Metro Atlanta school districts report over 3,000 cases of COVID-19 in first weeks
Many school districts nationwide have seen parents protesting for and against masks. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart)ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta school districts are reporting thousands of cases of COVID-19 among students and staff just weeks into the school year. Gwinnett County, Georgia’s largest school district, reported over 500 active cases of the virus Friday. Parents on both sides of the issue clashed in a heated demonstration outside of Cobb School District headquarters Thursday. Fulton County schools announced Thursday they will create a mask-optional learning hub for up to 500 students starting in September.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 21:01 UTC
Sports betting strategy: How to hedge and middle your bets
A hedge is a strategy in which a bettor will bet the opposite side of a pending wager in order to reduce their risk and/or guarantee a profit. A middle is when a bettor takes both sides of a game at different lines in hopes of scooping both bets. Some sort of line move is needed to employ this strategy, whether it be within in-game betting or betting the opposite side of the original wager prior to the second half. Also see:Sports Betting Terms and DefinitionsWhen to hedge? A middle can serve as a "hedge" or profit maximizer depending on how you play it.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 20:03 UTC
Electric battery: Old pals 'Oil Can' Boyd, Rich Gedman worked well together with Red Sox
WORCESTER — Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd was standing behind the cage while the Worcester Red Sox took batting practice Thursday at Polar Park. Gedman and Oil Can worked 102 games together with the Red Sox between 1982-89. It made for a good team.”'A special man, a special person'Their professional and personal relationship was built on mutual respect. Then he was going to throw at “Old man Ripken.” Gedman remembers telling Oil Can to calm down. Oil Can credits his catcher: “He made playing for the Red Sox really special."
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 18:56 UTC
Sales tax holiday: Massachusetts shoppers get a break this weekend
MetroWest Daily NewsShoppers this weekend will sidestep the 6.25% tax on many items with the annual sales tax holiday coming just in time for back-to-school shopping. On Saturday and Sunday, shoppers will not be charged sales tax for items $2,500 or less, which could save shoppers up to $156 per item. However, not all items qualify for the tax break. Charlie Baker suggested a two-month sales tax holiday, looking to drive more shoppers to the stores. More:Massachusetts sales tax
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 18:00 UTC
Waylon Payne's Country Comeback
“This is really, really personal, Randy.”Waylon Payne takes a deep breath and pauses in the midst of an often startling, profoundly revealing interview about his life. She had a really, really beautiful way of educating me to music that was real and had integrity. I had a really, really strange, weird experience with it when I finally decided to put it down. I know I’m an odd man out here because everybody has taken the power from it and embraced it. Read MoreAlbum Review: Waylon Payne’s “Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me”Album Review: Aaron Lee Tasjan’s “Tasjan!
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 16:52 UTC
London court orders Binance to trace cryptocurrency hackers
In a judgment made public this week, a High Court judge granted requests by artificial intelligence (AI) company Fetch.ai for Binance to take steps to identify the hackers and track and seize the assets. “We can confirm that we are helping Fetch.ai in the recovery of assets,” a Binance spokesperson said. Fetch.ai, which is incorporated in England and Singapore and develops AI projects for blockchain databases, alleges fraudsters hacked their way into its cryptocurrency accounts on the Binance exchange on June 6. Rahman said Binance, which had notified Fetch.ai of unusual activity in its account, had already frozen a sum and had indicated it would comply with the orders. “We have been working closely with Binance and local enforcement to obtain details about the hacker,” Fetch.ai said in an emailed statement.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 13:52 UTC
Population surge in Massachusetts points to legislative district changes
Framingham's population was up 5.9%, adding 4,044 residents, while Milford's population rose 2,380, an 8.5% change. Many of the suburban communities grow as well," Galvin, the state's liaison to the Census, said. Across the country, less than half (47 percent) of the nation's 3,143 counties gained population over the last decade. Moran told the News Service on Thursday that the committee's third-party vendor is working now to put the latest Census data into a format that meets the committee's parameters. Moran said the committee has to use official Census data and "given the Census' credibility in the last year and a half," he is not considering the data released Thursday to be the official numbers.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 13:18 UTC
Earline Budd to hold 63rd birthday gala, raising money for transgender burial expenses, on Aug. 15
Local transgender rights activist Earline Budd will hold a gala celebrating her 63rd birthday this upcoming weekend that will honor the work of other activists and raise money for Empowering the Transgender Community’s LGBTQ Burial Fund. Checks should be made out to Empowering the Transgender Community and should state that the donation is designated for the burial fund in the comment section, and can be mailed to 1723 M St. NE, Washington, D.C., 20002. Doors to the gala, which will be held at Chateau Remix, at 3439 Benning Rd. NE, will open at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 15, with dinner starting at 5 p.m. and live entertainment starting at 6 p.m. “I’m always thinking about people who are doing the hard work, who never get a ‘thank you’ for their efforts.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 13:07 UTC
DIMONT & Associates, LLC Acquired by Metro Public Adjustment, Inc.
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DIMONT, the largest provider of specialty insurance claims and loan administration services to the residential mortgage industry, today announced it was acquired by Bensalem, Pennsylvania based company Metro Public Adjustment, Inc.One of the largest public adjusting companies in the United States and founder of the Science of Adjusting™, Metro Public Adjustment announces the acquisition of Dallas-based DIMONT adding over 1000 public adjusters licenses to its already 300, tripling its size overnight. DIMONT’s Chief Executive Officer, Laura MacIntyre, will remain with DIMONT and will serve as the new President of DIMONT. “We are very excited about this next chapter and the future of DIMONT,” said Laura MacIntyre, President, DIMONT. About Metro Public AdjustmentSince 1994, Metro Public Adjustment has been helping their clients and customers settle their property claims. At Metro, our mission is to be the Public Adjusting firm that consistently exceeds the expectations of our clients and our people.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 12:56 UTC
State eyes partners to expand swim lessons access
Michael P. NortonState House News ServiceMassachusetts is on the hunt for partners that can provide free beginner swim lessons to children and adults, and is dangling $475,000 in funding as it looks to execute contracts with one or more vendors. State environmental officials on Thursday announced plans for the SWIM grant program, saying it would accept applications for funding and enroll organizations on a rolling basis through March 1, 2022. The state asked for swim lesson program proposals from both nonprofit and for-profit organizations capable of providing instruction for beginner swimmers at non-Department of Conservation and Recreation sites. "Our Administration is committed to expanding access to swim lessons and providing residents in underserved communities an opportunity to develop this important skill to help prevent tragic accidents in and around the water." Also Thursday, state officials announced plans to install and expand multilingual safety signage at all DCR swimming waterfronts, and to install life rings at all 78 of the agency's designated waterfronts.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 12:11 UTC
Holliston police search for off-roaders who rode on rail trail, then fled
HOLLISTON – Police are searching for three people who eluded police on Sunday after improperly riding off-road vehicles on the Upper Charles Rail Trail and Lowland Street. On Sunday, in the early evening, police got several calls from people complaining about two people riding four-wheel ATVs and a third on a dirt bike riding on the rail trail and Lowland Street, Lt. Chad Thompson said on Thursday. Such vehicles are prohibited on the rail trail and are not legally allowed to be used on public roadways. Thompson said there have been reports of people riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes on the rail trail previously. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 11:48 UTC
No more cloud of confusion: How to buy marijuana at a shop like a pro
At Apotho Therapeutics in Plainville, customers are welcomed to an open lobby with laminate floors and more than half a dozen registers. For example, one of the edibles sold at Garden Remedies, which has a recreational shop in Marlborough, is a watermelon-flavored "Serenity" chew containing melatonin that can aid with sleep. At Apotho Therapeutics, about 45% of its sales are from flower and 20% of its sales from pre-rolls, said Medeiros. Different times of the day bring different age groups to the CommCan dispensary in Millis, but the older generation is easily the fastest-growing demographic, said Rosenfeld. More:Disabled veterans press for access to medical marijuanaAt Garden Remedies, the most common age group is 25 to 40 years old, said Spolijaric.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 11:03 UTC
Judy Collins wants to have Donald Trump on her podcast. Here's why
Indeed, Collins – whose debut album, “A Maid of Constant Sorrow,” was released in 1961 – will release her latest, “Judy Collins Live at Town Hall, NYC,” on Aug. 27. The new album hearkens back to Collins’s legendary 1964 solo New York concert debut, using virtually the same setlist. That same year, Collins was the inspiration for the Stephen Stills song “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” which appeared on the self-titled debut album by Crosby, Stills & Nash. I also wrote songs for “Spellbound,” a new album of original music set for release on Feb. 22, 2022. The podcast – called “Since You’ve Asked,” which was the name of the first song I ever wrote – grew from that.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 09:22 UTC
Patriots QB Competition: Here's how Cam Newton and Mac Jones looked on Thursday
FOXBOROUGH – All summer long we’ve seen Cam Newton and Mac Jones go head-to-head in training camp. The close competition has Newton in the lead, but it’s clear Jones has talent and isn’t far behind. His second pass attempt, on third down, initially looked like a strip sack by Chase Young, but it was ruled an incompletion. Jones’ first pass of the night was ruled incomplete even though it looked like Jakobi Meyers hauled it in. Jones’ next pass looked like a potential highlight with a beautiful 34-yard deep pass into the end zone.
Source:MetroXpress
August 13, 2021 04:52 UTC
American Medical Association recommends removing gender markers from public portions of birth certificates
The American Medical Association advocated in a June report for removing gender markers from the public portion of birth certificates, recommending that data on gender be made available for medical and statistical use only. According to the report, removing a person’s sex designation from the public portion of birth certificates would have little to no impact on data collected for medical, public health, and statistical purposes. According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, only 11% of respondents reported that all of their IDs matched their gender identity, while nearly two-thirds had no IDs reflecting their correct name and gender identity. “Historically, birth certificates have also been used to discriminate, promote racial hierarchies, and prohibitmiscegenation. For that reason, the race of an individual’s parents is no longer listed on the public portion of birth certificates,” the AMA report reads.
Source:MetroXpress
August 11, 2021 22:18 UTC