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Black bears in Massachusetts are wicked hungry as they emerge from hibernation: ‘Take down your bird feeders’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

Black bears that haven’t eaten for several months are starting to emerge from their winter dens, as state wildlife officials warn Bay Staters to remove bird feeders and other potential food sources from their yards to help keep bears out of neighborhoods.“The big issue is they’re very hungry after not eating for 4 to 5 months,” Dave Wattles, black bear and furbearer biologist at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, told the Herald on Thursday.“With not a lot of natural food available, they’re drawn to human-associated foods, and bird feeders are the number one human-associated food for bears in Massachusetts,” he added. “So our message for residents is to take down your bird feeders.”There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts, and their range is expanding eastward.Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager.Bears ...

Lower ridership has MBTA leaning on reserves to cover FY24 budget gap

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

The MBTA will have to dip further into its reserves to balance its fiscal year 2024 budget, to account for a significant dip in ridership that agency leadership says will likely never recover to anywhere near pre-pandemic levels.Citing the lack of growth in ridership since March 2022, Chief Financial Officer Mary O’Hara recommended an approach that would allow the T to assume $418 million in fare revenue, far lower than what was initially considered for next year’s budget planning.“The ‘24 update is the recommended approach because it is an updated model that uses recent actual results and trends by mode to inform our future projections,” O’Hara said at Thursday’s Audit & Finance subcommittee meeting.O’Hara said this alternative approach of predicting fare revenue is based on the “trends we saw in the last six months,” and the expectation that “this new normal” of lower ridership will continue for a period of time.The MBTA had initially been assuming that fare revenue would fall...

Seafood Expo North America returns to Boston this weekend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

From samples of sashimi and ngiri to a discussion on the power of seafood, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center will once again be the site of the annual Seafood Expo North America.Some of the biggest fish in the seafood industry from around the world will be schooling back to the city this weekend to get caught up on the latest industry trends, and many attendees will be packing an exhibition hall with samples of their finest delicacies.“It’s really the place where the industry gathers to talk about the most pressing issues that are facing the industry and to see new products,” said Liz Pliga, group vice president of event organizer Diversified Communications.The three-day event spanning Sunday-Tuesday will be the 41st edition of the expo in Boston, with companies from dozens of countries on hand to serve up their best seafood trips. More than 20,000 people are expected to turn out, Pliga told the Herald.Despite the expo targeting the North American market, countries from around...

Chicago White Sox SS Tim Anderson on playing for Team USA in the WBC: ‘It’s cool to be able to cherish those moments’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

Tim Anderson is a batting champion and two-time All-Star.The Chicago White Sox shortstop has added another accomplishment to the list as a member of Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.“For me to be able to hop in and catch it during this part of my career, it’s only right that I play for Team USA and do something cool,” Anderson recently told the Tribune. “Not a lot of people get to do that.“And it’s even better — I got a USA jersey, so that’s dope.”Anderson, 29, is one of three Sox players on Team USA, along with starter Lance Lynn and reliever Kendall Graveman. Their first game is Saturday against Team Britain in Pool C play at Chase Field in Phoenix.“It’s cool to be able to cherish those moments and allow people around you to see those moments and you’ve got things to show for it,” Anderson said.Anderson appeared in six Cactus League games this spring before going to Team USA camp. In an exhibition...

Healey turns precedent to tradition, loses some locks for cancer

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey may have turned a precedent set by her predecessor into an unofficial but ongoing gubernatorial tradition this week, when she joined Boston Children’s Hospital and Granite Telecom for their10th annual Saving by Shaving fundraiser and left with a new haircut.“I’m grateful to Rob Hale and the team at Granite Telecommunications for the great work they do to support Boston Children’s Hospital year after year. It was wonderful to have so many local officials and Patriots players in attendance today to support such a worthy cause,” Healey said in a written statement. “And thanks to Devin McCourty for giving me a little buzz!”Healey, in keeping with a tradition started by former Gov. Charlie Baker and along with hundreds of others, was in Quincy Thursday for the fundraiser.Granite Telecom, according to the company, donates $2,500 for every participant who chops eight inches or more, with the company’s CEO matching that donation for a total of $5,000 per hair cut. All of t...

NFL Draft 2023: Patriots receive two compensatory picks, own 10 total

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

The Patriots have been awarded two compensatory 2023 draft picks, the NFL announced Thursday.The Patriots received an additional fourth-round draft pick at No. 135 overall and a sixth-rounder at 210th overall. The Pats now hold 10 selections, including the 14th overall pick, their highest pick since 2008. The league awarded 37 compensatory draft picks in total.The Patriots received these picks for losing cornerback J.C. Jackson (Chargers) and center Ted Karras (Bengals) last year in free agency. The NFL’s compensatory pick formula is a proprietary formula that weighs the net of every team’s transactions in free agency the year before.Unlike past years, the Patriots’ new compensatory picks can be traded. Their complete allotment of draft picks is below.1st round: No. 14 overall2nd round: No. 463rd round: No. 76 (via Carolina)4th round: No. 107 (from L.A. Rams), No. 117, No. 135 (compensatory)6th round: No. 184 (via Carolina), No. 187 (via Las Vegas), No. 192, No. 21...

‘Potentially significant storm’ could hit Massachusetts, dumping heavy wet snow

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

Could the biggest snowstorm of the season hit the region during the final week of winter?Meteorologists are gaining confidence by the hour that some type of storm will impact Massachusetts early next week, and some forecast models show that it might be a whopper.There’s potential for more than a foot of heavy wet snow for some parts of the Bay State, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Bob Larson.Plenty of questions remain about the track of the storm, along with the precipitation type and duration of the system.“It’s becoming more and more apparent that some type of storm will be affecting you early next week,” Larson told the Herald on Thursday.“The intensity of the storm and the placement of the storm are two big questions,” he added.The forecast models are consistently in agreement that the storm wouldn’t impact the region until Monday night. Some of the models show the system here through Tuesday, while other models predict th...

Feds issue new indictment against activist Monica Cannon-Grant, that allege 27 fraud-related counts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

Just as federal prosecutors promised at a June 2022 court appearance of the alleged fraudster Monica Cannon-Grant, they have issued a superseding indictment which elevates the 18 charges against her and her husband to 27, with an additional two allegations of additional fraud.“We’re hoping to bring a superseding charging document before September, would be the goal,” Dustin Chao, one of the assistant U.S. attorneys prosecuting the case, said at the June 10, 2022, in-person hearing in federal court in Boston.Cannon-Grant, 42, and her husband, Clark Grant, 39, were originally charged nearly a full year ago on March 15, 2022, with 18-fraud related counts that hinged on three distinct conspiracy allegations. The first is the misuse of donations to the couple’s charity Violence in Boston (VIB) for personal use, the second is the misuse of public funds — including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program — and the third is alleged fraud related to the mortgage on the couple’s Taunton ...

Lawyers: Former NBA star Shawn Kemp fired in self-defense

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp acted in self-defense when he exchanged gunfire in a Washington parking lot while trying to retrieve a stolen cell phone and other items, his attorneys said Thursday.Kemp, 53, was arrested by Tacoma police Wednesday for investigation of a drive-by shooting but was released from jail Thursday afternoon without charges having been filed. The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office said it would not file charges pending further investigation.“We’re grateful they didn’t rush to judgment,” said Seattle criminal defense lawyer Tim Leary, who is representing Kemp.In a written statement, another Kemp attorney, W. Scott Boatman, said Kemp’s vehicle was broken into Tuesday night and several items were taken — including an iPhone. Kemp tracked the phone’s location to an occupied car at the Tacoma Mall, and when Kemp confronted the individuals inside, they shot at him, and he returned fire, Boatright...

Boston neighborhood-specific liquor-license bill moves ahead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:20:38 GMT

A bill that would phase in 250 new liquor licenses into specific Boston ZIP codes over five years appears to be on track for a vote soon.The proposal, introduced by City Councilors Brian Worrell and Ruthzee Louijeune, is meant to respond to the fact that the boom of bars and restaurants in neighborhoods near downtown and, particularly, the Seaport, have resulted in the typical transferrable licenses getting hoovered up into those areas, leaving little in the farther-flung parts of town.“This method will help ensure neighborhoods have the opportunity to grow at their own pace, and avoid neighborhood battles over distribution,” Worrell said during a working session on Thursday in which councilors hammered out some details of the language but didn’t make broad changes. “As neighborhoods develop it will attract outside visitors and investments, building Boston’s reputation as a diverse, exciting destination.”Boston’s 1,400-plus current liquor li...