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Massachusetts gas prices keep falling ahead of Thanksgiving: ‘Longest streak of declines in over a year’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

People hitting the road for Thanksgiving should see some relief at the pump compared to last year, as local gas prices continue to fall ahead of the holiday.The average gas price in Massachusetts on Monday was down four cents from last week ($3.46), averaging $3.42 per gallon, according to AAA Northeast. Meanwhile, the national gas price average has had its longest weekly streak of declines in over a year.Monday’s average price in the Bay State was 20 cents lower than a month ago ($3.62), and 39 cents lower than last Nov. 20 ahead of Thanksgiving ($3.81).Massachusetts’ average gas price is 12 cents higher than the national average ($3.30). Gas in New England remains more expensive partly because of ongoing maintenance at key oil refineries that service the region, AAA Northeast said.“Drivers this Thanksgiving can expect cheaper gas compared to last year, but pump prices in New England are still above the national average for now,” said AAA Northeast Senior Sp...

Boston donates 2,000 turkeys to needy families for Thanksgiving

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

The City of Boston is distributing twice as many turkeys to needy families ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday this year compared to last, the mayor’s office said.City workers spent Monday and last Friday delivering 2,000 turkeys and 5,000 pounds of food to community members and organizations, as part of an annual drive led by the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services.“As we celebrate the special traditions and connection of the holidays, we want to ease the burden for Boston families in need to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement, adding that she was “grateful” to continue the holiday tradition.Wu appeared at CommonWealth Kitchen, a nonprofit food-business incubator in Dorchester, Monday morning to help pack and prepare the turkey donations.The turkeys are hand-delivered to more than 40 partners, including community organizations, churches and Boston Housing Authority sites, which then distribute the food to residents experiencing food insecu...

Pilot in fatal La Jolla plane crash identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

SAN DIEGO — The pilot of a small plane that crashed near homes in La Jolla last week has been identified. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man killed in Wednesday's crash as Michael Mehdi Salour, 74, of Carlsbad. Pilot killed in small plane crash in La Jolla Salour was the only person in the Cessna Centurion flying from the Bay Area to the McClellan Carlsbad Airport. He was being diverted to Montgomery Field because of weather and crashed while attempting to land. Driver, passenger killed in I-5 rollover crash identified Around 9:30 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration received a message from the pilot saying he was low on fuel, according to the San Diego Police Department.The aircraft was found the next day around 2 a.m. on a hillside in La Jolla. The medical examiner reports he was found unresponsive in the pilot seat. Salour's death has been ruled accidental from multiple blunt force injuries.

Senate panel subpoenas CEOs of Discord, Snap and X to testify about children’s safety online

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate committee has issued bipartisan subpoenas to the CEOs of Discord, Snap and X, demanding that the heads of the three companies testify at a December hearing on protecting children online. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the panel, announced Monday that they had issued the subpoenas to Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, formerly known as Twitter, “after repeated refusals to appear” during weeks of negotiations. “Big Tech’s failure to police itself at the expense of our kids cannot go unanswered,” the two senators said in a statement. The committee said that “in a remarkable departure from typical practice,” Discord and X refused to accept service of the subpoenas and the panel was forced to enlist the U.S. Marshals Service to personally subpoena the CEOs. The Dec. 6 hearing will focus on child sexual exploitation ...

California Highway Patrol officer fatally shoots man walking on freeway, prompting investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — State authorities were investigating Monday after a California Highway Patrol officer shot and killed a man over the weekend in the middle of a Los Angeles area freeway during a struggle recorded on video. Sunday afternoon’s deadly encounter occurred after the highway patrol responded to multiple calls of a male pedestrian walking in westbound lanes of Interstate 105 in south LA County, the agency said in a statement. All traffic in that direction was temporarily blocked.“During the contact with the pedestrian, a struggle ensued and an officer involved shooting occurred,” the statement said. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office confirmed the person died but did not provide identification, pending notification of family. A cause of death was not immediately released.The highway patrol referred inquiries about the investigation to the California Department of Justice, which typically investigates fatal police shootings. The justice department confi...

Biden celebrates his 81st birthday with jokes as the White House stresses his experience and stamina

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden celebrated his 81st birthday on Monday by joking repeatedly about his advanced age, even as the White House strongly defended his stamina and batted away polling — and one prominent Democrat — suggesting that the issue could cost him votes in next year’s election. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president’s age should not be a primary focus.“Our perspective is, it’s not about age, it’s about the president’s experience,” she said while highlighting that Biden had successfully championed through Congress several major pieces of legislation — including a sweeping public works package and initiative on public health and combating climate change — and visited active war zones not controlled by the U.S. military in Ukraine and Israel. “What we say is we have to judge him by what he’s done, not by his numbers,” Jean-Pierre said. “I would put the president’s stamina, the president’s wisdom, ability to get this done on...

Did you lose half a kilogram of cocaine? Police in B.C. would like to help

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

MISSION, BRITISH COLUMBIA — Police in Mission, B.C., say they are seeking the owner of half a kilogram of cocaine that was hidden in a public restroom’s ceiling and anyone who wants to claim the drugs should bring “proof of purchase.”RCMP Cpl. Harrison Mohr says officers will be happy to set up an interview at the owner’s convenience.Mohr says in a news release that a maintenance worker found the drugs when they opened up a ceiling panel on Thursday morning. He says the drugs were divided into multiple packages, and it’s believed they were hidden for a drug dealer to pick up.Mohr says whoever hid the drugs hasn’t been identified, but “jail cell number three” is waiting for anyone who wants to claim them.The release warns about the danger of leaving drugs where a member of the public could be unknowingly exposed to them.“If the drugs are yours and you want to report them lost or stolen, please call Mission RCMP,” police say ...

Gun battles in Mexican city of Cuernavaca leave 9 dead, including 2 police, authorities say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Gun battles between police and armed civilians in the Mexican city of Cuernavaca on Monday left nine dead, including two police officers, authorities said.The Cuernavaca security agency said in a statement that two other police officers were wounded in shootouts that began after a convoy of gunmen opened fire on people who were drinking on the street and tried to abduct one person.Gunmen with rifles, ballistic vests and radios engaged with police in various parts of the city, including a central neighborhood. Cuernavaca lies 50 miles south of Mexico City and has been the site of violence from competing organized crime groups.The Associated Press

South Korea’s president to talk trade, technology and defense on state visit to the UK

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The leaders of Britain and South Korea will seek to strengthen trade and defense ties between their countries during a state visit to the U.K. by President Yoon Suk Yeol.Yoon landed at Stansted Airport near London on Monday. Britain hopes his formal three-day visit will help cement an “ Indo-Pacific tilt ” in its foreign and trade policy.During that time, the president will be treated to both royal and diplomatic pomp, including a ceremonial welcome with military honor guards, an opportunity to address Parliament and a state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.He’s also scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak focused on trade, technology and defense. The two countries will officially launch talks on an “upgraded” free trade agreement to replace their current deal, which largely replicates the arrangements the U.K. had before it left the European Union.Britain has launched trade talks with several countries since leaving the EU in 202...

Queen Camilla praises the role of journalists in society at Foreign Press Association’s awards event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:29 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Queen Camilla, not always known for having an easy time with reporters, stepped into the lion’s den on Monday, praising the role of journalists in society as she delivered the keynote address at the Foreign Press Association’s annual awards ceremony in London.She shouldn’t have worried much. King Charles III’s consort was mobbed as she arrived for the event. London-based foreign correspondents surrounded her as she mingled with the finalists. With cellphones raised over their heads, glasses of Campari swishing, they jostled for a better view and a chance for a chat.Camilla, who was criticized by Britain’s tabloids during the breakdown of Charles’ first marriage, praised the work of foreign correspondents, particularly in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.She won laughter and appreciation when she took a self-deprecating swipe at herself.“There are journalists in my family, and I have even been the subject of one ...