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Some Boston homes have high lead levels in their drinking water, officials urge residents to remove lead service lines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

City officials are urging residents to get the lead out after drinking water tests showed that some Hub homes have high levels of lead.The Boston Water and Sewer Commission recently tested a number of homes for lead and copper in drinking water, and more than 15% of the tested city homes had elevated levels of lead.Of the 33 higher risk properties that were tested for water quality, six of the homes were above the federal action level for lead in drinking water. The tap water samples exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection action level for lead of 15 parts per billion — with sample readings of 21 parts per billion.The Boston Water and Sewer Commission emphasized that all of Boston’s water mains are lead free, and that the drinking water is lead free when it leaves the reservoirs. However, some older homes in Boston may have a lead water service line.“The longer water remains in contact with plumbing ...

Patriots lose three key players Week 3 vs. Saints

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

The Patriots’ poor injury luck continued Week 5 against the Saints.Wide receivers Demario Douglas (head) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (head) and guard Mike Onwenu (ankle) were all ruled out of Sunday’s game early.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patrots inactives: J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones both dressing vs. Saints New England Patriots | Patriots-Saints preview: Can Bill Belichick and Mac Jones stop the bleeding? New England Patriots | Patriots make series of transactions day before game vs. Saints New England Patriots | NFL notes: The Patriots have failed Mac Jones, but they need quarterback to save them anyway New England Patriots | Four most important Patriots players Week 5 vs. Saints Douglas appeared to suffer his head injury while catching a 24-yard pass from Mac Jones in the first quarter. He briefly stayed in the game before being removed. He had two targets on the game.Smith-Schuster suffered...

Sweet 16: Salem shows off experience in 5-0 start

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

Salem coach Matt Bouchard doesn’t need a roster to figure out his players.Many of the current starters have been in the lineup for the better part of three years. Last week’s 55-20 victory over Saugus made the Witches 5-0 headed into the final three weeks of the regular season.“A lot of these guys have 20-plus games of varsity experience, so that helps,” Bouchard said. “We knew back then that we had some talented players, but the best thing about them is that they are so unselfish. All of those guys deserve to get touches, but they are just as happy seeing their teammates have success.”People could see it coming last year when Salem went 7-4 capped off by a thoroughly pleasing 39-0 victory over Beverly on Thanksgiving Day. Bouchard will gladly talk about the win, but good luck trying to get him to mention that opponent by name.“Beating the team over the bridge (Beverly) was big – anyone you beat a rival, that’s big,” Bouchard said. “The kids remembered the score fr...

German conservative opposition wins 2 state elections, with far-right making gains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s center-right opposition won two state elections on Sunday at the halfway mark of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s unpopular national government, projections showed, and a far-right party that has been riding high in national polls celebrated gains.The votes followed a campaign marked by discontent with persistent squabbling in the national government and by pressure to reduce the number of migrants arriving in Germany. The national interior minister, who leads the federal response on migration, suffered a heavy defeat in a difficult bid to become governor of her home state.About 9.4 million people were eligible to vote for the new state legislature in Bavaria and around 4.3 million in neighboring Hesse, a region that includes Germany’s financial capital, Frankfurt. Both states were already led by the country’s main opposition Union bloc, made up of the Christian Democratic Union and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union.Projections for ARD a...

Chicago police search for men wanted in robbery on CTA Green Line train

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are searching for two men accused of robbing someone earlier this month on a CTA Green Line train.According to the Chicago Police Department, the men implied a weapon and demanded a passenger's property around 1:20 a.m. on Oct. 2. 8 injured after River North shooting: CPD The robbery happened on a train in the 0-100 block of North Wabash.One of the men is described as being about 18-30 years old, about 5 feet 7-9 inches tall, and weighing about 140-150 pounds. He was wearing a blue jean jacket, ripped blue jeans and black shoes.The other man is described as being about 18-30 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches -6 feet tall and weighing about 200-230 pounds. He was wearing a black jacket, black pants and black shoes.Anyone with information is asked to call Mass Transit Detectives at 312-745-4443.Chicago police are reminding people to always be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity to 911 immediately.

McCaul says having a Speaker is necessary to replenish Iron Dome support for Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Sunday stressed the importance of electing a Speaker in order to replenish funding for Israel and to demonstrate unified support in the wake of Hamas’s attacks on the country. “We have to get a Speaker elected this week, so we can get things on the floor like replenishing the Iron Dome, get a resolution that Ranking Member [Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)] and I have been working on, a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas for what they have done to Israel,” McCaul said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”“We want to get that on the floor by unanimous consent. Whether or not we have a Speaker in place, because I think we cannot wait. We have to get that message out as soon as possible.” McCaul added.  What is Israel’s Iron Dome and how does it work? McCaul’s comments come after hundreds of Israelis were killed by Hamas in an attack Saturday morning that some officials are describing as among the w...

Gaetz says 'absolutely' worth it for him to lose seat in Congress for McCarthy ouster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) assessed Sunday that it would be “absolutely” worth it for him to lose his seat in Congress for spearheading the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the top leadership post last week.“Absolutely,” Gaetz said when NBC’s Kristen Welker asked him on “Meet the Press” on Sunday about whether the effort to oust McCarthy was worth it. “Look, I am here to fight for my constituents. And I'm here to ensure that America is not on a path to financial ruin.” GOP aims fire at Gaetz after McCarthy ouster Gaetz spearheaded booting McCarthy from the Speaker’s office last week after months of threatening to do so following McCarthy's deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown. Eight Republicans joined with all of the Democrats remove McCarthy, making him the first Speaker to ever be ousted in U.S. history. Now, the House GOP is slated to meet this week to choose a new Speaker. Gaetz predicted that it would not take a week to c...

Longhorns fall to No. 9 in AP Top 25 after Red River Rivalry defeat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas tumbled six spots to No. 9 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll released Sunday following a 34-30 loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.The Longhorns are now slotted behind No. 8 Oregon and ahead of No. 10 Southern California. The Sooners rose seven spots to No. 5 with the win.Full AP Top 25Georgia remains atop the poll with 50 first-place votes followed by Michigan at No. 2. Ohio State moved up a spot to No. 3 and Florida State moved up one to No. 4.No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Washington and the Ducks all held their spots. Instant Analysis: Sooners QB Dillon Gabriel created many of Texas’ problems No. 14 Louisville rocketed up the rankings 11 spots after its 33-20 win over Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish plummeted 11 spots to No. 21 after the loss.Kansas re-entered the rankings at No. 23 following a 51-22 win over Central Florida.Texas A&M received five votes and was the last team listed in the others receiving votes category.In the US LBM Coaches P...

Matthew McConaughey joins Jared Leto during ACL performance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Alright, alright, alright.Matthew McConaughey showed his former "Dallas Buyers Club" co-star and Thirty Seconds to Mars' lead vocalist Jared Leto some love during the band's performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Saturday.ACL Music Festival captured and shared the moment in a TikTok on Sunday. In the video, Leto is heard teasing "a little surprise" for fans before McConaughey appears on stage. In signature McConaughey fashion, he addressed the crowd with the iconic "alright, alright, alright" phrase from his 1993 film "Dazed and Confused."Both Leto and McConaughey took home Oscars at the 2014 Academy Awards. McConaughey cinched the Best Actor award for his performance as Ron Woodroof in "Dallas Buyers Club," while Leto went home with the Best Supporting Actor trophy for his role as Rayon in the film.Thirty Seconds to Mars is one of several artists performing at this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival. The Weekend 1 festivities continue Sunday,...

Vikings rookie Jaren Hall will be backup quarterback with veteran Nick Mullens out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

After being inactive for the first month of his career, rookie Jaren Hall will be the backup quarterback for the Vikings on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was thrust into the role with usual backup quarterback Nick Mullens battling a back injury that kept him out of practice this week.Though it’s not likely that Hall will see action at any point — Kirk Cousins is among the most durable quarterback in the NFL — it certainly added another layer to the game plan for the Vikings in their matchup with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.Asked about Hall this week, head coach Kevin O’Connell praised his development since the Vikings selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.What if Hall has to play for the Vikings against the Chiefs?“That’s where the other guys in the huddle would need to step up,” O’Connell said. “I view that as a huge responsibility for myself with a young quarterback in there,...