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Preparations continue as winter storm approaches New England

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

Preparations continued Friday ahead of a winter storm that is expected to drop up to a foot of snow on some New England communities this weekend. As of Friday afternoon, updated forecasts project deteriorating conditions Saturday evening. Snow is expected to then linger through part of the day Sunday before tapering off.Eyeing forecasts, members of the public have been heading to supermarkets and hardware stores while public officials have finalized preparations at DPW yards and other facilities.“I’m already stocked up because I just generally do that,” said shopper Victoria Ingram-Rubin at a supermarket in Worcester. “…We’re just ready to enjoy it.”The largest snow totals are expected in areas around Worcester, Fitchburg and southern New Hampshire, where between nine and 12 inches of snow could pile up. Though totals will likely be lower than central Massachusetts accumulation, Boston itself could still see between three and four inches, according to forecasts on Fr...

Storm brings snow, mix and wind Saturday evening through Sunday

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

The big weather talker of the week, our weekend winter storm, is almost here. It will bring us snow, a mix and wind Saturday evening through Sunday. Some locations could get over half a foot of snow. A closer look at the map giving you a tour of the expected snow accumulations is below. Keep in mind these will be the totals as of Sunday evening.The biggest impact will be from the heavy snow accumulations creating travel disruption. For that reason, western, central and northeast Mass (shaded in pink below) were upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning. This runs Saturday afternoon through late Sunday night. The city of Boston and south along the I-95 corridor is still under a Winter Storm Watch. The storm has sped up on its arrival time. We want to point out that travel could be tricky Saturday night for areas north and west as the snow accumulates. Conditions will be poor away from the coast Sunday morning through midday. There will be gusty wind especially along the coast. That combined...

Looking to get rid of your Christmas tree? Bring it to a farm. Goats love to chow down.

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

The holidays may be over, but it’s still the most wonderful time of the year … if you’re a goat.As people look to throw away their Christmas trees, the farm critters are cheerfully chowing down on the tasty post-holiday treats.So is the case at the Channell Homestead in Hanson, a family farm still accepting Christmas trees for its Nigerian goats.“The goats and chickens love them and the pine needles are a natural dewormer for them so they are a special treat with benefits!,” the farm posted on Facebook this week.Owners are only accepting trees that have not been sprayed with pesticides or fire retardant and urge donors to check with the tree farm or store they got theirs at whether it is safe to give to goats.“Also the goats will only eat trees that are still very much alive so if your tree is dried out and dead we cannot accept those. Sorry,” the farm stated in its Facebook post. “Please make sure there is no tinsel, ornaments, ribbon, or anything else left in the tree.”In Bo...

4 beachfront destinations spiking in popularity this winter

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

By Sally French | NerdWalletIn a chilly winter, it’s not uncommon for travelers to flock to warm-weather destinations. For example, December was 2022’s most popular month for Canadian tourists to visit Hawaii, according to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s 2022 Annual Visitor Research Report.It’s a similar story with Caribbean cruises. According to a spokesperson at Holland America, November through March are the most popular months for the cruise line. Clearly, winter beach vacations are appealing, and some beachfront destinations are especially popular this season — seeing higher interest in 2023 than in 2022.Chase Travel, an online site that lets customers book trips using cash or points from Chase travel credit cards, analyzed its proprietary data to find the top destinations this winter. The data included Chase Travel bookings for air or lodging between Nov. 17, 2023, and Jan. 7, 2024, and found places with the biggest year-over-year increase from last year. Then, Chase looked at...

Boston Mayor Wu says city councilor failed to take oath of office at inauguration

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson failed to recite the oath of office at Monday’s inaugural ceremony, and was not legally allowed to start her duties for this term until she properly took the oath on Thursday.Wu also stated that the votes taken by Fernandes Anderson at Monday’s City Council meeting did not count, meaning that the unanimous vote to elect Ruthzee Louijeune as the body’s new president will be changed from 13-0 to 12-0.“The city charter is clear that anyone elected to serve at the city level — the mayor, the city council — must take an oath verbally and sign the oath book in order to begin their service to the city and their official actions in that office,” Wu told reporters Friday afternoon.“I’m informed that the councilor took that oath verbally yesterday afternoon with the clerk, and so that issue is resolved now,” the mayor said, adding that she was “eager to get to work with the full City Council.”As the Herald first reported, F...

Last day of school vibes as Patriots wait for snow day in season finale

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

FOXBORO — If Bill Belichick’s final practice as head coach of the Patriots truly was Friday, then the day was perfectly unpredictable.As regimented as Belichick is as a leader, the Patriots – this might surprise you – don’t go off much of a regular schedule. Players arrive in the morning and then learn how their day is going to go. Other teams have their schedules mapped out weeks in advance and updated in an app on their phones.Not the Patriots.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Why Bailey Zappe has set ‘really good’ example for other Patriots New England Patriots | Patriots down 1 offensive starter at final practice before season finale New England Patriots | Callahan: If Bill Belichick’s time is over, say thank you before goodbye New England Patriots | Nor’easter set to blast Massachusetts with up to 12 inches of snow, Patriots could have a snow game New England Patriots | ...

Man arrested for illegal pawn shop operation in Toronto’s east end

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

A man has been arrested after being investigated for running an illegal pawn shop operation in Toronto’s east end.On Jan. 4, a search warrant was executed and a man was arrested for operating an illegal pawn shop in the Dundas Street East and Parliament Street area.The store owner allegedly was found to be in possession of multiple stolen bicycles and was operating his shop without a licence.Meareg Asefa, 47, of Toronto, has been charged with 10 different offences including trafficking and possessing property and proceeds obtained by crime, and being a second hand dealer with no licence.He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Feb. 12.

The Perry school shooting creates new questions for Republicans in Iowa’s presidential caucuses

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

CUMMING, Iowa (AP) — Friday looked like a typical January morning in Iowa — gray skies, a brisk breeze and a restaurant crammed with voters munching on breakfast pizzas while listening to a presidential candidate speak.Introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie as “the most pro-Second Amendment candidate in this race,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his standard speech touting his record in his home state.Then DeSantis opened the floor to questions. The first one was: “What actions would you take to reduce mass shootings?”The shooting in Perry, Iowa, that left one sixth grader dead and five more people injured, immediately cast a shadow over the state’s first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucuses, scheduled for Jan. 15. Three candidates were asked about it Thursday and Friday at campaign stops, some just a short drive from the school where a 17-year-old junior opened fire as students were returning from winter break. Pharmaceutical entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was set to h...

New Mexico attorney general says fake GOP electors can’t be prosecuted, recommends changes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s top prosecutor said Friday that the state’s five Republican electors cannot be prosecuted under the current law for filing election certificates that falsely declared Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential race. However, Democratic Attorney General Raúl Torrez is making recommendations to state lawmakers that he says would enhance the security of the state’s electoral process and provide legal authority for prosecuting similar conduct in the future. New Mexico is one of several states where fake electors attempted to cast ballots indicating that Trump had won, a strategy at the center of criminal charges against Trump and his associates. Democratic officials launched separate investigations in some states, resulting in indictments against GOP electors. Fake certificates were submitted in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.In New Mexico and Pennsylvania, fake electors added a caveat...

Union suspends strike action as Viterra offers workers new four-year offer

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:53:10 GMT

REGINA — A looming strike action for Saskatchewan workers at Viterra has been suspended after the grain marketing giant gave the union a revised offer.Two locals of the Grain and General Services Union say members should have the opportunity to vote on the new offer. Workers rejected Viterra’s last offer after a vote on Dec. 15 and issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week.A news release from Viterra says the new four-year agreement includes overall salary increases of 4.5 per cent in first year, followed by 3.75 per cent in the second and 2.5 per cent in the following years.The company says employees will continue to be eligible for an annual bonus payment.Viterra says a vote is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2023. The Canadian Press