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German politicians demand consequences after Aiwanger’s antisemitic scandals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

Germany’s top politicians are demanding consequences as the country’s media revealed a new allegation, from a former classmate, of antisemitic behavior by Bavarian deputy premier Hubert Aiwanger during his school days in the 1980s. German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung first reported last Friday on Aiwanger’s involvement in distributing an antisemitic leaflet in high school in the 1980s. Since then, former classmate Mario Bauer claimed the deputy premier made Hitler salutes, made antisemitic jokes and impersonated Hitler while in school.In an interview with German TV public broadcaster ARD, Bauer said of Aiwanger: “He would come in from time to time, when the class was already inside and would make a Hitler salute. He would also always give these Hitler speeches in Hitler slang. He always wanted to attract attention with that. He was making antisemitic jokes about Auschwitz and so on.”During a joint press conference held on the sides of a closed-of...

Manhole fire in Cambridge sends flames shooting onto Harvard Square, closing area to traffic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

Harvard Square was closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic Wednesday morning due to a manhole explosion, according to authorities.The Cambridge Fire Department said crews were originally called to the area of 27 Brattle Street before 8:45 a.m. for reports of a structure fire.By 9 a.m., officials said firefighters were checking for exposure to surrounding buildings, with both Cambridge police officers and Transit Police Department personnel also responding. On Twitter, the Cambridge Police Department said that as of 9:15 a.m., Harvard Square was shut down to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic as crews continued to monitor the situation. The department also shared several images from the scene, including a photo of firefighters standing over what appeared to be the site of the fire, with smoke streaming out of the ground.In a citywide alert, the police department referred to the incident as a “manhole explosion” while noting that no injuries had been reported.Thos...

Emergency crews respond to lake in Hamilton, conduct search investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

A search effort got underway at a lake in Hamilton, Mass., Wednesday morning, where crews later found and towed away a vehicle.Police, firefighters and a dive team could be seen operating near a boat ramp at Chebacco Lake around 9 a.m. after receiving a report of a car in a lake.As a 7NEWS crew arrived on scene, a sedan could be seen being towed out of the water and onto a flatbed truck that then left the area.Authorities have not yet said what led up to the vehicle’s removal or what may have happened to its driver.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Driver killed in early morning crash involving tractor-trailer on I-295 in Attleboro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

A fatal crash involving a vehicle and a tractor-trailer truck left a driver dead and traffic on I-295 in Attleboro backed up for miles Wednesday morning, according to officials.Massachusetts State Police said it was 6:30 a.m. when troopers were called to a section of the highway close to the I-295/95 interchange.First responders then arrived to find the crash involved a car as well as a 2007 Mack 600 truck.“The driver of the car suffered fatal injuries; the victim was determined to be deceased at the scene,” an MSP news release stated.No details on the condition of the truck driver were given.By 10 a.m., authorities had cleared the scene, with all lanes reopening after traffic was reduced to a breakdown lane.

Red Sox legend David Ortiz alleges he is a victim of extortion and fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

Red Sox legend David Ortiz is warning people to be careful with how they handle their personal information, as the Hall of Famer alleges he is a victim of extortion and fraud.Authorities in the U.S. and his native Dominican Republic are investigating the situation, the former slugger said in a video posted on his Instagram account early Wednesday morning.“I am being the victim of extortion. There are people who hacked my phone from more than fifteen years ago who hadn’t used it in recent times,” Big Papi said in Spanish.“He browsed through my personal life and wanted to extort me with that, meaning that he will sell part of my personal life from what he found on my phone,” Ortiz alleges.Ortiz did not say how many people are involved in the case, adding the suspect(s) also allegedly defrauded his bank accounts. He did not disclose the specific actions or amount of money taken, according to ESPN Deportes.The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating in the U.S., whi...

Patriots practice squad tracker: Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham re-sign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

The Patriots made 24 moves to trim their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday, and there will be plenty more transactions to keep up with Wednesday.Waivers cleared at noon, so players can begin signing to practice squads. The Patriots practice at 1:45 p.m. ET, so the team will be in a rush to bring back players to begin preparing for their Week 1 matchup with the Eagles.12:45 p.m.The Patriots are signing QB Bailey Zappe, QB/wide receiver Malik Cunningham and S Joshuah Bledsoe to their practice squad, per sources.12:40 p.m.The Patriots’ first signing is wide receiver Thyrick Pitts, who spent part of training camp in Foxboro. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound wide receiver runs a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and had some impressive moments in camp.

Forklift operator dies in accident at Boston’s Logan International Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

A forklift operator has died in an accident at Boston’s Logan International Airport, authorities said Wednesday.The 51-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was an employee of a JetBlue contractor.He was trying to drive a forklift through a service entrance at an outdoor landing area on Tuesday. The machine collided with a beam, tipped over and landed on top of him, Massachusetts State Police said.A JetBlue employee heard the crash and several co-workers rushed to help, using an aircraft tow bar to lift the forklift and pull him out, police said. Troopers arrived moments later and started performing life-saving measures, state police said. The man was taken to the Boston Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Create a care plan for older parents (or yourself)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

By Liz Weston | NerdWalletAt some point, most older people will need help getting through the day. Someone turning 65 today has a 70% chance of eventually requiring assistance with basic living activities, such as bathing, dressing and using the toilet, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.That’s the grim reality. Even grimmer is that Medicare typically doesn’t pay for such help. Plus, families often don’t try to figure out how to provide this care until there is a health crisis, which can lead to unnecessary stress, conflicts and escalating costs, says certified financial planner and physician Carolyn McClanahan of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida.Making a care plan well in advance allows families to get organized, locate appropriate resources and figure out ways to pay for care before a crisis hits.“A care plan is thinking through the logistics of what you’re going to need as you age, so that when the poop hits the fan with aging, then...

A summer spent in a barn helped turn Astros’ Pena into a champion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

Before he was a World Series champion, before he was Carlos Correa’s heir apparent as Houston Astros shortstop, Jeremy Peña was just like the thousands of other minor leaguers willing to do anything to achieve their dream of reaching the big leagues.For the Providence, R.I., native and former UMaine baseball star, that dream included an unusual detour.During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Peña was left in the lurch when spring training was cut short and the minor league baseball season cancelled. Then a High-A prospect, Peña connected with former college teammates Joe Bramanti, Jake Rainess and Alex McKinney and spent the summer in Maine working out in an old barn.Bramanti, a North Andover resident, first shared the story last season after Peña initially established himself with the Astros. Now back at Fenway Park for the first time since winning the World Series, Peña reflected on his own memory of that formative experience.“Everyone cleared the school, fa...

Photos: Hurricane Idalia aftermath

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:48 GMT

Hurricane Idalia brought “catastrophic storm surge” to a swath of the Gulf coast, according to the National Hurricane Center, leaving a wake of destruction in Florida, including two deaths.The storm, which rapidly intensified into a major Category 4 storm before dropping back to a Category 3 early Wednesday, made landfall at the crux of Florida’s Big Bend region. Idalia will move near or along the coasts of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina late Wednesday or Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.More than 330,000 customers in Florida and Georgia were without electricity, according to the Associated Press.READ MORE: ‘This is actually unbelievable’: Idalia floods Gulf coast, careens inland with 90 mph windsLIVE UPDATES: Thousands without power in FloridaThe Florida Highway Patrol reported two deaths related to the storm. A man died about 6 a.m. in Gainesville while driving in “extremely rainy conditions,” according to FHP.  His pickup veered into a ditch and hit a tree...