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Train derails in Ayer, fire department tells people to avoid area of Sculley Road

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

A train has derailed in Ayer, prompting local authorities to advise that people avoid the area of Sculley Road.The Ayer Fire Department said in a Facebook post at 12:13 p.m. that the scene is an “active incident” near Sculley Road and that the “railroad cars involved do NOT contain hazardous materials.”“We are working with officials from the railroad, Ayer Police Department and Ayer Department of Public Works to mitigate this incident,” the department said in the post. “Please avoid the area.”

Stocks rise, recover nearly all of steep loss from prior day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rallying Thursday to recover almost all of their steep loss from a day before, when markets tumbled into the close. The S&P 500 was 1.5% higher in midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 393 points, or 1.2%, at 32,423, as of noon Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 2.1% higher. A day earlier, stocks fell sharply after the Federal Reserve indicated that while the end may be near for its market-rattling hikes to interest rates, it still doesn’t expect to cut rates this year. Markets lost momentum after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that, along with an insistence that it could keep raising rates if inflation stays high. But traders on Thursday were still largely betting the Fed will cut rates later this year. Such cuts can act like steroids for markets, juicing prices for stocks, bonds and other investments. They would relax the pressure on the economy, but they could also give inflatio...

These are the top 5 dog names in San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- In honor of National Puppy Day on March 23, doggy day care and boarding franchise Camp Bow Wow has released its annual list of top dog names.The canine care provider creates its annual list by analyzing its nationwide database of nearly 400,000 four-legged campers. According to their data, there five names that San Diegans prefer for their Southern California pooches. Dog matching description of canine abandoned at shelter found, dies Here's a list of the top five dog names for pet owners in America's Finest City:(Graphic released by Camp Bow Wow)According to Camp Bow Wow, the majority of the West Coast, East Coast and central states, including Texas, favored the name Luna the most. Based on their data, only six states didn't have Luna as their top dog name. Several people, dogs escape North County house fire Camp Bow Wow’s Animal Health and Behavioral Expert Erin Askeland says it's important to carefully choose your dog's name because it will be used for training...

$5.7M in narcotics seized at San Diego port of entries over 3-day span: CBP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Almost $6 million in narcotics were seized at San Diego port of entries last weekend in three major smuggling attempts, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Where to find a Narcan vending machine in San Diego First seizure The first seizure occurred on Friday around 10:20 a.m. when a 25-year-old woman who was in possession of a valid entry document was removed from her vehicle for further inspection. CBP said officers observed several packages concealed in her vehicle after a K-9 alerted to the trunk area.CBP said officers scanned the vehicle utilizing the port’s imaging system, which is similar to an X-ray, and they noticed irregularities in the seats and floor. After further inspection of the vehicle, CBP said they found 33 packages of methamphetamine hidden in the seats, floor and firewall. The total weight of the narcotics seizure was reported to be slightly more than 201 pounds. Officials did not confirm which port of entry this was at. A look back in time:...

EU leaders endorse joint ammo purchases for Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders have endorsed a plan for sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition within the next 12 months to help the country counter Russia’s invasion forces.EU foreign and defense ministers approved the plan for a fast-track purchasing procedure earlier this week, and the leaders of the bloc’s 27 member nations gave it their political blessing at a summit in Brussels Thursday.“Taking into account the security and defense interests of all member states, the European Council welcomes the agreement … to deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine and, if requested, missiles,” the meeting’s conclusions on Ukraine read.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders were poised Thursday to endorse a plan for sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition within the next 12 months to help the country counter Russia’s invasion forces.EU foreign and defense min...

California may punish oil companies for high gas prices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Thursday will vote on whether to allow penalties on oil companies for price gouging at the pump, a first-in-the-country proposal aimed at stopping the kind of spikes last summer that caused some drivers pay up to $8 per gallon as the industry reaped super-sized profits.Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat seen as a possible presidential candidate beyond 2024, has used all of his political muscle to get the bill this far by making in-person pleas with state lawmakers in private ahead of Thursday’s first vote in the state Senate.The oil industry has pushed back, paying for a wave of digital ads that have labeled any potential penalty as a tax — an idea more likely to be scorned by voters. But they have failed to stop the bill, which after months of stagnating in the Democratic-controlled Legislature is now racing through the process with the Senate vote followed by a final vote in the state Assembly likely next week.The bill highlights ...

Fetterman expected back ‘soon,’ but no certain timeline yet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s office said Thursday that he is expected to return soon to the chamber, although Democratic leaders are giving no timeline five weeks after he sought inpatient treatment for clinical depression.Fetterman, 53, was weeks into his service in Washington and still recovering from the aftereffects of the stroke he had last May during his campaign when he checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Feb. 15.Aides said at the time that Fetterman had not been his usual self for weeks. He was withdrawn, showing a disinterest in talking, eating and the usual banter with aides. Post-stroke depression is common and treatable, doctors say.Asked about when Fetterman might return, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said only that Fetterman is recuperating.“We want to give him the space to recuperate,” Schumer said at a Wednesday news conference. “He needs it, it’s fair, it’s right. There a...

Lawmakers tell ex-CEOs ‘you must answer’ for bank failures

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leaders of the Senate’s banking committee on Thursday warned former chief executive officers at the failed Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank that they expect them to testify before the panel, saying in a letter to each: “you must answer for the bank’s downfall.”The committee is examining the events leading up to the closures of the banks, starting with the first congressional hearing on Tuesday. Separate letters were sent Thursday to Gregory Becker, the former head of Silicon Valley Bank, and to Joseph DePaolo, the former head of Signature Bank.Both CEOs had indicated to the committee they would be unable to attend Tuesday’s hearing, according to the letter. But the senators said they believe the CEOs can testify to Congress without disclosing confidential information. Nor would the executives need to hand over bank records and files to provide informative testimony, they said.Attorneys copied in on the letters sent to the CEOs did not immedi...

Josh Segarra is becoming a Hollywood go-to scene-stealer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

Perhaps you know Josh Segarra from his scene-stealing role as Lance on HBO Max’s “The Other Two,” or remember him as a crooked district attorney of Star City in the CW’s “Arrow,” or you caught him on Broadway when he originated the role of Emilio Estevez in “ On Your Feet! ” However you know him, Segarra is becoming more and more recognizable and this month adds two new projects to that list.First, Segarra appears in “ Scream VI ” as Danny, the boyfriend of Melissa Barrera’s character. Segarra says when he auditioned he had two wishes if he got the part: he would either be the new Ghostface killer or he would die a spectacular death on screen. His callback audition scene seemed to grant one of those dreams.“They sent me a whole monologue confessing that I’m the killer. So I’m sitting there and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m the killer.’ I tell my wife, ‘I’m the killer.’ I tell my team, ‘Yo, I’m the killer.'”After he was cast, he found out everybody auditions with t...

FBI: 1 person fatally shot during multiday hostage rescue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:34:24 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — One person was fatally shot during a hostage rescue on Thursday in Houston, according to the FBI.FBI agents had been part of a multiday law enforcement operation to rescue a group of hostages, the agency’s Houston office said in a statement.“All the hostages have been safely rescued, no FBI agents are injured, and one individual is deceased,” according to the statement.The shooting took place early Thursday morning in north Houston.The FBI declined to say how many agents were involved or where the shooting took place. A large police presence was seen late Thursday morning at a motel.The FBI said it was assisting the Waller County Sheriff’s Office in the rescue operation but declined to provide more information on the number of hostages or what led to the shooting.“There is no threat to public safety at this time,” the FBI said. The sheriff’s office in Waller County, located northwest of Houston, referred all calls to the county’s district attorney’s office.Waller Coun...