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  • Features
    Word of the Day

    charlatan

    Definition: A person who makes elaborate, fraudulent, and often voluble claims to skill or knowledge; a quack or fraud.
    Synonyms: mountebank

    Article of the Day

    Daily Grammar Lesson

    Idiom of the Day

    a modest proposal

    An extreme, unorthodox, and often provocative or distasteful remedy to a complex problem, generally suggested humorously or satirically. (An allusion to Jonathan Swift’s 1729 essay A Modest Proposal, in which he suggests that the poor of Ireland could alleviate their woes by selling their children as food.)

    This Day in History

    Today’s Birthday

    Today’s Holiday

    Bill of Rights Day

    The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution of 1787—referred to collectively as the Bill of Rights—were ratified on December 15, 1791. This landmark document protected American citizens from specific abuses by their government and guaranteed such basic rights as the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated December 15 as Bill of Rights Day and called upon Americans to observe it with appropriate patriotic ceremonies. More…

    Quote of the Day
    To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be who have tried it.
    Herman Melville
    (1819-1891)

    Word Trivia

    Today’s topic: nourish

    alimony – From Latin alimonia, "nourishment" or "eating money," from alere, "to nourish," and mony, "result, resulting condition," it first meant "nourishment, support." More…

    alumnus, alumna, alumni – Alumnus and alumna stem from Latin alere, "to nourish or be nourished," now by a university; originally alumnus was a pupil and now it is a male graduate. Alumni refers to either sex. More…

    coalesce – Meaning "cause to grow together," it is from Latin co- and alere, "nourish." More…

    nurture – The verb was formed after the noun, which first referred (c. 1330) to a person's training or breeding. The word can be traced back to Latin nutritus, meaning "to nourish." More…

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Massachusetts – NECN The latest news from around the state

  • MIT scientists want to create a ‘Lyme Block' with proteins found in your sweat
    by Matt Fortin on March 28, 2024 at 2:36 pm

    Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge are dreaming up a potential new way to help prevent a potentially debilitating tickborne illness, and the key to it all is right in our sweat. Researchers have discovered through years of study that a protein found in our sweat has antimicrobial properties, and can inhibit the growth of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. They believe this type of protein could be put into a topical cream to make something called “Lyme Block” — like sunblock, but for preventing Lyme. “Ideally what we would love to do is give people more control over their own risk,” Michal “Mikki” Tal said, a principal research scientist at MIT and the leader of this study. “And really try to develop this into a possible preventative that you could put on repellant or sunblock to protect against other elements of the outdoors that you could also protect yourself against Lyme.” Tal explained that while everyone has this type of protein, a secretoglobin called SCGB1D2, some people have a version that is only half as effective at protecting against Lyme-causing bacteria. “Most people have a version of it that we call the reference version,” Tal said. “Then you have a variant version, or you could call it a mutation, which was found more commonly in people who had had Lyme disease before.” There’s still a lot that these scientists want to learn, and the study is ongoing, but there’s a lot of excitement around these new discoveries. “This was like everything we asked,” Tal said. “We’re like, ‘Oh my God. This is amazing. Oh my God, this makes so much sense!'” Tal’s research group demonstrated to us how the sweat is collected from study participants. A device is wrapped around participants’ forearms, and it is able to stimulate the person’s sweat glands. Then, a special bracelet it put on that is able to absorb the sweat from the person’s arm. Researchers then are able to extract the sweat, after it is dyed blue, from the bracelet using a tube and a syringe. It’s a painless process, the researchers say, but can cause some tingling while the sweat glands are stimulated. Nearly half a million Americans are estimated to be diagnosed and treated for this tickborne illness annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control. “There’s a higher prevalence of Lyme disease in the Northeast in the U.S.,” lab manager Paige Hansen said. “This could have high impact for the population here in this area.” Lyme disease commonly causes a rash at the site of a tick bite, and can cause other symptoms like fever, fatigue and muscle aches. Some cases, estimated at around 10%, can lead to long-lasting and stubborn complications like memory issues and even arthritis. Researchers are now focusing on learning whether this protein could also help in a therapeutic sense as well, to aid people already infected with the bacteria — especially in those long-lasting cases that aren’t resolved with traditional antibiotic treatment. “People are really suffering out there and there haven’t really been answers,” Tal said. “They’ve been really left in this huge mystery about what’s going wrong with their health. What can they do to overcome this and that’s really been the biggest focus currently of our clinical study.” The clinical study is still ongoing, and researchers at MIT hope to include more people. Among the next steps in all of this is developing a prototype of Lyme Block. More of Boston's Big Ideas Feb 8 This clinical trial co-led by Boston researchers restored hearing in 5 deaf children

  • Growing chain of ramen restaurants based in NYC opening 2 locations in Greater Boston
    by Boston Restaurant Talk on March 28, 2024 at 2:10 pm

    [This story first appeared on Boston Restaurant Talk.] A growing chain of ramen restaurants based in New York City is apparently opening not one, but two locations in the Greater Boston area, including one on its way to a space in the northern suburbs. According to a poster within the Friends of Boston’s Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Kyuramen is planning to open in Winchester, which will either be its first or second location in the Greater Boston area depending on whether an upcoming outlet in Brookline opens before or after it. The chain, which started out in 2014, is headquartered in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens and is known for its variety of ramen options. The website for Kyuramen can be found at https://www.kyuramen.com/ [Earlier Articles] Six New Dining Spots Are Coming to Gateway Brookline DevelopmentKyuramen Plans to Open in Brookline [A related post from our sister site (Boston’s Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area] Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston’s Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)   

  • Ex-Winthrop police lt. pleads not guilty to new child rape charges
    by Asher Klein and Thea DiGiammerino on March 28, 2024 at 2:04 pm

    A former police lieutenant from Winthrop, Massachusetts, arrested in December on suspicion of raping a child at his home pleaded not guilty to new charges Thursday. Prosecutors shared some new information on the case against former Winthrop Police Lt. James Feeley in Suffolk Superior Court, and the timeline for the trial was set. Feeley was initially charged with rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child, but now, after being indicted by a grand jury this month, faces seven counts of indecent assault and battery on a child, along with the child rape charge. He pleaded not guilty at Thursday’s hearing. Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673, and Massachusetts provides this list of statewide and resources for sexual assault survivors. The sexual assaults of the child allegedly took place at Feeley’s home, where he and his family lived, between August 2022 and December 2023, when she was between 10 and 11, said Audrey Mark, who leads the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Child Protection Unit. The girl disclosed the alleged abuse to an adult on Christmas Day; prosecutors have previously said that the victim was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital after being sexually assaulted by Feeley around Christmas, after about a year of the sexual abuse. “The defendant’s wife learned of the abuse and confronted the defendant, at which time, he did not deny the abuse,” Mark said, going on to say that Feeley admitted sexually assaulting the girl to other members of the Winthrop Police Department at a charged encounter at a cemetery, then to state police investigators. Feeley “admitted in a recorded interview that he sexually assaulted the child on five or six occasions. He stated that he orally raped the child and indecently touched the child,” Mark said. She noted the seriousness of the allegations, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, in asking to maintain the terms of Feeley’s bail, including putting up $200,000 cash or a $2 million bond, staying away from the alleged victim and wearing a GPS tracker. Feeley’s lawyer agreed to the conditions in court. The judge gave a trial date of March 3, 2025, and laid out a timeline for the run-up to the trial, for which the next hearing is June 5. Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden called the case troubling on Thursday and said the alleged victim and her family will be provided with “support, guidance and assistance.” “Our prosecutors and victim witness advocates are acutely aware of the challenges victims and families face in such cases and are well-equipped to help from start to finish,” he said in a statement. Feeley served in the Winthrop Police Department for 21 years and was promoted to lieutenant in 2020. After his arrest, he was initially placed on administrative leave, but by January he was no longer with the department. A state police arrest narrative released previously depicted a dramatic confession Feeley made at Belle Isle Cemetery, where his parents are buried, to Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty; his brother, Winthrop Sgt. Sean Delahanty; and members of his family on the night of Christmas. Winthrop police found out about the allegations after Feeley’s brother called Sean Delahanty that night to tell him he “was really in a bad way,” Delahanty recalled, according to the report. He relayed a request to his brother, the chief, to meet Feeley at the cemetery and traveled there himself. When he arrived, Sgt. Delahanty was told the nature of the allegations against Feeley, he recalled to the state police investigator. Delahanty told Feeley, “whatever is happening the answer is not on his hip,” referring to the gun Feeley had on him. Feeley allegedly replied, “wait until I tell you what I’ve done.” Chief Delahanty arrived, and recalled hearing the extent of the allegations from Feeley, who apologized to the chief and the sergeant, according to the report — Feeley and the chief had known each other for decades. Believing Feeley was suicidal, the chief took Feeley’s gun, and the man was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital to have a psychiatric evaluation. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support. Sgt. Delahanty recalled, according to the report, that Feeley couldn’t explain why he had sexually assaulted the child. More on the allegations against former Winthrop Lt. James Feeley Winthrop Dec 27, 2023 Winthrop police officer arrested on child rape charges Winthrop 24 hours ago Former Winthrop police lieutenant arrested on new child rape charges

  • Price of new Red, Orange line trains balloons to over $1 billion
    by Chris Lisinski on March 28, 2024 at 1:56 pm

    A contract “reset” with the manufacturer of new Red and Orange Line trains would set the end of 2027 as the latest completion target for the maligned project, add up to $148 million in allowable costs, and forgive tens of millions of dollars more in penalties. After a year-long review of the T’s contract with CRRC, a team of advisors recommended the transit agency continue its work with the Chinese manufacturer despite repeated disruptions, but alter the agreement to include new incentives and deadlines. MBTA officials reached a proposed settlement with CRRC that will increase what the agency pays for all-new Red and Orange Line fleets by as much as $148 million, which would account for higher-than-expected costs linked to the pandemic and supply chain problems, according to a presentation Deputy General Manager Jeff Gonneville gave Thursday morning.  The tentative agreement would also waive about $90 million in penalties that the manufacturer faces for delays so far. Another $37 million in damages would remain in place, but the updated contract would set incentives that could effectively dismiss those charges as well if CRRC meets new targets. If the contract reset wins approval, CRRC would face new deadlines to deliver all Orange Line cars by September 2025 and all Red Line cars by the end of 2027 — in both cases several years later than the original deadlines. Gonneville told MBTA board members that advisors who reviewed the upheaval at Gov. Maura Healey’s instruction concluded that reshaping the CRRC contract is a better option than trying to find to an alternative manufacturer. “A new procurement was going to take up to five years before the MBTA actually received a first vehicle, and each vehicle could be potentially $1 million more per car than a negotiation with CRRC,” he said. “The recommendation ultimately was that a reset with CRRC was in the best interest for the MBTA and our customers.” The original $565 million contract has already been amended, swelling its current value to $870 million before accounting for any changes proposed Thursday. About 112 new Orange Line cars out of the 152 ordered have been delivered, as have 18 of the 252 Red Line cars. Gonneville briefed a T subcommittee about the proposal Thursday morning, and the full MBTA Board of Directors could vote on the renegotiated contract as soon as later in the afternoon. More MBTA news mbta Mar 23 MBTA Red Line train derailment delays commuters amid rainy weather mbta Mar 22 Blue Line train evacuated after losing power near Orient Heights; delays expected Mar 14 MBTA reveals new details about Green Line derailment

  • Boston police seek suspect in Roxbury bus stop stabbing
    by Thea DiGiammerino on March 28, 2024 at 1:17 pm

    Boston police are searching for a man suspected in a stabbing at a bus stop in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood on Wednesday. Investigators say they’re looking to identify the man pictured above after a stabbing at a bus stop near the Washington Park Mall at Warren Street and MLK Boulevard, just before 1 p.m. The man is described as 5-foot-18 to 5-foot-10, with a heavy build and salt-and-pepper hair worn in a ponytail. He was wearing a green camouflage jacket with a white or light grey sweatshirt and grey t-shirt underneath, and dark pants and shoes. He was last seen on Savin Street. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (617) 343-4275 or contact the  CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). More details were not immediately available. More Boston news Boston Business Journal 10 hours ago Boston City Council strikes a blow to the BPDA in combative vote Brighton 6 hours ago Man arrested in connection with ‘peeping Tom' incidents in Brighton