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Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action: Here is what justices wrote in the opinion

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

The Supreme Court on Thursday banned affirmative action in college admissions.Here are some of the key excerpts from the ruling:Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion: “The student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual –not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”“We have never permitted admissions programs to work in that way, and we will not do so today. At the same time, as all parties agree, nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.”Justice Clarence...

Emanuel Lopes trial: Jurors yet to reach a verdict in Weymouth cop-killer case

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

A Norfolk Superior Court jury has gone a second day without a verdict in the case of the 25-year-old man charged with the murder of Weymouth Police Sgt. Michael Chesna, 42, and bystander Vera Adams, 77, nearly five years ago.Emanuel Lopes, 25, faces a total of 11 charges. In addition to the murder charges, he stands accused of attempted murder, weapons, assault and other charges. Lopes has pleaded not guilty.Jurors received the case on Wednesday, and continued to deliberate on Thursday.At opening arguments three weeks ago on June 8, prosecutor Greg Connor outlined the day of July 14, 2018, and the horrific scene early the next morning that would result in the deaths of Chesna and Adams, who was sitting on her porch nearby as the violence unfolded.Connors said at the start of the trial that on that summer day, Lopes was getting along with his friend he was staying with, Garret Hunt, along with Hunt’s girlfriend Kim Moreia, and Lopes’s girlfriend Mary Cronin. Later that night, Lopes p...

MBTA reveals cause of Orange Line track fire

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

A fire on the Orange Line tracks near Tufts Medical Center was caused by an overheated third rail insulator, an MBTA spokesperson said.The incident, first reported by a train operator at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, caused major delays on the Orange Line.Service was suspended between North Station and Back Bay for more than an hour while the fire department investigated and the T’s power department made repairs, MBTA spokesperson Lisa Battiston said.Regular service resumed, with delays, at approximately 2 p.m.Related ArticlesLocal News | Somerville’s Community Path a recreational oasis Local News | Sumner Tunnel shutdown will back up traffic for miles, state highway chief says Local News | MBTA Red Line dragging death caused by ‘short circuit’ in train door Local News | Portion of Green Line to close for 12 days in July to replace track where trolley derailed last week Local News | Under review: En...

Travelers endure another day of airport agony. One airline has by far the most cancellations

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

By DAVID KOENIG (AP Airlines Writer)DALLAS (AP) — Air travelers endured another wave of flight disruptions Thursday despite better weather along much of the East Coast, while United Airlines continued to account for the majority of canceled flights nationwide. United vowed to get back on track over the July 4 holiday weekend, when the number of air travelers could set a pandemic-era record.Hundreds of thousands of people have had travel plans thrown in the air after a wave of storms raked the Northeast over the past few days and frustrations are running high. Airports in Chicago, Denver and Newark, New Jersey — all hubs for United — were seeing the most delays on Thursday, according to FlightAware.By early evening on the East Coast, United had canceled more than 400 flights, the bulk of the 600-plus cancellations toted up by FlightAware. The Chicago carrier was poised to lead all U.S. airlines in cancellations for a sixth straight day. United CEO Scott Kirby has bl...

France mobilizes tens of thousands of police to head off unrest after police fatally shot a teenager

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

By SYLVIE CORBET, JOHN LEICESTER and ALEX TURNBULL (Associated Press)NANTERRE, France (AP) — France mobilized tens of thousands of police officers on Thursday in an effort to head off widespread urban rioting following the deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old that shocked the nation, with commuters rushing home before transport services closed early to avoid being targeted by rioters.The police officer accused of pulling the trigger on Tuesday was handed a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide after prosecutor Pascal Prache said his initial investigation led him to conclude “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.” Despite government appeals for calm and vows that order would be restored, smoke billowed from cars and garbage set ablaze in the Paris suburb of Nanterre following a peaceful afternoon march in honor of the teen identified only by his first name, Nahel.After a morning crisis meeting following violence that injured scores of po...

Kristaps Porzingis excited to join Celtics, return to big stage: ‘This is a different level’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

On the night he was traded – finally – to the Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis was just as clueless, just as uncertain about what was happening as the rest of the basketball world.So, he went to sleep.Porzingis was back home in Latvia last Wednesday, when reports of a three-team trade that sent him to the Celtics and Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers seemed to be set in stone. But then, suddenly, as he was about to go to bed, Porzingis saw the news that the trade had broken down.“So that kept me up for a little bit longer,” Porzingis said.But by 4 a.m. local time, Porzingis was done waiting. He finally went to bed, unsure of what team he’d be on when he woke up.“I was like, OK, I’ll go to sleep and see what happens,’” Porzingis recalled. “Wake up in the morning, I saw that it happened, the trade happened, and I was just extremely excited, and extremely happy.”The deal, of course, was finally agreed upon at midnight in Boston. It sent cornerstone Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies in a franchise...

Harborfest kicks off Fourth of July celebrations in Boston

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

Fourth of July celebrations arrive early in Boston, with the Harborfest kicking off Friday with an arts market, music by local groups and other attractions.Secretary of State William Galvin continued his holiday preparations on Thursday, previewing historical documents to be displayed at the Commonwealth Museum’s annual Independence Day exhibit.In years past, several hundred people have flocked to the Columbia Point museum the morning of the Fourth before they head off to other celebrations. Galvin said he’s excited for that tradition to continue Tuesday.The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and visitors will get a chance to get up close to the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Watertown — a July 1776 international agreement that was the first to recognize the new United States as an independent nation — and other historic passages.“It brings to life the history of our state but also of our country, very much the case that the history of our state is th...

Ticker: Teamsters up pressure in UPS talks; More than 1,400 opt out of gambling

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters union is ratcheting up pressure on UPS in labor contract negotiations, with threats of a strike Aug. 1 if the two sides don’t reach agreement.The Teamsters said their negotiators walked away from the bargaining table Wednesday and are demanding a last, best and final offer from the shipping giant by this Friday.UPS said it submitted a proposal last week, and this week submitted a “significantly amended proposal to address key demands from the Teamsters.”“We’re working around the clock to reach an agreement that strengthens our industry-leading pay and benefits ahead of the current contract’s expiration on August 1,” UPS said. “We remain at the table ready to negotiate.”The Teamsters dismissed the counter proposals as “miniscule with  General President Sean O’Brien stating,   “The largest single-employer strike in American history now appears inevitable.”More than 1,400 opt out of gamblingThe number of people who have voluntarily joined a pr...

Mets manager Buck Showalter says he’s ‘disappointed’ in team’s performance at halfway point

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

It’s safe to say, things have not gone to plan in Flushing.The Mets and their colossal disappointment of a season reached the halfway point playing Game 81 Thursday against the Brewers at Citi Field. The club entered Thursday (36-44) sitting 8.5 games back of a playoff spot despite owning the largest payroll in MLB history at $344 million.The good news is that there are still 81 more games to go and there is plenty of time for the team equipped with veteran talent to make a turnaround. The bad news is the hole the Amazin’s must climb out of has only gotten steeper as the club didn’t win a single series in the month of June.“[I’m] disappointed in not winning enough games,” said Buck Showalter. “That could change. Knowing that we’ve got a full half-season a full left season left [is nice].“I like the fact that our guys haven’t given in and have stayed together. It’s hard with so many influences and things you are consta...

The complex reasons Josh Hart opted into his contract and skipped free agency

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:28:12 GMT

Josh Hart is returning to the Knicks at a discount. At least until his expected extension kicks in.With a move that undoubtedly symbolizes other agreements on the horizon, Hart opted into his one-year, $12.9 million contract for next season, a source confirmed. It would’ve been a shock a month ago, when Hart said in an interview that he’ll likely opt out and hit free agency. But circumstances dictated a pivot.By opting into his deal, Hart, 28, is eligible for an extension in August worth up to four years and $81 million. Logic indicates he wouldn’t have opted into his contract without assurances that the Knicks will extend his contract this summer at a strong number.Hart is represented by CAA, the agency closely associated with the Knicks.By taking less money for the upcoming season (his salary in free agency would’ve probably been around $17.5 million compared to the $12.9 option), the Knicks have more financial flexibility for this summer. Put simply: Hart&...