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Mass. SNAP scam victims set to receive reimbursements

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

Massachusetts is reimbursing some victims of SNAP scams. The state-funded one-time replacement will cover funds lost from skimming, phishing or similar electronic fraud from April through September 2022, the Department of Transitional Assistance announced Thursday.The reimbursements will begin May 12, and victims should expect a text message or email from the state, according to their website. DTA said recipients should change pin numbers frequently or set up direct deposit to be protected against scams. DTA staff members will not ask for a pin number.“SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger and supports our local grocery stores and farmers,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh. “Our state is a leader in providing households with replacement SNAP benefits not covered by the federal government and will continue to prioritize food security in Massachusetts through initiatives like this.”

Celtics make lineup change, start Robert Williams over Derrick White for do-or-die Game 6

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

PHILADELPHIA — With their season on the brink, Joe Mazzulla decided to change things up for the Celtics.As the Celtics faced elimination on Thursday night, the Celtics went to a starting lineup that’s given them great success in the past. Robert Williams started over Derrick White for their do-or-die Game 6 against the 76ers, giving the Celtics the double-big lineup with Williams and Al Horford that they haven’t used much in the postseason.“Just give us a different look,” Mazzulla explained. “I think at his best, Rob gives us a lift, especially on the defensive end. So, looking for that.”The Celtics used a starting five that included Williams and Horford in their run to the NBA Finals last season. But Williams missed the first 29 games of the season after having knee surgery, and White assumed his role in the starting lineup and excelled in it, giving the C’s a five-out look with all shooters on the floor.Williams had been playing a reduced role in this series against the Sixers, lo...

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love doesn’t mind the pressure of replacing Aaron Rodgers: ‘That’s what I signed up for’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love acknowledges the burden that comes along with replacing a four-time MVP.He welcomes the scrutiny that’s sure to follow him all season.“You’re an NFL quarterback,” Love said Wednesday while talking with reporters for the first time since the Packers traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.“There’s only so many of you. So everyone’s watching you. Everyone’s watching every move you make on the field, so it’s pressure. But that’s what comes with the position. That’s what I signed up for, that’s what I knew I was getting myself into and it comes down to me just making the most of that.”After backing up Rodgers the last three seasons, Love finally has his chance to show what he can do — he’ll open the 2023 season against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 10 at Soldier Field. Love said he and Rodgers have spoken since last month’s trade.“He wished me th...

Maintenance work finishes on Sagamore Bridge ahead of schedule

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

Drivers, expect less of a headache when going over the Sagamore Bridge in the days ahead.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District has completed “critical maintenance work” on the old Cape bridge two weeks ahead of schedule, just in time for what looks to be a beautiful, summerlike weekend.Contractors Thursday morning finished the paving portion of the project’s final phase, which included repairs to both the east side roadway lanes and the bridge’s sidewalk. Lane restrictions have been removed, and a temporary line striping has been put down, according to the USACE.“The contractor will come back over the weekend at night to complete permanent line striping, remove all the temporary road signage and reopen the sidewalk to pedestrians and cyclists,” the USACE said via social media. “USACE would like to thank everyone in the community for their patience and cooperation during this critical repair work that was completed well ahead of schedule!”Drivers since March dealt wit...

As Massachusetts’ COVID public health emergency ends, advocates worry about the lifting of mask mandates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

Public health advocates are calling for hospitals, doctors, and other health providers to adopt masking policies, as health care mask mandates were lifted with the end of the state’s COVID-19 public health emergency on Thursday.The end of masking policies “will put those seeking medical care who are already more vulnerable — people with respiratory diseases or cancer, people with disabilities, and older adults — at risk of contracting COVID and other potentially life-threatening illnesses,” said Carlene Pavlos, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association.The public health advocates cited the decision by UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester to keep masks in higher risk settings, such as the emergency department and oncology.Meanwhile, the head of the Massachusetts Medical Society said its physicians support the evidence-based and data-driven decision to lift the national public health emergency.“We are encouraged by the ...

Senate budget stiffs Auditor’s Office for looking into legislative affairs, she says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

Following her announcement she would begin the first audit of the state Legislature in a century, Diana DiZoglio says Senate budget writers are cutting funding for her office short while other departments see massive increases.“The Senate Budget is the latest example of how Beacon Hill’s most powerful politicians weaponize our taxpayer dollars to punish people for standing up for taxpayers. The state budget should not be treated as a game meant to settle political scores,” the state Auditor said in a Thursday statement. “This move further demonstrates the incredible lack of integrity and equity in their legislative process.”According to DiZoglio’s office, the state Senate’s recently released about $55 billion budget proposal that includes large increases to the budgets of other important statewide offices, but does not make the same changes to the auditor’s budget.As written, from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2024, the Attorney General’s Office will see a 10% funding increase, going ...

MBTA budget gap could hit $542M by 2028

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

The MBTA was able to lean on state and federal assistance, and a hefty dip into its own emergency fund to close a $366 million budget gap for fiscal year 2024, but faces future shortfalls that could grow to $542 million by 2028.Chief Financial Officer Mary Ann O’Hara said how these “sizable budget gaps” are addressed in upcoming years is dependent on fare revenue, hurt now by lower ridership levels that have persisted since the pandemic, and actual spending over the next two years.“This year’s budget is unique from prior years, given the historic investment of state resources into safety and training investments to be overseen by our new chief safety officer from MassDOT and the MBTA,” O’Hara said at Thursday’s Audit and Finance subcommittee meeting.“The fiscal year 2024 budget includes a major investment in safety and training, which quadruples our prior year efforts.”O’Hara said more than half of new spending next year, $90 million of the $170 million budget increase, will be earm...

5.4 magnitude earthquake shakes Northern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

(KTXL) — A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck in Northern California Thursday afternoon around 4:19 p.m., with the shaking felt at least as far away as Sacramento. Preliminary readings had the quake at a 5.7 magnitude, but the USGS website updated its reading to 5.4. The quake struck about 1.5 miles southwest of the community of East Shore near Lake Almanor, about 165 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to the USGS.The California Highway Patrol said that the earthquake caused a disruption at the agency's Chico dispatch center, and that 911 lines are currently down. The agency said that people in the region should call 530-332-1200 to report emergencies. More Earthquake News•California's largest earthquake of the 21st century•Which California landmarks are at risk from a massive earthquake?•Here are the fault lines in Northern California•California’s north coast has a long history of strong earthquakes•This is how to prepare for and respond to an earthquakeThis article will be upda...

Top Biden aide tells Chinese diplomat that US wants to ‘move beyond’ spy balloon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Wang Yi during talks in Vienna this week that the Biden administration is “looking to move beyond” tensions spurred by the U.S. shooting down a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the continental United States, according to a senior Biden administration official.The meeting was not publicized by Washington or Beijing ahead of the high-level talks on Wednesday and Thursday in the Austrian capital. The White House described the wide-ranging discussions, in which the two leaders spent more than eight hours together, as “candid” and “constructive.”The administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting, said that both sides recognize that the February incident was ”unfortunate” and are now looking to “reestablish standard, normal channels of communications.”The talks are the latest in a series of small signs that ...

Suspect in stabbings of mother and child in Edmonton dies in hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:07:55 GMT

EDMONTON — The suspect in the stabbing deaths of a mother and child outside a school last week has died in hospital, police said Thursday. The man was shot by Edmonton police last Friday after a 35-year-old woman and her 11-year-old child were stabbed outside Crawford Plains School in the southeastern part of the city. “Investigators have determined that the 33-year-old male is the sole person responsible for the deaths of the mother and child,” police said in a news release.“As the suspect was incapacitated in hospital and has now passed away, charges cannot be laid, and the suspect will not be named.”An autopsy on the man is scheduled for Tuesday. Family members have identified the mother as Carolann Robillard and the child as Sarah Miller, who had recently started using the first name Jayden.The Edmonton Medical Examiner determined this week that the woman and child both died of multiple sharp-force injuries, adding that the deaths are considered homicides...