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Local doctors note uptick in cases of RSV

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

As the holiday season arrives, so too comes the season for respiratory illnesses. Indeed, at UMass Worcester Medical Center, doctors say they’re seeing an uptick in cases of RSV. “We’re seeing a spike in older children — school age and in the teenage years — who have bacterial pneumonia,” said Dr. Timothy Gibson, specializing in pediatrics at UMass Memorial health.RSV can be a major health concern not just for young children and teens, but people over the age of 65, as well. RSV can start out with symptoms of a cold. Then, in some cases, it can make it difficult for a patient to breathe and swallow liquids.While some are seeing increases in cases, experts say there is no reason to panic, adding that infections are actually down in the US compared to 2022.“This year, we are seeing a normal season in the US while China is experiencing what we experienced last year,” said Dr. Shira Doron from Tufts Medical Center.In western Massachusetts, though, the number o...

Authorities investigating after several car windows smashed in Hyde Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

An investigation got underway in Hyde Park Friday after several cars were broken into on a local street. According to a Boston police report, authorities received calls from people along Maple Street near 8 a.m. after residents found their car windows had been smashed. Police said the break-ins happened in front of homes and in a church parking lot used by a senior housing building. In all, police said investigators found eight cars had been broken into. 7NEWS spotted broken glass on the ground and tape and plastic in place of car windows along Maple Street Friday evening. While windows were smashed, police said this incident appeared to be more of a smash than a smash-and-grab, with a Coach wallet listed as the only item reported stolen. The wallet did not have any cash but did have a credit card and a driver’s license inside. Boston police said their investigation was active and ongoing as of Friday night.

Suspected Belmont child rapist caught in midst of failed suicide attempt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

A suspected child rapist found dangling from a rope in the woods was cut down and now faces jail time for a litany of charges from porn to indecent assault and battery on a little girl.State Police report Friday night that Rickland Powell, 59, of Belmont, “had hung himself from a tree” in Stoneham but was still alive when a K-9 officer and her dog hunted him down.“Troopers and Officers cut the suspect down. The suspect was still alive and was transported to an area hospital,” police report. “The Belmont Police Department, which conducted the investigation that led to the child rape warrants against Powell, assumed custody of him.”He was captured before dawn Friday in Stoneham woodland.Belmont detectives had already obtained a warrant for the following offenses: Rape of a Child with Force (four counts); Aggravated Statutory Rape (four counts); Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14 (two counts); Posing a Child in a Sex Act; and Distributi...

Alex Barlow rushes for 275 yards, 5 TD’s as Duxbury defends Div. 4 state title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

FOXBORO — Sometimes it’s simply best to throw out the history books, put the past in the rearview mirror.It has paid off for many teams in recent years, and it did so for Duxbury in 2023.Thanks in large part to a historic performance by senior Alex Barlow, the Dragons coasted Friday night, and earned retribution in doing so. The Bentley commit racked up 32 carries, finishing with a whopping 275 yards to go with five touchdowns rushing, as the Dragons roared to 62-33 romp of Scituate to claim their latest Div. 4 Super Bowl crown.“I think the coaching staff and the players put in a good scheme against (Scituate),” said Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi. “They’re a well-coached team fundamentally. We thought we could get them on a few things, and we were able to do that.”It was the 11th state finals appearance for Duxbury since 1997, and the seventh championship for the program since 2005. The Dragons (11-1) came into Gillette looking to avenge their loss to Scituate in the 2021 Div. 4 title...

7 suspects arrested in North County Target thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- Seven people were arrested in connection to a retail theft operation at two Target stores in Vista, authorities said.The crimes occurred Thursday in the 1700 block of University Drive and 3100 block of Business Park Drive, Sgt. Brent Longfellow with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a news release Friday.Authorities identified the seven shoplifting suspects as Allen McNabb, 30, Martha Madrigal Villanueva, 38, Isaiah Mojica, 23, Alejandro Villegas, 50, Heather Ovalle, 34, Isaiah Cruz, 26, and Alex Valadez, 35. Here’s where San Diegans are looking to buy a home, according to study Deputies recovered about $1,800 worth of stolen merchandise from Target, as well as $2,800 of merchandise stolen from a Home Depot store.In October, the Vista Sheriff's Station arrested five people suspected in a $1,000 retail theft operation.San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan met with businesses last month to crack down on organized retail crimes, saying that her t...

Judge rejects calls to halt winter construction work on Willow oil project in Alaska during appeal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal judge in Alaska on Friday rejected requests from environmental groups to halt winter construction work for the massive Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope while the groups’ legal fight over the drilling project wages on.U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason just last month upheld the Biden administration’s approval in March of the ConocoPhillips Alaska project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and dismissed lawsuits brought by environmentalists and a grassroots Iñupiat group challenging Willow’s approval. Those groups appealed that decision and asked Gleason to block winter construction work planned by ConocoPhillips Alaska while the appeal is pending. She denied those requests Friday.Gleason said that while environmental impacts related to winter activities are of “legitimate concern” to the groups, “only a small area of the Reserve will be impacted.”She wrote that the “strong legislative support at both the state and federal levels ...

Republicans urge Biden to suspend China travel amid uptick in respiratory illness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

(The Hill) — Senate Republicans called on President Biden to restrict travel between the U.S. and China in response to a rise in respiratory infections among children in China.Since mid-October, China has reported an increase in respiratory diseases, which officials attributed to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Chinese authorities have said these infections are being fueled by known pathogens like the flu, RSV, COVID-19 and a common bacterial infection caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae.In their letter to Biden, however, Senate Republicans repeatedly made references to a "mystery" and "unknown" illness affecting children in China. "As you know, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a long history of lying about public health crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCP’s obfuscation of the truth, and lack of transparency, robbed the United States of vital knowledge about the disease and its origin," the letter stated.The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the situatio...

Men’s hockey: Gophers weather early storm, then storm back to tame Nittany Lions in series opener

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — If you have experienced a winter blizzard or a summer downpour in Minnesota, you know about the need to batten down and weather a storm from time to time. The same applies, sometimes, when you’re indoors, in the middle of Pennsylvania.The Minnesota Gophers found themselves pelted by a hailstorm of pucks early in their game at Penn State on Friday. They survived the onslaught, only down by a goal, then turned the tables, scoring four consecutive goals en route to a 4-1 win in their Big Ten series opener.Rhett Pitlick had a highlight-reel power-play goal and a pair of assists, as Minnesota improved to 8-4-3 overall and 4-3-2 in the Big Ten. The Gophers got 33 saves from goalie Justen Close — a dozen of them during an opening period in which the offense-happy Nittany Lions outshot their guests 13-3, only to see Minnesota emerge from the period with a lead it never relinquished.Penn State (8-5-3, 1-3-3) saw its three-game winning streak snapped despite an early goal...

New Woodbury-Oakdale bridge over I-94 opens early Friday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

The new Bielenberg Drive bridge over Interstate 94 is now open, according to the city of Oakdale.The bridge opened early Friday evening, connecting Helmo Avenue in Oakdale to Bielenberg Drive in Woodbury.The new bridge has dedicated lanes for the Metro Transit Gold Line bus rapid transit project that will connect downtown St. Paul and Woodbury, with bus rapid transit service in 2025.The 10-mile rapid transit line will run largely along the I-94 corridor and will make 16 stops between St. Paul and Woodbury, including in Maplewood, Landfall and Oakdale.Related ArticlesLocal News | Woodbury day care owner’s husband gets 18 years for child sex abuse Local News | Stillwater school district weighs later start for high-schoolers Local News | MSP Customs seize syringes of unapproved ‘vaginal tightening gel’ Local News | Stillwater: Community Thread’s Holiday Hope program expects high demand Local News | ...

Three men charged in St. Charles County trafficking case plead not guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - Three men arrested in a St. Charles County trafficking case, all accused of beating a victim and forcing him into labor for several months, have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges.Venkatesh R. Sattaru, Sravanvarma Penumetcha, and Nikhil V. Penmatsa all pleaded not guilty to felony charges on Friday. Their cases include abuse through forced labor, trafficking, kidnapping and armed criminal action, among other offenses.Authorities arrested Sattaru, Penumetcha, and Penmatsa after helping a victim who the three allegedly trapped for several months. Police say the victim is a 20-year-old Indian national who came to the United States on a student visa with intentions to attend college at Missouri S&T. Court documents state the victim is a cousin of Sattaru and a brother-in-law of one of the other suspects.Authorities learned of the trafficking allegations during a wellness check Wednesday in Defiance, Missouri. Investigators say the victim came out the fr...