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2 Sharon police officers fined after one officer tried to sneak the other officer into expensive suite at Pats game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

Two Sharon police officers were recently fined thousands of dollars by the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission after one officer tried to sneak the other into a high-priced suite at Gillette Stadium, officials announced.The State Ethics Commission announced Thursday that Officers John Avelar and Robert Awad paid $8,000 and $4,000 respectively for violating the state’s conflict of interest laws.According to the ethics commission, Awad, who had been an officer for less than a year and was in his probationary period, was working a security detail at Gillette Stadium in December of last year as the Patriots took on the Buffalo Bills for a Thursday Night Football game. The commission said Awad agreed to get his off-duty coworker, Avelar, and a friend into the Punam Club, an exclusive suite costing thousands of dollars and only open to season ticket holders.The commission said Awad escorted Avelar and his friend to the club, telling security Avelar was an off-duty officer. Sev...

Despite Chris Sale’s gem, Orioles shut out Red Sox to win AL East

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

In his final start of the year, Chris Sale looked like his old self.In fact, he’s looked more like the Chris Sale of yore quite a bit recently, going at least five innings and allowing no more than one earned run in four of his last five starts; he finished September with a 2.88 ERA for the month.“It was nice,” Sale told reporters. “Still wasn’t enough.”The southpaw’s efforts were for naught. Just after 9 p.m, the Orioles won 2-0 and Camden Yards became the home of the new champions of the American League East.Hours after Alex Cora announced Sale was his intended Opening Day starter for the 2024 season, the 34-year-old left-hander pitched five innings against the Orioles, a team he used to dominate, but has struggled against this year.Save for a solo home run to Anthony Santander, the Orioles got nothing off Sale. He held them to three hits, walked one and struck out two.“My hope is for him to be the Opening Day starter,” Cora reiterated to ...

Hawaii Army base under lockdown after man with handgun gets into scuffle, flees; no shots fired

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — An Army base in Hawaii went into lockdown Thursday after a man with a handgun got into a scuffle while trying to talk to soldiers and then, officials said.No shots were fired, said Michael Donnelly, a spokesperson for U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii.People at Schofield Barracks were told to shelter in place, but the gates were open,according to Donnelly said. Neighboring Wheeler Army Airfield was also under lockdown. The Army was treating it as an “active shooter situation,” Donnelly said. “We are trying to locate the individual,” he added. The man last seen near the commissary on a bike. He was “trying to allegedly talk with soldiers,” Donnelly said. “I don’t know if he was bartering or selling stuff, but someone confronted him, and they got into a scuffle. There was a handgun witnessed, visible.”Schofield Barracks is =on Oahu, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Honolulu. It hosts the 25th Infantry Division and the 8th Theater Sustainment Command. Wheeler Army Airfie...

Large flames, heavy smoke light up the night sky at Amsterdam Brewhouse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

No injuries were reported following a fire at an establishment along the waterfront. Toronto Fire were called to the Amsterdam Brewhouse on Queens Quay West just before 9 p.m. Thursday evening. Firefighters were met with lots of flame and heavy smoke coming from a dumpster with the fire having spread to a nearby surrounding fence. Crews managed to get the blaze under control before it spread to the roof or interior of the neighbouring restaurant.

Thirteen legendary rock acts inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

TORONTO — Thirteen Canadian rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s rolled back the clock on Thursday as they were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame with a night chock full of good memories and even greater radio hits.Glass Tiger, Loverboy and Trooper were among the bands toasted at Toronto’s Massey Hall as part of a “mega-induction” ceremony dubbed “Rock of Fame,” which celebrated a time when the country’s rock pulse was pounding.Between a packed lineup of live performances and acceptance speeches, the night was loaded with laughs about time passed, hair lost and the follies of aging.“We’re all here on the same ride tonight,” Loverboy’s Mike Reno proclaimed early in the ceremony.His sentiment was shared by many of his fellow inductees on the pre-show red carpet, where they described the familiar faces they passed backstage. “We’re certainly among friends here,” noted guitarist Al Harlow, who was honoured as part of Vanco...

Australian defense minister says army will stop flying European-designed Taipan helicopters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian army will never again fly its fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters following a crash in July that killed four soldiers, the defense minister said Friday.Australia’s fleet of more than 40 European-designed Taipans has been grounded since July 28 when one crashed into the Pacific Ocean during a nighttime training operation in the Whitsunday Islands off the northeast Australian coast.Defense Minister Richard Marles told Nine Network television that permanently ending Taipan flying operations was the “only decision that makes sense.”“We’re making this decision today. In many ways it was inevitable, but it’s an important step to take so that we can get our Black Hawks in the air as quickly as possible,” Marles said, referring to the U.S.-built helicopters that will replace Australia’s Airbus-manufactured fleet.The government announced plans in January to replace the Taipans with 40 UH-60M Black Hawks. The Taipans’ retirement date of December 2024 w...

Belt’s three run blast powers Blue Jays past Yankees as Toronto closes in on playoff spot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

Brandon Belt smashed a three-run home run as the Blue Jays topped the New York Yankees 6-0 on Thursday as Toronto took a step toward clinching a post-season berth.The win gave the Blue Jays a one-game lead over the Houston Astros in the race for the American League’s second wild card.It also gave Toronto a two-game lead over the Seattle Mariners, who hosted the Texas Rangers later Thursday.Daulton Varsho and Matt Chapman both had home runs as Toronto (88-71) shook off a two-game scoring drought. Cavan Biggio added an RBI single.Chris Bassitt (16-8) pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out 12. The quality start gave him 200 innings on the season and a career high 16 wins. Relievers Yimi Garcia and Tim Mayza preserved the victory.Luke Weaver (3-6) struck out six but gave up two runs on six hits and a walk over four innings as New York (81-78) had its three-game win streak snapped. Greg Weissert, Zach McAllister and Yoendrys Gomez came on in relief.Biggio and Alejandro Kirk ...

More than just a food pantry: Chicago doctor supports wellness in community with non-profit work

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Targeting hunger and inequity in Chicago's immigrant communities. That's the life mission for Dr. Evelyn Figueroa and her non-profit community wellness organization and food pantry.   She's been working since she was 13-years-old helping to support her newly arrived family from Puerto Rico.  And she’s been helping others ever since. Figueroa understands the challenges faced by newcomers, challenges that have grown more complicated with the surge of asylum seekers in Chicago.   More: Hispanic Heritage Month stories Figueroa’s husband Alex Wu is equally passionate about serving vulnerable populations with a deep understanding of the difficulties faced by immigrants.Their foundations is working to expand services in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.WGN’s Julian Cruise has more.

JUST receives $450K grant to help diverse women entrepreneurs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- JUST, a nonprofit that works to close the racial wealth gap by investing in Texas women of color, received a $450,000 grant from Truist Foundation on Thursday.Austin Mayor Kirk Watson also joined the nonprofit and foundation at Austin City Hall as the group received the grant Thursday, which will help women entrepreneurs of color.JUST said this will help expand its mentorship and loan funding programs for women in Austin, as well as Central Texas."We've had a couple of pilot programs. This will just push us, allows us just to push them forward," said Rashidah Alshams, head of partnership and community growth with JUST.Leaders of JUST said this will also help the nonprofit advocate for changes in underwriting practices and expand into new markets in Forth Worth and San Antonio.

Minnesota food shelves brace for government shutdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

Food shelves in Minnesota and around the country are bracing for a possible federal government shutdown, especially one that could last more than a few weeks.Michelle Miller of the Two Harbors Area Food Shelf sorts 3,290 pounds of donations in 2016. (Adelle Whitefoot / Lake County News-Chronicle)One of the nation’s largest food banks is Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Center. Its CEO, Allison O’Toole, said the hunger-relief network is already struggling to meet historic demand for its services and expecting to help even more people if the federal government shuts down.“You know, we’re talking about moms and babies and little kids and moms-to-be,” she said of the WIC program that could run out of funding in a prolonged shutdown. “This benefit provides fruits and veggies and peanut butter and cereal formula, the basic staples we need to help families thrive.”O’Toole said food banks, which have been asking for more help since the pandemic, will have to increase their outreach effo...