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Democratic senators urge chief justice to probe Thomas trips

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee called on U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday to open an investigation into the undisclosed acceptance of luxury trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife that were paid for by a Republican megadonor.The letter said the committee plans to hold a hearing in coming days regarding the “need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court’s ethical standards.” And if the Supreme Court does not deal with the issue on its own, the committee will consider voting on legislation. Such a measure would also need support from the Republican-led House to become law.“But you do not need to wait for Congress to act to undertake your own investigation into the reported conduct and to ensure that it cannot happen again,” the 11 Democratic senators wrote to Roberts. “We urge you to do so.”The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for m...

One person hurt in fire in Manchester, NH home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

A fire in a residential building in Manchester, New Hampshire sent one person to the hospital with likely life-threatening injuries Monday, officials said. The fire broke out in a building on Walnut Street on Monday afternoon. Video later showed smoke and flames rising from the building after witnesses said they saw the fire quickly spread up the side of the structure. There were three apartments inside the building. All residents were able to escape unharmed, according to officials, except for one person who was flown to a hospital in Boston for treatment. In addition to the burning building itself, officials said several surrounding buildings in the densely packed neighborhood had to be evacuated. The building could be seen with a charred exterior wall hours after the fire on Monday night. Utility crews were on scene working to get power restored in the area. The state fire marshal’s office was also on scene as an investigation into the cause of the fire got u...

Still Boston Strong: Boston Marathon bombing survivor shares story of resilience

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

Ten years after the Boston Marathon bombings, one survivor has become a source of hope for others.Heather Abbott recently shared her story of resilience with 7NEWS’ Kimberly Bookman. “I like to think about, when I look back on the last 10 years — What have I done in the last 10 years with the circumstances I was given?” Abbott said.Abbott refuses to let the loss of her left leg hold her back. Her recovery after being injured in the Boston Marathon Bombings helped her become an expert on prosthetics. “A lot of the types of legs that I wanted were not covered by insurance because they weren’t considered medically necessary,” Abbott said. “So, things like running legs or a waterproof leg or a cosmetic high heel leg — and those were things I really needed to get my life back as close to the way it was before I was injured as possible.”Abbott now helps those who face the same challenges she did. Abbott has formed a foundation and raised $2 million, helping more...

Orioles break out new home run celebration and blast their way to 5-1 win over Athletics

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

The Orioles are all about hydrating.Baltimore hit three home runs Monday in its 5-1 win over the Oakland Athletics — ample opportunity to debut its new home run celebration.A week after introducing the sprinkler and dugout water streaming as their doubles tradition, the Orioles (5-5) celebrated the three blasts — from Ryan Mountcastle, Adley Rutschman and Austin Hays — by chugging water from a snake funnel.The victory also showcased the impact of Camden Yards’ left field wall.One day after the Orioles had two would-be home runs robbed by the wall, they had three more likely blasts taken away by Camden Yards’ new configurations.But instead of shying away from the behemoth in deep left field, Mountcastle and Rutschman took the beast head-on and conquered it. Both sluggers blasted homers over the wall after previously being robbed — Mountcastle on Sunday and Rutschman in the first inning Monday — to lead an Orioles offense that was stymied by t...

Seiya Suzuki’s ‘best-case scenario’ would have the right fielder rejoining the Chicago Cubs on the West Coast this weekend

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

The Chicago Cubs should soon get an offensive boost and shore up their defense in right field.Manager David Ross indicated Monday that Seiya Suzuki could rejoin the Cubs during their upcoming West Coast trip to Los Angeles (Friday through Sunday) and Oakland (April 17-19), calling it a “best-case scenario” for Suzuki’s return. It would align with the team’s mid-April projection when Suzuki strained his left oblique in late February.Suzuki is 2-for-5 with an RBI, a walk and a strikeout through two games of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa, which had Monday off. His injury prevented him from getting any plate appearances in the Cactus League before camp broke. Players usually get about 50 plate appearances in spring training to prepare for the season.“We’re just kind of taking it day to day and making sure he feels comfortable,” Ross said before the series opener against the Seattle Mariners at Wrigley Field. “He’s nowhere n...

Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, manager Brandon Hyde ejected in seventh inning vs. Athletics

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

Much of the fireworks Monday night at Camden Yards came off the Orioles’ bats, but they broke out in a different way in the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland Athletics.After an elevated breaking ball was called for strike three on Baltimore center fielder Cedric Mullins, he walked toward the Orioles’ first base dugout and turned to home-plate umpire Malachi Moore, who then ejected him. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hustled out of the dugout to argue the ejection, with Mullins also continuing to speak to Moore, and was soon tossed himself. It’s Mullins’ first career ejection and Hyde’s 10th.The Orioles led 4-1 at the time, their runs scoring on home runs from Ryan Mountcastle, Adley Rutschman and Austin Hays. With Mullins exiting the game, Ryan McKenna moved from right field to center, and Terrin Vavra entered the game in right.This story will be updated. ()

Late homer sinks Red Sox in 1-0 loss to unbeaten Rays

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

When Rafael Devers stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded, it felt like now or never. The game was still scoreless in the top of the eighth and the Red Sox hadn’t come close to threatening the Tampa Bay Rays all game.This was their chance, and when Devers struck out to end the threat it felt like only a matter of time before the Rays made them pay.It didn’t take long.Brandon Lowe’s solo home run off Chris Martin in the bottom of the eighth was the difference as the Tampa Bay Rays dropped the Red Sox 1-0 to stay unbeaten on the season. Boston managed only three hits on the night in a game that took just 2:06 to complete.“Overall it was a good baseball game,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “They pitched well, we pitched well, it was good defense, obviously we didn’t win the game, but as far as the game, it was great.”Coming in the Rays (10-0) had walloped their opponents, averaging 8.3 runs through their first nine game...

Yankees, Domingo German waste early runs off Guardians ace Shane Bieber in 3-2 loss

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

CLEVELAND — The Yankees jumped on Guardians ace Shane Bieber quickly on Monday night, but a two-run first inning wasn’t enough to net a win for the away team.Domingo German had a lot to do with that in the 3-2 loss. The right-hander, one of three rotation fill-ins due to various injuries, made his second start of the year and the shortest of the Yankees’ season while compiling a rather odd line. German needed a whopping 87 pitches for three measly innings while totaling two hits allowed, one earned run, five walks, zero strikeouts and one error.German’s error, on an easy bunt popped directly at him, led to a run.The short performance would’ve gone worse for German if not for the Houdini act that Colten Brewer pulled off in relief.After German surrendered an RBI double to Mike Zunino — one of three doubles for the Guardians catcher Monday — the Yankees called on Brewer for the first time since April 2. And while the righty walked the bases lo...

Easthampton School Committee blasted by ‘disgusted’ residents for canceling superintendent candidate over ‘ladies’ email

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

The Easthampton School Committee was eviscerated by “disgusted” residents Monday evening for canceling the superintendent candidate who lost his job offer after he used the term “ladies” in an email to the committee chair.The School Committee, which had voted behind closed doors to rescind the offer for superintendent candidate Vito Perrone, voted 5-2 on Monday to not re-enter negotiations with Perrone. The committee voted instead to offer the job to Erica Faginski-Stark.The School Committee in western Massachusetts was meeting for the first time after viral news broke that Perrone had lost his job offer after he called the committee chair and her assistant “ladies” in an email.Many residents during the meeting urged the School Committee to give him another chance, but that won’t be the case.“I in no way thought it (‘ladies’ in the email) was a microaggression,” said School Committee member Laurie Garcia, before she w...

Man pleads not guilty to deadly Clairemont shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Julian Vargas, 19, faced a judge for the first time Monday, accused of murdering 22-year-old Cesar Lopez-Sandoval outside of the North Clairemont Recreation Center in February.Vargas pleaded not guilty to murder and a charge of vicarious gun use allegation.“The investigation so far has revealed that this defendant recruited, and groomed and induced a minor to the gang that ultimately led to the shooting,” Deputy District Attorney Melissa Mack said.According to the prosecutor, Vargas “recruited” the 14-year-old, who is also charged and in custody in connection with the case, and allegedly told him he had to earn his stripes to be part of the gang, which included bringing a gun to the park that Sunday.“Mr. Vargas not only induced the minor to commit the crime, he recruited into his gang, he told the minor he had to earn his position in the gang in order to further his status, he told the minor to bring the gun to the park that day and he basically in so many words told th...