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Zelenskyy’s corruption crackdown plan raises cover-up fears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s move to equate wartime corruption with treason is triggering a backlash from officials and watchdogs, who warn the plan could hobble Ukraine’s main anti-graft forces. Two senior officials following the proposal, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly, say concerns are growing within Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies that Zelenskyy’s plan will take top corruption cases away from their oversight and pass them to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which falls under the president’s command. The SBU could, potentially, have the power to bury corruption cases involving top officials. The move, the officials say, could put Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure under threat, and anti-corruption watchdogs are sounding the alarm. By equating corruption to treason, Zelenskyy’s office is manipulating the public’s desire for justice, said Vitaly Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (Antac), a Ukrainian nongovernm...

Arrest made in Marlboro hit-and-run crash that left 12-year-old victim needing intensive care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

MARLBOROUGH, MASS. (WHDH) – A 12-year-old boy needed hours of surgery and remains in serious condition after a hit-and-run crash in Marlborough over the weekend, according to the victim’s family.Dominic Matos was running an errand Sunday morning when authorities say he was struck along Route 20 by a driver who then fled the scene.By Monday, the Marlborough Police Department said a person connected to the crash had been taken into custody and that a vehicle was seized by authorities. As an investigation into the hit-and-run crash continues, a family member of the victim told 7NEWS that Matos is currently recovering from numerous, serious injuries, including brain bleeding, a blood clot and cranial pressure.The 12 year old’s aunt said he has so far spent four hours in surgery as he continues to recover at UMass Memorial Medical Center.“Dominic, being the older brother, was just going across the street to get a gallon of milk,” said Victoria Quinan. “...

Tufts University RA’s prepare to go on strike on move-in day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

Move-in day at Tufts University this year could look different Tuesday as the university’s unionized resident assistants prepare to go on strike. Resident assistants previously voted last week to authorize the strike. As students prepare to move in on Tuesday, and with the possible strike nearing, resident assistants and their fellow students spoke to 7NEWS about the situation. “I think it would cause a lot of problems,” said Tufts student Ben Kraft. “That’s kind of the worst time.”“Our main objective has been to get economic compensation for the work we do,” said Tufts resident assistant Andrew Menjin. Menjin told 7NEWS Tufts RAs formed a union last year and have been negotiating with the school about getting compensated for their work in the form of a stipend. “Seventy percent of the RAs are on financial aid,” Menjin said. “The majority of RAs are people of color. Our time is valuable. It’s not just worth what the school says our time is worth.Menjin says, curr...

Officials hope new sign at Storrow Drive entrance will help prevent ‘Storrowing’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

With college students set to return to campuses across the Boston area this week, officials are hoping a new sign on Storrow Drive will help alert drivers of low clearance bridges and prevent future problems along the popular route. The “cars only” sign went up on Monday at the entrance to Storrow Drive on David G. Mugar Way. It has a piece of rubber that hangs from the bottom and could be the first of many similar signs in the area as officials continue to tackle the issue of vehicles hitting low bridges.“You have to be aware of the vehicle you’re driving,” said state Department of Conservation and Recreation Deputy Chief Engineer Jeff Parenti. “As soon as you get in the driver’s seat of that truck, make sure you understand the height of the vehicle.” Parenti said officials are starting a pilot program for “cars only” signs aimed at keeping overheight trucks off the parkways along the Charles River. “We are hoping the new signs will get the attention of truck drivers more...

Two killed in rescue helicopter crash into a Florida apartment complex

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A medical rescue helicopter caught fire and broke apart shortly after takeoff Monday before crashing into an apartment complex near Fort Lauderdale, killing a paramedic captain on board and a resident on the ground, authorities said.Two others on board and two other people at the apartment complex were injured.Broward County Fire-Rescue Capt. Terryson Jackson, 49, and a woman died when the Broward Sheriff’s Office helicopter crashed through the complex’s roof after taking off from Pompano Beach Airpark at about 8:45 a.m., Sheriff Gregory Tony said. He said the four injured were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive.Jackson was a 19-year veteran of the department.“Terryson was a rock star, he was one of the best of us,” said Tony, who also oversees the county’s fire department. “He bled this profession inside and out all day long.”The injured firefighters are pilot Daron Roche, 37, and Mike Chaguaceda, 31.T...

Britney Spears hires staff to watch health at home, report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

Britney Spears has reportedly hired two new people to work at her Los Angeles-area home, including one person with a medical training background.The primary job of the employee with medical experience will be to make sure the 41-year-old mother of two stays healthy and doesn’t skip on her medicines, sources familiar with the situation told TMZ.News of the recent hirings comes just weeks after Hesam “Sam” Asghari, Spears’ husband of 14 months, filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences.”“As everyone knows, Hesam and I are no longer together,” the multi-Grammy-winning artist shared on Instagram late last week, breaking her silence on the split.Spears admitted she “was a little shocked,” but added she was not going to explain the situation on the social media platform because it was “honestly nobody’s business!!! But, I couldn’t take the pain anymore honestly!!!”Earlier this week, sources told the entertainment outlet that Spears’ lawyer Mathew Rosengart and her manager Cade ...

Martin Luther King’s ‘Dream’: Letting freedom ring from Stone Mountain, 60 years later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

Nneka M. Okona | for the Chicago TribuneI was born in Atlanta during the evening hours on a Friday in late May. Days later, my parents brought me home, home to Stone Mountain. Since then, I’ve begrudgingly called this Atlanta suburb, born of red clay and granite, mine.From my hometown, the 825-foot-tall quartz monadnock for which our city is named looms in the distance, visible from most anywhere. Its presence follows us as we run errands, lounge in outdoor spaces, or take out the trash in the evenings.Others have staked their own claim on Stone Mountain. Before roads were built, Indigenous people hiked to the summit, bowing to the sunrise in the mornings and the sunsets as evening called.This rock meant something else before the reborn Ku Klux Klan set a cross ablaze on the summit in 1915 the night of Thanksgiving, reigniting its agenda to sow seeds of violence, destruction, bigotry and discord. It became a sacred place to many Klansmen, who owned the land and as recently as 2017 p...

Lockdown ended after apparent shooting at University of North Carolina’s flagship campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM (Associated Press)An apparent shooting at the University of North Carolina’s flagship campus Monday led students and faculty to barricade themselves in dorm rooms, offices and classrooms for hours until the lockdown was lifted.About three hours after warning students to seek shelter indoors and avoid windows Monday, the school posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “All clear. All clear. Resume normal activities.”The school didn’t say whether anyone had been shot or arrested, and it didn’t immediately respond to an email requesting further information.Although school officials and local authorities didn’t provide details about the alleged shooting, Gov. Roy Cooper posted on X that he had spoken to the Orange County sheriff and the state’s public safety secretary and “pledged all state resources needed to capture the shooter and protect the UNC campus.”Two police officers move around a building on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill...

Missing woman, 48, last seen in Del Cerro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego police are on the lookout for a 48-year-old woman who has been missing since last week.Chesare Gia Dale was last seen Thursday night in the 5500 block of Del Cerro Boulevard, police said. Dale is considered at-risk because of her medical conditions.Dale is white with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 300 pounds. USPS supervisor slashed outside of post office in North County Dale uses public transportation and is known to visit local beaches.Anyone who sees Dale or knows where she might be is asked to call SDPD's Communications Division at 619-531-2000 and reference Case No. 23-502009.

SeaWorld expands ticket protections for extreme weather conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:08:36 GMT

SAN DIEGO — With San Diego facing a heat wave and Tropical Storm Hilary just in the rearview mirror, SeaWorld on Friday announced new protections to their ticket policy for extreme weather events.The "Weather-or-Not Assurance" will cover a wider range of weather conditions to cover ticket buyers at SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Place in Chula Vista. Get free admission at SeaWorld for the rest of 2023 with new deal According to park officials, if extreme weather impacts guests' experience in the park or flight plans for an upcoming visit, SeaWorld will invite them back at no cost within the next 12 months.The expanded ticket protection program will cover a wide range of weather events including rain, lightning, extreme heat, wind, snow, hail and more, SeaWorld said in a news release.“In introducing Weather-or-Not Assurance, we are proud to note this is the most generous inclement weather policy in the industry,” said Marisa Thalberg, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer ...