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Lucas: A tale of two bridge projects

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

Who will prevail in the Battle of the Bridges?Will it be Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in her attempt to rebuild the Long Island Bridge at cost of $100 million?Or will it be Gov. Maura Healey who is attempting to replace the two ancient Cape Cod bridges, first the Sagamore and then the Bourne, for $4.5 billion?The Long Island Bridge, dedicated in 1951, was demolished in 2014 after it was deemed unsafe, although its underpinnings are still in place.At its dedication, former Boston Mayor Maurice Tobin, then Secretary of Labor, called the bridge “a symbol of compassion” in that it connected “the aged, the infirm, the needy and the lame” to medical and caring facilities on Long Island.Mayor Wu would like the bridge to represent the same thing, only now for those afflicted by drugs and despair. The bridge is her effort to cope with the increasing number of drug addicted people who have turned Boston’s Mass and Cass area into the New England center of addiction, homelessness, dread and death.S...

Southern California prepares for more floods as Tropical Storm Hilary soaks from coast to desert

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tropical Storm Hilary deluged arid parts of Mexico and then drenched Southern California from the coast to inland mountains and deserts, forcing rescuers to pull several people from swollen rivers. Millions expected more flooding and mudslides Monday, even as the storm begins to weaken.The storm first made landfall in Mexico’s arid Baja California Peninsula on Sunday in a sparsely populated area about 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of Ensenada. One person drowned. It then moved through mudslide-prone Tijuana, threatening the improvised homes that cling to hillsides just south of the U.S. border. The first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, Hilary dropped more than half an average year’s worth of rain on some areas, including the desert resort city of Palm Springs, which saw nearly 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of rain by Sunday evening.Forecasters warned of dangerous flash floods across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, and fire officials ...

Thailand’s Pheu Thai party joins with pro-military parties in coalition to form new government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s populist Pheu Thai party announced Monday that it plans to form a new government with an 11-party coalition that includes two pro-military parties affiliated with outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.Parliament is expected to confirm the country’s 30th prime minister on Tuesday after a three-month stalemate following elections in May. Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew said the coalition partners have agreed to nominate real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as the new leader.Pheu Thai finished second in the elections but received a chance to form a government after members of the conservative unelected Senate repeatedly blocked the surprise winner, the progressive Move Forward Party. Both houses of Parliament vote together for the prime minister under the military-implemented constitution, in an arrangement designed to protect conservative military-backed rule.Many Senate members, appointed by a Prayuth-led military government, opposed Move Forward...

Zelenskyy thanks Danes in person for F-16s, though the planes won’t have an immediate war impact

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Danish lawmakers on Monday for helping his country resist Russia’s invasion, a day after Denmark and the Netherlands announced they will provide Kyiv with American-made F-16 warplanes that could be delivered around the end of the year.Zelenskyy told the lawmakers in Copenhagen that if Russia’s invasion is successful, other parts of Europe would be at risk from the Kremlin’s military aggression.“All of Russia’s neighbors are under threat if Ukraine does not prevail,” he said in a speech.Zelenskyy portrays Ukraine as defending Western values of freedom and democracy against tyranny. He has argued that Ukraine needs to be properly provisioned to fend off Russia’s much bigger force. Ukraine has been pressing its Western allies for months to give it F-16s. Its armed forces are still using aging Soviet-era combat planes from the 1970s and ’80s, and its counteroffensive against Russian positions is advancing w...

Wildfires continue raging across B.C., Northwest Territories

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

As Metro Vancouver is being warned about the risk of particulates in the air from wildfire smoke, those battling blazes in the central Okanagan say the smoke is helping their cause.The Metro Vancouver Regional District remains under an air quality advisory as a result of smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning across the province.An estimated 30,000 people are under evacuation orders in the province because the blazes, including the 110-square-kilometre McDougall Creek fire burning on both sides of Lake Okanagan.Kelowna Fire Chief Travis Whiting told a press conference that while the amount of smoke in the air has been “tough” it is reducing the sun’s intensity, which helps in the fight.More soldiers deployed to N.W.T for wildfire fightDefence Minister Bill Blair says another company of soldiers is being deployed to Hay River in the Northwest Territories, which has been evacuated for more than a week due to a threatening wildfire nearby.Blair announced the deployment to the town lo...

Clinton Global Initiative will return to New York with Jose Andres, Orlando Bloom, and Matt Damon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Clinton Global Initiative 2023 will convene “leaders, innovators and dreamers” – ranging from World Bank President Ajay Banga and The Bahamas’ Prime Minister Philip E. Davis to Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres and Ford Foundation CEO Darren Walker, as well as A-list actors Orlando Bloom, Matt Damon, and Ashley Judd – in New York on Sept. 18 and 19 to keep up the momentum addressing global issues generated by the conference when it returned last year after a six-year hiatus.Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton announced Monday that the conference would seek more commitments to address climate change, health care issues, gender-based violence, the war in Ukraine and other issues.“Every day, billions of people around the world, even in the face of the most dire circumstances, make a profound decision to choose hope and keep going,” former Presiden...

Man in 40s critically injured in downtown Toronto shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after an early morning shooting in downtown Toronto.Toronto police tell CityNews the shooting happened around 5 a.m. Monday near College Street and Spadina Avenue.A man in his 40s was found outside with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.Police say they believe multiple suspects were involved. No suspect information has been made available.Spadina is closed in both directions from College to Nassau Street for the investigation.This is a developing story. More to come.SHOOTING:College St & Spadina Ave4:52am– police and medics o/s– located man with gunshot wound– victim transported to hospital via emerg run, life thr injuries– unk suspect description– Spadina Ave is closed from College to Nassau – use alternate routes#GO1947604^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 21, 2023

Officer shot, suspect in custody after barricade situation in Bolingbrook

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — A suburban police officer was shot and a suspect is in custody after a barricade situation in Bolingbrook.Police said officers responded to a theft at a business around 6:14 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of South Bolingbrook Drive. The alleged thief fled the scene before police arrived, but was found by a Bolingbrook police officer around 7:48 p.m.When the officer tried to make contact with the alleged thief, they opened fire and shot the officer.According to Bolingbrook PD, the officer has been taken to the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment.As of 10:30 p.m., the alleged thief is believed to be barricaded in a residence, which is surrounded by police.The suspect was taken into custody around 1:30 a.m. Monday, according to police.Illinois State Police was also on scene and assisting with tactical operations, as well as the investigation. Investigation underway after 2 killed in Glenview shooting, both ID’d No other information is available at this ti...

More than 1,000 flights canceled due to Tropical Storm Hilary

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

(The Hill) -- More than 1,000 scheduled flights have been canceled in the U.S. over the weekend as Tropical Storm Hilary has hit the western part of the country. According to online flight tracker FlightAware, at least 1,048 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. have been canceled. Out of the 1,048 canceled flights, 170 flights were canceled at Harry Reid International Airport, 120 flights were canceled at San Diego International Airport, and 66 flights were canceled at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. At least 4,771 U.S. flights have been delayed due to the storm threat, the website noted. This comes as Tropical Storm Hilary made its landfall along Mexico’s Baja coast on Sunday and carried torrential rain into Southern California. Forecasters said that Hilary is the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, as 9 million residents are under flash flooding warnings.  Earthquake hits Southern California amid Tropical Storm Hilary Autho...

Angel of Hope spreads its wings in Woodbury, offers comfort to grieving parents

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:30 GMT

The Angel of Hope memorial in Woodbury won’t be formally dedicated until later this month, but grieving families have already been stopping by the site near Woodbury City Hall to remember and honor their children.“We feel the peace of the children and cherish the majesty of the angel within the garden, surrounded by our children,” said Julie Rageth, who helped lead the effort for the new memorial. Rageth’s daughter, Natalie Ann Valitchka, died at age 32 in 2020. “We have met parents and families at the memorial, as we are with our children who are loved, remembered and missed. We say their names and share their stories with honor.”The memorial, which includes signs for plaques with names and information about children who have died, will be dedicated during a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Spirit Song Choir will perform at the dedication. The names of 62 children have been installed on the remembrance plaque, Rageth said.“To see the angel fully completed is breathtaking...