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Belgium’s terror attack blunders tarnish its upcoming EU presidency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

BRUSSELS — Belgium had big plans for its upcoming Council presidency. But its handling of the October 16 shooting spree by Tunisian gunman Abdesalem Lassoued, which left two Swedish football supporters dead, has since led to a series of embarrassing revelations. Lassoued was living residing in the country as an undocumented migrant after Belgian authorities reject his asylum claim in 2020, and was known to law enforcement for “suspicious activities.” His country of origin, Tunisia, had even asked for his extradition — a fact missed by the country’s judicial system. Belgium’s justice minister quit while the country’s interior affairs and asylum and migration ministers had to appear twice before lawmakers to explain why they, too, shouldn’t resign. For Belgium it’s been an awkward lead-up to its Council presidency, having wanted to impress in those very areas where it has now clearly failed: migration and the fight against organized crime. At ...

Worcester State University shooting caught on camera leaves 1 dead, 1 injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

Shocking cellphone video shows the moment shots rang out during an altercation at Worcester State University early Saturday morning, leaving one person dead, another hospitalized, and police searching for the shooter.Officers responding to a reported altercation near the parking garage around 2:30 a.m. found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds, according to state police. They were both taken to nearby UMass Memorial Medial Center, where one was pronounced dead. Their name has not been released.“Neither the victims or the suspected assailants are students of Worcester State University,” the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.University officials are now asking for the public’s help for photos and videos around the locations of Wasylean parking lot and Sheehan Hall. Worcester State’s homecoming and family day weekend are canceled. Officials said that there is no immediate threat to campus.This is a developing story; s...

Driver slams into Starbucks in Wellesley

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

Emergency crews were called to a Starbucks in Wellesley on Saturday after a driver crashed into the cafe.Police, fire, and paramedics were called to the Linden Street coffee shop around 5:30 p.m., according to a post on the Wellesley Police Department’s X page. The occupants of the vehicle were taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution.No patrons or employees were struck by the vehicle.The cause of the crash remains under investigation.https://twitter.com/WellesleyPolice/status/1718386593545785589This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

South Boston residents call on Archdiocese of Boston to preserve Sister Mary Veronica Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

Mike DelNegro has lived around the corner from Sister Mary Veronica Park for seven years, and more days than not, he stops by the shady and peaceful space in South Boston to walk his dog and catch up with neighbors.DelNegro hopes there’s a future where his infant daughter will get to roam around the pocket park, snuggled on West 8th Street, between Grimes and F streets, but whether his aspiration comes to reality is far from certain.The Archdiocese of Boston put the community gathering spot, featuring a statue of Virgin Mary, benches and five mature trees, on the market earlier this month, and neighbors are crossing their fingers that the property is not turned into housing.“If they wanted to turn the pavement into grass, I wouldn’t argue,” DelNegro told the Herald, “but otherwise it’s just nice to have a little spot with trees, open space, and there’s not a lot of other options for that in the area. That’s why we love it so much.”DelNegro joined dozens of his neighbors at the park ...

Patriots add depth with two offensive tackles already inactive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

It didn’t take long for veteran offensive tackle Conor McDermott to get called up from the practice squad.McDermott, who signed back to the Patriots’ practice squad on Oct. 17, was elevated from the practice squad onto the gameday roster Saturday.Additional offensive tackle depth was necessary with Calvin Anderson (illness) and Vederian Lowe (ankle) already ruled inactive. Left tackle Trent Brown (ankle/knee) is also questionable but expected to play. Mike Onwenu started at right tackle last week. Rookie Sidy Sow started at right guard last Sunday but also has experience at tackle.The expected available offensive linemen for tomorrow’s game are Brown, left guard Cole Strange, center David Andrews, Sow, Onwenu, McDermott and rookies Atonio Mafi and Jake Andrews.The Patriots also have offensive linemen Riley Reiff and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. on injured reserve.Outside linebacker Josh Uche (ankle/toe), a trade deadline candidate, was also ruled out Saturday. League source...

Why Oshae Brissett’s impactful Celtics debut is important in big picture of season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

After Oshae Brissett didn’t play in the Celtics’ season opener, Joe Mazzulla was planning on putting in his new forward to start the second quarter of Friday’s home opener.But those plans changed.The Celtics found themselves down 13 to the Heat with five minutes left in the first quarter. They looked flat and slow. Mazzulla assigned Brissett to change that, and he accepted. Two minutes later, his impact was felt. As the C’s were storming back, Jaylen Brown missed the free throw on a three-point play, but Brissett got the offensive board. Moments later, on the same possession, Al Horford missed a 3-pointer, but Brissett flew in again for an offensive rebound, and the ball ultimately found Sam Hauser for a 3-pointer.Just like that, the Celtics had finished a five-point trip to cut their deficit to only three. Brissett’s effort was a game-changer.“He was the sole reason that we got back into the game, and I told him that,” Jayson Tatum said. “He came right in, and we were kind of flat...

Nikki Haley accuses Donald Trump of pursuing ‘chaos, vendettas and drama’ at Jewish Republican event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nikki Haley criticized Donald Trump on Saturday for praising foreign strongmen and warned that his style of “chaos, vendettas and drama” would be dangerous, making her sharpest critiques of the former president as the two GOP presidential candidates and their rivals addressed an influential group of Jewish Republicans.“Eight years ago, it was good to have a leader who broke things,” Haley said of Trump. “But right now, we need to have a leader who also knows how to put things back together.”Haley, a former United Nations ambassador, leaned into her foreign policy experience as she argued for longstanding Republican ideas on foreign policy at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual meeting in Las Vegas. Another GOP foreign policy traditionalist and periodic Trump critic, former Vice President Mike Pence, used his appearance to end his candidacy, the latest sign of the former president’s dominance in the primary.The Republican presidential candidates on S...

Thousands in merchandise stolen from Wicker Park store in latest crash-and-grab burglary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A vintage clothing store in Wicker Park is picking up the pieces after thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise in another crash-and-grab burglary involving a stolen car.It's the latest in a recent string of burglaries involving assailants who crash a vehicle into a storefront to gain entry, and some business owners feel that they can't do anything to prevent it. Chicago man sentenced to 88 years after sexually assaulting woman at Oak Brook hotel At 4:40 a.m. on Saturday morning, surveillance video captured the moment thieves took off with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Only minutes later, surveillance video from Urban Jungle, a vintage clothing store in Wicker Park, captured that same vehicle crashing through the store's glass window.“Pretty quick thing. They were in here for about like four or five minutes, but, like I said, they were able to make off with quite a few handfuls of stuff," Jeff, the co-owner of Urban Jungle, said.According to police, a group of fi...

Edgewater shop owner mulls move in face of homophobic intimidation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

CHICAGO — The owner of a framing shop in Edgewater is considering a move out after experiencing what he calls a history of homophobic intimidation and harassment.After 20 years in the same location, Leif Forre said the trends of intimidation have reached a new low.A video Forre recorded on Oct. 17 showed a man spitting on a store window at Wall to Wall Framing and yelling gay slurs. The man, Forre said, is a part of a group of men who are a constant presence on the nearby corner and in front of the store."I go outside and tell them to not drink, and not throw the garbage and not urinate on the sidewalk in front of my business," Forre said. "They’re angry at me they don’t like me at all I’m not afraid to call the cops, to call 911 on these guys when they’re right in front of my business and intimidating me and intimidating my customers, they hate it."Forre added that because he has a rainbow pride flag in the front window of his business, men from the group usually say gay slurs to h...

Hundreds of women gather to build homes on the Far South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:41 GMT

CHICAGO — With hard hats, hammers and plenty of heart, women came together Saturday to build and make a difference on the City's Far South Side."Just a couple of weeks ago, we were just putting sticks up," said Jen Parks, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Chicago. "[Now] the homes are being closed in and it’s just remarkable to see the work that’s been done."A group of more than 600 women participated in Habitat's annual Women Build Project, where they helped build three houses at a construction site found near the intersection of West 123rd Street and South Union Avenue this weekend."I love volunteering on sites, helping to build homes," said Shahiedah Shabazz, a lawyer and Habitat for Humanity Chicago board member. "I grew up in a house full of architects, I've been around construction and development my entire life." More from Gaynor: Dance teacher moves students in the right direction with confidence Parks said the project aims to raise awareness about homeownership d...