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Tornado touches down in Massachusetts during heavy storms, dry weather coming

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

A small tornado touched down in a central Massachusetts community but caused no injuries during a wild day of weather as forecasters say Sunday’s super-soaker storms should clear to start the work week.According to the National Weather Service, sometime around 11 a.m. a tornado was spotted by several eyewitnesses though none reported seeing the “funnel” that comes along with severe storms.“We can confirm an EF-0 tornado in North Brookfield, MA. (Two) mile path length. Only damage to trees in the area. Occurred just before 11 a.m.,” the National Weather Service said via Twitter.Push-messages delivering dire warnings of impending twisters woke many residents across the state Sunday morning,“Tornado warning in this area,” cell phones across the Merrimack Valley and elsewhere screamed after 8 a.m. “Take shelter now in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.”Despite the seemingly saturated wrath of Mother Nature, the warning was canceled...

Mets Notebook: Omar Narvaez takes place of Francisco Alvarez in series finale vs. Dodgers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

Saturday night after the Mets fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the manager informed catcher Omar Narvaez that he would be in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale. Francisco Alvarez has turned an ankle rounding first base and though he remained in the game, the Mets thought it best to give their rookie sensation a break.It marked only the second time in the month of July the catcher had been written into the starting lineup and only the 11th time since he returned from a calf strain in early June.“I could have [played Alvarez] with the off day tomorrow,” said manager Buck Showalter. “But it was as much Omar’s needs as Francisco’s needs.”Narvaez needs playing time to be able to establish consistency at the plate and to establish consistency with the pitching staff. But the club isn’t worried about the 31-year-old backstop. He understands that his job right now is to help support the development of Alvarez and play when needed. The team ...

Powerball, Mega Millions barrel towards record highs, hit combined $1.5B

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

The Powerball jackpot hit a sky-high estimated $900 million jackpot following Saturday’s winner-less drawing, just as the Mega Millions hit $640 million — only the third time ever both jackpots broke $600 million simultaneously.“Numbers like this are crazy,” said Ted Griffith, walking away from a Jamaica Plain 7-Eleven counter with his tickets Sunday morning. “I had to try my luck.”The combined total of the major lotteries is now an estimated $1.54 billion. The next Powerball drawing will happen Monday night. The next Mega Millions takes place Tuesday.The Powerball cash option would be $465.1 million. The Mega Millions cash prize is $328 million.The Powerball jackpot is the game’s third largest jackpot ever, following $2.04 billion won by a California ticketholder in November 2022 and $1.586 billion won by ticketholders in California, Florida and Tennessee in 2016.The $900 million jackpot has built up through 38 drawings, since the last winn...

Suspect in 4 Georgia deaths is killed in shootout with police, 3 officers wounded, authorities say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriff’s deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said.Officials said Andre Longmore was shot during an intense manhunt for the 40-year-old suspect. The exchange of gunfire came a day after Saturday morning’s shootings rocked a bucolic subdivision in Hampton, south of Georgia’s main city.Officials said Longmore was killed about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the north of Hampton in suburban Jonesboro. A Henry County sheriff’s deputy and two Clayton County police officers were injured at separate locations in the attempt to arrest Longmore, they said.One officer was shot in the back and was taken by helicopter to an Atlanta trauma center, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said. “He is conscious, breathing and talking at this time,” Scandrett said of that offi...

Golden Gate Fields racetrack in Northern California to close this fall

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

It’s the end of an era for Northern California horse racing.Golden Gate Fields will permanently close after its final racing date later this year at the San Francisco Bay area horse track.The track’s owner, The Stronach Group, said Sunday it will “double down” on its racing at Santa Anita and training at San Luis Rey Downs in Southern California.After the Golden Gate Fields meet ends, The Stronach Group said it will focus on moving horses from the Bay Area to Arcadia, with a goal of increasing field sizes and adding a fourth day of racing to the weekly schedule at Santa Anita beginning in January.“The Stronach Group remains steadfastly committed to racing in California,” company CEO and president Belinda Stronach said in a statement. “Focusing on Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs as state-of-the-art racing and training facilities that offer enhanced program quality, increased race days, expanded wagering opportunities, and premier hospitality and entert...

1 injured in shooting near Pelham Park

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

One person has been injured in a shooting near Pelham Park Sunday evening. Toronto police were called to the Pelham Park Gardens and Osler Street area just before 6:30 p.m. The victim is being transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.Officers are looking for a male suspect with cornrows, wearing a black bandana. The vehicle is described as gray with a high spoiler.A significant police presence is expected in the area as officers investigate. Davenport Road is also closed from Laughton to Gillespie Avenues.

Saint Sabina hosts mass for newly-arrived migrants

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Saint Sabina Catholic Church hosted a special mass Sunday to welcome new migrants into the South Side community.About 50 refugees attended Sunday service at the Auburn Gresham church after fleeing danger from various central American countries, such as Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela, for a fresh start in the Chicago area.The idea for today's visit came from a conversation between father Michael Pfleger and the charity organization 'United Giving Hope.' 5 people shot, 1 fatally, in Garfield Park drive-by: CPD "Something that we all know, that we are all people and people of God," said Julie Contreras, from United Giving Hope. "And when we enter into the home of Saint Sabina, the table of God is open to all of us to worship."In a show of solidarity, some of Saint Sabina's youngest members joined refugee children near the altar.Refugees said they felt honored to receive the invitation to pray and give thanks, and to show their appreciation, they presented a gift...

'Leaders for a New Chicago' program honoree talks creating a platform for people with disabilities

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Every year, the Field Foundation's Leaders for a New Chicago program recognizes a number of individuals making an impact in the fields of art, justice, media and storytelling.Vanessa Harris, a 2023 nominee of the program and retired engineer, sat down with WGN to discuss the inspiration behind the Strategy for Access Foundation, and the website 'Fun 4 the Disabled,' platforms she created for people with disabilities."I have multiple disabilities myself and I have found the media doesn't address people with disabilities that much," Harris said. Smart Agriculture Equity Expo aims to educate Chicago youth on urban farming Harris said she took a documentary class at the Hyde Park Art Center that sparked a new passion for inclusive, positively-charged storytelling."People with disabilities, there is a negative association with them," Harris said. "And I'm trying to bring joy."More than 500,000 Chicagoland residents report having a disability. The mission behind Strategy for A...

Actor, singer and style icon Jane Birkin dies

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Actor and singer Jane Birkin, who made France her home and charmed the country with her English grace, natural style and social activism, has died at age 76.The London-born star and fashion icon was known for her musical and romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg. Their songs notably included the steamy “Je t’aime moi non plus" ("I Love You, Me Neither"). Birkin's ethereal, British-accented singing voice interlaced with his gruff baritone in the 1969 duet that helped make her famous and was forbidden in Italy after being denounced in the Vatican newspaper.The style Birkin displayed in the 1960s and early 1970s — long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit mini dresses and basket bags — still epitomizes the height of French chic for many women around the world.FILE - British-born movie actress Jane Birkin, left center, and her then constant companion, French actor Serge Gainsbourg, right center, pose while they attended the Inter...

Child thrown from carnival ride in Illinois, flown to hospital

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:56:41 GMT

ANTIOCH, Ill. (WGN-TV) — A 10-year-old child was thrown from a carnival ride on Sunday in Antioch, Illinois, police said. Around 2:40 p.m., police said the child was thrown from the Moby Dick ride at the Taste of Antioch festival. The 10-year-old was flown to a local hospital. Their condition was not released Sunday afternoon. Another kid who was on the Moby Dick ride said the bar for his seat was coming over his head several times, and he had to re-secure it."My bar was coming up over my head, so every time I went up because it was going up and I was almost about to fall out, I would slam down to close it so that way I would not fall out," Elliott Johnson said. "Then as soon as it started slowing down and it was about maybe rocking on the floor, I was able to push it up and slide out."Johnson said he then ran to find help for the injured child. Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner used his executive authority to close the rides while a safety review of each ride is completed, according to t...