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FTA Orders More Changes After MBTA Near Misses Continue

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Federal regulators once again ordered the MBTA to make immediate changes after a series of recent near misses put employees at risk of being struck by trains, a repeat of the same issue that landed the T in the spotlight earlier this year.The Federal Transit Administration determined Wednesday that “a combination of unsafe conditions and practices exist such that there is a substantial risk of serious injury or death of a worker,” and it rolled out nine new requirements that the T must follow to improve worker safety.The new letter from FTA Chief Safety Officer Joe DeLorenzo reopens scrutiny on “near misses,” when moving trains and trolleys nearly struck workers in the track area, after federal officials earlier this year flagged a series of such incidents at the MBTA and ordered fixes.“Despite taking these actions, over the last month MBTA has experienced four additional near miss events, including two incidents on the Red Line and two on the Green Lin...

Georgia judge shuts down DA’s effort to try Trump and co-defendants together

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Washington (CNN) — A Georgia judge shut down the effort by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to have all 19 defendants, including former President Donald Trump, to be tried together in October in the Georgia election subversion case.Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee announced Thursday that Trump and 16 co-defendants will move forward on their own schedule, with a trial date yet be announced.The two remaining co-defendants, Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, sought speedy trials and are scheduled to begin in October.Thursday’s order is a victory for Trump and his fellow co-defendants who did not want to go to trial this October. The schedule laid out by the judge only cemented some of the steps in the pre-trial process, setting up the possibility that the trial itself does not happen until well into 2024, or even later. Trump’s legal calendar during the first half of next year is already clogged with plans for trials in the other criminal ...

Ticker: Johnson & Johnson drops the script; Retail sales tick up in August

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Johnson & Johnson is signing off on a new logo.The health care giant said Thursday that it will replace the well-known signature script it has used since 1887 with a modern look that reflects its sharpened focus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices.The original script — based on co-founder James Wood Johnson’s signature — will still be seen for now on consumer products like baby shampoo from Kenvue, a new company recently spun off from J&J.Johnson & Johnson itself narrowed its focus to pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The new look, which includes a different shade of red, aims to recognize J&J’s shift into a “pure play health care company,” said Vanessa Broadhurst, a company executive vice president.Retail sales tick up in AugustAmericans stepped up retail spending modestly from July to August as the price of gasoline jumped, cutting into budgets as many families send their kids off to school.Retail sales rose 0.6% in August, compared wi...

Orioles call up Heston Kjerstad, another top prospect, with Ryan Mountcastle’s health in question

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

It took Heston Kjerstad exactly two years to make his professional debut after the Orioles drafted him in 2020. He needed less than that to climb all the way up.The Orioles called up Kjerstad, ranked by Baseball America as the organization’s fifth-best prospect, to the major leagues Thursday, the team announced. The outfielder was removed for a pinch hitter in Triple-A Norfolk’s game Wednesday evening after Ryan Mountcastle exited with left shoulder discomfort he suffered on a swing in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.Mountcastle’s health status is unknown as of Thursday afternoon, but Kjerstad’s promotion came amid a flurry of other roster moves ahead of Baltimore’s pivotal four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays beginning Thursday. Outfielder Ryan McKenna was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Kjerstad on the active roster, while Terrin Vavra was recalled and then immediately placed on the 60-day injured list with a strained rig...

UMass out for revenge at Eastern Michigan

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

UMass coach Don Brown has two capable quarterbacks when last year he had none.Portal transfers Taisun Phommachanh (Clemson) and Carlos Davis (Western Kentucky) have different styles with a common problem. Both have a tendency of getting hurt in the second half.After guiding UMass to a 41-30 win at New Mexico State in the season opener, Phommachanh was injured the next week in a 59-14 loss at Auburn.Davis finished the Auburn game and looked sharp for three quarters in the Minutemen’s 43-28 loss to Miami (Ohio) in the home opener last Saturday at McGuirk Stadium. Before Davis left the game in the fourth quarter, he completed 22-of-32 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start.“Carlos is fine, we checked him out and he’s good to go,” said Brown. “He came out in the fourth quarter midway through but he played really well in the third quarter.“He showed some complementary football during that time and stayed the course and helped us get back into that game.”Davis...

Why Patriots TE Mike Gesicki can’t share much intel about his ex-Dolphin teammates

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

FOXBORO — On Wednesday morning, Mike Gesicki sat down for the Patriots’ morning team meeting.As he does every week, Bill Belichick stepped to the front of the room and broke down all facets of their next opponent, from players to coaches to schemes. This week, that meant Gesicki’s old team: the Dolphins.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots’ offense gets one piece of good news before Dolphins game New England Patriots | Callahan: Why the Patriots’ JuJu Smith-Schuster question won’t be going away New England Patriots | Patriots proving to be better fit for ex-Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki New England Patriots | Patriots’ Jonathan Jones explains how to defend Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill New England Patriots | Patriots sign rookie defensive back to final practice squad spot The 27-year-old tight end, who signed a 1-year contract with the Pats in free agency, sa...

Boston College has to prepare for third-ranked Florida State, Hurricane Lee

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Florida State is coming to Boston to play a football game in a possible hurricane.How rich is that for irony?The outer bands of Hurricane Lee are expected to hit the the region hours before Boston College (1-1) and No. 3 FSU (2-0) kick off on Saturday (noon) at Alumni Stadium in the ACC opener for both squads.“I mean, you’ve got to be kidding me,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley. “Usually when you go down there you are worried about a hurricane.“Who would ever guess Florida State coming to Boston that we’re going to be in a hurricane up here and not down there? This might be a first timer.”Most teams in the Northeast factor in at least one weather game per season, but they generally take place in the cold and sleet of November. This September surprise has Hafley and staff designing a game plan to accommodate both Lee and the Seminoles on both sides of the ball.“I have never played in hurricane-type weather but we will have a good plan,” said Hafley. “If you are forced to run it chan...

Orioles hire Kerry Watson as public affairs VP; he becomes first African American member of club’s senior leadership team

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

As the Orioles continue lease negotiations with the state to remain at Oriole Park at Camden Yards beyond this year, they have hired Kerry Watson as vice president of public affairs. Watson, who worked 20 years as a Prince George’s County police officer and, recently, as an MGM Resorts executive, is the first African American on the Orioles’ senior leadership team.In his role, Watson will oversee “Government Affairs, Communications, Community Development and Creative Content,” according to a news release from the Orioles.The club also promoted Lisa Tolson, who has worked for the Orioles for 38 years, to chief people officer and longtime club executive Greg Bader to chief operating officer.In a news release, Orioles Chairman and CEO John Angelos lauded the Orioles’ “incredible team.”“The entire Orioles organization welcomes Greg, Kerry, and Lisa to their new executive positions as the Orioles continue our commitment to building a divers...

Week 2 high school football schedule

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

THURSDAY’S GAMESNantucket at Mashpee, 4:15Brookline at Newton South, 5Kingswood Oxford at Dexter Southfield, 5:30Abington at Apponequet, 6Hamilton-Wenham at Greater Lawrence, 6Lexington at Wakefield, 6Marlboro at Falmouth, 6Martha’s Vineyard at Cardinal Spellman, 6Walpole at Natick, 6Cathedral at Whittier, 6Acton-Boxboro at Shrewsbury, 6:30Lincoln-Sudbury at Needham, 6:30Medway at Fairhaven, 6:30Middleboro at Holliston, 6:30Westborough at Sharon, 6:30Westwood at Bellingham, 6:30Ashland at Wayland, 7Canton at Norwood, 7Chelmsford at Andover, 7Concord-Carlisle at Quincy, 7Dedham at Medfield, 7Duxbury at Mansfield, 7Framingham at Milton, 7Franklin at Brockton, 7Hopkinton vs. Algonquin, 7 (Westborough)Hudson at Dover-Sherborn, 7King Philip at Marblehead, 7Lynn English at Swampscott, 7Newton North at Weymouth, 7Oliver Ames at Archbishop Williams, 7Reading at BC High, 7Winchester at Waltham, 7FRIDAY’S GAMESMilford at Wellesley, 3:15Ipswich at Triton, 4:15Monty Tech at Bl...

Family travel 5: America’s National Heritage areas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Lynn O’Rourke Hayes | (TNS) FamilyTravel.comVisit a National Heritage Area or specially designated places where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form nationally important landscapes. There are currently 55 areas within the U.S. where communities have collaborated to share their resources.Here are five to consider:1. Freedom’s Way National Heritage AreaVisit north-central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire to explore a region steeped in history, natural beauty, and the legacy of revolutionary ideas.Designated by Congress in 2009, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area encompasses 45 communities that played an important role in the shaping of America’s identity, including the origins of the American Revolutionary War.It is home to the Minute Man National Historical Park and Walden Pond, the Acton Arboretum, the Assabet River Rail Trail, numerous farms, orchards, libraries and music venues of interest to families. It is reported that the concepts of individual f...