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Lynn commuter rail service coming back in December, 9 months ahead of schedule

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

Commuter rail service has been absent in the Bay State’s eighth largest city for over a year, but transportation officials say that will change in the coming months.A temporary platform at the Lynn commuter rail station is expected to be up and running in December, nine months ahead of schedule, the MBTA announced on Wednesday.The development, Lynn officials and representatives say, brings much needed relief to city residents who, since last October, have been taking a bus to Revere for subway service or Swampscott to hop on the commuter rail there.“Finally, Lynn residents will have commuter rail access back,” U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, said in a statement. “While it is simply unacceptable that Lynn residents have been without a safe, reliable, and affordable public transit option for this long, today’s announcement marks a positive step in the right direction.”Lynn station has been shuttered since Oct. 1, 2022, as the MBTA addresses deterioration issues and is in a years-long...

Second biggest US lottery prize is up for grabs in Powerball drawing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

By JIM SALTER (Associated Press)ST. LOUIS (AP) — After 35 straight drawings without a big winner, Powerball players on Wednesday are lining up for a shot at a near-record jackpot worth an estimated $1.73 billion.If winning numbers are drawn, it would be the second largest U.S. lottery prize, topped only by the $2.04 billion Powerball won by a player in California last November. The previous No. 2 was a $1.586 billion Powerball with three winners in California, Florida and Tennessee on Jan. 13, 2016.Powerball’s terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. And wins in recent months have been few and far between.That didn’t bother those eager to plunk down their money for a long-shot chance at instant wealth.Robert Salvato Jr., a 60-year-old electrician, bought 40 Powerball tickets at a hardware store in Billerica, Massachusetts.“I would take care of family and give my cat that...

Sex-ed for kindergartners bill gets hearing, lawmakers say it brings the state into 21st century

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

A bill before lawmakers could prevent dire public health consequences for Bay State youths or determine the final destination of your eternal soul, depending on who you ask.Vigorous voices on both sides of a debate on sexual education curriculum in Massachusetts were heard by a committee of the Legislature on Wednesday, as state House members consider a bill aimed at bringing all of the state’s schools on board with a newly updated sexual education “framework” for the first time in more than two decades.Appearing before the Joint Committee on Education advocates pushing for updates to the state’s K-12 curriculum so that it includes information regarding consent, gender identity, sexual orientation, and preventing sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies told lawmakers that their reasoning is based in science and data that show students armed with age-appropriate knowledge experience better health outcomes.“Our children can’t risk another 24 years befor...

Bruins celebrate 100 years of history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

If you were a Bruins fan, especially one of a certain age, the place to be on Wednesday was in front of the Garden.Prior to the B’s home opener for the organization”s Centennial season, the club staged a “gold carpet” grand entrance for a large number of the greats that have played on Causeway Street.From the Big, Bad Bruins to the Lunchpail AC gang to the greats of the late ’80s-early ’90s to the most recent Stanley Cup team, all the stars and characters were represented. Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Terry O’Reilly, Tim Thomas, Derek Sanderson, Phil Esposito, Zdeno Chara. And the list went on and on. In a pre-game ceremony, they held “Rafters Reunion” for great players, or their descendants, from all eras. Orr, as usual, got the biggest hand, but it was closely rivaled by members of the 2011 Cup team.Johnny Bucyk has been a connected to the Bruins in one way or another for 68 of the 100 years the team has existed ever since being traded here from the Red Wi...

Battenfeld: Democrats embroiled in bickering over how to respond to attack on Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

Democrats are embroiled in controversy over how to respond to the terrorist attack on Israel and the far left’s position that the U.S. should support a cease-fire in the Middle East.While President Biden takes a hard line in strong support of Israel, other Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts, are calling for a de-escalation of fighting.It’s a split that’s reflective of a long-simmering dispute over Israel and its “occupation” of Palestinian territory, with some liberals and progressive groups blaming Israel for igniting more violence.Markey is not the only Democrat taking flak for not supporting Israel’s war posture.Members of Pressley’s “Squad” are being criticized by fellow Dems for suggesting the U.S. should stop funding Israel and calling for an end to the occupation.“As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue,” U.S. Rep. R...

Brockton’s A.J. Dybantsa reclassifies to the 2025 class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

Brockton native A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class and one of the country’s top high school basketball players, made a big Instagram announcement WednesdayThe 6-foot-8 wing plans to reclassify to the 2025 class. Some analysts say he could go No. 1 in the NBA draft.He’s attending Prolific Prep in California and figures to put up huge numbers, just like he did this past July when he turned plenty of heads at the Nike Peach Jam. He easily led the event in scoring, averaging 25.8 points in five games.Dybantsa played before packed gyms last winter when he was at St. Sebastian’s. He finished the season averaging 19.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.BARRY SCANLON 

Boston Mayor Wu continues push for real estate transfer fee amid industry opposition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

Boston is taking another crack at trying to impose a 2% tax on big-ticket real estate transactions, which officials say is a necessary step to fund affordable housing development, but the proposal continues to face resistance from industry groups.Mayor Michelle Wu appeared before Beacon Hill lawmakers for a second straight year on Tuesday to testify in favor of a home rule petition she filed in 2022, that would add a real estate transfer fee for sales that exceed $2 million.The seller would incur the fee, with proceeds payable to the City of Boston. The city would then deposit the money into a neighborhood housing trust, for the purpose of furthering housing acquisition, affordability, creation and preservation, and senior-homeowner and low-income-renter stability, the legislation states.“We’re doing everything we can at the city level,” Wu said, citing efforts to overhaul the city’s zoning code for more housing affordability, provide tax incentives for converting offices into resid...

Ravens hold lengthy team meeting to address recent blunders: ‘Fine line between good and great, and breaking bad’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said there were too many things going wrong and that the team needs to wake up. Linebacker Patrick Queen called it the same old situation, adding that he’s sick of it.First, it was the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3, then it was the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.“We should be 5-0, I believe,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said Wednesday from Tottenham Hotspur training ground, where Baltimore is practicing this week ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. “We just have to put up the points on the board [and] protect the ball.”In their loss to the Steelers, the Ravens had seven dropped passes and two turnovers — an interception from Jackson and a fumble by running back Justice Hill.The script was similar against Indianapolis last month when they had four fumbles and lost two of them, with Jackson and running back Kenyan Drake each coughing it up.There were other similarities between the losses, too. ...

Red Sox No. 11 prospect placed on restricted list

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

Major League Baseball placed Red Sox prospect Brainer Bonaci on the restricted list for violating the joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.According to Bonaci’s player profile on MiLB.com, he was placed on the restricted list on Oct. 4. He’s been sent home from the Arizona Fall League after two games. Tyler McDonough will take his place.It’s the second abrupt pause in the 21-year-old infielder’s playing career this year; weeks after his promotion to Double-A Portland, he was placed on the reserve list on Aug. 30 and sent home to Venezuela. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, it was unofficial administrative leave.How he violated the policy is not yet known, nor is the length of his stay on the restricted list.Both MLB and SoxProspects.com rank the infielder as the organization’s No. 11 prospect.In other newsThe Red Sox played Kaleb Ort on outright waivers on Wednesday. The 31-year-old right-hander made his Major League debut in 2021, pitching one...

Neil Entwistle seeking new trial, again, for cold-blooded murder of wife, baby girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:24 GMT

British double-murderer Neil Entwistle is pushing for a new trial, claiming a juror the same height as his slain wife tainted the verdict that gave him life without parole.Entwistle, convicted in 2008 for executing his wife and baby girl in their Hopkinton home, is petitioning the state Supreme Judicial Court for a second chance, court records state.Entwistle, 44, claims he is indigent and is representing himself, records show. He’s locked up in the Old Colony Correctional Center in Bridgewater where he has been for more than a decade. His conviction has already been held up by the SJC and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear his case.Entwistle was found guilty of murdering his wife, Rachel, 27, and 9-month-old baby, Lillian Rose, in January of 2006 with a gun he stole from his father-in-law.A friend of the victims told the Herald Wednesday night that relatives have long braced for the sad fact Entwistle will fight for his freedom until the day he dies.“As long as he&#...