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Biden vetoes 2 Republican-led bills to undo prairie chicken, bat protections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has vetoed Republican-sponsored bills to undo federal protections for two endangered species that have seen their populations plummet over the years: the lesser prairie chicken and northern long-eared bat.The two GOP measures would overturn “science-based rulemaking" that offers important protections for the once-abundant species and would undermine the Endangered Species Act, Biden said. “The lesser prairie-chicken serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies, making the species an important measure of the overall health of America’s grasslands,'' the White House wrote late Tuesday in a veto statement about the prairie bird. It's a member of the grouse family found in parts of the Midwest and Southwest, including the oil-rich Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. The bird’s range also extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas.FILE - This undated photo provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shows a no...

Boston police officer hurt in Allston crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

A police officer was hurt in a crash in Allston Wednesday, officials said.The Boston police officer was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after responding to a two-vehicle crash in the area of North Harvard Street around 3:30 p.m. After the first crash, both drivers got out of their vehicles. After the officer was on the scene, the Subaru somehow shifted into gear and began to move. The officer tried to get in the car to stop it but was dragged until the car crashed into a nearby pole at a Shell gas station.North Harvard Street was closed while officials investigated but is reopened as of 6 p.m.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

3 people dead after crash in Hooksett, NH

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

Three people died Wednesday after a multi-vehicle crash in Hooksett, New Hampshire, police said. The crash happened at the intersection of Main Street and Hooksett Road around 1:20 p.m.Citing a preliminary investigation, police said a Nissan Rogue was traveling north on Hooksett Road when it side-swiped a Toyota Camry and a GMC van. Police said the Nissan then continued onto Main Street where it rear-ended a Jeep and crashed into a large tree stump on the southbound side of the road. Police said all occupants of the Nissan, including its driver and two passengers, were taken to hospitals where they were pronounced dead. The driver of the Jeep was also taken to a hospital with what police described as “apparent minor injuries.” The drivers of the GMC van and the Toyota Camry were uninjured. The crash prompted road closures for several hours Wednesday afternoon and scattered debris throughout the intersection of Main Street and Hooksett Road.Police said their inves...

Concord-Carlisle field hockey team plays elite defense, tops Wellesley

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

WELLESLEY – Standout defense has been a calling card for the No. 10 Concord-Carlisle field hockey team over the last few seasons, and that remained true Wednesday afternoon to hand No. 19 Wellesley its first loss during a gritty 3-1 nonleague win on the road.The Patriots (4-1-1) seemed to have an answer for almost every potentially dangerous bid the Raiders (6-1-1) presented, holding Wellesley scoreless up until the final minute despite a bevy of corners.Neutralizing the Raiders’ plus speed in transition played a massive role, as did a constant rotation of defenders winning one-on-one matchups around and inside the circle. Goalie Crista Celi (six saves) cleaned up whatever got through most of the way.Wellesley’s defense was equally tough, but Concord-Carlisle powered through behind Avery Swenson’s goal and assist. Fei Yang-Sady and Kate Francini scored the other two goals, while Hadley Swenson (assist) and Julia Lambert stood out within a well-rounded win.“Each line was working toge...

Battenfeld: Social disorder in American cities threatens to damage Biden re-election hopes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

Lawlessness and random violent attacks across American cities – forcing stores to close and city officials to confront the problem – could become a key issue in 2024 and hurt the Biden campaign’s claims of economic recovery.The sense of social disorder – occurring primarily in Democratic-led cities – could come back to bite Democrats running for office.The shocking ransacking of stores like Apple in Philadelphia this week by gangs of teenagers and others is just the latest example of urban unrest. Retail giant Target just announced it was closing nine stores in several cities due to rampant shoplifting and threats of violence.“This was a sickening display of opportunistic criminal activity, and we will not stand for it,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said.Philadelphia police officials said about 20 people were arrested Tuesday night for the looting, which was captured on video for all to see the looters acting without seeming fear of being caught or punished.Among the stores closed ...

Woman pushing shopping cart killed in hit-and-run

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego police are seeking the public's help to identify the suspect in a hit-and-run collision earlier this month that killed a pedestrian.The crash happened Friday at about 8:30 p.m. on the 5700 block of Division Street in the Alta Vista neighborhood, SDPD said. The pedestrian, described as a 42-year-old woman, was pushing a shopping cart in the street along the right shoulder of eastbound lanes when a vehicle traveling in the same direction hit her. The driver then fled the scene. According to SDPD, the pedestrian sustained fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene. Her identity has not been disclosed at this time. Kitten rescue attempt on Coronado Bridge causes three-car crash After a preliminary investigation, officers were able to narrow down a vehicle description from witness accounts, surveillance video and other evidence collected at the scene.Investigators believe the suspect vehicle is a 2011 to 2015 Chevrol...

Republican debate live updates: Trump takes Michigan stage as rivals prep in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

Republican presidential candidates are looking for breakout moments and voters' attention when they meet Wednesday night in Simi Valley, Calif., for the second primary debate. It starts just an hour after the 2024 front-runner headlines an event in Michigan.Seven candidates, all polling well behind former President Trump, met the Republican National Committee (RNC) criteria to participate: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.Trump, meanwhile, is again not joining the debate. Instead, he will be at an 8 p.m. event near Detroit meeting with current and former union workers amid their ongoing strike against three major automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.The debate starts at 9 p.m. on Fox Business Network. Find out how to watch it...

Biden isn’t paying much attention to the 2024 GOP debate. He’s already zeroing in on Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Joe Biden raised campaign cash in San Francisco on Wednesday while seven Republican presidential hopefuls prepared to hold a debate down the coast in Simi Valley. Biden isn’t paying them much attention because he’s already zeroing in on Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner who won’t be on the stage.Biden has been increasingly calling out Trump by name and referring to him as his “likely opponent” in 2024, signaling a likely rematch from four years earlier and warning of what the Democratic incumbent sees as major dangers to the nation if he is not reelected. ”Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy this democracy,” Biden said Tuesday night during a California fundraiser, referring to a Trump campaign slogan, as he skipped entirely over Trump’s GOP rivals.Biden’s trip to the West this week is counterprogramming of sorts as a government shutdown looms, House Republicans launch impeachment hearings, the ...

Disney World government will give employees stipend after backlash for taking away park passes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Facing a backlash, Walt Disney World’s governing district will pay a stipend to employees whose free passes and discounts to the theme park resort were eliminated under a policy made by a new district administrator and board members who are allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.The stipend will be $3,000 a year, which is around the equivalent value of the theme park passes, Glen Gilzean, district administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, told board members during a meeting Wednesday evening. The board then unanimously approved the stipend.Board members said they had taken to heart the criticism of employees who said the free passes gave them lasting memories with their families and allowed relatives to see the fruits of their work. Without the free passes, the parks would be unaffordable, many employees said.“We heard you and have worked to respond accordingly,” said board member Ron Peri.Employees had enjoyed the perk for decades when...

Winnipeg man pleads guilty to manslaughter in the death of Saskatchewan RCMP officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:07:14 GMT

REGINA — The mother of a Saskatchewan RCMP officer who was killed two years ago says it was “hell” to watch a Winnipeg man plead guilty to manslaughter in her son’s death.Alphonse Stanley Traverse pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the charge in Regina Court of King’s Bench for his role in Const. Shelby Patton’s death. Traverse also pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a motor vehicle. “It’s very traumatic,” Melanie Patton, the mother of the 26-year-old Mountie, said in an interview. “It’s better than sitting through a trial, but at the same time there’s so much trauma and we’re not going to recover. It’s like I’m living in hell.”Shelby Patton was killed more than two years ago when he attempted to stop a stolen truck, driven by Traverse, near the town of Wolseley, east of Regina.According to an agreed statement of facts, Traverse had been driving from Winnipeg to Saskatchewan in June 2021 to play VLTs. He was with Marlene Pagee at the time, and they chose to go to Saskatc...