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Sales tax holiday Aug. 12-13

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

The House adjourned for an extra-long weekend after adopting a resolution designating the weekend of Aug. 12-13 as this year’s sales tax holiday.The Senate agreed to the same dates for the tax holiday. The House advanced a few local bills and adjourned in memory of former House Speaker David Bartley of Holyoke. With Juneteenth on Monday, the House plans to meet next on Tuesday.As the Herald previously reported, state Senate President Karen Spilka said she would not consider extending the pause on the state’s 6.25% sales tax. “We’re not there yet,” she added.“But we will be doing the weekend,” the Democrat from Ashland said and that has proven true.First tried for just one day in 2004 but made into an annual full weekend holiday in 2018, the law aims to boost consumer spending for one weekend a year at the expense of millions in sales tax revenue.There are some exclusions to the holiday, which only applies to purchases less than $2,500.Purchases of cars, boats, meals, uti...

Josh Walker’s mental approach helps reliever pitch with resilience out of Mets’ bullpen

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

In the biggest moment of Josh Walker’s career, disaster struck.The Mets rookie was pitching in only his third big league game Tuesday night against the Yankees. The stands were packed for an early summer rivalry game and the two New York teams were knotted at 6-6 in the top of the sixth.Billy McKinney was on second base with no outs when Anthony Volpe sent a shallow fly ball to right-center field. Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte both converged, but it was Nimmo’s ball and it’s a catch Nimmo typically makes. The center fielder is having an outstanding season on both sides of the ball and has made several dazzling plays to save runs.But this time, it was too shallow and the ball drifted too far to the right. It went off his glove. It was an uncharacteristic mistake. The play was scored a double for Volpe and put runners on second and third. McKinney eventually scored the go-ahead run after the Mets went to the bullpen for Jeff Brigham.Nimmo took it hard, but Walker,...

A series of ghastly transactions: The Harvard and University of Arkansas human body trafficking ring told through federal charging documents

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

At least one of the members of an alleged human body parts trafficking ring that ranged from New Hampshire to Harvard to Pennsylvania and to Arkansas has entered into a plea bargain that acknowledges the federal allegations.Meanwhile, the family of a Granite State husband and wife who donated their bodies to help science are demanding action.“My mom just passed away in March and she’s down there, and we want her back,” Paula Peltonovich said to WMUR9. “Who could do something like that? What kind of person? No respect at all for the family,” Peltonovich, the victim’s daughter, added. “They need to pay.”Jeremy Lee Pauley, 41, of Enola, Penn., who a federal “information” complaint alleges purchased all kinds of body parts from a woman who worked for a crematorium contracted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and also tanned human skin sent to him by a Massachusetts woman named Katrina MacLean, signed the plea agreement on ...

Ray Lewis III, son of ex-Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, dead at 28

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

Ray Lewis III, the son of ex-Baltimore Ravens star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, has died at the age of 28.Details surrounding his death have yet to be released, according to TMZ.In an Instagram Story on Thursday, younger brother Rashaan Lewis memorialized his brother.“Really can’t believe I’m even typing this but RIP big brother,” he wrote over a picture of Lewis III. “A true angel, I pray [you’re] at peace now because [I know] how much you was [really] hurtin. I don’t and won’t ever have the words.”Lewis III was born on Aug. 26, 1995 and became a high school running back prospect at Lake Mary Prep, an esteemed private school in Seminole County, Fla. He also played for Miami University, Coastal Carolina and Virginia Union at the college level. In June 2017, he was cleared of a sexual assault charge after being indicted in South Carolina the year prior.Lewis, 48, starred at the University of Miami before being drafted...

Should the Red Sox be sellers at the trade deadline?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

Buy or sell?It’s the question every Major League Baseball team faces each summer. As the season progresses and chances of going to the playoffs improve or evaporate, each team is faced with a choice: go all in, or accept fate and focus on the future.Last summer, the Red Sox decided to do both. Despite looking like a team that should and would sell, they did the Hokey Pokey, one foot in, one foot out. A 53-52, last-place team, they traded away Christian Vázquez and Jake Diekman, but also acquired Eric Hosmer and Tommy Pham.By season’s end, the result was about the same as the deadline decisions: confusing, disappointing and costly.In hindsight, and even at the time, it was surprising that soon-to-be free agents Nathan Eovaldi and J.D. Martinez outlasted the deadline. Keeping them for the remainder of a season that was going nowhere not only ensured that the Red Sox would end up paying the luxury tax for a last-place finish, but that they’d be left with nothing when Martinez and...

DeAndre Hopkins reportedly leaves ‘productive’ Patriots visit without a deal, could still sign

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

Free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins left his Patriots visit Thursday without a deal, according to reports, though his time with coaches and players was “productive,” per The Athletic.Both sides are expected to evaluate their options over the near future, according to ESPN, which adds Hopkins “has not been in a rush” to sign with a new team. Thursday’s visit was Hopkins’ second after he traveled Monday to Tennessee. The three-time All-Pro has no other known visits and could opt to sign closer to training camp in late July.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick cancels final Patriots minicamp practice for team outing New England Patriots | Defense dominates, Bailey Zappe sees reps increase and more Patriots Day 2 minicamp takeaways New England Patriots | Bill Belichick raves about improvement from Patriots S Jabrill Peppers: ‘Oh my god’ New England Patriots | ...

SDPD officer on motorcycle hit by vehicle in Pacific Beach

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego Police Department officer riding a motorcycle was struck by a vehicle Thursday in the Pacific Beach area, authorities said.The crash occurred at Garnet Avenue and Kendall Street, the SDPD watch commander confirmed with FOX 5 at 3:45 p.m. Bartender fighting for life after hit-and-run while walking to work According to police, the officer was on his motorcycle when he was hit from behind by the vehicle.The officer was conscious and breathing, but taken to a hospital, law enforcement said.The driver of the car that hit the officer remained on scene, per authorities.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Donald Trump scores rare legal win as DA drops golf course tax probe

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Make that one less legal headache for Donald Trump.A suburban New York prosecutor said Thursday that she has closed a multiyear investigation that focused in part on whether the twice-indicted former president or his company misled authorities to reduce taxes on properties they own.Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said in a statement that she reached the decision after an investigation that was conducted “objectively, and independent of politics, party affiliation and personal or political beliefs.”No charges were filed against Trump or his company, the Trump Organization.Rocah, a Democrat, started investigating Trump in 2021, seeking to determine if he or the Trump Organization provided officials with misleading valuations in an effort to shrink the tax bill on his Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, about 29 miles (46 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan. As part of the investigation, Rocah’s office subpoenaed records from the golf ...

Oregon GOP senators end 6-week walkout after new agreements on abortion, gun bills

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Ending a walkout that held up key bills for six weeks, Republicans showed up for work in the Oregon Senate on Thursday after wresting concessions from Democrats on measures covering abortion, transgender health care and gun rights.The lawmakers’ walkout — the longest in state history and the second-longest in the United States — came as several statehouses around the nation have been ideological battlegrounds, including in Montana and Tennessee.The Republican boycott, which prevented the state Senate from reaching a two-thirds quorum needed to pass bills, was prompted by a sweeping measure on abortion and gender-affirming care that Republicans called too extreme. The measure would allow doctors to provide abortions regardless of a patient’s age, with medical providers not required to notify the parents of a minor in certain cases.As part of the deal to end the walkout, Democrats agreed to change language concerning parental notifications for abortion.Under t...

Arizona death row inmate released after 29 years behind bars

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:32:03 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona death row inmate whose convictions and death sentence in the 1994 death of a 4-year-old were thrown out was released from prison Thursday.Barry Lee Jones had spent 29 years behind bars for murder, child abuse and sexual assault convictions in the death of his girlfriend’s daughter. A Pima County judge ordered the release of Jones after approving a deal between his defense team and prosecutors, who said a medical re-examination of the case didn’t support a finding that Jones caused the girl’s injury. Jones pleaded guilty to a lesser murder charge. In early May 1994, Jones drove the child and her mother to a Tucson hospital, where the child was pronounced dead upon arrival. Her death was determined to have been caused by a small bowel laceration due to “blunt abdominal trauma.”Authorities had previously alleged that Jones had beaten and sexually assaulted the girl. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which agreed that Jones’ first-degree murder conviction ...