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Methuen man, 62, identified as victim who died during explosion at Newburyport plant; clean up of site continues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

Jack O’Keefe, 62, of Methuen, has been identified as the victim who died during the chemical explosion that heavily damaged a Newburyport pharmaceutical plant and sent equipment flying into the parking lot.O’Keefe had been working in the facility’s production area when the explosion unfolded around 12:45 Thursday morning, Newburyport Deputy Fire Chief Barry Salt told reporters Friday.Four other workers got out of the building safely before being taken to an area hospital as a precaution. They were released later on Thursday, according to authorities.The explosion happened during a chemical process that the company, Seqens, performs continually everyday, and authorities are looking into how and what caused it, Salt said.Salt called the incident an “unfortunate accident” and offered condolences to O’Keefe’s family.“We would like to recall his memory and let the family know we, as a fire department and as a city, are thinking of them”Firefighters in the North Shore city, receiving mutu...

Jets coach Robert Saleh says Aaron Rodgers wish list is a ‘silly narrative’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

Much has been said about Aaron Rodgers and the wish list he allegedly gave the Jets when he first met with the team nearly two months ago.However, Jets coach Robert Saleh refuted those claims when asked about it on Friday after their first rookie minicamp practice.“I think it is a silly narrative with regards to a wish list,” Saleh said.“They’re 32 teams in the NFL and it’s common practice for when they’re changes, when you have a new coaching staff, when you have people coming in, you surround those people with people they’re familiar with.”The Jets signed veteran wide receiver Randall Cobb to a one-year contract on Wednesday. He is one of the many ex-teammates of Rodgers that’s joined the Jets roster this offseason.In March, the Jets also signed wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million contract. In addition to Rodgers and Lazard, quarterback Tim Boyle, offensive tackle Billy Turner and offensive coordinator Nathan...

States add laws on pronouns, sports for transgender students

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb this week signed into a law a requirement that schools notify a parent when their student asks to be called a different name or uses pronouns that correspond with their gender, not their sex. It’s the latest law to emerge from a focus in Republican-controlled states on restricting transgender students in the name of parental rights or protecting other students.LTBTQ+ advocates say the measures are harmful to students, especially those who are trans.Some things to know:PRONOUNSAs the idea that people should be referred to by the pronouns they choose has taken root, there’s been a strong conservative political backlash — part of a broader backlash against acceptance of transgender people.On Thursday, Florida’s lawmakers gave final passage to a bill that would prevent students and teachers from being required to use pronouns that don’t correspond to someone’s sex. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to seek the Republican president...

More than 13,000 people forced from homes as wildfires burn across Alberta

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

More than 13,000 people were ordered to leave their homes as 78 wildfires burned across Alberta on Friday.“Everybody’s out, everybody’s alive, nobody’s injured,” Steven Lacroix, managing director of Alberta Emergency Management Agency, said during a news conference.Nineteen fires were listed as out of control.One of them, a 1,500-hectare wildfire, was near Drayton Valley, a town of about 7,000 people located 140 kilometres west of Edmonton.An evacuation order was issued Thursday night for the community, and evacuees were asked to go to Edmonton and register at the Expo Centre.Christie Tucker with Alberta Wildfire said 26 firefighters, three helicopters and air tankers are working on that fire.She said crews are prioritizing work on fires affecting Drayton Valley as well as Fox Lake, Rainbow Lake and any new fires that might start.Parts of northern and central Alberta are under fire bans after a period of windy and unseasonably hot weather.“This is a rapidly changing situ...

S&P/TSX composite gains more than 300 points, U.S. markets also rise

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index gained more than 300 points to end the week as strength in the energy, base metal and technology sectors helped lead a broad-based rally, while U.S. markets also climbed higher.The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 303.84 points at 20,542.03.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 546.64 points at 33,674.38.The S&P 500 index was up 75.03 points at 4,136.25, while the Nasdaq composite was up 269.01 points, or more than two per cent, at 12,235.41.U.S. regional banks helped lead the rally south of the border, which spilled over into Canada, said Tamsin Wilding, fixed income analyst at Leith Wheeler. But that wasn’t the only thing contributing to the positive end to what was otherwise a choppy and volatile week, she said: jobs data in both Canada and the U.S. came in stronger than expected, fuelling investor relief at the continued possibility of a soft landing. The U.S. labour market added 253,000 jobs in April, while Canad...

UN again seeks to reassure Afghans it will deliver aid

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations sought to reassure the Afghan people yet again Friday that it won’t abandon them, though it left in question how it was going deliver desperately needed aid following the Taliban ban on Afghan women working for the world organization. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the ban an unacceptable violation of the Afghan women’s human rights.The U.N. announced on April 11 that the head of its political mission in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, would carry out an “operational review” of its activities in the country until May 5.The mission, known as UNAMA, put out a statement in Kabul on Friday, reiterating its commitment “to stay and deliver on behalf of the men, women and children of Afghanistan” and appealing to donors to keep funding humanitarian assistance, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.“For now, we can only say that U.N. entities on the ground in Afghanistan continue to discuss appropriate working modalities,” Haq...

Michigan legal watchdog pursues Trump-allied attorneys

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Nine lawyers who were found to have abused the court system by filing a lawsuit that challenged Michigan’s 2020 election results in favor of President Joe Biden committed misconduct and should be disciplined, a watchdog agency said.The state Attorney Grievance Commission filed a complaint this week against Sidney Powell, Lin Wood and seven other lawyers who were allied with then-President Donald Trump. The complaint now goes to the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board for further consideration.In 2020, the attorneys supported a lawsuit on behalf of Republican voters that was filed just a few days after Biden’s 154,000-vote victory in Michigan was certified.The lawsuit sought to decertify those results and have voting machines impounded. U.S. District Judge Linda Parker said the request was “stunning in its scope and breathtaking in its reach.” The lawsuit was “frivolous” and exposed the legal profession to “contempt,” the Grievance Commission said in its complaint...

Colorado politicians seek power to block social media users

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers pushed a bill to the governor’s desk that would give politicians carte blanche to block social media users — including constituents — on their “private” accounts just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would consider to what extent that’s legal. The idea has sparked a national debate as social media becomes an increasingly popular tool for politicians to squeeze arguments into 280-character Tweets, laud their successes, air their grievances, and announce official business — all of which blurs the line between personal accounts and public forums. That fuzzy line has already spurred a litany of lawsuits, including one against former President Donald Trump, but legal precedent remains slim. The legislation’s bipartisan sponsors argue that it’s merely drawing a line between public and private lives and liken it to a public town hall — if two constituents began screeching at each other or harassed or intimidating...

Toronto Zoo welcomes adorable baby camel

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

Spring has sprung at the Toronto Zoo with the arrival of a baby camel.Suria, an eight-year-old Bactrian camel, gave birth to a female calf on Thursday.A zoo spokesperson said it’s Suria’s second calf, and the initial stages of nursing have been challenging. As such, the zoo will implement sound strategies to ensure a positive outcome for the mother and calf.“We are thrilled to welcome this little one to your Toronto Zoo,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO of the Toronto Zoo.“Our mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. Some guests were fortunate enough to watch Suria give birth right there in the habitat. The experience of witnessing a life beginning is one they will likely never forget.”A Bactrian camel calf typically stays with its mother for three to five years until it reaches sexual maturity.The zoo says the first 30 days are critical, and staff will closely monitor the mom and baby. The calf’s dad, named ...

After winning $385K in damages from Quebec government, Charest seeking $700K more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:48 GMT

QUEBEC — Former Quebec premier Jean Charest is seeking another $705,000 from the provincial government for media leaks related to a corruption investigation targeting him and his party.A judge already awarded him $385,000 in damages in early April after Charest sued the government because journalists were given details about a police investigation into alleged illegal Liberal party financing during his tenure as premier.The former premier and recent candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada was never charged in the investigation and has said the leaks tarnished his reputation and affected him personally.In its April ruling, Quebec Superior Court gave Charest 30 days to add allegations of abuse of process to the lawsuit against the attorney general and the anti-corruption police, known as UPAC.Charest’s lawyers are claiming that the attorney general used stalling tactics during his lawsuit against the province and that their conduct was abusive from start...