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Many on campus show support for embattled Harvard president amid calls for her resignation

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

Hundreds of university faculty members, hundreds of Black alumni and the executive committee of Harvard University’s alumni association have now voiced their support for embattled Harvard President Claudine Gay.Gay is facing growing calls to resign following her testimony on antisemitism on Capitol Hill last week. As of Monday, though, more than 700 faculty members had signed a petition to keep her on the job. More than 800 Black alumni additionally announced they are backing Gay.Late Monday afternoon, the alumni association’s executive committee expressed its unanimous support in a letter to school officials.“President Gay is the right leader to guide the University during this challenging time,” the committee said. “She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is resolutely dedicated to the growth and wellbeing of our very diverse community.”“People are mad,” said Dr. Sarah Johnstone, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. “If they fire her, Harvard faculty may leave.” Johns...

Owner of pickup truck damaged by fleeing suspect in deadly Waltham crash describes aftermath of incident

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

The owner of a pickup truck damaged in a deadly series of crashes in Waltham last week is now opening up about the incident, describing the aftermath of the moment when he said a stolen police cruiser driven by the suspect in this case crashed into his truck. The crash happened on Wednesday of last week at the end of a chain of events that started on nearby Totten Pond Road. A Waltham police officer and a utility worker were killed in one crash. Multiple other people were injured. Peter Simon, 54, of New Hampshire is now facing charges, accused of crashing his pickup truck into a utility worksite on Totten Pond Road before later stealing a police cruiser at knifepoint and leading officers on a chase. On Winter Street, where the chase ended, Nassir Sabrah told 7NEWS he was trying to clear his yard of leaves when he realized he had an emergency situation on his hands. “I’m so lucky he didn’t hit me here because I would be dead,” Sabrah said.Sabrah did not actually ...

Massachusetts lawyers move to bump Trump off ballot. Fat chance, says MassGOP

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

An effort is underway to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot in Massachusetts, according to documents reviewed by the Herald.Former candidate for attorney general and well-heeled labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan is apparently seeking litigants to join her effort to bump Trump from the ballot over his involvement in the events of January 6, 2021.“I left you a message earlier on your voicemail and wanted to follow up to see if you may be interested in joining litigation that we are preparing to file to keep Donald Trump off the presidential ballot pursuant to the Insurrectionist Clause of the Constitution. I expect you’ve seen the news about similar lawsuits that are underway in several states,” an email apparently sent and signed by Liss-Riordan reads, in part.The group looks to recruit “prominent Republicans as well as Democrats” to join the legal fight, according to the email.The Bay State primary is set for March 5 — “Super Tue...

Revolution acquire defender Nick Lima

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

The New Revolution’s coffers are flush with liquid assets and newly minted Sporting Director Curt Onalfo became a buyer when the MLS trade window opened for business on Monday.In the first outside acquisition of his tenure, Onalfo obtained veteran defender Nick Lima from Austin FC in a cash only transaction.The Revolution departed with $275,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money with an addition $25,000 in 2024 GAM if Lima achieves prescribed performance-based metrics. Lima is signed through the 2024 season.“Nick Lima has proven to be a dependable defender in Major League Soccer over the last seven seasons and has been a steady presence on the backline for both his previous clubs,” said Onalfo.“With the ability to play at either outside back positions, we foresee Nick making important contributions to our squad and bolstering our defensive unit in a key area for the 2024 season.”The “key area” Onalfo referred to is left back. Lima, a right-footed kicker, was brought in to fill the voi...

Early Merry Christmas, care of BPD

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

John Lydon, a 9-year-old from West Roxbury, is back peddling around the neighborhood after his bike was stolen.“This was an opportunity to right a wrong, especially in this holiday season,” said Larry Calderone, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association. Union members stepped up to buy the boy a new bike. He gave credit to former state Rep. Ed Coppinger who alerted the BPD to the family’s loss.File this under an early Merry Christmas!West Roxbury, MA – John Lydon,9, who has autism, gets a new bike delivered by BPPA President Larry Calderon and Boston Police officers Mark Lowen and Elvis Garcia after his old one was stolen. At right is Lydon’s father, Patrick.(Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)West Roxbury, MA – John Lydon,9, who has autism, gets a new bike delivered by Boston Police officers Mark Lowen and Elvis Garcia after his old one was stolen. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)West Roxbury, MA – John Lydon,9, who has autism, gets a new bike from the Boston Po...

Record travel season approaching with gas and airfare costs down, AAA says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

This holiday travel season could be one of the busiest on record but, thankfully, not the most expensive.According to AAA, 115.2 million Americans will travel 50-plus miles from home during the 10 days between December 23 and New Years Day, 104 million of whom will drive to their holiday destinations. That’s the most travelers seen since 2019 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.“The number of travelers is a 2.2% increase over last year and the second highest since 2000 when AAA began tracking holiday travel, behind only 2019,” the travel agency said in a Monday release.Drivers will see the price of travel reduced slightly, with fuel prices down to $3.15 per gallon on average nationally, a decrease of 12 cents per gallon over 2022 and 22 cents per gallon in the last month. Massachusetts drivers are paying somewhat more than that, averaging $3.32 per gallon, down 15 cents over last month and 22 cents from a year ago.Andrew Gross, a AAA spokesperson, said about half of gas sta...

Youth football teams from Dixmoor, Robbins fall short of championship wins in Florida playoffs

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

Youth football teams from Dixmoor and Robbins fell short of goals of bringing national playoff trophies home to the south suburbs, although the Dixmoor Vikings captured second place in Division 1 of the 11-U championship.Dixmoor played for the second straight year at the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, while the Robbins Eagles made its first trip in the team’s 40-year history to the American Youth Football League championship in Naples, Florida.The Vikings won their opening round game Dec. 3, beating the Santa Barbara Seahawks from California 28-14, then advanced in the semifinals, besting another California team, the Saddleback Valley Bears, 27-16.The 11-U squad, however, was held scoreless in the championship game, falling 26-0 to the Avalon Wolves of Florida.Avalon had advanced in the semifinals to face Dixmoor by defeating a North Carolina team, the Capital City Steelers, 46-0.Many of the same Dixmoor players had been part of a team that went to the Pop Warner playoffs l...

Hunter Biden pushes for dismissal of gun case, saying law violates the Second Amendment

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden pushed back Monday against gun charges filed against him, challenging the case on multiple fronts as unconstitutional and politically motivated days after he was hit with new tax charges. His defense attorney argued the gun case should be tossed out because an appeals court has found the law violates the Second Amendment under new standards set by the Supreme Court. Abbe Lowell also contended the charges against Hunter Biden violated immunity provisions that prosecutors agreed to in a plea deal they abandoned after Republicans slammed it as a “sweetheart deal.” “These charges are unprecedented, unconstitutional and violate the agreement the U.S. Attorney made with Mr. Biden,” Lowell said in a statement. “This is not how an independent investigation is supposed to work, and these charges should be dismissed.”The flurry of court documents comes as Hunter Biden faces charges in two states headed toward trial while his father, President Joe Bid...

Reports: Ohtani to defer $680 million in contract with Dodgers, will earn $2 million per season

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

Shohei Ohtani will defer over 97 per cent of his $700-million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers until the end of the deal, according to multiple reports.ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the reigning AL MVP will earn $2 million each season in his record-breaking 10-year deal, with $680 million being deferred to 2034-2043.He will earn $68 million per year over that span.Passan reported that the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) hit will come in at around $46 million for the Dodgers. In MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, the CBT threshold will be $237 million in 2024.For anyone wondering if MLB will challenge or cancel Ohtani's contract: The answer is unequivocally no. There is a specific article in the collective-bargaining agreement that addresses this. And it's very clear: Deferred money is limitless — even $680 million of $700 million. pic.twitter.com/DGNK0JulED— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2023Per MLB, “A club that exceeds the Co...

Judge closes Flint water case against former Michigan governor

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:17:15 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — A judge on Monday formally dismissed misdemeanor charges against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in the Flint water scandal and ordered that police records and his booking photo be destroyed.The dismissal was expected, weeks after the Michigan Supreme Court turned down a last-gasp appeal from state prosecutors and ended criminal cases against him and many others.Snyder, a Republican who left office in 2019, was charged with willful neglect of duty. He was the first person in state history to be charged for alleged crimes related to service as governor.The dismissal order, signed by Judge William Crawford, tells authorities to destroy records related to Snyder’s initial processing by police in 2021, including fingerprints and booking photo. Assistant Attorney General Chris Kessel also signed the court filing.Criminal cases against Snyder and eight others collapsed when the state Supreme Court in 2022 said a one-judge grand jury was improperly used by the attorne...