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Maine takes railroad to task over cleanup after derailment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

SANDWICH ACADEMY GRANT TOWNSHIP, Maine (AP) — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is taking Canadian Pacific Kansas City to task over the cleanup following a freight train derailment and fire.Commissioner Melanie Loyzim sent a letter Thursday telling the railroad that its good faith efforts have failed to meet the agency’s expectations with regards to response and timing “to effectively mitigate impacts to the environment and public health.” Two concerns are a failure to move a pair of rail cars containing hazardous material farther away from the site in a timely manner, and the failure to remove diesel fuel from the locomotives’ saddle tanks, causing a diesel fuel spill, the agency said. An estimated 500 gallons (1,895 liters) of fuel spilled.Three locomotive engines and six train cars carrying lumber and electrical wiring went off the tracks Saturday in Somerset County, sending three people to the hospital.Canadian Pacific Kansas City, created by a m...

Kansas governor nixes abortion, anti-diversity budget items

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed anti-diversity and anti-abortion provisions in Kansas’ next state budget Friday, intensifying a conflict with the Republican-controlled Legislature over culture war issues that could see her scotch a dozen or more conservative initiatives. The governor has the power to excise individual budget items and used it to eliminate $2 million in state tax dollars for anti-abortion centers providing free counseling and pregnancy and parenting services. She’s previously vetoed two bills that would enact anti-abortion policies despite a decisive statewide vote in August 2022 affirming abortion rights.Kelly vetoed a budget provision that would have prevented state universities from using diversity equity and inclusion principles in their hiring. She nixed another provision barring the state board that licenses mental health professionals from requiring them or giving them incentives to undergo training involving diversity or ant...

Bystander officer found guilty in man's 2021 beating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A former Aurora police officer was found guilty Friday of failing to intervene when another officer used excessive force.A jury found Francine Martinez guilty of the crime, a Class 1 misdemeanor, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. The incident happened in 2021, when a responding officer on a call with Martinez strangled and pistol-whipped a man. Bandimere Speedway closing at end of drag racing season “Officers have a duty to intervene in situations like this," Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Sugioka said. “Officer Martinez failed to do anything to de-escalate the situation and stop the assault.”Lawyers for Kyle Vinson, the man hurt in the case, said Friday that they're "heartened" by the verdict."In this case, Officer Martinez had a front-row seat to the brutal assault of Mr. Vinson at the hands of her fellow officer," the statement from the Rathod Mohamedbhai firm reads. "Her failure to protect Mr. Vinson was unconscionable and ...

2 remaining suspects in 2021 crime spree, homicide plead guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver District Attorney's Office said all five suspects in a 2021 crime spree and homicide have now pleaded guilty to the incident. Three of the five men charged in a deadly crime spree along Colfax Avenue pleaded guilty earlier this month, and the DA's office said Isaiah Freeman, 20, and Samuel Fussell, 20, did so Friday. Both Freeman and Fussell pled guilty to one count each of aggravated robbery and first-degree assault involving multiple victims. Deadly crime spree on Colfax The crime spree began on Aug. 15, 2021, with a carjacking in Aurora and ended on Aug. 18 after a burglary and auto theft in Lakewood. Former DougCo school bus driver facing 30 misdemeanor child abuse charges for hard brake Police said the crime spree started near Colfax Avenue and Grape Street at 10:50 p.m. with a carjacking with no injuries reported.Then a shooting and robbery took place in the 1500 block of Lafayette Street around 11 p.m. Police said one person was critically ...

Ray Romano says his character is ‘living vicariously through his son’ in directorial debut ‘Somewhere in Queens’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

Ray Romano is a comedian, actor and now writer and director.But it’s not much of a stretch, since he’s just going from King of Queens to Somewhere in Queens.Ray Romano is Mr. Leo russo in Somewhere in Queens. Leo is just a dad who wants his son to get a full-ride to college. But when the teen experiences his first heartbreak, the chance to play college ball goes out the window.That is until Leo starts to meddle with his kid’s love life.Ray Romano: “This character is living vicariously through his son and he feels very small in his real life.”Ray wasn’t just the main character in the film, it was also his first time writing and directing.Ray Romano: “For the main cast it was fun just to write and hear them say the words because you can put the words down there, but if somebody doesn’t bring them to life it’s not going to work.”The one thing he didn’t need to direct?His son Sticks’ basketball skills; since Jacob W...

Students at North Beach Elementary spend Earth Day outdoors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

Students at one South Florida school had an early Earth Day celebration.Second graders at North Beach Elementary spent the day in the school’s garden.They did arts and crafts, learned about recycling and planted healthy foods like bananas and papayas.“The fun thing is they go ahead and they cook, as well, with these items and bring it to the cafeteria and in fact our teachers, as well, bring some of this stuff home from the garden and cook with it, so it’s a win-win for all,” said Melanie Fishman, principal at the school.The children also got to learn about endangered butterflies and insect species.Earth Day is on Saturday.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly flirts with a perfect game in a 13-0 rout of the LA Dodgers: ‘Tough play to end it’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

Drew Smyly has a perfect working relationship with Yan Gomes, and the Chicago Cubs left-hander said Friday that he’s almost always on the same page with his catcher.Gomes helped guide Smyly to a near-perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 13-0 win at Wrigley Field, but a collision between the two on a dribbler in the eighth inning ruined Smyly’s bid at history.Smyly’s shot at becoming the first Cub to throw a perfect game ended on David Peralta’s infield hit leading off the eighth. Smyly (2-1) finished with 7⅔ one-hit innings, striking out 10 with no walks in a 103-pitch outing.Smyly was at 93 pitches entering the eighth when he fielded Peralta’s swinging bunt. Gomes also ran out to field the ball and fell on top of Smyly while trying to get out of his way, preventing a throw to first from the pitcher.“Tough play to end it,” Smyly said. “I mean, you feel you’re really close. Executed a good curveball and he barel...

Arrest warrant issued for ex-NFL star Antonio Brown over unpaid child support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

A judge in Miami-Dade County, Fla. ordered police to arrest Antonio Brown for allegedly failing to make child support payments to his ex-girlfriend, Wiltrice Jackson, with whom he shares a daughter.The order was sent on April 14 and Broward County Sheriff’s Office confirmed receipt of the order Friday. However, Brown was not taken into custody.According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the former NFL star could bypass being arrested if he paid at least $30,000 of the amount he owes Jackson.Brown took to Instagram Friday evening to share a screenshot of a receipt, showing he had just forked over $33,260.58 to Florida Child Support. The amount included the initial $32,135.83 that he owed Jackson, plus a $1,124.75 service fee.Brown began dating Jackson during his early days with the Pittsburgh Steelers, during which time the couple welcomed a daughter.In 2019, Jackson accused Brown of shoving her during a domestic dispute, but he was never charged over the claim.Brown has gott...

Home Showcase: Snazzy studio at The Parker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

Let’s say you’re a gal about town, or an international man of mystery, or a Boston Bruin looking at a long playoff run. You want swank city digs but you don’t want to make decorating decisions for a 3,000-square-foot penthouse.Enter Unit 1010 at The Parker, Boston’s latest eye-popping condo development in the Theater District, overlooking Downtown Crossing.The 10th floor studio is sized for efficiency, but the corner unit is the perfect place to lay your head after a fun night — or month — out. Turns out, you can pack a lot into less than 600 square feet if you’re purposeful about it. To wit, the studio includes a full designer kitchen with Thermador and Bosch appliances, accented with Calacatta quartz counters and a marble backsplash, a washer and dryer closet, and a dedicated desk nook for work or study.Nine-foot ceilings, pale oak floors, and a corner wall of floor-to-ceiling windows add up to a studio that feels much larger than it is.The amenities at The Parker, courtesy of Zar...

Good win and a good cause: Lexington slams past St. John’s of Shrewsbury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:47 GMT

WINCHESTER – Still trying to put the pieces together to play as dominantly as head coach Jane Bergin believes it can, the Lexington boys volleyball team got a big push in the right direction while supporting a good cause Friday afternoon at Winchester High School.After dropping a second set filled with miscues, the No. 11 Minutemen (5-2) used overpowering play at the net over the next two frames to muscle past No. 8 St. John’s of Shrewsbury for a 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 25-21, 25-15) win in the ALS One April Break Invitational championship game.Justin Cheng (12 kills, nine blocks) and Matteo Luciani (11 kills) were critical pieces alongside a list of contributors to overcome the sluggish second frame, winning an intense battle at the net to end the athletic Pioneers’ (7-2) seven-game win streak.Considering the slower start to the season than she expected, Bergin felt those third and fourth sets to seal a win against a quality team were huge for the team’s morale. Especially on April vaca...