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National Cherry Blossom Festival holds 2024 launch event

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

While many are enjoying the reds and golds of fall foliage, some people are already thinking about cherry blossoms. The National Cherry Blossom Festival held its 2024 launch event Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan building in downtown D.C.“Look around this room. We have cherry blossoms in the room, everything’s pink. We’re ready to go with a less than four month countdown until the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival,” said Diana Mayhew, president and CEO of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.The launch provided festival organizers the opportunity to unveil the official artwork of the 2024 festival — D.C. artist Nicholas Shi’s painting of pink cherry blossoms filling a blue sky above the monuments on the Mall. The artwork will adorn posters and other festival merchandise.The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held March 20 (the first day of spring) to April 14, 2024.Mayhew said during the four anchoring weekends of the festival, “major even...

'Red Cup Rebellion': Colorado Starbucks workers expected to strike

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

Thousands of workers at more than 200 U.S. Starbucks stores plan to walk off the job Thursday in what organizers say is the largest strike yet in the two-year-old effort to unionize the company’s stores.The Workers United union chose Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day to stage the walkout since it’s usually one of the busiest days of the year. Starbucks expects to give away thousands of reusable cups Thursday to customers who order holiday drinks.Starbucks employees and supporters link arms during a union election watch party Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. Thousands of U.S. Starbucks workers plan to walk off the job Thursday -- one of the chain's busiest days of the year -- to protest the company's anti-union stance. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex, File)The union said it was expecting more than 5,000 workers to take part in its “Red Cup Rebellion.” Around 30 stores also staged walkouts on Wednesday.According to an organizer with Workers United, five Colorado Starbucks locations will participate...

South Florida braces for ongoing rain rounds; advisories and closures remain

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD COUNTIES, Fla. (WSVN) — South Florida faced a relentless storm, unleashing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and whipping winds throughout Wednesday. The aftermath reveals a region grappling with the impact of widespread flooding and record-breaking gusts. The widespread flooding has left many cars stranded across Miami-Dade County and Broward County. The aftermath of Wednesday’s heavy rainfall has resulted in road closures and has led Broward County Public Schools and Broward College to cancel classes on Thursday.A sinkhole opened at the intersection of Northwest 186th Street and 68th Avenue, leaving two cars submerged. Officials have not yet determined what led to the sinkhole, but the rain could be a factor.Miami Beach experienced gusts reaching 74 miles per hour, indicative of the intensity of the storm. Rainfall totals across South Florida are substantial, with a notable peak of 9.57 inches in Coral Gables from Tuesday morning through Thursday. In Aven...

Route 3 reopens in Billerica after crash causes tractor-trailer rollover caught on dashcam

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

Traffic is moving again on Route 3 in Billerica after a crash involving multiple vehicles Wednesday morning, including a fuel tanker truck, prompted officials to close the highway so that a massive clean-up effort could get underway.In an update Thursday morning, the Department of Transportation said all lanes have since reopened. Environmental clean-up will resume with lane closures after 10 a.m.https://twitter.com/MassDOT/status/1725094188390248451https://twitter.com/MassDOT/status/1725087649583464783The crash around 10 a.m. on the northbound side of the highway involved a tanker truck that was carrying thousands of gallons of fuel. Dashcam video shared with 7NEWS showed what appeared to be a pickup truck attempt to switch lanes on Route 3 before striking a passing SUV, then spinning out and crashing into the tanker truck. The tanker then ended up on its side, swinging around on the roadway before coming to a complete stop.All lanes of traffic in both directions were closed as a r...

Boston mother outraged after son living with autism given flu shot at school without parental permission

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

A Boston mother is speaking out after her son, who has autism, was given a flu shot at school despite her wishes. The school told Gabriela Gomes her son’s consent form was overlooked. Speaking with 7NEWS, Gomes recently shared her reaction. “I’m traumatized since that happened,” she said. Gomes’s 21-year-old son Sean goes to Boston Community Leadership Academy, which held a vaccine clinic in October. Gabriela Gomes said she checked off “no” on Sean’s flu shot consent form. Her selection of “no” on the consent form should have exempted her son from getting the vaccine. But, after the clinic, she was surprised to find Sean holding his arm, only to learn he had been vaccinated. “For him to get a needle without me there — I’ve seen what happens,” Gabriela said. “He goes out of breath. He panics and it shouldn’t have been done without me, period.” “It did hurt,” Sean said. Asked by his mother if he was scared, Sean responded.“Yeah, I was,” he said.&nbs...

Thousands of Starbucks workers are expected to go on a one-day strike

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

Thousands of workers at more than 200 U.S. Starbucks stores plan to walk off the job Thursday in what organizers say is the largest strike yet in the two-year-old effort to unionize the company’s stores.The Workers United union chose Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day to stage the walkout since it’s usually one of the busiest days of the year. Starbucks expects to give away thousands of reusable cups Thursday to customers who order holiday drinks.The union said it was expecting more than 5,000 workers to take part in its “Red Cup Rebellion.” Around 30 stores also staged walkouts on Wednesday.Neha Cremin, a Starbucks barista in Oklahoma City, said she was striking to protest understaffing in stores, especially during promotions like Red Cup Day. Cremin said workers are already overwhelmed filling delivery orders, drive-thru orders, mobile orders and in-store orders; promotions add another layer of stress.“Understaffing hurts workers and also creates an unpleasant experience for cust...

State police investigating crash involving 2 tractor-trailers in Grafton

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

State police are investigating a crash involving two tractor-trailers on the Mass. Pike in Grafton early Thursday morning that resulted in serious injuries.Crews are working to remove the two trucks from the eastbound side of the highway. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.https://twitter.com/MassStatePolice/status/1724990394654499139This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Wednesday’s high school tournament scoreboard and highlights

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

FIELD HOCKEYEmily Layton scored twice as No. 3 Monomoy (17-2-3) rallied to defeat second-seeded Manchester-Essex 2-1 in a Div. 4 state semifinal. The Hornets (17-2-3) took a 1-0 lead into the fourth quarter on a goal by Laila Mears.Bella Difiore scored twice as No. 2 Andover (19-2) blanked No. 3 Wachusett 3-0 in the Div. 1 state semifinals.Rachel Egan scored the lone tally as No. 1 Watertown (21-0) ousted No. 4 Sandwich 1-0 in a Div. 3 state semifinal.BOYS SOCCERIt took 10 rounds of a shootout before No. 3 Wakefield (17-3-2) defeated eighth-seeded Hopkinton 3-2 in a Div. 2 state semifinal. Hopkinton (15-3-4) took a 1-0 lead on goal by Drew Bialobrzeski, but Wakefield evened things up on Darragh Casey’s goal. The Hillers regained the lead as Tim Zahkarov tallied, but the Warriors rallied as Marc Laverdere scored with just under seven minutes left in regulation.Keagan Harder and Adam Prince netted two goals each for Rivers in an 8-2 NEPSAC quarterfinal win against Kingswood Oxford.GIR...

Mazda shows off the 2023 MX-5 Miata nicely

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

As the MX-5 Miata has been a fan-favorite for many for years, and previously identified as just the Miata, in 2023 we notice a new MX-5 Miata and one reason that keeps consumers coming back for more; the 6-speed manual transmission! For the long lasting Mazda MX-5, our Grand Touring tester was wrapped in Zircon Sand Metallic with a Black interior that showed out very well. Its recently upgraded body curvatures, sightline improvements and interior aesthetics were just a few reasons, while the under $40K sports car is fun and a good choice for many.Although the seats and interior space were tighter than any corvette I have ever owned, the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata was specifically designed for smaller people rather than a full framed person like myself. On the contrary, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is really fun to drive. The 6-speed manual transmission is awesome and very easy to shift and enjoyable on all types of roads. Powering the MX-5 Miata, is the brand famous 2.0L Skyactiv DOHC 4-cylinder...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in Louisiana’s general election

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Louisiana residents may have just elected a new governor, but they’re not done casting ballots.On Saturday, voters will decide runoff elections for secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and almost two dozen state legislative seats, where Republicans need only defeat the Democratic candidate in one state House district to maintain their supermajority in the chamber.Topping the ballot will be the race to replace Republican Kyle Ardoin as secretary of state. The Republican candidate is Nancy Landry, a former three-term state representative who serves as Ardoin’s chief deputy. The Democratic candidate is Gwen Collins-Greenup, a Baton Rouge-based attorney who ran unsuccessfully for the job against Ardoin in 2018 and 2019. They advanced to Saturday’s runoff after each received 19% of the Oct. 14 primary vote, with Landry edging Collins-Greenup by just shy of a thousand votes. Landry is not related to Republican Gov.-elect Jeff Landry.The winner will inherit the...