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Massachusetts updates how COVID deaths are counted, state virus cases drop 9%

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

State health officials have updated how COVID-19 deaths are counted, limiting COVID-associated deaths to those with COVID listed on the death certificate.The previous COVID death definition in Massachusetts included anyone who had COVID listed as a cause of death on their death certificate, and any individual who had a COVID diagnosis within 30 days — even if they did not have COVID listed as a cause of death on their death certificate.The new definition relies almost exclusively on COVID being listed on a death certificate. The state Department of Public Health is aligning its reporting with the most recent national standard definition.“The updated definition keeps pace with the evolving nature of the impact of COVID-19,” DPH said in a statement. “While COVID can still cause severe disease and death, overall, people are now less likely to die from COVID-related causes than they were earlier in the pandemic.”Using the new definition for COVID deaths, th...

With No. 2 seed locked up, how will Celtics approach final two regular season games?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

Joe Mazzulla has stayed consistent with his desire for the Celtics to continue winning and build good habits as the playoffs inch closer. Even though their final two regular season games will be meaningless for them in the standings, that intention doesn’t appear to be changing.With their victory over the Raptors coupled with the Bucks’ win over the Bulls on Wednesday night, the Celtics are locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Logically, that would give the C’s plenty of reason to prioritize health for their starters and regulars over the final two games. While they still will, it doesn’t mean they’ll punt on the final two games.“I think most importantly, it’s about being healthy going into the playoffs, No. 1 for sure, especially with the foundation we’ve built,” Malcolm Brogdon said. “And then two, it’s about finishing the season strong with good habits. We don’t want to lose these two games. We want to go in with momentum. I think that’s one of the most important...

Should prisoners be allowed to vote? Two Massachusetts politicians say yes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

A pair of state lawmakers are pushing to allow prisoners with felony convictions to vote — undoing a constitutional amendment approved decades ago.If approved, it would set back the clock two decades to when voters backed the prisoner voting ban.“We know that the Legislature made great strides in voting rights last session, but as Black and brown people continue to be disenfranchised in state prisons and houses of correction across the commonwealth, our work is really far from over,” state Sen. Liz Miranda of Boston told the Joint Committee on Election Laws during a hearing Thursday.Miranda’s proposal, similar to another offered by state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven of Somerville, would undo a constitutional change proposed by then Acting Gov. Paul Cellucci in 1997 and approved by the voters in 2000 which removed the right for incarcerated felons to vote in Massachusetts elections. Cellucci, in 2001, would expand the rule to prohibit voting by felons serving time in presidential and...

New bank urged to keep SVB housing funds intact

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

Following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and its purchase by First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation are urging the bank’s new owners to keep intact SVB’s commitments to affordable housing in the state.“It is clear that SVB had extensive investments and partnerships in the affordable housing sector that should be continued,” the reps and senators said in a letter sent Thursday. “In the middle of a worsening affordable housing crisis, it is critical that there is a continuation of these activities under new ownership to avoid the disruption of local affordable housing development pipelines and initiatives.”The letter is addressed to the CEO of First Citizens and is signed by Reps. Stephen Lynch, Ayanna Pressley, Bill Keating, Jim McGovern, Katherine Clark, Seth Moulton, Lori Trahan and Jake Auchincloss and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey.It lays out SVB’s extensive reach in...

Jets sign ex-Seahawks DT Quinton Jefferson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

After losing Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd this offseason, the Jets have finally filled their void at defensive tackle.On Thursday, Gang Green announced it signed veteran defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson. Terms of the contract weren’t disclosed.As a member of the Seahawks last year, Jefferson played in all 17 games as he registered 29 tackles, a career-high 5.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. He was initially drafted by Seattle out of Maryland in 2016. However, Jefferson has also spent time with the Rams (2017), Bills (2020) and the Raiders (2021), along with his five seasons with the Seahawks.Seattle released Jefferson last month, before the start of the new league year, saving $4.485 million against the salary cap.The defensive tackle spot alongside Quinnen Williams has been a significant need for the Jets this offseason. Rankins, who played in 15 games for the team, signed a one-year, $9.7 million contract with the Texans. Shepherd, the former backup defensive tackle...

Utah avalanche leads to shelter-in-place order at ski resort

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — After an hourslong search, a Utah ski resort confirmed that nobody was hurt or killed from an avalanche that gushed from the backcountry into its boundaries on Thursday.Snowbird, a mountain resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon southeast of Salt Lake City, said on Thursday afternoon that it had completed a search of a part of an area caught in the path of an avalanche that began on Mount Superior and crossed the highway onto a beginner run near the resort’s base.“No guests or employees were caught in the debris caused by an avalanche,” the resort said in a statement.Earlier on Thursday, Snowbird said that it had dispatched patrollers and was using rescue dogs, radar technology, and probes to scan the area and ensure nobody was caught under the snow.The avalanche flooded onto Chickadee, a run under one of several chairlifts that had reopened after the entire mountain closed a day prior because of torrential snowfall.The avalanche was naturally occurring and n...

Tennessee House declines to expel 2nd Dem for gun protest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s GOP-dominated House declined to expel the second of three Democratic members for her role in a demonstration in favor of gun control following the Nashville school shooting.The 65-30 vote fell just one vote shy of the number needed to oust Rep. Gloria Johnson. It came after a previous vote to expel Rep. Justin Jones. A vote against the third lawmaker, Rep. Justin Pearson, was upcoming. The expulsions are extraordinary moves the chamber has used only a handful times since the Civil War. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — the In an extraordinary act of political retaliation, Tennessee Republicans on Thursday expelled a Democratic lawmaker from the state Legislature for his role in a protest that called for more gun control in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Nashville.Two more Democrats were at risk of being ousted by the GOP supermajority in the House.The 72-25 vote to banish Rep. Ju...

Dependable Gausman shines as Blue Jays win series in Kansas City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

Kevin Gausman cruised through six shutout innings to guide the Toronto Blue Jays to an eventual 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon.Gausman earned his first win in his second solid start of the season, striking out seven and walking two. He allowed four hits before being lifted after six innings. The 32-year-old was efficient at limiting weak contact and generated 10 swing-and-misses, including nine on his devastating splitter.Reliever Anthony Bass pitched a scoreless seventh before Trevor Richards ran into some trouble, being tagged for three earned runs. After Tim Mayza escaped the jam, reliever Adam Cimber closed the door for the save. Canadian Jordan Romano was unavailable after pitching on Wednesday night.THERE HE GOES AGAIN ???? #PLAKATA pic.twitter.com/te1Me8Hj9P— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 6, 2023Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio both went deep against starter Jordan Lyles, while Matt Chapman stayed hot at the plate with a two-run do...

Back on Vancouver’s Hastings Street with no tent, no mattress and nowhere to go

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

VANCOUVER — William James left his tent with his bedroll, his clothes, and his foam mattress on Hastings Street Wednesday morning to visit a friend in Surrey, but when he returned in the afternoon it was all gone. “I spent the day with him because he doesn’t drink and I’m trying to sober up,” James said. “Then I had to sleep outside the bank last night, all night.”Vancouver’s Hastings Street was cleared Wednesday in a co-ordinated effort by city officials and police. It continued Thursday with a heavy police presence as crews worked to clear remaining tents and people’s belongings.James’ tent and “comfy foamy” were tossed away with the rest of his belongings in the initial sweep, and he said he has no form of shelter to keep him out of the rain. Back in the city’s Downtown Eastside on Thursday, James said he’s bounced around for the last year or so, sleeping in a tent at Crab Park before moving to Hastings where many people set u...

No evidence of homicide in case of woman’s remains found in Winnipeg landfill: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

WINNIPEG — The death of an Indigenous woman whose body was found in a landfill was not a homicide, Winnipeg police said Thursday after retracing Linda Beardy’s final hours.Beardy, 33, was seen leaving a store and climbing into a garbage bin, alone, hours before her body was discovered, police Chief Danny Smyth said. “There was some activity observed within the bin and after a short period of time, there was no further activity observed,” Smyth said.About three hours later, a truck picked up and emptied the bin, and carried the contents to the Brady landfill, where Beardy’s body was soon found, he added.The autopsy is ongoing, including toxicology tests, but the medical examiner reported no signs of injuries other than those consistent with being moved around by a truck.“There were no other injuries that suggest any kind of foul play,” Smyth said.“We’re satisfied that this is not a homicide.”Nothing unusual happened in the store a...