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Bio-charged: VC funding, employment continues climb in Bay State’s biotech sector

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

A MassBio report of the life sciences industry reveals that Massachusetts’ increased research and development workforce and venture capital funding underscore the state’s vitality in America’s biopharma work.The business group’s 2023 Industry Snapshot was highlighted by the 114,000 employees within Massachusetts’ biopharma sector. Biopharma employment has rapidly rose in the Bay State, since 2018 after staying moderately consistent in prior years.For instance, a total of 74,256 individuals were employed in Massachusetts’ biopharma sector in 2018, nearly 40,000 fewer than in 2023. Previous to that recent jump, it took 16 years for the Bay State to add 40,000 jobs to the industry, from 2002-2018, according to the report.Takeda, Sanofi and Moderna are listed as the state’s top three biopharma companies, with a collective employment of more than 15,000, according to the report. Vertex, Pfizer, Novartis, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, AstraZeneca/Alexion, Alnylam and Foundat...

John Means to rejoin Orioles as starter Tuesday vs. Cardinals: ‘I just want to win the World Series’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

Fenway Park has been host to plenty of highlights in John Means’ career, the site of his major league debut in 2018 and first opening day start with the Orioles in 2021.It’s also where, this weekend, he rejoined the team in advance of his long-awaited activation from the injured list after his April 2022 Tommy John elbow reconstruction. Means, the Orioles’ top starting pitcher from 2019 to 2021, will make his first major league appearance in nearly 17 months Tuesday as Baltimore’s starter against the St. Louis Cardinals, manager Brandon Hyde said after Sunday’s series finale with the Boston Red Sox.The 30-year-old left-hander returns to the rotation he shepherded for much of the organization’s rebuild. Before Sunday’s game and official news of his looming activation, Means said even joining the Orioles as a reliever would not dull what he’s out to achieve with a team pursuing its first playoff berth since 2016.“I just want to win...

South Boston’s Medal of Honor Park bursting with history

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

For the past 42 years, Medal of Honor Park in Southie has been a source of pride, honoring 25 men from the neighborhood who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.The 6-acre peaceful sanctuary on East Broadway is now bursting with even more history.A pair of saplings, dedicated on Sunday, carry on the legacy of every neighborhood Marine who has died in all of the nation’s wars as well as the 34 residents killed during World War I.The dedication of the baby oak trees came during the 42nd anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial, which drew the presence of veterans, families and local officials.Tommy Lyons, founder of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial Committee, received the saplings earlier this year before their plantings in late May. The trees are from Belleau Wood in France, the site of a major World War I battle in June 1918, in which more than 1,800 American troops died.Lyons recounted how national news crews from New York came to South Boston to capture the grand dedic...

Southbound I-5 lanes reopen after closure for maintenance: Caltrans

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Drivers through downtown San Diego are in luck. Caltrans reopened all lanes along southbound Interstate 5 Sunday after crews wrapped up the first part of a bridge repair project ahead of schedule. The closure, which was implemented for emergency repairs to the bridge deck over State Route 163, began at 9 p.m. Friday and was originally scheduled to run through 5 a.m. Monday. All southbound traffic was diverted onto eastbound Interstate 8 during the time. The closure was also anticipated to have a major impact on travelers headed to San Diego International Airport.After making significant progress, however, Caltrans announced in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunday afternoon that motorists were allowed back onto the stretch of I-5. Driver, passenger killed in rollover crash on I-15 Another closure is scheduled for northbound I-5 from Friday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 1 at 5 a.m. That closure will start at the State Route 15 connector. One lane will be...

Canada’s Dabrowski and partner Routliffe win U.S. Open women’s doubles crown

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski claimed her first Grand Slam title in women’s doubles Sunday when she and partner Erin Routliffe won the U.S. Open final in straight sets.Dabrowski and Routliffe defeated Laura Siegemund of Germany and Vera Zvonareva of Russia 7-6 (11-9), 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.Dabrowski won mixed doubles crowns at the Australian Open in 2018 and the French Open in 2017.The 31-year-old Canadian can now claim the U.S. Open among her Grand Slam titles, this time in women’s doubles.Routliffe was born in New Zealand, but grew up in Caledon, Ont., and she previously competed for Canada.

‘He was my friend’: Canadian volunteer reportedly killed in Ukraine by Russian attack

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

CHASIV YAR, Ukraine — Several aid organizations in Ukraine say that a volunteer Canadian aid worker was killed Saturday morning by a Russian attack.In an Instagram post, humanitarian group Road to Relief said Anthony “Tonko” Ihnat was killed while travelling in a vehicle with three other volunteers with the organization.Another group, called Brave to Rebuild, posted a tribute to Ihnat on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post said the 58-year-old Ontario man was a joyful, caring, and hardworking man who loved the Toronto Maple Leafs.Taisia Orikhovska, a coordinator with Brave to Rebuild, added Ihnat volunteered with the group earlier this year in the Kyiv region.“He was a part of our family … we lost a very important person,” Orikhovska said in a phone interview from Ukraine. “He was a very funny person, he always smiled, he always joked, always hugged. He was amazing.”Ihnat and his colleagues with Road to Relief were on their way to check o...

Bears blown to bits in season opener against rival Packers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Bears fans entered Soldier Field fueled with enthusiasm for a brand new season Sunday, only for the Green Bay Packers to thoroughly beat it out of them — and their team — in the latest renewal of their vaunted rivalry on the NFL's opening weekend.Green Bay took down Chicago, 38-20, with Packers quarterback Jordan Love going 15/27 for 246 yards and 3 passing TD's.Fields went 24/37 for 216 passing yards with 1 TD and 1 INT, while carrying the ball 9 times for 59 yards on the ground.As a team, the Bears ran the ball 29 times for 122 yards. D'Onta Foreman had 5 carries for 16 yards, Khalil Herbert notched 9 carries for 27 yards, and rookie Roschon Johnson had 5 carries for 20 yards and 1 TD.Johnson also notched 6 catches for 35 yards on 7 targets in the passing game.Darnell Mooney was targeted 7 times, hauling in 4 catches for 53 yards and a score. Cole Kmet hauled in 5 catches for 44 yards on 7 targets.Newcomers to the Bears' defense — Yannick Ngakoue and Tremaine Edmunds — m...

'It’s fantastic': 5K celebrates Chicago Parks Foundation's 10th anniversary

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Dozens donned their running shoes on Sunday morning to help keep Chicago's parks in good shape.Participants in the first "Run for the Parks" fundraiser ran and walked along the lakefront from the South Side to the North Side. 3 CPD officers hospitalized after dog attack in West Garfield Park More than 150 people of all ages stepped off at 31st Street Beach for the 5K that celebrates the Chicago Parks Foundation's 10th anniversary. The foundation is a public–private partnership that helps care for and bring attention to more than 600 parks in the city."It’s fantastic," race participant Khoa Dao said. "It’s a nice day, nice and sunny and the parks are always fantastic to run through."Participants had the option to run or walk the three-mile course, but regardless of how they got to the finish line, some say it is all about the sense of accomplishment."It was tiring and hot but I managed to do it and I find that I find excitement in accomplishing something," said race parti...

Country singer-songwriter Charlie Robison dies at age 59

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Charlie Robison, the Texas singer-songwriter whose rootsy anthems made the country charts until he was forced to retire after complications from a medical procedure left him unable to sing, died Sunday. He was 59.Robison died at a hospital in San Antonio after suffering cardiac arrest and other complications, according to a family representative.Robison launched his music career in the late 1980s, playing in local Austin bands like Two Hoots and a Holler before forming his own Millionaire Playboys. In 1996, he released his solo debut, “Bandera,” named for the Texas Hill Country town where his family has had a ranch for generations.FILE - Country music artist Charlie Robison poses for a photo in Nashville, Tenn., June 30, 2009. Robison, the Texas singer-songwriter whose rootsy anthems made the country charts until he was forced to retire after a medical procedure left him unable to sing, has died. A family representative says Robison died at a hospital in San Anton...

Michigan State head coach suspended amid sexual harassment accusations

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:14:52 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) -- Football coach Mel Tucker has been suspended without pay, Michigan State Director of Athletics Alan Haller announced in a Sunday evening press conference.The suspension comes in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against the MSU coach.According to CBS Sports, the university is investigating allegations that date back to a complaint filed in December 2022 by Brenda Tracy, a prominent rape survivor and activist against sexual violence.In the complaint, Tracy alleges Tucker made sexually suggestive comments and masturbated while she “sat frozen for several minutes” during a phone call on April 28, 2022. Tracy visited MSU at least three times as an activist starting in 2021 — including one in which she was recognized as an honorary captain at a Michigan State spring football game — and built a relationship with Tucker as part of her work on campus.Tracy also alleges numerous other inappropriate incidents.“The idea that someone could know me and ...