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WBUR News A lot happens in Boston every day. To help you keep up, WBUR, Boston's NPR News station, pulled these stories together just for you.

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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…

Around Massachusetts and New England

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  • Driver killed in fiery single-vehicle crash in Pelham, NH
    by Aaron Curtis on April 25, 2024 at 6:25 pm

    PELHAM, N.H. — A driver was killed on Wednesday when the vehicle they were operating exited Mammoth Road, struck a tree head-on and burst into flames.

  • TikTok has promised to sue over the potential US ban. What’s the legal outlook?
    by Associated Press on April 25, 2024 at 5:07 pm

    The newly minted law could face an uphill battle in court. Critics of the sell-or-be-banned ultimatum argue that it violates TikTok users’ First Amendment rights.

  • US growth slowed sharply last quarter to 1.6% pace, reflecting an economy pressured by high rates
    by Associated Press on April 25, 2024 at 4:49 pm

    The nation's economy slowed sharply last quarter to a 1.6% annual pace in the face of high interest rates, but consumers kept spending at a solid pace.

  • Ariel Henry resigns as prime minister of Haiti, paving the way for a new government to take power
    by Associated Press on April 25, 2024 at 1:36 pm

    Ariel Henry has resigned as prime minister of Haiti, paving the way for a new government to take power. The country has been wracked by gang violence that killed or injured more than 2,500 people from January to March. Henry presented his resignation in a letter signed in Los Angeles, dated April 24, and released on Thursday by his office on the same day a council tasked with choosing a new prime minister and Cabinet for Haiti was sworn in. Henry’s Cabinet meanwhile chose Economy and Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert as the interim prime minister. It was not immediately clear when the transitional council would select its own interim prime minister.

  • Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction overturned by NY appeals court
    by Associated Press on April 25, 2024 at 1:09 pm

    New York’s highest court has overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction and ordered a new trial. The Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the judge at the disgraced movie mogul’s landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced him with improper rulings, including by letting women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case. The 72-year-old Weinstein is serving a 23-year sentence in New York. He’ll remain imprisoned because a 2022 conviction in a Los Angeles rape case resulted in a 16-year prison term. Weinstein's lawyer called the reversal a "tremendous victory." A dissenting judge called it part of a "disturbing trend" of reversals in cases involving sexual violence.

Massachusetts – NECN The latest news from around the state

  • Ex-Burlington firefighter gets probation in animal cruelty case
    by Asher Klein, Marc Fortier and Kirsten Glavin on April 25, 2024 at 1:50 pm

    A former Massachusetts firefighter who ran a dog training and boarding facility in South Boston where he allegedly abused animals will be on probation for two years after pleading in the case, prosecutors said Thursday. Tyler Falconer, who used to own Falco K9, on Wednesday pleaded to a continuance without a finding on two count of animal cruelty by a custodian, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. A judge sentenced him to two years of probation and ordered that he not own any animals or operate any business involving animals for three years. Falconer was initially charged with three counts of animal cruelty by a custodian and three counts of improperly tethering or confining an animal. After he was charged, Burlington town officials announced that Falconer had been placed on paid leave from the Burlington Fire Department; he later resigned. Prosecutors said the alleged offenses involved three dogs boarded on various dates at Falco K9 that each lost significant amounts of weight or were injured. One dog allegedly lost 20 lbs.; another allegedly suffered a foot wound requiring medical attention. “All animals, especially pets at a facility specialized to board and shelter them, should be treated with care. Pets bring so much happiness to those in their lives. Boarding pets can be stressful, and owners deserve to know that their pets are being treated compassionately,” Hayden said in a statement Thursday. More on the Falco K9 case Animal cruelty May 12, 2023 Burlington Firefighter Who Ran Boston Dog Training Facility Charged With Animal Cruelty Boston May 31, 2023 Burlington Firefighter Charged With Animal Cruelty Resigns as ‘Disturbing' New Details Emerge

  • Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden pays $5,000 fine for ethics violation during 2022 primary
    by Thea DiGiammerino on April 25, 2024 at 1:50 pm

    Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden paid a $5,000 civil fine for violating conflict of interest laws during the 2022 Democratic primary election, according to the State Ethics Commission. The violation concerns the Democratic primary for the Suffolk County District Attorney race, which Hayden won over then-Boston city councilor Felix Arroyo. In August 2022, during the height of the race, a newspaper article resurfaced allegations against Arroyo in a 2005 sexual assault investigation. It set off a firestorm of criticism and prompted back-and-forth release of documents as Arroyo attempted to defend himself as he lost endorsements. It’s worth noting that the case was ruled unfounded. Just days before the primary, on Sept. 2, 2022, Hayden’s office issued a statement that his office had reviewed the files in the case, and that  “nothing in the file suggests the allegations were unfounded,” and that “the campaign to sabotage the victim’s credibility is shameful.”  That statement is what concerned the Ethics Commission, which said that Hayden knew his staff intended to release that statement and took no action to stop it. He also made no effort to withdraw the statement after the fact. “By these failures to act, Hayden knowingly or with reason to know used his official position as Suffolk District Attorney to secure for himself the unwarranted privilege of using valuable public resources for his own personal political advantage and violated the conflict of interest law,” the Commission said in a media release. Hayden went on to win the primary and the overall election for his position. He has paid the fine and signed an agreement admitting to the violation, and waiving his right to a hearing. Ricardo Arroyo Sep 7, 2022 Hayden Wins Controversial Suffolk DA's Race, Arroyo Concedes Ricardo Arroyo Sep 1, 2022 Judge Orders Release of Case File in 2005 Sexual Assault Allegation Against Arroyo

  • Boston bouncer who fatally stabbed Marine vet in 2022 pleads guilty to manslaughter
    by Matt Fortin on April 25, 2024 at 9:23 am

    The Boston bouncer who allegedly stabbed a 23-year-old Marine veteran to death in March of 2022 pleaded guilty to manslaughter during a hearing Thursday morning in Suffolk Superior Court. Alvaro Omar Larrama, who was a bouncer at the former Sons of Boston bar on Union Street near Faneuil Hall, was charged in the killing of Daniel Martinez. Martinez was from the Chicago area. Larrama was originally facing a murder charge. A judge on Thursday sentenced Larrama to prison no more than 20 years in prison, and no less than 17 years. The Martinez family and their attorney spoke with news media following Thursday morning’s hearing. “It’s so important to our family that we get the message out not just a Marine was killed — a human being was killed,” Apolonia Martinez said, holding framed photos of her son. Martinez said she was appreciative of an apology that Larrama gave in court. “I do forgive him, but I still stand firm that he should spend 20 years in prison,” Martinez said. The incident happened on March 19, 2022. Prosecutors at the time said that Martinez was waiting in line with a friend just before 7 p.m., when words were exchanged between Larrama and Martinez. Investigators learned that Larrama denied Martinez and his friend entry to the bar. Prosecutors said that the pair began walking away, and was pursued by Larrama. Larrama allegedly stabbed Martinez in the chest during the incident. Martinez was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The bouncer, an East Boston resident, turned himself in two days later. Sons of Boston had its liquor license suspended in April of 2022. A former manager and partial owner pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in November 2023. The bar’s ownership was preparing to reopen under the name Loyal Nine, the Boston Globe reported last year, which has since opened its doors. More Boston news Boston 9 hours ago More than 100 arrests as Boston police break up Emerson protest encampment Apr 21 Dozens of 911 calls made to report drag racing, cars doing donuts in Boston's Back Bay

  • Karen Read trial: Sides debate key issues as trial approaches
    by Staff Reports on April 25, 2024 at 9:20 am

    The judge and lawyers in the Karen Read case on Thursday settled many — but not all — of the issues that were left to decide before the trial, one of Massachusetts’ most closely watched legal sagas, begins next week. Over several hours in Norfolk Superior Court, Judge Beverly Cannone heard arguments on several matters, including whether potentially explosive lines of argument could be allowed. She’s allowing witness testimony on a yelling match between Read and her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a former Boston police officer she’s accused of killing with her SUV after a night out in Canton, and held off ruling on whether the defense can refer to pending internal affairs investigations into two of the key police officers who handled the case. Read and her team have long maintained she is innocent and that authorities covered up who really killed O’Keefe. The many issues cleared up on Thursday, including more than 10 that the prosecution and defense agreed on, appeared to clear the way for the trial on Monday. On Wednesday, jury selection ended after a five-day process. Nineteen jurors were picked from hundreds interviewed, according to the defense, and the group will be whittled down to 16: 12 jurors and four alternates. The jury still needs to be sworn in. The number of jurors fluctuated throughout the five days of jury selection, with several allowed to drop out because of hardships. More on the Karen Read case canton Apr 19 Understanding the Karen Read trial: Who killed John O'Keefe? Karen Read Apr 17 Who's who in the Karen Read case: Names you should know as trial begins Dedham Apr 23 After court appearance, ‘Turtleboy' says case against him ‘can't succeed on the merits' Cannone has said she was open to moving proceedings to a different courtroom at Norfolk Superior Court after Read’s lawyers had argued that poor sight lines in the current room’s jury box violate their client’s constitutional right to confront witnesses face-to-face. “In order to advance to the merits of this case without further delay or collateral distraction, I will consider moving the trial across the hall to Courtroom 25,” she said, while noting that trials have been conducted in the current room for over 100 years. But she pointed out that the other room is smaller, and that “the only people who really can fit in that courtroom will be the press, the victim’s family and the defendant’s family.” Read’s lawyers had submitted images of defense attorney David Yannetti on the stand, claiming at least six jurors will only see the back of witnesses’ heads. Also Wednesday, filings were due in the dispute over the court-ordered buffer zone outside the courtroom. Karen Read supporters have appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court over a ruling requiring demonstrators to keep at least 200 feet away from the courthouse and, for those inside the court, preventing them from holding signs or wearing pro-Karen Read clothes. The lawyer who filed the petition argues that the order violates the First Amendment. Prior to the start of jury selection last week, Cannone announced that she’s not going to exclude the defense from using a third-party culprit defense during the trial. Prosecutors had filed a motion seeking to prevent the defense from making such an argument. “I’m going to give you a chance to develop it through relevant, competent, admissible evidence,” she said. “But you cannot open with it.” Read is accused of killing O’Keefe in January of 2022. Prosecutors say she hit him with her SUV and left him in a blizzard, but her attorneys say she’s being framed as part of a massive coverup. The defense claims O’Keefe was attacked inside the home. Cannone has said she expects the Read trial to last somewhere between 6-8 weeks once a jury is seated. She said the schedule will include full days on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and half days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  • Credit card skimmer found at Brookline gas station
    by Kaitlin McKinley Becker on April 25, 2024 at 9:18 am

    Police in Brookline, Massachusetts, issued an advisory Thursday morning to notify the public that a credit card skimmer had been found at a gas station in town. Brookline police didn’t specify which business the skimmer was found at, saying only that it was found the other day inside a gas pump. Police used the opportunity to remind people that these devices are illegally installed by criminals who use them to steal your credit card information. When you input your card, the skimmer device sends the information to an external recorder through Bluetooth technology, according to police, who shared tips on using your cell phone to scan a pump before using it. Here’s how.