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DeSantis board approves suing Disney in response to lawsuit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Days after Disney sued Florida’s governor in federal court for what it described as retaliation for opposing the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, members of Disney World’s governing board — made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees — authorized a lawsuit Monday against the entertainment giant.Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to sue Disney in state court in the Orlando area, as well as defend itself in federal court in Tallahassee where the entertainment company filed its lawsuit last Wednesday.The Disney lawsuit against the governor, the board and its five members asks a judge to void the governor’s takeover of the theme park district previously controlled by Disney for 55 years.“We will seek justice in our own backyard,” said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.An email seeking comment was sent Monday morning to Disney officials.Disney filed its laws...

‘White House Plumbers’ wrings satire from the oddball characters behind Watergate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

(CNN) — Watergate meets “Veep” in “White House Plumbers,” an at-times-surreal HBO limited series that occasionally feels a little too over the top, mostly because the real-life characters actually were. At its best, it’s a lightweight companion to “All the President’s Men,” presenting the flip side of all that planning and frantic covering up by what amounted to Keystone Criminals.Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux portray E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, the two minor players in the bigger scheme of things that masterminded the plot. The pair sought to ingratiate themselves with the Nixon administration with a bag of “dirty tricks” to help ensure his reelection, leading to Watergate and breaking into the office of Vietnam whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg’s psychologist.If Hunt, a father of three, was leading a life of quiet desperation when this opportunity reared its head, Liddy represented the sort of gung-ho...

North Lauderdale to host free hurricane-ready sandbag giveaways

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

In preparation for the upcoming rainy season and hurricane season, the City of North Lauderdale is hosting a free Hurricane-Ready Sandbag Giveaway. The event is part of the city’s efforts to ensure that its residents are ready and prepared for any possible natural disaster.According to North Lauderdale Mayor Samson Borgelin, “The time to prepare is now.” While the city is working to improve its overall drainage system and canals, it is important for families in North Lauderdale to take action and be ready for the worst.Sandbags will be available at two locations, Pompano Park and Carl Fusco Park. Residents are allowed to receive up to six sandbags per residence, while businesses can receive up to 12 sandbags.Residents are invited to attend the giveaway on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:May 13thMay 20thJune 3rdThe sandbags will need to be self-filled, but the city will provide sand, shovels, and bags. Assistance will also be provided to disabled and elderly reside...

Multi-tractor-trailer crash on I-84 in Sturbridge closes eastbound lanes, forces detour through weight station

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

A crash involving two tractor-trailers and a car closed all traffic lanes on I-84 in Sturbridge Monday morning, forcing vehicles to be directed through a nearby weight station, according to officials.The Massachusetts State Police said the crash caused cargo and debris to spill onto the roadway along with fuel, prompting the shutdown.Image provided by the Massachusetts State PoliceSharing images of the scene on social media around 10:45 a.m., the MSP Twitter account said traffic was being diverted through a nearby weight station as cleanup efforts continue.Authorities said injuries related to the crash appeared to be minor in nature. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.Image provided by the Massachusetts State Police

Hingham Police officer arraigned after allegedly brandishing a firearm during verbal altercation in Stoneham

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

A Hingham police officer was arraigned Wednesday in connection with allegedly brandishing a firearm during a verbal altercation in Stoneham, according to Middlesex County DA Marian Ryan. Joel Salituri, 43, of Stoneham is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from and not have contact with the victim. Prosecutors say that, on December 26, 2022 around 5 p.m., Salituri and the victim were traveling on I-93 northbound. After both vehicles got off the highway, Salituri allegedly followed the victim until he pulled over into a parking lot on Main Street.  Salituri then allegedly pulled up alongside the victim and began yelling at the victim and making derogatory statements while brandishing a firearm. The victim also reported that the Salituri said he was a police officer, but he was not on duty at the time. A criminal complaint for the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon was issued after probable cause was fo...

MSPCA searching for forever home for Marty the mini pony

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

To mark the beginning of Adopt a Horse Month in May, the MSPCA is searching for a forever home for Marty, a 30-year-old mini pony who has been cared for by the organization since December. When Marty arrived at Nevins Farm in Methuen in December, he was underweight and had dental problems that made it difficult for him to eat, according to the MSPCA. He was surrendered by his owner, who was unable to provide him with the geriatric care he needs. Courtesy of MSPCA-AngellSince Marty’s arrival, the Nevins team has fixed his teeth, got him on a proper diet, and nursed him back to health—helping him gain more than 50 pounds. Now, the MSPCA says Marty is ready to find his forever home. Courtesy of MSPCA-AngellAccording to the MSPCA, Marty is “quite the character,” with both easy going and sassy sides to him. He usually enjoys people, but will walk away when he needs a break.“Marty has captured the hearts of our staff,” said Rachel Navarro, assistant manager of equine and...

Man who threw gravel at Trudeau at 2021 campaign stop set to have sentencing hearing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

A sentencing hearing is expected to take place today for an Ontario man who pleaded guilty after being accused of throwing gravel at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a September 2021 campaign stop.Shane Marshall of St. Thomas, Ont., pleaded guilty in March to a lesser charge of common assault after first facing a charge of assault with a weapon.The 26-year-old was charged after police alleged he threw gravel at Trudeau, who was boarding a campaign bus after a stop in London, Ont., that was disrupted by a protest.The People’s Party of Canada has previously said it removed a man by the same name as riding association president after reviewing video clips of the incident.The prime minster, who was campaigning at the time as Liberal party leader, was not hurt.Today’s court hearing is set to begin at 9 a.m.

Fed is set to raise rates yet again. After that, then what?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is on track to raise its benchmark interest rate for the 10th time on Wednesday, the latest step in its yearlong effort to curb inflation with the fastest pace of hikes in four decades. Yet economists and Wall Street traders will be more interested in what the Fed and Chair Jerome Powell signal in a statement and at a news conference about a bigger question: What comes next? And on that note, they may be disappointed. Economists say Powell will likely hint that the Fed is edging closer to a long-awaited pause in its rate increases. Yet he won’t necessarily send a clear sign that this week’s hike will be the Fed’s last. Instead, he will probably stress that further rate hikes could happen if inflation were to stay persistently high, well above the Fed’s 2% target rate.“He wants to kind of tell the market, ‘Don’t relax. Don’t be complacent. We could still hike more if we think we need to, but we don’t know if we have to yet...

Supreme Court to decide important case on government power

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will decide whether to jettison a decades-old decision that has been a frequent target of conservatives and, if overruled, could make it harder to sustain governmental regulations.The justices agreed to hear an appeal that takes aim at a 1984 case known as Chevron. It involves the Chevron oil company and says that when laws aren’t crystal clear, federal agencies should be allowed to fill in the details. That’s what agencies do — on environmental regulations, workplace standards, consumer protections and immigration law.The court’s conservative majority already has been reining in federal regulators, including in last June’s decision limiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. But Chevron has been one of the most frequently cited high-court cases and a decision limiting its reach or overturning it altogether could dramatically limit the discretion of federal officials...

‘El Chapo’ sons send Mexico cartel’s cheap fentanyl into US

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:24 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — With Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán serving a life sentence, his sons steered the family business into fentanyl, establishing a network of labs churning out massive quantities of the cheap, deadly drug that they smuggled into the U.S., prosecutors revealed in a recent indictment.Although Guzmán’s trial revolved around cocaine shipments, the case against his sons exposes the inner workings of a cartel undergoing a generational shift as it worked “to manufacture the most potent fentanyl and to sell it in the United States at the lowest price,” according to the indictment unsealed April 14 in Manhattan.Synthetic opioids — mostly fentanyl — now kill more Americans every year than died in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined, feeding an argument among some politicians that the cartels should be branded terrorist organizations and prompting once-unthinkable calls for U.S. military intervention across the border.“The problem with fentanyl,...