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Battenfeld: Overrated New Hampshire primary jumps the shark

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

The New Hampshire primary has officially jumped the shark – struggling to stay relevant in an era when it’s become just a blip on the presidential radar.It’s not even worth making fun of anymore.The media is really going to have to stretch to find a compelling storyline this time.The interest level outside New Hampshire is minimal. And the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to take up the case of whether former President Trump can be barred from the ballot assures that he will dominate the news for the next several weeks until at least the court’s hearing on Feb. 8.But the sad process of the Granite State primary goes on anyway. Dixville Notch is getting ready for the hordes of media that probably won’t show up to record those dozen votes. They are streaming it because who wants to drive to Dixville Notch in the middle of winter?There is no Democratic race because President Biden pulled out in a hissy fit.A fumbling, stumbling Nikki Haley is desperately trying to make it a race on t...

Hearing date for Trump ballot eligibility challenge to be discussed in ‘near term,’ official says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

The head of a commission that could determine former President Donald Trump’s ballot eligibility in Massachusetts largely declined to discuss the matter Friday but said a potential hearing date on a legal challenge filed this week would be discussed in the “near term.”Retired Judge Francis Crimmins Jr., a Republican who leads the State Ballot Law Commission, did not answer a handful of questions about the commission and case that is now before the body, telling the Herald he cannot “comment on a matter that’s pending before the commission.”“That will be, I am sure, discussed in the near term. And as you are aware, we have to publish any hearing date in advance,” Crimmins said over the phone when asked if there is a likely date for when a hearing could be held.Free Speech for People, a liberal advocacy group, and Boston-based Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan filed a challenge with the State Ballot Law Commission Thursday that argued Trump is not eligible to appear on the Massachusetts p...

Two years after trade, Brad Stevens not surprised by Derrick White’s rise with Celtics

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

When Brad Stevens traded for Derrick White at the 2022 trade deadline, it was met by some outside skepticism. The Celtics dealt some seemingly significant capital for the guard, including a first-round pick. But Stevens knew long before the trade White was exactly what the Celtics needed.“We’ve thought for years that Derrick was a really good fit with our best players,” Stevens said upon acquiring White in 2022. “He is an excellent defender. He just makes the right play on offense over and over and over. He’s a guy that only cares about winning, that will do all of the little things. …“He doesn’t need to do anything to be on the highlights to really, really impact winning. … We felt really fortunate to get a guy like that on a long contract that we think is a perfect fit for our best players.”Sound familiar?Nearly two years later, White has proven to be exactly the fit Stevens envisioned. He emerged as one of the Celtics’ most dynamic and valuable players last season, and has taken ...

New round of Epstein documents offer another look into his cesspool of sexual abuse

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly 100 more court files were unsealed Friday in a lawsuit involving Jeffrey Epstein, providing yet more detail about the late millionaire financier’s sexual abuse of underage girls and interactions with celebrities.The latest round of documents included additional excerpts of testimony from people who worked for Epstein, copies of phone messages he received — including one from film producer Harvey Weinstein — and lots of legal memos with lawyers discussing who could potentially have been called as a witness in his case, if it ever went to trial.No new blockbuster revelations were immediately apparent, and lots of the records covered material that has been the subject of many past news stories about Epstein and his victims. But like other documents previously made public in lawsuits related to Epstein, they provide a window into the rarified world he inhabited.The records are all related to a defamation lawsuit that one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffr...

Man reportedly stabbed inside stairwell at College Subway Station

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

A man was reportedly stabbed inside a stairwell at College Subway Station on Friday night.First responders received a call just before 7:00 p.m. that a man was stabbed. Medics and police arrived on scene and the victim was transported to hospital with serious injuries. Police say the suspect is wearing a black hoodie, black jacket, black Adidas track pants, and white and red shoes.Anyone with information is asked to call police.Trains will be bypassing College Subway Station and those using transit should consider alternate routes.STABBING:College Subway Station7:02pm– report a man was stabbed inside a stairwell – police & medics are o/s– unk injuries– suspect is m/w, wearing a black hoodie, black jkt, black Adidas track pants, white/red shoes– anyone with info call police 416-808-2222#GO36503^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) January 6, 2024

Transcript: Biden’s first campaign speech of the 2024 election year

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Transcript of President Joe Biden’s campaign speech delivered Friday, Jan. 5, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, as prepared by the AP. —Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Please, thank you.Please, thank you very, very much.Today, the topic of my speech today is deadly serious and I think it needs to be made at the outset of this campaign.In the winter of 1777, it was harsh and cold as the Continental Army marched to Valley Forge. General George Washington knew he faced the most daunting of tasks, to fight and win a war against the most powerful empire in existence in the world at the time. His mission was clear: liberty, not conquest. Freedom. Not domination. National independence. Not individual glory.America made a vow: Never again would we bow down to a king.Months ahead would be incredibly difficult. But General Washington knew something in his bones. Something about the spirit of the troops he was leading. Something, somethin...

Washroom advocacy group says there’s not enough places to ‘go’ in T.O.

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

An advocacy group says Toronto continues to lag far behind other international cities in terms of access to public washrooms, especially in the winter months.In November 2021, Toronto city council approved a Washroom Enhancement Program to allow for more public park washrooms to stay open in the winter months.The program, implemented by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) department involves upgrading the plumbing, insulation, heating and other electrical equipment in existing park washrooms. It’s also meant to guide investment in new year-round washrooms in future parks.Toronto Public Space Committee (TPSC) — – a volunteer run collective that advocates for the improvement of public spaces — has been keeping track of the progress.“It’s just something that the city has been very slow to act on,” says Jessie Ye, head of the TPSC’s public washroom subcommittee.When the program first began, only 17 of the 187 standalone washrooms maintained...

Judge rejects lawsuit to disqualify Georgia’s lieutenant governor for acting as Trump elector

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A judge rejected a lawsuit Friday that sought to disqualify Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones from holding office because of the Republican’s participation as an elector for Donald Trump in 2020.Butts County Superior Court Judge Thomas Wilson ruled that the four voters who sued couldn’t use the kind of legal action they filed to attack actions Jones took in 2020 while he was a state senator.The suit echoed other efforts elsewhere to keep Trump and some of his supporters off ballots and to prosecute people who falsely claimed to be valid Trump electors in states Joe Biden won. Richard Rose, a civil rights activist who is one of the plaintiffs, said Friday that he had expected Wilson to rule against him and that he anticipates an appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court.Jones “violated his oath of office, because he lied and said he was a duly qualified elector from state of Georgia, which is not true,” Rose said. Jones says the suit is an illegitimate effort by Democrats to...

Women's Jazz Festival returns to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

CHICAGO — The Women's Jazz Festival is making a return for its second year in a row at the Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.The festival kicked off on Thursday with a performance from Yoko Noge’s Jazz Me Blues and will feature several performances from various artists through Sunday. The festival works to highlight contributions by women to jazz and features ensembles led by female artists for masterclasses and jam sessions. It is the second year in a row the festival has been held and organizers say this year's event will be bigger and better than last year, thanks to a grant from the Live Music Society. Illinois iLottery player rings in new year with $583K jackpot prize The Live Music Society is a nonprofit with a mission to recognize and protect small venues and listening rooms around the U.S. Hey Nonny was one of a handful of venues across the United States that received a "Music in Action" grant in 2023. According to the Live Music Society, th...

Nude man nabbed by police after 'cannonball' plunge into giant aquarium at Bass Pro Shop in Alabama

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:18:43 GMT

LEEDS, Alabama (AP) — A man crashed his car outside a Bass Pro Shop in Alabama, stripped down to his birthday suit and plunged into the giant aquarium inside the store, police said.The ordeal happened Thursday night in front of shocked shoppers in the town just outside Birmingham, Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said.The 42-year-old Alabama man did a “cannonball” leap into the aquarium and then stood under a waterfall. He left the water to yell at two officers, then dove back into the aquarium, police said. Video: Judge attacked in Las Vegas courtroom during sentencing The man eventually climbed over the side of the aquarium and fell to the concrete floor below. Police then apprehended him, the news site Al.com reported.He faces several charges including public lewdness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.The man was in the water for about five minutes before officers arrived, Irwin said.