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Ask Amy: Who knew toy kitchens would prompt so many stories?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

Dear Readers: A recent question from “Wondering Parents” raised the topic of giving “gender stereotypical” toys to children. (Wondering Parents were admonished for wanting to give a toy kitchen set to their daughter for Christmas.)Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My husband won’t tell me where my money went Advice | Ask Amy: Would it be odd for her to give the bride a present? Advice | Ask Amy: I went behind my wife’s back to deal with her high-strung friend. Was I wrong? Advice | Ask Amy: She was such a fun friend, and I’m stunned she turned on me like this Advice | Ask Amy: I’m annoyed when people give gifts to children for no occasion This question – and my response – brought on a huge response from readers reminiscing about and praising the qualities of toy kitchens. (Who knew?)On this day when so many children are exploring the outer limits of their own capacities for joyful...

Harriette Cole: A guide to making the most of the season, Christian or not

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

DEAR READERS: Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! Joy to you! I want to be as inclusive as I can in my greeting, because I truly do want to welcome each and every one of you into the biggest hug of the year.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My girlfriend cries easily, and I’m wondering if it’s a tactic to shut me down Advice | Harriette Cole: The problem started when my daughter switched to public school Advice | Harriette Cole: The 3 lists and one calendar you need for your 2024 life strategy Advice | Harriette Cole: There’s only so much I can do for this Plain Jane Advice | Harriette Cole: I don’t want to offend my friend but I can’t stay in this house We deserve to feel unconditional love right now. After a year filled with innumerable twists and turns and ups and downs, this time of year we reserve to pause, be with loved ones and celebrate.I recently asked a friend ...

“Es mucho… Estamos sufriendo porque no tenemos la mano de obra”, dice el sheriff del condado de Maverick a CNN

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

(CNN)  — Al discutir el impacto en las fuerzas del orden locales mientras Estados Unidos lucha con un aumento de inmigrantes sin precedentes, el sheriff del condado de Maverick, Tom Schmerber, le dice a Rafael Romo de CNN: “Estamos sufriendo porque no tenemos la mano de obra”.“Es mucho”, dijo Schmerber. “En lo que respecta a las fuerzas del orden, estamos sufriendo porque no tenemos la mano de obra para ocuparnos de lo que llamamos ‘el negocio local’, los elementos criminales y luego el problema de la inmigración; por lo tanto, nos está costando mucho mano de obra.”Las autoridades federales informaron de un promedio de siete días de más de 9.600 encuentros de migrantes a lo largo de la frontera sur de Estados Unidos en diciembre, según un funcionario de Seguridad Nacional, una de las cantidades más altas jamás registradas, informó CNN anteriormente. Durante el mes de noviembre, la Patrulla Fronteriza encontró a casi un cuarto de ...

Mostly cloudy, but merry and mild Christmas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

Good morning and Merry Christmas! We’re waking up to areas of fog and drizzle. We’ll continue to see a lot of clouds today, but it’s mild with highs in the upper 40s/low 50s.Temperatures are mild start to finish today. With all the cloud cover overnight, our temperatures held in the upper 30s/low 40s. We’ll reach the upper 40s/low 50s. The fog should lift by mid-morning, then we’ll still see a lot of clouds today. There could be some breaks of sun later today, but clouds win it. Low clouds fill in again tonight. We’ll have areas of fog. Tomorrow more of the same! Highs will be in the upper 40s/near 50, and we’ll see a lot of clouds.

Cardinal O’Malley calls for peace during Mass at Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

Cardinal Sean O’Malley called for peace around the world as parishioners celebrated Christmas during a Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.O’Malley’s message echoed that of Pope Francis, who also called for peace as wars rage in Ukraine and Gaza.“We celebrate Christmas when we make it a feast of love, of friendship, of reconciliation, and of peace,” said O’Malley, who attended a meal at the Pine Street Inn earlier in the day.He added, “In a world where there is still no room at the inn, we must commit ourselves to be compassionate in our response to the poor, the sick, the refugees, the prisoners, the stranger, the homeless, those who are of a different color, speak a different language, those who embrace another ideology.”Christmas Masses will be held at the cathedral throughout the day Monday.

Roxbury fire leaves 1 resident displaced

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

Boston fire officials credited an aggressive attack that contained a fire to a single floor of a six-family duplex on Christmas Eve. Crews responding to a reported structure fire on 20 Rockville Park ordered a second alarm and used a ladder truck to fight the flames, according to a post on the department’s X account. There were no reported injuries. One person was displaced.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.https://twitter.com/BostonFire/status/1739089414481973629This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Red Sox wish list goes deeper than baseball this Christmas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

In past years, Red Sox fans would go into the offseason with an ambitious wish list and big dreams for the upcoming season. Usually by Christmas the team’s done most of its shopping, giving fans the chance to buy new jerseys and tickets and look forward to a big new year.This year? Fans aren’t feeling quite so festive.After four mostly disappointing years Red Sox fans have reached their wit’s end, and the discourse surrounding the club has reached a depressing low. Not even a change in leadership from Chaim Bloom to Craig Breslow has lifted fans’ spirits, and the stubborn optimism that once defined the fandom has been replaced by chronic melancholy.It’s going to take more than a couple free agent signings or trades to help lift the mood.Because Opening Day is still four months away, the kind of inspiring worst-to-first turnaround it’ll take to break the cycle of negativity isn’t something Santa can deliver this Christmas morning. But there a...

Police in Serbia detain nearly 40 people as opposition plans more protests against election results

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian police said Monday they have detained at least 38 people who took part in a protest against reported widespread irregularities during a recent general ballot that declared the governing populists as winners of the parliamentary and local councils’ elections. Claiming election fraud, particularly in the capital, Belgrade, opposition group Serbia Against Violence has been staging protests since the Dec.17 elections while some politicians began a hunger strike. On Sunday evening, hundreds of protesters tried to enter Belgarde’s city council, breaking windows, before riot police pushed them back using tear gas, pepper spray and batons. Senior police official Ivica Ivkovic told reporters those detained are facing charges of inciting violent change of constitutional order —in reference to attempting to overthrow the governmnet — and violent behavior. He added that eight officers were injured, several seriously. The opposition said police beat up...

Pope Francis blasts the weapons industry as he makes a Christmas appeal for peace in the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Monday blasted the weapons industry and its “instruments of death” that fuel wars as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians.Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to the throngs of people below, Francis said he grieved the “abominable attack” of Hamas against southern Israel on Oct. 7 and called for the release of hostages. And he begged for an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the “appalling harvest of innocent civilians” as he called for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world, noting that the biblical story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem sent a message of peace. But he said that Bethlehem “is a place of sorrow and silence” this year.Francis’ annual “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) speech typically offers a lament of all the misery facing the world, and this ye...

Ask Amy: All hail the toy kitchen!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:38 GMT

Dear Readers: A recent question from “Wondering Parents” raised the topic of giving “gender stereotypical” toys to children. (Wondering Parents were admonished for wanting to give a toy kitchen set to their daughter for Christmas.)This question — and my response — brought on a huge response from readers reminiscing about and praising the qualities of toy kitchens. (Who knew?)On this day when so many children are exploring the outer limits of their own capacities for joyful play, here is a sampling of those responses.Dear Amy: More than 30 years ago, our son wanted a toy kitchen for Christmas. My husband was against it (he thought it was a “girl toy” ).Ironically, a grocery store was giving a toy kitchen away. My son won it!He played with that kitchen for years. He is now an incredible chef and loves his craft.Let children play!— ColleenDear Amy: I have two boys — ages six and three — who show every sign of loving gender-typical toys like cars and trucks.They also l...