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Robbins: Once again, Israel slammed for defending itself

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

Webster’s Dictionary defines “sophomoric” as “overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed.” This fairly describes Israel’s bitter critics who, as always, denounced Israel’s most recent attempt to stop Palestinian Islamic jihad and Hamas from murdering more of its civilians, at least for a couple of days or so.The two heavily armed groups, recognized by the international community as Iranian-funded terrorist enterprises that have vowed to violently eliminate Israel, have carried out nearly 300 separate attacks on Israelis in the last 12 months alone. These have killed over 50 Israelis and injured hundreds more just since last July 4. One of the principal launching pads for these attacks is Jenin, located on the West Bank, which has become one large manufacturing facility for missiles and bombs, and a staging ground for the rocketing, shooting, bombing, stabbing and car-ramming of Israeli civilians.One might imagine that it would be commonly understood that Israel cannot simply per...

RMV in fast-lane over new license law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

The state has issued more than double the number of learner’s permits in the last 10 days than this time last year, after a law went into effect July 1 allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses.The Registry of Motor Vehicles has issued 2,800 learner’s permits so far in July, Gov. Maura Healey said during a press conference at the RMV’s Haymarket location in Boston.The registry is expecting even more demand in the upcoming week, as residents get back into the swing of things after a popular vacation week for the Fourth of July, said RMV Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie.Under the law, which the Legislature enacted over Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto last year and then was upheld in November with 54 percent of voters supporting it, all Massachusetts residents who are old enough will be eligible to apply for standard driver’s licenses, regardless of their immigration status.Immigrants who do not have legal status in the Uni...

Healey, transportation officials warn traffic will get worse in week two of Sumner Tunnel shutdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

Officials are still bracing for the worst of the Sumner Tunnel closure traffic, Gov. Maura Healey and transportation officials said, even as backlogs continue to build up.“I think this whole week will be a test as we move into tomorrow and Wednesday and Thursday,” Healey said at a press conference at the Sumner Tunnel Command Center. “And all we can promise is that we’re going to continue to monitor the situation here. The command center is staffed. Crews are out there. They’re ready to turn on a dime in terms of adjusting diversions and the like.”The two-month, full-time Sumner Tunnel closure began last Wednesday, but officials said previously diversion routes and public transportation would really begin to feel the impact as holiday-travelers return this week.With an estimated 39,000 daily Sumner Tunnel drivers diverted, the full brunt of the closure reportedly may mean multi-mile backlogs along alternate routes.The governor and others urged com...

Jury chosen in trial of Las Vegas police officer accused of stealing $165k in trio of casino heists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

By RIO YAMAT (Associated Press)LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas police officer accused of carrying out a trio of casino heists will face trial after a jury was finalized Monday afternoon.Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday with prosecutors for the federal government expected to paint Caleb Rogers as a gambling addict who grew increasingly desperate under a crush of debt. The trial is anticipated to last through the end of the week.Rogers, 35, is accused of stealing nearly $165,000 in three robberies over four months at casinos off the Las Vegas Strip. In at least one of the heists, he was armed with a weapon issued by the police department, prosecutors have said. The officer’s attorney, Richard Pocker, said the government’s evidence allegedly tying Rogers to two of the robberies is weak. He accused the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detectives of pressuring two people, including Rogers’ brother, into identifying him as the suspect in the...

After Nantucket shark sightings and predations on seals, swimming banned at wildlife refuge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

After great white sharks were spotted enjoying a “feast” off of Nantucket along with other reports of shark predations on seals, swimming has been banned at a wildlife refuge.Sharks were recently seen thrashing in the water off of Great Point Nantucket Island, as the apex predators devoured prey. Blood was spotted in the water.As a result of the recent shark predation events, a swimming ban is now in place at Great Point, which is located on the northern tip of Nantucket.“After several shark sightings and predation in the area, we’ve decided to implement a swimming closure around Great Point until further notice,” said Sarah Cassell of The Trustees, a conservation and preservation organization.“This is not a decision we’ve made lightly,” Cassell added. “Visitors’ safety is our utmost concern, especially given the remote location of this beach should a serious incident occur. We’ll continue to monitor shark activity in...

Fenway dirt and a dream: Stadium Custom Kicks founder talks Marcelo Mayer’s custom All-Star Futures cleats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

In Saturday’s All-Star Futures Game, Marcelo Mayer impressed with a single, stolen base, and solid defense, but his footwear had people talking almost as much as his footwork.Starting at shortstop in the annual showcase of the most promising stars of tomorrow, the Red Sox No. 1 prospect donned a pair of bespoke cleats, one painted with his native San Diego, the other bearing the future he’s working towards, Fenway Park. On the latter, the iconic Nike Swoosh was embellished with game-used dirt from the field of America’s oldest and most beloved ballpark.The design, a collaboration between Mayer and Stadium Custom Kicks founder Alex Katz and brought to life by Lead Artist Andrew Urrutia, went viral when the company posted photos on social media.Marcelo Mayer’s (@Marcelo_Mayer10) Futures Game cleats embody the fusion of his baseball journey.The left cleat carries the essence of his future home with Fenway Park's actual dirt infused in the swoosh, while the right cleat pays homage ...

Staff at lodge for LNG workers approve strike, potentially disrupting Kitimat project

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

KITIMAT, B.C. — Employees at a lodge housing workers for LNG Canada’s gas facility in Kitimat, B.C., have authorized strike action, potentially disrupting construction of the massive project.The unions representing workers at the Cedar Valley Lodge in Kitimat on the central B.C. coast say members were 97 per cent in favour of strike action, in a July 7 vote.One of the unions, Unite Here Local 40, says Cedar Valley usually accommodates up to 5,000 camp workers for LNG Canada and is “the only accommodation facility in Kitimat large enough” to house so many people.The 450 lodge workers who voted for strike action are employed by Sodexo, which offers hospitality, food and maintenance services at the lodge.The union says lodge employees are “the lowest compensated workers at the LNG Canada construction site” and did not receive a 12.5-per-cent wage increase that some others working on the project received in 2022.The statement says a strike, if it were to ha...

‘Still waiting for a refund’: Toronto vendors allege they were scammed by organizer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

Several small business owners who were supposed to participate in two cancelled pop-up markets in Toronto are out with damning allegations claiming the organizer is a serial scammer.Vintage clothing store owner Wiley De Paiva initially signed up for “The Next Market,” which was set to take place at BrickBox Studio on May 28 — a venue run by event space providers “Messy House TO.” However, the organizer abruptly cancelled that same morning, citing a medical emergency. The organizer told De Paiva the fees she paid could be put towards a market scheduled for June 25.“I’m still waiting for my refund. I’m hoping I’m gonna get it because $150 is, you know, a good chunk of money,” De Paiva told CityNews. “Then June 25 comes — around 3:30 a.m., and I get an email, a big long email explaining that the market’s not happening.”De Paiva later received an email from the organizer, Jordan Treimanis, saying she wou...

Northwestern fires coach Pat Fitzgerald amid hazing scandal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern has fired coach Pat Fitzgerald amid a hazing scandal that called into question his leadership of the program and damaged the university’s reputation after it mishandled its response to the allegations.Fitzgerald’s dismissal on Monday completed a rapid fall from grace for the former Northwestern linebacker. The 48-year-old Fitzgerald had been firmly entrenched at his alma mater, an annual fixture on any list of college coaches with the most job security.“The head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team,” Northwestern President Michael Schill said in an open letter. “The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening. Either way, the culture in Northwestern Football, while incredible in some ways, was broken in others.”Fitzgerald began a two-week suspension on Friday after the school said an investigation by ...

Aid to Syria’s rebel-held northwest from Turkey certain to continue – but for 6 or 12 months?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:45 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria’s rebel-held northwest from neighboring Turkey is virtually certain to get a green light to continue from the U.N. Security Council — but the big question is for how long.The council’s current authorization for aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing is set to expire Monday, but the council has two rival extension resolutions before it to vote on. A Russian resolution would continue aid deliveries for six months and a Brazil-Switzerland resolution backed by most council members and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would authorize a 12-month extension.The vote had been scheduled for Monday but was delayed until Tuesday morning.Brazil, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates are seeking a compromise with Russia on the time frame and a vote could take place later Monday or Tuesday, diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private.The delivery of aid to the area has increas...