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US Supreme Court guts affirmative action in college admissions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

The Supreme Court on Thursday dealt a major blow to affirmative action in higher education, striking down race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.In a ruling divided along ideological lines, the high court’s six-justice conservative majority found that the universities discriminated against white and Asian American applicants by using race-conscious policies that benefited applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. The three liberal justices dissented.“Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it,” Roberts wrote.The decision undercuts long-standing admissions policies at elite colleges and universities that use race as one of many factors in evaluating applicants. Those policies relied on prior Supreme Court cases that permitted the use of race as part of a “holistic” process meant to promote a diverse student body. But Thursday’s ruling appeared to find most of those...

Overheated Insulator Cited As Cause Of Orange Line Fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

An overheated insulator caused a fire near Orange Line tracks on Wednesday that sent smoke spewing through a station and triggered substantial delays, MBTA officials said. The operator of a southbound Orange Line vehicle “reported flames within the track area in front of the train” at Tufts Medical Center around 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday, T spokesperson Lisa Battiston said in a statement. Riders shared images of smoke filling the air at the station, and firefighters responded to the scene. No one was injured, according to Battiston. The incident prompted significant delays and suspension of subway service between North Station and Back Bay. Workers from the T’s power department completed repairs and normal service resumed around 2 p.m., Battiston said. “It was subsequently determined that the incident was caused by an overheated third rail insulator,” Battiston said. She later added, “Our Engineering and Maintenance teams are taking a closer look at...

Jury ends second day of deliberations with no verdict in trial of man accused of killing Weymouth police office, bystander

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

The jury returned to deliberating the fate of accused double murderer Emanuel Lopes Thursday. Late in the day, the 12-member panel requested additional medical records of the defendant but finished without reaching a verdict. The jury, which is bused in from Worcester County, will resume Friday morning for the third day of deliberations.Lopes has been on trial on charges he shot and killed Weymouth police Sgt. Michael Chesna and 77-year-old Vera Adams, an innocent bystander, who was sitting on her sun porch and was shot to death back in July of 2018.During final arguments Wednesday, prosecutors, gripping the gun they say accused killer Emanuel Lopes used to murder both victims, said Lopes’s actions were deliberate when he hit Chesna in the head with a rock and grabbed his gun to open fire.Lopes’s legal team was painting a very different picture on why the now-25-year-old opened fire, explaining he’d been wrestling with mental illness for years, and the system failed him.“This c...

Local students, leaders react to Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

Reaction poured in both locally and nationally Thursday after the historic ruling from the Supreme Court that struck down affirmative action in college admissions. Harvard University was one of the schools at the center of the case, which came after a group of Asian American applicants rejected from the school filed a lawsuit challenging Harvard’s admissions practices.With a longstanding precedent for affirmative action overturned, some students shared their thoughts with 7NEWS. “It might have been a tiny bit necessary but I feel like colleges should still try to have a representative group of all the people,” said Mia Mozzoni. “This is impacting my community, the Latino community, so many other student organizations on campus and I think we’re all just trying to process what just happened,” said Agustin Leon Saenz.The ruling means schools cannot use race when considering a student’s application.—READ: Supreme Court strikes down affirmative acti...

Pair of dogs abandoned a picnic table in Sudbury will likely be put up for adoption

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

An unsettling surprise for Carolyn Stanwood when she arrived at work on Boston Post Road in Sudbury early Wednesday morning.“I came across one dog that was attached to the picnic table here and the other was loose, came running towards my car,” she said. Stanwood called Sudbury police when she realized the two dogs had been left alone.“It was so cold and so wet and raining and they were barking just constantly,” Stanwood said. “I just felt so terrible for them. Someone had left them here.”The employees at Post Road Pediatrics gave the shivering dogs water before animal control officers arrived. Police said neither dog has a microchip.Stanwood said there’s a dog rescue right next door to their business and wants to know why the owner didn’t just leave them there safely.“Why would you do something like that? I’ve heard they’ve gotten baths and I’ve seen pictures of them and they look so much better and happy,” Stanwood said, “and they’re going to get to a new home .”Sudbury...

Patriots reportedly sign defensive captain to 2-year contract extension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

Another one.The Patriots extended a second starter in as many days Thursday, inking linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to a reworked 3-year deal that keeps him under contract through 2025, per reports. Bentley had been set to enter a contract year and earn up to $4.25 million, including incentives. Bentley can now reportedly make up to $18.5 million over the final two seasons of his new deal, including $9 million guaranteed.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Source: Patriots, WR DeVante Parker agree to reworked 3-year deal New England Patriots | Former Patriots QB Ryan Mallett, 35, reportedly dies in drowning accident New England Patriots | Will Patriots CB Jack Jones go to prison? Here’s what we know New England Patriots | Patriots CB Jack Jones arrested for trying to bring firearms onto flight at Logan Airport New England Patriots | Mac Jones, a breakout defender and 4 takeaways from Patriots minic...

France sends tens of thousands of police to head off unrest after deadly police shooting of teenager

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

By SYLVIE CORBET, JOHN LEICESTER and ALEX TURNBULL (Associated Press)NANTERRE, France (AP) — France sent tens of thousands of police officers into the streets on Thursday in an effort to head off widespread urban rioting following the deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old that shocked the nation, with commuters rushing home before transport services closed early for safety reasons.The police officer accused of pulling the trigger on Tuesday was handed a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide after prosecutor Pascal Prache said his initial investigation led him to conclude “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.” Despite government appeals for calm and vows that order would be restored, smoke billowed from cars and garbage set ablaze in the Paris suburb of Nanterre following a peaceful afternoon march in honor of the teen identified only by his first name, Nahel.After a morning crisis meeting following violence that injured scores of police...

Encore, union workers reach ‘tentative’ contract agreement, potentially averting strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

Unionized workers at Encore Boston Harbor struck a “tentative agreement” Wednesday with casino management on a new contract, likely averting a strike scheduled to begin Friday where more than 1,000 workers could have walked off the job.UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 reached an agreement with Wynn Resorts after an “hours-long” bargaining session, according to a statement released Thursday morning. The unions said they were suspending their strike deadline of Friday at midnight, which they approved last week after more than 1,000 workers cast ballots.UNITE HERE Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo said management at Encore showed “leadership in the hospitality industry” for bargaining a contract that “guarantees workers at the resort will have excellent wages and benefits.”“We are glad that a strike will be avoided and that a spirit of partnership has prevailed. Our members are excited to continue providing five-star service to the resort’s guests with a five-star contract,” ...

Stolen van suspect arrested in Carlsbad after chase from LA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

CARLSBAD, Calif. — A pursuit that began Thursday in Los Angeles ended in North County after the driver led authorities through multiple counties.Authorities pursued the driver of a stolen van from Los Angeles through Orange County before it ended in Carlsbad near Cannon Road and Frost Ave, the California Highway Patrol said.According to CHP, a suspect was taken into custody after the pursuit and officials with the Los Angeles Police Department were called to the scene to take the suspect, since the pursuit began in their jurisdiction.The van was stolen from a repair shop in Los Angeles, according to FOX 5's sister station KTLA.No further information was immediately available regarding the incident.

Big Bay Boom: How to watch the fireworks show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The countdown is on to the biggest Fourth of July fireworks show on the West Coast: the Big Bay Boom!On July 4th, starting at 9 p.m., fireworks will launch from four barges across the San Diego Bay. Up to half a million people are expected to take in the show, gathering at popular vantage points like Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and the Coronado Ferry Landing. The show will be choreographed to music broadcast on 101.5 KGB. Where to watch July 4th fireworks in San Diego For those at home, FOX 5 will have cameras around the bay -- on the ground and in the sky -- to give you the best view. Coverage will start at 8 p.m. on FOX 5 and on fox5sandiego.com.Viewers outside of San Diego County can watch the show live on KTLA 5 in Los Angeles or FOX40 in Sacramento starting at 8:30 p.m. The show will be broadcast on KSEE24 and CBS47 in Fresno and KGET TV 17 in Bakersfield from 10 to 11 p.m.