Fair 82°
News
$1M Lottery Jackpot: Stop For Snacks Lands Western Mass Woman Massive Check $1M Lottery Jackpot: Stop For Snacks Lands Western Mass Woman Massive Check
$1M Lottery Jackpot: Stop For Snacks Lands Western Mass Woman Massive Check A hungry daughter helped a Hampden County woman land a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery.  Amy Kowal, of Chicopee, won the seven-figure check by playing the “$4,000,000 Lion’s Share,” a $10 scratch-off ticket. Two $4 million grand prizes and three $1 million winners remain in circulation.  Kowal chose to take the lump-sum payment of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity.  She said she stopped and bought the ticket because her daughter was craving Doritos so Kowals stopped to grab a bag.  Kowal bought the ticket at Pride Market at 167 Ch…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern
Covid-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern A surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States and around the globe is sparking concern among health officials who are warning that more severe variants of the virus may be coming. “COVID-19 is still very much with us and circulating in all countries," Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization said in a news conference last week. “Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the percent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising over several weeks." Wastewater surveillance suggests that the circulation of COVID is two to 20 times…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
NY County's Mask Ban Signed Into Law; Here's Possible Sentence For Violations NY County's Mask Ban Signed Into Law; Here's Possible Sentence For Violations
NY County's Mask Ban Signed Into Law; Here's Possible Sentence For Violations It’s now against the law to cover your face in public in this New York county. On Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed the “Mask Transparency Act” into law during a ceremony held Wednesday morning, Aug. 14. It came a little more than a week after the Republican-controlled county legislature passed the act by a vote of 12-0 on Monday, Aug. 5. All seven Democrats abstained from voting. Earlier Report: Nassau County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Rise In Covid-19 Cases The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone 16 and older to wear a face mask in public spaces in…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
Person From Virginia Third To Die From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat Person From Virginia Third To Die From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat
Person From Virginia Third To Die From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat A person from Virginia has become the third person to die during an ongoing Listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to millions of pounds of Boar's Head deli meats that were recalled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on Thursday, Aug. 8 advising that there have been nine more cases reported in connection to the recall, bringing the total to 43 hospitalized - three of which who died, including one from Virginia. No details about the person who died in Virginia have been released. Two others in the state have also been sickened with Listeria amid the outbr…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner
Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner What was supposed to be an eight-day trip to the International Space Station may end up lasting much, much longer for an astronaut from Massachusetts. Two months after the Boeing-built Starliner blasted off from Florida’s Space Coast on its first crewed flight, NASA announced that pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore may not come home until February 2025. In a mission update Wednesday, Aug. 7, NASA and Boeing leaders said they were still figuring out how to safely bring the pair back to Earth and that they may have to ride back on a Sp…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
You Can Audition For 'American Idol' Virtually — As Long As You Were Born Between These Dates You Can Audition For 'American Idol' Virtually — As Long As You Were Born Between These Dates
You Can Audition For 'American Idol' Virtually — As Long As You Were Born Between These Dates Are you the next "American Idol?" The popular ABC singing competition is holding virtual auditions for the upcoming season this month and next. As long as you are of a certain age (scroll down for audition dates). According to the "American Idol" casting application website, contestants must be born between June 2, 1995 and Feb. 15, 2010.  Additionally, contestants must be legal U.S. residents authorized to participate in the entire competition. Auditions for residents in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania via Zoom will be Wednesday, Aug. 21.  Virginia re…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
News
'Love Is Blind' Netflix Series Searching For New Contestants From Across New England 'Love Is Blind' Netflix Series Searching For New Contestants From Across New England
'Love Is Blind' Netflix Series Searching For New Contestants From Across New England Casting producers for the through-the-wall Netflix dating series "Love Is Blind" are scouring the New England area for potential contestants for the show's upcoming season. The show, which has aired for six seasons, asks potential couples to bond and "date" for 10 days in sound-proof pods, followed by weeks of face-to-face courtship, the creator told Us Weekly. In the end, the couples must decide to get engaged or married.  It's had mixed results with 10 couples getting hitched and several others still dating. Many have broken up following the series.  Anyone interested in joinin…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
NY Judge Suspends Justin Timberlake's License Amid Drunk Driving Allegations NY Judge Suspends Justin Timberlake's License Amid Drunk Driving Allegations
NY Judge Suspends Justin Timberlake's License Amid Drunk Driving Allegations Pop superstar Justin Timberlake took time out of his European tour to face a New York judge in his alleged drunk driving case on Long Island. The former NSYNC frontman pleaded not guilty to one count of driving while intoxicated during a virtual appearance before Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on Friday morning, Aug. 2. Timberlake, age 43, of Franklin, Tennessee, was arrested shortly after leaving the posh American Hotel in Sag Harbor, around 12:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, after a night of drinking with friends, according to multiple news reports. He was held in jail overnight. Earlier …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn & Kathy Reakes
News
Harmful Bacterial Bloom Forces Worcester Lake To Close Harmful Bacterial Bloom Forces Worcester Lake To Close
Harmful Bacterial Bloom Forces Worcester Lake To Close Officials in Worcester closed Indian Lake after a bacterial bloom that is harmful to humans and animals was detected in the water.  The Department of Inspectional Services said it had found cyanobacteria in the lake, which can produce toxins harmful to people and pets, the city announced on Thursday, Aug. 1. Indian Lake would remain closed until tests come back clean.  City officials said anyone who comes in contact with scum at Indian Lake should wash it off immediately with fresh water. Pet owners should contact their veterinarians immediately if their animals ingest a…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
‘Lavish Spending’: NY Times Reveals LGBT Nonprofit's Cape Cod Summer Home, More ‘Lavish Spending’: NY Times Reveals LGBT Nonprofit's Cape Cod Summer Home, More
‘Lavish Spending’: NY Times Reveals LGBT Nonprofit's Cape Cod Summer Home, More One of the nation's most iconic gay and trans-rights organizations is under fire after The New York Times accused its leader of living a lavish, high-flying life on the dime of the group's donors.  The Times published the story on Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis on Thursday, Aug. 1, after an investigation into her and the group's finances.  One of the more notable items the nonprofit is accused of having paid for was a $25,000 annual allowance to rent a Cape Cod summer home in Provincetown. Ellis has made no secret of her love …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now
Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now A new tropical rainstorm in the Atlantic may strengthen into a named storm and affect parts of the East Coast. According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical depression could form late this week while the system is near the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas. (See the first image above.) It could become a named storm as soon as this weekend. If that's the case, it will be called Debby. “Right now, this tropical rainstorm has a 60 percent chance of strengthening into a named storm no sooner than this weekend or early next week," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
$1M Lottery Winner: Pembroke Woman Planning Family Vacation With Big Payday $1M Lottery Winner: Pembroke Woman Planning Family Vacation With Big Payday
$1M Lottery Winner: Pembroke Woman Planning Family Vacation With Big Payday A Massachusetts woman has big plans for her family after winning a $1 million prize in the state lottery.  Erin Cobb, of Pembroke, won the seven-figure payday in the "Jaws"-theme instant win game. Related: Mass. Lottery Winner Dreamt About Winning Ticket Before Buying It  She said she plans to invest the money and take her family on a well-earned vacation.  "This is life-changing," she told the lottery. "We will make the most of it and will have some fun!" Cobb elected to take the lump-sum payment of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity.  She bought the ti…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier