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Takeaways from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s CNN town hall on public education

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

When Republicans were down in 2021, after losing control of the White House and the Senate, Glenn Youngkin gave them hope with his victory in the Virginia governor’s race.The question now for GOP voters is whether they see Youngkin as a rising star — and potential presidential nominee — or as an afterthought in a primary season that has seen former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis corner most of the attention to date.Like DeSantis, Youngkin has not yet announced his 2024 plans. Unlike the Florida governor, Youngkin has so far failed to register as a legitimate contender with the Republican grassroots and in polling. But in his CNN town hall on Thursday night, hosted by Jake Tapper and focused on public education, the governor has a rare opportunity to make his case to a national audience in prime time.Youngkin’s focus on education and “parents’ rights” during his 2021 campaign has been copied by Republicans around the cou...

KFL&A Public Health warns of toxic unregulated drug supply

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFLA) Public Health sent out a public service announcement on Thursday morning warning the community of particularly dangerous drug toxicity. The local public health unit said there has been increased detection of xylazine and benzodiazepines in the city’s unregulated drug market. Benzodiazepines are a class of medication sometimes prescribed but also found readily in the black market, they include relatively common prescription medications like xanax and valium. Xylazine on the other hand is a veterinary drug which was first officially identified in the Canadian unregulated drug market around 2012. Both the substances are potent sedatives, and can show similar symptoms as opioids including drowsiness, slow breathing and disorientation.Rhonda Lovell, a public health nurse in Kingston, says the substances in question being found alongside opioids like fentanyl is cause for particular concern and caution.“They’re showing u...

Disney Cruise Line, nonprofit donate mobile movie theater to Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

Disney Cruise Line donated a “reel” cool gift to a South Florida children’s hospital.Captain Minnie Mouse and her crew from Disney Cruise Line dropped by Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale to deliver a mobile movie theater, Thursday morning.The cruise line teamed up with the nonprofit Starlight Children’s Foundation to kick off the first of many movie nights for children, as well as provide them with a boatload of toys and games.“Anytime the children are here in the hospital, they’re going to be able to enjoy this time watching movies, having fun and really keeping their mind off being in the hospital,” said BHMC CEO Heather Havericak. “It’s just such an incredible gift.”Officials hope the mobile movie theater and Starlight Disney-themed toys will help the pediatric patients and their families better cope with their medical challenges.

Supporting innovation is key to unlocking inclusion for all consumers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

More than 13 million adult EU citizens still lack access to formal financial services[1]. In some parts of the EU, the percentage of those that remain unbanked is over 30 percent[2], and the pandemic has only further accelerated these inequalities, as well as worsening digital poverty, and exclusion. Additionally, worldwide, women represent over half — 56 percent — of the unbanked adult population[3].Mark Barnett, president, Mastercard Europe | via MastercardThese indicators underscore the need to bring innovative solutions to the financial needs of a significant portion of individuals, and even more so toward women and underserved groups  across Europe like those on low incomes.Not only is there a moral case for ensuring that people are well equipped for — and thrive in — the digital era, individuals and businesses that have the right access and skills to operate in Europe’s digital economy contribute a significant economic and productivity boost.According to Eurostat, 43 perc...

MBTA announces new speed restrictions on Red, Orange, Blue and Green Lines

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

The MBTA announced new speed restrictions Thursday on its Red, Orange, Blue and Green Line systems effective immediately. The restrictions will cap train speeds between 10 and 25 miles-per-hour due to the findings of a recent site visit by the Department of Public Utilities on the Red Line between Ashmont and Savin Hill stations, according to the TThe MBTA has warned riders the speed restrictions will lead to longer travel times. “The MBTA apologizes in advance for these inconveniences and remains committed to operating the transit system in the safest manner possible,” the T said in a statement. New speed restrictions follow shortly after the T announced a new slow zone report last month detailing existing restrictions.The MBTA did not provide further information on the findings that prompted its new speed restrictions on Thursday night. Officials are planning to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Friday.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air...

Nets starters well rested for Friday’s back to back in Minnesota

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

It was a night off for the starters.Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn rested starting point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and sat Nic Claxton (right thumb sprain/left Achilles tendinopathy), Cam Johnson (right knee soreness) and Royce O’Neale (left knee soreness) all due to injury in Brooklyn’s 118-113 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.Ben Simmons (left knee/back soreness) missed his eighth straight game since the All-Star break, and Vaughn load-managed forward Mikal Bridges, who didn’t see the floor after playing the entire opening period.It was a tactical decision by Vaughn — even though he said he merely rode a hot-shooting bench that gunned the Nets back into the game from down 25.The Nets were already heavy underdogs against the Bucks — who own the NBA’s best record — even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the former league MVP who sat Thursday night because of “right hand soreness.”If Vaughn played his starters and rode them all g...

MIAA statewide scores and highlights from Thursday’s action

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

Boys hockeyRyan Davis and Braden Knapp scored, while Griffin Starr registered the shutout as No. 6 Nantucket (15-6) advanced to the Div. 4 state semifinals with a 2-0 boys hockey win over No. 19 Amesbury. … Colin McIver scored twice and dished an assist, pacing second-seeded Sandwich (18-4-1) to a 4-1 win over No. 7 Dennis-Yarmouth.FootballBoston Herald All-Scholastics Carson Browne and Mikey Nabbout from Division 1 state champion St. John’s Prep headline a group selected as the 2023 recipients of the prestigious National Football Foundation’s Eastern Massachusetts Chapter Grinold Scholar-Athlete award. They will be honored at a dinner on May 21 at the Boston Marriott Newton.The 33 seniors were selected on the basis of their performance on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Former Boston Herald/Globe High School Sports Editor Bob Holmes will introduce each of the recipients.In addition to Browne and Nabbout, the rest of the list includes William Asto...

Canton girls avenge last season’s loss to Algonquin

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

CANTON – First-year Canton girls hockey coach Nikki Petrich didn’t have to imagine how badly her team wanted revenge over Algonquin for beating them in the Div. 2 state final at TD Garden last year. Leading up to a shot at redemption in the state quarterfinal round Thursday night, senior captain Ellie Bohane was quite vocal about its meaning.Mission accomplished.Carolyn Durand stood firm in net for a 21-save shutout as her and the Bulldogs defense limited one of the best goal-scorers in the state as best as a team could, propelling fourth-seeded Canton to a 3-0 win over the No. 5 Titans in front of a packed Canton Ice House crowd. Freshmen Izzy Cusack and Christina Curran each tallied scores before Audrey Koen’s empty-netter, giving the Bulldogs (18-2-4) all the offense they’d need to reach the state semifinals for a fifth time over the last six state tournaments.They play top-seeded Archbishop Williams at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Gallo Arena for another shot at the state final.“Bei...

China’s Xi awarded 3rd term as president, extending rule

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping was awarded a third five-year term as president Friday, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the U.S. and others. The endorsement of Xi’s appointment by the ceremonial National People’s Congress was a foregone conclusion for a leader who has sidelined potential rivals and filled the top ranks of the ruling Communist Party with his supporters since taking power in 2012.The vote for Xi was 2,952 to 0 by the NPC, members of which are appointed by the ruling party.Xi, 69, had himself named to a third five-year term as party general secretary in October, breaking with a tradition under which Chinese leaders handed over power once a decade. A two-term limit on the figurehead presidency was deleted from the Chinese constitution earlier, prompting suggestions he might stay in power for life.No candidate lists were distributed, and Xi and those awarded other posts w...

What’s happening at Fukushima plant 12 years after meltdown?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:02 GMT

OKUMA, Japan (AP) — Twelve years after the triple reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Japan is preparing to release a massive amount of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Japanese officials say the release is unavoidable and should start soon. Dealing with the wastewater is less of a challenge than the daunting task of decommissioning the plant. That process has barely progressed, and the removal of melted nuclear fuel hasn’t even started.The Associated Press recently visited the plant. Here’s an update on what’s happening. ___HOW ARE WATER DISCHARGE PREPARATIONS PROCEEDING?During their visit, AP journalists saw 30 giant tanks for sampling and analyzing the water for safety checks. A concrete facility for diluting the water after it is treated and tested is in the final stages of construction. From there, the water will be released via an undersea tunnel.The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, aims to have the faciliti...