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Commission to hold hearing over eligibility objections involving Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

The residence of Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara will be the subject of a special hearing as a commission reviews objections to her eligibility to represent District 6.According to a public meeting notice, four objections to Lara’s eligibility will be brought up at a hearing held by the Boston Ballot Law Commission on Tuesday morning.The hearing comes two weeks after the councilor was arraigned on charges in connection with a crash in Jamaica Plain that left her son injured.Police said Lara was driving with a revoked license and in an unregistered car when she crashed through a fence and into a home on June 30. Authorities also found Lara had not had a valid Massachusetts driver’s license since 2013, when her license was suspended after she didn’t pay a fine penalizing her for not wearing a seatbelt.Following the crash, disputes arose regarding Lara’s residency, with it being unclear whether the councilor lives in the district she represents.

Brazil’s endangered golden monkeys have recovered following big population drop from yellow fever

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

There are now more golden lion tamarins bounding between branches in the Brazilian rainforest than at any time since efforts to save the species started in the 1970s, a new survey reveals.Once on the brink of extinction, with only about 200 animals in the wild, the population has rebounded to around 4,800, according to a study released Tuesday by the Brazilian science and conservation nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association.“We are celebrating, but always keeping one eye on other threats, because life’s not easy,” said the nonprofit’s president, Luís Paulo Ferraz.Golden lion tamarins are small monkeys with long tails and copper-colored fur that live in family groups led by a mated pair. Usually, they give birth annually to twins, which all family members help to raise by bringing them food and carrying them on their backs.The monkeys, which live only in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, are still considered endangered.The population survey was conducted over roughly a year. Researchers we...

In Wisconsin, a court that almost overturned Biden’s win flips to liberal control

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court flips to liberal control for the first time in 15 years Tuesday with the start of the term of a new justice who made abortion rights a focus of her winning campaign.Janet Protasiewicz will be sworn into office with a ceremony in the state Capitol Rotunda, the type of pomp and circumstance typically reserved for governors. Protasiewicz’s win carries tremendous weight in Wisconsin, a battleground where the state Supreme Court has been the last word on some of the biggest political and policy battles of the past decade-plus.The conservative-controlled court came within one vote of overturning President Joe Biden’s narrow win in the state in 2020, though Biden still would have had enough electoral votes to claim the presidency. More battles over voting rules and elections are expected leading up to 2024, along with challenges to the state’s abortion ban, Republican-drawn political boundary lines and a host of other hot-b...

Shaky Americans avoid upset to reach Women’s World Cup knockout round after 0-0 draw with Portugal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — A goal post saved the United States from elimination at the Women’s World Cup. Ana Capeta nearly scored for Portugal in stoppage time but her shot hit the left post and the United States escaped with a uninspiring 0-0 draw Tuesday night that got them through — just barely — to the knockout round. The U.S. won only one game in group play for the first time in tournament history, scoring just four goals over three games. With the scoreless draw, the United States fell to second in the group behind the Netherlands and will head to Melbourne, Australia, for a round of 16 match on Sunday. “We should have put some in the back of the net and we didn’t. We own that,” Alex Morgan said. “We’re not happy with the performance we put out there. But at the same time, we’re moving on.” The Americans, the most successful team ever at the World Cup with four titles, have never been eliminated in the tournament’s group stage. But they looked ...

Amazon adds video telemedicine visits nationwide to its virtual clinic

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

Amazon is adding video telemedicine visits in all 50 states to a virtual clinic it launched last fall, as the retail giant takes a deeper step into care delivery.Amazon said Tuesday that customers can visit its virtual clinic around the clock through Amazon’s website or app. There, they can compare prices and response times before picking a telemedicine provider from several options.The clinic, which doesn’t accept insurance, launched last fall with a focus on text message-based consultations. Those remain available in 34 states.Amazon says the clinic offers care for more than 30 common health conditions.Virtual care, or telemedicine, exploded in popularity when COVID-19 hit a few years ago. It has remained popular as a convenient way to check in with a doctor or deal with relatively minor health issues like urinary tract infections or pink eye.Amazon also notes that its virtual clinics will treat erectile dysfunction as well.Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nworah Ayogu said in a blog pos...

Strathcona Resources to go public through deal to buy Pipestone Energy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

CALGARY — Strathcona Resources Ltd. says it will go public through a deal to purchase oil and gas exploration company Pipestone Energy Corp.Calgary-based oil and gas producer Strathcona says the deal will value the combined business at $8.6 billion.It adds the new company will become the fifth largest oil producer in Canada.Strathcona positioned the all-share deal as a way to give Pipestone shareholders a meaningful ownership stake in a large, low-decline rate, oil-weighted producer.It says the deal will give Pipestone shareholders about 9.05 per cent of the pro forma equity in the amalgamated company on a fully-diluted basis.Pipestone’s board has already approved the arrangement, but shareholders still need to give their OK for the deal which is expected to close early in the fourth quarter of this year.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:PIPE)The Canadian Press

Avion rewards program exapnds to customers who don’t bank with RBC

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

TORONTO — The Avion rewards program is opening up to people who aren’t clients of Royal Bank of Canada.The Toronto-based bank says Canadians will now be allowed into the free rewards program regardless of where they bank or shop.Avion offers members deals at more than 2,400 online retailers and lets shoppers earn points they can redeem for merchandise and gift cards.The membership level open to customers without RBC products is called Avion Select.Avion Select has most of the program’s core benefits but doesn’t offer cash back or savings on in-store purchases and does not allow users to use points on bills payments and investments.Avion’s expansion comes as companies are beefing up their loyalty programs. Cineplex Inc., Scotiabank and Empire Company Ltd. revamped the Scene program last year and BMO Financial Group announced a deal in June to buy Air Miles in Canada.This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 1, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:RY, TSX:BNS, T...

How modern video games hook us, and kids, so completely

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, recently a feature story in Maclean’s magazine described parents who were “losing their kids to Fortnite.” While some gamers may hear that and see the kind of rhetoric that has followed video games around since their inception, others heard recognition and acknowledgement.But what makes video games different is that they are constantly evolving, and rapidly — usually with the goal of increasing the time spent playing them. As technology has improved, so has game design, and games with an online element have a social aspect offer.Luc Rinaldi wrote a feature about modern gaming addiction for Maclean’s. He said although video games addiction likely only occurs in very small subset of people, the research we have currently isn’t adequate to asses just how many people that would be.“Video games are evolving at an extremely rapid pace. And I think that’s what’s changed is that when some of this research started, games were pretty...

Greece’s government is planning tougher penalties for arson following a spate of wildfires

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities are planning tougher penalties for arson — with fines to be increased to 10 times the current level — following a spate of major wildfires that have already caused more damage than the 2022 annual total.Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said details of the measures would be announced next month, but added that fines for causing fires deliberately or because of negligent behavior would match penalties introduced two years ago for the abuse of animals. Those carry a fine of up to 50,000 euros ($55,000) and a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.“I am obliged to say that the next fire season will find us in a different position, It’s not just the penalties — the fines will increase tenfold — but we need a … change in mentality,” Kikilias said in an interview with state television late Monday. The changes, he said, would include school programs and locally based initiatives to promote forest fire prevention awareness.Greece battled 10...

It was close, but USWNT advances in World Cup

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:57 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Just as expected, the United States Women's National Team is moving onto the knockout stage of the 2023 Women's World Cup.It was just a lot more stressful than many would have hoped - and it almost didn't happen. The team did just enough to get into the next round of the tournament at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand early Tuesday morning, playing Portugal to a scoreless draw to conclude play in Group E. With the result, the United States finished with five points, which was enough to claim second in the group. The Netherlands finished first with wins over Portugal and Vietnam along with a draw against the USWNT last Wednesday. It was certainly not as calm of a match as some supporters would have hoped for the United States, who entered the tournament as favorites. In fact, Portugal nearly sprung the surprise in stoppage time when striker Ana Capeta hit the post on a shot that had gotten past USMNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Luckily it stayed out, salvaging ...