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CCC Ready to Take Input on Rewritten Cannabis Industry Rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

A swath of regulatory changes are coming to Massachusetts’ cannabis industry, including measures to clear the way for people with past criminal records to work in marijuana shops and to allow all cities and towns to eventually host cannabis cafes.In late July, the Cannabis Control Commission unanimously approved draft regulations intended to reflect the cannabis industry reform law former Gov. Charlie Baker signed last summer. The commission has spent the last few months re-writing the regulations that have been in place since legal marijuana sales started in 2018.The changes seek to increase diversity in the field, ramp up oversight on agreements between marijuana businesses and municipalities — a chronic trouble spot for the young industry — and move closer to social pot consumption sites.“We can protect the health and safety of our citizens while reducing … overly cumbersome and costly regulatory burdens, which help more businesses achieve ...

Maui mayor says Lahaina doesn’t resemble the town he knew after the fires. Follow live updates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

By REBECCA BOONE (Associated Press)Follow live updates about wildfires that have devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii, destroying a historic town and forcing evacuations. The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. surveyed the damage in Lahaina on Thursday and said it doesn’t resemble the place he knew growing up.“The closest thing I think I can compare it to is perhaps a war zone, or maybe a bomb went off,” he told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Friday. “It was cars in the street, doors open, melted to the ground. Most structures no longer exist. And from blocks and blocks of this.”Bissen, who grew up in Maui, said he was familiar with what Lahaina looked like since his mother worked at a restaurant there, the Pioneer Inn, for ...

Union accuses Revere’s acting mayor of making threats after mayoral endorsement goes to opponent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

A union representing public works employees in Revere accused Acting Mayor Patrick Keefe of threatening them because the union endorsed an opponent of his in the race to succeed former Mayor Brian Arrigo.The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 93 Local 880 filed a complaint with the state Department of Labor Relations on July 26 that accuses Keefe of making hostile comments toward union members at a July 25 meeting in Revere, according to a copy obtained by the Herald.But Keefe is firing back, saying in a statement provided by a city spokesperson that the report from the union is a “fabricated exaggeration of my frustration” and he does not “have time for petty political arguments.”“(The report) exposes the ugly underbelly of dirty politics and it will be handled professionally through the proper channels and protocols for any complaint of this nature,” Keefe said in the statement.The complaint said Keefe — who became acting mayor in Apr...

1 suspect shot, another at large in University City: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- One suspect was shot and another remains at large following a Friday morning confrontation in University City, police confirmed to FOX 5.Authorities say a call came in reporting a car break in shortly after 3 a.m. at an apartment complex on the 3400 block of Lebon Drive. SDPD releases bodycam video of deadly shooting involving K-9 "Responding officers encountered two suspects who fled on foot. The initial information that we have, which is still under investigation, is that one suspect fired on the officers who then returned fire. So we have an officer involved shooting at the scene," Lt. Adam Sharki with the San Diego Police Department.One suspect was shot and was taken to a local hospital. The extent of this individual's injuries are unknown at this time.Police say the other suspect fled the area on foot. He's described as a Hispanic man in his 20s that stands about 6 feet tall with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a blue mask, black hoodie and grey pants."...

This weekend's Perseid meteor shower will peak at this time in San Diego

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The best meteor shower of the year is expected to peak over San Diego County this weekend, according to NASA.Streaking across the night sky -- once again -- the annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to put on a celestial show Friday, Saturday and Sunday. NASA experts say upwards to 40 Perseids an hour could be seen before dawn during peak hours right before sunrise on Aug. 13. How San Diegans can help those affected by Maui wildfires This increase in activity will come as Earth passes through the dustiest debris of a 16-mile across comet known as Swift-Tuttle. To put that into perspective, the driving distance from downtown San Diego to El Cajon is just over that. This year may prove better luck for sky gazers since the waning crescent moon will allow for better viewing compared to last year's bright full Moon. Those hoping to catch this meteor shower may still want to head away from the bright lights of downtown and the suburbs.For those on the coast, you ma...

Man in Bosnia kills his ex-wife, posting it on Instagram, and 2 more people before taking his life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — A man in Bosnia killed his ex-wife, whose murder he posted live on Instagram, and two other people while on the run before taking his own life on Friday, according to police and media reports. A police statement in the northeastern Bosnian town of Tuzla said that apart from the three killed, three other people were wounded before the killer “committed suicide after being located and before being apprehended.” Prosecutors in Tuzla said that after killing his ex-wife, the man, who was armed with a pistol, shot and killed a man and his son on a street in the nearby town of Gradacac. He also wounded a policeman, another man and a woman at different locations in the northeastern Bosnian town.“I have no words to describe what happened today in Gradacac,” said Nermin Niksic, the Prime Minister of the Bosnian Federation. “The murderer took his own life in the end, but no one can bring back the lives of the victims.”Authorities did not immediately offer an...

Stock market today: Wall Street opens lower after pickup in wholesale inflation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

BEIJING — Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its second losing week in a row. The early weakness Friday came after the government reported a slight increase in inflation in wholesale prices last month, indicating that the Federal Reserve’s work on bringing inflation to heel isn’t done. The S&P 500 was down 0.4% in the first few minutes of trading. The Dow was off 30 points, just less than 0.1%. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.6%. Big tech companies were among the biggest losers in the early going. Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices fell 2.5%. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets declined Friday after U.S. inflation edged higher, fueling unease about the outlook for the biggest global economy.London, Shanghai, Paris and Hong Kong fell. Wall Street futures were mixed. Japanese markets were closed for a holiday. Oil prices edged lower.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index gained less...

Lincoln Center to present 60 performances in fall/winter season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Lincoln Center will present about 60 performances from September through late February, including the U.S. premiere of Les Arts Florissants’ new staging of Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen” and Turtle Island Quartet’s “Island Prayers.”“The Fairy Queen” production, directed by Mourad Merzouki, opens on Aug. 19 at William Christie’s Festival Dans les Jardins in Thiré, France, and will be presented on Nov. 2 at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center said Thursday.“Island Prayers” includes compositions by Terence Blanchard, David Balakrishnan, Rhiannon Giddens and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, and it will have its world premiere on Oct. 6 at Seattle’s Meany Center. The New York performance, at Tully Hall on Oct. 27, is part of “See Me As I Am,” Lincoln Center’s year-long celebration of Blanchard, the celebrated musician and composer.Lincoln Center has de-emphasized presenting touring orchestras and classical recitals since the pandemic, leaving Carnegie Hall to host those even...

2 men found with serious injuries outside downtown Toronto gas station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

Toronto police are investigating after two men were found injured, one critically, outside a gas station near the city’s waterfront.Emergency crews responded to the area of Lake Shore Blvd West and Bathurst Street around 8:45 a.m. on Friday for a “wounding” call.Paramedics say a man in his 20s has been taken to hospital in life-threatening condition. Police say the man was found without vital signs and officers performed life-saving measures at the scene.The other man has serious injuries.It is not yet known how the men were injured and what led up to the incident.Police tell CityNews it doesn’t appear to be criminal in nature at this point.Wounding:Lake Shore Blvd West + Bathurst St8:48 a.m.– Two males located with serious injuries– One of the males has no vitals; officers are performing life-saving measures @TPS14Div– Anyone w/info contact police– Bathurst is blocked Southbound @TTCnotices#GO1868827^lb— Toronto Police Operation...

China’s plans to build a new embassy near the Tower of London stall amid local opposition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:23 GMT

LONDON (AP) — China’s plans to build a new embassy near the Tower of London have stalled following local opposition to what would be the biggest diplomatic compound in Britain.The borough of Tower Hamlets, the local government council in London responsible for the area, blocked the project in February, citing concerns about the increased risk of terror attacks, protests and traffic in an area visited by millions of tourists each year.Chinese authorities had until Thursday to appeal the decision to the U.K. government but did not, Tower Hamlets said.“If the applicant wanted to appeal through the public inquiry procedure then they would have already needed to have given notice to us as the local planning authority,’’ Tower Hamlets said in a statement. “We haven’t received any such notification from the applicant.”China’s plans called for comprehensive redevelopment of a 5.2-acre site that was home to the Royal Mint from 1811 to 1968, demolishing some of the existing buildings and rest...