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Rings dropped into Massachusetts Salvation Army donation kettle: ‘Given in love for a second time’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

The incredibly generous tradition of people dropping jewelry into The Salvation Army’s red donation kettles continued this week in the Bay State.Lt. Nicole Fullop of The Salvation Army was counting money after collecting red kettles from multiple sites in Waltham on Thursday when she found a wedding band and an engagement ring.There was also a note from the anonymous donor, who dropped them into a red kettle at the Market Basket in Waltham.“This ring is being given in love for a second time,” the donor wrote. “Like the first time, I hope that this ring will bring joy and make a difference.”The rings are valued at an estimated $1,500. The Salvation Army said the rings will now be “put directly toward helping families and others in need in the Waltham area this holiday season.”Over the years, people have donated valuable jewelry and rare coins with notes that have helped The Salvation Army raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support soci...

Lucas: Nikki Haley hardly a ‘birdbrain’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

Candidates sometimes run for president to become vice president.Frequently, presidential candidacies are more tryouts for vice president than they are for the top job.And sometimes a failed but lucky presidential candidate gets picked for the second spot.It happened to Kamala Harris in 2020, and it could happen to Nikki Haley in 2024.President Biden ended up with then-Sen. Harris, a Democrat presidential primary opponent in 2020, even after a contentious clash over race during a presidential debate.And former President Donald Trump could end up with Haley, his former ambassador to the United Nations, as his vice-presidential running mate even after Trump called her, among other things, a “birdbrain.”Trump shamelessly calls a lot of people a lot of things.While neither Joe Biden nor Kamala Harris called each other “birdbrains” during the 2020 primary campaign, they did argue over race during a debate.And although Harris did not call Biden a “racist” — as it was later wrongfully repor...

DeMar DeRozan says he’s committed to the Chicago Bulls amid contract negotiations: ‘I love it here. None of that has changed.’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

DeMar DeRozan is used to chatter. As a 15-year veteran of the NBA, he knows how trade cycles — and the rumor mills that surround them — work.But as the Chicago Bulls navigate a critical trade window focused on moving Zach LaVine, DeRozan feels nothing has changed about his future with the franchise.Despite a report from Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes that DeRozan and the Bulls are “far apart” on agreeing upon a contract extension, the forward says he wants to remain in Chicago.“Chicago is Chicago to me,” DeRozan told the Tribune. “I love it here. Obviously it’s a place I want to be in my career. None of that has changed. I don’t have no other type of doubts or feelings or suggestions to be elsewhere. That don’t cross my mind.”DeRozan has never wavered in this verbal commitment to the Bulls, stating his desire to retire in Chicago. But getting a deal across the line for a contract extension is a little more compl...

Matthew Perry's death caused by 'acute effects of ketamine', L.A. medical examiner says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

(KTLA) — The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has released Matthew Perry's cause of death. From the coroner's findings, which were released Friday, the "Friends" actor died as a result of "the acute effects of ketamine."The medical examiner's report said that "high levels of ketamine" were found in Perry's "postmortem blood specimens," adding that "the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression."The "exact method of intake" in Perry's case is unknown. Matt LeBlanc pays tribute to Matthew Perry in heartfelt post "There were trace amounts of ketamine detected in the stomach contents," the report stated. "He was reported to be receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety."Per the report, Perry's last known treatment was one-and-a-half weeks prior to his death and the ketamine that was in his system when he died "could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine's half-life is three to four hours, or les...

Biden tapes podcast interview with former late-night host Conan O’Brien

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden sat down on Friday with former late-night television host Conan O’Brien for an interview on the comedian’s podcast.Conan O’Brien, the former host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” and “Late Night,” was spotted by reporters in the White House briefing room ahead of the interview, but was coy when asked about the purpose of his visit to the White House.“They won’t let me take questions,” O’Brien said. “But boy, do I have the answers to everything.”The White House later confirmed that Biden was interviewed by the comedian for his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.”O’Brien said he’s previously visited the White House and is in thrall of its history.“I’m a huge history buff slash nerd. So believe it or not, I like read a lot of books about the White House,” O’Brien told reporters. “Every time I come here, I mean, just I get the same feeling — just like this is amazing. It’s absolutely incredible.”The episode will be available Wednesday for downlo...

Internet gambling and sports betting set new records in New Jersey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Internet gambling and sports betting set new records in New Jersey in November as the Atlantic City gambling market continues to evolve and become less dependent on physical casinos, according to figures released Friday.More than $171.5 million was won from online table games and slots by casinos and their technology partners, according to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.At the same time, the casinos and three horse tracks that accept sports bets took in $1.62 billion worth of bets in November — another record.Taken together, these numbers provide fresh evidence that technology and a wider menu of wagering options are remaking the way some people gamble in New Jersey, where in-person gambling at a physical casino had long been the main way to bet.Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling industry, noted that internet and sports betting accounted for about 45% of ...

Security videos show Israeli forces killing 2 Palestinians at close range. The army opens a probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Friday said it was opening a military police investigation into the killing of two Palestinians in the West Bank after an Israeli human rights group posted videos that appeared to show Israeli troops killing the men — one who was incapacitated and the second unarmed — during a military raid in a West Bank refugee camp.The B’Tselem human rights group accused the army of carrying out a pair of “illegal executions.”The security camera videos show two Israeli military vehicles pursuing a group of Palestinians in the Faraa refugee camp in the northern West Bank. One man, who appears to be holding a red canister, is gunned down by soldiers. B’Tselem identified the man as 25 year-old Rami Jundob.The military jeep then approaches Jundob as he lies bleeding on the ground and fires multiple shots at him until he is still. Soldiers then approach a man identified by B’Tselem as 36-year-old Thaar Shahin as he cowers underneath the hood of a car. They shoot ...

Body of sergeant killed when US Air Force Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan is returning home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant from Massachusetts who was one of eight service members lost when a CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan are being returned home.The body of Jacob “Jake” Galliher, 24, was expected to arrive at the Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee on Friday afternoon for transport in a procession to a funeral home in his hometown, Pittsfield. Members of the Pittsfield police and fire departments, the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, Massachusetts State Police and the Dalton American Legion Riders were to escort his body, officials said. The Osprey went down Nov. 29 during a training mission just off Yakushima Island in southwestern Japan while on its way to Okinawa. Galliher’s remains were the first to be found. Divers recovered the remains of the seventh of the eight crew members last Sunday. Galliher’s family issued a statement on Dec. 2 saying it was in mourning and asking for privacy and prayers for his wif...

Police say 4 suspects stole nearly $50K in booze from LCBOs in York Region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

Four suspects are facing charges after York Regional Police allege they worked together to steal nearly $50,000 worth of booze from LCBO stores across York Region.Investigators said they became aware of the “large-scale” operation after officers on routine patrol spotted suspects sneaking into the back door of an LCBO store at Yonge Street and High Tech Road in Richmond Hill on Dec. 14, at around 8:30 p.m.The suspects allegedly stacked several cases of alcohol and removed them from the store while their accomplices were in the store serving as lookouts.The group then loaded up the cases and drove off in a vehicle that was followed to a parking lot in Mississauga.That’s where police say they watched the suspects load the cases onto a shipping container before arresting them. Investigators say a large quantity of alcohol was recovered, along with around $20,000 in cash and a quantity of suspected meth and heroin.Four Brampton men, Shamsher Singh, 26, Jaswinder Singh,...

A peek inside the Toronto Blue Jays’ latest renovations at Rogers Centre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:10 GMT

The demolition and renovations continue at Rogers Centre, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays. The team provided a video of the latest changes in what is a $300-million makeover.Last month, the 100-level demolition was completed, nearly four months after the Blue Jays announced details of a re-imagined lower bowl for the ballpark.The project, announced on July 27 and scheduled to be completed in time for the opening of the 2024 season, is part of the next phase of renovations at the ballpark. Phase 1 focused on outfield renovations, which were unveiled at the start of last season.Structural demolition of the lower bowl took place between Oct. 13-26, where an average of 350 workers were on-site daily, as stated by the team in an update on Tuesday. The process included the removal and recycling of 26.5 million pounds of concrete and 3 million pounds of steel.Field-level excavation took place between Oct. 23-Nov. 6, during which 780 truckloads of materials were removed from the Rogers Ce...