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After ‘ladies’ controversy in Easthampton, second superintendent finalist withdraws amid students reporting ‘conservative transphobic’ Facebook posts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

After the top pick for Easthampton’s superintendent lost his job offer when he used the term “ladies” in an email, the second choice for the district has withdrawn herself from running the school system amid students reporting her past Facebook posts.The Easthampton School Committee is back to the drawing board following this latest chapter in the chaotic search for a new leader of the school district.Erica Faginski-Stark, the director of Curriculum and Instruction at Ludlow Public Schools, is no longer in line to take over as superintendent.On the night that the School Committee voted to not re-enter contract negotiations with first pick Vito Perrone and to instead offer the job to Faginski-Stark, students emailed the Easthampton mayor about their “extreme concerns” with the second choice.“Under the belief that this is her Facebook account, she has posted conservative transphobic rhetoric a multitude of times,” the students wrote to Mayor N...

Boston COVID wastewater, cases and hospitalizations drop, Massachusetts virus cases down 21%

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Boston’s COVID wastewater, cases and hospitalizations keep dropping, as state health officials on Thursday also reported declining virus cases and patients.Data from the Boston Public Health Commission’s wastewater surveillance program shows that the number of COVID particles in the wastewater plunged 25% over the past week. The wastewater data helps predict virus waves and lulls in the community.In the city, the number of new COVID cases decreased 11% over the past week. The seven-day average of new virus cases is now 2.2 cases per 100,000. That’s a 34% drop over the last two weeks.Also, the weekly total for new COVID hospital admissions in Boston was 66 patients, a 19% decline from the previous week.Related ArticlesHealth | Biobot, the Cambridge company monitoring Boston-area COVID wastewater, will start tracking norovirus Health | Boston-area COVID data keeps falling, Massachusetts virus cases down 15% Health | Howie Ca...

Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks says he is cancer-free after undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks announced he is cancer-free in an Instagram post Thursday.“It’s official. I’m cancer free,” Hendriks wrote.Hendriks began treatment in January for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Before the April 3 home opener against the San Francisco Giants, he announced in a recorded message on the video board he was beginning his last round of chemotherapy.A couple of days later, Hendriks thanked family, friends and fans in an Instagram post that included a video of the Sox closer ringing the bell.On Friday, Sox general manager Rick Hahn said of Hendriks: “You get caught up in the competitiveness, you get caught up in the slow start or injuries, you can always find something to be a little frustrated and disappointed about this game if you let it, but with Liam, he’s helped all of us sort of take a broader view about what’s important on a day-to-day basis.“And at the same time, we’ve seen him not lose an ounce of ...

Max Scherzer suspended 10 games following ejection for excessive sticky stuff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — After getting ejected for his hand being too sticky Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, Max Scherzer is well aware of what people are calling him right now: A cheater. Largely considered a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Scherzer understands that a cheating allegation could put that future candidacy in doubt and it undermines his integrity as an honest competitor.Scherzer was suspended for 10 games, the league announced Thursday, for “violating the prohibitions on foreign substances.” He confirmed that he is appealing the decision.MLB’s intent to crack down on sticky stuff is right but many players — including Scherzer — say the execution is flawed. This is the first time a pitcher of this magnitude has been ejected for a foreign substance. The other two, Hector Santiago and Caleb Smith, were tossed in 2021, shortly after the league started instructing umpires to do random checks. All were ejected by umpire Phil Cuzzi.“Every aspect of t...

Orioles announce return of Birdland Summer Music Series with Andy Grammer, DJ Diesel (aka Shaq) and Brett Young

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

The Orioles on Thursday announced a return of the Birdland Summer Music Series featuring postgame performances that range from pop to country to a basketball star turned DJ.This year’s lineup includes multiplatinum singer Andy Grammer on May 27, when the Orioles play the Texas Rangers; DJ Diesel (aka Shaquille O’Neal) on June 30, when they face the Minnesota Twins; and country pop singer-songwriter Brett Young on Sept. 15, when the Tampa Bay Rays come to town.The shows will be included for baseball fans who attend the games on those days; for an extra $30 to $35, attendees can watch performers from the field instead of from the stands. A portion of the money raised — $5 from every on-field pass — will go toward the Orioles Charitable Foundation’s Music & Arts Education Scholarship.Last year’s Birdland Summer Music Series featured performances from Flo Rida, Smash Mouth, Dru Hill, Sisqó and The Struts.Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Ban...

14-year-old boys accused of breaking into East Boston store, stealing cell phones and electronics: Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Two 14-year-old boys are accused of smashing the front windows of an East Boston store and stealing cell phones along with other electronics, according to Boston Police.The juveniles were arrested on Thursday after police officers responded to a breaking and entering at 201 Sumner St. That’s the address of Celltronic Boston, a phone repair shop.When the officers arrived at the scene Thursday morning, they saw that one of the store’s front windows had been shattered. The cops saw stones on the ground, along with more broken glass.The business alarm did not activate when the suspects allegedly broke the windows. The officers looked over the video surveillance and saw that the teens allegedly stole multiple cell phones from a wall display at 4:56 a.m.The suspects then returned an hour later and broke the glass counter display, and stole more cell phones, police said. About 30 minutes later, the juveniles again came back and stole more cell phones and electronics, according ...

Trevino-Cortes battery helps Yankees beat Angels in rubber match

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Three walks and two singles already had southpaw Patrick Sandoval and the Angels in a 2-0 hole when Yankees catcher Jose Trevino stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning on Thursday.Trevino, off to a quiet start this season, then drove a pitch to the bottom of Yankee Stadium’s left field wall. The two-out rope cleared the bases and capped a five-run first for the Bombers, which paved the way for a 9-3 rubber match win.The clutch extra-base hit also handed Trevino’s battery mate, Nestor Cortes, an early lead to work with. The lefty fared better than his Angels counterpart, allowing four hits and three earned runs over six innings of work.Cortes, who owns a 3.09 ERA after four starts, also walked two while tying his season-high for strikeouts with seven.The Yankees’ bullpen flirted with some trouble after Cortes departed, but the team never lost its lead. DJ LeMahieu added an RBI double in the seventh inning, while Isiah Kiner-Fale...

Tanner Houck’s career game leads Red Sox past Twins, 11-5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

“It wasn’t a tryout,” Alex Cora said after Tanner Houck pitched a career-high seven innings in Thursday afternoon’s 11-5 series finale victory over the Minnesota Twins.The Red Sox currently have an abundance of starting pitching, but maintain they want to keep a five-man rotation on a consistent basis, though Cora notably said “or six” after Houck’s performance.The 26-year-old righty was originally slated to start the season in the bullpen, but reverted back to a starting role when Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello and James Paxton weren’t ready for the Opening Day roster. At the time, the expectation was that Houck would move back to the bullpen as soon as one of the aforementioned pitchers was ready to be activated, but four times through the rotation now, he’s been one of the most consistent, effective arms.Can they afford to move him to the bullpen? Better question: why should they?On Thursday, the 26-year-old righty not only we...

Tatis back in lineup for Padres after 80-game PED suspension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. is back in the lineup for the San Diego Padres.The young superstar will bat leadoff and play in right field against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, playing in the big leagues for the first time since an 80-game PED suspension that shocked and angered his teammates, management and a fan base. The 24-year-old's maturity has been under the microscope over the past couple years, ever since he signed a $330 million, 14-year contract prior to the 2021 season. Fernando Tatis Jr. mural pops up in Chula Vista ahead of return Tatis missed all of last season after breaking his left wrist — reportedly in a motorcycle accident in his native Dominican Republic. He was on the cusp of returning from that when his PED suspension was announced on Aug. 12. He blamed his positive test on a cream he said he used for ringworm.The Padres still made it to the NL Championship Series before falling to the Phillies.He was one of the game's premier sluggers from 2019 to 2021, ...

‘It’s unlivable’: Toronto tenants protest at Medallion office over poor living conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Toronto tenants at odds with property owners and building managers over maintenance issues continue to be a critical issue in the city, which generally ends up with letters being exchanged. That is until renters start to organize and visit the landlords.City residents comprising of tenants in buildings owned by Medallion Corporation tried to deliver a message, starting with a petition demanding better living conditions. This eventually resulted in raised voices with signs and flags taped to the company’s lobby walls.“It’s gotten to the point where we can’t handle it. It’s unlivable for us,” said tenant Robin McDowell. “We can’t do it anymore. We’re here to demand in person because we have sent as many legal and appropriate ways to get a hold of them.”Michael Regan, a tenant at 670 Parliament Street in St. Jamestown, says deteriorating conditions prompted his participation in the protest.“I live on the main floor, and ...