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Health officials investigating case of tuberculosis within UMass Boston community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

Health officials are investigating a case of tuberculosis in the UMass Boston community, officials said Tuesday.  The Boston Public Health Commission in a statement said it is aware of an active case and said it is working with both UMass Boston and the state Department of Public Health to conduct contact tracing and inform contacts about possible exposure. “Given that tuberculosis requires prolonged close contact to spread from one individual to another, we do not believe this active case poses a health risk to the general public,” officials said. “Tuberculosis is a very treatable and curable disease, and we encourage members of the UMass Boston community to contact a health care provider or the student health services if they are concerned about possible exposure,” the public health commission continued in its statement. The Department of Public Health has information on tuberculosis available on its website.The Centers for Disease Control on its own website says tubercu...

Flag football event at Gillette Stadium aims to empower girls and women through sports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

Flag football players took over the field at Gillette Stadium Tuesday all as part of an initiative to empower young women through sports and STEM activities. The event was put on by the New England Patriots Foundation, Bridgestone and the nonprofit Play Like a Girl. On Tuesday, members of the Boston Renegades women’s tackle football team in New England led girls through drills.“They’re very inspirational,” said Yarimar Perez, a high school flag football player.In addition to the Renegades, Patriots player Jonathan Jones also helped out.“Just be an ally and advocate and let them know to have the confidence to be anything they want and they’re special, each and every one of them and they have a bright future in front of them,” Jones said.Play Like a Girl mentor Ashley Green said Play Like a Girl “aims to level the playing field with women and girls in STEM and sports.”Learning skills for the field and life, a STEM activity on vehicle engineering and maintenance w...

Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Boston Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Boston later this week for an event ahead of the upcoming National Apprenticeship Week, her office announced. National Apprenticeship Week is set for next week. Harris is scheduled to visit Boston on Thursday for what her office described as a moderated conversation with members of registered apprenticeship programs. Harris’ office said the event “will highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to supporting workers and creating good paying union jobs.”Officials did not announce a location for Harris’ visit. Harris is also scheduled to attend a private fundraiser in Boston at a time and location to be announced on Thursday.Harris previously visited Massachusetts over the summer when she spoke at the 114th annual National NAACP Convention in Boston.

Tyngsboro police investigating after thieves steal necklace from 77-year-old woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

Tyngsboro police asked for the public’s help Tuesday after a 77-year-old woman said someone stole a cherished necklace off her neck. Police in a statement said the robbery happened Monday afternoon on Caroline Way in town. Police said the woman told investigators she had been walking on a sidewalk when a black SUV pulled up beside her. The woman said a woman in the passenger seat of the SUV motioned for her to come toward the car. When the victim approached, police said, the woman in the passenger seat allegedly grabbed her by the back of the head and stole the gold necklace. Family members said the stolen necklace has a pendant with a picture of the victim’s husband on one side and a picture of her parents on the other. The victim, herself, had a small scratch on her neck after this incident but did not suffer any serious injuries. Her family said she was shaken up, adding that they are surprised because the area where this incident happened is usually safe.Whil...

GOP Rep. Peter Durant declares victory in Senate special election for Central Mass. seat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

Senate Republicans are in line to see one more member added to their ranks this session after Rep. Peter Durant declared victory Tuesday night in a special election for a Central Massachusetts seat that includes Gardner and a sliver of Worcester.Political onlookers have largely viewed the race between Durant and Democratic Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik as a test of the MassGOP’s new leadership’s ability to grow the party’s legislative strength in the wake of former Chairman Jim Lyons’ departure.The test proved successful in this election, where a Democratic seat was flipped to the Republican column.Durant declared victory just after 9 p.m. at an election night party in Rutland.“I look forward to representing your values and interests on Beacon Hill,” he said on social media. “To my wife, Kate, thank you for your constant support, especially over the past five months. I owe this all to you. I look forward to sharing more information with you in the coming days as I look for...

House nears vote on censuring Rashida Tlaib over her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

By FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The House was nearing a showdown vote late Tuesday on whether to punish Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan — the only Palestinian American in Congress — for her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war.The outcome of the vote will likely depend on whether Democrats unite with a handful of their GOP colleagues in defending Tlaib, who has long been a target of criticism for her views on the decades-long conflict in the Middle East. That criticism reached new heights after the Oct. 7 attack by the terrorist group Hamas left hundreds of Israelis dead and scores injured. Tlaib, who has family in the West Bank, came under heavy reproval after she failed to immediately condemn Hamas after the attack. Democrats stood by Tlaib and helped defeat an initial censure resolution against her last week. But since then, many of her colleagues, including prominent Jewish members, have become more conflicted about her rhetoric a...

Democrats win on abortion rights, and other highlights from Tuesday’s off-year elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — There was plenty in the early results of Tuesday’s off-year election to make Democrats happy, but it shouldn’t be enough to make them feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election.Abortion rights supporters won an Ohio ballot measure and the Democratic governor of beet-red Kentucky held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights and painting his opponent as extremist on abortion.The off-year elections have major implications for both of those states and provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. But two big names — Joe Biden and Donald Trump — weren’t on the ballot.Here are some key results from Tuesday’s voting.ABORTION REMAINS POTENT FOR DEMOCRATSDemocrats notched two early wins Tuesday night in Kentucky and Ohio, both states that voted for Trump in 2020. In both states, abortion was the main issue.In Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was reelected in a state that Trump had won by 26 percentage ...

Whitby Mayor won’t use strong mayor powers to end garbage strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy says she won’t use strong mayor powers to end a weeks-long labour disruption that’s halted garbage pickup and affected other city services.In an update Tuesday, Roy released a statement saying she wouldn’t use the strong mayor powers granted by the province to force an end to the strike.“Bill 3 does not give me the ability to order the Town’s unionized employees back to work or to implement a collective agreement,” Roy wrote. ” I’m not aware of any mayors in Ontario who have used Bill 3 to intervene in the collective bargaining process.“While strong mayor powers can be far-reaching, I do not believe it is the intent of this legislation to see mayors disrupt lawful labour action or otherwise insinuate themselves into the collective bargaining process.”In the meantime, a mediator is being called in to aid in bargaining between the Town of Whitby and CUPE 53, with the two sides scheduled to meet again on Novembe...

Opinion: 'Oh you almost had it!' is becoming a weekly theme for the Chicago Bears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Taking in the Chicago Bears game this weekend felt a whole lot like watching a State Farm commercial I've seen for years.Come now, and journey with me down memory lane. Last Week's Column: The Chicago Bears need Jim Harbaugh In the commercial, two women appear in a shopping boutique — and all of a sudden — one spots a purse they want to buy. After uttering the magic words, "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there," Anthony the State Farm agent appears and lets one of the women know she saved about $150 with her discount double check.Thrilled, she picks up the purse and glides over to the cashier's counter to make a purchase.The other woman, who doesn't have State Farm, rattles off a jingle hoping her insurance company can help too."I don't have State Farm, but insurance find me money!" she says.*Poof*A fisherman appears, with a little bit of green attached to the end of the hook on his fishing pole."I got you a dollar," the fisherman exclaims.Disappointed, the woman re...

Ohio passes Issue 1 ballot measure enshrining abortion protections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:37 GMT

A ballot measure seeking to enshrine abortion protections into Ohio’s state constitution is projected to pass, according to Decision Desk HQ, delivering a major win for Democrats and abortion rights advocates ahead of 2024.The proposed constitutional amendment would protect access to abortion up until fetal viability, with exceptions for the life and health of the patient beyond that point. It’s the first time that abortion rights advocates have been able to pass abortion protections in a state that’s trended increasingly red in recent years.Abortion is legal up until 22 weeks, while the Ohio Supreme Court is weighing a six-week ban that is on hold right now. Ohio became a flashpoint after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year when a 10-year-old rape victim was forced to travel out of state to receive access to the medical procedure. Earlier in the summer, the state held an August special election where voters weighed a separate proposed constitutional amendment th...