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Winds, heavy rain cause outages in Maine, wash out NH roads

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A storm with heavy rain and gusts knocked out power for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Maine and washed out some roads there and in neighboring New Hampshire as some rivers continued to rise Monday, officials said.Wind gusts on Sunday reached 70 mph (113 kph) near Matinicus Island, about 20 miles offshore, and 65 mph (104 kph) in Bath, where shipbuilder Bath Iron Works has numerous cranes. There were no immediate reports of serious damage.More than 50,000 homes and businesses were in the dark Monday morning across Maine, and flood warnings were in effect for a number of rivers in Maine and New Hampshire, officials said.Some parts of southern Maine experienced more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain, and a few topped 5 inches (13 centimeters), said Stephen Baron, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.Some roads were damaged in New Hampshire, including part of the Kancamagus Highway, which cuts through the White Mountain National Fo...

MassDOT announces weeknight lane closures on Tobin Bridge

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

Lane closures took effect Monday on the Tobin Bridge after an announcement earlier in the day from the state Department of Transportation. Planned lane closures will run from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays throughout May and June, impacting Route 1 southbound on the bridge.Officials said two lanes of traffic will remain open at all times during lane closures over the next two months. MassDOT said the closures will support “structural repairs and safety walk rehabilitation operations” on the bridge. Work is weather dependent, officials said.

Worcester police searching for pair accused of throwing food, smashing window at Popeyes restaurant

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

Police were still searching for two men on Monday after police said the men threw food and smashed a window at a Popeyes restaurant in Worcester after trying to order an item was sold out over the weekend. Police said they responded to the Popeyes location on Park Avenue around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, where witnesses said two men first tried to order the item through the drive-thru.“They were told that an item was not available, and responded by threatening the clerk and entering the restaurant,” police said. Police said the men entered the restaurant and began throwing food at employees, also damaging equipment and smashing the drive-thru window with a rock before leaving the scene. Police said the incident remained under investigation as of Monday afternoon as their search continued. 

James Harden hits game-winning shot as 76ers steal Game 1 over Celtics

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

The Celtics knew the 76ers would still pose a challenge without Joel Embiid. They said they respected their second-round opponent even without their star big man and the likely MVP.And yet, once again, they found a way to make life harder on themselves.Game 1 was not what the Celtics designed, and it was another MVP who put them in a hole. James Harden scored 45 points in an electrifying performance – including the game-winning 3-pointer with seconds remaining – as the 76ers went into TD Garden and stole Game 1 with a stunning 119-115 victory.Jayson Tatum scored 39 points, Jaylen Brown added 23 points and Malcolm Brogdon scored 20, but they couldn’t overcome 16 turnovers – several of them coming in bad spots with the game on the line – or Harden’s 45 points, which included seven 3-pointers. It included a devastating step-back triple over Al Horford with 8.1 seconds remaining, which quieted the Garden crowd.Marcus Smart committed his sixth turnover on the next play before Tatum commi...

Domingo German’s dominant start goes to waste as relievers lose lead in 3-2 loss to Cleveland

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

Domingo German pitched the game of his life on Monday. Then Clay Holmes blew it all up as the Yankees suffered another brutal loss in their return to the Bronx.Holmes took over with a 2-0 lead and one out in the ninth. A few batters and one Holmes fielding error later, Guardians first baseman and Yankees nemesis Josh Naylor tied the game with a two-run single. From there, heavy boos soundtracked Holmes’ departure.Wandy Peralta then walked in the winning run before the inning ended, and the Yankees failed to rally in the bottom of the ninth off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. Just like that, a brilliant pitching performance went to waste as the Yanks lost, 3-2.The Bombers have now scored fewer than four runs in 15 of their last 18 games. A Jose Trevino home run and an RBI single from DJ LeMahieu provided all of the Yankees’ scoring in the third inning.While Monday served as the Yankees’ second consecutive debilitating loss following a 15-2 defeat in Texas on Sunday...

New rules for San Diego short-term rentals in effect

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- New rules for operating short-term rentals in San Diego take effect May 1.  Under the deadline, short-term rental property owners must have a license issued by the city.  Karl Rand is a host and was instrumental in coming up with the permitting process.“I am very optimistic. It’s going to solve a lot of the problems that we’ve had,” Rand said.Under the new rules, there are four types of licenses. Tier 1 for part-time rentals, tier 2 for rentals that are a portion of a home, tier 3 for whole-home rentals – everywhere except Mission Beach, which is in Tier 4. And only 1% of properties in San Diego can be short-term rentals except in Mission Beach where 30% of properties are allowed. 2 killed in house party shooting identified “By limiting the number of units, they can be used as vacation rentals that helps with the housing supply issue and then through the enforcement mechanism that will help with a nuisance issue like trash noise,” Rand said.The license is issued throu...

Driver killed in rollover crash on SR-76 identified

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man killed in a rollover crash a week ago near Palomar Mountain has been identified, medical officials said.Raul Ruiz Meza, 23, was announced as the deceased, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said on its website.The collision occurred last Monday on State Route 76, located just east of South Grade Road in Pauma Valley, per the California Highway Patrol. 3 killed in Big Bear plane crash According to authorities, Meza was driving a Mazda minivan westbound on SR-76 when his vehicle entered the eastbound lanes and struck a divider, rolling over multiple times before coming to a stop on the north shoulder of the roadway.The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.The manner of death was determined as an accident, medical officials confirmed.

Man arrested for trying to forcibly kiss, hug woman near east Toronto mall

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

Toronto police arrested and charged a 71-year-old man in an alleged sexual assault at a bus stop near Eglinton Square Shopping Centre.Authorities were notified of a sexual assault in the Victoria Park Avenue and O’Connor Drive area around 7:30 p.m. on April 28.It’s alleged that a woman was at a bus stop waiting for the bus when a man approached her and began speaking with her before following the victim onto the bus.Police said the man pulled her arm and demanded she sit with him. When she refused, he followed her as she exited the bus and hugged and kissed her.The woman pushed the man away, and he fled the scene.On Monday, investigators arrested 71-year-old Mosleh Ibrahim of Toronto.He’s facing several charges, including administering a noxious thing and the intent to “aggrieve and annoy,” forcible confinement, and two counts of sexual assault and assault.Ibrahim appeared in court earlier Monday morning.Investigators believe there may be more victims a...

Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma on Monday became the latest state to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors as Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill that makes it a felony for health care workers to provide children with treatments that can include puberty-blocking drugs and hormones.Oklahoma joins at least 15 other states with laws banning such care, as conservatives across the country have targeted transgender rights.Stitt, who was reelected in November, made the ban a priority of this year’s legislative session, saying he wanted to protect children. Transgender advocates and parents of transgender children say such care is essential.Stitt signed bills last year that prohibit transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams and prevent transgender children from using school bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.“Last year, I called for a statewide ban on all irreversible gender transition surgeries and hormone therapies on minors so I am thrille...

Legendary folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:57:30 GMT

TORONTO — Legendary Canadian folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot has died at age 84.Victoria Lord, a representative for the family, says the musician behind classic Canadian ballads “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” died at a Toronto hospital on Monday evening.His cause of death was not immediately available.The Orillia, Ont., native rose to fame in the early 1960s after a move to Toronto opened doors in the thriving Yorkville music scene, and hooked him up with fellow folkies Ian and Sylvia Tyson. They became great admirers of his work and covered two of his tracks.His 1965 debut album “Lightfoot!” ushered in a new folk voice and by the turn of the decade he eased rather effortlessly into the pop scene, making his first appearance on the Billboard chart with 1971’s “If You Could Read My Mind.”Lightfoot’s popularity peaked in the mid-1970s when both his single and album “Sundown” ...