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TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App?
TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? Another sell-or-be-banned TikTok legislation is working its way up to the Senate. The House passed the sell-or-be-banned bill for the app (360-58) on Saturday, April 20 as part of a larger foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, giving Chinese TikTok owner ByteDance up to a year to sell the app. Otherwise, TikTok will be subject to a nationwide ban. According to Politico, the bill is expected to pass the Senate as it's considered "priority legislation" for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. A previous, standalone bill was passed by the House in March over national security co…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Cambridge's Ben Affleck Runs — Stumbles — On Dunkin For Ad Recreating 2020 Viral Meme Cambridge's Ben Affleck Runs — Stumbles — On Dunkin For Ad Recreating 2020 Viral Meme
Cambridge's Ben Affleck Runs — Stumbles — On Dunkin For Ad Recreating 2020 Viral Meme Even Batman couldn’t save this former Massachusetts resident from dropping his coffee and a pile of donut boxes for a new Dunkin’ commercial. Ben Affleck, age 51, of Cambridge, created a 2020 viral meme for a new Dunkin’ Donuts commercial, in which he juggles and drops several boxes of donuts and some iced coffee while leaving his home. New Ben Affleck Dunkin pic just dropped pic.twitter.com/GHFXPXHPbN — Colin Young (@ColinYovng) December 31, 2020 Now the “Justice League” star is collaborating with TikToker Charli D’Amelio for the commercial that is filming in Los Angeles, according to…

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by Khier Casino
Police & Fire
Children Caught Speeding At 90 MPH In Stolen Cars In Western Mass Children Caught Speeding At 90 MPH In Stolen Cars In Western Mass
Children Caught Speeding At 90 MPH In Stolen Cars In Western Mass A group of 15-year-olds and 14-year-olds went are lucky to be alive after taking a joyride early Thursday morning, June 15, in stolen Hyundais at speeds over 90 miles per hour before crashing in Hampden County, authorities said.  The four teens in four stolen cars were clocked around 3:45 a.m. speeding down Boston Road in Springfield, police said. The vehicles weaved across the yellow line multiple times, and two of the cars didn't have their headlights on, meaning they were practically invisible to oncoming traffic, authorities added.  Police found one of the cars crashed on…

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
‘Record-Breaking’ Fourth Show Added For Comedian Matt Rife's New England Leg Of World Tour ‘Record-Breaking’ Fourth Show Added For Comedian Matt Rife's New England Leg Of World Tour
‘Record-Breaking’ Fourth Show Added For Comedian Matt Rife's New England Leg Of World Tour Tickets to see comedian Matt Rife on his first ever world tour are in such demand that a Connecticut venue is adding more shows to its lineup. In a Facebook post Thursday, June 8, Mohegan Sun Area, located in Uncasville in New London County, announced it was adding a “record-breaking FOURTH show” for Rife’s “ProbleMATTic World Tour.” The 27-year-old comic, who has amassed nearly 18 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, is now set to perform in Connecticut from Thursday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Rife announced the tour Monday, June 5, in a TikTok video featuring fellow …

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Comedian Matt Rife Set To Perform In New England As Part Of World Tour Comedian Matt Rife Set To Perform In New England As Part Of World Tour
Comedian Matt Rife Set To Perform In New England As Part Of World Tour Comedy star Matt Rife will swing through the Constitution State as part of his first ever world tour. The 27-year-old comic, who has amassed nearly 18 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, is set to perform two shows in Connecticut as part of his upcoming “ProbleMATTic World Tour,” which was announced Monday, June 5. Fans can catch Rife on Feb. 23 and 24, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena, located in Uncasville in New London County. Rife announced the tour in a TikTok video featuring fellow celebs Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. In the video, Kutcher plays a genie who grants Rife his wish of …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Woman Gives Birth During Taylor Swift's 'Rainiest Rain Show' At Gillette Stadium Woman Gives Birth During Taylor Swift's 'Rainiest Rain Show' At Gillette Stadium
Woman Gives Birth During Taylor Swift's 'Rainiest Rain Show' At Gillette Stadium One lucky Massachusetts baby can now say that their first ever concert was an iconic Taylor Swift show. TikTok user Vanessa Chatterley posted a video of her leaving night two of "The Eras Tour" at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday, May 20 while a woman went into labor in the parking lot.  "It's like 2 in the morning and someone is giving birth over there," Chatterley said before panning over to a shot of the woman giving birth in the back of an ambulance.  @vchatterley i hope she names the baby Rain Show #erastour ♬ original sound - Vanessa Chatterley Torrential downpo…

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by David Cifarelli
Schools
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Six elementary school students from Western Massachusetts were taken to local hospitals after ingesting or coming in contact with a spicy gum product this week, according to officials.  A student who bought the gum online shared it with other students during recess at Dexter Park School in Orange on Tuesday, April 4, Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski reports. "The product contained levels of pepper, which, when some students ingested it, caused digestive issues, including burning in the mouth and esophagus," she said.  "Additionally, students who accepted the product but did n…

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by David Cifarelli
Schools
'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital 'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital
'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital More than two dozen students were hospitalized following early St. Patrick's Day celebrations at a university in Western Massachusetts that featured a dangerous drinking trend that is sweeping the nation.  University of Massachusetts Amherst said Amherst Fire handled 28 transports for alcohol intoxication during off-campus gatherings on Saturday, March 4, the school said in a statement.  Authorities said many students were carrying plastic gallon containers, believed to be "borgs." Borg stands for "black out rage gallons," and contain a mix of alcohol, electrolytes and water.  The purpose…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Teens Who Ambushed Auburn Middle Schoolers With Gel Gun Face Serious Charges: Police Teens Who Ambushed Auburn Middle Schoolers With Gel Gun Face Serious Charges: Police
Teens Who Ambushed Auburn Middle Schoolers With Gel Gun Face Serious Charges: Police Police charged three Auburn teens with serious felonies after they ambushed several middle school students and shots them with a child's water toy, authorities said. Though, the decision to charge them with such harsh penalties has split social media.  The attacks happened just before 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, in the Briarcliff Drive and Bryn Mawr Avenue areas, Auburn police said. Parents started calling officers to report that their children had been "shot" with gel pellets called Orbeez from a small pistol.  Just before 3pm today, dispatch started receiving calls from parents of Aub…

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by Josh Lanier
Neighbors
Massachusetts TikToker Raises Funds For Homeless Man Who Lost Family To Cancer Massachusetts TikToker Raises Funds For Homeless Man Who Lost Family To Cancer
Massachusetts TikToker Raises Funds For Homeless Man Who Lost Family To Cancer Devin Murray has racked up millions of views by exposing homelessness in and around the Boston area through his TikTok videos.  While Murray's videos often highlight one specific person and their struggle, there was one man's tale that inclined Murray to start a fundraiser to help him survive the winter.  The man, known as Joe from Lawrence, lost his entire family to cancer and even held his wife in his arms as the disease took her life, Murray highlighted in one video.  Joe eventually contracted the detrimental disease himself but was able to overcome it. However, these hurdles landed Joe…

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by David Cifarelli
Lifestyle
New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant
New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant When it comes to satisfying those hunger pangs, it turns out nothing does it for Zoomers quite like the delectably irresistible taste of America’s favorite chicken shack. A new survey by investment firm Piper Sandler found that Generation Z’s favorite restaurant is Chick-fil-A. Of those polled, 18 percent picked the Atlanta-based chicken chain as their favorite place to eat, followed by Starbucks (17 percent) and Chipotle (13 percent). The restaurant category was just one of several that was gauged as part of Piper Sandler’s 44th semi-annual “Taking Stock With Teens” survey, which includ…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Investigation Underway At University In Region Following TikTok Accusations Of Rape Investigation Underway At University In Region Following TikTok Accusations Of Rape
Investigation Underway At University In Region Following TikTok Accusations Of Rape A student rally was planned for Friday, Sept. 16, and school officials are investigating after allegations of a sexual assault surfaced on TikTok at a state university in Connecticut. Although no formal complaint against the accused student has been filed, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain is investigating allegations of sexual assault against a student, according to Janice Palmer, a CCSU spokesperson. CCSU president Zulma R. Toro issued a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to the school’s social media about its investigation: "Late today, allegations came to lig…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Viral TikTok Shows Mass Barista With Down Syndrome Getting First Paycheck Viral TikTok Shows Mass Barista With Down Syndrome Getting First Paycheck
Viral TikTok Shows Mass Barista With Down Syndrome Getting First Paycheck Everyone remembers the feeling of getting paid for the first time. The rush that hits when you get handed that slip of paper is unlike any other feeling.  Well, one barista at a coffee shop in Massachusetts has gone viral on TikTok for his unforgettable reaction to his first ever paycheck.  Joe Sullivan works at the Bitty & Beau's Coffee in Melrose. The chain, which has locations across the country, employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Bitty & Beau's was founded by husband and wife Amy and Ben Wright whose children, for which the chain is named after, …

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Police Investigate After Rug Pulled From River In Region Police Investigate After Rug Pulled From River In Region
Police Investigate After Rug Pulled From River In Region Connecticut State Police say a rug pulled from a river by a social media influencer/paranormal investigator has found no evidence it was related to a crime. Detectives from the Major Crime Squad, responded to the Farmington River on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. and at the request of Farmington Police after reports of a rug found by a social media influencer, Sean Austin. After investigating for several hours, detectives tested several large, irregular brownish-red stains on the rug and a presumptive test determined they were not blood, state police said. "Detectives have found no …

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
TikTok's 'Goodest Girl In STEM' From Massachusetts Fighting For Her Life TikTok's 'Goodest Girl In STEM' From Massachusetts Fighting For Her Life
TikTok's 'Goodest Girl In STEM' From Massachusetts Fighting For Her Life A guide dog who has been dubbed the "Goodest Girl in STEM" on TikTok is in need of help as she fights for her life. O'Hara was hospitalized after she was diagnosed with meningitis encephalitis with inflammatory brain lesions earlier in July. She has spent a significant amount of time at a hospitals in both New York City and Boston.  O'Hara's owner Isabella 'Bella" Scott, who is originally from Canton, has been traveling with her the entire time. Last we heard, Scott said her dog was showing some signs of improvement but was still struggling to get better. "An important factor to note is t…

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by David Cifarelli
Lifestyle
Guinness World Record's Largest Chicken Nugget Made In Massachusetts Guinness World Record's Largest Chicken Nugget Made In Massachusetts
Guinness World Record's Largest Chicken Nugget Made In Massachusetts History was made in Massachusetts when two TikTok star chefs smashed the world record for the largest chicken nugget.  Nick DiGiovanni and Lynn Davis joined forces to make a 46-pound chicken nugget in Cambridge, CBS Boston reports. The enormous nugget was 115 times larger than the average chicken, Guinness World Records said. The fast-food staple was made from 40 pounds of ground chicken, 40 slices of white bread and 40 eggs, according to a YouTube video documenting the experience. The chefs also had to use "a special contraption" to bake the colossal nugget that was shaped l…

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by David Cifarelli
Lifestyle
Blind Massachusetts Native 'Harnessing Sight' On Service Dogs & Disabilities Blind Massachusetts Native 'Harnessing Sight' On Service Dogs & Disabilities
Blind Massachusetts Native 'Harnessing Sight' On Service Dogs & Disabilities A visually-impaired Canton native is using her college experience with a service dog to spread corresponding education, disability awareness and diversity and inclusion.  Isabella "Bella" Scott said her dog O'Hara motivated her to attend class, go to the dining hall and get outside in general during her four years at Curry College.  “I'm such an introverted person that without O'Hara I probably would have sat in my room 24/7,” she said. “I would have just been overly isolated." Although, helping O'Hara focus on her training was incredibly challenging. “[People] see a dog and they automati…

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by David Cifarelli
Business
McDonald's Is Giving Away Free Item For Two Days This Week McDonald's Is Giving Away Free Item For Two Days This Week
McDonald's Is Giving Away Free Item For Two Days This Week Astrology buffs fretting over the so-called Mercury retrograde can take solace at their local golden arches. Tuesday, May 10, marks the start of a two-day promotion at McDonald’s where customers can receive a free McChicken or McDouble by purchasing medium fries via the McDonald’s app, Yahoo News reports. The idea is to quell any anxieties people may have ahead of the supposed turbulent period using one of the best coping mechanisms around - fast food. During retrograde, the planet Mercury appears to move backward in the sky thanks to an optical illusion. The phenomenon is slated to end Fr…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
17-Year-Old New England Girl Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions 17-Year-Old New England Girl Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions
17-Year-Old New England Girl Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions A teen social media star from Connecticut is outearning some of the most successful CEOs in the US by millions of dollars, according to new reports by Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. With 133 million TikToker followers, 17-year-old Fairfield County resident Charli D'Amelio, of Norwalk, who started posting to TikTok in 2019 -- has the video-sharing app's largest following, Forbes says. Last year, she brought in $17.5 million. The median pay for chief executives of S&P 500 companies in 2020 was $13.4 million, the WSJ reports. Darren Woods was the highest-earning CEO of 2020, brin…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US 'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US
'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US Some students are facing legal troubles after taking part in a controversial social media trend. The "Devious Licks" challenge on the TikTok app encourages people to steal or vandalize school property. Many students have targeted their school's bathrooms, stealing soap dispensers, clogging toilets, and more.  Some students are reportedly facing criminal charges. A 15-year-old was arrested in Arizona for stealing a school toilet paper dispenser, authorities reported. Some students are now being required to keep their phones on their desks so they can’t make recordings in school bathro…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Woman Says She Picked Up Missing NY Native's Boyfriend Hitchhiking Alone In Wyoming Woman Says She Picked Up Missing NY Native's Boyfriend Hitchhiking Alone In Wyoming
Woman Says She Picked Up Missing NY Native's Boyfriend Hitchhiking Alone In Wyoming Authorities are speaking with a woman who claims she picked up Brian Laundrie, who was hitchhiking alone in Wyoming around the time his girlfriend, New York native Gabby Petito, age 22, disappeared. TikToker Miranda Baker said she recognized Laundrie when Petito's story broke on social media and realized he was the person she and her boyfriend gave a lift to on Sunday, Aug. 29. Laundrie and Petitto are both from the Long Island hamlet of Blue Point in Suffolk County. Earlier report: Boyfriend Of Missing New York Woman Has Disappeared, Police Say In a series of TikTok videos, Baker sa…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
New England Couple Goes Viral On TikTok For Prank Videos New England Couple Goes Viral On TikTok For Prank Videos
New England Couple Goes Viral On TikTok For Prank Videos A Connecticut couple has seen viral success on TikTok, all thanks to their gag-inducing prank videos that make people laugh. Lauryn D’Agostino, age 33, and her boyfriend, Devin Murphy, age 35, are both Litchfield County residents. The two have been together for five years now. D’Agostino owns a marketing company and works with local businesses in the area. While she said much of her work has centered around Instagram and Facebook, when TikTok became popular, she decided she wanted to learn the algorithm. So, D’Agostino said she set up an account in Murphy’s name to test it out. The accou…

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
Massachusetts Teen Dies After Attempting TikTok 'Blackout Challenge' Massachusetts Teen Dies After Attempting TikTok 'Blackout Challenge'
Massachusetts Teen Dies After Attempting TikTok 'Blackout Challenge' A family grieving the loss of their son to a TikTok challenge is warning other families of the danger. Western Massachusetts resident Nate Squires, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Amherst Regional Middle School, was found unresponsive Monday, June 14, who died after attempting the new "Blackout Challenge" being touted on social media sites including TikTok. The challenge encourages children and teens to choke themselves until they lose consciousness.  The family said on a GoFundMe page, that Nate died after "succumbing to injuries of a horrible accident." They went on to say they "wan…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Social Media Stars' Visit To Pizzeria In New England Shuts Down Eatery Social Media Stars' Visit To Pizzeria In New England Shuts Down Eatery
Social Media Stars' Visit To Pizzeria In New England Shuts Down Eatery When a couple who have become famous on social media ducked into a uber-popular pizzeria in Connecticut for a bite, the eatery ended up having to close its doors. That's what happened on Sunday, May 30 in Fairfield County, when the TikTok tandem of Dixie D’Amelio and Noah Beck paid a visit to Locali Pizza Bar & Kitchen in New Canaan, according to Jamie Caceres, a waiter at the restaurant. For those not in the know, D’Amelio, age 19, is a singer from Norwalk who has more than 52.1 million followers on the app. Her boyfriend, Beck, age 20, has some 27.3 million followers for his mostly p…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Man Admits To Posing As Teen To Receive Explicit Videos Of CT Girl Man Admits To Posing As Teen To Receive Explicit Videos Of CT Girl
Man Admits To Posing As Teen To Receive Explicit Videos Of CT Girl This story has been updated. A 36-year-old out-of-state man has pleaded guilty to the distribution of child pornography in connection with a Fairfield County case. Brian Grinnell, of Lakewood, Ohio (near Cleveland), pleaded guilty on Monday, April 19 in Hartford for posting nude videos of a 12-year-old New Canaan girl on a popular video-sharing service, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020, Grinnell posed as a 15-year-old girl and met a New Canaan girl, who at the time w…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Vaccine Rivalry? Comparisons Between Moderna, Pfizer Doses Can Get Heated COVID-19: Vaccine Rivalry? Comparisons Between Moderna, Pfizer Doses Can Get Heated
Covid-19: Vaccine Rivalry? Comparisons Between Moderna, Pfizer Doses Can Get Heated Are you Team Moderna or Team Pfizer? A good-natured rivalry has been brewing between those receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine versus the Pfizer vaccine as more doses have been made available to the majority of the public. Since Americans began receiving their initial doses of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, photos of vaccination cards and celebratory videos of successful shots have flooded social media, with some on both sides taking playful jabs at the other in the process. Related story - COVID:19: COVID-19: Brand-New Study Compares Side Effects Of Pfizer, Moderna Va…

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by Zak Failla