging sessions. She wants to do more to bring those opportunities to everyone. Advertisement “We have to increase the number of parks and green space in urban communities that don’t have access to that type of landscape,” she said. “We need to do more to connect the next generation to nature and provide access to everyone to our green spaces, particularly underrepresented communities.” Janelle Nanos can be reached at janelle.nanos@globe.com. Follow her @janellenanos.

e17a57ddfbb269e20f32feeafaab1ec3

0business

See all homes sold in Cape Cod, Nov. 19 to Nov. 25

The following is a listing of all home transfers in Cape Cod reported from Nov. 19 to Nov. 25. There were 3 transactions posted during this time. During this period, the median sale for the area was a 1,978-square-foot home on Cambridge Drive in Mashpee that sold for $454,223. Centerville 9 Rainbow Drive, Centerville, $729,000, 1,976 square feet, $369 per square-foot, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Dennis Port 9 Edwards Ave., Dennis Port, $240,000, 756 square feet, $317 per square-foot, two bedrooms and one bathroom. Mashpee 69 Cambridge Drive, Mashpee, $454,223, 1,978 square feet, $230 per square-foot, three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News

6872a41e29645c997a4a3c261507725b

0business

WooSox owners reach agreement to sell team (report)

It didn’t take long for Worcester Red Sox principal owner and chairman Larry Lucchino to find a new ownership group for the Red Sox’s minor league affiliate. An industry source told The Boston Globe’s Michael Silverman that Diamond Baseball Holdings has “reached an agreement” to buy the WooSox. The deal, per Silverman, still needs to be approved by MLB. The team moved to Worcester three years ago after 47 years in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The WooSox played their first season at Polar Park in April 2021 after signing a 35-year lease. They’ll still continue to play in Worcester for the next 32 years. Lucchino was part of the ownership group that bought the then-PawSox in 2015 and helped relocate them to the Heart of the Commonwealth in a deal reached in 2018. But he announced on the “UnAcnhored Boston” podcast earlier this month that it “was time” to sell the team. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. “I’m now 78. I’ve been at this for over 40 years so it’s time to sell this team and move on to a blissful retirement,” Lucchino told co-hosts Bob Lobel and Mike Lynch. Lucchino long has been an executive in baseball, beginning his career in 1988 as Baltimore Orioles team president. It’s unknown how much the WooSox sold for. Although he’ll no longer own the Worcester Red Sox, Lucchino will continue to stay on as chairman. Enter your email address here to receive the Fenway Rundown email newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday. Other Red Sox affiliates under Diamond Baseball Holdings include the Portland Sea Dogs and Salem Red Sox. In total, they own and operate 25 Minor League Baseball teams. “Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) is committed to elevating fan experiences, creating “centers of energy,” fostering dynamic engagements for brands and highlighting the evolution of the Minor League Baseball environment,” the website states. “It is grounded in a deep-rooted appreciation for traditions, community and the sport of baseball.” The WooSox begin their 2024 season on the road against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on March 29. They finished seventh in all of Minor League Baseball in total attendance (519,651) for 2023, according to Baseball America.

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6sports

Beantown Rundown: Mookie Betts Boston return a reminder of Red Sox front office failures

On Friday night, the Boston Red Sox and their fans welcomed back former superstar outfielder Mookie Betts to Fenway Park. With the Los Angeles Dodgers in town, Betts took the field in Boston for the first time since 2019, and it's safe to say that he received a warm welcome from fans in his return. After all he accomplished during his time with the Sox, why wouldn't he have? Betts burst onto the scene with the Sox in 2014, and followed that up with a 19th place finish in the American League MVP race in 2015, his first full year in the majors. Betts would go on to earn four All-Star selections, four gold gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, the 2018 American League MVP, and a World Series title in 2018 with Boston. In just six short seasons, Betts made himself a Beantown legend. And yet, as quickly as Betts came to prominence, it all came crashing down when he was traded to the Dodgers after the 2019 season due to the front office not wanting to sign him to a long-term extension. And while it's nice to see Betts back in Boston, his return is really just a reminder of how big of a mistake the Red Sox front office made by trading him. Why Mookie Betts' return is bittersweet for the Red Sox Betts' impact in Boston throughout his fairly short stay with the team cannot be overstated. Betts quickly became arguably the best player in baseball alongside Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels during his rise with the Sox, and his MVP campaign in 2018 (.346 BA, 32 HR, 80 RBI, 30 SB, 1.078 OPS) made him the face of their most recent championship team. To put it all into perspective, over what really amounted to a little over five seasons of action, Betts ended up finishing his Red Sox career as their 13th best player of all time when measuring his contributions using Baseball-Reference's WAR statistic. Betts put his name above legends like Nomar Garciaparra, Carlton Fisk, and even one of his former teammates in Xander Bogaerts, in just a few seasons. For the inside story on the 24 people banned from MLB, listen below: That unfortunately didn't convince the front office to invest in him with a long-term deal. Shortly after Chaim Bloom took over Boston's front office, he shipped Betts to the Dodgers in a massive blockbuster deal. It's safe to say that trading away Boston's best player for what has essentially become Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong is something that Bloom has struggled to overcome with the Red Sox. Boston made a surprise run to the American League Championship Series in 2021, but aside from that, they have looked lost for much of the period after Betts' departure. While they have managed to exceed expectations this season, it's clear that the Red Sox probably are going to have to wait a few more years before they can become a true World Series contender again. A big reason why that's the case is because of Betts' departure. Aside from a down year in 2021, Betts has been phenomenal with the Dodgers, finishing second in the National League MVP race in 2020 and fifth in 2o22. In 2023, with the season Betts is putting together (.309 BA, 34 HR, 89 RBI, 10 SB, 1.008 OPS) he might end up winning the second MVP campaign of his career. Shortly after he landed with Los Angeles, Betts inked a 12-year, $365 million deal that the Red Sox front office did not want to offer him. While Betts will be making $27.5 million when he's 39 years old in the final year of this deal, that's how the contract game is played in the MLB. Realistically speaking, Boston will be in a fairly similar position when they are paying Rafael Devers $29 million when he's 36 after they signed him to a ten-year, $313.5 million extension this past offseason. Would Betts have stuck around in Boston had he not been traded? While he's been adamant he would have stayed with the Red Sox had he gotten a similar offer as the one he got from the Dodgers, it's a lot easier to say that now that you have received the massive deal you were looking for. Betts seemed intent on hitting the open market before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, so chances are it may not have mattered. On the other hand, though, it's clear the front office did not make the push that should have been made to keep Betts around, which was something we saw again with Bogaerts in free agency last offseason (although that hasn't come back to bite Boston very much yet). Mookie Betts making his long-awaited return to Boston is nice, but it's really just another reminder of how badly Bloom managed his situation, and it has clearly set the Red Sox back a few years in their quest to win another World Series championship.

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2culture

At the Kennedy Center, an Ode to the Arts, and a Gentle Jab at Bidens Age

It was the only suggestion of politics in an apolitical, if quintessentially Washington event that sees throngs of dignitaries and politicians gather each year to pay tribute to the arts. On Sunday, the Kennedy Center honored artists who not only revolutionized their genres but transcended them: Billy Crystal, the actor and comedian; Barry Gibb, the musician and songwriter who rose to fame as the eldest member of the Bee Gees; Renée Fleming, the opera singer; Queen Latifah, the rapper, singer and actress; and Dionne Warwick, the singer. Ms. Warwick, who has performed five times at the Kennedy Center and previously appeared at the honors gala to perform tributes to two separate honorees, said her reaction to learning that she would be honored was: “Finally, it’s here!” “It’s a privilege to wear this,” she said, gesturing to the signature rainbow medallion given to each honoree.

74539e9af4a285e30b18fa5afa7c5187

6sports

Former NFL QB calls out Tom Bradys comments. critiques cupcake AFC East

While some quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers agrees with Tom Brady’s comments about the NFL being mediocre these days, others like former QB Alex Smith vehemently disagrees. Brady recently appeared on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” and said he doesn’t “see the excellence that I saw in the past,” adding the coaching and development of young players isn’ what it used to be. Randy Moss, Brady’s former Patriots teammate, said he was “bothered” by the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s comments, and Smith shot back at them during ESPN’s “Sunday’s NFL Countdown.” “He hasn’t been retired that long. He was just playing. He just won a Super Bowl in the current game,” Smith said. “Is he discounting that one? ... “I completely disagree with this. I know he’s talking about the rule over the middle over the field to the receiver. But in my opinion, the game has gotten better.” $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. Smith wasn’t finished, though. With Rex Ryan, a former AFC East coach and former Patriots Moss and Tedy Bruschi next to him, Smith went in on the division Brady had so much success in. “My biggest complaint to this — and no offense to the three of you guys — he played in the most uncompetitive division in NFL history,” he said. “I mean, you come out of training camp in the biggest cupcake division, you got a ticket to the playoffs right away. Talk about mediocre.” The Patriots essentially ran the AFC East during Brady’s two-decade run in New England and were always the team to beat in the division. Brady’s comments have been the talk of the town. But he made some valid points about bad habits and development. Still, Smith’s points are valid, too. Brady won his seventh and final Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 and hasn’t been retired a full year yet. Brady certainly knows the game of football, but it’s no surprise he’s getting a little pushback from other former players.

8e09e64fc7ec60ed6fd7aaf5d0b25893

2culture

Heiress Seeks 50 Austrians to Give Away $27 Million

In the coming days, about 10,000 Austrians will find an invitation in their mailboxes from an heiress asking for their help spending 25 million euros, or about $27.4 million, of her inheritance. It is not a scam or a clever marketing gambit. Rather, the heiress, Marlene Engelhorn, said it was an attempt to challenge a system that has allowed her to accumulate millions of euros in the first place. Ms. Engelhorn, 31, grew up in Vienna and for years has been campaigning for tax policies that would redistribute inherited wealth and address structural economic inequality. Without those tax laws in place, she is turning to the public to decide how her money should be spent.

628cc85f241d9dc299adbb20d804dfd9

3entertainment

Royal Rumble 2024: How to buy tickets to WWE's 'Road to WrestleMania' event in Florida

Tammy Sytch, better known to professional wrestling fans as “Sunny,” was sentenced Monday to 17 years in prison after police said she killed a man in Florida while driving under the influence. The 50-year-old WWE Hall of Famer will also have to serve eight years of probation following her prison sentence, according to USA Today. Sytch pleaded no contest in August to eight charges, per the outlet. Those included one count of DUI manslaughter, driving while license suspended with death, four counts of DUI with damage to person, and two counts of DUI with damage to property. “A previous life was lost that tragic day and I’m so incredibly sorry for that,” Sytch said during her sentencing. “I would ask that you give me the opportunity to atone for what I’ve done and then to be released to society to contribute to it in the most positive way possible.” Sytch, who reached mega-star status with the wrestling company in the 90s, was accused by police there of crashing into the back of a stopped car and causing the death of 75-year-old Julian LaFrancis Lasseter last March. Ormond Beach police say she had a blood alcohol level of .280, which is three and a half times the legal limit of .08 in Florida, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Tests also reportedly revealed THC in her system, police said. The News-Journal said police also found an “unsealed bottle of vodka” in Sytch’s car. She was facing up to 26 years in prison. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the attorney for Sytch recently told the court that she “requires specialized treatment for a mental disorder or for a physical disability.” The newspaper reported that the prosecutor has already asked that Sytch be sentenced to the maximum penalty of 26 years and called her “a danger to society.” The DBNJ reported that her lowest possible sentence under state sentencing guidelines would have been 10.5 years. Sytch, who was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011, has a long history of run-ins with the law. She was arrested in January of 2022 on weapon and terroristic threats charges after reportedly threatening to kill her “intimate partner,” with a pair of scissors. Prior to that, she was arrested in February 2019 and charged with her sixth DUI.

a1b958153ea7c4f8d4a5261d8cb2dfe6

6sports

Report: Red Sox trade Chris Sale to Atlanta Braves

SOUTHWICK – It was a slow start for a young, scrappy girls soccer team from Southwick but a solid finish, hinting at a promising 2024. Southwick opened the 2023 fall sports season with a record of 0-3-1 before catching fire and reeling off four straight victories with wins over Northampton, Granby, Chicopee, and Westfield consecutively. The Rams closed out the regular season winning two of three (Chicopee, Monument Mountain) to finish 8-9-1.

627e4bf7e6adbc4e738f2cc3dfbc3c6a

4politics

Supreme Court to Decide Whether Trump Is Eligible for Colorado Ballot

The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to decide whether former President Donald J. Trump is eligible for Colorado’s Republican primary ballot, thrusting the justices into a pivotal role that could alter the course of this year’s presidential election. The sweep of the court’s ruling is likely to be broad. It will probably resolve not only whether Mr. Trump may appear on the Colorado primary ballot after the state’s top court declared that he had engaged in insurrection in his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, but it will most likely also determine his eligibility to run in the general election and to hold office at all. Not since Bush v. Gore, the 2000 decision that handed the presidency to George W. Bush, has the Supreme Court taken such a central role in an election for the nation’s highest office. The case will be argued on Feb. 8, and the court will probably decide it quickly. The Colorado Republican Party had urged the justices to rule by March 5, when many states, including Colorado, hold primaries.

af1084be79a4a15cb6cf8d3e38158ef2

7weather

Massachusetts weather: Possible flooding, heavy rains and wind expected Sunday

A storm is expected to hit Massachusetts Sunday afternoon, bringing several inches of rain overnight and wind gusts up to 58 mph in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. A flood watch is in effect across the state from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening, due to possible “excessive rainfall.” Runoff from the storm may result in rivers spilling over, as well as flooding in urban areas where drainage is poor and some coastal flooding, according to the weather service. Bay Staters can expect to see the heaviest rainfall Sunday night and into Monday morning. Significant street flooding could affect the Monday morning commute, the weather service warned. Key Points for the upcoming storm: * Significant flooding rain possible, esp CT & central MA where 5-7" could fall. * Damaging winds SE of Providence-Boston. * Minor coastal flooding along Narragansett Bay. Plan on a slower than normal commute Mon AM!#ctwx #mawx #riwx pic.twitter.com/GFIeUoX6et — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) December 10, 2023 A foggy Sunday morning will give way to a storm, which is expected to hit eastern Massachusetts around 1 p.m. before reaching Worcester around 3 p.m. and Springfield around 5 p.m., according to the weather service. It should continue through the night before tapering off around midday Monday. Areas southwest of Worcester will likely see the most total rainfall, according to the weather service. Towns like Oxford, Charlton, Dudley and Southbridge could get more than 6 inches of rain. Central Massachusetts, from approximately I-91 to I-95, will likely receive 3 to 4 inches of rain in total, the weather service predicts. The eastern and western parts of the state are expected to receive 2 to 3 inches in total, while the South Coast should see 1 to 1.5 inches and the Cape and Islands will likely receive .5 to 1 inch. The National Weather Service is predicting 2 to 4 inches of rain across Massachusetts Sunday afternoon and into Monday morning.National Weather Service While rain might not be as much of an issue on the South Coast, Cape and Islands, wind could be. The weather service predicts wind gusts up to 58 mph on the South Coast, Cape and Martha’s Vineyard, and gusts up to 60 mph on Nantucket. A wind advisory is in effect for eastern Massachusetts from 7 p.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Monday, and power outages are possible, according to the weather service. In general, 20 to 30 mph winds are expected, with gusts up to 45 mph possible south of Boston and in western Hampshire County. Throughout the storm, temperatures will stay warm, with highs in the low 60s and high 50s expected across the state on Sunday, according to the weather service. Lows overnight are expected stay in that range in eastern Massachusetts, but dip into the low 40s and upper 30s in central and western Massachusetts. The National Weather Service is predicting 20 to 30 mph winds Sunday afternoon and overnight, with gusts up to 58 mph in some areas of Massachusetts.National Weather Service Highs Monday will likely be in the mid 50s in eastern Massachusetts, but the mid to upper 40s in central and western Massachusetts on Monday, according to the weather service, the weather service predicts. Some fog is also possible. The rest of the week should see temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s during the day and lows in the mid 20s overnight. The weather service is not predicting any more precipitation the rest of the week.

50d36e61d105b31ac26c55ad68ebe3d3

7weather

Mass. weather: Heres when you should look out for snow squalls Sunday

If you plan on traveling in Massachusetts Sunday afternoon or evening, you’ll want to be on the lookout for snow squalls. According to National Weather Service forecaster Kevin Kadima, snow squalls are similar to the fast-moving, intense scattered thunderstorms we sometimes experience in the summer. “They’re typically snow showers that just cover a small area, but within the area, it can be snowing pretty hard,” he said. Throughout the afternoon and evening, Bay Staters may see light to moderate snow showers with intermittent squalls of heavy snow, Kadima said. “They move through pretty quickly, so any given location probably won’t see it last for more than 15, 20 minutes,” he said. The snow is expected to hit Western Massachusetts between noon and 1 p.m., before moving on to Central Massachusetts around 3 p.m., Kadima said. Eastern Massachusetts residents should look out for the squalls between 4 and 6 p.m. [1/2] A cold front is on the horizon, bringing scattered rain/snow showers. Be alert to the potential for heavier snow squalls this afternoon. These swift-moving squalls last less than an hour, creating sudden white-out conditions & icy roads within minutes #MAwx #RIwx #CTwx pic.twitter.com/Wboodcgj30 — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 14, 2024 Areas near the coast where the high today is expected to reach 40 degrees may see the precipitation start out as rain before turning to snow, Kadima said. This is most likely to happen in southeastern Massachusetts south of I-95. “If any areas in southeast Massachusetts do get those squalls, they might start out as rain, but they would likely change to snow as the intensity ramped up,” he said. According to the National Weather Service, you may get a snow squall alert on your phone as it passes through your area. If you are driving when this happens, the weather services advises that you slow down, turn on your lights and pull over. “Despite minor snow accumulations, snow squalls can lead to brief yet severe disruptions in travel, historically associated with deadly traffic accidents,” the weather service wrote on social media. “The combination of gusty winds, falling temperatures, and reduced visibility creates dangerous conditions for motorists.” The National Weather Service advises that drivers pull over during snow squalls.NOAA As for snow accumulation, Kadima said, some areas of the state won’t get any, while others may get 1 to 2 inches. The higher elevations in the Berkshires and the Worcester Hills have the greatest chance of receiving significant snowfall. Highs across the state Sunday are expected to reach the mid to upper 30s, but the cold front bringing in the squalls will leave temperatures significantly lower, according to the weather service. It could also cause strong westerly winds with gusts up to 45 mph. The skies should clear across the state by the late evening, and lows overnight are expected to be in the mid teens to low 20s, according to the weather service. Highs on Martin Luther King Jr. Day are predicted to be in the upper 20s and low 30s amid sunny skies. Lows overnight Monday are expected to dip into the low 20s and upper teens, according to the weather service. Then, on Tuesday, upper edge of a storm is predicted to touch Massachusetts, bringing a few inches of snow.

f194ef492f4ea17d74faacbe29f52ee0

2culture

Every Thanksgiving Food, ranked best to worst

Thanksgiving is a cultural aberration. Somehow, society’s tenuous grasp on colonial history has been distilled into it being perfectly acceptable to eat way too much food before 3 p.m., fall asleep on the couch and then wake up to eat pie until you feel sick. For one day, decorum is out the door. There’s a sort of unspoken bonding as families and friends participate in cooperative hedonism. What starts as a pristine, Hallmark movie-appropriate spread quickly unravels into chaos as a roasted bird is torn apart with gravy-stained hands. For this one meal, it’s deemed acceptable to “catch ‘em all” with side dishes like their Pokémon — with the inevitable result that you’ll fall asleep in the second quarter of the Cowboys game that no one is really watching. This is the peak of human society, and no one can tell me any different. Take that, Roman Empire. Every year, I set out to rank every conventional Thanksgiving food I can think of. Are they the same as last year? Probably not. I never check where things ranked the year before. That was last year’s version of me who wrote that, and that guy was crazy. As always, these rankings are not scientific, but they are correct — no matter how much people tell me my mouth is broken. 1. Stuffing - Stuffing is magical anarchy. It is a food that is entirely ungovernable. From the moment Thanksgiving dinner is served on Thursday until leftovers run out, there are no rulers, no kings. You want to take this bread-casserole and put it on a sandwich? Why not? You want to eat it cold out of the fridge while people call you a weirdo? Go for it. You want to put it on a waffle iron because you saw it in a TikTok? No one can stop you. As long as I have stuffing, anything is possible. This aluminum tray of thrice-cooked savory carb cake can take me anywhere. It can be a sandwich. It can hang out with gravy. It can be breakfast. Fear not the gluten madness! Join me in the guild of stuffing wizards! We’re stocked up until mid-December! 2. Gravy - There is nothing that gravy can’t fix during Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey is dry? Gravy. You’ve only got mashed potatoes on your end of the table? Gravy. Your aunt made weird stuffing with za’atar and sumac because she saw a Bon Appetit video? Gravy. Gravy is the panacea for all Thanksgiving woes. I’m going to carry a vial of it with me at all times in case I run into danger. If I get kidnapped, I can use it to grease up my wrists and bust out of my handcuffs. Safety first: Always remember your emergency gravy. 3. Whipped Cream - Now, you might be saying, “Hold on. Whipped cream isn’t a food. It’s a topping.” Well, you could say the same thing about cranberry sauce, and people still consider that bogfruit jelly a side dish. The point here is this: When I look at the dessert table, half of what I see if basically a vessel to transport whipped cream directly to my face. 4. Chocolate Creme Pie - I like my plate of chocolate creme pie to be about a 50:50 pie-to-whipped cream ratio by volume. I try to make it a 50:50 ratio by weight. But I usually get the can taken from me before that happens. 5. Pecan Pie - This is one of the great marketing scams of all time. If I showed up and served a “sugar pie,” you’d all call me crazy. But if I put a layer of pecans on top of it, all of a sudden it’s a classic. 6. Pumpkin Pie - Each year I think I get tired of pumpkin spice. But then I get a slice of pumpkin pie and remember pumpkin is awesome. 7. Turkey - I always hear about people’s turkey being dry. Listen, I’m sorry that whoever is cooking your turkey doesn’t do as good a job as my mom. I get it, my mom can’t cook Thanksgiving dinner for everyone. Although, based on how much she makes, it certainly looks like she’s trying. 8. Bread/Dinner Rolls - Sometimes things get dire as you’re waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to be ready. Fortunately, dinner rolls are there for emergency rations to sustain you through the tough times. It could be dozens of minutes until dinner is ready. But you’ll persevere, thanks to bread. 9. Mac & Cheese - There seems to be a sort of cultural divide where some folks don’t think mac & cheese is a Thanksgiving food. This makes zero sense to me. It’s basically the same thing as scalloped potatoes or green bean casserole — but with noodles. Plus, I’ll never understand why anyone has ever had the thought along the lines of, “Man, I wish this mac & cheese wasn’t here.” 10. Apple Pie - Listen, I really like apple pie. It’s great. But I can have it any time. It’s like ice cream in February. It’ll have its time to shine later. 11. Mashed Potatoes - The glue that — sometimes literally — holds the Thanksgiving meal together. 12. All Other Pies/Desserts - There are just too many desserts to list. So if you’re looking for something like “Sweet potato pie,” “brownies” or “carrot cake,” put it here. Heck, put Pop-Tarts and Dunkaroos here for all I care. I’m not the sugar police. 13. Cornbread - Solid, versatile. Cornbread is a team player. It doesn’t demand much attention but adds a little something to everything around it. We could all learn something from cornbread. 14. Green Bean Casserole - Either be mac & cheese or be a vegetable dish. Don’t try and be both! 15. Ham - To me, the best Thanksgiving ham comes hours after the meal has ended and I’m feeling snacky. I’ll sneak in to pick off a little piece to eat. That’s my secret ham. 16. Peas - My favorite thing about peas at Thanksgiving is that they stand out color-wise. You only need a few on your plate to declare, “Yes, hello fellow adults, I too have put vegetables on my plate.” 17. Corn - Like peas, but closer to beige. 18. Brussels Sprouts - Good if roasted correctly. I’m always afraid they’re going to fall off the plate. 19. Squash - I’ve started to really come around on squash. But sometimes it’s hard for it to mesh with the rest of the meal. 20. Carrots - Loses points for not being able to mix into mashed potatoes as well as peas or corn. 21. Salad - I say the same thing every year: Having salad at Thanksgiving dinner is like having a paramedic at a Little League game. You’re not going to use it. But everyone feels a little better knowing that it’s there. 22. Scalloped Potatoes - Potatoes? Great. Cheese? Awesome. Scalloped potatoes? Eh. For whatever reason, these are almost always too hot or too cold. 23. Candied Yams - What a waste of good marshmallows. 24. Cranberry Sauce - This viscous, vermilion vitriol has stained Thanksgiving dinner with its blood-tinged ichor for far too long. Every year, these eldritch orbs of acid spawn from bogs in Massachusetts and somehow it’s a source of pride in the state. It pains me to know that countless flubber fiends will make a visceral “splorp” sound as they limpidly flop out of Ocean Spray cans in the coming days. Then the whole family will eat Thanksgiving dinner with this gelatinous log of astringent avarice sitting there like it isn’t some alien menace. Now, does cranberry sauce add some much-needed acidity to what’s a very starch-heavy dinner? Maybe. But it doesn’t have to be so weird about it. Previous rankings For comparison’s sake, here are rankings from previous years. If you have criticisms about my rankings -- or me arbitrarily changing them from previous years, please send your complaints to mperri@masslive.com.

14e5bea45559832fa8f4703987c4a442

4politics

Teachers have been outed for posting on OnlyFans. Is that legal?

At a small rural Missouri high school, two English teachers shared a secret: Both were posting adult content on OnlyFans, the subscription-based website known for sexually explicit content. The site and others like it provide an opportunity for those willing to dabble in pornography to earn extra money — sometimes lots of it. The money is handy, especially in relatively low-paying fields like teaching, and many post the content anonymously while trying to maintain their day jobs. But some outed teachers, as well as people in other prominent fields such as law, have lost their jobs, raising questions about personal freedoms and how far employers can go to avoid stigma related to their employees’ after-hour activities. At St. Clair High School southwest of St. Louis, it all came crashing down this fall for 28-year-old Brianna Coppage and 31-year-old Megan Gaither. “You’re tainted and seen as a liability,” Gaither lamented on Facebook after she was suspended. Coppage resigned. The industry has seen a boom since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now believed 2 million to 3 million people produce content for subscriptions sites such as OnlyFans, Just for Fans and Clips4Sale, said Mike Stabile, spokesman for the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry. “I think that there was a time prior to the pandemic where the idea that someone might become a porn star was akin to saying that someone might be abducted by aliens,” Stabile said. “I think that what the pandemic and the sort of explosion of fan content showed was that a lot of people were open to doing it.” It frequently proves risky, though. A recent report from the trade association found 3 in 5 adult entertainment performers have experienced employment discrimination. The report, based on a survey of more than 600 people in the industry, said 64% of adult creators have no other significant source of income, while there were no details on the occupations of those who did. In St. Clair, Coppage was the first to be outed after someone posted a link to her OnlyFans account on a community Facebook group. Superintendent Kyle Kruse said Coppage was not asked to resign, but she did anyway. “I do not regret joining OnlyFans,” Coppage told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in September. “I know it can be taboo, or some people may believe that it is shameful, but I don’t think sex work has to be shameful. I do just wish things just happened in a different way.” Gaither, who also coached cheerleading, said she used her account to pay off student loans. She also was outed, although she wrote that she had an alias and did not show her face. Neither teacher responded to phone or email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. But both women told other news outlets that their OnlyFans earnings soared from the publicity. Read more: Longmeadow preschool para fired after taking explicit OnlyFans photos in school The district said little, but parents and even some students voiced concerns. “As a society, if we’ve come to it to think that it’s OK for children to be seeing their teacher having sex, that’s outrageous,” said Kurt Moritz, the father of a 7-year-old boy in the district. “We shouldn’t be giving children an extra reason to fantasize over their teachers.” Moritz and a former student said they were particularly alarmed when Coppage did a YouTube interview with an adult content creator and said she would be willing to film with former students. Moritz said the remark went too far, and 17-year-old Claire Howard, who moved out of the district midway through last school-year, agreed. “That’s something that shouldn’t be sexualized,” Howard said. Whether fired adult content creators have a legal recourse is unclear. Employers have wide latitude to terminate employees. The question is whether firing people moonlighting in the adult entertainment industry has a disproportionate effect on women and LGBTQ+ people, said attorney Derek Demeri, an employment law expert in New Jersey. Both groups are protected, and data from the Free Speech Coalition shows they are the ones who overwhelming produce adult content, he noted. “If you have a policy that on its face is not about discrimination but ends up having a disparate impact on a protected community, now you’re crossing into territory that may be unlawful,” Demeri said, adding that this applies even in cases where the day job involves working with children. Attorney Gregory Locke, who was fired in March as a New York City administrative law judge after city officials learned about his OnlyFans account, was contacted by a handful of adult content creators who were terminated from their day jobs. He hasn’t yet sued but said he agrees with Demeri’s legal reasoning. Locke’s termination followed an online spat over drag queen story hours in which he used a profane remark in response to a councilmember who opposed the events. Locke, who is gay, said people need to stop treating sex work like such a big problem. “We’re a gig economy now and millennials have more student debt than we know what to do with,” he said. “There’s all sorts of reasons why people would reach out for outside income like sex work, like OnlyFans.” At least one lawsuit has been filed in a similar situation. Victoria Triece sued Orange County Public Schools in January, alleging she was banned from volunteering at her son’s Florida elementary school because she posts on OnlyFans. “When you start getting the moral police involved in it, where does it stop? At what point does the school have the right to intervene in one’s private life?” asked her attorney, Mark NeJame. In South Bend, Indiana, 42-year-old Sarah Seales said she was fired last year from her job teaching science to elementary school children through a Department of Defense youth program called STARBASE after she began posting on OnlyFans to make more money to support her twins. A Department of Defense spokesperson said it was inappropriate to comment on matters of pending litigation. Attorney Mark Nicholson, who specializes in revenge porn cases, interviewed Seales and hired her to work on his firm’s podcast. They ultimately decided against suing the blogger who drew attention to Seales’ side gig, he said. “If we pay our teachers as much as we pay athletes,” Nicholson said, “maybe she wouldn’t have had to open up an OnlyFans.”

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4politics

Red Cross has received handover of hostages being released Sunday, IDF says

National security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks with CNN on Sunday. CNN The Biden administration has “reason to believe” one of the Americans held hostage will be released Sunday, a top US official said Sunday. “We're dealing with Hamas. We are in a ‘don't trust, but verify’ situation here. And so we have reason to believe that there will be an American release today,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union." “Today should be a good day, a joyful day, but until we actually see it happen, we are going to remain really at the edge of our seat,” he said. Sullivan's comments confirm previous reporting from CNN that an American citizen is due to be among those freed today. Two American women and one child, 4-year-old Abigail Edan, are currently unaccounted-for and are expected to be part of the group of 50 women and children hostages released as part a four-day truce, now in its third day. No Americans were released as part of the deal on Friday or Saturday. Ten Americans are unaccounted for in total. The US, Sullivan said, has “growing optimism” that Edan will be returned, though he declined to provide a timeline. “We are now hopeful that Abigail will be released and reunited with her family. She turned four just two days ago. She has been through hell. She had her parents killed right in front of her and has been held hostage for the last several weeks,” Sullivan said. “But I am going to say that we have growing optimism about Abigail and we will now watch and see what happens.” Sullivan said that it is difficult to know the true status of the Americans being held. “We cannot say for certain whether all three of them are still alive. But we do know this: we have reason to believe that today, one American will be released,” he said.

9804b64816730c6581d73edeb6193776

6sports

Travis Kelce opens up about handshake with Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick sought out Travis Kelce after the Patriots’ 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The two shared a few words before parting ways, and Kelce opened up about what was said on his “New Heights” podcast. “I just mentioned how much I respect him and how much it’s always the biggest challenge I go up against in the National Football League is going up against one of his defenses,” Kelce said. “I just wanted to make sure he heard that from my mouth, man, because it’s been a pleasure going up against him all these years. “I got asked after the game, did I feel like it was the last time, or anything like that. Honestly, I was just going up to him to pay respect over the 10 years I’ve been going up against him,” he added. “How much I appreciate the challenge, every single time. And hats off to him for always being that great.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. There’s been plenty of speculation surrounding Belichick’s future in New England. The Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago — the earliest that happened since 2000. And there’s been reports surfacing that a decision has already been made that Belichick won’t return in 2024 despite the 71-year-old reportedly signing a “long-term, lucrative” extension in the summer. But NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who reported that a firm decision has yet to be made, expanded a bit more on his future on MassLive’s “Eye On Foxborough” podcast. “If you’re going to say that, it better be 100 percent not changeable and true. I do not know that to be the case. I don’t know that anybody knows that to be the case right now. I don’t believe that’s been decided right now,” Rapoport told Patriots columnist Karen Guregian. “And in fact, I think the main thing that I learned over the course of reporting is nobody knows how it’s gonna end.” If Belichick’s time in New England does indeed come to an end, Kelce doesn’t think his coaching career is over. “They asked me if it was the last, I’m just like, ‘it might not be here (in New England). Whatever the situation is going on here, it might not be it.,’” he said on “New Heights.” “But I think that guy’s got some football left in him.”

16dbeee05827547358d2ff3d474854f3

7weather

Massachusetts braces for nor'easter, up to a foot of snow, flash freeze, power outages: Will there be space savers in Boston?

The biggest winter storm in years is nearly on our doorstep. Bay Staters are making their final preparations for this weekend’s nor’easter, as the region braces for up to 12 inches of snow and possible power outages. A “Winter Storm Warning” has been issued for much of Massachusetts — the northeastern, central and western areas — from Saturday evening to Sunday night. “That’s where our confidence is pretty high for 6 to 12 inches of snow,” Kyle Pederson, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s office, told the Herald after NWS Boston issued the warning on Friday. A “Winter Storm Watch” has been issued for the Boston to Providence corridor. “That’s where we have medium confidence in 6-plus inches,” Pederson said. “There’s a chance for rain mixing in there.” Forecasters are warning that travel will be hazardous from Saturday evening to Sunday night. Snow is expected to overspread the “Winter Storm Warning” region from west to east roughly between 5 and 9 p.m. on Saturday. The snow will become heavy and fall at 1 to 2 inches per hour for a time Saturday night. Conditions should deteriorate quickly. There may be a lull in the snow for a time early Sunday, but a second round of steady snow will redevelop later Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. The snow should finally come to an end early Sunday evening. “Just take the time to prepare on Saturday, and hunker down if you can,” Pederson said. “Don’t travel if you don’t need to on Sunday.” When it comes to eastern Massachusetts, where meteorologists predict that heavier wet snow will fall, there will likely be a flash freeze Sunday afternoon. Temps in the lower to middle 30s early Sunday will quickly drop into the 20s Sunday afternoon, resulting in a flash freeze and difficult travel. “Wet roadways can freeze over,” Pederson said. “Travel will definitely be tough with the icy roads.” Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph are expected in the interior, and 45 to 55 mph across Cape Cod and the Islands. Power outages will be more likely along the coast, and where the heavy, slushy, wet snow falls. “Farther north and west, the snow should be lighter and fluffy, so power outages should not be as big of an issue,” Pederson said. Eversource said the power company will have crews on standby this weekend to respond to any damage, and National Grid said they’re prepared for the winter storm. No snow emergency is planned for the city of Boston, so it will be typical parking rules — and not a space saver situation. “This has the potential to be a real storm for the city, but it does not look like it’s going be at the level of accumulation, at least as currently forecasted, where we would be concerned about having to close down streets or do a sort of blizzard-scale operation,” Jascha Franklin-Hodge, chief of streets for the city of Boston, said during a storm prep press conference on Friday. “Our goal will just be to keep on top of the storm as it is happening, to keep streets clear and passable,” he said, later adding. “When there is weather like this, we ask that people use caution if they’re going out, that they drive carefully. Even with a slushy storm, it can be slippery, and so we just want everybody to be safe as we go about our business with keeping the streets open.” Gov. Maura Healey on Friday was reminding residents to plan ahead and take care when traveling on the roads. It’s important that drivers clear snow and ice from their vehicles, and that motorists don’t crowd the plow or maintenance vehicles. “Recognizing that we’re no strangers to snowy winters, I’m asking Massachusetts residents to take steps to protect yourselves and your loved ones by making sure your homes stay safely heated and traveling on roads with extra care,” Healey said in a statement. “Please also take some time to check in on your neighbors to make sure everyone stays warm and safe.”

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2culture

Survey: Children in state struggling to access behavioral health care

It’s the perfect post-pandemic storm: an increase of children needing behavioral health care and a decrease in available clinicians. A survey conducted by the Association for Behavioral Healthcare found that children in the state are waiting longer for behavioral health services. For instance, there is an average wait of 20.5 weeks for families seeking in-home therapy with MassHealth (the state’s Medicaid program), and those with private health insurance must wait even longer with an average of 26.5 weeks for those types of services. The survey said clinician shortages are hampering children’s ability to receive behavioral health help. “Massachusetts has an impressive system of home- and community-based mental health services for families with public and commercial health coverage, but that system is on paper only,” said the report released in December describing the survey results. “Children are suffering because we are failing to invest in services and in the workforce.” Association for Behavioral Healthcare is an organization that represents over 80 community-based mental health and addiction treatment organizations. Its survey, which it conducted in July, was answered by 30 organizations that run 208 sites across Massachusetts and found that “as many as 3,300 families were waiting to receive services at the end of Fiscal Year 2022.” Lydia Conley, president and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, explained that if children are not given the resources when they initially need them, the children’s needs can become acute while waiting for care. In response to the federal litigation Rosie D. v. Romney, the state created the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative for children with MassHealth to provide services such as in-home therapy and behavioral health services. In 2019, a similar standard of services was required for those with private insurance, called Behavioral Health for Children and Adolescents. The Association for Behavioral Healthcare survey notes that due to unclear guidelines from private insurance companies, “There is less incentive to accept families with commercial insurance, creating a two-tier system as to who accesses and receives CBHI services within the Commonwealth.” Meanwhile, the number of children the system is treating has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, the survey found. “To date, utilization of these services has not rebounded, due to diminished provider capacity. ... By the end of May 2023, respondents reported approximately 32% fewer children and families than pre-pandemic levels received these same services,” the report says. Wages for clinicians are a factor, the survey noted. Many of the services provided by Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative are based in an in-home setting to involve family members and caretakers. These appointments are often conducted on nights and weekends and present more complexities than in-office appointments, yet the wages paid are significantly lower than those for in-office or remote clinicians. As of August 2023, state officials have invested $70 million into the initiative, but Conley said, “it is not sufficient to elevate salaries to attract and keep staff.” As a result, about 756 staff positions are sitting vacant, and difficulties finding financing and staff have caused program closures. Between the 2019 to the 2023 fiscal years, the report said, six in-home behavioral services programs, 15 therapeutic mentoring programs and 17 in-home therapy programs have closed. In addition to the state’s Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform, the Association for Behavioral Healthcare provided specific recommendations in order to meet the needs of families in the communities. It suggested providing sustainable rates for clinicians, paying a rate differential for non-English services, eliminating provider referrals, investing in outpatient services, implementing loan repayment awards and scholarships to attract and retain clinicians and reducing unnecessary administrative work for clinicians. Katherine Mague, senior vice president of Behavioral Health Network, confirmed that as one of the organizations that reported to the Association for Behavioral Healthcare’s survey and provides services to youths in both Hampden and Hampshire counties, the findings are spot on. “There was an exodus of staff during the pandemic and hiring back has been hard,” Mague said. “Kids come in with much more acute conditions now than before. This is a real mental health crisis and it’s now harder to do the work with many more needing it.” If you or someone you know is looking for help, call or text the Behavioral Health Help Line at 833-773-2445.

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4politics

Oakland Educators Hold Unauthorized Teach-in Supporting Palestinians

Some public school educators in Oakland, Calif., presented pro-Palestinian lessons on Wednesday as part of an unauthorized teach-in. The school district said this week that it opposed the event, and some Jewish groups and parents condemned it and called for teachers who participated to be disciplined. The teach-in was organized by a group of activists within the local teachers’ union, the Oakland Education Association. But the union president, Ismael Armendariz, emphasized that the materials had not been reviewed by his group. The event’s anonymous organizers created a lengthy list of suggested curriculum materials for all grade levels, from pre-K through high school. The document calls Israel an “apartheid state” and refers to “the historic and unfolding oppression and genocide of Palestinians.”

a1149098a5a46bd48ff97ff5d83eb5fe

6sports

Your guide to First Night Boston 2024

First Night festivities will take place as far away as Virginia and California this year, but Boston is where it all started. It’s a night that celebrates artistry in many forms from ice-sculpting to button design. First Night has been a part of Boston for nearly half a century, but as with all traditions, there are notable changes from year to year. We’ve got your guide to help you make the most out of whatever part of 2023 we have left! Where to go First night is on the move this year! Don’t go to Copley Square expecting last year’s celebrations. The main stage will be at the newly renovated City Hall Plaza with other events in the surrounding area: The Greenway, Columbus Park, Improv Asylum and Boston Common. Getting there As with any large event held in a metropolitan area, event organizers discourage driving and encourage public transportation. Luckily for attendees, the events are close to several T stops and not too far off from Back Bay for those taking the commuter rail. To get to City Hall Plaza, use nearby stops Government Center (Blue Line and Green Line), Haymarket (Orange Line and Green Line), and State Street (Orange Line and Blue Line). The T will operate on a Sunday schedule with increased service starting in the late afternoon. Visit the MBTA's website for more travel information. Whether you’re planning to drive or still figuring out your travel plans, you may want to consider the scheduled parking restrictions and road closures. You can view a list of traffic advisories for more details, and advanced reservations for parking are available through SpotHero. How do I purchase tickets? You don’t! Since 2015, First Night Boston has been entirely free to the public. Programming highlights Get a full nights’ sleep going into New Year’s Eve because starting at 11 a.m., there’s a 13-hour lineup of events, attractions, entertainment and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Free admission to the Mapparium Globe, the three-story stained glass depiction of the Earth. This is the furthest activity from the main stage, so it’s a good place to visit on your way in or out of the city. 11:11 a.m. – Performances start at City Hall Plaza and continue for much of the day. The first act is music group Sweet Harmony. Check the schedule for a full list of acts. Noon - 3 p.m. – Free rides at the Greenway Carousel. 1 p.m. – The Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association will provide supplies for arts and crafts on the second floor of City Hall Plaza. Activities include calligraphy, face painting, games, snowflake making. 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Hourly shows at Improv Asylum for audiences of all ages. 6 p.m. – Join drummers, puppeteers, and firetrucks on a downtown parade starting at City Hall Plaza and ending at Boston Common, where more festivities will take place. Be sure to stop by Frog Pond for the annual skating spectacular. 7 p.m. – The first of two firework shows of the evening. The early show will take place over Boston Common. 7:20 p.m. - midnight – Music continues at City Hall Plaza. The official countdown to midnight begins at 11:30 p.m. with rapper Sammy Adams to help ring in the new year. Midnight – Have your cheers, then look toward the harbor for a view of the midnight fireworks display. Do’s And don’ts Do use public transportation. Do speak up or call 911 if you see dangerous activities. Do be prepared for weather on the colder and perhaps wet side. Do stay home if you're experiencing cold- or flu-like symptoms. Do be respectful of families, older citizens and people with disabilities at the events or when you're riding the T. Don't drink alcohol or smoke marijuana at any of the events. Don't drive if you've consumed alcohol. New Years is among the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road. Don't bring your own fireworks. (They are illegal in Massachusetts.) What’s going on outside of Boston? Not making it to Boston for First Night? There’s plenty going on around the rest of the state. To the east, Chatham is celebrating its own First Night. To the west, Northampton will mark its own First Night as well. Both will feature their own slate of performances and celebrations.

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5science

Here are WBURs top local health stories of 2023

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's weekly health newsletter, CommonHealth. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here. 2023 is nearly over, and for many of us, this is a time to reflect on all that’s happened in our lives and in the world over the past year. There were plenty of big health stories: We witnessed the advent of revolutionary new obesity drugs, the burgeoning use of AI in medicine, the approval of the first treatment using CRISPR gene-editing technology, the complicated aftermath of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, the devastating humanitarian crisis still unfolding in Gaza and more. Here are some of WBUR’s top local health stories of 2023. They drew lots of readers and listeners like you, and their implications are sure to last into the new year, and likely beyond. PFAS are everywhere Scientists are still learning a lot about PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” But we know they can be in everything from dental floss to food containers to drinking water. They can be absorbed into the body and are linked to some serious medical concerns. My colleague, Gabrielle Emanuel, told us the story of a woman whose well water was contaminated with PFAS and helped us understand how to mitigate our own PFAS risk. Wendy Thomas' house in the woods, near Wildcat Falls in Merrimack, New Hampshire. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR) Boston Marathon bombings, 10 years later This year marked a decade since the shocking attack near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. At that time, medical workers and hospitals responded rapidly to save lives. And they developed special bonds doing so. But as I reported, the medical system would be more challenged in responding to a disaster today, because hospitals are already so crowded and short-staffed. A volunteer offers a high-five to a runner during the 126th Boston Marathon. (Mary Schwalm/AP) COVID entered a new phase The state and federal COVID public health emergency declarations expired in May — and along with them, several major government policies designed to protect people from the virus came to an end, too. That includes universal masking inside hospitals. COVID is far from gone, as most of us know from personal experience, but experts say it is not hitting most people as hard as it used to, mainly because of built-up immunity and treatments that help prevent severe illness. A UMass surgical medical student prepares doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) Boston's life expectancy gap Here are a couple numbers to help us think about health inequities: two and 23. In Boston, there’s a 23-year difference in life expectancy between Back Bay and Roxbury, neighborhoods that sit just two miles apart. My colleague Martha Bebinger reported this disparity stems from several interconnected problems, including racism, chronic stress and substandard housing conditions. It was one of WBUR's most-read online stories of the year. The corners of Dudley, Mt. Pleasant and Dearborn Streets in Roxbury. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) Crime scene at the Harvard morgue This has to be the creepiest health-related story of the year, and devastating for the families affected. A manager of Harvard Medical School’s morgue was accused of stealing and selling body parts that had been donated for medical research, as my colleague Ally Jarmanning reported. A review found there was little oversight of the morgue's day-to-day workings. Harvard Medical School, Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR) An influx of migrants land at Logan Airport Thousands of migrants have entered the state's family shelter system, according to official estimates. The situation became so dire over the summer that workers at Logan Airport started setting up cots for the new arrivals. For the first time in the family shelter program's history, there is a waitlist. More than 300 families are on it, and many of them have medical needs.

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6sports

Giving Bill Belichick GM power again would be crazy, ex-Patriots champ says

All signs point to Bill Belichick getting another shot to be a head coach in the NFL. But will anyone let him have full control over the roster, like he did with the New England Patriots? Asante Samuel, who played for Belichick in New England, said it would be “crazy” for a team to give the coach the same de-facto general manager control that he had with the Patriots. “I expect to see them coaching in the future, but with different circumstances. If any owner would give Bill Belichick that power again, that would be crazy,” Samuel said in an interview with TMZ Sports. Samuel has been critical of Belichick in the past, stating that the Patriots’ success is more a result of Tom Brady’s contributions than that of the head coach. Samuel has claimed that Belichick is “absolutely not” the NFL’s best head coach and that players were “brainwashed with the Patriot Way.” His comments came after the Patriots announced that they were mutually parting ways with the coach after 24 seasons. “He still has a desire to coach. I think that’s all he wants to do is coaching and – I can’t say lead men because, you know, that’s not what he particularly does so well,” Samuel said. “But on the other hand, if he does go somewhere, different circumstances and if he gets Josh McDaniels, I think he can do some great things with a GM who’s sort of an alpha male who’s not going to tolerate Bill Belichick,” Samuel continued. “Not going to how down to him, who’s going to select good players, not these mediocre players that Bill Belichick thinks can always help win in his system and all those things.” Samuel was selected by Belichick in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft and went on to become one of the most prolific ballhawks of his era. Samuel played 11 NFL seasons, making four Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team. He spent his first five seasons in New England, winning two Super Bowls. He then went on to play five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and two with the Atlanta Falcons. Samuel was an aggressive cover corner who finished his career with 51 interceptions, leading the league in picks twice.

b0e16ff769a8dd35fce171cbccab63ac

1crime

Daughters of Christian Oliver killed alongside actor in Caribbean plane crash

U.S. actor Christian Oliver and his two daughters died in a plane crash near a tiny private island in the eastern Caribbean, according to police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The crash occurred just west of Petit Nevis island near Bequia as the plane headed for nearby St. Lucia on Thursday, Jan. 4, police said in a statement. They identified the daughters as Madita Klepser, 10, and Annik Klepser, 12, adding that the pilot, Robert Sachs, also died. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash, according to police. Authorities said fishermen and divers in the area went to the crash site to help as the St. Vincent and Grenadines Coast Guard headed to the area. Read More: Country music star shocks fans with farewell tour announcement “The selfless and brave acts of the fishermen and divers is very much appreciated,” police said. The 51-year-old actor born in Germany had dozens of crediting film and television roles, including in the 2008 film “Speed Racer” film and “The Good German,” a 2006 World War II film by Steven Soderbergh that starred George Clooney and Cate Blanchett. He appeared throughout season two of the 1990s series “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” playing a Swiss transfer student named Brian Keller.

3972cb04d186bcf14d0180103f51bfd1

5science

Find viruses before they find us

The recent outbreak of an emergent strain of H5N1 — often called bird flu — spans multiple continents and has had an enormous ecological impact posing a threat to numerous wild bird species . Spillover into poultry around the world has necessitated the destruction of millions of domestic birds, severely challenging the poultry industry and threatening food security. What makes this strain of H5N1 virus of greater concern is the infection of more than 30 mammalian species that has probably killed thousands of marine mammals . Such spillover from birds to mammals creates the opportunity for viral adaptation to mammalian hosts, which can open the door to infection of humans. Climate change , expanding human populations, and other global changes are increasing opportunities for humans and animals to interact, accelerating the spread of viruses to humans. While the virus that causes COVID-19 was devastating, it continues along with new threats such as the present global outbreak of the H5N1 influenza virus. Advertisement The scope and character of the present H5N1 outbreak are alarming, but this is only one virus. There are many more known and as-yet undiscovered viruses in wildlife that pose threats to domestic animals and humans. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that viruses can rapidly change and adapt. However, advanced knowledge of viruses that pose a danger can avert outbreaks in humans. This knowledge is gained by worldwide surveillance and field research, which are critically needed to define where and how a suspect virus is circulating geographically, how it’s evolving, and where and how new species — including humans — may become exposed. Without such insights, options to prepare for or prevent a pandemic are challenging if not improbable. Despite the importance of surveillance and field research, some feel that their risks outweigh benefits and want this work to be stopped. Their reasoning is that interactions with wildlife as part of scientific study provide an opportunity for spillover to humans. Others advocate for changes such as federal department-level review of much pathogen research in the United States, including surveillance and field studies. Through increased bureaucratic burden, these changes could hamstring research that is essential to pandemic preparedness and outbreak response. Advertisement Indisputably, research safety is important and needs to be applied consistently, as well as reviewed and updated regularly as science and technology progress. But given the value of pathogen research to public health, safety measures should be designed to minimize risk while allowing beneficial science to proceed. Those focused on eliminating risk entirely would ban scientists from sampling wildlife and characterizing animal pathogens. But extensive interaction with wildlife through hunting, mining, tourism, and many other fundamental human activities will continue. Banning the science would win a battle on perceived lab safety but lose the war against the threats of nature. The ongoing H5N1 outbreak offers an example of the critical need for surveillance and field research. Based on rapid investigations in the field, decisions are being made in real time about restricting public access to wildlife areas, how animals are housed and handled in businesses, and how animal carcasses are disposed of. At the same time, biologists’ field efforts characterize the breadth and effects of variant viruses in wildlife and furnish samples, which are directly applied to selection of vaccines for pandemic preparedness and assessment of antiviral therapeutics. Without the information gained from research in the field, such precautions and preparation are not possible — instead of finding a virus and containing its threat, we would be waiting for the virus to find us and relying on luck and fortune to respond in time. As COVID-19 proved, detection after emergence can be too late to prevent a pandemic. Advertisement “Virus hunting” is often portrayed in the media as risky. Yet, pathogen research in the field — as in the lab — is subject to thorough oversight. In the United States, proposed field studies undergo review by institutional biosafety committees that are mandated and guided by federal agencies. Interactions with wildlife are included in this review. Research teams are trained and advised on prevention of potential zoonotic infections, including vaccination where appropriate and the use of personal protective equipment. Often, field studies require involvement, permission, and oversight by local, state, and/or federal government bodies. All field sites are unique, but awareness, training, and preparation can ensure that samples, wildlife, and personnel are protected and secure. The health of humans and animals is deeply interconnected across global shared environments. Turning a blind eye to viruses in animals will not stop them from spilling over into humans. On the contrary, the accelerating rate of viral zoonoses — the spread of viruses from animals to humans — calls for a reinvigoration of research designed to identify and understand nature’s biological threats. Only by knowing our enemy can we prepare our defenses and prevail. Advertisement Jonathan Runstadler is a virologist at Tufts University. Anice Lowen is a virologist at Emory University.

4bed6ce91834a3440da71d9d7487f3f5

0business

Readers: Where is the best barbershop in Greater Boston?

Tell Us Readers: Where is the best barbershop in Greater Boston? Where do you go for the best cut? Latin Shears barbershop on Dudley Street. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff For many people in the Boston area, barbershops are a way of life. They are not only a place to get a haircut or a shave, but a place to socialize with friends and neighbors and a place where there is a sense of community. Barbershops also provide communities with a place of cultural unity — a place where you might find others who speak your language, see familiar faces, and receive services from a barber who knows your hair type and style. For many barbershop customers, building a close relationship with their barber is very important. This relationship helps ensure that the haircuts remain consistent and to their liking, and that the barber understands their hairstyle and remembers the haircut they like. Advertisement: As most people consider their hairstyle to be a central aspect of their image, getting a fresh new haircut can be a boost of positivity and self-esteem. Barbershops are found throughout every neighborhood in Boston and in many towns around the Boston area. Much of these barbershops are small businesses owned by locals, thus contributing to the culture of each community. Some of barbershops have become favorites among locals, such as Razors Barbershop in Somerville, which offers live music and an espresso bar; others are might be longtime businesses like John’s Barber Shop in Cambridge, which has a vintage vibe having served the community since 1910; or FineLinez Barbershop in Taunton, which was named the “best men’s haircut” by Boston magazine in 2023, and was frequented by Celtics star Al Horford and former Celtics Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. We want to know: Where is the barbershop in Greater Boston you visit for the best cut, and what makes it the best overall experience? Fill out the form or e-mail us at [email protected], and your response may appear in a future Boston.com article. What is the best barbershop in Boston? What's the name of your favorite barbershop? (Required) Tell us why you go here, and what you love about the experience. Name Your name may be published. Neighborhood/Town Your neighborhood/town may be published. What are your preferred pronouns? He/Him She/Her They/Them Other Please select your preferred pronoun so we may correctly refer to your response in an article. Email or Phone Please enter an email address and/or phone number that we can easily contact you with. We may reach out for more information. It will NOT be published.

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6sports

Some Things I Think I Think: On facing facts about the Red Sox and more

* it isn’t just missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which, let’s face it, was something of a fait accompli long before Yamamoto chose the Dodgers over the Mets and Yankees late Thursday night. No, it goes deeper than that. A year of reduced payroll spending could be seen as an aberration. A two-year step-back might still qualify as an anomaly, part of roster-retooling strategy. But when you string together year after year of scaled-back spending, it becomes a pattern, a statement of fact. Despite what they’ve said, these are not the Red Sox you came to know and love from 2002-2018, intent on competing for top talent with little regard to pricetags. That approach led to four World Series titles and two more trips to the ALCS. Lately, with little public acknowledgement, there’s been a change in philosophy at Fenway: every once in a while (Rafael Devers, Trevor Story), the Red Sox will green-light a big signing. But those are few and far between. And it doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon. In the aftermath of the Yamamoto news, one industry official was speculating on how the Red Sox might pivot to find the necessary starting pitching. When I suggested free agent Jordan Montgomery as a good fall-back option, the official scoffed and offered that even Montgomery would be too expensive for the Red Sox’s current budget plans. Such an approach is squarely at odds with Tom Werner’s well-publicized vow to go “full throttle,” but then again, Werner doesn’t have final say here. But whether Werner was well-intentioned and speaking in good faith as he understood it or not, his promise has put unfair pressure on Craig Breslow, who’s now expected to be all-in despite John Henry’s belief in a more measured approach when it comes to payroll. Understand: the Red Sox are never going to bottom out the way Baltimore and Tampa Bay have. But neither are they committed to matching the Mets, Yankees and Dodgers the way they once were. Instead, they’ll act like part of baseball’s upper middle-class; just enough to suggest they’re still kind of, sort of interested in winning. But that philosophy doesn’t square with a team that has no problem charging as much — if not more — for tickets than any other franchise in the game. And if this ownership is going to continue to mitigate its commitment to the fans, then maybe it’s time for fans to re-examine their own relationship to the team. * Even though it has seemed inevitable for quite some time, I’m going to guess that the Bill Belichick Era doesn’t end smoothly. To the contrary, it has all the makings of a very messy divorce, played out in public. Whenever power and ego are at stake, at they are here, the potential exists for a very ugly ending. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. (2 kB) https://saturdaytradition.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GameSense-Icon-2.png espnbet.app.linkespnbet.app.link ESPN BET Explore our action packed sportsbook, loaded with exclusive odds boosts, custom offers and a suite of cutting-edge features. Fast load times, secure transactions and seamless navigation – ESPN BET serves up the ultimate online sports wagering experience. (20 kB) * Five years into his major league career, don’t expect Alex Verdugo to change. There’s a long pattern of immaturity, alienating teammates and sometimes indifferent play. Occasionally, he’s highly motivated to prove a point and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get off to a great start in New York. But that level of play won’t be sustained, because it never is. And before you know it, he’ll be blaming someone else for his subpar performance. * Hampus Lindholm knows the season has started, right? A grand total of seven points (and one goal) through the first 31 games is unacceptable, especially for guy who’s being paid like a top-pair defenseman. Lindholm had a brutal first-round series against Florida last April, but at least that could be attributed to the fact that he played with a broken foot. Presumably, that’s healed. So what’s the reason for his hugely disappointing play? * Any minute now, as his agents seek national endorsement deals, someone is going to tap Tommy DeVito on the shoulder and alert him that his 15 minutes of fame are about up. * Al Michaels may no longer been in his prime, but Michaels at 80 percent is still better than most play-by-play guys when it comes to calling NFL action. If the reason he got bumped from NBC’s playoff roster was because he was insufficiently energized while working the Jaguars’ big comeback win over the Chargers last year, I would remind you that we all have bad days. * And on the subject of sports on TV: Host Bryant Gumbel could be smug and a tad self-righteous at times, but Real Sports on HBO produced quality journalism for a long time, a sort of 60 Minutes for sports. The final episode is airing this month, which means good luck finding any other shows willing to tell the truth without being compromised for being partners — broadcast and otherwise — with the powers-that-be. That ship sailed at ESPN some time ago. * The fact that there are elected officials in Georgia and Florida working on legislation and/or lawsuits to get the University of Georgia and Florida State into the college football playoffs is laughable. Nothing else to worry about in your states, ladies and gentlemen? * Whether Derrick White makes the All-Star team remains uncertain, but there’s little doubt that he’s elevated his game this season — as his play on the current West Coast road trip has shown. Always a stout defender, White has added a better shooting touch. Is anyone still missing Marcus Smart now? * The NHL trade deadline is still more than two months away, but from here, the Bruins should be in the market for depth on defense and secondary scoring — or, exactly the same needs they’ve had at the deadline for about the last decade. * Hasn’t it seemed that, over the last two months, the Philadelphia Eagles are somehow featured in every, single prime-time game? * Ordinarily, I’d say the fewer NCAA bureaucrats, the better. But Chip Kelly’s call for a football commissioner makes a lot of sense. Look it at this way: it could hardly make things worse. * Merry Christmas to all our faithful readers.

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3entertainment

Death of Parasite Star Highlights South Koreas Crackdown on Drugs

Lee Sun-kyun, the “Parasite” actor who was found dead on Wednesday, was far from the only celebrity entangled in South Korea’s latest antidrug crackdown. Yoo Ah-in, the actor known for his roles in the 2018 film “Burning” and the 2021 Netflix series “Hellbound,” is facing trial after testing positive for propofol, marijuana, ketamine and cocaine, officials say. Several South Korean retailers have cut ties with the actor since the drug accusations became public. He is no longer listed as a cast member for the second season of “Hellbound.” G-Dragon, the rapper and former member of the K-pop boy group BigBang, had been under investigation for possible drug use until the police dropped the case earlier this month after he tested negative on several drug tests. Nevertheless, BMW Korea removed images of him from its online advertisements. The recent accusations against high-profile entertainers here have highlighted the continuation of a strict antidrug policy and attitudes in South Korea that have drawn a hard line against anything other than total abstinence from drug use.

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3entertainment

How to watch FOXs The Masked Singer season 10 finale for free Dec. 20

The disguised celebrity singing competition “The Masked Singer” concludes its 10th season on FOX this Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT with a two-hour finale. Those without cable can watch the new episode through platforms like DirecTV Stream and FuboTV. Both streaming services offer seven-day free trials when you sign up for a new account. FuboTV said in a description of the series that it is a “top-secret singing competition in which celebrities face off against each other and appear in elaborate costumes with full facemasks to conceal their identities.” The new episode is titled “Season 10 Finale,” and in a description FuboTV said “The final four celebrity contestants perform new songs in the season finale episode before the audience and panel votes; the bottom two singers unmask, then the final two go head-to-head one last time; the winner takes home the Golden Mask trophy.” How can I watch “The Masked Singer” on FOX without cable? The show can be streamed on platforms like DirecTV Stream and FuboTV. Both streaming services offer free trials. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, such as sports, news, entertainment and local channels. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels.

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2culture

Opinion | The Year in Opinion Video

This thing? “Yeah.” It’s just, it’s a camera. It also takes film. “Oh, all right, OK.” It’s a digital camera. “Yeah.” And this is a microphone. “Oh, OK. You know, I’ve been locked up for 40-some years. I didn’t know.” Go back to your time before coming here. “What is this?” That is — “Peach? Sparkling water, they don’t sell stuff like this here, never.” “When I got locked up, my twins were 8 months old. Whew, and that was the last time I saw them. I wrote them letters every week for the first 20 years I was here. And by this time, now they’re all adults. So I figure it’s time for me to stop trying.” “How could you take a 19-year-old person and just take the worst decision he ever made and hold him responsible for it for the rest of his entire life and not even consider that he may have changed?” “He was the thug on the streets 24, 25 years ago, and we’re angry at that person, not realizing that that person no longer exists. He actually hasn’t existed for, like, over 20 years.” These men are serving life sentences at Angola prison in Louisiana. They don’t have the possibility of parole. “I’m serving a life sentence for second-degree murder.” “First-degree murder.” “Second-degree murder and armed robbery.” “I’m serving a life sentence.” “A life sentence without parole.” “I was 18 when this crime happened.” “I was 17 years old.” “I was 18 at the time.” “I come here when I’m 17. I’m 80 years old now.” People who commit crimes should be held responsible. But how much punishment is enough for justice? As you listen to these men, ask yourself: Do they deserve a chance at redemption? “I had time to reflect and what my life would be if I had to stay here. And then I started noticing the need here of the people that was illiterate. So I said, OK, well, I could do some good here. So I started tutoring guys, and I started feeling a self-worth. I said, well, I could give something back like that, all the while still dealing with the fact that I took a life, an innocent life.” “If I happen to die here in prison, that’s not something that I want. But I have to think about and take under consideration I took another human’s life, a young man, Damian. I went to school with him. He still was somebody’s son. If I could go back in time and redo that, that would have never happened. It shouldn’t have happened.” In the U.S., there are more than 50,000 people serving life without parole, 70 percent of whom are Black. “If you come here young, well, prison provides. So you never have to be responsible if you don’t want to. It’s hard to mature in prison because prisons aren’t set up for you to bear the stress of responsibility and to grow from that. So you have to kind of seek it out your own.” With so many long sentences, America’s prison population is aging. Taxpayers spend about $70,000 to keep every elderly prisoner locked up every year. So Angola created a hospice program. Prisoners volunteer to take care of other prisoners, basically people convicted of murder caring for the dying. “It gave me a purpose. It gave me a purpose and showed me a different side, yeah, a compassionate side. And I probably sat with over 50 people to their death.” “Man, you know, I ain’t been to no man. But my first patient was a guy dying of AIDS. When I’m looking at him — a man weighing 60-something pounds, like, man, he can’t do nothing. So I have to pick him out of the bed, put him in the wheelchair. Bring him to the bathroom, help him, bathe him up, tease him, mess with him. But when I first was able to help a person, I just felt different.” “Excuse the expression, but they wash all up the crack of another man’s ass, all up under his nuts and all. It doesn’t care what nationality or race he is. Is that man faking? Hasn’t that man changed? He might have been a character when he got here. But this man has developed character. This man has developed compassion. It comes down to not so much what you have done. But what have you become?” Volunteering, mentoring, education, new experiences gave these men new purpose. “I got a diploma from Culinary Arts School from Baton Rouge Community College and three certifications from the National Center for Construction Education and Research. In the event that I ever went home, I could be an asset to society and not a liability. I prepare as if I’m going home tomorrow. Even though I have a life without parole, I try to prepare as if I’m going home tomorrow because who knows what might happen. I’d rather go prepared than go unprepared.” Do we really want to be a country where there’s no amount of growth that will ever give someone even a chance to leave prison, a country that’s fine with endless punishment but never with mercy? “That’s the worst part, knowing that I’m a changed man, knowing that I have the skills to go be a better person in society, knowing that I want to do better in society, and knowing that I can do better in society, and not having the opportunity to do that because I have a life sentence without parole. It’s hard. It’s hard.” But we have a solution. Second-look reforms would offer a chance at parole for those who have transformed themselves and who’ve already served a significant portion of their sentence. To be fair, there may be lifers who haven’t grown. But for the many who have, they deserve a second chance. “Ask yourself when you were 16, 17 years old, are you the same person? Do you even think the same way you do now? No, that’s human nature. People change.” “If rehabilitation is a process, there should be an end to it. There’s no, you get to a certain grade level, and there’s not high school, then college, and you can pursue undergraduate and then graduate studies. There’s none of that. It’s just a life sentence.” A few states have implemented changes in the criminal justice system, including second-look reforms. And some of these men have actually gotten out. But they are only a small fraction of those serving life without parole. Now if you’re concerned they might harm someone else, less than 3 percent of lifers who are released are rearrested. And when they are, it’s frequently for a technicality, not a violent crime. In other words, lengthy prison sentences don’t improve public safety. Over time, Americans could save billions of dollars if some of these older reformed men are set free. “I’ve been here longer than I’ve been with my family. So sometimes I question where I’m from. I’d be tempting to write my mama and them and say, if I die, leave me here. Don’t come get me. Don’t leave me with them. I don’t know them no more. Bury me with my friends.” “I know without a doubt I’m going home. If I die here, whether it’s tomorrow or, God forbid, 25 years from now, my body will not stay here. I’m leaving Angola. I’m not going to be buried here. Somebody who says, I want to be buried at Angola, that’s the saddest part of what a life sentence does to you.” “I make sure that my life is very purposeful. Every time I invest myself into someone else, I free a part of myself. A part of me will leave here with you. I’m going to love people so passionately until a part of me will always live outside of the gates of Angola.” “I’ve caught plenty of hell in this penitentiary.” [LAUGHING] “Whether or not, I hope I’ll be lucky enough to get out. I’d go somewhere and make me a living and start all over again. Yeah. They say, the older you get, the more you learn. Well, I’ve learned a lot of things, you understand, so.” [MUSIC PLAYING]

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1crime

Body found in Lawrence apartment apparent homicide, officials say

Authorities have identified the man found dead near a high school in Manchester, New Hampshire on Thursday afternoon and said he was killed. The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office had previously said only that it was investigating the death in the vicinity of Central High School and that it was considered suspicious. The investigation prompted a stay-in-place order at the school Thursday. But on Friday, prosecutors and Manchester police announced that the man was 46-year-old Te-Jay Thomas and he died by homicide, from blunt-force trauma to his head and neck. There is not believed to be a threat to the public, and all parties who investigators suspect were involved have been identified, prosecutors said, though no arrests were announced as of Friday. Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters. The investigation was still continuing on Friday afternoon. The incident on Lowell Street near Beach Street was reported to police around 12:30 p.m. as an assault. Police said Thursday that it was not related to the school and didn't involve either students or guns.

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6sports

Mac Jones buried as Bill Belichick pulls one more ice-cold move | NickNacks

Here are some half-baked thoughts and knickknacks (AKA NickNacks) I came up with while watching the New England Patriots play the New York Jets in the final game of the regular season. - Bill Belichick closed out the season (and potentially his Patriots career) with an ice-cold decision at quarterback. He demoted Mac Jones to third string, bumping him below Nathan Rourke. - Jones was among the team’s inactives Sunday, but was tabbed as the emergency third quarterback on Sunday. Meanwhile, Rourke was active, making him the No. 2 quarterback on the day. - The frigid nature of Belichick’s roster moves matched the brutal conditions Sunday. With a wind chill in the 20s, conditions only got worse as the game went on. Things started as slushy, but turned into a whiteout as the snow picked up and starting covering the field. - From that point on, things stayed wet, wild and sloppy. - Bailey Zappe’s first pass of the game was almost a complete disaster. Zappe tried to flip it out to Ezekiel Elliott on a screen pass. But then Jets DL Solomon Thomas broke through and got his hands on it, nearly picking it off. - Zappe’s first quarter was a complete mess. He finished the first frame by going 3-of-7 for 6 yards. That’s 0.9 yards per attempt. He was also sacked twice for 17. yards. That’s a net of negative 11 passing yards on drop backs. That’s not good. - Well, if this doesn’t sum up the current state of the team -- and the overall vibe of Sunday’s game -- I don’t know what does. There’s a Patriots fan with a customized “Sadness” jersey in the crowd pic.twitter.com/9F9ClocfNp — Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) January 7, 2024 - Before the game, there was an official notice to fans at the stadium: Please do not throw snowballs onto the field. - It didn’t matter too much. Some of the best throws I saw Sunday at Gillette Stadium were fans chucking snowballs in the stands. - Weird penalty of the day: Jalen Reagor was hit with a delay of game penalty after spiking the football on a long reception. - Bryce Baringer’s first punt was awesome (63 yards). His second punt was rough (37 yards) while his third punt was wonky. It looked like a shank, but it bounced out to 38 yards. - But then he bounced back, drilling a 60-yarder. That more or less sums up Baringer’s rookie season. There have been some great kicks, but also some clunkers. - A great effort by Jabrill Peppers to keep up with the play and break up a deep pass to Xavier Gipson. - You final keeper of the light for the 2023 season at Gillette Stadium: former Patriots running back James White. - Demand for Belichick’s potential final game wasn’t particularly high given the conditions (in terms of the standings and the weather). Prices were dropping down to the $20 range on TicketMaster before kickoff. At one point, I saw prices as low as $5.

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7weather

Snowy Shot Of Winter Precedes Weekend Warmup In Latest MA Forecast

Boston leaders are hashing over a universal basic income for needy Hub residents, and thankfully Mayor Michelle Wu is looking before she leaps. Cities around the country have rolled out guaranteed income pilot programs, in New York, Texas, Michigan and California for example. Cambridge is also a participant, providing direct cash payments to families with children under the age of 21, and who earn at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Like most municipalities experimenting with the program, funding in part comes from the American Rescue Plan Act. That COVID-era windfall allowed a plethora of cities to ease a life of poverty for many residents. But the $1.9 trillion ARPA fund is finite, and the spigot will eventually turn off. This leaves Boston with the inevitable question: how will we pay for such a program? A proposal for implementing a “temporary guaranteed income program” put forward for discussion by outgoing Councilor Kendra Lara couldn’t come at a worse time, as the city and state struggle with housing and caring for an unceasing influx of migrants. According to Lara’s hearing order, 18.9% of Bostonians are living “in poverty,” including 27.7% of children. Nearly 60 years after LBJ’s War on Poverty, and we have statistics like this – hardly a ringing endorsement for government programs. Segun Idowu, the city’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, said Monday that there have been “a lot of discussions,” but no plans in place for a pilot program. As the Herald reported, data from other municipal pilot programs across the country, including how successful a short-term income boost is in lifting people out of poverty and whether it hurts or helps the local economy, will inform whether Boston moves forward with a similar effort, Elijah Miller, the city’s director of policy, said. “If guaranteed income is a way that we determine with our colleagues here is the way to go, it is something that we can look at as well as other tools that may be available, because we know that there is no silver bullet to addressing this problem,” Idowu said. True, the bullet is for poverty is always green. Which brings us back to the question – where would the money for such a venture come from, if we were to adopt it? Chicago’s $31.5 million Resilient Communities Pilot is cutting checks for 5,000 residents for a year. And when the money is gone, the county will tap funds from cannabis sales and other revenue streams, according to an official from the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Might Boston consider such taxes? Will local philanthropic organizations step up? Or will property owners get another tax bite? Would newly arrived migrants, many of whom are impoverished, also qualify, regardless of immigration status? Universal basic income is popular with progressives, who are thick on the ground in Massachusetts. Fiscal responsibility, not so much. Lifting people out of poverty is a worthy cause, but unless a stable source of funding is found which won’t have a negative impact on the city’s economy, the help is unsustainable.

90c128f886da6223b44ecee350328e16

3entertainment

Three-story Dorchester fire on Thanksgiving weekend injures 1, displaces 29

A three-story fire broke out on Ellington Street in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood on Saturday, causing damage to multiple buildings and forcing nearly 30 people out of their homes, according to the Boston Fire Department. In an initial post to X, formerly known as Twitter, at around 4 p.m., flames can be seen leaping on back porches of all three floors at 21 Ellington St. The fire department reported the fire had jumped to 19 Ellington Street when a second alarm was called. Boston firefighters run to fight a fire on Ellington Street in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood on Saturday, Nov. 25. (Boston Fire Department)Boston Fire Department In all, six alarms were called with the fire officially being declared knocked down at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Shortly before 6 p.m., fire department officials announced that 29 residents were displaced from the buildings affected by the fire and one person was taken to the hospital. On Sunday morning, the fire department thanked their fire alarm dispatchers, whom they said worked behind the scenes to quickly provide resources to fight the fire.

03f6f3909e316241c6289a0f993fee2a

2culture

Opinion | Antisemitism: A Guide for the Perplexed

In a season of widespread condemnation of antisemitism, many struggle to define it. I can imagine having this conversation with any number of people trying to understand this age-old phenomenon: Question: I’m having trouble making sense of some of the claims and counterclaims being made about what is, or isn’t, antisemitic speech and behavior. To be honest, it doesn’t help that so many prominent Jews have sharply different takes on the subject. Answer: Two Jews, three opinions. That sounds like a stereotype. It is. It’s also one of the few things that most Jews agree is true of us as people. OK, so in your opinion and a half, what is antisemitism? It’s a conspiracy theory that holds that Jews are uniquely prone to use devious means to achieve malevolent ends and must therefore be opposed by any means necessary, including violence. Is that the commonly accepted definition? No, it’s my own. A more widely cited definition comes from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which defines antisemitism, in part, as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.” But the phrase “a certain perception” raises more questions than it answers.

e8827bb64e3f610f81f8e92431dbdfa1

2culture

A New Place to Learn Civics: The Workplace

A peaceful end to the war in Ukraine. That was the wish behind a post that Simge Krüger made on LinkedIn in March. In response, people began posting their wishes that her husband, father and brother be killed in combat. Seeing that she lived in Germany, they called her a Nazi. “I was just talking about peace and I’m suddenly a Nazi,” Ms. Krüger, a Turkish citizen who lives in Hamburg, said in an interview. Weeks later, sitting in a workshop led by a pro-democracy organization, she came to understand what happened in that dizzying moment. The insults had nothing to do with her ethnic background or political leanings. The people targeting her comment were trying to whip up emotion and further polarize a world torn over issues like Russia’s war in Ukraine, gender identity and climate change.

ac11cd63cab4f9a67765841f30fe570b

1crime

1-year-old girl dies after single-car crash in Andover

A 1-year-old girl has died after a single-car crash on I-495 in Andover on Friday. The girl had been flown to a Boston hospital with life-threatening injuries but she died, the Essex County District Attorney’s office confirmed to MassLive. The driver, a 33-year-old woman, was taken to Lawrence General Hospital with minor injuries, police previously said. Both are from Nashua, New Hampshire. A 2017 Toyota Camry was traveling north on I-495 in Andover when the driver lost control of the car, police said. The Camry went into the grass median, then into an embankment where it hit a tree. First-responders initially took the infant to Lawrence General Hospital, police said. From there, she was flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital. Read more: Bristol County DA identifies homicide victim found in Fairhaven after almost 40 years Police said they were investigating distracted driving as a potential cause of the crash. Although it is still under investigation.

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2culture

Ask Amy: How worried should I be that my husband is draining our bank account?

Dear Amy: My sister “Kelly,” who lives out of state, won’t be joining us for Christmas because Mom said no when Kelly asked if she could bring her married boyfriend home to meet the family. I am firmly in Mom’s corner and am hurt and disappointed that she is choosing him over family. Kelly is my best friend. Kelly says the situation is “complicated,” but for me it’s not actually that complicated. My morals can be flexible at times, but marriage is an absolute line in the sand. I’ve been married 28 years and to me, marriage is SACRED. Am I being too judgy? Do I have to be supportive? Kelly is bound to bring him home at some point. I have no idea how to act. She is so much more than a side piece, and I’ve told her this many times. In the meantime, I’m simply asking for someone to pour a little more liquor into my eggnog. – Sister Dear Sister: I wonder if there is ever a time when an extramarital relationship isn’t complicated. Of course it’s complicated! Bringing your married squeeze home for the holidays isn’t exactly the makings of a Hallmark Channel movie, although maybe it should be. (“Stay tuned for ‘Christmas Complications.’ Watch the snowballs fly when a lonely spinster brings her married boyfriend home to their Christmas tree farm – featuring the holiday hit: ‘Baby, it’s Scold Outside.’”) You are being judgy, but feeling (or fearing) harsh judgment is the eternal sisters’ lament. In many families, scrutinizing and judging one another seems to be baked into the sister relationship. I think you should consider making a deliberate choice not to judge your sister. You have your point of view; she no doubt anticipates it. (After all, you’ve already called her a “side piece.”) And who knows – maybe she lacks self-awareness, self-esteem, or discernment because you’ve been waiting in the wings, ready to weigh in. Perhaps you could deliver this sentiment as a holiday gift: “I’m not here to judge you. But Mom’s not ready and I’m not ready to meet this man. We’ll miss you this year, but let’s make sure to talk on Christmas Day.” Yes, you should be supportive of your sister as a person, but you are not required to support all of her choices. Dear Amy: My husband and I got married later in life (when I was 49, he was 44). This is his second marriage. We have struggled a bit with finances because I came into the marriage with much more, financially, so after a few years we decided to open a joint account. I was excited to begin this commingling because it would establish more of a team approach to our future goals. Well, after three months I am realizing that he’s spent well over what he has contributed (contributing $8,000, but spent $14,000) and this is now creating more challenges. He is refusing to tell me what he spent this money on and is making me feel irrational that I am concerned about this. The purpose originally was to help me with bigger bills that pop up because I pay all the major bills (house, taxes, insurance, cars) and he only pays health insurance (which I am grateful for). This was the first three months of experiencing commingling and now he’s saying he refuses to come off of the account. He is threatening that my scrutiny marks the demise of our relationship. I’m worried because I know that finances can often create the biggest issues in relationships, so I’m hoping for some guidance. I’m not sure what to do at this point. Do you have any suggestions? – Wondering Wife Dear Wondering: You don’t seem quite as alarmed as I believe you should be. Wracking up these huge bills, refusing to tell you where the money has gone, gaslighting you when you express concern, and refusing to come off of this joint account are major red flags. It is time for you to contact your bank (to figure out where this money is going) and a lawyer, to explore your spousal rights and responsibilities. You are most likely responsible for debts accrued on a joint account. I hope you’ll act quickly. Dear Amy: You wrote: “You shouldn’t buy a problem before they’re on sale.” I took this as a great reminder to relax and mind my own business – until it was necessary to face something. – Grateful Dear Grateful: During the holiday season, many problems are offered up on an extreme markdown. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.) ©2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

e13278edf37727d700a7bd3d9612af0b

3entertainment

Jewels That Are Spiky, Squiggly and a Little Bit Wild

Objects Jewels That Are Spiky, Squiggly and a Little Bit Wild Leafy and serpentine designs give earrings, necklaces and other pieces an organic edge.

53d2c928147255fb108c26dc973317a2

0business

Why Boston wants to ban guinea pig sales in pet stores

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here. We may not have as much snow as Mount Washington, but some parts of coastal Massachusetts are seeing their first flakes of the year this morning. While you put on those hats and gloves, and make your way to that almost fully reopened Green Line, let’s get to the news: Guinea pigs on the agenda: The Boston City Council is slated to vote today on a proposed ordinance to ban the sale of guinea pigs at pet shops in the city. It’s not because city councilors dislike the furry rodents. They’re actually hoping to cut down on the growing number of abandoned and surrendered animals. Supporters of the ban say people buy guinea pigs without realizing how much work they require. According to the MSPCA, 60% of the guinea pigs the group has rescued were originally acquired at pet stores, and they spend nearly twice the time in shelters as cats and dogs. “In 2023, we have taken in a total of 383 guinea pigs,” Deb Bobek, the director of operations at Boston’s MSPCA, said during a City Council hearing Monday. “We have also seen a large increase in the number of abandoned and stray guinea pigs, a sign that owners are becoming more desperate for help.” The deets: In 2016, Boston passed an ordinance banning pet shops from selling dogs, cats and rabbits from commercial breeders. The new proposal — filed by Councilor Liz Breadon — would simply add guinea pigs to that list. (Cambridge and Attleboro already have similar bans.) If passed, it would mean guinea pigs could only be sold by shelters and rescue animal groups in Boston. The fine for violators would be $300 fine per animal. We have a deal: If you’ve listened to any of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s monthly interviews on Radio Boston, you know she’s been focused on the city’s police union contract negotiations as a vehicle for police reform. This week, after months of negotiations, the city finally agreed to a new five-year contract with its largest police union. And for the first time yesterday, Wu and Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone shared the details of the deal. What BPPA members got: The contract includes a 21% increase in base salary over the 2020-2025 period, including retroactive pay. Officers can also get higher pay for working on a new “high priority” category of construction details. What the city got: Wu says the contract includes “significant” reforms, including to the disciplinary process and police detail work. The contract prohibits officers from using arbitration to overturn disciplinary action for a list of specific serious offenses. It allows unfilled detail shifts to be filled by retired officers, college police and even civilians. And it calls for an independent medical examiner to settle disagreements over whether an officer can return from medical leave. (About 10% of the entire BPD force had been on medical leave for over a year when negotiations began.) You can read through a full overview of the reforms here. The post-agreement vibe: Calderone says his membership is pleased with what he called a “fair and equitable” agreement. “We help policing evolve,” he said. “I know the famous word out there is reform, but I like to look at it as police evolving.” What’s next: Funding for the contract — a total of $82.3 million — must now be approved by the Boston City Council. (BPPA members already voted to ratify the deal on Monday night.) It’s official: The Worcester Red Sox will soon have new owners. New York-based Diamond Baseball Holdings announced its plan yesterday to buy a majority stake in the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate. The group already owns nearly 30 minor league baseball teams, including the Portland Sea Dogs and Salem Red Sox. What stays the same: The WooSox will keep playing at Polar Park and former Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino will remain as chairman. What could change: Diamond Baseball Holdings CEO Peter Freund told the Boston Herald the group should be able to use its scale to bring more big events, like concerts, to the ballpark. In other baseball news: The Sox traded outfielder Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees last night in exchange for three pitching prospects. ESPN has more details on the trade. P.S.— Today is the last day of WBUR’s year-end fundraiser and we still have $148,000 to go. Over 3,200 independent journalism fans have already made their gift. Please consider joining them to help us reach our goal.

e33e803c572d45a7512e9b09b118a3f2

0business

Trustees Of Reservations Want You To Ditch Black Friday For "Green Friday"

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Black Friday is traditionally a time for consumerism — a shop 'til you drop extravaganza to save on presents and other deals ahead of the winter holidays. The Trustees of Reservations are floating a different way to spend the day after Thanksgiving: "Green Friday." They're offering guided hikes at many Trustees properties on Friday, including: And while it may be an unorthodox way to spend Black Friday, there is one normal thing about these hikes: they'll cost you money. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Preregistration is required. The Trustees are asking any takers to wear appropriate shoes, dress warmly and bring water and snacks. Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok

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1crime

Suspects appear in court after police chase that ended in South Boston - Boston News, Weather, Sports

BOSTON (WHDH) - A 23-year-old Bridgewater woman and a 30-year-old Malden man appeared in court Tuesday, one day after a chaotic police chase come to a close in South Boston. The chase ended Monday night around 11 p.m. Prosecutors later laid out allegations against Kailyn Almeida and Christopher Meade, who are now facing multiple charges linked to the chase. State police said the pursuit started in Dorchester when a trooper spotted a white SUV matching the description of a vehicle tied to a shooting in Braintree. The trooper tried to pull the car over, according to police. But Almeida, who police said was behind the wheel, allegedly took off. Police said Meade was in the passenger seat as the chase continued. Speaking in court, a prosecutor said police at one point set up a barricade. Rather than stop, though, the prosecutor said Almeida slammed her SUV into a parked cruiser and drove away on a sidewalk and grass, “narrowly avoiding multiple accidents.” Prosecutors said troopers eventually stopped the SUV at gunpoint and took Meade and Almeida into custody near F Street and 1st Street in South Boston. Police were spotted swarming the area late Monday night and a gun was recovered near the heavily-damaged car. Less than 24 hours after his client’s arrest, Almeida’s lawyer in court told the judge she has no prior record, adding that the car involved in this incident is not hers. Almeida’s lawyer further questioned whether the car was even tied to the prior crime. “When the vehicle finally comes to a stop, they order Ms. Almeida to remain in the vehicle, to exit the vehicle,” the lawyer said. “She complies with both of those requests. At that point, the co-defendant is alleged to have taken off and fled the area.” Almeida has been charged with a series of motor vehicle offenses including assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless driving. Meade, who prosecutors said is on probation with several outstanding warrants, is facing several drug and firearms charges. A not guilty plea was entered on the defendants’ behalf Tuesday. It was also revealed that the two share a five-year-old daughter. Almeida was being held on $2,500 bail Tuesday afternoon. If she makes bail, she will be under house arrest and will have to wear a GPS monitor. Meade was being held without bail until his next court appearance next week. (Copyright (c) 2023 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

0a681bc53e0c463f5077ae40302d6535

2culture

Ask Amy: Its exhausting seeing friends with kids on their (far-away) terms

Dear Amy: I am a woman in my late 30s. My husband and I don’t have children. Almost everyone we know does. We have demanding jobs with little time during the week to unwind. I love my friends’ kids, but I’m both exhausted from maintaining those friendships and deeply unsatisfied with their quality. On the weekends, in a search for some connection and rejuvenation, I find myself driving hours or taking expensive trips to other cities to visit friends, essentially expending a ton of effort for an hour or two with a friend, during which we have a few minutes of an adult conversation. These friends don’t have any capacity to travel to me because they have young kids, and while I don’t expect that, I’m feeling sad and neglected. I’ve stopped making the effort as much as I used to – I need time to recharge, and these visits are really depleting. We have tried very hard to make new friends nearby, as well. This is going OK, although even these friends are also having babies and cannot engage easily with others. My husband and I feel exhausted all the time, and I’m so lonely – my husband thinks my low mood and loneliness are affecting our marriage. I’m writing because I just canceled a trip to go to a city four hours away for dinner with a dear old friend to meet his new partner, because I was sad that a trip that long didn’t warrant any additional quality time. But the more I pull back to try to feel less exhausted, the lonelier I become. Your advice? – Exhausted and Lonely Dear Exhausted: You do sound exhausted, as well as depressed. Your take on the challenge of maintaining far-away friendships with people who have young children is accurate: You can spend hours of effort for a few moments of adult connection. This is one reason parents of young children tend to clump together – their moments of mutual distraction dovetail well at this stage of life. I think you would really benefit from clearing your calendar – temporarily – in order to focus on taking care of yourself. You and your husband are in the shank of life – at your busiest and most productive – and while this activity level is genuinely tiring, at this stage of life you should also have the energy and capacity to rise to (and even thrive) through your challenges. Take two months to devote to getting some answers. Get a thorough medical checkup and accurately describe your energy level. Ask your physician for a referral to a psychiatrist or therapist to talk about your emotional challenges and depression. Go to the dentist; get a haircut. Start an outdoor walking program with your husband on weekend mornings. Look for an in-person or online book club (or another organization corresponding to your interests) to join. Mitigating loneliness can be hard work, but it starts with essential self-care. Dear Amy: My husband and I have three (adult) kids. For years his brother has always been a problem for me. He is pushy, arrogant, pretentious, and a classic narcissist. I have for years looked the other way. Now he is on his third wife. She and I do not get along. Recently she accused my kids of lacking family values because they weren’t able to attend their cousin’s wedding. This argument exploded. She wrote me a (so-called) apology letter where she referenced that “family is so very important to me.” We went round and round on this and have not seen or spoken since. Naturally, she sent us her annual Christmas card – where she misspelled our daughter’s name – yet again. Would it be wrong to send a card back with a note that points out that her family importance was selective? Or that she actually lied when she said that family is important to her? Just wondering how hard I can push that button. – JP Dear JP: You can push this button as hard as you want – but this will extend an increasingly ridiculous dispute with someone you claim not to want to have anything to do with. What does this do for you? Dear Amy: “Uncharted” was dealing with teacher reports that her bright and curious son was disruptive in reading class. Wow – that sounds familiar! I had similar behaviors, especially in reading. I was labeled as “disruptive” until I was finally diagnosed with ADHD. That changed everything. – Former Student Dear Student: I agree that this boy should be evaluated. Thank you. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.) ©2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

4395d2f18f38cf16abf89c1cc2636adf

3entertainment

Knowledge Is Power. But Is It Fun to Watch?

Few things degrade quite so rapidly as the element of surprise, once exposed to the pressurized, accelerated conditions provided by elite soccer. In most cases, its half-life will extend no more than 90 minutes. Even in extreme, extenuating circumstances, it is unlikely to be more than twice that. Two games — one at home, one away — is all that is required these days to know everything there is worth knowing about any given rival. Two games provide three hours of footage that an opposing manager and their coaching staff can mine for insights. They generate reams of data for analysts to pore over and pick through. And, of course, they provide a large enough sample size for the players themselves to learn. “When you’re playing against someone twice a season, every season, you start to see the little tells,” Newcastle defender Dan Burn recently told the BBC. As a rule, Burn said, teams go into games “knowing what is coming.” There are exceptions, of course: Newly-promoted teams, sides who have drafted in a host of reinforcements and managers who have only recently arrived at a club can be decoded more easily on paper than on turf. Still, even their secrets are relatively fleeting.

c2ec5af4bed137f28e21a1deec66404a

3entertainment

DraftKings Sportsbook promo code: How to win $150 on Thursday Night Football

Sports Betting Dime provides exclusive sports betting content to MassLive.com, including real-time odds, picks, analysis and sportsbook offers to help sports fans get in on the action. Please wager responsibly. Kickoff for Thursday Night Football is fast approaching, but there is still time to win big with this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code offer. New bettors who take advantage of this opportunity can bet $5 on the game to win $150 in bonuses instantly. Click here to start the registration process. DraftKings BET $5, GET $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER STATES: AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at http://draftkings.com/ma. This is one of the best Thursday Night Football matchups of the year. The Los Angeles Rams (7-7) and New Orleans Saints (7-7) are coming into this game with momentum. This is a must-win game for both teams given the crowded nature of the NFC playoff race. The winner will have the upper hand in the push for a wild card spot. The loser will have an uphill battle ahead. DraftKings Sportsbook provides bettors with more ways to win than a simple welcome bonus. Players can also activate a daily no sweat same game parlay for this Thursday Night Football matchup. Click here to automatically enable this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code offer and win $150 in bonuses with a $5 wager on Rams vs. Saints. Win $150 instantly on Rams vs. Saints tonight DraftKings Sportsbook Promo for Thursday Night Football Bet $5 on the Rams or Saints, Win $150 DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code No Code Required Bonus Last Verified On December 21, 2023 Information Verified By Danny Small, Sports Betting Dime Betting on the NFL is seldom easy. The unpredictability of the games is the reason why fans love tuning in every week. Add in the short week to prepare and Thursday Night Football is always a toss-up. However, new players on DraftKings Sportsbook can take the guesswork out of betting on Rams-Saints tonight. Remember, locking in a bet of $5 or more on either team will be enough to cash in with this $150 bonus. The Rams are favored in this game, but again, we don’t know what to expect. Winning $150 in bonuses before the game even kicks off is the perfect start to the weekend for football fans. DraftKings Sportsbook promo code: Getting started First things first, it’s important to note that new players won’t need to manually enter a promo code to unlock this offer. Instead, sign up with any of the links on this page and hit the ground running: Click here to automatically redirect to a sign-up landing page and create a new account. After setting up a new user profile, make a cash deposit of $5 or more through any of the secure payment methods. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook mobile app straight from the App Store or Google Play Store. Bet $5 on the Rams or Saints to win $150 in bonus bets instantly. Other DraftKings Sportsbook promos It’s important to start with this $5 wager on the Rams or Saints. That will unlock this $150 bonus instantly. With that said, there are other ways to bet on Thursday Night Football with DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the promos page and opt into a no sweat same game parlay. Bettors who lock in a Thursday Night Football same game parlay of at least three legs will receive bonus bets if that wager loses. This promo is available every single day. Click here to automatically enable this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code offer and win $150 in bonuses with a $5 wager on Rams vs. Saints. DraftKings BET $5, GET $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER STATES: AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at http://draftkings.com/ma. Get the latest sports betting news, advice and promos sent straight to your inbox. Enter your email here: Think you know Patriots football? Play the MassLive.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes! 21+ and present in a state with legal gambling? Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist to receive support. Specialists are available 24/7. Services are available in multiple languages and are free and confidential.

3d73af3458d7463e00fc3482df947a74

5science

Health professionals warn of triple-demic in Westfield

WESTFIELD - Low vaccination rates and the holiday season are contributing to a “triple-demic,” an increase of cases of COVID-19, RSV, and the flu, in the Westfield community, according to local health professionals. Assistant Health Director Debra Mulvenna said the Westfield Health Department saw an average of 10-15 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 a week in November. That number doubled to 30 cases the week of Dec. 12. The increase has been more dramatic for the flu. In the month of November, there were 12 lab-confirmed cases. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 20, there have been 51. “That might not seem like a lot, but those people were sick enough to go get tested,” she said. “51 people were actually sick enough, that live in Westfield, to go get tested.”

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6sports

NBC Sports Boston's Week 16 picks: Lopsided action on Patriots-Broncos

After another perfect week, John Tomase has created some space atop the leaderboard. He simply cannot be stopped and now has a three-game lead on Amina Smith and is up 3.5 games on Ted Johnson. Here's a look at the current standings for our 2023 NFL picks contest: Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter. Let's get to this week's picks: Week 16 Trends Fading the Patriots That's what everyone is doing. Which also means they won't be gaining ground on our leader because -- as we know -- Tomase always picks against the Pats. We've got FIVE Broncos backers this week at -7. And no one is betting on the Patriots to keep Sunday night's game within a touchdown. Other lopsided action Jake Browning has made believers out of a good chunk of this group over the past few weeks. He once again has three backers with the Bengals -2 at Pittsburgh. The Steelers are getting no love, even with Mason Rudolph replacing Mitch Trubisky at QB. The Lions have also fallen back into favor after their dominant win last Saturday. Detroit gets two backers at -3 in Minnesota. Jared Goff is back on the road, but still in a dome. Game of the week The best matchup is probably Ravens vs. 49ers on Monday night. However, Miami vs. Dallas is the most popular game to bet in our group. We've got three backers on the Cowboys at +1 and just two on the Dolphins. Ironically, both teams have stunk against teams with winning records, so there's a chance this game ends in a tie or a push.

a4942437402d5b10ad92e88cc0acfca6

6sports

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill OBrien still believes in Mac Jones

With Bailey Zappe taking over as the starter the past four games, Mac Jones has pretty much stepped aside and stepped out of the spotlight. With Zappe under center, the Patriots have won two of those four games including a 26-23 thriller over the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve. And now that Jones has taken a backseat, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien was asked Tuesday about his former starter. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. O’Brien took the opportunity to praise Jones, who was benched during four games before ceding to Zappe. “I feel good about Mac Jones, I really do,” said O’Brien. “I think Mac Jones is a smart guy. He’s a very hard worker. He’s really done a good job in this situation here of being a good teammate.” At this point, it’s hard to say what will happen with Jones, who is in his third season with the Patriots after being taken 15th overall in the 2021 draft. After having a strong rookie campaign, he’s regressed in each of the past two seasons. In 11 games started this season, Jones threw 10 touchdown passes versus 12 picks. “Look, these are things that happen in the course of a lot of careers, right? You have some ups and downs,” O’Brien went on. “He’s approached it the right way. He’s working hard. I believe in Mac. So I think Mac’s going to be just fine.” NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

c03967206007dfef464e15e7c3513901

3entertainment

How to watch the new episode of Southern Hospitality, stream for free

The newest season of “Southern Hospitality” will premiere on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. ET. on Bravo. Viewers without cable looking to stream season 2 and the rest of the show can watch it online using DirecTV Stream, Sling, and fuboTV. DirecTV and fuboTV both offer free trials. “Accepting nothing short of perfection from her staff, Leva runs a tight ship, but her once-close-knit team faces a multitude of obstacles as they try to keep their jobs while maintaining their friendships and relationships,” Bravo wrote about the show. In the new episode, “Bradley, Joe and TJ learn about new VIP Server Oisin’s side hustle; Mia apologizes for her outburst but not to Leva; Maddi snaps when a new detail about Trevor’s cheating allegation surfaces.” How can I watch the newest episode of ‘Southern Hospitality’? Viewers looking to stream can do so by using FuboTV, Sling or DirecTV Stream. Both FuboTV and DirecTV offer free trials when you sign up and Sling offers 50% off your first month. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, such as sports, news, entertainment and local channels. What is DirecTV? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. DirecTV also offers a free trial for any package you sign up.

d52c4d146e3bf35439fd40b89a347269

5science

Coronavirus Probably Spread Widely in Deer and Perhaps Back to People, U.S.D.A. Says

Why It Matters: Deer could be a source of new variants. There is no evidence that deer play a major role in spreading the virus to humans, but the transmission of the virus from people to animals raises several public health concerns. First, animal reservoir could allow viral variants that have disappeared from human populations to persist. Indeed, the new study confirms prior reports that some coronavirus variants, including Alpha and Gamma, continued to circulate in deer even after they became rare in people. New animal hosts also give the virus new opportunities to mutate and evolve, potentially giving rise to new variants that could infect people. If these variants are different enough from those that have previously circulated in humans, they could evade some of the immune system’s defenses. Background: Scientists have found signs of widespread infection in deer. Researchers at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in collaboration with other government and academic scientists, began looking for the coronavirus in free-ranging white-tailed deer in 2021, after studies suggested that the animals were susceptible to the virus. In that first year of surveillance work, the scientists ultimately collected more than 11,000 samples from deer in 26 states and Washington, D.C. Nearly a third of the animals had antibodies to the coronavirus, suggesting that they had previously been exposed, and 12 percent were actively infected, APHIS said on Tuesday. For the new Nature Communications paper, scientists from APHIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Missouri sequenced nearly 400 of the samples collected between November 2021 and April 2022. They found multiple versions of the virus in deer, including the Alpha, Gamma, Delta and Omicron variants. Then, the scientists compared the viral samples isolated from deer with those from human patients and mapped the evolutionary relationships between them. They concluded that the virus moved from humans to deer at least 109 times and that deer-to-deer transmission often followed. The virus also showed signs of adapting to deer, and the researchers identified several cases in North Carolina and Massachusetts in which humans were infected with these “deer-adapted” versions of the virus. What’s Next: Surveillance will continue. APHIS has expanded its surveillance to additional states and species. Many questions remain, including precisely how people are passing the virus to deer, and the role that the animals might play in sustaining the virus in the wild.

f81249a3cdc758436d155221c258eacb

6sports

Former Red Sox prospect from Mookie Betts trade claimed by Yankees

Jeter Downs, meet Derek Jeter. Downs, one of three players the Red Sox acquired in February of 2020 when they shipped Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now a New York Yankee. The Yankees claimed Downs on waivers from the Washington Nationals Tuesday. Downs, who was born in Columbia before his family moved to south Florida, was named in honor of the New York Yankee Hall of Fame shortstop. The Nationals claimed Downs on waivers almost exactly a year ago — Dec. 22, 2022 to be precise — when the Red Sox designated him for assignment. In 14 games with the Red Sox in 2022, Downs slashed just .154/.171/.256 with a homer and four RBI. The Red Sox had hoped that Downs might be one day be able to contribute to the parent club somewhere in the infield, but he struggled to make consistent contact even at Triple A, failing to hit .200 in two full seasons at Triple A. During the 2023 season, Downs, 25, appeared in just six games with the Nationals, spending much of the year at Triple A. He was designated for assignment last week. With the trade, the Yankees now have two of the three players the Sox acquired in the Betts-Price deal on their 40-man roster. Alex Verdugo, the centerpiece of the trade from the Red Sox’s perspective, was dealt to the Yankees during the Winter Meetings earlier this month in exchange for three pitching prospects. Downs and Jeter spoke via FaceTime shortly before the trade from the Dodgers to the Red Sox. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. (2 kB) https://saturdaytradition.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GameSense-Icon-2.png espnbet.app.linkespnbet.app.link ESPN BET Explore our action packed sportsbook, loaded with exclusive odds boosts, custom offers and a suite of cutting-edge features. Fast load times, secure transactions and seamless navigation – ESPN BET serves up the ultimate online sports wagering experience. (20 kB) “It was surreal,” said Downs of the experience. “I’ve idolized him my whole life. It was finally nice to meet him and talk to him a little bit. It was definitely special.” Presumably, Downs will get an opportunity to meet Jeter in person now that Downs is playing for Jeter’s former organization. Meanwhile, the Sox retain catcher Connor Wong as the lone remaining piece of the deal with the Dodgers.

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3entertainment

How to watch Tyler Perrys The Oval season 5 new episode free Dec. 12

The fifth season of the political drama series Tyler Perry’s “The Oval” continues this Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on BET with a new episode. Those without cable can watch the show for free through either Philo, DirecTV Stream, or FuboTV, each of which offers a free trial to new users. FuboTV said in a description of the series: “It tells the story of U.S President Hunter Franklin and first lady Victoria Franklin, a power-hungry interracial couple, who present a perfect façade to the world while indulging in wildly scandalous behavior behind closed doors.” “Not to be outdone, their children — Gayle and Jason — bring their own brands of volatility and excess to the Executive Residence. The soap opera-style series also tells the stories of White House staff members whose lives become intertwined with those of the first family,” FuboTV added. “Head butler Richard Hallsen is an ex-serviceman who struggles to maintain his integrity in the face of greed and corruption. In ‘The Oval,’ Tyler Perry supercharges the political genre with off-the-charts levels of scandal, sex, depravity and betrayal,” according to FuboTV. Season 5, episode 9 is titled “Sorry Not Sorry” and in a description of the episode FuboTV said: “Hunter is on a rampage, and Sam and Max are willing to go to any limit to destroy the First Family; Jason, who is closer than they think, devises his own plan of vengeance.” How can I watch Tyler Perry’s “The Oval” without cable? Those without cable can watch the show for free through either through Philo, DirecTV Stream, or FuboTV each of which offer a free trial to new users. What is Philo? Philo is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers 60+ entertainment and lifestyle channels, like AMC, BET, MTV, Comedy Central and more, for the budget-friendly price of $25/month. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports.

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4politics

The State of Play in Iowa: What to Know About the G.O.P. Presidential Caucuses

But Iowa loves to surprise. Just ask former President Barack Obama, who delivered a crucial blow to Hillary Clinton in 2008. Or Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, who surged over the December holidays to win the contest that same year. Obviously, it didn’t work out that well for Huckabee, who lost the nomination to Senator John McCain. In fact, Iowa has a terrible record of picking the Republican Party nominee. In the seven contested Republican races since 1980, the Iowa winner has captured the party’s nomination only twice: Senator Bob Dole of Kansas in 1996 and Gov. George W. Bush of Texas in 2000. Even in competitive years, fewer than 200,000 Iowans typically participate in their party’s caucuses. That number could be even lower this year, given the subzero temperatures forecast for next Monday night. The race for second As often the case with Iowa, the stakes this year go beyond a simple victory. For Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, a strong second-place finish would catapult her campaign into the New Hampshire primary with the most coveted of political narratives: momentum. For Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, whose standing in the race has slipped, this is make-or-break. If he doesn’t come close to either Haley or Trump, it will become increasingly difficult for DeSantis to justify continuing his bid for the G.O.P. nomination. Trump’s speeches have focused on how he expects to roundly defeat President Biden in November. But in recent days, he has taken aim at Haley, accusing her of being “in the pocket” of “establishment donors,” and of being a “globalist,” my colleague Shane Goldmacher reported this weekend.

9a31c78851ed95d26a16fa6094003e53

4politics

Displaced Gazans in the South Facing Dangers They Had Sought to Escape

The Israeli military warned on Friday that it was stepping up operations in the southern Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of people had fled to safety, while hospital officials said Israel bombed an area in the south where it had ordered civilians to seek shelter. At least 18 people were killed and dozens of others injured near Kuwait Specialty Hospital on Thursday, according to hospital staff members, who said the strike had hit a house in Rafah, near the border with Egypt. On Friday, the Israeli military said it had “executed a strike” against a former battalion commander of the militant group the Palestinian Islamic Jihad who was in a structure near the Kuwaiti hospital. An Israeli defense official also said that, as an “essential” stage in the war to eliminate Hamas, the military had carried out a series of attacks over the past day in Khan Younis, the biggest city in south Gaza, using airstrikes, sniper fire and tank rounds.

5156e5fe53ab5a5830258737e15d9741

2culture

Opinion | Knowing When They Means One

I have a proposal about our new usage of “they” to refer to individual people, as in, “Irene? Oh, they left an hour ago” or “Bernard cut themselves by accident.” Because it is so hard to change language by fiat, I know that my proposal here must qualify as modest. But propose it I must: Might it make the new “they” a little easier to handle if it were used with singular tense marking? I have often been asked by people over 35 or so, “Are we supposed to say ‘they want’ or ‘they wants’?” I always answer that the proper form is “they want,” but must it be? Instead, we could say this, which would make perfect and intuitive grammatical sense: Singular: I want, you want, he/she/they wants Plural: we want, you want, they want Under the current dispensation, “they want to trim the cat’s claws” can refer to an individual or more than one person. Context usually makes the meaning known, but surely it would make things a little clearer if we could use “they wants to trim the cat’s claws” when referring to just one person. Poor little “they” has had it rough over the years. For ages, we have been taught that it is an error to use “they” in the singular — “A person can’t help their birth” — because there is supposedly something inherently and ineradicably plural about “they.” Never mind that even Chaucer used “they” in the singular and that the example sentence I just used is from Thackeray’s “Vanity Fair.”

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7weather

How our winters are transforming from what they used to be

The Ice Castles in New Hampshire, a winter attraction that includes slides, caverns, tunnels, crawl spaces and sculptures made from ice, will have a delayed opening this season, according to an Ice Castles spokesperson. But they are still gearing up to open. “The warm weather has not been our friend, but we are recovering,” said Ice Castles spokesperson Maren Timmerman. The Ice Castles will return to North Woodstock, New Hampshire this winter. Photo by A.J. Mellor/Ice CastlesA.J. Mellor/Ice Castles Originally slated to open in late December or early January, Timmerman said the attraction is still expected to open mid to late January. Located in North Woodstock, the Ice Castles has been a recurring attraction for 10 years. The attraction includes horse-drawn wagon rides, a mystical light walk, a pub ice bar and a winter fairy village. Ice artisans started work on the castles in early October and are continuing to craft ice features until they open. The Ice Castles will return to North Woodstock, New Hampshire this winter. Photo by A.J. Mellor/Ice CastlesA.J. Mellor/Ice Castles It takes a team of about 20 ice artists to build the attraction. They grow icicles, harvest them and then place them one-by-one, embedding the ice with color-changing LED lights. Ice Castles have three other locations in Utah, Minnesota and Colorado — and two “Winter Realms” in Wisconsin and New York. The Ice Castles will return to North Woodstock, New Hampshire this winter. Photo by A.J. Mellor/Ice CastlesA.J. Mellor/Ice Castles Tickets have been on sale since late November. Available dates for the New Hampshire attraction are Jan. 26 through Feb. 25. “Ice Castles may open sooner than the advanced season dates or remain open longer if weather permits,” Timmerman said. “Additional tickets for extended season dates will become available once dates are confirmed.” The Ice Castles will return to North Woodstock, New Hampshire this winter. Photo by A.J. Mellor/Ice CastlesA.J. Mellor/Ice Castles If Ice Castles is unable to open on the date of a customer’s visit, they will be notified by text and email and their tickets will be automatically refunded. Tickets can be purchased here.

2b2aa7469b0d94c22d5254e2be6baaee

6sports

Underrated Bruins forward continues strong season in win vs. Red Wings

Trent Frederic has been doing it all this season for the Bruins, and that was on full display Sunday night. The forward scored two goals in Boston’s 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena to close out the 2023 calendar year. The first goal came after a great pass from David Pastrnak that ended with Frederic beating goalie Alex Lyon short side to put the Bruins up 1-0. Frederic collided with Lyon on the play, and it didn’t sit right with Ben Chiarot. Before Frederic even celebrated his goal, he turned to Chiarot to share a few words. The two didn’t drop the gloves, but he was ready to do so. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “When I scored, I asked. I thought maybe he’d have a fair fight,” Frederic told reporters after the game. “I really didn’t like what he did to (Morgan Geekie).” Earlier in the game, Chiarot and Geekie were involved in a kerfuffle behind Detroit’s net after Chiarot took issue with Geekie taking a stab at Lyon. Frederic wanted to finish what was started by standing up for his teammate. And even though the two engage in a fight, Frederic still got the last laugh when he scored his second of the night en route to the Bruins’ third straight win. Sunday’s game was just the latest example of what he brings to the Bruins, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Jim Montgomery. “I think he’s playing faster. The way he skates, it’s really underrated how great a skater he is. I think he’s going north and taking pucks consistently, instead of delaying, which he did a lot,” the coach told reporters after the game. “It’s something that I give him credit for. He’s been working on it with (John McClean), our skills coach, about puck protection and driving pucks and opening up space for himself. He’s done a great job of that. He’s got great hands. He’s a great athlete.” Frederic is on pace for a career year with nine goals and as many assists. Sunday’s performance earned him the first three-point game of his career. He’s an important part to not only the bottom-six, but the team as a whole.

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0business

Single-family house sells in Northborough for $1.2 million

The spacious property located at 17 Thayer Street in Northborough was sold on Oct. 31, 2023 for $1,234,000, or $303 per square foot. The house, built in 2002, has an interior space of 4,074 square feet. This two-story home offers a spacious layout with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. On the exterior, the house is characterized by a gable roof design, featuring roofing made of asphalt. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. In addition, the house is equipped with an attached one-car garage, offering a designated parking space and extra storage capacity. Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include: On Davis Street, Northborough, in May 2022, a 1,688-square-foot home was sold for $918,000, a price per square foot of $544. The home has 5 bedrooms 1 bathroom. In August 2022, a 5,196-square-foot home on Harrington Lane in Northborough sold for $1,850,000, a price per square foot of $356. A 1,050-square-foot home at 62 Hamilton Road in Northborough sold in June 2023, for $550,000, a price per square foot of $524. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News

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5science

U.S. Troops Still Train on Weapons With Known Risk of Brain Injury

A blast shattered the stillness of a meadow in the Ozark Mountains on an autumn afternoon. Then another, and another, and another, until the whole meadow was in flames. Special Operations troops were training with rocket launchers again. Each operator held a launch tube on his shoulder, a few inches from his head, then took aim and sent a rocket flying at 500 miles an hour. And each launch sent a shock wave whipping through every cell in the operator’s brain. For generations, the military assumed that this kind of blast exposure was safe, even as evidence mounted that repetitive blasts may do serious and lasting harm. In recent years, Congress, pressed by veterans who were exposed to these shock waves, has ordered the military to set safety limits and start tracking troops’ exposure. In response, the Pentagon created a sprawling Warfighter Brain Health Initiative to study the issue, gather data and propose corrective strategies. And last year, for the first time, it set a threshold above which a weapon blast is considered hazardous.

484d42cb006719384747ed4ef11f4a41

3entertainment

Barbie Didnt Make Our Top 10. Readers Spoke Up.

A home with 20-foot ceilings, six bedrooms, multiple laundry rooms and a heated pool is on the market in Massachusetts. “Nestled within Wilbrahams finest neighborhood of Hilltop Park, this single-owner, custom-built French Colonial masterpiece boasts more than 10,000 sqft of elegant living,” the listing states. The home is listed for $2.2 million. It has six bedrooms, four full baths, three half baths, two laundry rooms, an oversized garage bays and an in-law suite. It is co-listed by Ann Turnberg and Erica Swallow of the Turnberg & Swallow Team at Coldwell Banker Realty — Western Massachusetts. “Escape to the first-floor Primary Suite through the curved central hall with arched entries, where you’ll find a spacious bedroom, dressing room, custom walk-in closet and bathroom made for royaltysteam shower, whirlpool tub, alabaster chandelier,” the listing reads. The outside is just as impressive. The house is on 4.13 acres and includes a backyard creek and forest, stone walls, patios, lush landscaping and an in-ground, heated pool. “Make this house your home,” the listing reads. For the full listing, click here.

fa1704e04bad5b95583e18ea61a53bab

0business

John Fish and Stephen Weiner settle failed condo project lawsuit

The one-sentence confirmation marked the end of a battle that pitted two prominent and well-respected players in local real estate development. Fish is chief executive of Suffolk Construction, the region’s largest general contractor. Weiner made his name developing the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Boston and shopping centers throughout the suburbs. “The parties have resolved their claims against each other and have agreed not to comment further,” each side said on Monday in identical statements to The Boston Globe. Neither side would discuss settlement terms. After more than four years of conflicting claims, depositions, and embarrassing disclosures, John Fish and Stephen Weiner, former friends and business partners, have settled their nasty legal fight over an aborted plan to build an $800 million luxury condominium tower in the Back Bay. Advertisement The men were so close that Fish once hired Weiner’s son Adam to give him construction experience. Some prominent business leaders worried their schism reflected badly on Boston, an ugly conflict more common in brash New York than in the more buttoned-up world of New England real estate. The legal fight erupted in October 2019, when Fish sued Stephen and Adam Weiner, alleging he lost tens of millions of dollars when, a few months earlier, they backed out of a deal to build the condo tower on Boylston Street near the Hynes Convention Center. Fish argued that Stephen Weiner was reluctant to backstop $400 million in financing, and that Weiner unilaterally released a statement in August 2019 announcing the project had been scrapped. The construction magnate had invested personally in the project, and Suffolk was slated to build the tower. Almost a year later the Weiners countersued for fraud and negligent misrepresentation, alleging Fish falsely said he would be able to obtain all state approvals for the tower by a specific date and on acceptable terms. They said Fish was the one who called off the deal. Advertisement Most of the counterclaims were dismissed in March 2021, with Judge Kenneth W. Salinger writing that the Weiners “did not plausibly suggest that Fish either made a false statement of fact or promise he did not intend to perform.” Shortly after that Fish sued the law firm that had worked on the condo venture, Goulston & Storrs, which also represented Weiner’s development firm in Fish’s first suit. Fish sought more than $300 million, a figure that was more than three times Goulston’s net operating income in 2019. John Fish and Stephen Weiner have settled their four-year legal battle over a scuttled condo tower they had planned to build on this parcel above the Massachusetts Turnpike along Boylston Street in the Back Bay. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff/David L Ryan, Globe Staff The Goulston lawsuit alleged that senior partner Alan Rottenberg committed “legal malpractice” by advising Weiner behind Fish’s back, while billing both for his time. It also said Rottenberg had an “undisclosed personal financial interest” in Weiner’s firm and was advising his longtime client about getting out of the condo deal even as Fish kept putting money into it. Goulston settled the claims in June 2022. More recently, Salinger delivered two setbacks to the Weiners. In February of last year he ruled that father and son failed to retain evidence even though they knew Fish was likely to sue them. Both deleted emails and texts they “knew or reasonably should have known” might be relevant, the judge said. Two months later Salinger found that Stephen Weiner had violated long-standing protocol and rules agreed to by both parties by attempting to furtively use “off-camera” documents during his deposition. The judge granted the request by Fish’s lawyers to require Weiner to sit for another 2½ hours of deposition and allow them to raise the issue during trial. Advertisement One possible wrinkle arose on the final business day of 2023, when the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office dissolved the entity Fish used to sue the Weiners — JFF Cecilia LLC — after two consecutive years had passed without the LLC’s managers filing an annual report. Several attorneys in Boston told the Globe the matter is likely an oversight. Fish’s law firm, Choate Hall & Stewart, did not confirm whether it intends to reinstate the LLC into good standing with the Commonwealth to complete the settlement. Catherine Carlock can be reached at catherine.carlock@globe.com. Follow her @bycathcarlock. Larry Edelman can be reached at larry.edelman@globe.com. Follow him @GlobeNewsEd.

137c37888b2d7adc84debfb24e8af308

4politics

Killing of Reuters Journalist Was Apparently Deliberate Israeli Strike, Group Says

An Oct. 13 strike that killed a videographer for the Reuters news agency and injured six others in southern Lebanon was carried out by the Israeli military and appeared to be a deliberate attack, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday. The watchdog group said that evidence it had reviewed — including dozens of videos of the incident, photographs and satellite images, and interviews with witnesses and military experts — showed that the journalists were not near areas where fighting was taking place and that there was no military objective near their position. “The attack on the journalists’ position directly targeted them,” the report said, labeling the attack a war crime. The Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to the report. Reuters published its own investigation on Thursday and said that an Israeli tank crew had killed its journalist and wounded the others. “The evidence we now have, and have published today, shows that an Israeli tank crew killed our colleague Issam Abdallah,” the Reuters editor in chief, Alessandra Galloni, said in a statement. She called on Israel “to explain how this could have happened and to hold to account those responsible.” On Oct. 13, a week after Hamas attacks on Israel sparked an all-out war, the seven journalists from Reuters, Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse, the French news agency, were standing on a hilltop in southern Lebanon close to the border with Israel. They were filming and broadcasting cross-border shelling between the Israeli army and Lebanese militants allied with Hamas.

2f8b0bed58a77d2ce78ce8d68a88ac5a

2culture

Ask Amy: I think my daughter intentionally smashed her phone do I replace it?

Dear Amy: My teenage daughter recently came to me saying that she needed a new smartphone. I took a look, and it was basically smashed. She said she was at her friend’s house when this happened. I called the friend’s mom and she told me that both girls had deliberately broken their phones in order to get new ones (this was before Christmas, so I guess they were hoping to find a shiny new phone in their stockings). I asked my daughter what had happened and she said, “It just fell onto the driveway.” She didn’t seem too concerned about it. I asked her if she had done this on purpose and she said no. My wife and I can’t quite decide what to do now. She is in favor of getting her a new phone, but I don’t want to reward this behavior. – Broke Dad Dear Dad: Unless you have purchased insurance, replacing this broken phone could be a very expensive proposition (insurance is also expensive, and there is a deductible to replace a broken or lost phone). I do believe that it is something of a safety issue for a teenager to have a phone these days, and because of that, she should have one. However, until you/she are eligible for a free upgrade for the latest model, you can offer to purchase a much less expensive flip phone for her to use until she can afford the phone she wants. (Flip phones are cool! They’re vintage! They’re so very ‘90s!) I think it’s important that your daughter should ultimately pay for the replacement – or negotiate a partial payment with you and her mom. Experiencing the consequences of this incident should inspire her to be much more careful. Dear Amy: “Patricia” and I have known each other for several years. We have always referred to one another as “best friends.” A while back, I found out that she did something horrible to a family member of mine, and I was furious. I didn’t speak to her for several months and started to make plans to confront her about what she had done. Before I was able to confront her, she found out that her boyfriend flirted with me. Yes, he did flirt with me, but I just ignored him and didn’t say anything to her about it. Now Patty blames me for all the emotional turmoil she is going through. This is absurd! I am so sick of her throwing shade at me! Should I confront her about it? – Over It Dear Over It: I’m going to go out on a limb and declare that you and “Patty” are not actually best friends, and perhaps never have been. The reason I can say this is because intimate friends tell one another the truth – even when it is challenging or painful to do so. You state that Patty did a horrible thing to a family member of yours, and yet you ghosted her for months instead of communicating about this incident. On Patty’s side of things, she is blaming you for the fallout from something her boyfriend did. Again – casting blame without pursuing an explanation is not how friends behave and communicate with one another. It seems obvious that at this point, your friendship is broken. Given that so much time has passed and that you have no stated desire to try to repair the relationship, dredging up these episodes might give you two yet another point of conflict. I understand the desire to set the record straight when it comes to your own conduct and whatever untruths are told about you. If you decide to do this, remember that anything you say or write can be dredged up and used against you (or as a way to keep this conflict going) on social media. Therefore, you should make your decision understanding the possible ongoing negative consequences for you. Dear Amy: I’m enjoying the letters about gender-specific toys, especially toy kitchens. I worked in a preschool, and once I asked a boy playing in the kitchen area about the things he’d piled up in the kitchen next to the little sink. He said he was going to play video games – the telephone with its keypad was propping up the frying pan, which was his screen. I asked about the banana perched on top and he said, “I’m charging it.” There are lots of ways to play with a toy kitchen. – Another Amy Dear Amy: I’ll never eat an uncharged banana again. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.) ©2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

32a4714a1e241a31e6d629324994cb20

7weather

Boston weather forecast: Sun before rain arrives this weekend

Two manhole explosions in Boston on Wednesday have resulted in cutting power to two apartment buildings, Eversource said in a statement. The explosions happened on St. Stephen Street, Eversource said in the statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. The street is very close to Northeastern University. Boston police started getting calls about the explosions at around 10:07 a.m., Boston Police Sgt. John Boyle told MassLive. “The substantial rainfall overnight likely played a role,” Eversource said about the “underground issue.” “We’ll look into the exact cause while crews make repairs.” In order for repairs to begin, Eversource said it “had to de-energize the line and two apartment buildings and are without power. We have generators on the way to restore power to these buildings while our crews complete their work.” “I was in the shower, and I heard a big explosion and some car alarms go off. And then 10 minutes later, I was getting dressed, and then the same thing happened,” Kerem Vasoglu told WCVB, which confirmed that vehicles near the explosions were damaged. While the investigation into the explosions continue, Boyle asked anyone who typically drives along St. Stephen Street to seek “alternate routes, as we’re detouring cars in that area to avoid it for the time being.” Read more: Flooding shuts down Milford Street in Medway after overnight storm No injuries have been reported, Boyle said.

9af8a1c433ada7a5ba81772a668cab67

4politics

Opinion | The Cease-Fire Now Imposture

The House on Wednesday authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with every Republican rallying behind the politically charged process despite lingering concerns among some in the party that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president. The 221-212 party-line vote put the entire House Republican conference on record in support of an impeachment process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial. Authorizing the monthslong inquiry ensures that the impeachment investigation extends well into 2024, when Biden will be running for reelection and seems likely to be squaring off against former President Donald Trump — who was twice impeached during his time in the White House. Trump has pushed his GOP allies in Congress to move swiftly on impeaching Biden, part of his broader calls for vengeance and retribution against his political enemies. The decision to hold a vote came as House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team faced growing pressure to show progress in what has become a nearly yearlong probe centered around the business dealings of Biden's family members. While their investigation has raised ethical questions, no evidence has emerged that Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or previous office as vice president. Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters. Ahead of the vote, Johnson called it “the next necessary step" and acknowledged there are “a lot of people who are frustrated this hasn’t moved faster.“ The congressman from Louisiana was elected speaker of the House. Here are some things to know about the Republican representative. In a recent statement, the White House called the whole process a “baseless fishing expedition” that Republicans are pushing ahead with “despite the fact that members of their own party have admitted there is no evidence to support impeaching President Biden.” House Democrats rose in opposition to the inquiry resolution Wednesday. “This whole thing is an extreme political stunt. It has no credibility, no legitimacy, and no integrity. It is a sideshow," Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said during a floor debate. Some House Republicans, particularly those hailing from politically divided districts, had been hesitant in recent weeks to take any vote on Biden's impeachment, fearing a significant political cost. But GOP leaders have made the case in recent weeks that the resolution is only a step in the process, not a decision to impeach Biden. That message seems to have won over skeptics. “As we have said numerous times before, voting in favor of an impeachment inquiry does not equal impeachment,” Rep. Tom Emmer, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at a news conference Tuesday. Emmer said Republicans “will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead, and if they uncover evidence of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, then and only then will the next steps towards impeachment proceedings be considered.” Most of the Republicans reluctant to back the impeachment push have also been swayed by leadership's recent argument that authorizing the inquiry will give them better legal standing as the White House has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for their requests for information. A letter last month from a top White House attorney to Republican committee leaders portrayed the GOP investigation as overzealous and illegitimate because the chamber had not yet authorized a formal impeachment inquiry by a vote of the full House. Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, also wrote that when Trump faced the prospect of impeachment by a Democratic-led House in 2019, Johnson had said at the time that any inquiry without a House vote would be a “sham.” Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., said this week that while there was no evidence to impeach the president, “that’s also not what the vote this week would be about.” “We have had enough political impeachments in this country,” he said. “I don’t like the stonewalling the administration has done, but listen, if we don’t have the receipts, that should constrain what the House does long-term.” Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has long been opposed to moving forward with impeachment, said that the White House questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry without a formal vote helped gain his support. “I can defend an inquiry right now,” he told reporters this week. "Let's see what they find out.” House Democrats remained unified in their opposition to the impeachment process, saying it is a farce used by the GOP to take attention away from Trump and his legal woes. “You don’t initiate an impeachment process unless there’s real evidence of impeachable offenses,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, who oversaw the two impeachments into Trump. “There is none here. None.” Democrats and the White House have repeatedly defended the president and his administration's cooperation with the investigation thus far, saying it has already made a massive trove of documents available. Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records and dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating the president's son, Hunter Biden. While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in Hunter Biden and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden's taxes and his gun use. Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed additional charges last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period. Democrats have conceded that while the president's son is not perfect, he is a private citizen who is already being held accountable by the justice system. “I mean, there’s a lot of evidence that Hunter Biden did a lot of improper things. He’s been indicted, he’ll stand trial,” Nadler said. “There’s no evidence whatsoever that the president did anything improper.” Hunter Biden arrived for a rare public statement outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, saying he would not be appearing for his scheduled private deposition that morning. The president's son defended himself against years of GOP attacks and said his father has had no financial involvement in his business affairs. His attorney has offered for Biden to testify publicly, citing concerns about Republicans manipulating any private testimony. “Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say,” Biden said outside the Capitol. “What are they afraid of? I am here.” GOP lawmakers said that since Hunter Biden did not appear, they will begin contempt of Congress proceedings against him. “He just got into more trouble today,” Rep. James Comer, the House Oversight Committee chairman, told reporters Wednesday.

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0business

Single family residence sells for $1.2 million in Boylston

A spacious house located at 5 Juniper Hill Road in Boylston has a new owner. The 3,523-square-foot property, built in 2006, was sold on Nov. 9, 2023. The $1,185,000 purchase price works out to $336 per square foot. This two-story house offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and four baths. On the exterior, the house is characterized by a gable roof design, featuring roofing made of asphalt. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby: In July 2022, a 3,369-square-foot home on Ridgefield Circle in Boylston sold for $1,000,000, a price per square foot of $297. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. A 3,356-square-foot home at 24 Sylvan Lane in Boylston sold in August 2022, for $839,900, a price per square foot of $250. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. On Twin Spring Drive, Boylston, in January 2022, a 3,029-square-foot home was sold for $790,000, a price per square foot of $261. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News

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0business

EBNHC Launches New Behavioral Health Urgent Care Service The Boston Sun

Special to the Sun East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC), the largest community-based primary care health system in Massachusetts, gathered with city, state and community leaders last week, to officially announce the opening of its new Behavioral Health Urgent Care Service (BHUCS). Part of the EBNHC’s integrated behavioral health program, the BHUCS provides same-day and urgent mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults, in East Boston and surrounding communities, transforming how community members — predominantly low-income immigrants — can access the high-quality behavioral health services they need and deserve. “Timely access to high-quality behavioral health services is a common challenge across the Commonwealth, especially for vulnerable families. I’m proud to say that EBNHC’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care Service addresses this growing need head on,” said EBNHC President and CEO, Greg Wilmot. “Our industry must offer innovative ways to close long-standing gaps in care. This expansion of our behavioral health program is a monumental step in the right direction as we strive to achieve health equity for our patients and neighbors.” The new service is innovative and different from other behavioral health urgent care options across the state as it is co-located with the state’s only community-based satellite emergency facility, operated by EBNHC. Additionally, the service is fully integrated within the health center and EBNHC’s larger behavioral health and recovery services program. This unparalleled care model allows patients in the community to be connected to a wide range of care services, seamlessly and immediately moving from the BHUCS to emergency medical care, primary care, additional behavioral health care, and other health and wellness programs available through the Center. Addressing health equity gaps, like disparities in access to behavioral health care for Black and Latinx communities, has long been a focus for EBNHC which was recently recognized by the Department of Health and Human Service’s Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) as a 2023 National Quality Leader and one of the nation’s leading health centers in reducing health disparities. To help put patients at ease, the new BHUCS suite features state-of-the-art behavioral health care design. A calming space, intentionally constructed to be safe and aesthetically pleasing for those struggling with a mental health or substance use disorder, the BHUCS provides access to immediate crisis evaluation, next-step planning, and support for all patients ages six and above. The BHUCS currently welcomes walk-ins five days a week and will move to seven-day a week access in early 2024. “We are in the midst of a behavioral health crisis that requires new ideas, more resources, and a strong investment to meet this demand,” said EBNHC Executive Vice President and COO, Ryan Boxill, PhD, MBA. “Since our soft-opening last month, we’ve already seen great demand for this service that will be especially vital for low-income and non-English speaking patients. Our highly trained, diverse, multi-disciplinary behavioral health team members are eager to welcome many first-time patients and are equipped to offer care in their native language.” Thanks to earmarked state funding advocated for by Massachusetts State Rep. Adrian Madaro, EBNHC has hired more than 20 diverse new staff, experienced in providing behavioral health care to adults, adolescents, and youth. “Behavioral health care providers are still seeing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, for many children was a two-year hiatus from achieving key developmental, academic and social milestones,” said Michael Mancusi, MSW, LICSW, EBNHC Vice President and Chief Behavioral Health Officer. “This has had a deleterious effect on the mental health of our young people, and we realized a better model was needed to address community behavioral health — one with an immediately accessible entry point and a range of care to match our patients’ needs. That is why we created the BHUCS — to provide an urgent response to an urgent health care crisis.” Patients can now access the following services at the BHUCS, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (weekend hours will be available in 2024): • Same-day clinical triage, crisis evaluation, next step planning and support • On-site medical evaluation and necessary laboratory tests • Psychopharmacology evaluation and medication prescription • Crisis response and stabilization • Care navigation and care coordination • Enrollment in EBNHC primary care, based on availability EBNHC has also expanded mind/body offerings for patients, such as reiki, trauma-informed yoga, community peace circles and other community interventions to meet interest in non-traditional, indigenous, and culturally relevant healing methods.

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6sports

Boys Basketball Scoreboard: Angel Castillo, Athol hold off Frontier & more

The Athol boys basketball team defeated Frontier by just two points Thursday night to remain undefeated. Behind the 50-48 win, Athol moved to 5-0 on the season.

69ad0a7470d36da646ad3fd3c550569b

4politics

The Threat of a Wider War in the Middle East

A storm is expected to hit Massachusetts Sunday night into Monday, bringing potentially strong winds and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall is expected to begin late Sunday night into early Monday morning with the strongest winds in the late morning or early afternoon on Monday, the weather service said. The conditions may last into the middle of next week, with coastal flooding along the South Coast a possibility. The National Weather Service also has a high wind watch for the Eastern coast of Massachusetts from Sunday night to Monday evening with South winds from 30 to 40 mph with the potential for gusts up to 55 mph. The wind gusts has the potential to blow down trees and power lines with potential power outages. Before the storm hits, dry and mild conditions will otherwise remain into the weekend. Saturday will be above normal temperatures with a mix of clouds and sun.

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0business

TGI Fridays chicken bites recalled, possibly contained hard plastic, USDA says

Almost 27,000 pounds of TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites products are being recalled after they may have been contaminated with clear, hard plastic, according to The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer complaints reported hard plastic under the breading of the chicken bites. Read more: Stranger leaves wedding rings to Salvation Army in act of holiday charity The honey barbecue chicken bites were produced on Oct. 3 and have a lot code KL3K03 and a best by date of Dec. 26 2024 on the side of the carton. Consumers who have the boneless chicken bites in their freezers are being urged to throw them away or return them to the store of purchase. While there haven’t been any confirmed reports of injury or illness from consuming the products, those who may be concerned can contact a healthcare provider. Consumers with food safety questions can call The U.S. Food and Drug Administration meat and poultry hotline at 888-674-6854 or send an email to MPHotline@usda.gov.

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0business

November Inflation Report Inflation Holds Steady Ahead of Fed Meeting

Pinned Inflation data released on Tuesday showed that price increases remained moderate in November, the latest sign that inflation has cooled substantially from its peak. That’s likely to keep the Federal Reserve on track to leave interest rates unchanged at its final meeting of the year, which takes place this week. The Consumer Price Index came out just as the Fed begins its two-day gathering, which will conclude with the release of an interest rate decision and a fresh set of quarterly economic projections at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, is then scheduled to hold a news conference. Central bankers have embraced a recent slowdown in price increases, and they are likely to watch Tuesday’s data closely. The report showed that overall inflation climbed 0.1 percent on a monthly basis, and was up by 3.1 percent compared to a year earlier. That was slightly cooler than the 3.2 percent annual figure in October, as lower gas prices helped to hold down the number. But there were some signs that could keep Fed officials wary. After stripping out volatile food and fuel to give a clearer sense of underlying inflation trends, so-called core inflation climbed slightly more quickly on a monthly basis. A closely watched measure that tracks how much it would cost to rent owned housing also climbed slightly more quickly. Still, the overall inflation report as a whole was roughly in line with what economists had projected. And core inflation held steady on an annual basis, at 4 percent. That pace remains well above the roughly 2 percent pace that was normal before the onset of the pandemic, but it is down sharply compared with its peak in the summer of 2022. Many economists expect it to continue moderating into 2024, now that supply chain problems that pushed up goods prices in 2021 and 2022 have faded and prices for many services seem to be on the brink of cooling. “We’re pretty optimistic,” Laura Rosner-Warburton, senior economist at the research and analysis firm MacroPolicy Perspectives, said ahead of the report. She said she expects core inflation to be back to about 2.3 percent by the end of next year. Fed officials raised rates sharply between March 2022 and this summer in a bid to slow the economy, hoping to cool demand enough to wrestle inflation lower. They have now held borrowing costs steady for several months, as they try to assess whether they have adjusted policy enough to return price increases to a normal pace over time. Central bankers have been hesitant to declare victory at a time when inflation is improving but remains elevated. Economists expect them to maintain that cautious approach this week, even though many think that the Fed’s next move will be an interest-rate cut. “It would be premature to conclude with confidence that we have achieved a sufficiently restrictive stance, or to speculate on when policy might ease,” Mr. Powell said during a recent speech. Investors think that borrowing costs could come down as soon as the first half of 2024, based on market expectations, though continued economic momentum or stubborn prices could delay that. “There’s always uncertainty, and it’s higher than usual because we have exited a pandemic,” Ms. Rosner-Warburton said, explaining that she is particularly watching rental inflation figures. Rent cost increases are expected to continue to slow, and any sign that they are not following that path would be an unwelcome development. Inflation has surprised forecasters repeatedly since 2021 by cooling only to flare back up. “It’s hard to be confident after the last few years,” she added.

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0business

OpenAI Staff Threatens Exodus, Jeopardizing Companys Future

Mr. Sutskever did not respond to a request for comment. In addition to Mr. Altman, several key OpenAI employees have already joined Microsoft’s new A.I. subsidiary. This includes Greg Brockman, the OpenAI president who quit the start-up in solidarity after Mr. Altman was ousted. Early Monday morning in a post to X, Mr. Brockman said that he and Mr. Altman would also be joined at Microsoft by three OpenAI researchers: Jakub Pachocki, Szymon Sidor and Aleksander Madry. Mr. Pachocki led the development of GPT-4, the technology that underpins OpenAI’s popular chatbot, ChatGPT. He has long worked closely with Mr. Brockman, an engineer who helped found OpenAI in 2015 alongside Mr. Altman and has been deeply involved in almost all aspects of the company’s operations from its earliest days. OpenAI staff was in upheaval in the hours after the board announced Mr. Altman’s ouster, two OpenAI employees told The New York Times. Employees were privately sharing morbid jokes and memes about the power struggles from the HBO show “Succession,” the two said. Many used private group messaging chats and video calls to plan their next steps — and to commiserate with one another. And Mr. Shear’s challenge in winning their loyalty as chief executive quickly became evident. Most OpenAI employees skipped an all-hands video call Sunday night meant to introduce them to Mr. Shear, and some reacted to a message announcing the meeting with vulgar emojis, according to a person familiar with the matter. OpenAI still retains a partnership with Microsoft. Mr. Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, said in an early Monday post to X that Microsoft would continue to work with the start-up to sell a wide range of products and services based on GPT-4 and other OpenAI technologies.

3a72aef156113bcca1d1bad0500af83f

7weather

Winter doesn't stand a chance': Boston officials discuss weather preparedness plans

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined local officials Wednesday to discuss how the city is preparing for winter weather and will share information about resources available to residents.Wu was joined by several city officials, including representatives from the housing, transportation, and emergency management departments. “Winter doesn't stand a chance in Boston,” Wu said. “Last winter was mild, so I’m trying not to jinx it.”Wu said unlike other communities struggling to hire plow truck drivers, Boston is staffed and ready."We know that getting through the winter is a community effort, and we have the strongest community here in Boston, one that supports one another," Wu said.One concern has been the record number of homeless families straining the state's and the city's resources. "There have been some calls about families being in cars," Boston Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon said. "We dispatch with the state's cooperation to work with the families and get them into shelter."Officials with the Wang YMCA of Chinatown said they will open their doors for migrant families temporarily housed at the state's transportation building in Boston. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined local officials Wednesday to discuss how the city is preparing for winter weather and will share information about resources available to residents. Wu was joined by several city officials, including representatives from the housing, transportation, and emergency management departments. Advertisement “Winter doesn't stand a chance in Boston,” Wu said. “Last winter was mild, so I’m trying not to jinx it.” Wu said unlike other communities struggling to hire plow truck drivers, Boston is staffed and ready. "We know that getting through the winter is a community effort, and we have the strongest community here in Boston, one that supports one another," Wu said. One concern has been the record number of homeless families straining the state's and the city's resources. "There have been some calls about families being in cars," Boston Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon said. "We dispatch with the state's cooperation to work with the families and get them into shelter." Officials with the Wang YMCA of Chinatown said they will open their doors for migrant families temporarily housed at the state's transportation building in Boston.

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4politics

The Supreme Court Helped Trumps Delay Strategy. By How Much Remains to Be Seen.

Here is a look at what’s ahead. What issue is Mr. Trump appealing? Mr. Trump is attempting to get the entire indictment against him tossed out with an argument that has never before been tested by the courts — largely because no one else has ever made it this way. He is claiming that he is absolutely immune to criminal prosecution on the charges of election interference because they stem from acts he took while he was in the White House. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is handling the underlying case in Federal District Court in Washington, rejected that claim earlier this month in a decision that found there was nothing in the Constitution or American history supporting the idea that the holder of the nation’s highest position, once out of office, should not be subject to the federal criminal law like everybody else. Mr. Trump appealed the decision to the first court above Judge Chutkan’s: the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. But fearing that a protracted appeal could delay the case from going to trial as scheduled in March, Jack Smith, the special counsel who filed the indictment, made an unusual request to the Supreme Court: He asked the justices to step in front of the appeals court and consider the case first to speed up the process and preserve the current trial date. On Friday, in a one-sentence order, the Supreme Court turned down Mr. Smith’s request. Where will the case be heard now? The appeals court in Washington will hear the immunity matter. In fact, the court will do so on a schedule that is extremely accelerated by judicial standards.

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2culture

Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley to celebrate legacy of Amelia Earhart

Grace Gerhardt, a supervisor at aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney who leads a team of more than 30 mechanics in quality engine production, will be the speaker at the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley’s Jan. 15 celebration of trailblazing aviator Amelia Earhart. Each January, Zonta International celebrates the spirit and impact Earhart, a famous air pioneer in the 1920s and ‘30s, and a member of the Zonta Club of Boston and New York. “By her example, Amelia Earhart encouraged women to expand their horizons by exploring occupations and holding positions beyond those traditionally held by women. By supporting the Amelia Earhart Fellowships, Zonta International encourages women to enter the aerospace engineering and space science fields and keep the Earhart legacy alive,” said Mary F. Knight, visibility chair/communications and webmaster for the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley. The $10,000 Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowships are offered annually to 30 women pursuing graduate/doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. Since the beginning of the fellowship in 1938, there have been 1,734 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than $11.6 million, awarded to 1,305 fellows from 77 countries. The fellowships are funded annually through generous contributions by Zonta’s more than 27,000 members in 63 countries. One of the 30 Amelia Earhart Fellows for 2023 is Chloe Gentgen, a doctoral candidate in the Aeronautics and Astronautics Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Zonta International and its members work at the international, national and local levels to realize our vision of a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential, where women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men, and where no woman lives in fear of violence. This vision is our driving force in advocacy and service initiatives and in fundraising,” Knight said. The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley invites the public – especially young women interested in a STEM career – to attend the Jan. 15 event at 6 p.m. at the Ludlow Country Club. Gerhardt — the guest speaker — “has driven a significant reduction in engine build-time while the team ramps up production,” Knight said. “Grace believes as long as you take care of your people, the product will build itself.” Gerhardt completed her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering with a minor in English from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2019 and is expected to graduate with her master’s degree in systems engineering in May. “Grace graduated from WPI with a degree in aerospace engineering, a field that has few women. Grace’s experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field and the success she has had are an inspiration for young women and women of all ages,” commented Zonta’s acting co-president Karen Keough-Huff. The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is hosting this event as an advocacy measure to encourage and inspire others to join in the vision of the founders to empower one another in making a better world for women and girls. While not a fundraiser for the club, attendees will have an opportunity to donate to the Zonta Foundation for Women and target the Amelia Earhart Fellowship Fund. The event at the Ludlow Country Club begins at 5:30 p.m. for socializing; at 6 p.m. there will be a buffet dinner, followed by the program. Cost for the dinner is $28, payable by cash, check or credit card the night of the event. RSVP to info@zontaqv.org by Jan. 8. Online payment and more information are available on the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley’s website. To learn about local opportunities, go to ZontaDistrict1.org or email info@zontadistrict1.org. Guests are welcome at club meetings; the meeting schedule is available at ZontaQV.org.

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4politics

Congress Abandons Ukraine Aid Until Next Year as Border Talks Continue

Congress gave up Tuesday on a last-ditch bid to speed through emergency military aid to Ukraine before the end of the year, as negotiators failed to cement a deal that Republicans have demanded tying the money to a crackdown on migration across the U.S. border with Mexico. “It is our hope that their efforts will allow the Senate to take swift action on the national security supplemental early in the new year,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, and Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, said in a rare joint statement. They pledged to address Ukraine aid and border measures alongside military funding to Israel and the Indo-Pacific, promising that “the Senate will not let these national security challenges go unanswered.” The delay punts the fate of Ukraine aid — and the complicated task of drafting new immigration laws — into early next year, when lawmakers will also face the daunting task of striking a broader spending agreement to avert a partial government shutdown by mid-January.

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4politics

On separate Mass. and Cass issues, Boston City Council shows unity and division

Politics On separate Mass. and Cass issues, Boston City Council shows unity and division Councilors agreed that businesses near Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard should get a tax break but disagreed over an issue related to the street cleaning there. Members of the Boston City Council during a meeting earlier this year. Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe During Wednesday’s Boston City Council meeting, Councilor Erin Murphy brought forth two items related to Mass. and Cass, the area surrounding the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. The first was a push for a tax break for businesses there. The second was a call to examine whether street cleaning equipment used at Mass. and Cass should also be used in other parts of the city. They were met with very different responses from her fellow councilors. Various crises affecting residents intersect at Mass. and Cass, where those struggling with homelessness, substance use, and mental health regularly gather. Mayor Michelle Wu said last week that public safety had noticeably deteriorated there recently. In the days since, officials across the city have been vocal about the best ways to decrease crime and get people the help they need. Help for businesses Business owners in the neighborhood are being negatively impacted by the situation at Mass. and Cass, Murphy said. So she filed a hearing order Wednesday to discuss offering property tax abatements to business owners in the Newmarket Area, which contains Mass. and Cass. “We know that they’re struggling, through none of their own doing, and we’ve failed them in not providing a safe environment. Many have been adversely impacted by the deteriorating conditions of the neighborhood that aren’t accurately reflected in property tax valuation, including declining public safety, cleanliness, and quality of life over a number of years,” Murphy said. Advertisement: To deal with the conditions, 65 members of the Newmarket Business Association spent $3.9 million in security costs and incurred $1.9 million in damages just in 2021, according to the order. These costs have only risen since then, and business owners recently invested $500,000 in security, including the installation of closed-circuit television cameras. To help these businesses, the city could offer a property tax abatement to the ones feeling the most negative impacts. The abatement would be an effort to compensate for increased fees, costs of doing business, and “negatively impacted quality of life,” according to the order. This idea was met with wide support by Murphy’s colleagues. Eleven councilors signed onto the order. Only Councilor Frank Baker, who was absent, did not. “They’ve put up with enough, they deserve better,” Councilor Michael Flaherty said of the businesses near Mass. and Cass. “This city needs to partner with them, and I think a call for an abatement is fair, it’s reasonable, it would be a practical solution for this body to work with the administration to bring some much-needed tax relief to the folks that have endured more than anyone can ever imagine.” Collisions over street cleaning A few minutes later, Murphy spoke about another hearing order she filed. The street cleaning equipment being used on roadways near Mass. and Cass by the city and its contractors is also being used to clean streets in other neighborhoods like Back Bay, Downtown, and Chinatown, according to the order. Advertisement: This could potentially pose a health risk to residents, Murphy said. In the order, she called for using “specialized equipment, solely designated for this area,” because of the “hazardous and infectious” materials commonly found at Mass. and Cass. There was pushback from some of Murphy’s colleagues on this topic. The Boston Public Health Commission assessed the relative risks of spreading infectious diseases by public works vehicles as “low to negligible,” Councilor Gabriela Coletta said. She acknowledged that the direct use of needles poses a higher risk of spreading infectious disease across Boston, but said that the overall harm to the public purported in Murphy’s order should not cause alarm to residents. One of the streets singled out in Murphy’s order was Atkinson Street, where overdoses are a daily occurrence. A street sweeper has not gone down Atkinson Street in seven months, Coletta said. Instead, the city uses flusher trucks that spray a cleaning solution on the street. These are used in areas such as Faneuil Hall after horses are stationed there. In addition, Coletta said that street sweepers undergo high pressure washes after every use. “I don’t take issue with my colleague looking to elevate and call for accountability as it relates to the situation happening at Mass. and Cass,” Coletta said. “I do take issue with the framing, whether intentional or unintentional, that pushes a narrative where the public is made to feel fear, unwarranted fear, for their health without due diligence done by the people they should trust most.” Advertisement: Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune said she looked forward to learning more about the topic, but urged her fellow councilors to “avoid any sort of ‘us versus them’ mentality.” Louijeune, who is Haitian-American, said that the Haitian community was unfairly targeted during the HIV crisis in “dehumanizing” ways meant to keep them separate from others. “Any time we think about having to use separate things, or having to keep things differently because of a certain population that is already facing a lot of stigma, I just want to call that out,” she said. On Wednesday evening, Murphy released a statement firing back at her colleagues for being “willing to play politics with a public health issue.” She said hearing orders are simply used to get more information about specific issues and accused others of spinning it to earn points during election season. “There’s a reason that the Boston City Council gets called a ‘clown show‘ in the media,” Murphy said in her statement. “It’s because some members would prefer to stand in the Council Chamber and lob insults rather than trying to solve problems.”

39b45edcf8a90b52b881df9b27d79d8d

5science

Why You Should Eat More Nuts and Seeds

This is Day 4 of Well’s Mediterranean Diet Week. Start at the beginning here. It’s time to add a bit more crunch to your diet, so let’s talk about nuts and seeds. These nutritional powerhouses are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, as well as protein and gut-healthy fiber. Just a handful of almonds, for instance, provides about six grams of protein and three grams of fiber, about the amount you’d get from eating an egg and three-quarters of a cup of blueberries. Nuts and seeds are also impressive sources of heart-healthy fats, which have been linked to improved cholesterol levels and protection from cardiovascular disease. One recent review of more than three dozen studies, for instance, found that people who ate a little more than a handful (or about one ounce) of nuts and seeds every day had a roughly 20 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those who ate little to none.

078f2a0b91dca24670c7ec4ed5033482

5science

Fatal overdoses in Massachusetts remain at grim record highs

In Massachusetts, there’s no let up in the pace of deaths after a drug overdose. A bi-annual report out Wednesday from the state Department of Public Health showed the rate is expected to hold steady through the end of the year. It was a grim reminder that overdoses remain one of the most challenging public health crises facing the state, as well as the nation. The fatal overdose rate remained high even as the state flooded outreach groups with naloxone, the drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, funded more mobile treatment programs and opened housing for people using drugs. Public health officials have also targeted programs in the hardest hit areas: Boston, Worcester, Plymouth County and the Cape and Islands. State Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said he’s hopeful these efforts, and others, are saving lives. But he acknowledged, “It’s hard to find hope in the numbers.” Deaths are leveling off, “but we’re leveling off at the highest number of opioid-related overdose deaths that we’ve ever seen in the commonwealth,” Goldstein said during a briefing on the data. “That’s a really jarring, sobering number to have to report every six months.” A key challenge for Massachusetts, and the country, is the widespread threat of fentanyl. This synthetic opioid is often detected in cocaine, methamphetamines and fake Xanax or Adderall pills. It can kill people who have no idea they are at risk for an overdose death. Fatal overdoses where both cocaine and fentanyl were present increased 11% in the past year, the report found. State public health officials said they plan to launch a Night Life campaign focused on occasional drug users. It will explain the fentanyl risk. The state Department of Public Health already funds an overdose prevention hotline where staffers alert emergency medical services if the caller becomes unresponsive. In addition to fentanyl, public health experts said autopsies are also showing more xylazine mixed with other drugs. It’s an animal tranquilizer that can complicate efforts to revive someone who has overdosed. “We have a toxic drug supply that does not just affect people who have an opiate use disorder,” said Deirdre Calvert, director of the state’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. But Calvert cautioned outreach campaigns will be ineffective unless people feel comfortable discussing drug use. That can be difficult if they risk legal, financial and personal repercussions. We have to “allow people to access treatment without fear of incarceration, fear of losing their children, fear of not having health insurance,” Calvert said. Massachusetts is, for the first time, posting more details about the people who suffer a fatal overdose. Goldstein said for every fatal overdose between 2013 and 2021 there were nine non-fatal overdoses. One of every 11 people who experienced a non-fatal opioid overdose later died after an OD. In addition, having a mental, mobility or developmental disability doubled or tripled the risk of a non-fatal overdose, the data showed. Goldstein said the state will use this information to target services like vending machines where people can purchase clean needles and other supplies, hospital-based addiction specialists, emergency room trainings on medications to treat a substance use disorder and walk-in clinics where people who use drugs can begin treatment. The Department of Public Health is also releasing a report that recommends the Legislature pass laws that would make it easier for municipalities to open supervised injection, or overdose prevention, sites where staff are on hand to reverse an overdose if needed. The latest reports don’t update information about racial disparities in overdose deaths. Data released in June showed substantially higher death rates for Black and Hispanic people. Massachusetts has made equity its top priority in spending settlement funds stemming from lawsuits against opioid makers and distributors, committing $10 million a year. The bulk of that, $6.5 million, is dedicated to programs for men and women leaving prison, because fatal overdoses soon after incarceration are common.

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3entertainment

A Magical Tour of Christmas Markets Along the Rhine

In Strasbourg, France, throughout the holiday season, Santa-capped teddy bears festoon a restaurant’s facade. Stuffed polar bears adorn another. In a Yuletide arms race, buildings are affixed with giant, gift-wrapped packages, glittering white deer and oversize gingerbread men. Turning the central medieval quarter into a Christmas maze, curtains of lights glow above cobblestone lanes lined with food and gift stalls. And in the central Place Kléber, lights on a nearly 100-foot-tall Christmas tree flash and glow, synchronized to carols. Across Europe, Christmas markets pop up like fairy-dusted street fairs, with temporary chalet-style shops selling everything from handmade ceramics to warmed wine and abundant food. Visitors shuffle among the merry warrens, holding their cellphone cameras high. “The closer you get to Christmas, Strasbourg really becomes like Times Square,” said Jonathan Frank, a former Broadway videographer who retired to the city two years ago. A popular way to visit the markets in France, Germany, Switzerland and beyond is to take river cruises on the Rhine, Danube or Main, spending roughly $2,000 to $4,000 a week. Could I replicate such a holiday pilgrimage for less by using trains to get around?

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6sports

Travis Kelce (kind of) spots girlfriend Taylor Swift at Gillette Stadium

FOXBOROUGH — Taylor Swift made her way to Gillette Stadium ahead of the Chiefs-Patriots game Sunday afternoon. TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023 has been a regular at games when she’s not on tour to support her boyfriend, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce. Swift, like some players’ partners, doesn’t make her way onto the field before the game. But Kelce — sort of — spotted her when he came off the field after warmups. NBC Sports Boston’s The Camera Guys captured Kelce walking down the tunnel and past several pictures hanging in the Gillette Stadium concourse. Swift’s picture is up there from a previous show she performed at Gillette Stadium, which is the one Kelce spotted and looked up at as he walked by. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Swift, at Gillette Stadium for the first time since May when she brought her “Eras Tour” to Foxborough, Mass., was spotted in a suite alongside her dad, Scott Swift and Brittany Mahomes. The Chiefs will try to bounce back from a Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills that had Patrick Mahomes so irate over an offensive offsides call he continued to talk about it to Josh Allen during their postgame handshake. The Patriots, meanwhile, look for their second straight win after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Thursday Night Football.” New England is eliminated from playoff contention, and is essentially playing for a high pick in the 2024 NFL Draft come April. But the Patriots can certainly help the Chiefs fall in the standings if they can upset Kansas City.

590b2134138639414c0411b67c8fe463

4politics

U.F.O.s Remain a Mystery to Lawmakers After Classified Briefing

Alien bodies allegedly hidden by the United States government. Suspected Pentagon cover-ups of secret spending programs. Retaliation against any official who dares speak out. Perhaps no congressional briefing offers up more titillating claims — or does less to illuminate them — than one about U.F.O.s. On Friday, members of Congress entered such a session with burning questions, only to receive hedged answers that they said did little to demystify what the government knows about extraterrestrial beings. The closed-door briefing with Thomas A. Monheim, the inspector general of the intelligence community, was supposed to help members of the House Oversight Committee understand if there was any credibility to the bombshell claims made by a high-profile whistle-blower in July. But what, if anything, was actually said was far from clear. It didn’t help that the whole session was confidential, so the lawmakers were barred by law from relaying what they had heard — not exactly a formula for combating the raft of conspiracy theories that has sprung up around U.F.O.s, fueled by government reports documenting unexplained incidents with what it calls “unidentified anomalous phenomena” and the recent whistle-blower account.

87d0e2352da5137394505856019c5192

6sports

Why Red Sox NESN broadcast booth will look familiar to fans in 2024

Nikki Haley began campaigning early this morning, bouncing from town to town across New Hampshire. The state’s Tuesday primary, which allows independent voters to cast ballots, is most likely her best early chance to narrow Donald Trump’s staggering lead and turn the nominating campaign into a two-person race. For Trump — who is expected to be endorsed at a rally tonight by a former rival, Senator Tim Scott — New Hampshire also provides an opportunity: A big win could make it difficult for his two main opponents, Haley and Ron DeSantis, to continue for much longer. (DeSantis has already begun casting his eyes forward to 2028.) The emerging reality is one where Trump is increasingly likely to face off against President Biden in November. Yet for many Americans in both parties, a Trump-Biden rematch is still hard to fathom. Many Republicans view Biden as so politically and physically weak that they think his party will replace him. At the same time, many Democrats can’t fathom that Trump could win, and hold on to, another nomination while facing 91 felony counts and four criminal trials. This incredulity — ranging from casual doubtfulness to conspiratorial denial — has emerged time and time again over the past several weeks.

444d6ce66e27fa6746be9efd883adc6b

6sports

Pope Francis Prep says Brian Foleys suspension due to coaching of Jr. Thunderbirds team

One week after Pope Francis Prep announced that boys hockey coach Brian Foley was suspended by the state’s athletic association for a rules violation, the school released more information about the cause of the suspension. Foley is suspended from coaching the reigning Division I state champion for one year after the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association determined in an investigation that Foley had violated Rule 40 on Out-of-Season Coach-Athlete Contact. The sanction was put into place on Dec. 11, 2023, leaving Foley sidelined until the 2024-25 hockey season.

aa04fa3d49d2027f4e97508b7dc9fc06

2culture

Massachusetts ranked among the worst states in America to drive in

BOSTON — It will come as no surprise to those who endure the nightmarish commutes and rumble through the evergrowing potholes, but a new study has named Massachusetts among the “worst states to drive in.” The personal finance website WalletHub on Monday released its report on “2024′s Best & Worst States to Drive In,” after analyzing driving in 50 states across 31 key metrics including share of rush-hour traffic, auto repair shops per capita, average gas prices, auto maintenance costs, road quality, and car dealerships per capita. “When people think about the costs associated with owning a vehicle, things like regular maintenance, insurance and gas typically come to mind. What many people don’t realize is that traffic congestion can also be extremely costly because of the amount of time it wastes, which is why the best states for driving tend to be sparsely populated,” WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe said in a statement. “Factors like safety and the quality of roads are key, too.” The Bay State ranked well outside the best places for driving: Overall rank for Massachusetts: 45th 40th – Share of Rush-Hour Traffic Congestion – Share of Rush-Hour Traffic Congestion 15th – Auto-Repair Shops per Capita – Auto-Repair Shops per Capita 38th – Avg. Gas Prices – Avg. Gas Prices 49th – Auto-Maintenance Costs – Auto-Maintenance Costs 44th – Road Quality – Road Quality 17th – Car Dealerships per Capita Only California, West Virginia, Delaware, Washington, and Hawaii ranked behind Massachusetts. The worst states for driving ranked as follows: 41. Montana 42. Vermont 43. Rhode Island 44. Nevada 45. Massachusetts 46. California 47. West Virginia 48. Delaware 49. Washington 50. Hawaii Iowa was named the best state in America for drivers, followed by Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. For more on this study, click here. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ©2024 Cox Media Group

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5science

Mass General Brigham study finds multivitamins can improve memory

“[Multivitamin use] can preserve cognitive function, and we are seeing [that] it improves memory,” said Dr. Chirag Vyas, first author of the new study, published Thursday in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . “Overall, it is slowing down the cognitive aging.” The researchers tested the cognitive function of more than 570 participants ages 60 and older before and after they took either a multivitamin/mineral supplement or a placebo for two years. The participants were randomly assigned to either the vitamin group, which took the common over-the-counter supplement Centrum Silver, or the placebo group. Daily multivitamin supplements can improve memory and slow cognitive aging in older adults, according to a new study by Mass General Brigham researchers that backs previous evidence about the benefits of multivitamins for some people as they age. Advertisement The findings come from a large national study led by MGB researchers that tracks the effects of multivitamins and cocoa supplements on more than 5,000 adults over 60. The new research focused on in-person cognitive assessments, which Vyas said can pick up smaller changes in brain function than the telephone- and web-based methods used in two previous papers the team published, which also found that multivitamins improved cognitive health. The new study showed that multivitamin supplements benefit both global cognition — which includes executive function, complex attention, and verbal memory — and episodic memory, which is the ability to learn, store, and retrieve detailed information throughout the day. Over the two-year duration of the study, these effects reduced cognitive aging by two years. “It’s really showing the consistency of the results,” said Howard Sesso, another co-author of the study, and a Harvard Medical School professor and associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “How can we make people more resilient to cognitive decline? This study really helps to reaffirm the importance, potentially, of multivitamin supplementation in this capacity.” Advertisement But the authors and other experts said more research was needed to confirm the new findings and make them applicable to a wider population. All of the study’s participants were first-language English speakers with limited diversity, said Regan Bailey, a professor of nutrition and associate director for precision nutrition at Texas A&M University, who was not involved in the study. And the two-year duration of the assessment was also limited, as cognitive health changes over a “much longer period of time,” she said. Dr. Michael Gaziano, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at Mass General Brigham and Veterans Affairs Boston, agreed that one question emerging from the study is whether multivitamins’ cognitive benefits would extend beyond two years. “It’s hard to know for sure whether this effect would be something that would plateau [over time],” Gaziano said, “or if it continues to provide a long-term benefit.” With that in mind, experts said it’s too early to run to Walgreens and strip the shelves of their supplements. Instead, Centrum Silver and similar multivitamins could become part of a broader approach to healthy aging, they said. “These are tools that might be good additions, perhaps, on top of the things that are a little bit better established on the behavioral front,” Sesso said. There are several other ways to preserve cognitive health, Sesso said, and many of them are typical lifestyle measures often recommended by doctors: Stay physically and socially active, eat a balanced and healthy diet, take care of mental health, and look for ways to minimize stress — all proven benefits to both cognitive and cardiovascular health. Advertisement “It’s worth considering multivitamins, but still, it’s not at a point yet of [being] an end all, be all,” he added. Vyas said that even with the benefits found in the study, multivitamin supplementation should be used as a “complementary approach,” not an alternative to other healthy habits. “Nothing can beat a healthy diet,” said Vyas, who is also an instructor at the Mass General Research Institute and Harvard Medical School. “The decision to start taking multivitamins on a daily basis depends on individual [needs].” Bailey, of Texas A&M, said she views cognitive health as a “puzzle” with many contributing pieces, from diet to stress to sleep habits. Bailey said she was “very excited” to see the results emerging from the study. Clinical trials are the strongest form of evidence, Bailey said, and there hasn’t been much of it in relation to multivitamin and mineral supplements, although they’re the most commonly used dietary supplement in the United States. The CDC reported in 2021 that over half of US adults use some sort of dietary supplement. Vyas and Sesso recommended consulting a primary care physician before starting multivitamins, as needs can vary person to person. Vitamin deficiencies are more likely to develop with age, doctors said, as dietary intake and variety decrease. And if you do choose to purchase supplements, “keep it simple, [and] keep it basic,” Sesso said. “Go with the tried-and-true brands that you might be familiar with.” Advertisement Many stores’ shelves are stacked with supplements devoted to specific vitamins or minerals — one bottle for calcium, one for Vitamin B-12, another for Manganese. Meanwhile, many websites tout supplement subscriptions targeting individualized needs. But Sesso said the best bet is usually a broad supplement that includes lower amounts of each of the most essential vitamins and minerals. Excessive levels of any one ingredient can lead to health problems. Multivitamin supplements should “ensure you’re meeting your basic daily needs and promoting the natural interactions that would hopefully take place between these different vitamins and minerals,” Sesso said. While the study suggests that multivitamin supplements are beneficial to cognitive health, researchers haven’t yet pinpointed exactly which micronutrients contribute most substantially. “We really are excited to be able to dig deeper into [the trials] to better understand which specific vitamins and minerals might be explaining the potential benefits that we’re seeing,” Sesso said. Madeline Khaw can be reached at maddie.khaw@globe.com. Follow her @maddiekhaw.

0466c051c97770114111bf87e849af16

2culture

New Hampshire ranked smartest state in the nation, study finds

NEW HAMPSHIRE — A New England state has been ranked the smartest state in the nation, according to a new study. Research by free online education platform Guru99 analyzed six different metrics: average IQ, graduation rates, percentage of the population with low literacy rates, average SAT scores, % of the states that don’t have a high school diploma or GED and GDP per capita and ranked New Hampshire as the smartest state in the nation. When looking at the metrics, states were given a total score out of 60. New Hampshire scored a 56.82. “New Hampshire is the smartest state in America, data shows that on average the state has the highest IQs across the country with 103.2,” the platform said. “The state also has the smallest % of the population with low literacy skills with 11.5%. New Hampshire also has one of the highest GDP per capita with $74,663.” Here are the top 10 smartest states in the nation: New Hampshire: 56.82 Minnesota: 55.82 Wyoming: 54.98 Vermont: 54.91 Montana: 54.64 North Dakota: 54.38 Maine: 53.83 South Dakota: 52.61 Wisconsin: 52.45 Utah: 52.21 “America is home to many of the greatest educational institutions across the globe; as one of the world’s largest economies and powerhouses in industry and innovation, it’s pivotal that every generation continues to learn and develop, to progress the foundations that have already been built in the country,” said Krishna Rungta, Founder & CEO of Guru99. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ©2023 Cox Media Group

ab392fe25de9034f14d7566f4f552d9c

7weather

Boston weather: More thunderstorms due Thursday

Thanks to the passage of the cold front earlier Saturday, we’ve got drier air making its way back into New England for the second half of the weekend and the start of Thanksgiving week. For Saturday night, expect a mostly clear sky with temperatures dropping into the upper 20s to low 30s. Sunday will be a dry day with a good amount of sunshine for most of us. The tail end of an upper level storm system will move through northern New England on Sunday. With it, there could be a few more clouds and a couple stray showers across northern and central New England. Things stay quiet Monday and Tuesday. Get New England news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NECN newsletters. By Tuesday afternoon, clouds will begin to increase. The big travel day on Wednesday will likely be wet across the Boston metro area … and across a large part of New England. Plan on slower and more congested traffic if you’re heading to your holiday destination on Wednesday! Thanksgiving day itself is shaping up to be a dry day with a mostly sunny to partly cloudy sky. It will be on the cool side with high in the 40s. Temps will likely stay in the 40s through next weekend.

e78f386aa24ca5ce5f3e0ac859add96c

4politics

Senator Says He Will Drop His Blockade of Most Military Promotions

SOUTHWICK — To promote Small Business Saturday, the town’s Economic Development Commission has organized the second annual Shop Southwick Dine Southwick, and will conduct a drawing for $25 gift cards to local restaurants. Anyone who visits any of the 11 participating retailers will be entered in the drawing. “The whole purpose is to cross-pollinate between retailers and restaurants,” said Inga Hotaling-Washington, the chair of the EDC. She said on Saturday morning, members of the EDC will drop off tickets to each of the 11 retailers. Shoppers who visits them can fill out a ticket with their name and phone number and on Dec. 20, tickets will be drawn from each individual retailer to win a $25 gift card from the 10 restaurants participating.