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4 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ series win, including Cody Bellinger’s weekend plans and new lightbulbs at Wrigley Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

The Chicago Cubs begin their West Coast trip Friday with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Seiya Suzuki is expected to make his season debut.Here are four takeaways from series win against the Seattle Mariners.1. Jed Hoyer’s 3-year planWith three-year contracts in the books for Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ, President Jed Hoyer has made it clear the Cubs prefer short-term deals for free agents.So who’s next?Marcus Stroman has an opt-out after this season on his three-year, $71 million deal that pays him $21 million in 2024. Hoyer might want to lock up Stroman for a few more seasons before the pitcher opts out for a long-term deal.Cody Bellinger might be holding down center field until prospect Pete Crow–Armstrong is ready, which looks to be soon. Bellinger signed a one-year, $17.5 million deal with a mutual $24 million option for 2024.The only other prominent potential free agent is Kyle Hendricks, who is rehabbing in Arizona after right should...

Small Massachusetts town Dighton at center of attention as feds arrest Jack Teixeira

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

Dighton residents, which proudly proclaim they live in a “Right to Farm Community,” were shocked to be center of national attention as the feds moved in and arrested 21-year-old resident Jack Teixeira.“Today, the Justice Department arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information. Teixeira is an employee of the United States Air Force National Guard,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said.But to David Corderio, the owner since November of the neighborhood convenience store Fast Mart, Teixeira was just another customer who stopped in from time to time and just has “one of those faces.”“I think I’ve seen the guy, but I can’t say I know him,” Cordeiro said. “He usually comes in wearing camo.”Cordeiro enlisted the help of some of the other customers during the Herald’s visit to see if anyone had any information. One man, disappointed that the store ...

Daniel Snyder-Josh Harris group reach agreement on $6.05 billion sale of Washington Commanders: reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

Daniel Snyder reportedly has reached an agreement in principle to sell the NFL’s Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion to a group led by Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris.Harris, who also is a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has teamed with fellow billionaire Mitchell Rales in a group that also includes NBA legend Magic Johnson to purchase the team.The $6.05 billion price would be the highest in NFL history, topping the Denver Broncos’ purchase for $4.65 billion by the Walton-Penner group last year.The Washington agreement was first reported by Sportico.The deal isn’t finalized or signed. In fact, Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos is still involved in the process, according to ESPN. But the league’s network reported that “a finalized sale is expected if all goes well.”Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos looked into possibly buying the team from Snyder but never officially submitted a bid.A sale requires the ...

Flock to Common

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

The mercury in the 80s wasn’t the only sign of spring. The Swan Boats are back for another summer tour on the Common.Phil Paget paddles a boat across the lagoon as the Swan Boats are assembled in the Public Garden on Thursday, in Boston, MA. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald) April 13, 2023Workers assemble the Sawn Boats in the Public Garden on Thursday, in Boston, MA. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald) April 13, 2023Phil Paget paddles a boat across the lagoon as the Swan Boats are assembled in the Public Garden on Thursday, in Boston, MA. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald) April 13, 2023

Tax cuts sail through House, would change capital gains and death tax

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

Much to the chagrin of progressives, the House passed their version of a tax cut package just a day after revealing they would spend $56.2 billion in the next fiscal year.“We’ve all heard from our constituents and our business about the cost and struggles they are dealing with and the new reality of life and work since the pandemic,” state Rep. Mark Cusack, the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Revenue, told the House before the vote.Called An Act to improve the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability, and equity, the state House passed H.3770 by a vote of 150-3 on Thursday, with five state representatives not voting.State Rep. Mike Connolly, a progressive representing most of Cambridge, was one of the lawmakers who tried to stop or change the bill, but with his resistance joined only by Democratic Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven of Somerville and Acton’s Rep. Dan Sena, he withdrew his offered amendment before declaring he could not support cutting taxes for the state’s wealthie...

Missouri to restrict transgender care for minors, adults

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

COLUMBIA. Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s attorney general announced new restrictions Thursday on transgender care for adults in addition to minors in a move that is believed to be a first nationally and has advocacy groups threatening to sue. Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced plans to restrict transgender health care weeks ago, when protesters rallied at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass a law banning puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for children. But the discussion was focused on minors, not adults. Missouri Attorney General spokeswoman Madeline Sieren clarified in a statement later in the day that adults also would be covered. “We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state, but we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care,” Sieren said. The rule, which incudes a required 18 months of therapy before receiving gender-affirming health care, is set to take effect April 27 and expire next...

Peruvian politician convicted in 1988 murder of reporter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A Peruvian judge convicted retired army general and conservative politician Daniel Urresti and sentenced him to 12 years in prison Thursday for his role in the 1988 murder of a journalist who covered abuses during Peru’s civil war.Hailed by advocates as an overdue but key verdict in upholding accountability and press freedom in Peru, the sentence represented a remarkable turnaround for Urresti, who has been an interior minister, congressman and presidential candidate as well as a frequent political commentator.Urresti was a military intelligence officer in November 1988 when journalist Hugo Bustíos was machine-gunned and blown up with dynamite in a slaying initially blamed on the communist militant group Shining Path. A fellow journalist with Bustíos survived the attack. Members of the military later were convicted of carrying out the ambush during a plainclothes patrol in Huanta province to prevent the journalist from covering news of military abuses against civil...

Health minister says stiffer rules could prevent over-prescribing to U.S. patients

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

RICHMOND, B.C. — The federal health minister says regulations governing medical practice may have to be strengthened in each province to prevent “incompetence” by doctors who could write thousands of prescriptions for drugs that go to patients outside of Canada.Jean-Yves Duclos said that at the very least, regulatory colleges may have to better enforce current regulations so medications such as the diabetes drug Ozempic — also used off-label to lose weight — are available to Canadians who need them.Concern over potential drug shortages arose after a Texas-based doctor licensed in Nova Scotia wrote 17,000 prescriptions for Ozempic over three months, but for people living in the United States.Regulatory colleges and provinces should guard against a similar issue arising if access to other medications such as the abortion drug mifepristone is restricted in some parts of the United States, Duclos said.“I will be raising this issue with my counterparts, health ministers...

Trudeau Foundation donor heads group under Chinese Communist Party ‘total leadership’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

A businessman whose reported donations to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation led to the resignation of its CEO is the president of a Chinese cultural organization that says it operates under the authority of the communist government.The website of the China Cultural Industry Association says it adheres to the “total leadership” of the Chinese Communist Party and was formed with the approval of China’s State Council, which is synonymous with the central government.The association says on its Chinese-language site that its president is Zhang Bin, a Chinese billionaire that the Globe and Mail reported had donated $200,000 to the foundation in 2016, along with another Chinese businessman.But the Globe reported that a receipt named a company called Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada) as the donor.The China Cultural Industry Association says Millennium Golden Eagle International is one of its executive board members and was created with the approval of Chin...

Iowa man pleads guilty in Arizona election threats case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:57 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — An Iowa man pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening two Arizona officials in messages that mentioned discredited allegations of fraud in the 2020 election.Federal prosecutors said 64-year-old Mark Rissi of Hiawatha left voicemail messages targeting Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, both Republicans. Rissi pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threatening interstate communication. He’s scheduled to be sentenced in June. Prosecutors said Rissi’s message for Hickman was left Sept. 27, 2021, three days after a technology firm called Cyber Ninjas released a report alleging a wide range of election improprieties in Maricopa County, which includes the Phoenix area. Experts said the report, which was commissioned by Republican leaders of the state Senate, was riddled with errors, bias and flawed methodology. More than two months later, as Brnovich was under pressure from election deniers to charge people with el...