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Massachusetts lawmakers want to override Healey’s ‘cruel’ veto of funding for texting service for lonely young people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

Lawmakers who championed state support for a suicide prevention program for young people are lobbying their colleagues to restore funding that Gov. Maura Healey slashed from the fiscal 2024 budget, calling the governor’s cut “needlessly cruel” and its impact “unnerving.”Hey Sam, a texting service for people ages 15-24 grappling with loneliness, depression or suicidal feelings, was slated to receive $1 million from the compromise budget the Legislature sent to Healey. The $1 million was part of a broader $1.8 million allocation for Samaritans, Inc., which provides suicide prevention services across the state.But Healey moved to strike the Hey Sam money from the $56 billion budget she signed into law this week, saying the reduction would make the program’s funding consistent with her original budget proposal.Rep. Ted Philips, who co-hosted a legislative briefing with Sen. Becca Rausch earlier this year to spotlight the success Hey Sam has had tackli...

Patriots sign running back, offensive tackle, cut two

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

The Patriots added two players from the USFL in a shakeup to the bottom of their 90-man roster.The Pats signed running back C.J. Marable and offensive lineman Micah Vanterpool. The Patriots are waiving linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi and special-teamer Jourdan Heilig to create room for Marable and Vanterpool.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Rookie Keion White brings “pain” in preseason debut New England Patriots | How Patriots rookies Keion White, Malik Cunningham starred in the preseason opener and 39 more film takeaways New England Patriots | Demario Douglas nearly joined notable list of Patriots in preseason debut New England Patriots | Photo gallery: Patriots open pre-season at home New England Patriots | Jalen Mills’ reconversion to safety appears to be going well for Patriots Marable, 26, went undrafted out of Coastal Carolina in 2021. After spending trai...

As Pierre Poilievre aims to rebuild a ‘broken’ Canada, ads aim to soften his image

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

OTTAWA — A pile of puzzle pieces spills onto a table.“Everything feels broken,” Pierre Poilievre says in a voice-over as the shot tightens in on the federal Conservative leader’s face as he appears to be concentrating on sorting the pieces in his palm.He has repeated that line countless times in speeches, on social media and at rallies, but now he is doing so in a slick 29-second advertisement. It is one of several the party rolled out this week as part of a campaign, worth more than $3 million, throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall.The ad seeks to sell a hopeful message: Canada can be fixed — and Poilievre is the leader to do it.But first Canadians need to trust him.All prime ministerial hopefuls need to convince voters they are worth their time. But polling has suggested the number of people who have a negative impression of Poilievre is relatively high for an opposition leader, although recent polling has some in the party optimistic.The ads are an...

JB Pritzker signs Firearms Industry Responsibility Act into law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Firearms Industry Responsibility Act into law during a gun safety conference at McCormick Place Saturday afternoon."[This] would not have been possible without every town's stead fast partnership and unyielding advocacy," Pritzker said.Organizations like Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, and Volunteers and Survivors of Gun Violence were all present for the event. Under the new law, gun manufacturers and distributors will face penalties for promoting unsafe marketing practices that cause harm. 94th annual Bud Billiken Parade returns, inspiring Black youth "[Those] who market guns to children and under the age of 18, or who promote gun referencing," Pritzker said. "Like showing an ad for paramilitary purposes."Pritzker said he believes the law will bring regulation and accountability to the firearm industry in Illinois."Gun manufacturers shouldn't get to hide from the law, and now they wont be able to," Pritzker said.

Belmont-Cragin hosts back-to-school drive for migrants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

CHICAGO — A church in Belmont-Cragin helped migrants with back-to-school and household items drive to those seeking refuge.St. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish helped migrant families Saturday in Chicago. ‘A week of blessing:’ Kids battling cancer set health challenges aside at Illinois camp More than 12,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the city in the past year.Many of them have shown up at the church seeking help. Over the span of about four hours, people showed up to drop off donations.Saturday's giveaway was the first of two giveaways. The second will be held next month.

South Side marketplace showcases Black-owned businesses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

CHICAGO, Ill. — A marketplace on the city’s far South Side is showcasing several new Black-owned businesses.Taharia Randolph says she reached a breaking point in 2021. She connected with a social media community that helped her focus on healing, which became the inspiration for her family’s business, Body & Soul Experience. Sailors with disabilities from around the world meet in Chicago for annual regatta “During the pandemic, I was experiencing a lot of anxiety and fear,” Randolph said. “My daughters and I sat down, came up with a family business name, started learning about scents and how to make candles and it turned into something so much bigger.”Now Randolph hosts international candle-making workshops and has a physical location to sell her products, inside the Far South CDC Marketplace, near 115th Street and South Halsted Street.From candles to coffee, to clothes, there are currently nine Black-owned businesses housed inside the marketplace. More from Ganyor Hall “We h...

Mike Young, co-founder of Chuy's, has died

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Mike Young, co-founder of the iconic Austin Tex-Mex restaurant Chuy's, has died, a company representative confirmed.  Young opened the restaurant in 1982 with John Zapp on Barton Springs Road in what was an abandoned barbecue joint. Since then, the beloved restaurant known for its idiosyncratic decor has opened many locations in over a dozen states, per its website. Young helped open other popular Austin restaurants including Shady Grove, which closed in 2020, and Hula Hut. Young retired as co-chairman and director of the company's board of directors in 2017, according to Chuy's.“It is with great pride that I’ve been able to watch Chuy’s grow from a single unit in Austin, Texas to the successful multi-unit concept that it is today,” Young said in a 2017 company release. For nearly two decades, Chuy’s was a Texas chain. But in the new millennium, restaurant stakeholders decided to “spread the love” and expand to other states. The first non-Texas Chuy’s ...

Isolated storms possible next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another hot and dry day continued the fire concerns. Tonight will be mostly clear before some low clouds develop into early Sunday morning. Overnight lows drop into the upper 70s.The Perseids meteor shower will be tonight/overnight. The Earth's orbit will be passing through the debris field from the Swift-Tuttle Comet. The best time to view this stellar sky show will be after midnight until before dawn Sunday. Experts say as many as 90 to 100 meteors will be seen with the meteors moving at 37 miles per second. METEOR SHOWER TO PEAK OVER AUSTIN THIS WEEKEND Get away from the city lights and other light polluted areas because the more darkness the easier it will be to see the meteors. According to the McDonald Observatory the moon will rise at 4:37 a.m. Sunday with just 10% visible. The moon phase is Waning CrescentSunday will be another mostly sunny and hot day with very high fire danger and a southerly breeze. Weekend heat alertsThe Excessive Heat Warning for 13 c...

Wildfire near Lockhart burns 228 acres, 95% contained

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A grass fire sprang up Friday in Caldwell County, according to the Austin Fire Department, which said crews from Travis County were headed there to help fight it.The fire is near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. It's called the Boggy Creek Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported. MAP: More than 2,500 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year The fire was about 228 acres and is 95% contained as of 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Management."Interior pockets of vegetation continue to burn and put up smoke, but there is currently no threat to containment," Texas A&M Forest Service said.Shortly before 3:30 p.m. Friday, AFD said the fire broke containment lines, and additional resources from Austin and Travis County are en route to assist.Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near ...

Tony's Donuts celebrates opening of third location, second in Maryland Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:16:04 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Tony's Donuts has officially opened its third location in St. Louis County, which is also its second donut shop in Maryland Heights. Crowds gathered early and often Saturday to enjoy sweet treats, sandwiches, and more at the new location, which sits at the intersection of Dorsett and Fee Fee Road. Owner George Badra says it was busy since doors first opened at 6 a.m. Some employees arrived as early as 4 a.m. to start preparing fresh donuts. Moms group names the ’10 best family-friendly activities’ in St. Louis "Today's our first day, this is our third location, and we're just trying to make the best of it," said Badra. "It's been a blessing." Badra says he waited a little longer than expected to open this location to make sure staffing was optimal at all three. "It took awhile, but it's better to open when you're ready than to open when you're not ready and being behind," said Badra. "We're happy now." Close Thanks for signing up! ...