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Florida abortion ban could have practical, political impacts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

TALLAHASSE, Fla. (AP) — Less than a year after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an expected GOP presidential contender, signed a ban on abortions after the 15-week mark of pregnancy, he’s showing support for an even stricter ban introduced this week by state lawmakers. His position could have implications on the availability of abortion not only in Florida but across the South – and also figure into the 2024 presidential race.THE CURRENT FLORIDA LAW In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, giving control over abortion to the states. Some conservative legislatures passed bills years in advance that would impose abortion bans if Roe were overturned. Florida wasn’t among those earlier states, but lawmakers acted after a leak of a draft version of the new abortion ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, in January 2022.Florida lawmakers agreed to ban abortion after 15 weeks, with an exception for the life of the woman but not for rape or inces...

Sunak and Macron hail ‘new chapter’ in UK-France ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

PARIS — Vegetarian sushi and rugby brought the leaders of Britain and France together after years of Brexit rows.U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday held the two countries’ first bilateral summit in five years, amid warm words and wishes for closer post-Brexit cooperation.“This is an exceptional summit, a moment of reunion and reconnection, that illustrates that we want to better speak to each other,” Macron told a joint press conference afterward. “We have the will to work together in a Europe that has new responsibilities.”Most notably from London’s perspective, the pair agreed a new multi-annual financial framework to jointly tackle the arrival of undocumented migrants on small boats through the English Channel — in part funding a new detention center in France.“The U.K. and France share a special bond and a special responsibility,” Sunak said. “When the security of our Continent is threatened, we will always be at the forefr...

Commission denies cooperation difficulties with top EU prosecutor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

The European Commission denied Friday having any issues working with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), after its head called out a lack of cooperation from European Union institutions. In an interview with POLITICO, European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi said that EPPO “didn’t receive a lot of information” from the Commission’s internal departments, and that her office, which is charged with discovering and prosecuting crimes that involve EU funds, is in the process of setting up bilateral meetings to understand why.Kövesi also complained that the “number of the reports that we have received from European institutions are very low,” referring to tip-offs or alerts from EU officials.But Christian Wigand, the Commission spokesperson for justice, equality and rule of law, said that relations with EPPO were good, in answer to a question asked by POLITICO. “I think, overall, we can say that we cooperate very well with the EP...

Speed restrictions loosening for several lines after MBTA announces 25 mph caps

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

Restrictions are loosening less than 24 hours after the MBTA announced that the speed limit on all Red, Orange, Green, and Blue line trains would be capped at 10-25 miles per hour. In a press conference Friday morning, MBTA Interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville said restrictions have been lifted on the Red, Orange, and Blue lines except for in localized areas, and that restrictions were still in place on the Green and Mattapan lines as of 10:30 a.m.Gonneville emphasized that the MBTA is making rider and employee safety paramount, even if they have to do something as drastic as slowing all the trains down. —WATCH: Full press conference with MBTA Interim General Manager Jeff Gonneville—The restrictions come in response to findings of a site visit by the Department of Public Utilities on Monday to check on track maintenance conditions on the Red Line between Ashmont and Savin Hill stations, according to the MBTA.The next day, the DPU sent the MBTA letters laying out a lis...

Mobile sports betting launches in Massachusetts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

Mobile sports betting has arrived in Massachusetts, with betting apps going live at 10 a.m. Friday.Several sports stars attend a kickoff celebration ouside DraftKings headquarters in Boston, including Boston Celtics alumni broadcaster Brian Scalabrine and two-time Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman.Although sports wagers are in the spotlight, other topics are also on the table.Experts have said the apps that have been approved in Massachusetts will be taking bets from people who are aged 21 or older on awards shows such as the Academy Awards in addition to the kinds of sports bets that have been made physically at casinos since in-person sports betting launched in Massachusetts back in January. This, experts say, could open many doors for those who wouldn’t typically bet on sports but who still want to test their luck. “[T]hat’s the secret sauce right there,” Bill Speros, a senior betting analyst at Bookies.com said. Speros said the betting is a win-win for those involved in...

March Events

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

Lyracle Presents In Sweetest SympathyDate: Friday, March 3 & Sunday, March 5Time: Friday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 1:30pmLocation: United First Parish in Quincy, 1306 Hancock Street, Quincy, MAMore Info: https://www.lyraclemusic.com/events/In Sweetest Sympathy will showcase the lyra viol, complete with sympathetic strings, and provide a unique opportunity to hear two of the few such instruments in the world.The term lyra viol describes a specific style of playing that developed in 17th century England as well as a type of bass viol developed to support that style. Designed to facilitate chordal playing, the lyra viol was often used to accompany the voice. This program will explore vocal and instrumental repertoire for this fabulous instrument and its relationship to different contexts of 17th century music making within and beyond England. Experience the sound of the lyra viol and the voice, playing together in sweetest sympathy! Lyra viol and Renaissance music specialist S...

Dolphins clear major cap space with restructures of Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead contracts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

The Miami Dolphins continue to set themselves up financially for the start of free agency Monday, and are now well below the salary cap after two immense moves.After they restructured outside linebacker Bradley Chubb’s contract for $14 million in cap relief, as reported Thursday morning, the Dolphins first cleared another $11.876 million by reworking left tackle Terron Armstead’s deal and a whopping $18 million with a restructure of wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s contract, ESPN reported Friday.Between the three moves and the release of tight end Cethan Carter on Tuesday, the Dolphins go from $16 million over the cap to about $29 million under. They’re also clearing $13.6 million from releasing cornerback Byron Jones, but since Miami is making that move with a post-June 1 designation, those savings can’t be realized until then.Free-agency negotiations begin Monday at noon. Free agents can first sign with new teams Wednesday.Contract restructures largely alt...

Jalen Brunson’s ‘sore foot’ gets more concerning after he limps off in Knicks’ loss to Kings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

Jalen Brunson’s injury is now officially a concern.It’s not a good sign for a player to miss two games and last just a half before he’s removed with a “sore foot,” the same injury that had Brunson on the status report for six straight days and counting. A confusing part of the pain, beyond the vague descriptions from Tom Thibodeau, is that Brunson moved and played well in Thursday night’s 122-117 loss to the Kings, dropping 19 points in just 19 minutes.But he was also in clear discomfort and spotted limping to the locker room with trainer Anthony Goenaga. The Knicks are in the middle of a Western Conference trip with back-to-back games this weekend against the Clippers and Lakers.“When you’re dealing with a bruised foot like that, it’ll feel great when you have a little time off — which Brunson has had,” TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy, a longtime coach who is close with Thibodeau, said during the broadcast. “But the...

Rain & wind expected in San Diego County, again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Rain and winds are expected to make a gusty return to San Diego County Friday into Saturday, the National Weather Service said. Light precipitation is forecast to spread eastward and southward across the region Friday morning with the most significant rainfall expected to occur into the night. Weather officials say that will continue into Saturday with a wet morning anticipated. How the recent storms impacted San Diego’s water supply in reservoirs Rainfall levels across the county are expected to range from one-half to one inch near the coast, one to one and a half inches in the mountains, and one quarter of an inch or less in the high desert with less expected in the lower desert, NWS said.As for winds, periods of strong gusts are expected to blow southwest to west in the mountains and deserts through Saturday. In the meantime, NWS says the strongest winds will be Friday morning along the lower desert slopes with gusts around 60 mph in some areas.Be sure to grab your...

Railroads warned about car flaw that could cause derailments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:56 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — U.S. railroads were warned to take certain cars out of service Thursday after Norfolk Southern discovered loose wheels on a car involved in last weekend’s derailment in Ohio.It’s not clear that the loose wheels caused the derailment near Springfield last Saturday because the National Transportation Safety Board has just begun investigating that crash — the latest in a string of high-profile derailments that have been grabbing headlines. But the railroad said the loose wheels on the car could cause a derailment.Norfolk Southern said in a statement that after the railroad discovered “additional cases of unusual wheel movement,” it acted quickly to notify accident investigators and the rest of the industry. The Association of American Railroads trade group responded Thursday by issuing an advisory about the suspect cars.The trade group said the problem was linked to new wheel sets that were installed on specialized steel coil cars beginning in August. The...