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Cannabis commission considers new rules around veterans and pot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

The State’s Cannabis Control Commission will consider removing registration fees for veterans using the medical marijuana program in order expand the use of a drug many say is far safer than the opioids veterans are frequently prescribed to manage pain.During its regular meeting last week, Commissioners learned that, though the state is home to hundreds of thousands of veterans, many of whom would qualify for medical marijuana as a result of service connected disabilities, veterans are not entering the medical marijuana program at nearly the same rates as other adults.Part of the problem is the law.“Access to medical marijuana in the regulated industry for veterans in Massachusetts continue to face significant barriers primarily due to the existing federal illegality of cannabis,” commissioners were shown during a presentation by Commissioner Bruce Stebbins.For the 71,000 Massachusetts veterans using a Veterans Administration facility for healthcare or the 11,000 who are 100% disabl...

Do you see wild turkeys in your Massachusetts community? MassWildlife wants to know

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

With the region’s wild turkey population booming, wildlife officials are again asking residents to report sightings as the state monitors the population and estimates the fall harvest potential.Every year from June 1 to Aug. 31, wild turkey reports from the public help MassWildlife biologists determine the population’s reproductive success.Wildlife officials are looking for wild turkey reports from all regions of Massachusetts — from the most rural communities to more densely-populated areas like Boston and Brookline, where turkeys are now spotted on a regular basis.“As we’ve seen over the past couple of decades, turkeys are becoming more and more common in suburban areas and now in urban settings,” MassWildlife Turkey Project Leader Dave Scarpitti told the Herald, noting that the turkeys are finding food in these areas.People can report sightings of hens (female turkeys), poults (newly-hatched turkeys), jakes (juvenile males), and toms (adult mal...

Report: Billionaire investor, philanthropist George Soros cedes control of empire to a younger son

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Billionaire investor turned philanthropist George Soros is ceding control of his $25 billion empire to a younger son, Alexander Soros, according to an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal published online Sunday. Soros’ business holdings include his nonprofit Open Society Foundations, which is active in more than 120 countries around the world and funnels about $1.5 billion annually to groups such as those that back human rights and promote the growth of democracies around the world, according to its website. The 37-year-old, who goes by Alex, told the Wall Street Journal that he is “more political” than his 92-year-old father, who has been a right-wing target for his backing of liberal causes such as reducing racial bias in the justice system. But he noted that the two “think alike.” Alex said he was broadening his father’s “liberal aims” and embracing different causes including voting and abortion rights, as well as gender equity. He said he...

Nick Taylor ends nearly 70-year Canadian drought to win RBC Canadian Open

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., sank a 72-foot putt on the fourth playoff hole to defeat Tommy Fleetwood and win the RBC Canadian Open, becoming the first Canadian player in almost 70 years to win the national men’s golf championship.Pat Fletcher was the last homegrown golfer to win the title at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf and Country Club in 1954.It’s Taylor’s third career PGA Tour victory and first since winning the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.More to come

US aims to rejoin UN scientific and educational organization to push back on China

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says the U.S. will rejoin the U.N.’s educational and scientific organization after a five-year absence that began while Donald Trump was president. The State Department said it had delivered a letter seeking re-admission to the Paris-based body, known as UNESCO, late last week. The June 8 letter from Deputy Secretary of State for Management Richard Verma proposed “a plan for the U.S. to rejoin the organization,” the department said.“Any such action would require concurrence by UNESCO’s current membership, and it is our understanding that UNESCO leadership will convey our proposal to the membership in the coming days,” the department said in a statement.Details of the proposal were not immediately clear. The U.S. owes a significant amount of money to the organization for arrears in dues payments. But earlier this year, the administration set aside $150 million in its current budget plan to pay for a return to UNESCO. The U.S. and UNESC...

Select list of winners at 2023 Tony Awards

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Select winners so far at the 2023 Tony Awards:Best choreography: Casey Nicholaw, “Some Like It Hot”Best original score: “Kimberly Akimbo,” Music: Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics: David Lindsay-AbaireBest orchestrations: Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, “Some Like It Hot”Costume of a musical: Gregg Barnes, “Some Like It Hot”Costume of a play: Brigitte Reiffenstuel, “Leopoldstadt”___For more coverage of the 2023 Tony Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/tony-awardsThe Associated Press

Aurora Pride Parade takes place after preliminary injunction in US District Court

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

AURORA, Ill. — Thousands attended or took part in the Aurora Pride Parade Sunday, but the event almost didn't happen after a squabble between the City and organizers."It’s great and the fact that there were so many people who marched, that’s super awesome," said Gwen Gaglione, an Aurora resident. "And so many people that showed up that it kept getting longer and longer at the end … It’s so amazing."For weeks at this time last year, the City of Aurora and and Aurora Pride went back and forth over police presence and attire for the parade, with the city revoking Aurora Pride's permit before eventually restoring it.However, after restoring Aurora Pride's permit, police staffing the parade were given a triple-time incentive by the City, effectively making the nonprofit liable for the price at nearly two times the original quote they were given."It was about almost double, if I remember correctly," said Gwyn Ciesla, President of Aurora Pride. Biden marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month with celebra...

Thai Festival returns to Chicago after 4 year hiatus

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

CHICAGO — In a weekend of larger-than-life street festivals from the Far North Side to the West, we find a taste of Thailand. This is the first year since 2019 for the outdoor festival celebrating Thai culture. It takes place in a parking lot at the corner of Irving Park Road and Freemont Avenue. The Thai American Association of Illinois is one of the big backers of this celebration. Not only to introduce Chicago to Thailand, but also for the younger generation of Thai Americans."They will keep some cultural. A lot of generation of the younger generation they start with the music and the Thai dance right now it’s a lot of them," said Orachorn Nanner, from the Thai American Association of Illinois. Changing the Stigma: PTSD to PTSI Dancing, music, food and a lot more, it is a glimpse of the rich culture of Thailand."I think the beauty of this, Sean is this," Todd Tongdee Lavelle said. "Thai people are beautiful ambassadors of themselves. They really are. They have a saying … put yo...

'Everyone was screaming': Man accused of driving truck through Oregon parade route

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The annual Grand Floral Parade in Northeast Portland wasn’t all sunshine and roses Saturday morning. About 20 minutes before the festivities began, police and parade officials say a man drove into the parade route.Witnesses told Nexstar's KOIN that children had still been in the road grabbing candy when 42-year-old Sidney Sean Mecham came racing through in a pickup truck.“I thought any minute someone was going to get hit…tons of little toddlers. Little kids were running out in the middle of the road grabbing candy and then all of a sudden, probably about two blocks down...I believe it was a gray pickup truck come barreling down the street,” one witness told KOIN. “We think he was going about 30 miles an hour. And everyone was screaming, running out to get their kids.”An officer with the Portland Police Bureau reported seeing Mecham head into the parade route, where he “saw parade goers running out of the street and heard them screaming, trying to get his atte...

Twins’ rehabbng Gallo leads Saints past Iowa

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:14:51 GMT

Two-thirds of the Saints’ outfield on Sunday afternoon consisted of Twins players on rehab assignment, with Joey Gallo in left and Gilberto Celestino in center. Gallo provided some offensive fireworks, and Celestino shined bright in the field as the Saints beat the Iowa Cubs, 8-5, at CHS Field.Gallo hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to erase a 3-2 Iowa lead. It was his second home run in as many days, and both were no-doubters, landing on the roof of the building beyond the right-field concourse.Sidelined since June 2 due to a left hamstring strain, Gallo appears set to rejoin the Twins, although there was no official word after the game.  But he feels he accomplished what he set out to do during his time in St. Paul.“Yeah, it was just kind of getting back on my feet and playing competitive baseball,” Gallo said. “Getting some at-bats and some live looks. It’s always good to come and play. It’s hard, when you’re hurt, to just go right back into (major-league) games.”Along...