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2023 Bostonians of the Year: The beleaguered MBTA commuter

Last spring, Nicole Merullo descended the stairs of the MBTA station in Harvard Square, swiped her T pass at the fare gates, and weaved her way down the ramp to the platform of the inbound Red Line train. All the while, her fellow commuters — those not completely immersed in their phones, anyway — looked on with a bit of wonder. Some smiled and nodded. Others shook their heads in solidarity. A few confused passengers mustered up the confidence to ask her about the cardboard sign that dangled from a piece of red string around her neck. Merullo was staging a one-woman protest. On her sign, she had written a plaintive message in bold black marker to anyone paying attention: WE DESERVE A BETTER T. Advertisement In many ways, Merullo was an oracle for our era. Her sky-is-falling plea for better service was prompted after the MBTA, under federal mandate, began operating on a vastly reduced schedule in 2022 that still remains in place today. But her proselytizing felt particularly prescient this year when, in the very same station, a 20-pound panel suddenly fell from the ceiling, nearly striking a commuter. The video clip of the insulation tile dropping in a cloud of dust mere inches from the woman’s white high-tops felt like an act of God: Bear witness as the infrastructure of our once-great transportation system crumbles at our very feet! Get Globe Magazine An engaging blend of award-winning narrative journalism, opinion, lifestyle, travel, recipes, and advice. Enter Email Sign Up In this, the Year of our Lord 2023, navigating Greater Boston via public transportation has become an increasingly fraught endeavor. Discussing the daily commute now requires rhetoric from the Age of Exploration: Fare thee well fellow traveler, and may the wind be at your back. Embark with bravery and an iron will to conquer the unknown. Kiss your loved ones, for you know not when you’ll see them again. Advertisement Those bold enough to venture forth have suffered through station shutdowns, slow zones, and train breakdowns. They’ve stuffed themselves like cattle onto MBTA buses and shuttles, frittering away hours as they creep through Boston’s noxious traffic. At many points this year, it’s been faster to walk alongside the T than to ride it. That is, if your train happens to be running at all. Nicole Merullo wearing a protest sign. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff/File “We are in a very, very dire place,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said of the MTBA this fall. The system, she said, was “barely adequate for the needs of a world-class economic engine and hub for our workforce.” And that was before the MBTA announced massive defects along the new, $2.3 billion Green Line extension. And before it said it would shut down segments of all four subway lines for repairs over 14 months, often for days or weeks at a time. And before the news that repairing the entire system’s decrepit stations, tracks, and signals would require at least $24.5 billion, the cost of another Big Dig. And yet, still we ride. Whether due to virtue or sheer need, a commitment to climate consciousness, a sense of civic duty, or just because it’s the cheapest way to get downtown, MBTA riders are an essential part of keeping our mass transit system — literally — on track. These commuters are the red blood cells traveling the arteries of our city’s beating heart. To ride now is to keep this city and region alive — pumping dollars into businesses and museums and universities. Staffing office buildings and restaurants, construction sites and science labs. Keeping cars, and their carbon dioxide, off our streets. Advertisement And so this year, we celebrate them as the Bostonians of the Year: The Beleaguered, Intrepid, Absolutely Essential MBTA Commuters. Just as essential workers kept the city’s institutions humming during the darkest moments of COVID, essential riders are now doing their part to keep cities such as Boston vibrant. (It’s worth noting, of course, that MBTA employees were considered essential themselves, and many other essential workers could only get to their jobs because of the T.) Today’s transit riders play an increasingly critical role in a city’s competitiveness and in our ongoing post-COVID recovery. “These are our heroes,” says Tracy Hadden Loh, a fellow with the Brookings Institution. They’re eating lunch from restaurants. Going shopping. And by just showing up to work, they contribute to the commercial real estate occupancy levels — supporting a critical piece of our city’s tax base. All this, despite the fact, Loh adds, “that the T is having an operational crisis that is existential.” An exhausted passenger on the Red Line in April. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Loh experienced it firsthand when she visited Boston earlier this year: She had 70 minutes to travel roughly 5 miles from the airport to Kendall Square for a meeting, but didn’t make it in time. “I traveled hundreds of miles” to be at the event, she says. “But I wasn’t even close.” Advertisement The MBTA, like many urban transit networks, went into freefall during COVID. Ridership dropped to just 10 percent of pre-pandemic levels — and is now at around 64 percent. Car traffic, however, is back, and nearing pre-COVID levels. In January, the city got the distinction of being ranked the fourth worst in the world for roadway gridlock. As of August, Boston streets were 5.2 percent more congested than they had been a year prior, according to the GPS service Waze. For many, taking mass transit has become a catch-22: More Bostonians would take the T if it became more reliable, but it can’t become more reliable unless more Bostonians take the T. Take the recent workaround the MBTA offered to riders getting off the Red Line when it shut down the Green Line for repairs: Instead of getting a transfer at Park Street, they were instructed to take the underground tunnel to the Orange Line, hop on a train to Back Bay Station, then walk to Copley Square to get a shuttle bus traveling the Green Line route. It was a frustration for everyone, and a nightmare for anyone with mobility challenges. “We have gone so far beyond asking T riders what we have any right to ask of them,” says Charles Chieppo, a senior fellow at the Pioneer Institute, a Boston-based think tank. “There just aren’t even words for it. And that just breaks my heart.” The fact that riders keep riding despite these obstacles is proof that a public transit recovery is possible, but getting there is infuriating. This September, for example, daily ridership on the T grew to the highest it had been since 2020, peaking at 67 percent of pre-pandemic levels. That same month also saw among the longest delays yet this year for the Red Line — when trains crept an hour and 22 minutes slower than their typical pace during peak travel times, according to TransitMatters’ Data Dashboard. Advertisement For Xavier Calderon, 23, getting to his job as an overnight security guard near South Station has been a crapshoot over the past year, as he’s navigated Red Line slow zones and shutdowns along the Ashmont line. “The trains are delayed without any warning or anything. And then I end up showing up to work like 20 or 30 minutes late,” he says. He’s lucky to have understanding managers and a measure of flexibility at work, but knows others aren’t in the same position. Orange Line delays at Sullivan Station in July. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff During the September shutdown, Calderon had to budget carefully to take an Uber to and from his Dorchester home for $20 each way. “Whether it’s ordering Ubers or trying to get a ride or something like that, it kind of makes more work for me,” he says. “The last minute warnings or last minute switches ruin a lot of people’s days.” Fare revenues for the MBTA are down overall as a result of the chaos (and riders’ ongoing concerns about COVID), and remain a fraction of what they once were. They used to fund more than 42 percent of MBTA operating costs, but that figure dropped to as low as 10 percent last year, and now hovers around 20 percent. But fares are more than just dollars that help the bottom line, Loh says. “Fare revenue is about a recognition of the personal value of the connection that transit provides.” For transit systems to work, they need to become less “peaky” — focusing less on getting workers to downtown offices, she says, and instead looking to build better public transportation networks that can serve all trips at all points of the day. That means more frequent, all-day bus routes that serve suburbs and more off-peak trips to serve hybrid workers who no longer need to be in the office every day between 9 and 5. And it means finding more creative solutions to incentivize ridership and raise funds for transit in the process. “People who use transit generate a lot of benefits for other people by staying off the road and leaving space for others,” Loh says. “And yet those benefits accrue to others, not to the transit riders.” That’s part of why New York is now experimenting with congestion pricing and regional sales tax revenue to fund its transit costs. And it’s also worth noting that the beleaguered riders who rely most on public transit, and spend the most time on the system, are often the ones who earn the least. The US Census Bureau’s American Time Use Survey found that in 2022, a third of Americans did some or all of their work from home, up from less than a quarter of the public pre-pandemic. But not all jobs are created equal. Most of those remote positions required a bachelor’s degree or higher. And in the Boston area, the wealthiest ZIP codes, such as Cambridge and Newton, have some of the highest rates of remote workers. On an October afternoon, around 80 people were evacuated from a Green Line train. Diti Kohli/Globe Staff Ironically, those ZIP codes are also some of the best serviced by transit, which likely accounts for the one bright spot in MBTA ridership these days: The commuter rail trains reached a “post-pandemic peak” this October, surpassing 90 percent of their pre-pandemic levels. (Disrupted Red Line service pushing commuters onto the Fairmount line and Halloween trains to Salem also had a hand in this spike.) Boston has been piloting fare-free bus routes to attempt to acknowledge wealth disparities among riders. But there are other ways to subsidize low-income commuters, too: Washington, D.C., has experimented with a low-income fare program for SNAP recipients — T officials have discussed similar possibilities here — while in Seattle, transit passes are provided for residents of public housing. The MBTA’s viability also stands to offer one of the biggest solutions to our region’s ballooning housing crisis. One of the most promising housing measures passed in the state in the last five decades, the MBTA Communities Act, requires 177 cities and towns in the MBTA’s service area to pass new zoning to permit multifamily housing units in dense areas, largely around transit stations. But suburban pushback to the act is real — one Milton resident at a public meeting recently suggested shutting down the Mattapan trolley entirely just to avoid meeting the housing requirement — and is bolstered every time the T spontaneously bursts into flames. The success of the MBTA Communities Act “really depends on people believing that the T is going to work well,” says Jarred Johnson, who heads TransitMatters, the local advocacy group celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. “I think the state has got to think really hard about how it boosts people’s confidence in this system . . . And it’s not only making the system work, but having people believe that the system works, which is somewhat different but really critical.” A rider with her 15-month-old daughter on the Blue Line in July. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Johnson also believes the T can do more to recognize — and celebrate — the role riders play in tackling other big, existential issues the city faces, such as combating climate change. Why not post more signs about how much carbon train commuters are keeping out of our atmosphere, for example? Why not make people feel good about taking the train? “For so many of the things that we care about, and so many of the big challenges we face, the T is, I’d argue, a really critical part of solving those problems,” Johnson says. “That, for me, is why it is so important that we celebrate the T and celebrate its potential, even in the state that it’s been in. We need to celebrate the people that keep thinking about it and keep pushing the state and the region to honor their side of that contract. Because we are not going to build the housing that we need to, we’re not going to solve climate change, and we’re not going to solve congestion, if we don’t have a T that works.” If anything, the bright side of our MBTA maelstrom is that it’s inspired a new generation of transit activists such as Nishanth Veeragandham, a 17-year-old high school junior from Lexington, who has relied on the train to get him to his volunteer placement in Central Square every Friday afternoon for the past three years. Some of his classmates disparage the T. “In school, people say they should stop funding the T or just shut it down entirely,” he says. “They want to prioritize cars, because that’s just what they’re used to.” But he’s a believer, and has already started attending TransitMatters’ advocacy meetings (though he was severely late to his last one, thanks, of course, to a delayed train). “With the MBTA, when people don’t advocate for these services they fall into decline, and when public support — the town or community — is less willing to provide funding, it falls into a spiral,” Veeragandham says. “I want people to see that when they ride on a bus that that contribution matters. Ideally it opens their eyes to the work of how public transportation helps other people.” Because that really, at its heart, is what being a public transit rider is about: the public good. It’s something Tracy Hadden Loh waxed poetic about on X while riding the Silver Line during another visit to Boston this year, noting the passengers who cut across age, race, and class lines. “It’s not just transit of last resort,” she says. “And that kind of broad buy-in from really diverse populations means that if the T can solve its reliability problems, I think ridership will explode.” Fields Corner station in February. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Johnson of TransitMatters says he and a member of the group’s board, former Massachusetts transportation secretary Jim Aloisi, bring this up all the time. “In a world in which so many of the things that we do are shaped by class and race and all of these other factors, transit becomes one of the few places where people of different races and social classes mix,” Johnson says. “That is a really important thing that we could lose if we don’t take care of transit, and we leave transit as something that you only take because you don’t have any options.” That’s why celebrating straphangers, and the role they play in keeping the system honest, is so essential. Nicole Merullo, our one-woman protest, wore her sign daily for months, finally taking it off last winter. This year, when she started graduate school and her commute changed, she grew so frustrated with the T’s unreliability that she began taking a university shuttle to get to campus. That decision should be a cautionary tale for the MBTA: If it can lose a committed rider like Merullo, it can lose almost anyone. But Merullo hasn’t lost hope. She’s been optimistic since MBTA general manager Phillip Eng started in the role in March, and believes he’s bringing much-needed transparency to the organization. “I have a sense of pride in our transportation system,” she says. Meanwhile, the riders will keep riding, and keep hoping that one day we’ll all eventually reach our destination: The dependable system that we deserve. Janelle Nanos can be reached at janelle.nanos@globe.com. Follow her @janellenanos.

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Downtown Worcesters Fallon Health to move its corporate HQ in late 2024

Fallon Health plans on moving into a new corporate headquarters, still near downtown Worcester, close to the end of 2024, according to a statement released Monday. After 45 years since it was founded, Fallon Health plans to move to 1 Mercantile St. and will “provide the leading healthcare services organization with the space and resources it needs to accommodate its evolving workforce, support further business expansion in government-sponsored health insurance programs and stay true to its roots in the local community,” the statement read. The insurance company’s location on 1 Chestnut Place was previously purchased by California-based Hertz Investment Group in 2015 for $14 million, according to property records. This location was originally built in 1990 and was most recently assessed for $17.4 million, MassLive reported in March 2023 According to the company’s statement, moving to 1 Mercantile Place “will deliver a modern, collaborative workplace that will retain and attract Fallon Health employees and serve as a hub of innovation to serve its growing membership in programs that include Medicare and Medicaid.” Read more: Work begins on project to turn Worcester Boys Club into affordable housing The move is also designed to help promote its brand while in proximity to the Fallon Health Pavilion at the DCU Center and Polar Park, the statement read. This focus on community was echoed by Chief Human Resources Officer Jill Green Lebow in the same statement, emphasizing that many of the 1,300 employees with Fallon Health live and work in Worcester County. 1 Mercantile St. is located within CitySquare, a $565 million project intended to include 365 housing units, 168 hotel rooms and 550 parking spaces, according to the city website. A parking structure, hotels, restaurants and other commercial and retail spaces surround the area. “Fallon Health’s move to CitySquare comes at a critical moment for downtown and demonstrates their commitment to the city of Worcester and the local economy,” City Manager Eric Batista said in the statement. “The vitality of a neighborhood is built on a range of uses, including residential, commercial and cultural. We are thrilled to have a business that has dedicated more than 45 years to the city anchor and immerse itself in downtown Worcester.”

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Dense Fog Over Boston Looks Straight Out Of Horror Flick As Skyscrapers Vanish In Mist

Eastern as well as Central and Western Mass continued to receive warnings about the dense fog shortly after 3 p.m. The National Weather Service said in a special weather statement: “Visibilities are expected to drop into the one-half to 2 mile range in many locations, although some areas may experience visibilities of one-quarter mile or less. A Dense Fog Advisory may be issued if visibilities drop to one-quarter mile or less across a large portion of the area.Be prepared for sudden changes in visibility in foggy areas. Use low beam headlights and keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you.” The week between Christmas and New Year’s is looking to be pretty wet, with scattered showers through Wednesday morning, Dec. 27, and rainfall going into the afternoon and evening. Thursday, Dec. 28, and Friday, Dec. 29, will see a 50 percent chance of rain in the evening with mostly cloudy skies, according to the NWS. Social media users couldn’t get enough of the dense fog in Boston. The fog also caused some delays at Boston’s Logan Airport. Click here to follow Daily Voice Suffolk and receive free news updates.

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Israeli-American Thought to Be a Hostage Was Killed on Oct. 7, Her Family Says

Judih Weinstein Haggai, a 70-year-old who was believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, was actually killed during the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, her family and Kibbutz Nir Oz said in statements on Thursday. Ms. Haggai’s husband, Gadi Haggai, had also been listed as a hostage but the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum announced last week that he, too, was killed in the attacks. The forum said the couple were shot while on their morning walk through the fields of the kibbutz, and that Ms. Haggai had managed to inform friends that they had been injured, her husband critically so. Ms. Haggai was, in fact, fatally wounded, and her death has now been confirmed, Kibbutz Nir Oz said on Thursday. Its statement did not specify how it learned that she had died in the attack. The couple’s bodies are being held by Hamas, according to the kibbutz, their family and the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. The groups said the couple were citizens of both Israel and the United States, and that Ms. Haggai also had Canadian citizenship. President Biden said he and Jill Biden, the first lady, were holding the couple’s “four children, seven grandchildren and other loved ones close to our hearts.” “I will never forget what their daughter, and the family members of other Americans held hostage in Gaza, have shared with me,” he said in a statement. “They have been living through hell for weeks.” Ms. Haggai would be remembered “for the creative life she built with her husband,” her family said, adding that “their murders are a reminder for leaders everywhere to bring the hostages home now before it is too late.”

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Trump Turns His Attention to Iowa as Caucuses Grow Near

Former President Donald J. Trump will return to Iowa on Friday for the first time this year, and will hold four campaign rallies in two days there as he looks to cement his dominant lead in the polls as the Iowa caucuses draw nearer. Mr. Trump has visited the state infrequently, at least compared with his rivals in the Republican primary. His schedule this weekend is an unusually concentrated burst of campaigning for him that more closely resembles the way that other candidates have barnstormed the state. But the former president has remained popular in Iowa. His events consistently draw hundreds, if not thousands, of supporters — dwarfing the attendance at more traditional meet-and-greets and voter town halls. In speeches over the last month, he and his allies have urged his supporters to caucus and have asked them to ensure their friends and neighbors help deliver a strong victory to Mr. Trump on caucus night. Even as Mr. Trump turns his attention to Iowa, he continues to campaign as if he is already the Republican nominee. His speeches focus heavily on how he expects to roundly defeat President Biden in November, with only glancing attacks at his two closest, relatively speaking, rivals in the race, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor.

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Police responding to reports of active shooter, multiple victims at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Authorities on Wednesday were responding to reports of multiple victims in a shooting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, police say. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Las Vegas police said they were responding to "preliminary reports of an active shooter on the campus." "There appears to be multiple victims at this time," police said. "Please avoid the area and we will have more information soon." This is a developing story

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Monica Cannon-Grant's lawyer doesn't show up for court hearing: 'Failed to appear despite notice and attempts to call and email'

Monica Cannon-Grant’s lawyer was a no-show at a federal court hearing for her high-profile fraud case on Friday, as court officials struck out when calling and emailing the absent attorney. U.S. Attorney prosecutors were all set for Cannon-Grant’s initial pretrial conference in Courtroom 8 of Boston’s U.S. District Court Friday morning. The only problem: Cannon-Grant’s defense attorney was nowhere to be seen. The court delayed the start of the hearing for 15 minutes to give extra time for Christopher Malcolm to appear in front of District Judge Angel Kelley. But the MIA member of the bar never made it to the federal courtroom. “Mr. Malcolm failed to appear despite notice and attempts to call and email during court,” the federal court wrote in its electronic filing. “The Court proceeded with the status conference,” the court added. “Further order will issue regarding next steps.” The Herald reached out to Malcolm, asking why he failed to appear at the hearing, but he did not immediately respond. Malcolm is the third attorney to represent Cannon-Grant in the federal case related to her charity Violence in Boston. Cannon-Grant and her husband Clark Grant, who has since died in a motorcycle crash, were initially indicted in March 2022 on 18 fraud-related counts. They have been accused of using “a substantial amount” of the money donated or granted to their charity to enrich themselves, with funds going toward paying back rent to nail salon appointments and restaurant meals. Those 18 fraud counts were upped to 27 counts when prosecutors issued a new indictment earlier this year. The charges are: Three counts wire fraud conspiracy; one count conspiracy; one count mail fraud, aiding and abetting; 16 counts wire fraud, aiding and abetting; one count making false statements to a mortgage lending business, aiding and abetting; two counts filing false tax returns; two counts failure to file tax returns; and allegations of both wire and mail fraud forfeiture and mortgage fraud forfeiture. Malcolm became Cannon-Grant’s attorney in February. Robert Goldstein, her first retained attorney, withdrew from the case last September. His departure followed the news that Violence in Boston had ceased all operations and shut down. Meanwhile, Cannon-Grant was granted the right to apply for state unemployment benefits. After Goldstein withdrew as her attorney, the court appointed attorney Keith Halpern to the case. However, the case material was overwhelming, the taxpayer-funded court-appointed attorney said. Malcolm is a retained attorney, and he said in the past that his services were paid for by a nonprofit set up for Cannon-Grant’s defense.

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Days of Our Lives' actor Bill Hayes dead at 98

Jennifer Lawrence has been known for her various off-the-cuff comments in interviews and live appearances, and the 2024 Golden Globes was no exception. The 33-year-old actress was nominated for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for her role in “No Hard Feelings” at the award show that aired Sunday, Jan. 7. In a video posted to X, Lawrence appears to mouth the words “If I don’t win, I’m leaving,” while her named was called alongside other nominees in the category. Lawrence’s competition included Emma Stone in “Poor Things,” Fantasia Barrino in the “The Color Purple,” Natalie Portman in “May December,” Alma Pöysti in “Fallen Leaves” and Margot Robbie for in “Barbie.” Stone would go on to take home the award. Read More: Celebrities hit the red carpet for the 2024 Golden Globe Awards Despite her sarcastic comment, Lawrence did not leave after losing to Stone and even expressed her excitement for her colleague. Another video posted to X showed the actress throwing her arms in the air, leaping out of her seat and clapping in enjoyment. The actress’ stunt appeared to have been another classic example of her comedic theatrics. Several X users commented on the video, saying Lawrence should keep up the antics. “She should do more comedy, she is super funny to me,” one person said. Another added, “She’s better entertainment than the host.” Click here for a full list of winners from the 2024 Golden Globes.

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War or No War, Many Older Ukrainians Want to Stay Put

They sit in ones and twos in half-destroyed homes. They shelter in musty basements marked in chalk with “people underground” — a message to whichever troops happen to be fighting that day. They venture out to visit cemeteries and reminisce about any time other than now. Ukraine’s elderly are often the only people who remain along the country’s hundreds of miles of front line. Some waited their entire lives to enjoy their twilight years, only to have been left in a purgatory of loneliness. Homes built with their own hands are now crumbling walls and blown-out windows, with framed photographs of loved ones living far away. Some people have already buried their children, and their only wish is to stay close so they can be buried next to them. But it does not always work out that way. “I’ve lived through two wars,” said Iraida Kurylo, 83, whose hands shook as she recalled her mother screaming when her father was killed in World War II.

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FanDuel Vermont promo offers $300 pre-registration bonus

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. FanDuel Sportsbook is heading to the Green Mountain State on January 11, 2024, and you can earn up to $300 in pre-registration bonuses with the newest FanDuel Vermont promo. Click here to pre-register for an account today. FanDuel Vermont $300 PRE-LAUNCH BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Any bettor who pre-registers via our links will secure a two-part pre-launch bonus. This FanDuel Vermont promo is easily the best of its kind in the state. Legal online sports betting’s expansion continues early in 2024. Following state launches in Ohio and Kentucky in 2023, FanDuel has targeted a January 11, 2024, launch for its sportsbook in Vermont. The pre-registration window will remain open until that date, giving players the chance to load up with bonus bets. Pre-register for this FanDuel Vermont promo to get up to $300 in pre-launch bonuses when you click here. FanDuel Vermont promo offers $300 pre-registration bonus If you’re in the state of Vermont, it’s important to note that pre-registration offers are typically far from a guarantee. In fact, some states over the past few years have opted to prevent sportsbooks from offering pre-launch bonuses. In some states with a pre-registration window, a number of sportsbooks have opted not to offer a bonus of any kind. Not only can you lock-in a $100 return in bonus bets just for pre-registering today, but you’ll also be eligible for an additional bonus after launch. Once the state gives FanDuel VT Sportsbook the green light to go live, you’ll be able to make a qualifying deposit of $10 or more. Then, your first $5 cash wager will earn you a $200 guaranteed return in bonus bets. These bonus bets will be eligible for any game in any league. How to pre-register for this FanDuel Vermont promo If you want to sign up early with FanDuel Vermont, be sure to follow the instructions in our sign-up guide below. This will walk you through the entire process: Click here to pre-register with FanDuel Vermont. Fill out the required information fields with your full name, residential address, phone number and date of birth. Confirm you’re in the state limits by accepting a geolocation verification request. Set up your account with an email address. Create a password. Once you’ve completed this process, FanDuel will add $100 in bonus bets to your account. After the app goes live in January, add $10+ to your account and wager $5+ to secure an additional $200 in bonus bets. What to bet on with FanDuel VT at launch FanDuel Vermont’s launch comes at the perfect time for sports fans. The NFL Playoffs will be underway, while the NBA and NHL will have tons of games to bet on. College basketball will also have quite a few huge matchups on tap as well. With all of that in mind, it’s clear that having $300 in guaranteed bonus bets will pay dividends. These bonus bets won’t be tied to a specific sport, which means you’ll be able to spread them across quite a few games in any league. Click here to sign up for this FanDuel Vermont promo and lock-in up to $300 in pre-launch bonuses. FanDuel Vermont $300 PRE-LAUNCH 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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2 teens shot to death near gas station in Lynn

Two teenagers were shot and killed near a gas station in Lynn, Massachusetts, Wednesday night, according to authorities. The incident happened just before 10:30 p.m. on Camden Street, near AL Prime gas station on Western Avenue — not too far from this week's triple shooting. The victims, only identified as a 16-year-old youth and a 19-year-old man, were taken to the hospital, where they died, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said Thursday. No further information was made available. Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters. This incident comes days after three people were seriously hurt in a shooting at a Pizza Hut on State Street. While police said Tuesday night's shooting was targeted, no arrests have been made. The three victims remain stable in the hospital, the district attorney's office said. It wasn't immediately known if the two shootings were related.

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Photos show extent of W. Bridgewater crash involving police cruiser

Massachusetts State Police posted photos Saturday of an overnight crash that injured a trooper and two others on Route 24 in West Bridgewater. “At about 1 a.m. today a trooper had stopped a car on Route 24 in West Bridgewater and was out of his cruiser when the cruiser was hit by a drunk driver operating a pickup truck,” said a State Police post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The cruiser was pushed into the trooper, causing injuries, and the driver was arrested, the post continued. Attached were two photos — one of which showed the damage to the cruiser and the other that showed the pickup truck. A pickup truck State Police say was driven by a drunk driver who struck a police cruiser that had stopped another vehicle. (Massachusetts State Police photo)Massachusetts State Police photo The driver was charged with OUI-liquor in connection with the Saturday morning crash on Route 24. The trooper and two others were taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton afterward for treatment for minor injuries, according to WCVB. The trooper reported his cruiser was hit during a traffic stop on the southbound side of the highway around 12:40 a.m. Saturday, WCVB reported. The multi-vehicle crash caused Route 24 to be closed. Traffic was rerouted to Route 123 via Exit 31B, MassDOT said in a post to X. The state agency warned of delays. Reporting from Jackson Cote was used in this report.

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Mass. weather: Storm overnight Sunday could cause power outages, flooding

While the weather in Massachusetts should be mild during the day Sunday, with cloudy skies and highs in the upper 40s and low 50s, the National Weather Service predicts that a strong storm system will bring heavy rain and high winds to the state overnight and into Monday. On the eastern side of the state, gusty winds between 50 and 60 mph could down trees and cause power outages, according to the weather service. In the central and western parts of the state, heavy rainfall — up to 3 to 4 inches — could cause flooding. Strong winds could cause power outages, especially in eastern Mass. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for most areas of Massachusetts east of I-95 from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. During this time, 30 to 40 mph winds with gusts up to 60 mph are possible, and on the Cape and Islands, gusts could reach 65 mph. The weather service predicts that travel will be difficult during the windstorm, especially for vehicles which sit high off the ground. It advises those who must drive to drive with caution, and for residents to stay in the lower levels of their home and avoid windows. A wind advisory is also in effect in central Massachusetts from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, and in western Massachusetts from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. In these areas of the state, the weather service predicts 20 to 30 mph winds, with gusts up to 55 mph. During the storm Monday, winds are expected to be between 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph in some areas of Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service Flooding is possible west of I-95, especially in western Mass. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the western half of Massachusetts. It is in effect from 7 a.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Monday in the Worcester and Springfield areas, and from 7 a.m Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday in the Pittsfield area. In these parts of the state, excessive runoff may cause rivers to flood, and creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, according to the weather service. Additional flooding may occur in urban areas with poor drainage. Read more: The Geminid meteor shower is expected to blaze across the night sky The western halves of Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties and the eastern half of Berkshire County are expected to get the most rain, with 3 to 4 total inches possible, according to the weather service. Springfield, Pittsfield and Great Barrington should all miss the heaviest rain, but will likely still see two to three inches, as will central Massachusetts west of I-95. East of I-95, the weather service predicts 1.5 to 2 inches of rain, except for the South Coast, Cape and Islands. The South Coast, Martha’s Vineyard and western Cape should see an inch to an inch and a half of rain, while Nantucket and the eastern Cape can expect a half inch to an inch. During the storm Monday, winds are expected to be between 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph in some areas of Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service When the storm will hit each part of the state The storm will hit the western half of the state first, and the Pittsfield area could experience a drizzle as early as 11 a.m. Sunday. According to the weather service, Springfield and Worcester have a 30% chance of rain beginning 2 p.m. Sunday, while all areas of the state should start experiencing rain by 8 p.m. The weather service expects the rain to stick around across the state through Monday, and taper off gradually through Tuesday and Tuesday night. Chances of rain volley between 60% and 30% across the state beginning Monday night and ending overnight Tuesday. Snow is possible later on Tuesday in some areas of the state, according to the weather service. Pittsfield has a 50% chance of snow beginning 7 p.m. Tuesday, while Worcester has a 40% chance of snow up until 11 p.m. that day. The weather should be cool and clear the rest of the week Lows overnight Sunday are predicted to drop into the upper 40s before a jump into the upper 50s and low 60s during the day Monday, according to the weather service. Most of Massachusetts is expected to see highs in the mid to high 40s on Tuesday, and then highs in the low 40s and upper 30s the rest of the week. The weather service predicts lows overnight Monday to be in the low 40s and then drop into the low 30s and upper 20s the rest of the week. Skies across the state are expected clear on Wednesday and should stay clear into the weekend.

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How to watch Browns vs. Texans week 16 matchup, stream for free

The Cleveland Browns will face the Houston Texans on Sunday, December 24 for a week 16 AFC matchup. The game is scheduled to start at 1 and will be broadcast on CBS. 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. Through the end of 2023, fuboTV is also offering $20 off the first two months of subscription (in addition to the 7-day free trial). Paramount+ is also an option to stream NFL games and offers free trials for new users. The Texans will likely be without star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud for a second straight game as he recovers from a concussion. If he can’t go, the Texans will start veteran Case Keenum after the 35-year-old helped them to a 19-16 overtime win at Tennessee last week in his first start since the 2021 season. Cleveland (9-5) enters the weekend with a one-game lead over the rest of the wild-card field, which includes four teams with eight wins (including Houston) and two with seven. Who: Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans When: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. EST Where: NRG Stadium 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: CLEVELAND (9-5) at HOUSTON (8-6) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS OPENING LINE: Browns by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook. AGAINST THE SPREAD: Browns 8-5-1; Texans 7-7. SERIES RECORD: Texans lead 7-6. LAST MEETING: Browns beat Texans 27-14 on Dec. 4, 2022, in Houston. LAST WEEK: Browns beat Bears 20-17; Texans beat Titans 19-16 in OT. BROWNS OFFENSE: OVERALL (17), RUSH (10), PASS (21), SCORING (T12). BROWNS DEFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (11), PASS (1), SCORING (12). TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (22), PASS (5), SCORING (T14). TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (6), PASS (25), SCORING (15). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Browns minus-7; Texans plus-8. BROWNS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Joe Flacco. The 38-year-old has jumped from the couch into crunch time with Cleveland, which signed him on Nov. 20 after Deshaun Watson was lost for the season. Last week, in his third start for the Browns, Flacco passed for a season-high 374 yards — 212 in the fourth quarter — in the comeback win. The Super Bowl 47 MVP gives the Browns an experienced QB with poise and plenty of big-game experience. He’s had success against the Texans in the past, going 5-2 in seven games. TEXANS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Case Keenum. The 35-year-old veteran is likely to get his second straight start with star rookie C.J. Stroud still in the concussion protocol. Keenum threw for 229 yards with a touchdown and an interception last week in his first action of the season and his first start since the 2021 season. He’s won three straight starts for Houston after leading the Texans to victories in the final two games of the 2014 season. KEY MATCHUP: Browns DE Myles Garrett vs. Texans RT George Fant and LT Laremy Tunsil. Cleveland’s star has been switching sides more frequently as Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz tries to get him into more 1-on-1 matchups. It usually takes two — and sometimes three — to block Garrett, but Tunsil one of the NFL’s best has more than held his own in previous matchups. KEY INJURIES: Like the Texans, the Browns have been hit hard by major injuries. Last week, they lost both starting tackles, a safety and two defensive linemen for the season. ... Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. is out after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday. Walker is a team captain and signal caller for the league’s top-ranked defense. ... Browns All-Pro LG Joel Bitonio (back) should return after leaving last week’s game in the first quarter. ... Browns DE Ogbo Okoronwko (pectoral) and S Juan Thornhill (calf) are also out. ... Houston DE Will Anderson, the third overall in the draft, could miss a second straight game with an ankle injury. … WR Nico Collins sat out last week with a hamstring injury but returned to practice this week and should play. … S Jimmie Ward will likely miss Sunday’s game after sustaining a concussion last week. SERIES NOTES: The Browns and Texans have been intertwined in the past few years because of the controversial trade of Watson, who starred for four seasons with Houston. … Cleveland has won three straight in the series. … The Texans won five in a row against the Browns before their current skid. … These teams first met in Houston’s inaugural season in 2002 when the Browns got a 34-17 victory in Cleveland. STATS AND STUFF: The Browns are closing in on just their second playoff berth since 2002. A win all but guarantees them a wild-card spot. There are eight scenarios in which they can clinch this weekend. ... The Browns have only reached double-digit wins twice (2007, 2020) since 1999. ... Flacco is the fourth QB to start for the Browns, who are the seventh team in the Super Bowl era to win with four QBs in the same season. ... Garrett has gone without a sack in four games, but not for lack of trying. Garrett has been frustrated that officials have ignored holding calls against him. He was fined $25,000 by the NFL last week for criticizing the refs. He’s been dominant despite the lack of sacks, affecting virtually every play. ... Brown TE David Njoku had a career-high 10 catches for 104 yards and a TD last week. He’s got 16 receptions for 195 yards and three TDs the past two weeks. ... Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is 9-0 vs. the AFC South. ... WR Amari Cooper needs 15 yards for his seventh career 1,000-yard season. ... Of K Dustin Hopkins’ league-high 33 field goals, four have been game-winners. Last week, his 34-yarder with 32 seconds left gave the Browns their first lead of the game. ... Houston RB Devin Singletary had a career-high 170 yards of offense last week, the most by a running back in franchise history since Lamar Miller had 178 in 2016. Singletary had 97 yards of offense in his previous game against Cleveland last season with Buffalo. … Collins has 808 yards receiving and six touchdowns in seven home games this season. He has had at least 100 yards receiving and a TD in his past two home games. … WR Noah Brown had eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown last week. … TE Dalton Schultz had 58 yards receiving last week and has a TD catch in four of his past five home games. He had 72 yards receiving and a touchdown reception in his only game against Cleveland in 2020 with Dallas. … DE Jonathan Greenard led the team with 2½ sacks and forced a fumble last week. He has a career-high 12½ sacks this season. … DT Maliek Collins had five tackles and 1½ sacks last week. … CB Desmond King led the team with a career-high 11 tackles and had two tackles for losses and a sack against Tennessee. … CB Steven Nelson had his fourth interception of the season last week. … K Ka’imi Fairbairn was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after making four field goals last week, capped by a 54-yarder as time expired in overtime to lift Houston to the victory. His 54-yard kick is tied for the longest in overtime this season and he was the only kicker in the NFL last week to make multiple field goals longer than 50 yards. FANTASY TIP: Singletary could be a good pickup this week with Houston likely to rely more on its running game if Stroud remains out. The fifth-year pro has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of his past six games and has scored three touchdowns in that stretch. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press contributed to this article

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How to watch MTVs Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta new episode for free Jan. 9

The 11th season of MTV’s “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” continues with a new episode this Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the network. Those without cable can watch the new episode for free through Philo, DirecTV Stream or FuboTV, each of which offer a free trial to new users. “The cast includes Mimi Faust, the ex-girlfriend of Grammy-winning producer Stevie J; Trinidadian R&B singer Karlie Redd; ‘raptress’ Jessica Dime; and Atlanta rapper/entrepreneur Rasheeda,” FuboTV said in a description of the series. In the new episode, “after a tough year, things are taking a turn for the better for the Atlanta crew; Spice and Renni begin their journey to heal; Scrappy is single and ready to mingle; Karlie levels up to making hits; Sierra struggles with the end of her marriage.” How can I watch MTV’s “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” for free without cable? Those without cable can watch the new episode for free through either Philo, DirecTV Stream or FuboTV, each of which offer a free trial to new users. What is Philo? Philo is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers 60+ entertainment and lifestyle channels, like AMC, BET, MTV, Comedy Central and more, for the budget-friendly price of $25/month. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports.

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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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Springfield Marine training in Japan near Mount Fuji (Photos)

Western Massachusetts may get five inches of rain on Monday amid a storm that has brought high winds and heavy rainfall across the state, according to the National Weather Service. While temperatures across the state are expected to be warm, in the upper 50s and low 60s, the storm’s worst impacts are expected to occur Monday, the weather service said. Heavy rain may lead to flooding in Western Massachusetts and on the coast, and strong winds are expected to cause widespread power outages. [630 AM] A steady moderate to heavy rain this morning will transition to showers this afternoon. Street/highway flooding will continue along with strong to damaging winds. Strongest winds occur this morning into midday for #CapeCod & Islands. #MAwx #RIwx #CTwx pic.twitter.com/RK3SmJruqM — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) December 18, 2023 Heavy rain and flooding By 7:30 a.m., some areas of western Massachusetts had already received over 2 inches of rain. National Weather Service Meteorologist Torry Dooley said a weather spotter in Westfield had recorded 2.25 inches, while a spotter in Williamsburg had recorded 2.8 inches. The western halves of Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties and the eastern half of Berkshire County are expected to get the most rain, with up to five inches possible, according to the weather service. Springfield, Pittsfield and Great Barrington should all miss the heaviest rain, but will likely still see two to three inches, as will central Massachusetts west of I-95. East of I-95, the weather service predicts 1.5 to 2 inches of rain, except for the South Coast, Cape and Islands. The South Coast, Martha’s Vineyard and western Cape should see an inch to an inch and a half of rain, while Nantucket and the eastern Cape can expect a half inch to an inch. A flood watch is in effect until 7 p.m. Monday in Worcester and Springfield and until 5 a.m. Tuesday in Pittsfield. In these parts of the state, excessive runoff may cause rivers to flood, and creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, according to the weather service. Additional flooding may occur in urban areas with poor drainage. High winds and power outages According to the National Weather Service, by 6:30 a.m., a weather spotter in Goshen had recorded wind gusts of 63 mph. Meanwhile, in Norwood, wind gusts up to 56 mph had been recorded, and gusts around 52 mph were recorded in Taunton, New Bedford and Plymouth. A high wind warning is in effect in southeastern Middlesex, Suffolk and eastern Norfolk and Plymouth Counties until 7 p.m. Monday. Winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are expected in these areas, according to the weather service. The weather service predicts the winds will blow down trees and power lines, causing widespread power outages. Travel will also be difficult, especially in vehicles that are high off the ground. Read more: Snow possible in Western and Central Massachusetts on Tuesday Peak winds are expected to occur between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday. The weather service advises those who must drive to drive with caution, and for residents to stay in the lower levels of their home and avoid windows. A wind advisory is also in effect in central Massachusetts until 7 p.m. Monday, and in western Massachusetts until 4 p.m. Monday. In these areas of the state, the weather service predicts 20 to 30 mph winds, with gusts up to 55 mph. Storm timeline The National Weather Service expects the storm’s worst impacts to continue into the early afternoon Monday, but that the heavy rain and high winds will taper off by the end of the afternoon. The National Weather Service expects Monday's storm to peak in the morning and taper off by the afternoon.National Weather Service Massachusetts will experience some scattered thunderstorms Tuesday, but they are not expected to be impactful, the weather service said. Areas of high elevation in the Worcester Hills and the Berkshires could experience light snow amid the rain. The rest of the week is expected to be clear and cool, according to the weather service.

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Clown Cardio Doesnt Take Exercise Seriously

Whenever Alex Lee mentions Clown Cardio, he is met with some confusion. “People will say, ‘What is that? People dressed like clowns chasing after you?’” Mr. Lee, a 42-year-old technical writer who lives in Los Angeles, said after a recent class. No one’s wearing face paint or red noses — nor are they necessarily chasing anyone (more on that later) — but this hourlong session, which costs $20, incorporated a bicycle horn, mini circus tents from Ikea and carnival-style popcorn boxes. Jaymie Parkkinen, who founded the class at Pieter Performance Space in Los Angeles, compiles theater games usually reserved for improv warm-ups and turns them into aerobic exercises with clown-themed props: a game similar to blob tag, wherein the tagged link arms and chase everyone; a more chaotic version of musical chairs; a circus tent version of Capture the Flag; disorderly dance competitions. When Mr. Parkkinen wants to expand the class’s repertoire, he visits Los Angeles’s Central Library and peruses the performance section; recently he was inspired by exercises found in a 1920s book for vaudevillians.

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Its Bill Nyes birthday. Lets celebrate his simple climate change explanations

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. Bill Nye has been the mainstay of widespread, reliable, easy-to-explain science for generations. He was catapulted to fame off the back of his popular science show, Bill Nye the Science Guy, gaining a sort of Mr. Rogers-level status as funny, affable and trustworthy. The Washington D.C.-born Cornell graduate, who will be 68 on Monday, hosted his science show from 1993 to 1999, but never relinquished his role as the nation’s favorite pop-scientist. He started out as a Boeing engineer before quitting in 1986 to pursue his burgeoning stand-up career. But it wasn’t long before he was able to marry both his passions: science and entertainment. In later years, he took off the science training wheels and publicly entered into the gritty and sordid world of climate science, often appearing on mainstream TV and even meeting presidents to discuss climate threats. He also had a Netflix show, Bill Nye Saves the World. There’s no doubt that climate change is already a complicated subject, further muddled by the various oppositional political narratives and the science community’s difficulty in explaining some of the more paradoxical and counterintuitive ways the Earth’s climate systems interact. Among them: why drought can make flash flooding more likely or why warmer weather can lead to increased snowfall in some regions. Bill Nye’s approach is even more straightforward, as he sticks to the basics. Here are some of his simple explanations that should help you decode the confusing world of climate change. 1. What is climate change? Climate change refers to the rapid increase in Earth’s temperature, primarily attributed to human activities since the Industrial Revolution. In the last century, the Earth has warmed by 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with significant changes not due to natural Earth’s orbit variations but to human-induced factors. This includes increased greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, leading to trapped solar radiation and a warmer planet. 2. Why are oceans most at risk? Climate change’s profound impact on oceans includes warming temperatures, which have risen by over 23 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969. This warming leads to ocean acidification, with a 30% increase in surface acidification since the late 18th century, endangering marine life like oysters, clams, and corals. Over 1 billion people rely on the sea to find their primary source of protein. Additionally, climate change contributes to rising sea levels, which have increased by 6.7 inches in the last century but doubled over the last decade due to melting glaciers and ice sheets. This results in coastal flooding and disruptions to ecosystems and human settlements. 3. What does melting ice do? Since 1994, each year, on average, the Earth has lost 400 billion tons from its glaciers. That is the equivalent of an ice cube four miles on every side melting and flowing into the sea. When that ice melts, just like a bathtub, the shores can’t hold all that water and it overflows. 4. 4. How to stop global warming? Key actions include reducing carbon monoxide and methane emissions, primarily achieved by ceasing to burn fossil fuels. He advocates for transitioning to alternative energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and potentially nuclear fusion in the future. These sources would provide ample electricity globally, allowing us to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere eventually. He urges immediate action to begin this crucial process. While he does believe humans can make some changes through individual actions, he says voting for politicians who believe in climate change is the fastest and most effective way to make a change. 5. How does climate change affect humans and animals? Climate change has led to water restrictions in regions like California due to reduced mountain snowfall, which traditionally served as natural water storage. This decrease in available water affects agriculture, leading to potential food shortages and higher prices, disproportionately impacting poorer communities. For animals, climate change is altering their habitats and behaviors. Notably, insects, like certain beetles, thrive in warmer temperatures, causing widespread tree death. This, in turn, exacerbates forest fires fueled by dead trees and milder winters. These fires release more carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change and destroying ecosystems and wildlife, creating a vicious cycle of environmental damage.

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Opinion | The Things We Disagree on About Gaza

I’ve been very critical of Israel’s counterattack on Gaza, which appears to have killed a woman or child about once every eight minutes for the past three months. Many of my readers and friends disagree with these columns and are pained by what they see as my unfairness toward Israel. Too often, opinionated people bypass the most compelling arguments on the other side. Let me instead try to confront head-on the kinds of criticism I’ve received: Israel was attacked. Children were butchered. Women were raped. So why are you criticizing Israel rather than the Hamas terrorists who started this war? That’s a fair question. Yes, Hamas started this war with its brutal attack on civilians, and it has been indifferent to Palestinian lives. As someone who has reported regularly from Gaza over the years, I’m aghast at the admiration some American leftists show for an organization as cruel, misogynistic and economically incompetent as Hamas; it’s an echo of the left’s appalling admiration for Mao a half-century ago. Israel was understandably shattered by what happened on Oct. 7, and I appreciate that trauma and share that sadness. But Hamas’s indifference to human life must never be an excuse for us to become indifferent. It’s too late to save those massacred on Oct. 7, but we can still try to reduce the toll in Gaza this month and this year.

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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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3 Sumptuous Palaces to Explore on Your Spanish Vacation

One of the most important cultural events in Madrid in recent years was the public opening, just before the pandemic, of a collection that had been sitting behind the closed doors of a private palace for about 200 years. The Palacio de Liria, the grand 18th-century home of the Alba family — among Spain’s (and Europe’s) oldest and most storied aristocratic families — is set in a tranquil garden just steps from the bustling Plaza de España in central Madrid. Often compared to the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace of Madrid for the masterpieces it contains and the noble residents who lived there, the house is filled with works by Titian, Rubens, Velázquez, Goya and other artists favored by the Spanish court. There are also vast literary and historic archives, as well as letters written from the Americas by the explorers Columbus, Pizarro and Cortés. Since assuming the title in 2014, the 19th (and current) duke, Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, through the Casa de Alba Foundation, decided to share his family’s treasures with the world — an effort that began in 2015 with the opening of other singular family properties like the Palacio de las Dueñas in Seville and the Palacio de Monterrey in Salamanca. Here is a tour of those three sumptuous palaces, along with a stop in the small town of Alba de Tormes.

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A Record-Breaking Warm, Snowless Winter Confounds Midwesterners

Lucy Wallace, a recent transplant from San Diego, had been warned about the bone-chilling winters of her new hometown, Minneapolis. She bought a $900 winter coat, two pairs of boots and metal spikes to make her running shoes usable on icy sidewalks. So she was at once befuddled and relieved by the record-breaking warm temperatures that made for a rare snowless winter holiday week in much of the upper Midwest. “I spent hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe and winter gear that so far has gone totally unused,” said Ms. Wallace, 35, who ran five miles on Christmas Day wearing a T-shirt. “Here I am wearing my San Diego wardrobe in December in Minneapolis.” A high of 54 degrees made this Christmas Day the warmest on record in the Minneapolis area, according to the National Weather Service. Across much of the region, people contended with a string of days heading into the new year that felt like a mild autumn. Ice fishing was particularly perilous on lakes covered by thin ice caps.

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What Went Wrong for Ron DeSantis in 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida woke up in Iowa with a familiar political headache. The man he is chasing in the polls, Donald J. Trump, had just been disqualified from the ballot in Colorado in yet another legal assault that Mr. Trump leveraged to cast himself as a victim. And so Mr. DeSantis trod carefully the next morning outside Des Moines when he called Mr. Trump a “high-risk” choice, alluding to “all the other issues” — 91 felony counts, four indictments, the Colorado ruling — facing the former president. “I don’t think it’s fair,” Mr. DeSantis said. “But it’s reality.” He was talking about Mr. Trump’s predicament. But he could just as easily have been talking about his own. Boxed in by a base enamored with Mr. Trump that has instinctively rallied to the former president’s defense, Mr. DeSantis has struggled for months to match the hype that followed his landslide 2022 re-election. Now, with the first votes in the Iowa caucuses only weeks away on Jan. 15, Mr. DeSantis has slipped in some polls into third place, behind Nikki Haley, and has had to downsize his once-grand national ambitions to the simple hopes that a strong showing in a single state — Iowa — could vault him back into contention. For a candidate who talks at length about his own disinterest in “managing America’s decline,” people around Mr. DeSantis are increasingly talking about managing his.

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Woburn mans ashes will fly into space with those of Gene Roddenberry

A Woburn, Massachusetts, native will soon share a spacecraft with several actors from the original “Star Trek” series, heading out into deep space on a flight referred to as the Enterprise flight. However, it’s not for a new movie or TV series. Some of the ashes of Francis “Fran” Gillis, along with the DNA and ashes of 264 individuals, will be aboard a spacecraft heading for deep space launched from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 8. Gillis, 67, died on July 20, 2018, according to his obituary shared by Celestis, a company that conducts memorial spaceflights that orbit remains, DNA or digital make-ups and genetic codes on MindFiles around Earth, the moon and, beginning on Jan. 8, into deep space. “He would talk about ‘adventure,’” his sister Jacqueline Gillis, of Hudson, said to MassLive. “He was an avid reader of science fiction, an adventurer; he loved the outdoors and had an interest in science and was a ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars’ fan. He knew after he died, he wanted to go into deep space.” Gillis went to Woburn High School and was active in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, eventually receiving an Army scholarship to Northeastern University and serving 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. All throughout his life, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America, now known as BSA Scouts, and had an appreciation of the outdoors. He served as scoutmaster of Troop 629 in Johns Creek, Ga., until his death. Gillis died suddenly while making a drive up to the Continental Divide in Canada after meeting with a nephew in Idaho — “He loved to drive,” Jacqueline said. He was a bachelor and a loyal brother to five siblings, uncle to eight nieces and nephews and great-uncle to eight grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as a devoted scout leader. With Gillis’ journey into the final frontier, Jacqueline said the family was curious about watching a part of their loved one be sent into space, someone who she always saw “with a science fiction novel in his hands.” In discussing his will, an accountant expressed uncertainty over spending Gillis’ money to send some of his ashes into space. It was at that moment, according to Jacqueline, that a light overhead in Gillis’ house flickered. The moment assured her that her brother’s final wish to go into deep space “was meant to be,” she said. The inaugural flight, called the Enterprise Flight, but properly known as the Deep Space Voyager Mission, will house on the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket the partial remains and DNA of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife and “Star Trek” actress Majel Barrett Roddenberry, along with actors Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan and DeForest Kelley — who played Lt. Uhura, engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, respectively — among others from the show. Capsule containing the remains of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, along with several actors from the original series, will be launched into deep space from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 8. Courtesy of Celestis Memorial Spaceflight.Celestis Part of Gillis’ ashes interred at Arlington National Cemetery were removed and sent to Celestis, Jacqueline said. The request made of her was to send two grams of ashes, one to go onboard the Enterprise flight and another as a backup in case there is a problem with the launch. Majel Barrett watched Celestis’ first commercial spaceflight in 1997, Celestis president Colby Youngblood told MassLive on Friday. When she spoke with CEO Charles Chafer, he promised her that he would send her and her late husband’s ashes into space one day. Over time, the company became close with actors from the original series, Youngblood said, and they made it their wish to have part of their remains sent into deep space one day. Even Roddenberry and Barrett’s son, Rod — “very much alive,” Youngblood noted — has a DNA swab from his cheek inside a capsule that will also take part in the Enterprise flight. The craft will even have hair samples belonging to former presidents George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. The company was gifted a collection of hair samples of historical figures and celebrities with the idea they could one day be launched into deep space, Youngblood said. “We chose three presidents who we felt would be honored by this first voyage into deep space,” he said, adding that approval was made with the estates and foundations of the three American presidents. Capsules containing remains of over 200 individuals, including "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry and "Star Trek" actors Majel Barrett, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols and James Doohan, will launch into deep space on Celestis Memorial Spaceflight's Enterprise Flight on Jan. 8, 2024. Courtesy of Celestis Memorial Spaceflight.Celestis The rocket will launch a Peregrine Lunar Lander on the Moon carrying 70 capsules, while the Enterprise flight will continue into an orbit around the sun, Youngblood said. Once orbit is achieved, the Enterprise flight — by then referred to as the Enterprise Station by Celestis — will become the human race’s “furthest outpost — where it will journey endlessly, perhaps awaiting discovery by a distant-in-time civilization.” Celestis was founded in 1994 by a team of entrepreneurs, retired astronauts and pioneers of the commercial space age. Since 1997, it has launched 17 missions into space and as a company “engages licensed funeral directors, maintains a trust fund licensed and audited by the Texas Department of Banking, and is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau,” its website said. Memorial spaceflight experiences through Celestis range in price. The starting price to be launched into space and then brought back to Earth is $2,995, while being launched into Earth’s orbit hikes up to $4,995, according to Celestis’ website. Being launched to the moon to go either into its orbit or land on its surface starts at $12,995, and being part of the Deep Space Voyager missions shares the same starting price. “We have to price them so that every person can partake in (a space flight),” Youngblood said. “How do we do that? We take our largest missions, like the Voyager Mission, or the lunar service, and we price those competitively with the average U.S. funeral, which is $15,000.” While each of these options creates what the website describes as “permanent memorials,” the Earth orbit service ends in the spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere and “harmlessly vaporizing like a shooting star in a final tribute.” The launch is expected to be at 2:18 a.m. on Monday, Jacqueline said. In case of any delays, she said it could be pushed to Jan. 9, Jan. 10 or Jan. 11 at around the same time. One of Gillis’ nephews will go to Florida to watch the launch, while Jacqueline and the family hope to be awake to say one more farewell. “I’m thrilled for him,” she said. “What fun! What a bang for his buck.”

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Families of Hostages in Gaza Are Desperate for Proof of Life

“We share the frustration. We understand the pain,” said Jason Straziuso, a spokesman for the Red Cross. “We’re not bulletproof, and it’s not possible for us to walk into a conflict zone in hostile territory without permission — to walk up to a group of people, most certainly holding guns that they will use, and demand that they let us inside. It’s not possible.” The Red Cross has about 130 employees in Gaza, he said, giving it some ability to deliver humanitarian aid and to visit the scenes of destruction from the war. But even with that access, meeting with the hostages requires an agreement with Hamas. Mr. Straziuso said Red Cross officials were talking to Hamas, Israel, the United States and other nations about the condition of the hostages. But those talks have been shrouded in secrecy. In a statement on Monday, the Red Cross said the group is “insisting that our teams be allowed to visit the hostages to check on their welfare,” but added that “the I.C.R.C. does not take part in negotiations leading to the release of hostages. As a neutral humanitarian intermediary, we remain ready to facilitate any future release that the parties to the conflict agree to.” Separate discussions about a possible release of some hostages are being conducted through intermediaries, with Israel and the United States communicating with Hamas only by way of messages passed back and forth by negotiators in Egypt and Qatar. A leader of Hamas said in October that not all of the Israeli hostages who were taken to Gaza were being held by the group, a claim that most likely complicates negotiations for their release. Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas’s political bureau in Lebanon, said other groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a separate organization that is an ally of Hamas, were also holding some of the hostages. In late October, Israeli forces rescued one hostage, and four others were released by Hamas about a week earlier. But there have been no further breakthroughs. Warring nations have blocked the Red Cross from visiting hostages or prisoners of war in previous conflicts. In 2022, eight months into the war between Ukraine and Russia, the Red Cross still had little access to prisoners held by either side. In a statement at the time, the group wrote that “blaming the I.C.R.C. for being denied full and immediate access does not help prisoners of war or their families.” But the fact that there is no definitive playbook in the case of hostages during wartime, no exact timing for reporting about whether they are dead or alive leaves the family members with little to hold on to as the days slowly pass. Liz Hirsh Naftali, the great-aunt of Abigail Idan, recounted on NBC News how the 3-year-old Abigail watched on Oct. 7 as Hamas fighters shot and killed her mother and ran with her father and two siblings. “Abigail was in her father’s arms,” Ms. Naftali said on “NBC Nightly News” with Lester Holt. “And as they ran, a terrorist shot him and killed him, and he fell onto Abigail.” She added, “We learned that Abigail actually had crawled out from under her father’s body and, full of his blood, went to a neighbor, and they took her in.” Hamas later seized the neighbor, her three children and Abigail, Ms. Naftali said. Rachel Goldberg, who is married to Mr. Polin, and other family members have said they have no idea when — or whether — they will discover anything definitive about their loved ones. Ms. Goldberg detailed the grief of a mother who has no idea if her son is alive “or if you died yesterday, or if you died five minutes ago.” (In 2004, before moving to Israel, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg’s son, Hersh, attended the same preschool as my children in Richmond, Va.) Inside Israel, where the faces of the hostages are plastered everywhere on posters that proclaim them “KIDNAPPED,” activists have mounted an aggressive campaign to demand swifter action from the Red Cross.

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How to watch Lego Masters season 4 finale for free Dec. 14

The three remaining teams have 24 hours to create a massive build complete with storytelling creativity and technical aspects in the season finale of “Lego Masters” airing on Thursday, December 14 on FOX. The season finale of season 4 will air at 9 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FOX. Viewers looking to stream the premiere can do so by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. Both streaming services offer free trials. According to a description of the show by FOX, in “Lego Masters,” teams of two LEGO® enthusiasts go head-to-head, with infinite possibilities and an unlimited supply of LEGO® bricks. “Throughout the competition, host Will Arnett and expert judges encourage the amateur builders, introduce incredible challenges and put the creations to the test,” according to FOX. The competing pairs who impress the judges the most progress to the next round. In the finale, the top teams face off for a cash prize, the ultimate LEGO trophy and the grand title of LEGO® MASTERS. In the season finale, the three remaining teams have 24 hours to create a massive build complete with storytelling, creativity and technical aspects to take home a $100,000 cash prize, the ultimate LEGO trophy and the title of LEGO Masters. Here is a look at season 4 from FOX’s YouTube channel: How can I watch “Lego Masters” without cable? The season finale of season 4 will air at 9 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FOX. Viewers looking to stream the premiere can do so by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. Both streaming services offer free trials. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports.

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Bright billboard in Bostons South End prompts frustration - Boston News, Weather, Sports

BOSTON (WHDH) - There is growing frustration in Boston’s South End over a bright billboard in the area. The billboard overlooks the Expressway and has recently been the subject of complaints from area residents. Speaking with 7NEWS, some residents shared their thoughts. “We constantly see it and we’re like ‘Is that the sun? What is going on?” said resident Ryan Zoldowski. “We’ve noticed that it’s really, really bright, at times,” Zoldowski continued. Zoldowski said he needed to get blackout curtains in order to sleep at night. Fellow area resident Stephanie Rivera said she has also been disrupted by the light. “It literally goes into my bedroom…” Rivera said. “So, it’s a little bit disturbing trying to sleep.” Zoldowski said billboards have been in place in the past. This one, though, is very different. “It’s not something you want while living in the city of Boston, paying Boston city rent,” Rivera said. As she and others file complaints, Rivera said she is hoping the billboard can be taken down “as soon as possible.” If that is not possible, Zoldowski asked for the next best thing, asking for the brightness to be turned down. “It is very fluorescent and super bright,” he said. “Obviously they’ve spent a lot of money putting it up, so I don’t know how quickly they can take it down or change it,”’ he continued. “But at least turning the brightness down would be something.” 7NEWS reached out to the city of Boston and the company behind the billboard but did not hear back Wednesday night. (Copyright (c) 2023 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Bondis Island workers say theyre doing public works construction, deserve more money under prevailing wage law

SPRINGFIELD — Workers who replace and maintain equipment for the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission — including bridges over the wastewater tanks at Bondi’s Island in Agawam — say they are doing construction on a public works project and deserve more money under the state’s prevailing wage law. Their employer — Veolia Water Contract Operations USA Inc., which has a deal with the commission lasting until 2040 — argues that the prevailing wage law does not apply because its contract was awarded for expertise, not as lowest bidder; Veolia maintains that the law was meant for the latter, to combat wage shaving. The employer cites a Supreme Judicial Court ruling from 2023. This is according to sets of motions for summary judgment filed by both parties in late December, as the 2021 case winds its way through U.S. District Court in Springfield.

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Beer Nut: Too many options are better than fewer

On a recent trip, I met a bartender named Nick who hailed from Belgium. Having never been there, I grilled him about certain Belgian beers and how they were viewed in his homeland. We covered a wide span of topics, but what found most interesting about our chat was Nick’s combination of semi-surprise and minor confusion – let’s call it puzzlement – over the seemingly endless plethora of beer choices outside his country. Belgium is known for some of the best beers going, but Nick said he was amazed about how many variations of the same styles can be found even in one bar. He said that in Belgium, most bars might have between five and eight taps, but also more bottled beer than in many other countries he’s been to. It certainly didn’t seem like a complaint. Likewise, I sometimes ruminate on the cornucopia of beer choices with at least a small bit of bemusement. And like Nick, my thoughts don’t represent any sort of criticism. But I do wonder if the seemingly endless parade of variety is necessary. There doesn’t seem to be any downside: “the more, the merrier” and all that sort of thing, right? And people love having choices and options. I know I do. But Nick mentioned one problem with having so many options in one bar. “It would be hard to control myself and not try them all,” he said, tongue in cheek. This led me to wonder if there is such a thing as too many choices. I’m sure we’ve all faced decisions where the options seemed overwhelming and we wished for a narrower field of choices. Sometimes certain details of a decision aren’t that important to us, and we’d just rather not have to deal with them. With beer, I have seen customers walk into a bar with dozens of beers on tap and look a bit bewildered. Maybe they’re new to craft beer or maybe they’re just casual fans. Now, let’s assume that they know they like IPAs in general, but aren’t overly familiar with all the nuances the style has to offer. They stare at the beer menu or lineup of tap handles and see four or five different IPAs (which isn’t unusual these days). While a lot of beer bars gladly give out samples, Nick winced a little about dealing with this type of situation. “I can see giving two or three tastes, but not five,” he said. And even for me, having a surfeit of choices can give me pause. Sometimes it’s just difficult to make up your mind. What if you choose wrong? Well, the good thing about beer is that you can always choose again. And that’s better than having restricted options, right?

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MBTA readies plan to expand low-cost fares

Where are the best places to shop? Who gives the best haircut? Who cooks the best burger? Vote today for "Best of Readings". Vote!

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3 Patriots vs. Chiefs predictions

Patrick Mahomes returns to Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon, but his weapons aren’t exactly stockpiled. The Chiefs will be without top running back Isiah Pacheco, Travis Kelce has begun slowing down at 34, and despite having a generational talent at quarterback, no wideout on the roster has topped 700 receiving yards in mid-December. This isn’t the Kansas City offense fans are accustomed to seeing, but will it still be enough to knock off the woeful 3-10 Patriots? Let’s get to the predictions and find out: 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. 1. Mixed bag for Zappe Eyeing his third start, Bailey Zappe’s self-confidence has become very evident. He’s not afraid to take some risks and throw downfield, and against this Chiefs defense, that may be a blessing and a curse. “You say cool, calm, and collected mentality but underneath that shell of him, he has a lot of confidence,” Zappe’s mentor Zach Kittley told MassLive this week. “You saw that. That swag and confidence he had when he threw that touchdown to Hunter Henry up the sideline (in Pittsburgh). You saw him get after it and show a lot of emotion. That’s really who he is at heart. He tries to stay even-keeled, but he has a lot of confidence. He really believes in himself.” The guess here is that confidence crescendos on Sunday and Zappe channels his inner Brett Favre, throwing two touchdown passes and two interceptions. Zappe believers will point to the touchdowns, detractors will bemoan the interceptions, and ultimately the truth will lie somewhere in the middle. 2. Taylor Swift shows up If readers are sick of Swift, feel free to scroll to prediction No. 3, but like it or not, she’s become a part of the Chiefs game day experience since she began dating Kelce. The bet here is that she shows up in Foxborough, even though this game was flexed out of Monday Night Football. Gillette is the first NFL stadium she ever played, and the pop star has now headlined more than a dozen shows there. For what it’s worth, it sounds like Zappe will be pleased when he won’t have to worry about Swift landmines anymore. After saying he wasn’t a fan of hers on Monday, he went out of his way to clarify his feelings on the pop star during his Wednesday afternoon press conference. “Listen to the whole quote. I said I’m not, not a fan,” Zappe said. “I used to be a fan. I’m a country guy. I listen to country music. She used to be country. There was times where, of course, Taylor Swift’s country songs came on. I’d listen to it. Now she’s moved over to pop. I’m not a pop guy. So, I’m a fan. I just don’t listen to that type of music. So, just to clear that up in there.” This is life as a 3-10 team at the bottom of the conference in December. 3. Kansas City wins Despite their attrition on the offensive side of the ball, Mahomes still finds a way to lift the Chiefs to a victory. New England’s offensive line struggles to handle Chris Jones, Zappe gifts Mahomes a couple short fields, and ultimately, Kansas City leaves Gillette Stadium with a 27-17 victory. Glass half full: The Patriots will still own the No. 2 overall pick heading into Week 16.

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

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

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Suffolk DA touts Bostons record-low homicides, high arrest rate in 2023

Boston experienced a record-low number of homicides and a high arrest and prosecution rate in 2023, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. There were 37 recorded homicides in the city in 2023, and two of the killings happened in 2022 but were not ruled homicides by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office until 2023, Hayden’s office said in a press release Sunday. Though, according to FBI crime data, that’s one more recorded homicide than in 2022, Boston’s 2023 homicide rate is far lower than that of other comparable cities. According to data provided by the district attorney’s office, cities of a comparable size, such as Washington D.C., Baltimore and Detroit, had a homicide rate of around 40 to 50 homicides per 100,000 people, which is about six to seven times greater than Boston’s. Boston’s homicide rate in 2023 was comparable to cities of a similar size such as San Francisco, which had a homicide rate of around six homicide per 100,000 people, according to data from Hayden’s office. Additionally, according to the Boston police data, shootings hit a record low in Boston in 2023 as well, and saw a 24% reduction from 2022. Hayden’s office also highlighted that arrests were made in 24 of the 37 homicide cases last year — an arrest rate of about 67.5%. Additionally, district attorney’s office achieved guilty verdicts in 12 of 13 homicide cases that went to trial last year. “This is a heartening story of increased cooperation and participation by members of our community and top-notch work by Boston police officers and homicide detectives, all combining to provide a slice of positive news in relation to this most terrible of crimes,” Hayden said. “No one is taking any victory laps here, especially when serious crime still disproportionately affects our communities of color, but it’s important to point out promising trends.” The district attorney said in the release that he felt communities in Boston reached an “enough is enough consensus” around killings in their neighborhoods, which led to positive change. Hayden also credited Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office of Neighborhood Services for increasing communication and cooperation with members of the public.

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Mass. corrections officer Tom Cooke dies of cancer after 27 years of service

Correction Officer Tom Cooke, an employee of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, died this week of cancer, the office said. In a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, the sheriff’s office announced “with a heavy heart” that Cooke died “following a courageous battle with cancer.” “As we mourn his loss, we ask that you keep the Cooke family, his friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers,” the message continued. Cooke, 55, was born in Winchester and died on Dec. 16, according to his obituary. The day before, fellow officers with the Middlesex Sheriff’s office accompanied Cooke from the hospital to be with loved ones, according to a video posted to Facebook. Cooke worked for the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office for 27 years, and enjoyed boating, camping and sports. “A music-lover, Tom enjoyed playing the guitar and drums, and loved rocking out with his son to classic bands like Zeppelin and Sabbath,” his obituary read. A funeral will be held on Saturday, Dec. 23, his obituary said.

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Speaker fight: Next GOP leader has a couple paths to success

But such thinking allows McCarthy to wriggle out of any blame for his fate — and suggests the next House speaker is automatically set up to fail. That’s not the case. For the record, 210 Republicans — or 96 percent of the Republican conference — voted to keep McCarthy as speaker. So the fact that eight Republicans could paralyze one of the country’s main legislative bodies was a clear sign that politics is broken. The moment after Kevin McCarthy became the first House speaker voted out of the role came the hand-wringing analysis that at such a fractious moment in the Republican party, no one could possibly do the job. Advertisement McCarthy didn’t create the mess that is the House Republicans, many of whom are more interested in trolling than governing. Indeed, McCarthy’s ouster on Tuesday was just the most extreme action of a movement that’s been going on for a dozen years dating back to the Tea Party era. Get Today in Politics A digest of the top political stories from the Globe, sent to your inbox Monday-Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Since then almost every Republican House speaker has been held captive by that wing of the party. “Almost” is the keyword there because one of them wasn’t. More on him later. To understand how the next speaker can succeed we need to recognize why McCarthy went down. First, he single-handedly welcomed Donald Trump back into the fold as de facto Republican Party leader after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. That move empowered the MAGA wing of the party — the very people who would humiliate McCarthy from the moment the first ballot for speaker was cast. Second, he gave up a lot of his power just to land the job. Third, McCarthy had a deep belief, as he said Tuesday in his candid press conference, that House Republicans should only negotiate with House Republicans. That is what truly ended his speakership. Advertisement So let’s talk about the next House speaker and how they might not just stay in office but govern effectively, including avoiding a government shutdown in November. None of those initially exploring a run for speaker — House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, or Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern — would have the power to suggest the party dump Trump immediately. Even if Trump is sitting in a courtroom, he remains one of the most dominant non-incumbent presidential candidates in history. No new Republican speaker can change that nor would they likely even try. Here are two other paths for the next speaker: Be Paul Ryan, not Kevin McCarthy Paul Ryan, who was speaker from 2015-2019, had a very unconventional path to the job. While he chaired the powerful budget committee, he was not a majority leader or even a whip on the leadership team. He was, however, a former vice presidential nominee suddenly back in the House. Ryan became speaker much in the same way that the next speaker will take over. Then-House Speaker John Boehner faced a similar motion to vacate brought by a single member. Boehner quit in October 2015 instead of sticking around to see if he would win. Instead of quickly announcing he would run for speaker, Ryan had people draft him to run. He said he would do it, and unite the warring factions, as long his Republican colleagues agreed to certain things that would let him do his job instead of always fighting internal battles. They agreed. Ryan then held the job until Republicans lost the House in 2018, a natural moment when many speakers retire. Advertisement In this case, anyone running for speaker should have their own set of demands before taking the chair. It’s not hard to imagine what one demand might be: raising the number of people needed to request a motion to vacate. They might suggest it could be, say, more than eight, the number who ousted McCarthy. Once elected speaker, pivot to be a dealmaker For all the talk about a broken political system and MAGA extremism, few utter the simple fact that McCarthy would still be speaker if just four Democrats had voted for him. Sure, Democrats as a full block could have saved McCarthy, but he only needed four he could offer something to: a plum committee assignment, a vote on a bill, funding for a certain project back home. Indeed, there are five Democrats representing districts Trump won, giving some members, like Maine’s Jared Golden, another opportunity to appear bipartisan back home. The next speaker, if they want to keep the job, can either say and promise anything to become the speaker and immediately figure out a way to work with either all Democrats or just enough Democrats to stay in power. This doesn’t mean becoming centrist. After all, McCarthy did have a majority of Republicans and Democrats vote for the debt ceiling and the resolution last weekend to keep the government open. If the next speaker can create a governing coalition, that person might be able to stay in office and business can actually get done. Advertisement James Pindell can be reached at james.pindell@globe.com. Follow him @jamespindell and on Instagram @jameswpindell.

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Why Red Soxs Trevor Story held winter camp to entrench himself with team

Here’s a quick guide on preventing that from happening and what to do if, despite your best efforts, it does. When temperatures dip below freezing, New England residents should brace for the possibility of pipes freezing in their homes. Yes. Writing previously in the Boston Globe, general contractor Rob Robillard said there are two types of pipe-freeze protection cables on the market: self-regulating and constant wattage. Constant-wattage cables, Robillard wrote, are designed to maintain a higher temperature and generally turn on when the surface of the pipe dips to 40 degrees. “Self-regulating heat cable has a special conductive core between two internal bus wires,” Robillard wrote. “The heating cable will increase its wattage per lineal foot in response to the cold. Smart, right?” Advertisement Absolutely. And Robillard said it’s important to install self-regulating cables on the bottom of the pipe and wrap the heat cable with pipe insulation to increase its efficiency and reduce heat loss. “Use aluminum-foil tape to cover and attach the heating cable to the pipe,” Robillard wrote. “Installing a heat-tracing system is not only cheap insurance, but it is a proactive and cost-effective way to protect your investment.” Disconnecting garden hoses, wrapping exposed pipes with insulating sleeves, and sealing foundation cracks that let in Arctic air can also help, he wrote in a separate column. What else can you use to keep pipes warm? On its website, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency says that newspapers (one of your old Boston Globe editions, perhaps?) can also do the trick. “Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered in plastic to prevent them from freezing,” the agency says. Also important: “Let a trickle of warm water run from a faucet to keep water moving through your pipes.” Don’t forget to open cabinet doors to expose plumbing pipes, especially if they are located next to outside walls. That allows room temperature air to circulate around the pipes, helping to keep them a bit warmer. Advertisement Should you turn the heat up? Keep the heat set to “at least 68 or 70,” said Carl Jonasson, owner of C.H. Jonasson Corp., a Needham-based plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractor. “It really takes more than a day [of extreme cold] to really cause a problem, unless you’ve got a draft against the pipe,” Jonasson said Thursday. “We may just slide through this [storm] anyway.” But what if the pipes freeze? Then what? Public safety officials advise calling a plumber right away, but if you can’t reach a professional and decide to take matters into your own hands, one tool to avoid under any circumstances is a blowtorch, Boston fire officials have said. Residents should instead treat frozen pipes with a hair dryer, officials say. Residents should “never use” an open flame to thaw pipes, MEMA advises on its website. “If your pipes freeze, open all faucets all the way, remove any insulation, and heat the frozen pipe with a hair dryer or wrap with towels soaked in hot water,” the site says. “Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.” An electric heating pad can also work, officials say. Be careful with other heating devices in the house during a deep freeze “It’s important to keep space heaters at least three feet from curtains, bedding, and anything else that can burn,” State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said in a statement. “Plug them directly into a wall socket, not an extension cord or a power strip, and remember that they’re intended for temporary use,” Ostroskey said. “Always turn a space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep.” Advertisement Residents should also exercise caution with fireplaces, wood stoves, and pellet stoves. “Open the dampener before lighting a fire; use only dry, seasoned wood; don’t use flammable liquids to start the fire; and keep a 3-foot ‘circle of safety’ around the fireplace or stove free of anything that can burn,” officials said. Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.

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Patriots vs. Giants: Free stream, TV, how to watch NFL Week 11 game

The New England Patriots are back from the bye week and back stateside as they head on the road to take on the New York Giants in a Week 11 NFL matchup. Sunday’s game will air on FOX, depending on your TV market. Fans can also watch the watch Patriots games for free by signing up for a free trial of fuboTV. LIVE STREAM: Sign up here to watch NFL games The Patriots are in the midst of a rough season at 2-8 as questions linger over the team’s quarterback situation -- and the future of Bill Belichick. New England will be taking on a Giants team that led by former Patriots coach Brian Daboll. Meanwhile, eyes will be on who handles quarterback duties for New England, whether it’s Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe. How to watch New England Patriots vs. New York Giants (NFL 2023 | Week 12) What time will the game start? What TV channel will it be on? - Sunday’s game will start at 1 p.m. from MetLife Stadium in New Rutherford, New Jersey. The game will air on TV via FOX, depending on your market. Will I get the Patriots game where I am? - Fans in most of Massachusetts and New England will get the Patriots game. However, availability elsewhere depends on broadcast rights. You can check out which game will be on TV here. How to live stream Patriots games: fuboTV | Sling | NFL+ | DirecTV - Fans can stream Sunday’s game from any of these services, provided the game is on in their area. DirecTV Stream and fuboTV offer free trials for games broadcast in your area. Meanwhile, NFL+ offers a free trial for broadcasts of your local area team. This only works for Patriots games if you live in New England. Fans who have a cable subscription can also use login credentials from their TV provider to watch games online or streaming on apps. Betting Odds, Spread: The line for this game has the Patriots favored by 3.5 points. More coverage via the Associated Press Josh McDaniels couldn’t make it

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Two more legendary country music acts will call it a day in 2024

When Bill Hartline bought 50 acres of forested land outside Muncy, Pa., he was looking for a bit of solitude and a place to eventually build a new home in retirement. But during a camping trip there in early 2020, he discovered the wooded plot wasn’t as lonely as he thought. That evening, a ruffed grouse — a crow-size bird with a tiny mohawk and mottled feathers — appeared at his feet. “I crouched down and said, ‘Hello.’ He cooed back and started following me around,” Mr. Hartline, 66, said. “Three years later, he’s still following me around.” That’s putting it mildly. Mister Grouse, as he has named the bird, seems to ingratiate himself into everything Mr. Hartline does. Mister Grouse rides the tractor, hops up on ladders and enjoys the campfire from atop Mr. Hartline’s shoulders. It’s a far cry from the behavior of most ruffed grouse, whose stealth and elusiveness are why hunters call them the “king of game birds.”

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Westfield superintendent backs comprehensive high school to replace 2 buildings

WESTFIELD — At the Jan. 9 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski reported that he, business manager Shannon Barry and director of operations Christopher Rogers will be attending an MSBA superintendent roundtable next week about the new procedures in place for submitting a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for new projects. The Westfield administrative team will then meet with the School Committee facilities subcommittee to discuss seeking state reimbursement to build a new high school. It could be the start of a multi-year application process, the superintendent said.

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Ramboy: A Family Farm in Ireland Prevails - The New York Times

Ever since we were children, we’ve been fascinated by pastoralism. We both come from families with farming roots but grew up in the city. This enthusiasm brought us to Achill Island, off the west coast of Ireland, where sheep graze over the grassland. In a vast peat bog in this corner of the world, the 14-year-old Cian and the 78-year-old Martin stand side by side, surrounded by more than 100 sheep. “Away! Come by!” they shout in turn at a dog that appears to be out of control. Cian would prefer to spend his summer playing soccer with his friends, but Martin, an aging farmer, sees that it’s the right time to introduce his grandson to work on the farm. Here, we closely trace Cian’s introduction to animal husbandry, as the teenager questions what his future holds and absorbs the workings of his homeland. This documentary captures the patience and tenderness required to learn and pass on a craft from one generation to the next. Lucien Roux and Matthias Joulaud are both filmmakers from Grenoble, a city in the Alps region in France. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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Disinformation Researchers Fret About Fallout From Judges Order

A federal judge’s decision this week to restrict the government’s communication with social media platforms could have broad side effects, according to researchers and groups that combat hate speech, online abuse and disinformation: It could further hamper efforts to curb harmful content. Alice E. Marwick, a researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was one of several disinformation experts who said on Wednesday that the ruling could impede work meant to keep false claims about vaccines and voter fraud from spreading. The order, she said, followed other efforts, largely from Republicans, that are “part of an organized campaign pushing back on the idea of disinformation as a whole.” Judge Terry A. Doughty granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, saying the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with other parts of the government, must stop corresponding with social media companies for “the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”

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Six-bedroom home sells for $3.2 million in Westwood

A spacious house built in 2002 located at 142 Gay Street in Westwood has new owners. The 6,136-square-foot property was sold on Dec. 8, 2023 for $3,150,000, or $513 per square foot. The property features six bedrooms, six baths, an underground garage, and three parking spaces. It sits on a 2.0-acre lot. These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:

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Can you afford this? 4 kinds of microaggressions that sink the joy of travel for Black people

A weekly newsletter for the chronically online and easily entertained. Honey dishes us savvy analysis on culture, entertainment and power to make you the group chat MVP. Subscribe today! With over 103 million views, the Royal Caribbean has recently been trending on TikTok due to its 9-month voyage. The Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise set sail in Dec. 2023 and will visit 60+ countries before docking in Sept. 2024. However, passengers online have been posting that the trip is already making waves. According to TikTok user Nchimad in Dec. 2023, they are determined to stay on “CruiseTok” to get all of the drama and arguments that are allegedly happening between passengers. “[Seven hundred] people on one cruise ship for nine months. Can you imagine the type of drama that’s going to happen on that boat?” they said. One of the most controversial moments so far has happened very recently to Tiktok user Brandee Lake. A world traveler of over 75 countries, they went to Tiktok to express their concerns as a Black passenger. In a video posted Dec. 2023, they said their first few days on the trip were difficult, with passengers and crew making her feel she didn’t deserve to be there. But Lake’s experience speaks to a larger issue impacting travelers of color. Despite their significant contribution to the travel industry, Black travelers often face microaggressions and discrimination. A 2019 report from The Black Traveler found that Black U.S. leisure travelers spent $109 billion dollars on their escapades. In the same year, Black people accounted for 20%of the luxury spending in the U.S. market, according to a report from the consulting firm Bain and Company. Regardless of their impact, Black people still can face microaggressions, or the indirect verbal or non-verbal instances of racism, homophobia and more in these settings. Not only are they offensive, but microaggressions have been found to have a major physical and mental effects, according to psychology and education professor Derald Wing Sue in a 2020 interview with The Washington Post. These symptoms can include increased stress and the discrimination can contribute to conditions like cardiovascular disease and hypertension. “The Black/African American community is taking back their narrative, imagining new possibilities, and rewriting their stories into a vision that depicts prosperity and wellness. They are normalizing their success, wealth, and comfort within the community,” author Dr. Taiwo Abioye said in a 2022 blog post for C+R Research. A 2020 study has found that online reviews using the hashtag #TravelingWhileBlack have helped those online avoiding potential racist encounters while being tourists. Along with these posts, Black travel and luxury influencers like travel content creator and creative digital media strategist Samantha O’Brochta share their love for exploration online through their own platforms. Still, there is a fear that O’Brochta and others have when stepping somewhere new. “I’ve been a budget traveler most of my life, so my luxurious experiences have been few. But part of why I’ve shied away from certain expensive opportunities is out of worry that I won’t be treated the same way that a white traveler might in the same experience,” O’Brochta said. While there are numerous types of microaggressions, four common microaggressions that Black people, even those in the influencer world, have experienced while traveling or in luxury spaces are below. 1. Negative assumptions or intrusions Black folks traveling can experience a variety of microaggressions, including being mistaken for staff, unwarranted questioning of finances and overly familiar or patronizing interactions like unwanted physical contact or overly casual language. For example, Lake was treated as if she was a crew member rather than a fellow passenger on the Royal Carribean cruise. “If I get asked if I work on this ship one more time. It started at the Pre-Cruise gala where they assumed I was working. After I said I wasn’t working, they asked if I was independently wealthy. Basically, how can I afford this? Now one of the crew members assumed I was not a guest,” Lake said. Social media immediately came to her defense, providing clapbacks that she can use in the future as well as encouraging words in her comments. “Tell everyone a different story. Make them super elaborate and over the top. You own a diamond mine. You’re royalty. Etc. Eff them. Enjoy your trip!” Tiktok user Hannah L. Drake said in a Dec. 2023 comment. For some Black people, they are willing to skip the vacation experience overall to avoid potential racist acts towards them. “Idk. I don’t want to go on vacation and have folks follow me, ask to touch my hair, ask to take pictures with me or give me excessive compliments because I’m Black. I don’t want to be fetishized and I don’t want to be asked if I’m famous. Sounds like a nightmare to me,” X user Afro-African said in a July 2022 post. 2. Inability to fully enjoy amenities Due to microaggressions, Black people may not get the full luxury or vacation experience compared to their white counterparts. This can be seen in influencer marketing, where there is a racial difference not only in what they earn, but how brands treat them abroad. PR agency MSL US and influencer education platform The Influencer League released a study in Dec. 2021 that found that Black creators made 35% less than white creators. This inequality has also been seen in the treatment that Black creators receive on PR trips by brands like Tarte. From private jets to giant pools, the brand is known to go all in for participants – but there is still mistreatment even in the influencer world. In May 2023, the brand invited Black influencers like Bria Jones to a trip to Miami for the year’s Formula 1 race. In an since-deleted Tiktok video from May 4, Jones explained that she would be leaving on May 5 and coming back home May 6, only being able to see the practice days. However, she learned that non-Black creators with more followers were invited to stay until May 7, the day of the big race. “I have more integrity than to get all the way to Miami and realize that I’m being treated like a second-tier person or like I’m being ranked,” Jones said in the video. Tarte’s founder Maureen Kelly addressed the situation on May 5, stating that they were trying to ensure a mix of up-and-coming creators and big creators as well. Nevertheless, the damage had already been done despite Jones later saying there was “miscommunications on both ends.” This wasn’t the brand’s first trip controversy, with their Dubai trip in Jan. 2023 having a visible lack of POC creators according to content creator and brand collaboration coach Kahlea Nicole Wade in a Jan. 2023 interview with Today.com. 3. Having to be the “token Black person” With calls for more diversity in influencer marketing, brands have attempted to be more inclusive of all types of people. However, in May 2019, Youtuber Kiana Naomi called out the brand Dote Shopping for using her as the “token Black girl” on their PR trip to Fiji. She originally did not discuss how she was treated on the trip because she wanted to avoid being portrayed as the ungrateful or problematic Black girl. Eventually, she decided that she needed to release a video explanation because she felt that the company didn’t care for her well-being. “By being silent, I am doing a disservice to the thousands of Black girls who watch me, look up to me and look up to this brand that I was mistreated by,” Naomi said. Being the only Black girl on the trip, she shared how the other white girls on the trip cliqued up, leaving her to feel like an “outcast.” On top of that, the company wasn’t interested in taking pictures of her. “Diversity is not throwing one Black girl among a whole bunch of white ones and saying ‘Aye, we are diverse.’ That’s not how it works,” Naomi said. Dote Shopping later released a statement denying the claims that Naomi made, stating that promoting diversity, equality and inclusivity is part of their company mission. 4. Interactions with security or official personnel According to a 2019 study by Pew Research Center, “Black adults are about five times as likely as whites to say they’ve been unfairly stopped by police because of their race or ethnicity.” These interactions can happen anywhere, even while traveling. For example, author of “Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing” and DEI consultant Zee Clarke in a 2022 interview with Triple Pundit found that Black women are more likely to have their hair searched by airport security. Despite the TSA website stating that hairstyles like braids and buns could trigger the alarms, many Black women have had their scalps roughly searched, according to Clarke. In another instance, American Airlines faced backlash in 2023 for kicking both track star Sha’Carri RIchardson and rapper Talib Kweli, who almost was arrested, off their flights for filming a video and the size of their bag. The airline also was sued in federal court last year by a passenger who said they were kicked off the flight in an “act of blatant racial discrimination.” The NAACP back in 2017 released a statement cautioning Black people when flying with American Airlines. Regardless of the warning, Black individuals can face discrimination and microaggressions randomly during their travel experience. What needs to happen now Time will tell if the work that is needed for true equality in these spaces and online will come. According to O’Brochta, the first place to start is with the travel companies that help organize these trips and experiences. “There’s a discrepancy of how many Black travel influencers get invited on press trips or included in campaigns over their white counterparts, and it’s glaringly obvious and shows that Black traveler’s dollars are not appreciated and respected,” O’Brochta said, sharing the need to make space for everyone to be seen in a positive light. Since releasing the video about her negative first days on the cruise, Lake has continued to post each day of her experience, from crossing the equator to celebrating Christmas on board. She has not released any videos addressing any microaggressions or racist behavior towards her since.

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Is Starbucks open on New Years Day 2024?

Bleary-eyed and slow-moving from a night of New Year’s Eve celebrations? Coffee lovers can head to their neighborhood Starbucks for the first caffeine fix of 2024 to perk themselves right up. Starbucks will be open on New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1, but stores will run on the company’s holiday hours. “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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First $1 million lottery winner in Mass. of 2024 sold in Quincy

The Massachusetts State Lottery has announced the winning number in its special New Year’s Day Mass Millionaire Holliday Raffle. The number is 0083128. The ticket corresponding to that number was sold at American Legion Morrisette Post 294 at 81 Liberty St. in Quincy. That store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket. The drawing was the culmination of a series of drawings that began on Friday, Oct. 20. On 11 consecutive Fridays, one $20,000 prize winner was chosen and winners of those prizes remained eligible to win a prize in the New Year’s Day drawing. Tickets of the raffle began on Monday, Oct. 16, with every hundredth ticket sold across the state getting a $100 cash voucher. Those that won the voucher also were eligible for the New Year’s Day drawing. Apart from the million-dollar winning ticket, four $250,000 tickets were chosen and six $25,000 winners were chosen. Read more: RI man loses out to NC woman to become 1st Powerball millionaire of 2024 The $250,000 prize numbers selected were the following, and were purchased at the following stores: 0174696 - EZ Convenience & Vape Shop, 751 Meadow St., Chicopee 0213087 - Poquoy Brook Golf Club, 20 Leonard St., Lakeville 0242866 - Chapin East Variety Store, 830 East St., Ludlow 0077276 - The Country Store, 212 North St., Foxborough The $25,000 prize numbers selected were the following and were purchased at the following stores: 0510161 - Stop & Shop, 660 Merrill Rd., Pittsfield 0318215 - Mass Lottery Customer Service, 150 Mount Vernon St., Dorchester 0013808 - Andrews Fruit & Produce, 1697 S. Main St., Fall River 0182266 - Bruso’s Liquor Mart, 15 Exchange St., Barre 0008392 - Shortstop General Store, 439 Main St., Hudson 0107958 - Rendezvous Lounge, 473 Riverside St., Dracut Winners have a year to claim their prizes. Winners of the million-dollar prize and the four $250,000 prizes must claim them at Mass Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. The other prizes can be claimed in Dorchester or at regional centers in Braintree, Lawrence, New Bedford, West Springfield and Worcester.

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Shaking Crab in Springfield permanently closed

Seafood lovers in Springfield might be in a pinch. Shaking Crab in downtown Springfield is permanently closed as of November — the seafood restaurant quietly updated its Facebook hours to the official statement “last Tuesday,” it read on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The restaurant had opened on June 2, 2022 at 1373 Main St., a space formerly occupied by JT’s Sports Pub which closed in 2014 after 11 months. JT’s owner tried to sell the business, but said his landlord signaled the $5,000 monthly rent would increase, which scared away buyers. Shaking Crab’s first location opened in 2015 in Newton, and it’s since expanded to at least 15 restaurants worldwide. Its Cajun menu features king crab legs, shrimp, mussels, lobsters and more, and the chain is especially known for hefty bags of boiled seafood, potatoes and corn shaken in signature sauces. Read more: Shaking Crab Cajun seafood restaurant is looking to expand to downtown Worcester The Springfield location was active on Facebook since its opening, posting in October 2022 about lobster cheesy fries, the jumbo seafood galore tray, Halloween specials and live music. The Downtown restaurant advertised more live music shows with holiday themes into November and December last year. But more than six months after opening day, Shaking Crab announced it would be “temporarily closed until further notice,” and apologized “for the inconvenience” on its Instagram page Jan. 31. Whether the crabs would ever shake again in Springfield had been uncertain since. MassLive attempted to contact Springfield owners and of the overall chain, including every other location in Massachusetts and in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, numerous times over the past 10 months with no response. It wasn’t until mid-November when the sign at the Springfield location — the large, purposefully crooked “shaking” letters spelling “Shaking Crab” next to a crab claw, laid over a glossy maroon background — was removed. Shaking Crab has not responded to MassLive about the sign’s removal and Facebook post. Jackey Zhao, one of the Springfield owners, told MassLive when the restaurant opened in June that he’d had high hopes for its success. “Long term, I want to thrive,” he’d said previously. “We’re pretty much the only one in the area that has this extent of seafood. I’m hoping, you know, seafood lovers come in, have some great seafood, have a drink, have fun all in this one place.” “There’s a great community here so we’re hoping regulars will start to come and we can make some friends,” he added. MassLive toured the Shaking Crab when it opened in June 2022:

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Jersey Shore: Family Vacation: How to watch part 1 of the reunion for free

Part two of the reunion episode of “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” will air on MTV Thursday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET. The new episode from season 6 will be available on streaming platforms like Philo, which offers a free trial. Viewers can also use other streaming services to watch the show like DirecTV and FuboTV. Both offer a free trial for new users interested in signing up for an account. According to MTV, “the Jersey Shore family dynamic is shaken up by the return of Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, this season’s plus-one to all the chaos and adventures.” Returning “Jersey Shore” cast members will include Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Paul “Pauly D” DelVecchio, Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Vinny Guadagnino, Deena Nicole Cortese and Angelina Pivarnick. In the new episode, “the family reunion fun day continues! Margaritas are mixed, tables are flipped - but which roommate takes a twirl on the stripper pole?” How can I watch ‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’ without cable? Streaming platforms are always available if you don’t have access to cable, like Philo, DirecTV and FuboTV. All three streaming services offer a free 7-day trial for users who are interested in signing up. 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 FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, such as sports, news, entertainment and local channels. What is DirecTV? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. DirecTV also offers a free trial for any package you sign up.

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Snowy Shot Of Winter Precedes Weekend Warmup In Latest MA Forecast

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

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Christina Applegate Presents the First Emmy

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

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Renovating a Kitchen? Dont Forget the Most Crucial Thing: Light.

Our new audio app is home to “This American Life,” the award-winning program hosted by Ira Glass. New episodes debut in our app a day earlier than in the regular podcast feed, and we also have an archive of the show. The app includes a “Best of ‘This American Life’” section with some of our favorite bite-size clips, so you can enjoy the show even if you don’t have a lot of time.

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How to watch the new episode of Love After Lockup, stream for free (Dec. 1)

A new episode of “Love After Lockup” will air on Friday, Dec. 1 on WE Tv at 9 p.m. ET. The new episode can also be streamed live on Philo, DirecTV Stream and fuboTV. All platforms offer a free trial for those interested in signing up for an account. “Love After Lockup” is said to be a spin off from WE Tv’s “Love During Lockup” as couples navigate their love lives through prison. The show will show inmates struggle to keep their love through video dates, letters and phone calls. But there’s no telling who can and can’t handle the cell wall that separates the couples. In the new episode, “Chance’s prison past catches up with him; Redd leaves Joy speechless; Cam’s surprise shocks Aris; Louie pops up on Melissa with undesired consequences; Kerok’s secret plan is revealed; Shavel and Quaylon’s feuding families derail their plans.” How can I watch if I don’t have cable? If you don’t have access to cable television, you can stream “Love After Lockup” on streaming platforms Philo, DirecTV Stream and fuboTV. What is Philo? Philo is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers 60+ entertainment and lifestyle channels for the budget-friendly price of $25/month. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, such as sports, news, entertainment and local channels. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels.

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Is Week 18 Bill Belichicks final game as Patriots coach? (Podcast)

The Patriots wrap up their 2023 season next week against the New York Jets, and many are wondering whether that will be Bill Belichick’s final game as New England’s coach. Questions regarding Belichick’s future have heightened over the last few weeks. And while there isn’t any clarity of which direction the Patriots will 100% commit to, there is still a chance Belichick steps onto the Gillette Stadium sideline next weekend for the final time as the Patriots coach. On the latest episode of “Eye On Foxborough,” MassLive Patriots reporters Chris Mason and Mark Daniels discussed whether that will be the case once Week 18 comes to a close. 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. “I think ultimately, it will be. But I do think the way they’re closing things out could absolutely give Robert Kraft cold feet,” Mason said. “My whole thing with him is seeing is believing. Robert has talked tough repeatedly, and nothing really changes. There have been multiple, ‘We need to win a playoff game’ offseasons in a row. Clearly, at 4-12, you are far from a playoff game. So, seeing is believing with him. And I do think that they’re playing really hard down the stretch. But ultimately, I think it comes back to: They’re playing really hard. You can’t ask anything more of the team that’s out there right now. But the reason they’re still losing games is because the roster wasn’t constructed well enough, and that’s just going to continue to happen.” Daniels is of the belief that Belichick shouldn’t return next year because of how he plays the role of general manager. “Bill Belichick is, I would say, the greatest coach of all time. He is still a great coach. And that’s evidenced by the fact his team has so many injuries and they’re playing well and they’re playing competitively,” he said. “They show fight and resolve with their backs against the wall. They bounce back because they’re a well-coached team, in my opinion. Bill Belichick, I don’t think should be retained because of the GM he is. ... For me, it’s why I think his days are numbered. And I think at the end of the day, Robert Kraft will move on with a new head coach and I think they need someone here with a better eye for talent on the offensive end of the ball. But they are well-coached. And I thought we saw that (Sunday). But I don’t disagree saying it’s not completely set in stone because anything can happen.” The Patriots are in position to get a high draft pick come April. But whether it will be Belichick making the selection or someone else remains to be seen. The team’s issues doesn’t stop at its coach. The quarterback situation is a mess, new reports of Trent Brown emerged and his future with the team beyond 2023 seems unlikely and the offense as a whole has struggled at times this year. For now, the Patriots focus on wrapping up their season on a high note when they welcome the Jets to Gillette Stadium for the 2023 regular-season finale.

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Why a Second Trump Presidency May Be More Radical Than His First

Yoshinobu Yamamoto won’t be playing for the Red Sox in 2024, but he’s still looking forward to playing Boston — and is hopeful to pitch to one specific player: Masataka Yoshida. The Dodgers formally introduced the pitcher at his introductory press conference Wednesday after signing a 12-year, $325 million contract with Los Angeles. Afterwards, the pitcher spoke to MLB Network’s “MLB Tonight” crew, and was asked if there is someone he’s looking forward to facing in 2024. “If (there’s) anyone (I’m) looking forward to playing against, it’s Masataka Yoshida of the Red Sox,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “He was an old teammate in Japan. To be able to face him in a real game over here would mean a lot.” Both Yoshida and Yamamoto were part of Team Japan that won it all in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The Red Sox outfielder made his MLB debut last year with Boston after signing a five-year deal with the club. He slashed .289/.338/.445 with 15 home runs and 72 RBI in 140 games. Yoshida also finished sixth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. 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. The Red Sox make their way to Dodger Stadium for a three-game set beginning July 19. There’s a chance Yamamoto will pitch in one of those three games and get a chance to pitch against his former teammate. But even if the 25-year-old doesn’t see the mound, he’ll probably try to seek out Yoshida at some point during the series.

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Michigan Teenager Who Killed Four Students Is Sentenced to Life

Family members attending the sentencing hearing on Friday described the devastating impact of the shooting on their lives. “Nov. 30, 2021, is a day that has forever changed my life. It burns into my body like a cigarette burn,” Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, said. “It’s a feeling that no parent should ever feel.” Speaking to the gunman but not saying his name, Ms. Beausoleil stated, “I don’t wish death upon you, that would be too easy. I hope the thoughts consume you and they replay over and over in your head,” she said. “I hope the screams keep you up at night.” Steve St. Juliana, the father of Hana, told the court on Friday that he cannot forgive the gunman for murdering his daughter and the three other students. “There can be no rehabilitation,” he said, adding that “there is utterly nothing that he could ever do to contribute to society that would make up for the lives that he has so ruthlessly taken.” Former Oxford High School students who were shot on Nov. 30 but survived spoke about their resulting physical limitations and the ways that their anxiety had changed how they think, feel and act every day. Other students similarly talked about constant struggles with nightmares, depression and panic attacks.

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Report: Red Sox trade Chris Sale to Atlanta Braves

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

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2024 HoopHall Classic: Top 5 games to watch

Eight of the top 10 and 18 of the top 25 boys high school basketball teams in the country will play at the 2024 HoopHall Classic. These teams feature many of the nation’s best young talents, including Duke-commit Cooper Flagg, Rutgers-commit Dylan Harper, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer. In addition, five of the top 25 girls programs in the nation will play. Long Island Lutheran’s five-star Notre Dame commit Kate Koval leads a list of top recruits on the girls side (hyperlink to story). Here are the top five games to watch this weekend. 5. Girls: No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (NY) vs. No. 11 Etiwanda (CA) Date: Monday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. Broadcast: ESPNU Kennedy Smith (No. 6) and Kayleigh Heckel (No. 28) will be teammates at USC next year, but face off against each other in the only girls game on Monday. Long Island Lutheran boasts four seniors in the top 100: Kate Koval (Notre Dame), Syla Swords (Michigan), Kayleigh Heckel (USC) and Ka’Shya Hawkins (Syracuse), as well as highly-rated sophomore Savannah Swords. Etiwanda is led by Smith and a pair of top-25 players in the class of 2025, Grace Knox and Aliyahna Morris. 4. Boys: No. 1 Montverde Academy (FL) vs. No. 14 Oak Hill (VA) Date: Friday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Broadcast: ESPN+ Though the weekday games are generally reserved for local matchups, fans will get a treat Friday night as Flagg and the rest of Montverde’s star-studded lineup debut against longtime prep power Oak Hill in the first matchup of the tournament between two ranked schools. Montverde is a perfect 16-0 with wins over nine other schools participating in the HoopHall Classic. But Montverde isn’t just the Flagg show – Asa Newell, Liam McNeely and Derik Queen are five-star recruits and Robert Wright III and Curtis Givens are ranked in the top 50. 3. Boys: No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (NY) vs. No. 5 Christopher Columbus (FL) Date: Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. Broadcast: NBA Youtube and NBA app V.J. Edgecombe, the highest-rated uncommitted prospect in the country, leads a Long Island Lutheran team that also rosters junior Kiyan Anthony, son of Carmelo Anthony. Columbus has four NBA sons of its own, between Jason Richardson’s sons Jase and Jaxon and Carlos Boozer’s sons, Cameron and Cayden. 2. Boys: No. 3 Paul VI (VA) vs. No. 5 Christopher Columbus (FL) Date: Monday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. Broadcast: ESPNU Paul VI and Columbus have two common opponents this year: No. 1 Montverde, who beat Columbus 89-61 and Paul VI 69-62, and No. 4 Link Academy, who beat Columbus 68-61 but lost to Paul VI 74-71. Paul VI is led by three seniors in the top 100 – center Pat Ngongba and shooting guard Daren Harris (both Duke commits) and wing Isaiah Abraham (UConn). 1. Boys: No. 1 Montverde (FL) vs. No. 11 Prolific Prep (CA) Date: Sunday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Broadcast: ESPN2 The primetime game on Sunday will be a matchup between 2024′s top prospect, Flagg of Montverde, and 2025′s top prospect, A.J. Dybantsa of Prolific Prep. Dybantsa won the 2022-23 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year as a freshman at St. Sebastian’s (Needham, MA) before moving across the country to California and reclassifying from 2026 to 2025. In addition to Dybantsa, Prolific Prep stars five-star Alabama commit Derrion Reid and three other 2024 four-stars. Team, player rankings via ESPN.

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Ann Arbor School Board Set to Vote on Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

Update: The Ann Arbor school board voted in support of a cease-fire in Gaza. The public school district in Ann Arbor, Mich., is looking to hire a new superintendent. It is building several new schools. And it is revamping how it teaches young children to read. But over the past month, the Board of Education has debated many hours over whether to support a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza war. The closely divided board is now set to vote on that resolution on Wednesday, and could become one of the first public school systems in the country to pass such a statement. Supporters of the proposed resolution, including the board’s Palestinian American president and a Jewish trustee, have said that the statement is an urgent moral necessity amid a humanitarian crisis. A few opponents of the resolution have said that they oppose a cease-fire because Israel has the right to defeat Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, after the Oct. 7 attacks.

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Golden Globes 2024 Nominations: Barbie and Oppenheimer in Front

To many, the Golden Globe Awards are a perfect example of Hollywood’s two faces. In public, the entertainment capital plays along: It’s an honor just to be nominated, giggle tee-hee, this event is an absolute delight. In private, smiles drop and eyes roll: The prizes are not seen as meaningful markers of artistic excellence, but there is no way around them. From a business perspective, the Globes represent a crucial marketing opportunity for winter films and TV shows. The nominations for the 81st ceremony, which will be televised by CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Jan. 7, were announced on Monday morning by Cedric the Entertainer and Wilmer Valderrama. New movies like “American Fiction,” “Poor Things” and “The Zone of Interest” will compete alongside summertime behemoths like “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.” “Barbie” led the nominations with nine, followed by “Oppenheimer” with eight. In the television categories, “Succession” had the most with nine, followed by “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building” with five apiece.

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Easy No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls, a Gift to Whoevers in Charge of Breakfast

Good morning. This is it, for those celebrating Christmas tomorrow: the final push. Maybe there’s a turkey dry-brining in the fridge, or a ham waiting for its holiday glaze. Some will prepare prime rib, or a mushroom Wellington, or crack open oysters by an open fire. Perhaps you’ll make cookies today, so that the children may leave a few out for Santa in the evening. You could make pastelitos, or a big lasagna, for the coming hordes of family, or to eat slowly over the coming days. I am partial, myself, to these easy, no-yeast cinnamon rolls, a recipe our Margaux Laskey adapted from the one Allysa Torey uses at Magnolia Bakery. (A mixture of baking soda and baking powder offers the lift.) They’re a perfect introduction to a few days of gifts and carols, cups of coffee and naps on the couch. “Stop what you are doing and MAKE THIS,” one of our readers noted on the recipe. “They are outstanding!”

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3 most harmful books selling purity culture in 2023

Sign up for Reckon’s latest weekly newsletter covering the three topics never to be discussed at the dinner table. Enter your email to subscribe to Matter of Faith. The impact of “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” authored by disgraced pastor Joshua Harris in 1997, introduced an alternative to dating called “courting,” emphasizing strict rules on physical touch and supervised dates within Christian teenage circles. However, this book is just one example in a series of influential works promoting unrealistic modesty rules and harmful abstinence-only rhetoric, also known as “purity culture.” Rooted in white Christian nationalism, a societal framework that advocates for a white, Christian centered political and social structure, purity culture perpetuates teachings favoring a white, straight, religious standard for relationships. This stance disregards alternative lifestyles and non-nuclear family structures, contributing to the promotion of abstinence until marriage as a safeguard for one’s body and soul in line with evangelical ideals about sexuality. Despite its long-standing existence, these teachings have been linked to adverse outcomes, including increased rates of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and mental and physical health issues stemming from sexual repression. Purity culture has even been linked to reduced rates of vaccination against HPV–the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world that can progress to cancer in both men and women. A 2023 study by the American Society for Virology found college students who were more religious were less likely to be vaccinated against HPV and less likely to vaccinate their children, even though the vaccine has found to be safe and highly effective. While books perpetuating sexual health misinformation continue to be available in bookstores and classrooms nationwide, Reckon spoke with sexual health experts and readers to identify and highlight these problematic reads, aiming to create awareness about their detrimental impact. Here are the books to add to your anti-reading list: “Every Young Man/Woman’s Battle” (The Every Man series) This book was among the top books mentioned both by experts and by commenters online who shared their experiences with how these books affected their lives and view of their own sexuality. While “Every Man’s Battle” was a common read for young men, there were 24 other books in the series published including a female companion “Every Woman’s Battle.” There’s also a series aimed at teenagers that inserts “young” in the title. Matthias Roberts, host of the Queerology podcast and author of “Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms,” said the book created a confusing juxtaposition for him as a gay man, creating an impossible standard for him. “The series pushes the idea that you are sinful for even experiencing sexual feelings. Despite their insistence that attraction to women is natural for men, the books read as if feelings of attraction are just as bad as having sex outside of marriage,” he said. One user on reddit, u/IcedCoffeeVoyager, said the book has affected his sexual relationship with his wife. “‘Every Man’s Battle’ and ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’ fucked me up. I’m happily married and sexually active with my wife, but I’m very uncomfortable discussing what I like or want to explore with her. Even though she’s very comfortable and open about her end of things. I just can’t make myself say it, there’s a mental block because expressing these thoughts is shameful thanks to purity culture programming,” said reddit user The comment was shared on a post asking about the books that most heavily influenced people’s purity culture views on their sexuality. The books are still available online and in print–just a click away from having the book on your e-reader or other electronic device. “And the Bride Wore White” by Dannah Gresh When Reckon asked sex educator Erica Smith about the books she hears her clients talk about most often, one of her first responses was “anything by Dannah Gresh.” Smith created the “Purity Culture Dropout” online course and regularly posts information about sexual health and finding a new sexual ethic outside of purity culture. Gresh, an author and founder of Pure Freedom Ministries, which focuses on producing content on sexual purity for girls, has created a range of content for girls of all ages. Her work has been highly criticized by commenters and experts for introducing girls to modesty and purity culture before they begin puberty. She’s also been accused of attacking the LGBTQ+ community in her books. “’Lies Girls Believe’ subtly attacks the LGBTQ community by arguing that there are only two “very different” genders. And this, unfortunately, is precisely how hate is spread, by teaching innocent children that others are “sinning” for being who they are,” according to a review on the Reader Fox book review blog. Twitter user Lorca Damon called “And the Bride Wore White” the “worst.” Smith added that Gresh’s work is especially harmful because it targets girls at a very young age. “Dannah Gresh starts girls young with the belief that there is one singular way to be a good and pure person. She has books for every age of girlhood, she’s focused on getting this message to girls before puberty. Everything is on the girl’s shoulders,” Smith said. Her book “Secret Keeper” is about modesty and how women have a special gift that they will eventually share with one man, Smith explained. The book is such an inflection point for her that she’s made social videos focusing on the book exclusively. She explains the book in a reel posted on her Instagram, where she explains that the book teaches that girls’ purpose is to “captivate and intoxicate one man–but just one.” “Boy Meets Girl” by Joshua Harris While Harris’ “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” has been one of the most discussed purity culture books of all time, he wrote more than one book on purity. Another book by Harris that readers said affected their views on sexuality was “Boy Meets Girl.” This book presented an unrealistic standard that commenters on reddit described as “gross” in a post about the book. “Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris. This had me convinced that dating someone was only suitable if I knew for sure that I would be happy marrying them. Anything less was basically cheating on my future spouse. It’s so gross, but when I was 17 and everything in my life revolved around church teaching? I desperately wanted to “live beyond reproach,” said reddit user u/Sad-Percentage9289. Following the announcement of his divorce and leaving the Christian faith, Harris stopped publishing all of his books, including “Boy Meets Girl” and “I Kissed Dating Goodbye.” So what should I read instead? If you’re looking for a better take on sexual ethics, check out these titles: This book addresses how to create a new sexual ethic after you decide abstinence unless you’re married isn’t the right choice for you. It also includes perspectives that are inclusive of LGBTQ+ experiences. This book is a great primer on sexual response, particularly for cisgender women. It doesn’t include transgender sexuality, but is a useful resources for cis folks. God and the Gay Christian : The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships” by Matthew Vines This book outlines a biblical perspective on same-sex relationships that celebrates and includes LGBTQ+ folks’ faith and relationships. Pure ” by Linda Kay Kline Kline tells her story and the stories of many other people who grew up in purity culture and are working to untangle the web of restriction in their minds.

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How Columbias President Has Avoided Fallout Over Israel-Gaza Protests

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. Behind American Indian Hall on the Montana State University campus, ancient life is growing. Six-foot-tall corn plants tower over large green squash and black-and-yellow sunflowers. Around the perimeter, stalks of sweetgrass grow. The seeds for some of these plants grew for millennia in Native Americans’ gardens along the upper Missouri River. It’s one of several Native American ancestral gardens growing in the Bozeman area, totaling about an acre. Though small, the garden is part of a larger, multifaceted effort around the country to promote “food sovereignty” for reservations and tribal members off reservation, and to reclaim aspects of Native American food and culture that flourished in North America for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. Restoring bison to reservations, developing community food gardens with ancestral seeds, understanding and collecting wild fruits and vegetables, and learning how to cook tasty meals with traditional ingredients are all part of the movement. “We are learning to care for plant knowledge, growing Indigenous gardens, cultivating ancestral seeds — really old seeds from our relatives the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara: corn, beans, squash and sunflowers,” said Jill Falcon Ramaker, an assistant professor of community nutrition and sustainable food systems at Montana State. She is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Anishinaabe. “A lot of what we are doing here at the university is cultural knowledge regeneration,” she said. But it also has a very practical application: to provide healthier, cheaper, and more reliable food supplies for reservations, which are often a long way from supermarkets and where processed foods have helped produce an epidemic of diabetes and heart disease. Many reservations are food deserts where prices are high and processed food is often easier to come by than fresh food. The Montana Food Distribution Study, a 2020 paper funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, found that the median cost in the state of a collection of items typically purchased at a grocery store is 23 percent higher on a reservation than off. “With food sovereignty we are looking at the ability to put that healthy food and ancestral foods which we used to survive for thousands of years, putting those foods back on the table,” Ramaker said. What that means exactly can vary by region, depending on the traditional food sources, from wild rice in the Midwest to salmon on the Pacific coast. Central to the effort — especially in Montana — are bison, also referred to as buffalo. In 2014, 13 Native nations from eight reservations in the U.S. and Canada came together to sign the Buffalo Treaty, an agreement to return bison to 6.3 million acres that sought “to welcome BUFFALO to once again live among us as CREATOR intended by doing everything within our means so WE and BUFFALO will once again live together to nurture each other culturally and spiritually.” Nearly a decade later, dozens of tribes have buffalo herds, including all seven reservations in Montana. The buffalo-centered food system was a success for thousands of years, according to Ramaker, who directs both the regional program, known as the Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative — a collaboration with the Native American Studies Department and College of Education, Health and Human Development at Montana State — and the Montana-specific effort, known as the Montana Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative. It wasn’t a hand-to-mouth existence, she wrote in an article for Montana State, but a “knowledge of a vast landscape, including an intimate understanding of animals, plants, season and climate, passed down for millennia and retained as a matter of life and death.” With bison meat at the center of the efforts, the BNFSI is working to bring other foods from the northern Plains Native American diet in line with modern palates. The BNFSI has received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to carry out that work, in partnership with Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, North Dakota. Life on reservations is partly to blame for many Native people eating processed foods, Ramaker said. Food aid from the federal government, known as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, has long been shipped to reservations in the form of boxes full of packaged foods. “We were forced onto the reservations, where there was replacement food sent by the government — white flour, white sugar, canned meat, salt and baking powder,” she said. Experts say processed foods contribute to chronic inflammation, which in turn leads to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, which occurs at three times the rate in Native Americans as it does in white people. Studies show that people’s mental and physical health declines when they consume a processed food diet. “In the last decade there’s a growing amount of research on the impact of good nutrition on suicide ideation, attempts, and completion,” said KayAnn Miller, co-executive director of the Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Bozeman, who is also involved with the BNFSI. All Native American reservations in Montana now have community gardens and there are at least eight gardens on the Flathead Reservation north of Missoula, home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The tribe is teaching members to raise vegetables, some of them made into soup that is delivered to tribal elders. This year members grew 5 tons of produce to be given away. Ancestral seeds are part of the effort. Each year the BNFSI sends out 200 packets of seeds for ancestral crops to Indigenous people in Montana. Creating foods that appeal to contemporary tastes is critical to the project. The BNFSI is working with Sean Sherman, the “Sioux Chef,” to turn corn, meat and other Native foods into appealing dishes. Sherman founded the award-winning Owamni restaurant in Minneapolis and in 2020 opened the Indigenous Food Lab through his nonprofit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems. The lab, in downtown Minneapolis, is also a restaurant and an education and training center that creates dishes using only Indigenous foods from across the country — no dairy, cane sugar, wheat flour, beef, chicken or other ingredients from what he calls the colonizers. “We’re not cooking like it’s 1491,” Sherman said last year on the NPR program “Fresh Air,” referring to the period before European colonization. “We’re not a museum piece or something like that. We’re trying to evolve the food into the future, using as much of the knowledge from our ancestors that we can understand and just applying it to the modern world.” Among his signature dishes are bison pot roast with hominy and roast turkey with a berry-mint sauce and black walnuts. In consultation with Sherman, Montana State University is building the country’s second Indigenous food lab, which will be housed in a new $29 million building with a state-of-the-art kitchen, Ramaker said. It will open next year and expand the ongoing work creating recipes, holding cooking workshops, feeding MSU’s more than 800 Native students and preparing cooking videos. Angelina Toineeta, who is Crow, is studying the BNFSI at Montana State as part of her major in agriculture. “Growing these gardens really stuck out to me,” she said. “Native American agriculture is something we’ve lost over the years, and I want to help bring that back.” 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 NPR. It can be republished for free.

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Democrats in Congress Weigh Calls for Cease-Fire Amid Pressure From the Left

Democrats in Congress, torn between their support for Israel in its war with Hamas and concern about civilian suffering in Gaza, are struggling with how far to go in calling for measures to mitigate civilian casualties as the left wing of the party escalates pressure for a cease-fire. In recent days, several House and Senate Democrats have urged temporary humanitarian pauses to facilitate aid deliveries of food, water and fuel to the Gaza Strip, echoing the Biden administration. They have argued that the pauses are necessary to keep an already dire humanitarian crisis from worsening, and to negotiate the release of more than 200 hostages, including Americans, being held in Gaza since Hamas waged a bloody attack on civilians and soldiers in southern Israel on Oct. 7. But few have embraced progressive Democrats’ demands for a complete and lasting cease-fire, even as pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets over the weekend to demand a total cessation of hostilities. Most Democrats, including some of Congress’s most influential liberal leaders, have argued that a full cease-fire would give Hamas time to regroup and launch another assault on Israel. “You’ve got to have a pause in the bombing. You’ve got to take care of the immediate disaster. Israel’s got to change its strategy,” Senator Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont and a prominent Jewish progressive, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “I don’t know how you can have a cease-fire — permanent cease-fire — with an organization like Hamas, which is dedicated to turmoil and chaos and destroying the state of Israel.” The comments drew a backlash from some progressive activists that highlighted the cross pressures Democrats are dealing with on the issue. Their dilemma, which mirrors the one President Biden has been facing as he confronts growing hostility on the left to his backing of Israel, could carry political consequences for the party overall. Democrats will be heavily reliant on strong support and turnout among their liberal core supporters in their push to hold the White House and the Senate, and win control of the House, in the 2024 elections. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois last week became the first Democratic senator to call for a cease-fire, which he said he would support under certain conditions, including Hamas first agreeing to release hostages. His decision reflected a shift underway on Capitol Hill that has coincided with changes in Mr. Biden’s public messaging on Israel. Mr. Biden has been resolute about declaring that the United States stands in solidarity with Israel. But in the last several days, he and top administration officials have emphasized their efforts to persuade Israeli officials of the need for humanitarian pauses to allow the United Nations to deliver aid to civilians. The change in tone comes as progressive polls indicate that a majority of Democratic voters favor a cease-fire, as well as evidence that younger people and people of color are critical of the Biden administration’s stance on the war. Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan and the only Palestinian American in Congress, put a sharp point on the disconnect last week in a video that accused Mr. Biden of supporting a genocide in Gaza and threatened him with electoral consequences in 2024 if he failed to call for a cease-fire. “Mr. President, the American people are not with you on this one,” Ms. Tlaib said. International law defines genocide as a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in times of war or peace. Top Israeli officials have said they are targeting Hamas, not the Palestinian people. The video also featured pro-Palestinian protesters in Michigan chanting “from the river to the sea,” a rallying cry referring to the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea that many regard as calling for the eradication of Israel. The backlash from other Democrats to the slogan, which the Anti-Defamation League considers antisemitic, was severe. Representative Elissa Slotkin, also a Michigan Democrat, insisted in a series of posts on the social media platform X that Ms. Tlaib apologize. “None of us, especially elected leaders, should amplify language that inflames a tense situation & makes it harder for our communities to find common ground,” wrote Ms. Slotkin, a centrist who is Jewish. “If I knew that a phrase I’d used had hurt any of my constituents, I would apologize & retract it, no matter its origin. I’d ask the same from you.” Mr. Biden has requested that humanitarian aid for Palestinians be part of any package to send military assistance to Israel. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat of Florida, also criticized Ms. Tlaib’s use of the slogan, as well as her calls for a cease-fire. “This phrase means eradicating Israel and Jews. Period,” she wrote in a post on X. “Only a return of hostages, eliminating Hamas and liberating Gaza from oppressive terror will save civilian lives and secure the peace, justice and dignity you seek.” Ms. Tlaib defended the slogan as “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate.” In a statement, she also accused her colleagues of focusing on pillorying her at the expense of saving lives.

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Frigid Temperatures Are Expected Across the U.S. on Tuesday

Weather Pre-Thanksgiving Storm Update: When Will MA See Rain, Wind, Snow? While most of the state will deal with wind-swept rain on the "busiest travel day of the year" some traveling north and west will get snow. Most areas east of Route 495 will receive up to one inch of rain overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday morning before the weather calms down into Wednesday afternoon. (Shutterstock) MASSACHUSETTS — While most of the Greater Boston area will deal with a wind-swept rain late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, those traveling well north and west of the city will have to get into winter driving mode with up to four inches of snow expected from a pre-Thanksgiving storm raging across the country early this week. Forecasts remain on track from Monday, when wind gusts up to 60 mph were expected for the Cape and Islands, gusts up to 40 mph with heavy rain were expected along the coastline and a burst of snow was forecast for interior Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. While many areas north and west of Route 495 could see a brief burst of snow at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, that wintry mix will linger longer in the higher elevations of Worcester and Berkshire counties. Worcester remains on track to get about an inch of snow overnight before much of it washes away during a cold, rainy morning commute. The Fitchburg-Leominster-Gardner area could get up to three inches with the chance of slippery conditions for those with a morning commute on Wednesday. Most areas east of Route 495 will receive up to one inch of rain before the weather calms down later Wednesday morning. Those who can put off Thanksgiving travel a few hours will find better conditions Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night. Thursday should be clear and cool for high school football and holiday travel with sunny skies and temperatures rising from the 20s and 30s early in the morning to the 40s by the afternoon.

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Hampshire Co. Register of Probate/Family Court Michael J. Carey is retiring

Veteran Hampshire County Register of Probate and Family Court Michael J. Carey will call it a career in 2024, Gov. Maura Healey’s office said Wednesday. Carey, of Easthampton, who’s in the middle of a 6-year term, will step down on Jan. 16, according to Healey’s office and a published report. In a statement, Healey’s office a search for a replacement is already underway, and the Arlington Democrat will recommend a candidate to the Governor’s Council to serve out the remainder of Carey’s term. Carey’s 11-year tenure included the launch of a virtual registry. He also moved the court’s main offices to Atwood Drive in Northampton, and the opening of a satellite officer in Belchertown, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette. “I am fully aware that only four elected registers have held this office during the past half century,” Carey, 74, told the newspaper. “To have been given this opportunity by the citizens of Hampshire County is enormously gratifying to me and one [of] which I will always be most appreciative.” Carey sought re-election to a third term in 2020, according to his campaign’s Facebook page. “On behalf of the people of Massachusetts, I’d like to extend my gratitude for Register Carey for his years of service to Hampshire County, particularly for the work he has done on behalf of children and their families. We wish him the very best in his retirement,” Healey said in a statement.

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Minnesota Unveils New State Flag Design

Minnesota on Tuesday announced the winning design for its new state flag after a competition that was prompted by criticism that its current flag was offensive to Native Americans. The new design consists of a light blue right panel, representing the state’s many lakes, and navy blue left panel, resembling the shape of Minnesota, with an eight-pointed northern star. It is a vast departure from the current flag: a busy design with the state seal at its center depicting a pioneer beside a rifle and a Native American with a spear on horseback, which one lawmaker described as “a cluttered genocidal mess.” The winning flag proposal, submitted by Andrew Prekker of Luverne, was chosen from more than 2,600 submissions by a commission created by state legislation to redesign both the flag and the state seal. “It is my greatest hope that this new flag can finally represent our state and all its people properly,” Mr. Prekker, a 24-year-old artist and writer, said in a statement. “That every Minnesotan of every background — including the Indigenous communities and tribal nations who’ve been historically excluded — can look up at our flag with pride and honor, and see themselves within it.”

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Feyla McNamara uplifts Indigenous voices in the fight for reproductive rights

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. Feyla McNamara is the co-executive director at Tides for Reproductive Freedom. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)Leon Nguyen Feyla McNamara Age: 37 Community: Holyoke Her story: Feyla McNamara’s mission as a Mohawk/Mi’kmaw Indigenous advocate and activist for the right to reproductive choice led her to become Co-Executive Director of the first abortion fund in Massachusetts founded and led by people who have had abortions along with queer, Black and Indigenous people called Tides for Reproductive Freedom. “The right to bodily autonomy and the pursuit of pregnancy, or not, is intrinsic to my people’s beliefs, aligning with the beliefs of many of the other Indigenous Nations across the Americas,” McNamara said. “This work is important to our community because our people had, and still have, our own beliefs and practices around abortion prior to colonization,” she said of Tides for Reproductive Freedom’s activism. McNamara, a former high school history teacher, explained her organization financially aids Indigenous communities by paying for abortions with donated funds and provides rides to and from appointments. She said this gives people the right to “get the healthcare they choose” as abortions can cost thousands of dollars and be a financial strain. In addition, Tides helps uplift Indigenous voices in the conversation around reproductive rights, McNamara added. She said her community’s healthcare systems, such as the federally-funded Indian Health Services, are “complicated.” Legislation called the Hyde Amendment stops federal funds for being used for abortions, McNamara said, but Tides’ financial assistance works around the federal law. “Abortion is just one prong of Reproductive Justice, which states that it is our right to have a child, our right to not have a child, and our right to parent a child or children in safe and healthy environments,” she said. “To me, abortion is sacred. The right to bodily autonomy is ingrained in I how view the world,” she explained. From advocating for sex education beyond abstinence in middle school, to driving friends to Planned Parenthood for birth control, to holding loved ones after their abortions and affirming loved ones in choosing pregnancy, McNamara said she was “literally born into this work” as a birthing person and it’s a part of who she is. In her words: “Do not just remember us in November and forget about us the other 11 months of the year... Seriously, please reach out to local Native communities if there’s work you want to partner with us on or ways you can help us get some land back. That’s also serious; we need powwow grounds for the Odenong Powwow in the Five College area or a little beyond — grounds accessible by bus, flat-ish for dancing, and maybe big enough that we could do a medicine garden on it too.” 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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Andrew Bailey and Craig Breslow vowed a decade ago to one day work together

Andrew Bailey had plenty of choices when it came to finding a new job as a coach. The Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins all reached out to talk to him about becoming their pitching coach. The New York Yankees interviewed him to become their next bench coach. But ultimately, Bailey decided to join the Red Sox as a pitching coach. One reason was purely geographical — Bailey owns a home in Connecticut and, with a wife and three small children, didn’t want to be far from his family. Another was Craig Breslow, who last month became the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer. “It’s been well-documented, my relationship with Craig,” said Bailey in a Zoom call with reporters Tuesday. “I don’t think that’s anything new. Life’s too short to turn down opportunities like this. I think sitting in the bullpen with Craig over parts of five seasons (three with Oakland and two in Boston) together as teammates, and talking about how he was going to be a GM. I’m like, ‘Well, I’ll be a bullpen coach, pitching coach, manager, whatever you want...’ “I think it’s a pretty unique relationship. I think we’ve kind of grown separately in other avenues of the game of baseball and have learned differently. But to be able to joke around like that with a former teammate and a true friend and now be able to see that path kind of laid out and be able to compete together in another capacity is special. I think that drove, obviously, a lot of my thinking.” Since retiring — Bailey after 2017, Breslow a season later — the two have taken divergent paths. Bailey chose coaching and spent two seasons on the Los Angeles Angels’ staff before becoming the San Francisco Giants’ pitching coach the last three years. Meanwhile, Breslow worked in the Chicago Cubs’ front office, initially in charge of pitching development before being promoted to assistant GM. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. (2 kB) https://saturdaytradition.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GameSense-Icon-2.png espnbet.app.linkespnbet.app.link ESPN BET Explore our action packed sportsbook, loaded with exclusive odds boosts, custom offers and a suite of cutting-edge features. Fast load times, secure transactions and seamless navigation – ESPN BET serves up the ultimate online sports wagering experience. (20 kB) “I think there’s a lot of people that you meet along the way in this game,” said Bailey, “and I think there’s a handful you can call true friends and Craig is one of (those). Along the way, you have a lot of teammates and coaches and you cross paths here and there. But we’ve stayed in contact and Craig is a big reason why I was the pitching coach in San Francisco and an obviously a main driver for why I’m with the Red Sox right now. “Our relationship has been great. I’m looking forward to working with him professionally and being able to kind of hold each other accountable in a different way, but absolutely looking (forward) to complete with him.” When the Red Sox fired former pitching coach Dave Bush last month, creating the job opening, Bailey reached out to the Red Sox to express his interest — even before Breslow was hired. Bailey reached out to the Red Sox vice president Brian O’Halloran and let him know about his availability. Weeks later, when Breslow was hired, the fit became even better.

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin treated for prostate cancer

Washington CNN — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is being treated for prostate cancer, according to a statement Tuesday from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The statement revealed that the cancer was discovered in early December. He underwent a “minimally invasive surgical procedure” on December 22 called a prostatectomy to treat the cancer. “He was under general anesthesia during this procedure. Secretary Austin recovered uneventfully from his surgery and returned home the next morning. His prostate cancer was detected early, and his prognosis is excellent,” the statement read. It was previously unclear if Austin had been under anesthesia during the procedure, which the Pentagon had not previously disclosed and did not alert the White House to. The Pentagon had been facing intense questions after it was revealed on Friday that he had been admitted to Walter Reed on January 1 and had been hospitalized for days without notifying the public. It was subsequently reported that Biden, senior national security officials and even Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks – who had assumed Austin’s duties – were not aware of the defense secretary’s hospitalization until three days after he was admitted. On January 1, Austin was readmitted to the hospital due to complications “including nausea with severe abdominal, hip and leg pain.” He was found to have a urinary tract infection, the statement said. For the last eight days of Austin’s time at Walter Reed in treating the infection, he “never lost consciousness and never underwent general anesthesia.” This is a breaking story and will be updated.

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Like no other: Popular Connecticut pizza chains 1st Massachusetts location opens today

WOBURN, Mass. — A wildly popular Connecticut restaurant chain known for serving up “crafted pizza like no other” is officially opening its first Massachusetts location on Thursday. Sally’s Apizza, founded in New Haven in 1938, is ready to begin welcoming customers at its new Woburn Village restaurant. Sally's APizza (Woburn location (Sally's APizza rendering)) In a Facebook post, Sally’s wrote, “You see, restaurants, they come and go. But Sally’s. Sally’s is forever. Who’s excited for Woburn?” You see, restaurants, they come and go. But Sally’s. Sally’s is forever. • • Who’s excited for Woburn👀 • • shoutout to ... Posted by Sally's Apizza on Thursday, December 7, 2023 Sally’s offers customers a choice between nine coal-fired Neapolitan pizzas, as well as classic Italian entrees, and an array of apps including skillet meatballs, Italian wings, rigatoni vodka, fried mozzarella, Brussels sprouts, crispy calamari, arancini, baked clams, garlic shrimp. “Famous for our distinctive tomato sauce and chewy, crispy crust with an iconic oven-kissed char, Sally’s draws pizza fans from around the world,” the restaurant’s website states. Sandwiches, salads, bruschetta, and desserts are also available on Sally’s menu. Sally's Apizza Woburn grand opening tomorrow!! https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2023/12/11/sallys-apizza-woburn/ Posted by Chris Brandon on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Their renowned pies were named among the best in America by USA Today, among other publications. Sally’s also has three Connecticut restaurants in Fairfield, Stamford, and New Haven. Additional spots are also coming to Wethersfield, Norwalk, and Newington, as well as the Boston Seaport in 2024. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ©2023 Cox Media Group

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4 Takeaways from Bruins costly OT loss to Coyotes

The Bruins lost the contest in overtime and two players to injuries on Tuesday against the Coyotes as the misfortune continued to mount for Boston two-games into a four-game trip. Linus Ullmark left the game in overtime and Matt Poitras went down in regulation leaving the Bruins shorthanded. Nick Schmaltz beat Jeremy Swayman with 56 seconds left in the 3-on-3 session to give Arizona the 4-3 win. 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. It was the only shot Swayman faced. The teams were tied 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3 in a back-and-forth regulation. Jake DeBrusk scored early in the third to force overtime. David Pastrnak couldn’t convert on two breakaway attempts in the extra session after scoring once in regulation. Boston (24-8-8) will face the Golden Knights in Las Vegas on Thursday. It’s been a damaging road trip already — After losing Brandon Carlo to an upper-body injury in Monday’s shootout loss to Colorado, the Bruins lost Poitras in the third period on Tuesday’s game. The 19-year-old rookie skated gingerly off the ice in the first minute of the third period. He went to the dressing room and did not return. Ullmark lunged for a shot with 2:20 left in overtime and fell to the ice face down and stayed there until the Bruins training staff came to help him up. It was unclear the nature of the injury. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner skated gingerly to the bench as Swayman came in cold to replace him. The Bruins’ top defenders have played big minutes on this trip already — With Brandon Carlo missing half of Monday’s and all of Tuesday’s game combined with back-to-back overtimes, the Bruins’ top two blueliners have played a lot of minutes. Charlie McAvoy, who played 30:50 on Monday followed that with 27:42 against Arizona. Hampus Lindholm played 25:52 on Tuesday after skating 26:06 at Colorado. Marchand joins the 900-point club, then ejected from it — On Pastrnak’s first-period goal, Brad Marchand was initially credited with the second assist which would have been the 900th point of his career. But after a few rewinds and rewatches the officials determined it was 82nd career point instead of Marchand’s milestone. Rough moment for Mason Lohrei — Since being recalled from Providence, Mason Lohrei’s challenge has been to be more reliable defensively and not allow offensive opportunities for opponents. It was particularly critical when he stepped into Brandon Carlo’s spot in the lineup as Carlo is among the most sound in that area. Lohrei was trying to make a play at the offensive blue line early in the third period and stumbled to the ice allowing Lawson Cruse to break in alone. Linus Ullmark made the initial save, but Matias Maccelli tapped home the rebound, 52 seconds into the final frame.

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Mega Millions numbers: Are you the lucky winner of Tuesdays $165 million jackpot?

Are you tonight’s lucky winner? Grab your tickets and check your numbers. The Mega Millions lottery jackpot continues to rise after someone won the $395 million prize on December 8. Here are the winning numbers in Tuesday’s drawing: 12-15-32-33-53; Mega Ball: 24; Megaplier: 3X The estimated jackpot for the drawing is $165 million. The cash option is about $80.3 million. If no one wins, the jackpot climbs higher for the next drawing. According to the game’s official website, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350. Players pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers -- five different numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25 -- or select Easy Pick. A player wins the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing. Jackpot winners may choose whether to receive 30 annual payments, each five percent higher than the last, or a lump-sum payment. Mega Millions drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays and are offered in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 each.

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How Texas Kept the Lights On in the Recent Deep Freeze

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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118K With No Power, Flood Warnings Across MA In Fierce Storm's Wake

Weather 118K With No Power, Flood Warnings Across MA In Fierce Storm's Wake A top wind gust of 90 miles per hour was recorded at the Blue Hills Observatory at the height of the "tropical" December storm on Monday. National Grid said on Tuesday morning that it could be until Thursday before power is fully restored across the region and that crews are working to speed up that timeline with the help of additional workers from New York and Canada. (Shutterstock) MASSACHUSETTS — While the sun was out bright Tuesday morning there were still plenty of power outages, severe storm damage and flood warnings across Massachusetts in the wake of Monday's wicked storm. As temperatures soared into the 60s, the weather felt like something more out of a springtime socking as winds reached as high as 90 miles per hour at the Blue Hills Observatory, many cities and towns were flooded by more than 3 inches of rain, and power outages were found across the Bay State with more than 118,000 still without power as of Tuesday morning. Most of the severe outages are on the South Shore 92 percent of Scituate remained in the dark as of 9:30 a.m., 70 percent of Norwell was without power, as well as 64 percent of Hanover, 64 percent of Duxbury and 53 percent of Pembroke. The storm was deadly for one 89-year-old man on the South Shore when a tree crashed onto his camper — splitting it in half —while he was inside it. There was no school in several districts, including Scituate, on Tuesday because of unpassable roads and lack of electricity. National Grid said on Tuesday morning that it could be until Thursday before power is fully restored across the region and that crews are working to speed up that timeline with the help of additional workers from New York and Canada. There was plenty of wind to topple those trees with the highest gusts measured at 90 mph at Blue Hills in Milton, 68 mph at Logan Airport, 67 mph in Norwood, 67 mph on Nantucket, 66 mph in Dighton, 56 mph at Hansom Airport in Bedford, 55 mph in Beverly and 52 mph at Worcester Airport, according to National Weather Service observers. The highest rain totals were in Bedford, which measured 3.41 inches, Norwell at 3.18 inches, Lawrence at 2.84 inches, Wakefield at 2.68, and Logan Airport at 2.1 inches. All the rain, combined with some snow melt to the north, strained rivers and streams across Massachusetts with a flood warning still in effect for many waterways across the state on Tuesday. (National Weather Service) Gale wind warnings also remained in effect for those on the waters off the coast of New England. Those looking for good news ahead of the busy holiday travel week will find it in the forecast that is calling for clear and calm conditions through the weekend, including Christmas Day. It will be on the chilly side through midweek with highs in the 30s to near 40. But warming a bit for the final holiday push with temperatures on Christmas Day heading toward 50 degrees. White Christmas fans will be disappointed, however, with the next chance of significant rain or snow not expected until at least next Tuesday.

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Trump wins Iowa, Fox News Decision Desk predicts DeSantis will take second place

Trump predicts ‘tremendous night’ in Iowa caucuses DES MOINES, Iowa – Former President Donald Trump is optimistic about his showing in Monday night’s Iowa caucuses, which lead off the Republican presidential nominating calendar. “I think we’re going to have a tremendous night tonight. The people are fantastic. I’ve never seen spirit like they have,” Trump told reporters as he departed the Fort Des Moines hotel on Monday afternoon. Trump is the commanding front-runner in the polls in Iowa and in national surveys in the GOP nomination race as he makes his third straight White House run. He made history last year as the first former or current president to be indicted for a crime, but his four indictments, including charges he tried to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, have only fueled his support among Republican voters. Trump stood at 50% support or higher in a slew of polls over the past month in Iowa. Additionally, he was at 48% support in the final Des Moines Register/Mediacom/NBC News poll of likely Republican caucusgoers that was released Saturday night. Former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who are battling for a distant second place in Iowa, stood at 20% and 16% in the new survey, respectively. The closely-watched and highly-anticipated survey, conducted by longtime pollster Ann Selzer, has a well-earned tradition of accuracy in past GOP presidential caucuses, and it is considered by many as the gold standard in Iowa polling. As he departed the hotel, Trump also noted that “we’ve won it twice as you know.” He appeared to be pointing to his carrying Iowa in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. But Trump narrowly lost the Iowa Republican caucuses eight years ago to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. The DeSantis and Haley campaigns and their top surrogates and allies in recent days have been spotlighting the high expectations Trump faces in Monday night’s caucuses and have framed anything under 50% support for the former president in Iowa as a setback. "I think it's going to be bad for President Trump if he doesn't come in over 50. He's not meeting expectations that the media and the polls have been putting out for the past several months," Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds – the top DeSantis surrogate in the Hawkeye State – argued in an interview Monday morning on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." However, Trump and his campaign are taking aim at the high expectations he faces in Iowa. "No one has ever won the Iowa caucus by more than 12%," Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita told Fox News Digital on Saturday. "I think the public polls are a little rich." Trump, speaking with reporters on Sunday, said "there seems to be something about 50%." "I think they're doing it so that they can set a high expectation. So if we end up with 49%, which would be about 25 points bigger than anyone else ever got, they can say, he had a failure, it was a failure. You know fake news," he argued.

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Stuffy, Preppy, Sleepy: Can a Rebrand Fix Connecticuts Reputation?

Three years ago, George Gascón rode a wave of collective outrage following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis to become district attorney of Los Angeles by promising to make the criminal justice system fairer and, most crucially, to rein in the police. Now, to win re-election and stay in office, Mr. Gascón will need to tap into a different type of emotion: fear — in particular a perception that Los Angeles is less safe and that his policies as district attorney have made it so, an argument advanced by many of his challengers but largely unsupported by data. “I think that this race now for 2024 has gone back to, for a lot of people, law and order, lock ’em up,” Mr. Gascón said in an interview. Mr. Gascón’s victory in 2020 was one of the most consequential electoral outcomes from the movement for social justice and police accountability galvanized by Mr. Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer. And for the national movement that in recent years has helped elect progressive prosecutors in jurisdictions across the country, the victory in Los Angeles was momentous: The county, with a population almost the size of Ohio’s has the nation’s largest prosecution office, the largest jail system and a long history of police abuses.

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Jets latest free agent bust makes Patriots look even smarter

The New England Patriots and New York Jets both needed some veteran running back depth this offseason. The Jets got Dalvin Cook while the Patriots landed Ezekiel Elliott. The Patriots got the better player at about half the cost. 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. This comes after Wednesday’s news that the Jets and Cook are parting ways, a move that was dubbed “good business.” The 28-year-old fell well below expectations in New York. Coming off four straight Pro Bowl appearances, Cook arrived with the Jets with high expectations. However, he ran for just 214 yards, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. He also wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game. Cook’s price tag: a one-year, $7 million deal with $5.8 million guaranteed. Meanwhile, the Patriots got Elliott for cheap, signing him to a one-year deal worth $3 million total and $2.15 million in guarantees. Both players former Pro Bowlers who are 28 years old. They were both cut loose this offseason due to cap concerns. But while Cook had just made his fourth straight Pro Bowl, Elliott’s stock had declined a bit in Dallas. Elliott, a two-time NFL rushing leader, last made the Pro Bowl in 2019. After emerging as one of the NFL’s biggest stars in Dallas, he was cut loose in favor of Tony Pollard this offseason. He eventually found a solid role in New England. Over 16 games, Elliott has run the ball 171 times for 588 yards. That’s a career-worst average of 3.4 yards per carry. However, his biggest contributions have come in the passing game. Elliott heading into the final game of the season with 46 catches on the year, with ranks second on the team. He’s also drawn high praise for his effort level and pass blocking even when he’s not getting the ball. Bill Belichick’s roster building has been far from perfect as of late. The Patriots have rocky situation at quarterback. Their offensive line is held together with duct tape. The receivers (especially JuJu Smith-Schuster) have been a disappointment. But at least with Elliott, Belichick landed a good bargain-bin find. Plus, even the receiver deals have gone worse for the Jets. They signed Mecole Hardman as a free agent over the offseason and traded him back to the Kansas City Chiefs by October.

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Israeli Mothers Knew Their Sons Would Serve. But They Didnt Expect War.

The six mothers had gathered in a Jerusalem home on a recent Friday to prepare challah, the braided bread that Jews eat on the Sabbath. After they recited a blessing that is part of the ritual, each woman added a prayer of her own. “I just want everybody to come back alive and in one piece, mentally and physically,” said one, her voice breaking. “May they return in peace,” said another, wiping away tears. “With this challah, I want to bless my three sons who are in the army and all the soldiers,” said Ruthie Tick, who had convened the mothers so they could comfort one another. Collectively, they had 10 sons serving in the Israeli Army, either in Gaza fighting Hamas in response to the group’s incursion and deadly rampage on Oct. 7, or in the north, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia has been launching missiles at Israel from Lebanon. No sooner had the women finished praying than a WhatsApp message appeared on Rebecca Haviv’s cellphone. “I’m gonna be without a phone soon,” wrote her son, Adam, a 29-year-old combat soldier on reserve duty. “Love you so much, ma, and will be in touch.”

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Arrest warrant issued for former Holyoke city councilor, Wilmer Puello-Mota

WARWICK, R.I. — Former Holyoke City Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota has a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear Tuesday at a disposition hearing in Rhode Island. Facing a variety of charges, including possession of child pornography, Puello-Mota was scheduled for the disposition hearing in Superior Court in Warwick. His attorney, John M. Cicciline, told the court that his client was aware that he was supposed to appear for the hearing. Puello-Mota’s criminal trial on the child pornography charges and charges of obstruction of the judicial system, forgery and counterfeiting was scheduled to begin Jan. 16. The trial has been cancelled because of the warrant for his arrest. According to an official in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force would be searching for Puello-Mota. The case stems from a May 2020 arrest at a hotel near the T.F. Green State Airport in Warwick. Puello-Mota had called police to report a stolen firearm. Once police began investigating, they discovered Puello-Mota was at the hotel to meet a 17-year-old girl he had been corresponding with online. By searching his cell phone, they discovered he had nude photos and videos of the girl in a trash folder on the phone, and they charged him with possession of child pornography. During the initial investigation, the girl told police he had given her money. Police found evidence of payments made by Puello-Mota to the girl through the app Venmo. Puello-Mota told police at that time that he believed the girl was 22 and he had just learned she was 17. If convicted of the child pornography charges, he could face up to five years in prison. The second tier of charges stemmed from the former councilor being accused of forging a memo from a supervisor in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, which claimed the Air Force was aware of the charges and that Puello-Mota would be deployed if the case had a positive outcome for him. This would have provided certain considerations in the disposition of his case. Warwick police, who investigated the matter in May 2022, alleged that Puello-Mota lied to another Air Force supervisor, claiming he was involved in a research program about how service members progress through the criminal justice system and that the charges were not real. In November 2022, Rhode Island prosecutors filed a bail violation after Puello-Mota attended a Halloween party in Holyoke because stipulations of his personal recognizance bail instructed him to stay away from juveniles.

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House of the Week: Wilbraham home has multiple laundry rooms, fire places and heated pool

Arguably, the best gift for a traveler is a ride to the airport for a 5 a.m. flight. But if you insist on wrapping something up, here are some things we have tested and loved. 10:47 a.m.

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Warm weather delays opening for NH Ice Castles; heres the new date

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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Japan Earthquake Tsunami Warnings Issued in Japan After Powerful Earthquake

Pinned Updated Jan. 1, 2024, 5:30 a.m. ET Jan. 1, 2024, 5:30 a.m. ET Reporting from Tokyo A powerful earthquake hit the Noto region of central Japan on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders in several prefectures, causing buildings to collapse and disrupting electricity and mobile phone services in Ishikawa Prefecture, the epicenter of the quake, officials and Japan’s public broadcaster said. The quake struck at around 4:10 p.m. and had a magnitude of 7.6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake measured 7.5 magnitude. It was much weaker than the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan in 2011, causing a tsunami, killing thousands and damaging the Fukushima power plant, which triggered a nuclear crisis. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake Monday had a very shallow depth, which tends to make earthquakes more dangerous, but initial reports from the authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture suggested that there had been no major damage to “important facilities.” An official from Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency said that there were no signs of abnormalities at any radioactivity monitoring stations at the Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa. Still, the meteorological agency warned that aftershocks and tsunamis could continue for up to a week and advised residents to be on guard for at least two or three days. The agency issued a major tsunami warning for the Noto Peninsula facing the Japan Sea and ordered residents to leave for higher ground immediately. The agency warned that there could be waves as high as five meters, or 16 feet, in Noto and as high as three meters along the coasts of Sado Island, as well as in prefectures including Niigata and Toyama. Show more

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Woman accused of posing as Boston student used identity of child in state custody as alias, prosecutors say

What would suicide by bat look like? Only a comedian would think long and hard on the subject. In “From Bleak to Dark” (Max), Marc Maron imagines it as pitiful, anguished and riotously comic. This act-out, coming at the end of a special haunted by death, operates like the scene in Hunter S. Thompson’s book on the Hells Angels in which Thompson, after spending months hanging out with the biker gang, describes getting beat up by them. It’s a perverse catharsis. Best Online Roaster The arch-elitist Dan Rosen has created his own critical beat on Instagram, doing stylish and ruthless insult comedy on tasteless interior design, hack décor and shallow architecture. Projecting his face over photos of celebrity homes, he displays an acute eye for overdone trends (anyone with a green kitchen should be ashamed) and a knack for the perfect put-down (“the granny couch”). He compares Chris Brown’s floors to a bowling ball, then says: “I would say it’s the worst crime he ever committed” before a pause. Best Canadian Newcomer “I moved to America this year,” Sophie Buddle said at the start of her “Tonight Show” set in April. “I wanted to see it before it ends.” Then she sucked in her bottom lip and giggled. This chirpy, comic maintains a steady nervous chuckle while joking about masturbation and annoying Los Angeles types. But she knows what she’s doing, finding fresh spins on familiar subjects. She is part of a long line of cheerfully raunchy young comics, and her sneaky jokes are full of sharp elbows. When talking about the United States, there’s pity in her voice that feels like revenge for so many years of American comic condescension toward our northern neighbor. Best Take on Crowd Work In a short Netflix set commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Improv club, Deon Cole lays into how comics repeatedly ask audiences to do things like “give it up for the ladies.” Looking besieged, he says, “Got me wasting my claps.” Best Response to a Beeping Cellphone Upon hearing that familiar sound during his recent hour, Joe Pera responded in a deadpan, “You just ruined my life,” then kept it moving. Best Impression That the John Mulaney special “Baby J” (on Netflix) manages to live up to expectations is a feat, considering he addresses his much-publicized stint in rehab and, less so, his equally talked-about divorce. His re-creation of his star-studded intervention shows off a multitude of niche accents. And yet, he gets the biggest laughs going broad and traditional with his Al Pacino take. One distinctive voice nails another.

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Community comes together to help after fire that killed four children in Conn.

As the Somers community mourns the heart-wrenching loss of four children who died in a fire, community members are taking action. They are finding ways to support and assist a family that has not only lost children but two families that have lost their homes and everything in them. With the motto "Somers Strong," community members are spreading hope. They said they just want to be good neighbors. “The community came together instantly and said, ‘What do we do to support?’,” said Michelle Wink, co-owner of Sue's Shirt Creations. Get New England news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NECN newsletters. When she got the news of the tragedy, like many others, she was in utter shock. “I stopped breathing for a second and Immediately thought of the family, I thought of the children, I thought of the school, and I thought of the fire department, and I thought Somers,” Wink explained. So, Wink made a post about the shirts and by the morning she'd already received dozens of orders from people who want to give support. While NBC Connecticut was visiting Sue's Shirt Creations, the owner of another business that's chipping in to support the cause stopped by. Wink had called him to drop off the signs DG Graphics is making. “I’ve never really seen a community come together like they have in the past couple of days. It just kind of reminds you how important your neighbors are,” said Sean Coonery, the owner of DG Graphics. While it wasn't his idea to make the signs, Coonery jumped at the opportunity to support these families facing such grief. “A community member came in to DG Graphics just yesterday, the day after the events, and asked if we were willing to support and donate some signs and we are happy to do that," Coonery explained. "And that community member, Colleen, is going to then sell the signs to people who want to support and rally around families. All the money that is raised from those sales is going to go to the Angel Fund.” Coonery said this is just the least DG Graphics could do to support. "There’s nothing that we could actually say or do to express the appropriate amount of condolences for this family but I think everybody’s doing the best that they know how and I’m sure they will feel that love over time,” he said. To order a T-shirt from Sue's Shirt Creations, go to www.sueshirts.com and click the "Somers Strong" tab. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Town of Somers' Angel Fund for the families.

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The Parade of Unsettled Weather Will Continue Into the Weekend

Pandemic. War. Now drought. Olive groves have shriveled in Tunisia. The Brazilian Amazon faces its driest season in a century. Wheat fields have been decimated in Syria and Iraq, pushing millions more into hunger after years of conflict. The Panama Canal, a vital trade artery, doesn’t have enough water, which means fewer ships can pass through. And the fear of drought has prompted India, the world’s biggest rice exporter, to restrict the export of most rice varieties. The United Nations estimates that 1.84 billion people worldwide, or nearly a quarter of humanity, were living under drought in 2022 and 2023, the vast majority in low- and middle-income countries. “Droughts operate in silence, often going unnoticed and failing to provoke an immediate public and political response,” wrote Ibrahim Thiaw, head of the United Nations agency that issued the estimates late last year, in his foreword to the report. The many droughts around the world come at a time of record-high global temperatures and rising food-price inflation, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, involving two countries that are major producers of wheat, has thrown global food supply chains into turmoil, punishing the world’s poorest people.

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Patriots legend not blaming Bailey Zappe for pick-six

A blast of Arctic air was expected to reach into the Deep South on Tuesday morning, potentially breaking or tying low-temperature records for the day from Texas to Mississippi, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service. Forecasters predicted the system would bring “dangerously cold,” below-zero wind chill temperatures across much of the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains and the Midwest. “These wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in a few minutes,” the Weather Service said on Monday afternoon, suggesting that people avoid outdoor activities if they can.

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As a 2024 Rematch Looms, Americans Watch With Disbelief

With the New England Patriots sitting at 3-11, sitting oh-so-close to the No. 1 slot in the 2024 NFL Draft, we’re set for another week of Bill Belichick facing questions about his job status. He’ll be asked the questions. But don’t expect any illuminating answers. That was the case Monday morning when Belichick made his regular appearance on WEEI’s Greg Hill Show. Hill asked Belichick if there were any assurances he could make to fans that no decision has been made over his status with the team beyond the 2023 season. 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. “Nothing’s changed,” Belichick said. “We’ve got Denver this week. Gonna do all we can to get the team ready to play well against Denver.” Patriots chairman Robert Kraft has reportedly been upset with the lack of onfield success in New England over recent years. Now, eyes are on Kraft to see if he’ll make a change at the head coaching position this offseason. It’s gotten to the point where vague comments made by Kraft on “College GameDay” have been dissected to see if they were a reference to Belichick’s job security. Belichick was asked, with all that going on, if he feels like Kraft has given him proper support. “Look, I think any questions you have for Mr. Kraft you should ask Mr. Kraft,” Belichick said. The responses are more or less the same refrain Belichick has been repeating all season, even with rumors swirling and reports suggesting that his time in New England may be done. How does Belichick keep his focus with so much outside noise going? “I don’t know. I don’t sit around and listen to talk radio and read stuff every day,” Belichick said. “I’m going to do what I do and that’s prepare the team to get ready for Denver.” Finally, Belichick was asked if he wanted to stay in New England. If the decision were up to him, would he keep coaching the Patriots long-term? “I’m not getting into the past the future or anything else,” Belichick said. There you have it. The Patriots have three games left in the regular season. The way things are looking now, it doesn’t seem we’ll have any more clarity on Belichick’s job status any time soon.

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Condominium sells for $1.1 million in Reading

The property located at 8 Sanborn Street in Reading was sold on Nov. 16, 2023 for $1,050,000, or $850 per square foot. The condominium, built in 2019, has an interior space of 1,235 square feet. This apartment features two bedrooms and two bathrooms. On the exterior, the house is characterized by a flat roof design. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. Additional units have recently been sold nearby: In June 2023, a 1,197-square-foot unit on Woburn Street in Reading sold for $615,000, a price per square foot of $514. The unit has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. A 1,768-square-foot unit at 1 Charles Street in Reading sold in August 2023, for $588,000, a price per square foot of $333. The unit has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. On Charles Street, Reading, in November 2023, a 1,838-square-foot unit was sold for $602,000, a price per square foot of $328. The unit has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News

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Bucks vs. Pacers: Free live stream, TV, how to watch IST semifinals

PSG will look to stay atop the top spot in Ligue 1 play on Sunday when they face La Havre AC on the road. PSG currently holds a one point lead over OFC Nice in the standings through 13 contests while La Havre is all the way down in 8th place with just 16 points through 13 games. Paris Saint-Germain have won six consecutive games in league play and will look to improve the league-best mark on Sunday against a La Havre squad that is unbeaten in their last five matches. Fans can watch PSG for free by signing up for a free trial of fuboTV. How to watch Paris Saint-Germain vs. La Havre AC: What time does that match start? Can I watch it on TV? — Sunday’s match begins at 7:00 a.m EST. It will air on TV via beIN SPORTS. Live stream info: fuboTV | DirecTV | beIN SPORTS | Sling — If you have a cable subscription, you can use the login credentials from your TV provider to watch online via beIN SPORTS. If you don’t have cable, you can watch using fuboTV — which offers a free trial — or DirecTV Stream. Viewers can also use Sling with their World Sports add-on package. MORE PSG COVERAGE VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: GENEVA (AP) — A video review official has been removed from his Champions League game on Wednesday, one day after having a key role in a disputed decision to award Paris Saint-Germain a stoppage-time penalty for handball against Newcastle which contradicted UEFA’s own advice to referees. The VAR specialist from Poland, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, is no longer listed to work at the Real Sociedad-Salzburg game and has been replaced by a German match official. Marciniak refereed the Champions League final last season and the 2022 World Cup final with Kwiatkowski in his team. Marciniak initially allowed play to continue Tuesday but awarded the penalty after he was advised by his video assistant to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. However, a UEFA panel of storied coaches and former players said in April that “no handball offense should be called on a player if the ball is previously deflected from his own body, and, in particular, when the ball does not go towards the goal.” The advice to be given to match officials this season was detailed by the panel, chaired by UEFA Chief of Football Zvonimir Boban, in an April 25 statement headlined “UEFA Football Board urges more clarity on handball rule.” “The handball rule, for example, will always be disputed, but we can make it more consistent and aligned with the game’s true nature,” Boban, the former Croatia and AC Milan great, said in April. UEFA declined to comment Wednesday, in line with a policy not to discuss field of play decisions. The current laws of the game allow for handballs to be penalized even if the contact was not intentional and after a deflection if a defender’s arm is judged to be in an unnatural position. “But his hand is not in an unnatural position,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said after the game, “(his hands) are down by his side, but he is in a running motion.” The cross from Ousmane Dembélé that struck Livramento was also going backward — and not towards goal. The penalty decision in the PSG game directly affected the standings in the tightly fought Group F, as it kept PSG two points clear of Newcastle in the second qualifying place for the round of 16 behind group leader Borussia Dortmund. “I feel it is a poor decision and it’s hugely frustrating for us as you know how little time there is left in the game,” Howe said. “There is nothing we can do about it now.” Newcastle must now win its home game against last-place AC Milan on Dec. 13 and hope PSG fails to win at Dortmund. The second-place team advances to the Champions League round of 16 and the third-place team goes to the Europa League knockout playoffs.

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Opinion | The Best Sentences of 2023

Over recent days, I took on a daunting task — but a delightful one. I reviewed all the passages of prose featured in the For the Love of Sentences section of my Times Opinion newsletter in 2023 and tried to determine the best of the best. And there’s no doing that, at least not objectively, not when the harvest is so bountiful. What follows is a sample of the sentences that, upon fresh examination, made me smile the widest or nod the hardest or wish the most ardently and enviously that I’d written them. I hope they give you as much pleasure as they gave me when I reread them. I also hope that those of you who routinely contribute to For the Love of Sentences, bringing gems like the ones below to my attention, know how grateful to you I am. This is a crowdsourced enterprise. You are the wise and deeply appreciated crowd. Finally, I hope 2024 brings all of us many great things, including many great sentences. Let’s start with The Times. Dwight Garner noted how a certain conservative cable network presses on with its distortions, despite being called out on them and successfully sued: “Fox News, at this point, resembles a car whose windshield is thickly encrusted with traffic citations. Yet this car (surely a Hummer) manages to barrel out anew each day, plowing over six more mailboxes, five more crossing guards, four elderly scientists, three communal enterprises, two trans kids and a solar panel.”

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In Cambridge, family behind Brookline Lunch loved Bernie Goldberg

By 1988, Abu-Rubieh had abandoned his engineering ambitions and, after working in restaurants for a number of years, wanted to open one of his own. Word around town was that Bernard Goldberg was the man to help make it happen. He and his twin brother, Bill Goldberg , had set up shop in Central Square, earning a reputation as kind and respected lawyers, particularly among immigrants in the community. Years after arriving from Jordan in the 1970s, Jamal Abu-Rubieh pursued a longtime dream half a world away in Cambridge, home to many immigrant families hoping to carve out a new path in America. Advertisement Known as the “Gold Dust Twins,” the Cambridge natives boasted a penchant for style and a knack for telling jokes. After Abu-Rubieh applied for his restaurant license, he went to Goldberg for legal counsel, and Goldberg helped him and his wife, Manal Abu-Rubieh, open their first restaurant, Jimmaize Cafe, on Western Avenue. Not long after, he assisted the couple in buying Brookline Lunch, a beloved local diner. Get Camberville & beyond A Boston Globe newsletter about Cambridge, Somerville, and communities beyond. Enter Email Sign Up That pivotal meeting in Central Square was the start of a lasting friendship, one that would unite two families — one Palestinian and one Jewish — in affection and now in grief. On Nov. 30, Goldberg, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in his later years, died at the age of 94. Known as “Bernie,” he was a five-term city councilor, a lawyer recognized by the city with his brother in 2004 after advising residents for a half-century — Goldberg Square is named after the pair — and a generous family man. To his own family, and to the Abu-Rubiehs. “It felt like we lost a father figure,” Manal Abu-Rubieh, 57, whom the brothers helped emigrate from Jordan, said by email. “Bernard took pride in helping our family set roots in Cambridge and believed in us and what we could make for ourselves. He empowered us to achieve everything we’ve done over the past 35 years as a business and as a family.” Advertisement In an online tribute to Goldberg, Abeer Abu-Rubieh, one of seven children in the family, remembered him as a loyal customer, a dear friend, and an ally who understood “that the intricacies of the law often intersect with the delicate fabric of human lives.” As kids, they would fight over who got to visit his law office with their dad, where Goldberg would insist upon them taking more than one Hershey’s Krackel or Nestle Crunch he had waiting, Abeer Abu-Rubieh recalled fondly. A regular for breakfast on the weekends, he would stroll through the kitchen — “Goodfellas style” — to hand the children a box of black and white cookies. For Jamal and Manal, he would bring raisin nut bread. On one Jewish holiday, Goldberg brought in matzah, curious if her dad could make a meal with it. In the kitchen, he cooked up a chicken salad nestled on the flatbread that Goldberg raved about. From then on, Jamal Abu-Rubieh purchased matzah for him — “just to make the salad Bernard fell in love with.” “In times like these, we find solace in the beautiful memories we have of Bernard and we find comfort in knowing he’s now reunited with Bill,” she wrote. Bernard Goldberg, left, and Bill Goldberg, right, ate at Brookline Lunch in 2012. Jodi Arlyn Goldberg A Cambridge mainstay, the diner known for its baklava and knafeh pancakes has used its Instagram account to highlight the plight of thousands of Palestinians displaced and killed in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month, rages on. The family has long celebrated their Palestinian roots in posts, and, in recent weeks, have expressed grief over the violence and offered ways to help the people of Gaza. In response, some people have called the restaurant and threatened their parents, the siblings said. Advertisement Within those posts is a picture of a smiling Goldberg, wearing a crisp leather jacket as he dined on a plate of falafel and hummus in the brick-walled cafe. “Bernard wanted to be a part of helping you feel secure,” Manal said. Charismatic and caring, he was “the most trusted voice and a voice of reason for me and my family,” added Jamal, 66. Over the years, Goldberg often stopped by the diner just to check in and say hello. He helped the Abu-Rubieh children enroll in school and lent a hand with business licensing. Legal fees were never a concern. He was there for matters big or small. When he brought his loved ones for a meal at the diner, “it truly felt like we were a part of the family,” Jamal said. There was no need for menus. The Abu-Rubiehs knew all their favorites by heart. Those are the memories, Jamal said, that he now holds most dear. “It only felt right to give him a place on the menu in the restaurant that he helped make possible,” he said of a special he named after Goldberg. Advertisement The family’s online remembrance gave Jodi Arlyn Goldberg, 58, a window into her “father that we didn’t always get to witness.” “Being able to see him through the lens of someone else’s experience was so intense and moving,” she said in an interview with her sister, Carla Greengrass, 55, and their mother, Judith Goldberg, 83, who was married to Bernard Goldberg for nearly 60 years. Bernard Goldberg, Jamal Abu-Rubieh, and Bill Goldberg. Brookline Lunch The Goldberg brothers practiced law in Central Square their whole careers, with a clientele based largely on word of mouth. It was hardly a money-making venture, Greengrass said. But “that’s not why they did it.” “They continued to serve the immigrant community because they understood the experience,” she said. “They had to navigate the world of being an other, and I think those are the values that they held on to. They often got paid in food. It was a beautiful, symbiotic relationship.” The Abu-Rubiehs were extended family, Judith Goldberg said. The Goldbergs were always welcomed with open arms to the restaurant and watched as the seven children grew up into successful adults. On his 90th birthday, Judith drove her husband around Central Square to see some of his old friends. She went to the diner to let them know he was waiting in the car. Jamal and Manal ran out the door to see him, showering him with hugs and kisses. They shed tears. Advertisement It was painful to see Goldberg in that condition, Manal said. But it reminded her of how he had been a source of strength for her family over many decades, guiding them through uncertain times and immense change, both in their own lives and the city around them. “But Bernard never changed. Bernard was the very best of Cambridge, and what made this city feel like home. ... Bonds like that endure no matter how much time has passed,” she said. “You don’t forget the people who treated you with respect and kindness; you only hope you feel as special to them as they do to you.” “Few people leave a legacy and impact as large as Bernard did,” she added. It was the last time the two couples saw each other. Before they parted, Jamal and Manal gave Bernard an orange blossom for good luck, Judith said. “It lasted a long time,” she recalled. As did their friendship. Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her @shannonlarson98.

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$3,000 stolen in armed robbery in Boston's South End

Boston police are investigating an armed robbery at a business in the city's South End neighborhood.Police said a person walked into Richdale Food Shops on Dartmouth Street near Columbus Avenue at 10 p.m. Thursday and showed a gun.Surveillance video shows the person entering the market and waiting for a customer to pay at the counter. The clerk said the person paid for a drink and then pulled out a gun and demanded money.The person stole about $3,000 from the register and fled the area.No injuries were reported in the incident.Police are searching for a suspect. Boston police are investigating an armed robbery at a business in the city's South End neighborhood. Police said a person walked into Richdale Food Shops on Dartmouth Street near Columbus Avenue at 10 p.m. Thursday and showed a gun. Advertisement Surveillance video shows the person entering the market and waiting for a customer to pay at the counter. The clerk said the person paid for a drink and then pulled out a gun and demanded money. The person stole about $3,000 from the register and fled the area. No injuries were reported in the incident. Police are searching for a suspect.

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How to watch The Real Housewives of Miami new episode for free Jan. 17

Season 6 of “The Real Housewives of Miami” continues on Bravo this Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT with a new one-and-a-half-hour-long episode. The show can be streamed on platforms like FuboTV and DirecTV Stream for free, if you can’t watch the new episode with cable on TV. Both platforms offer a free trial for new users interested in signing up for an account. Sling is available as well for streaming. You can also stream it the next day on Peacock. “This entry in the ‘Real Housewives’ franchise sticks to the tried-and-true formula that has made other incarnations a staple on the Bravo schedule,” FuboTV said in a description of the series. “The women featured on the series are at the center of the Miami housewife universe, though not all are actually wives at the time of the show’s filming,” it added. “Among the women are Adriana De Moura, known as the Brazilian bombshell of Miami’s art scene, and Texas native Lea Black, a committed philanthropist who is married to one of America’s top criminal defense attorneys.” The new episode is titled “Sink or Swim″ and in a description FuboTV said “Julia walks the runway for the first time in 24 years; Nicole and the Bros get to the bottom of The Mother’s Day Massacre; Alexia invites the ladies to Mexico City; Guerdy shares a devastating health update.” You can watch sneak peek for the new episode below or by clicking here to watch on Bravo’s YouTube channel. How can I watch the newest episode of “The Real Housewives of Miami” for free? Viewers looking to stream can do so by using FuboTV, Sling or DirecTV Stream. Both FuboTV and DirecTV Stream offer free trials when you sign up, and Sling offers 50% off your first month. You can also stream it the next day on Peacock. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, such as sports, news, entertainment and local channels. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. DirecTV also offers a free trial for any package you sign up.

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Former Eastfield Mall sign to remain put as new shopping plaza rises in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Developers creating the new Springfield Crossing out of the rubble of the former Eastfield Mall plan to keep the mall’s entrance sign in place. Onyx Partners Limited purchased the 56-year-old mall for $4.5 million last March to develop the $65 million to $85 million Springfield Crossing and began demolition on the 45-acre site in August, starting at the former Cinemark movie theater. While one giant sign on Boston Road that used to announce Eastfield Mall happenings has been replaced with a giant banner announcing leasing at Springfield Crossing, the entrance sign in front of the former building itself will remain. Other than a bit of touch-up, Onyx will leave the sign in its current form and size, said Brian Kaplan, vice president of development for Onyx Partners. “We have no plans of taking it down or destroying it,” Kaplan said. “It’s been a staple in the community for years, and so we want to make use of it in the new project.” He added, “We don’t have any definitive plans for exactly what we’re going to do to the sign, we just know that we’re going to leave it in its current location and size. I can imagine that (Springfield Crossing’s) name will be on it.” The demolition is on schedule, according to Kaplan, who expects it to be complete within a few weeks. Site work will follow to meet a project deadline to finish construction in summer 2025. The new 360,000-square-foot retail complex, under the direction of leasing agent Atlantic Retail, intends to house Hobby Lobby, PetSmart, Old Navy, Burlington Coat Store, Ulta, Five Below, and Sketchers, several of which have locations nearby. The new site’s largest retailer remains a mystery. The unidentified “Proposed Anchor Tenant” is speculated to be a Target, though neither the developers nor the store will confirm. In a previous report, Anton Melchionda, founder of Onyx Partners Limited, said that the company has reached out to all national tenants, a pool of 300 potential businesses.

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3-year-old boy opens entire familys Christmas presents at 3 a.m.

CARY, N.C. — A North Carolina toddler simply could not wait to see what Santa Claus brought his family. >> Read more trending news The 3-year-old boy woke up his parents early on Christmas morning, loudly asking them for scissors. When Scott and Katie Reintgen came downstairs to investigate the baffling, 3 a.m. request, they discovered that their son had unwrapped all of the family’s gifts, hours before his siblings would be awake, The Washington Post reported. And, the boy was thorough, shredding the wrapping paper of every gift. The boy needed the scissors to pry open a favorite gift he discovered. He ripped several packages before discovering it, though. “He wanted to open up his Spider-Man web shooters, so, naturally, he needed scissors to cut them free,” Scott Reintgen, 35, of Cary, told the newspaper. “That’s when we realized something had gone terribly wrong.” Just adding his explanation for why he opened everything! 😂 Also have to add: we’re not mad. He’s a good kid, and it’s a story we’ll tell for the rest of our lives. pic.twitter.com/GKiJjPjQXR — Scott Reintgen (@Scott_Thought) December 26, 2023 The couple has three children, ages 6, 3, and 1, NBC News reported. Katie Reintgen said her 3-year-old son had unwrapped “literally everything, from the tiniest eraser to the biggest box.” The Reintgens had taken hours to wrap all of the gifts the night before, according to the news organization. Within minutes, there was wrapping paper all over the floor. “Yall,” Reintgen wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “My three year old came down at 3am and unwrapped EVERYONE’S presents.” The boy, whose parents lovingly call “the midnight perpetrator,” told them that he unwrapped the gifts because he did not want other family members to be confused, NBC News reported. “He wanted us to be able to see our presents so we knew what they were,” Scott Reintgen told the news organization. “I think he legitimately just felt that he was doing a service to everyone. He will not do it again next year, we hope.” The toddler had done a thorough job, ripping the paper off all of the carefully wrapped gifts in a few minutes, the Post reported. Now, the Reintgens had to rewrap them before the boy’s 6-year-old brother woke up. “There was the cold realization that all the effort you put in the night before had suddenly been undone, but mostly, it was just such an unbelievable thing to see,” Reintgen, a science-fiction and fantasy author who wrote this year’s “A Door in the Dark,” a New York Times bestseller, told the Post. “There was not one thing that he left unscathed -- it was all of it.” “Showing no remorse,” Katie Reintgen added. Katie Reintgen then attempted to save Christmas for her oldest child, rewrapping his gifts, NBC News reported. She had no more fresh wrapping paper, so she taped the ripped paper together. It took 30 minutes, but Katie Reintgen was able to salvage the gifts, according to the Post. “The 6-year-old is very much the rule-follower so the idea that someone would just go down and open all the presents would just be unthinkable to him,” Scott Reintgen told NBC News. “But our middle child is very much the adventurous, ridiculous, no-rules, have-fun kind of kid.” After Scott Reintgen posted photos of the wrapping paper strewn on the floor around the family’s Christmas tree, the family received messages of support from other parents who said their children had tried the same stunt. It was an inconvenience, but Scott Reintgen stressed in a follow-up tweet that they were not angry, adding their son is “a good kid.” “Sure, we could have gotten angry at our kid unwrapping all the presents -- or we could have fun with it,” Scott Reintgen told the Post. “We will 100% be sharing this at his wedding. It’s one of those unbelievable stories.”

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Ask Amy: Should I give my neighbors money to remove my trees leaves?

Dear Amy: I am troubled. I have been giving – really extending – the benefit of the doubt to “Jan,” my daughter-in-law, for some time. I see my son and Jan a couple of times a year, when I visit their city. I get a hotel room willingly and without question. I am friendly and supportive, I compliment her sincerely, and I find positive, non-controversial things to talk about. She just doesn’t seem to like me – or my visits – and it clearly hurts and upsets my son. She is openly impatient with him and absolutely cold to me. I can do nothing right. It would be nice if we could be friends, but if that’s too much I would be OK with being simply polite. I am bewildered and hurt for my son. I know that he is courteous and welcoming to her parents. I don’t know what I have done, if anything. Should I ask if I’ve offended her somehow? I don’t want to cause a kerfuffle for my son, but I think that maybe I trigger difficulty between them for reasons I’m unsure of. This is not improving with time (it’s been four years, now). I can no longer pretend that I don’t notice, and I am wondering what you think I should do. – Somebody’s Mom Dear Mom: You have done your best to basically put your head down and endure this, politely – hoping, no doubt, that “Jan’s” attitude toward you would change as time went on and she discovered that you are a benign, low-impact presence in her family’s life. You don’t seem to have asked your son what challenges he and his wife are facing. She could struggle with extreme anxiety, depression, or another mental or physical health challenge that neither of them has chosen to disclose to you. So I would start with your son. Ask him, “Are there things I could or should do to make things easier for you and Jan when I visit?” Based on how your son answers, you could open up and share your own questions, concerns and challenges. Based on the vibe during your next visit, I suggest speaking with Jan privately, asking her a version of the questions you’ve asked your son. Tell her that you don’t want to burden either of them, but that you are worried that she seems stressed when she sees you. In short, nudge the door open and give her space to walk through. Dear Amy: I’ve lived in my home for five years. There is a very large tree in the backyard. At this time of year, the leaves obviously fall to the ground in both my yard and my neighbor’s yard. My neighbors have asked me to give them money to clean the leaves from their yard. We are both homeowners, and in my opinion, homeowners sign up for the responsibility of maintaining our home and yard when we buy the home. My neighbors on the other side of my house have leaves that fall into my yard and I would never assume it is their responsibility to clean the leaves that fall onto my property. I am at a loss because this is not the first time my neighbors have asked about this. In previous years I have said “no,” and yet they keep asking. I don’t want to start a precedent of giving them money every year, but I don’t want to be argumentative. Any suggestions? – Leave the Leaves? Dear Leave: Please remember that anyone can ask anything. Asking can be very easy. “No” can require a flash of courage, and sometimes a bit of finesse. You are not responsible for the leaves that have fallen in your neighbor’s yard. (Double check your local laws and statutes.) And now, after five years of saying “no,” in my opinion you no longer need to respond at all. There is no need to respond again. Let your “no” precedent remain, like that last stubborn oak leaf clinging to its branch. Dear Amy: Your response to “First-time Grandparents” was inadequate, to say the least. Their daughter-in-law’s parents had behaved abusively toward them, by berating them publicly. Their son and daughter-in-law need to confront her parents about their inappropriate behavior and strongly suggest an apology to the injured parties. To do less is just asking for the wound to fester. – Upset Dear Upset: You make a good point, but because these other in-laws were so volatile and explosive, I worried that confronting them might make matters worse. (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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Hoophall Classic showcases countrys top talent, celebrity appearances, and sell out crowds

SPRINGFIELD - With three days of sold out crowds, the Spalding Hoophall Classic remains a big hit for Springfield and the surrounding area. There were celebrity appearances by American rapper and songwriter Ice Cube, NBA hall of famer Ray Allen, and former NBA legend Carmelo Anthony. A standing room only crowd filled Blake Arena for games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, to watch some of the best high school players in the country.

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The restaurants Barbara Lynch is closing meant something to Boston

It wasn’t, therefore, a staggering surprise when the Barbara Lynch Collective announced in a press release Friday that it would close the high-end Menton and Lynch’s other Congress Street properties, Sportello and Drink. The company said the Butcher Shop and Stir in the South End were under agreement for sale, while No. 9 Park, B&G Oysters, and the Rudder in Gloucester remained in business. The last years have been troubled ones for Barbara Lynch, one of Boston’s most acclaimed chefs. Many of her difficulties — as with her successes — have been self-made. The Globe and The New York Times reported on accusations of workplace abuse and harassment by employees. Kitchen staff at Menton walked off the job. Two former workers sued Lynch, alleging she shorted them on tips earlier in the pandemic. The Butcher Shop closed for summer break, then remained dark. All of this played out against a backdrop of challenges across the board for the hospitality industry: high rents, high food costs, a crushing labor shortage, a downtown altered by a pandemic. Advertisement It was sad, though. 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 It is bad if people are bad to their employees. Full stop. It is bad if leaders are bad at leading, and if managers are bad at managing. It is bad if powerful people and institutions don’t take accountability for their mistakes. (And I didn’t even have to go to Harvard to learn this.) Lynch’s press release is an exercise in deflection, blaming the closures on landlords, middle management, Boston itself — everyone but the boss, whom it praises for handing out toilet paper to staff during the pandemic. Now let’s hold some complicated realities together at the same time. Because people are complicated realities. Lynch is one of the most talented restaurateurs Boston has produced. She can cook incredibly delicious food. She can envision a concept that’s just right at just the right moment, and make it look like she invented it, though there may be no new thing under the heat lamp. Many years ago, when I was scraping by as a temp, I convinced my visiting mother to take me to dinner at Galleria Italiana, where Lynch was the up-and-coming executive chef. It was the best meal I’d ever had in Boston. Two years later, Lynch opened No. 9 Park. She was part of a wave of chefs — Jody Adams, Todd English, Gordon Hamersley, Lydia Shire, Jasper White, et al. — who put the city on the culinary map for something beyond chowdah. Advertisement Barbara Lynch was profiled in Maryanne Galvin's 2002 film "Amuse Bouche: A Chef's Tale." handout Although No. 9 and Menton feature Lynch in high-end ambition mode, it is the middle-ground properties that show her at her actual best. The Butcher Shop, a multifunction restaurant/butchery/wine bar/market, was ahead of its time. Likewise B&G, predating a groundswell of modern, upscale oyster bars and the general all-around eating of raw things from the sea. Drink, a bespoke cocktail bar where guests ordered by flavor profile, was a game-changer right when the craft cocktail scene was taking off. Sportello, a stylish diner putting out craveable Italian-inspired food, would fit in in any city (but Lynch never looks anywhere but homeward). These places changed the tenor of the local dining scene, remade it into something better — more interesting, forward-looking, and fun. Each had a sensibility all its own. Advertisement Lynch is a painter. Her work, too, has a distinct sensibility. As much as she is a chef, she is an artist. For her, food is a medium; the spaces in which we consume it are a medium. Artists aren’t known for being good at keeping businesses profitable, or managing staff, or maintaining relationships, or hacking their way to health and productivity via apps, diet, exercise, and immaculate self-care. Good art, or good work, doesn’t and shouldn’t earn problematic behavior a pass. But whether we are obliged to throw the good into the oubliette in the face of problematic behavior — well, that is a question we get to wrestle with as individuals and as a culture until the end of days. Menton, a French restaurant owned by Barbara Lynch. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff I gave Menton the maximum of four stars in a 2010 review, but I’m not sure I would have bet on its still being open more than a decade later. It was ambitious, expensive, off the beaten path, and demanding of the kind of consistency that’s hard to maintain in the best circumstances. But I will truly miss Sportello, which I recommended to so many people over the years and where the staff was unfailingly warm. I loved the Butcher Shop, where one could cozily gnaw a bone-in ribeye while drinking a generous pour of red. I hadn’t been to Drink in a dog’s age, and perhaps that exemplifies the problem, but there was a time when I was there frequently, soaking in its underground, Tokyo-esque aesthetic. I appreciated the coterie of excellent bartenders who trained there, then dispersed to make drinks and train others at bars all over the area. Advertisement “Boston is no longer the same place where I opened seven restaurants over the last 25 years. Properties have been flipped and flipped and the landlords just want the rents that only national chains can sustain,” Lynch said in the press release announcing the closures. There is some basic truth in this, and it extends to other cities as well. We shouldn’t expect or want Boston to be the place it was 25 years ago. But we can miss the fertile climate that allowed so many independent restaurants to take root and thrive. Devra First can be reached at devra.first@globe.com. Follow her @devrafirst.

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Pope Francis boys hockey coach Brian Foley handed one-year suspension for rules violation

The state’s high school athletic association has suspended Brian Foley, the longtime coach of the Pope Francis boys hockey team, for one year due to a rule violation. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association received a formal allegation against a member of the Pope Francis boys’ hockey program on Nov. 27.

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Wellesley president asked to say Israel criticism isnt antisemitism; she refused

Wellesley’s president pushed back this week on a letter signed by some faculty members calling on the college’s administration to issue a statement that criticism of the nation of Israel is not the same as antisemitism. In a letter to the Wellesley community, President Paula A. Johnson affirmed that anti-Israel and anti-zionist speech can create a hostile environment for students.