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How scandals affect by-elections as England heads to the polls

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

LONDON — Brace yourself: England gets not one, but three by-elections on Thursday.It’s a tricky moment for Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose party is languishing in the national polls and fighting to hang on to all three seats: Uxbridge and Ruislip; Selby and Ainsty; and Somerton and Frome.And it’s the first time England has faced three simultaneous parliamentary votes outside of a general election since November 2012. While each race is unique, there’s plenty to be gleaned from by-elections past.Alia Middleton, psephologist and senior lecturer at the University of Surrey, has analyzed 148 by-elections held between 1979 and 2022. Her message? Don’t expect bumper turnout — and watch for the nuanced effect of scandal and controversy.By-election turnout tends to be lower than in generals. According to Middleton’s analysis, the average turnout in by-elections sits at just 49.3 percent — compared with an average general election turnout in the same se...

Boston Police release photos of car possibly connected to deadly hit-and-run in Hyde Park

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

Boston police released photos and video Wednesday night of a car possibly connected to a hit-and-run crash that killed a four-year-old boy in Hyde Park on Tuesday. The car, police said, is described as a dark gray subcompact hatchback. It was last seen driving on Wood Avenue in the direction of Cummings Highway.Police have asked anyone with information to contact them as investigators continue efforts to track down a driver who they say left the scene of the deadly crash. Family members identified the child who was killed as Ivan Pierre. On Wednesday afternoon, Pierre’s uncle wiped away tears while speaking about his nephew. “We’ve pretty much seen it all, accidents happening here and drive-by shootings and now one of our own was taken from us,” Heroldy Limage said. Limage said the crash happened as the family gathered to see the boy’s mother’s new car around 9:30 p.m. Limage said the boy’s mother had just got home and family members were gathering b...

Kayaker dies after being pulled from Ipswich River in Hamilton

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

A kayaker died Wednesday after being pulled from the Ipswich River in Hamilton, police said. Hamilton police said emergency crews first responded around 3 p.m. after a 911 call for a missing kayaker. Police said crews found the kayaker and he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The incident remained under investigation as of Wednesday afternoon.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Somerville 18-year-old granted NYC trip through Make-A-Wish, surprised with a party at home

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

An 18-year-old from Somerville living with a life-threatening blood disorder was surprised with a New York-themed party after her wish to visit New York City was granted.Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island partnered with Subaru of Wakefield to help make her dreams come true.“It’s just we usually do a going away party, but this is a welcome back party for her, and she had no idea,” said Sal Barbagallo, of Subaru of Wakefield.Sofia was recently granted her longtime wish of visiting New York but didn’t know there was going to be a special surprise waiting when she got home.“I made the most of it, and I had a lot of fun there,” Sofia said.Organizers set up a New York-themed party with some of Sofia’s favorite interests, including musical performances, a make-up station, snacks and decorations. “It’s fun, and they’re all very welcoming. It’s very warm,” Sofia said.During the party, Sofia was joined by other local Wish recipients and welcomed into the “Wish Community,” which i...

‘It meant a lot’: Jackie Robinson Museum visit leaves lasting impact on members of the Chicago White Sox

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

Growing up, Jackie Robinson was everything to Touki Toussaint.“The reason why I play baseball,” the Chicago White Sox pitcher told the Tribune on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field.Toussaint jumped at the chance to visit the Jackie Robinson Museum during the team’s trip to New York.Toussaint and first-base coach Daryl Boston were among the White Sox contingent touring the museum before Tuesday’s game against the New York Mets.“It’s kind of a humbling moment, hearing some of the sounds, being able to see his uniform — from ballcap to jersey, pants and cleats,” Toussaint said. “And seeing his broad jump (distance). That’s kind of crazy. I don’t think he gets enough credit for the athlete he was.“But even the person, all he had to endure and go through. Kind of puts in perspective, we don’t really go through that much. It was definitely humbling and a good experience.”According to its website, the Jackie R...

Orioles acquire right-handed reliever Shintaro Fujinami from Athletics for minor leaguer

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

The Orioles are adding to their bullpen.Baltimore on Wednesday acquired right-handed reliever Shintaro Fujinami from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Triple-A left-hander Easton Lucas, the team announced early in the evening.Fujinami, 29, is 5-8 with an 8.57 ERA in his first major league season after signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Athletics this past offseason out of Japan.He features a fastball that can reach triple-digits, but command has been a concern throughout his professional career.Fujinami struggled mightily as a starter to begin the season, but the 6-foot-6 pitcher has been excellent out of the bullpen the past two months. In 18 1/3 innings since June 5, he has a 2.45 ERA and 19 strikeouts compared with six walks.Lucas, 26, has a 2.73 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk this season. The Orioles acquired Lucas in December 2019 from the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder Jonathan Villar.This story wi...

Tornado damages Pfizer plant in North Carolina as scorching heat and floods sock other parts of US

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A tornado heavily damaged a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina on Wednesday, while torrential rain flooded communities in Kentucky and an area from California to South Florida endured more scorching heat. Pfizer confirmed that the large manufacturing complex was damaged by a twister that touched down shortly after midday near Rocky Mount, but said in an email that it had no reports of serious injuries. A later company statement said all employees were safely evacuated and accounted for. Parts of roofs were ripped open atop its massive buildings. The Pfizer plant stores large quantities of medicine that were tossed about, said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone.“I’ve got reports of 50,000 pallets of medicine that are strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind,” Stone said.The plant produces anesthesia and other drugs as well as nearly 25% of all sterile injectable medications used in U.S. hospitals, Pfizer said on its...

Trimmed trees outside LA studio become flashpoint for striking Hollywood writers and actors

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A row of tightly trimmed ficus trees along a stretch of sidewalk outside Universal Studios has become a hot spot in the face-off between Hollywood studios and striking screenwriters and actors.Some members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Writers Guild of America unions — along with sympathetic local politicians — think the studio purposely pruned the trees in an effort to remove a source of shade for workers picketing under the hot Southern California sun. They gathered regardless on Wednesday, with one woman wearing a green wreath on her head and holding a sign depicting a full, untrimmed tree under the words “Never Forget.”“Universal, get your ducks in order. We don’t want to see any more shady nonsense because the people are watching,” said Konstantine Anthony, a SAG-AFTRA member and the Democratic mayor of nearby Burbank.Burbank’s city limits don’t include the stretch of Barham Boulevard where the trees ...

Israeli doctors hold ‘warning strike,’ caution that judicial overhaul threatens health care system

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Doctors in Israel held a two-hour strike Wednesday to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary.The doctors say the plan will endanger public health by granting Netanyahu and his allies greater control over the country’s health care system. Wearing scrubs and holding signs saying, “We are the wall shielding democracy,” doctors gathered outside Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv. Medical leaders warned they will take more severe measures if Netanyahu’s government — the most right-wing in Israel’s 75-year history — moves forward with a bill to limit the judiciary’s oversight powers which could become law as soon as next week. In a letter to Netanyahu on Tuesday, Dr. Zion Hagay, chairman of Israel’s Medical Association, said the bill would lessen the judiciary’s ability to strike down inappropriate appointments to the health care system. “As someone who once served as health minister, you ar...

Several postal workers robbed in Chicago, western suburbs

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:17 GMT

CHICAGO — Several postal workers across Chicago and the suburbs have been robbed over the past day.The string of crimes involve both U.S. Postal carriers and private delivery workers who were robbed at gunpoint on the West Side of Chicago and in the western suburbs. 3 people shot on Chicago’s Near West Side Just after 5 p.m. Wednesday, a postal carrier was robbed in the 2500 block of West Chicago in Ukrainian Village. It happened right in front of Valeri Abushevich's building."That's pretty scary I come out here in the front with my dog," Abushevich said. "We go for walk. If I had gone 45 minutes ago, I'm sorry for that postal worker. I hope he's ok. That's a scary thought."Also on Wednesday, two other postal carriers were robbed in Chicago: one in the 2900 block of West Belden in Logan Square and one in the 1400 block of North Cleaver in Wicker Park.On Tuesday morning in River Grove, investigators said four people tried to rob a postal carrier in the 8700 block of Richard Street....