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Beacon Hill punts Boston’s rent regulation bill until fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

When it comes to rent control, the Massachusetts Legislature is testing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s patience.It’s been nearly four months since the Boston City Council approved Wu’s proposal to revive local rent control, and it’ll be several more months before lawmakers even begin their formal review of the idea that Wu made a hallmark of her 2021 campaign.The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing is in no rush to consider Boston’s plan, which aims to tackle a housing affordability crisis that is afflicting cities and towns throughout the state.House and Senate Democrats did not include the measure (H 3744) on the docket of a June 26 hearing that featured several other home rule petitions. They also left it and several broader rent control bills off the agenda for a July 11 hearing focused on legislation about housing “affordability.”“Although there are a few exceptions, the vast majority of home rule petitions are sl...

How married actors Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill were inspired to write a children’s book

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

When her daughter Kennedy was young, Jazmyn Simon would say affirmations with the child each day in hopes it would help develop her confidence and self-esteem.“I thought, ‘Well, this seems like it would be great for a young woman to know all the wonderful things about herself,” Simon says. “So let’s start now. And so every single day, before she got out of my car at school, we would do this set of affirmations.”A decade later in the tumultuous summer of 2020, the pandemic and protests for racial justice were inescapable. Simon was now married to fellow actor Dulé Hill, who had adopted Kennedy, 15 at that time, and together they had 1-year-old son Levi.Actors Dulé Hill and Jazmyn Simon recently published a children’s picture book inspired by affirmations they used with their children Kennedy and Levi Hill. Seen here, left to right, are Hill, Simon, Kennedy Hill, and Levi Dulé Hill at Disney On Ice at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Dec. 18, 2021. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty I...

They’re called ‘100-year floods.’ But they’re likely becoming more frequent, study says.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

A new study released last week shows that some “100-year flood” estimates may not reflect a changing climate.First Street Foundation, a research and technology nonprofit that studies and collects data on climate risks, released its eighth National Risk Assessment: “The Precipitation Problem.”Many climate and weather groups gauge extreme rain events as a “100-year flood” or a “1-in-100-year-flood.” Also known as a “100-year recurrence interval,” this means that a flood of that magnitude has a 1% chance of happening in any year.According to the new study, roughly 21% of the country can now expect their “1-in-100 year flood” to happen every 25 years. In the most extreme cases, over 20 counties are expected to experience the current “1-in-100 year flood” severe event at least once every 8-10 years.The study says many Americans, more than half, live in an area that is twice as likely to experience such a rain event than is predicted by Atlas 14 — is a peer-reviewed record of precipitatio...

Decades after shelving NBA dream to care for family, Harvey’s James Lewis to be spotlighted at National Senior Games

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

James Lewis made a big decision after graduating from Thornwood High in 1974.He had a chance to play basketball and continue his education at Bradley University or stay close to home and attend a technical school and give up competitive basketball. He was living with his grandparents at the time and they needed him close by.Lewis chose to stay and attended Greer Technical Institute in Chicago.Lewis, now 67, never got to pursue his dream of playing college ball and eventually the NBA.Given that he is one of the top senior players in the country right now and a Masters Basketball Association Hall of Famer, he could be forgiven for regretting his decision back in the bell-bottoms era.But he doesn’t.“I don’t know if I would have been good enough to play in the NBA,” Lewis said. “Maybe overseas. Probably so. But I’m not really sure of the NBA. That’s hindsight.”What’s not hindsight are his achievements on and off the basketball court ...

What to stream: Your mission, should you choose to accept it …

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

Katie Walsh | Tribune News ServiceYour mission, should you choose to accept it: Rewatch all the “Mission: Impossible” movies before the highly-anticipated release of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” on Wednesday, July 12. This is the seventh installment of the series that started back in 1996, with Tom Cruise playing super-spy Ethan Hunt of the top-secret Impossible Mission Force.“Dead Reckoning Part One” is also the third “Mission: Impossible” film written and directed by his close collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, who also wrote last year’s massive hit “Top Gun: Maverick.” McQuarrie came in around the fourth “M:I” installment, “Ghost Protocol,” for an uncredited rewrite, and saved the series by saving Ethan Hunt. The plan was to hand the franchise over to Jeremy Renner, but McQuarrie corrected that near-mistake, and with “Rogue Nation,” “Fallout” and now “Dead Reckoning,” he and Cruise have created one the greatest action movie franchises of all time.It’s ea...

A new law is supposed to protect pregnant workers — but what if we don’t know how?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

Gina Jiménez | Kaiser Health News (TNS)Vanessa Langness had always been a bit worried about the chemicals she worked with as a biomedical researcher, but when she got pregnant in October, her concerns grew. The 34-year-old based in Santa Maria, California, suspected the ethidium bromide she was using in the lab for molecular cloning could put her and her baby at risk.She wasn’t sure what to do; she was only a few weeks into her pregnancy and didn’t know how it would affect her career.“Women are taught: You aren’t supposed to tell people until after the first trimester,” she said. “But that’s actually a really delicate stage for the formation of the baby.”Langness did some research online but couldn’t find much information on what kind of extra precautions she should take because of her pregnancy. Without realizing it, she had stumbled upon an often overlooked area of science and medicine: the occupational health of pregnant workers. Those who are pregnant often face hazardous circum...

12-year-old boy killed in Oceanside crash on 4th of July

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- A 12-year-old boy was killed in a collision involving two vehicles in Oceanside on Tuesday night, authorities said.According to the Oceanside Police Department, a call came in around 11 p.m. reporting a crash on North Myers Street and Surfrider Way. 4th of July shooting in East County leaves 1 dead; suspect at large Upon arrival, officers found two vehicles with a total of five occupants who were involved in the crash. The 12-year-old boy, who's identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene, OPD confirmed to FOX 5. The condition of the others involved was not immediately released. Authorities say alcohol and speed are believed to be a factor in this deadly crash.An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Additional details are limited at this time. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Vista shooting leaves 1 dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- One person is dead after a shooting Wednesday morning in Vista, authorities said.The shooting was reported shortly before 11:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Camino Corto, San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.The victim was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. He has not yet been publicly identified. 12-year-old boy killed in Oceanside crash on 4th of July Authorities have detained one person of interest.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Petco Park to be featured on episode of 'The Bachelorette'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO — If you watch next week's new episode of "The Bachelorette" you may recognize a familiar site.The July 10 episode of the popular reality show will see Bachelorette Charity Lawson go on a one-on-one date at the downtown ballpark, which is home to the San Diego Padres.The details of the date, and who Lawson will be taking along with her, have not yet been revealed. These concerts are coming to Petco Park this summer The Bachelorette is a reality show where one woman is matched with a group of men and gradually narrows the field of eligible bachelors in her search for "the one."Lawson is a child and family therapist from Columbus, Georgia who appeared on season 27 of "The Bachelor" before being selected as the newest Bachelorette.In addition to being the home stadium of the Padres, Petco Park also plays host to major concerts with headlining acts, the Holiday Bowl game, the Holiday Market at Petco Park, The Links at Petco Park golfing experience, Monster Jam and more.

Republicans sue over rejection of party nominee to election board in Georgia’s most populous county

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The Republican Party in Georgia’s most populous county is suing local elected officials over the rejection of one of the party’s nominees to serve on the county election board, saying he was being punished for trying to clean up voter rolls.In the lawsuit filed Friday, the Fulton County Republican Party asks a judge to order the county Board of Commissioners to appoint Jason Frazier to the county Board of Elections and Registration. Fulton County, which includes most of the city of Atlanta, is a Democratic stronghold.Frazier has recently filed challenges to the eligibility of thousands of Fulton County voters. The GOP lawsuit notes that both state and federal law permit such challenges and his “demonstrated commitment to preserving the integrity” of the state’s elections makes him “uniquely suited to help the county’s election process.” That is why the county Republican Party nominated him to the election board, the suit says.The five-member county electio...