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A third of Massachusetts cities, towns have had change in top election official since 2020

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

More than a third of all Massachusetts municipalities have had a change in their chief election official or town clerk since the 2020 presidential election, a transition rate that has left the secretary of state concerned as an increasingly intense 2024 election barrels closer.The turnover means many officials will likely take on a presidential election for the first time as the top boss in charge of administering ballots, polls, and counting votes. The apparent brain drain is not isolated to Massachusetts — national statistics have shown an exodus of clerks or chief election officers.Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said 128 of the 351 cities and towns have had a change in their local clerk or chief election official — 49 of the 128 have changed since the 2022 election. Of the 128 who have departed, 109 retired or lost reelection, five died, and 14 took other jobs as an assistant or clerk in another community, Galvin said.Galvin said the format for a state election i...

Patriots downgrade two starters to out ahead of Cowboys game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

The Patriots will travel to Dallas on Saturday without two starters.Cornerback Jonathan Jones and left guard Cole Strange were downgraded to out on Saturday afternoon, indicating they are not traveling with the rest of the Patriots to take on the Cowboys.Jones suffered an ankle injury ahead of Week 2. He’s been a limited participant in practice for two weeks, but this will be the third game he will miss this season.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Four most important Patriots players in Week 4 matchup vs. Cowboys New England Patriots | Jabrill Peppers living up to first-round billing in second season with Patriots New England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Bill Belichick on ‘love’ for Terry Francona New England Patriots | The Patriots’ final practice before Cowboys game brings more good news New England Patriots | Pharaoh Brown recalls Bill O’Brien blocked his workout wi...

Banned Books Week: Boston Public Library opens digital stacks to readers nationwide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

The Boston Public Library has joined with two other municipal library systems to offer up full access to its collection of digital books and audiobooks to adults and teens across the nation to counteract the record rise in attempted book bannings.“As we head into Banned Books Week, an annual event that highlights the value of free and open access to information, we are proud to stand with the Brooklyn Public Library and Seattle Public Library to uphold intellectual freedom and the right to read,” said BPL President David Leonard in a Thursday statement announcing the move. “By joining this initiative, we embrace the opportunity to champion the principle of access for individuals across the nation who face limitations in reaching content and are unable to advocate for themselves.”The Brooklyn Public Library in New York City launched the Books Unbanned initiative in April of 2022, according to a statement from Linda Johnson, the library’s president and CEO.The American Library A...

Motorcyclist suffers serious injuries from collision in Etobicoke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

One person is in a trauma centre following a collision involving a motorcycle in Etobicoke on Saturday afternoon.Police responded to reports of a collision at approximately 1:08 p.m. in the Evans Avenue and North Carson Street area, near The Queensway.The collision involved a motorcycle and a vehicle, and the driver of the vehicle remained on scene.The driver of the motorcycle, an adult male, was transported to a trauma centre with serious injuries.Evans Avenue is closed from Bestobell Road and Treeview Drive, and police suggest using alternate routes.

U2 concert uses stunning visuals to open massive Sphere venue in Las Vegas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — It looked like a typical U2 outdoor concert: Two helicopters zoomed through the starlit sky before producing spotlights over a Las Vegas desert and frontman Bono, who kneeled to ground while singing the band’s 2004 hit “Vertigo.”This scene may seem customary, but the visuals were created by floor-to-ceiling graphics inside the immersive Sphere. It was one of the several impressive moments during U2’s “UV Achtung Baby” residency launch show at the high-tech, globe-shaped venue, which opened for the first time Friday night.The legendary rock band, which has won 22 Grammys, performed for two hours inside the massive, state-of-the-art spherical venue with crystal-clear audio. Throughout the night, there were a plethora of attractive visuals — including kaleidoscope images, a burning flag and Las Vegas’ skyline, taking the more than 18,000 attendees on U2’s epic musical journey.“What a fancy pad,” said Bono, who was accompanied onstage with guitarists The Edge and ...

An Ecuadorian migrant was killed in Mexico in a crash of a van operated by the immigration agency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A migrant from Ecuador died and 10 others from Colombia and Guatemala were injured in an crash that occurred while they were being taken for processing in a van operated by Mexico’s immigration agency, authorities said Saturday.Mexico’s National Migration Institute said the van was involved in a collision with a bus in the the city of Mexicali, across the border from Calexico, California. The institute said that eight injured migrants from Colombia and two from Guatemala had been taken to hospitals for treatment. The drivers of the van and the bus involved in Friday’s crash, which happened after the migrants had been detained along the border, were also injured.The institute didn’t release the name of the 36-year-old Ecuadorian killed in the crash. A photo supplied by the agency showed the van crushed up against a utility pole.It was the latest in a series of deaths amid an upsurge in the number of migrants heading toward the U.S. border.On Frida...

One in hospital with life-threatening injuries after collision in North York

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

One person is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision involving a motorcycle in North York on Friday night.At approximately 11:00 p.m. Friday night police responded to a report of a personal injury collision involving a vehicle and a motorcycle in the Islington Avenue and Finch Avenue West area.A blue Ford F-150 was reportedly travelling northbound on Islington Avenue when it collided with a dirt bike motorcycle was travelling southbound on Islington Avenue.The 28-year-old driver of the motorcycle was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening-injuries.There is an investigation is ongoing by traffic services and police ask any local residents, business and drivers with security or dash camera footage of the area or incident to contact investigators.

Toys 'R' Us to expand retail operations to airports and cruise lines, open additional 'flagship' stores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

(KTLA) – Toys "R" Us is looking to make a major comeback, announcing plans this week to expand its brick-and-mortar operations and add 24 new flagship stores in the country.WHP Global, the parent company of the iconic toy store brand, is partnering with the Go! Retail Group to roll out its new U.S. stores beginning in 2024. The companies also hope to create new retail experiences for travelers by opening stores in airports and on cruise ships.The first airport-based Toys "R" Us will open in November, at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the company said. Target closing 9 stores in 4 states for safety of workers, shoppers amid thefts WHP Global has been working to revitalize the Toys "R" Us brand since acquired a controlling stake in 2021."Since acquiring Toys "R" Us, we have increased our global retail footprint by more than 50% with openings in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Dubai, and Mexico," said WHP Chief Executive Officer Yehud...

2 stabbed during altercation in Chicago's Loop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two individuals were stabbed after a physical altercation in the city's Loop early Saturday morning, police said.Police said the victims were stabbed by an unknown group of individuals in the 800 block of South Plymouth Court around 4:11 a.m. 3 people in serious condition after Garfield Park shooting According to police, a 29-year-old woman and a man were transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

What is a 'urinal fly' and what is its purpose?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Urinal flies: They’re all the buzz in the bathroom. But if you asked a random sampling of friends or acquaintances about them, you’re likely to see at least a few puzzled expressions.“Why is there a fly printed on the urinal?” some may ask, just like the Reddit user who posed the same question to the platform’s online community earlier this year.The answer, as childish as it may seem, is pretty obvious to anyone standing in front of a urinal: It’s something to aim at.Where else would you even want to go? (Getty Images)Urinal flies — or, more broadly, “urinal targets” — are believed to have existed since at least the 1890s, when pictures of bees, specifically, were sometimes etched into Britain’s toilet bowls, according to May Berenbaum, an entomologist who spoke on the subject with NPR in 2009. (The genus name for the bee is also Apis, which may have even been a winking acknowledgement to its placement). By nearly all accounts, however, the idea only started to go mainst...