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‘A math problem’: Providers support limits to Massachusetts emergency shelter capacity

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

For Mark DeJoie, the head of North Shore human services provider Centerboard, Inc., the need to limit the number of people in the state’s emergency shelter system boils down to a simple “math problem.”“There’s just too many people for too few units. And that, too, has been exacerbated because of the migrant influx,” he said in an interview. “We’re dealing with an immigration crisis as a shelter system. We’re not built for that. We’re built to house families.”An influx of migrants over the past year has pushed a shelter system built to handle about 3,000 families each year to its limits, forcing providers across the state to scramble to find additional housing units for the thousands of new arrivals that have made their way to Massachusetts.More than 1,500 families have entered the emergency shelter system since Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency at the start of August. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities reported 7,089 families in the system as...

Celtics’ Al Horford willing to sacrifice with bench role, focused on impacting winning

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

Al Horford has played 1,180 games in his career – regular season and postseason combined – with 1,168 starts. That includes starts in all 429 games he’s played in five seasons with the Celtics. Horford has stated in the past his preference is to start, and his consistent play throughout his career has justified that.“For me as a competitor, I want to be in a position that I’m playing when it matters most,” Horford said in 2021. “I do like to start. That’s just the reality. As a competitor I try to feel like I contribute and be a great asset.”Two years later, though, the equation has changed. This offseason, the Celtics added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, two All-Star level players still in their prime, to form arguably the most talented roster in the league that also includes, of course, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.While Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has not committed to a starting lineup – a narrative he feels is being overblown – the fresh look means Horford m...

St. John’s Prep wins battle of trenches, defeats Catholic Memorial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

DANVERS — St. John’s Prep coach Brian St. Pierre said that when you play Catholic Memorial, you find out just how good you are in the trenches.On Saturday, St. Pierre had to like the answer he received on that.St. John’s Prep ran the ball well and stopped the run in a 19-8 victory over Catholic Memorial in a steady downpour.This was the first loss by the Knights (4-2) to a Massachusetts team since a defeat to the Prep (7-0) in the 2019 D1 state title game at Gillette.“I thought our lines, both sides of the ball, dominated the game,” St. Pierre said. “Against that group, against the size they have, the injuries. We started a freshman right guard today: Cayden Blanchette. He just turned 14 this summer, I think. Proud of our guys, that’s all I can say. Our lines won the day. I believe, the coaching staff, we believe in the trenches and winning up front … I thought we won the trenches on both sides.”It was an accurate assessment. The Prep ...

Patriots activate CB Jack Jones in series of transactions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

The Patriots are getting a Week 7 boost to their secondary.Cornerback Jack Jones was activated from injured reserve on Saturday. The Patriots also activated safety/special teamer Cody Davis from the physically unable to perform list, placed offensive lineman Riley Reiff on injured reserve and elevated wide receiver Jalen Reagor and defensive tackle Trysten Hill from the practice squad.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Four Patriots who should play bigger roles vs. Bills in Week 7 New England Patriots | Patriots-Bills preview: How Bill Belichick can upset Josh Allen and Buffalo New England Patriots | NFL notes: How the Patriots and Bills switched places in the AFC East New England Patriots | Patriots-Bills injury report: Bill Belichick lists 16 players as questionable for Sunday New England Patriots | Bill Belichick honors Dante Scarnecchia, Mike Vrabel ahead of Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony Jones w...

Somerville towing company busted for allegedly towing 100+ cars in under 2 weeks unlicensed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

A towing company in Somerville that tried to defy the odds by towing more than 100 vehicles in less than two weeks without a license has been told to knock it off.Quick Towing Services had yet to receive a license from the city to commence operations before it allegedly towed over 100 vehicles between Oct. 5 and Oct. 16, and the business is accused of failing to report the towings to police, city records show.Police last Monday contacted owner Luciano Quintanilha and told him to cease towing vehicles until he receives “proper approval from the city,” according to a police report.The City Council’s Licenses and Permits Committee last week did not recommend awarding a license to the business due to the wrongdoings.“We have an applicant that has been operating illegally,” Council President Ben Ewen-Campen said. “This is a business that I am not comfortable licensing to operate in Somerville.”A woman who identified herself as Susan Shannon, and spoke on behalf of Quintanilha, told the H...

San Diego among top 10 cities most likely to 'ghost' in relationships: study

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- After a bad date or disagreement with an acquaintance, do you become nothing more than a phantom in the night? You're not the only one. What we're referring to here is something that's become common in the modern dating world -- "ghosting." This is when someone decides to stop talking to another person without an explanation.Though it's usually something that occurs in the the dating realm, research shows it's also happening with newer friendships, in workplaces, and even businesses. Dave’s Hot Chicken is giving away spiced-to-order sliders thanks to rapper Drake According to a new study by Thriving Center of Psychology, San Diego is among the top 10 biggest U.S. cities where people are most like to "ghost" someone. Overall, the study found that 84% respondents said they have been ghosted before. Despite this, their data also shows three in four people think "ghosting" is acceptable depending on the circumstances.When analyzing this topic, researchers at Thrivi...

Former Albanian prime minister says he’s charged with corruption and money laundering in land deal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s former prime minister Sali Berisha said Saturday that prosecutors charged him with corruption and money laundering in connection with a land deal involving a Tirana property.Berisha, 79, said the prosecutor’s office in charge of cases against senior officials or major cases, ordered him not to leave the country. Berisha also said his son-in-law, 50-year-old Jamarber Malltezi, was arrested on the same charges at the Tirana International airport. Berisha said both he and Malltezi are innocent.“On these charges I declare that they are absolutely without any basis and purely and fully political accusations from (current prime minister) Edi Rama,” he said at a news conference late Saturday.Rama did not immediately respond to Berisha’s claim. The Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime office alleges that Berisha’s son-in-law exploited Berisha’s position as prime minister to privatize land in Tirana owned by the c...

Demonstration causing traffic delays near Gardiner Expressway

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

There are traffic delays downtown Toronto due to a reported demonstration called the “National March for Gaza” that began at the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue.The demonstration initially blocked University Avenue between Wellington Street West and Front Street, that moved towards the Gardiner Expressway, shutting down part of Lake Shore Boulevard.Demonstrators have since moved eastbound on Bremner Boulevard.Demonstrators are on the roadway and Toronto police advise motorists to use caution in the area, expect traffic delays and consider alternate routes.The final Toronto FC game of the season at BMO Field has been delayed by 20 minutes due to the traffic.???? Update: Due to transportation issues, the match between Toronto FC and Orlando City, originally slated to kick off at 6:00 p.m. ET, will now begin at 6:20 p.m. ET.#TORvORL | #TFCLive pic.twitter.com/v9IBdGnSie— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) October 21, 2023Westbound 509 and 510 TTC streetcars on Queens Quay he...

A Detroit synagogue president was fatally stabbed outside her home. Police don’t have a motive

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit synagogue president was found stabbed to death outside her home Saturday, police said. The motive wasn’t known.Emergency medical personnel declared the woman, identified in a statement from Mayor Mike Duggan as Samantha Woll, dead at the scene, Cpl. Dan Donakowski said.“While at the scene, police officers observed a trail of blood leading officers to the victim’s residence, which is where the crime is believed to have occurred,” Donakowski said.Woll, 40, had led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue since 2022 and was a former aide to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin and campaign staffer for Attorney General Dana Nessel, the Detroit Free Press reported.Police have not identified a possible motive and are investigating, the Free Press reported.Police found Woll around 6:30 a.m. after someone called to alert them of a person lying on the ground unresponsive, the Free Press reported.Nessel issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying she was “shocked, sad...

President of Detroit synagogue found dead outside of home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:21 GMT

(The Hill) — The president of a Detroit synagogue was found stabbed to death outside of her home on Saturday, police said.Detroit Police said Samantha Woll was found dead outside of her home by a passerby at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Officers found a “trail of blood” leading to the inside of Woll’s home, where they said they believe the crime occurred.Woll, who led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, was a former staffer for Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and senior staffer for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s campaign last year. Bolton suggests Hamas release of US hostages was simple a delay tactic Police have not identified a potential motive for the killing, they said.“I and all of Team Slotkin is heartbroken at this news,” Slotkin said in a Facebook post on Saturday. “Sam worked for me from nearly the moment I became a Congresswoman, helping us set up the office & helping to lead it for my full first term.”“My heart aches that we have lost someone so dedicated to ser...