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Hyde Park woman wins $25 million instant prize, 17 years after winning big on another instant ticket

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

A woman from Hyde Park has hit it big once again when it comes to scratch tickets, winning $25 million off an instant game, according to officials.The Massachusetts State Lottery announced that Desiree Fortini-Craft won the $25 million grand prize via a “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” scratch ticket.The win comes some 17 years after Fortini-Craft won another instant ticket prize in 2006, collecting $1 million in that case, state lottery officials said.With her latest winnings, Fortini-Craft told officials she hopes to use the winnings to enjoy life with her fiancé Jason Perkins, who joined her in claiming her prize at the Mass Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. She opted to receive her prize in the form of a one-time payment of $16,250,000 (before taxes).Describing how she and Perkins are hard workers, Fortini-Craft said they planned on having a “really good Christmas in Aruba” and that she hoped to use some of her prize to pay off the student loans of her three daughters...

Bill Belichick reacts surprisingly positively to Bailey Zappe’s performance after Patriots shutout loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

It’s still somewhat shocking to hear just how far the bar has lowered for expected quarterback play with the Patriots over the last four years.Bailey Zappe was 13-of-25 for 141 yards after finally relieving Mac Jones as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Sunday’s 6-0 shutout loss to the Chargers. He also carried the ball four times for 16 yards but was sacked five times.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick leaves door open for Matthew Judon’s return to Patriots practice New England Patriots | Patriots defender sounds off on offense, losing streak: ‘It’s f—ing frustrating’ New England Patriots | Callahan: How much worse can the boring Patriots get? New England Patriots | Source: Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson to undergo MRI to confirm ankle sprain New England Patriots | Bailey Zappe not ensured Week 14 start after Patriots’ continued offensiv...

After a fatal attack near the Eiffel Tower, French investigators look into suspect’s mental health

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

By JOHN LEICESTER (Associated Press)PARIS (AP) — French police investigating a fatal weekend attack near the Eiffel Tower were looking Monday into the mental health of the suspected assailant, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State group before stabbing a German-Filipino tourist to death and injuring two other people with a hammer.The French national taken into police custody, Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, has a history of mental illness and of Islamic radicalization, officials said. He faces a possible preliminary charge of terrorist-related murder for the Saturday night attack that raised fresh questions about security in Paris before it hosts the Olympic Games next year.“This is a case that links radical Islam, undeniably, and mental illness. I must tell the French people the truth that there are numerous cases like this,” French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said Monday, adding that around one-third of suspected radicals under surveillance have psychi...

Taylor Swift hits Lambeau Field to watch Travis Kelce, Chiefs face Packers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Taylor Swift was on hand at Lambeau Field to watch Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs in their Sunday night game against the Green Bay Packers.It was the fifth Chiefs game Swift has attended since the pop superstar and the four-time All-Pro tight end started their relationship. The Chiefs won all four of their previous games in front of Swift, but they lost this one 27-19.The 33-year-old Swift watched from a suite at Lambeau alongside Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.Swift hadn’t attended a Chiefs game since an Oct. 22 triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers largely because of conflicts with her tour schedule, which is currently on a break. She first watched Kelce in person in a home victory over Chicago, then traveled to games at the New York Jets and Denver.Kelce had four catches for 81 yards, and he now has averaged 102.6 yards receiving in the games Swift has attended. He has averaged 50 yards in his other six games. He m...

Fire blamed on e-bike battery kills 1, injures 6 in Bronx apartment building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — One person was killed and six others were injured when a fire blamed on an electric bicycle battery tore through a New York City apartment, officials said Monday.The fire started at around 7 p.m. Sunday in a 10th-floor apartment in a public housing complex in the Bronx, a Fire Department spokesperson said.One person was taken to a hospital with critical injuries and later died, the spokesperson said. Two others suffered serious, life-threatening injuries and four others suffered minor injuries, he said.Fire marshals determined that the fire was caused by an e-bike’s lithium ion battery, department officials said.The fatal fire happened three weeks after a fire blamed on a lithium ion battery killed three members of a Brooklyn family.New York City has seen hundreds of fires linked to the batteries that power electric bikes and scooters in recent years. City officials have blamed off-market batteries and chargers for many of the fires and they have lobbied the fe...

Police in Greece allege that rap singer blew up and robbed cash machines to pay for music videos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

Police in Greece have arrested a rap artist accused of using explosives to rob cash machines and finance his music videos, authorities said Monday.The 28-year-old Greek singer, who was not named, was arrested over the weekend with two other suspects aged 26 and 27 after police raided a property near Athens and searched several vehicles.Police seized 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of explosives, an M16 assault rifle, four handguns and just over 200,000 euros ($217,200) in cash.“They laundered money by spending exorbitant amounts via the music industry or by gambling at casinos,” police Brig. Gen. Ioannis Skouras alleged.Police spokeswoman Constantia Dimoglidou alleged the gang was linked to 10 ATM attacks in several parts of Greece, mostly in isolated locations, stealing an estimated 710,000 euros ($770,000) in total.The three suspects face charges of multiple counts of robbery, illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession and use of explosives and vehicle theft.Athens,Greece, The ...

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 10-16

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 10-16:Dec. 10: Actor Fionnula Flanagan (“Waking Ned Devine”) is 82. Actor-singer Gloria Loring is 77. Drummer Walter “Clyde” Orange of The Commodores is 77. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 72. Actor Susan Dey is 71. Musician Paul Hardcastle is 66. Actor John J. York (“General Hospital”) is 65. Actor-director Kenneth Branagh is 63. Actor Nia Peeples is 62. TV chef Bobby Flay is 59. Singer-guitarist J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. is 58. Bassist Scot Alexander of Dishwalla is 52. Drummer Meg White of The White Stripes is 49. Actor Emmanuelle Chriqui (“Entourage”) is 48. Rapper Kuniva of D12 is 48. Actor Gavin Houston (“The Haves and the Have Nots,” “Guiding Light”) is 46. Actor Alano Miller (“Underground,” ″Jane the Virgin”) is 44. Bassist Noah Harmon of Airborne Toxic Event is 42. Actor Patrick John Flueger (“Chicago P.D.”) is 40. Country singer Meghan Linsey is 38. Actor Raven-Symone (“That’s So Raven,” ″The Cosby Show”) is 38. Actor-singer Teyan...

California faculty at largest US university system launch strike for better pay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Faculty at California State University, the largest public university system in the U.S., will hold a series of four one-day strikes starting Monday across four campuses to demand higher pay and more parental leave for thousands of professors, librarians, coaches and other workers.The strikes at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; San Francisco State University; California State University, Los Angeles; and California State University, Sacramento are the latest push by the California Faculty Association to fight for better pay and benefits for the roughly 29,000 workers the union represents.The union is seeking a 12% salary raise and an increase in parental leave from six weeks to a full semester. They also want more manageable workloads for faculty, better access to breastfeeding stations and more gender-inclusive restrooms.Anne Luna, president of the faculty union’s Sacramento chapter, said these workers need a boost in pay and benefits...

Downtown construction disrupting TTC streetcar routes this week. What transit riders can expect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

Downtown transit riders can expect some changes to their commute beginning Monday, with construction set to disrupt four TTC streetcar routes.The 501 Queen, 503 Kingston Road, 504 King, and 508 Lakeshore streetcars will all be affected by Toronto Water repairs happening near King and Jarvis streets.The routes will be diverted as follows:501B Queen replacement buses will divert onto King Street and will not serve Queen Street between Broadview Avenue and Church Street.501D Queen streetcars will divert via King Street, to Distillery Loop.504 King streetcars will not operate between Church Street and Distillery Loop and will turn back west, at King and Church streets.504 King replacement buses will operate between King and York streets and Mill and Cherry streets.508 Lake Shore streetcars will not operate between Church and Parliament streets.503 Kingston Road streetcars will divert both ways, via Queen Street and Church Street. Stops not served; King Street, between Chu...

Short-term rentals have ‘significantly impacted’ housing affordability: Desjardins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

TORONTO — A Desjardins report suggests short-term rentals likely contributed to the housing affordability crisis in Canada and around the world.The report says the proliferation of short-term rentals on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo has had a significant effect on the affordability and availability of homes by reducing the number of units available for long-term rentals and resale markets.The report, citing data from analytics firm AirDNA, says Canada has more than 235,800 unique active short-term rental listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, the two largest hosting platforms, amounting to about 1.4 per cent of the country’s housing stock.Real estate investors often earn more money on short-term rentals than long-term rentals, according to Desjardins.Municipalities across Canada and abroad have implemented a variety of policies to combat short-term rentals in the hopes of opening up more housing supply as affordability continues to erode.The report suggests governments partly restri...