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Who will be Wales’ next first minister? The runners and riders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

LONDON — It’s a nation of 3 million people where Labour is riding a 101-year winning streak. Now the party is choosing a new leader in Wales — and Westminster will be watching closely.Whoever replaces Mark Drakeford, who confirmed he will step down by March after five years as first minister, faces a tricky in-tray at the helm of the U.K. devolved nation.Near the top is deciding how closely to follow U.K. Labour leader Keir Starmer — who polls predict will win a general election next year.Drakeford has tacked more to the left than Starmer. His policy of widespread 20-miles-per-hour road speed limits has unsettled some Labour MPs and opened up a fierce line of Conservative attack.With education and health policy devolved from Westminster to Wales — and their shaky performance scrutinized by Tory strategists — Wales is an early test of Labour’s relationship with the regions and nations to which it has promised more power.The new leader must also manage the delicate balance of power in...

One person taken to hospital for serious burns after house fire in Newton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

A person suffered serious burn injuries after authorities say a house caught fire in Newton Wednesday morning.According to the Newton Fire Department, the victim was located by firefighters and pulled from the home on Allen Avenue as flames ripped through the house.“We had the report that there was a victim trapped in the inside, so the initial companies didn’t hesitate and went right in,” Newton Fire Chief Greg Gentile told reporters.Crews were able to extinguish the fire soon after arriving, with one firefighter reportedly suffering a minor injury during the response.Another person at the home, the victim’s brother, was able to get out unharmed.As of noon, the State Fire Marshal’s office was investigating the cause of the fire, which appeared to cause extensive damage throughout the structure.No additional details were released.

The Noble Prize turns 122

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

The Nobel Prizes fascinate and here’s a synopsis in graphic form:

Social Security clawbacks hit a million more people than agency chief told Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

David Hilzenrath, Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group | KFF Health News (TNS)The Social Security Administration has demanded money back from more than 2 million people a year — more than twice as many people as the head of the agency disclosed at an October congressional hearing.That’s according to a document KFF Health News and Cox Media Group obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration Kilolo Kijakazi read aloud from the document during the hearing but repeatedly left out an entire category of beneficiaries displayed on the paper as well.The document indicates the fallout from Social Security overpayments and clawbacks is much wider than Kijakazi acknowledged under direct questioning from a House Ways and Means subcommittee that oversees the federal agency.In a statement for this article, SSA spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann described the numbers of people Kijakazi provided in her testimony and those she left out as “un...

Patriots offense gets good news at first practice before Chiefs game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots returned leading receiver Demario Douglas to practice Wednesday, his first since suffering a concussion against the Giants on Nov. 26.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bailey Zappe clarifies past remarks about passing Mac Jones on Patriots’ QB depth chart New England Patriots | Why Bill Belichick wanted to work with recently acquired Patriots defender New England Patriots | Bill Belichick responds to report Robert Kraft has already decided to part ways New England Patriots | Patriots attempted to keep Malik Cunningham before Ravens poached rookie QB New England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Bill O’Brien, Troy Brown preview Chiefs matchup Douglas missed the team’s last two games with the concussion, his second of the season. Douglas still leads the Patriots with 410 receiving yards. The 23-year-old trails only running back Rhamondre Stevenson and inj...

North Central’s Luke Lehnen resets bar for college QBs. Can Glenwood graduate do same for Cardinals?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

Perhaps no play better encapsulates North Central College junior quarterback Luke Lehnen’s special talent more than his touchdown pass to Charles Coleman on Saturday.It’s just a 7-yard TD pass in the box score. On film, however, it’s a work of art.Wartburg’s defense blew up the Cardinals’ play, but Lehnen’s instincts kicked in immediately. The Glenwood graduate ran to the far side of the field and kept moving backward to avoid the pressure, eventually firing the ball to Coleman in the flat from the 23-yard line. Coleman walked into the end zone.“It’s second nature at this point,” Lehnen said. “I have my legs. I can use them to extend the play as long as I can and find my receivers open.”Lehnen extended No. 1 NCC’s season, too, throwing three TD passes during its 34-27 victory in the NCAA Division III national semifinals in Waverly, Iowa.The defending national champion Cardinals (14-0), who have won 29 games in a...

Marine killed, 14 injured in vehicle rollover during training at Camp Pendleton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A U.S. Marine assigned to Camp Pendleton was killed in a tactical vehicle rollover during a training exercise on Tuesday, base officials confirmed to FOX 5.The incident occurred around 6 p.m. as the vehicle, described as an amphibious combat vehicle, was making a ground movement during training, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. What caused the vehicle to overturn remains under investigation at this time.14 other Marines were in the vehicle when it rolled over. They were transported to nearby hospitals and Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton for evaluation and treatment. 14-year-old dirt bike rider struck by suspected DUI driver The current conditions of the other Marines or severity of their injuries are not known at this time.The identity of the Marine is being withheld by Camp Pendleton officials pending notification of next of kin. They were described as a member of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.No additional details about the incident were immediately available....

NTSB says a JetBlue captain took off quickly to avoid an incoming plane in Colorado last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

Federal investigators say the tail of a JetBlue plane struck a Colorado runway during takeoff last year when the captain quickly pointed the jet’s nose upward to avoid a head-on crash with a plane preparing to land on the same runway.The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that the JetBlue captain pointed the nose of his jet up quicker than normal “due to his surprise about encountering head on landing traffic.”The JetBlue captain and co-pilot said they never saw the other plane, but they veered to the right after takeoff to avoid traffic that was detected by the collision-avoidance system on their jet.The NTSB said flight data indicates that the planes were more than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) apart when the JetBlue Airbus A320 because its climbing right turn away from the airport.The NTSB said poor communication by the crew of the other plane, a Beechcraft King Air 350, contributed to the Jan. 22, 2022, incident at Yampa Valley Regional Airport, about 25 miles ...

College athletes who transfer twice can play, for now, after a judge sets aside NCAA transfer rule

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — College athletes who were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can return to competition, for now, after a federal judge issued a 14-day temporary restraining order Wednesday against the NCAA.U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in northern West Virginia issued the order against the NCAA from enforcing the transfer rule. A lawsuit filed by West Virginia and six other states alleged the rule’s waiver process violated federal antitrust law.“I am granting and issuing a temporary restraining order for 14 days, enjoining the NCAA from enforcing the transfer eligibility rule, insofar as it requires the transferer to sit out for an academic year of residence, and the rule of restitution, NCAA bylaw 12-11-4-2, until a hearing on a preliminary injunction is heard Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, at 10 o’clock a.m.,” the judge said.The NCAA didn’t immediately indicate whether it would appeal the ruling.NCAA rules allow underclassmen...

NTSB finds operator error likely caused fatal crash of medical helicopter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:01:44 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Operator error likely caused a medical helicopter to break apart mid-flight and crash during a training exercise last year, killing the pilot and flight instructor, National Transportation Safety Board investigators said in their final report.The Mercy Flight helicopter was on its second training run of the day when it went down in a field in the western New York town of Elba in April 2022. No patients were on board.In a report issued Dec. 8, investigators cited the pilots’ “inappropriate flight control inputs” while practicing for an unstable condition known as vortex ring state. The errors caused the main rotor blade to make contact with the helicopter’s tail, leading to the mid-flight break-up. The flight instructor’s “inadequate monitoring of the flight” also contributed, the NTSB said.Killed were pilot James Sauer of Churchville, a retired New York state police pilot, and Bell Helicopter instructor Stewart Dietrick, of Prosper, Texas.Accor...