Tributes pour in as community mourns police officer, utility worker killed in Waltham crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Tributes pour in as community mourns police officer, utility worker killed in Waltham crash Tributes poured in throughout the day Thursday as community members continued to mourn a police officer and a utility worker killed in a crash in Waltham Wednesday afternoon. Among several salutes, law enforcement personnel escorted the body of officer Paul Tracey from the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston to a funeral home in Waltham, passing Waltham police headquarters to the sound of bagpipes near 9 p.m. Elsewhere, a makeshift memorial grew throughout the day at the site of the deadly crash on Totten Pond Road. Family members and friends also spoke out after the driver accused of fatally striking Tracey and National Grid worker Roderick Jackson appeared in court. “We just want to thank the Waltham community for the tremendous outpouring for our brother, Paul,” said Jim Tracey, Paul’s brother. “He was a tremendous husband, father, uncle and brother and loved by everybody in the community.”“They took something treasureous from us – you can never re...

Driver recalls moment her car was hit in deadly multi-vehicle Waltham hit-and-run

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Driver recalls moment her car was hit in deadly multi-vehicle Waltham hit-and-run A local driver shared her story Thursday after her car was hit in a multi-car hit-and-run crash that left a police officer and a utility worker dead and several others hurt Wednesday afternoon. First responders descended on Totten Pond Road after authorities said 54-year-old Peter Simon allegedly crashed his pickup truck into multiple cars and a National Grid worksite. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Simon next stole a police cruiser and led police on a chase before being taken into custody. Ryan on Wednesday identified one of the people killed as Waltham police officer Paul Tracey. The second person killed was later identified as National Grid worker Roderick Jackson. While an investigation continued Thursday, Mariccor Pawar shared her experience of the incident, in the meantime, saying she initially blacked out when Simon allegedly hit her car.“Then, I woke up and then I heard screaming ‘Call 911! Call 911!”Pawar said she saw an ambulance arrive and witnessed eme...

Bruins show up late, lose 3-1 to Buffalo

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Bruins show up late, lose 3-1 to Buffalo Despite their gaudy record and spot atop the Atlantic Division, the Bruins are not a team that can show up to a game a half hour late and steal a win.They learned that lesson on Thursday night at the Garden, when the previously struggling Buffalo Sabres took it to the B’s for the first half of the game and took home a well-deserved 3-1 victory.The Sabres, playing without top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (lower body), scored a pair of goals in the second period and one in the third and that was good enough.What was more concerning than the defeat was the loss of Charlie McAvoy, who left the game with an apparent head injury in the third period.In the first period, the Bruins looked like a team that had three days off and needed to shake off the cobwebs. They were outshot by the Sabres 19-6.It was a scoreless first period, though it briefly looked like the Sabres had taken a lead with 5:18 left in a weird sequence. Newly acquired forward Eric Robinson poked the puck home under Linus...

3 things we learned from the Chicago Bears, including Robbie Gould’s retirement and DJ Moore on wanting Justin Fields to stay

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

3 things we learned from the Chicago Bears, including Robbie Gould’s retirement and DJ Moore on wanting Justin Fields to stay Chicago Bears coordinators spoke with reporters Thursday at Halas Hall as the team prepares for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.Here are three things we learned.1. Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower congratulated kicker Robbie Gould on ‘a hell of a career.’Gould, 41, announced his retirement Thursday after 18 NFL seasons in a letter in The Players’ Tribune. He’s the Bears’ all-time leading scorer with 1,207 points in 166 games over his first 11 seasons.He also played one season with the New York Giants and spent the last six years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, playing for current Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.“Great competitor. Clutch in big moments when we needed him to be. Consistent,” Hightower said. “(He) means a lot to the city of Chicago. … Wishing him the best in the next phase of his life. And I know if he attacks that the way he attacked his career...

76-year-old woman pleads not guilty in deadly North Park hit-and-run

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

76-year-old woman pleads not guilty in deadly North Park hit-and-run SAN DIEGO -- The woman accused in a deadly hit-and-run in North Park appeared in court for the first time Thursday.Donna Chapman Jacobs, 76, pleaded not guilty. She's accused of hitting and killing 42-year-old Stephen Debow as he crossed the intersection of Utah Street and Polk Avenue, and then leaving the scene.“It’s a tragic case all around," Deputy District Attorney Roza Igazarian said.Debow was crossing the intersection around 7:16 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, when he was hit by a vehicle, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office reports. Debow died six days later.His friends said he was walking to meet up with them.“Ms. Jacobs was driving approximately 30 mph, she struck the victim at the unmarked crosswalk and unfortunately drove with the victim on the hood of her car for 65 feet," Igazarian said. Three California freeways among ‘most loathed highways’ in America: survey Debow was taken to the hospital with multiple blunt force injuries. Jacobs was arrested 10 days a...

Vehicle crashes into Christmas parade route in downtown Bakersfield

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Vehicle crashes into Christmas parade route in downtown Bakersfield BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Multiple paradegoers were struck by a vehicle at 21st and H street in downtown Bakersfield, officials said.Emergency crews were called to the area of 21st and H streets for a report of a vehicle collision and multiple people that were struck at around 5:30 p.m. George Culver to be honored as Christmas parade’s grand marshal Parade officials say the Bakersfield Christmas Parade will continue as scheduled but will be rerouted. Chief of Police Greg Terry told 17 News three people were injured as a result of the crash and the driver of the vehicle is in custody. Terry says the new parade route will go down Chester Avenue at about 6:30 p.m. Check back for updates.

Mobile home fire erupts in Chula Vista

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Mobile home fire erupts in Chula Vista CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- Firefighters on Thursday are working to put out a mobile home fire in Chula Vista.Around 5 p.m., SkyFOX was over 275 Orange Ave., where smoke could be seen billowing from the structure's windows. Def Leppard, Journey, and Steve Miller Band coming to Petco Park There is no information at this time on how the fire started or if anyone was injured.Another mobile home fire in Chula Vista, about a mile west of Orange Ave., occurred Thursday morning that displaced three residents.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Three California freeways among 'most loathed highways' in America: survey

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Three California freeways among 'most loathed highways' in America: survey SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) -- Brake lights, honking horns and drivers battling it out to the very end of merge lanes -- all things in which California motorists are familiar with.For those who live in the Golden State, gridlocked traffic is nothing new. This may be why three California freeways are among the "most loathed highways in America," according to a recent survey.Vehicle dealer Gunther Volvo Cars Daytona Beach surveyed 3,000 drivers across the U.S. in October 2023, and then ranked the top 100 most loathed roads to drive on based on those results. Places with the lowest cost of living in California: study As it turns out, the top three detested highways in the country, according to this survey, are in the Golden State. Here's a breakdown of those rankings: California Interstate 405: Ranked No. 3 "most loathed"Particularly in the Los Angeles area, the I-405 -- also referred to as "the San Diego Freeway" -- is known for being one of the most congested freeways in country. This...

Adele praises influential women after being honored at THR’s Women in Entertainment gala

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Adele praises influential women after being honored at THR’s Women in Entertainment gala BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Adele paid homage to the many women — including her mother, grandmother and aunts — who helped shape her world and personality since she was a child. The superstar singer then praised actor Kerry Washington and found herself in awe while in the presence of singer Dua Lipa after she received the prestigious Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment breakfast gala Thursday. She was handed the award by Helen Mirren for excelling as a trailblazer and her philanthropy work in Hollywood. “You are the absolute epitome of what it is to open doors and more importantly leave them open,” said Adele of Lansing, the first female to head a Hollywood studio. The singer has been a supporter of the LGBTQ and women rights, and associated with an organization that helps provide clean water to countries in need. Mirren, an Oscar winner, applauded Adele for her musical prowess. The actor said she felt a “shiver” down her b...

Investment banks to put $10 billion into projects aimed at interconnecting South America

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:03 GMT

Investment banks to put $10 billion into projects aimed at interconnecting South America SAO PAULO (AP) — Four investment banks announced Thursday during a meeting of leaders of the Mercosur trade bloc that they will put $10 billion up for infrastructure works aimed at better connecting South America, including funds for port, airport, road, rail and power transmission projects. The “Routes for South American Integration” initiative was launched in Rio de Janeiro with host Brazil introducing a plan involving more than 120 projects, many of them in Brazil’s north bordering Venezuela, Guyana, French Guyana and Suriname.The funds will come from the Inter-American Development Bank with $3.4 billion, the Development Bank of Latin American and the Caribbean with $3 billion, the Brazilian Development Bank with another $3 billion, and FONPLATA, a bank owned by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with $600 million more.Aloizio Mercadante, the president of Brazil’s Development Bank, said his institution will finance works “from the border within Brazil” ...