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What’s in the House budget? Here’s how lawmakers would spend $56B

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

The House offered their version of a state spending plan, here is some of what lawmakers are suggesting for $56.2 billion in spending:MassHealthThe bill would spend a full $19.8 billion funding MassHealth programs, which includes a plan to cover hundreds of thousands of Bay State residents who may find themselves ineligible for federal healthcare subsidies following the end of COVID era eligibility rules.PensionsAbout $4.1 billion would go into the state’s pension fund, with another nearly $3 billion split between the MBTA and the state’s School Building Authority, and about $500 million added to the Rainy Day Fund bringing it to a record over $9 billion.Millionaire’s taxThe House, much like Gov. Maura Healey, predicts the state’s new Fair Share Amendment will generate about $1 billion. Half of that would go to education and the other toward transportation initiatives. A sizable portion, more than half according to either the governor’s of the house plan, would be offset...

Tampa Bay doesn’t deserve red-hot Rays, but Orlando does | Commentary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

Running off at the typewriter …The Tampa Bay Rays were 11-0 heading into Wednesday night’s game with the Boston Red Sox and two wins shy of tying the record for the best start in Major League Baseball history — and still it doesn’t matter.The Rays are one of the best-run organizations in professional sports and do more with less than any team in any sport, yet they still have the fourth-worst attendance in all of baseball. Which is better than last year and the year before when they were third-worst in attendance even though they made the playoffs in both seasons. And in case you were wondering, the last time they made the World Series during a non-COVID season was 2008 when they had the fifth-worst attendance in the league.Translation: The Tampa Bay area simply doesn’t deserve such a quality team. Time to demolish the idea that baseball will ever work there.Raze the Rays!Move them to Orlando!Short stuff: Glad to see that the Florida Gators just restruc...

Five years after a ‘grievous loss,’ Sean Gannon’s family thanks community for support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

A strong outpouring of community support following the death of Yarmouth police officer Sean Gannon has helped his family find comfort from the evil act that took his life.Gannon’s family wrote an open letter to the community on Wednesday, the 5-year anniversary of when he was killed in the line of duty, urging people to fulfill acts of kindness in his honor.“The qualities of compassion, generosity, self-sacrifice, a strong work ethic and basic decency that define Sean to his core continue to emerge that preserve not only his memory but bring a light of hope into a dark world,” the letter reads. “Sean shone his light in his all too brief life. Now we can best remember him by doing the same.”Gannon, a K-9 officer, died at age 32 on April 12, 2018, shortly after being shot by a man who was hiding in the attic of a Marstons Mills home. Gannon’s dog, Nero, was wounded but survived his injuries, eventually serving as the inspiration behind the creation of a law in his name. It allows EMS...

Boston Marathon Expo opens Friday, One Remembrance Day to be held Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

A crew has put the final touches on the bright yellow and blue starting line in Hopkinton for Monday’s 127th running of the Boston Marathon, and the finish line will be painted next.It’s marathon time across Greater Boston, and race organizer Boston Athletic Association has a whole host of events scheduled throughout the weekend.Here’s what to expect:FRIDAYThe Boston Marathon Expo opens at the Hynes Convention Center at 11 a.m., when runners can start picking up their bib numbers, exploring a sponsor pavilion, posing for photo-ops and shopping for merchandise. An extensive panel series featuring race officials and professional runners will also be held.The Boston Marathon Fan Fest opens at Copley Square Park at noon. Fans will get to enjoy live music, entertainment, photo-ops, meet-and-greets with professional runners, and more.A new addition to pre-race festivities is a marathon-themed video project show featuring highlight videos and memorable moments from past marathons. The show...

Column: A well-earned day off for Dansby Swanson sees the Chicago Cubs lose 5-2 to end a satisfying homestand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

The Chicago Cubs lineup was missing one of its key pieces Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, but no one could begrudge Dansby Swanson for taking the day off.Before missing his first game since Sept. 10, 2021, when he played for the Atlanta Braves, Swanson said sitting was the “smart thing to do considering all the circumstances.” He expects to return to the lineup Friday in Los Angeles, where the Cubs open a six-game trip against the Dodgers and Oakland A’s.The Cubs fell to 6-5 after winning back-to-back series on the homestand.The “circumstances” Swanson referred to that left him exhausted and cramping Tuesday night — when he asked to be taken out of a 14-9 comeback win over the Mariners — are the kind of family matters that transcend baseball.It was a husband taking his wife to the hospital at 4 a.m., spending the day there and then reporting to work before leaving in the late night hours.In this case it was Swanson taking hi...

San Diego has bounced back from pandemic better than any other city, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Diego has surged back from COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, but a few hundred miles north, San Francisco's downtown is near death, according to recent findings from the Institute of Governmental Studies public policy research center. In a study updated earlier this year titled "The Death of Downtown?" researchers looked at a number of economic health factors for 62 major cities to see which appeared least damaged by nearly three years of economic uncertainty. "With the initial shock of the pandemic, downtowns emptied out. Even as life has gradually returned to malls and neighborhood commercial corridors, the urban core is no longer a bustling center of activity. This trend has led many to wonder: is this finally the death of downtown?" study authors wrote. Researchers say a debate is forming about whether urban centers have emptied out permanently, similar to what was seen in the 1970s, or whether the recent urban resurgence will regain momentum as we fully e...

Suspect arrested after high-speed chase, running across 5 Freeway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

A man originally accused of driving recklessly led California Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed chase through Los Angeles County Wednesday afternoon before eventually being taken into custody.The chase began around 3:15 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the 101 Freeway in Hollywood where CHP says the driver of the dark-colored sedan refused to pull over for a traffic stop. The driver took off, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph as he traveled northbound onto the 5 Freeway.At around 4:00 p.m., the chase reached the Lebec area where a CHP officer performed a successful PIT maneuver on the vehicle. Reckless driving pursuit suspect seen running across lanes of the 5 Freeway in the area of Lebec on April 12, 2023. (KTLA)Sky 5 footage showed the driver jumping out of the car and running across busy lanes of traffic on the 5 Freeway, narrowly avoiding getting hit. He was taken into custody a short time later.

Arkansas requires parents’ OK for children on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas on Wednesday became the second state to restrict social media use by children, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved legislation requiring minors to get their parents’ permission to create a new account.The bill signed by the Republican governor requires social media companies to contract with third-party vendors to perform age verification checks on new users. The law will apply to new accounts created starting in September.“While social media can be a great tool and a wonderful resource, it can have a massive negative impact on our kids,” Sanders said before signing the legislation. The proposal is similar to a first-in-the-nation law that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed last month. Utah’s law takes effect in March 2024. Several other states are considering similar measures, touted by supporters as a way to protect children. California last year enacted a law requiring tech companies to put kids’ safety first by barring them from profil...

Woman tied to polygamous sect leader accused of threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — A woman believed to be one of the 20 wives of a polygamous sect leader jailed in Arizona faces federal charges for allegedly sending threatening emails to child welfare workers in a bid to get her two daughters released from state foster care. The indictment of Josephine Barlow Bistline marks the fourth woman associated with self-declared prophet Samuel Bateman to face federal charges. Three of Bateman’s wives were previously charged with kidnapping and impeding a foreseeable prosecution after eight girls associated with the sect fled from foster care. Authorities say Bistline told a case manager with the Arizona Department of Child Safety in a March 24 email that she would be sent to prison, where she would live on a ventilator and people would have to help her breathe and clean up after her. According to a criminal complaint filed against her, Bistline told the case manager: “And, you know, I wouldn’t mind helping with that too. Because I love you. But you have gone...

New dental care program should give First Nations benefits more teeth: NDP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

OTTAWA — Dental benefits for Indigenous people should be improved if the new national dental insurance plan offers better or more accessible services, NDP health critic Don Davies said Wednesday.The Liberals have dedicated $13 billion over the next five years to phase in a new dental insurance program for low- and middle-income Canadians as part of a confidence-and-supply agreement with the NDP.The government provides dental benefits as part of a federal health-insurance plan for people with First Nations and Inuit status, called the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, as well as urgent dental care for refugees.Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said he is looking closely at that benefits program — which he said is solid, but not perfect — while his department works on the national dental insurance plan.“I’m working with (Indigenous Services Minister Patty) Hajdu, who is responsible for the NIHB, to see how we can learn from their experiences and their lessons in order to...