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Neighbors shocked after Lowell woman identified as victim in shark attack in Bahamas

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

Neighbors expressed shock Wednesday, one day after 44-year-old Lauren Erickson Van Wart was identified as the victim in a deadly shark attack in the Bahamas earlier this week. Authorities said Van Wart was paddleboarding off New Providence Island on Monday when she was attacked. Van Wart’s husband, who was paddleboarding with her, was not hurt. Van Wart, meanwhile, was rescued and given CPR but later died. While an investigation into the incident continued, officials with the Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday said they are offering support to Van Wart’s grieving family. “How can you process something like this?” said Van Wart’s neighbor, Beth Stack-Emerson. “It was a tragedy.” “He was with her,” Stack-Emerson said of Van Wart’s husband. “He watched that happen to her. How do you get over that?” Gavin Naylor, the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research said an autopsy should help officials identify the type of shark involved in this deadly ...

Chicago White Sox confirm meeting between Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and mayor of Nashville, Tenn.

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

As the MLB winter meetings neared a conclusion, a report surfaced of a Tuesday meeting between Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell.The Sox confirmed that a meeting, first reported by Politico, took place. But they are not disclosing the topics discussed.The future of the Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field has been a subject since an August Crain’s Chicago Business report on the team considering a move from the ballpark when its lease expires after 2029. That report listed a new stadium in the city or suburbs and relocating to Nashville among the possibilities.Nashville has long been mentioned in speculation as a city to consider if MLB decides on expansion.Reinsdorf discussed the Crain’s Chicago Business report during a session with reporters in late August.“Somebody at Crain’s decided he wanted to write that, you’re looking at the Bears (stadium situation), and the White Sox lease has six or seven years left...

Battenfeld: Could outside moderate challenger target Ayanna Pressley in 2024?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

One of the most outspoken Massachusetts members of Congress who has moved to the far left could be targeted next year by a moderate opponent — possibly backed by a powerful pro-Israel group that has pledged to spend millions taking on liberal Democrats.Since unseating former U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano five years ago, congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has not been seriously tested either by Republicans or Democrats.But Pressley’s aggressive criticism of Israel could put her on the hotseat with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.AIPAC, long a power PAC in Washington, is promising to spend $100 million to defeat far left members of Congress like members of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Squad” who have been opponents of Israel’s military actions in the Mideast.That could include Pressley, the former Boston city councilor who rose to fame by taking on and defeating Capuano, the long-serving Democratic stalwart from Somerville.“We are currently evaluating races concerning Israel ...

Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis expects to return Friday vs. Knicks after missing four games

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

Kristaps Porzingis participated in a scrimmage at the end of Wednesday’s practice as he continues to recover from his calf injury and the Celtics center said he believes he’s ready to return for their next game on Friday against the Knicks.Porzingis looked good in the full-court scrimmage – which included teammates like Dalano Banton, Lamar Stevens, Svi Mykhailiuk and Neemias Queta in addition to several Celtics coaches – as he wore a black sleeve on his left leg. The big man has missed four games due to a left calf strain but the expectation is that he’ll be back on Friday when the Celtics return to TD Garden.“I believe so. I believe so,” Porzingis said. “I haven’t talked to the medical staff yet but I think, after what I did today, should be good to go.”Added Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla: “We’ll see how he responds (Thursday) but he’s progressed really well and we expect him to be ready. I don’t want to put words in his mouth, so I don’t know what he said, but he looked good o...

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori is freed from prison on humanitarian grounds

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO and REGINA GARCIA CANO (Associated Press)LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori was released from prison Wednesday on humanitarian grounds, despite a request from a regional human rights court to delay his release.Fujimori, 85, was serving a 25-year sentence in connection with the slayings of 25 Peruvians by death squads in the 1990s. Peru’s constitutional court ordered his immediate release on Tuesday, but the Inter-American Court of Human Rights asked for a delay to study the ruling.Fujimori, who governed Peru from 1990 to 2000, was sentenced in 2009 on charges of human rights abuses. He was accused of being the mastermind behind the slayings of the 25 Peruvians while the government fought the Shining Path communist rebels. Fujimori, wearing a face mask, walked out of the prison door and got in a sport utility vehicle driven by his daughter-in-law. His son and daughter sat in the backseat with him.Dozens of supporters ...

ICE Boston arrests convicted Romanian murderer, alleged Guatemalan child rapist

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

Two bad guys, one a convicted murderer and another charged with child rape, are off Massachusetts streets and in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody following separate arrests last week.The first to be picked up was a 35-year-old Guatemalan national who was arraigned on a charge of statutory rape of a child, as well as a charge of intimidation, in Worcester District Court on Oct. 20. Boston-based agents of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations lodged a detainer with the court that day but he was released into the community.ERO arrested him without incident on Nov. 29 in Worcester. His charges in the district court remain pending.“Once again, the ERO Boston team was able to successfully locate and (apprehend) an unlawfully present individual who faces very serious felony charges,” said Todd Lyons, the Boston field office ERO director.On Dec. 1, ERO arrested a Romanian man in Watertown who was convicted of murder in his home country in 2010, but authorities say that th...

Ticker: Steward plans to close hospital in Stoughton; Delta expects strong Christmas travel 

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

A long-term care and rehabilitation hospital intends to shut down due to multi-million-dollar losses, making Stoughton the latest community to lose a health care facility as part of a growing trend throughout the commonwealth.Dallas-based Steward Health Care, which describes itself as the largest owner of community-based hospitals in Massachusetts and fourth biggest private employer, plans to close its New England Sinai Acute Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Hospital (NESH) by early April.“Nearly 75% of Steward hospital patients are public pay (Medicare and Medicaid) which chronically underpay, sometimes at rates less than the cost of delivering services,” Steward said in a press release this week. “As a result of these chronic low reimbursement rates, Steward has lost $22 million from NESH operations and cannot afford to keep the facility open. Unlike ‘non-profit’ systems, Steward does not have a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio to fall back o...

The Chicago Bulls suddenly are playing with pace. How did that happen? Can they keep it up when Zach LaVine returns?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

The Chicago Bulls finally are picking up the pace.Through the first quarter of the season, the Bulls have been the slowest team in the NBA. Their average pace of 96.61 — measured by the number of possessions in a 48-minute game — is nearly eight fewer than the Indiana Pacers, who lead the league with their up-tempo offense.But that trend is beginning to change. The Bulls improved to a 98.85 pace in their last two wins entering Wednesday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center. If they played at that pace every game, they would be 22nd in the league. That still ranks in the bottom third — but it also keeps up with competitive teams like the Boston Celtics.Even those who aren’t stats junkies probably noticed this difference. The Bulls didn’t take forever to settle into their half-court offense. They pushed the ball up the court to probe mismatches, then initiated action before the shot clock hit 15. And the result was two of ...

Police say 3 dead, fourth wounded and shooter also dead in University of Nevada, Las Vegas attack

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

By KEN RITTER and RIO YAMATLAS VEGAS (AP) — Three people were fatally shot Wednesday and a fourth person critically wounded in an attack on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus, police said. The suspected shooter also was found dead.The attack just before noon sent police swarming onto the campus, which is just a couple of miles from the world-famous Las Vegas Strip while students barricaded themselves in classrooms. Authorities gave the all-clear about 40 minutes after the first report of an active shooter.Police haven’t released the identity of the shooter or the motive for the attack. The shootings took place in a city still scarred by an October 2017 attack by a gunman at the Mandalay Bay casino that killed 60 people and wounded hundreds more.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.LAS VEGAS (AP) — A person opened fire Wednesday on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus, and at least three victims were taken to hospitals...

3 dead, 1 in critical condition after shooting on UNLV campus, suspect dead

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:47 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said three victims are dead and one is in critical condition at a local hospital following a shooting on UNLV's campus. Las Vegas police are reporting a suspect in the UNLV campus shooting Wednesday is dead and police are evacuating one building at a time. Sheriff Kevin McMahill said there is no further threat to campus. A post from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials confirmed that there were at least three victims, although the extent of those victims' injuries is unknown. Officials say the number of victims could change. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline providing mental health support following UNLV shooting Metropolitan police responded to reports of an active shooter at the UNLV campus at around 11:45 a.m. and said "There appears to be multiple victims at this time." Law enforcement responds to active shooter at UNLV campus on Dec. 6, 2023. (KLAS)Law enforcement responds to active shooter at UNLV...