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Ben Wallace to step down as UK defense chief: Sunday Times

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace plans to leave the government at the next Cabinet reshuffle and will not stand in the next general election, he told the Sunday Times newspaper.  Wallace informed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of his plans on June 16 but had hoped to make the announcement later in the summer, the newspaper reported late Saturday. A Cabinet reshuffle is expected by September. “I’m not standing next time,” Wallace was quoted as saying. But he ruled out going “prematurely” and forcing another by-election, the newspaper said.  “I went into politics in the Scottish parliament in 1999. That’s 24 years,” Wallace, who has been defense chief since July 2019, told the paper.  The development comes days after Wallace controversially said Ukraine should put more emphasis on showing “gratitude” to “doubting politicians” in the U.S. and other allied countries who might not be completely convinced of the need to maintain military and economic suppo...

Lavender Darcangelo earns golden buzzer on America’s Got Talent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

LEOMINSTER – Tears of joy streamed down Lavender Darcangelo’s face after America’s Got Talent judge Heidi Klum hit the golden buzzer in response to the talented young woman’s incredibly moving performance.Fitchburg resident Lavender Darcangelo wowed the judges and audience during her performance on the America’s Got Talent auditions episode that aired on July 11, earning a standing ovation from everyone in attendance and a coveted golden buzzer from judge Heidi Klum. Pictured here with one of her two dads, Wil Darcangelo. (COURTESY TRAE PATTON/NBC)All four judges and the entire audience gave Lavender a standing ovation during the auditions episode that aired this past Tuesday after she closed the show by singing “Out Here on My Own” by Irene Cara from the musical “Fame,” a song with uplifting lyrics that match the 27-year-old phenom’s positive attitude. The blind and autistic vocalist and disability advocate is a Fitchburg native who lives in Leominster and said onstage she dr...

Somerville City Council wants police to focus less on cyclists who run red lights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

Cyclists should be allowed to travel through a red light as long as they yield to pedestrians or vehicles which have the right of way.That’s the position of the Somerville City Council, which is suggesting the city’s police department taper enforcement of cyclists who blow through red lights, without putting pedestrians and motorists at risk.The stance, put forth by Council President Ben Ewen-Campen and Councilor At-Large Jake Wilson last week, is a mere recommendation. Cities and towns don’t have the authority to legalize the practice, as state law requires cyclists and motorists to stop at red lights and stop signs.After research of the so-called ‘Idaho Stop,’ which allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs, Ewen-Campen said he believes Somerville would be better off if police prioritize other enforcement, such as texting-and-driving.“When you have complex, and in some cases controversial, questions about what should be our high priority enfor...

Residents who sued Boston won’t challenge new redistricting map

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

A group of residents who sued the Boston City Council over the legality of a prior redistricting map doesn’t plan to challenge the new voting lines, but is asking the city to reimburse it for more than $100,000 in attorneys’ fees.According to a Friday federal court filing, the plaintiffs agreed “not to challenge the redistricting map approved by the Boston City Council on May 24, 2023, and signed into law by the mayor on May 26, 2023, either through a motion to amend their complaint in this case or by filing a new lawsuit.”“The city defendants have fully complied with this court’s preliminary injunction order,” the court filing states. “The issues raised in the plaintiffs’ complaint are now moot and the case is appropriate for dismissal.”In early May, a federal judge threw out the redistricting map the City Council approved last fall, via a 9–4 vote, citing a potential constitutional violation stemming from how race was factored into how city lines were redrawn.The ruling came after...

Boston tightens up parking procedures for city councilors amid Kendra Lara fallout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

Amid revelations that Councilor Kendra Lara “regularly” drove to work at City Hall with a revoked license, new policies are being implemented that will require councilors to provide valid documentation to park in city-owned garages.City Council President Ed Flynn said elected officials who do not submit an application form that requires proof of a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance information by end of day on Friday, July 21, “will have their access denied to the executive garage by Property Management.”Enforcement will begin on Monday, July 24, Flynn wrote in a Friday evening email to his fellow councilors that was obtained by the Herald.The changes were the result of a meeting Flynn held this week with Property Management Division Commissioner Eamon Shelton, Chief of Operations Dion Irish, the City Council’s central staff director and his own team, he wrote.“We discussed the City of Boston and Property Management’s current review of parking policies in bo...

Popular night market returns to San Diego

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- There's a summertime night market coming to town that's made for foodie’s, knick-knack shoppers and those looking for some entertainment. Foodieland -- a family-friendly multi-cultural food event -- is coming to Snapdragon Stadium for one weekend only in July. Defiantly delicious: New seafood eatery opens on Oceanside Pier Event organizers say attendees can expect over 190 vendors with a variety of foods, games, and entertainment for those of all ages.Foodieland is an event series that started in Berkeley, California back in 2019. It was inspired by Asia's famous open-air night markets.Since then, organizers say this happening has gained popularity with 16 different annual events in varying cities and 880,000 yearly attendees.It's "a space to connect with family, friends and community over a unique food experience."A guest at an event hosted by Foodieland, the night market coming to San Diego County for the first time when it comes to Del Mar in May 2022. (Photo: Food...

Protests swell in Tel Aviv for 28th week as anti-government movement vows more ‘days of disruption’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of protesters packed the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night, marking the 28th straight week of demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary. Protest leaders promised further “days of disruption” lie ahead.Netanyahu’s government gave initial approval to a key portion of the overhaul earlier this week, breathing new life into the grassroots movement. The bill still needs to be approved in two more votes, expected by the end of the month, before it becomes law. Saturday night protests have become a mainstay of the grassroots movement — but this week’s was larger than usual. In Tel Aviv, protesters unrolled a massive banner reading “SOS.” They threw paint powder into the sky, streaking it pink and orange. “Handmaids” — women dressed in red robes as characters from the dystopian novel and TV series “The Handmaid’s Tale” — once again took to the streets. Their jarring...

2,000 evacuated in La Palma wildfire in Spain’s Canary Islands; official says blaze ‘out of control’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — More than 2,000 people were evacuated as a wildfire rages “out of control” on La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday, destroying around a dozen homes, authorities said.The blaze has affected an area of about 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) and officials warned residents that the situation could worsen because a heat wave has made the terrain tinder-dry.“The fire has spread very fast,” Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo said. “The fire is out of control.” He said that some residents didn’t want to abandon their homes, and he appealed for people to be responsible and heed the calls for evacuation.Clavijo said that he was very concerned about the possibility of shifting winds at night, saying they could make the evacuation operation more dangerous. He said that 10 aircraft were battling the fire, and that water-dropping planes were expected to arrive.The wildfire and evacuations come nearly two years after a three-month volcanic...

Teen, 17, shot in arm on West Side: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 17-year-old girl was injured after a shooting that took place in the city's Garfield Park neighborhood early Saturday morning.According to police, the girl self-transported to Mount Sinai Hospital with two gunshot wounds to the right arm. Missing 16-year-old girl last seen leaving her Chicago home may need medical attention She is in fair condition. She relayed to officers that she was shot by an unidentified individual travelling in a vehicle. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Burglar lies in bed, leaves trail of blood in Memphis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:48 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — Police say a man who broke into three Memphis homes in one night didn't take anything but left behind a trail of blood and some terrorized homeowners.Investigators have released surveillance pictures of the suspect they said injured himself breaking through the front window of a home in the 4300 block of Shady Grove Road on June 27. Delete these two apps that steal your photos, videos, location and more, experts warn The homeowner never saw the burglar but said he heard him leave through the same window after he threatened him with a gun and left blood throughout his house. Courtesy: Memphis Police DepartmentCourtesy: Memphis Police DepartmentAn 84-year-old woman on a nearby block said she heard someone break into her house through her living room window and found the suspect on a bed in her front bedroom.The victim was able to chase the man out of her house, but police said he also went to a home in the 200 block of South Perkins. A woman who lives ther...