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Federal agency issues warning on small magnetic balls linked to deaths

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning about the danger of high-powered, pea-sized magnets found in toys, announcing one company’s recall of a set containing them and saying it was aware of seven deaths linked to their ingestion.The federal agency estimated that ingestion of the magnets led to 2,400 hospital emergency room visits from 2017-2021 in addition to the deaths, two of which it said occurred outside the United States.“Consumers should stop using the recalled magnetic balls immediately, (and) take them away from children,” the commission said in an online notice. Made from rare-earth metals, each ball measures five millimeters.The safety commission said the magnets were stronger than permitted by federal toy regulations and could kill children if two or more are swallowed as they can attract each other in the stomach, perforating intestinal walls, twisting and/or blocking intestines — which could lead to infection and blood poisoning.The Neodymium Magne...

MLB Notes: What Shohei Ohtani signing with Dodgers means for the Red Sox

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

For a while on Friday it looked like the Red Sox were staring down a worst-case scenario.Juan Soto had already been traded to the New York Yankees, and now speculation was ramping up that Shohei Ohtani was on the verge of joining him in the AL East. Reports broke that Ohtani was flying to Toronto on a private jet, and that a Japanese countryman had reserved an entire restaurant to celebrate his signing with the Blue Jays.It was a done deal, or so the internet thought.Subsequent reporting threw cold water on the Toronto narrative, and then Saturday Ohtani dropped the bombshell himself. The two-time MVP announced he will be joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, and with that Red Sox fans everywhere could take a deep breath.Short of Ohtani signing in Boston himself, the two-way superstar staying in Los Angeles and moving to the National League is close to a best-case scenario for the Red Sox. Instead of having to deal with him up to 13 times per year with the Blue Jays, Boston will now only...

Green Line Extension to celebrate its 1-year anniversary with service disruptions

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

The Medford-Tufts branch of the Green Line Extension opened with great fanfare on Dec. 12, 2022, a milestone decades in the making that officials promised would bring reliable transit service to suburbs just north of Boston.The project that cost the state $2.3 billion has not brought a smooth ride for commuters relying on the line’s five stops in Medford and Somerville.Riders will continue to feel disruptions on Tuesday, one year to the day that the GLX opened.Work to regauge the track, which MBTA officials knew as far back as April 2021 was defective and too narrow, will not be completed by Monday, as initially anticipated under a plan presented by project contractor, GLX Constructors.That means riders will be forced to forgo train service, and, instead, hop on shuttle buses beginning each night at 8:45 for at least the next week, with the MBTA granting the contractor an additional seven nights to continue the work, General Manager Phillip Eng announced Friday.The highly-publicized...

US Coast Guard helicopter that crashed during rescue mission in Alaska is recovered

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A helicopter that crashed in southeast Alaska during a rescue mission last month has been recovered, the U.S. Coast Guard said Saturday. The downed Coast Guard helicopter was recovered Friday and an investigation was ongoing. The MH-60 Jayhawk crashed on Read Island, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) east of Sitka, on Nov. 13. The four aircrew members were taken to Seattle for treatment after the crash. They have since been released, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard previously described two of the crew members’ injuries as serious. “We are grateful our four crewmembers were released from Harborview Medical Center and are on the road to recovery,” Coast Guard Capt. Brian McLaughlin, who led recovery efforts, said in a statement. “We are also incredibly thankful to the many people and organizations who helped us recover the aircraft. Getting the helicopter to where our investigators can better examine the wreckage is the next step in the ongoing investig...

Thousands of Canadians died while waiting for surgery, research suggests number could be higher

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

Roughly 17,000 Canadians have died while waiting for surgery or diagnostic scans in 2022-23 but that number could be significantly higher, according to research published by SecondStreet.org.The report from the think tank shows patients were waiting for procedures that could have “potentially saved their lives” like a heart operation, and procedures that can improve their quality of life, like a hip operation.It states that 17,032 patients died after waiting anywhere from less than a week to nearly 11 years.“This is a problem that we’ve seen across Canada, we’ve seen it grow for several years now. It was something that was growing before COVID,” SecondStreet.org president Colin Craig told CityNews.“The reality is, unless we see some serious health reform in this country, I think we’re going to continue to see this problem persist.”The data was collected from freedom of information requests that were made to 33 health care bodies ...

Driver wanted after striking, dragging officer during police stop

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

An officer suffered minor injuries when a man fled the scene after being pulled over by police.Police say they pulled over an eastbound vehicle on Harbour Street near York Street around 2:30 p.m. on Friday after the driver was observed using his cellphone while driving.After the driver refused to identify himself, he fled the scene dragging the officer a short distance before he fell onto the road.The officer was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. They have since been released.The driver of the vehicle is described as having a medium build with a moustache and long braided black hair. The vehicle is described as a dark-coloured Mazda 3 hatchback.Police say the driver is facing charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving while using a handheld communications device.Photo of dark coloured Mazda 3 hatchback wanted in a dangerous driving investigation on Dec. 8, 2023. TPS/HO

Man seriously injured in TTC station stabbing; 4 suspects in custody

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

Four people are in custody after a man was stabbed at a TTC station in the east end.Police say they received reports just before 3:30 p.m. of “numerous” teens with knives at Don Mills subway station.When they arrived they located a man suffering from a stab wound. Paramedics transported him to a trauma centre in serious but non-life threatening condition.Four suspects are in custody, according to police.

UPenn president Magill resigns in wake of antisemitism controversy

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

(The Hill) — University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned on Saturday following criticism of comments she gave in a House hearing this week about rising antisemitism on college campuses.At the hearing, Magill and other college leaders controversially said that it would depend on context whether comments calling for genocide of Jewish people would be considered harassment.Those statements brought her under fire from university alumni and Pennsylvania politicians, some of whom called on her to resign or be removed from the role.“I write to share that President Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania,” Board of Trustees Chair Scott Bok said in an email to university alumni. “She will remain a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law.”“On behalf of the entire Penn community, I want to thank President Magill for her service to the University as President and wish her well,” he continued.Magill spoke out after the news...

Florida school district adding 4-day weekends to combat chronic absences

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Pasco County School District in Florida is introducing a new approach to the school calendar in the 2024-25 school year to combat chronic absenteeism. The new schedule will include several "four-day mini breaks strategically placed throughout the years," the district said.The extended weekends will be held from October 12-15, 2024, February 14-17, 2025, and April 18-21, 2025. 10 best and worst cities for singles, study finds The school district hopes the added breaks will encourage families to take trips or schedule appointments during these days, to boost attendance during scheduled contact days. "This forward-thinking initiative not only benefits students but also accommodates the needs of parents and guardians who often struggle to coordinate family vacations with the academic calendar," the district added.Pasco County Schools listed five benefits of the new schedule including improved student engagement, tackling chronic absenteeism, empowering ...

Westlake takes on Galena Park North Shore in 6A Division I semifinals at The Pfield

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:28:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Westlake takes on Galena Park North Shore in the 6A Division I semifinals on a blustery Saturday at The Pfield in Pflugerville.Both teams come into the matchup undefeated at 14-0, and for the Chaps, this game has an extra layer to it since the Mustangs beat the Chaps in the semifinals last season to break the program's 54-game winning streak. Texas high school football playoff scores for Friday, Dec. 8 Follow along with live updates and highlights throughout the game, and keep this story in your tabs for a recap following the game. You can watch the game on KBVO, channel 14 over the air in the KXAN viewing area. Check your local cable provider for the specific channel on your guide.Live updates2:35 2Q: TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE: D'andre Hardeman scores on an 8-yard run with a nice cut to get him to the end zone. PAT good. Mustangs 14, Chaps 7 6:36 2Q: TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE: On fourth-and-goal, quarterback Kaleb Bailey runs up under center...