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Biden admin proposes strict limits on forever chemicals in nation’s water supply

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

Faced with congressional inaction on the matter, the president has instructed the EPA to issue limits on the amount of so-called forever chemicals which can be measured in the nation’s drinking water.“Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first-ever national standard to address PFAS contamination in drinking water. EPA will require public water systems to monitor for six PFAS chemicals, notify the public if the levels of these PFAS exceed the proposed regulatory standards, and take action to reduce the level of PFAS in the water supply,” the White House announced Tuesday.The Biden-Harris Administration, through the EPA, is proposing a drinking water limit for two common PFAS chemicals, otherwise known as per- and polyfluorinated substances, according to the White House.According to the proposed rules, levels of PFOA and PFOS — perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid — in water will need to measure under four parts per trillion.“EPA’s proposal ...

Jaylen Brown: Celtics’ defense ‘has to catch up’ as inconsistent play piles up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

One sequence early in the second half of Monday’s loss to the Rockets was telling about the Celtics’ lack of focus and defensive intensity that’s plagued them lately.With the C’s trailing by eight, Marcus Smart fired up a corner 3-pointer that missed. But as the Rockets went the other way, the point guard was slow to get back. Smart, for some reason, was trailing behind Kenyon Martin Jr. when Kevin Porter Jr. hit his teammate with a bounce pass on the run. Martin Jr. had a clear lane in front of him, and Jayson Tatum and Derrick White were too late to help as the young Rockets forward soared for a powerful one-handed dunk.Joe Mazzulla saw enough, and called timeout as the Celtics fell behind by 10 against the doormat of the Western Conference.At this time last season, the Celtics’ defense was blooming as the best unit in the league and ultimately fueled them to an NBA Finals run. But they haven’t come close to replicating that success now. While the Celtics’ defense still ranks as t...

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson rebuts ESPN contract report with cryptic Twitter response

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

Lamar Jackson broke his silence on his contract negotiations with the Ravens on Tuesday. As is often the case when it comes to Baltimore’s quarterback, though, what he actually said was cryptic.The 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player seemed to dispute an ESPN report by NFL insider Adam Schefter that he turned down a $200 million guaranteed deal from the Ravens in September, tweeting an animated gif in response.Then Jackson, who is representing himself in contract negotiations, added another response: “133/3 years fully guaranteed but I need a agent?”For good measure, he added, “People throw [poop emoji] at the wall and hope it stick.”What’s not clear is whether the reported three-year, $133 million offer was its own deal or part of a larger offer from the Ravens. Later on Tuesday, Schefter responded to Jackson’s tweet, clarifying the parameters of the supposed deal.That deal, which was reported in September, included $133 million guaranteed at sig...

Double shooting in Brockton leaves 14-year-old boy dead and his mom injured

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

A Brockton man is being held without bail after allegedly killing his 14-year-old son and wounding his 39-year-old girlfriend in a double shooting at their city condo early Tuesday morning, according to authorities.Justelino Resende, 38, pleaded not guilty to one count each of murder and possession of a firearm and two counts of assault with attempt to murder during an arraignment in Brockton District Court.The teenager, who authorities identified as Nehemiah Cepeda, died from apparent gunshot wounds after being taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, roughly 4 miles away from the scene of the shooting on Tribou Street.Cepeda’s mother, Felicia Cepeda Williams, was taken to Boston Medical Center where she remained in care as of 4:30 p.m., according to the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office.Nehemiah Cepeda was a ninth-grade student at Brockton Therapeutic Day School, city public schools Superintendent Mike Thomas said in a statement. Cepeda’s classmates received social-emotional support fr...

Barney Frank tells Herald you won’t see a crash …

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

A defiant Barney Frank told the Herald anyone fearing a repeat of past Wall Street crashes should hold onto their stocks and bonds.“We will not see a crash,” the former Bay State congressman said Tuesday, adding you can credit his eponymous banking bill.But when pushed about the Dodd-Frank act he reportedly tried to soften as a board member of now-collapsed Signature Bank, he blamed the press. When asked about crossing over to the other side to be a financial player, he said he’s “too old for that. I want to take it easy. I need to go now,” he added.He returned the Herald’s call but remained as elusive as he was prone to be when he was in Congress.Frank — who has earned more than $2.4 million in compensation from Signature Bank since 2015, according to the Wall Street Journal — said Signature Bank will sell after the FDIC puts it up for bid.Signature Bank was seized by the government Sunday after regulators lost faith in management and depositors ...

Jets signing former Packers receiver Allen Lazard, could target other Green Bay free agents: sources

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

As the world continues to wait on word from Aaron Rodgers, the Jets added one of his friends to the roster.The Jets have agreed on a four-year, $44 million deal with former Packers receivers Allen Lazard, according to sources. Jordan Schultz of The Score was the first to report Lazard’s contract terms with the Jets.Lazard’s contract will be official at the start of the new league year, Wednesday at 4 p.m.Lazard originally signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State in 2018. But the Packers signed him off the Jaguars’ practice squad that same year as he spent five seasons in Green Bay.In his final season for the Packers, Lazard recorded 60 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per catch.ESPN is reporting the Jets are also targeting wide receiver Randall Cobb, who is one of Rodgers’ best friends and has played 10 seasons in Green Bay with the veteran quarterback along with Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis. Co...

Virginia deputies charged in man’s death at mental hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Seven Virginia sheriff’s office employees have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man at a state mental hospital last week, a local prosecutor said Tuesday. Henrico County Sheriff’s Office personnel took the victim, Irvo Otieno, to Central State Hospital on March 6 to admit him as a patient, according to the prosecutor, Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill. Otieno, who was physically restrained, died during the intake process, Baskervill said in a statement. “Mr. Otieno’s family was notified by my office this morning of these charges and I will continue to work with and for his family in relation to pursuing this case to its fullest extent,” Baskervill said. Baskervill’s statement did not state a cause of death but said Otieno’s body had been taken to a medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. Otieno’s family has previously raised concerns about his t...

New atmospheric river brings rain, wind to soggy California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — The latest powerful atmospheric river to drench California put nearly 27,000 people under evacuation orders Tuesday due to flooding and landslide risks. On the central coast, workers hauled truckloads of rocks to plug a broken river levee amid steady rain and wind.Forecasters warned of potentially damaging winds with gusts up to 70 mph (113 kph), and there were numerous reports of falling trees. Power outages hit more than 330,000 utility customers in northern and central areas, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.Crews raced to stabilize the Pajaro River’s ruptured levee Tuesday, placing rocks and boulders to finish filling the gap that opened late Friday, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of San Francisco. Workers will then raise that portion’s elevation to match the rest of the levee over the next few weeks to make it impermeable, officials said.Tuesday’s storm initially spread light to moderate rain over t...

17 wild horses shot dead near Kamloops, B.C., in ‘disheartening’ act: RCMP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Authorities in British Columbia are investigating after 17 wild horses were shot in what Mounties are calling a “disheartening act.”The RCMP say in a news release that Tk’emlups Rural RCMP received a report of several dead horses found about 65 kilometres west of Kamloops, near Walhachin, B.C., on Friday.Police say the RCMP’s Forensic Identification Section carefully examined the scene, along with a veterinarian and a livestock investigator.They say the animals appear to have been from a herd of feral horses that frequent that area.RCMP say the motive has not yet been confirmed and the investigation is ongoing. They say the horses are of cultural significance to the local Skeetchestn Band and are asking anyone with information to come forward.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2023.The Canadian Press

Province announces new energy ‘framework’ on heels of LNG facility approval

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:23 GMT

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government says it’s rolling out a new framework for approving oil and gas projects that will ensure the province meets its emissions targets in the coming decades. Premier David Eby says the new framework will require new liquefied natural gas facilities to have a “credible plan” for net-zero emissions by 2030, and there will be an emissions cap on the industry. Eby says his government will also establish a major projects and clean energy office to fast-track proposals that use clean technologies and create jobs. The government will also launch a task force within BC Hydro to speed-up the electrification of the provincial economy with a focus on renewable energy. Environment Minister George Heyman says the new framework ensures industry is under “strong” emissions reduction requirements, while allowing it to seize upon opportunities to use emerging clean energy technologies. A government statement says the new framework...