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Brockton Public Schools eliminating 130 certified staff positions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

The Brockton Public Schools will cut more than 100 certified staff positions as it faces a multi-million dollar deficit, the school district’s superintendent announced Tuesday. In his announcement, Superintendent Michael Thomas said student enrollment has dropped by nearly 1,350 students since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. “After exhausting all other options and facing an $18 million deficit, the district was required to send reduction in force notices today which will result in the elimination of 130 certified staff positions,” Thomas said. Thomas continued, saying “additional notifications will be distributed to non-certified staff members in the coming days.”“While we are confident that our five-year district improvement process will encourage new families to move to Brockton, unfortunately our current enrollment does not support existing staffing levels,” Thomas said. “This is in no way a reflection of the incredible work that our educators do every day and I...

As anti-Semitic hate crimes spike in Massachusetts, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston launches ‘Face Jewish Hate’ campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

The Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston has launched the “Face Jewish Hate” campaign to combat anti-Semitism, as the region has seen a spike in anti-Semitic incidents in recent years.The Boston-area Jewish nonprofit on Monday unveiled the advocacy campaign at TD Garden to raise awareness against the alarming rise in anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League recently reported a 41% jump in anti-Semitic incidents from 2021 to 2022 in Massachusetts.This new CJP campaign features local stories of Jewish hate, including what happened to Rabbi Shlomo Noginski, who was repeatedly stabbed outside his Jewish day school in Brighton in 2021. The rabbi’s story, along with other victims’ stories, are being shown on large digital billboards at North Station outside TD Garden.“I was stabbed eight times in broad daylight just for being a Jew,” reads the billboard with Noginski’s face next to the words. The rabbi, who protected the children insi...

Celtics’ belief in Joe Mazzulla continues in advancing to Eastern Conference Finals: ‘He kept his poise’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

Joe Mazzulla has been ridiculed for his timeout usage – or lack thereof – this season, but the Celtics coach picked an important moment to call one in Sunday’s Game 7 win over the Sixers.The Celtics were trailing early in the second quarter, their offense wasn’t flowing yet and they were getting irritated by a series of unfriendly whistles. A questionable foul call on Derrick White, who barely made contact on an exaggerating James Harden, set Mazzulla off. He stormed to midcourt arguing the call. He called a timeout, then brought the intensity to the huddle. There was still 10:09 remaining in the second quarter, but it seemed to be a pivotal point.“I think in a game like that … the guys are so focused on playing hard because they want to win, that you lose sight of how the reality is sometimes,” Mazzulla said. “Our guys have such the right intentions. So just building an awareness of, ‘Hey, here’s how the game is going. We have to shift it. We have to shift the momentum, we have to ...

Alzheimer’s groundbreaking research: Boston scientists discover genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer’s disease symptoms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

Researchers have made another breakthrough in their effort to help Alzheimer’s patients, as Boston scientists on Monday reported they have found a new genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.Meanwhile, other researchers in the city recently discovered how the FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab slows cognitive decline, and the FDA gave the green light for a drug to treat agitation symptoms that are associated with dementia.Mass General Brigham investigators on Monday said they identified what’s causing Alzheimer’s, and also what protects against the disease — helping pave the way for future treatments.The researchers studied a patient with a genetic predisposition for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease who remained cognitively intact more than two decades beyond the expected age of memory impairment.“The genetic variant we have identified points to a pathway that can produce extreme resilience and protection...

Former Worcester City Manager to join Healey Administration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

The state has hired a new $180,000 per year secretary to go along with its recently minted Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, an invention of Gov. Maura Healey’s split from the Department of Housing and Economic Development.Former Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus, who was most recently serving as the Chancellor of Dean College, will join the Healey Administration as its newest Cabinet member at the start of June, the governor’s office announced Monday.According to the governor, Augustus’ work in central Massachusetts developing new housing and his familiarity with local government make him uniquely suited to the role.“He left Worcester a stronger city than it was a decade ago, with booming economic development in the downtown and thousands of new housing units. Importantly, he is intimately familiar with local government and knows what it takes to collaborate with municipalities to move our state forward on our housing goals,” she said along with his ...

Chicago Bears free-agency news: Sam Mustipher, who started 40 games at center the last 3 years, signs with the Baltimore Ravens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has had plenty of salary-cap space to help him rework a roster that finished 3-14 in 2022.The Tribune is tracking all of the Bears’ arrivals and departures and providing insight into what they mean.Sorting through the Bears’ pass rusher options as GM Ryan Poles seeks to beef up the defenseHow every Bears offensive player did in 2022 — and what their contract status is going forwardHow the Bears defensive players did in 2022 — and what their contract status is going forwardBears 2023 schedule: Here’s who they’ll play — and our predictions for each gameSign up for our free Bears alerts so you don’t miss any newsMondayFormer Bears center Sam Mustipher signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.What it means: The Bears moved on from Mustipher in March when they declined to tender him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. Signed as an undrafted rookie ...

Watch Live: Chairwoman Vargas to provide update before Fletcher resignation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- As the effective time for Nathan Fletcher's resignation draws closer, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas is set to hold a press conference Monday on what happens next.Fletcher announced his intention to step down from his elected office at the end of March, hours allegations of sexual misconduct from a former Metropolitan Transit System employee were made public in a lawsuit filing against him.The Supervisor said that his resignation would be effective Monday at 5 p.m. According to the county, staff from the District 4 office will remain as county employees, serving as a liaison for constituents, the county and other departments. They will become an extension of the county government, with a localized focus on District 4.While there is no Supervisor in the seat, there will be no policies, votes or board letters coming from the office. When a new Supervisor is voted into office later this year, staffing could change.Vargas will be holding her pr...

Historical marker dedicated to feminist, Communist Party leader removed in New Hampshire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A historical marker dedicated to a feminist and labor activist in New Hampshire who also led the Communist Party was removed Monday just two weeks after it was unveiled. The green and white sign describing the life of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was installed May 1 in Concord close to where she was born in 1890. But it quickly drew criticism from two Republican members of the Executive Council, the five-member body that approves state contracts, judicial nominees and other positions. They argued it was inappropriate given Flynn’s communist involvement. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, meanwhile, called for a review of the historical marker process. “All polices and guidelines were followed in removing this controversial marker,” said Sununu’s spokesperson, Ben Vihstadt. He said Concord city officials weren’t advocating to keep it, and once state officials realized it was on state property and not city land as previously believed, the state removed it.But sup...

Justice Minister David Lametti expected introduce bail-reform legislation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Justice Minister David Lametti and the federal government are expected to bring forward legislation to enact bail reform as early as Tuesday. The government has given notice to the House of Commons that it intends to introduce a bill to amend the Criminal Code and a press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.Lametti has said he will make “targeted reforms” to the Criminal Code after the provinces and territories publicly raised concerns about repeat offenders. The federal government said the changes will aim to deal with repeat violent offenders and offences involving firearms and other dangerous weapons.The premiers had asked the government to create a “reverse onus” system for some offences. That would require defendants to show the court why they should be released on bail, rather than requiring the prosecution to show why an individual should not be released.They were optimistic the federal government would do just that following m...

Appeals court puts brakes on order that could end US health law’s preventative care mandate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:46 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court in New Orleans temporarily put on hold Monday a federal judge’s ruling striking down a part of the Affordable Care Act that requires most insurers to cover preventative care including vaccines and screenings for cancer, diabetes and HIV. Without comment, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an “administrative stay” of the March 30 ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor of Texas.The Biden administration had asked for a stay as it appealed the March 30 decision. Administration lawyers said in court filings that O’Connor’s decision would affect preventive care for 150 million people. O’Connor, a nominee of former President George W. Bush, is the same judge who ruled more than four years ago that the entire health care law, a signature achievement of former President Barack Obama, was unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court later overturned that ruling.In his March ruling, O’Conner blocked only the r...