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Officials urge visitors to avoid driving into Salem during October rush

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

It’s spooky season in Salem and, when it comes to visiting the city and its Halloween festivities, local officials are asking people to do anything but drive.“Take the train, take the ferry, come by bike, come by broom,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo on Tuesday. “But try not to come by car if you can avoid it.” A famous Halloween destination, Salem averaged between 80,000 and 82,000 visitors each Saturday in October last year, according to Pangallo. The city only has roughly 4,000 public parking spaces in its downtown area, Pangallo said. “On the Saturdays and Sundays leading up to Halloween and on Halloween itself, it becomes really impossible,” said Police Chief Lucas Miller. “We don’t have the capacity for parking that many people,” Pangallo said. While officials urge visitors to avoid driving, the MBTA Commuter Rail is ramping up service, planning to run trains from North Station to Salem in 30-40 minute intervals on weekends throughout October, according...

Multiple people shot in ongoing ‘active shooter situation’ at Morgan State University, Baltimore Police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

By Dan Belson, Baltimore SunBaltimore Police are encouraging people to avoid the area of Morgan State University and those nearby to shelter in place Tuesday night after multiple people were shot on campus.The department said that multiple people were shot on the campus.Police tweeted that officers are on the scene of the situation, which the school said was related to a report of shots being fired, on the 1700 block of Argonne Drive, near the Thurgood Marshall Apartments and close to the Northeast District Police Station. Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also on scene, the federal agency said.The university said those near campus should clear the area near the residential building as well as the Murphy Fine Arts Center, and shelter in place.This story will be updated.

Why are the Chicago Bulls holding training camp in Nashville? It starts with a need to improve locker-room culture.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

The Chicago Bulls needed to shake things up. That was clear by the end of last season, when they failed to make it out of the play-in tournament after a season defined by stagnancy.The Bulls return 13 players from last season’s roster, a clear declaration of faith that the talent already assembled is enough to compete with the best of the Eastern Conference. But throughout the first two days of the preseason, players, coaches and executives have acknowledged the Bulls require a culture shift in the locker room to elevate that talent.That’s how the team ended up at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., this week for training camp, using the separation from Chicago to hone a new identity for a team full of familiarity with one another.“Sometimes just trying something new could be beneficial,” All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan said. “Nothing wrong with that at all. Just giving somebody a different scenery, getting them out of their comfort zone, could ...

Chula Vista breaks ground on new park, part of the Bayfront redevelopment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- The Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista broke ground on a new park, Sweetwater Park, as part of the larger Chula Vista Bayfront Redevelopment plan.“A game changer for the South Bay and the region,” said Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Port Board of Port Commissioners Chairman.The Sweetwater Park is the first park that is part of the Bayfront Redevelopment plan.“We have for decades envisioned something great here on the Bayfront," Chula Vista Mayor John McCann said.The new park will sit on 21 acres near E Street and Bay Boulevard."This park is so important because it has to be something that the community can enjoy," said Ann Moore, Port of San Diego Commissioner. Campland on the Bay shoreline closed after fire causes runoff, $1.7 million in damages The Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista designed the park based on community input.It will include several new features including playgrounds, sand dunes, restrooms, parking spaces and pu...

Lahaina residents deliver petition asking Hawaii governor to delay tourism reopening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Residents from fire-stricken Lahaina on Tuesday delivered a petition asking Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to delay plans to reopen a portion of West Maui to tourism starting this weekend, saying the grieving community is not ready to welcome back visitors. The petition signed by 3,517 people from West Maui zip codes comes amid a fierce and anguished debate over when travelers should return to the region home to the historic town of Lahaina that was destroyed in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. At least 98 people died in the Aug. 8 blaze and more than a dozen are missing. The first phase of the plan to reopen Maui to tourists begins Sunday, the two-month anniversary of the disaster.Though many residents say they are not ready, others say they need tourism so they can work in hotels and restaurants to earn a living.“We are not mentally nor emotionally ready to welcome and serve our visitors. Not yet,” restaurant bartender Pa‘ele Kiakona said at a news confe...

Male nanny convicted in California of sexually assaulting 16 young boys in his care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A male nanny who worked for families across Southern California was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting 16 young boys in his care and showing another boy child pornography, prosecutors said. Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski was arrested in May 2019 after a couple told Laguna Beach police he touched their son inappropriately. More alleged victims were identified, and Zakrzewski was ultimately charged with 34 felonies, including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. Zakrzewski’s victims ranged from 2 to 12 years old, investigators said. A jury convicted the 34-year-old on all counts, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. “These young boys were forced to endure unimaginable terror as a result of the ultimate betrayal by a babysitter,” said District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.Zakrzewski, of Costa Mesa, had billed himself on his website as a “manny,” who not only watched over children but provided a fun “buddy” experience...

Multiple people shot on Morgan State University campus: Baltimore police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

Multiple people were shot at Morgan State University in Baltimore on Tuesday, police said.The Baltimore Police Department said officers were on the scene for an “active shooter situation” on the campus of the historically Black university. The address given for the shooting appeared to match a residential building.“We’re asking everyone to shelter in place and avoid the area,” police said on X.Police spokesman Vernon Davis told the Baltimore Banner that at least four people were shot. Their conditions weren’t immediately known.Police spokesperson Amanda Krotki also said “multiple victims” were shot.City Council member Odette Ramos said on X that students and staff were ordered to shelter in place. The university reported an enrollment of more than 9,000 students as of late 2022 and said it is growing.BPD is confirming there are multiple victims involved. Please continue to shelter in place and avoid the area.— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) October...

CP NewsAlert: Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont loses seat, steps down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

WINNIPEG — Dougald Lamont has announced he’s stepping down as Manitoba Liberal leader.Lamont lost his seat in St. Boniface to NDP candidate Robert Loiselle.The Canadian Press

Former US military pilot’s lawyer tells Sydney court that extradition hearing should be delayed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — A lawyer for a former U.S. military pilot accused of illegally training Chinese aviators told a Sydney court on Wednesday that an extradition hearing scheduled for next month should be postponed due to delays in government agencies handing over crucial material.Boston-born Dan Duggan was arrested by Australian police a year ago near his home in Orange in New South Wales state and is fighting extradition to the United States.His lawyer, Dennis Miralis, told the Downing Center Local Court that the former U.S. Marine Corps flying instructor will apply to have the Nov. 23 extradition hearing delayed.A magistrate will hear submissions on that postponement application on Oct. 23.Outside court, Miralis told reporters that the delay was regrettable because Duggan has been psychologically impacted by being held in maximum-security prisons since his arrest.“However, at the same time, it’s absolutely essential that Dan’s right to a fair hearing is preserved and nothing is done to...

Speaker McCarthy ousted in historic House vote, as scramble begins for a Republican leader

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordinary showdown — a first in U.S. history, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives and throwing the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.It’s the end of the political line for McCarthy, who has said repeatedly that he never gives up, but found himself with almost no options remaining. Neither the right-flank Republicans who engineered his ouster nor the Democrats who piled on seem open to negotiating. McCarthy told lawmakers in the evening he would not run again for speaker, putting the gavel up for grabs. Next steps are highly uncertain with no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority. Action is halted in the House until next week, when Republicans try to elect a new speaker. “I may have lost this vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber I feel fortunate to have served,” McCarthy said at a press conference at the Capitol, alternating between upbeat a...