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2 dead, nearly 10,000 under evacuation orders as California floods intensify

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

 (CNN) — At least two people have died as the result of the ongoing storms inundating California, and nearly 10,000 residents are under evacuation orders, officials said, as intense flooding threatens several coastal counties.The powerful storms have delivered heavy rainfall across the central and northern parts of the state, prompting the Weather Prediction Center to issue a Level 4 of 4 warning of excessive rainfall in the area.Meanwhile, the state of emergency declaration requested by Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday night has been approved by President Joe Biden, clearing the way for financial help in responding to the storm’s onslaught and recovery, said Nancy Ward, director of the state’s Office of Emergency Services.Some 25 million people are under flood alerts issued by the National Weather Service, and more than 25,000 are without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.Some isolated areas of the state have received more than a foo...

US officially rescinds recent Covid testing rules for travelers from China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

(CNN) — People who want to fly from China to the U.S. will have an easier time of it starting Friday.Special Covid testing rules for people traveling from China and its administrative areas, which were put in place on January 5 during a big outbreak of cases in China, were officially rescinded at 3 p.m. ET Friday, according to a news release from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.A source had told CNN earlier this week that the CDC order was expected to be dropped as soon as Friday.What this means is travelers departing from China, Hong Kong, Macau and a few designated airports located elsewhere will no longer have to submit to a pre-flight test to get a negative result or show documentation of recent recovery from Covid-19 to board a flight to the U.S.The CDC said in its Friday news release that the order was put in place because of “concerns that Covid-19 cases were surging in the [People’s Republic of China].“At that time, mit...

MIAA Statewide tournament scoreboard and highlights from Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTSBOYS BASKETBALLSophomore Matt Gaffney paced things offensively with a 17-point outburst, while Ben Howard (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Ethan Tracy (10 points, 10 rebounds) each finished with a double-double to guide top-ranked Malden Catholic (21-2) past No. 25 Leominster, 55-38, in the Div. 2 quarterfinals. … Eddie McCoy (22 points) and J.T. Veiking (21 points, six boards, six assists) shouldered the load offensively, helping second-seeded Mansfield (23-2) pull away for a 77-50 win over No. 10 Marblehead.Lorenzo Jackson erupted for 29 points, while Josh Campbell added 24 points himself as top-seeded Archbishop Williams (22-1) staved off a challenge from No. 8 Oakmont by rallying for an 88-83 victory in a Div. 3 quarterfinal.Freshmen Andy Batista (21 points, two rebounds, three assists) and Giovanni Jean (14 points, 12 rebounds) set the tone for Lynn Tech (18-4) in a 58-48 win over Worcester Tech in the Vocational Large Championship.GIRLS BASKETBALLKailey Sullivan...

Newton North escapes Lawrence with thrilling 55-54 victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

LAWRENCE — Newton North once again finds itself on the doorstep of the state title game.Adam Landry scored 14 points and Jose Padilla added 13 as No. 7 Newton North held off a furious rally from No. 2 Lawrence and knocked off the Lancers, 55-54, in front of a jam-packed crowd on Friday night at Lawrence High School.Newton North (20-5) will play Worcester North in the Division 1 state semifinals. The Tigers are in search of their second consecutive state final appearance.Newton North’s Victor Caira (20) attempts to block a shot from Lawrence’s Igor Gonzalez before a huge crowd Friday night in Lawrence. Newton North advanced with a thrilling 55-54 win. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)“Lawrence is such a great defensive team they pressure on the ball so well and we were fortunate to get them in foul trouble,” Newton North coach Paul Connolly said. “Our guys did a tremendous job in that environment to just control the game.”On the heels of baskets from Landry and Pa...

Orioles observations on Kyle Bradish’s rotation case, Gov. Wes Moore’s first pitch and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

After his third spring training start, Kyle Bradish said he believes his performance thus far is worthy of a spot in the Orioles’ rotation.Truthfully, the bigger question is how high he can climb in it.The 26-year-old right-hander dominated across four innings against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night, striking out eight while allowing a run on two hits over four innings. On the spring, Bradish has struck out 12 while giving up two runs in nine innings, a strong show amid Baltimore’s 12-pitcher rotation competition.“I think after my second-half performance last year and then getting my work in this year and going about my business how I do, I think I should be in contention for it,” Bradish said. “But it’s not up to me. I just want to go out there, do my thing and then let what happens happen.”After returning from a shoulder injury in late July, Bradish posted a 3.28 ERA in 13 starts. Excluding a disastrous penultimate outing in Boston, th...

Slice of heaven: San Diego-area shop has best pie in CA, according to Yelp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego is known for its carne asada, seafood and craft beer selection, but you may be surprised to find out it's also home to some of the best pie in the state.Yelp has compiled a list of the 'Top Pie in Every State' and there's one shop in Wynola, a small mountain town near Julian, that hands out slices that taste like home.California Mountain Bakery was named as the home of the best pie in the state, based on a variety of factors including the number of high ratings and the number of positive reviews.The shop is a family affair born of a dream, owner Raul Padilla told FOX5SanDiego.com. His father has been a baker in Julian for over 30 years working at different spots across the community, but he had hoped to one day open a bakery of his own.Padilla, who attended culinary and business schools in San Diego after graduating from Julian High School, decided to help his father start the bakery and, about eight years ago, California Mountain Bakery opened shop. San Di...

Bill would ban marriages under age 16 in West Virginia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A child marriage bill was passed by the West Virginia Senate on Friday night after it was changed to prohibit anyone younger than 16 from getting married and to ban age gaps of more than four years for 16- and 17-year-olds.The Senate passed the bill on a 31-1 vote. It now goes to the House of Delegates, which previously passed its own version. The legislative session ends Saturday.“I want us to pass something because our current situation is intolerable,” Morgan County Republican Sen. Charles Trump said.Currently, children can marry as young as 16 in West Virginia with parental consent. It allows anyone younger than that to get married with a judge’s waiver.The Senate bill would remove the possibility that anyone younger than 16 could marry. Those ages 16 and 17 would have to obtain parental consent and they couldn’t marry someone more than four years older than them.Existing legal marriages, including those done in other states, would be unaffected.Th...

New Hampshire lawmaker arrested for obstructing snowplow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in New Hampshire was arrested Friday for allegedly screaming and swearing at a snowplow truck operator who recorded the confrontation and later reported him to police.Rep. Jeffrey Greeson, 51, of Wentworth was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal threatening and simple assault, according to police. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered back to Plymouth District Court on May 18.Police said they made the arrest after receiving a report that a member of the Wentworth Highway Department had been obstructed in his efforts of snow removal by a citizen and had recorded part of the encounter on his cell phone.Greeson didn’t immediately respond to an email to his Statehouse office seeking comment Friday.Paul Manson, the road agent in Wentworth, said he had already been plowing for about six hours Saturday when he encountered Greeson standing in the middle of the road around 8 a.m.“He just started giving me hell, and I didn’...

Ontario Progressive Conservative Vincent Ke resigns from caucus, sits as Independent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

TORONTO — A Progressive Conservative member of Ontario’s provincial parliament has resigned from caucus.Premier Doug Ford’s office says in a release Friday that Vincent Ke, the member for Don Valley North, will sit as an Independent.The statement says Ke faces serious allegations that deserve his full undivided attention as he works to clear his name but does not say what the allegations are.Global News is reporting that Ke served as a financial intermediary in Chinese Communist Party election interference schemes.Citing unnamed sources, Global says Ke received around $50,000 from the Chinese Consulate in Toronto that was channeled through a series of intermediaries.Ke, who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected last June, has denied the allegations.“While the allegations against Mr. Ke are not proven, they are serious and deserve his full and undivided attention as he works to clear his name,” Ford’s office said in the statement.“As a result, and out...

Crombie denounces reports of harassment against Mississauga snow plow drivers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

Mississauga’s mayor is speaking out following reports that snow plow drivers in the city have been harassed and had their trucks vandalized while working during the recent storms.The City of Mississauga confirmed the allegations in a series of tweets on Friday, noting that while most residents are respectful, there are some people not being courteous.“Most residents have been patient and understanding, but there have been instances of harassment towards winter crews and vandalism to our equipment,” the city said. “Violence toward any city staff or contractor, including rude gestures, threats, verbal and physical abuse, will not be tolerated.”The tweets were published before the most recent storm passed through Toronto and the GTA on Friday.One local snow plow driver, who says he’s served the city for over 20 years, told CityNews he experienced what he described as “never before seen behaviour.”“I was doing my best to plow through...