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Appeals court tosses convictions of 2 parents in ‘Varsity Blues’ college admissions scandal

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court overturned all fraud convictions Wednesday of two parents who were found guilty of paying bribes to get their kids into elite universities as part of a sprawling college admissions scandal.The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed all convictions against Gamal Abdelaziz and all but one conviction of another parent, John Wilson. The Boston-based appeals court upheld Wilson’s conviction on a charge of filing a false tax return.A jury in Boston’s federal court found the pair guilty in 2021 of buying their kids’ ways into school as athletic recruits in the first case to go to trial in the so-called “Operation Varsity Blues” scandal that embroiled prestigious universities across the country.Abdelaziz, of Las Vegas, was accused of paying $300,000 to get his daughter into the University of Southern California as a basketball recruit even though she didn’t even make it onto her high school’s varsity team.Authorities alleged that...

Fossil Fuel Protesters Arrested After Day Of Holding Empty Chamber “Hostage”

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

Nine climate activists demanding that top lawmakers move to halt the construction of new fossil fuel projects were arrested at the State House Wednesday after more than six hours of protesting in the largely empty House Chamber.Members of Extinction Rebellion Boston and Scientist Rebellion began chanting from the House spectators’ gallery around 11 a.m., moments after lawmakers gaveled in and out of a sparsely-attended Constitutional Convention session. Activists threw papers down onto the House floor, as they also tried to attach a banner — which read “no new fossil fuel infrastructure” — to the gallery railing before a court officer managed to wrestle it away from them.Activists said their act of “civil disobedience” was designed to urge House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka — neither of whom were present in the chamber — to file legislation to place a moratorium on new fossil fuel infrastructure and st...

Community and city leaders speak out after string of shootings in Boston

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

Community and city leaders spoke out Wednesday after the latest in a string of shootings in Boston sent two people to the hospital early Wednesday morning. Police said the people were injured in related shootings in Dorchester. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu later spoke with reporters, saying “We are putting our foot down that violence is not acceptable in the city of Boston.”Emergency crews arrived on scene of one shooting outside the Dublin House pub just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. A quarter mile away, investigators also blocked off part of Humphreys Place, where a large amount of crime scene tape could be seen stretched across the road.New Democracy Coalition Founder Rev. Kevin Peterson and others have raised concerns this year about shootings and violent incidents in Boston. “It’s painful to lose any life,” Peterson said on Wednesday. “To lose two lives at one time and then hear of the shooting this morning, it is distressing and it’s traumatizing for all peop...

Solve It 7: Cash Crunch

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

A New Hampshire man, laid off from his job as a 401k representative, had a 401k crisis of his own. He turned to Solve It 7 for help in his cash crunch. Brandon Gunnoe has the story.It’s never a good time to have a home appliance break, but Tim got a double whammy.First, his furnace caught fire and broke. Then his washing machine died.  “Very stressful time for sure,” Tim said.He needed some emergency funds but was short on cash because he just lost his job.“I was really upset. I was worried about it. I didn’t know what I was gonna do,” Tim said.So he decided to withdraw $3000 from his 401k.    “I wouldn’t want to do that normally, but it was an extenuating circumstance,” Tim said.Tim filled out a form to get his money through direct deposit.“I made sure that I wrote it as clearly as possible. Like I double-checked each number so that it was very legible. It was printed out and then scanned ...

Justin Verlander gives Mets dominant start in 2-1 victory over Reds to end 3-game skid

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

Justin Verlander finally gave the Mets an outing that went deep into the game — a performance his team desperately needed.The Mets bounced back from a three-game losing streak Wednesday night, beating the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, led by their 40-year-old ace.It was a performance that resembled his 2022 American League Cy Young award-winning season. The former Astro was dominant and finished strong. He retired 18 of the last 19 Reds batters he faced. The righty struck out four of the last five batters in his outing.The last batter Verlander faced, No. 6 hitter Nick Senzel, went down easily in three pitches. Senzel failed to catch up to the fastball — coming in at 96 miles per hour — and struck out swinging on a breaking ball that made the third baseman look silly.Verlander went seven strong innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run, two walks and striking out seven batters. Wednesday’s performance was just the second time a Mets starter pitched into the sev...

Nick Heitman, Lucas Tan fuel Acton-Boxboro over Cambridge

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

CAMBRIDGE – When in doubt, seniors Nick Heitman and Lucas Tan have Acton-Boxboro’s back.Trailing by a set amid a slugfest with Cambridge on Wednesday afternoon, the duo caught rhythm in the most critical of times to edge out the fourth and fifth frames as part of a 3-2 comeback win (18-25, 25-16, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10).Both were vital for the Revolution (11-1) in securing an up-and-down ending to the fourth, combining for eight kills to survive a vicious rally from the Falcons (8-4) that nearly handed A-B its second straight loss after an unbeaten first 10 games.Heitman finished with 21 kills and Tan added 14, providing most of the offense off of Parth Pawar’s 45 assists. As a result, the Revolution maintain the top spot in the parity-ridden Dual County League.“When you play a good team like Cambridge, you’re going to lose a lot of points. It’s just about staying focused,” said A-B head coach Darren Gwinn. “Down the stretch, when things get tough, (Tan and Heitman) are our guys. They’...

Two-run sixth, Dean Kremer propel Orioles past Rays, 2-1, for series win over MLB’s best team

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

The Tampa Bay Rays might be leaving Baltimore in the same position they arrived — as owners of the best record in the major leagues — but they took a back seat to the Orioles this week.The three-game set between the two best teams in the American League opened with a dominant Rays victory, but the Orioles overcame that shutout loss Monday to win two straight and take the series over the AL East juggernaut. Baltimore won the rubber match Wednesday, 2-1, thanks to Dean Kremer’s stellar start and a sixth-inning rally on offense.Kremer pitched perhaps his best game this season, especially considering the opponent. The 27-year-old delivered six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out four, to continue Baltimore’s stretch of six consecutive solid (or better) starts that dates to Friday in Atlanta.Like Tuesday’s 4-2 triumph, Wednesday’s wasn’t one that featured Orioles sluggers mashing baseballs. Baltimore’...

Trump spars with CNN host during prime time town hall forum

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

Former President Donald Trump was in his element when he took a seat on the stage at New Hampshire’s Saint Anselm College.Trump was energetic but stuck to talking points as he fielded questions from a host and a small audience of Granite State Republicans and independents for more than an hour, explaining during a CNN-hosted town hall style forum why he should be given a second shot at taking on President Biden.“It was a rigged election,” Trump said, opening the forum by refusing to acknowledge his election loss in 2020. “We have a big problem in this country. We have elections that were horrible.”Trump continued along that line after a voter asked if he would suspend “polarizing” talk of a stolen election, before going on to defend the events at the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.Trump was ready to talk about that day. He pulled printed notes from his pocket, reading Tweets in which he called for peace as rioters entered the building and while congress ...

Trump digs in on election lies, attacks accuser during CNN town hall event

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

By JILL COLVIN (Associated Press)During a tense CNN town hall Wednesday, former President Donald Trump dug in on his lies about the 2020 election, downplayed the violence on Jan. 6, 2021, and repeatedly insulted a woman in response to a civil jury’s finding this week that he was liable of sexually assaulting her.During the contentious back-and-forth in early-voting New Hampshire — where moderator Kaitlan Collins sometimes struggled to fact-check his misstatements in real time — Trump continued to insist the election had been “rigged,” even though state and federal election officials, his own campaign and White House aides, and numerous courts have rejected his allegations.Trump also repeatedly minimized the violence caused by a mob of his supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 in a bid to halt the certification of President Joe Biden’s win. Instead, he said he was inclined to pardon “a large portion” of Jan. 6 defendants if he wi...

Antisemitic symbols found in UCSD residence hall

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:12:54 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Police at University of California, San Diego are investigating after antisemitic symbols were found in a residence hall bathroom, school officials said Tuesday.The chancellor's office responded to the hate symbols in a statement, saying they are "angered and horrified by this and reaffirm that hate has absolutely no place at UC San Diego.""To our Jewish campus community members who were directly exposed to this hateful act, we regret any pain this may have caused. You are valued members of our UC San Diego family, and we are glad you are here," the statement continued. Man who caught 2 Navy ships nearly colliding ordered to take cameras down Anyone with information to provide regarding the incident is asked to file reports with The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, or contact 858-534-HELP (4357).Campus police were investigating to find out who was responsible for the acts.