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Housing crisis leads to unprecedented number of people seeking help from Boston’s St. Francis House

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

Nearly 600 people experiencing homelessness are turning out to St. Francis House every day seeking food, clothes, a place to shower, assistance in finding permanent housing and other resources.The daily attendance count at Boston’s largest day homeless shelter is the largest it’s ever been as the cost of living and rent escalate while production of affordable housing lags behind, said Karen LaFrazia, St. Francis House’s president and CEO.“Hundreds of people are flocking to St. Francis House because one: we are kind and welcoming, and we don’t turn anyone away. But beyond the food, beyond the clothes, people can really find a pathway out,” she told the Herald, as she found downtime during a festive annual Christmas lunch on Monday.St. Francis House, in the heart of downtown Boston, saw an astounding 50% increase in newcomers in the first quarter of this fiscal year compared to the same period last year, LaFrazia said. For the past five months, through November, the daily average went...

Boston’s St. Francis House celebrates Christmas, serves hundreds of festive feasts

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

In the back corner of a decorated dining room at St. Francis House, Jerrod Masucci sat down at a table with a plate full of food alongside his girlfriend and several other friends.As Christmas songs played, with roughly 30 volunteers serving plates of stuffed chicken breast, butternut squash, mashed potatoes and string beans, Masucci said he felt like he was celebrating the holiday at home with a bunch of friends he views as family.But at the same time, life has had its ups and downs for the 35-year-old homeless man who is seeking permanent housing.Monday marked Masucci’s first Christmas spent at Boston’s largest day shelter in the past three years. Around 350 men and women experiencing hardship and homelessness joined him for the festive feast.“When I came back here, it was like my family just grew,” Masucci told the Herald. “I feel at home, but I feel in a place where I need to gain (a) home. You know how they say ‘Home is where the heart is.’ It is but at the same time, phy...

Investigators poised to get Project Veritas documents after judge strikes down 1st Amendment claim

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Criminal prosecutors may soon get to see over 900 documents pertaining to the alleged theft of a diary belonging to President Joe Biden’s daughter after a judge rejected a First Amendment claim by the conservative group Project Veritas to stop investigators from seeing the records.Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said on behalf of the nonprofit Monday that attorneys are considering appealing last Thursday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan. In the written decision, the judge said the documents can be given to investigators by Jan. 5.The documents were produced from raids that were authorized in November 2021. Electronic devices were also seized from the residences of three members of Project Veritas, including two mobile phones from the home of James O’Keefe, the group’s since-fired founder.Project Veritas, founded in 2010, identifies itself as a news organization. It is best known for conducting hidden camera stings that have embarrassed news...

TV actor Kamar de los Reyes of ‘One Life to Live’ and ‘Call of Duty’ dies at 56

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

Kamar de los Reyes, a television, movie and voice actor best known for playing a gang member-turned-cop in the soap “One Life to Live” and a villain in the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II,” has died in Los Angeles at 56, the family announced. De los Reyes died Sunday following a brief battle with cancer, according to a statement from Lisa Goldberg, a publicist for de los Reyes’ wife, Sherri Saum.In “One Life to Live,” de los Reyes starred as Antonio Vega, a former gang member who became a lawyer and then a cop, alongside Saum. In the popular video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II,” he played the villain Raul Menendez. He also had roles in Fox’s “Sleepy Hollow,” ABC’s “The Rookie” and CW’s “All American.” The family statement said that at the time of his death, de los Reyes was filming “All American” — and had recently shot roles in Marvel’s upcoming “Daredevil” series and Hulu’s yet to be released “Washington Black,” starring Sterling K. Brown. De los Reyes ...

Skilling: Cloudy, cool week ahead for Chicagoland

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

Temperature-wise, it's been a Christmas for the books here in Chicago. The overnight low temp of 50 degrees has set a new record for the warmest minimum temp for a Dec. 25th, eclipsing by 4 deg the 87-year-old previous record for the lowest minimum temp for Dec. 25th —which, until Monday, had been 46-deg, set in 1936.What a difference a year makes! Last Christmas saw us coming off two days with sub-zero temps and an inch of snow on the ground. Also, the low temp a year ago was +2 deg, which puts Monday morning's low of 50 deg an eye-catching 48 deg warmer!And our 59-deg official high at O'Hare (Midway recorded a Christmas Day high of 60-deg) missed by only 6-deg the record high of 65 in the extraordinary Christmas of 1982. A year ago, the high only reached 14 deg. So Monday was 45 deg warmer than Christmas a year ago.Interestingly, both the 1982 Christmas and Monday occurred with A Strong El Niño underway in the equatorial Pacific. El Niños, which involve the warming of Pacific Ocea...

Dry, cool weather for the final week of 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Cooler than normal conditions blew into the area Christmas morning, and largely look to stick around through the end of 2023. Following a welcome period of wet weather, we are not expecting any rain through at least Jan. 1.1-3 inches of rain fell in many areas over Christmas weekend, but only raised the level of Lake Travis by three inches. The lake is 50 feet lower than its full elevation.Behind the cold front that cleared out the wet weather, expect mainly clear skies and brisk temperatures. A few high clouds drifting in overnight will keep temperatures above freezing in most areas, but the coldest rural valleys northwest of Austin may freeze early Tuesday.Forecast low temperatures Tuesday morningA secondary, dry cold front looks to blow through quietly Wednesday night. This front will lead to colder mornings areawide, with a widespread freeze expected Friday morning. Temperatures may even drop to 32 degrees in Austin.Forecast low temperatures in Austin this weekD...

CLEAR Alert issued for 18-year-old Leon Valley girl last seen Friday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

LEON VALLEY, Texas (KXAN) -- A CLEAR Alert was issued Monday for an 18-year-old girl who was last seen on Friday afternoon. The Leon Valley Police Department is searching for Savanah Soto, who was last seen at 2 p.m. on Dec. 22 in the 6000 Block of Grissom Rd, Leon Valley, TX, in a Gray, 2013, Kia Optima bearing TX TEMP TAG 4289D57. What is a CLEAR Alert, and when is it issued? Leon Valley on the northwestern side of San Antonio and is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area.Soto is described as a white female, 18 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes, 5'01 in height, and 115 lbs. CLEAR-Alert-Activation-Leon-Valley-PD-Soto-English-FlyerDownloadLaw enforcement officials believe this person’s disappearance poses a credible threat to their own health and safety.If you have any information regarding Soto, contact the Leon Valley Police Department at 210-812-3259.

6th Street bar hosts giveaway to connect with people experiencing homelessness

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

In addition to food, Friends also provided clothing and blankets to those in need.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- "They're our roommates," said Colleen Womack, a shift manager at Friends bar on Sixth and Brazos, talking about the unhoused community living downtown. She greeted many of them by name as they walked through the front door Christmas Day.The business hosted a giveaway Monday where staff handed out clothes, shoes, blankets and food to people experiencing homelessness. Following a stint of violent crime downtown the last couple of weeks - including a homicide on Congress Avenue and an officer-involved shooting on Sixth Street - Friends want to turn things around."When things happen on this street, we really try to band together," Womack said.Live music played at Friends during the giveaway.She said the now annual and multi-holiday giveaway idea was spearheaded by Jorge, the bar's kitchen manager Jorge Trejo. On Thanksgiving, the bar held a similar event while also collecting shoes, clothe...

Gophers lineman Aireontae Ersery, a role model, with wit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

DETROIT — Aireontae Ersery’s chuckle comes out quick and easy when he sees the picture.Sitting in the lobby at The Westin Book Cadillac hotel days before the Quick Lane Bowl, the Gophers offensive lineman was getting a kick of an image of himself as a freshman at Ruskin High School in Kansas City, Mo., in 2016.The resemblance is there, but little else is the same. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound left tackle was 6-1 and 220 pounds back then, wearing a loose-fitting Nirvana band T-shirt, unsure of what he was doing in the weight room or what sport he would play.“I see young ‘Tae, no muscles,” Ersery told the Pioneer Press. “Man, I don’t even know what I was doing in that picture. I just had a dumbbell in my hands.”Ersery has seen this photo before. His former coach at Ruskin, William Perkins, recently sent it to Ersery to remind him of how far he’s come since then.Finishing his fourth season at the U, Ersery was the highest-graded offensive lineman in the Big Ten in 2023, according to P...

Jamal Murray scores 28 to lead Nuggets to Christmas Day win over Warriors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:14 GMT

The Nuggets used a perfect day at the foul line from Nikola Jokic, key shots from Jamal Murray in the fourth quarter and some defensive stops by Michael Porter Jr. to gift-wrap a 120-114 victory over Golden State on Christmas Day.The Nuggets won their fifth straight and halted the Warriors’ five-game winning streak in the process.Jokic was a perfect 18 of 18 from the foul line, setting a new career-high for free throws made. He finished with 26 points. Murray led all scorers with 28 points, including a couple of big baskets late.Related ArticlesDenver Nuggets | Reggie Jackson’s Colorado: A Palmer High legend shaped by snow ice cream, unforgettable highlights and lasting friendships Denver Nuggets | Nuggets don’t allow field goal first 11 minutes of second half in wild win over Hornets Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray erupts in second half, starters carry Nuggets to win at Brooklyn Nets Denver Nuggets | The mos...