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‘Underground explosion’ shatters windows, leaves crater in road and manhole covering embedded in building’s roof in Somerville

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

An underground explosion in Somerville damaged a roadway, left nearby windows shattered, and left a manhole covering in a building’s roof Thursday morning, but didn’t result in any injuries, officials said.Somerville firefighters responding to a reported explosion in the area of Cross Street in East Somerville around 4:15 a.m. determined an underground explosion in an electrical manhole resulted in significant damage to the street and also shattered several windows at 152 Cross St, according to authorities.The multi-unit building nearby was occupied at the time, with a landlord telling 7NEWS about 15 people were inside, but that there were no injuries and the building did not suffer any structural damage. “I thought it was a bomb,” said Jil Norberto, who ran out after hearing the explosion. “I just heard a big blow and everybody was running. I didn’t have time to get anything. I just got out on the street with my pajamas.”“A big explos...

State In Early Stages Of Massive MassHealth Redetermination Effort

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

State officials on Thursday offered a first glimpse into efforts to redetermine MassHealth members’ eligibility. About six weeks into the process, which is expected to take a year, about 70,000 Massachusetts households have so far begun the process of assessing whether they still qualify for state-funded health insurance. Hundreds of thousands people are expected to lose MassHealth coverage over the next year as federal coverage requirements in place since March 2020 expired on March 31, and the state redetermines eligibility for the first time since the pandemic began. Budget writers on Beacon Hill have factored into their spending plans massive savings associated with lower MassHealth rolls. About 50 percent of MassHealth members will be automatically renewed. The other half of the 2.3 million people enrolled in the program will be receiving a blue envelope containing forms to fill out with their current information, which MassHealth will use to determine if they still quali...

New T Board Members Exploring Agency’s Challenges

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey’s recently tapped MBTA directors peppered agency officials with questions Thursday about budget woes and safety initiatives as they strive to restore trust in the beleaguered transit agency. Board member Tom McGee, a former senator and former mayor of Lynn, requested data spanning the last two decades on the agency’s sales tax trends, one-time funding needs and other challenges to offer a “historic perspective” into the budget shortfalls plaguing the agency, whose safety failures have been chronicled by federal investigators. McGee forecasted a “pretty sobering several years ahead.” “I know we all want to make sure we’re taking it on in the right way,” McGee said during a virtual MBTA Board of Directors Audit and Finance Subcommittee meeting Thursday morning. Confronting a $366 million budget gap in fiscal 2024, the MBTA plans to pull $261 million from its deficiency fund reserve, which is $9 million less than a...

Peloton is recalling more than 2 million exercise bikes in the U.S. Here’s why

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN (AP Business Writer)Peloton is recalling more than 2 million of its exercise bikes in the U.S. because the bike’s seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards.The recall includes approximately 2.2 million of the Peloton Bikes Model PL01. The bikes were sold in the U.S. from January 2018 through May 2023 for about $1,400. They were sold at Peloton and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online at Amazon, Peloton and Dick’s websites.Peloton has received 35 reports of the seat post breaking and detaching from the bike during use, including 13 reports of injuries including a fractured wrist, lacerations and bruises due to falling from the bike.The Peloton original Bike in the U.K., Germany and Australia and the Peloton Bike+ are not included in the recall.Consumers in the U.S. are advised to immediately stop using the recalled exercise bikes and to contact Peloton for a free repair. Peloton is offering a free seat ...

Migrants rush across US border in final hours before expiration of Title 42

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

By VALERIE GONZALEZ (Associated Press)MATAMOROS, Mexico (AP) — Migrants rushed across the Mexico border Thursday in hopes of entering the U.S. in the final hours before pandemic-related asylum restrictions are lifted — a change that many feared could make it more difficult for them to stay.With a midnight deadline looming, migrants in Mexico shed clothing before descending a steep bank into the Rio Grande, clutching plastic bags filled with clothes. One man held a baby in an open suitcase on his head.On the U.S. side of the river, migrants put on dry clothing and picked their way through concertina wire. Many surrendered immediately to authorities and hoped to be released while pursuing their cases in backlogged immigration courts, which takes years.President Joe Biden’s administration has been unveiling strict new measures to replace the restrictions known as Title 42. The outgoing rules have allowed border officials since March 2020 to quickly return asylum seeke...

Police regulators debate releasing partial list of disciplinary records for cops across Mass.

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

State law enforcement regulators are debating releasing a partial list of sustained complaints against police officers, a move that would offer a first glimpse at thousands of disciplinary records for Massachusetts cops.More than 4,000 submitted complaints covering incidents through Jan. 31 had enough evidence to support the allegations against the accused officer, the head of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission said Thursday morning.It is the second time that the commission has asked police departments to hand over disciplinary records for review. During the first round earlier this year, more than 36,000 records streamed in, of which 12,000-plus were deemed “sustained.”But the POST Commission went back to agencies in February and asked them to resubmit records because too many were either “not properly identified to the correct officer” or considered “not reportable,” the head of the agency, Enrique Zuniga, said.Of the 3,984 sustained complaints now before the comm...

Writers Guild of America says members will picket David Zaslav at Boston University’s commencement

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

After previously issuing a warning shot to Boston University, the Writers Guild of America has confirmed that striking union members will picket at BU’s commencement when the head of Warner Bros. Discovery takes the stage.BU recently announced that Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav would be this month’s commencement speaker amid the Hollywood writers’ strike.The university has been in hot water since the announcement last week, and the Writers Guild of America has blasted the decision and warned of picketers at Nickerson Field later this month.On Thursday, the union confirmed that members will picket the ceremony.“The Writers Guild of America will picket Warner Bros. Discovery President & CEO David Zaslav at Boston University’s All-Student Commencement Exercises at Nickerson Field on Sunday, May 21, 2023, beginning at 12:00 p.m. EDT,” the Writers Guild of America, East, said in a statement on Thursday.Related ArticlesLocal News | ...

Weekly US jobless claims highest since 2021, but companies avoid risk of being caught short-handed

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

By MATT OTT (AP Business Writer)The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week rose to its highest level in a year-and-a-half, though jobs remain plentiful by historical standards even as companies cut costs as the economy slows. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending May 6 rose by 22,000 to 264,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s up from the previous week’s 242,000 and is the most since November of 2021. The weekly number of applications is seen as roughly representative of the number of U.S. layoffs.Many employers appear to have put a premium on retaining workers after some of them were caught short-handed by the rapid post-COVID-19 economic recovery. As a result, most economists don’t envision waves of layoffs even if a recession were to strike later this year as many expect. The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, rose by 6,000 to 245,250. Analysts have pointed to a sustain...

Coast Guard suspends search for plane crash survivors off California coast

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its active search for survivors of a plane crash off San Clemente Island.The Gates Learjet 36A was carrying three people when it crashed Wednesday morning roughly one mile southwest of the island, officials said.San Clemente Island is the southernmost of California’s Channel Islands and is managed by the U.S. Navy.Coast Guard and U.S Customs and Border Protection crews on Wednesday located a debris field in the area where the plane is believed to have gone down. The search encompassed 334 square miles, the Coast Guard said.A map shows San Clemente Island in relation to Catalina Island, Orange County and San Diego. (KTLA)Officials have not stated where the flight originated or released any information about those aboard.The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

Migrants huddle at the border as food, water, shelter in short supply

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Dozens of border agents practiced riot techniques Wednesday while preparing for the end of Title 42. Hundreds of migrants have gathered on the border in hopes of accessing the U.S. asylum system, which has been blocked by a Center for Disease Control statute baring migrants because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Migrants watch the clock in asylum-seeking limbo On Thursday at 9 p.m. in San Diego, Title 42 will end and what happens next is a question mark.Migrant families have been taken o the limit line early to be processed at the border while other migrants have sat for days waiting to surrender to border agents. Food, water and shelter are in short supply as migrants huddle together while asking people to charge their cellphones through the border wall. Volunteers pass trash bags snacks and homemade food through the fence to eager hungry families. MORE: End of Title 42 As more people are lined up and processed, some migrants have become more optimistic about their tu...