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Freight train cars derail in Ayer, authorities say no hazardous materials involved

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

Several train cars carrying what officials described as “trash/recycling” materials through Ayer went off the tracks on Thursday, leaving multiple, large containers on their side.Emergency crews could be seen surveying the damage around noontime after multiple freight train cars completely derailed by Sculley Road, while several others were left leaning off the tracks.A SKY7 camera spotted at least five cargo cars that had gone off the rails, with some of the large, blue containers they were carrying landing close to a nearby road.According to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, no hazardous materials were involved in the incident.MEMA noted on social media that the containers were “reportedly carrying trash/recycling” at the time.In a statement, a CSX spokesperson told 7NEWS the incident happened just before 12 p.m. involving a freight train operated by Springfield Terminals on a line jointly owned with Norfolk Southern.The spokesperson said five ...

Legislature Sends $1.1 Billion Proposal To Healey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

The House and Senate worked together Thursday to place on Gov. Maura Healey’s desk a bill featuring $388 million in spending directed at what the Senate’s budget chief called “time-sensitive, urgent” needs along with $740 million in borrowing plans.Explaining the 49-page bill, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues highlighted $85 million for emergency family shelters, $130 million to provide enhanced nutrition assistance benefits for three months, $65 million to cover school breakfast programs through the rest of the fiscal year, and $2 million “to reimburse victims of the so-called SNAP benefit theft that many of our constituents have been victims of” that feature in the legislation.The bill contains $740 million in borrowing authorizations, including $400 million to recapitalize the MassWorks infrastructure grant program, $104 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund, and $125 million “to ensure that the state has matching funds f...

Nice Friday before a wet Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

7Weather – Mild start to finish today! Temperatures started off in the 40s this morning and climbed into the 50s and 60s this afternoon. A lot of clouds were around today. We had a warmer air mass in place along with a southwest breeze to keep us mild through the day. Some of those clouds brought us a few light rain showers this afternoon. More Isolated showers move through later tonight and will be long gone by tomorrow morning.Overnight, we’ll lose a lot of the low clouds but hold on to mid and high level clouds. The wind will become northwest by tomorrow morning as we start the day off in the upper 30s/low 40s. Tomorrow will be dry and nice! We’ll see filtered sunshine and the northwest wind will turn a bit breezy. Overall not too bad as highs head for the 50s.Half of the weekend will be good for getting outside or traveling. We’ll watch a weak area of low pressure move through the Great Lakes by Saturday. The center of it will stay to our north and west. ...

Students go shopping at free Salem State career closet event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

Students had an opportunity to go shopping at Salem State University this week as the university held a career closet event for its upcoming job fair. Two thousand pieces of professional clothes were available to be given away for free on Wednesday and Thursday. The clothes for the event were donated to the school as organizers hope students will dress for success. “At colleges all over, students just don’t know what is appropriate to wear to an interview, what’s appropriate to wear to work,” Salem State Career Services Coordinator Erin Ahart said.“[B]ecause we have signage that separates the clothes for them, they also learn about what is expected of them,” Ahart continued.In stores, a full suit can cost upward of $500 dollars. Free options this week at Salem State gave students some peace of mind. “Clothes are very expensive nowadays and I feel like this opportunity gives students a great chance to find really good condition clothes that match...

Pete Alonso on his World Baseball Classic experience: ‘I’m really proud of it’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Pete Alonso is back from the World Baseball Classic and the Mets’ first baseman believes he’s better prepared for the 2023 season after having played in the tournament.Alonso returned to spring training Thursday to face the Atlanta Braves on the gulf coast. It was an easy commute from his home in Tampa and gave him a chance to get a day off after USA’s loss to Japan in the Classic’s championship game.The controversy surrounding the tournament has died down some but you won’t hear any negative thoughts about the game’s premier global event from Alonso, who said he was effusive in his praise for the event.“I thought it was really, extremely special to play in those high-leverage games,” Alonso said Thursday at CoolToday Park. “Especially right out of the chute, I think that experience is going to be super valuable. And also, playing with a bunch of excellent players and getting a chance to do that with my M...

Patriots sign ex-Broncos P Corliss Waitman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

As of Thursday morning, the Patriots were one of two NFL teams without a punter on their roster.By Thursday afternoon, they had one.The Pats signed ex-Broncos punter Corliss Waitman, a left-footed veteran who could replace Jake Bailey. Waitman led the league with 96 punts last year, averaging 46.6 yards per boot in Denver. He downed more than 31% of them inside opponents’ 20-yard line and had just 6.3% go for touchbacks, both middling to subpar percentages.Waitman originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Steelers in 2020. The South Alabama product spent his rookie season on Pittsburgh’s practice squad, received his release in May 2021 and returned to the Steel City after short stints with the Patriots and Raiders. In two games, he averaged 52.1 yards per punt for PittsburghThe Steelers waived him again, leading to a year-long stay in Denver. Waitman’s arrival likely won’t prevent the Patriots from exploring options in the draft after ...

Heat creating hope for the team that couldn’t shoot straight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

The team that couldn’t shoot straight is getting back on target.The latest example for the Miami Heat was Wednesday night’s 127-120 victory over the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena, when they closed 16 of 28 on 3-pointers.It was the seventh time in the 15 games since the late-February All-Star break that the Heat shot 40 percent or better beyond the arc, compared to seven such performances in the team’s first 59 games.The overall percentage for the team that led the NBA in 3-point shooting last season, at .379, is still sobering, with the Heat fifth worst in the league at .341, but the trend has been positive.Over those 15 games since the All-Star break, the Heat are 12th in the league in 3-point percentage, at .369.Among the changes since the All-Star break has been the addition of Kevin Love off the buyout market, the reduction in reliance on Victor Oladipo, and the scant minutes for Duncan Robinson.But coach Erik Spoelstra sees it more as schematic, getting ...

New restaurants in Augusta a treat for this year’s Masters fans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

Mary Ann Anderson  | (TNS) Tribune News ServiceAUGUSTA, Georgia — If you’re jumping on the Masters golf cart and linking over to Augusta for this year’s tournament, that little golf contest down Georgia way, know that there’s more to eat than egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches, the iconic treats served at the iconic golf course along those iconic azalea-lined fairways.In the past year or two, some great new restaurants have opened around the Garden City — a nickname given because of Augusta’s profuseness of public and private gardens — but you won’t need a green jacket to try the newest culinary samplings around the city. Just bring a hearty appetite, employ your sense of gastronomic adventure and have plenty of time to enjoy a range of Southern staples and international bites, as well as more traditional fare of steak and burgers.TacocatTacocat, known for its offerings of unique tacos, is housed in an old carwash and is resplendent with colorful decor and original garage...

Ticker: Hyundai, Kia recall cites fire risk; Mortgage rates slide 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of more than 571,000 SUVs and minivans in the U.S. to park them outdoors because the tow hitch harnesses can catch fire while they are parked or being driven.The affiliated Korean automakers are recalling the vehicles and warning people to park them away from structures until repairs are made.Affected Hyundai vehicles include the 2019 to 2023 Santa Fe, the 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, the 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid and the 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz. The only Kia affected is the Carnival minivan from 2022 and 2023. All have Hyundai or Kia tow hitch harnesses that came as original equipment or were installed by dealers.Owners will be notified starting May 16.Mortgage rates slideThe average long-term U.S. mortgage fell for the second straight week which, combined with moderating home prices, could give house hunters a break and the housing market a boost as the spring buying season begins.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday tha...

TikTok CEO defiant under DC grilling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:34 GMT

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Chew defended his company against a barrage of criticism from hostile U.S. lawmakers, repeatedly asserting the app’s independence from its Chinese owners.Chew said its Beijing-based owner, ByteDance Ltd., is mostly owned by international investors and most of its board members are American.“The bottom line is this is American data on American soil by an American company overseen by American personnel,” Chew said in an appearance Thursday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He could not unequivocally say that no ByteDance employees have access to that data, saying rather that he’s “seen no evidence” of that happening.Chew faced combative questioning from members of both parties — who often cut off his attempts to answer — in his first appearance before Congress. The hearing comes as lawmakers and the Biden administration are exploring how to force ByteDance to sell its shares of the unit or face a ban in the U.S.“You are here because the Americ...