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Beacon Hill Democrats reach deal ‘in principle’ on tax relief bill

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

Top Democrats on Beacon Hill said Thursday afternoon that they reached an agreement “in principle” on a tax relief bill that has sat idle in some form for more than a year, pledging to file the legislation and take it up next week.Tax relief talks were first scrambled last summer after a once-obscure law known as Chapter 62F required state officials to send billions back to residents in the form of tax refunds. Lawmakers this year ushered a new bill into private negotiations in June after both the House and Senate passed competing versions.In a joint statement, House Speaker Ronald Marinao, Senate President Karen Spilka, and Ways and Means Co-Chairs Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues said they were “thrilled to announce that an agreement has been reached in principle that reconciles the differences between the House and Senate tax relief packages.”“We look forward to filing and taking up the conference report next week, which responsibly implements our shared goal of m...

MIAA Board of Directors meeting: Taunton’s officiating class proving to be a hit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

Taunton athletic director Mark Ottavianelli is well aware of the referee shortage in the Commonwealth and is doing his part to help the cause.Taunton High School has offered a Sports Officiating Class at the school in hopes of enticing younger males and females to consider officiating. Much like any other course at the school, students receive grades for the class as well as from RefRaps, an officiating educating system. As of now, there are 20 students enrolled in the course.“There were two reasons why we started it,” said Ottavianelli, who explained the initiative at Thursday’s MIAA Board of Directors meeting. “The first is that it provides students an opportunity to become officials, which will hopefully help with the officiating shortage. Secondly, being an inner city school, it gives our kids an opportunity for employment, a chance to make some money.”Ottavianelli credits Chris Green, a community liaison for the Taunton Public Schools and an assistant basketball coach at ...

Orioles single-game postseason tickets are on sale: Here’s how to buy them

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

The general public can purchase single-game tickets for Orioles postseason games, though it’s not yet clear when the team will play at Camden Yards during the playoffs, or who it will be playing.The single-game tickets that went up Thursday are for each of 10 possible home games through the American League Championship Series, and are limited to six tickets per buyer. When the Orioles play and who they will face in the playoffs depends on how the next few weeks shake out. The cost of tickets for games that aren’t played will be automatically refunded within two to three weeks of the end of the postseason, according to the Orioles’ websiteEarlier this month, you either had to be a season ticket holder or to have committed to becoming one to get tickets to the playoffs.Those with 2023 season ticket packages received information earlier in the month on how to get their postseason passes. Diamond and black-level ticket holders had to either pay for their membership in ...

Boston traffic woes: Sumner Tunnel shifts back to weekend closures, detours in place at Logan Airport

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

After applauding the work that went into reopening the Sumner Tunnel on time after an eight-week closure this summer, MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver provided the traveling public a stark reminder.“Our job is not done yet,” Gulliver told the agency’s Board of Directors on Wednesday. “This year was all about the ceiling portion of the tunnel. Next year, it’ll be about the driving surface or deck, if you will, of the tunnel.”Before summer 2024 arrives, drivers will face a series of weekend closures by the end of this calendar year as work continues inside the Sumner, and contractors prepare for next season.The tunnel shut down last Friday night at 11 before reopening by 5 a.m. Monday, the first of eight weekend closures which will continue this week and next. There will be a two-week break before they resume the weekends of Oct. 20 and 27, and Nov. 3 and 10.The eighth closure has not been scheduled.Drivers who rely on the Sumner Tunnel to get to Boston’s Logan Internat...

Bus carrying high school students to band camp crashes, killing 2 and seriously injuring others

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

WAWAYANDA, N.Y. (AP) — A charter bus carrying high school students to a band camp careened off a New York highway and tumbled down an embankment Thursday, killing two adults and seriously injuring several others, officials said.Gov. Kathy Hochul said a failure of a front tire could have contributed to the early afternoon accident on Interstate 84 in the town of Wawayanda, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of New York City. The two adults who died were Beatrice Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale and Gina Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa. Five of the 44 passengers on board were critically injured. according to state police.Hochul said the bus tumbled down a 50-foot ravine.“Imagine the fear, the screams and the aftermath when these high school students, many of them freshmen, were surrounded by this chaos,” Hochul said at a news conference.Student Anthony Eugenio called his family to say he was a little banged up, but OK. He recalled the bus rolling over several times b...

Miramar Air Show returns this weekend: What to know

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The largest military air show in the country returns to San Diego this weekend with immersive experiences, static displays and more.From Friday, Sept. 22 to Sunday, Sept. 24, the highly anticipated MCAS Miramar Air Show will, once again, wow crowds with daytime demonstrations.The theme for this year -- "People. Planes. Power."Aviation enthusiasts who attend this free event can expect to see some air action from the Marine Corps’ F-35B, Marine Air-Ground Task Force and the renowned Blue Angels. World’s largest women’s surf event returns to Oceanside this weekend Before you head out, here's some things you should know before you go.TicketingGeneral admission to the Miramar Air Show is free to all. However, there are upgraded seating options for sale for each day of the event. Those looking to get the best view or added comfort can choose from these options:-- Devil Dog Chalet: For $263, this ticket will get you front-row seating in a military-themed chalet. Guests can e...

Police chase driver of stolen vehicle in Los Angeles

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

Authorities are chasing a driver of a stolen vehicle in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon. LAPD officers were called to assist in the stolen vehicle chase around 2:50 p.m., as the driver was in the express lanes of the 110 Freeway. By 3:35 p.m., the driver was heading north on highway in the Exposition Park area.The black Mercedes sedan appeared to have a flag or banner coming from the sunroof, aerial video from Sky5 showed.The driver was soon heading west on the 10 Freeway, with several LAPD units in tow. Around 3:53 p.m., the driver exited on Bundy Drive, only to get back onto the eastbound side of the highway.There, the suspect avoided traffic by heading on the shoulder the of the freeway. The driver continued east along the left shoulder, narrowly missing other motorists and the median.Check back for updates on this developing story.

As mayors, governors scramble to care for more migrants, a look at what's behind the numbers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A small town on the Texas border declares a state of emergency as tens of thousands of migrants cross the border. The Biden administration grants protection to nearly half a million Venezuelans in the country, giving them the ability to work. This comes after some Democratic mayors and governors warn that growing numbers of migrants in their care are busting their budgets.The various scenarios playing out across the country paint a picture of a strained immigration system making an impact far from the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration late Wednesday announced measures intended to alleviate the problems.The U.S. has had immigration surges before so what's different now, and why?HOW DOES THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS ARRIVING NOW COMPARE TO PREVIOUS DECADES?Part of the issue is that a lot more people are coming to the U.S. The numbers dropped earlier this summer after pandemic-era migration rules ended and tougher enforcement measures kicked in. But the numbers a...

Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A new plan from California's insurance commissioner aims to stop the nation's top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state by letting them consider climate risks when setting their prices.Unlike most states, California tightly restricts how insurance companies can price policies. Companies aren't allowed to factor in current or future risks when deciding how much to charge for an insurance policy. Instead, they can only consider what's happened in the past on a property to set the price.At a time when climate change is making wildfires, floods and windstorms more common, insurers say that restriction is making it increasingly difficult for them to truly price the risk on properties. It’s one reason why, in the past year, seven of California’s top insurance companies have paused or restricted new business in the state.A recent report from First Street Foundation said about one-quarter of all homes in the nation are underpriced for climate risk in insur...

Republican David McCormick makes second Senate bid in Pennsylvania, aims to oust Democrat Bob Casey

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:26:49 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican David McCormick announced Thursday that he will make his second bid for U.S. Senate in swing-state Pennsylvania, this time to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey after losing in last year’s bruising and crowded Republican primary.In a ballroom filled with supporters at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, McCormick said the economy and culture of the United States had suffered under Casey and President Joe Biden.“Under Joe Biden and Bob Casey, what’s supposed to be up is down and what’s supposed to be down is up,” said McCormick, who left his job atop one of Wall Street’s best-known hedge funds to enter politics.The Senate candidates in Pennsylvania will share a ticket with candidates for president next year in a state that is critical to whether Democrats can maintain control of the White House and the Senate.A race between Casey and McCormick could be one of the nation’s most expensive and closely watched in a year when Democrats have...