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MBTA slow zone repair plan will require sporadic closures through 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

It will take more than half a year of occasional closures, but if everything goes right there will be no speed restrictions on the MBTA by the end of 2024, according to a repair plan laid out by General Manager Phil Eng.The GM, in a meeting with the beleaguered transportation network’s Board of Directors’ Safety, Health and Environment Subcommittee on Thursday, said that after 19 days of closures to end 2023, and 188 days of diversions in 2024, the 23% of MBTA tracks currently running under speed restrictions will be back to normal operations.“We want to bring our trains back to full-maximum speed, thereby reducing those delays associated with slow speeds and disruptions due to track infrastructure needs,” he said. “We want to do this where we can start to deliver timely, reliable, consistent service that is not only serving the public that is using our system today but to be able to bring people back to the system.”The plan calls for track repairs on all four subway lines — R...

Ticker: Apple co-founder hospitalized in Mexico; Mortgage rates tick down, again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak remained hospitalized Thursday in Mexico City following a “health problem” while he was in the city to speak at a business conference, according to a source close to the conference who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the incident.Wozniak, 73, had been scheduled to speak at the World Business Forum in Mexico City, a two-day gathering billed as the world’s most important management event. Other advertised speakers were Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and Muhammad Yunus, a pioneer in microfinance who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.The convivial Wozniak, who teamed up with the late Steve Jobs to found Apple in 1976, had been scheduled as the conference’s closing speaker Wednesday afternoon.Wozniak suffered the “health problem” shortly before he was scheduled to arrive at the event, the source said, declining to detail what the health problem was.“At this momen...

Trump ally Steve Bannon appeals conviction in Jan. 6 committee contempt case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s longtime ally Steve Bannon on Thursday appealed his criminal conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.Bannon’s attorney argued he didn’t ignore the subpoena, but was trying to avoid running afoul of executive privilege objections Trump had raised. “Mr. Bannon acted in the only way he understood from his lawyer that he was permitted to behave,” attorney David Schoen said, adding that Bannon was wrongly blocked from making that argument at trial. Prosecutors, though, said Bannon was no longer working at the White House during the runup to Jan. 6 and refused to work with the committee to determine if there were questions he could answer. “Stephen Bannon deliberately chose not so comply in any way with lawful congressional subpoena,” said prosecutor Elizabeth Danello.The U.S. ...

Carr: Durant’s win a welcome change for MassGOP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

A losing streak is no fun in any endeavor, but going five years without a single victory is almost unimaginable.Unless you’re the Massachusetts Republican party.Finally, on Tuesday, the local GOP posted a “W,” in a special state Senate election to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of a Democrat legislator.The winner was state Rep. Peter Durant, R-Spencer. He got 11,985 votes to 9,813 for the Democrat candidate, who is also an incumbent state rep. No recounts necessary. It was a clear victory, the first GOP takeaway of a Democrat seat since 2018, maybe longer.The lesson is, even though Massachusetts won’t be a two-party state again any time soon, maybe the Republicans don’t have to lose every single election, forever.Unless, of course, Jim “Jones” Lyons or one of his deranged followers returns from exile next year to reclaim control of the GOP state committee.Lyons lost his House seat in 2018, so he decided to take over the state committee. As the old saying goes, the job nee...

Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers: Everything you need to know about the Week 10 game before kickoff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

The 2-7 Chicago Bears will play the 1-7 Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field in a Week 10 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (7:15 p.m., Prime Video, FOX-Ch. 32).Still time to prove he’s the QB of the future?Perhaps if the Bears were not in the Thursday night national television slot for the second time in five weeks, Justin Fields would have been able to give it a go against the Panthers.But coach Matt Eberflus announced undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will make his fourth consecutive start, saying Fields is not medically cleared to return from a dislocated right thumb after another limited practice session Wednesday.It’s a solid bet Fields will return for the Nov. 19 NFC North game at Ford Field against the Lions. At that point seven games will remain in a season that began with intense focus on whether the former first-round pick is indeed the franchise’s quarterback of the future.It’s looking increasingly unlikely the Bears will ride w...

Former top prosecutor for Baltimore convicted in perjury case tied to purchase of Florida homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN (Associated Press)GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A former top prosecutor for the city of Baltimore was convicted on Thursday of charges that she lied about the finances of a side business to improperly access retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the money to buy two Florida homes.A federal jury convicted former Baltimore state’s attorney Marilyn Mosby of two counts of perjury after a trial that started Monday.Mosby served two terms as state’s attorney for Baltimore. A federal grand jury indicted her on perjury charges before a Democratic primary challenger defeated her last year.James Wyda, a lawyer for Mosby, declined to comment, citing a gag order. The U.S. Attorney’s office won’t have a comment on the verdict, said spokeswoman Marcia Lubin.Mosby gained a national profile for prosecuting Baltimore police officers after Freddie Gray, a Black man, died in police custody in 2015, which was Mosby’s first year in office. H...

LeBron James’ rise to global basketball star to be displayed in museum in hometown of Akron, Ohio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James’ path from basketball prodigy to NBA scoring champion is being memorialized where it began.LeBron James’ Home Court, a museum dedicated to James and his many milestones, will open in Akron on Nov. 25.A multimedia experience, the museum will include a re-creation of the apartment where he and his mother, Gloria, lived along with items from his childhood, high school playing career and championship runs with Cleveland, Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers.The museum is at House Three Thirty, a facility started by James’ foundation to serve the community where he was raised.“My dream was always to put Akron on the map, so to have a place in my hometown that allows me to share my journey with my fans from all over the world means a lot to me,” James said. “I’ve been known to hang on to a lot of things over the years, and I always knew there would be a time and place to bring them out.”Among the items on display will be the all-white su...

Man wanted for alleged sexual assault aboard TTC bus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

Police are searching for a man wanted for an alleged sexual assault aboard a TTC bus in north Etobicoke.Investigators say the incident occurred in the area of Kipling Avenue and Dixon Avenue just before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.Police say the man boarded a TTC bus and sat close to the victim. After another passenger seated beside the victim got up and left, the man asked if he could sit next to the victim. He then allegedly sexually assaulted them.The man is described as five-foot-three, between 50 and 60 years of age, with a medium build, short black hair balding on top and a black moustache. He was last seen wearing a black coat, beige shirt, black pants, black running shoes and carrying a black backpack.

Women’s prison in Mexico plagued by food poisoning and bad care is hit by a wave of 8 suicides

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A women’s prison in Mexico plagued by food poisoning and poor medical care has now hit by wave of 8 suicides in the last 4 1/2 months, authorities confirmed Thursday. The federal prisons bureau confirmed the suicides in a statement, and said it was taking steps to improve the situation at the women’s prison in the state of Morelos, south of Mexico City.The office said it had changed prison managers and increased sports, cultural and handicraft activities for the prison’s approximately 1,000 inmates. Reports from earlier this year found that conditions were harsh at the prison, with inmates often served rotting food. The governmental National Human Rights Commission said 400 inmates suffered food poisoning in outbreaks in 2022. That report said the women were not given appropriate medical care after falling ill; many were not given medications because none were available. A statement issued in July by a coalition of rights and advocacy groups said the lack of...

Former New Mexico State players charged with sex crimes in locker-room hazing case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:36 GMT

Three former New Mexico State basketball players were charged with multiple sex crimes Thursday related to a series of alleged assaults of teammates that led to the disbandment of the team in the middle of last season.A New Mexico grand jury indicted former Aggies Deshawndre Washington, Kim Aiken Jr. and Doctor Bradley with multiple counts of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual conduct and false imprisonment. Washington and Bradley could face 27 years in prison if convicted on 13 charges apiece. Aiken could face 24 years on 11 charges. In announcing the indictments, the state attorney general did not release the names of the victims. Earlier this week, two former players and a student manager filed a civil lawsuit against the school, athletic director Mario Moccia and former coaches, along with Washington, Aiken and Bradley, contending they were sexually assaulted and threatened with guns in the New Mexico State locker room. Those allegations were similar to others lodged b...