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‘Ditch the drive’: State, city leaders discuss expected impacts, mitigation measures ahead of Sumner Tunnel closure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

State and city leaders gathered at the MBTA’s Wonderland station in Revere Wednesday to discuss impacts and planned mitigation measures ahead of a nearly two-month closure of the Sumner Tunnel slated to begin next week.The main artery connecting East Boston to the rest of Boston is slated to shut down from July 5 to Aug. 31 to make way for needed repairs, including work to replace the tunnel’s ceiling, pavement, walls and lighting.Closures already in place on most weekends for the past year have given drivers a preview of what to expect. One week before longest tunnel shutdown in the Sumner Tunnel project to date, state Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said “We are very confident in our plan.” “We have put a lot of work into this and we really want this to be a successful and manageable project,” Gulliver said. Gulliver spoke alongside officials including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.“We know how disruptive this is, but this is the only way to get us to where we de...

Debris from Titanic tourist sub implosion returned to land

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Debris from the lost submersible Titan has been returned to land after a fatal implosion during its voyage to the wreck of the Titanic captured the world’s attention last week.The return of the debris to port in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a key piece of the investigation into why the submersible imploded, killing all five people on board. Twisted chunks of the 22-foot submersible came ashore at a Canadian Coast Guard pier on Wednesday.Horizon Arctic, a Canadian ship, carried a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, to search the ocean floor near the Titanic wreck for pieces of the submersible. Pelagic Research Services, a company with offices in Massachusetts and New York that owns the ROV, said in a statement on Wednesday that it has completed offshore operations.Pelagic Research Services said its team is “still on mission” and cannot comment on the ongoing Titan investigation, which involves several government agencies in the...

Where’s the game? Shifting TV and streaming models frustrate Orioles fans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

Steve Weiner’s Orioles-watching routine was as predictable as the seventh-inning stretch. Or so he thought.In this most promising of seasons, the Pikesville retiree takes comfort in the summerlong habit of settling in to watch games on a known network with broadcasters as familiar as old friends. But this season, with a half-dozen Orioles games having shifted from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network to streaming networks — and the traditional cable TV sports model in transition — Weiner and many other fans feel like the diamond is shifting under their feet.On a typical evening, Weiner will sit with his wife on their reclining love seat, turn on MASN and watch the games on their flat-screen TV. Except that on a recent Friday, Weiner learned the Orioles-Kansas City Royals contest was available only on the Apple TV+ streaming channel, while MASN showed kickboxing and other “fight sports.”In a fighting mood himself, Weiner, 71, dashed off a complaint to the Ori...

What led to MLB’s decision to play Tuesday’s Cubs-Phillies game at Wrigley Field in ‘very unhealthy’ air quality conditions?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

Baseball fans have been inundated by new stats over the years, from WAR to wRC+ and exit velocity to barrels.Welcome to the club, AQI.Air Quality Index, the latest addition to the baseball glossary, has been picking up speed since early June, when the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals had games postponed due to poor air quality from the wildfires in Canada.The Chicago Cubs were the latest team to deal with air quality issues Tuesday when the AQI in Chicago reached a level deemed “very unhealthy.” MLB had several discussions with the Players Association before gametime, but ultimately opted not to postpone it, which resulted in Philadelphia’s 5-1 win in a smoky haze.Ian Happ, the Cubs player representative, said afterward the union was consulted on the decision, adding “the league felt the levels were playable” and “there wasn’t going to be any harm” if they played.“You smell it, you taste it, but yo...

Chicago Cubs lose 5-1 to Philadelphia Phillies after MLB opts to play despite ‘very unhealthy’ air alert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

The Chicago Cubs have played in worse-looking conditions at Wrigley Field than Tuesday night’s 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.Few can forget the Cubs game against the Atlanta Braves in April 2018 when the wild chill was 25 degrees and players were drenched from the howling rain and a hawk wind in their face the entire afternoon. The Braves blew an eight-run, eighth-inning lead, and cried about the conditions afterward. “If we all don’t come out of here with pneumonia I think we’ll be alright,” Braves reliever Luke Jackson said.But sometimes looks are deceiving. The air quality in Chicago on Tuesday was at a level deemed “very unhealthy” by the Illinois EPA due to smoke from the wildfires in Canada. Commissioner Rob Manfred’s office and the MLB Players Association convened during the day to determine whether to postpone the game, but the league opted to play on.The collective bargaining agreement dictated the decision on such a c...

Chicago White Sox get full Shohei Ohtani experience as Los Angeles Angels two-way star homers twice and strikes out 10

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

The Chicago White Sox didn’t have much success slowing down Shohei Ohtani at the plate.And they didn’t take full advantage of the few opportunities they had to capitalize while hitting against him either.The Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar homered twice and struck out 10 Sox batters in 6 1/3 innings. The Sox got the complete Ohtani experience in a 4-2 loss to the Angels in front of 33,637 on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.“He’s extremely talented,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s probably the best player in the game, so he was tough to hit and he’s tough to pitch to.”Ohtani homered to right in the first against Michael Kopech. The Sox starter struggled with his command, walking seven in four-plus innings. But Kopech got out of a couple of jams, particularly in the second when two Angels were thrown out attempting to steal second.“Can’t give away that many free bases,” Kopech said. “Whether the misses a...

Debris from implosion of Titanic-bound submersible is returned to land

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Debris from the lost submersible Titan has been returned to land after a fatal implosion during its voyage to the wreck of the Titanic captured the world's attention last week.The return of the debris to port in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a key piece of the investigation into why the submersible imploded, killing all five people on board. Twisted chunks of the 22-foot submersible came ashore at a Canadian Coast Guard pier on Wednesday.Horizon Arctic, a Canadian ship, carried a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, to search the ocean floor near the Titanic wreck for pieces of the submersible. Pelagic Research Services, a company with offices in Massachusetts and New York that owns the ROV, said in a statement on Wednesday that it has completed offshore operations.Pelagic Research Services said its team is “still on mission” and cannot comment on the ongoing Titan investigation, which involves several government agencies in the U.S. and Canada.“They...

Photos: Construction worker trapped in trench at site in La Jolla Shores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores on Wednesday.The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed around 8:55 a.m. that crews are working to rescue the trapped individual in the 8000 block of El Paseo Grande.Fire officials say the construction worker is conscious and alert. 13 live parrots seized at US-Mexico border A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)There is no word yet on how long it may take to extricate the person from the trench.At this time, no traffic disruptions have been reported in the area.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Adrian becomes hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific coast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Adrian became the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific hurricane season Wednesday off Mexico’s western Pacific coast.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Adrian had sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). The storm was expected to reach hurricane strength later Wednesday, but keep heading out to sea.On Tuesday afternoon, the storm’s center was located about 360 miles (575 kilometers) southwest of the Pacific coast seaport of Manzanillo, Mexico.The center said Adrian was moving west at about 8 mph (13 kph), and that general motion was expected to continue. Adrian was expected to build to hurricane strength by Wednesday, but would likely weaken again to a tropical storm by the weekend.The Associated Press

1,145 people remain evacuated as crews dig containment line around Arizona brush fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Crews have successfully dug a containment line around a brush fire in northern Scottsdale that has burned 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) and threatened about 100 homes, authorities said Wednesday.Fire officials said 1,145 people will remain evacuated from their homes until it’s determined that the containment line will hold up in expected windy conditions.Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management spokesperson Tiffany Davila said the cause of the fire is under investigation.The blaze, called the Diamond Fire, broke out around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and quickly grew — fueled by grass and brush.“We had very successful overnight. We have a line around the entire fire and people are starting to do mop-up,” Davila said at a news conference. “But we may still see flare-ups.”Davila said the fire is considered “zero percent contained” until the containment line holds “and will in the wind.” “People might not see smoke right now, but that doesn’t me...