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Inspiring teen basketball player overcomes disabilities to shine on the court

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

Meet Alex Grazia, a 14-year-old basketball player who embodies the true spirit of determination and resilience. His dream, like many young hoop enthusiasts, is to one day make it to the Miami Heat and the NBA. However, for Alex, the court itself is a blessing, and his journey is nothing short of inspiring.“I’ve always wanted to play basketball because I just — it’s an inspiration for me to watch NBA players play,” said Alex. “I just wanted to be like them.”What sets Alex apart is the stroke he experienced shortly after birth, leaving him hemiplegic, with limited mobility on one side of his body. But rather than letting this condition hinder his dreams, he’s discovered a talent for sinking long shots, much like his idol, Stephen Curry.“It was 7th grade when I realized I can make these shots and I can play good ball, so I was like, ‘You know what, I’ll try out for the middle school basketball team.’ I made it and ...

Healey-Driscoll Administration announces partnership with DHS on work authorization clinic for migrants

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced Monday that it is partnering with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to host a work authorization clinic for migrants staying in emergency family shelter during the week of Nov. 13. The state will be organizing appointments and providing transportation from shelter sites to the clinic, which will take place in Middlesex County. The Biden-Harris Administration will be providing onsite support to help collect and process work authorizations.“We are glad that the Biden-Harris Administration is hosting this clinic with us, which will help process work authorizations as efficiently as possible. Many shelter residents want to work but face significant barriers to getting their work authorizations,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “This clinic will be critical for building on the work that our administration has already been leading to connect more migrants with work opportunities, which will help them support their families and mov...

Search continues for 18-year-old wanted in connection with double shooting at Worcester State University

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

Classes were canceled at Worcester State University Monday as the search continued for a teenage suspect wanted in connection with a deadly shooting over the weekend. The shooting happened at 2:30 a.m. Saturday and initially prompted a shelter-in-place order. While the order was lifted later Saturday morning, authorities have described 18-year-old Kevin Rodriguez as armed and dangerous. The Worcester County District Attorney’s office said Rodriguez last lived in Lawrence. Cell phone video showed the moment shots rang out on the Worcester State campus. Officials said Worcester State University Police soon responded to the shooting scene after receiving a 911 call. Once on scene, the DA’s office said, authorities found two men with gunshot wounds. Officials said a fight led to the shooting. A 19-year-old later identified as Randy Armando Melendez Jr. of Southbridge died of his injuries at a local hospital. A 21-year-old man wounded in the shooting appeared to have ...

Johnson vows to move $14.5 billion Israel aid package, setting up showdown with Senate

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

(CNN) — House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed on Sunday to move forward with a $14.5 billion aid package for Israel when the House returns later this week, according to sources on his first GOP conference call since ascending to the top job.Johnson’s decision to move a standalone funding bill for Israel, which he told members would be fully paid for, and detach it from Ukraine aid will tee up a showdown with the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House, which prefer to link the two issues, given Ukraine aid on its own faces an uncertain path in the GOP-led House. Johnson told CNN last week he supports Ukraine aid but needs “conditions” on it.The first week of the Johnson-led House comes as government funding is set to run out next month, setting up an immediate test of the Louisiana Republican’s ability to move appropriations bills and aid to Israel amid a push for motions targeting specific lawmakers.During Sunday’s conference call, sources say House Majority Leader Steve Scali...

Police respond to crash involving school bus in Dorchester

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

Boston police responded to a crash involving a school bus in Dorchester on Monday morning.The crash happened along Columbia Road. Video from the scene showed the school bus against a stone wall on a sidewalk, having narrowly avoided a fire hydrant. While the bus missed the hydrant, it hit a nearby stairwell. It appeared no children were on the bus.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Ranking the Orioles’ free agents from least to most likely to return in 2024

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

After the Orioles’ season-ending loss to the Texas Rangers, a few of their pending free agents were asked whether they wanted to remain with the club in 2024.Veterans Adam Frazier and Aaron Hicks said they did — it would have been unwise to say otherwise — but whether that’s so is perhaps more up to the Orioles’ brass than the players.“Of course, man,” Hicks said earlier this month. “This roster is loaded with a bunch of young talent that obviously has enough grit and talent to get all the way to the postseason. With this opportunity for them to be able to play in the postseason for the first time is awesome. I think that this would be a great place for me to land if given the opportunity.”“I would love to be,” Frazier said after the Game 3 loss in the American League Division Series. “Like I said, it’s a lot of special baseball players in this room, a lot of great people. It makes it easy to go to work ev...

Crash closes northbound I-5 lanes at Del Mar Heights Road

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Several lanes of Interstate 5 remained closed at Del Mar Heights Road Monday morning following a crash.All lanes were initially blocked as a result of the collision, which involved multiple vehicles, Caltrans San Diego reported at 5:40 a.m. SDG&E warns customers of power shutoffs amid Santa Ana winds By 6:30 a.m., two lanes and the HOV lane had reopened. Three lanes remained closed.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Nov. 5-11

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Nov. 5-11:Nov. 5: Actor Harris Yulin (“The Hurricane,” “Scarface”) is 86. Actor Chris Robinson (“General Hospital”) is 85. Actor Elke Summer is 83. Singer Art Garfunkel is 82. Singer Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits is 76. TV personality Kris Jenner is 68. Actor Nestor Serrano (“24″) is 68. Comedian-actor Mo Gaffney is 65. Actor Robert Patrick (“The X-Files”) is 65. Singer Bryan Adams is 64. Actor Tilda Swinton is 63. Actor Michael Gaston (TV’s “Unforgettable,” “The Mentalist”) is 61. Actor-singer Andrea McArdle is 60. Actor Tatum O’Neal is 60. Singer Angelo Moore of Fishbone is 58. Actor Judy Reyes (“Scrubs”) is 56. Actor Seth Gilliam (TV’s “Teen Wolf”) is 55. Keyboardist Mark Hunter of James is 55. Actor Sam Rockwell is 55. Country singers Jennifer and Heather Kinley of The Kinleys are 53. Guitarist-keyboardist Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead is 52. Actor Corin Nemec (“Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”) is 52. Singer-guitarist Ryan Adams is 49. Actor Sebasti...

Navajo sheep herding at risk from climate change. Some young people push to maintain the tradition

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Whenever Amy Begaye’s extended family butchered a sheep, she was given what she considered easy tasks — holding the legs and catching the blood with a bowl. She was never given the knife.That changed recently.In the pale light of dawn at this year’s Miss Navajo Nation pageant, 25-year-old Begaye and another contestant opened a week of competition with a timed sheep-butchering contest. Begaye says preparing to compete, which also required she practice spoken Navajo and learn more about her culture, brought out another side. It taught her to be confident: that she, as a gentle young woman, could be courageous and independent enough to fulfill such an important responsibility.“We butcher the sheep because it is a way of our life,” said Begaye, who won this year’s pageant and is preparing to speak about the importance of sheep as a cultural ambassador over the next year. “That’s how my ancestors were able to provide food for their families.” T...

Ex-cop who fired into Breonna Taylor’s apartment in flawed, fatal raid goes on trial again

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:27 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former Louisville police officer who fired into Breonna Taylor’s apartment the night she was killed is going on trial in federal court this week for violating Taylor’s civil rights during the botched 2020 raid.The trial will mark a second attempt by prosecutors to convict Brett Hankison for his actions on the night Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was shot to death by police after they knocked down the door of her apartment. Hankison was acquitted in a state trial last year. Jury selection in the federal case is set to begin Monday. Taylor was shot to death by officers who knocked down her door while executing a search warrant, which was later found to be flawed. Taylor’s boyfriend fired a shot that hit one of the officers as they came through the door, and they returned fire, striking Taylor in her hallway multiple times. Hankison is one of four officers who were charged by the U.S. Department of Justice last year with violating Taylor’s civil rights. Tay...