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‘Tornadic’ damage confirmed in North Attleboro, parts of Rhode Island and Connecticut after Wednesday storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

Damage left in the wake of a storm that blew through southern New England on Wednesday was “tornadic” in nature, according to officials who are now working to determine the extent of the event.The National Weather Service’s Boston office said a survey team confirmed damage in Killingly, Conn., Foster, Glocester, and Lincoln RI, and North Attleboro in Massachusetts was the result of a tornado.“Team is still determining if it was a continuous path or separate touchdowns, a final EF-rating, path length & width,” the NWS Boston Twitter account stated Thursday afternoon.The determination came less than 24 hours after a Tornado Warning was issued for parts of Rhode Island and Bristol County. A warning also into effect for neighboring Norfolk and Plymouth counties before expiring at 6:30 p.m.https://twitter.com/NWSBoston/status/1702376691207905721This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Patriots’ offense gets one piece of good news before Dolphins game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

FOXBORO — Patriots offensive linemen Trent Brown and Sidy Sow, both of whom are in concussion protocol, were absent from practice for the second straight day Thursday.Center David Andrews, who popped up on the injury report with a hamstring ailment Wednesday, was present, however. Andrews was spotted in the Patriots locker room Wednesday with a sleeve over his left leg but appears to be moving fine. The offensive captain spoke to reporters Wednesday before practice.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Callahan: Why the Patriots’ JuJu Smith-Schuster question won’t be going away New England Patriots | Patriots proving to be better fit for ex-Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki New England Patriots | Patriots’ Jonathan Jones explains how to defend Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill New England Patriots | Patriots sign rookie defensive back to final practice squad spot New England Patriots | Patriots̵...

Worst of Hurricane Lee to miss Boston, but nor’easter conditions expected, Mayor Wu says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

The worst of Hurricane Lee is expected to miss Boston, but nor’easter conditions with heavy rain, high winds and coastal flooding are still expected this weekend, Mayor Michelle Wu said Thursday.The storm is expected to make landfall in Boston late Friday night, with peak conditions seen from that time through early Saturday morning. It is expected to last through Saturday evening, Wu said at a late morning press conference.The path of the storm “has turned slightly east,” away from the city, but remains “unpredictable,” Wu said, citing an update she received that morning from the National Weather Service.“Our top priority is making sure that we are keeping all of our communities safe,” Wu said, while surrounded by the city’s emergency response chiefs, adding that she has also been in contact with both MEMA and FEMA.“We are paying particular attention to those areas of the city that are on the coast and tend to receive the brunt of flooding whenever we do get storms like this — neig...

Angry and frustrated, McCarthy finds that even a Biden impeachment inquiry isn’t enough for GOP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Angry, frustrated and unable to lead a fractured and unruly Republican majority, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday told the colleagues threatening to oust him: Do it.The embattled Republican leader essentially dared his hard-right flank to quit holding the risk of a vote to remove him from the job. If you’re going to do it, go ahead and try, McCarthy told the Republicans behind closed doors.“File the f—- motion,” McCarthy said, using a profanity for emphasis, according to those in the private meeting.With a government shutdown looming, McCarthy is confronting the same stubborn problem that has driven Republicans before him from the speaker’s job — trying to lead a ruptured GOP majority that’s split between what’s left of the traditional party and a harder-right element largely allied with former President Donald Trump.Even his decision to launch an impe...

Firefighters fear the toxic chemicals in their gear could be contributing to cancer cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Boston firefighter Daniel Ranahan had heard about colleagues getting cancer but he was stunned when doctors discovered a tumor in his chest.He was only 30 and had been in the Boston Fire Department less than a decade. But as he investigated his diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in October 2020 and sought successful treatment, he learned he and others wore gear that contained the toxic industrial compound PFAS.“You always hear about the dangers. You just never think it’s going be you,” said Ranahan, who stopped working due to the cancer and is among thousands of firefighters nationwide who sued PFAS manufacturers and companies that make firefighting gear and foam, seeking damages for their exposure.“These guys put this on day in and day out to protect neighborhoods and wherever they are working,” he said. The Associated Press was not given access to his doctors due to the ongoing litigation, making it difficult to independently verify his claims.The multi-laye...

Environmental groups urge regulators to shut down California reactor over safety, testing concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Environmental groups called on federal regulators Thursday to immediately shut down one of two reactors at California’s last nuclear power plant until tests can be conducted on critical machinery they believe could fail and cause a catastrophe.Friends of the Earth and Mothers for Peace said in a petition filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that tests and inspections have been delayed for nearly 20 years on the pressure vessel in the Unit 1 reactor at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Instead, the groups argue, operator Pacific Gas & Electric has relied on data from similar reactor vessels to justify continued operations at Diablo Canyon, while dismissing indications that the steel wall in Unit 1 might be deteriorating from sustained exposure to radiation and is becoming susceptible to cracking, a condition technically known as embrittlement.“We will not sit idly by while PG&E cuts corners on Unit ...

Annie Lennox plans to fundraise and entertain at Rotary event in Italy. She does not plan to retire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Annie Lennox is not retiring.Though her partner in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Eurythmics Dave Stewart recently posted that Lennox “ won’t be touring anymore ” and would not be part of the “Sweet Dreams 40th Anniversary Tour” this fall, the “Here Comes the Rain Again” singer told The Associated Press that she will continue to perform, especially at events that support causes she is passionate about and her own nonprofit work.“I’m not retiring from anything,” Lennox said. “I’m just stepping back because I spent decades on the road. And at the age of 68, I’m very fortunate in that I can do sort of one-off appearances now and then. But I think when it comes to an actual tour where you have like 73-date commitments night after night and traveling on the road, it’s incredibly intense. It’s arduous.”Instead, Lennox plans on performing at more events like “ Time for Change,” a fundraiser for numerous nonprofits, including Rotary International’s End Polio Now initiat...

Israel’s Netanyahu is to meet Elon Musk. Their sit-down comes as X faces antisemitism controversy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet billionaire businessman Elon Musk during a trip to the United States next week, the Israeli leader’s office said Thursday.Netanyahu’s office said their meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, will include discussions about artificial intelligence. It comes at a time when Musk is facing accusations of tolerating antisemitic messages on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.The Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish civil-rights organization, has accused Musk of allowing antisemitism and hate speech to spread on X. Its director, Jonathan Greenblatt, said Musk had “amplified” the messages of neo-Nazis and white supremacists who want to ban the league by engaging with them recently on X.In a Sept. 4 post, Musk claimed that the league was “trying to kill this platform by falsely accusing it & me of being anti-Semitic.” In other posts, he said the league was responsible for a 60% drop in reve...

Lemur on the loose! Video shows police chasing critter that escaped in Missouri

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Bounding through a darkened city park, a lemur managed to stay one step ahead of police officers armed only with a large towel. Bodycam video shows the two officers’ attempts to nab the speedy little primate, which made a dash for freedom Tuesday in Springfield, Missouri.“We see the tail,” one officer says with a chuckle as he tries to get closer. Not giving up easily, the lemur raises its distinctive black-and-white banded tail and dashes away. It sprints and weaves through a parking lot, down a sidewalk, across grass and around trees. Eventually the officer tosses the towel like a net, but the lemur slips out and darts away.“Dang it!” the officer exclaims, as a few civilians help try to corral the critter.Finally, another officer is able to grab the lemur and hold it still as his partner gently gets it “snuggled up” in the towel, the Springfield Police Department said in a Facebook post. The animal’s owners had reported it missing, the departmen...

Drew Barrymore stalking suspect trespasses at fashion show looking for Emma Watson, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man accused of repeatedly stalking celebrities has been arrested for barging into a dressing room at a New York City fashion show and screaming that he wanted to marry actor Emma Watson, authorities said.Chad Michael Busto, who was arrested last month after a run-in with Drew Barrymore, pleaded not guilty Saturday to criminal trespass and disorderly conduct charges in the incident last week at the Ralph Lauren show at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.Busto, 43, was released without bail. His next court date is Oct. 2. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer listed for him on court records.According to prosecutors, Busto entered the fashion show dressing room Friday night and screamed: “I want to marry Emma Watson. Let me speak to Emma Watson. Let me take a photo with Emma Watson.”Busto did not have permission to be at the fashion show, became irate when he was asked to leave and refused to do so, police said. The outburst disrupted preparations for the event, part o...