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$8B in federal infrastructure funding to Mass.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

LOWELL — The last time U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey were in Lowell, they came bearing a check for $21.4 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for four Mill City bridges that span canals fed by the mighty Merrimack River.On Friday, both were at UMass Lowell for an Infrastructure Investment Day event to talk about the $8 billion in federal funding the commonwealth is receiving for infrastructure investments such as roads, bridges, public transportation, climate and clean energy initiatives, among other projects.“Infrastructure is in part about how we move around,” Warren said by phone before the afternoon meetings. “We have to think ahead. What are our transportation needs? Not from 20 years ago, but 20 years out.”As the chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Warren led a Senate hearing on the economic impact of federal investments in Massachusetts. The afternoon consisted of three panels brok...

Foxboro football coach Jack Martinelli joins the exclusive 300-win club

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

 Foxboro’s Jack Martinelli etched his name into the state record books as he became the seventh high school football coach in state history to amass 300 wins Friday night as his Warriors defeated Canton, 35-0.   *Ken LaChapelle 390-132-6 (1976-present, Northbridge) – Friday at Auburn*John DiBiaso 357-80-1 (1982-present, St. Patrick’s, Weston, Everett, Catholic Memorial) – Saturday at St. John’s PrepArmond Colombo 316-101-5 (1960-2002, Archbishop Williams, Brockton)*Jim Kelliher 310-207-8 (1974-present, Abington) – Friday at MiddleboroBill Broderick 303-68-42 (1908-1942, 1949, Rindge Tech, Haverhill, Salem)Tom Lopez 303-126-5 (1978-2018, Lincoln-Sudbury)Jack Martinelli 300-139-5 (1982-present, Foxboro)* – Not including this week’s game JACK MARTINELLIFOXBORO1982 – 7-3-01983 – 9-1-1 (SB-L)1984 – 9-2-0 (SB-L)1985 – 5-4-11986 – 9-1-01987 – 10-1-0 (SB-W)1988 – 11-0-0 (SB-W)1989 – 5-4-11990 – 9-1-01991 – 11-0-1 (SB-W)1992 ...

Housing policy, law groups are ‘deeply concerned’ with Healey’s shelter capacity limit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

A trio of housing policy and law groups said Friday they are “deeply concerned” with Gov. Maura Healey’s plan to limit capacity in the state’s emergency shelter system, which state officials have used to temporarily house migrants and homeless families.Healey said Monday the state will limit the number of families in the shelter system to 7,500 and place those who cannot fit onto a waiting list, raising the possibility that some could end up without a place to sleep as colder weather starts to set in. The state could hit that limit by the end of the month, Healey said.The state’s right-to-shelter law requires officials to provide temporary housing to families with children and pregnant women, including migrants who arrive in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, and Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association said the state “must continue to uphold that right.”“We are particularly worried that the Healey-Driscoll administrati...

Regatta weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

The Head of the Charles Regatta, the super bowl of sculling, brings 11,000 rowers to the river this weekend. There’s a good chance it will rain on Saturday, but Sunday could be the pick of the weekend.Rowers practice along the Charles. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)A 55 foot boat is lifted into position at the Cambridge Boat Club during the Head of the Charles. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Cambridge, MA – October 20: A coxswain directs the rowers as they practice along the Charles River during the Head of the Charles Regatta. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Cambridge, MA – October 20: Rowers practice along the Charles River during the Head of the Charles Regatta. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Cambridge, MA – October 20: Rowers practice along the Charles River during the Head of the Charles Regatta. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Cambridge, MA - October 20: Rowers practice along the Charles River during the Head of the Charles Regatta. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Cambridge, MA - O...

Domestic violence suspect in custody after police chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A domestic violence suspect is in custody Friday after a police chase that went through several San Diego neighborhoods, authorities said.The pursuit started at 4:07 p.m. at 6600 Vista Del Mar in La Jolla, the San Diego Police Department watch commander told FOX 5. Around 4:15 p.m., SkyFOX was over the chase. The suspect was seen making their way onto the Interstate 5 freeway, through downtown San Diego and along state Route 94. City of San Diego increases distance parked cars must move every three days While on SR-94 eastbound, the suspect got out of their vehicle and crossed the westbound lanes of the highway before police took them down.The suspect is now in police custody.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Altuve hits go-ahead homer in 9th, Astros take 3-2 lead over Rangers in ALCS after benches clear

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros, after getting into another bench-clearing scuffle with the Texas Rangers, rallied for a 5-4 victory in a wild and testy Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Friday.After winning all three games at rival Texas, the defending champion Astros head home to Houston needing one win to reach a third consecutive World Series. They lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven playoff going into Game 6 on Sunday night.Adolis García punctuated his towering three-run homer in the sixth with a slow trot and an empathic spike of his bat after watching the ball clear the wall to give Texas a 4-2 lead. When the slugger came to bat again with a runner on first in the eighth, Bryan Abreu hit García on the left arm with a pitch. An angry García immediately turned to get in the face of catcher Martín Maldonado — the two also jawed nose-to-nose when García touched home plate after his grand slam in Houston on July ...

Denver wants case against Marlon Wayans stemming from luggage dispute dismissed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Denver prosecutors asked a judge on Friday to dismiss a case against Marlon Wayans stemming from a luggage dispute with an airline employee who the actor and comedian said targeted him because of his race. The city attorney’s office’s request comes a day after Wayans, who is Black, asked for the case to be dismissed and accused prosecutors of perpetuating the discrimination he faced by continuing with the case. Assistant City Attorney Katie Conner did not directly explain why prosecutors wanted the case dismissed, but she suggested that information gathered by Wayans’ lawyers about white passengers being allowed to violate United Airlines’ luggage limit played a role. One of Wayans’ lawyers, David M. Beller, said a judge has granted the request. He applauded the city’s decision.“Our community does not need one more innocent Black man wrongfully accused and wrongfully convicted,” Beller said. “I hope this inspires everyone...

Biden says Hamas attacked Israel in part to stop a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday he thought Hamas was motivated to attack Israel in part by a desire to stop that country from normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.“One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel … they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis,” Biden said at a fundraising event. The U.S. president indicated that he thinks Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Oct. 7 because, “Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel” and were near being able to formally do so.Jerusalem and Riyadh had been steadily inching closer to normalization, with Biden working to help bring the two countries together, announcing plans in September at the Group of 20 summit in India to partner on a shipping corridor.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Biden on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September and told him, “I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia.”...

Chicago and police union reach tentative deal on 20% raise for officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The city of Chicago and the union representing its rank-and-file police officers have reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract that would provide about a 20% raise for officers, the two sides announced Friday.The deal, which would extend the current contract by two years through June 30, 2027, doubles from 2.5% to 5% the annual pay raise that officers are scheduled to receive in 2024 and 2025. Cost-of-living raises would follow in 2026 and 2027 and likely fall between 3% and 5%.A $2,000 annual retention bonus for officers with at least 20 years on the job would be replaced by a one-time bonus of $2,000 for all officers.The agreement also allows officers accused of serious misconduct to have their disciplinary cases decided behind closed doors, news outlets reported.Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement saying that “with this agreement in place, our administration can now direct our full focus on implementing accountability measures within the Chicago P...

$50,000 reward offered for info into death of 87-year-old Ontario man

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:10 GMT

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has offered a $50,000 reward for information into the 2020 death of an 87-year-old man who went missing under unusual circumstances. The family of Oloferno (Frank) Chiappetta reported the Caledon man missing on October 1, 2019, after he failed to return home. It was later determined that Chiappetta was last seen on September 28, 2019, in the area of Olivers Lane and Walker Road.At the time of his disappearance, the man’s family said it was out of character for him to leave and not contact his loved ones. Members of the Caledon detachment of the OPP are appealing to witnesses in the disappearance and death of Frank Chiappetta. Photo: OPP.In March 2020, suspected human remains were found by a hiker in a wooded area near 4th Line East and 15th Side Road in Mulmur Township, roughly 40 kilometres and half an hour from Caledon. It was later determined that the remains were those of Chiappetta. OPP Const. Iryna Nebogatova said there is “no logica...