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Battenfeld: Democrats embroiled in bickering over how to respond to attack on Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

Democrats are embroiled in controversy over how to respond to the terrorist attack on Israel and the far left’s position that the U.S. should support a cease-fire in the Middle East.While President Biden takes a hard line in strong support of Israel, other Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts, are calling for a de-escalation of fighting.It’s a split that’s reflective of a long-simmering dispute over Israel and its “occupation” of Palestinian territory, with some liberals and progressive groups blaming Israel for igniting more violence.Markey is not the only Democrat taking flak for not supporting Israel’s war posture.Members of Pressley’s “Squad” are being criticized by fellow Dems for suggesting the U.S. should stop funding Israel and calling for an end to the occupation.“As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue,” U.S. Rep. R...

Brockton’s A.J. Dybantsa reclassifies to the 2025 class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

Brockton native A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class and one of the country’s top high school basketball players, made a big Instagram announcement WednesdayThe 6-foot-8 wing plans to reclassify to the 2025 class. Some analysts say he could go No. 1 in the NBA draft.He’s attending Prolific Prep in California and figures to put up huge numbers, just like he did this past July when he turned plenty of heads at the Nike Peach Jam. He easily led the event in scoring, averaging 25.8 points in five games.Dybantsa played before packed gyms last winter when he was at St. Sebastian’s. He finished the season averaging 19.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.BARRY SCANLON 

Boston Mayor Wu continues push for real estate transfer fee amid industry opposition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

Boston is taking another crack at trying to impose a 2% tax on big-ticket real estate transactions, which officials say is a necessary step to fund affordable housing development, but the proposal continues to face resistance from industry groups.Mayor Michelle Wu appeared before Beacon Hill lawmakers for a second straight year on Tuesday to testify in favor of a home rule petition she filed in 2022, that would add a real estate transfer fee for sales that exceed $2 million.The seller would incur the fee, with proceeds payable to the City of Boston. The city would then deposit the money into a neighborhood housing trust, for the purpose of furthering housing acquisition, affordability, creation and preservation, and senior-homeowner and low-income-renter stability, the legislation states.“We’re doing everything we can at the city level,” Wu said, citing efforts to overhaul the city’s zoning code for more housing affordability, provide tax incentives for converting offices into resid...

Ravens hold lengthy team meeting to address recent blunders: ‘Fine line between good and great, and breaking bad’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said there were too many things going wrong and that the team needs to wake up. Linebacker Patrick Queen called it the same old situation, adding that he’s sick of it.First, it was the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3, then it was the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.“We should be 5-0, I believe,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said Wednesday from Tottenham Hotspur training ground, where Baltimore is practicing this week ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. “We just have to put up the points on the board [and] protect the ball.”In their loss to the Steelers, the Ravens had seven dropped passes and two turnovers — an interception from Jackson and a fumble by running back Justice Hill.The script was similar against Indianapolis last month when they had four fumbles and lost two of them, with Jackson and running back Kenyan Drake each coughing it up.There were other similarities between the losses, too. ...

Red Sox No. 11 prospect placed on restricted list

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

Major League Baseball placed Red Sox prospect Brainer Bonaci on the restricted list for violating the joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.According to Bonaci’s player profile on MiLB.com, he was placed on the restricted list on Oct. 4. He’s been sent home from the Arizona Fall League after two games. Tyler McDonough will take his place.It’s the second abrupt pause in the 21-year-old infielder’s playing career this year; weeks after his promotion to Double-A Portland, he was placed on the reserve list on Aug. 30 and sent home to Venezuela. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, it was unofficial administrative leave.How he violated the policy is not yet known, nor is the length of his stay on the restricted list.Both MLB and SoxProspects.com rank the infielder as the organization’s No. 11 prospect.In other newsThe Red Sox played Kaleb Ort on outright waivers on Wednesday. The 31-year-old right-hander made his Major League debut in 2021, pitching one...

Neil Entwistle seeking new trial, again, for cold-blooded murder of wife, baby girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

British double-murderer Neil Entwistle is pushing for a new trial, claiming a juror the same height as his slain wife tainted the verdict that gave him life without parole.Entwistle, convicted in 2008 for executing his wife and baby girl in their Hopkinton home, is petitioning the state Supreme Judicial Court for a second chance, court records state.Entwistle, 44, claims he is indigent and is representing himself, records show. He’s locked up in the Old Colony Correctional Center in Bridgewater where he has been for more than a decade. His conviction has already been held up by the SJC and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear his case.Entwistle was found guilty of murdering his wife, Rachel, 27, and 9-month-old baby, Lillian Rose, in January of 2006 with a gun he stole from his father-in-law.A friend of the victims told the Herald Wednesday night that relatives have long braced for the sad fact Entwistle will fight for his freedom until the day he dies.“As long as he&#...

2 San Diego-area restaurant rank among Yelp’s top 100 US taco spots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Tacos are a popular dish in the U.S., especially in the San Diego area.Yelp recently compiled this year's top 100 taco spots in the nation, with two local restaurants making the list. Tacos El Gabacho in Spring Valley placed No. 15 on the list while The Craft Taco at SOVA came in at No. 23.Tacos El Gabacho is known for its mobile catering service and taco cart."Tacos El Gabacho was the BEST! They came out and set up in our driveway for a party of about 30 of us. We had the best time getting to know them, and the food did not disappoint. They are the nicest people with the funniest stories to tell," Yelper Lindsay B said.The Spring Valley taco spot serves foods like Adobada, Carne Asada, fish tacos and vegan tacos.  "The tacos were all tasty. Kudos for the fish tacos. They use Red Snapper and fried them in panko crumbs. The Carne asada was chopped the finest I had ever had and tasted no gristle or fat. The (Adobada) was good and the chicken was chicken," Yelper Eddi...

4 people sent to hospital with injury following being struck by vehicle in Etobicoke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

Four people have been taken to hospital after being struck by a vehicle in Etobicoke on Wednesday night.Police responded to reports in the area of Thirteenth Street Lake Shore Boulevard at approximately 6:22 pm of pedestrians struck.When police arrived the driver remained on scene, and Toronto medics assessed injuries.Two children were transported to hospital with serious injuries, a woman was transported with serious injuries via trauma run, and a man was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Delays are expected in the area.

As Israeli military retaliates, Palestinians say civilians are paying the price in strikes on Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hallways filled with screaming voices. A terrible stench in the air. Wounded people streaming through the doors. Lifeless bodies and bags of body parts arriving in bedsheets. The scene at Shifa Hospital was a grisly reflection of the chaos around it. Even as workers mopped up blood and relatives rushed children with shrapnel wounds into surgery, explosions thundered in central Gaza City.Over the last five days, Israeli warplanes have pummeled the blockaded strip with an intensity that its war-weary residents had never experienced. The airstrikes have killed over 1,100 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Officials have not said how many civilians are among the dead, but aid workers warn that Israel’s decision to impose a “complete siege” on the crowded enclave of 2.3 million people is spawning a humanitarian catastrophe that touches nearly every one of them. The airstrikes have transformed lively neighborhoods into wastelands of rub...

Mexican official says military obstructs probe into human rights abuses during country’s ‘dirty war’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:20:47 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Decades after Mexico’s “dirty war,” the military has obstructed a government investigation into human rights abuses, the official heading the probe said Wednesday. Alejandro Encinas Rodríguez, deputy minister for human rights, said at a news conference that investigators withdrew last month after discovering military officials were hiding, altering and destroying documents. Encinas said some officials’ actions clearly violated a presidential decree granting investigators unfettered access to records.Asked if individual officials might face criminal charges, he said: “We are investigating this. As soon as we have some clear indication and evidence, of course we will proceed.” The Ministry of National Defense did not respond to an email from The Associated Press asking for comment.The inquiry was established under the Mexican human rights department’s commission for truth in October 2021 to investigate human rights violations during the “dirty war” again...