Home

Colorado funeral home owner, wife arrested in handling of at least 189 bodies: FBI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The owner of a Colorado funeral home and his wife were arrested Wednesday after the decaying remains of at least 189 people were recently found at his facility.Jon and Carie Hallford were arrested in Wagoner, Oklahoma, on suspicion of four felonies — abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering and forgery — District Attorney Michael Allen said in a news release after at least some of the aggrieved families were told.Jon Hallford was being held at the Muskogee County, Oklahoma, jail, but his wife wasn't listed as being there, according to a man who answered a call to the jail but refused to give his name. Jon Hallford doesn't have an attorney listed in the jail's records, and neither he nor his wife could immediately be reached for comment. Neither has a personal phone number listed, and the funeral home's number no longer works.Jon Hallford owns Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, a small town about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Denver. The remains...

US launches airstrike on site in Syria in response to attacks by Iranian-backed militias

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. launched an airstrike on a facility in eastern Syria linked to Iranian-backed militias, in retaliation for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in the region for the past several weeks, the Pentagon said.The strike by two U.S. F-15 fighter jets was on a weapons storage facility linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.This is the second time in less than two weeks that the U.S. has bombed facilities used by the militant groups, many operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which U.S. officials say have carried out at least 40 such attacks since Oct. 17.That was the day a powerful explosion rocked a Gaza hospital, killing hundreds and triggering protests in...

A united front against the global brain health emergency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

First responders join family in Yarmouth to dedicate memorial to fallen state trooper 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

An emotional tribute played out in Yarmouth Wednesday as first responders joined family members outside the state police barracks in Yarmouth to dedicate a memorial to fallen state trooper Ellen Engelhardt. Engelhardt had been on patrol and parked on the side of the road in July of 2003 when she was hit by a drunk driver. Engelhardt suffered severe brain injuries that left her unable to speak or communicate. She died eight years later.“I’ll never forget the call I received from Rick on July 26, 2003 that mom had been severely injured in a car crash and was being Medflighted to Boston,” said Engelhardt’s daughter, Lora Tedeman. “It seemed as if time stood still.”More than 20 years after the crash, Engelhardt’s friends and family say her kindness and strength were inspirational. “Ellen was a worker,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr. “She led quietly by example and it was a solid example.” “There was a kindness about Ellen that showed in her smile an...

Second swastika found at middle school in Groton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

A second swastika has been found inside Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School, officials said Wednesday. The swastika on Wednesday comes after another swastika was found Monday in a bathroom within the school. Officials have said they believe someone inside the school is responsible for the vandalism. Police are investigating. School officials earlier this week said they had notified parents of the initial swastika incident. Officials continued, saying authorities were reviewing surveillance footage as they continued to investigate.

Firefighters battle fire at home in Chelsea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

Emergency crews were on scene in Chelsea Wednesday evening battling a fire in a home. The fire was burning in the Blossom Street area. SKY7-HD flying over the scene around 6 p.m. captured part of the emergency response, with flames seen burning through the building’s roof. Crews were spotted on the roof, pouring water on flames while they contended with windy conditions in the area.Part of the building appeared to have been boarded up before this fire.Chelsea police in a post on X shortly before 6 p.m. asked community members to avoid the area of Blossom Street and surrounding streets. “Heavy presence of first responders on scene due to fire,” police said.No further information was immediately available. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Ticker: Beyond Meat revenue falls as rising demand in Europe can’t overcome plummeting US sales

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

Beyond Meat’s revenue fell nearly 9% in the third quarter as higher sales of its plant-based meat in Europe failed to make up for plummeting demand in the U.S.Beyond Meat on Wednesday reported revenue of $75.3 million for the July-September period. That was far short of the $86.5 million Wall Street had anticipated, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Beyond Meat cut its third-quarter and full-year revenue forecast last week, saying an anticipated rebound in plant-based meat sales during the quarter didn’t occur. The company said it would cut 65 non-production jobs — about 19% of its workforce — and conduct a broader review of its operations.FDA approves new version of diabetes drug Mounjaro for weight lossA new version of the popular diabetes treatment Mounjaro can be sold as a weight-loss drug, U.S. regulators announced Wednesday.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s drug, named Zepbound. The drug, also known as tirzepatide, helped dieters lose...

Massachusetts Republicans take victory lap after senate win in Central Mass.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

While Republicans nationally spent Wednesday dissecting what went wrong with their local election efforts, the MassGOP was quick to take a small but well earned victory lap.On Tuesday, State Rep. Peter Durant won the special election for the seat vacated by former state Sen. Anne Gobi and managed to flip the Worcester-Hampshire district from blue to red, increasing the number of Republicans in the Bay State’s Democrat-dominated senate from three to four.“I am honored by the overwhelming support we received from so many people. This is a great win for the taxpayers of Massachusetts. I am going to work around the clock to make a positive difference and be their common sense voice in the Senate,” Durant said in a statement shared by the state party.Durant won after securing 11,905 votes to state Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik’s 10,067. His victory stands out after an election night that generally did not go well for conservatives in other states — Republicans lost the state house in Virgi...

It’s peak season for deer crashes in Massachusetts: Where were the most deer collisions last fall?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

It’s peak season for deer crashes in the Bay State, as more deer suddenly dart across roads this time of year and inevitably slam into vehicles.The most deer collisions in Massachusetts happen between the months of October and December, according to AAA Northeast, and November is consistently the top month for deer crashes that are reported to the Massachusetts Environmental Police.“Deer crashes can occur quickly and in unexpected locations,” said Mark Schieldrop, AAA Northeast’s senior spokesperson.Crashes were recorded last fall on roads with speed limits as low as 15 mph and as high as 65 mph.“Drivers need to be especially vigilant this time of year,” Schieldrop added.Last year, deer crashes between the months of October and December jumped to 1,806 — the highest number on record since at least 2002, according to a AAA Northeast analysis of crash data available from the state’s IMPACT crash portal. That’s equivalent to one dee...

Mass General Brigham strikes tech deal with Best Buy Health for Home Hospital program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:36 GMT

Mass General Brigham has struck a technology deal with Best Buy Health to boost the health care giant’s Home Hospital program.The partnership between Mass General Brigham and Best Buy Health will help deliver acute-care services to patients in their homes, according to MGB.This new collab will allow MGB to keep growing its Home Hospital program for patients at home — which includes 24/7 remote vital sign monitoring, multiple visits from clinicians every day, and telehealth technology.As MGB transitions more patient care to the home, that will relieve some of the capacity burden at its hospitals.“At Mass General Brigham, we are building the integrated healthcare system of the future across the entire continuum of patient care needs,” Heather O’Sullivan, president of Healthcare at Home at Mass General Brigham, said in a statement.“As a recognized leader of Home Hospital services, we understand that consumers are increasingly choosing the comfort of ...