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New details emerge after officer-involved shooting in Plantation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

An officer-involved shooting that took place on Saturday night at the Plantation Hotel Inn and Lounge left 44-year-old Homea Spence dead. New details released on Monday explained why police opened fire on Spence.A press release from the Plantation Police Department stated that officers were responding to the area in reference to reports of shots fired. According to the report, officers made contact with Spence who pulled a firearm from his waistband and pointed it at officers.The statement continued to say: “The deceased was a convicted felon and was in possession of a stolen firearm.”On Saturday night, one witness claimed he saw Spence handcuffed.Police have not confirmed the witness’s claims but the family of the deceased wants answers and justice for their loved one.“What happened? That’s what we want to know; the cops are not giving us any answers,” said Spence’s cousin who identified herself as Valerie. “We want justice for my cousin. H...

Police: 1 injured in shooting outside Lawrence restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

One person was injured in a shooting outside a restaurant in Lawrence early Tuesday morning, according to police. Officers responded to a report of a fight at the Blue Lounge & Grill on the corner of Canal and Amesbury Streets just after 1 a.m. As police were responding, dispatchers also received several 911 calls reporting shots fired in the same location. Upon arrival, officers located a man who sustained non-life threatening injuries for apparent gunshot wounds, police say. He was treated on scene by first responders and later taken to Lawrence General Hospital.The incident remains under investigation and no additional information has been released.

Crews battle fire on Whiting Street in Hanover

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

Crews battled a fire on Whiting Street in Hanover Tuesday morning. Fire officials say the flames started in a nearby barn and spread to the home, which appears to be significantly damaged. There is no word on any injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. https://twitter.com/HanoverFire/status/1645751621064744962

JetBlue adds nonstop flights to Orlando, Fort Myers from Worcester Regional Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

JetBlue is adding nonstop flights to Orlando and Fort Myers, Florida from Worcester Regional Airport.Local leaders were at the airport on Monday for the announcement.Daily, year-round service to Orlando kicks off this summer. Service to Fort Myers starts next year.

Wide receiver remains the primary curiosity as Giants’ 2023 NFL Draft nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darren Waller and the rest of the Giants’ skill players looked like they had a productive and enjoyable workout in Arizona last week.All that was missing was a star No. 1 wide receiver. At least that’s what it seems like with the NFL Draft two and a half weeks away.Brian Daboll has a lot of very good players on offense, including a new ‘X’ factor tight end in Waller, a new versatile receiver in Parris Campbell and a new veteran playmaker in Jamison Crowder.Isaiah Hodgins and Darius Slayton re-signed after strong seasons on the outside. Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson are working to get healthy. And tight end Lawrence Cager seems to have untapped, receiver-like upside.But this franchise hasn’t had a true star receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. was traded in 2019. The Giants have either underestimated the severity of their need at the position or tripped over themselves trying to fill it since.And so, for good reas...

Germany launches plan to relax rigid family name system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s justice minister on Tuesday launched plans to relax the country’s strict restrictions on family names — for example, allowing couples to take double-barreled surnames and pass them on to their children.The current system “is about as up-to-date as a coal stove and as flexible as concrete,” Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said in a statement as he published the draft legislation.As it stands, one partner in a married couple — but not both — can add the other partner’s name to his or her surname, but their children can’t carry both surnames.The reform will allow both partners to take on a double surname, with or without a hyphen, and for their children to take that name too. Even if the parents both keep their original names, they will be able to give their children a double-barreled surname, regardless of whether they are married. The new system still won’t allow names that are more than double-barreled.Buschmann also fores...

Wall Street quiet ahead of US inflation data, earnings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

Wall Street was somewhat subdued Tuesday ahead of several reports this week that could help the Federal Reserve determine whether its interest rate increases have further tempered four-decade high inflation.Futures for the S&P 500 Dow Jones Industrial Average were each up less than 0.1% before the bell Tuesday.Recent reports on the U.S. economy have reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve may tap the brakes again on business activity by raising interest rates. On Wednesday, the U.S. government will release its latest monthly update on prices across the economy at the consumer level. Economists expect it to show inflation slowed last month but remains well above the Fed’s target.Thursday will bring the government’s report on wholesale inflation, while a retail sales report is due Friday.Monday was the first U.S. trading day after the release of data showing a stronger than expected jobs market in March, which might keep inflation higher, perhaps leading the Fed to hike ...

NATO member Romania pushes to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s top defense body approved on Tuesday the acquisition of an unspecified number of American-made F-35 fighter jets, as the NATO-member state pushes to modernize its air force, Romania’s presidential office said.The office of President Klaus Iohannis, who chaired a Supreme Council of National Defense meeting in the capital Bucharest on Tuesday, said members of the council approved the purchase of the “latest generation” Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft.“The achievement of robust, credible, interoperable, flexible and efficient air defense operational capabilities … assumed as a result of NATO and EU membership, as well as to deter a possible aggression, is the essential condition for fulfilling the objectives of the defense policy of Romania,” the statement read.“The process of modernization of the Air Force will continue with the purchase of the latest generation F-35 aircraft,” it said.Iohannis’ office did not specify how many F-35 fighters Romania wo...

Canadian Press NewsAlert: Glencore adds cash component to Teck Resources offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

VANCOUVER — Swiss company Glencore is modifying its hostile takeover offer for Teck Resources Ltd. to include an US$8.2-billion cash component to its proposal.More coming.Companies in this story: (TSX:TECK.B)The Canadian Press

Why do people fake Indigenous ancestry?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:21 GMT

In today’s Big Story podcast, ever since author Joseph Boyden was called out for his claims of being an Indigenous author, every few weeks seems to bring a new story of a prominent researcher, writer or academic who has exaggerated or falsified their Indigeneity in order to secure grants or posts.The numbers of people claiming Indigenous heritage in general has skyrocketed. Michelle Cyca wrote about this phenomenon for The Walrus. She joins us on today’s Big Story.“Some of them seem like they’re more of a family history that’s been exaggerated a little bit or distorted over time,” she said, “Other times … I think we shouldn’t mince words and say they just seem like straight-up lies.”So what changed? Why are these claims only being parsed now? What do people who make these claims stand to gain, and what harm are they doing to Indigenous people?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.