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Can the COVID Inquiry secure Boris Johnson’s legacy?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

LONDON — In a strip-lit hearing room in central London this week, 1,353 days after his first COVID lockdown, Boris Johnson finally testified to the U.K.’s inquiry into the pandemic. The ex-prime minister’s allies believe he gave a competent account of himself to aid the inquiry — which he set up — and shore up his legacy. He spent more than a year preparing, and adopted a less combative tone than he often has in public appearances of late. Families of some of the 233,000 who died watched closely.There was just one issue. Lots of people in Westminster didn’t.“Not sure anyone is paying attention,” texted one MP who backed Johnson’s October 2022 bid to return as PM — which he aborted before quitting as an MP this summer. “He is very much the past.”Another Johnson supporter from October 2022, who didn’t watch either, voiced frustration at being asked about his evidence while the Conservative Party is in a fresh, potentially existential round of ructions over immigration. “I rather ...

MSPCA-Angell looking to find home for ‘Bob,’ a pup who needed emergency surgery to remove skewer from stomach

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

Officials with the MSPCA-Angell are looking to find a home for a 9-month-old puppy who recently recovered from surviving a skewer piercing his stomach.The MSPCA-Angell announced that Bob, a pit bull terrier, is up for adoption after recovering from much-needed surgery provided through the organization.The procedure was performed after officials said Bob was originally surrendered to Boston Animal Control back in November, with staff noticing “something was amiss.”“Bob’s previous owner mentioned that he had some kind of protrusion on his flank, but we couldn’t find anything when he first came to us,” MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs, Mike Keiley said in a statement. “After a couple weeks, it became clear Bob was in pain, but we weren’t sure why, so we brought him to Angell for imaging.”An Angell radiology team was able to find the source of said pain, discovering a wooden skewer inside of the dog, the kind often used when preparing food.“It seems tha...

Hot Property: Brookline Colonial well-appointed

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

It might be the red brick facade or the street lined with tall, decades-old trees — there’s just something sturdy and timeless about 84 Rawson Road in Brookline. Located within the tony Aspinwall Hill neighborhood, this refined 1930s center-entrance Colonial emanates a familiarity that feels just right.With a nod to tradition and warmth, the home unveils an exquisitely appointed, modern kitchen featuring custom cabinetry, stainless steel professional-grade appliances, and a spacious eat-in island. The epicurean haven merges seamlessly with the expansive, sunlit living areas, fostering a harmonious space for gatherings and comfortable everyday living. A sculpted staircase and millwork bring a touch of drama but none of the stuffiness.Four bedrooms are tucked away on the second floor, with the primary suite enjoying a lavish bath with a glassed-in standalone shower and a deep tub.The versatile lower level, complete with its own separate entrance, a full bedroom and bath, caters to gue...

What’s next in the Dylan Cease trade talks? 3 questions for Chicago White Sox after the winter meetings.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

The Chicago White Sox chipped away at their offseason plans during the winter meetings.“We were able to get some things done,” general manager Chris Getz said Wednesday. “We got someone for our rotation and we’ve got a weapon here with our Rule 5 pick. We laid a foundation for the potential of bringing guys in certain capacities.“I know a lot of people are disappointed more business would have been conducted here around the league. But we’re still moving the needle.”Right-hander Erick Fedde is the addition to the Sox rotation after coming to terms on a two-year, $15 million deal Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Sox selected lefty Shane Drohan during the Rule 5 draft.Meeting with reporters shortly after the Rule 5 draft, Getz addressed how close the Sox were to their next move.“I wouldn’t say that we feel like we’re knocking on the door of something, but it’s more getting a better idea of where we stand, whether it be acquir...

This indigenous chef teaches about decolonizing food, one intentional meal at a time

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

Growing up, Claudia Serrato’s fondest memories were eating Mexican food with her grandparents — nopales, pipian, atole, caldo, sopa de fideo, to name a few — a diet she described as “not being animal-based, heavy or highly processed.”“I always was so proud of my cultural heritage food, because that’s how I was raised,” Serrato, who uses ‘she’ and ‘they’ pronouns, said.Serrato is a self-described plant-based, Mesoamerican Indigenous chef and a culinary anthropologist. They completed their dissertation in Indigenous culinary anthropology, as part of a doctorate program at the University of Washington.Serrato, who lives in Montebello, California, always wanted to study food — from the way food is grown to its many health benefits. Most importantly, they said, how natural food helps and represents diverse communities.Mesoamerican indigenous chef, Claudia Serrato, gathered prickly pear cactus, Mexican sage, California native bay and bougainvillea from her garden for her outdoor kitchen o...

DeAngelo Hardy’s ‘silly’ stats draw NFL to North Central College. But Lakes graduate has more immediate goal.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

DeAngelo Hardy’s performance during North Central College’s NCAA Division III quarterfinal game on Saturday made people wonder.Has anyone ever done that?The senior wide receiver recorded his 57th career touchdown catch, tying Andrew Kamienski’s program record. Hardy also threw a TD pass, intercepted a Hail Mary throw at the end of the first half and returned an onside kick for a TD.“The stat line is silly,” NCC coach Brad Spencer said. “It just shows his versatility. That’s why so many NFL scouts have come through. You just have to tip your cap and recognize how superior an athlete and football player he is.”The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Hardy’s highlights during the top-ranked Cardinals’ 55-42 road win against No. 4 Wisconsin-La Crosse are just the latest in a career filled with them for the Lakes graduate.Hardy acknowledged it may be the first time such a combination of plays has ever been happened in a college football game. H...

Compensation is key to fixing primary care shortage

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

Michelle Andrews | KFF Health News (TNS)Money talks.The United States faces a serious shortage of primary care physicians for many reasons, but one, in particular, is inescapable: compensation.Substantial disparities between what primary care physicians earn relative to specialists like orthopedists and cardiologists can weigh into medical students’ decisions about which field to choose. Plus, the system that Medicare and other health plans use to pay doctors generally places more value on doing procedures like replacing a knee or inserting a stent than on delivering the whole-person, long-term health care management that primary care physicians provide.As a result of those pay disparities, and the punishing workload typically faced by primary care physicians, more new doctors are becoming specialists, often leaving patients with fewer choices for primary care.“There is a public out there that is dissatisfied with the lack of access to a routine source of care,” said Christopher Kol...

Back pain? Bum knee? Be prepared to wait for a physical therapist

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

Mark Kreidler | (TNS) KFF Health NewsAt no point along his three-year path to earning a degree in physical therapy has Matthew Lee worried about getting a job.Being able to make a living off that degree? That’s a different question — and the answer is affecting the supply of physical therapists across the nation: The cost of getting trained is out of proportion to the pay.“There’s definitely a shortage of PTs. The jobs are there,” said Lee, a student at California State University-Sacramento who is on track to receive his degree in May. “But you may be starting out at $80,000 while carrying up to $200,000 in student debt. It’s a lot to consider.”As many patients seeking an appointment can attest, the nationwide shortage of PTs is real. According to survey data collected by the American Physical Therapy Association, the job vacancy rate for therapists in outpatient settings last year was 17%.Wait times are generally long across the nation, as patients tell of waiting weeks or even mo...

Bruins notebook: Derek Forbort out, rookie Mason Lohrei in

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

The Bruins’ league-leading penalty kill took a hit on Thursday when the team announced Derek Forbort was placed long-term injured reserve, meaning he’ll have to miss 10 games and 24 days.The veteran left shot defenseman has been battling a groin injury since the start of training camp and hasn’t been able to shake it. He sat out four games earlier in the season, but he hasn’t been able to settle it down.“It’s a lower body injury that’s been there since training camp. I think at one point we gave him five days off and it was doing well, but the nine games in 16 days, with just the repetitive demands on the body, it’s come back and we’re going to give him a little extended time to try and nip this for the rest of the year,” said coach Jim Montgomery.With Forbort out for a good chunk of time, rookie Mason Lohrei was recalled from Providence.Forbort led the B’s in penalty kill ice time average at 3:34, with Brandon Carlo close behind...

Two charged with murder of Quebecer Daniel Langlois and partner in Dominica

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:50 GMT

MONTREAL — The director of public prosecutions in the Caribbean nation of Dominica has confirmed that two men have been charged in the death of Quebecer Daniel Langlois and his partner.Sherma Dalrymple told a news conference today that Jonathan Lehrer and Robert Thomas Snider were charged Wednesday with the murders of the well-known Quebec film entrepreneur and his partner, Dominique Marchand.She says the two men appeared in court but did not have to enter a plea, adding that a preliminary inquiry is scheduled for March 15. The bodies of Langlois and Marchand were found last Friday in a burned out car near the luxury resort they owned in Dominica, a small island located between Guadeloupe and Martinique.Police spokesman Jeoffrey James told reporters today that officers made three arrests after they visited a property close to what investigators believe is a secondary crime scene. A fourth person was later taken into custody.Court documents show that Langlois and Lehrer were neighbou...