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Hurricane Idalia strengthens into a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

CEDAR KEY, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Idalia strengthened to a Category 2 storm with 100 mph (155 kph) winds on Tuesday as it barreled toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane Tuesday night before it reaches the Big Bend, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula, and is still likely to be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia on Wednesday.Authorities warned residents of vulnerable areas along the Gulf Coast to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding. The hurricane could deal a big blow to a state still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian.The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend region.At 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Idalia was about 195 miles (310 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, the ...

Broward Sheriff says mayor will secure 2 new state-of-the-art choppers following fatal BSFR helicopter crash in Pompano Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

NEAR FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) — As questions loom whether there were warning signs before a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue helicopter fell from the sky and crashed into home, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony provide the public with answers. On Tuesday, Tony said that the department is still recovering from the tragedy, which killed BSFR Captain Terryson Jackson, In doing so, Tony also said that the mayor of Broward County reached out to him to find solutions to fix what happened. Tony said he received a commitment by Mayor Lamar Fisher that the county will secure a contract for two brand new state-of-the-art helicopters. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are currently looking through the rubble and are taking take a closer look at the chopper that crashed in Pompano Beach on Monday. “We’re making due as best as we can,” Tony said. On June 8, Sheriff Tony met with the Broward County Commission to speak about the departmen...

Standing down: Ramaswamy agrees to stop performing Eminem’s work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

Vivek Ramaswamy’s hopes of becoming the 2024 Republican presidential primary’s Real Slim Shady seem to have been dashed, as he has agreed to comply with rapper Eminem’s request to stop using his works on the campaign trail. And he’s spinning the decision into his campaign’s messaging that rails against the political establishment.“I’ll respect his wishes, but I would just say: ‘Will The Real Slim Shady please stand up?,’” Ramaswamy told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday afternoon.“Eminem and his rise used to be a guy who actually stood up to the establishment and said the things that the establishment didn’t want him to say,” he added. “I think the fact that my political viewpoints may differ from his, I think people change over the course of their lives.”The performance rights organization BMI sent a cease-and-desist letter to Ramaswamy’s campaign last Wednesday asking that it stop performing any of the rapper’s work. It was not an uncommon development — artists have often been he...

Patriots waive Bailey Zappe, trade Nick Folk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

The Patriots have waived quarterback Bailey Zappe and traded kicker Nick Folk, according to multiple reports. The moves came on cutdown day in the NFL Tuesday, which regularly provides some type of shocking moment around the league. That fact hit home for the Patriots this year as the team opted to waive Zappe to get down to its 53-man roster limit. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, Zappe saw action in four games, starting in two games and winning on both occasions while Mac Jones recovered from a high ankle sprain. Zappe fever was in full effect. But Zappe did not impress this summer under new Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien. Now, the Patriots may be hoping to sneak Zappe onto their practice squad if and when he clears waivers. In addition to Zappe, the Patriots also waived rookie free agent Malik Cunningham on Tuesday, leaving Jones as the only quarterback on the roster. Elsewhere in the lineup, the Patriots settled their kicker compet...

Woman hospitalized after coyote attack in Fall River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

A wild attack recently unfolded in Fall River where a coyote bit a woman while she was out walking her dog. The incident happened on Monday shortly before 6 a.m. On Tuesday, the woman continued her recovery as Fall River residents reacted.“It’s very, very, very horrifying,” said one area community member.  Police said the 54-year-old victim came face-to-face with the coyote and picked up her dog. Then, police said, the coyote attacked her. Police said the coyote wandered back into the woods and emerged on the other side of a set of train tracks at the Fall River Country Club. Responding officers then shot and killed the coyote after spotting it acting aggressively. “Anytime you have to make a decision to put any animal down whether it be a coyote or a deer that’s been struck in the roadway, it’s a difficult decision,” said Fall River Police Sergeant Moses Pereira. “Nobody wants to put an animal down.”The injured woman remained in the hospital as of Tuesday a...

Wet Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

Editor’s Note…Tonight’s blog was written by meteorologist Josh Wurster ~JRToday was the tale of two forecasts. Cities northwest of Boston had a lot of sunshine today and with the help of that sun, temperatures were able to climb close to 80°! The 95 Corridor and areas southeast of there were stuck under the clouds. Those on the coast fell victim to an onshore wind and the Cape and Islands even saw a few light showers and sprinkles. While most of the rain today stayed south of New England, more widespread showers and downpours will move back in overnight and be with us through the day tomorrow.The rain that’s inbound tonight and tomorrow will be our last chance of rain before meteorological summer comes to an end on Thursday (August 31st). And meteorological summer has been a wet one, it’s not just your imagination. Boston is currently sitting at the 4th wettest summer on record and the 18th wettest year on record (to date). Those numbers are impressive ...

‘It’s a ticking time bomb’: WRTA bus drivers call attention to staffing shortage in Worcester

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

Bus drivers with the Worcester Regional Transit Authority are speaking out over what they call serious staffing issues that are causing strain for employees and trips to be canceled.The union representing the drivers say a lack of operators is causing problems to a point where if one driver calls out sick, there are few if any people who can fill in.On Monday, the drivers picketed outside the WRTA’s office to let managers know they are working ten hours a day, on their days off, and that it’s not safe.“It’s like a ticking time bomb – something severe is going to happen at some point,” said ATU Local 22 business agent Ken Kephart.“We want to schedule those trips and make those trips occur for the public – unfortunately, we have been missing some and we’re going to be looking into how we can correct the situation,” said WRTA Administrator Joshua Rickman, who is just one week into the role.According to Rickman, the system is b...

Narcan is covered by insurance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mass. says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

The state’s largest insurer has announced that its customers will not have to pay out of pocket for a lifesaving overdose drug.In a Tuesday morning press release, insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts said that it would cover the cost of Narcan, or naloxone, for over-the-counter nonprescription use. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for nonprescription used in March of this year.“Naloxone has become the standard treatment for opioid overdose and making it available more widely is a key strategy in controlling the overdose crisis,” Dr. Sandhya Rao, Blue Cross’ chief medical officer said in the release.According to the National Institutes for Health, Narcan is a nasal spray delivered drug that can quickly block the effects of opioids on the body. Timely administration of the drug in an emergency situation can be the difference between life and death for overdose patients.“Waiving out-of-pocket costs for this emergency medication aligns with...

Two Massachusetts residents are first human cases of West Nile virus this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

The Bay State has reported the first human cases of West Nile virus of the year, as health officials urge residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Tuesday announced the first two human cases of West Nile virus in state residents this year.A man in his 40s was exposed to the virus in Middlesex County, which is an area already known to be at moderate risk for West Nile virus. The other case is a woman in her 70s who was exposed to the virus in another part of the country.The risk of human infection is moderate in the Greater Boston area — Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties — and in parts of Bristol, Plymouth, Worcester, Berkshire, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.“This is the first time that West Nile virus infection has been identified in Massachusetts residents this year,” said Public Health Commissioner Robert Goldstein. “August and September are the months when most people are exposed ...

10 drugs named for Medicare price cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:50 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Biden touted the potential cost savings of Medicare’s first-ever price negotiations for a group of 10 widely used prescription drugs on Tuesday.“For all of you out there, I get it, and millions of Americans get it,” Biden said at the White House, framing the push to trim drug prices as part of his “Bidenomics” effort to lower costs for Americans struggling with inflation. “I promise you. I’m going to have your back and I’ll never stop fighting for you on this issue.”Among the drugs on the list are the blood thinner Eliquis and diabetes treatment Jardiance. Others include Xarelto; Januvia; Farxiga, Entresto; Enbrel; Imbruvica; Stelara; and Fiasp/Novolog.Any lower prices won’t take effect for three years, and the path forward could be further complicated by multiple lawsuits from drugmakers and heavy criticism from Republicans.The drugs on the list accounted for $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs for M...