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What’s in the deal: 2-year debt limit lift; veterans health care protected 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached an agreement in principle on legislation to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default.While the text of the legislation is still being written, a few general details have emerged. Here’s a look at what’s in and out of the deal, based on what’s known so far:TWO-YEAR DEBT INCREASEThe agreement would keep nondefense spending roughly flat in the 2024 fiscal year and increase it by 1% the following year, as well as provide for a two-year debt-limit increase — past the next presidential election in 2024. That’s according to a source familiar with the deal who provided details on the condition of anonymity.VETERANS CAREThe agreement would fully fund medical care for veterans at the levels included in Biden’s proposed 2024 budget blueprint, including a fund dedicated to veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances or environmental hazards. Biden sought $...

Mass. congressional delegation quiet after Biden-McCarthy debt deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

Mum’s the word among Bay State democrats.After railing against inaction on the part of conservative colleagues as Congress moved to recess ahead of the holiday weekend, a collective diatribe which continued at home and on social media through Friday and Saturday, the state’s congressional delegation grew oddly quiet the day after news spread that President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had struck a deal to avoid a national default.FACT CHECK: MAGA right-wing extremists are pushing phony “facts” to demonize people living in poverty. So let’s set the record straight. SNAP helps veterans, seniors, kids, and other vulnerable adults afford food. The average benefit is a measly $6 per person, per day.— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) May 27, 2023Ahead of the “agreement in principle” negotiated between the White House and Speaker’s Office, most of the state’s congressional representatives and senators were loudly calling on Republicans to move on from their dema...

Eloy Jiménez returns, but the Chicago White Sox suffer another tough loss, falling 6-5 in 10 innings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

Eloy Jiménez had a message for Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol.“He texted me when he had the surgery: ‘I’ll be back soon,’” Grifol said Sunday.Jiménez underwent an appendectomy May 6 in Cincinnati. He returned Sunday and helped put the Sox in position to split their four-game series against the Detroit Tigers.Jiménez was a key figure during a four-run seventh, driving in two with a double and scoring a run to give the Sox the lead.But the Tigers tied it in the ninth and won it an inning later as Spencer Torkelson scored on a Eric Haase’s sacrifice fly to center to hand the Sox a tough 6-5 loss in front of 22,644 at Comerica Park.The Sox couldn’t hold a late lead for the second consecutive game and lost three of four in the series.“Tough game,” Grifol said. “We did a great job hanging in there the last two games. We felt we had the right matchups out there and we did some good things, just didn’t ...

Biden and McCarthy reach a final deal to avoid US default and now must sell it to Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, FARNOUSH AMIRI and MICHELLE L. PRICE (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — With days to spare before a potential first-ever government default, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached final agreement Sunday on a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and worked to ensure enough Republican and Democratic votes to pass the measure in the coming week.The Democratic president and Republican speaker spoke with each other Sunday evening as negotiators rushed to draft and post the 99-page bill text so lawmakers can review compromises that neither the hard-right or left flank is likely to support. Instead, the leaders are working to gather backing from the political middle as Congress hurries toward votes before a June 5 deadline to avert a damaging federal default.“Good news,” Biden declared Sunday evening at the White House.“The agreement prevents the worst possible crisis, a default, for the first tim...

Red Sox end sluggish west coast swing with 4-2 loss to Diamondbacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

It certainly wasn’t a game for the history books, that’s for sure.Frankly, the same could be said about this west coast trip as a whole.As has often been the case throughout the nine-game road swing, the Red Sox left their offense at the team hotel on Sunday, wrapping up the trip with an uninspiring 4-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.Merrill Kelly, a late-bloomer who has become one of baseball’s most productive pitchers in his mid-30s, kept the Red Sox guessing all night. The 34-year-old Arizona starter tallied 10 strikeouts, six of them looking, while allowing one run on four hits over 6.1 strong innings of work.Red Sox manager Alex Cora offered high praise for Kelly afterwards.“He can pitch, and in an era where people talk about overpowering stuff and all that, his command is perfect,” Cora said. “Similar to back in the day like (Greg) Maddux, he could put it wherever he wanted to.”The only real opportunities the Red Sox got came once Ke...

Debt ceiling catastrophe potentially averted after WH, Republicans reach deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

A proposed deal on the nation’s debt ceiling struck Saturday night between negotiators with the House GOP and the White House reverberated on Capitol Hill Sunday, with conservative Republicans calling it ‘insanity’ but both President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy confident the plan will pass.The “agreement in principle,” as it was described, comes just days before the nation was due to run out of money and fail to meet its debts and obligations, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who last week updated the so-called X-date for default to June 5.Negotiators worked at a feverish pace after lawmakers went home early for the holiday, announcing the deal, the text of which is still being drafted, after 9 p.m. Saturday.“At the end of the day, people can look together to be able to pass this,” said McCarthy in comments Sunday.“I think we’re in good shape,” Biden later said, projecting perhaps optimistic confidence the deal might make it to his desk on time.No...

Northwestern downs BC 18-6 in NCAA lax title game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

No. 1 seed Northwestern jumped to an early lead and rolled over No. 3 seed Boston College 18-6 in Sunday’s NCAA Division 1 Women’s Lacrosse Championship game at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.BC competed in its sixth consecutive championship game, capturing its lone national title of the run with a win over Syracuse in 2021. Northwestern (21-1) captured its eighth NCAA title and first in 11 years.The ACC regular season and tournament champion Eagles finished the season at 19-4 that included a 13-game win streak leading up to the title match.“You know, sports are tough,” said BC coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein. “We didn’t get to end the season with a win but I’m really proud of the program and everyone who helped us get here. “The Wildcats jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and led 6-2 at the half. Kayla Martello and Belle Smith scored BC’s second quarter goals. Northwestern went on a rampage in the second half outscoring the Eagles 12-4 to secure the victory.“I think No...

Derrick White’s growth has been important, and other Celtics takeaways from epic Game 6 win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

MIAMI — What a difference a year makes for Derrick White.The Celtics guard was admittedly tentative when he arrived in Boston at last season’s trade deadline. He didn’t want to step on any toes. But he got over those initial jitters. He was confident and comfortable this season, and it showed in his performance as he became a full-time starter, one of the Celtics’ most important players and an All-Defensive team selection.What better way to show that growth than on Saturday night, when his miracle tip-in at the buzzer saved the Celtics’ season in epic fashion?“If you don’t know who D-White is, you know who he is now,” Marcus Smart said. “I mean, that dude has been phenomenal for us this whole, whole year. You know, just playing the way that we knew he could play when we picked him up.“It’s been refreshing for us, and it’s been a joy to watch and a joy to be on the court with him.”White’s humility has always stood out. The sixth-year guard has never been an attention-seek...

Raccoon euthanized after pet store visit in Maine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

AUBURN, Maine — A raccoon in Maine was euthanized and tested for rabies after a woman brought it into a pet store for a nail trim and some customers kissed it, state wildlife authorities said.The raccoon tested negative for the disease, and there is no rabies risk to the public, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife spokesperson Mark Latti said Sunday. However, raccoons are one of the most common carriers of rabies in the state, and bringing the wild animal into a pet store constituted an unnecessary risk to public health, Latti said.The woman, who has not been identified by authorities, brought the raccoon into an Auburn pet store on Tuesday, the wildlife department said. She was seeking to get the animal’s nails trimmed, which is a service the store does not provide to raccoons, the department said.Several different people handled the animal and some kissed it, the wildlife department said. The store’s manager then asked the woman to leave and contacted t...

3-year-old fatally struck by car in Chula Vista

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:24 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A 3-year-old was fatally struck by a car in a the parking lot of a Chula Vista shopping center Saturday, police said.The Chula Vista Police Department was notified of the incident around 6:21 p.m., after receiving a report of the collision in the parking lot at 891 Showroom Place.Officers were dispatched to the scene, finding the child with life-threatening injuries. According to CVPD, they attempted life saving measures until fire department personnel arrived.The child was transported to Rady Children's Hospital where they succumbed to the injuries sustained in the collision. The victim has not been identified by authorities at this time. Woman hit, killed by COASTER train identified The driver, identified by law enforcement as a 36-year-old, remained on scene and cooperated with investigators from the CVPD Traffic Bureau. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.The cause of the collision has not been determined by law enforcement, however, drugs an...