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Energy bills could drop $115 for National Grid customers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

Bay Staters who get their electricity through National Grid’s basic service could see their monthly bill drop by more than $100 under a new rate that would take effect in May, but the cost of power will still be higher than last summer.The utility filed its proposed summer supply rate with the Department of Public Utilities this week, proposing a shift from the winter rate of 33.89 cents per kilowatt hour to a rate of 14.12 cents/kWh for the six-month period from May through October. The company said a typical residential customer would see their bill drop from $297.22 to $181.83 if the rate is approved by DPU, a decrease of $115.39.“We understand that high energy costs have been challenging for customers,” Helen Burt, National Grid’s chief customer officer, said. “We are pleased that these new summer rates will help bring down the overall cost of electricity starting in May. We also know our customers pay bills, not rates. So, as summer heats up and cu...

Yankees plan to move Jasson Dominguez around outfield after impressive spring

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

The Yankees reassigned Jasson Dominguez to the minor league camp on Thursday, but Aaron Boone doesn’t foresee more demotions in the outfielder’s future.“I told him I don’t plan on sending him down very often moving forward,” the skipper said Friday, recalling a conversation he had with the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, the previous night. Boone also told Dominguez to keep building on what’s been a year of significant progress.Boone added that the plan is to move Dominguez around the outfield, which could theoretically expedite his big league arrival — depending on the Yankees’ roster needs in the coming months. Dominguez has exclusively played center field since his pro career began.Dominguez enjoyed his first big league camp this spring, hitting .455 with a 1.565 OPS, four home runs, nine RBI and a stolen base. Still just 20 years old, “The Martian” made a strong impression on Boone.“He’s pro...

MBTA may lift full speed restriction on Green Line Saturday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

The MBTA plans to lift a speed restriction covering the entire Green Line by the start of service on Saturday, more than a week after the agency implemented a systemwide slowdown.The Green Line is the final subway line to be relieved of its full 10-25 mph speed restriction, but like the remainder of the system, will continue to be plagued with a high number of slow zones until track defects are addressed.The MBTA lifted the cap on the Mattapan Line on Thursday, and end-to-end slow zones were removed on the Red, Blue and Orange Lines last Friday, a day after the systemwide restriction went into effect.Interim General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville said that by Saturday morning, 16.5% of the light rail system, which includes the Green and Mattapan lines, will be covered in speed restrictions, and slow zones will encompass 31.9% of heavy rail, or the Red, Blue and Orange lines.“Riders should continue to plan for longer headways and additional travel time throughout the system,” Gonneville ...

Lack of hugs caused US fentanyl crisis, Mexico’s leader says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Friday that U.S. families were to blame for the fentanyl overdose crisis because they don’t hug their kids enough. The comment by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador caps a week of provocative statements from him about the crisis caused by the fentanyl, a synthetic opioid trafficked by Mexican cartels that has been blamed for about 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States. López Obrador said family values have broken down in the United States, because parents don’t let their children live at home long enough. He has also denied that Mexico produces fentanyl. On Friday, the Mexican president told a morning news briefing that the problem was caused by “a lack of hugs, of embraces.” “There is a lot of disintegration of families, there is a lot of individualism, there is a lack of love, of brotherhood, of hugs and embraces,” López Obrador said of the U.S. crisis. “That is why they (U.S. officials) should be dedicating funds to add...

State voter fraud system fractures as Republicans opt out

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Election officials from states enrolled in a bipartisan effort to ensure accurate voter lists decided Friday against making rule changes that had been pushed by Republicans amid conspiracies targeting the group, prompting more GOP-leaning states to leave.The Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC, has a record of combating voter fraud by identifying those who have died or moved between states. Yet it also has drawn suspicion among some Republican state leaders, after a series of online stories surfaced last year questioning the center’s funding and purpose.Earlier this month, Republican election officials from Florida, Missouri and West Virginia said they planned to withdraw from the group, joining Louisiana and Alabama. Former President Donald Trump, on social media, has called on every Republican-led state to leave, characterizing it as a “terrible Voter Registration System that ’pumps the rolls’ for Democrats and does nothing to...

Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers. Week of 3/20/2023 : TOP 20 GLOBAL CONCERT TOURS 1 Red Hot Chili Peppers 2 Elton John 3 Bad Bunny 4 Harry Styles 5 Daddy Yankee 6 Carin León 7 Marc Anthony 8 The Killers 9 The Cure 10 Trans-Siberian Orchestra 11 André Rieu 12 Wisin & Yandel 13 Stromae 14 Pentatonix 15 Rosalía 16 The 1975 17 Jo Koy 18 Katy Perry 19 Luke Bryan 20 Bryan Adams For free upcoming tour information, go to www.pollstar.com ___The Associated Press

Bagpipes, Guinness & Shepard's Pie, oh my: Chicago celebrates St. Patrick's Day

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago area celebrated St. Patrick's Day at several pubs and restaurants on Friday.As hundreds celebrated Irish culture with good food, drinks, bagpipes and dancing, the holiday was meaningful for Tara Walsh, who moved from Ireland to Chicago nine years ago. She said St. Patrick’s Day festivities at the Irish American Heritage Center made her feel at home. "This is my first time here and I didn’t realize it was going to be so full of Irish culture," Walsh told WGN News. "We even have soda bread right over there."VIDEO: WGN Morning News' St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza kicks off at Bourbon Street!The wall-to-wall crowd was decked in green as they enjoyed other Irish favorites like the talented Shannon Rovers Pipe Band and the world-famous Trinity Irish Dancers. "I love dancing so much. I feel so good when I dance. It makes me happy," said Trinity Irish Dancer Kaitlin Schimmel.But the St. Paddy's Day fun wasn't exclusive to the Irish American Heritage Center.Chief O’Neil...

Lincoln Park Zoo reveals names of new baby lions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

CHICAGO — The Lincoln Park Zoo has revealed the names of their newest trio of baby lions.Three male lion cubs playing at the Lincoln Park Zoo have recently been named. (Photo: Lincoln Park Zoo)The three male lion cubs, named in partnership with Maasai community members in Tanzania, will be called Pesho, Sidai, and Lomelok. SEE ALSO | 3 new lion cubs at Lincoln Park Zoo get first wellness visitPesho means "an unexpected gift," Sidai means "good," and Lomelok means "sweet." The cubs recently met their dad, Jabari, about two months after mom, Zari, gave birth. The cubs also have an older brother named Pilipili, the zoo's first-born lion cub in two decades, who recently celebrated his first birthday. The circle of life: Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes birth of new lion cub Officials say the cubs will remain behind the scenes for a few more weeks at the zoo before being introduced to the rest of the pride.The trio of cubs arrived just a little over a year after the opening of the brand new P...

'I’M BACK!': Trump returns to Facebook after reinstatement

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has returned to Facebook after a more than two-year ban.“I’M BACK!” Trump posted on the site weeks after his personal account was reactivated. Trump, who is running his third campaign for the White House, also shared an old video clip in which he said: “Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business.”He posted the same clip on YouTube, which announced Friday that it, too, was welcoming him back.Facebook parent Meta had said in January that it would be restoring Trump ’s personal account in the coming weeks, ending the suspension it imposed in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection, when Trump's supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to halt the peaceful transition of power.His access was restored to Facebook and Instagram on Feb. 9, the company confirmed.“The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying — the good, the bad and the ugly — so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box,” Nick Cleg...

What happens to your body when you drink beer daily

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:27 GMT

(KSNF/KODE) — If your idea of relaxing at the end of the day involves cracking open a beer, you're not the only one. According to Statista, in 2021, the U.S. beer industry had around $109 billion in revenue, and, on average, consumers drank about 68 liters (18 gallons) within the year. Compared to other alcoholic beverages, beer is easy to come by in stores due to its low alcohol by volume (ABV) — many beers are under 5% ABV, making them sellable in grocery stores in states with strict liquor laws. While those low ABV numbers may make drinking beer seem like a better option than other alcoholic beverages, it's important to note how drinking a beer every day can take a toll on your overall health — both immediate and long term.Nutrition information for beerAccording to the USDA, one 12-ounce can (355 mL) of regular beer contains:Calories: 153Protein: 2 gTotal fat: 0 gCarbohydrates: 13 gFiber: 0 gSugars: 0 gAlc...