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Flags ordered to half-staff to honor 7 dead in plant blast

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

WEST READING, Pa. (AP) — The governor of Pennsylvania has ordered commonwealth flags flown at half-staff in honor of seven people whose bodies were recovered from the site of a powerful explosion at a chocolate factory.“West Reading, we stand with you — and we’ll continue to provide all of the support your community needs,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a Twitter post Monday, referring to the borough about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia where the R.M. Palmer Co. plant blast occurred at about 5 p.m. Friday.West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag, in a statement Sunday night, called it “a devastating loss” but said “we are truly grateful to bring closure to the families involved in the upcoming days.”The Berks County coroner’s office on Monday morning identified two of the victims as 49-year-old Amy Sandoe of Ephrata and 60-year-old Domingo Cruz of Reading and said “additional forensic medical examinations” would be needed to positively identify the other five victims. Autops...

3 children killed in shooting at Nashville private school

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

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three children were killed in a shooting at a private Christian grade school in Nashville on Monday, hospital officials said. The suspect is also dead after a confrontation with police.All three children had gunshot wounds, officials said. They were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.It was not immediately clear whether anyone else was wounded in the attack.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting at a private Christian grade school in Nashville wounded several people Monday, but their conditions were not immediately known, authorities said. The suspect is dead after a confrontation with police.The shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school for about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade. Students walked to safety Monday, holding hands as they left their school surrounded by police cars, to a nearby church to reunited with their par...

Finland on course for NATO membership after Hungarian vote

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

The Hungarian parliament ratified Finland’s NATO membership on Monday, putting Helsinki one step closer to joining the alliance but leaving Sweden waiting in the wings. Members of Hungary’s parliament voted by a margin of 182 to 6 in favor of Finnish accession.Helsinki now only needs the Turkish parliament’s approval — expected soon — to become a NATO member. Hungary’s move comes after repeated delays and political U-turns. Hungarian officials spent months telling counterparts they had no objections and their parliament was simply busy with other business. Budapest then changed its narrative last month, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — who has an iron grip over his ruling Fidesz party — arguing the point that some of his legislators had qualms regarding criticism of the state of Hungarian democracy. Finland and Sweden have been at the forefront of safeguarding democratic standards in Hungary, speaking out on the matter long before many of their c...

France braces for another day of mayhem and violence

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

PARIS — France is bracing for fresh chaos Tuesday with a day of protests planned against Emmanuel Macron’s detested pensions reform, and trade unions calling for a general strike.Protests last Thursday descended into turmoil with clashes between police and protesters, and scenes of violence across the country. In the wake of the unrest, which resulted in more than 450 arrests, the French president was forced to cancel a state visit by King Charles III amid security concerns.Public transport, universities, schools and public services are expected to be disrupted again Tuesday. The impact of the industrial action is being felt across all sectors and areas of public life. A rolling strike of waste collectors in Paris has meant that trash is still piled high in parts of the French capital, and a strike at refineries has led to fuel shortages at some petrol pumps.Despite widespread unrest, the French president pledged last week that he would not backtrack on the pensions reform which rai...

Patriots owner Robert Kraft launches antisemitism campaign

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

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft faced the camera during a video call, pointing to a small, sky-blue lapel pin on his blazer.The pin is the symbol of a $25 million “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign launched Monday by the 81-year-old billionaire through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, aiming to raise awareness nationwide about soaring incidents of antisemitism online and in person. The campaign will feature emotive ads to be introduced by stars of top television shows such as NBC’s “The Voice,” and the “Kelly Clarkson Show,” and Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”“This little blue square represents the Jewish population in the United States – 2.4%,” said Kraft, who was raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, in an observant Orthodox Jewish family. “But we’re the victims of 55% of the hate crimes in this country.”The ads are intended to tug at the heartstrings of non-Jewish Americans, said Matthew Berger, the foundation’s executive director. One o...

2 firefighters injured in blaze at Ayer home

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

Two firefighters were injured in a blaze on Wright Road in Ayer Monday morning. Officials say the fire broke out around 8:30 a.m. Firefighters were called in from surrounding towns to help battle the large flames. All the people who live in the home got out safely. Two firefighters are being treated for minor injuries and are expected to be okay. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Bill Belichick deflects questions on Bill O’Brien, Joe Judge and Patriots’ coaching changes

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

In his first press conference of the offseason, Patriots coach Bill Belichick fielded dozens of questions about the state of the team Monday, including his remade coaching staff.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick offers 4-word explanation why should Patriots fans be optimistic New England Patriots | Broncos head coach Sean Payton nixes Jerry Jeudy trade talk New England Patriots | Time for a little Q & A with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick New England Patriots | NFL Notes: Re-setting Patriots roster needs with an eye toward the draft New England Patriots | Ex-Patriots WR Nelson Agholor signing 1-year deal with AFC rival In January, the Patriots hired Bill O’Brien to replace both Matt Patricia as the team’s offensive play-caller and Joe Judge as the team’s quarterbacks coach. Adrian Klemm, formerly an assistant at the University of Oregon and with the Steelers,...

Orioles one of six MLB teams to debut City Connect uniforms in 2023

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

The Orioles will be one of six Major League Baseball teams in 2023 to debut new City Connect uniforms, the league announced Monday.The Orioles will first play in the new threads May 26 against the Texas Rangers.City Connect is an MLB initiative for teams to have alternate uniforms based on aspects unique to each city. After this season, 20 of 30 MLB teams will have City Connect uniforms.The other teams scheduled to debut the alternates this year are the Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Rangers.The Braves, the first team scheduled to play in their City Connects, released the design Monday. The jerseys are white with blue sleeves to honor the one Hank Aaron wore when he hit home run No. 715 to break Babe Ruth’s record.Last season, the Washington Nationals were one of seven teams to debut City Connects, with the gray and pink uniforms inspired by the cherry blossoms in Washington.The Orioles will become the second American League East club...

Bill Belichick offers 4-word explanation why should Patriots fans be optimistic

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

Over the past three seasons, the Patriots are 25-26.By NFL standards, they are like most teams: wandering the wilderness until they find a franchise quarterback or another, less traveled road out of the woods and toward contention. But by New England standards — those raised to unprecedented heights by two decades of unprecedented success — these are hard times.Looking ahead, the 2023 season isn’t expected to be any kinder to the Patriots, with betting markets widely projecting them to again miss the playoffs.Speaking with reporters Monday at the NFL owners meetings, Pats coach Bill Belichick was asked what message he would deliver to fans ahead of next season and why they should be optimistic. His answer is below in a brief snapshot of his Q&A with reporters, Belichick’s first press conference of the offseason.Q: Would you say anything to the fans right now as to where the team sits and what you’re trying to put together? What would you say to them...

Fans welcome Aztecs back to San Diego after advancing to Final Four

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

SAN DIEGO — Aztecs fans lined up overnight to welcome home the San Diego State University Men’s Basketball team, fresh off advancing to the Final Four for the first time in program history.SDSU defeated Creighton 57-56 Sunday in the NCAA Tournament's South Regional Final in a back-and-forth matchup that went down to the very last second.Following the historic win, the team was greeted by a crowd of Aztecs fans when the team bus returned to campus around 1 a.m. Monday morning. Viejas Arena alive with fans, as San Diego State advances to Final Four "Thanks for waiting so late at night to welcome us back," SDSU Head Coach Brian Dutcher said. "We are excited to represent San Diego State and the City of San Diego in the Final Four and we will be heading to Houston to try and win the whole thing.""We have the greatest fan base in the country. They support us in Viejas, they support us on the road and they support us when they come home," Dutcher added.The Elite 8 victory was sealed when...