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Ticker: South Coast rail expansion delayed; Feds sue Chipotle    

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Passenger service on a commuter rail expansion to southern Massachusetts is not expected to begin until next summer, about half a year later than prior forecasts, MBTA officials said late last week.During a wide-ranging presentation about the status of the highly anticipated South Coast Rail project, MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan told the agency’s board that “revenue service is expected to begin [in] summer of 2024.” A range of safety and certification steps need to be “satisfactorily and successfully completed” first, he said.At a ribbon-cutting for the expansion in December, former MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said riders should be able to begin riding South Coast Rail by the end of 2023.Feds sue ChipotleA federal agency has sued the restaurant chain Chipotle, accusing it of religious harassment and retaliation after a manager at a Kansas location forcibly removed an employee’s hijab, a headscarf worn by some Muslim women.In a l...

Domino Sugar’s sign will light only ‘O’ and ‘S’ to cheer on Orioles in postseason

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Go O’s!That’s what Domino Sugar’s sign will signal starting Sunday through the Orioles’ postseason run.As the city gears up for the first game of the Orioles postseason on Saturday at Camden Yards, the iconic sign will light only its sets of “O” and “S” to celebrate.The Orioles won the AL East division Thursday, earning them a bye during the wild-card series and home-field advantage. Baltimore will begin postseason play — its first since 2016 — in Game 1 of the AL Division Series. The sign’s cheer will remain lit every night of the Orioles postseason.“Our team of more than 500 employees is pulling for the Orioles,” Peter O’Malley, vice president of corporate relations of ASR Group, which owns the refinery, said in a statement. “We couldn’t think of a bigger or better way to show our appreciation and support for the O’s.” ()

Disney, DeSantis escalate battle 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — The legal fights between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis ratcheted up in recent days.The Florida governor asked that the company’s First Amendment lawsuit against him be tossed from federal court, and Disney demanded emails, texts and other communications from the governor’s office in a separate state court lawsuit originally brought by DeSantis appointees of Walt Disney World’s governing district.The legal filings marked an escalation in the battle between the entertainment giant and DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. The confrontation started last year when Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, and DeSantis retaliated by taking over the governing district that provides municipal services for the 25,000-acre Disney World theme park resort in Florida.Disney has sued DeSantis in federal court, claiming the governor violated its free speech rig...

Bruins notebook: Trent Frederic still looking to improve

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Trent Frederic was living a good life last year and he knows it.For most of the season, he was skating on an unusually stacked third line with center Charlie Coyle and former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall on the left wing. The result, in part, was a career-high 17 goals for Frederic, who realized that in the opposition’s minds he was probably the third concern on that line.But Frederic doesn’t want that 17-goal line to represent his high-water mark.“I feel like I can keep going up,” said Frederic after the Bruins’ Sunday session. “I think I still have more to give and even looking at last year, I had a lot of chances. I mean everyone has looks that you should score on, but I think I could have actually done better than I did. There’s still a lot of room to improve. I want to keep getting better every year.”Frederic has been paired for most of camp with center Morgan Geekie while the left wing remains fluid. AJ Greer skated there on Sunday while Jesper Boqvis...

Patriots’ inactives bring good news for defense against Cowboys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas — Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is officially active Sunday against the Cowboys.Godchaux didn’t finish last Sunday’s win over the Jets after suffering an ankle injury. He was limited in practice throughout the week but will dress in Week 4.Here’s the Patriots’ full list of inactives:QB Will Grier (emergency third QB)CB Jonathan JonesLG Cole StrangeWR Kayshon BoutteOT Tyrone WheatleyThe Patriots also placed defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale on injured reserve and elevated Jeremiah Pharms Jr. off of the practice squad this week. The team will have Godchaux, Christian Barmore, Lawrence Guy, Sam Roberts and Pharms available.Jones and Strange were ruled out Saturday and didn’t travel with the team. Jones has been dealing with an ankle injury since before Week 2. Strange injured his knee Sunday against the Jets.The Patriots have cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez, Myles Bryant, Shaun Wade and Ameer Speed available. They could also m...

Sweet 16: Moore off to strong start at Tabor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Jeff Moore wasn’t completely sure what to expect when he tossed his name in the ring for the vacant Tabor Academy head football coaching job.It didn’t take long for Moore to be convinced the Marion-based prep school was just what he was looking for.Moore was offered and accepted the job in February. Two weeks into his first season, it certainly appears as though Tabor landed the right candidate. The Seawolves have jumped out to a quick 2-0 record, the mark all the more impressive considering Tabor hasn’t had a winning season (12-28) since joining the Independent School League in 2017.“There were a couple factors that came into me considering Tabor,” said Moore, who was an assistant at UMass last year. “My wife (Brittany) and I visited the school and it was evident that the students and faculty really enjoyed being there. Another reason was my wife and I are from Norton and we would only be 35 minutes away from our families.“Throughout the interview process, Tabor l...

5 arrested, 2 sent to hospital at Hamilton street parties that drew thousands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Police in Hamilton arrested five people on Saturday at a series of unsanctioned street parties they say drew thousands.Police say they received 49 calls about the parties near the McMaster University campus.They estimate that between 8,000 and 9,000 people were in attendance at the parties’ peak.Officers say paramedics received 10 calls for service over the course of the gatherings, and two people were taken to hospital for public intoxication.In addition to the arrests, police say they issued 10 provincial offence notices.They say five people were charged under the nuisance party bylaw, which city council enacted last month and requires attendees to leave an area once their gathering has been deemed a nuisance. “Thanks to the planning and collaboration between the City, Hamilton Police Service and McMaster University, our teams were able to safely manage crowds in the Westdale and Ainslie neighbourhoods this weekend,” said Dan Smith, the acting director of Licensing and...

Tim Wakefield, who revived his career and Red Sox trophy case with knuckleball, has died at 57

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57.The Red Sox announced his death in a statement Sunday. Wakefield had brain cancer, according to ex-teammate Curt Schilling, who outed the illness on a podcast last week — drawing an outpouring of support for Wakefield. The Red Sox confirmed an illness at the time but did not elaborate, saying Wakefield had requested privacy.Drafted by the Pirates as a first baseman who set home run records in college, Wakefield converted to a pitcher after mastering the knuckleball in the minor leagues. Relying on the old-timey pitch that had largely fallen into disuse, he went on to win 200 major league games, including 186 with the Red Sox — behind only Cy Young and Roger Clemens in franchise history.But it was his role in t...

More than 100 search for 9-year-old girl who was camping with family in upstate New York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — Drones, bloodhounds and an airboat were used in the search for a missing 9-year-old girl who had been camping with her family in upstate New York, officials said Sunday.Charlotte Sena was last seen on Saturday evening in Moreau Lake State Park, about 35 miles (60 kilometers) north of Albany. She had been riding her bike around a loop in the bucolic park with other children when she decided to ride around one more time by herself. Her parents became alarmed when the fourth grader failed to come back after 15 minutes, Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a briefing Sunday.The girl’s mother called 911 after her bicycle was found about 6:45 p.m. Saturday. Officials issued an Amber Alert on Sunday morning after an exhaustive search because “it was quite possible that an abduction had taken place,” state police Lt. Colonel Richard Mazzone said.The more than 100 searchers on Sunday included police, forest rangers and civilians. “We are leaving no stone, no branch, no table, ...

Inmate accused of killing corrections officer at Georgia prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

GLENNVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia prison guard died Sunday after he was attacked by an inmate, state officials said.Correctional officer Robert Clark, 42, died at a hospital after an inmate assaulted him with a homemade weapon at Smith State Prison in rural Glennville, the Georgia Department of Corrections said in a news release.“The entire GDC team is mourning the loss of one of our own and we collectively express our deepest condolences to Officer Clark’s family and friends,” Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver said in a statement. “We will support them as they navigate this tragedy over the coming days, weeks and months.”Clark had begun working as a state corrections officer six months ago, the agency said.Clark was escorting two inmates from the prison dining hall Sunday when one of them attacked him from behind, the department’s statement said. The second inmate tried to help the officer and was also wounded. He remained hospitalized Sunday with injuries the agency desc...