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New DPU Inquiry May Lead To Utility Rate Relief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

Utility regulators want to hear from Massachusetts residents who grapple each month to make choices between paying utility bills and covering other essential costs.The Department of Public Utilities on Thursday launched an official “inquiry” on the high costs of energy bills and potential improvements to current energy affordability programs that could reduce that burden on residential ratepayers. After a public input period that runs through March 1, DPU will hold meetings to explain the changes under consideration and then issue a written order detailing any changes it might mandate to the energy affordability programs that utility companies are required to offer.“This proceeding will enable DPU to consider improvements to energy affordability programs to ensure maximum participation and determine if additional resources are needed to aid residential ratepayers to lower the percentage of their income used to pay electricity and heating bills.  Poss...

States expand health coverage for immigrants as GOP hits Biden over border crossings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

Phil Galewitz | (TNS) KFF Health NewsA growing number of states are opening taxpayer-funded health insurance programs to immigrants, including those living in the U.S. without authorization, even as Republicans assail President Joe Biden over a dramatic increase in illegal crossings of the southern border.Eleven states and Washington, D.C., together provide full health insurance coverage to more than 1 million low-income immigrants regardless of their legal status, according to state data compiled by KFF Health News. Most aren’t authorized to live in the U.S., state officials say.Enrollment in these programs could nearly double by 2025 as at least seven states initiate or expand coverage. Starting this month, Republican-controlled Utah is covering children regardless of immigration status, while New York and California will widen eligibility to cover more adults.“These are kids, and we have a heart,” said Utah state Rep. Jim Dunnigan, a Republican who initially opposed his state’s p...

Massachusetts public payroll: ‘Your Tax Dollars at Work’ 2023 database home 💸

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

Here it is! The 17th edition of the Herald’s “Your Tax Dollars at Work” public payroll report. You can sort for Gov. Maura Healey on down to the MBTA, UMass, DOC, DOR, DMH and all departments and DAs. Toss in sheriffs and MassDOT. It’s all here.To search on this database, click the magnifying glass icon (at right) and enter names and more. Use the scroll bar at the bottom to move the data over to the right to sort by highest to lowest. Send any tips or questions to [email protected]. Follow the Watchdog newsletter for related coverage.Look for more as this list grows:Top 2,000 overtime earners for 20232022 database homepage 

Hot Property: Create your own paradise in Falmouth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

Ensconced in a coveted gated community on more than one acre of tree-hugged land, 53 Associates Road in Falmouth is the stuff of Cape Cod fantasies.The circa-1900 home charms with a whimsical gambrel roofline with dormers and chimneys, the classic cedar shingle facade, and rustic stone accents. It wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of a storybook and its next owners have a grand opportunity to weave their own fairytale on the expansive grounds.As the Maren Morris song goes, the bones are good — the property is dramatically scaled for entertaining and hosting and features expertly turned millwork, coffered ceilings, elaborate moulding, and natural stone accents throughout. The vintage details offer an opportunity, an invitation even, for the new owners to pursue a restoration project to usher the property from its grand past into a modern present.Currently, the home features five bedrooms and five baths, all spread across more than 4,700 square feet. The character-filled main fl...

Glynis Johns, ‘Mary Poppins’ star who first sang Sondheim’s ‘Send in the Clowns,’ dies at 100

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

By MARK KENNEDY (AP Entertainment Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Glynis Johns, a Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, has died. She was 100.Mitch Clem, her manager, said she died Thursday at an assisted living home in Los Angeles of natural causes. “Today’s a sad day for Hollywood,” Clem said. “She is the last of the last of old Hollywood.”Johns was known to be a perfectionist about her profession — precise, analytical and opinionated. The roles she took had to be multi-faceted. Anything less was giving less than her all.“As far as I’m concerned, I’m not interested in playing the role on only one level,” she told The Associated Press in 1990. “The whole point of first-class acting is to make a reality of it. To be...

Jabrill Peppers expects to play in Patriots’ season finale vs. Jets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

FOXBORO — After a two-week hiatus to heal a hamstring injury, Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers expects to be back on the field for the team’s season finale against the Jets.Peppers missed the Patriots’ Week 16 win over the Broncos and their Week 17 loss to the Bills, but he’s been back on the practice field and expects to play.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bailey Zappe believes he’s come ‘a long way’ since being cut by Patriots New England Patriots | Patriots legend Matthew Slater still undecided on football future New England Patriots | Patriots get good news at Thursday practice before Jets game New England Patriots | The inside story of the Patriots’ fall to rock bottom in the Bill Belichick era New England Patriots | Patriots won’t activate offensive tackle acquired before season via trade “It’s been eating at me, but they’ve b...

Bailey Zappe believes he’s come ‘a long way’ since being cut by Patriots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

FOXBORO — Bailey Zappe wasn’t ready to fully reflect on what’s been a very strange season in the Patriots’ quarterback room, but he did talk about his progress as a second-year pro on Thursday.Zappe was cut after struggling in the preseason and training camp, leaving then-starter Mac Jones as the team’s only quarterback. Zappe was brought back to the practice squad and then signed to the 53-man roster before Week 1. It took nearly three-quarters of the season, but Zappe eventually surpassed Jones on the QB depth chart in Week 13. He’s since gone 2-3 as a starter.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Jabrill Peppers expects to play in Patriots’ season finale vs. Jets New England Patriots | Patriots legend Matthew Slater still undecided on football future New England Patriots | Patriots get good news at Thursday practice before Jets game New England Patriots | The inside story of the ...

Cosmic phenomenon: King tides returning to San Diego coastline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun will, once again, draw in some of the highest tides of the year next week. Expected to return to San Diego's coastline on Thursday, Jan. 11 and Friday, Jan. 12, the first king tides of 2024 will be pulled inward with heights up to 7 feet, according to Sea Grant California.This comes shortly after a period of high surf advisories, which prompted several coastal closures last week, as well as damage to local piers and other disruptions along local beaches. Large waves up to 12 feet tall, with sets up to 18 feet, pounded Southern California for days. How mindfulness helps reduce stress, according to UC San Diego professor Unlike high surf, which is created as strong winds blow directly onshore, king tides are a result of how far away the Sun, Moon and Earth are from each other. It is Thursday's New Moon phase as well as the exact placement of the moon in regards to Earth that causes king tides.As explained by Sea Grant Ca...

Proud Boys member who went on the run after conviction in the Jan. 6 riot gets 10 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A member of the Proud Boys extremist group who went on the run after he was convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol and then allegedly faked a drug overdose after he was caught was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison.Christopher Worrell, who was convicted of assaulting police with pepper spray, was on house arrest in Naples, Florida, when he disappeared in August, ahead of his original sentencing date. He was found six weeks later after he tried to “covertly return” to his home, prosecutors said. He seemed to be unconscious and was hospitalized for five days to treat an apparent opioid drug overdose, but prosecutors say he faked his condition to further stall his sentencing. Worrell suffers from a rare form of lymphoma and said he was afraid the cancer treatment he’d get during a long prison sentence could allow the disease to kill him. He also disputed that he faked his overdose. “I acted out of severe mental anguish and very genuine f...

There’s a glimmer of hope for broader health coverage in Georgia, but also a good chance of a fizzle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Medicaid expansion was long politically impossible in Georgia. Now it’s just unlikely.Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns says he wants lawmakers to consider more health coverage in Georgia as their session begins Monday. But he’s careful not to label it Medicaid expansion, and certainly not “Obamacare.”“The speaker is committed to lowering costs and increasing access to healthcare across the state, and will be working closely with members over the coming weeks to develop sound policy to do just that,” Stephen Lawson, a spokesperson for the Newington Republican, said Thursday.After North Carolina began offering Medicaid to uninsured adults on Dec. 1, there are 10 remaining states that don’t cover people with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line. That’s what was envisioned in President Barack Obama’s 2010 health care overhaul. Like in Georgia, there’s a thaw in Mississippi, where GOP legislative leaders say they’re open to extending ...