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Schools closed again Wednesday after ‘catastrophic’ flooding in Leominster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

Cleanup efforts continued in Leominster Tuesday after heavy rains on Monday triggered flash flooding that damaged roads, homes and businesses and prompted the closure of local schools.Several roads were closed Tuesday morning and more than 100 people were utilizing city emergency shelter space, according to Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella. In an update around 2 p.m. Leominster’s public schools superintendent announced local schools will be closed again on Wednesday. “Precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of all our students and staff,” said Superintendent Paula Deacon.“Please stay safe and thank you for all your support!” Deacon said. — WATCH: Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella’s full remarks from a news conference Tuesday morning —Mazzarella on Monday told 7NEWS heavy rain first started falling around 4:15 p.m. Floodwaters rose fast, triggering a flash flood emergency declaration from t...

In face of heavy flooding, some Leominster residents asked to evacuate due to concerns over nearby dam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

Some residents in Leominster were asked to evacuate Tuesday morning after authorities came across a “potential issue” involving a nearby dam – one that could endanger the area as surging rains and flood waters inundated the area.“Due to a potential issue at the Barrett Park Pond Dam, persons in low-lying areas of the Fall Brook tributary to Fall Brook along Central St, Fall Brook & the North Nashua River, should evacuate & safely leave the area. Shelter is available at Skyview Middle School,” the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency announced around 5:40 a.m.Leominster Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella said authorities were monitoring the dam after more than eight inches of rain fell across the city during the evening hours on Monday, with some spots seeing as many as ten inches.By noontime, the evacuation request was lifted as crews at the scene surveyed a washed out section running along the pond and began to fill it in.Though the dam remaine...

Catch the SERIES PREMIERE of The Swarm TONIGHT at 9/8c on The CW56!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

Google exploited exclusive search engine deals to maintain its advantage over rivals, DOJ argues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

By PAUL WISEMAN and MICHAEL LIEDTKE (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Google has exploited its dominance of the internet search market to lock out competitors and smother innovation, the Department of Justice said Tuesday at the opening of the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century.“This case is about the future of the internet and whether Google’s search engine will ever face meaningful competition,” said Kenneth Dintzer, the Justice Department’s lead litigator.Over the next 10 weeks, federal lawyers and state attorneys general will try to prove Google rigged the market in its favor by locking in its search engine as the default choice in a plethora of places and devices. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta likely won’t issue a ruling until early next year. If he decides Google broke the law, another trial will decide what steps should be taken to rein in the Mountain View, California-based company. Top executives at Google and its corpor...

TikTok Shop launches in the U.S.     

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

NEW YORK  — After months of testing, TikTok is fully launching its e-commerce product in the U.S. in an effort to translate the app’s cultural relevance among young consumers to sales.The company said Tuesday its shopping wing, called TikTok Shop, will include several features such as a “Shop Tab,” a marketplace its been testing on the app since August; affiliate videos in user’s feed that allows creators to earn commissions from products; as well as a logistics arm called Fulfilled by TikTok that stores and ships products for merchants.Currently, TikTok spokesperson Laura Perez said more than 200,000 sellers have registered for TikTok Shop. Meanwhile, over 100,000 content creators are participating in the affiliate program, which allows users who have 5,000 followers to create videos that go directly to TikTok’s algorithmically-engineered “For You” feed.The Shop Tab, where products from TikTok’s marketplace are listed, is now availabl...

Thousands are feared dead and thousands more are missing in flood-ravaged eastern Libya

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

By SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)CAIRO (AP) — Emergency workers uncovered more than 1,500 bodies in the wreckage of Libya’s eastern city of Derna on Tuesday, and it was feared the toll could surpass 5,000 after floodwaters smashed through dams and washed away entire neighborhoods of the city.The startling death and devastation wreaked by Mediterranean storm Daniel pointed to the storm’s intensity, but also the vulnerability of a nation torn apart by chaos for more than a decade. The country is divided by rival governments, one in the east, the other in the west, and the result has been neglect of infrastructure in many areas.Outside help was only just starting to reach Derna on Tuesday, more than 36 hours after the disaster struck. The floods damaged or destroyed many access roads to the coastal city of some 89,000. Footage showed dozens of bodies covered by blankets in the yard of one hospital. Another image showed a mass grave piled with bodies. More than 1,500 co...

Refill rollback: McDonald’s phasing out self-serve soda

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

NEW YORK  — Say goodbye to refilling that Coke. McDonald’s is getting rid of self-served soda.The Chicago-based fast food chain plans to eliminate self-service soda machines at its U.S. restaurants by 2032, McDonald’s confirmed this week. It’s unclear if locations outside the U.S. will follow suit.In an email Tuesday, McDonald’s USA said the goal of the change is to create consistency for customers and crew members across the chain’s offerings — from in-person dining to online delivery and drive-thru options.The company did not specify if any additional factors — such as finances or sanitation — impacted the decision to part ways with its self-serve machines. For years, McDonald’s customers have used the machines to fill and refill their beverages without additional trips to a cashier.Behind-the-counter soda machines already exist at some other fast food chains — and a handful of McDonald’s locations across the country have also begun the tr...

MTV Video Music Awards return Tuesday, with an all-female artist of the year category

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

By MARIA SHERMAN (AP Music Writer)The MTV Video Music Awards return Tuesday night, and for the first time, only women are nominated in the show’s artist of the year category. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Karol G and Shakira are contenders for the night’s prize.On Tuesday morning, the VMAs announced its final round of presenters, which include A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Anuel AA, Ashanti, Billy Porter, Chloe Bailey, Dove Cameron, Fat Joe, Halle Bailey, Nelly Furtado, Reneé Rapp, Saweetie, Shenseea, Thalia, Tiffany Haddish, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean.The VMAs, which takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey — just outside of New York City — will be hosted by Minaj. Last year, she emceed alongside Lil Wayne and Jack Harlow; this year, she’s solo.The show will also celebrate 50 years of hip-hop with a star-studded, multi-generational finale performance: DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, LL Co...

Pivetta’s 10 strikeouts, Devers’ homer not enough to overcome Yankees in first game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

After Monday night’s series opener between the Red Sox and Yankees was postponed due to heavy rain – their second such postponement in this year’s season series – the formerly formidable rivals turned to the task at hand in a doubleheader on Tuesday.At this point in September, each team’s goal is to not finish last in their division. The fourth-place Red Sox entered the series 73-70, 18 games back. The fifth-place Yankees arrived in Boston 71-72, 20 games out, at the bottom of the American League East.Early on, it looked like the home team would cruise to victory on the back of Nick Pivetta, who, as the sun finally emerged over Fenway Park after days of rain and rain delays, mowed down the visitors from the Bronx.Instead, the Red Sox fell to the Yankees, 3-2, the latest in what feels like a never-ending line of gut-punch losses.Pivetta’s final line – 5.1 innings, four hits, three earned runs, a walk and 10 strikeouts – doesn’t paint an accurate picture of his stellar performance.“Th...

Boston City Council preliminary turnout highest in Kendra Lara race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:37 GMT

Roughly 42% of all votes cast by 3 p.m. Tuesday were in the closely-watched District 6 race, where the City Councilor Kendra Lara is trying to hold onto her seat in the wake of a late June car crash that left her facing several charges.The hotly-contested District 5 race is also drawing a lot of interest, with more than 26% of votes cast there, as the embattled incumbent Ricardo Arroyo vies for a third term against two candidates with dueling mayoral endorsements.As of late afternoon, 17,202 votes had been cast in the preliminary election between the four contested City Council districts: 3, 5, 6 and 7, according to data from the Elections Department.Today’s preliminary will determine which two candidates from each race move onto the Nov. 7 election. Polls close at 8 p.m.While voters are flocking to the polls in District 6, whether that high turnout bodes well for Lara or one or both of her challengers remains to be determined.William King, an information technology specialist, and ...