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Charles Michel to run for EU election, triggering top job scramble

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

European Council President Charles Michel will run as a candidate for the European parliamentary election in June, he told three Belgian media outlets. A spokesperson for Michel confirmed the announcement to POLITICO.Michel plans to take up his seat in the European Parliament mid-July if he’s elected, meaning EU leaders will have to agree quickly on a successor for his vacated Council post. If they don’t, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose country will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in July, would lead the meetings — a broker-role normally undertaken by the European Council president. That scenario — an unchecked Orbán ruling the Council roost for the six months directly after the 2024 European election — is one most of the other 26 leaders of EU countries would be desperate to avoid, given escalating tensions between them and Orbán, for example over the Union’s support for Ukraine and Hungary’s rule of law infractions.It...

Flakes begin to fly as region braces for first major snowstorm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

(WHDH) — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning ahead of expected heavy snow this weekend and residents in some communities were out making last-minute purchases as the flakes began to fly Saturday night.The storm is expected to continue overnight and through much of the day Sunday before winding down and pulling out of the region. It is forecast to be a largely all-snow event north and west of Route 128, with a mix of rain and snow to the east and south. A flash freeze is then possible Sunday afternoon as temperatures are forecast to plummet. When all is said and done, areas including the South Coast, South Shore, Cape Cod and could receive between 1 and 3 inches of snow. Boston could get 3 to 4 inches.Snow totals are expected to climb further east, with 6 to 9 inches of snow possible between Route 128 and I-495.Areas around Worcester, Fitchburg and southern New Hampshire could see anywhere from 9 to 12 inches of snow.Snow and resulting travel disrupti...

Patriots place Hunter Henry on IR in series of roster moves

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

Patriots tight end Hunter Henry will end the season on injured reserve.The Patriots’ starter injured his knee in Week 15 and hasn’t played since the team’s loss to the Chiefs. Including Sunday’s game against the Jets, these are the first three games Henry will miss since signing with the Patriots in 2021.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: How would offense look if Bill Belichick got his way? New England Patriots | Four Patriots players who deserve a longer look in season finale New England Patriots | Patriots-Jets preview: What to watch for in Belichick’s possible last NE game New England Patriots | NFL notes: How Matthew Slater’s passionate speeches helped keep the Patriots together New England Patriots | Patriots-Jets injury report: Hunter Henry out, 12 other Patriots questionable The Patriots signed tight end La’Michael Pettway from their...

Natick’s John Bianchi has his day at the Freshman Sophomore Large School Invitational

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

Going to the starting line, John Bianchi knew there was some strong competition in the mile at Saturday’s Coaches Large School Freshman/Sophomore Invitational – much like the spring when he missed winning by a step.The Natick sophomore, though, had no intention of taking second on the Reggie Lewis Center oval this time around. Bianchi bolted into took the lead at the gun, pushed the pace on the middle laps before kicking home for an enormously satisfying win in 4-minutes, 26.67-seconds. The time was a season best for Bianchi and No. 3 in Massachusetts this winter. Reading’s Tim Connolly pushed Bianchi early but settled for second in 4:32.03 and Mateo DeOrio of St. John’s Prep took third in 4:39.64.“That (winning) was the goal,” said Bianchi, who was barely out of breath. “I just wanted to run fast. I kind of assumed a couple of guys would go with me. I was definitely going for the win. I lost by a step in the spring.”The infield finals...

First Amendment group: Follow your own rules, Massachusetts Courts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

The court system is designed to enforce the rules of its governing society, but one group is calling it out for not even following its own rules.“We want to bring to the court’s attention what we believe is a violation of its rules on accessing electronic records and ask that this violation be immediately remedied,” lawyers for the New England First Amendment Coalition wrote in a letter to Judge Jeffrey A. Locke on the last day of his tenure as the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Trial Court.The Coalition, according to its website, “is a broad-based organization” consisting of lawyers, journalists, historians, librarians, academics and others that “promotes and expands public access to government and the work it does” in the six New England States.Specifically, the letter states, state law regarding remote access to electronic court records specifies certain information should be made available online about every criminal case: the full name of each defendant, the case numb...

Police say woman fatally shot outside Mississauga nightclub was an innocent bystander

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

Police say a 19-year-old woman shot and killed outside a nightclub in the early hours of New Year’s Eve was an innocent bystander.Police say Raneilia Richards of Toronto was standing on a sidewalk outside the nightclub when she was shot just after 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 31. Investigators say she was not the intended target. Police haven’t released any information about possible suspects, but say they’re looking to identify a vehicle seen leaving the area at the time of the shooting, described as an older model grey SUV.Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Protesters calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war block traffic in Seattle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked northbound traffic on Interstate 5 in Seattle on Saturday.Additional demonstrators on a nearby overpass cheered in support of the blockade, which began around 1:15 p.m., the Seattle Times reported. The state transportation department on X said traffic at one point was backed up more than 6 miles (9.7 kilometers), and the agency asked drivers to use alternate routes.Demonstrators chanted “free, free Palestine” and “hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go.”Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, and some 250 others were taken hostage. It was the worst such attack in Israel’s history. Since then the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Saturday a total of 22,722 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s subsequent assault. The count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.Israel has held Hamas responsible for civilian casualti...

A look back at Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ eight years in office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — It was 2012 and Louisiana was spiraling toward a historic budget crisis, with public colleges bracing for another round of cuts that campus leaders said were chasing away students and shuttering programs. John Bel Edwards, then-a rural state representative, had had enough. He turned to a fellow lawmaker and said, “I’m running for governor.” The Democrat went on to shock the country, defying near-universal predictions and winning Louisiana’s gubernatorial election in the reliably red state twice.Edwards, currently the lone Democratic governor in the Deep South, has reached his final two days in office after eight years. His tenure has been marked by successes — expanding Medicaid, joining climate change initiatives, climbing out of a budget deficit and investing in education — while navigating historical crises and facing challenges from a GOP-dominated legislature. A decade ago, Edwards, a lawyer from a 4,000-person town in eastern Louisiana, had little name ...

Orthodox mark Christmas, but the celebration is overshadowed for many by conflict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict.Traditions vary, but typically the main worship service for Orthodox Christians takes place the night before Christmas, which is Jan. 7.Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world’s largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate and well-attended services at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. In ornately decorated vestments, dozens of priests and officiants took part, swinging smoking incense censers and chanting the liturgy. In his Christmas message, broadcast just before the service Saturday night, Kirill spoke on the theme of sacrificial love, noting that Jesus Christ “saved us from the wrong path in life, from the wrong life orientation.” He also called for prayers for Russia, so that “no alien evil will could disrupt the peaceful flow of life.”Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by families of military personnel who...

Man upgraded to stable after dispute led to shooting at Bridgeport restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:27 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been upgraded to stable condition after a verbal dispute led to a shooting at a restaurant in Bridgeport Friday night. Police said a 32-year-old man was in the restaurant Buffalo Wings and Rings near the 3400 block of South Halsted around 11:25 p.m. when two unidentified men approached him and began a verbal dispute. Service suspended temporarily at O’Hare Blue Line after body found on track One of the individuals pulled out a gun and shot the 32-year-old man before fleeing the scene. 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole Lee issued the following statement Saturday after the shooting:“I was notified of the shooting at a restaurant on the 3400 block of South Halsted by 9th District Police just after midnight. Our office has maintained constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day as they continue to investigate the incident.“The shooting appears to be an isolated incident stemming from a dispute between two parties. I am relieved to share that the victim ...