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US sues Rite Aid for missing opioid red flags

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

(CNN) — The Justice Department on Monday filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid for allegedly violating the Controlled Substances Act, alleging that the company “knowingly filled unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances.”In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice is “using every tool at our disposal” to hold Rite Aid accountable for contributing to the opioid epidemic.Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said “Rite Aid’s pharmacists repeatedly filled prescriptions for controlled substances with obvious red flags, and Rite Aid intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers. These practices opened the floodgates for millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of Rite Aid’s stores.”In the complaint, The Justice department alleges that from May 2014 to June 2019, Rite Aid filled thousands of unlawful combinations of prescriptions known as ...

Rain, wind hit Boston as city prepares for afternoon snow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Rain and wind have arrived in Boston Tuesday morning as the city prepares for a change to snow in the afternoon. The daylong nor’easter arrived in Massachusetts overnight as snow gradually began to replace rain in many areas Tuesday morning. While some areas in Western Massachusetts and northern Worcester County are already seeing nearly a foot of snow, the rain is continuing in Boston as of 8 a.m., making for a wet morning commute east of I-495.Snow is expected to reach Boston by late morning or early afternoon. Almost all of Massachusetts is expected to be seeing some form of snow before 6 p.m. Tuesday.https://twitter.com/clamberton7/status/1635585686177828865Many other areas north of the Mass Pike and west of I-495 could see six to 12 inches, while much of the state inside I-495 and south of the Mass Pike may see three to six inches. For more information and the latest forecast, check out the 7WEATHER Blog and more here.

Rep Questions Math Behind MassReconnects Program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

A program to cover community college certificates and degrees for residents over 25 with state dollars was one of Gov. Maura Healey’s early promises, but lawmakers on Monday questioned whether the $20 million allocated in her budget proposal is enough to fulfill her commitment.Healey introduced MassReconnect, a program that will “offer students last-dollar financial support to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies as well as provide funding for career and wraparound support services to encourage retention and degree-completion” on the campaign trail as a way to boost opportunities for individuals while addressing the state’s labor shortage. She allocated $20 million for it in her fiscal year 2024 budget.In promoting the program, her administration said there were nearly 696,000 state residents with some community college but no degree as of July 2020.“There are 700,000 residents who have earned some college credit,...

Over 1,000 Eversource crews prepare to respond to power outages during nor’easter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Over 1,000 Eversource crews are preparing to respond to power outages during Tuesday’s nor’easter, according to Eversource spokesperson Chris McKinnon.The daylong storm that began Monday night could drop up to 18 inches of snow in parts of western Massachusetts and northern Worcester County. While snow totals will likely be lower in parts of eastern Massachusetts, wind gusts could reach up to 65 miles per hour. About 32,000 power outages are being reported across the state as of 8 a.m. Eversource says most of these outages are happening in Western Massachusetts as heavy, wet snow accumulates. “We do have crews prepositioned across the state right now,” McKinnon said. “Our focus is watching those Western Massachusetts numbers and we are working to restore outages as quickly and safely as possible.” McKinnon says Eversource hasn’t seen the winds kick up yet in Eastern Massachusetts, and that’s what their next concern is going to be as th...

US inflation eases but stays high, putting Fed in tough spot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER (AP Economics Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer price increases eased slightly from January to February but still pointed to an elevated inflation rate that is posing a challenge for the Federal Reserve at a delicate moment for the financial system.The government said Tuesday that prices increased 0.4% last month, just below January’s 0.5% rise. Yet excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core prices rose 0.5% in February, slightly above January’s 0.4% gain. The Fed pays particular attention to the core measure as a gauge of underlying inflation pressures.Even though prices are rising much faster than the Fed wants, some economists expect the central bank to suspend its year-long streak of interest rate hikes when it meets next week. With the collapse of two large banks since Friday fueling anxiety about other regional banks, the Fed, for now, may focus more on boosting confidence in the financial system than on its long-term drive to tame inf...

Toronto man accused of sexually assaulting woman during meetings at human rights organization

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Police say a 64-year-old man is facing a slew of charges after a woman was sexually assaulted numerous times at the Canadian Human Rights International Organization in Toronto.Toronto police allege the suspect sexually assaulted the woman between Feb. 25 and March 1 during meetings at the organization, which is located on Finch Avenue West near Keele Street in North York.Jose Mario Guilombo, of Toronto, was arrested on March 9 and charged with five counts of sexual assault and two counts of forcible confinement.Investigators have released his photo because they suspect there may be other victims. Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.

Pakistan police, ex-PM Khan supporters scuffle near his home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police on Tuesday scuffled with supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan outside his home in the eastern city of Lahore as officers arrived to serve a warrant for the 71-year-old opposition leader to appear in court later this week on graft charges. Police fired tear gas at the house as Khan’s supporters hurled rocks and bricks at the officers. About a dozen police and some 35 of Khan’s supporters were reported injured. Tear gas shells and pieces of bricks littered the pavement as Khan’s followers fought back with batons snatched from the officers. Khan has been ordered to appear before a judge in Islamabad on Friday to answer charges of illegally selling state gifts he had received during his term as premier and concealing assets.Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament last April, has claimed that the string of cases against him, which include terrorism charges, are a plot by the government of his successor, Prim...

Greek archaeologists protest holiday island assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — State-employed archaeologists in Greece launched strike action Tuesday to protest an assault on an archaeologist on the island of Mykonos, an attack they say may have been linked to commercial pressure to extend tourism development.Archaeologist Manolis Psarros was beaten by two unidentified men on the island last week and was left unconscious and bleeding in the street. The 53-year-old was later transported to a state hospital in Athens.Archaeologists employed by the Culture Ministry staged a five-hour work stoppage to protest what their association described as a “mafia-style attack.” They were joined by ministry employees in Athens as well as the national Association of Archaeological Conservators. Planning permission in Greece is often subject to a veto by the local archaeological service, which is tasked with protecting the country’s ancient heritage.One of Greece’s best known holiday destinations, Mykonos was settled in ancient times and hosts an archaeol...

Dorel reports growing losses amid reduced orders from retailers, price discounting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

MONTREAL — Dorel Industries Inc. reported its net loss from continuing operations grew in the fourth quarter amid lower U.S. sales in its children’s products and home furnishings divisions.The Montreal-based company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says it lost US$41.4 million or US$1.27 per diluted share in the quarter, compared with a loss of US$29.6 million or 91 cents per diluted share a year ago. Its adjusted loss for the three months ended Dec. 30 amounted to US$39.8 million or US$1.22 per diluted share, compared with US$12.0 million or 37 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2022.Revenue slipped to US$340.3 million, down 21.8 per cent from US$435.3 million a year ago.Dorel CEO Martin Schwartz says the company’s fourth quarter performance is disappointing and reflects a drop in Dorel Home sales volumes as retailers reduced ordering. In addition, he says excess inventory across the industry means the company is discounting prices to move higher co...

Oprah reflects upon book club as she announces 100th pick

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For her 100th book club pick, Oprah Winfrey relied on the same instincts she has drawn upon from the start: Does the story move her? Does she think about it for days after? In a work of fiction, do the characters seem real to her?“When I don’t move on, that’s always a sign to me there’s something powerful and moving,” Winfrey told The Associated Press in a recent telephone interview. On Tuesday, she announced that she had chosen Ann Napolitano’s “Hello Beautiful,” a modern-day homage to “Little Women” from the author of the bestselling “Dear Edward.” The novel was published Tuesday by Dial Press, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Winfrey believes its themes of family, resilience and perspective give “Hello Beautiful” a “universal appeal” that makes it a proper milestone.A Winfrey pick no longer ensures blockbuster sales, but it retains a special status within the industry; for authors, a call from Winfrey still feels like being told they’ve won an Oscar...