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Massachusetts weather: What is the forecast for New Years Eve?

It’s the weekend, and the weather will be decent for most of it! Temperatures will be mild for mid-December in the 40s and 50s. We’ll see increasing clouds ahead of our next storm that will bring the biggest impacts on Monday. A cold front will drop in today. We’ll see sun blended with some clouds through the day, but stay dry. Our temperatures will be mild and above average. A great day to get outside or join in on the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party! We’ll have abundant cloud cover from start to finish on Sunday. Despite that, temperatures will be more mild as highs reach the 50s. This is ahead of our next storm. Most of Sunday is dry before showers arrive in the afternoon and stay scattered through the evening. We’ll be watching an area of low pressure south that will interact with a front in the Midwest. The biggest impacts will be felt on Monday. Similar to last weekend, the main concerns will be heavy rain and high wind. Below is a look at the wind gust potential and rainfall forecast near you. High temperatures will be in the upper 50s/near 60 Monday. Temperatures fall into the 40s for most of next week. A few showers are expected Tuesday. Winter officially begins Thursday night! Weekend weather shout-out to the 3rd graders at George Keverian School in Everett! I visited their school this week, and we talked everything from fog to tornadoes and forecasting. They asked a lot of great questions and even shared what they knew about weather with their own song! -Meteorologist Melanie Black

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Supreme Court declines to issue expedited ruling on Trump immunity case

The 10x10 New Play Festival, featuring 10 plays, each 10 minutes in length, begins its 13th award-winning performance run at Barrington Stage, Feb. 15 to March 10. The short plays run the gamut from comedy to tragedy, the serious, the comic, and occasionally, the outrageous. Brent Askari and Jessica Provenz are among the playwrights. Alan Paul and Matthew Penn share the directing duties, and 10x10 vets Peggy Pharr Wilson, Robert Zukerman, and Matt Neely are returning as cast members The festival sells out, even before the plays are announced and the cast is revealed. For details: www.barringtonstageco.org. “The Big Broadcast” is a recreation of a 1940s live radio show, complete with jazz and swing and songs of the day, commercials, and sketches. Created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, and featuring the Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College, this event has been a signature event at Mount Holyoke for years. This year’s performances are on March 9, at Chapin Auditorium. Brian Lapis returns as emcee Fred Kelley. For details: www.mtholyoke.edu/academics/arts-mount-holyoke/music-ensembles/jazz-ensembles.

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Lawyer for Election Workers Says Damages From Giuliani Should Send a Message

A lawyer for two former Georgia election workers told members of a jury in federal court on Thursday that they should send a message in considering how much Rudolph W. Giuliani should have to pay for spreading defamatory lies about them as part of his effort three years ago to keep President Donald J. Trump in office. “Send it to Mr. Giuliani,” the lawyer, Michael J. Gottlieb, said in his closing argument. “Send it to any other powerful figure with a platform and an audience who is considering whether they will take the chance to seek profit and fame by assassinating the moral character of ordinary people.” The election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who were counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Fulton County, Ga., on Nov. 3, 2020, are asking for at least $24 million each from Mr. Giuliani for baselessly accusing them of cheating Mr. Trump out of votes and broadcasting that lie to millions of followers on social media. Judge Beryl A. Howell of the Federal District Court in Washington has already found that Mr. Giuliani, who served as Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer and helped lead the effort to overturn the 2020 election result, defamed the women. The jury in the civil trial is only being asked to determine what damages Mr. Giuliani should pay. The jurors adjourned on Thursday afternoon and were set to pick up their deliberations on Friday.

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How to act like a rude jerk while traveling. (But please dont.)

Either way, there is no recognition for being courteous at 30,000 feet. While we follow the rules of air travel, passengers such as Tiffany Gomas , better known as Crazy Plane Lady, Viral Plane Lady, or the “Not Real” Lady have a strategy. The Dallas woman was thrown off a plane in July because she screamed a passenger was “not real” and warned fellow travelers that they were all going to die if they didn’t get off the plane. She has since been parodied on “Saturday Night Live,” given a tell-all interview to TMZ, and made the rounds on Fox News and Inside Edition. Now she’s hawking an ugly Christmas sweater. Nature or nurture? Are we born with a gene that triggers questionable behavior on a flight, or do we learn it from our families? Advertisement According to the FAA, the number of unruly passengers has doubled over the past five years. Air rage incidents soared during 2021. (Remember mask mandates?) So far, 2023 is shaping up to be another banner year. Which leaves us to ponder if there is a generation of children who observed their parents and thought, “When I grow up, I want to use my airplane seat as a toilet, just like daddy.”? Or were they born with a gene that allows them to think that wheelchairs can be used as luggage trolleys? Scientists have yet to weigh in. Get The Big To-Do Your guide to staying entertained, from live shows and outdoor fun to the newest in museums, movies, TV, books, dining, and more. Enter Email Sign Up But what about the rest of us who didn’t have parents to show us how to get into physical altercations at the baggage carousel or weren’t born with a gene that causes us to punch flight attendants without a second thought? Civilized, sober travelers never go viral on TikTok or wind up on the evening news. It’s just not fair. No one will post a video of us reading a book or watching a movie peacefully. Advertisement If you have a craving to star in a viral video and pay a hefty fine to the FAA, we’ve put together a list of actions guaranteed to annoy your fellow passengers or get you tossed off a plane and maybe a book deal. We’re not promising you’ll reach to reach Crazy Plane Lady status, but get ready for your iPhone closeup. A woman rests her bare feet on an airplane tray table from this photo from the Instagram account Passenger Shaming. Passenger Shaming/Instagram HOW TO ACT LIKE A RUDE JERK WHILE TRAVELING Do gross things with your bare feet. Nothing sets people off like airing out your tootsies and then using them like you’re Daniel Day-Lewis in “My Left Foot.” In 2019, the country was captivated as they followed traveler Jessica Char’s encounter with a fellow passenger’s bare feet. The feet emerged from the row behind her and were used for activities such as opening and closing the plane’s window shade. It came on the heels (pun intended) of the passenger who used his feet to scroll through options on the inflight entertainment screen. If your toes aren’t talented enough to engage in such activities, simply start clipping your toenails or peeling dead skin off your feet. I never knew Americans were plagued by dead skin on their feet until I started spending a lot of time on planes. Make some noise. Making too much noise is sure to draw icy stares or get you ejected from a plane. You can begin your cacophonous symphony by forgoing headphones. Everyone loves listening to a tennis match or hearing Jason Aldean’s “Try That In a Small Town” emanating from your phone when they’re trying to fall asleep. Bring noisy toys if you’re traveling with children; the louder and more repetitive, the better. Also, fellow travelers enjoy hearing you scream, “Yes, Dad, we just landed,” into your phone as soon as the plane touches down. If you really want to be a clodpoll, try singing. Earlier this month, a Delta Air Lines flight attendant came close to kicking performer Bobbi Storm off of a flight because she wouldn’t stop singing. The Detroit-based Storm said she was doing “what the Lord is telling me to do.” She posted the altercation on her Instagram account. A majority of her followers on social media sided with the flight attendant rather than the Lord. Advertisement Things could get ugly if you down too many martinis before your flight. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Get drunk. Like really drunk. Show me a viral video of two passengers brawling on a plane, and I’ll show you three empty margarita glasses at the nearest airport Chili’s-to-Go. Alcohol is often the root cause of fights between passengers, questionable antics, attacks on crew members, and lascivious behavior. Drinking and acting silly will also snag you 15 minutes of fame and shame. You’ll get at least 10 million views on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) if you down several overpriced airport martinis and then start turning cartwheels on your way to your gate. Sadly, that’s not fiction. A woman in Los Angeles was barred from boarding a Southwest plane when a flight attendant spotted her floor routine. Advertisement Seats in the premium economy cabin on Norse Atlantic Airways in full recline. Ulf Heikman Start fighting over reclining seats. We’re coming up on the 10th anniversary of the legendary Knee Defender battle. In 2014, businessman James Beach used a $22 device called the Knee Defender to block the woman seated in front of him from reclining. Words were exchanged, soda was thrown, and the flight was diverted from Denver to Chicago so the warring factions could be extracted from the plane. Getting people to agree on whether or not passengers should be allowed to recline is easier than getting Will Smith and Chris Rock to attend the same dinner party. Every time a new fight goes viral, the debate begins anew. Earlier this month, it boiled again when a woman repeatedly yelled, “I’m allowed to put my seat back,” while claiming the passenger behind her pushed her seat through the entire flight. In case you’re wondering, the answer is that you shouldn’t recline your seat unless it’s a long-haul overnight flight. Turning left into business class while sending your kids to the back of the plane is a quick, efficient way to lose friends and put your children into therapy for life. Patrick T. Fallon/Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/ Sit in business class. Make your kid sit in economy. Turning left into business class while sending your kids to the back of the plane is a quick, efficient way to lose friends and put your children into therapy for life. British pop star Robbie Williams, whose net worth is $300 million, makes his four kids sit in economy. Celebrated grump and perpetually angry chef Gordon Ramsay, who is worth $220 million, also makes his six kids sit in economy. It’s not just celebrities. There are many cruel parents who send their children to economy because they reason that the kids wouldn’t appreciate business class or they claim they don’t want their kids to get spoiled. Not only is this tough on the children, but think of the other passengers who are stuck sitting near a brood of unsupervised children. Advertisement Pass the aspirin, please. If the children share their father’s demeanor, the pre-departure cocktails can’t come soon enough. At least soon it will be your moment to shine. Christopher Muther can be reached at christopher.muther@globe.com. Follow him @Chris_Muther and Instagram @chris_muther.

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He Killed His Molester as a Teenager. Should He Be Spared Deportation?

Immigration courts routinely deport people who have worked in the United States for years and have committed no offense worse than a traffic infraction. Among them are parents forced to leave their families behind and beloved community members with successful businesses. Even the several million young immigrants known as “Dreamers,” who were brought to the United States illegally as small children and often have stellar records of achievement, still have no certain path to permanent residency. And as record numbers of migrants cross the Southern border, a major political vulnerability for President Biden going into next year’s election, lawmakers in Washington are discussing proposals to increase deportations and make it harder to win asylum. “There are millions of people around the world who desperately want to come here legally to contribute something of great value, people with extraordinary abilities, and they can’t do it because they’re waiting in a yearslong backlog,” said David J. Bier, associate director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington. Mr. Flores “forfeited his right to decide where he wants to live for the rest of his life,” added Mr. Bier, “when he took matters into his own hands.” The people with the best chance of avoiding deportation typically have no criminal record, a history of contributing to the community and a strong case that their deportation would cause an exceptionally high level of hardship for their American relatives, said Eliza Klein, who recently retired as an immigration judge in Chicago.

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Country music legend Reba McEntire to sing national anthem before Super Bowl LVIII

Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive. If a player is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com. Take a look at Thursday’s top boys basketball scorers below:

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Education Dept. Is Investigating Six More Colleges Over Campus Discrimination

The agency regularly looks into Title VI complaints of all types against both smaller public school districts and large research universities, but clashes on college campuses since the outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza have produced a flurry of new investigations since October. As of this week, 21 of the 29 investigations the department has opened into postsecondary schools this year have come since the initial Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. In a news release about the previous batch of investigations announced in November, the department described its efforts as part of a larger directive to “take aggressive action to address the alarming nationwide rise in reports of antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and other forms of discrimination and harassment on college campuses and in K-12 schools since the Oct. 7 Israel-Hamas conflict.” As with other recent investigations, it was not immediately clear what incident produced the complaints to the department that spurred it to act. An agency spokesman declined to elaborate on the nature of any of the complaints on Wednesday, citing a policy against discussing pending investigations. But since Oct. 7, a number of campus incidents and disputes have roiled many of the schools in question.

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Hamas releases 13 Israeli hostages from Gaza, Israeli prime ministers office says

WESTFIELD – It was not “showtime” – at times it was downright ugly – but in the end, the Westfield High School boys basketball team came away with a pretty impressive win on opening day. Westfield rallied from a seven-point, fourth quarter deficit to defeat Belchertown 58-55 in overtime in front of a packed house Friday night at home.

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Angela Hector, Jai-Lyn Garvin-Martin lead the new generation for Springfield Central girls basketball

The Falcons aren’t out of it yet. Atlanta takes on the Saints in New Orleans in the last weekend of the regular season and could be division champs with a win and some luck. Fans looking to watch this NFL game can do so for free by using FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both offer a free trial and RedZone. SlingTV has promotional offers available, and NFL+ airs all local market games. Who: Falcons vs. Saints When: Sunday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m. ET Where: Caesars Superdome Stream: fuboTV (free trial + $20 off your first 2 months); or Sling; DirecTV Stream or NFL+ Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: 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. RELATED CONTENT: The Falcons still have a shot in the woeful NFC South despite another turnover-filled loss By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Already assured of their sixth consecutive losing season, the Atlanta Falcons and their coach, Arthur Smith, still have reason to believe all is not lost. For that, they should give thanks to the woeful NFC South. The Falcons (7-9) remain in contention in the NFL’s most forgiving division entering the regular season’s final week. They continue to struggle with turnovers and poor quarterback play but could salvage their season, possibly save Smith’s job and improbably win the NFC South if they beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and last-place Carolina wins at home against Tampa Bay. Given the Falcons’ struggles and the fact Carolina (2-14) has the NFL’s worst record, neither result seems likely. At this point, however, no ending should be a surprise in the league’s only division without a winning team. This doesn’t hide the fact the Falcons remain painfully flawed, with the latest evidence coming in another turnover-filled loss, 37-17 at Chicago. One week after providing a rare clean game in a 29-10 win over Indianapolis, Taylor Heinicke threw three interceptions before leaving the loss to the Bears with a left ankle injury. Desmond Ridder, already benched twice this season, took over for Heinicke and threw the Falcons’ fourth pick. Smith has posted 7-10 records in each of his first two seasons and faced a mandate from owner Arthur Blank to show improvement. A win over the Saints would provide a one-win bump, but the late-season fade makes it more difficult to make a case Smith has the team moving in a positive direction. “You put a lot into it, but does that break anybody’s spirit here?” Smith asked Monday. “No. That’s what we’ve proven over and over again. We’ve done this to ourselves. It’s nobody’s fault but your own. Starts with me, as it should, but that’s what gives you a lot of confidence. “Nobody liked what happened (Sunday). We have life. However crazy it played out, that is what the situation is. Any time we play New Orleans, it’s a big deal. Certainly, this game has a lot on the line. I know some of it is out of our control, but again, that’s our own doing, right?” The Falcons are 2-6 on the road. WHAT’S WORKING The Falcons did a slightly better job of moving the ball than reaching the end zone. They rushed for 134 yards for their 11th game with more than 100, and had 307 total yards. Bijan Robinson rushed for 75 yards. The Falcons average only 19 points per game, ahead of only six teams. They are closer to the middle of the league with their average of 330.9 yards. WHAT NEEDS HELP No matter the verdict on Smith, it’s likely a change is coming at quarterback. The Falcons hoped to strike gold with Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022. Ridder’s inability to avoid interceptions, fumbles and sacks cost him his starting job twice this season. The Falcons’ biggest offseason decision may be choosing a path to find their next starter — through the draft, a trade or free agency. STOCK UP Tyler Allgeier’s 75-yard touchdown catch was the longest play of his two-year career and the Falcons’ longest play from scrimmage of the season. Allgeier had only five carries for 13 yards but his long run following the catch showed Robinson is not the only running back on the roster with big-play ability. STOCK DOWN Younghoe Koo made only one of three field goal attempts. A 50-yard attempt fell short and a 42-yarder hit the left upright. The snow and wind made for difficult kicking conditions, but it marked the second time in the last four games he has missed two attempts. Koo has made 31 of 36 this season. INJURIES Heinicke said he felt a sharp pain in his left ankle late in the game. If he has continued soreness this week, Ridder will likely get the start. ... CB Mike Hughes (concussion) and C Drew Dalman (ankle) also are expected to be on the injury report this week. KEY NUMBER 137 — Drake London’s four catches for 56 yards gave him 137 career receptions, surpassing Julio Jones’ 133 in 2011-12 as the most for an Atlanta player in his first two seasons. NEXT STEPS The Falcons may find it difficult to avoid keeping an eye on the scoreboard when playing the Saints. The Tampa Bay-Carolina game also is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. EST. The Falcons beat the Saints 24-15 in Atlanta on Nov. 26. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated Press contributed to this article

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Allegations Against Prosecutors Bolster Trumps Criticism of Georgia Case

It seemed an unusual choice when Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Ga., turned to a suburban defense lawyer to oversee what seemed the biggest task of her career: building an election interference case against former President Donald J. Trump. Nathan Wade, whom Ms. Willis tapped for the job, had little experience as a prosecutor. But he was a trusted friend and mentor, she said in 2022, willing to take the job when more seasoned prosecutors were not. Now the relationship between Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade has taken center stage in the Georgia case against Mr. Trump, who is awaiting trial along with 14 co-defendants on charges of conspiring to overturn the former president’s 2020 election defeat in the state. On Monday, a lawyer for one of the co-defendants, Michael A. Roman, charged in a court filing that Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade were romantic partners who were “profiting significantly from this prosecution at the expense of the taxpayers.” Without offering any proof, the filing accused the two of taking vacations together with money Mr. Wade had made while working for Ms. Willis’s office as a special prosecutor. In all, the office has paid Mr. Wade $653,881, according to county records.

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DA: Man killed in fatal shooting at Lawrence nightclub on Christmas Eve

“I believe he’s going to snap and do a mass shooting,” he wrote on Sept. 15. LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Sean Hodgson watched and worried as his best friend of nearly two decades unraveled. His former roommate and fellow U.S. Army reservist’s anger and paranoia were mounting, he had access to guns, and he refused to get help. So Hodgson did the hardest thing of his life: He sent a text about Robert Card to their Army supervisor. Six weeks later, Card fatally shot 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston before killing himself. His body was found in a trailer after a two-day search and regionwide lockdown. Advertisement “I wasn’t in his head. I don’t know exactly what went on,” Hodgson told The Associated Press last week in an exclusive interview, his first since the Oct. 25 shootings. “But I do know I was right.” The series of warning signs about Card have been well documented. In May, relatives warned police that Card had grown paranoid, and they expressed concern about his access to guns. In July, Card was hospitalized in a psychiatric unit for two weeks after shoving a fellow reservist and locking himself in a motel room. In August, the Army barred him from handling weapons while on duty and declared him nondeployable. And in September, Hodgson raised the most glaring red flag, telling authorities to change the passcode to the gate at their Army Reserve training facility and arm themselves if Card showed up. “Please,” he wrote. “I believe he’s messed up in the head.” But authorities declined to confront Card — the clearest example of the missed opportunities to intervene and prevent the deadliest shooting in state history. That’s hard to swallow for Hodgson, who’s pushing back against an independent report for law enforcement that described him as “over the top” and “alarmist.” Advertisement “I did my job, and I went over and beyond it, and I literally spelled it out for them,” said Hodgson, 43, referred to by only his last name in documents related to the case. “I don’t know how clear I could have gotten.” Hodgson’s account, taken together with law enforcement documents, videos and other interviews, provides the most comprehensive picture to date of potential missteps leading up to the attack. In replying to AP's questions about the investigation and Hodgson's warning, the Army Reserve said in a statement this week that no one should jump to conclusions until its own investigation and an independent probe by the Army inspector general are finalized. “Any speculation at this point without having all the details could affect the outcome of the investigation. More details may become available once the investigation is complete,” Lt. Col. Addie Leonhardt, Army Reserve spokesperson, said in the statement. Officials wouldn't comment further. Sheriff Joel Merry — of Sagadahoc County, where Card lived — didn’t respond to AP’s questions about whether Hodgson’s warning was taken seriously enough but suggested a need for public policy changes. He previously said his office has been “fully transparent” and is cooperating with an independent commission appointed by the governor. Hodgson said he doesn't know where the failings occurred but believes more could have been done to help his friend and prevent tragedy. Advertisement “I understand he did a horrific thing. I don’t agree with it. But I loved him,” he said. “ I didn’t want any of this for anybody.” Law enforcement personnel are staged in a school parking lot during a manhunt for Robert Card in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, Oct. 27, 2023. Matt Rourke/Associated Press For much of their friendship, Card was “the sensible one,” Hodgson said. They met in 2006 in the Army Reserve and became especially close when they both divorced around the same time. When Hodgson was evicted from his New Hampshire apartment in 2022, Card told him to move to Maine, and they lived together for about a month, he said. When Card was hospitalized in New York in July, Hodgson was the one who drove him back to Maine. By then, Hodgson said, Card had begun venting to him about his belief that those around him were accusing him of being a pedophile. Hodgson believed some of Card’s complaints were true — a case of mistaken identity stemming from the fact that another Robert Card is on the state’s sex offender registry — and described an incident at the bowling alley when a father snatched his daughter away from Card after he offered the toddler a hello. “I always believed him. I always stuck by him,” Hodgson said. “I am the closest one to Robert Card. Besides his mother, he pushed everybody away. “I was the last one he pushed away.” In September, after a night out at the Oxford Casino, Card began “flipping out,” Hodgson said — pounding the steering wheel and almost crashing multiple times. After Hodgson begged him to pull over, he said, Card punched him in the face. Advertisement “We were having a good night, and he just snapped,” he said. Hodgson told Card to drop him off at a gas station near his house. “I love you, and I’ll always be here for you no matter what,” he said he told his friend as he got out of the car. Hodgson sent his text two days later, telling his training supervisor he feared what Card might do. He didn’t speak to Card after that, he said, though they passed each other at work. “It took me a lot to report somebody I love,” he said. “But when the hair starts standing up on the back of your neck, you have to listen.” Watching the videos was gut-wrenching for Tammy Asselin, who became separated from her 10-year-old daughter during the chaos of the bowling alley shooting. Charles Krupa/Associated Press After his text, Hodgson said, military officials followed up, asking whether Card threatened specific people. He told them he hadn’t. But they didn’t ask for help in approaching Card, he said, even though they drove trucks for the same company and he knew his friend’s schedule and route. “I could’ve told them when he was at work, when he was at home, what hours he worked,” he said. Authorities briefly staked out the Army Reserve Center and visited Card’s home. They declined to confront him, fearing that would “throw a stick of dynamite on a pool of gas,” according to video released last month by the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office. In the videos, officials downplayed Hodgson’s warning, suggesting he might have been drunk when he texted at 2:04 a.m. Speaking to police at the training center, Army Reserve Capt. Jeremy Reamer describes Hodgson as “not the most credible of our soldiers” and later tells Sagadahoc Sheriff Sgt. Aaron Skolfield his message should be taken “with a grain of salt.” Advertisement Hodgson, who was unaware of those comments until contacted by AP, acknowledged in a series of interviews that he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol addiction but said he wasn't drinking that night and was awake because he works nights and was waiting for his boss to call. Hodgson also acknowledges that he faces two criminal charges, one alleging he assaulted a woman he was dating in 2022 and another alleging that he violated his bail conditions by possessing alcohol last month. He's also in hot water for wrecking a military vehicle last summer, he said. But he said authorities should have taken him more seriously given his relationship with Card, his past training on threat detection and mitigation, and his previous work as a security officer at a nuclear plant. “That was the most difficult thing I ever had to do, was report him to command, and I did that. And for them to discredit me?” he said. “It pisses me off because all they had to do is listen.” In a text message this week, Reamer declined to comment on questions from AP and referred them to Army Reserve public affairs officers. According to the independent review for the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, officers didn’t have sufficient grounds the day they staked out Card’s house to force the issue and take him into protective custody after he refused to answer the door. That step is necessary to trigger Maine’s “yellow flag” law. It allows a judge to temporarily remove someone’s guns during a psychiatric health crisis. But Stephanie Sherman, an attorney who’s represented several families of survivors of the 2022 mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, said police had more than enough information to take to a local judge. The videos show officers with a disturbingly casual approach to the threat Card posed, Sherman said. She also noted that Skolfield referred to the Cards as a “big family in this area” and said he didn’t want to publicize over police radio that officers were visiting the home. “It was sort of balancing the safety of the public versus this family’s reputation,” she said. “And that should not be a factor.” Watching the videos was gut-wrenching for Tammy Asselin, who became separated from her 10-year-old daughter during the chaos of the bowling alley shooting. She said it was the first time she knew for sure that steps could have been taken to prevent the massacre. “Listening to that interaction between the military and the sheriff, it hurt me to hear the giggle and the laughter in their voice,” Asselin said, a tear running down her cheek. “Because I don’t think they would be giggling and laughing had they been the ones in my shoes that day, not knowing where their daughter was.” Police tape cordons off the road to Schemengees Bar and Grille as law enforcement officers maintain their presence in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine. Matt Rourke/Associated Press For weeks after sending the text about Card to their supervisor, Hodgson said he prayed that it wouldn't come true. But as soon as he heard about the shooting, he called his sergeant. “I don’t believe in coincidences,” he said he told him. “I know it’s Robert Card.” Hodgson was driving to Massachusetts for work that day. He fielded phone calls to and from multiple law enforcement agencies that didn't seem to be communicating with one another, he said. He said he told authorities right away that Card likely was headed to the Maine Recycling Corp. Card had worked there, and it wasn’t far from the boat launch where his car was found after the shootings. His body would eventually be found there, after initial unsuccessful searches that critics said were too cautious. More than two months later, Hodgson said, he hates that Card “took the easy way out" and isn’t around to answer questions or face the consequences of what he did. It’s not the Robert Card he knew and loved for 17 years, he said, and he struggles with that every day. Hodgson said he wants people to know he did everything he could to save lives. “I don’t know how to express to people how much I loved him, how much I cared about him,” he said. “And how much I hate what he did.”

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Connecticut Sun release 2024 schedule, opponent for TD Garden game

On Monday, the Connecticut Sun announced their 40-game 2024 schedule, which includes the first-ever WNBA regular season game to be played in Boston against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at TD Garden. The Sun open their season on May 14 versus the Indiana Fever at Mohegan Sun Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. They conclude the season at home against the Chicago Sky on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Connecticut is coming off a franchise record 27 wins and an appearance in the WNBA semifinals, where it lost to the New York Liberty. The Sun have reached the WNBA semifinals each of the past five seasons. First-year head coach Stephanie White was named 2023 Coach of the Year, forward Alyssa Thomas finished second in the MVP voting, and 2022 Sixth Player of the Year Brionna Jones is set to return after undergoing Achilles surgery in June. The Sun will play their first-ever game in an NBA stadium in Boston on Aug. 20. “TD Garden executives were so excited about it,” team president Jen Rizzotti told MassLive on Thursday. “It just felt like at that point – once we had support from them and the Celtics – it was like, let’s move forward and find a way to make this happen. “We felt like this is a great market for us. People care about basketball here, we feel like we’re New England’s WNBA team, so why not expand?” Connecticut forward Brionna Jones couldn’t agree more. “To play in a place that has such a great tradition of success,” Jones said. “Showing the WNBA to young girls from this area, creating a fanbase, not just from Connecticut, but WNBA fans.” After All-Star weekend on July 19-20, the Sun won’t return to the court until Aug. 16 due to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Notable dates on the schedule include home games against the Liberty on June 8 at 1 p.m. and July 10 at 11 a.m. There’s also a matchup against the two-time defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. The Sun will also play in five qualifying games for the Commissioner’s Cup (in-season tournament) from June 2-10, a decrease from 10 last season. The championship will be held on June 25, and $500,000 in prize money will be distributed.

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Couple charged after stealing cart full of tools from Reading Home Depot

A lawyer for the family of Roderick Jackson, the utility worker officials said was killed along with a police officer when a man drove a truck into a work site in Waltham last week, wants to know how the crash suspect came to be in a position where he was able to cause a crash given his criminal history. New Hampshire resident Peter Simon, 54, is facing charges including manslaughter for the Dec. 6 crash, which killed Jackson, a 36-year-old Cambridge resident, and 58-year-old Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey. But according to court records, Simon was previously charged in connection with at least two different car crashes in New Hampshire. Simon is now accused of driving a truck into a National Grid work site on Totten Pond Road where Jackson was working as an employee and Tracey was working a police detail. He pleaded not guilty to all charges last week and was held without bail. “The man accused of killing Mr. Roderick Jackson and Officer Paul J. Tracey is a habitual offender who should have never been in the position to take the lives of these two beloved members of our community,” Attorney Thomas Flaws, who is representing Jackson’s family, said in a statement. Read more: Funeral plans announced for Waltham officer killed in double fatal crash In 2009, Simon led police on a car chase through Keene and hit a public bus head-on, The Brattleboro Reformer reported. The crash seriously injured a passenger, and Simon was criminally charged. But in 2011, Simon successfully pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was reportedly sentenced to five years in a psychiatric ward in a state prison, the Reformer reported. At the time, his lawyer told the newspaper his client had a dissociative disorder and needed to be on medication, but that he was remorseful about the crash. In 2016, Simon was again arrested in New Hampshire and faced a slew of charges for causing another crash and then strangling a man, Patch.com reported. This time, Simon pleaded guilty to half the charges, including aggravated DUI, second-degree assault and criminal threatening, according to court records. Simon was sentenced to several years in prison after this incident, but it is unclear how long he was actually incarcerated for. He also had his license revoked and was ordered to complete an impaired driver care management program, according to court records. At the time of the Dec. 6 crash, Simon, who is now a Woodsville resident, did not have a valid license. “The system failed these two innocent men, and we intend to seek civil justice to the fullest to avenge Mr. Jackson’s tragic passing, which we hope can bring some semblance of peace to the Jackson family in due time,” Flaws said in the statement. It is unclear how Flaws might “seek civil justice” in this case. Jackson is remembered as a “selfless” man who was the “heart of his family.” His mother, Norma Asprilla, told news outlets last week that she wanted to see Simon “behind bars” and that what he did was “unforgivable.” Read more: United Steelworkers mourn National Grid employee killed in Waltham crash A GoFundMe has been created to benefit Jackson’s family, and another fundraiser is collecting money on behalf of all the victims and their families.

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The Envy Office: Can Instagrammable Design Lure Young Workers Back?

Inside the “blueberry muffin” conference room, the walls are, naturally, painted blue. Not just any blue — it’s the calming color you might find a baby’s bedroom, what the paint can refers to as “sea to shining sea.” Anchoring the room is a table, red and oblong, adorned with fake succulents in purple pots. Nearby is the “fruity” conference room, with “razzle dazzle” red walls and vintage chairs upholstered in yellow pineapple printed cloth. Down the hallway is “maple waffle,” the room where the company holds its more serious meetings with investors. There, the walls are a subdued shade of brown. This is the office of the cereal brand Magic Spoon, which was introduced in 2019 and, starting last year, called its roughly 50 employees back to in-person work, at least two days a week. At Magic Spoon’s SoHo space, which was designed right around the company’s return-to-office push, the conference rooms are meant to feel like cereal boxes. “One of our core company values is, ‘Be a Froot Loop in a world of Cheerios,’” said Greg Sewitz, a Magic Spoon co-founder. “We wanted the office to underline that.”

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97 things to do in Boston this weekend [01

Add to: 01/19/2024 07:00:00 01/21/2024 23:00:00 America/New_York 97 things to do in Boston this weekend <p>Embrace the cold and enjoy your weekend to the fullest with our picks for everything fun to do around the city -- and don't forget to <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/joyraft-boston-experienc... Boston, Boston, MA false

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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.

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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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7 Investigates: Dangerous mold spreading through luxury apartments in Quincy - Boston News, Weather, Sports

QUINCY, MASS. (WHDH) - A new luxury apartment complex in Quincy has great water views and high end amenities. But all was not what it seemed. Dave Puglisi has tonight’s 7 Investigates. Sandra Fernandez said everything was great in her new Quincy apartment until her son developed a rash. “I was like ‘Something is not right in this apartment,’” she said. “‘My son is sick every night.’” Sandra says she begged management to check inside her walls after she found numerous leaks and suspected mold was growing. “I asked them, they kept denying it and denying it and denying it until we opened the walls,” she said. Mold was discovered in two bedrooms and under her carpets. “They have put our health in danger, my son’s health in danger,” she said. Now some residents have filed a class action lawsuit against Marina Bay, LLC and Bozzuto Management. “We had black mold over here that they recently had to do from the exterior,” said Jared Hannigan. “Our entire wall was taken out.” The suit claims that, by the fall of 2020, “defendants and their agents learned that microbial mold growth, caused by water intrusion through the buildings, had been discovered.” In a response to the tenants’ lawsuit, “Marina Bay admits the allegations.” Even so, tenants claim Marina Bay “continued to market and lease, the Property’s luxury apartments to tenants without disclosing these health and safety hazards.” “They never told us it was mold,” Fernandez said. “They never told us it was leaks in the building. We had no idea.” The Quincy Health Department has filed at least one violation against the complex for not providing safe living conditions due to cracked walls and mold in one unit. “The more and more testing we’ve done, the more and more that we’ve seen the mold,” Hannigan said. Meriel Marina Bay tells 7 Investigates they “conduct visual inspections and indoor air tests. Based on everything observed, there are no widespread mold issues in the buildings that pose a risk to indoor air quality.” They also tell us that they have a comprehensive plan to address the issues and have been updating residents regularly about each phase of the project. “And they’re continuing to bring people in here while we’re still suffering,” Hannigan said. Residents told 7NEWS they thought about breaking their leases. But the penalty costs are so high, they feel they have no choice but to stick it out. They hope that, when this construction is over, the problems will be gone. But they told 7NEWS, they’re not convinced (Copyright (c) 2023 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Dear Annie: After very generous money gift, family expects more each year

Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our mid-60s and have been married for 45 years. We had our children early in our marriage and made many sacrifices to make sure our daughter and son had all the benefits of a well-rounded childhood. Because this took up most of our discretionary income, rarely did my husband and I eat out, and we took very inexpensive vacations, if we went anywhere. During our early marriage, we pursued higher education and worked our way into well-paying jobs. About 25 years ago, we received the first of what’s ended up being numerous inheritances. We have continued to be generous to our children, who are now in their late 30s. We paid for their college and gave them a substantial amount of money for down payments on their first homes. We have four grandchildren and have invested enough money in our state’s college savings plan that they will have very little, if any, college debt. When my father died eight years ago, we gave each of our children a Christmas present that was enough to pay off their mortgages. That may have been a mistake. I feel that every Christmas since has been a disappointment. We’re very practical, so we give checks. The checks seem insignificant in comparison to the “big one,” and I’m sure our gifts are a huge disappointment. The biggest problem of all is that my husband and I feel guilty spending money on traveling, a hobby we love. I suspect that my daughter, in particular, feels that I’m wasting her money. How much do parents owe adult children? What about our grandchildren? Their parents aren’t saving money, and I don’t see much chance that they’re going to get the kind of benefits that our children have received. Should we cut back on our spending so we can give them down payments for homes when they get to that stage in their lives? — To Give or Not to Give Dear TGONTG: Please, step away from the checkbook. Your adult children don’t need another cent. What they do need, sorely, is some sense. To continue giving them cash is to rob them of valuable experience and life lessons. You’ve already given your grandchildren immense advantages, as well. If and when the time comes that they want to buy houses, they can work hard (using those great college educations for which you paid) and set aside the money for a down payment, just like millions of other Americans. Enjoy your retirement. Take as many trips you want, and don’t take any guilt-tripping from your kids. If you get the itch to be generous with your wallet, donate to folks who need it. Charity Navigator (https://www.charitynavigator.org/) is a great resource. Dear Annie: Frequently, I read letters in your column from older people complaining that their children, grandchildren and others do not acknowledge gifts or send thank-you notes. I have another take on this. If someone doesn’t thank another for a favor done or a gift given, maybe it is because he or she doesn’t feel the emotion of gratitude. How sad. It is a wonderful feeling to know that you are important enough to another person for them to give you a gift or a special service. If they don’t feel this, they are the ones who are the poorer for it. I have come to realize that the inability to feel gratitude is terribly impoverishing. Maybe gratitude is the modern secular equivalent of the Christian idea of grace. The gift-giver loves me despite my faults, just as Christians believe that God loves and forgives them despite their faults. — Secular Grace Dear Secular Grace: In response to your lovely letter, a quote: “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” — G.K. Chesterton “How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

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UNH researchers find possible cause to mysterious dog illnesses

UNH researchers find possible cause to mysterious dog illnesses reported in New England There may now be a clue as to what's causing a mysterious illness in dogs nationwide.Researchers at the University of New Hampshire used genetic sequencing using samples from dozens of dogs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and found a piece of a previously uncharacterized bacteria.They said that bacterium may possibly already be part of a dog's microbiome and recently developed the capacity to cause disease in canines. The respiratory illness causes coughing and sneezing. Infected dogs are often lethargic.New Hampshire is just one of the at least 10 states across the country with reported cases. There may now be a clue as to what's causing a mysterious illness in dogs nationwide. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire used genetic sequencing using samples from dozens of dogs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and found a piece of a previously uncharacterized bacteria. Advertisement They said that bacterium may possibly already be part of a dog's microbiome and recently developed the capacity to cause disease in canines. The respiratory illness causes coughing and sneezing. Infected dogs are often lethargic. New Hampshire is just one of the at least 10 states across the country with reported cases.

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The Twin Fronts in the Battle Over Israels Identity

The decision by the Israeli Supreme Court to reject legislative control over the judiciary ends for now the languishing effort by the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu to diminish the courts, which had already sparked nine months of protests that only ended when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The protests had deeply divided Israel, but the subsequent war united it, with even pilots and reservists who had vowed to ignore military exercises immediately showing up to fight before they were called. If the court’s decision on Monday ripped off this wartime poultice, displaying anew the cultural war at the heart of Israeli politics, Mr. Netanyahu and his government responded by appealing again to wartime unity to try to downplay their loss. It was another version of Mr. Netanyahu’s argument against just about every critic of his performance and his policies — that these are all subjects to be discussed “after the war.” And the ruling of the court, however important, is expected to have little or no impact on the conduct of the war itself.

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Hochul to Propose $25 Million in State Funding for A.L.S. Research

Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to propose an appropriation on Tuesday that would provide one of the largest sums ever invested by a state into research of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neurodegenerative disease known as A.L.S. The appropriation, part of Ms. Hochul’s overall budget proposal, would commit $25 million to A.L.S. research, creating a program that would support various endeavors, including drug development. The governor said she hoped the program could serve as an outline for tackling other rare diseases as well. Ms. Hochul’s mother, Patricia Courtney, died from A.L.S., also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2014. She never saw her daughter become lieutenant governor or governor. But last week, as Ms. Hochul stood in the State Assembly and outlined her goals for the coming year in her State of the State address, she had her mother in mind as she announced her commitment to funding research into “rare diseases like A.L.S., that rob millions, like my own mother, of their vitality.”

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Occupied City Review: Mapping the Holocaust, Street by Street

Early in Steve McQueen’s extraordinary documentary “Occupied City,” the film cuts to the interior of the elegant main hall in Amsterdam’s grand Royal Concertgebouw. In World War II, the Nazi-German occupiers held events in the hall, but at some point in 1942 the names of the Jewish composers adorning it were covered. Concerts continued, but without Jewish composers, conductors, orchestra musicians, concertgoers and even names on walls. Not long after this section ends, “Occupied City” shifts to a new location, a nondescript, boarded-up storefront. This, the narrator explains, was the site of a cafe that, in 1940, was among the first in the city to ban Jews. Soon after, the movie cuts to another location and then to another and another. And so it goes in this intense, absorbing and epically scaled chronicle — it runs close to four and a half hours, including a 15-minute intermission — that charts the fate of Amsterdam’s Jews during the Nazi occupation, street by street, address by address. In total, the film surveys a staggering 130 addresses, a mapping that McQueen has realized, somewhat surprisingly, without the use of archival imagery. Instead, the director (whose earlier films include “12 Years a Slave”) explores the city’s past exclusively through images of quotidian Amsterdam life today — in and outside homes, in squares, on trams — that he shot over several years beginning in 2019. These 35-millimeter visuals are, in turn, accompanied by sounds that include voices, birdsong and so on recorded during the filming; fragments of music (some composed by Oliver Coates); and the narration (delivered in the English-language version with dry equanimity by Melanie Hyams, a British voice actor). McQueen’s decision to only use images of contemporary Amsterdam in the film is as effective as it is conceptually bold, though it takes time to fully grasp what he’s doing and why. Without ceremony, textual explanation or a flourish of introductory music, he drops you into the city’s gentle and clamorous bustle right from the get go, and there you remain even as the film hopscotches across Amsterdam, covering miles and years. The movie opens, for instance, with a daytime shot of a warmly lit hallway in what looks like an apartment, with a door opened onto a garden. It’s quiet save for the homey sounds of rustling, the metallic tinkling of what seems like silverware and some faintly babbling voices, perhaps from a radio or TV.

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In San Francisco, Tenants Use Labor Tactics to Challenge Their Landlords

Luisa Rodriguez, 38, immigrated to the United States from El Salvador in 2020 with two children, now 9 and 18, and had a third child in San Francisco. The family lives in a small studio apartment on the sixth floor of their building and are charged $1,600 a month. Ms. Rodriguez, who works as a cook, has not paid her landlord since June. Tenants on strike are paying their rent instead to a trust fund that is being held until their demands are met. Ms. Rodriguez and her children sleep together in two beds pushed against one wall to put as much distance as possible between them and a space where mold has continually appeared. She showed pictures on her phone of green fuzz on the window frame that stretched down the wall. She said it had spread to clothes in a closet near the window, too, forcing her to throw out items she could not afford to replace. She showed copies of letters from a doctor at the San Francisco Health Network that told her landlord, “The mold is endangering the health of your tenants,” and asked for immediate action. Veritas Investments, which owns the building where the Rodriguez family lives, said that workers repaired a crack in the family’s window, used drying equipment to address water intrusion and treated, sealed and painted the window and frame to prevent the mold from returning.

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In Iowa, Nikki Haley Has the Attention of Democrats and Independents

With temperatures threatening to dip below zero in Iowa on Monday, some of the voters preparing to caucus for Nikki Haley have already overcome a different hurdle: a long history of voting for Democrats. At recent campaign events across Iowa, a number of Democrats and left-leaning independents said they saw Ms. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, as a reasonable Republican who could move the country away from bitter partisanship and restore civility in national discourse. Many were drawn to her pledges to unite the country, and to work across the aisle on thorny issues such as abortion. Others are simply motivated by a fear of former President Donald J. Trump’s candidacy and the possibility that he will beat President Biden and regain the White House. Joseph E. Brown Sr., who served two terms as an Iowa state senator in the 1970s and ’80s, said he was a registered Democrat for 50 years until he switched parties last month so that he could caucus for Ms. Haley. “Now that I have my Republican card, I have to go visit my father’s gravesite here in town and apologize,” said Mr. Brown, who lives in Clinton, Iowa. He added that his father, a staunch Democrat and World War II veteran, always voted a straight party ticket.

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Overlooked Stories of 2023

Before the internet, there was no way for New York Times editors to know how many people had read an article. Stories that ran on the front page of the newspaper presumably were better read than ones on Page 36, but nobody could be sure. Now, digital tools allow us to know how many people read every story. This knowledge inevitably leads editors to track their favorites and say, “I sure wish more people read that one.” Every year, The Morning dedicates a newsletter to the stories that Times editors thought deserved more readers. We look broadly across our newsroom, selecting at least one story from each department. We hope you will discover some great reads here. THE LATEST NEWS 2024 Election Maine barred Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot, joining Colorado in declaring the former president ineligible because of his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Lawsuits seeking to remove Trump from the ballot are pending in more than a dozen states. Nikki Haley, when asked about the causes of the Civil War at a town-hall event, did not mention slavery. She later walked back her response. Gen Z Republicans are open to backing candidates other than Trump, but most candidates have focused on older voters. More on Politics

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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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Vitamin D deficiency? How winter sunlight affects our health

Sign up for The Meltdown, a weekly newsletter highlighting the latest apocalyptic dramas, debunking climate myths, and sharing sustainability hacks, all while arming you with information to hold polluters and the government accountable. Enter your email to subscribe. The stifling heat inside some warehouses where workers might spend 10-hour days isn’t just a summer problem. In Southern California, it can feel like summer all year. It’s easy to break into a sweat and grow tired, workers say. The ventilation feels inconsistent, they say, and workers have testified in a public hearing about nosebleeds, nausea and dizziness. In some warehouses, the walk to find a place to cool down is at least half a mile. “We are in constant motion. Throughout the day, my shirt is soaked in sweat three to four times,” said Sara Fee, a former worker at an Amazon warehouse in San Bernardino, California, who testified before a state workplace safety board in May. “I have been nauseous, dizzy.” As the climate warms and the threat of extreme heat spreads, California is poised to protect people who work in poorly ventilated warehouses, steamy restaurant kitchens and other indoor job sites where temperatures can soar to potentially dangerous levels. The state has had heat standards on the books for outdoor workers since 2005 and indoor workplaces are next. Only two other states — Minnesota and Oregon — have adopted heat rules for indoor workers, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Nationally, legislation has stalled in Congress and, even though the Biden administration has initiated the long process of establishing national heat standards for outdoor and indoor work, the rules are likely to take years to finalize. If California adopts its proposal in the spring, businesses would be required to cool worksites below 87 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present and below 82 degrees in places where workers wear protective clothing or are exposed to radiant heat, such as furnaces. If businesses are unable to lower the temperatures, they must provide workers with water, breaks, areas where they can cool down, cooling vests or other means to keep employees from overheating. “It is only getting hotter every year,” said Alice Berliner, director of the Worker Health & Safety Program at the University of California-Merced. “Having protections for both indoor and outdoor workers, it empowers someone to feel like they can ask for access to drinking water and access to a break when they feel like they’re hot.” Neither workers nor businesses are satisfied with the plan. Some businesses fear they won’t be able to meet the requirements, even with the flexibility the regulation offers. Workers argue buildings should be kept even cooler. Heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion, heatstroke, cardiac arrest and kidney failure. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,600 heat-related deaths, which is likely an undercount because health care providers are not required to report them. It’s not clear how many of these deaths are related to work, either indoors or outdoors. In California, 20 workers died from heat between 2010 and 2017, seven of them because of indoor heat, according to the Rand Corp., which analyzed the state’s proposed indoor heat rules. After a record-breaking heat wave in the Pacific Northwest in 2021, Oregon in 2022 adopted protections for indoor workers that trigger when temperatures hit 80 degrees. Minnesota’s threshold temperatures range from 77 degrees to 86 degrees, depending on the type of work. The sheer size of California’s workforce, estimated at about 18 million, could usher in changes for the rest of country, said Juanita Constible, senior climate and health advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “As California goes, so goes the nation on so many things,” she said. California regulators have crafted the indoor rules to complement the state’s protections for outdoor workers. Those say that when temperatures exceed 80 degrees, employers must provide shade and observe workers for signs of heat illness. At or above 95 degrees, they must come up with ways to prevent heat illness, such as reducing work hours or providing additional breaks. Colorado, Oregon and Washington also have rules for outdoor workers. The California Occupational Safety and Standards Board, which is charged with setting worker protections, is weighing the regulation that would require employers to cool their buildings with air conditioning, fans, misters, and other methods when the temperature or the heat index hits 82 or 87. Some employees would be exempt from the rule, including employees who work remotely and those involved in emergency operations. The board is expected to vote on the rules in March and they would take effect by this summer, board Chief Counsel Autumn Gonzalez said. Workers say buildings should be cooler than the proposed temperatures, especially in warehouses, food-processing plants and other places where employees routinely move and lift. These temperature thresholds “are too high,” said Robert Moreno, a UPS driver in San Diego who told the board in May that he has spent most of his life working in warehouses. At the proposed temperatures, it’s too hot to sit outside and eat lunch, let alone work inside a building that’s been baking in the sun all day, he said. “Most of these warehouses are sheet metal, zero to no airflow.” At the Amazon facility in San Bernardino where Fee worked, company spokesperson Steve Kelly said the building is air-conditioned and outfitted with ceiling fans, and workers are encouraged to take cooldown breaks anytime they need to. “We’ve seen the positive impacts of an effective heat-mitigation program and believe all employers should be held to the same standard,” said Kelly, who declined to say whether the company supports the California proposal. The temperature inside the 658,000-square-foot building hasn’t risen above 78 degrees, Kelly said. Regulators have acknowledged that some businesses won’t be able to cool their workplaces, such as laundries or restaurant kitchens, where commercial boilers, ovens and fryers operate, and have offered them the option of giving workers cooldown areas and other relief. But those solutions aren’t always feasible, Katie Davey, former legislative director of the California Restaurant Association, told the board in May. For instance, there isn’t room for a cooldown area in many small restaurants, she said. And lowering temperatures in a kitchen could put restaurants in violation of food safety laws that require food to be heated to specific temperatures, she added. “We are concerned that the proposed indoor-heat illness regulations may conflict with regulations which affect our ability to heat and hold food to the necessary temperatures to protect the public health from foodborne illness,” Davey said. California regulators have spent years drafting their proposal and it appears unlikely they will lower the threshold temperatures of 82 degrees and 87 degrees. Doing so would increase the number of businesses that have to comply and the cost, triggering a new review that would delay the regulation’s release, said Eric Berg, deputy chief of health and research and standards at California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which would enforce the regulation. “I think that the threshold should be lowered, in general,” said board member Laura Stock, at the May meeting. “But equally, if not, more importantly, is that we don’t hold the process up so that we can get a standard in place as quickly as possible.” The urgency comes, in part, because of federal inaction. Legislation has stalled in Congress to require OSHA to publish an emergency rule to enact temporary standards for all workers while the agency pursues a permanent standard. The bill is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled House, which hasn’t favored regulations on business. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), a co-sponsor of that bill, said the situation has become dire in his state. In June, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law eliminating existing local ordinances in Austin, Dallas and other cities that required employers to give outdoor construction workers water breaks. “As the climate worsens and as summers get hotter, we should be doing more to protect workers, rather than taking their rights away,” Casar told KFF Health News. “Too often, worker protection rules have been allowed to die a slow death in a prolonged rulemaking process and we can’t let that happen here.” This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. This story also ran on CNN. It can be republished for free.

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They Abducted a River in California. And It Wasnt Even a Crime.

During California’s most recent drought, officials went to great lengths to safeguard water supplies, issuing emergency regulations to curb use by thousands of farms, utilities and irrigation districts. It still wasn’t enough to prevent growers in the state’s agricultural heartland from draining dry several miles of a major river for almost four months in 2022, in a previously unreported episode that raises questions about California’s ability to monitor and manage its water amid worsening droughts. It’s not uncommon, during dry spells, for farmers and other water users in California to draw streams down to a trickle in places. But the severity and duration of the 2022 decline of the river in this case, the Merced, where one stream gauge showed zero water moving past it nearly every day from June to early October, stood out even to experts.

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Corporate America Has Dodged the Damage of High Rates. For Now.

“If we say that the cost of their borrowing to do those things is now a little bit higher than it was two years ago,” Ms. Sheth said, more corporate leaders could decide: “Maybe I’ll hire less people. Maybe I won’t set up that factory. Maybe I’ll cut production by 10 percent. I might close down a factory. I might fire people.” Small businesses have a different set of problems. Some of this potential effect is already evident elsewhere, among the vast majority of companies that do not fund themselves through the machinations of selling bonds or loans to investors in corporate credit markets. These companies — the small, private enterprises that are responsible for roughly half the private-sector employment in the country — are already having to pay much more for debt. They fund their operations using cash from sales, business credit cards and private loans — all of which are generally more expensive options for financing payrolls and operations. Small and medium-size companies with good credit ratings were paying 4 percent for a line of credit from their bankers a couple of years ago, according to the National Federation of Independent Business, a trade group. Now, they’re paying 10 percent interest on short-term loans. Hiring within these firms has slowed, and their credit card balances are higher than they were before the pandemic, even as spending has slowed. “This suggests to us that more small businesses are not paying the full balance and are using credit cards as a source of financing,” analysts at Bank of America said, adding that it points to “financial stress for certain firms,” though it is not yet a widespread problem.

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Can He Condemn the Killings Without Causing More Pain?

And then there were the Israeli hostages still being held captive at the center of the conflict. George understood at least a little about what that was like, too. He was the first American ever kidnapped in Gaza, in 1989, when three Palestinian refugees abducted him and demanded that Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his life. The extremists held George at gunpoint in a safe house for 29 hours before eventually releasing him unharmed, and then instead of retreating into fear or hatred, George returned to America and devoted his career to helping refugees start new lives and heal from conflict. “One violation of human rights does not justify another,” he wrote, in another attempt at a statement on behalf of his nonprofit, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, in New Haven, Conn. “It doesn’t matter whether we call it a cease-fire or a humanitarian pause. Let’s not quibble over terminology. The killing must stop.” Even at the risk of inviting controversy, he felt compelled to speak up on behalf of the people and places he loved. He sent a draft of the statement to his board of directors, but some of them thought it might be interpreted as too political and potentially divisive. A few blocks away, students at Yale University were disrupting the campus by holding concurrent demonstrations in support of either Jews or Palestinians. The head of the local Service Employees International Union had been forced to resign after publicly voicing support for “our comrades” in Gaza. Dozens of companies and nonprofits across the state were being torn apart by internal divisions over a conflict on the other side of the world, and George wanted to protect his nonprofit, IRIS. He had led the organization as it grew from eight employees in the late 1990s to more than 150. Together they helped to house, clothe, feed, educate, protect and support more than 800 refugees who arrived each year in Connecticut. That work required an annual budget of $14 million, a third of which came from private donors with their own opinions and connections to the conflict in the Middle East.

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The Supreme Court will rule on limits on a commonly used abortion medication

Sign up for Reckon’s latest newsletter dedicated to the fight for reproductive justice, a weekly repro rundown covering the good, the fair-to-middlin' and the ugly in repro news. Enter your email to subscribe to Reproductive Justice with Reckon. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court agreed on Wednesday to take up a dispute over a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, its first abortion case since it overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The justices will hear appeals from the Biden administration and the maker of the drug mifepristone asking the high court to reverse an appellate ruling that would cut off access to the drug through the mail and impose other restrictions, even in states where abortion remains legal. The restrictions include shortening from the current 10 weeks to seven weeks the time during which mifepristone can be used in pregnancy. The nine justices rejected a separate appeal from abortion opponents who challenged the Food and Drug Administration’s initial approval of mifepristone as safe and effective in 2000. The case will be argued in the spring, with a decision likely by late June, in the middle of the 2024 presidential and congressional campaigns. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Key points The Supreme Court takes its first abortion case since it overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The Justices will rule on a dispute over a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the US. Biden administration and the maker of mifepristone are asking the high court to reverse a decision that would cut off access to the drug through the mail. The case will be argued in the spring, with a decision likely by late June, in the middle of the 2024 presidential and congressional campaigns. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Mifepristone, made by New York-based Danco Laboratories, is one of two drugs used in medication abortions, which account for more than half of all abortions in the United States. More than 5 million people have used it since 2000. The Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022. That ruling has led to bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy in 14 states, with some exceptions, and once cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks, in two others. Abortion opponents filed their challenge to mifepristone the following November and initially won a sweeping ruling six months later revoking the drug’s approval entirely. The appeals court left intact the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone. But it would reverse changes regulators made in 2016 and 2021 that eased some conditions for administering the drug. The justices blocked that ruling from taking effect while the case played out, though Justices Samuel Alito, the author of last year’s decision overturning Roe, and Clarence Thomas said they would have allowed some restrictions to take effect while the case proceeded. Women seeking to end their pregnancies in the first 10 weeks without more invasive surgical abortion can take mifepristone, along with misoprostol. The FDA has eased the terms of mifepristone’s use over the years, including allowing it to be sent through the mail in states that allow access. In its appeal, the Democratic administration said the appeals court ignored the FDA’s scientific judgment about mifepristone’s safety and effectiveness since its approval in 2000. Lawyers for the anti-abortion medical groups and individual physicians who have challenged the use of mifepristone had urged the Supreme Court to turn away the appeals. “The modest decision below merely restores the common-sense safeguards under which millions of women have taken chemical abortion drugs,” wrote lawyers for the Alliance Defending Freedom, which describes itself as a Christian law firm. The lead attorney on the Supreme Court filing is Erin Hawley, wife of Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of President Donald Trump in Texas, initially revoked FDA approval of mifepristone. Responding to a quick appeal, two more Trump appointees on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the FDA’s original approval would stand for now. But Judges Andrew Oldham and Kurt Engelhardt said most of the rest of Kacsmaryk’s ruling could take effect while the case winds through federal courts. Besides reducing the time during which the drug can be taken and halting distribution through the mail, patients who are seeking medication abortions would have had to make three in-person visits with a doctor. Women also might have been required to take a higher dosage of the drug than the FDA says is necessary. Health care providers have said that if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain, they would switch to using only misoprostol, which is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.

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Dr. Jus Crea Giammarino works to connect health care to the environment

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month in November, MassLive asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the Indigenous community throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts. MassLive will publish profiles of these leaders through November. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change. Dr. Jus Crea Giammarino is a Penobscot naturopathic physician in Springfield. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)Leon Nguyen Jus Crea Giammarino Age: 43 Community: Springfield Her story: Raised in Penobscot culture and spiritual practices, Dr. Jus Crea Giammarino understood at a young age the healing powers of nature. Her Penobscot mother and grandmothers taught her about food as medicine, traditional plant medicines and all that the land provides for us. She come from strong traditional healers and birth workers. Crea Giammarino began studying herbal medicine in high school with a local herbalist. She attended UMass Amherst as an undergraduate and received a bachelors of science in ethnobotany along with pre-med and Native American Studies. She then attended a four year naturopathic medical school. In 2005, she created a naturopathic medical practice in Springfield where she works with people of all ages and walks of life through holistic health care utilizing herbal and nutritional medicine. “Carrying on the tradition of my ancestors I work to connect our health care to our environment,” Crea Giammarino said. While working at the private practice, she also gives lectures and presentations on traditional Wabanaki healing modalities and naturopathic care including plant medicines, food as medicine and environmental medicine. She teaches plant medicine workshops including medicine making and ethnobotanical plant walks and is working towards reclaiming traditional birthing practices in prenatal, labor and postpartum care. She is a founding board member of Bomazeen Land Trust which is working for land justice and healing for Wabanaki peoples and their lands. She has also worked as a naturopathic primary care in Brattleboro, Vermont, for five years and has taught as an adjunct professor at Springfield Technical Community College and Springfield College. She does a lot of community organizing around reclaiming birth work and ceremonies. Raising her children with her culture, spiritual practices and healing modalities have been important and valuable to her. In her words: “Follow your passion but let your ancestors guide you. Our teachings and values are instilled in our culture. Our ancestors ways of knowing are just as powerful and valuable as any institution.” We’re always open to hear about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.

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Dear Annie: Should I warn friends I wont be giving presents this year?

Dear Annie: I am about to get married to a woman I am still madly in love with, five years after we first met. Within two months after our first date, we told each other we were in love with each other and wanted to date each other exclusively. Yet, within four months, she was lying to me, going off for a night here and a night there, claiming to visit her sister, but actually staying with a married man she’s known since high school — a man with whom, she has admitted to me, she cheated on her late husband. During our first year of dating, she tried reassuring me that it’s “emotional, not physical.” Is that supposed to be better?! I told her she knows how I feel, and I’d appreciate her not talking to this man, at this point. Yet, one day she was showing me something on her phone and accidentally showed me photos of them together. I looked at her phone later and saw the photos were dated recently. She lied to me about her whereabouts on those days. I have confronted her about her ongoing relationship with this man. She refuses to admit they still see each other. We have lots of years and dating histories under both our belts. I realize that. I am not trying to control her, but I am also not willing to share her — not in this way. Is it wrong to ask to see her phone records to see if she is still talking and texting with him before I say “I do”? Is just having the question in my head enough that I should call it off? — Looking for Information Dear Looking for Information: Reviewing her call logs might provide you with temporary relief, but it wouldn’t actually heal the fractured trust. In fact, in the long term it could just make things worse, by reinforcing a dynamic where you feel compelled to play private investigator to quell any suspicions. Unfortunately, it does sound as though your suspicions are well-founded. It’s OK for our significant others to have friends of the opposite sex or even to be platonic friends with exes. But there is a difference between a friendship and an emotional affair. It sounds like your fiancee is swept up in the latter and has been for some time. Given her history with this man, it’s reasonable that you would feel uncomfortable with her spending time with him. It’s hurtful that she continues to do so after you’ve expressed your discomfort. And the fact that she lies about seeing him — that is indeed major cause for pause. Unless you can say “I do” with all your heart, then it’s better not to say it. Dear Annie: I have always been a giver and enjoy making people happy. I remember everyone’s birthdays with cards and gifts. My Christmas list seems to grow longer every year. Most of the recipients are out of town, which means expensive mailing postage. I live in constant credit card debt. How can I cut back on or eliminate gifts altogether without offending anyone? Do I send a “notice” at the beginning of the year as a heads-up so they won’t send me anything throughout the year? Please help me. — Broke Not Cheap Dear Broke: The point of a gift is to let someone know you were thinking of them. Toward that end, a thoughtfully written card is just as good — and often even better — than a material present. I don’t think it warrants an official notice. When you talk to close friends and family on the phone, be honest with them: Let them know you’re trying to pay off some debt and will be cutting back on gift-giving this year. Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter won’t mind. “How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

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Man Killed Son in 1989, Then Staged Tearful TV Discovery, Officials Say

News footage shot by WCBD-TV of Charleston, S.C., on March 5, 1989, shows Mr. Turner joining a group of police officers and volunteers who were searching on the family’s property for his missing son. At one point, Mr. Turner, wearing jeans and a plaid shirt, emerges from a white-and-light-blue trailer. “My son’s in there,” he says quietly. He is later shown sitting on a porch near some firewood, burying his face in his hands in apparent grief. But Sheriff S. Duane Lewis of Berkeley County said that fresh analysis of the cold case told a different story about what happened to Justin. “He never got on the bus, he never arrived at school,” Sheriff Lewis told reporters at an emotional news conference on Wednesday. “That’s because he had been murdered. And he’d been murdered by his stepmother and his father, and left in a camper behind their house." “I can’t think of a more tragic, horrendous murder,” he added. He said Justin had ligature marks on his neck, indicating that the boy had been choked to death. At one point, Ms. Turner had been arrested and charged in the case, but those charges were dismissed, Sheriff Lewis said at the news conference. The couple moved away, and Ms. Turner changed her given name from Pamela, according to an affidavit. They never asked the authorities about the investigation or their son again, Sheriff Lewis said.

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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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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.

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Daily Boys Basketball Stats Leaders: Agawams Colin Smith catches fire & more

Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive. If a player is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com. Take a look at Monday’s top boys basketball scorers below:

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Jason Kelce retires: Where to buy his Eagles jersey, hoodies, shirts online

Following a season-ending playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday night, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce told teammates he is retiring after 13 NFL seasons. Kelce was in tears throughout the end of Philadelphia’s 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card game on Monday night. In his time in the NFL for 13 seasons, The 36-year-old was a Super Bowl champion, had 156 straight starts and six All-Pro Team selections. Fans looking to celebrate Jason Kelce’s career can shop for Eagles jerseys, t-shirts and more online at Fanatics. Kelce also hosts a podcast, “New Heights,” with his brother Travis Kelce who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Jason could explain his decision as early as Wednesday when the next episode of the “New Heights” podcast drops. The brothers played each other last season in the Super Bowl which was won by the Chiefs. Jason also filmed a documentary with Prime Video of what he thought was his final year in the NFL. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video with a Prime subscription or for free with a free trial. Here is a look at what is available for Jason Kelce Eagles gear online at Fanatics: Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Related content from The AP: PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jason Kelce stood on the sideline in tears as the final seconds ticked off in his likely final NFL game. Kelce embraced his long-time offensive line coach. He removed his helmet once the game ended — a Philadelphia Eagles loss that completed a harrowing season-ending collapse — and extended his hand to familiar faces in the stands. What Kelce knew then — what the gregarious center couldn’t bring himself to say when he declined to speak to the media in the aftermath of the defeat — was that his career was over. The 36-year-old Kelce was waivered on retirement over the last few seasons. Coach Nick Sirianni once added to Kelce’s mythology by shipping a keg of beer to the center’s home to entice him to return in 2022. He has been the heart of the Eagles, a hero on the Philadelphia sports scene, a Super Bowl champion. But after 13 seasons, 156 straight starts and six All-Pro Team selections, Kelce has told teammates he intends to retire, three people informed of the decision told The Associated Press. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday out of respect for Kelce’s decision, which he has not yet made public. “The goat!!!. Appreciate ya big time,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. wrote on social media. Kelce could explain his decision as early as Wednesday, when the next episode of the “New Heights” podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was expected to drop. The brothers played each other last season in the Super Bowl that was won by the Chiefs. “I love him. Yeah, obviously we’re not there at that position yet, ready to talk about that, but he’s special and I love him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said after a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay. “He’s one of the most special guys I’ve been around. He’s always got a place here and always want him to play.” The burly, bushy-haired and bearded Kelce has been a stalwart of the offensive line since he was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft. He turned into an Iron Man after he missed most of the 2012 season with a partially torn MCL and torn ACL. Kelce’s credentials go far beyond football. He’s a podcast co-host. He was the subject of the “Kelce” documentary. Heck, Kelce was even named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men for 2023, alongside Timothée Chalamet and Jamie Foxx. He’s a beloved Philly personality that has done everything from belting out holiday hits on a pair of Christmas albums and playing celebrity bartender on the beach. Kelce performed the national anthem at a 76ers game and partied with the Phanatic while he pounded a beer to a roaring ovation at a Phillies postseason game. But the moment that endeared him for life to the Philly faithful came at the Super Bowl parade in 2018 when he dressed as one of Philadelphia’s famed Mummers, and the ultimate underdog delivered a fiery, profane speech that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. “No one likes us! No one likes us! No one likes us! We don’t care,” Kelce exclaimed. “We’re from Philly! (Expletive) Philly. No one likes us! We don’t care!” Eagles QB Jalen Hurts called Kelce a legend. “He’s a legend in the city. Really in the league,” Hurts said. “I don’t want to do a disservice to him and the things he’s been able to do and overcome. His journey to where he is now didn’t come easy. It’s been a long, long time coming for him, and every year since I’ve been here it’s been, are you going to come back? But he knows how much I love and appreciate him. He knows how much I’ve learned from him. He’ll forever have a special place in my heart.” Kelce was part of Philadelphia’s core four of stars that have experienced droughts and championship runs, multiple coaches and one of the worst collapses in the city’s sports history. Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are the lone holdovers from former coach Andy Reid’s last season with the Eagles in 2012. Lane Johnson completes the four veteran anchors and was a rookie in former coach Chip Kelly’s first season in 2013. They won a Super Bowl under former coach Doug Pederson and won just four games in 2020. They’ve played hurt and set records. They’ve also raised the standard on what it means to be an Eagles player. The Core Four is no more. Kelce is the first to call it quits. “The fact that he’s done it for so long so consistently at a very high level, man, it’s a special thing,” Sirianni said. ___ AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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Boeing Cargo Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Miami After Engine Malfunction

A Boeing cargo plane headed for Puerto Rico was diverted back to Miami International Airport shortly after takeoff when an engine failed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The episode is another potential setback for Boeing, which has been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks over quality control concerns. Atlas Air Flight 5Y095 landed safely after experiencing an “engine malfunction” shortly after departure, the airline said early Friday. Video taken from the ground appeared to showed flames repeatedly shooting from the plane as it flew. The F.A.A. said in its initial report on the incident that a post-flight inspection revealed “a softball-size hole” above the No. 2 engine. It said it would investigate further.

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30 Shows to Watch This Winter

Is it a delayed effect of the writers’ and actors’ strikes? The Year of the Dragon? Climate change? Whatever the reason, a paper-thin fall season on television screens (definitely a result of the strikes) is being followed by a deluge of attention-grabbing shows this winter. A-list stars (Jodie Foster, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet), intriguing adaptations and reboots (“3 Body Problem,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender”), long-awaited returns (welcome back, “True Detective”) and final goodbyes (so long, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) abound. Throw in all the delayed broadcast-network premieres — your various “Chicago,” “FBI,” “NCIS” and “Law and Order” series, among others — and it promises to be exhausting. Here, based on available screeners, track record or sheer star power, are 30 of the more interesting selections, arranged in chronological order. All dates are subject to change. ‘One Piece’ Episode 1,089 of the 25-year-old pirate-adventure anime begins a new story arc that lines up with what Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the comic on which the show is based, has called the Final Saga. (Crunchyroll, Jan. 6) ‘Funny Woman’ The actress (“Skins”) and writer (“Slow Horses”) Morwenna Banks adapted this six-episode drama from the Nick Hornby novel “Funny Girl.” Gemma Arterton plays a woman who leaves behind her life as a beauty queen in 1960s Blackpool, England, to move to London for a career in TV comedy. (PBS, Jan. 7)

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Mass. weather: Which parts of the state could get 4 in. of snow Tuesday?

You may still have snow on the ground in your community as a result of Sunday’s snow squalls, but the real dumping this week is expected to happen overnight Monday and throughout Tuesday. A weak, coastal low pressure system is predicted to bring 1 to 3 inches of snow to Massachusetts, though some areas may receive more and others may experience more rain than snow, according to the National Weather Service. Berkshire County north of Great Barrington and northeast Massachusetts between I-95 and Route 2 could get up to 4 inches on Tuesday, according to the weather service. Most of the rest of the state is expected to receive 2 to 3 inches. Suffolk, Bristol and Plymouth Counties and eastern Norfolk and Essex Counties are expected to get 1 to 2 inches of snow, according to the weather service. The South Coast, Cape and Islands have the greatest chance of seeing the snow turn to rain, and are predicted to receive less than an inch of snow. Most of Massachusetts is expected to get 1 to 3 inches of snow as a low pressure system passes overnight Monday and throughout Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service The National Weather Service expects the snow to begin in some parts of the state around midnight overnight Monday and taper off Tuesday afternoon and evening. Most parts of the state have a slight chance of snow beginning at 3 or 4 a.m., and are expected to see precipitation stop between 8 p.m. and midnight. There is a chance of sleet, rain and freezing rain during Tuesday morning commute, and drivers should be wary, according to the weather service. The wind is not expected to be a hazard in this weather system. Skies are expected to be clear Monday before the snow amid highs in the upper 20s and low 30s across Massachusetts, according to the weather service. As clouds gather overnight, temperatures are expected to drop into the high teens and low 20s. As the snow comes down Tuesday, temperatures are predicted to reach the low 30s, according to the weather service. Lows overnight Tuesday are expected to dip into the mid to high teens. Read more: New England ski areas prepare for holiday weekend despite weather setbacks Skies are predicted to be mostly clear on Wednesday and Thursday amid highs in the low 30s and upper 20s, according to the weather service. Lows overnight are expected to reach the mid to upper teens overnight Wednesday and Thursday. The next time Massachusetts may see precipitation is on Friday, when there is a chance of snow.

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Azerbaijan Is Expected to Host the U.N. Climate Summit in 2024

The next United Nations climate change summit appears set to take place in Azerbaijan, a spokesman for the country said Saturday, resolving a bitter, monthslong political standoff over which nation should host the talks in 2024. Azerbaijan would be the third major oil and gas producer in a row to host the annual U.N. negotiations on tackling global warming, which is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This year’s summit, known as COP28, is being held in the United Arab Emirates, the world’s seventh-largest producer of oil. Azerbaijan’s government is considered authoritarian by many analysts. Human rights groups have documented widespread corruption and political repression over the 20-year rule of the country’s president, Ilham Aliyev. The prolonged uncertainty over which country would host the next climate summit has cast a shadow over the current talks in Dubai, as tensions over Russia’s war in Ukraine nearly derailed the ability of diplomats to find a new host. While the nearly 200 countries gathered here are focused on more complex questions like whether and how to curb their use of fossil fuels, the inability to select a site for the next conference loomed as a troubling sign for global cooperation.

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Hundreds of thousands still without power in Massachusetts Monday night

More than 200,000 Massachusetts households still don’t have electricity as of 6:18 p.m., according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency website, after pounding rain and driving winds ripped through the state Monday. At around noon, MEMA reported about 285,000 customers were without power but several thousand were restored throughout the day, leaving about 235,000 households without power Monday night. The total represents customers using National Grid, Eversource and UNITIL. Coastal towns on the North and South shores saw the most homes without power, according to MEMA’s outage map, with 27% of Plymouth County’s customers waiting for power to be restored. Scituate was hardest hit, with 99% of the town’s customers in the dark as of 6:18 p.m. Further inland, 92% of Millis’ 4,141 customers have no power, MEMA reports. Sixteen percent of Provincetown’s customers have no power, with 13% in Barnstable lighting candles Monday night. The National Weather Service recorded a wind gust of 63 mph in Hyannis at 12:27 p.m. Several counties report no outages, including Berkshire, Dukes, Franklin and Nantucket counties. Several big cities also report no power problems; Springfield, Worcester, Lawrence and Leominster report no power outages Monday night. The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning for most of eastern Massachusetts until 7 p.m. Monday. “A powerful low pressure finally moves into northern New England this evening, then farther north overnight. This will bring an end to the rainfall from south to north late this afternoon. While remaining gusty, wind speeds also will diminish,” the National Weather Service website said Monday at 6:30 p.m. The service recorded a wind gust of 90 mph in Milton at 11:38 a.m. Heavy rain and blustery wind made for a tough day to use an umbrella, as seen on Main Street in downtown Springfield. (Don Treeger / The Rebublican) 12/18/2023Don treeger Flooding and transportation concerns sent students home early in some parts of the state and the wind knocked tree limbs down, including in Hanover, where a man was killed after a tree fell on his trailer Monday morning. Heavy wind also grounded planes at Logan International Airport in Boston several times throughout the day Monday, as the Federal Aviation Administration announced ground stops when the wind got particularly bad. The city of Greenfield declared a state of emergency as of 12:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon after hours of heavy rainfall flooded the Green River and the Deerfield River, with those waters still rapidly rising as of 2 p.m. Thousands of gallons of untreated sewage flowed into Greenfield’s rivers on Monday afternoon as the rivers, unable to take the heavy rains, rose beyond flood stage in the city.

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Gas-Station Heroin Sold as Dietary Supplement Alarms Health Officials

The young father headed across the parking lot to join the other parents meeting their children’s new preschool teachers. After a few steps, he began sweating and twitching. As the sky reeled, he staggered back to the car, desperate to lie down in the back seat and breathe, hidden by tinted windows. “Did you take something?” his wife, Anne, shouted at him while dialing 911. Eric, 26, had completed rehab earlier in the summer. “The shot! The shot!” he groaned, just before he hit the ground and blacked out.

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Patriots cut veteran RB to make room for new LB

With the Patriots claiming Eagles linebacker Christian Elliss off waivers, Ty Montgomery is the odd man out. New England needed to make a corresponding move to free up a spot on the 53-man roster, and they cut the veteran running back on Friday afternoon. Montgomery had played mostly special teams this season, returning kicks and covering them, too. Montgomery was at the center of a breakdown that led to a blocked punt in Thursday night’s win over the Steelers, and Kyle Dugger replaced him on the punt team after that. Despite very little depth behind Zeke Elliott at running back, Montgomery played just six offensive snaps in Pittsburgh. The Patriots could still re-sign the veteran to the practice squad though, as they reportedly opened a spot there by releasing kicker Matthew Wright. 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. On a Friday morning conference call, Bill Belichick broke down what went right for Bailey Zappe and company in the 21-18 win. “Offense is a team performance,” Belichick began. “You’ve got to block [T.J.] Watt, you’ve got to block [Cameron] Hayward, you’ve got to block [Alex] Highsmith or [Nick] Herbig and Elandon Roberts and all those guys. [Minkah] Fitzpatrick and so, the skill guys had obviously the production, but the other guys had to block, get open, catch the ball, throw the ball, so forth. So, it was a good team performance. We tried to keep Watt, number one at bay, that was a priority in the game. At least he didn’t ruin the game. “Bailey made some good throws. We scored in the red area, which was huge. Those were seven point-plays instead of field goals. For the most part, our ball security offensively was good. We had a tip pass that they made a good play on and intercepted, and obviously the blocked punt. But offensively, ball security was good. The ball wasn’t on the ground a lot, the ball was in our hands safely. Those are all the fundamental things that need to be good for you to be successful.” $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. As for the newly-claimed Elliss, the Patriots are getting another core special teamer who worked his way into the Eagles defensive lineup before the team signed Shaq Leonard. This season he registered 21 total tackles and a pair of tackles for a loss.

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HBOs The White Lotus announces new cast members for season 3

The widely anticipated third season of the HBO anthology series “The White Lotus” now has a few more famous faces tied to the upcoming project — set to begin filming shortly. In a release on Friday, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that actors Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Dom Hetrakul and Tayme Thapthimthong are confirmed cast members for the third installment of the Emmy-winning comedy-drama about the adventures and misadventures of guests and staff at luxury “White Lotus” resorts around the world. The six additions join returning cast member Natasha Rothwell — who played masseuse “Belinda” in the series’ first season set in Hawaii — as the show embarks on a new resort located in Thailand, according Warner Bros. Discovery. Filming will begin in the Southeast Asian nation in February, with production taking place in and around such notable destinations as Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, Warner Bros. Discovery added, noting that HBO has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to support filming and promotion of the new season. “The White Lotus” debuted in July 2021 and received 20 total Emmy nominations across 13 categories with 10 wins for its first season. It has been nominated for an additional 23 Emmy’s for its second season, which took place in Sicily, Warner Bros. Discovery said. The show was created and has been written, directed and executive produced by Mike White.

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4 takeaways as Celtics crush Spurs to extend impressive home streak

The Celtics continued their reign of dominance at home Wednesday night, cruising to a 117-98 win over the Spurs at TD Garden. Boston played without two starters (Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis) due to injury but they had little trouble against a Spurs squad that has only won seven wins this year. Jayson Tatum (24 points) led four different Celtics to score in double figures as the hosts led by as many as 30 points thanks to a sensational 3-point shooting display in the first half (68 percent). San Antonio trimmed Boston’s lead down to 13 midway through the third quarter after a sloppy start to the second half but the Celtics bench helped Boston pull away once again for their third consecutive win. A far tougher task awaits the Celtics on Friday night when they host the defending champions in a nationally televised matchup. Here are four takeaways from the Celtics win: BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. Celtics build monster lead with the 3-ball: Boston has been an impossible team to defend at TD Garden this year and that trend continued on Wednesday night, particularly in the first half. The hosts ran out to 70 first half points thanks to 68.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Five different players hit multiple 3s in the first half alone as an overmatched Spurs defense struggled to handle Boston’s weapons on the perimeter. It was the third straight game where the Celtics flirted with shooting better from 3-point range than 2-point range. Neemias Queta emerges again off the bench: The two-way center had played just two games in January before Wednesday night as a stretch of good health had buried him back on the bench. With Porzingis out and Luke Kornet getting a surprise start, the door opened for Queta minute and he held his own against the Spurs No. 1 pick, posting six points and six rebounds in just 10 minutes. Queta did pile up four quick fouls but his impact on the glass and with providing some strength in the paint was felt. As Boston navigates a busy schedule in the next week, he continues to look like a promising prospect who can help in a pinch. Payton Pritchard steps up with Derrick White out: The reserve guard has been one of the more consistent Celtics during the past two weeks and that trend continued as he was handed a bigger role Wednesday night. Pritchard scored in double figure for the fourth time in his last six games scoring 12 points off the bench while playing over 20 minutes for the fourth straight for the first time all year. Pritchard continues to play his best basketball at TD Garden this year (42 percent from 3-point range) and provided a spark in both halves after a lethargic start by the starting unit. The home streak continues: Boston added to their record-best winning streak to begin the year at TD Garden, improving to 20-0 on the season. The streak will be tested more in the coming weeks with Denver coming into town Friday and the LA Clippers arriving a week from Saturday. However, with Boston holding the easiest remaining schedule in the NBA throughout the second half of the year, the opportunity will be there to make a run at the NBA record set by the Warriors in 2016.

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All of Us Strangers: Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott play two Londoners alone, together, in haunting tale

Director Andrew Haigh’s camera lingers on that closed door for a moment, allowing us to contemplate whether it will reopen. It doesn’t, and there’s a sense of regret on Adam’s part. Until the interruption, he’d been puttering around his apartment, putting off working on his latest screenplay. Loneliness hangs on his countenance, highlighted by the surreal glow emanating from his apartment windows and the oddness of living in a high-rise with only two residents. Adam (Andrew Scott) is a gay screenwriter living in what appears to be an empty apartment complex in London. The plot of “All of Us Strangers” begins with a knock at his door. It’s Harry (Paul Mescal, memorable as always), the building’s only other resident. He’s tipsy, thanks to the half-empty bottle of booze in his fist. He’s also quite flirtatious, offering Adam a swig of his liquor and a bout of casual sex. Stunned, Adam declines and closes the door on him. A mild sense of unease permeates these early scenes, though it’s not due to Harry’s appearance. I thought that Adam closing the door on Harry felt more like an involuntary reflex than a thought-out decision. Growing up in the AIDS era has made Adam more cautious, a fact he will discuss with the much younger Harry once they meet again and start a halting and tender romance. Advertisement Paul Mescal in "All of Us Strangers." Searchlight Pictures Meanwhile, Adam occasionally takes the bus to his childhood home to visit his parents, played by Jamie Bell and Claire Foy. These scenes are shot in Haigh’s own childhood home, the first sign the director is working through some of his own feelings and memories. I should mention that Adam lost his parents in a car accident when he was 12. So, when he visits them, they haven’t aged; he’s now older than they are. Advertisement Are Mum and Dad ghosts? Figments of Adam’s imagination brought about by the unresolved shock of losing his parents at such a young age? Is Adam dead, or in some kind of limbo? “All of Us Strangers” provides no answers, and the ambiguous ending is divisive enough to sink the film for some viewers. You are on your own here, and it’s that freedom of interpretation and emotional response that makes the film so powerful and haunting. Haigh’s screenplay is an adaptation of Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel, “Strangers,” which was made into the horror film “The Discarnates” by Japanese director Nobuhiko Ôbayashi. Note the genre of that film. “All of Us Strangers” isn’t a horror movie in a conventional sense — or maybe not at all, depending on your take — but this is your warning that the film has the power to stun, even shock. Jamie Bell and Claire Foy in "All of Us Strangers." Searchlight Pictures I’ve seen “The Discarnates,” which is as gloriously bonkers as Ôbayashi’s most famous movie, 1977′s ghost story “Hausu.” I’ve also read the English translation of the novel. So I walked into this movie with an idea of what I was going to see, which may have influenced my own interpretation. What weighed far more heavily on my thought process, however, is Haigh’s decision to replace the novel’s heterosexual hero with a gay one. Though the central question “All of Us Strangers” asks is universal — that is, what would a second chance to talk to someone who died feel like? And what would you tell them? — the material lends itself to being viewed through a queer lens. Adam’s journey will resonate strongly with LGBTQ+ audiences. I saw it as a metaphor for the closet, a forced trauma we can escape but never forget. Advertisement Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal in "All of Us Strangers." Parisa Taghizadeh/Searchlight Pictures Movies like Francis Ford Coppola’s “Peggy Sue Got Married” (1986) have addressed the notion of reconnecting with one’s past armed with knowledge obtained since then, but this is the first movie I can remember that does so from a gay perspective. For example, Adam never had the opportunity to come out to his parents. When he does, Mum reacts the way a Thatcher-era mother would. Watch how Scott plays this scene with Foy. You can see Adam regress to his 12-year-old self. When Mum says she worries his life will be lonely, Adam snaps back to the reality of his current existence, which, despite his new love interest, shows his mother’s words have a sting of truth to them. Scott is in almost every frame of this movie, and his work is Oscar-worthy. In his scenes with Foy and Bell (who are also excellent), he’s as joyous as he is melancholy. The conversations between Harry and Adam deftly navigate how different generations of gay men perceive themselves; they reminded me of the discussions between the lovers in Haigh’s “Weekend” (2011), another example of the director’s penchant for investigating the highs and lows of intimacy. Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott in "All of Us Strangers." Chris Harris/Searchlight Pictures Additionally, Haigh’s staging of the first meeting between Adam and his father plays as if Adam were cruising him; at the time, we don’t know their familial connection. On my second viewing, I noticed the physical similarities between Harry and Adam’s father, which makes sense. Conventional wisdom says that a straight man would go for someone who reminds him of his mother, so why wouldn’t a gay man favor a reminder of his father? Advertisement Another scene between father and son, beautifully played by Bell and Scott, ripped my heart out. Adam’s father tells him he wishes he had gone into his room to comfort him when he heard his son crying after being bullied at school. He also tells Adam that, had they been classmates, he probably would’ve been one of those mean kids tormenting him. When I attended a reception for this film that included Haigh, Scott, and Bell, I watched several of my gay colleagues approach Bell to tell him how that scene destroyed them. I told him that it got to me as well. Such is the power of “All of Us Strangers.” It’s simultaneously cathartic and heartbreaking. ★★★½ ALL OF US STRANGERS Written and directed by Andrew Haigh. Based on the book “Strangers” by Taichi Yamada. Starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy. At Coolidge Corner, AMC Boston Common. 105 minutes. R (sex, language, themes of suicide) Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.

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Mass. weather: Rain, fog to close out 2023 before dry, chilly New Years

The last full week of 2023 is shaping up to be pretty wet and foggy, according to the National Weather Service. A foggy Wednesday morning will give way to showers across southern New England later in the day, the weather service said. Wednesday starts with light showers, mostly in Western New England, before heavier rain arrives Wednesday night into Thursday morning, the weather service said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Periodic light rain in western New England today will become widespread across the rest of southern New England tonight into Thursday. Rainfall totals of one half inch to an inch are expected, with localized amounts up to 1.5 inches possible near the south coast. pic.twitter.com/gouL5Jn8dw — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) December 27, 2023 The rain is expected to start after 4 p.m. in Western Massachusetts and after 5 p.m. in Central and Eastern Massachusetts, forecasters said. Up to a half inch of rain is expected throughout the state with some areas, mostly on the south coast and on Cape Cod, at risk of getting up to 1.5 inches. Forecasters also said the fog Wednesday morning could be hard to shake as the sun rises. “Those waking up to fog this morning should expect it may hang around until around the lunch hour,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. While dense fog will start to lift early Wednesday morning, the entire state could experience fog until 7 a.m. Thursday, according to a hazardous weather outlook map. And that won’t be the last of it. The fog is expected to linger through the end of the week with scattered showers lingering into Saturday, the weather service said. More light rain is expected Thursday night into Friday, and the risk for showers will continue into Saturday as well. All the while, temperatures will be above normal with highs in the mid-to-low 40s throughout the rest of the week. Things will dry out, but also get chillier, for New Year’s Eve and New Years Day. Those conditions will follow suit for the rest of the first week of 2024, according to forecasters.

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Ignore Trump? Democrats Now Want Him Plastered All Over the News.

When Donald J. Trump left the White House, Democrats didn’t want to hear another word from him. President Biden dismissed him as “the former guy.” A party-wide consensus held that he was best left ignored. Three years later, Mr. Biden’s re-election campaign and Democratic officials across the party’s spectrum have landed on a new solution to his political slump: More Trump. Criticizing the news media for giving Mr. Trump a platform is out. Quietly pining for major networks to again broadcast live coverage of Trump campaign rallies is in. Behind the improbable longing for the former president to gobble up political oxygen again is Democrats’ yearslong dependence on the Trump outrage machine. Since his ascent, Mr. Trump has been a one-man Democratic turnout operation, uniting an otherwise fractured opposition and fueling victories in three straight election cycles. Now, Democrats worry that the fever of Trump fatigue has passed, and that some voters are softening toward a man they once loathed. Many others may simply be paying little attention, as Mr. Trump’s share of the daily national conversation has diminished, despite the occasional interruption of campaign-trail pronouncements like his recent vow to “root out” political opponents like “vermin.”

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Jayson Tatum working out with Celtics legend during offseason

Jayson Tatum has spent a large chunk of his summer documenting his offseason as he prepares for a pivotal season for the Celtics. Recently, Tatum spent some time working out in Los Angeles alongside long-time trainer Drew Hanlan. However, a clip shows there was a special attendee at some of those workouts: Hall of Fame forward Paul Pierce. “Watching JT sharpen those tools, seeing what greatness looks like,” Pierce said in Tatum’s Instagram clip. DraftKings Massachusetts $150 Bonus Bets! CLAIM OFFER 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. Pierce has been a vocal supporter of Pierce throughout his career, putting him in some lofty franchise company over this past season. “I’m seeing his game mature right before our eyes,” Pierce said of Tatum. “He’s a lot stronger. He’s playing with a lot more confidence. The way he’s passing the ball. He’s doing a better job getting to the free throw line. He’s rebounding the ball at a high level. I already know what he’s doing as a scorer. If he can continue to play like this, sky’s the limit for him. He should be able to bring home that MVP trophy. More importantly, he’d rather bring home a championship than an MVP trophy ... he could end up the greatest Celtic to ever put on that uniform. I’m telling you, that’s what I see. He’s got that type of potential.” Tatum will be working with a revamped roster in Boston this season after the team traded away Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis this offseason. Brad Stevens is clearly making a bet on Tatum’s offensive upside by trying to place more dangerous parts around him on that side of the floor. Whether Tatum can follow in Pierce’s footsteps and bring the Celtics a title remains to be seen but it certainly should be encouraging for Celtics fans to see him spending time with one of the top scorers in team history.

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Some Sunday storms and sun - Boston News, Weather, Sports

It’s a tale of two different weather stories this morning! We’re dry with some sun north of the Pike. Southeast Mass still has some showers and storms. We’ll keep the greatest threat for storms with lightning and strong wind across Southeast Mass through midday. There’s a chance for a pop-up storm early/mid afternoon. Mix of sun and clouds with highs in the mid 80s inland. It’ll feel muggy too. Busy baseball day! Here’s your Sox and WooSox forecasts… Overnight, we’ll keep some clouds around with temperatures in the 60s. Tomorrow will be nice and less humid! We’ll see more sun with highs in the low/mid 80s. An onshore breeze will keep temperatures in the 70s on the Cape. An area of low pressure will move in from the southwest late Monday into Tuesday. Showers and storms will favor the morning hours. Wednesday and Thursday look drier with highs in the 80s inland and 70s on the coast. Scattered storms return for the end of the week. -Meteorologist Melanie Black

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Sunny and dry Sunday after cool Saturday night

Thanks to the passage of the cold front earlier today, 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 tonight, 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 Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s 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.

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Lawmakers Press Biden Administration for Tougher Curbs on China Tech

The person accused of running a sprawling brothel network in Boston and Virginia made an “outstanding” amount of money running the business over the last several years, concealing over $1 million in-part through “structured money orders,” a federal agent wrote in court documents filed Wednesday. Prosecutors accused Han Lee, a 41-year-old Cambridge resident, of heading up a brothel network that catered to politicians, doctors, lawyers, and military officers in both states and had the infrastructure to “persuade, induce, and entice” women to travel across state lines for prostitution work. Han Lee’s financial records detailing the illegal business were “impeccable,” a U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent wrote in court documents. Law enforcement said they found at least 16 cell phones, utility bills, a computer, and other documents inside Han Lee’s Cambridge apartment. “From a shelf, investigators seized a Louis Vuitton shoe box which contained hundreds of money order receipts for both Western Union and United States Postal Service that appeared to be organized by date, location, and rent amount,” investigators wrote in court documents. There were detailed ledgers detailing the daily activity of the brothels in Virginia and Boston, the latter of which prosecutors said were run by Junmyung Lee, a 30-year-old Dedham resident. One ledger found in the apartment was found open to a page showing the stage names, appointment dates and times, and earnings of women, specifically to people who were then-listed on the Virginia brothel website, investigators said in court documents. Both Han Lee and Junmyung Lee voluntarily agreed Wednesday to remain in custody while their case plays out in federal court, according to court records. Investigators said the brothels were run as a cash business and the accused leaders took lengthy measures to conceal the money they made. Brothel leaders deposited cash into their own accounts, spreading them out and later converting them into money orders “to make the funds appear more legitimate,” investigators said in court documents. They also used “third-party bank accounts” to receive deposits and conduct other financial transactions, according to authorities. “The co-conspirators also engaged in ‘structuring,’ (intentionally splitting larger amounts of money into a series of smaller sums to avoid scrutiny from law enforcement or compliance obligations), both in the manner in which the co-conspirators made cash deposits into their own accounts, as well as the manner in which they converted cash into money orders, in order to avoid reporting requirements,” investigators said. Investigators said Han Lee purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars of money orders from the United States Postal Service and Western Union “which she then used to pay for various expenses tied to the prostitution business.” Han Lee had “lavish and extravagant” spending habits even though she lacked legitimate employment, investigators said. The Louis Vuitton shoe box that served as a filing cabinet for the brothel business had a $1,360 sticker price for the shoes, according to investigators. “Investigators located luxury bags and shoes, including items from Yves St. Laurent, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo. I am aware that Han’s bank records reflect purchases at other luxury stores, including Balenciaga,” DHS Special Agent Zachary Mitlitsky wrote in an affidavit. During searches of cellphones carried by women working at the brothels, investigators said they found communications from Han Lee that laid out “house rules” for commercial sex workers at the brothels. Those included turning on “the song while working,” being careful with cigarettes, not going outside “with heavy makeup,” and refraining from using “red lights or other colored lights in front of the door,” according to court documents filed by investigators. “No matter how much I talk, there are guests who enter the building silently,” Han Lee is accused of writing in the “house rules.”

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Opinion | The Anti-Democratic Quest to Save Democracy From Trump

Let’s consider a counterfactual. In the autumn of 2016, with American liberalism reeling from the election of Donald Trump, a shattered Hillary Clinton embraces the effort to pin all the blame on Vladimir Putin. She barnstorms the country arguing that the election was fundamentally illegitimate because of foreign interference. She endorses every attempt to prove that Russian disinformation warped the result. She touts conspiracy theories that supposedly prove that voting machines in Wisconsin were successfully hacked. She argues that her opponent should not be allowed to take office, that he’s a possible Manchurian candidate, a Russian cat’s paw. And she urges Democrats in Congress and Vice President Joe Biden to refuse to certify the election — suggesting that it could somehow be rerun or even that patriotic legislators could use their constitutional authority to make her, the popular-vote winner, president instead. Her crusade summons up a mass movement — youthful, multiracial and left wing. On Jan. 6, 2017, a crowd descends on the National Mall to demand that “Trump the traitor” be denied the White House. Clinton stirs them up with an angry speech, and protesters attack and overwhelm the Capitol Police and surge into the Capitol, where one is shot by a police officer and the rest mill around for a while and finally disperse. The election is still certified, and Trump becomes president two weeks later. But he is ineffective and unpopular, and it looks as though Clinton, who is still denying his legitimacy, will be the Democratic nominee again. At which point right-wing legal advocacy groups announce an effort to have her removed from primary ballots, following the guidance of originalist scholars who argue that under the 14th Amendment, she has betrayed her senatorial oath by fomenting insurrection and is ineligible to hold political office.

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Boston Police Crime Lab missed deadline to test half of rape kits

MINUTES. HERE. LIVE IN MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE MARIA. WE WILL SEE YOU THEN. ED. THANK YOU. FIVE INVESTIGATES REVEALING A CRIME LAB IN MASSACHUSETTS IS FAILING TO MEET A STATE LAW THAT SET A DEADLINE TO TEST RAPE KITS. ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THAT LAW IS TELLING OUR KAREN ANDERSON THE LAB’S EXCLAMATION EXPLANATION, RATHER, IS UNACCEPTABLE. KAREN AND MARIA MASSACHUSETTS LAW SAYS EVERY RAPE KIT MUST BE TESTED WITHIN 30 DAYS. IT WAS PASSED AS PART OF A REFORM TO MAKE SURE EVERY SEXUAL ASSAULT IS TREATED SERIOUSLY, TO SOLVE CASES AND CATCH RAPISTS. S THAT’S A HUGE PROBLEM. STATE REPRESENTATIVE NATALIE HIGGINS HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR BOSTON POLICE. AFTER LEARNING THEIR CRIME LAB FAILED TO MEET THE DEADLINE FOR TESTING HALF OF ALL RAPE KITS IT RECEIVED IN THE MOSTRILLIONECENT FISCAL YEAR. IS THIS AN ISSUE THAT’S IMPACTING KIND OF EVIDENCE TESTING OF ALL VIOLENT CRIMES? IS THIS ONLY SOMETHING THAT RAPE KITS ARE OR ARE GOING THROUGH THE REPORT SAYS 93 OF THE 186 KITS SUBMITTED MISSED THE DEADLINE. THE REASON A STAFFING SHORTAGE ACCORDING TO THE REPORT. I THINK STAFFING ISSUES IS AN UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER. I THINK IS A SOLVABLE PROBLEM. HIGGINS, WHO IS HERSELF A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SAYS THE LEGISLATURE COULD HAVE HELPED WITH RESOURCES IF THEY WERE TOLD. IN CONTRAST WITH BOSTON, THE STATE POLICE CRIME LAB TESTED ALMOST ALL OF ITS KITS WITHIN 30 DAYS. JUST 4% MISSED THE DEADLINE. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE BOSTON POLICE CRIME LAB? I HOPE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THESE DELAYS AND THE HARM THAT IT LEADS TO TO NOT ONLY THE SURVIVORS WHOSE KITS ARE BEING DELAYED, BUT TO TO ANY CURRENT SURVIVOR AND FUTURE SURVIVOR, AND HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR WILLINGNESS TO COME FORWARD AND BELIEVE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE GOING TO TAKE US SERIOUSLY. NOW, BOSTON POLICE JUST SENT US A STATEMENT. THEY SAY ALL RAPE KITS SUBMITTED TO THEIR LAB ARE BEING TESTED AND THEY’RE EXPLORING WAYS TO IMPROVE THE WORKFLOW. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO ENHANCE OUR PROCESS, OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SURVIVORS OF THESE CRIMES REMAINS OUR TOP PRIORITY. REPORT Advertisement Boston Police Crime Lab missed 30-day deadline to test half of rape kits, state report finds In contrast, only 4% missed deadline at State Police Crime Lab Share Copy Link Copy The Boston Police Crime Lab failed to test half of rape kits submitted within the time limit set by state law, according to a new report by the state."I'm really frustrated and really concerned," said state Rep. Natalie Higgins, an author of the 2018 law that set the requirement.That law requires the two crime labs in the state – Boston police and the State Police Crime Lab – to test all rape kits submitted within 30 days.The state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said that of the 186 kits submitted to the Boston lab, 93 – or 50% – were not tested within 30 days.A "staffing shortage" is cited by the report as the reason for the Boston lab's delay.The Leominster Democrat said that was an "unacceptable answer.""I think it's a solvable problem," she said.In contrast, at the State Police Crime Lab, 28 of the 714 kits submitted remained untested for more than 30 days. That's just 4% that missed the deadline."I have a lot of questions," she added. "I wonder, is this an issue that's impacting evidence testing of all violent crimes? Is this only something that rape kits are going through? And why are we finding out in a report, and we weren't finding out that they might need some more resources?"Boston police said in a statement that, "The Department remains committed to the efficient completion of these investigations. We understand the intent behind the 30-day time frame; however, occasionally circumstances extend testing beyond that window. All Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits are being tested and we continue to explore ways to improve the workflow to complete this aspect of the casework. As we continue to enhance the process, our commitment to the survivors of these crimes remains our top priority."Higgins, herself a survivor of sexual assault, said the time limits were put into the law to try and rebuild trust between survivors and law enforcement. Missing the deadline hurts that effort, she said."What's your message to the Boston crime lab?" 5 Investigates' Karen Anderson asked."I hope that they understand the severity of these delays and the impacts and the harm that it leads to, not only the survivors whose kits are being delayed, but to any current survivor and future survivor, and how that impacts our willingness to come forward and share our stories and believe that law enforcement are going to take us seriously," Higgins replied.

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Federal Reserve Meeting Fed Signals Rate Cuts in 2024

Thinking of buying a home? Mortgage rates are running at the highest levels in more than two decades. Policymakers at the Federal Reserve will announce their latest decision on interest rates on Wednesday, and although they are expected to keep rates steady, their assessment of the economy often moves markets, with implications for borrowers and savers. The Fed last raised its benchmark rate, known as the federal funds rate, in July to a range of 5.25 to 5.5 percent. A series of rate increases that began in March last year was intended to rein in inflation, which has cooled but remains elevated, leading Fed officials to suggest that they will keep rates high for a prolonged period. That means the cost of credit cards and mortgages may remain relatively high, making it more difficult for people who want to pay down debt — as well as those who want to take out new loans to renovate their kitchen or buy a new car. In recent weeks, the long-term market rates that influence many types of consumer and business loans have drifted lower, but remain higher than before the pandemic. “We were very spoiled for a while with low rates, and that lulled us into a false sense of security in terms of what the true cost of debt can be,” said Anna N’Jie-Konte, president of Re-Envision Wealth, a wealth management firm. Here’s how different rates are affected by the Fed’s decisions — and where they stand now. Credit Cards Image People carrying credit card debt should focus on paying it down and assume rates will continue to rise. Credit... Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times Credit card rates are closely linked to the Fed’s actions, which means consumers with revolving debt have seen those rates rise over the past year — and quickly (increases usually occur within one or two billing cycles). The average credit card rate was 20.72 percent as of Dec. 6, according to Bankrate.com, up from around 16 percent in March last year, when the Fed began its series of rate increases. People carrying credit card debt should focus on paying it down and assume rates will continue to rise. Zero-percent balance transfer offers can help when used carefully (they still exist for people with good credit, but come with fees), or you might try negotiating a lower rate with your card issuer, said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. His research found that such a tactic often works. Car Loans Higher loan rates have been dampening auto sales, particularly in the used-car market, because loans are more expensive and prices remain high, experts said. Qualifying for car loans has also become more challenging than it was a year ago. “The vehicle market has challenges with affordability,” said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, a market research firm. The average rate on new car loans in November was 7.4 percent, up slightly from the start of the year, according to Edmunds.com. Used-car rates were even higher: The average loan carried an 11.6 percent rate in November, surpassing a high set earlier in the year. Car loans tend to track the five-year Treasury note, which is influenced by the Fed’s key rate — but that’s not the only factor that determines how much you’ll pay. A borrower’s credit history, the type of vehicle, loan term and down payment are all baked into that rate calculation. Mortgages Image The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage generally tracks the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds, Credit... Gabby Jones for The New York Times The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage does not move in tandem with the Fed’s benchmark rate, but instead generally tracks the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds, which are influenced by a variety of factors, including expectations around inflation, the Fed’s actions and how investors react to all of it. Mortgage rates are running at the highest levels in more than two decades. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage was 7.03 percent as of Dec. 7, according to Freddie Mac, compared with 6.33 percent for an identical loan the same week in 2022. Other home loans are more closely tethered to the Fed’s moves. Home-equity lines of credit and adjustable-rate mortgages — which each carry variable interest rates — generally rise within two billing cycles after a change in the Fed’s rates. The average rate on a home-equity loan was 8.92 percent as of Dec. 6, according to Bankrate.com. Student Loans Borrowers who already hold federal student loans are not affected by the Fed’s actions because that debt carries a fixed rate set by the government. (Payments on most of these loans have been paused for the past three years as part of a pandemic relief measure, and became due again in October.) But batches of new federal student loans are priced each July, based on the 10-year Treasury bond auction in May. And those loan rates have climbed: Borrowers with federal undergraduate loans disbursed after July 1 (and before July 1, 2024) will pay 5.5 percent, up from 4.99 percent for loans disbursed in the year-earlier period. Just three years ago, rates were below 3 percent. Graduate students taking out federal loans will also pay about half a point more than the rate a year earlier, or about 7.05 percent on average, as will parents, at 8.05 percent on average. Borrowers of private student loans have already seen those rates climb thanks to the prior increases. Both fixed- and variable-rate loans are linked to benchmarks that track the federal funds rate. Savings Vehicles Savers seeking a better return on their money have had an easier time: Rates on online savings accounts, along with one-year certificates of deposit, have reached their highest levels in more than a decade. But the pace of those increases is slowing. “Consumers now have several options to earn over 5 percent yield on their cash,” said Ken Tumin, founder of DepositAccounts.com, part of LendingTree. A higher Fed rate often means that banks pay more interest on their deposits, though it does not always happen right away. They tend to raise their rates when they want to bring in more money. The average yield on an online savings account was 4.46 percent as of Dec. 1, according to DepositAccounts.com, up from 3.02 percent a year ago. But yields on money market funds offered by brokerage firms are even more alluring because they have tracked the federal funds rate more closely. The yield on the Crane 100 Money Fund Index, which tracks the largest money market funds, was 5.19 percent on Tuesday. Rates on certificates of deposit, which tend to track similarly dated Treasury securities, have also been ticking higher. The average one-year C.D. at online banks was 5.32 percent as of Dec. 1, up from 4.15 percent a year earlier, according to DepositAccounts.com.

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Republican Debate Takeaways, and Hunter Biden on Capitol Hill

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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Bill Belichick responds to Rex Ryans Patriot Way criticism

It’s no surprise that Rex Ryan has been taking shots at the last place Patriots on ESPN. The former Jets and Bills coach turned full-time carnival barker went 3-9 against Bill Belichick during his time in the AFC East and seemingly never ceases to criticize New England. $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. “This team plays like they’re exhausted, and the Patriot Way, that’s it: It exhausts these kids,” Ryan said. “Tom Brady was the only reason you won anyway, I’m just telling you the difference... I said they would never win again when (Brady) trotted down to Tampa, because I know how draining that is to those kids. That is what you’re facing right now.” While Ryan’s comments are unsurprising, it was somewhat unexpected that Belichick responded to the barbs a bit on WEEI Monday morning. The Patriots coach said Ryan made little sense, and pointed out that he’d never been behind the scenes in Foxborough. “Yeah, I’m not really sure what he’s talking about,” Belichick said. “Rex has never been with the Patriots. I’m not really sure what that means, either. But we’re going to do the best we can to prepare the team and compete every week. So, that’s what we’re going to do. Whatever that is.” Belichick has almost always steered clear of any sort of “Patriot Way” discussion, but some of his former players have offered interesting interpretations. Patrick Chung, who won three Super Bowls in New England, had one of the more eloquent definitions when fielding a question on the phrase. “‘The Patriot Way,’ it’s very hard to play here. Not for reasons that people think it is, but you have to be smart,” Chung said. “Confidence and cockiness are two different things. Cockiness here does not fly. It’s all about the team and doing your job. Whatever selfish part of you that exists, when you come here that’s gone. End of story. And if it’s not gone, then you’re gonna be gone. “So when I went to Philly I just called it a year off from football. I’ve learned a lot here. You gotta work hard and stay out of trouble, don’t say anything stupid. Do what you have to do and if you don’t, then you’re gonna be gone. If you have that mindset early, then you’ll be OK.”

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Biden Administration Announces Rule to Cut Millions of Tons of Methane Emissions

House Republicans said Wednesday they were investigating whether President Biden was involved in his son Hunter Biden’s decision to defy a congressional subpoena in their latest attempt to link the White House to accusations against the president’s son. The chairmen of the Oversight and Judiciary Committees wrote a letter to Ed Siskel, the White House counsel, demanding all documents and communications between the president’s office and Hunter Biden, his legal team and Kevin Morris, a wealthy Hollywood lawyer who is friends with the president’s son. At issue are the events of Dec. 13 when Hunter Biden appeared on Capitol Hill, but not to sit for a closed-door deposition as Republicans demanded. Instead, he held a news conference to denounce the Republicans’ investigation into him and his father, and insisted on testifying only in public, suggesting Republicans would twist his words with selective leaks. The younger Mr. Biden is under federal indictment and facing accusations of tax crimes related to his overseas business interests, including with companies and partners in Ukraine and China. At the news conference, he acknowledged his personal failings, described in scandalous detail in the indictment, but said they had nothing to do with his father.

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Can He Condemn the Killings Without Causing More Pain?

And then there were the Israeli hostages still being held captive at the center of the conflict. George understood at least a little about what that was like, too. He was the first American ever kidnapped in Gaza, in 1989, when three Palestinian refugees abducted him and demanded that Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his life. The extremists held George at gunpoint in a safe house for 29 hours before eventually releasing him unharmed, and then instead of retreating into fear or hatred, George returned to America and devoted his career to helping refugees start new lives and heal from conflict. “One violation of human rights does not justify another,” he wrote, in another attempt at a statement on behalf of his nonprofit, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, in New Haven, Conn. “It doesn’t matter whether we call it a cease-fire or a humanitarian pause. Let’s not quibble over terminology. The killing must stop.” Even at the risk of inviting controversy, he felt compelled to speak up on behalf of the people and places he loved. He sent a draft of the statement to his board of directors, but some of them thought it might be interpreted as too political and potentially divisive. A few blocks away, students at Yale University were disrupting the campus by holding concurrent demonstrations in support of either Jews or Palestinians. The head of the local Service Employees International Union had been forced to resign after publicly voicing support for “our comrades” in Gaza. Dozens of companies and nonprofits across the state were being torn apart by internal divisions over a conflict on the other side of the world, and George wanted to protect his nonprofit, IRIS. He had led the organization as it grew from eight employees in the late 1990s to more than 150. Together they helped to house, clothe, feed, educate, protect and support more than 800 refugees who arrived each year in Connecticut. That work required an annual budget of $14 million, a third of which came from private donors with their own opinions and connections to the conflict in the Middle East.

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Officials identify 21-year-old who fell from moving pickup truck in Mass. and died

Officials have identified Daniel Cleary as the 21-year-old Charlton man who died falling out of a Ford pickup truck over the weekend. Cleary was said to be riding as a passenger in the vehicle, according to a statement on Facebook by Charlton police. The driver of the vehicle, who was driving west on Stafford Street in Charlton, stopped, contacted police and remained with Cleary as police arrived, officials said. Read more: Deceased man in his 40s pulled from Ware River this morning Cleary fell out of the truck at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, officials said. He was taken to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center-University Campus, where he was pronounced dead. Police said the reason the man fell out of the truck remain under investigation. The Worcester County District Attorney’s office is continuing the investigation, assisted by Charlton police and Massachusetts State Police.

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N.Y.C. Officials Reassure Revelers Ahead of New Years Eve Festivities

The Police Department has monitored more than 400 protests since Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, Mr. Adams said. Overall, the department has been successful in keeping pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests peaceful, he said. However, there have been “a handful of protesters” who have tried to “embed themselves in some of the protests and bring about disruption,” Mr. Adams said. “It’s not going to be tolerated,” he warned on Friday. “It’s not going to be accepted.” Officials said that law enforcement agents were prepared for demonstrators on Sunday and that an expanded security zone this year would allow the police to respond to emergencies quickly while keeping protesters out of the Times Square area. Pro-Palestinian activists have called for a march and rally on Sunday afternoon at Columbus Circle, located at the northern end of the police’s security zone, which runs along Central Park South. The protest, called “Shut It Down! For Palestine,” is being organized by several groups, including the People’s Forum, an educational and cultural organization in the city. Last month, a pro-Palestinian demonstration blocks away from the lighting ceremony for the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree resulted in several arrests after demonstrators broke through police barricades and got into altercations with officers. On Christmas Day, six protesters were arrested during a pro-Palestinian march through Midtown Manhattan. On Wednesday, amid the busy holiday travel season, more than two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested after they blocked traffic heading to Kennedy International Airport in Queens.

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Mass. weather: Storm could bring 5 inches of rain to parts of Mass.

If the precipitation comes down hard enough, especially in the first few hours, there could be a coating to an inch of snow in spots by sunrise. The highest likelihood of snow will be along the coastline closest to the low pressure area. Low pressure will move east early Wednesday well south of New England with some residual moisture crossing southern New England. Colder air has worked its way into the region as temperatures struggle through the 30s Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures will then dip below freezing during the overnight hours and some residual moisture moving across the Atlantic Ocean will produce the first measurable snowfall across southern New England by early Wednesday morning, even as a low-pressure system passes hundreds of miles south of us. Advertisement Some areas will receive measurable snow early Wednesday for the first time this season. Dave Epstein Although this rather brief weather event may not deliver snow for some of you, there’s a high probability that most of us are going to see at least snow showers Wednesday morning. The good news is roads will likely be too warm to cause any travel issues since most of what falls will have accumulated on grassy areas. There is a fairly high probability many areas around greater Boston will see their first measurable snowfall of the season early Wednesday. NOAA These sort of forecasting parameters are becoming more accurate each season as the ability to evaluate meteorological data increases. Years ago the same type of scenario probably would have just garnered a chance for a few snow showers overnight without the specificity we are able to at least attempt to provide. You can see on the forecast radar loop below how the snow showers will materialize in the wee hours of the morning and then quickly dissipate a couple of hours after sunrise on Wednesday. As the day progresses, skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy and it will be chilly with highs in the 30s. Snow Showers are likely early Wednesday with many areas receiving a coating to half an inch of snow. WeatherBELL Sunshine returns for Thursday, but it continues to be cold -- in the 30s -- and really feels like winter. Because the sun angle is so low this time of year, even half an inch of snow could end up lingering into Thursday, especially in shady areas. Advertisement The first inch of snow in Boston typically occurs in December, but we have had to wait much longer in some years while in others it has occurred weeks earlier. The first and last dates of Boston’s first inch of snow are highly variable each year. NOAA Friday will be mostly sunny with a high near 44 degrees and Saturday may turn out to be the best day of the upcoming weekend with a blend of clouds and sun and a milder trend -- temperatures will reach near or even a little bit above 50 degrees. It turns even warmer on Sunday but with rain and wind arriving at some point. The details on how that next storm will unfold are still to be determined, but it could be a significant amount of both. More on that in the coming days.

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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.

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At Least 15 Dead in Czech Republic After Shooting at Prague University

Fourteen people were killed and more than 20 others wounded in a shooting rampage at Charles University in the Czech Republic on Thursday, the authorities said. The gunman, a 24-year-old student in world history at the university, also killed himself after the shooting spree in central Prague. The police say they believe he first killed his father in their family home in a village near the town of Kladno, outside of Prague, Ondrej Moravcik, a spokesman for the Czech police, said in an interview. Some of the injured were in critical condition, he added. The gunman was partly identified by the police as David K. European police officials often give only a first name and last initial for privacy reasons. Speaking at a news conference in Prague, the chief of the national police force, Martin Vondrasek, said the assailant “got inspired by a similar terrible event abroad.” He did not specify where. But the authorities said they did not believe that the gunman’s actions were connected to international or domestic terrorism.

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Police: 76-year-old man extremely confused after driving the wrong way on I-93 during snowstorm

BOSTON — A close call Sunday night after police say an “extremely confused” 76-year-old man drove the wrong way on Interstate 93 in Boston, nearly striking several vehicles during the heavy snowstorm. The incident began at 9:15 p.m. on Sunday when State Police received about ten calls alerting them of a driver traveling south on the northbound side of the highway. The callers said the driver had nearly struck multiple oncoming vehicles. Massachusetts State Police working with the state highway department shut down the northbound side of the highway to stop the 76-year-old driver, officials said. “Mass Highway positioned several plow trucks across the highway north of Exit 11 in Milton to block the wrong-way vehicle from going any further,” said officials. “The wrong-way vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, rolled to a stop.” State Police said the driver, a 76-year-old Lynn man, was “extremely confused and stated that he did not know where he was.” Troopers determined that the man’s condition was a result of underlying health conditions and not impairment. The man’s name was not released. The car was towed to the State Police barracks in South Boston where the man made arrangements to be picked up by a friend, police said. “Troopers spoke to the man’s friend about his erratic operation as a result of his medical conditions,” said police. “A Trooper cited the man for a wrong way violation and issued an immediate threat notice with the RMV to have his license suspended.” Video posted on Instagram shows the man driving into oncoming traffic Sunday night. Police: 76-year-old man ‘extremely confused’ after driving the wrong way on I-93 during snowstorm 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 ©2024 Cox Media Group

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Did Bill Belichick send a message to other NFL teams?

FOXBOROUGH – Bill Belichick wants to continue coaching. It remains to be seen if that’ll still be with the Patriots. On Monday, Belichick held what might be his final press conference as the head coach of the New England Patriots. One of the biggest takeaways is that Belichick made it seem like he’d be willing to give up his control as general manager to keep coaching in New England. That seemed like an obvious pitch from Belichick, who’s scheduled to meet with owner Robert Kraft this week. It could also be a pitch for other NFL teams. “I’m for whatever, collectively, we decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” Belichick said. “And, I have multiple roles in that, and I rely on a lot of people to help me in those responsibilities. If somebody’s got to have the final say, I rely on a lot of other people to help. And, however that process is, I’m only part of it.” 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. With Belichick, the prevailing thought was wherever he coached next season, he would be the one to run the front office. That’s been the case in New England. Since coming to the Patriots in 2000, Belichick has been the general manager and head coach. As he noted, Belichick has had help from various directors of player personnel such as Scott Pioli, Nick Caserio, Dave Ziegler, and most recently, Matt Groh. Belichick has an NFL record six Super Bowl championships as a head coach. He’s considered the greatest head coach in NFL history. He’d be an easy sell for any NFL owner looking for an experienced coach. Over the last four seasons, however, Belichick’s personnel decisions have come back to haunt the Patriots. His roster has lacked elite offensive talent since Tom Brady left. His last All-Pro offensive player was guard Joe Thuney in 2019. His last true offensive Pro Bowl player (excluding Mac Jones, who made the team as an alternate) was Brady in 2018. His last Pro Bowl pass catcher was Rob Gronkowski in 2017. The Patriots last 1,000-yard receiver was Julian Edelman in 2019. The Patriots offense finished tied for last in the NFL in scoring (13.9 points per game) and ranked 30th in yards (276.2). “I think we have some things that we can build on,” Belichick said when asked about assembling the 2023 Patriots. “I think there are some things that we need to fix and change.” What the Patriots need to change is how they built their offense through the draft, free agency, and trades. Belichick’s job as the general manager could be one hang-up for a potential new owner. However, if Belichick is willing to go to another team and just be the head coach, it would possibly open more jobs. One seems to be the Atlanta Falcons. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, “the Falcons are a team to watch if Belichick is available. They are interested, per sources.” Falcons owner Arthur Blank fired head coach Arthur Smith on Sunday night but kept general manager Terry Fontenot. Belichick could also be an option for a playoff contender who ends up looking for a new head coach. Options would include the Dallas Cowboys, whose owner, Jerry Jones, is also the general manager. Could Belichick be an option if Jones fires Mike McCarthy? The Philadelphia Eagles are in a similar situation. They’ve assembled a great roster under general manager Howie Roseman, but coming off a 14-3 season, they finished 11-6. Philadelphia finished the season 1-5 in their final six games. If they’re looking for a more experienced head coach than Nick Sirianni, Belichick would certainly fit the bill. On Monday, Belichick was asked if he would be interested in coaching for another NFL team. “I’m not going to get into a lot of hypothetical situations,” Belichick replied. The gravity of this situation isn’t lost on Patriots players. Several voiced their support for their head coach on Monday. It’s clear Belichick is still respected and judging by his defense’s performance this season, it’s obvious he’s still a good coach. The issue, however, has been Belichick the general manager. His willingness to do away with those responsibilities makes it possible he could return to New England, but also makes him an even better candidate for other NFL teams. “I’m going to do everything I can every day to do the best I can to help our football team,” Belichick said on Monday. “That’s what I’ve always done. It’s never been any different for me in my career. I learned that lesson from my dad growing up. You work for the team that you’re working for and do the best you can for it, until somebody tells you different. So, that’s not going to change.”

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Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade Draws Spectators and Protests

“Community” is a word that crops up a lot in conversations with those who have been involved with ImprovBoston over the years. Farris took her first comedy course there in 2013 and began teaching in 2017. Since then, she estimates she has taught more than 250 students. The community-minded approach was instilled in her through her first instructor, Rob Crean, who not only taught comedy basics but also helped get Farris in front of audiences. When she got the chance to produce her own show at ImprovBoston, she created “Farris and Friends,” which put more seasoned comedians on the same bill with neophytes, to help encourage interaction and introduce performers to the local scene. “I don’t think the impact has really hit a lot of us,” she says. “It’s gonna be such a big hole in the community.” After six years of teaching stand-up comedy at ImprovBoston, Kathe Farris will wrap up her final class in February. And this one will be bittersweet. The comedy nonprofit announced a few weeks back that it will “wind down all operations and activity over the coming months” after four decades. A few days after being told the news on a Zoom call with staff Dec. 11, Farris was still trying to process it. Farris isn’t sure she would have continued in comedy without Crean and the connections she made in class. “He was the person who kind of launched me into the community because he produced a couple of shows,” says Farris. “After taking his class, I started going to his open mic. And then going to his shows, and that’s truly how I got in.” Advertisement Managing director Matt Laidlaw was part of the team that broke the news to ImprovBoston staff on the Zoom call. “I don’t think people were expecting that news,” he says. “There were a lot of sad faces.” Advertisement The term Laidlaw uses to describe ImprovBoston’s impending status is “dormant.” That means there will be no full-time employees as of Sunday, the last day of the year, and no more performances or classes once the current round of commitments has run its course early in 2024. But ImprovBoston, as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is not dissolving completely. Its website will stay up, and a small board of directors will remain to manage the organization’s assets. “We’re still working with all of our strategic advisers to make sure the organization can financially survive a long-term dormancy,” he says. “Even in dormancy the organization will have to restructure its fund-raising and outreach model.” ImprovBoston, based in Cambridge, hit its biggest stumbling block at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when live comedy venues were shut down and its theater space at 40 Prospect St. in Central Square went dark. That cut off funding from ticket sales and classes, and, maybe more importantly, took away the space that helped foster the ImprovBoston community. According to Kristie LaSalle, current treasurer and former chair of the board of directors, the landlord for the classroom space was willing to work out a payment plan to help ImprovBoston keep its tenancy through the closure. The theater space was under a separate lease, and the group was unable to get a similar break. ImprovBoston asked to exit the lease, and it left 40 Prospect St. for good in November 2020. Advertisement Several generations of performers have been schooled in ImprovBoston's classes. Cat Grimm It received two rounds of federal PPP funding and grants from the Cambridge Community Foundation, which totaled just over a million dollars. “That allowed us to basically bring back our classes and bring back all the full-time staff,” says Laidlaw. By August 2022, the grants ran out but enough income was coming in by then to keep the organization running. “We were like, ‘Well, we could do this if a few things go our way,’” says Laidlaw. ImprovBoston was able to stay afloat for another year, but ultimately time and money ran out amid faltering ticket sales and class sign-ups. With no theater to operate from, generating income got tougher. Laidlaw says despite some good options for a new theater space, it didn’t have the money to cover construction and opening costs. “We’ve seen sort of a steady decline in registrations for classes,” says Laidlaw. “And one of the reasons for that is our lack of a public permanent space. What we found is that people are very energetic to go into our classes and do the lower levels. And as folks progressed, they wanted more opportunities to perform. And we didn’t have the venue as we did pre-pandemic to give them that opportunity to perform and grow, and also build our roster of farm team performers.” ImprovBoston started in 1982 when Ellen Holbrook created the troupe with the intention of establishing an improv entity like the famed Second City in Chicago. Its first regular nights were at Riley’s Beef & Pub in Government Center, and there were one-nighters and residencies at various clubs, including Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge. Holbrook stopped performing in 1986 and left the ImprovBoston board in 1988, but the organization persisted, finding its first home in 1994 when it took over the Back Alley Theatre in Inman Square. Advertisement In 2008, it opened the larger facility in Central Square, where it hosted all manner of improv. It facilitated holiday shows and improv tournaments, and schooled several generations of improvisors in its classes. “I’m very proud that it lasted for 40-plus years,” says Holbrook. “I’m really sad and disappointed that it is winding down or going dormant now.” She says the closure isn’t too surprising, because theater audiences have changed, but she is optimistic about the future of improv comedy and hopeful ImprovBoston might live again. “Everybody loves improvisational comedy. They love the performers and the stars that have got that improvisational comedy background. There are still improvisational comedy companies that still get audiences all over the place.” Laidlaw doesn’t see a viable option for ImprovBoston to reopen with a small footprint. But he is hopeful that somewhere down the line, the right people will pick up the reins. “So my recommendation, and the board’s recommendation is: Let’s button everything up, let’s put it on the shelf for a little bit,” he says. “And let’s keep it there, so it’s not dissolved. And let’s wait for those folks that have the energy to build it back up.”

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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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Adult woman who allegedly posed as Boston student pleads not guilty

A Wisconsin judge on Monday dismissed a felony charge against a school board candidate who had posted a photograph on Facebook of a ballot with his name filled in. In his ruling, the judge, Paul V. Malloy of Ozaukee County, threw out the count of voter fraud against the man, Paul H. Buzzell, 52, a former school board member in Mequon, a suburb of Milwaukee, who was voted back onto the board during an election in April, online court records show. Judge Malloy ruled on a motion to dismiss by Mr. Buzzell’s lawyers, who argued that the state law prohibiting so-called ballot selfies was overly broad and violated the constitutional guarantee of free expression. “What is at stake is branding a politician a felon for declaring to the world that the politician displayed” a marked ballot “showing a vote for himself in an election,” the motion said. Mr. Burrell would have faced a maximum possible sentence of three and a half years in prison and a $10,000 fine had he been convicted. He would also have been barred from running for elected office.

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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.”

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Robert Card is dead': Maine governor announces manhunt for mass shooting suspect is over

"Robert Card is dead," Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday night, bringing to an end a tense 48-hour period for residents of the state. The governor confirmed what had been confirmed about an hour earlier -- that the man believed to be responsible for the deaths of 18 people had been found. He was reportedly found at 7:45 p.m. along the Androscoggin River at an undisclosed location in Lisbon Falls, about 10 miles from where Wednesday's shootings occurred. "Police have located the body of Robert Card in Lisbon," Mills said at a 10 p.m. press conference at Lewiston City Hall, in the city where she and her family once lived. "I've called President Biden to inform him," she said, along with members of the state's legislative delegation. She praised the hundreds of law enforcement officers who assisted in the tense, two-day search, expressing her "profound gratitude for their unwavering bravey and determination and fortitude." Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters. "Like many people, I'm breathing a sigh of relief tonight knowing that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone. I know there are many people who share that sentiment, but I also know that his death may not bring solace to many. Now is a time to heal. And with this search concluded, I know that law enforcement continues to fully investigate all the facts so we can bring what closure we can to the victims and their families." Mills asked all Mainers to keep all of the families and others impacted by the shootings in their thoughts and prayers. "Lewiston is a special place. Lewiston is a great place. It's a close-knit community, people with a long history, a history of hard work, of persistence, of faith, of opening its big heart to everyone," she said. "Tonight, the city of Lewiston and the state of Maine begin to move forward on what will be a long and difficult road to healing. But we will heal together. Robert Card is dead." Few details about the discovery of the shooter's body were released at Friday night's press conference. Officials said they will have much more to say at a press conference at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning.

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Biden Administration Announces Rule to Cut Millions of Tons of Methane Emissions

But the vice president, who was a late addition to the summit after Mr. Biden decided to skip it, highlighted what she said was nearly $1 trillion in new spending approved under the Biden administration for clean energy and climate efforts. She pushed for world leaders to go even further. “We must have the ambition to meet this moment, to accelerate our investments and to lead with courage and conviction,” she said. While many activists at the summit welcomed the methane announcement, they criticized the Biden administration for not doing more to end the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. The United States has seen a surge in domestic oil production over the past year, and Mr. Biden has approved some new drilling leases that have drawn criticism from environmental groups. “To keep global warming under internationally agreed limits, we need a fair, fast and funded phaseout of fossil fuels,” Lorne Stockman, a research director of the environmental group Oil Change International, said in a statement after the announcement. “So far, none of the methane actions announced by the U.S., the world’s largest oil and gas producer, meet the bar.”

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The F.D.A. Approved Gene Editing Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

The Food and Drug Administration announced today that it had approved a gene editing treatment for sickle cell disease, the debilitating blood disorder caused by a single mutated gene. The therapy, called Casgevy, will become the first available treatment for humans in the U.S. to use the revolutionary gene editing tool CRISPR. The approval — which was announced alongside a second gene therapy that does not use gene editing — offers hope for the 100,000 Americans, most of them Black, who live with the disease. But the one-time treatments — so effective in clinical trials that they have been hailed as cures — come with both technical and financial obstacles that limit their reach. The sickle cell treatment will serve a test case for using CRISPR gene editing to treat other diseases. CRISPR Therapeutics, one of the developers of Casgevy, is now studying gene editing to treat cancer, diabetes, and A.L.S., among others. In sub-Saharan Africa, where a vast majority of people with sickle cell live, the new treatments will be effectively unavailable because of the price and lack of medical infrastructure to administer the treatment.

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Comedian Tom Smothers, one-half of the Smothers Brothers, dies at 86

Entertainment Comedian Tom Smothers, one-half of the Smothers Brothers, dies at 86 With his brother Dick, Tom Smothers co-hosted one of the most socially conscious and groundbreaking television shows in history. Tom Smothers does yo-yo tricks during arrivals at CBS's 75th anniversary celebration Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in New York. AP Photo/Louis Lanzano, File AP Tom Smothers, half of the Smothers Brothers and the co-host of one of the most socially conscious and groundbreaking television shows in the history of the medium, has died at 86. The National Comedy Center, on behalf of his family, said in a statement Wednesday that Smothers died Tuesday at home in Santa Rosa, California, following a cancer battle. “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” his brother and the duo’s other half, Dick Smothers, said in the statement. “Our relationship was like a good marriage — the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.” Advertisement: When “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” debuted on CBS in the fall of 1967 it was an immediate hit, to the surprise of many who had assumed the network’s expectations were so low it positioned their show opposite the top-rated “Bonanza.” But the Smothers Brothers would prove a turning point in television history, with its sharp eye for pop culture trends and young rock stars such as The Who and Buffalo Springfield, and its daring sketches — ridiculing the Establishment, railing against the Vietnam War and portraying members of the era’s hippie counterculture as gentle, fun-loving spirits — found an immediate audience with young baby boomers. The show reached No. 16 in the ratings in its first season. It also drew the ire of network censors. After years of battling with the brothers over the show’s creative content, the network abruptly canceled the program in 1970, accusing the siblings of failing to submit an episode in time for the censors to review. Nearly 40 years later, when Smothers was awarded an honorary Emmy for his work on the show, he jokingly thanked the writers he said had gotten him fired. He also showed that the years had not dulled his outspokenness. “It’s hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war,” Smothers said at the 2008 Emmy Awards as his brother sat in the audience, beaming. He dedicated his award to those “who feel compelled to speak out and are not afraid to speak to power and won’t shut up and refuse to be silenced.” Advertisement: During the three years the show was on television, the brothers constantly battled with CBS censors and occasionally outraged viewers as well, particularly when Smothers joked that Easter “is when Jesus comes out of his tomb and if he sees his shadow, he goes back in and we get six more weeks of winter.” At Christmas, when other hosts were sending best wishes to soldiers fighting overseas, Smothers offered his to draft dodgers who had moved to Canada. In still another episode, the brothers returned blacklisted folk singer Pete Seeger to television for the first time in years. He performed his song “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” widely viewed as ridiculing President Lyndon Johnson. When CBS refused to air the segment, the brothers brought Seeger back for another episode and he sang it again. This time, it made the air. After the show was canceled, the brothers sued CBS for $31 million and were awarded $775,000. Their battles with the network were chronicled in the 2002 documentary “Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” “Tom Smothers was not only an extraordinary comedic talent, who, together with his brother Dick, became the most enduring comedy duo in history, entertaining the world for over six decades — but was a true champion for freedom of speech, harnessing the power of comedy to push boundaries and our political consciousness,” National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement. Advertisement: Thomas Bolyn Smothers III was born Feb. 2, 1937, on Governors Island, New York, where his father, a Navy major, was stationed. His brother was born two years later. In 1940 their father was transferred to the Philippines, and his wife, two sons and their sister, Sherry, accompanied him. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the family was sent home and Maj. Smothers remained. He was captured by the Japanese during the war and died in captivity. The family eventually moved to the Los Angeles suburb of Redondo Beach, where Smothers helped his mother take care of his brother and sister while she worked. The brothers had seemed unlikely to make television history. They had spent several years on the nightclub and college circuits and doing TV guest appearances, honing an offbeat comedy routine that mixed folk music with a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. They would come on stage, Tom with a guitar in hand and Dick toting an upright bass. They would quickly break into a traditional folk song — perhaps “John Henry” or “Pretoria.” After playing several bars, Tom, positioned as the dumb one, would mess up, then quickly claim he had meant to do that. As Dick, the serious, short-tempered one, berated him for failing to acknowledge his error, he would scream in exasperation, “Mom always liked you best!” They continued that shtick on their show but also surrounded themselves with a talented cast of newcomers, both writers and performers. Among the crack writing crew that Smothers headed were future actor-filmmaker Rob Reiner, musician Mason Williams and comedian Steve Martin, who presented Smothers with the lifetime Emmy. Regular musical guests included John Hartford, Glen Campbell and Jennifer Warnes. Advertisement: Bob Einstein had a recurring role as Officer Judy, a dour Los Angeles police officer who once cited guest Liberace for playing the piano too fast. Leigh French, as the hippie earth mother in the segment “Share a Little Tea With Goldie,” always appeared to have been drinking something brewed with more than just tea leaves. The brothers had begun their own act when Tom, then a student at San Jose State University, formed a music group called the Casual Quintet and encouraged his younger brother to learn the bass and join. The brothers continued on as a duo after the other musicians dropped out, but began interspersing comedy with their limited folk music repertoire. Their big break came in 1959 when they appeared at San Francisco’s Purple Onion, then a hot spot for new talent. Booked for two weeks, they stayed a record 36. Booked into New York’s Blue Angel, they won praise from The New York Times, which described them as “a pair of tart-tongued singing comedians.” But to their disappointment, they couldn’t get on “The Tonight Show,” then hosted by Jack Paar. “Paar kept telling our agent he didn’t like folk singers — except for Burl Ives,” Smothers told The Associated Press in 1964. “But one night he had a cancellation, and we went on. Everything worked right that night.” The brothers went on to appear on the TV shows of Steve Allen, Ed Sullivan, Garry Moore, Andy Williams, Jack Benny and Judy Garland. Their comedy albums were big sellers and they toured the country, especially colleges. Advertisement: Television first came calling in 1965, casting them in “The Smothers Brothers Show,” a sitcom about a businessman (Dick) haunted by his late brother (Tom), a fledgling guardian angel. It lasted just one season. Shortly after CBS canceled the “Comedy Hour,” ABC picked it up as a summer replacement, but the network didn’t bring it back in the fall. NBC gave them a show in 1975 but it failed to find an audience and lasted only a season. The brothers went their separate ways for a time in the 1970s. Among other endeavors, Smothers got into the wine business, launching Remick Ridge Vineyards in Northern California’s wine country. “Originally the winery was called Smothers Brothers, but I changed the name to Remick Ridge because when people heard Smothers Brothers wine, they thought something like Milton Berle Fine Wine or Larry, Curly and Mo Vineyards,” Smothers once said. They eventually reunited to star in the musical comedy “I Love My Wife,” a hit that ran on Broadway for two years. After that they went back on the road, playing casinos, performing arts centers and corporate gatherings around the country, remaining popular for decades. “We just keep resurfacing,” Smothers commented in 1997. “We’re just not in everyone’s face long enough to really get old.” After a successful 20th anniversary “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” in 1988, CBS buried the hatchet and brought them back. The show was quickly canceled, though it stayed on the air long enough for Smothers to introduce the “Yo-Yo Man,” a bit allowing him to demonstrate his considerable skills with a yo-yo while he and his brother kept up a steady patter of comedy. The bit remained in their act for years. Advertisement: Smothers married three times and had three children. He is survived by his wife Marie, children Bo and Riley Rose, and brother Dick, in addition to other relatives. He was predeceased by his son Tom and sister Sherry. Former Associated Press journalists John Rogers, Frazier Moore and the late Bob Thomas contributed to this report.

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How the Iowa Caucuses Work

The Iowans who will brave frigid temperatures Monday for the first test of support for Republican presidential hopefuls will be caucusing — a process that’s distinct from other ballot-box affairs. Unlike in other elections, Iowa’s Democratic and Republican parties, not the state’s government, organize and run the caucuses. And members of the two parties will conduct business a little differently. What happens during a caucus? Once participating Republican voters arrive at the caucus precinct, they must check in with precinct workers, who will verify that they are eligible to participate. (Only registered Republicans may participate in G.O.P. caucuses, but party rules allow unregistered voters, Democrats and independents to register or switch their party affiliation at the caucus site.)

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How to watch On Patrol: Live new episodes for free Jan. 12-13 on Reelz

The Reelz series “On Patrol: Live” continues with new episodes on Friday, Jan. 12 and Saturday, Jan. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT both evenings, going for three hours apiece. Those without cable can catch the latest installments of “On Patrol: Live” for free through either Philo or DirecTV Stream, each of which offer a free trial to new users. According to the show’s IMDb description it “follows the everyday lives of police officers on patrol from diverse departments across America,” and is hosted by Dan Abrams, Sean “Sticks” Larkin and Curtis Wilson. The series premiered in July 2022, according to a trailer for the series, in which Larkin explains the series take “an unfiltered look at what police officers do,” with Wilson adding “anything can happen, when it’s live.” Reelz added that police departments featured on the show represent every region of the country from the North to the South and from the East Coast to the West Coast and everywhere in between including rural, urban and suburban areas. How can I watch “On Patrol: Live″ on Reelz without cable? You can watch the series through Reelz on Philo or on DirecTV Stream, each of which offer a free trial for 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.

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Swimming & Diving Scoreboard: Morgan Marini, Aubin Logan lead West Springfield & more

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. As NFL Week 17 continues with some huge late afternoon games, you can turn a $5 bet into a $150 guaranteed bonus with the latest FanDuel promo code offer. If you click here you can secure a 30x return in bonus bets win or lose. FanDuel Sportsbook BET $5, WIN $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Sports bettors can secure a $150 bonus win or lose with this new offer from FanDuel Sportsbook. You won’t need to manually enter a FanDuel promo code, as our links will unlock this bet $5, get $150 offer for Bengals-Chiefs or Packers-Vikings. The Kansas City Chiefs will play host to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon in a game between teams with playoff aspirations. Then in primetime, the Green Bay Packers will go head-to-head with AFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings. You can bet $5+ on either game to win $150 in guaranteed bonus bets. Click here to apply our FanDuel promo code and get a $150 guaranteed bonus with a $5+ wager on Bengals-Chiefs or Packers-Vikings. FanDuel promo code: Get $150 bonus for Bengals-Chiefs, Packers-Vikings There are few new user promos that offer a guaranteed bonus to new players, but FanDuel Sportsbook happens to have one of them. This is a vast improvement over their previous promo, which required players to bet on a team’s money line and the team needed to win for the bonus to convey. Instead, players can now turn a $5+ wager on any betting market into a $150 bonus. All game and player markets are eligible for this promo. If you want to bet $5 on the Bengals to win or the Vikings to cover the spread, you can. You could instead opt to take the over in Bengals-Chiefs or pick a player prop. Getting Patrick Mahomes to throw for 300+ yards or Justin Jefferson to score 2+ TDS could be worth a look. Win or lose, you’ll earn $150 in bonus bets. How to apply our FanDuel promo code for NFL Week 17 If you want to get in on the action with FanDuel Sportsbook, you’ll need to sign up for an account by completing some simple steps. Follow our registration guide below to get a 30x return in bonus bets: Click here to apply our FanDuel promo code. Provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth. Choose a deposit method and add $10+ to your account. Navigate to the game of your choice. Wager $5+ on any betting market. You’ll secure $150 in bonus bets no matter how your bet settles. If your first bet wins, you’ll also collect cash winnings and get back your wager. Touchdown bonus blitz promo After placing your first bet, head to the promos section. There you’ll find the touchdown bonus blitz offer. With this promo, you’ll need to place a qualifying 3+ leg same-game parlay or same-game parlay+ wager. You’ll earn bonus bets for each TD scored across all NFL games. Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets when you click here to apply our FanDuel promo code for Bengals-Chiefs or Packers-Vikings. FanDuel Sportsbook BET $5, WIN $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER 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! 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.

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Two suspects identified in Brockton fatal shooting inside hibachi restaurant

Two men are scheduled to appear in Brockton District Court on Tuesday afternoon to face charges in connection with a brazen shooting inside a hibachi restaurant on Friday evening. Jamal A. Bazile is listed in court filings as charged with murder, and Nathan Veiga is charged with accessory before the fact. A spokesperson for the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office confirmed with MassLive that both men are charged in connection with Friday night’s shooting at Hibachi Sushi Supreme Buffet.

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Menu signed by Mao Zedong brings a quarter million dollars at auction

Local News Menu signed by Mao Zedong brings a quarter million dollars at auction The menu was signed in fountain pen by six influential Chinese statesmen, including Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai. This photo provided by RR Auction shows an official menu for a state banquet signed by former Chinese leader Mao Zedong that has been auctioned for $275,000. (RR Auction via AP) BOSTON (AP) — An official menu for a state banquet that bears the signature of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong has been auctioned for $275,000. Boston-based RR Auction said the menu auctioned Wednesday was for a banquet held in Beijing on October 19, 1956, and commemorated the first state visit to China by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The menu was signed in fountain pen by six influential Chinese statesmen, including Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai. The banquet featured foods from both nations and included delicacies such as “Consommé of Swallow Nest and White Agaric,” “Shark’s Fin in Brown Sauce,” and “Roast Peking Duck.” Advertisement: “To hold a menu signed by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai is to hold a piece of the past — a piece that tells a story of diplomatic engagement, cultural exchange, and the forging of friendships that have endured through the decades,” Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction, said in a statement. Other items auctioned off included a fully operational World War II-era Enigma coding machine for $206,253, a Thomas Edison-signed document for a light bulb patent for $22,154, and a check signed by Steve Jobs to Radio Shack was sold for $46,063. This photo provided by RR Auction shows a check signed by Steve Jobs to Radio Shack in 1976. The check has been auctioned off for $46,063. (RR Auction via AP) The check, dated July 23, 1976, is payable to RadioShack for a whopping $4.01, and was signed by Jobs the same year he and Steve Wozniak launched Apple in a Silicon Valley garage.

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Dear Annie: Those around me dont see beyond themselves to see how lonely I am

Dear Annie: I recently had to go to a big-box store to purchase something that I couldn’t get online. The checkout lines on the grocery side of the store were six people deep, but if you looked beyond, to the other side of the store, there were no lines. I’ve been trying to teach family and friends this lesson — to look beyond themselves — for some time. Every Christmas, I get invited to a gathering so I won’t have to be alone. While I try to converse with guests, since I don’t have kids or grandkids to talk about, I wind up alone at the party anyway. No one wants to talk about books or world events. Counselors tell me to volunteer or get involved in groups. When I moved back to the town I grew up in and tried to get involved, I was told, “You’re not from here; that’s not how we do things.” After 25 years, I am still not welcome. Their social groups were formed long ago, and new members are not welcome. They can’t see beyond. Everyone has been writing gratitude journals all year — things they are thankful for, such as children, grandchildren, work and health. It’s hard to listen to what they are thankful for, as I have health issues, which makes it hard for me to get out, and I am alone most of the time. They are so focused on things they are going through or thankful for that they don’t see beyond. They don’t see what others go through every day. Look beyond your world. What are others going through? There is a second part of gratitude, which is to show gratitude to others. For 2021, thank others. Get away from social media, and make this the year you send that handwritten note or phone call to thank someone, even if it is for something that person helped you with years ago. Don’t include statements about you. Make it only about the other person’s act of kindness. If needed, rewrite it so that only a positive statement is left. Look beyond the closest checkout line. Look beyond yourself. Others will appreciate it. Finally, Annie, I want to thank you for including the words “I am sorry for what you are going through” in a lot of your responses. Being able to express that is a genuine trait few possess. — Wishing for True Friends Dear Wishing for True Friends: You make a good point about “looking beyond,” but please, don’t be so hard on yourself or others. Seeing counselors helps enormously. Try not to take it all so seriously. Make a special effort to reach out and offer friendship to new people. You might find, similar to your observation at the big-box store, a faster lane to health and happiness. “How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM

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How late is Starbucks open on New Years Eve 2023?

Looking to end the year with a caffeinated bang? Well, good news for coffee lovers because you can head to your neighborhood Starbucks before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve 2023. Starbucks will be open on New Year’s Eve, but it’s unlikely stores will be up until the stroke of midnight. The company said Starbucks store hours will run on holiday hours, which means they may close early for New Year’s Eve. “This holiday season, Starbucks store hours vary by location and stores may occasionally adjust their hours based on business and customer needs,” the chain’s website reads. “We recommend customers look for specific store hours using the Starbucks app or by visiting our website store locator.” People can check if their local Starbucks is open by clicking here. Just be sure that if you grace your baristas with your presence, you wish them a happy and healthy new year.

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Poison Gas Hints at Potential for Life on an Ocean Moon of Saturn

Scientists have detected a poison among the spray of molecules emanating from a small moon of Saturn. That adds to existing intrigue about the possibility of life there. The poison is hydrogen cyanide, a colorless, odorless gas that is deadly to many Earth creatures. But it could have played a key role in chemical reactions that created the ingredients that set the stage for the advent of life. “It’s the starting point for most theories on the origin of life,” said Jonah Peter, a biophysics graduate student at Harvard. “It’s sort of the Swiss Army knife of prebiotic chemistry.” Thus, Mr. Peter was excited when he found hydrogen cyanide at Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn that is about 310 miles across. It has a subsurface ocean that makes it among the most promising places to look for life elsewhere in the solar system.

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Boys Basketball Season Stats Leaders: Who are the current Western Mass. stats leaders?

Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive. If a player is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com. MassLive is highlighting the top stats leaders for each boys basketball category throughout the season. Take a look at the season’s top performers so far below:

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The Inscrutable Glamour of Melania Trumps Mother

Throughout the Trump presidency, Amalija Knavs — mother to first lady Melania Trump — was something of a mysterious figure. Mrs. Knavs, who died earlier this week, rarely made public comments or gave interviews. Striking and perfectly coifed, Mrs. Knavs was a recurring but almost entirely silent presence during the Trump presidency, much like her daughter. Mrs. Knavs and her husband Victor appeared often in the background of photos of the first family, accompanying them on trips to places like Camp David or Mar-a-Lago, and attending special events. And there’s something startling, even uncanny about photos containing both the Trumps and the Knavses: The two couples look like mirror images of each other. Mr. Trump and Mr. Knavs, just two years apart in age, have similar physiques and stature — even hair styles.

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How to Feel Alive Again

It all started with a Post-it note. “Go for a walk,” it said, the no-nonsense command perched in a prominent spot above Katherine May’s desk. Ms. May, a British author who wrote the best-selling memoir “Wintering” about a fallow and difficult period of her life, had come across more hard times during the height of the pandemic. She was bored, restless, burned out. Her usual ritual — walking — had fallen away, along with other activities that used to bring her pleasure: collecting pebbles, swimming in the sea, savoring a book. “There was nothing that made the world feel interesting to me,” Ms. May said in a recent interview with The New York Times. “I felt like my head was kind of full and empty at the same time.” In Ms. May’s latest book, “Enchantment,” she describes how a simple series of actions, like writing that note, helped her to discover little things that filled her with wonder and awe — and, in turn, made her feel alive again.

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With Pavel Zacha out, Bruins know its next man up

Though he ascended the Patriots depth chart and is now starting games in Foxborough, it was just over three months ago that Bailey Zappe was cut at the end of training camp. The second-year quarterback cleared waivers and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that he had offers from seven other teams. Ultimately, he re-signed with the Patriots practice squad and was eventually elevated back to the active roster. On WEEI’s Jones and Mego show Monday afternoon, Zappe confirmed that he did have other suitors reaching out to him at the time. $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. So why did he elect to re-sign with the Patriots? “I felt like for me, my best opportunity was to learn from Coach Belichick, to learn from Coach (Bill O’Brien), and I felt like that was the best fit for my career: To stay here,” Zappe said. “Have the opportunity to play. Have the opportunity to stay with these guys that I’ve built relationships with. And I think the main thing was to just learn from the coaches that we have here. I think that was the best fit for my career and for the future — for whatever happens for me.” The quarterback went on to say he’s really enjoyed playing for O’Brien, who is well-known for his tough-love approach. “Our relationship has grown a lot over these last few months,” Zappe said. “I really like getting coached by him. He coaches hard and I like being coached. So he does a phenomenal job with that.” It makes sense that he wanted to stay in New England given the Patriots quarterback depth chart, too. Though Zappe initially signed to the practice squad, Mac Jones was the only quarterback left on the active roster, so he slotted right back in as the backup. From there, Zappe just needed to continue his growth on the practice field, and now he’s starting football games once again.

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Emotional Lions QB reacts to Detroits 1st division title since 1993

Christmas came early for the Lions. For the first time since 1993, Detroit is NFC North champions. The last time the Lions won, it was known as the NFC Central. The Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 30-24, on Christmas Eve to become division champs just two seasons after finishing 3-13-1. After the game, quarterback was emotional speaking to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “It’s pretty exciting, man,” Goff told Pelissero. “It really is. It’s been a lot of hard work. A long time coming. We got a special group. We really do and this was hard for me. It wasn’t pretty at the end, but we got it done.” 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. Goff came to the Lions in 2021 via trade with the Los Angeles Rams for Matt Stafford. The quarterback was part of the 3-13-1 team and helped rebound them to 9-8 in 2022. Now he and Detroit are playoff bound and division champions. “It’s emotional. But, it’s just the beginning for us. It’s the first check mark for us,” Goff told Pelissero. “I get emotional thinking about all the guys that went through 3-13, that went through 1-6 early last year and now stand here.” This is the first time the Lions are back in the playoffs since 2016. Now, they’ll look to end their NFL-worst postseason win drought, which spans 31 seasons. The Lions are back in action Saturday when they travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in Week 17.

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Nurse's viral plea on living paycheck to paycheck highlights struggles in today's economy

Two people are dead as a result of an early morning single-car crash in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, according to Massachusetts State Police. Boston police said officers responded to the intersection of Morrissey Boulevard and Old Colony Avenue around 3:15 a.m. for a report of a rollover car crash with injuries. State police wrote on social media just after 7 a.m. that two people had died as a result of the crash and that a third had life-threatening injuries. A fourth person in the vehicle suffered minor injuries. A portion of Morrissey Boulevard was closed Thursday morning as a result of the crash. Pictures of the crash shared to social media show the car still on its side. Authorities are still investigating the incident. No further information about the crash, including the identities of the victims, has been released. State police said they would release more information about the crash at a later time.

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Parent struck by school bus in Boston multi-vehicle crash

A school bus involved in a multi-vehicle crash hit a parent outside of a Boston elementary school Thursday. An SUV came to a stop on top of another car. The driver of the bus said there was an acceleration malfunction. MORE NEWS: An additional five cars were involved in the crash. Officials said one woman was hospitalized. It's unclear what caused the crash. The incident is under investigation.

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Charles Stuart shooting: 5 top findings about the murder case

Investigators believe a Dover father shot and killed his wife and daughter in their home late last month, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Initial autopsy results confirm that 54-year-old Teena Kamal and her daughter, 18-year-old Arianna Kamal, died of gunshot wounds, and that their manner of death was homicide, the district attorney’s office said in a press release Tuesday. The autopsy found that the Kamals’ husband and father, 57-year-old Rakesh Kamal, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Rakesh Kamal was found with a gun that was not registered to him, the district attorney’s office said. Authorities are still determining where he got the gun. Dover police found the family dead in their home at 8 Wilson’s Way on Dec. 28 after a concerned relative called police, authorities said previously. It is unclear when they were killed. Arianna Kamal was a first-year student at Middlebury College in Vermont, according to school officials, and is remembered as “a brilliant student and an amazing singer.” The American Red Cross previously confirmed that Teena Kamal served on the regional Board of Directors. Rakesh Kamal worked as the managing director and chief technology officer for Harvard Business School Online from 2015 to 2019, Harvard Business School confirmed previously. Officials have not released any further information about the murder-suicide, including what led to the killings, but public documents indicate that the family was having financial difficulties. According to federal court documents, Teena Kamal filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in September 2022. Additionally, property records indicate that the family missed mortgage payments for the Wilson’s Way property, which included five acres of land and an 11-bedroom mansion. The property, which the Kamals bought in 2019 for $4 million, went into foreclosure in late 2022 and was sold at auction for $3 million to their mortgage lender, Massachusetts-based Wilsondale Associates.

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This N.Y.U. Student Owns a $6 Million Crypto Mine. His Secret Is Out.

Jerry Yu has the trappings of what the Chinese call second-generation rich. He boasts a Connecticut prep-school education. He lives in a Manhattan condominium bought for $8 million from Jeffrey R. Immelt, the former General Electric chief executive. And he is the majority owner of a Bitcoin mine in Texas, acquired last year for more than $6 million. Mr. Yu, a 23-year-old student at New York University, has also become — quite unintentionally — a case study in how Chinese nationals can move money from China to the United States without drawing the attention of authorities in either country. The Texas facility, a large computing center, was not purchased with dollars. Instead, it was bought with cryptocurrency, which offers anonymity, with the transaction routed through an offshore exchange, preventing anyone from knowing the origin of the financing. Such secrecy allows Chinese investors to avoid the U.S. banking system, and the accompanying oversight of federal regulators, as well as sidestep Chinese restrictions on money leaving China. In a more traditional transaction, a bank receiving the funds would know where they were coming from and would be required by law to report any suspicious activity to the U.S. Treasury.

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U.S. Considers Task Force to Guard Red Sea Ships From Iranian Proxy Forces

The United States is in discussions with its allies to set up a naval task force to guard ships traveling through the Red Sea after the latest attack on several commercial vessels in what appears to be an escalating extension of Israel’s war with Hamas by Iranian-sponsored proxy forces. Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, said on Monday that such patrols or escorts could be the appropriate response to the targeting of ships in the region. He compared the mission to similar task forces in the Gulf, where Iranian naval forces have at times been aggressive with other ships, and off the coast of Somalia, where pirates have preyed on private vessels in the past. “We are in talks with other countries about a maritime task force of sorts involving the ships from partner nations alongside the United States in ensuring safe passage of ships in the Red Sea,” Mr. Sullivan told reporters at the White House. “Those talks are ongoing as we speak. I don’t have anything formal to announce. But that would be a natural part of the comprehensive response to what we’re seeing.” Mr. Sullivan’s comments came a day after several commercial ships came under fire and a U.S. Navy destroyer shot down three drones during an hourslong attack on Sunday. One of the drones intercepted was heading toward the destroyer, the U.S.S. Carney, according to United States Central Command. There were no injuries or damage reported by the Carney, the Pentagon said.

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Reacher: Women Want What Hes Got, and Not Just the Beefcake

The Supreme Court has declined to issue an expedited ruling Friday on whether former President Trump has immunity from prosecution related to the 2020 election interference case. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Appellate courts are hearing the immunity case, but the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that it would proceed as normal. This is a developing story.

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Luna Luna: A Fantasy That Comes With a Price Tag

What happened to fun? In the clinical white of the gallery, art can be forbidding, aggrieved, elite, academic. Shouldn’t it also, sometimes, be joyous? The collaborators behind Luna Luna thought so. This was the amusement park staged in Hamburg, Germany, in 1987, where nearly 30 professional artists including Basquiat, Hockney and Dalí designed the rides. About 250,000 people attended that summer — families, children, students, hipsters seeking reprieve. But shoestring funding and a thwarted tour let the production sit, disassembled and forgotten in storage, for 35 years. Now, at a staggering cost nearing nine figures, about half the attractions have been restored, beautifully, and arranged for the public in a new show in Los Angeles titled “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy.”

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Bruins need more concerted effort amid four-game losing streak

The Bruins are in the midst of their worst losing streak since the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Toronto bubble. There are several things not working in Boston’s favor, including not playing a full 60 minutes. Saturday was the latest example of such. The Bruins got out to a strong start against the Minnesota Wild, taking a 1-0 lead into the second period thanks to David Pastrnak’s 20th goal of the season. But, as has been the case all season, the second period saw the Bruins struggle. They were outshot in the middle frame 19-6, and eventually lost, 3-2. For coach Jim Montgomery, he felt the “momentum shift” at the end of the first period when Brad Marchand was called for roughing with 15 seconds left in the first period. 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. “You don’t like taking a penalty in the last minute (of a period) because you give a team fresh ice in the second,” Montgomery told reporters in Minnesota after the loss. “I thought they built a lot of momentum off that.” The Wild indeed built momentum from there on out, taking a 2-1 lead in the second before adding a third goal in the final period. Minnesota has been surging under John Hynes since he was named head coach late last month. They’re undefeated at home under Hynes, and are 10-3-0 since he took over. The Bruins started strong, and showed some life at the end of the game. But Minnesota capitalized when it needed to — something the Bruins have been unable to do on a consistent basis. “I liked the first 15 minutes of our game, and I liked the last 10 minutes of our game,” Montgomery told reporters. “We just need a more concerted effort.” The Bruins now have a few days off for the NHL’s holiday break, and it’s coming at a good time for Boston. “It’s a good time to be with family so you get away from it mentally,” Montgomery said. “We gotta get back to playing the right way, and we’ll have to do that on the 27th (against the Buffalo Sabres).”

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Julius W. Becton Jr., Pathbreaking Army General, Dies at 97

“‘As long as I am the commander here, there will be no change,’” he recalled the base commander saying. “I didn’t believe what I heard,” he added in an interview with The Washington Post in 2018. “This was the commander in chief saying this is what it’s going to be. But here was a commander saying nothing would change.” Despite the discouragement, General Becton left college and returned to active duty. “I really had enjoyed being in the military,” he later said. Actual integration did not occur until the Korean War. There General Becton was in charge of an all-Black platoon in the 9th Infantry Regiment and at one point was ordered to lead a breakout from a defensive line known as the Pusan Perimeter. While assaulting an incline named Hill 201, he came under heavy fire. He was wounded, earning a Purple Heart as well as a Silver Star for valor. As the war ground on and troop casualties rose, replacements were assigned to units regardless of race. General Becton’s platoon was sent a Mexican American soldier from Texas. “I told my platoon sergeant, ‘Don’t let anything happen to that guy, he’s our first one non-Black, we’re not going to hurt him at all,’” he later recalled. “And with that, we became integrated.” After the war, General Becton continued his education, earning a B.S. in mathematics in 1960 from Prairie View A&M University in Texas, graduating from the National War College in 1961 and earning an M.A. in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1967.

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Opinion | Notes on Going Home

I was irritated as I drove west from Nashville. The sun was in my eyes, and I was holding the steering wheel too tight because the car kept getting buffeted by the winds of trucks passing at an astonishingly illegal speed. At least I’m not heading east, I kept reminding myself, stuck behind one big rig trying to pass another on a steep mountain incline. On the flat lands of West Tennessee, even eighteen-wheelers can pass going 90 miles an hour. It was a relief when the car’s map directed me toward a four-lane that would take me south. But from the top of the ramp, I could see a tanker truck jackknifed across the road, no more than 50 yards away. Sirens were wailing from every direction. The map rerouted me to an even smaller road where the speed limit bounced up and down, dropping at every intersection, even when the intersecting road was more of a path between fields, nothing that would be marked by a sign. Now the winds weren’t coming from passing trucks but from the world itself, blowing across unfurling fields. Cotton was still growing right to the very road, and I was startled to realize that my windshield was getting pocked with bugs. I never have to clean a buggy windshield at home anymore. Against my best intentions, I have grown accustomed to living in an insect-impoverished place.