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Big plays propel Salem to its first title game in 24 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

LYNN — The Salem football team didn’t run a single offensive play in the first quarter of its Div. 6 semifinal against Stoneham on Friday at Manning Field. Normally that would probably result in the Witches having to play catch-up.That wasn’t the case, however, as Salem used big play after big play to overcome the Spartans ball-control attack.Stoneham ran 67 plays compared to Salem’s 29 but a pair of kick return touchdowns and a three-touchdown performance from Devante Ozuna propelled the Witches to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1999 with a 38-14 win.“I am so proud of these kids,” Salem coach Matt Bouchard said. “The COVID year was hell for these kids bit they were a bright light and that helped propel them to where they are now.”The question coming in was if Stoneham’s ball control could keep Salem’s high-powered offense off the field long enough to keep the score in check. Problem for Stoneham was that the Witches can beat you in many ways.That was shown on the opening k...

Xaverian overcomes injuries, Needham to advance to the Div. 1 state final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

BROCKTON — Most football coaches don’t mind a little adversity, but even this was pushing it for Xaverian in Friday night’s game with Needham.The Hawks lost two of their best offensive players to injury in the first half, but Xaverian coach Al Fornaro will tell you his team is nothing if not resilient.Behind monster performances from quarterback Henry Hasselbeck and running back Mike O’Connor, Xaverian earned a hard-fought 20-17 win in a Div. 1 state semifinal.The Hawks (9-2) punch a ticket to play St. John’s Prep in the final, preceded by a game with the Prep on Thanksgiving.Star running back Denzil Pierre and standout receiver Jonathan Monteiro left the game with injuries, but the Hawks persevered.“Absolutely fantastic,” Fornaro said of his team’s performance. “I am so proud. I don’t think I’ve been prouder of a team, either as an assistant, or a head coach, ever. Usually, when you lose a star player, right, you can feel ...

St. John’s Prep returns to the Div. 1 championship game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

WOBURN — St. John’s Prep.Stop us if you’ve heard this before.Edwin Castro rushed for two touchdowns while Deacon Robillard threw for two scores as No. 1 St. John’s Prep earned its fourth Div. 1 Super Bowl appearance in five seasons with a 35-7 win over No. 4 Andover on Friday night at Woburn High School.St. John’s Prep’s win sets up a quandary for the two Super Bowl participants as the Eagles (11-0) will take on Xaverian. The rivals have their annual Thanksgiving Day game before the championship and this year’s Turkey Day contest will have league championship implications.“Our goal this week was to earn another two weeks and we did that,” St. John’s Prep coach Brian St. Pierre said. “I am not at Thanksgiving yet. I know our next two games will be against a very good opponent.”A handful of breakout stars showcased themselves Friday night. Castro had a pair of touchdowns while Nick Schibili had a key strip-sack that Ale...

Train strikes car left on railway tracks, impaired driver charged in Scarborough

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

A woman is in custody for impaired driving after she allegedly left her vehicle on the railway tracks in Scarborough, where it was struck by a train.Toronto police were called to the area of Morningside Avenue and Gardentree Street near Guildwood GO Station at around 8 p.m. on Friday for reports of a crash.Authorities said a train struck a vehicle, though no injuries were reported.A driver was located near the area by responding officers. In an update, police said a woman in her 40s was arrested for impaired driving.The investigation is ongoing.

Families of missing in Mexico urge authorities to dig at spot where dogs were seen with body parts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — After dogs were seen nibbling at human body parts, activists in western Mexico demanded Friday that authorities keep digging at what appears to be a clandestine burial site. A group representing families of some of Mexico’s more than 112,000 missing people said they were concerned police would leave the site on the outskirts of the city of Guadalajara due to a long holiday weekend. The site had already been disturbed by dogs, and there were fears more evidence could be lost. The Light of Hope is a volunteer search group that represents families of missing people in the western state of Jalisco. The group said 41 bags of human remains had been recovered at the site, which was discovered earlier this month after dogs were seen trotting off with a human leg and a skull.“It is outrageous that the authorities, who can’t keep pace, take the weekends and holidays off and don’t work extra shifts to continue with this investigation,” the group said in a stateme...

Pets will not be allowed in new apartments for Alaska lawmakers and staff

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Apartments will be available starting next year for Alaska lawmakers and staff in a building that the Legislature was gifted, but pets will not be allowed, a committee that oversees legislative business decided Friday.The adoption of the apartments policy by the Legislative Council — a panel composed of House and Senate leaders — came about two months before the start of the next legislative session. Jessica Geary, executive director of the Legislative Affairs Agency, said rental rates for the 2024 session would range from $1,100 a month for a small studio apartment to $1,600 a month for a large one-bedroom apartment. The council early last year advanced plans to convert into apartment units a downtown building, steps from the Capitol, that had been donated to the Legislature by the Juneau Community Foundation, a philanthropic group.A construction contract of up to $8.6 million was authorized by the Legislative Council late last year for the building remodel, a...

SIU clears Toronto police officer who punched teen multiple times after attempted break-in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

Ontario’s police watchdog decided against charging a Toronto police officer who was involved in an altercation with a teenager that saw the cop punch the 15-year-old six times, resulting in serious injuries.The incident occurred on July 19, 2023, when the teen was armed with a knife and attempted to break into an apartment near Jane Street and Finch Avenue West. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report states that a tenant of the building had approached the teenager and his friends to complain about their behaviour, as they had been drinking and “causing a disturbance.” The report goes on to mention that the 15-year-old returned to his apartment and retrieved a knife, “determined to confront the individual.”“The complainant arrived at the front of an apartment, where he mistakenly believed the individual lived, and started banging and kicking at the door, intermittently slashing and stabbing it with the knife,” wrote SIU Director Joseph ...

Holiday events taking place across Chicagoland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

CHICAGO — Crowds gathered on Friday evening for the city's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which took place in Millennium Park.The tree lighting marks the start of the holiday season for many and it is just one of several holiday events getting underway across Chicagoland this month.Nov. 17 - Dec. 31 — Christkindlmarket returns to Chicagoland Christkindlmarket, a German-style outdoor holiday market has returned to Chicagoland.This year, there are three locations for the market in Downtown Chicago, Wrigleyville and Aurora. Each location officially opens on Friday, Nov. 17. The downtown and Aurora locations will close for the season on Sunday, Dec. 24 and the Wrigleyville location will close on Sunday, Dec. 31.Click Here for more information on the three Christkindlmarket locations and hours of operation.  ‘Elvis’ adopted by former Elvis impersonator after being only dog left at Anti-Cruelty Society Nov. 10 - Jan. 7 — Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic GardensThe C...

Chicago Cubs agree to 1-year contract with third baseman Patrick Wisdom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and third baseman Patrick Wisdom have agreed to a one-year contract.The team announced the deal on Friday night. Wisdom hit .205 with 23 homers and 46 RBIs in 97 games for Chicago this year.The Cubs also offered 2024 contracts to six arbitration-eligible players: pitchers Justin Steele, Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr., and Julian Merryweather, to go along with infielder Nick Madrigal and outfielder Mike Tauchman. White Sox sign reliever to 1-yr extension Steele and Alzolay are coming off breakout performances. Steele went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 30 starts this year. Alzolay took over the closer role, finishing with a 2.67 ERA and 22 saves in 25 opportunities.Leiter and Merryweather served as two of Chicago's top setup men. Leiter had a 3.50 ERA in a career-high 69 appearances, and Merryweather went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA and two saves in a career-best 69 games.Chicago failed to offer contracts to relievers Codi Heuer, Brandon Hughes and Ethan Roberts, ...

Judge rules Trump must be placed on Colorado primary ballot, rejecting 14th Amendment challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:11 GMT

(The Hill) — A Colorado judge has rejected an attempt to bar former President Trump from the state's presidential primary ballot over 14th Amendment claims, according to court documents.The news comes after the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), four Republicans and two independent Colorado voters filed a suit in September pushing for Trump’s removal. The suit claims the former president’s actions related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the Capitol were in violation of the amendment, which stipulates that those who engage in acts of insurrection are no longer eligible to run for the presidency. Nearly 250K vehicles recalled by Honda over concerns of engines stalling The plaintiffs argued Trump “incited a violent mob” in an attempt “to stop the peaceful transfer of power under our Constitution.”Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace on Friday ruled in favor of Trump, keeping his name on the primary ballot.The former president’s legal team deemed the Colorado s...