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A new Titanic expedition is planned. The US is fighting it, says wreck is a grave site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The U.S. government is trying to stop a planned expedition to recover items of historical interest from the sunken Titanic, citing a federal law and an international agreement that treat the shipwreck as a hallowed gravesite.The expedition is being organized by RMS Titanic Inc., the Georgia-based firm that owns the salvage rights to the world’s most famous shipwreck. The company exhibits artifacts that have been recovered from the wreck site at the bottom of the North Atlantic, from silverware to a piece of the Titanic’s hull.The government’s challenge comes more than two months after the Titan submersible imploded near the sunken ocean liner, killing five people. But this legal fight has nothing to do with the June tragedy, which involved a different company and an unconventionally designed vessel.The battle in the U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, which oversees Titanic salvage matters, hinges instead on federal law and a pact with Great Bri...

Key West residents brace for impact as Hurricane Idalia approaches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

The southernmost point of the Florida Keys is facing the impact of Hurricane Idalia, as the area grapples with rough surf and gusty winds. The storm’s outer banks are projected to extend over Key West, prompting Monroe County officials to maintain a vigilant stance.While the storm’s path remains several hundred miles away from the island chain, residents are preparing for the potential effects of the approaching storm. Tuesday is anticipated to bring squalls, which could drop substantial rainfall in the Lower Keys as Idalia’s outer bands stretch over Key West. “Not a lot going on right now, you know, the weather’s slowed everything down, of course, but we’re sticking through,” said Keasha, who is visiting from Oklahoma City.Forecasters are predicting a storm surge that may reach up to two feet above high tide, raising concerns about coastal flooding.Despite the potential challenges, Monroe County officials have labeled the situation as ̶...

Cowboys, Dolphins swap cornerbacks with Joseph headed to Miami, Igbinoghene to Dallas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas and Miami swapped cornerbacks in a trade on roster cutdown day, with the Cowboys sending Kelvin Joseph to the Dolphins for 2020 first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene on Tuesday.Joseph was the 44th overall pick in the second round in 2021. Joseph was an unarmed passenger in a vehicle from which a fatal shot was fired in a drive-by shooting in Dallas in March 2022.The 22-year-old Joseph was cleared of criminal charges in the case.A spot on the roster wasn’t guaranteed for Joseph, who had 36 tackles and a fumble recovery in 26 games over two seasons.Igbinoghene, the 30th overall pick by the Dolphins three years ago, played 32 games over three seasons. He had 29 tackles and two fumble recoveries.The 23-year-old Igbinoghene joins a deep group that includes two former All-Pros in Stephon Gilmore and Trevon Diggs, along with DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis.The Dolphins also have two cornerbacks with All-Pro pedigrees in Jalen Ramsey and Xaiven Howard.

Leominster Mayor: Hospital “Failed Miserably” In Maternal Care Closure Plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

UMass Memorial Medical Center “failed miserably” in its plan to maintain access to maternal care after the proposed closure of a Leominster birthing center, the city’s mayor contended Tuesday in a plea for state regulators to take a more forceful approach.Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella asked the Department of Public Health, where officials have said they do not have authority to force a facility to remain open, to reject UMass Memorial’s controversial plan for mitigating patient impacts from the shutdown.Because DPH deemed the Leominster maternity ward an “essential service,” the health care system was required to submit a plan outlining how patients could continue to access services without the facility.Mazzarella said the 17-page document UMass Memorial produced “confirm[s] what we in North Worcester County already knew — that very little thought and planning went in to this decision that effects [sic] the lives of the mo...

Man taken to hospital after stabbing in Weston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

A man was taken to a Boston hospital Tuesday after a stabbing along a rail trail in Weston, police said. Weston police in a statement said officers first responded to an area behind 133 Boston Post Road around 12:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a stabbing and a robbery. Once on scene, police said, officers found a 30-year-old man with a wound to his lower abdomen area. Police said the man told investigators he had been walking in the area when two unknown male individuals approached him and demanded personal property. “[A]t some point, the victim noticed that he had been stabbed,” police said. Police said two other individuals initially found the injured man and called 911. The man was later taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.Weston police on Tuesday asked anyone with information related to this incident to contact detectives at 781-786-6200. No further information was immediately available.

Tufts University RAs go on strike during move-in day for some students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

Resident assistants at Tufts University marched for change on campus Tuesday, going on strike during one of the university’s move-in days. RAs chanted and picketed as they continued to call for a cash stipend from Tufts in addition to free room and board. “It’s time to pay us like they say they appreciate us,” said RA Nile Speight-Leggett.Unionized RA’s at Tufts voted last week to authorize a strike. On Tuesday, as the strike got underway, officials said around 600 students moved in without the help of RAs.“I don’t know what it would be like with an RA, so I’m doing pretty well just on my own,” said student Elsa Madsen while moving in.“I have noticed the lack of RAs,” said student Marco Steel. Asked what difference the lack of RA’s had made, though, Steel replied, “Nothing so far.”RAs speaking with 7NEWS said their strike is not centered solely on the work they do on move-in day. Rather, RAs said the strike is about getting compensated for all t...

DA: Taunton women steal thousands from Stop and Shop in ‘organized, counterfeit coupon operation’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

A pair of Taunton women went on a three-month-long shopping spree at Stop and Shop, allegedly racking up 300 bottles of fabric freshener and hundreds of other products before selling them on social media.The business proved to be illegal, with the two women being indicted on charges they ran an organized, counterfeit coupon operation and stole nearly $27,000 in products, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz.A Plymouth County grand jury on Tuesday returned indictments charging Jacqueline White, 41, and Crystal Travis, 40, with one count each of larceny by false pretense by single scheme and larceny to induce parting with personal property.White also faces a charge of organized retail theft.The spree lasted from March 10 through June 2, with White and Travis using counterfeit coupons to steal roughly $26,547 of products from 13 Stop and Shop grocery stores in Massachusetts and two others in Rhode Island, the indictments allege.White and Travis used social media site...

Patriots waive backup QB Bailey Zappe in surprising move

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

The Patriots waived backup quarterback Bailey Zappe on Tuesday, a source confirmed.The move comes as a major surprise after head coach Bill Belichick entertained the possibility of a quarterback competition as recently as this summer. The Patriots must now find a new backup quarterback behind Mac Jones unless Zappe clears waivers and returns to the team’s practice squad. The team also waived quarterbacks Trace McSorley and Malik Cunningham.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots practice attendance hints at potential roster cuts New England Patriots | Patriots trade K Nick Folk to Titans for draft pick, rookie K Chad Ryland starting New England Patriots | Patriots activating offseason free-agent signing off NFI list before cuts New England Patriots | Bill Belichick explains Patriots’ trades for OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Vederian Lowe New England Patriots | Sources: Patriots release QB Trace ...

Ticker: Job vacancies, quits plunge in July; US consumer confidence wanes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

Businesses posted far fewer open jobs in July and the number of Americans quitting their jobs fell sharply for the second straight month, clear signs that the labor market is cooling in a way that could reduce inflation.The number of job vacancies dropped to 8.8 million last month, the Labor Department said Tuesday, the fewest since March 2021 and down from 9.2 million in June. Yet the drop appeared to be even steeper because June’s figure was initially reported as 9.6 million. That figure was revised lower Tuesday.July’s figure was still healthy historically — before the pandemic the number of openings had never topped 8 million. And there are still roughly 1.5 available jobs for each unemployed worker, which is also elevated but down from a peak last year of 1.9.Fewer Americans also quit, with 3.5 million people leaving their jobs last month, down from 3.8 million in June, the lowest since February 2021.US consumer confidence wanesAmericans are feeling less confident f...

Biden discuses immigration and trade with Costa Rican President Chaves at the White House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted his Costa Rican counterpart, Rodrigo Chaves, at the White House on Tuesday, discussing ways to strengthen an agreement between the two countries on possible legal pathways for the increasing numbers of Central American migrants arriving to the U.S. southern border.The two said they would talk about deepening U.S.-Costa Rica trade tries, creating new jobs, advancing democracy and promoting a more orderly immigration process. Chaves’ nation has emerged as an immigration hotspot, as migrants increasingly travel through the dangerous Darien Gap from Colombia into Central America and north into Costa Rica. Sitting down for the meeting in the Oval Office, Biden thanked Chaves for helping meet “migration challenges that we face every single day,” and said that one of his key objectives was “deepening security cooperation” between their countries, including on organized crime.“Our nations are not only united by the challenges we face but, what I’...