Tag: Massachusetts News

“Door kick challenge” TikTok trend now a problem in Westboro, Massachusetts: “It’s terrifying”

Posted on by Leave a comment

Police in Westboro, Massachusetts, are warning homeowners about an alarming and potentially dangerous TikTok trend called the “door kick challenge.” Investigators have had several reports in town recently of strangers trying to kick down doors in the middle of the night. No one has been hurt, but police are looking for the people responsible. Amy Dwyer was sleeping when she said someone tried to kick in her front door in the middle of the night Saturday. “Literally like leapt out of bed like, ‘What the heck was that?'” said Dwyer. “It’s terrifying. I didn’t know if somebody was trying to come in my house and hurt me or kill me or hurt my family.”

Police said the challenge is like “ding dong ditch,” except it’s taken to a dangerous extreme where pranksters nearly break in doors, leaving real damage. Dwyer’s door is custom made. It will cost her $4,000 to replace it. “Four thousand dollars for punk kids potentially thinking they’re funny. I’m not amused at all. It’s a major inconvenience. It’s very unsettling. I haven’t slept well the last couple of nights,” said Dwyer. Just around the corner, another family was left shaken. Melissa Gonzalez said her door was damaged after someone tried to kick it in at 2 a.m. one night last month. She’s since installed surveillance cameras around her home. “I don’t feel safe anymore,” said Gonzalez. “It doesn’t really matter if they’re children or not. The fact of the matter is that somebody is out there trying to scare neighbors and that’s terrorizing.” Those who’ve been targeted want to know where the parents are while this is happening.

“Who is creating these challenges and asking kids to do this and why do they think it’s a good idea, and why aren’t the parents more involved in what their kids are looking at on social media?” said Dwyer. Police said it can also be dangerous to the pranksters if they try to kick in the wrong door and a homeowner believes they’re under attack. Investigators are asking anyone who sees anything suspicious or has video of an incident in Westboro to call them.

Source: “Door kick challenge” TikTok trend now a problem in Westboro, Massachusetts: “It’s terrifying” – CBS Boston

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Massachusetts town approves new bylaw to restrict Amazon drone deliveries: “Like David and Goliath”

Posted on by Leave a comment

Residents in Westboro, Massachusetts, are pushing back against Amazon’s plans to launch drone deliveries in their community, overwhelmingly approving a new bylaw aimed at restricting the service. At a special town meeting Monday, residents voted 510-13 in favor of the bylaw, which would regulate noise, nuisance and privacy issues associated with commercial drone deliveries and impose fines for violations. The bylaw has to be reviewed and allowed by the state attorney general before it can take effect. It comes as Amazon has made plans to begin delivering packages by drone in Westboro and surrounding communities by the end of the year.

The company is already operating drone delivery flights in about a dozen metro areas, with plans to expand the service to several hundred cities and towns across the U.S. by the end of 2026. Amazon Prime Air uses autonomous drones measuring about 5 feet by 5 feet to deliver packages directly to customers’ properties, within an hour of an order being placed. “Westboro, Mass. has been exactly that type of beacon of innovation that we’re looking for,” said Amazon’s Tareq Wafaie during an August Select Board meeting about the proposal, pointing to the company’s already large footprint in Westboro, which includes a fulfillment center and robotics facility. But some residents say the convenience of faster deliveries isn’t worth the potential impact on their neighborhoods. “We’re very passionate about this issue.

It might feel like David and Goliath, but I like how that story ends,” said Stephanie Stuchlik, who is part of the growing opposition to Amazon’s plans. “I spend a lot of time outdoors with my kids. I have two little girls, so I am disturbed by the thought of having this quality time outside with them, reading books and hearing and seeing these drones flying overhead all day long. It feels like not what I want my kids to grow up into,” she added. While the Federal Aviation Administration largely controls the use of airspace and has green-lit drone deliveries, residents are attempting to regulate the operation of commercial drone deliveries at the ground level. “Public nuisance, public safety issue. For what gain? To save 20 or 30 minutes to get your toothpaste or a bottle of Thousand Island dressing? It doesn’t make sense,” said Rod Jané.

“I think it’s a really, really bad idea for the town, and I think we’re doing the right thing in opposing it,” Jané added. The opposition in Westboro has also caught the attention of state and federal lawmakers. In a letter, State Sen. Michael Moore and other area lawmakers are requesting Gov. Maura Healey’s administration establish a task force to review commercial drone deliveries and consider potential policy changes. “Do we want our quality of life impacted by this?” Moore questioned. Moore said the outcome in Westboro could have implications beyond the town. “Whatever happens here will be the precedent for obviously Massachusetts and maybe New England. That’s why it’s so important that we try to get this right,” he said. “Most of us are Prime customers,” said resident Christine Farmer.

“But if drone delivery services operate, that opens the gateway for any other retailer. So that’s the reason why the townspeople are saying, ‘no thank you.'” “It’s really a disruption to the peace and the quality of life that we would have here to have something just show up and make a delivery stopping 13 feet from your window,” Farmer added. In a statement, Amazon acknowledged the town’s vote, but indicated it is continuing to evaluate its plans. “We are aware of the bylaw recently passed in Westborough regarding commercial drone delivery. We remain committed to engaging with local officials and community members as we continue to assess our plans for the area,” the company said. Amazon also defended its Prime Air program, which already operates in several states and metropolitan areas, describing the service as safe and reliable. “Each Prime Air site creates new jobs spanning operations, engineering, safety, and more, with employees earning competitive wages and full benefits from day one,” the company said.

Meanwhile, residents are preparing for another challenge through the local zoning board. Opponents argue that Amazon should not be allowed to use its existing Westboro facility to launch drone deliveries and plan to appeal to the board as part of their ongoing efforts. “We need to stop, we need to pause, we need to do everything in our power to preserve our skies and also our quality of life,” Farmer added.

Source: Massachusetts town approves new bylaw to restrict Amazon drone deliveries: “Like David and Goliath” – CBS Boston

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:8

Hunted for Following Jesus

In some communities, Muslims who leave Islam to follow Christ face rejection, threats, violence, and even death because of their faith. For Muslim-background believers, choosing to follow Jesus…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Thousands lose power in Massachusetts as nor’easter brings down trees and wires

Posted on by Leave a comment

The September nor’easter is leaving its mark across the state, with several reports of trees and wires down in multiple communities.  A large tree completely uprooted on Lucy Street in Stoneham around 3 a.m. Sunday morning.  The homeowner told WBZ-TV he heard a huge crash and left a mess in his backyard. The tree grazed a back window, luckily leaving most of the damage outside his house.  But some homeowners weren’t as fortunate, like residents on 4th Street in Medford.

Another massive tree uprooted, crashing down on several parked cars and damaging one home. Crews were on the scene restoring power to the neighborhood after more than 12 hours in the dark. But the cleanup is far from over, as wires, branches and leaves are still scattered across the roadway. And a big tree still sits in the back of a pickup truck.  In Revere, more than 800 residents lost power when a driver lost control of her car and crashed into a utility pole on Mountain Avenue Sunday morning, police said.  Crews are still working to clean up the damage left behind, repairing the pole and getting lights turned back on. But working to restore power lines in this kind of storm isn’t always easy.

“This one it’s really hard because you have to wait for it to become safe before we can put a bucket in the air, and that threshold is 35 mph. So, if you’re getting 50 mph winds, you’re going to have to wait it out before we can actually get to it,” National Grid Vice President of Electric Operations Sean Vacher told WBZ-TV.  Vacher said they have 400 crews stationed across the state. Before the storm, they expected the worst of the outages to be along the coast and the islands, but the impact has been widespread.  “It seemed to migrate north and away from the coast so Merrimack Valley got hit pretty good and then western Massachusetts even,” Vacher said. “So out toward the Berkshires we’re seeing it, so it’s been fairly even across the board.” 

As of Sunday afternoon, National Grid had restored power to more than 80,000 customers, but the storm isn’t done yet. They’re hoping to have power back on for all of their customers by Monday night.  Roughly 1,000 customers were without power across the state as of Sunday at 7 p.m., according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) outage map.

Source: Thousands lose power in Massachusetts as nor’easter brings down trees and wires – CBS Boston

For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Jeremiah 31:25

Powerful earthquake shakes Panama

A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 has struck Panama, according to the US Geological Survey. Local media are reporting structural damage in some parts of the country.…

Keep reading

Plague in Russia?

Russian authorities have sought to allay global worries over the death of a young woman who worked at a Siberian anti-plague laboratory. But moves to isolate her contacts and introduce…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Flood watch issued for parts of Massachusetts with torrential rain in the weather forecast Sunday

Posted on by Leave a comment

The WBZ-TV Weather Team is issuing a NEXT Weather Alert for a potentially tricky weather situation for Sunday, especially across Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts, where a flood watch is now in effect. The main concern will be from roughly 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. Sunday, with the greatest potential for heavy rainfall between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. We’re expecting periods of showers, along with a few embedded thunderstorms.

Most locations should see rainfall totals in the 0.50–2 inch range, but the bigger concern is the potential for localized narrow bands of torrential rain. If one of these heavier bands develops and stalls over an area, 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall within just 3 hours. That’s enough to create localized flash flooding, particularly in vulnerable urban areas where drainage can quickly become overwhelmed. Even though the overall setup isn’t necessarily a widespread flooding event, a localized corridor of very heavy rain could cause problems quickly. If you’re heading out Sunday morning or early afternoon, remember to never drive through a flooded roadway; turn around and find another route.

For now, the focus is on the potential for localized flash flooding within an otherwise fairly wet Sunday, with the greatest concern during the late morning and early afternoon hours. After the line moves through, we’ll actually end the day with some sunshine and much calmer conditions. 

Source: Flood watch issued for parts of Massachusetts with torrential rain in the weather forecast Sunday – CBS Boston

The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8

For God so Loved the World

“God loved you enough to send His Son, Jesus loved you enough to give His life, and through faith, you are offered a hope this world can never…

Keep reading

2 Timothy 3:12 

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted Paul was reminding Timothy that following Christ does not guarantee an easy life. When we…

Keep reading

John 15:18–20

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own;…

Keep reading

Galatians 1:6-10

“When truth becomes negotiable, faith becomes vulnerable so know the Gospel, stand on God’s Word, and seek His approval above the world’s applause.” “I am astonished that you…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Invasive spotted lanternfly threatens trees, plants in Massachusetts

Posted on by Leave a comment

An invasive species has begun to cover trees in the MetroWest area of Massachusetts. It’s called the spotted lanternfly, and its presence could spell doom for some vegetation while creating a sticky mess in the woods near people’s homes. The insect arrived in the United States around 2014. It first showed up in Philadelphia by way of Asia. “These actually cannot fly. So the spotted lanternflies are hitchhikers or hoppers,” said Quentin Nowland, president of Lynch Landscaping.

“They are bark and sap feeders, so you will see them excrete what is called honeydew.” Spotted lanternflies on tree in Massachusetts.  The excretion will rain down from the trees covering the base in a black, sweet, sticky substance. This can attract bees, ants, and other insects to the base of the tree. It can also land on smaller vegetation causing potentially fatal issues from sooty mold. “It will damage the growth of the plant, the health of the plant, and also have issues preventing photosynthesis,” explained Nowland. Tim Abrahmsen spotted one on the patio of his Sudbury property.

“Out of the side crawled what I thought was a wasp. It was big and black. At least that’s what it looked like. I swatted it and jumped up,” said Abrahmsen. “Lying dead on the ground was the lanternfly, an unmistakable giant red dot on its back. Giant and menacing.” Tim went down a rabbit hole, researching how to protect his large property that abuts the woods.  Spotted lanternflies in Massachusetts.  “Once people understand how to kill them, or get rid of them, we can do our part,” said Abrahmsen. He began killing the insects he saw, while also searching for their eggs. “As for the eggs, that’s where you want to stop it before they hatch. They have a distinctive look like a smear of mud.

They lay them on flat or horizontal smooth surfaces,” said Abrahmsen. “Best way to get rid of them is to get a plastic, sealable bag with soapy water, or straight alcohol, and scrape them into the bag.” Lynch Landscaping is also helping people to combat the clusters of them that can form on trees. They apply a chemical to the base of the tree. It is absorbed into the sap inside the tree and then eaten by the flies. In a few days, the insects will begin to die.

Source: Invasive spotted lanternfly threatens trees, plants in Massachusetts – CBS Boston

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm 1:1

Isaiah 45:2

“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, This verse…

Keep reading

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. This verse emphasizes that people who carefully watch what they say will protect themselves from serious…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Massachusetts angler recalls battle with 1,260-pound Atlantic blue marlin: “A gift from the fish gods”

Posted on by Leave a comment

It was a battle of will and skill when anglers off the coast of Massachusetts hauled in what is likely a record-breaking Atlantic blue marlin. The fish was so big, the group thought it was a shark when they first reeled it to the surface.  Damon Sacco, captain of the boat Castafari, and his fellow anglers caught the fish on Aug. 19 about 100 miles off the coast of Falmouth. His deep-sea fishing charter had client Walter Chapman on board Wednesday. “We had a tough start. We were probably 12 hours into the trip and we had one tuna,” Sacco said. So the group changed course, and so did their luck. They filled their coolers with tuna, and their biggest triumph was still beneath the surface.

“It looked like a mammal or a shark. It was too big for a marlin. I’ve seen hundreds of marlin. This thing was four feet off the surface,” Sacco said. “We all saw the girth of that fish and realized oh my God this thing is an absolute behemoth.” What happened next was what Sacco recalls as a two-hour grudge match of chaos and constant motion while the swear words and diesel smoke sputtered. “They’re big nasty critters,” he said. “They come out of the water like freight trains. Sometimes they charge the boat. If you’re not ready they’ll shish kebab your transom, they’ll put their bill right into the wood.” And just as they’d hoped, this humongous haul was one for the record books. Coming in at 1,260 pounds and more than 11 feet long, it’s the largest Atlantic blue marlin ever caught off the East Coast. It’s just shy of the world record, which was caught off Brazil in 1992.

“We caught this fish on a 150-pound leader. That is just unheard of,” Sacco said. “The fact that didn’t break makes me believe this was a gift. This was a gift from the fish gods. Meant to be.” Sacco said it’s rare that he keeps marlins. “Some fish are that big that you’ve got to take them home,” he said. 

Source: Massachusetts angler recalls battle with 1,260-pound Atlantic blue marlin: “A gift from the fish gods” – CBS Boston

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4:12

Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning while people…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Massachusetts veterans take to the skies again with “Dream Flights” in World War II-era aircraft

Posted on by Leave a comment
pexels-photo-17525374.jpeg

Some of the oldest military veterans in Massachusetts were honored with special flights on Friday in a World War II-era aircraft. The nonprofit organization Dream Flights honored senior veterans from Alliance Health and Human Services with free flights in a restored Stearman biplane, taking off from Norwood Airport. “We give them an opportunity to kind of relive their military moments,” said Al Bailey with Alliance Health and Human Services. “And the exciting part is some of their family members never saw them fly or never saw them in service.” “Very rewarding” Jeff Klosky is the volunteer pilot who took the veterans to the sky. “It is very rewarding. We don’t get paid in cash, but we get paid in smiles and it’s very addictive,” Klosky said. “I keep coming back.

This is my sixth season doing it and just to put a smile on a veteran’s face is totally worth everything we do.” The first to get into the open cockpit was Joe Tetrault. “I’ve been on it before, they’re all right,” he said. Tetrault is a 90-year-old Korean War veteran and just being at the airport sparked some memories.  “It brings me back to the younger days when I was a kid that I flew on this plane,” he said. Tetrault’s daughter Jeanne was beaming with pride. “He’s so amazing and he’s been through so much that this is just one more thing for him to try and achieve,” she said. “He’s just my hero.” Honoring veterans Joan Stafford, who turns 95 in a few days, is flying in honor of her late husband Robert. “My husband would be so proud because he used to fly out of Norwood and he loved airplanes,” she said. It was “mission accomplished” after a successful day of flying in Norwood. “It’s great to get them in the plane, and when you get them back, the worst response I’ve gotten is a huge smile,” Klosky said.

Source: Massachusetts veterans take to the skies again with “Dream Flights” in World War II-era aircraft – CBS Boston

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40

A study of the Mesha Stele

The Mesha Stele, also famously known as the Moabite Stone, is a 3-foot-tall black basalt monument dating back to circa 840 BCE. It is one of the most vital…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

“One more rough day”: Sensitive groups urged to limit exposure to wildfire smoke in Massachusetts

Posted on by Leave a comment
city in fog

The sky over Boston has become a yellow haze that has turned the air into a smoke scented frustration as people try to enjoy the summer weather. The haze is the result of roughly 800 wildfires in Canada that have pushed smoke into New England and created an alien feel. “I thought I was on Mars, except I could breathe and I wasn’t too cold,” said Mike Cloud who came to the city for Sail Boston. “Someone this morning was pointing out the sun looked orange.”

“It almost felt like you were at a campsite with an active fire going,” said West Roxbury resident James Venezia. WBZ meteorologists say the haze began to descend on Wednesday, which resulted in an air quality alert statewide through Thursday night. “Honestly, I felt like I was getting a little issue with my heart and with my breathing. As I inhaled, I don’t know if it was my mind playing tricks on me, or if it was truly the environment just bothering me,” said Keneshia Venezia. Wildfire smoke health concerns James and Keneshia came to the city with their two little ones to see Sail Boston. The thick air left her concerned. “I was just thinking is it even safe for us to be out here? He’s two, he’s four. Can their little lungs handle this?” said Keneshia.

“Any kids that have asthma, similar symptoms to that, should probably limit their exposure and their exertion just today and tomorrow,” National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Frank Nocera said on Wednesday. He says ozone and smoke particulates are to blame for some of the breathing issues. “Unfortunately, people who have any sensitivities to smoke or any pollutants are suffering today, and unfortunately it looks like we have one more rough day coming up tomorrow,” said Nocera.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is monitoring air quality from one of their 26 stations around the state. They took WBZ inside their one in Kenmore Square. “In here we have air monitoring analyzers. Each analyzes for a different air pollutant,” said Massachusetts DEP Deputy Division Director Sean Dunn. Air quality alert through Thursday When those thresholds get too high, they issue an air quality alert. They have extended the alert through Thursday. “Currently we are in the orange part of that air quality index. That is unhealthy for sensitive groups which include young people or senior citizens,” said Dunn. “We recommend limited activity outdoors and staying inside when possible.” “I’m fine. I can deal with it.

I smoked 22 years, two packs a day, but I quit in 1990. I knew when to quit,” said Dennis Quick, a tourist from Pennsylvania who was also taking in Sail Boston. Quick spent years on a research vessel for Columbia University. They were tasked with gathering 40,000 samples from the ocean floor. During his travels at sea, he saw some interesting skies, but never a yellow haze like the one over Boston. “Out there in the sky, I saw a green flash when the sun went down on the horizon,” said Quick. He will be sure to watch the sunset Wednesday evening as well. Whatever color that may be.

Source: “One more rough day”: Sensitive groups urged to limit exposure to wildfire smoke in Massachusetts – CBS Boston

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
Colossians 3:18-19

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak Hits 20 States: Full List of Affected Areas

Posted on by Leave a comment
anonymous man hanging toilet paper in bathroom

A parasite that causes explosive, watery diarrhea has sickened 145 people across 20 US states, prompting an ongoing investigation by federal and state health officials into the source of the outbreak. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cases were reported between May and June 16 and involve patients ranging in age from 5 to 86 years old. So far, 20 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. Breaking It Down What is Shigella and how does it spread? What are the symptoms of Shigella infection? How are health authorities responding to the outbreak in Wayanad? Created with AI. Health officials believe the illnesses are linked to contaminated food because none of the patients reported recent international travel.

However, investigators have not yet identified the exact source. The parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, causes cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness that commonly leads to explosive, watery diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Symptoms usually appear about a week after infection and mainly affect the intestines, although some infected people may not develop symptoms. The CDC said local, state, and federal public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases spanning multiple states. Officials also noted that the true number of infections may be higher because some cases may not have been diagnosed.

List of 20 States Affected By The Outbreak The CDC has reported cases in the following states and Washington, DC:

  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Connecticut
  • Pennsylvania
  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • Wisconsin
  • Illinois
  • Georgia
  • Florida
  • Texas
  • Louisiana
  • Colorado
  • Alaska
  • Washington DC

Among the affected areas, New York has reported the highest number of cases, with between 31 and 80 infections, followed by Texas and Illinois, which have each recorded between 11 and 30 cases. While cyclosporiasis can resolve on its own, symptoms may last for a month or longer if left untreated, increasing the risk of dehydration. The CDC says the infection is typically treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, also sold under the brand names Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim. The agency also recommends following safe food handling and storage practices. Previous US outbreaks have been linked to imported fresh produce, including cilantro, raspberries, sweet peas, mesclun lettuce and basil.

Source: Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak Hits 20 States: Full List of Affected Areas | Times Now

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Luke 6:27-28

Hope in the dark

Pip: A mountain village, a wandering stranger, a mother weaving a basket by the river — Drink of Jesus has been building a world where ancient scripture lands like it’s happening…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Thousands lose power in Massachusetts after wind gusts bring down trees, power lines

Posted on by Leave a comment
tree removal after storm in londrina street

A storm in Massachusetts has left thousands without power after wind gusts brought down trees and power lines around the state.  National Grid reported that more than 20,000 residents were without power for part of the day on Saturday. Eversource reported that over 11,000 customers have been affected. Wind gusts hit up to 55 miles per hour in Boston, with peak gusts hitting 63 miles per hour in Cohasset. Around 229 flights were delayed at Logan Airport and 58 had been canceled.  Woburn tree down Several trees in Woburn blocked roads and ripped down power lines. The Woburn Police Department asked residents to avoid Wyman Street in the area of Park Drive and Watson Lane after a tree took down an entire utility pole and blocked all traffic. 

Source: Thousands lose power in Massachusetts after wind gusts bring down trees, power lines – CBS Boston

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Ephesians 5:1

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Black bear spotted wandering around Worcester, Massachusetts: “I was terrified” 😱

Posted on by Leave a comment
dramatic portrait of a black bear in low light

Neighborhoods around Doherty High School in Worcester, Massachusetts were on alert after a black bear was seen roaming around on Thursday morning. You could say the suspect in the chase really put his climbing skills on full display. A black bear was caught on camera scaling a retaining wall near Doherty High School, as Environmental Police followed close behind. Parents picking up their kids from school spotted the bear meandering nearby. The busy bear trekked through town trying to find its way and half a mile away, it came face to face with Gail Barrell in her backyard. “My heart was racing,” said Barrell. “I was terrified, so he looked at me and kept going on, but I ran up to the house screaming.” “We’ve been here 22 years and never saw a bear,” said Phil Barrell. Moments earlier, the bear galloped across the backyard of a rest home before it climbed a tree then hopped a fence.

Source: Black bear spotted wandering around Worcester, Massachusetts: “I was terrified” – CBS Boston

With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Psalm 119:10

The Distraction of Fear

Fear has a way of making tomorrow feel more real than today. But you were never meant to live inside a future that hasn’t happened yet, you were called to trust the God…

Keep reading

Too Busy to Hear God

You can be so busy doing things for God that you never stop long enough to hear from God. Sometimes the biggest distraction in your life isn’t rebellion, it’s simply being too busy…

Keep reading

Who Has Your Attention?

Your attention is one of the most valuable things you own, and everyone wants a piece of it. The question isn’t whether something is getting your attention—the question is whether Jesus is getting…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Snow in the weather forecast? Unusual storm could bring flakes to Massachusetts Saturday.

Posted on by Leave a comment
snow covered shrubs in winter landscape

Believe it or not, the possibility of snow is in the weekend weather forecast for part of Massachusetts. It would be one thing to have a rainy day, like last Sunday, but the forecast for this Saturday truly takes the cake and has even our weather team shaking their heads. We have issued a NEXT Weather Alert for late Friday and Saturday for a very chilly, wet and windy spring storm in the Boston area. This is a highly anomalous storm for a number of reasons.   Omega Block affecting Boston weather Take a look at the jet stream forecast in the coming days. You don’t need a degree in meteorology to recognize that something isn’t right.

WBZ-TV graphic CBS Boston There will be a huge ridge of high pressure extending from the Midwest way up into Canada. This will bring record heat to areas up near Hudson Bay with temperatures expected to top 80 degrees. Conversely, major troughs in the jetstream will form on either side of that giant ridge, one in the Pacific Northwest and another right over New England. This specific configuration is known as an “Omega Block,” and when you get this much twisting and turning, some wild weather is bound to occur. And, wouldn’t you know it, New England is in just the right (or wrong) place. The storm is literally coming right out of the Arctic Circle and making a beeline for our backyard. Boston weekend weather forecast There will be a few showers Friday evening and overnight. The storm will peak during the day on Saturday when a band of windswept rain will pivot from north to south across central and eastern Massachusetts.

It will have the feel of a nor’easter at times on Saturday, with strong northeast winds pushing waves of rainfall inland. Winds will gust between 30-to-50 mph within that band of heavy rainfall, perhaps even leading to some minor tree damage.

Source: Snow in the weather forecast? Unusual storm could bring flakes to Massachusetts Saturday. – CBS Boston

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

Finding Strength in God

You don’t have to carry this alone, He is your safe place and your help in every moment of need.  Bible Verse:God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Tree falls on Massachusetts school playground, injuring 2 children, adult

Posted on by Leave a comment
playground with colorful fence in city

Two children and an adult were injured after a large tree fell onto a school playground in Melrose, Massachusetts on Monday afternoon. The city is calling it a “serious accident.” It happened at the Winthrop Elementary School just moments after school was let out for the day. “It was after school; kids were playing on the playground as they usually do,” said Nancy Clover of Melrose. “The wind picked up and a tree fell.” Police caution tape was put up around the swing sets and slide where the tree fell. The trunk of the tree bent a fence as it fell from the neighboring property onto the playground.  The Melrose Fire Department said two children and an adult were injured and taken to the hospital in ambulances. The ages and conditions of those who were injured were not released.

Source: Tree falls on Massachusetts school playground, injuring 2 children, adult – CBS Boston

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 2:15-16

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Police arrest man on front-end loader after slow-speed chase through Massachusetts town

Posted on by Leave a comment
tractor outdoors near warehouse

A man driving a front-end loader was arrested after a slow-speed chase through a Massachusetts town late Saturday night. It happened around 9:20 p.m., with the incident starting on Route 20 East. The Millbury Police Department said the first call came in for a front-end loader being driven erratically on the highway. When police initially arrived, they were unable to locate the front-end loader. A short time later, officers found the equipment on Park Hill Ave. “An officer attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop by activating emergency blue lights, but the operator failed to stop,” Millbury police said.

Source: Police arrest man on front-end loader after slow-speed chase through Massachusetts town – CBS Boston

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Little Joe, gorilla that once escaped Franklin Park Zoo, is on the move again and is leaving Boston

Posted on by Leave a comment
close up of the head of a gorilla

Little Joe is leaving Boston after decades at the Franklin Park Zoo. The zoo did not say exactly where the 33-year-old gorilla is going, but said he’ll move to an accredited institution, “where it is hoped that he will be successful in starting his own family.” In 2003, Little Joe made national headlines when he escaped his enclosure and ran into the city, injuring a 2-year-old girl. The zoo made safety upgrades in the years that followed. Little Joe is a western lowland gorilla, which is a critically endangered species that is threatened in the wild by disease and poaching, as well as logging and mining practices, the zoo said.

“This news is bittersweet to share as we will all miss Little Joe, but we are also excited for this opportunity for him to lead his own troop and start a family, which is important for the preservation of the species,” Zoo New England president and CEO Stephanie Brinley said in a statement.  Little Joe will leave Boston sometime in the coming months. As part of the breeding program, he will be replaced by two young gorillas in the spring. One of them is an 8-year-old named Moke that is currently at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Later in the year, a male silverback gorilla will come to Boston from another zoo. The two young gorillas will join a 5-year-old at Franklin Park Zoo named Pablo to form a “bachelor group,” the zoo said. “Pablo is reaching the age where he will be testing his family and pushing boundaries more,” assistant curator Erica Farrell said. “We hope that Pablo will bond with his new bachelor troop members while they are still young and develop relationships that will help them grow together through their teenage years, and beyond.”

Source: Little Joe, gorilla that once escaped Franklin Park Zoo, is leaving Boston – CBS Boston

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Justice Behind Closed Doors in Massachusetts

Posted on by Leave a comment
brown wooden door on gray concrete wall

Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that exempts all three branches of state government; legislature, governor’s office, and judiciary from its public records law. That became an issue in 2023 when anonymous letters began to be received by defense attorneys whose clients had been convicted in criminal cases heard in the Bristol County Courthouse in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The letters alleged that Karlyn Butler, a Bristol County prosecutor, had engaged in a romantic relationship with then-judge Douglas Darnbrough in whose courtroom she often tried cases. The letters also allege that the two colluded regarding how cases would play out before they were tried.

Butler and Darnbrough are estimated to have worked on as many as 3,700 cases together. The allegations, if true, would have necessitated vacating the guilty verdicts or retrying the cases. With no applicable public records law, the public has no way of knowing what the texts Darnbrough wrote to Butler said. Douglas Darnbrough resigned as a judge shortly after the anonymous letters began to arrive, giving health issues as the reason. Karlyn Butler is still employed as a prosecutor in Bristol county in southeastern Massachusetts. Darnbrough and Butler have both denied the allegations. These allegations could not have come at a worse time for state officials. The Massachusetts criminal justice system has been awash in scandal in recent years.

More than 40,000 drug convictions have had to be dismissed due to misconduct by two chemists, Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak, who worked at state crime laboratories. In 2025 Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor was fired from his job and banned from working as a police officer anywhere in Massachusetts due to his behavior while serving as lead investigator in the Karen Read case. Attorney James P. McKenna filed a lawsuit on behalf of two of his clients, Gerson Pascual-Santana and Jonathan Rascao, who were each sentenced to prison terms by then-judge Darnbrough after trials prosecuted by Butler. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court assigned one of its justices, Serge Georges, Jr., to investigate the allegations of an improper relationship. In May 2025 Justice Georges appointed Ernest Sarason, Jr., a retired Massachusetts Municipal Court judge, to be a Special Master with the power to issue subpoenas and hear testimony from witnesses under oath. All of the sworn testimony heard by the Special Master took place behind closed doors over the past year. After Sarason’s investigation was completed and his report submitted, Justice Georges convened a status hearing on May 9, 2026 which was open to the public; releasing the Special Master’s report to the public the same day.

In his report, Special Master Sarason found no evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Butler and Darnbrough. At the hearing, Justice Georges stated that he wanted the public to have confidence in the integrity of the investigation. But since the hearings presided over by the Special Master were cloaked in secrecy it is difficult for the public to know whether they constituted a thorough investigation, a whitewash, or something in-between.

Source: Justice Behind Closed Doors in Massachusetts | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics

For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.”
1 Peter 3:10-11

Middle school students from Lexington, Massachusetts escape bus fire on New Hampshire highway

Posted on by Leave a comment
a close up shot of a fire truck
bus fire

A tour bus carrying dozens of middle school students from Lexington, Massachusetts caught fire on I-93 north in Woodstock, New Hampshire on Friday night. An adult on the bus was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. At about 6:30 p.m., a caller reported to New Hampshire State Police that the bus was on fire and that those onboard, including children, were evacuating. When firefighters arrived, the back of the bus was fully engulfed in flames. Troopers have determined the bus was carrying about 60 middle school students and adult staff members when the engine compartment began to smoke just south of Exit 32. 

Source: Middle school students from Lexington, Massachusetts escape bus fire on New Hampshire highway – CBS Boston

We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19

Significant icing, plowable snow possible in parts of Massachusetts Thursday night into Friday, weather maps show

Posted on by Leave a comment
parked cars covered in snow

More ice and snow are in the weather forecast for Massachusetts, and it could cause treacherous travel Thursday into Friday.

Source: Significant icing, plowable snow possible in parts of Massachusetts Thursday night into Friday, weather maps show – CBS Boston

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

RFK Jr. launches voluntary pledge for hospitals to serve healthier food

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday launched the “Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge.”  The voluntary pledge asks hospitals to serve healthier meals that reduce “highly processed foods and prioritize nutrient-dense options” that align with federal dietary guidelines.  “Patients recovering from serious medical conditions…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Associated Press Dislikes Trump Remarks on Communism at Mount Rushmore

Communism is an evil philosophy. Communist regimes have killed hundreds of millions of people, and made millions more live in a police state. But somehow, speaking ill of communism alarms the same journalists that constantly suggest democracy is in peril under Donald Trump. Authoritarianism is bad – unless it’s communist. Trump denounced communism in a…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Lightning strike ignites vehicle over gas leak in Miramar neighborhood, alarming residents: “I could feel the heat at my house”

A lightning strike set a vehicle on fire in a Miramar neighborhood Monday afternoon, creating a dangerous situation after firefighters discovered the car was parked above a natural gas leak. The fire happened around 1 p.m. in the 6600 block of Dahlia Drive. Multiple agencies, including Miramar Fire Rescue, Hollywood Fire Rescue and the Broward…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Severe flooding damages New Jersey communities after strong storms

Homeowners in New Jersey couldn’t catch a break after severe storms inundated their neighborhoods with rain.  Some were still waiting for power to be restored from Saturday night’s storm, when they were hit by flash flooding. Many families were pumping water out of their backyards and basements Monday night. They said floodwaters reached several feet deep…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Cuba hit with nationwide blackout as US pressure continues

Cuba suffered a nationwide blackout on Monday as it faces an ongoing energy crisis, worsened by an effective US blockade on fuel shipments. Cuba’s energy ministry said the national electrical grid had suffered a total collapse. The country’s grid operator said it is investigating the cause. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said officials…

Drink of Jesus's avatar by Drink of Jesus

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive updates.