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Spilka: Senate plans to tackle gun safety in the fall as House push stalls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

The Senate plans to produce and tackle its own gun safety bill in the fall after lawmakers return from their August recess, Senate President Karen Spilka told the Herald on Monday.A House omnibus gun bill has found itself jammed up in a procedural dispute with the Senate since it was first introduced in late June. And with House Speaker Ronald Mariano backing off a push to get that bill passed before August, Spilka said her branch “will be working over the summer and into the fall on a Senate version of a gun safety bill.”“[We] plan on doing that in the fall. We had planned on that in the beginning and we continue to plan on that,” Spilka said in a phone interview. “I’m looking forward to having hearings on all the gun bills and working with the senators on putting together a very strong gun safety bill.”The Ashland Democrat said she is “proud” of Massachusetts’ gun laws.“But I believe that we can improve and it’...

State awards $1.5 million in federal funds for Safer Communities Initiative

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

The state will spend about $1.5 million in federal grant funds to support summer and fall violence prevention programs which a group of community partners, state public safety officials, District Attorneys, and police say actually work to keep kids off the streets and out of trouble.Seated alongside Gov. Maura Healey, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy kicked off a roundtable discussion at the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester on Monday, engaging more than two dozen leaders in public safety and youth engagement on the importance and efficacy of the state’s Safer Communities Initiative.“It’s made a difference, it really has,” Reidy said. “You are going to see how well spent this money is.”The Initiative, according to the governor’s office, takes an “innovative approach” to tackling violence by allowing District Attorney’s Offices to apply for grant funds of which half must be aimed toward community based violence prevention and diversion pr...

Haitians, weary of gang violence, protest the kidnapping of an American nurse and her daughter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

By EVENS SANON & MICHAEL CASEY (The Associated Press)PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Chants of “freedom” echoed through the streets outside an aid facility in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday where just days earlier an American nurse and her daughter were kidnapped by armed men.Hundreds of Haitians marched through the gang-ravaged zone, bursting with anger at the abduction, which has become a symbol of the worsening violence plaguing the Caribbean nation. New Hampshire woman Alix Dorsainvil had been working as a community nurse for the religious and humanitarian aid group El Roi Haiti when she and her daughter were taken from its campus on Thursday, the organization said. She is the wife of its founder, Sandro Dorsainvil. Witnesses told the Associated Press that Dorsainvil was working in her organization’s small brick clinic when a group of armed men burst in and seized her. Lormina Louima, a patient waiting for a check-up, said one man pull...

Bill Belichick: Mac Jones had a ‘good offseason,’ Patriots QBs will compete in training camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said quarterback Mac Jones had a “good offseason” and will compete with backups Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley during an interview Tuesday on SiriusXM Radio.“(Jones) was one of our offseason award winners. First in, last out of the building,” Belichick said. “Really does a good job of knowing, being on top of everything we’re doing so he can lead from the quarterback position, in terms of play-calling and those types of things.”Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 6: Pats’ ‘D’ makes goal-line stand, Rhamondre Stevenson sits New England Patriots | Patriots have a secret offensive weapon on defensive side of the ball New England Patriots | Patriots still counting on young running backs as depth is tested in training camp New England Patriots | Patriots rookie WR returns, Matt Judon limited again at Monday pra...

‘Euphoria’ star Angus Cloud dead at 25

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

By David Matthews, New York Daily News“Euphoria” star Angus Cloud has died. He was 25.The actor, who played Fezco on the HBO series, died at his family’s home in Oakland, Calif., according to TMZ.“It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways,” the family told the gossip site.The family’s statement did not reveal how Cloud died, but said he had “intensely struggled” since the recent death of his father. The actor posted a photo of his father with the caption “miss u breh” two weeks ago on Instagram.Angus Cloud attends a private event at the Kendrick Lamar Concert hosted by Pair of Thieves in Hyde Lounge at Crypto.com Arena on September 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Pair of Thieves)“The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend,” the statement added.“We hope ...

Mets’ future still unclear following Max Scherzer, David Robertson deals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

If it’s not a fire sale and it’s not a liquidation, then what, exactly is it?Billy Eppler has a habit of using corporate jargon when he speaks to the media. He’s not the first professional sports executive to do so and he’s not the last. But the one thing Eppler didn’t clearly communicate was a timeline.In the short term, we know the Mets don’t plan to contend for pennants in 2024. That much was made clear when Max Scherzer waived his no-trade clause to go to the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. The veteran ace made it clear only one night prior that he wanted to play for a contender and he saw a path to contention with the Mets.The plans changed and the Mets decided to shift their priority to the farm system, which is necessary. But communicating a timeline is important. Fans want to know when the team believes a window of contention will open. They have a right to know this as well as people who spend money on season tickets, parking fees and co...

Scorching summer heat is curbing gasoline output and adding pain at the pump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

By Lucia Kassai and Rachel Graham, Bloomberg NewsRecord-breaking summer heat is forcing fuelmakers to cut back operations, just as dwindling supplies are causing gasoline prices to surge around the world.The hottest-ever June and July prompted refiners to curtail oil processing by at least 2% globally as long stretches of triple-digit heat posed a threat to operations, according to Vikas Dwivedi, a global oil and gas strategist for Macquarie Group.Excessive heat, associated with deferred maintenance in the past, has spurred an unusual number of refinery breakdowns this year, when fuel stockpiles are already low. This has in part propelled gasoline prices in the U.S. to the highest level since November. High-temperature forecasts into August could keep U.S. gasoline makers from running all out for the last stretch of the summer driving season, dimming hopes for relief at the pump.U.S. refineries are struggling to return to the peak utilization rate of 95.8% seen in early June. Since ...

Exxon in talks with automakers on supplying lithium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

Exxon Mobil Corp. is in talks with Tesla Inc., Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen AG and other automakers about supplying them with lithium as the oil giant works to build a business around the crucial battery metal, according to people familiar with the matter.Exxon is one of several oil and gas companies seeking to expand into lithium production to take advantage of surging demand for use in electric-vehicle batteries, and as a way of diversifying beyond fossil fuels. The talks with potential customers are still early stage, and the company has yet to lay out its plans for potential lithium operations. However, the discussions are the latest sign of Exxon’s growing interest in the lithium business.The company has also had conversations with battery giants Samsung and SK On Co., the people said, asking not to be named because the information is private. Exxon, SK On and Volkswagen declined to comment. Tesla, Ford and Samsung didn’t reply to messages seeking comment.The world will need near...

San Francisco prosecutors lay out murder case against consultant in death of Cash App’s Bob Lee

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

By JANIE HAR (Associated Press)SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — DNA from a bloody knife and video footage are crucial pieces of evidence against a tech consultant charged with murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was found bleeding on a deserted San Francisco street in April, prosecutors argued Monday.The San Francisco prosecutor’s office began laying out its case against Nima Momeni, 38, at a preliminary hearing in which a judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to go to trial.Prosecutors say Momeni planned the attack, drove Lee to a secluded spot and stabbed him three times after a dispute related to Momeni’s younger sister.They have not spelled out a motive, but previously offered a timeline in a case that has drawn outsized media attention, partly due to Lee’s status in the tech world. Lee created Cash App, a mobile payment service, and was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency MobileCoin. Momeni, who has been in jail sin...

Angus Cloud from HBO's 'Euphoria' dies at 25

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:21 GMT

Angus Cloud, an actor best known for his role as the drug dealer as Fezco “Fez” O’Neill on HBO’s “Euphoria,” has died at 25.  The news was first reported by TMZ.“It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways,” the family said in a statement to the celebrity news and gossip site. Facebook settlement checks: Can you still get a payment if you deleted your account? “Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence. We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss."Cloud died at his family's home in Oakland, California, TMZ reported.The family also shared that Cloud recently lost his father last week and that ...