First phase of new Washington Street Bridge opens to motorists

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

First phase of new Washington Street Bridge opens to motorists The first phase of the new Washington Street Bridge opened to drivers and pedestrians on Saturday.The new bridge connects Boston’s North End to Charlestown. All vehicle and pedestrian traffic was moved to the eastern portion of the bridge on Saturday. MassDOT will now begin the process of demolishing the bridge that was previously in use.

Chicago Bears reportedly mulling Soldier Field parking area as new stadium site as talks resume with schools over Arlington Heights location

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

Chicago Bears reportedly mulling Soldier Field parking area as new stadium site as talks resume with schools over Arlington Heights location The Chicago Bears continue to check out a variety of sites in and around Chicago — including the site of Soldier Field — as potential homes for a new stadium, officials said Wednesday.The Bears are doing due diligence on the viability of the south parking lot at Soldier Field as the location for their next stadium, according to unnamed sources cited by The Parkins & Spiegel Show on WSCR-AM 670 The Score.The Bears have proposed building a $5 billion enclosed stadium and entertainment and housing complex on the site of the closed Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights. The project has stalled while the team tries to negotiate favorable property taxes for the site.The Bears reportedly are using the same surveying firm, Compass Surveying Ltd. in Aurora, that they used for Arlington Heights and other potential locations.In response, the Bears would not confirm the report, but issued the following brief statement:“As we stated in September earlier th...

San Diego opens first all-inclusive park in Mission Bay after $4M makeover

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

San Diego opens first all-inclusive park in Mission Bay after $4M makeover SAN DIEGO — The first all-inclusive playground in the city of San Diego was opened to the public earlier this week, bringing the city one step closer towards its massive redevelopment of Mission Bay Park.Elected officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new playground, known as Tecolote Shores South, on Thursday. The new $4.1 million play and fitness area features modern equipment and practical upgrades to help accommodate park-goers with disabilities. The local firm behind the design of the space, the Schmidt Design Group, describes it as the "most accessible playground in the City of San Diego park system." City of San Diego moves forward with plan for De Anza Cove "Today it's a wonderful day, because we were able to open this park, which is a playground specially made for children of all abilities," District 2 San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell told FOX 5 during Thursday's ribbon cutting. "I want everyone to come and enjoy (it)."The playground is the second o...

Hong Kong holds first council elections under new rules that shut out pro-democracy candidates

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

Hong Kong holds first council elections under new rules that shut out pro-democracy candidates HONG KONG (AP) — Residents went to the polls on Sunday in Hong Kong’s first district council elections since an electoral overhaul was implemented under Beijing’s guidance of “patriots” administering the city, effectively shutting out all pro-democracy candidates.Turnout is expected to be much lower than in the last elections, held at the height of the 2019 anti-government protests. Some pro-democracy voters, dismayed by the drastic rule changes, including the elimination of most directly elected seats, are turning their backs on the polls.The final turnout will be a barometer of public sentiment toward the “patriots”-only system, the new political order under the Hong Kong government’s crackdown on dissidents following the 2019 protests — the most concerted challenge to Beijing since the former British colony returned to China’s rule in 1997.China promised the semi-autonomous territory could retain its Western-style liberties for 50 years under the “one country, t...

3 people killed and 1 wounded in Atlanta shooting, police say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

3 people killed and 1 wounded in Atlanta shooting, police say ATLANTA (AP) — A shooting in Atlanta killed three people and left one victim wounded Saturday evening, police say.The Atlanta Police Department said officers responded to an address on Peachtree Road NE around 6:25 p.m., WANF-TV reported.Police said three victims were pronounced dead at the scene and the fourth was transported to a hospital, WANF reported.Additional details were not immediately available.The Associated Press

Man arrested for impersonating police officer, defrauding elderly woman of thousands of dollars

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

Man arrested for impersonating police officer, defrauding elderly woman of thousands of dollars A 27-year-old man is facing a number of charges for pretending to be a police officer and tricking an elderly woman into paying money to get her grandson out of jail.Investigators say a woman in the area of Grenadier Road and Roncesvalles Avenue area received a call on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from someone claiming to be a police officer who told her she needed to pay $7,500 to a bondsman on behalf of her grandson and that he would be coming by her home to collect the money.The woman was told not to tell anyone about the money as it would compromise her grandson’s release.Later that day a man turned up at the woman’s home and collected the money.The next day, the same person impersonating a police officer contacted her again and demanded an additional $7,500 in bail money. He said the same man would stop by to collect the money.This time the woman called police who arrested the man at her home when he showed up later that day.Diego Armando Lillo of Toronto has been charged with...

LSU QB Jayden Daniels overcomes being out of playoff hunt to win Heisman Trophy with prolific season

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

LSU QB Jayden Daniels overcomes being out of playoff hunt to win Heisman Trophy with prolific season NEW YORK (AP) — LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels overcame being outside the playoff race with a prolific season that Heisman Trophy voters could not ignore.Daniels won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first player since 2016 to win college football’s most prestigious player of the year award as part of a team that did not play for a conference championship.The fifth-year player, who transferred from Arizona State to LSU in 2022, received 503 first-place votes and 2,029 points. “This is a dream come true,” Daniels started his acceptance speech.Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. was the the runner-up with 292 first-place votes and 1,701 points and Oregon’s Bo Nix was third (51, 885), putting transfer quarterbacks in each of the top three spots. Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. finished fourth (20, 352).Daniels, who turns 23 on Dec. 18, won AP Player of the Year earlier this week. Daniels is the fifth quarterback in the last seven seasons to win the...

Ukrainian activists gather in Chicago to raise funds for country's war effort

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

Ukrainian activists gather in Chicago to raise funds for country's war effort CHICAGO — Top Ukrainian activists gathered in Chicago on Saturday night to raise funds for the country's war effort.Having flown from Ukraine just three days ago, Lyuba Shipovich shared firsthand the ongoing atrocities plaguing her country."There is no safe place currently in Ukraine," Shipovich said. Thieves target victims trying to purchase cell phones using Facebook Marketplace Lyuba is a trained software engineer who heads a non-profit called "Dignitas" which trains and provides Ukranian soldiers with technology to help defend the country."In the current war, we don't have enough military-grade technology, so we use civilian technology a lot," Shipovich said. "We use civilian drones, we use civilian tablets civilian smartphones."Lyuba is one of many who attended a Saturday night fundraiser at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art to help raise money for a veteran's center at Ukraine's oldest university in Kyiv. The center will help soldiers adjust back to civilian life after ...

How to brace for peak Cedar Fever season

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

How to brace for peak Cedar Fever season Austin (KXAN) — Yellow leaves and bare branches are sure signs that winter is on its way. For Texans, the month of December means peak Cedar Fever season as well.According to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Agency, from December through the end of February, mountain cedar trees produce dense amounts of pollen which can lead to allergy symptoms.Texas experts also indicate the season may have started earlier this year due to an especially hot fall.Dr. Ryan Prudoff with Family Emergency Room at Georgetown said allergy symptoms often begin mildly with itchy eyes, runny nose, and scratchy throat. He said over-the-counter allergy medications are best used before allergy symptoms start. He said the drugs could be less effective against symptoms already in progress."I would definitely recommend taking some kind of allergy based medication," Prudoff said.Prudoff said antihistamines such as Benadryl should be used with caution as they can often make a person drowsy.He also recommends tha...

Keeler: No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, John Matocha are men on a mission. Next stop? Turning Golden into Titletown, USA

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:22:33 GMT

Keeler: No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, John Matocha are men on a mission. Next stop? Turning Golden into Titletown, USA GOLDEN — The best college quarterback in Colorado drives around Titletown in a Toyota Tacoma. 2012. Two-wheel drive.“We bought it used. Very used,” Keith Matocha, father of Colorado School of Mines QB John Matocha, told me with a laugh as his son’s top-ranked Orediggers pounded Kutztown, 35-7, to punch a second straight ticket to the NCAA Division II football national championships.“And we weren’t very smart. We’re from Texas. It’s 2-wheel drive in a pickup, so he gets stranded quite often. So his lineman roommates ended up hauling him around quite a bit.”As the snow that frosted Marv Kay Field reminded Keith of the worst decision of his son’s young life, the party below us reminded him of the best.“Definitely the goal was to get back (to the NCAA championship),” the elder Matocha said of his son, who completed 30 of 37 passes, threw for three scores and ran for another to improve Mines’ record to 14-0 and...