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Massachusetts tax cut plan author explains reasoning behind proposed change to rebate law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

The state Legislature’s chief budget writer is defending a decision by lawmakers to pass changes to a tax rebate law, which last year sent $3 billion back to taxpayers.“We saw during the pandemic, when our low income workers — a lot of our low income workers, a lot of our front line workers — were out there working day in and day out, could not stay home and do remote work and had to go out there on the front lines,” state House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz said on Sunday.“They were the ones that helped carry this economy and keep our economy strong in those difficult times,” he continued.The North End Democrat was speaking with WCVB’s Sharman Sacchetti and Ed Harding for their Sunday politics show On the Record. Those low-income workers who kept the state going through the COVID-19 pandemic are deserving of benefits when the economy they buoy does well enough, he said, and the state must send money back to taxpayers.That’s what happened last summer, when lawmakers were see...

Mets’ lesson learned during West Coast trip: You can never have enough pitching

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The West Coast trips have historically been tough for the Mets, but they handled the one they’re about to end with relative ease. Despite setbacks like more pitching injuries, a suspension for Max Scherzer and the question of what to do with Eduardo Escobar at third base, the Mets will finish with a winning record after 10 games against the Oakland A’s, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.We learned a lot about the Mets and the three teams they faced. The A’s are in a bad spot, with the owner seemingly trying to play out the plot of “Major League” in real life, but a sweep in Oakland last weekend gave the Mets some momentum against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who provided a tough, early-season test. The only game the Mets lost in Los Angeles was a game in which a future Hall of Fame pitcher, left-hander Clayton Kershaw, authored a masterpiece characteristic of his entire career.The Giants lost out on Aaron Judge, Bran...

Clarence Thomas should resign or be impeached, Jim McGovern says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

Amid allegations he has for years accepted gifts from a wealthy conservative political donor but did not properly disclose the value of his association, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should resign, according to a member of the state’s congressional delegation.“The highest court in the land should not have the lowest ethical standards. Clarence Thomas has been on the take,” U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern said while speaking with host Jon Keller for the WBZ political analyst’s Sunday politics segment.The Worcester Democrat has been vocal in his criticism of the 74-year-old jurist, calling for his resignation soon after reporting by ProPublica apparently showed Thomas’ close relationship with Republican donor Harlan Crow may have crossed the line.Clarence Thomas sits on the nation’s highest court and should be held to the highest ethical standards. The pattern of corruption exposed in this story—expensive gifts & lavish trips from a GOP megadonor seeking to influen...

SickKids to remove mask mandate in non-clinical areas starting April 24

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) will be removing their mask mandate in non-clinical and non-patient facing areas starting April 24.However all areas where patients are present, including common areas like lobbies and elevators, will still require a mask.“Following recommendations from the Toronto Region Hospital Operations Table, SickKids will be updating masking requirements in certain areas of the campus,” said Sarah Warr, senior communications advisor for SickKids in an email statement to CityNews.“These recommendations are based on a moderate level of COVID-19 transmission risk and a non-high risk period for respiratory virus transmission.”The policy that SickKids previously had set in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic was that everyone aged two and older was required to wear a hospital-provided mask at SickKids, which applied to family caregivers and visitors, as well as vendors, suppliers, and contractors.“Effective April 24, masking wi...

NBCUniversal CEO Shell departs over ‘inappropriate conduct’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff Shell, the chief executive of NBCUniversal and one of the media industry’s renowned executives, is departing the company after an investigation into inappropriate conduct, parent company Comcast announced Sunday. In a brief statement, Shell said Sunday would be his last day after what he called “an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company.” “I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege,” said Shell, who has been CEO of NBCUniversal since January 2020. He joins a number of media industry executives who have left their posts in recent years over inappropriate relations, including others at NBCUniversal. Three years ago, NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer, a Hollywood power player, left the company after revealing he received threats of extortion following a settlement with a woman with whom...

9 teenagers injured in a Texas prom after-party shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Nine teenagers were found shot in an east Texas residence early Sunday at a prom after-party attended by hundreds, local officials said a statement.Just after midnight, deputies responded to shots fired at a private residence in Jasper County where the party was held and found nine victims with gunshot wounds, according to a statement by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. According to Jasper County officials, the injuries are expected to be non-life threatening. About 250 people are estimated to have been present at the time of the shooting, according to a statement from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Eight victims were taken in personal vehicles to Jasper Memorial Hospital in Jasper, Texas, and “at least one” of those were transferred to Christus Southeast Texas-St. Elizabeth Hospital in nearby Beaumont, Texas for further treatment, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Karli Cherry said. One person did not go to the hospital, she s...

Small earthquake rumbles upstate New York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

ADAMS CENTER, N.Y. (AP) — A minor magnitude 3.6 earthquake shook parts of upstate New York on Sunday afternoon. There were no immediate reports of significant damage.The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake struck at 2:10 p.m. with an epicenter about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Watertown, near Adams Center.People reported feeling a weak to moderate earthquake across an area stretching more than a hundred miles, including in neighboring Ontario, Canada and in Syracuse to the south, according to the federal agency. Posters on WWNY-TV’s Facebook page described their homes shaking closer to the epicenter.Significant damage and casualties don’t usually occur until earthquake magnitudes are around 5.5 or higher.The Associated Press

Probe ordered after Florida shooter fires at delivery driver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida prosecutor ordered an investigation Sunday in a confrontation in which a homeowner fired shots into a couple’s car when they mistakenly turned onto his property while making a late-night grocery delivery. Police closed the case without consulting the state attorney’s office.No one was injured by the gunfire in an upscale Fort Lauderdale suburb, but is the latest in a spate of similar shootings across the U.S. where people have mistakenly turned onto the wrong property or gotten in the wrong car. One person has been killed and others seriously wounded. In this case, the shooter told police the car was being driven erratically, struck his leg and made him fear for himself and his son. Broward County State Attorney Harold Pryor issued a statement Sunday saying police investigators never contacted his office about the April 15 shooting in Southwest Ranches that put at least two bullets into the car driven by 19-year-old Waldes Thomas Jr., who...

Cloudy, cool and mainly dry until Tuesday severe risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rain and storms to our north and especially to our south this morning robbed Central Texas of meaningful rain today. The afternoon will remain generally cloudy and mostly dry aside from a stray sprinkle or shower. Highs should only reach the low 60s before a cool and mainly dry evening. SATURDAY NIGHT HAIL AS LARGE AS TENNIS BALLS FOR SOME Overnight and Monday will be cloudy with a low sprinkle or spotty shower chance. Lows tonight drop to near 50 with 40s in the Hill Country.It won't be quite as chilly for Monday, but we'll still only be in the 60s under a gray sky and spotty sprinkle or shower again.Monday's forecastOur next more impactful weather day comes on Tuesday with scattered to widespread storms later in the day. Already a severe weather risk is in place for Tuesday, especially for the Austin Metro and our eastern counties. Severe risk Tuesday (SPC)Rain and storms come back Wednesday and Wednesday night before drying out Thursday morning. 7 day rainfall ...

VIDEO: Golf ball-sized hail damages Hill Country property

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:04 GMT

MASON, Texas (KXAN) — Strong storms throughout the Hill Country Saturday night brought large hail to Mason County, with one KXAN viewer reporting damages to their property. RELATED: Hill Country hail reported Saturday night KXAN noted 15 reports of hail from Saturday night's storms. A severe thunderstorm in the San Saba region began just after 5:15 p.m. Saturday, bringing with it heavy rain, lightning and hail. A few locations in Cherokee also reported hail one inch in diameter, or about the size of a quarter.Active storms rolled through both Llano and Mason counties, with four reports of hail in Mason County alone. The largest hailstone measured 2.50' in diameter. On Sunday, a Mason-based KXAN viewer noted the aftermath to their property from "golf ball size hail," which included broken windows and downed tree limbs.A Mason-based KXAN viewer noted the aftermath to their property from "golf ball size hail," which included broken windows and downed tr...