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Looking to get rid of your Christmas tree? Bring it to a farm. Goats love to chow down.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

The holidays may be over, but it’s still the most wonderful time of the year … if you’re a goat.As people look to throw away their Christmas trees, the farm critters are cheerfully chowing down on the tasty post-holiday treats.So is the case at the Channell Homestead in Hanson, a family farm still accepting Christmas trees for its Nigerian goats.“The goats and chickens love them and the pine needles are a natural dewormer for them so they are a special treat with benefits!,” the farm posted on Facebook this week.Owners are only accepting trees that have not been sprayed with pesticides or fire retardant and urge donors to check with the tree farm or store they got theirs at whether it is safe to give to goats.“Also the goats will only eat trees that are still very much alive so if your tree is dried out and dead we cannot accept those. Sorry,” the farm stated in its Facebook post. “Please make sure there is no tinsel, ornaments, ribbon, or anything else left in the tree.”In Bo...

4 beachfront destinations spiking in popularity this winter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

By Sally French | NerdWalletIn a chilly winter, it’s not uncommon for travelers to flock to warm-weather destinations. For example, December was 2022’s most popular month for Canadian tourists to visit Hawaii, according to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s 2022 Annual Visitor Research Report.It’s a similar story with Caribbean cruises. According to a spokesperson at Holland America, November through March are the most popular months for the cruise line. Clearly, winter beach vacations are appealing, and some beachfront destinations are especially popular this season — seeing higher interest in 2023 than in 2022.Chase Travel, an online site that lets customers book trips using cash or points from Chase travel credit cards, analyzed its proprietary data to find the top destinations this winter. The data included Chase Travel bookings for air or lodging between Nov. 17, 2023, and Jan. 7, 2024, and found places with the biggest year-over-year increase from last year. Then, Chase looked at...

Boston Mayor Wu says city councilor failed to take oath of office at inauguration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson failed to recite the oath of office at Monday’s inaugural ceremony, and was not legally allowed to start her duties for this term until she properly took the oath on Thursday.Wu also stated that the votes taken by Fernandes Anderson at Monday’s City Council meeting did not count, meaning that the unanimous vote to elect Ruthzee Louijeune as the body’s new president will be changed from 13-0 to 12-0.“The city charter is clear that anyone elected to serve at the city level — the mayor, the city council — must take an oath verbally and sign the oath book in order to begin their service to the city and their official actions in that office,” Wu told reporters Friday afternoon.“I’m informed that the councilor took that oath verbally yesterday afternoon with the clerk, and so that issue is resolved now,” the mayor said, adding that she was “eager to get to work with the full City Council.”As the Herald first reported, F...

Last day of school vibes as Patriots wait for snow day in season finale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

FOXBORO — If Bill Belichick’s final practice as head coach of the Patriots truly was Friday, then the day was perfectly unpredictable.As regimented as Belichick is as a leader, the Patriots – this might surprise you – don’t go off much of a regular schedule. Players arrive in the morning and then learn how their day is going to go. Other teams have their schedules mapped out weeks in advance and updated in an app on their phones.Not the Patriots.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Why Bailey Zappe has set ‘really good’ example for other Patriots New England Patriots | Patriots down 1 offensive starter at final practice before season finale New England Patriots | Callahan: If Bill Belichick’s time is over, say thank you before goodbye New England Patriots | Nor’easter set to blast Massachusetts with up to 12 inches of snow, Patriots could have a snow game New England Patriots | ...

Man arrested for illegal pawn shop operation in Toronto’s east end

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

A man has been arrested after being investigated for running an illegal pawn shop operation in Toronto’s east end.On Jan. 4, a search warrant was executed and a man was arrested for operating an illegal pawn shop in the Dundas Street East and Parliament Street area.The store owner allegedly was found to be in possession of multiple stolen bicycles and was operating his shop without a licence.Meareg Asefa, 47, of Toronto, has been charged with 10 different offences including trafficking and possessing property and proceeds obtained by crime, and being a second hand dealer with no licence.He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Feb. 12.

The Perry school shooting creates new questions for Republicans in Iowa’s presidential caucuses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

CUMMING, Iowa (AP) — Friday looked like a typical January morning in Iowa — gray skies, a brisk breeze and a restaurant crammed with voters munching on breakfast pizzas while listening to a presidential candidate speak.Introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie as “the most pro-Second Amendment candidate in this race,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his standard speech touting his record in his home state.Then DeSantis opened the floor to questions. The first one was: “What actions would you take to reduce mass shootings?”The shooting in Perry, Iowa, that left one sixth grader dead and five more people injured, immediately cast a shadow over the state’s first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucuses, scheduled for Jan. 15. Three candidates were asked about it Thursday and Friday at campaign stops, some just a short drive from the school where a 17-year-old junior opened fire as students were returning from winter break. Pharmaceutical entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was set to h...

New Mexico attorney general says fake GOP electors can’t be prosecuted, recommends changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s top prosecutor said Friday that the state’s five Republican electors cannot be prosecuted under the current law for filing election certificates that falsely declared Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential race. However, Democratic Attorney General Raúl Torrez is making recommendations to state lawmakers that he says would enhance the security of the state’s electoral process and provide legal authority for prosecuting similar conduct in the future. New Mexico is one of several states where fake electors attempted to cast ballots indicating that Trump had won, a strategy at the center of criminal charges against Trump and his associates. Democratic officials launched separate investigations in some states, resulting in indictments against GOP electors. Fake certificates were submitted in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.In New Mexico and Pennsylvania, fake electors added a caveat...

Union suspends strike action as Viterra offers workers new four-year offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

REGINA — A looming strike action for Saskatchewan workers at Viterra has been suspended after the grain marketing giant gave the union a revised offer.Two locals of the Grain and General Services Union say members should have the opportunity to vote on the new offer. Workers rejected Viterra’s last offer after a vote on Dec. 15 and issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week.A news release from Viterra says the new four-year agreement includes overall salary increases of 4.5 per cent in first year, followed by 3.75 per cent in the second and 2.5 per cent in the following years.The company says employees will continue to be eligible for an annual bonus payment.Viterra says a vote is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2023. The Canadian Press

Inaugural Toronto PWHL game pulls in almost 3 million viewers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

An historic home opener for the Toronto’s PWHL game as almost 3 million Canadian viewers tuned in on New Year’s Day to catch the game between the home team and New York.New York beat Toronto 4-0 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, reflecting the city’s keen interest in the league. It combined for an average audience of 879,000 people and was the number one sports or entertainment program of the day across all of the networks. “The enthusiastic response to our historic opening game reflects Canada’s national interest in our sport, our outstanding athletes and the PWHL,” said Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board member. “We truly hear the statement our viewing audience made Monday, and we cherish the level of engagement shown. We will work even more intently with our broadcast partners to build the PWHL community through the quality productions and storytelling our great fans deserve.”The opening game viewership was followed by a record-setting a...

Ex-Ohio lawmaker is sentenced to probation for domestic violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A former Ohio state lawmaker was sentenced Friday to two years on probation for domestic violence charges and must complete 250 hours of community service.Republican state Rep. Bob Young was also ordered to abstain from alcohol as part of his probation and can’t enter bars and liquor stores. Young was convicted last October during a bench trial before Judge Edward O’Farrell of causing physical harm to his wife, but was also found not guilty of an assault charge in a later confrontation with his brother over striking his wife. Friday’s sentencing took place in Barberton Municipal Court.The former Summit County representative was indicted in July 2023 on domestic violence and assault charges after he allegedly struck his wife in the face and threw her phone in their pool to prevent her from calling 911. When she sought safe haven at Young’s brother’s home, Young followed her and charged at his brother after he refused to let him inside, resulting in a...