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Mike Johnson elected House speaker with broad GOP support

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans eagerly elected Rep. Mike Johnson as House speaker Wednesday, elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the seat of U.S. power and ending for now the political chaos in their majority.Johnson of Louisiana swept on the first ballot with support from all Republicans anxious to put the past weeks of tumult behind and get on with the business of governing.A lower-ranked member of the House GOP leadership team, Johnson emerged as the fourth Republican nominee in what has become an almost absurd cycle of political infighting since Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as GOP factions jockey for power. While not the party’s top choice for the gavel, the deeply religious and even-keeled Johnson has few foes and an important GOP backer: Donald Trump.“I think he’s gonna be a fantastic speaker,” Trump said Wednesday at the New York courthouse where the former president, who is now the Republican front-runner for president in 2024, is on trial over a...

Woman who burned herself on Dunkin’ coffee settles for $3 million

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

New York (CNN) — A Dunkin’ franchisee is paying a woman $3 million to settle a lawsuit involving hot coffee falling on her lap that she alleges caused severe burns and life-altering injuries, according to her lawyers.The unnamed woman claimed the incident, which happened in February 2021 at an Atlanta-area location, occurred because the cup’s lid was not secured.According to the woman’s attorney, the lid came off the cup after she was given the drink and the hot coffee spilled on her lap causing second- and third-degree burns to her thighs, groin and abdomen. She also required “extensive” skin grafts, a statement said. The injury resulted in her spending weeks at a burn unit in a Georgia hospital, costing her $200,000 in medical bills.“America may run on Dunkin’, but our client had to re-learn how to walk due to the severity of her burns,” said Morgan & Morgan attorney Benjamin Welch in a statement. “We alleged that the spill never would have happened had the drive-thru employee...

Medford man wins $1 million prize after house cleaner finds instant ticket in vase

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

A man from Medford was the winner of a $1 million prize, thanks to a discovery by his house cleaner.Khalil Soussa won big via the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “15,000,000 Money Maker” instant ticket game, according to officials.Soussa told the state lottery that he bought the winning ticket months ago, but only came across it again thanks to his house cleaner, who found it in a vase and brought it to his attention.According to lottery officials, Soussa opted for the prize’s cash option and received a payment of $650,000 (before taxes).Tony’s Convenience on Salem Street in Medford will also receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket.According to the Massachusetts State Lottery’s website, the odds of winning the 15,000,000 Money Maker’s $1 million prize are 1 in 2,268,000.

At least 30 US military personnel suffered minor injuries in recent drone attacks, officials say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

(CNN) — At least 30 US military personnel sustained minor injuries from drone and rocket attacks on coalition military bases in Iraq and Syria on October 18, defense officials told CNN on Wednesday.One of the officials said that four personnel sustained minor injuries from an attack on al-Asad airbase in Iraq on October 18, and an additional 20 personnel suffered minor injuries from an attack that same day on the US garrison in al-Tanf, Syria. It is not clear where the other injuries occurred. CNN previously reported that were some minor injuries in the incidents but not how many.The officials said that all of the personnel have since returned to duty, but that several continue to be monitored for any additional side effects or injuries. The number of injured has risen as more US troops have reported symptoms in the days following the attacks. The officials declined to elaborate on the nature of the injuries, but some injuries like traumatic brain injury can take seve...

White House releasing $3.7B in home heating aid. See if you’re eligible

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

By Niels Lesniewski, CQ-Roll CallWASHINGTON — The White House on Tuesday announced the release of roughly $3.7 billion in funding to help lower-income households afford their home heating costs.The funding, according to a senior administration official, represents 90% of the allocated funding for the program known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for fiscal 2024, with the balance being held back in case there is a budgetary adjustment in the final full-year appropriation for the program, which is run by the Department of Health and Human Services.“We’ve got news because the president worked so hard to get a bipartisan infrastructure law passed,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said on a call with reporters. “We know that in the next several weeks — we’re beginning to figure out how people need to be able to stay warm.”Six million families were reliant on LIHEAP for heating or cooling last year, the secretary said. The funding largely comes from regular appropriations th...

Trump’s remark outside court draws judge’s notice as Cohen returns to the stand in the fraud trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

By JENNIFER PELTZ and JAKE OFFENHARTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen returned to the witness stand Wednesday in his ex-boss Donald Trump’s civil business fraud trial as the former president’s defense team tried to undermine the credibility and question the motives of his onetime personal attorney turned adversary.Outside the courtroom, Trump’s commentary led the judge to weigh whether Trump had violated a limited gag order imposed earlier in the case.With Trump at the defense table, his lawyer Alina Habba confronted Cohen with comments he had made praising Trump, before turning on him when Cohen’s legal problems started in 2018.Habba tried to suggest that Cohen had angled unsuccessfully for a job in Trump’s White House — Cohen insisted he never sought one — and asked whether he had “significant animosity” toward Trump.“Do I have animosity toward him? Yes I do,” Cohen replied.“You have made a career out of publicly attacking President Tr...

Patriots receive encouraging news at Wednesday practice before Dolphins game

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots returned pass rusher Josh Uche to the practice field Wednesday after he missed every practice last week and Sunday’s win over the Bills.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Mac Jones discloses ‘word of the week’ for Patriots after big win over Bills New England Patriots | Bill Belichick divulges Patriots’ future plans for Malik Cunningham New England Patriots | How Patriots could fill open spot on 53-man roster created by Malik Cunningham cut New England Patriots | Patriots and Revs join to help kids kick cancer New England Patriots | Patriots release backup QB, DL Trey Flowers on Tuesday Uche (knee) had appeared in every game before sitting out last weekend. He has two sacks, six tackles and three QB hits on the season.Rookie defensive lineman Keion White was the only player missing at Wednesday’s practice. White continues to recover from a co...

Craig Breslow leaves Chicago Cubs front office to be the Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

It was only a matter of time before another organization hired Chicago Cubs executive Craig Breslow for a top front-office position.The Boston Red Sox have tabbed Breslow, 43, to become their new president of baseball operations, according to multiple reports in Boston. Breslow replaces Chaim Bloom, whom the Red Sox fired last month.The Cubs hired Breslow in January 2019 as director of strategic initiatives for baseball operations, and he worked his way up to assistant general manager and vice president of pitching as a trusted voice in president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer’s inner circle.Under Breslow’s oversight of adjustments to the pitching infrastructure, the Cubs saw gains in velocity and homegrown arms during his five seasons in the organization.The Cubs’ struggles to develop homegrown arms contributed to their inability to build off their 2016 World Series title. This season represented another important step forward on that front.Left-hander Justin St...

MGM Springfield hit with $6.8M wage, tip violation settlement

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

More than 2,000 workers impacted by wage and hour violations at MGM Springfield will be compensated for the casino’s wrongdoings that included failing to pay overtime, among others, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.AG Andrea Campbell announced Wednesday that her office has reached a $6.8 million settlement with MGM Springfield in the form of restitution and penalties for wage and hour violations.Investigators found, following a multi-year investigation, MGM Springfield failed to pay minimum wage to tipped employees, pay overtime wages, make timely payments of wages and provide paid earned sick time.Casino management is also at fault for unlawful tip retention, officials say.“We take our compliance obligations seriously and have made proactive updates since 2019 to address this issue,” Dara Cohen, director of regional corporate communications for MGM Resorts International, said in an email to the Herald. “We will continue to invest in training and regular ...

Questions you aren’t asking (but should) during open enrollment

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

By Kate Ashford | NerdWalletOpen enrollment is no one’s idea of a good time, but health coverage is a crucial part of your financial health. Whether you’re getting insurance through an employer or the Affordable Care Act marketplace, it’s important to ask the right questions before you choose a health plan for 2024.“Open enrollment is a great time to do a personal health audit,” says certified public accountant Charlene Rhinehart, a personal finance editor at drug savings site GoodRx. “Understanding your current and anticipated health care needs will help you decide which plan is the best fit.”Here’s how to weigh your options.Are your doctors in network?Plan networks change from year to year. If you love your doctor or specialist, make sure they’re still in the network of the plan you’re considering for 2024.You should also consider whether you want the option to go out of the network — which you can usually do in a preferred provider organization, or PPO, plan, although it will cos...