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Spring break crowds flock to South Florida beaches as St. Patrick’s weekend kicks off

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

Thousands of spring breakers have descended on beaches across South Florida on St. Patrick’s Day, kicking off a festive weekend.Revelers and tourists strolled down Ocean Drive as music blared steps away on the sand, Friday afternoon.“We’re ready to party. Whatever’s going on, yeah, we’re there,” said Joylia Crawford, who is visiting from Atlanta.“I can see the palm trees. Back home it’s raining; down here it’s sunny,” said Awa Seck, who is visiting from Washington, D.C.7SkyForce flew high above the large crowds on the sand.“We expect tens of thousands, probably even more than that, hundreds of thousands of people coming here,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.With that amount of tourists heading to the popular destination, city leaders said, they don’t want a repeat of the crime and chaos South Beach has seen in recent years. This is why they have increased the police presence and organized special events...

Rhode Island probing possible contamination of drug evidence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Investigators are reviewing hundreds of criminal cases in Rhode Island that could be undermined by the possible contamination of evidence at the state health department’s forensic chemistry lab, state Attorney General Peter Neronha said Friday.Neronha said his office was notified of what he described as a “possible contamination event” on Tuesday. He said the incident potentially affects the results of drug-related evidence used by his office, specifically tests used to detect cocaine.Neronha said the problem focused on tests by one laboratory scientist that may have yielded false positive results for cocaine. The forensics lab has identified 52 cases that are potentially impacted. Aother 263 cases are pending review.Drug-related court evidence produced by other laboratory scientists — or evidence in which cocaine was not indicated — do not appear to be affected.Neronha said he’s asked that all affected evidence be retested and that notices be sen...

Skier survives being buried in an avalanche in New Hampshire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

GORHAM, N.H. (AP) — A skier who was buried in snow for about 6 1/2 minutes after getting caught in an avalanche in New Hampshire’s White Mountains this week was dug out by a companion and survived uninjured, authorities said.Three skiers originally ascended what’s known as Wildcat-B/Carter Notch on Wednesday morning, according to a release from the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, but one turned back after deciding that the conditions were too risky.Jeff Fongemie, the interim director of the avalanche center, described them Friday as “experienced back country skiers,” who were equipped with beacons, shovels and probes.One of the two remaining skiers began descending and unintentionally triggered an avalanche. That person was swept 500 vertical feet (152 meters) down a narrow gully before coming to rest buried and unable to move anything, except for one hand, according to the avalanche center, a division of the U.S. Forest Service.The person was “critically buried...

Natick police chief helps organize heart screenings for first responders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

The chief of the Natick Police Department has recently taken an extra step to help protect his staff, putting heart health front and center following a tragedy within the department. Chief of Police James Hicks said the death of a 39-year-old Natick police officer due to a suspected heart issue last year served as an eye-opener to many officers, especially those in their 30s.“It had quite an impact on the department,” Hicks said. According to Sigma Tactical Health and Wellness, heart disease is the number one killer of active and retired police officers. “I think this is something that we really really need to be concerned about,” Hicks said. Hicks said there are screenings available, though many insurance companies won’t cover them if a person is too young. After the sudden death of the young officer raised concerns, Hicks got to work, finding a company that has developed a program that targets public safety workers for heart scans. “...

Ex-Patriots All-Pro punter Jake Bailey signs with Dolphins as Thomas Morstead leaves Miami for Jets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

The Miami Dolphins have signed New England Patriots punter Jake Bailey, the team announced Friday afternoon.The development came after an ESPN report earlier Friday of a Bailey visit with Miami. All the while, veteran punter Thomas Morstead, who played for the Dolphins in 2022, announced on Twitter he’s joining the New York Jets in free agency.Bailey had an All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2020 and is considered among the league’s best. He has a 45.9 yards-per-punt average in his career with 45.9 percent of his punts landing inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.Bailey signed a four-year contract for $13.5 million with the Patriots last offseason, but while on injured reserve, he was placed on the suspended list late last season, voiding his guarantees. Bailey’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, filed a grievance contesting the suspension.“While Jake Bailey was on IR, he never missed a single treatment, meeting or practice,” Hendrickson said in a statement rele...

Revolution center back Dave Romney braced for old mates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

New England center back Dave Romney is braced for a full-frontal assault from an offense he is very familiar with.The Revolution (2-1-0) will look to regain their winning formula when they host Nashville SC (2-0-1) in a clash of MLS Eastern Conference contenders on Saturday night (7:30) at Gillette Stadium.The Revolution opened the season with clean sheet victories over Charlotte FC and the Houston Dynamo, but were blitzed 4-0 last Sunday by reigning MLS champion Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium.Revolution head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena acquired Romney in a cash deal with Nashville SC on Jan 5. Arena paid out $250,000 in General Allocation money in 2023 and $275,000 of GA due in 2024.Romney participated in the Revolution’s preseason friendly against Nashville SC, a 1-0 victory at Al Lang Stadium on Feb. 10. But Romney is expecting the real deal to show up when the two teams collide in the Revs’ second home match.“I am excited to play Nashville again,” said Romney. “We got...

Red Sox notebook: Corey Kluber to get the start on Opening Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

Corey Kluber will be the Opening Day starting pitcher, the Boston Red Sox announced this week.Over four starts this spring, the 36-year-old righty has a 2.13 ERA and 1.421 WHIP, with his ERA ranking sixth among qualified pitchers. He’s allowed three earned runs on 13 hits, five walks and 14 strikeouts across 12 2/3 innings.The 12-year MLB veteran is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star. He’s also one of several veterans on this year’s Red Sox roster looking to make a comeback.After being limited to 24 starts (116 2/3 innings) between 2019-21, Kluber was able to pitch a full season last year for the first time since 2018. Across 31 starts (164 innings) with the Rays, he compiled a 4.34 ERA, 3.57 FIP and 1.213 WHIP. Though he put up his worst strikeout rate since 2013, his 1.2 walks-per-nine led the majors and his 3.1% BB% surpassed his previous career rate by 0.9%.This will be the sixth Opening Day start of Kluber’s career, but his first si...

Division 2 state boys basketball championship history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

DIVISION 2 STATE FINAL1972: Rockland 85, St. Peter’s (W) 811973: Rindge Tech 67, Plymouth-Carver 551974: North Andover 86, Jamaica Plain 661975: North Andover 53, Wahconah 431976: Springfield Commerce 90, Dorchester 841977: Springfield Commerce 87, Rindge Tech 821978: Springfield Commerce 67, Fairhaven 591979: Hyde Park 60, Wayland 561980: Lynn Classical 86, Dover-Sherborn 711981: Wayland 79. St. Peter (M) 591982: No state final1983: No state final1984: West Roxbury 41, Algonquin 371985: East Boston 59, Bartlett 461986: East Boston 69, Millbury 661987: Wahconah 68, Boston Tech 671988: Milton 57, Drury 551989: Duxbury 84, Worcester Voke 651990: Salem 68, Gardner 581991: Sharon 53, Wahconah 451992: East Boston 59, Athol 571993: Belmont 75, Wahconah 511994: Duxbury 75, Greenfield 581995: Salem 81, Greenfield 681996: Milton 52, St. Peter (M) 461997: Wakefield 74, St. Bernard’s 661998: St. Bernard’s 81, Latin Academy 671999: East Boston 62, Quabbin 572000: Charlestown 8...

Crime Briefs: Boston police nab suspect for Roxbury shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

A 33-year-old Boston man has been nabbed and charged as the suspect in a shooting last month that injured one man and killed another man, Terrell Banks, 37, of Boston.Stephen Freeman, 33, of Boston, was arrested Thursday in the area of Shawmut Avenue and Hammond Street for the murder of Banks in front of Slade’s Bar and Grill on Tremont Street on Feb. 18. He pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, as well as multiple firearms charges, at municipal court in Roxbury Friday.Prosecutors say that police suspected Freeman of the murder due to the “distinctive clothing” he wore, as seen in surveillance video recovered from inside the restaurant and following the gunman’s path after the shooting.Restaurant owner accused of using illegal employees like slavesThe feds say that the owner of the local chain “Stash’s Pizza” was serving up slices of pain, humiliation and misery to his employees, and preferred hiring illegal immigrants so they would have no recourse to his methods of management.“...

Energy bills could drop $115 for National Grid customers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:30 GMT

Bay Staters who get their electricity through National Grid’s basic service could see their monthly bill drop by more than $100 under a new rate that would take effect in May, but the cost of power will still be higher than last summer.The utility filed its proposed summer supply rate with the Department of Public Utilities this week, proposing a shift from the winter rate of 33.89 cents per kilowatt hour to a rate of 14.12 cents/kWh for the six-month period from May through October. The company said a typical residential customer would see their bill drop from $297.22 to $181.83 if the rate is approved by DPU, a decrease of $115.39.“We understand that high energy costs have been challenging for customers,” Helen Burt, National Grid’s chief customer officer, said. “We are pleased that these new summer rates will help bring down the overall cost of electricity starting in May. We also know our customers pay bills, not rates. So, as summer heats up and cu...