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Massachusetts town warns residents of bear sighting just before trick-or-treating: ‘Take in your pumpkins and don’t leave candy out’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

A Bay State community was on high alert for a roaming black bear on Halloween, as the town warned residents of the animal sighting just before kids went out for trick-or-treating.Whitman Police sent out an alert Tuesday afternoon after the town’s police department received a report of a black bear.While responding to the area of Commercial Street between Linden Street and Dyer Avenue, a Whitman police officer also reported seeing the bear in the Plymouth County community.Whitman Police ended up boosting its police presence throughout the evening’s trick-or-treating hours.“We are monitoring this situation as closely as possible. Brigham St, Winter St, Franklin St, & Kendrick St. neighborhoods should be on high alert and use caution,” Whitman Police posted.“Please take in your pumpkins and don’t leave candy out unattended,” the department added.The same black bear was spotted in town earlier in October.“Over the past several weeks, t...

Division 2 state golf: Potter’s 1-over leads way for Dover-Sherborn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

BROCKTON — As Charlie Potter made his way to the course Tuesday, a bitter chill hung in the air. Cars whistled past nearby in the City of Champions. However, he strolled out with a bit of swagger, confident in his approach.The sophomore shot a 71 (one-over-par) on the afternoon, helping Dover-Sherborn capture the Div. 2 golf championship at Thorny Lea Country Club in Brockton.“It really is an amazing feeling,” Potter said afterward. “Coming out here, my first time playing. I kind of surprised myself with my ability today.”Potter was named the tournament’s medalist, besting Reading’s Brandon Vitarsi by one stroke. His efforts directly impacted Dover-Sherborn in the final standings, as the Raiders edged Bishop Stang by two strokes for the state title.Despite the tricky greens, which wreaked havoc for fellow golfers, Potter navigated the course’s tricks with little interruption.His coach and mentor, Jon Kirby, was not surprised.“He has (been incredible),” said Kirby. “He shot 11-under,...

Longmeadow’s Ryan Downes repeats as Div. 1 state golf champion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

HAMPDEN – Nobody could keep pace with Longmeadow golf’s superstar, Vanderbilt-commit Ryan Downes, on his way to repeating as the Div. 1 state championship medalist with a 4-under 68 on the chilly rolling hills at GreatHorse on Tuesday afternoon.But after finishing as runner-up in last year’s championship, no individual on St. John’s of Shrewsbury had to in order to achieve what they really wanted.Behind a well-balanced effort that saw five of their top six golfers shoot under 80, the Pioneers fulfilled their quest for their first state title since 2012 with a 303 score. Senior Nic Gebhardt and Ronan Mooney each shot a three-over 75 to lead the way, comfortably beating out second-place St. John’s Prep (314) and third-place Xaverian (315).Considering the program’s seven titles before head coach Sean Noonan’s tenure began 10 years ago, it’s an extra special feeling to finally get over the hump.“It’s a dream season, really,” Noonan said. “Last year came that close. We’ve had two seconds...

Good sport: Jason Tatum star at pep rally

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

The “special guest” at a pep rally at New Mission High School Tuesday had the kids sky high. To the delight of everyone, Celtics star forward Jason Tatum came to help whip up the kids. He didn’t need to try that hard. There was so much excitement it took a bit to cool the kids down. It was a treat.Jayson Tatum poses with students during a pep rally at New Mission High School. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Boston, MA - October 31: Jayson Tatum talks with students during a pep rally at New Mission High School. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Boston, MA - October 31: Jayson Tatum and Mayor Michelle Wu talk with students during a pep rally at New Mission High School. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Boston, MA - October 31: Mission High School students rush Jayson Tatum as he enters a pep rally. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Boston, MA - October 31: Mission High School students rush Jayson Tatum as he enters a pep rally. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)Boston, MA - October 31: Mission Hig...

Eight members of BPS task force resign over inclusive education changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

Eight member of the English Learners Task Force have resigned in protest of parts of the new Inclusive Education Plan moving the majority of English Language Learners to General Education classrooms.“This shift represents a clear move away from expanding access to instruction in the students’ native languages and highlights a fundamental divide between EL Task Force leaders and BPS leaders that we no longer feel can be bridged,” the members wrote in a letter to the School Committee sent Tuesday. “For this reason, we write to you today to resign from the EL Task Force of the Boston School Committee.”Under the Inclusive Education Plan — presented at the Oct. 18 School Committee meeting — English Learners (ELs) and ELs with disabilities would be integrated in General Education classrooms with English as a Second Language (ESL) support rather than being taught in separate classes in their native languages.The EL Task Force was appointed in 2009 to sup...

Protesters of Israel defense contractor’s Cambridge location arrested; 2 charged with assault of police officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

Nine people among the 200-strong who protested at the Cambridge location of an Israeli defense contractor were arrested — with two of them charged with assault and battery on a police officer.Cambridge Police on Monday arrested Eliza Sathler, 26, of Revere; Pearl Delaney Moore, 29, of Boston; Calla M. Walsh, 19, of Cambridge; Sophie Ross, 22, of Housatonic; Vera Van De Seyp, 30, of Somerville; Michael Eden, 27, of Cambridge; Evan Aldred Fournier-Swire, 19, of Bristol, R.I.; Willow Ross Carretero Chavez, 21, of Somerville; and Molly Wexler-Romig, 33, of Boston.They were each arraigned Tuesday morning in Cambridge District Court. All had charges of disorderly conduct, but some were also charged with vandalizing property and resisting arrest. Moore and Sathler were also charged with assault and battery on a police officer, with Sathler also charged with possessing and throwing an incendiary device.“Starting at 10 am, Cambridge Police officers were monitoring a protest outside Elbit Sys...

Attorneys in case of accused Charlestown, North End serial rapist Matthew Nilo hash out evidence details

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

Accused serial rapist of Charlestown and the North End Matthew Nilo appeared in court on Halloween day for attorneys to attempt to settle some background issues.Nilo, 35, a New York City corporate attorney who lives in New Jersey, was arrested at the end of May and charged with a series of rapes in the Terminal Street area of Charlestown in 2007 and 2008. He was charged a month later with another series of rapes over an 18-month period between January 2007 and July 2008. He pleaded not guilty to each charge and has been out on a combined bail of $550,000.On Tuesday, prosecutor Lynn Feigenbaum and defense attorneys Rosemary Scapicchio and Joseph Cataldo met briefly in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston before Clerk Magistrate Edward Curley to argue over the prosecution’s proposals for a buccal swab from Nilo and to redact court documents provided for him.“The Commonwealth is only seeking that the names and identifying information — names, addresses — will not be provided in writing to ...

Bruins star Charlie McAvoy whacked with four-game suspension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

The Bruins have started their season on a the longest point streak in their history at 8-0-1, but they’ll be hard-pressed to extend it without their best defenseman for the next four games.That’s the punishment Charlie McAvoy received for his check to the head of Oliver Ekman-Larson in the third period of Boston’s 3-2 overtime win over the Florida Panthers on Monday.On the play in question, the B’s were in the attacking zone when, well after the Panthers’ defenseman had gotten rid of the puck from in front of the Florida net, McAvoy delivered a check to the head of Ekman-Larson. McAvoy was assessed a match penalty on the play.In the NHL’s video announcing the suspension, it is pointed out that the head is the direct point of contact and that the head contact is avoidable.McAvoy’s history was also taken into account. He was been fined by the league and suspended a game in the 2019 playoffs when he caught Columbus’ Josh Anderson with an ...

As Trump tried to buy Buffalo Bills, bankers doubted he’d get NFL’s OK, emails show at fraud trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

By JENNIFER PELTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — When Donald Trump tried to buy the Buffalo Bills in 2014, investment bankers doubted the NFL would allow it but encouraged him to stay in the running, according to internal emails aired Tuesday at the former president’s civil fraud trial.“Trump has little chance of being approved by the NFL,” given that he had owned casinos and had a role in the rival USFL’s 1980s antitrust suit against the NFL, then-Morgan Stanley executive K. Don Cornwell wrote to colleagues in April 2014. “That being said, his strong show of support doesn’t hurt the process.”“He probably does have the dough” and claimed he’d been courting the NFL, another Morgan Stanley banker, Jeffrey Holzschuh, wrote back, adding: “but never know the real facts with him.”Three months later, Trump offered $1 billion cash for the Bills, becoming one of three known finalists seeking to buy the team afte...

New Mexico attorney general accuses landowners of preventing public access to the Pecos River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s top prosecutor is going after landowners who he says are illegally and unconstitutionally depriving the public of access to stretches of one of the state’s most well-known rivers.The case involving access to the Pecos River is the first brought after the state Supreme Court in 2022 settled a long-simmering dispute over whether boaters and anglers had a right to access streams and rivers that cross private property. Under the New Mexico Constitution, water within the state belongs to the public but the banks next to that water and the land beneath the water may be owned privately. The court found that public easement covers what would be reasonably necessary to use the water itself and that any use of the beds and banks must have minimal impact. Attorney General Raúl Torrez brought the case after people reported being threatened by landowners with physical violence for wading, fishing and boating on portions of the Pecos River that flow thr...