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

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

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
Proverbs 15:16

The Weight of Leadership

“A church can survive criticism, but it cannot thrive without integrity. When spiritual leaders forget they answer first to God, the flock always bears the wounds.” “Not many of…

Keep reading

Heaven is for Real Movie

“Heaven is for Real” is a faith-based family drama inspired by a Nebraska Pastor Tood Burpo’s best-selling book about his 4 years old son (Colton Burpo) who had visited…

Keep reading

God’s Here

After losing his wife and son in a tragic accident, a firefighter wrestles with grief and forgiveness. Starring Kevin Sorbo (God’s Not Dead), Sarah Elizabeth Reeves Director: Bill McAdams…

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

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

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:1-2

Feeling Alone? God Sees You

Even when you feel invisible in your struggle, God sees every tear, every burden, and every silent prayer. Your exhaustion has not escaped His attention. “The Lord is close…

Keep reading

Jesus Revolution

In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic…

Keep reading

Letters to God

Tyler Doherty is an extraordinary eight-year-old boy armed with strong faith and courage as he faces his daily battle against cancer. Surrounded by a loving family and community, Tyler’s…

Keep reading

War Room

Pharmaceutical salesman Tony Jordan and his wife, realtor Elizabeth Jordan, appear outwardly successful; they have a large house, plenty of money, and a beautiful daughter named Danielle. Behind the…

Keep reading

Climbing Your Mountain

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…

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

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

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32

Boundary Waters wilderness burning at U.S

Wildfires flared earlier this week and destroyed thousands of acres in Manitoba, Ontario, and Minnesota, with many of the fires straddling the U.S.-Canadian border. The Western Fire Chiefs’ map on Thursday…

Keep reading

Peace in the Storm

God does not always remove the storm immediately, but He promises peace in the middle of it. His presence calms fearful hearts.  Bible Verse: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I…

Keep reading

The Brave New Age of Trust-Fund Socialism

Democrats are in the midst of a fun and terrifying transformation. Hating Trump is no longer sufficient to win elections in blue states. Democratic primary voters—specifically the party’s core constituency of…

Keep reading

Finding Hope in Life’s Challenges

When life turns up the heat, your faith isn’t falling apart, it’s being revealed. What feels like pressure is actually God proving that what He placed in you can’t be destroyed.…

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

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

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:19

Prayer for Boldness; Acts 4:24-31

When opposition rises against God’s people, the natural response is often fear. Yet the early church teaches us that the answer to intimidation is not retreat, but prayer…

Keep reading

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

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

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

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6

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

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

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

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17

Robin Williams as the American Flag

Robin Williams portrays the American flag in “I Love Liberty,” a two-hour television special created by Norman Lear and presented by People For the American Way. Source: (630)…

Keep reading

The Story of America: John Adams

The White House Salute to America 250 Task Force has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It…

Keep reading

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

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

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

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

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

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

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3:2-3

States That Allow Bible in the Classroom

Texas public schools will now require students to read Bible passages and stories as part of the latest conservative push to expand the role of religion in public education—a move bound to escalate wrangling over…

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

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

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:12

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

Justice Behind Closed Doors in Massachusetts

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

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Romans 11:33

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

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

And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
Acts 22:7

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

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

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:3

House passes pro-union bill after 20 Republicans defy party, in latest move to bypass GOP leadership

Washington — House Democrats, with the help of several Republicans, bypassed GOP leadership on Tuesday to force a successful vote on legislation that would accelerate negotiations on newly-formed unions’ first collective bargaining agreements.  The legislation, titled the Faster Labor Contracts Act, was introduced in September by Democratic Rep. Donald Norcross of New Jersey. It passed…

Man arrested hours after opening fire on Hennepin County deputies in south Minneapolis, sheriff says

Law enforcement officers arrested a man in south Minneapolis Tuesday evening following an hourslong standoff. The deputies were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for 31-year-old Tyler Joseph O’Brien around 11:30 a.m. at an apartment unit on West 28th Street and Nicollet Avenue when they heard multiple shots fired. Deputies retreated and heard several more…

Non Christian Director Steven Spielberg says ‘Disclosure Day’ will touch on Christianity

Director Steven Spielberg suggested during a Sunday interview that his new film about extraterrestrials might raise theological questions among some Christians regarding the nature of the cosmos. Speaking with Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz on “CBS News Sunday Morning,” Spielberg said “Disclosure Day,” his upcoming movie about a meteorologist and a cybersecurity expert exposing…

Ransomware attack shuts down Evanston Township High School campus

The FBI is investigating a cybersecurity at Evanston Township High School that has closed down the whole campus Monday morning. A ransomware attack is hitting the district’s phone lines, internet services and computers, and impacting the school’s emergency notification and public address systems. “Because these systems are not fully operational, we made the determination to…

Residents push back against proposed data center in Lyon Township, Michigan

Lyon Township residents filled the planning commission meeting Monday evening, for another long night of fiery public comment, as many continue to fight a proposed data center.  “I moved to the country because I wanted to live in a peaceful place, and so far, it is becoming not peaceful,” said one of the residents during…

SCOTUS Could Strike Down EPA’s Unconstitutional Overreach

The EPA under the Biden Administration crafted a cap-and-trade scheme to allocate market share in the multibillion-dollar hydrofluorocarbons industry — including to “new market participants” based on the promotion of “equity.” Now, one of the businesses the EPA rendered a market-share loser under the federal agency’s unconstitutional take-over of the hydrofluorocarbon industry seeks review by…

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive updates.