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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
15-Year-Old Girl Dead, 3 Hospitalized After Building Partially Collapses During Graduation Party: 'Unthinkable Tragedy'
A graduation party at the Portuguese American Citizens Club in Rhode Island ended in tragedy after the building partially collapsed on Saturday, June 7 A 15-year-old girl died, and three other people were hospitalized with significant injuries, according to reports from multiple outlets including NBC 10 Boston and 7 News Boston 'Words, neither written nor spoken, can express the sorrow with which we are all stricken,' the club said in a statement following the incidentA 15-year-old girl has died and three others are injured after a building partially collapsed while a graduation party was taking place in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. At around 5:34 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 7, police and firefighters received multiple reports of people trapped under a concrete stairwell that had detached from the Portuguese American Citizens Club on Power Street, according to NBC 10 Boston and 7 News Boston. "There were 75 people inside the building at the time, and it appears several were on the landing when it collapsed," CBS News reported, citing Portsmouth assistant fire chief Howie Tighe. A 15-year-old girl died, while two 17-year-old girls and a 49-year-old woman were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital with significant injuries, per the outlet. 'So the immediate rescue of two of the injured parties was pretty quick," Tighe told CBS News. 'They weren't necessarily trapped in a real complicated manner. 'Then there were the two that were significantly trapped, and obviously one of them took upwards of 45 to 50 minutes because of the amount of cribbing we had to do, trying to lift the concrete wall up because she was trapped underneath it,' he said. Around the time of the incident, Gov. Dan McKee said in a post on X that his team is 'closely monitoring the situation. 'Our hearts are with the Portuguese community and all those impacted. I'm deeply grateful to the first responders and praying for everyone's safety,' he added. Police have not formally identified the 15-year-old girl, per NBC 10 Boston. The building's stairwell has been removed from the grounds amid an investigation being led by the Portsmouth building inspector, according to the outlet. "We routinely practice building collapse scenarios and other scenarios, but when it occurs, it can be a stress point for them all,' Portsmouth Chief of Police Brian Peters told NBC10 Boston affiliate WJAR. 'It's standard practice for us in our department when we have a fatal incident or a critical incident that the town has been really good at having counseling available to us, and the men and women take advantage of that.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A memorial for the 15-year-old girl, a Portsmouth public school student, was held on Sunday. Pastor David Chatowsky said he did not know the victim personally, but told WJAR that he "prayed for the parents and I prayed for the people that are hurt." "We have to help them out, we can do that through prayer, visiting them, and visiting them at the hospital and showing compassion," Chatowsky added. The Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club shared their sympathy in a post on Facebook. 'It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we acknowledge this unthinkable tragedy that has befallen our community,' the club's statement read. 'The Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club has always taken pride in providing a venue at which our community can congregate and celebrate. 'Words, neither written or spoken, can express the sorrow with which we are all stricken,' the statement continued. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved and affected. This tragedy has shaken us all to our core. They concluded, 'We would like to express a debt of gratitude to our first responders and law enforcement in the town of Portsmouth and neighboring communities.' Portsmouth police and Portsmouth's fire department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Monday, June 9. Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Child left alone along street after ICE detains adult, Massachusetts video shows
A boy was left alone on a Massachusetts city street by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after they detained an adult, according to a city councilor who's speaking out about a video she recorded of the incident. The child is seen in the footage along a sidewalk on Felton Street in Waltham on May 4 — without the adult who had been accompanying him moments earlier, Waltham City Councilor Colleen Bradley-MacArthur told WBZ-TV. A law enforcement officer wearing a face mask covering his mouth and nose approaches the boy as he stands by himself, the video shows. The officer is seen holding a phone to his ear as he appears to speak to the child. 'He looks about my son's age,' Bradley-MacArthur said of the boy in an interview with WBZ-TV. 'It makes me feel sick to my stomach as a mom, as a human being.' Bradley-MacArthur and ICE didn't immediately return McClatchy News' requests for comment May 14. Bradley-MacArthur was outside with volunteers on a neighborhood watch walk when she began filming in Waltham on May 4, she told NBC10 Boston. The volunteers ultimately took the child to his home because ICE agents left without trying to help him, according to Bradley-MacArthur, the outlet reported. She said she saw multiple officers wearing masks, describing how they used their vehicles to block the street, NBC10 Boston reported. When the city councilor asked a law enforcement officer what agency he belonged to, the officer wouldn't respond and instead said, 'You stay here and don't interfere,' Bradley-MacArthur recalled. The officer's warning can be heard in her video published by CBS News. Waltham is about a 10-mile drive west from Boston. The Boston area and beyond, during the first week of May, has seen a rise in arrests made by ICE, according to local advocacy organizations, including the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network, WGBH reported. An ICE spokesperson told the radio station that for 'reasons of officer safety, ICE does not comment on ongoing operations.' On March 24, ICE announced 370 people accused of illegally living in Massachusetts were detained by the agency in a span of six days, between March 18 to March 23. Commenting on the 'enhanced' operation, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde said in a statement that ICE 'targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around Boston.' Woman detained at Boston airport In late April, several Massachusetts-based advocacy groups banded together in support of a 70-year-old Worcester resident apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol at the Boston Logan International Airport after a trip to Zimbabwe, McClatchy News previously reported. The organizations denounced Ruth Mufute's detention at the airport on April 29, saying she has permanent legal status. She is a member of one of the groups, the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice, its executive director, Jonathan Goldman, told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. In a statement to McClatchy News on May 2, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said Mufute was arrested 'on a warrant for wire fraud and conspiracy issued by the (U.S. Agency for International Development) Office of Inspector General.' The USAID OIG has accused Mufute of a fraud scheme related to former work in South Africa while employed by a nonprofit located in North Carolina. After Mufute appeared in Boston federal court for initial proceedings April 30, a federal judge released her, records show. She's been ordered to appear in federal court in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the afternoon of May 15. U.S. immigration actions criticized In Waltham, local advocacy group Indivisible Waltham is holding a one-hour demonstration on May 15, titled 'Hands Off our Community!' in response to recent ICE activity. The group is a part of the larger nationwide organization Indivisible. In a statement to McClatchy News on May 14, Elizabeth Hoffecker, a volunteer organizer with Indivisible Waltham, accused ICE agents of using 'unconstitutional and needlessly brutal tactics' in the city, including 'refusing to identify themselves, wearing full face coverings, refusing to produce valid warrants, breaking into private spaces and destroying property, separating parents from children, and beating suspects up.' 'Regardless of the legal status of the Waltham residents who ICE has detained and regardless of whether they are suspected of criminal activity or not, they are guaranteed due process under the Constitution,' Hoffecker said. 'Depriving them of that is an attack on all our Constitutional rights, which is why it is so critical that we refuse to normalize these tactics and that we demand that our local police and elected officials protect us from any agents — ICE or otherwise — who are operating outside the law,' Hoffecker added. On May 8, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was criticized over recent immigration enforcement actions by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., during a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. DHS is the federal agency that oversees ICE. 'You are routinely violating the rights of immigrants who may not be citizens, but whether you like it or not, have constitutional and statutory rights when they reside in the United States,' Murphy, a member of the committee, said to Noem.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man on life support after Mass. hit-and-run, not expected to survive, prosecutor says
The man struck in a hit-and-run pedestrian crash in Lowell on Friday is 'not likely to survive,' an assistant prosecutor told a judge at the driver's arraignment on Monday, NBC 10 Boston reported. Christopher Campbell, 30, of Billerica, was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of personal injury and one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, carjacking, larceny of a motor vehicle, negligent operation and a marked lanes violation, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan's office previously said in a statement. He appeared in Lowell District Court, where it was revealed that the man struck was out for a regular walk on Friday night, NBC reported. Now on life support at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, the man is not expected to recover, an assistant prosecutor told the judge, according to NBC. Campbell was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on May 12. At around 10:25 p.m. on Friday, Campbell crashed his Volkswagen Jetta into another car in the area of Boylston and Rogers Street in Lowell, Ryan's office said. After the crash, Campbell got out of his car and began jumping and shouting on the hood of the other car. Frightened, the other driver left her car before Campbell stole another driver's car, Ryan's office said. Campbell drove the car on the sidewalk on Roger Street when he struck the man now hospitalized. Shortly after 11 p.m., Massachusetts State Police received several reports of a car with no lights on driving erratically and stopping in the left lane of I-495 south in Franklin, Ryan's office said. A short time later, State Police received a report that the car had been hit by another car while it was stopped in the left lane. Troopers responded to the scene and found the car abandoned, Ryan's office said. During their investigation, troopers determined that the car was stolen from Lowell. State Police and Franklin police established a perimeter and began a search for Campbell, who was found on the other side of the highway hunkered down in a culvert, Ryan's office said. When he saw police, he yelled that he had a gun. Franklin police then tased and arrested Campbell, Ryan's office said. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
US government pulls funding for critical projects meant to protect communities: 'Now we have a bigger wedge to fill'
Boston is racing against the clock to prepare for higher tides, stronger storms, and rising floodwaters. But a major funding cut just made that mission harder — and put key coastal communities at risk — as reported by the Boston Globe. Two of Boston's key coastal resilience projects — Moakley Park in South Boston and Tenean Beach in Dorchester — just lost millions in federal support. The funding, part of a disaster preparedness grant program, was scrapped due to spending cuts initiated by the current administration. According to the Globe, the state of Massachusetts expected around $90 million from the program, including $23 million for Moakley Park and a proposed $12 million for Tenean Beach. Cities like Chelsea and Everett had also been counting on the funding mechanism for projects aimed at protecting against floods. Now all of them are left searching for alternatives. Despite the blow, city leaders are forging ahead. "This is not delaying anything that the city of Boston has underway," Brian Swett, Boston's chief climate officer, told the paper. And yet, "it does present a challenge that now we have a bigger wedge to fill in terms of construction [costs]." The area, like so many coastal communities, is already vulnerable to the surges and floods that are intensifying with rising global temperatures brought on by heat-trapping pollution. As NBC10 Boston noted, less-than-stable landfill underlies one-sixth of the city. And the waterfront is already showing signs of strain. A map at shows that sea levels in the region have risen about a foot since 1921, and a 2022 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted they would rise another foot by 2050. Without resilient infrastructure and innovative solutions, neighborhoods risk frequent flooding, public transit disruptions, and property damage. And it's not just Boston. Dozens of towns across Massachusetts and across the United States — many without deep budgets or staff capacity — are now scrambling to rethink their flood protection plans in the wake of federal cuts. Similar cuts have defunded climate-related work in other countries as well. Boston says it isn't backing down from needed preparations. Instead, it's pushing ahead with a $250 million redesign of Moakley Park, which, as local outlet Caught in Southie describes, is "being redesigned not just as a green space but as a kind of sponge—to absorb stormwater and buffer the surrounding neighborhoods." Officials say they're exploring other funding options and are optimistic support will come through. "We're going to continue to do everything we can to make sure something comes from Washington," Swett told the Globe. "I don't think this is the end of the federal story of investment in this project." Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. But the region is also investing in itself. NBC10 said Boston has "set aside $75 million of its own for climate resilience." There's urgency because, as the state's energy and environmental affairs secretary Rebecca Tepper noted in a mid-April statement, each grant application, each grant award, each funding cut "represents a neighborhood that needs support." State lawmakers across the U.S. continue to propose and plan for climate resilience work. And it's not only to reduce threats to the environment and human life, but to get ahead of the massive costs of future damage and destruction. Some federal and state programs are continuing to fund this work too. Municipalities and individuals can consider tapping into tax rebates and credits tied to the Inflation Reduction Act to support community- and household-level climate adaptation. It's worth noting, meanwhile, that the Trump administration has signalled an intention to end these programs, so anyone hoping to benefit from them might consider acting sooner rather than later. Ending the IRA, though, would legally require an act of Congress. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A word (or two) of advice: Who's speaking at MetroWest college graduations?
The time is nearly here for caps and gowns, as the Class of 2025 prepares for commencement exercises at area colleges and universities. On their way out, they will be treated to words of wisdom from business people, academics, media figures, state officials and, in the case of Dean College, one of their own. What follows is some basic information about who has been chosen to deliver keynote speeches at undergraduate graduation ceremonies throughout MetroWest: When: 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 Where: DCU Center Arena and Convention Center, Worcester Commencement speaker: NBC10 Boston news anchor Latoyia Edwards. Known for her work with NBC10 Boston and NECN, she has been a prominent figure in New England journalism for more than two decades. She was named one of Boston Magazine's Most Influential Bostonians in 2023. 'Her inspiring journey, commitment to community engagement and dedication to storytelling as a vehicle for making connections resonate deeply with our mission to empower students to lead with purpose and integrity,' Framingham State University President Nancy Niemi said in a prepared statement. When: 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 Where: In front of Dean Hall, along Awpie Way, Franklin Commencement speaker: Communications major Amanda Shields (student speaker). For two years, she has been a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), the nation's largest leadership honor society. Students are nominated by their college or university for membership based on academic standing and leadership potential. Shields has also served as student manager of Dean's baseball team. When: 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17 Where: Bentley University Football Stadium, Waltham Commencement speaker: Jerry Jacobs Jr., CEO of Delaware North and an alternate governor of the Boston Bruins. A graduate of Georgetown University, he joined Delaware North, a multinational food service and hospitality company based in Buffalo, New York, in 1989. In 2015, Jeremy Jacobs Sr. named Jerry Jr. and his brother Louis co-heads of Delaware North. When: 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 18 Where: Gosman Sports and Convention Center, Waltham Commencement speaker: American Judaism historian and professor Jonathan D. Sarna. He teaches in Brandeis' department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and serves as director of the university's Schusterman Center for Israel Studies. Sarna is regarded as one of the most prominent historians of American Judaism. His 2004 book, "American Judaism: A History, received the National Jewish Booh Award. When: 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 Where: MassBay's main campus in Wellesley Hills Commencement speaker: Patrick Tutwiler, Massachusetts secretary of education. For the time being, he's also interim commissioner of the Department of Early and Secondary Education after Russell Johnston's departure in March. Tutwiler holds a PhD from Boston College's Lynch School of Education and Human Development. When: 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 Where: Leader Bank Pavillion in Boston's Seaport District Commencement speaker: Beverly Malone, president and CEO for the National League for Nursing, which promotes excellence in nursing education. The American Nurses Association (ANA) named her as its 2024 Hall of Fame Award recipient. Malone also served as federal deputy assistant secretary for health under President Clinton. When: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16 Where: Severance Green, Wellesley Commencement speaker: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Isabel Wilkerson. In 1994, she became the first Black journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for individual reporting and first Black woman to win a journalism Pulitzer, according to the National Association of Black Jourmalists. Former Chicago bureau chief for The New York Times. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Who's speaking at MetroWest college graduations?
