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Lakewood claimed $21.6 million in pandemic relief funds, here's how it was spent

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

Joplin officials say they have big plans for $13.8 million of pandemic relief funds the tornado-ravaged southwestern Missouri city received under a two-year-old federal law. Yet the latest federal records show none of the money has been spent — or even budgeted.In fact, about 6,300 cities and counties — nearly 1 in 4 nationwide — reported no expenditures as of this spring, according to an Associated Press analysis of data released by the U.S. Treasury Department. About 5,100 of those listed no projects — either planned or underway.So what gives? Is the money not needed? Are cities just sitting on it? Colorado West Nile virus survivor shares warning with others Local and federal officials told the AP in interviews that the publicly available data is misleading — pockmarked by differing interpretations over exactly what must be reported, lagging in timeliness and failing to account for some preliminary planning. Critics contend it's an indication of a flawed pandemic response.Feder...

Police searching for inmate who escaped from Doral facility

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

Authorities in Miami-Dade County are searching for an inmate on the run.According to the Florida Department of Corrections, 32-year-old Joshua Thompson escaped from the Miami North Community Release Center, located on Northwest 41st Street and 70th Avenue in Doral, just before 5 p.m., Friday.Investigators with Miami-Dade Police said Thompson was spotted leaving the facility and is possibly headed to the area of Northwest 33rd Street and 85th Avenue.Officers with MDPD and Doral Police established a perimeter but were unable to locate the escapee.Thompson had been in jail for burglary and grand theft.If you have any information on Thompson’s whereabouts, call the Florida Department of Corrections at 850-922-6867 or your local law enforcement agency.

Boston couple hoping for a miracle after dog eats groom’s passport days before wedding

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

A couple from Boston is looking for help after their dog ate the groom-to-be’s passport just days ahead of their wedding.Donato Frattaroli and Magda Mazri were getting ready for their wedding in Italy when their 1-and-a-half-year-old Golden Retriever Chickie ate several pages out of Donato’s passport.“At the end of the day I just want my passport so I can be present for the most important day of my life,” he said.Frattaroli is hoping the State Department will be able to help him with his request.

Nonprofit program empowers people living with disabilities to learn to sail in Boston

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

Greater Boston-area residents living with disabilities have been heading out for sailing lessons on Boston Harbor thanks to a local nonprofit and a sailing center.The collaborative program between the Piers Park Sailing Center and Triangle Inc. allows participants and their family members to learn lessons on the water.Since 2018, the East Boston program has been teaching participants sailing and water safety skills.Using specialized equipment, all participants are able to board and are given responsibilities.Leaders at Triangle say the confidence participants get from taking part in the sailing program carries over into the rest of their lives.To learn more visit the website.

NH-based nonprofit sending volunteers to support children impacted by war in Ukraine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

New Hampshire-based nonprofit Common Man For Ukraine is sending volunteers on a more than two-week mission to support children impacted by the war. One of those volunteers and Common Man for Ukraine co-founder Susan Mathison spoke with 7NEWS as she set off for Poland to take part in the Children of Ukraine Health Retreat. Thirty kids will get physical and mental healthcare far away from the war zone.“When we first see these kids they’re horrifically traumatized their faces are just stone and they’re afraid of everything. They’ve been taught that Russians can kidnap them, so to leave their communities and get on a bus with strangers is a big challenge,” Mathison said. Anyone interested in supporting the organization can visit this website.

Tyquan Thornton among Patriots’ notable absences ahead of preseason game vs. Packers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

The Patriots are not without injuries through the first three-plus weeks of training camp.The following players were not spotted by reporters on hand in Green Bay before Saturday’s preseason game against the Packers:RB Pierre Strong, RB/WR Ty Montgomery, WR Tyquan Thornton, TE Mike Gesicki, OL Kody Russey, LG Cole Strange, T Conor McDermott, DE Ronnie Perkins, CB Jonathan JonesPUP list: RG Mike Onwenu, DE Trey Flowers, S/ST Cody DavisNFI: T Calvin AndersonRelated ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick updates Ezekiel Elliott’s progress in Patriots offense New England Patriots | Five things to watch in Patriots-Packers preseason game Saturday New England Patriots | Patriots have another potential emerging starter from 2023 NFL Draft class New England Patriots | Patriots rookie Malik Cunningham has taken on another expected role on offense New England Patriots | Why Patriots’ coaching b...

Biden takes second vacation in August, this time to Lake Tahoe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

GLENBROOK, Nevada (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived in Nevada late Friday for more rest and relaxation.The first couple is renting a private home on Lake Tahoe, the massive alpine lake that abuts California and Nevada and is a tourist attraction, particularly in the winter for its ski resorts.The president flew there from Camp David, where he hosted a summit Friday with the leaders of South Korea and Japan.The home in the Glenbrook community belongs to Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor. Steyer is an investor, climate activist and Democratic donor. He ran for president in 2020.The Bidens are renting the home for fair market value, the White House said, and will spend about a week in the area.The Bidens will halt their vacation for a day on Monday to visit Maui, where a wildfire ripped through the historic town of Lahaina and killed at least 114 people. They will meet with survivors, first responders, and local officials while surveying the damage.Biden vacationed e...

Hurricane Hilary downgraded as Mexico and California brace for ‘catastrophic’ impact

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

Hurricane Hilary roared toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula late Saturday as a downgraded but still dangerous Category 2 hurricane that’s likely to bring “catastrophic” flooding to the region and cross into the southwest U.S. as a tropical storm.While it’s still expected to enter the history books as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, Hilary weakened from a Major Category 3 hurricane down to a Category 2 storm at midday Saturday and is expected to lose strength further as it treks northward.“Hilary appears to be weakening quickly,” John Cangialosi, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, wrote in a Saturday update posted online. “The eye is filling and the cloud tops in the eyewall and rainbands have been warming during the past several hours.”Forecasters said the storm could bring heavy rainfall to the southwestern United States, dumping 3 to 6 inches in places, with isolated amounts of up to 10 inches, in port...

Column: Cody Bellinger’s remarkable comeback season has helped the Chicago Cubs morph from pretenders to contenders

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

Summer in Chicago is fleeting, and every moment needs to be savored.That’s exactly what a crowd of 39,525 did Saturday on a beautiful August afternoon at Wrigley Field during the Air and Water and Bellinger Show.With the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds providing the backdrop in the Chicago Cubs’ 6-4 win against the Kansas City Royals, first baseman Cody Bellinger poked a pair of opposite-field home runs and drove in four runs on a day the organization celebrated the life of legendary WXRT-FM 93.1 DJ Lin Brehmer.Justin Steele pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs while striking out seven to tie for the major-league lead with his 14th win. Adbert Alzolay converted his 13th straight save opportunity, and the Cubs evened the series at a game apiece with Kyle Hendricks taking the mound Sunday in the rubber game.But the day belonged to Bellinger, who once again carried the Cubs on his shoulders.“Putting the lineup on his back is kind of what he does,” manager D...

Boston agency approves revamped Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center in Dorchester

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

The city’s largest and most diverse neighborhood is set to receive an uptick in healthcare, with the Boston Planning and Development Agency moving forward with a revamped Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center.The BPDA Board of Directors last week unanimously approved the center relocating to three scarcely used lots next to its existing headquarters on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester. The revamped facility will create a 10 to 15% increase in staffing positions from the current employee count of 100-plus, according to project documents.HSNHC, an independent nonprofit, has operated out of 632 Blue Hill Ave., since 1976. Meeting the demand for services from residents in Dorchester and the surrounding area has been difficult as the building dates back to the early 1900s, officials say.“That building is getting very old and inefficient,” HSNHC President and CEO Charley Murphy said before the BPDA board greenlighted the project on Thursday. “The new building will allow us to house all ...