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Gun reform bill opposed by police chiefs passed by state House

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

House lawmakers have passed a sweeping new gun reform bill already unanimously opposed by Bay State police chiefs.The House suspended their rules, passed the bill by a vote of 120-38, and will send it to the state Senate.Lawmakers said they aim to reduce gun violence by strengthening laws around firearms licensing, and carrying and by going after so-called ghost guns.“While the Commonwealth annually ranks as one of the safest states in the entire country from gun violence, the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision nullified existing components of our gun laws, threatening the safety of the Commonwealth’s residents. With the passage of this legislation, the House has once again displayed an unwavering commitment to ensuring that Massachusetts remains one of the safest states in the country,” House Speaker Ron Mariano said.This summer, a year after the high court decided in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that most extraordinary licensing requirements were at odds with...

Jayson Tatum praises Celtics’ culture change under Joe Mazzulla: ‘We’ve all bought in’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Jayson Tatum was honest about what the last two-plus weeks of training camp have been like for him and the Celtics.“Practice has been hard as (expletive), I ain’t gonna lie,” the Celtics star said.The competitive portions of Celtics practice are closed off from viewing, but the energy on the courts of the Auerbach Center have been apparent from behind closed curtains over the last two weeks. Players have raved about the competitiveness. Something feels different.It makes sense. A year ago, the Celtics were in the process of navigating an adverse situation after head coach Ime Udoka was suddenly suspended on the eve of training camp. First-time head coach Joe Mazzulla stepped in and did his best, but he was learning on the fly.“I honestly don’t remember much about the beginning of last year,” Mazzulla admitted. “It happened so fast.”But with a season under his belt and a full summer of preparation, Mazzulla has organized training camp to his liking. It’s been well received by h...

Bruins notebook: B’s finally get back to work, hit the road

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Let the bonding begin.The Bruins begin their first extended road trip on Thursday in San Jose and, as they do annually, they talked about the importance of getting away from home and getting into that road bubble to become a more cohesive team on and off the ice.Some years, it can be more true than in others. But it’s a good bet the 2023-24 version of the Bruins are a team that could use a little bit of away time. Boston’s roster has eight players who were not on the team last year, including a pair of rookies. Call it a transitional year or a rebuild-on-the-fly type of season. But who exactly the B’s are is still a wide-open question and any positive vibes they can bottle on the road will be needed if they’re to get back to the Stanley Cup tournament in April.“To me it’s nothing but positives – and it’s not because I’m a positive person,” said coach Jim Montgomery before hitting the road. “It’s early in the year, these guys have got t...

Worcester man accused of pretending to be Uber driver, raping passenger

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

A Worcester man has been ordered held on $10,000 bail for allegedly pretending to be a rideshare driver and then raping a customer.“This is a terrifying incident involving a woman who entered a vehicle with the full understanding that she was going to be delivered home in safety and a driver who took advantage of the victim and the situation,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement.Qabel Najeeb, 29, was charged in Boston Municipal Court Monday with one count of rape. Should he post bail, he is ordered to wear a GPS-tracking ankle bracelet and abide by a curfew that keeps him off the streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 15.The alleged victim met with Boston Police Saturday morning just before 5 on Border Street in Eastie, where she told them she was dropped off by a man she believed to be her Uber driver who had raped her somewhere among tall buildings near Storrow Drive, according to the Suffolk DA’s office.Police used surveil...

Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh returns to practice after missing past 4 games; Safety Marcus Williams absent

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh returned to practice Wednesday after missing four games because of an ankle injury suffered in the second week of the season.Coach John Harbaugh had said Oweh was close to coming back, and he will be a welcome addition to a position group that has relied heavily on veterans Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy. Oweh was off to a strong start in his third NFL season with four quarterback hits in the Ravens’ opening win over the Houston Texans.Only safety Marcus Williams (hamstring), defensive end Brent Urban (neck) and cornerback Kevon Seymour (ankle) were missing from the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to reporters. Linebacker Malik Harrison (concussion protocol) participated, while Clowney was present but not wearing a helmet or football shoes.With Williams unlikely to play against the Detroit Lions, the Ravens signed safety Andrew Adams, a veteran with eight interceptions in 100 career games, to their practice squad. Adams coul...

Walpole at Milton Field Hockey

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Milton, MA - October 18, 2023: Milton’s Meghan Mylod keeps the ball away from Walpole’s Emily Hagan during their field hockey game at Milton High School. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)Milton, MA - October 18, 2023: Milton’s Mary Lovett defends as Walpole’s Elana Govoni controls the ball during their field hockey game at Milton High School. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)Milton, MA - October 18, 2023: Milton’s Ali Drane comes up on Walpole’s Kerin Birch as she passes the ball during their field hockey game at Milton High School. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)Milton, MA - October 18, 2023: Milton’s Ali Drane pressures Walpole’s Kerin Birch during their field hockey game at Milton High School. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)Milton, MA - October 18, 2023: Walpole’s Emily Hagan gets her stick on the ball as Milton’s Bella Munnelly attempts a shot on goalduring their field hockey game at Milton High School. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)Milton, MA - October 18, 2023: Milton’s Mary Lovett battles...

Lobster decline raising new concerns

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine — The population of young lobsters has declined nearly 40% in some of the most critical fishing waters off New England, officials said, triggering new restrictions for the fishermen who harvest the valuable crustaceans.Officials with the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission said surveys have detected a 39% decline in young lobsters in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank areas for 2020-22 compared to 2016-18. The areas are among the most important lobster fishing grounds in the world.The drop in lobster recruitment is a continuation of a recent trend off New England, said Caitlin Starks, senior fisheries management plan coordinator with the commission.“I wouldn’t say it’s very surprising just given that we’ve seen a declining trend for a number of years now,” Starks said. “We’re seeing decline in those recruits.”The commission announced the drop in young lobsters just months after adopting new rules desi...

Massachusetts reports the most fatal teen crashes in more than a decade, distracted driving is major cause for teen accidents

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Nearly 50 teenagers died in car crashes last year across the Bay State, as the total number of fatal teen driver crashes reached its highest point in more than a decade.Distracted driving was the top cause of overall teen car accidents last year in Massachusetts, while more than half of teen drivers or passengers who were killed in crashes weren’t wearing their seatbelt.Last year, 49 people were killed in crashes involving 16-year-old to 19-year-old drivers — the first time that yearly total had eclipsed 40 fatalities in more than a decade, according to a new analysis from AAA Northeast.The count of 49 teen deaths was the highest since 56 people were killed in such crashes in 2008. This jump in Massachusetts mirrors the growing number of people killed in teen driver crashes across the country.“Teen driver crashes affect everybody on the road,” said Mark Schieldrop, of AAA Northeast. “Parents and caregivers play a critical role in making sure young drive...

New report shows ‘catastrophic’ cost of not replacing Cape Cod bridges

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

A new report commissioned by members of the state’s congressional delegation underscores the “catastrophic” consequences for Cape Cod if the pair of aging bridges carrying traffic to the region are not replaced.According to a report prepared at the request of U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, the 90-year old Bourne and Sagamore Bridges are already costing Cape businesses money and impacting quality of life for the people who live and visit the region.“Failure to replace the bridges would be catastrophic,” the report reads.The federally owned bridges are the only roads for the 260,000 residents and the about 5 million annual tourists heading to or leaving the Cape. The State has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers since 2020 to secure funding for their replacement, expected to cost upwards of $4.5 billion. That process is ongoing.However, due their age and small size, coupled with frequent lane closures for maintenance, the time to replac...

Old North Church crypt comes alive after 10-month, $1.2 million restoration project

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

In the crypt of Boston’s oldest surviving church, one may expect to find spider webs, dirt and other signs of a rotting interior.But that’s not the case at Old North Church anymore, as guests are now greeted by a pristine space which contains 37 tombs, the final resting place for 1,100 people.Old North Illuminated, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the historic landmark, and the National Parks Service have completed a 10-month restoration and preservation project of the crypt.Workers put the final touches on the $1.2 million endeavor on Wednesday, installing eight restored original wooden tomb doors. The National Parks Service funded half of the work and provided project management, said Nikki Stewart, executive director of Old North Illuminated.Dozens of workers were involved in the project which focused on restoring the crypt’s masonry and wood surfaces, and excavation for an accessibility ramp, Stewart said.“It is exciting for us to see the space looking so well cared for,” she...