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Newton man accused of killing wife pleads not guilty to first-degree murder charge, ordered held without bail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

A man from Newton accused of fatally assaulting his wife with a baseball bat and a barbell will remain held without bail after he pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.Richard Hanson, 64, was back in court on Thursday, a month after he was arrested on July 15 for the death of his wife, Nancy Hanson.He appeared at Middlesex County Superior Court where prosecutors laid out their case, describing how he allegedly beat his wife to death while their three young children were inside their home, in another room.“One of the children relayed seeing his father hitting the victim in the back and head with a baseball bat,” the prosecution said in court. “A second observed the defendant sitting on the bed in the aftermath, holding the bat.”The prosecution reviewed how two 911 calls were made the night of the fatal assault, including one by the Hansons’ oldest son and another from a friend who was on the phone with the victim during the attack.“[Th...

Massachusetts transit sergeant charged with falsifying reports to cover for second officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority police sergeant was arrested Thursday on federal charges alleging he filed false reports to try to obstruct an investigation into another officer’s assault of a man at a subway station.David S. Finnerty, 47, of Rutland, was indicted on two counts of filing false reports, investigators said.Finnerty was the officer in charge and the supervisor of a second officer identified by the initials “D.B.” on July 27, 2018, when that officer illegally assaulted a man, according to the federal indictment.Investigators allege that Finnerty falsified an arrest report, specifically by including false and misleading statements and by omitting other details of the incident.The charge of filing false reports carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.Finnerty’s lawyer, R. Bradford Bailey, said his client pleaded not guilty and was released on minimal ...

Judge rules white man will stand trial for shooting Black teen Ralph Yarl, who went to wrong house

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH (Associated Press)KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge ruled Thursday that the 84-year-old white homeowner who shot a Black teenager after he mistakenly went to the man’s house must stand trial. Clay County Judge Louis Angles issued the ruling after hearing from several witnesses at a preliminary hearing, including Ralph Yarl, the teenager who was shot by Andrew Lester on April 13 when Yarl went to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers. Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He previously pleaded not guilty in the shooting that shocked the country and renewed national debates about gun policies and race in America. His next court date is an arraignment, scheduled for Sept. 20.Lester’s attorney, Steve Salmon, said in closing arguments that Lester was acting in self-defense, terrified by the stranger who knocked on his door as he settled into bed for the night.“...

Police stop Nebraska man for bucking the law with a bull riding shotgun in his car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

By JOSH FUNK (Associated Press)A car driving with a bull in it was pulled over by police in northeast Nebraska’s biggest city. Don’t worry, he didn’t steer.Norfolk Police Capt. Chad Reiman said it didn’t take long for officers to track down the modified Ford Crown Victoria sedan with a bull riding shotgun after a 911 call about it driving on the main highway entering the city of roughly 24,000 Wednesday morning. “We didn’t have a full understanding of it until we saw it,” Reiman said.The car that Lee Meyer has driven in parades across the area for years has half the windshield and roof removed to make room for his bull, named Howdy Doody, to ride along. A yellow metal cattle gate serves as the passenger side door — allowing for the Watusi bull to be tied up — and a set of longhorns serves as a hood ornament.“It wouldn’t go far without being noticed for sure,” Reiman said.A video of the traffic stop shot by News ...

Biden administration proposes rule that would require more firearms dealers to run background checks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is proposing a rule that would require thousands more firearms dealers to run background checks, in an effort to combat rising gun violence nationwide.The proposal comes after a mandate from President Joe Biden to find ways to strengthen background checks following the passage of bipartisan legislation on guns last year.People who sell firearms online or at gun shows would be required to be licensed and run background checks on the buyers before the sales under the rule proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.The bureau estimates that the rule would affect anywhere from 24,500 to 328,000 sellers. It is aimed at those who are in the business of gun sales, rather than those with personal collections.Background checks help prevent guns from being sold to people convicted of crimes, teenagers and others who are legally blocked from owning them, said the agency’s dir...

BC defensive backs John Pupel, Alex Washington set for Northern Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

The Boston College secondary will have the Ivy scent when the Eagles open the season against Northern Illinois on Saturday (noon) at Alumni Stadium.Two transfer portal refugees from the Ivy League, strong safety John Pupel (Dartmouth) and cornerback Alex Washington (Harvard), are listed on the two-deep and expected to start against the Huskies.Pupel was a three-year letterman with the Big Green and recorded 133 career tackles despite missing the 2020 season due to the pandemic. Pupel was a graduate transfer to BC in 2022, but was injured and appeared in only four games with limited special teams’ duties. Pupel brought an urgency to training camp and won a starting position.“He was the biggest surprise of camp,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley. “He was hurt last year, he had some issues and had to really get some good work done and the first time I saw him healthy was this spring.“We liked what we saw on tape when we got him from Dartmouth. He’s smart, tough, he tackles and, in the spring,...

Watch live: Chris Getz to be introduced as new Chicago White Sox general manager

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

The Chicago White Sox will introduce their new senior vice president and general manager on Thursday.Chris Getz was promoted from overseeing the team’s minor-league operations and player development system to the role after the Sox fired executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn on Aug. 22.The press conference is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Guaranteed Rate Field.Watch live below: ()

UMass, Taisun Phommachanh face massive test at Auburn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh showed more than sheer athleticism in the Minutemen’s 41-30 victory at New Mexico State in the season opener last Saturday.The 6-4, 215-pound transfer from Clemson put up phenomenal numbers in his UMass debut, which was also his first collegiate start. Phommachanh completed 10-of-17 passes for 192 yards and was the Minutemen’s leading ball carrier with 96 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown.While his dual threat capabilities helped deliver UMass its most important win in years, it was Phommachanh’s command of the offense, game management and thinking a step ahead of the Aggies’ defense that most impressed UMass second-year head coach Don Brown.“I thought he did a great job of that and I think that is his strength,” said Brown. “Obviously he is very athletic, but he is a very smart football player and we certainly are not going to run plays that he is uncomfortable with or that he is ill prepared for.“But at the same time, we are just very comfor...

Scientists say study found a direct link between greenhouse gas emissions and polar bear survival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

By TAMMY WEBBER (Associated Press)Fifteen years after polar bears were listed as threatened, a new study says researchers have overcome a roadblock in the Endangered Species Act that prevented the federal government from considering climate change when evaluating impacts of projects such as oil and gas drilling.The act requires agencies to ensure projects they approve don’t further harm listed species. But a 2008 Department of Interior legal opinion said greenhouse gas emissions didn’t have to be considered because the impact from specific projects couldn’t be distinguished from that of all historic global emissions. A study published Thursday in Science’s Policy Forum says scientists for the first time are able to directly quantify the impact of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions from specific sources on polar bear cub survival.It “just seems odd” that polar bears were listed because of the loss of sea ice due to global warming “but emis...

A judge has blocked, for now, a Texas law drag show performers fear will shut them down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:58 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a new Texas law that drag show artists fear will be used to shut them down or put them in jail.The law, approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, would expand the legal definition in the Texas criminal code of what is considered to be an illegal public performance of sexual conduct in front of children. It is part of a broader effort in Texas and other conservative states to crack down on drag shows and limit LGBTQ rights.Critics argued that the definition is so broad, it could include the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.U.S. District Judge David Hittner in Houston issued the temporary restraining order after a group of drag performers and LGBTQ+ rights advocates sought to keep the law from taking effect on Sept. 1. They say the law unconstitutionally threatens the “livelihood and free expression of many Texans, including drag performers across our state.” The Texas injunction follows similar rulings against drag pe...