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World’s largest bounce house comes to Topsfield 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

The world’s largest bounce house is set to inflate in Topsfield on Saturday as part of the Big Bounce America tour. Organizers have touted Big Bounce America as “the biggest touring inflatable event in the world,” with a 16,000 square foot bounce house, a new “Sport Slam” customized sports arena, a more than 900 foot long obstacle course and “a unique, space-themed wonderland called airSPACE.”The local stop on the Big Bounce America tour is scheduled to open to the public on Saturday and Sunday at the Topsfield Fairgrounds. The tour will be open again at the same location on June 23, 24, 25 and 30 as well as on July 1 and 2. See more information on the Big Bounce America website here. 

Showers, storms and a drop in temps for the weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

7Weather – It’s been another warm day as high temperatures reached the upper 70s/low 80s. We’ve stayed mainly dry. Some sprinkles and showers are moving in. The main event arrives tonight with showers lingering through the weekend.Shower chances will be on the increase this evening. The heaviest rain will move in overnight favoring southeast Mass. There could be a rumble of thunder with it as well. Showers will be off and on throughout Saturday with thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. With all the cloud cover, temperatures won’t budge much. We’ll start out in the upper 50s/near 60°. High temperatures reach the low/mid 60s.Sunday the rain chances aren’t as high. We’ll keep it as a 40% chance for a shower to touch your area. You’ll be able to find more dry time to get outside. Highs will be in the upper 60s/near 70°. There will be an onshore breeze through the afternoon, keeping temperatures on the coast in the 60s.Monday and Tuesda...

Canada police say bus carrying seniors did not have right away in accident that killed 15

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

By ROB GILLIES (Associated Press)TORONTO (AP) — A bus carrying seniors to a casino that collided with a semi-trailer truck in a crash that killed 15 people did not have the right way, police said Friday, after watching video of the accident. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Rob Lasson said police also obtained witness statements from passing motorists that corroborated what investigators saw on the dash cam video from the semi truck. “This video indicates the bus entered the roadway where the semi truck had the right of way,” Lasson said, adding later: “We don’t know why the bus proceeded.”He said officers had not been able to speak to the driver of the bus, who is hospitalized.Lasson also said investigators had not yet been able to identify the bodies of the 15 killed, though those who were not injured were presumed to be deceased. He said the age range of the deceased and injured range between 58 and 88, the majority female. Six of 10 seniors...

Destruction in Texas Panhandle: Storm blamed for 3 deaths wrecked mobile homes and main street

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

By DAVID ERICKSON, SARAH BRUMFIELD and KEN MILLER (Associated Press)PERRYTON, Texas (AP) — As Sabrina Devers watched what would turn out to be a deadly storm approach her ranch just north of the Texas Panhandle town Perryton, she first spotted golf ball-sized and then softball-sized hail.Then, Devers said, across the high plains toward Perryton, the system spawned a tornado.Once the twister had moved through, Devers drove into into the town to find a path of wreckage local officials estimated was a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometer) wide, and 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. The Thursday afternoon storm would be blamed for three deaths and more than 100 injuries as it destroyed hundreds of homes, tossed vehicles into buildings and knocked out power and cellphone service in Perryton, a town of 8,000 about 115 miles (185 kilometers) northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.“The devastation was unbelievable,” Devers told Fox Weather. “It took a tanker ...

Federal judge blocks much of Indiana’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

By TOM DAVIES (Associated Press)INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge issued an order Friday stopping an Indiana ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender minors from taking effect as scheduled July 1.The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana sought the temporary injunction in its legal challenge of the Republican-backed law, which was enacted this spring amid a national push by GOP-led legislatures to curb LGBTQ+ rights.The order from U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon will allow the law’s prohibition on gender-affirming surgeries to take effect. Hanlon’s order also blocks provisions that would prohibit Indiana doctors from communicating with out-of-state doctors about gender-affirming care for their patients younger than 18.The ACLU filed the lawsuit within hours after Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill April 5. The challenge, on behalf of four youths undergoing transgender treatments and an Indiana doctor who provides such care...

Cole Irvin’s changeup, Orioles’ bullpen ineffective in 10-3 loss to Cubs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

Facing a Chicago Cubs lineup of nine right-handed hitters, Orioles left-hander Cole Irvin’s secondary pitches were going to be “important,” manager Brandon Hyde emphasized before the game. One of them let Irvin down repeatedly.In Friday’s series-opening 10-3 loss at Wrigley Field, Irvin allowed three solo home runs in the third inning, all on his changeup, before Chicago broke the game open against three Baltimore relievers with a six-run sixth.Making his second start back with the Orioles (43-26) after a stretch in Triple-A Norfolk’s rotation, Irvin threw two scoreless innings before having trouble locating his changeup in third. Miguel Amaya homered on one in the middle of the strike zone to open the inning, and after Irvin retired the next two batters, Dansby Swanson did the same. Christopher Morel then swatted one in the bottom part of the zone out to left field.Irvin’s three home runs allowed in the third matched the total he surrendered with...

Revolution shorthanded for match with Orlando City SC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

International callups provide backups the opportunity to step up.That will be the case when the New England Revolution (8-3-6) host Orlando City SC (7-4-5) in the second match of a three-game homestand on Saturday night (7:30) at Gillette Stadium.“It has an impact on every team in the league,” summarized Revolution head coach Bruce Arena.The Revolution will enter this important MLS Eastern Conference contest without goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who is away competing for the Serbian National Team.The Revolution also lost center/outside back Christian Makoun (Venezuela) and forward Damian Rivera (Costa Rica U-23). Left back DeJuan Jones will likely make his 17th MLS start against Orlando City SC. But Jones will immediately decamp Foxboro to join the U.S. National Team and compete in the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament.“I think it is a big challenge,” said Revolution midfielder Emmanuel Boateng. “Those are key guys to our team, so we just need to step up.“We have full confidence in our ot...

Live: Suspect barricaded inside Hillcrest donut shop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

SAN DIEGO — San Diego police were in a standoff Friday with a suspect who barricaded themself inside a Hillcrest donut shop.The suspect was barricaded inside Donut Star, located at 601 W Washington Street.The circumstances that led to the standoff, and what time the police activity began are not yet known. A SWAT team has been called out to the scene to assist, according to police.This is a developing story, check back for updates.

NATO moves to protect undersea pipelines, cables as concern mounts over Russian sabotage threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO launched a new center Friday for protecting undersea pipelines and cables following the still-unsolved apparent attack on the Nord Stream pipelines and amid concern Russia is mapping vital Western infrastructure for energy and the internet in waters around Europe.“The threat is developing,” Lt. Gen. Hans-Werner Wiermann, who heads a special cell focused on the challenge, said after NATO defense ministers gave the greenlight for the new center, located in Northwood, northwest London.“Russian ships have actively mapped our critical undersea infrastructure. There are heightened concerns that Russia may target undersea cables and other critical infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Western life,” he told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels.NATO was spurred into action after an apparent attack on two Baltic Sea gas pipelines in September. The suspected attacks on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which were built to carry Russian natural gas to G...

Canaccord Genuity Group reports $7.2 million loss in fourth quarter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:06 GMT

TORONTO — Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. says its net loss attributable to common shareholders for the fourth quarter was $7.2 million, down 113 per cent from a net income of $56.3 million a year earlier. The Toronto-based financial services firm says it lost eight cents per diluted common share, down from earnings of 53 cents per diluted common share in the same quarter last year. Revenue for the quarter ended March 31 was $430.4 million, down from $499.8 million a year earlier. President and CEO Dan Daviau says in a press release that the company’s results for fiscal 2023 were below expectations amid a challenging operating environment, but the business remains on solid ground. The company says results for the fourth quarter were impacted by several factors including the amortization of intangible assets, costs related to acquisition and growth and costs related to an expired management-led takeover. Earlier this week, Canaccord said a proposed management buyout of the firm wo...