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Pressure campaign on Biden to send F-16s to Ukraine goes into overdrive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

The Biden administration is facing a new and amplified pressure campaign to greenlight the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine, after the U.K. announced it will train Ukrainian fighter pilots and Kyiv ramped up its calls for the warplanes.While the administration has crossed several other red lines in military aid — approving everything from guided rockets to drones to Abrams tanks they once claimed would provoke Russia — the Biden administration is holding the line for now on the Lockheed Martin-made F-16s.But momentum may be building for Washington to do the next best thing: allow other countries that fly the F-16 to send their own jets to Ukraine.The pressure campaign is a multi-pronged effort by friendly European governments, U.S. lawmakers from both parties and, most vocally, Ukrainian leadership. This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled throughout Europe advocating for more aid, especially the jets.A new wrinkle appeared on Tuesday when the U.K. announced the kicko...

Justice Department watchdog finds Massachusetts US attorney Rachael Rollins tried to influence DA election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts tried to use her position to influence the outcome of a race for Boston’s district attorney by leaking information aimed at sabotaging the campaign of her preferred candidate’s rival, the Justice Department’s internal watchdog said in a report released Wednesday.A separate investigation by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel found multiple violations by U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins of a law that limits political activity by government workers.—READ: The full 161-page Inspector General’s report “An Investigation of Alleged Misconduct by United States Attorney Rachael Rollins”—The findings were disclosed a day after Rollins’ lawyer told The Associated Press she would resign this week, saying she “understands that her presence has become a distraction.”The inspector general’s 161-page report alleges a broad array of misconduct by Rollins, who w...

Small plane goes off runway at Logan Airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

A small plane went off a runway at Logan Airport Wednesday, drawing an emergency response. SKY7-HD was over the scene Wednesday afternoon, where crews could be seen gathered around the plane. The plane itself, a Cape Air plane, was in a grassy area next to a runway. No further information was immediately available as of around 5:30 p.m.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Prepping for Swifties: Locals, authorities, businesses in Foxboro prepare and brace for impact of Taylor Swift concerts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

The stage is nearly set at Gillette Stadium for Taylor Swift’s three performances this weekend, with thousands of Swifties expected to have a big impact on the area.All the while, throughout the run of shows that start on Friday, authorities will be cracking down on who can get anywhere near the stadium.“Our goal is provide a safe and secure environment for everyone that goes to Gillette,” Foxboro Police Deputy Chief Richard Noonan said.It’s a departure from how things went down during the singer’s tour stop in Philadelphia last weekend, where some fans crowded the venue’s parking lot and set up lawn chairs instead of buying stadium tickets, leaving some “Bad Blood” with officials.It’s a workaround that won’t be an option in Foxboro, though, with a Kraft Sports and Entertainment spokesperson telling 7NEWS:“Guests will be required to show an event ticket to get into the parking lot and guests not holding a ticket will ...

Freezing temperatures overnight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

7Weather – After a Red Flag Warning was in place for increased fire danger today, the wind will relax and temperatures will fall at/below freezing with a Freeze Warning for inland locations tonight. Meanwhile, pollen is accumulating and driving our allergies crazy. We’ll look to the weekend for our next chance for rain.Windy, cooler and drier today. Highs this afternoon were mainly running 15 to 25 degrees cooler than yesterday in the upper 50s/low 60s. You likely noticed the gusty wind more than anything today! The wind combined with dry conditions created an increased risk for fire danger today. The Red Flag Warning that’s been up for a majority of Southern New England will expire at 8 pm. The wind will fade inland tonight. We’ll stay dry, clear and cooler. Those conditions will combine to really drop our temperatures overnight. You’ll want to bring in any potted plants on your porch or patio and cover sensitive vegetation to prevent damage. Take a lo...

Ticker: Ford recalls trucks for air bag issues; Maine regulators greenlight hydropower work 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

Ford is recalling more than 310,000 trucks in the U.S. because the driver’s front air bag may not inflate in a crash.The recall covers certain F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks from the 2016 model year.The company says dust can accumulate in a cable inside the steering wheel, interrupting the electrical connection. Ford says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.Dealers will replace the steering wheel wiring assembly at no cost to owners, who will be notified starting July 5.Owners may hear popping or clicking noises inside the steering wheel, or steering wheel switches and the horn might not work. They may also see an air bag warning light notifying them of the problem.Maine regulators greenlight hydropower workThe construction of a 145-mile transmission line in Maine will be able to resume now that the state has removed a suspension order on the project.The New England Clean Energy Connect project is no longer suspended, as it had bee...

MIAA Board of Directors: How can state attract more officials/referees?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

FRANKLIN — By now, it has become apparent that the official shortage in high school sports has morphed into quite a problem, and on a national level, no less.This recent development can be attributed to a multitude of issues, many of which truly reared their ugly heads during the worldwide pandemic. Now the MIAA is attempting to combat the problem directly by partnering with a unique organization, RefReps.“Your membership is saying that you’re the association of the Commonwealth,” said MIAA Executive Director Bob Baldwin. “What are you going to do to help us with the referee shortage? So, there’s a lot of things we’re doing. We’re helping sponsor some of the legislative bills, being behind those to make it safe for officials. But we need to set the tone with that, and we need to provide support and resources for the membership so we can grow the pool of officials.”During a meeting that lasted nearly two hours Wednesday, the MIAA and its Board of Directors attempted to cover a wide a...

Every state offers victim compensation. For the Longs and other Black families, it often isn’t fair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

By CLAUDIA LAUER and MIKE CATALINI (Associated Press)The cold formality of the letter is seared in Debra Long’s memory.It began “Dear Claimant,” and said her 24-year-old son, Randy, who was fatally shot in April 2006, was not an “innocent” victim. Without further explanation, the New York state agency that assists violent-crime victims and their families refused to help pay for his funeral.Randy was a father, engaged to be married and studying to become a juvenile probation officer when his life was cut short during a visit to Brooklyn with friends. His mother, angry and bewildered by the letter, wondered: What did authorities see — or fail to see — in Randy?“It felt racial. It felt like they saw a young African American man who was shot and killed and assumed he must have been doing something wrong,” Long said of the decision from what was known as the New York Crime Victims Board. “But believe me when I say, not my son.&#...

Man who killed 8 in NYC terrorist attack gets 10 life sentences plus 260 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

By LARRY NEUMEISTER (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — An unrepentant and defiant Islamic extremist received 10 life sentences and another 260 years in prison on Wednesday for killing eight people with a truck on a bike path in Manhattan on Halloween in 2017, as a judge decried his “callous and cowardly” crimes.“The conduct in this case is among the worst, if not the worst I’ve ever seen,” said U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, as he announced a sentence designed to underscore the severity of the terrorist attack Sayfullo Saipov claimed he carried out on behalf of the Islamic State group.A life sentence was mandatory after a jury rejected the death penalty in March, but prosecutors had asked Broderick to impose eight consecutive life sentences and two concurrent life sentences. They also wanted an extra 260 years to send a stern message to other like-minded terrorists. And that’s what the judge did.Broderick cited the defiance of Saipo...

Chicago Bears call latest state plan to aid Arlington Heights move an ‘excellent foundation,’ but talks will continue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:57 GMT

Negotiations over proposed state assistance for the Chicago Bears’ move to northwest suburban Arlington Heights will continue into the summer as the team on Wednesday weighed in publicly for the first time on a plan before lawmakers that would offer the property tax “certainty” sought by club owners.The team and a coalition of business and labor groups said in a statement read during an Illinois House committee hearing that a proposal from Democratic state Rep. Marty Moylan of Des Plaines “provides an excellent foundation for the Chicago Bears to work closely with its coalition partners, including business and labor leaders, and with all the concerned municipalities to develop legislation over the summer that meets the needs of the Chicagoland region and powers one of the biggest construction projects in the state’s history.”Moylan told the committee that he plans to continue negotiating with the team and representatives from Chicago, Arlington He...