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Carowinds roller coaster with big crack has a second structural issue, inspectors say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Another structural issue has been located with a large roller coaster that’s been closed for weeks since a large crack in a support column was discovered, a North Carolina agency confirmed on Friday.A Swiss-based engineering company that designed and built the Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds, which sits along the North Carolina-South Carolina border, replaced that steel support column earlier this month, news outlets reported.But the North Carolina Department of Labor, which inspects the ride and decides whether it can operate, said in an email that the agency has now been notified of a separate “weld indication,” which “could be either a break or a crack.”“No certificate of operation has been issued nor do we have a timeline of when the certificate of operation will be issued for the Fury 325,” department spokesperson Meredith Watson said, referring other questions to Carowinds.In a statement released Friday, Carowinds said it was conducting a full maint...

Tornado warning issued for parts of Mass. through 9 p.m.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

A Tornado Warning has been issued for parts of Massachusetts through 9 p.m.The National Weather Service has issued the warning for Plymouth and Bristol counties as a series of powerful storms move across the state.A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is also in effect through 9:45 p.m.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Meet the Asian Boyz, the gang the feds say flooded Lowell with guns and meth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

There’s a new gang dealing hard drugs and weapons in Greater Boston, the “Asian Boyz.” The feds just arrested nine alleged members.“Ride around with that 9 milli’ and I’m strapped through with that four-five,” Sary “Baby Gangsta” Rath raps in the “Blue Money” music video with more alleged members of the ABZ crew as they flash symbols and boast about their alleged criminal activity, including shootings and drug dealing. “I ain’t talk about IG but my killers they going to go live. / If we looking for the enemies, I can bet one hundred that they gon’ hide.”Rath, 37, formerly of Lowell, who the feds say usually shortens “Baby Gangsta” down to just “BG,” was arrested Thursday and is currently being held in state custody on charges of one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.But Rath — the purported gang leader — didn’t d...

2 catchers, 3 pitchers and a veteran OF: A closer look at the players the Chicago White Sox acquired in 3 trades this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

Two catchers, three pitchers and a veteran coming back to where his career began.That was the return for the Chicago White Sox after dealing five pitchers in three trades since Wednesday.The Sox find themselves in the selling mode after not being able to dig out of a dismal 7-21 start to the season. They entered Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians 21 games under .500 at 42-63.“For us to be in this position, we didn’t meet expectations,” manager Pedro Grifol said Friday.The moves began late Wednesday with the Sox trading starter Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez to the Los Angeles Angels.The Sox made two trades Friday, sending starter Lance Lynn and reliever Joe Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers and reliever Kendall Graveman to the Houston Astros.All the players the Sox acquired were at Double A or higher.“Near-readiness has a great deal of appeal when evaluating the value of a trade,” general manager Rick Hahn said Friday. ̶...

Americans face ‘full-on’ attack on freedoms, liberties, VP Harris says in Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

The United States is facing a “full-on attempt to attack” freedoms and liberties for Black Americans and other groups, Vice President Kamala Harris said Saturday as she addressed hundreds of people in Boston.From recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings to state laws curbing voting or transgender rights, Harris and other speakers at the opening session of the NAACP’s 114th National Convention painted a grim picture of the country ahead of the 2024 presidential election.“We are in a moment where there is a full-on attempt to attack hard-fought and hard-won rights and freedoms and liberty,” Harris said. “We know every day we must be vigilant in protecting that which we have achieved and keeping our eyes on our vision, our collective vision of how we continue to strengthen our nation.”Harris spoke at the convention in a moderated discussion with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell. The vice president was in the middle of a “whirlwind” tour across the country with stops in Chicago, ...

RCMP say six people killed in small plane crash west of Calgary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

CANMORE, Alta. — RCMP in Alberta say six people have died in a small plane crash west of Calgary.Police say the plane with a pilot and five passengers aboard took off from Springbank Airport, just west of the city, on Friday night and was headed for Salmon Arm, B.C.It was reported overdue by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ont., and police say the centre contacted them about the plane at 1 a.m. Saturday.Police say a Winnipeg-based Royal Canadian Air Force Hercules plane was dispatched to search for the missing aircraft and searchers located it on Mount Bogart, about 60 kilometres west of Calgary, by honing in on an emergency locator transmitter.The Hercules crew and Alberta Parks Mountain Rescue responders who were also dispatched to the scene confirmed there were no survivors.A Transportation Safety Board spokesman says the aircraft was a single-engine Piper PA-32, and the board is investigating the crash.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2...

Twins outfielder Matt Wallner trying to make decisions difficult

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

KANSAS CITY — It was obvious a roster crunch was coming earlier this week with both Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco needing to be activated, and rookie outfielder Matt Wallner was well aware of it.“I feel like I’ve kind of done my part, but it’s ultimately not my decision,” he said Wednesday. “I’m just trying to do what I can do, and I feel like I’ve done a good job of that, honestly.”He’s right — he had.Wallner, who hit a pair of home runs on Wednesday, had done his part to make the Twins’ decision as hard as possible, and when the dust cleared, he was in Kansas City, still on the roster.To make room for Buxton, the Twins optioned Trevor Larnach, whom Wallner appears to have jumped on the Twins’ depth chart. To welcome Polanco back on the roster, the Twins made a surprise move, optioning a pitcher — Cole Sands — and deciding to keep 14 position players for the time being.The Twins prefer to keep 13 pitchers — the maximum allowed by rule — on the roster, but are carrying an ext...

PHOTOS: Tree damage abundant from Saturday's St. Louis-area storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A strong Saturday afternoon storm system packed winds up to 80 miles per hour, leading to widespread tree damage in the St. Louis metro. FOX 2 has learned of trees of many sizes that have fallen on or nearby cars and homes. Some were uprooted due to Saturday's intense storms. Branches fell off of countless others. She says an Uber stranded her, then things really got weird According to preliminary reports obtained by FOX 2, a 40-foot tree fell down at one neighborhood in St. Charles County. Saturday's storm system led to heavy winds, torrential rainfall and scattered lightning throughout the region, though not at any points were Saturday's storms tornado-warned. As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, no injuries have been reported from these storms. Viewers sent a variety of storm damage photos from trees to FOX 2. Check out the photos in the slideshow above. There are also some photos of homes that suffered damage.

Severe storm threats clear in St. Louis area, heading east

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect for much of Saturday in the St. Louis metro, but threats have now cleared the area. Severe storms are dissipating as they move past the Metro East. The most intense parts of the storms brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to both Missouri and Illinois from 3 p.m. to around 7 p.m. While thunderstorms and some rain chances were primary threats, there was also the potential for damaging winds up to 70 mph. There was also strong potential for downed trees and power lines. Drivers may notice some brief, localized flood risks as well. The following counties were either under a severe thunderstorm watch or warning Saturday afternoon: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Madison, St. Clair, St. Charles, Jefferson, Boone, Franklin, St. Francois, Adams, Macoupin, Cole, Jersey, Randolph, Marion, Callaway, Lincoln, Monroe, Audrain, Pike, Greene, Warren, Pike, Gasconade, Crawford, Moniteau, Montgomery, Brown, Washington, Madison, Ste. Genev...

Carlos Gonzalez, a force with the Rockies, relishes return to Coors Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:28 GMT

The force was with the Rockies on Saturday night at Coors Field, though it wasn’t channeled through Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi or Chewbacca.CarGo was in the house.Carlos Gonzalez, one of the most popular players in franchise history, is on hand this weekend as part of the Rockies’ season-long 30th-anniversary celebration.“It’s amazing to be back,” Gonzalez said before the Rockies hosted Oakland. “It’s special, the way I was embraced by this city and these fans.”Gonzalez played for the Rockies from 2009-18, was a three-time All-Star, and was the 2010 National League batting champion when he hit .336 with 34 homers and finished third in the MVP voting. CarGo, along with catcher Chris Iannetta, are the only two players to be members of three Rockies playoff teams. Iannetta played for the 2007, ’09 and ’18 clubs, while Gonzalez played for the 2009, ’17 and ’18 playoff teams.“That was the best bas...