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Ex-Democrat Florida gov nominee not guilty of lying to FBI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Former Florida Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum, who came within a whisker of defeating Republican Ron DeSantis in 2018, was acquitted Thursday of lying to the FBI in a corruption case that also involved illegal use of campaign contributions.But the federal jury hung on charges that Gillum funneled tens of thousands of dollars in campaign money to personal accounts. Prosecutors said they will retry him on those counts. They had claimed Gillum was struggling financially after quitting his $120,000-a-year job with the People for the American Way group to run for governor.Gillum was acquitted of lying to undercover FBI agents posing as developers who paid for a 2016 trip he took with his brother to New York, including hotel rooms, meals, a boat tour and a ticket to the hit Broadway show “Hamilton.”Outside the courthouse, Gillum thanked his family, wife, legal team and pastor for their support, but took a dig at prosecutors.“They have quite litera...

Truck hits garage in Newton, causes it to collapse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

A box truck hit a garage in Newton, causing it to collapse Thursday afternoon. SKY7-HD was over the scene on Pearl Street around 4:30 p.m., where debris were visible around the crash area. There was no additional information immediately available. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Part of seawall collapses under Swampscott restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

A part of the seawall in Swampscott collapsed into the sea around 1 p.m. Thursday. A restaurant on top of the wall was evacuated, and its structural integrity is being investigated. Officials said there were no injuries.Mission on the Bay, a restaurant on Humphrey Street, is lacking support in the corner of the building and is set to be reinforced by shock concrete. The Army Corps of Engineers will be assisting local officials.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Car catches fire near Boston Common

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

Crews responded near the Boston Common Thursday after a car caught fire in the area. SKY7-HD was over the scene on Tremont Street Thursday afternoon, where several firetrucks could be seen blocking off the road. Crews were also seen working nearby around the charred car. There was no word as of Thursday around 4 p.m. on what caused the fire.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Car crashes into house in Dorchester

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

Crews were on scene Thursday afternoon after a car crashed into a house on Homes Avenue. SKY7-HD overhead captured video of the crash site, showing damage to the car and a porch area at the home. Airbags appeared to have deployed. The area was shut down as of around 4:30 p.m. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Boston to allow ‘dog-friendly spaces’ at beer gardens, outdoor dining areas through new policy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

Restaurants with outdoor dining spaces or beer gardens will soon have the option to create “dog-friendly spaces” under new city variances, Mayor Michelle Wu announced Thursday. Rolled out as a policy from the city Inspectional Services Department’s Health Division, this move will let restaurants apply for a variance to welcome dogs and their owners together in certain areas. In a statement, officials said the change comes “in response to feedback from Boston residents who have expressed interest in having their pets join them at outdoor businesses.”The new policy will require dog-friendly spaces to be entirely outdoors. Restaurants will also have to ensure that no food preparation is done in established dog-friendly spaces. Dog owners will be responsible for the behavior of their dog, which must remain on a leash, officials said.“We’re committed to making Boston a vibrant, family-friendly City, and that means rethinking our outdoor spaces to better build community,” Wu said thi...

OSHA cited Newburyport company for violations before explosion, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

An explosion at a chemical plant in Newburyport Thursday morning was not the first incident to happen at the site, officials said. Rather, officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said they had cited the PCI Synthesis for violations in the past. Speaking on Thursday, state and local officials in Newburyport also said the company has a history of troubling incidents, though this was the worst. “I would term it as more significant than previous incidents here,” said Newburyport Fire Chief said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. In 2021, a chemical fire prompted a major response and the drug manufacturer was ordered to temporarily shut down. Just months earlier, a series of explosions blasted a hole in the roof of the building. In 2019, OSHA fined PCI, which serves as the parent company for the local company Seqens, for serious violations for “process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals” which are procedures meant to prevent explosion...

Patriots TE Mike Gesicki connecting with Mac Jones, old friends in New England

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

FOXBORO — More than a decade before Mike Gesicki signed his free-agent contract with the Patriots, Bill O’Brien recruited him to play at Penn State.Several years later, Gesicki initiated a friendship with Hunter Henry as a young tight end looking up to another in the NFL.Then around the time he put pen to paper to become a Patriot, Gesicki called an ex-teammate, DeVante Parker, to learn what it’s like playing in New England.Parker, he said, only shared positive things. And so, the reunions were on.Gesicki took a break from the Pats’ voluntary offseason program Thursday to stand for his first press conference as a Patriot. The 27-year-old said his first few months in New England haven’t packed many surprises. Gesicki came prepared, starting with his familiarity with O’Brien, understanding of the organization as a former division rival and experience playing under ex-Patriot assistants in Miami from 2019-21.Inside the team facility, Gesicki is like ...

Three takeaways from Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s contract signing news conference

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson signed his five-year deal reportedly worth $260 million with the team Thursday morning, then fielded questions from reporters for the first time since Dec. 2. Jackson, flanked by general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh, talked for more than 30 minutes about why he signed now and why he thinks the Ravens are poised to chase that Super Bowl win he promised when he was drafted five years ago.Here are three takeaways on what he did and did not say:In Jackson’s telling of the story, he never wanted to be anywhere but Baltimore.Ravens fans could be forgiven for feeling whiplash after Jackson said he had asked for a trade at the end of March, only to sign his record-setting extension a month later. But he did not explain Thursday why he fired off that initial dread-inducing tweet — saying the team “has not been interested in meeting my value” — just as Harbaugh was about to speak with reporters at the NFL owners me...

Knicks preparing for Jimmy Butler’s return in Game 3; Immanuel Quickley struggling vs. Heat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:49:26 GMT

After missing Game 2, you can bet the house Miami’s All-Star forward Jimmy Butler is going to be on the floor for Game 3 of this second-round playoff series between the Knicks and Heat.Saturday will mark five days of rest between Game 1, when Butler sprained his ankle then played through the pain for the final 5:05 of the fourth quarter to help power the Heat to victory at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, and Game 3 at Miami’s FTX Arena.The Knicks are expecting Butler to be back and close to full strength given the Heat had to save their star forward from himself and hold him out for Game 2.“I have a lot of respect for Jimmy, the type of player he is,” Knicks star Julius Randle said at practice on Thursday. “Mentally, you know he’s gonna be locked in and engaged regardless of how he feels bad, he’ll be great. So we just wanna make it as hard as we can for him and just limit our mistakes on our end when we’re guarding him.”The goo...