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Erin’s Offshore Spin Will Unleash Flash Flood Risk Across Northeast Erin’s Offshore Spin Will Unleash Flash Flood Risk Across Northeast
Erin’s Offshore Spin Will Unleash Flash Flood Risk Across Northeast A surge of tropical moisture unleashed by Hurricane Erin is set to drench the Northeast with meteorologists warning that sudden, drenching downpours could trigger dangerous flash flooding from Virginia to New England on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Tropical air funneled northward by Hurricane Erin is colliding with a stalled weather front, setting the stage for intense rainfall and the risk of flash flooding across a wide swath of the Appalachians and Northeast from late Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night, AccuWeather meteorologists report. While Erin itself is spinning offshore, the heav…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Hurricane Erin Turns North With Dangerous Surf, Rip Current Alerts Issued Throughout East Coast Hurricane Erin Turns North With Dangerous Surf, Rip Current Alerts Issued Throughout East Coast
Hurricane Erin Turns North With Dangerous Surf, Rip Current Alerts Issued Throughout East Coast A massive, churning Hurricane Erin is turning the Atlantic into a danger zone for beachgoers from Florida to Massachusetts, prompting urgent warnings to stay out of the water as life-threatening surf and rip currents pound the East Coast on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Click here for a new, updated story: Erin’s Offshore Spin Will Unleash Flash Flood Risk Across Northeast The National Hurricane Center has issued a high risk of rip currents for most East Coast beaches through Thursday, Aug. 21, as Erin’s powerful winds and enormous size generate pounding surf and hazardous conditions along 2,0…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Trump Is Blocking Crime Victim Funds Over Immigration Laws: MA Fights Back Trump Is Blocking Crime Victim Funds Over Immigration Laws: MA Fights Back
Trump Is Blocking Crime Victim Funds Over Immigration Laws: MA Fights Back New Jersey is leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general from states including New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts in suing the Trump Administration over what officials call unlawful conditions placed on federal funding for crime victims, officials announced Monday, Aug. 18. The lawsuit challenges the Trump Administration’s move to withhold Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant money from states unless they comply with federal immigration enforcement priorities, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said.  VOCA funds are used for advocacy services, sexual assault forensic exams, funera…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
MA Named Best State To Live In, New Study Says: Here's Why MA Named Best State To Live In, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA Named Best State To Live In, New Study Says: Here's Why From the best schools in the nation to some of the highest incomes, several Northeast states are among the best places to live, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of "Best States to Live In" on Monday, Aug. 11. The study ranked all 50 states using 51 measures of livability, from housing affordability and income growth to education, health, and safety. Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said it's important to look beyond just economic factors. "When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices, and…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Multiple Wegmans Cheese Products Recalled Over Listeria Fears Multiple Wegmans Cheese Products Recalled Over Listeria Fears
Multiple Wegmans Cheese Products Recalled Over Listeria Fears A popular cheese sold at a supermarket with locations across the East Coast has been pulled from shelves following a supplier alert that triggered a multi-state recall. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. announced it is recalling its Medium Camembert Soft Ripened Cheese and several products containing the cheese due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  The bacterium can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Healthy individuals may experience short-term symptoms including high fever, sev…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
'Rodent Activity' Prompts Recall Of Cheese Product Sold In MA 'Rodent Activity' Prompts Recall Of Cheese Product Sold In MA
'Rodent Activity' Prompts Recall Of Cheese Product Sold In MA A cheesemaker is pulling one of its products from store shelves after federal inspectors found troubling conditions inside its facility. Quesito El Establo, located in Salem, New Hampshire, has recalled all of its Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano).  This action follows an FDA inspection that uncovered the presence of rodents, signs of rodent activity, and other unsanitary conditions during manufacturing and storage. The cheese was distributed to retail stores in Massachusetts, primarily serving Hispanic/Latino customers. The FDA warns that rodent presence can carry a variety of hea…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents $5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents The phone rings in the middle of the night. It’s a family member, and they’re in trouble. A misunderstanding or mistake has put them in a serious bind, and they need thousands of dollars — immediately — or they're in big trouble.  Hundreds of people have received calls like that, but they were fake. Federal investigators call it the “grandparent scam.” The scheme allegedly targeted hundreds of older Americans — including at least 50 in Massachusetts — and stole more than $5 million, according to the US Attorney for Massachusetts. Federal prosecutors say they’ve charged 13 people who “r…

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including MA, Pulled From Shelves Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including MA, Pulled From Shelves
Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including MA, Pulled From Shelves A sweet treat sold at one of the nation’s biggest retailers is now under a safety alert covering 20 states and Washington, DC. The recall involves Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies, a 10-count product sold under Target’s private label brand.  According to the Food and Drug Administration, manufacturer Give and Go Prepared Foods Corp. of Canada pulled the cookies due to possible contamination with wood. A total of 803 cases are affected. The cookies were distributed through three Target distribution centers — in Connecticut, Maryland, and Ohio — and reached stores in: Connect…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Springfield Predator Gets Up to 13 Years In Prison For Repeatedly Raping Young Child Springfield Predator Gets Up to 13 Years In Prison For Repeatedly Raping Young Child
Springfield Predator Gets Up to 13 Years In Prison For Repeatedly Raping Young Child A 57-year-old Massachusetts man will spend the next 10 to 13 years behind bars after a Hampden County jury found he had repeatedly raped a child between the ages of 6 and 8 years old, authorities said.  Benito Roman, formerly of Springfield, was convicted of aggravated rape of a child, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and two counts of intimidation of a witness following a three-day trial, the Hampden District Attorney's Office said.  Along with his prison term, Roman must serve three years of probation following his release, the judge ruled.  …

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone' Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone'
Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone' Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is giving its restaurants a brighter, modern look, but the makeover is polarizing among the restaurant's biggest fans, with some saying the chain is losing its country charm. Cracker Barrel is in the process of remodeling dozens of its roughly 660 locations nationwide. The effort includes lighter paint, fewer antiques on the walls, updated menus, and streamlined cooking processes aimed at attracting a wider range of diners. Early remodels have already rolled out in multiple states, The Wall Street Journal reported in May. Cracker Barrel plans to update or re…

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by Chris Spiker
News
MA Ranked Best State To Have Baby, New Study Says: Here's Why MA Ranked Best State To Have Baby, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA Ranked Best State To Have Baby, New Study Says: Here's Why Families in some Northeast states may have a much easier time welcoming a new baby than others, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Best & Worst States to Have a Baby on Monday, Aug. 4. The study compared all 50 states and Washington, DC, across 31 metrics, from average hospital bills to infant mortality rates and child-care availability. The leaders boast strong health care systems, parental support programs, and child care access. "The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Massachusetts’ Sales Tax Holiday — 2 Days To Shop Without Tax Massachusetts’ Sales Tax Holiday — 2 Days To Shop Without Tax
Massachusetts’ Sales Tax Holiday — 2 Days To Shop Without Tax Are you ready, Massachusetts shoppers? The state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday returns for two days only: Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. For a short weekend, Massachusetts drops its 6.25% sales tax on most retail items costing $2,500 or less, including clothing, shoes, electronics, accessories, backpacks, and more. Clothing items priced up to $175 are fully exempt; if over $175, only the amount above is taxed. It’s a golden opportunity to update your wardrobe and haul in everything you need. Think back‑to‑school fashion and beyond with pieces from Shein, Macy’s, TJ Maxx, Mars…

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by Vira Mamchur Schwartz