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Robbins: Charlie the Golden head of the class for social support

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

Charlie is a seven-year-old Golden Retriever who knows there’s something different about Tuesdays. For starters, her dog walker comes earlier than usual, and deposits Charlie back home by early afternoon. A bag appears out of the closet, and Charlie’s favorite stuffed animal is placed in it, along with a sandwich bag full of dog treats and an empty water bowl. Charlie knows something’s up, and knows what that something is. When her owner calls her name, Charlie is on her feet, barreling down the stairs, out the front door and toward the car which she remembers will transport her an hour south on the highway to a parking lot two blocks from the political science department of a New England university.She knows the drill. There is a university security guy who must have had a Golden as a boy, because he waits for her every week, and before the hatchback is open he is out of his car and heading over, calling “Charlie! I missed you!” The fellow just turned 50, but you’d never know it by...

Inspector general: Put MBTA safety oversight somewhere else

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

Thanks, but no thanks, Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro said of a state lawmaker’s proposal to move safety oversight of the MBTA into his office.Testifying Monday at a Joint Committee on Transportation hearing, Shapiro said that he instead favors moving this watchdog role from the Department of Public Utilities to a new independent agency “focused solely on safety of the MBTA.”He envisions two branches within this potential entity, one for the region’s subway system, which aligns with the Federal Transit Administration’s oversight authority; and a smaller one focused on everything else: buses, regional transit authorities and ferries.“I do believe that a new safety agency, as defined by the FTA, is needed,” Shapiro said, referring to the feds’ critique in last year’s safety management inspection that state safety oversight be independent from the governor’s office.“That agency should not be the OIG,” he added. “Rather, the OIG would have oversight of the new safety agency.”This sol...

118 law enforcement officers killed in line of duty last year, Mass State Police trooper Tamar Bucci died when she tried to help a driver

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

More than 100 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty last year, according to new FBI data, which includes the death of a Massachusetts State Police trooper who “gave the ultimate sacrifice” when she tried to help a stopped motorist.The FBI on Monday reported that 118 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2022. Of these, 60 officers died as a result of felonious acts, and 58 officers died in accidents.The 60 officers who were feloniously killed was an 18% decrease from 2021, while the 58 officers accidentally killed was an increase of two officers from 2021. The majority of accidental deaths (35 officers) were killed in motor vehicle crashes.Mass State Police Trooper Tamar Bucci, 34, a two-year veteran of the department, was responding to a disabled motorist just before midnight last March 3 when a tanker hit her marked cruiser. The trooper who was assigned to the Medford barracks was killed in the crash.“It’s sign...

Ravens 2023 undrafted free agent tracker: Maryland WR Dontay Demus Jr. among additions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

With the NFL draft over, the Ravens have turned their attention to the undrafted market.Baltimore entered the draft with 63 players and made six picks, leaving space to add a big class. Here’s a look at the announced additions:Ball State safety Jaquan Amos: The Ravens on Monday signed the 6-foot, 194-pound Amos, who spent last season at Ball State after one year at Iowa State and three at Villanova. They also waived undrafted free agent defensive end/fullback Levi Bell in a corresponding move.In a dozen games last season, Amos, a Philadelphia native, tallied 95 tackles, half a sack, one interception and four passes defensed. Four times last year he had at least 11 tackles for the Cardinals, including a season-high 14 against Eastern Michigan.Maryland wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr.: The 6-foot-3, 213-pound Demus, a Washington native, ranks fifth in career receiving touchdowns (14), seventh in career receiving yards (2,008) and ninth in career receptions (125) in Maryland histor...

Yankees Notebook: Aaron Judge ready to return — and avoid headfirst slides

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

After a few days of hitting off machines, running and throwing behind the scenes, Aaron Judge is ready for the real thing.The Yankees slugger is set to return from a right hip strain on Tuesday, he and Aaron Boone confirmed Monday. Judge still had to go through a normal pregame routine before Monday’s series opener against the Athletics, but the plan is for him to be in Tuesday’s lineup, as it’s been about five days since he’s felt anything with his hip.Boone added that he doesn’t anticipate Judge having any restrictions moving forward.“Ready to go,” Judge said Monday at Yankee Stadium. The outfielder went on the injured list on May 1, and the team initially announced the stint was retroactive to April 28. On Monday, the team amended that backdate to April 29, making Tuesday the earliest Judge could return.Judge’s hip injury stemmed from a headfirst slide on April 26 when he tried to steal third base with the Yankees up 5-0 in Minnesot...

‘Challenging time’: Alberta wildfire evacuees to get financial aid, military to help

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

EDMONTON — The Alberta government promised financial aid Monday to people forced from their homes by wildfires that continue to threaten many areas of the province.The province also asked the federal government for help, and Premier Danielle Smith said military personnel would be deployed to prevent looting and maintain order in evacuated communities.“There is no question that this is a challenging time,” Smith said.“Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes and their jobs. They’re leaving behind all they own.”Close to 100 fires remained active Monday during an unusually early and intense fire season. So far this year, 405 wildfires have burned nearly 400,000 hectares, according to the latest data available on the Alberta government’s website. Last year at this time, 180 fires had burned 417 hectares.About 29,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes in more than a dozen communities in recent days. Among them were about...

Israeli aircraft strike Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza Strip

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military said it was striking Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip as residents reported of a number of blasts in the Palestinian enclave early Tuesday.Witnesses said an explosion hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern city of Rafah. Palestinian media said several people were injured. There was no immediate confirmation from health authorities.The airstrikes come as tension has been boiling between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the militant Hamas group.Last week, Gaza militants fired several salvos of rockets toward southern Israel, and Israeli military responded with airstrikes following the death of a hunger-striking senior member of the Islamic Jihad in Israeli custody.The Associated Press

Mexico search set to find world’s most endangered porpoises

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican officials and the conservation group Sea Shepherd said Monday that experts will set out in two ships in a bid to locate the few remaining vaquita marina, the world’s most endangered marine mammal. Mexico environment secretary said experts from the United States, Canada and Mexico will use binoculars, sighting devices and acoustic monitors to try to pinpoint the location of the tiny, elusive porpoises. The species cannot be captured, held or bred in captivity.The trip will run from May 10 to May 27 in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, the only place the vaquita lives. The group will travel in a Sea Shepherd vessel and a Mexican boat to try and sight vaquitas; as few as eight of the creatures are believed to remain.Illegal gillnet fishing traps and kills the vaquita. Fishermen set the nets to catch totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder is considered a delicacy in China and can fetch thousands of dollars per pound (kilogram). Sea Shepherd ...

Bills’ Hamlin will put the millions raised into his charity

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin will use the $10 million given to online fundraising campaigns by well-wishers after his on-field collapse to fund his own nonprofit, the Chasing M’s Foundation. The decision, first shared with The Associated Press Monday, begins the 25-year-old’s plan for the unprecedented outpouring of support that he received after his heart stopped following a tackle during a “Monday Night Football” game in January. “We have been very deliberate and intentional about taking our time to set my charity up properly,” Hamlin said in a statement. “I’m excited to begin sharing news about programs we are creating to impact a generation of youth and give back to others.” That people continue to give weekly, if not daily, to the fundraiser is just one measure of the emotional power and connection that Hamlin has with so many. So far, they’ve given more than $9 million to a GoFundMe campaign and nearly a million to a second on...

Chaos? Kumbaya? How the debt limit standoff might end

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just how does this debt limit standoff end?Plenty of scenarios are being publicly and privately gamed out, but no one knows for sure. The possibilities range from kumbaya to economic chaos with plenty of possibilities in between.So far, neither President Joe Biden nor House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is giving ground ahead of talks slated for Tuesday. Biden wants to increase the government’s $31.4 trillion legal borrowing limit, so that the federal government can continue to pay its bills and the risk of a historic default goes away. McCarthy and other GOP lawmakers want a deal that guarantees trillions of dollars in spending cuts before they sign on to raising the debt limit.Time is short: The Treasury Department warns the U.S. could default as soon as June 1 if there is no deal.A look at potential outcomes:LET’S AGREE TO DISAGREEThe president wants to disarm the whole debate by having Republicans make a public commitment that the U.S. won’...