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‘A great guy’: Man who died after attack in Downtown Crossing remembered as gentle soul

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

A man who was attacked on Saint Patrick’s Day in Downtown Crossing in Boston has died, police announced on Monday. Speaking this week, those who knew Barry Whelan, 46, of Woburn described him as a gentile soul and called for justice as the investigation into his death continues.“They’ve taken someone’s life that did not deserve to be taken,”  Whelan’s boss, John Marsoobian said. Police said Whelan was beaten into unconsciousness on St. Patrick’s Day. He was rushed to the hospital before being taken off life support one week later. The medical examiner later determined his cause of death to be blunt force trauma. Marsoobian said Whelan was “a great guy.” “And he never had a bad thing to say about anybody,” Marsoobian said. Marsoobian said Whelan moved to the US from Ireland a few decades ago and worked as a lead carpenter for Twin Peaks Construction. In the aftermath of his death, his friends and family are still processing this tragic l...

Bruins aren’t sharp, drop 2-1 decision to Nashville

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

The table was set for celebration on Tuesday night at the Garden, but the Bruins didn’t show up for dinner.With the Tampa Bay Lightning beating the Carolina Hurricanes, the B’s had a chance to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy while simultaneously recording a Bruins’ record for wins in a season. But the B’s shot blanks all night and absorbed just their fourth regulation loss at home, a 2-1 decision to the Nashville Predators.Cody Glass scored late in the second period and it held up until old friend Jeremy Lauzon scored an empty-netter from 180 feet wiht 1:01 to go. David Pastrnak scored with less than a second left to avoid the shutout, but the B’s would have to wait another night to secure first overall. The Preds’ win, accomplished without their top two offensive players in Matt Duchene and Ryan Joehansen as well as D-man Roman Josi, kept their faint playoff hopes alive.Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) takes down Nashville Predators cent...

US tourist shot in leg at Mexican resort of Puerto Morelos

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A U.S. tourist was shot in the leg by unidentified assailants at a resort town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, prosecutors in the coastal state of Quintana Roo said Tuesday.They said the shooting occurred in the low-key town of Puerto Morelos, just south of Cancun. Prosecutors said the American was approached by several suspects near midnight Monday and they shot him in the leg. The motive remains under investigation. The wounded man was taken to a hospital in Cancun for treatment, and his injury was judged to be not life-threatening.The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert earlier this month warning travelers to “exercise increased caution,” especially after dark, at Mexico’s Caribbean beach resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, which have been plagued by drug gang violence in the past.There have been a series of brazen acts of violence along the Caribbean coast, the crown jewel of Mexico’s tourism industry.In 2022, two Canadians were killed ...

2 Alabama police officers shot, suspect in custody

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Two Alabama police officers are in critical condition after they were shot Tuesday evening by a man who later barricaded himself inside an apartment, city officials said. Deputy Police Chief Michael Johnson told news outlets that a woman called 911 and reported that she had been shot. Officers arriving at the scene found the shooting victim, whose injuries are not life-threatening. The two officers were then shot and were transported to Huntsville Hospital in critical condition. The department did not immediately release their names. The suspect was apprehended about 6:20 p.m. and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the city said in a news release. “Our hearts are shattered. Please send every prayer you have to the officers, their families, and the Huntsville Police Department,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said in a statement. “I am devastated to learn the news that two Huntsville police officers were shot in the line of du...

Video shows guards walking away during fire that killed 38

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — After migrants in northern Mexico placed mattresses against the bars of their detention cell and set them on fire, guards quickly walked away and made no apparent attempt to release the men before smoke filled the room and killed 38 men, surveillance video showed Tuesday.Hours after the fire broke out late Monday, rows of bodies were laid out under shimmery silver sheets outside the immigration detention facility in Ciudad Juarez, which is across the U.S. border from El Paso, Texas, and a major crossing point for migrants.Authorities originally reported 40 dead, but later said some may have been counted twice in the confusion. Twenty-eight people were injured and were in “delicate-serious” condition, according to the National Immigration Institute.At the time of the blaze, 68 men from Central and South America were being held at the facility, the agency said. The institute said almost all were from Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela and El Salvador.In the vi...

Person arrives at hospital with potential gunshot wound after shots fired near Yonge and Sheppard

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

One person has arrived at a hospital with a potential gunshot wound after gunshots were reported in the Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue area.Several callers reported hearing multiple gunshots just after 8 p.m. in the area and police confirmed a firearm had been discharged.No victims were found in the area but there were reports one person had checked into a hospital with a potential gunshot wound. Police continue to investigate the incident.

Canadian swimmer McIntosh sets women’s world record in 400 metre freestyle

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

Sixteen-year-old Summer McIntosh of Toronto has set a world record in the women’s 400-metre freestyle event at the Canadian swimming trials.McIntosh finished the 400-metre event in three minutes, 56.08 seconds, breaking the record of 3:56.40 that was set last year by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus.She previously held the Canadian record in the event at 3:59.32.The swimmer, who earned silver in the 400 freestyle at last year’s world championships, won two gold and a bronze at the same world meet.McIntosh first attracted national attention when she competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 as a 14-year-old, ending up fourth in the 400-metre freestyle event.The Canadian swimming trials, which opened Tuesday, are being held to select athletes for the world championships and Pan American Games later this year.

Vallas, Johnson faceoff in final debate ahead of Chicago mayoral election

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

CHICAGO -- This is a close competitive contest and as you would expect with time running out things got heated.One week before Election Day, a live television debate where the candidates for mayor of Chicago clashed over the familiar topic of police, education and taxes.Brandon Johnson, who this week pledged not cut a single penny from the Chicago Police budget, was pressed about his past statements that he supports redirecting police funds.  WGN Poll: Vallas leading Johnson in Chicago Mayoral runoff election Johnson vows to promote existing officers to the position of detective raising questions about his plans to fill vacancies within the department. Moderator Irika Sargent asked Johnson, "But are you committing then to hiring in addition to promoting?"Johnson responded: "Of course."Paul Vallas, whose record as a school administrator in Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans has faced scrutiny during the campaign, took more questions. "Not only did we increase...

City of Chicago forces suburban couple to pay red light violation that isn't theirs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

CHICAGO — A suburban couple says the City of Chicago is coercing them into paying a red light ticket for a car that isn't theirs.Barrington residents Steve Stallings and his wife, Celeste, received a $100 red light violation in the mail four months ago, but the catch is that the car on camera isn't theirs, and the camera misread the plate."It's clearly not ours," Scalling said. "We weren't there or nothing. It's got a Kansas City Chiefs decal on it and we wouldn't own one of those."The couple appealed the violation, but a judge ruled against them. After that, they sent the Department of Finance proof the car and plate isn't theirs through the mail, but it was also refused and sent back."We're completely innocent, yet they want us to jump through hoops," Scalling said. Chicago-area native being hailed a hero after Nashville school shooting Where it stands today, the fine has doubled and gone to collections."We've proven to them that this was not the license plate, yet nobody's resp...

Bionic Clothing: How hidden tech helps patient progress

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:13:50 GMT

“Bionic clothing” is all about making mobility devices less obvious. Patients and their therapists want forward progress without the bulk. And the latest design weaves function with fabric.Paula Prentiss was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2003.“Right from the beginning it’s been a gait issue,” she said. “My foot, left foot, drags.”For the last four years, she has worn a simple device that helps keep her foot level.“At this point I just want to walk better,” she said.And she wants to continue her active lifestyle.“Whatever I can try that I think I can do, I do,” she said.At the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Prentiss recently took something new for a test run.Jon Sakai is the director of commercialization at Cionic Inc.“It is a bionic legging that is designed to assist mobility,” he said. More from Med Watch: Disconnecting the brain helps kids with epilepsy Called the Cionic Neural Sleeve, the wearable delivers electrical stimulation to four muscle groups. The device is geared tow...