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Metro CEO: DC’s fare evasion law needs changing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

For the last few years, fare evasion in D.C. has been a proverbial thorn in Metro’s side.“We need to gain control of the system back and we’ve got to bring a sense of orderliness,” Metro CEO and General Manager Randy Clarke said on WTOP’s DMV Download podcast. “And we’ve got to get that revenue as well.”For Clarke, who has been on the job for nine months, fare evasion is also about safety.“Not everyone that fare evades commits criminal activity on our system,” he said. “But, almost universally … 99.9% of people that commit criminal acts in our system fare evade.”Metro CEO and General Manager Randy Clarke speaks to DMV Download podcast host Luke Garrett. (WTOP/Luke Garrett)Clarke believes that stopping fare-gate jumpers will also limit violence on Metro.“No one is tapping in so we know who they are, and then going downstairs with a gun and assaulting someone,” he said.Back in November, Metro started t...

Jockey dies after horse racing fall in Australia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian jockey Dean Holland died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall during a race in regional Victoria state on Monday, Racing Victoria said.The state’s horse racing authority said the 34-year-old Holland was one of two jockeys dislodged from their horses in the opening race of a meeting at Donald Racecourse.He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. The other rider, Alana Kelly, was cleared of serious injury.“It was a tragic accident at Donald today and we are all deeply shocked and saddened that Dean has passed away,” Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones said in a statement. “Dean was a gifted lightweight rider who … was highly respected by his peers.“Dean’s passing is heartbreaking for all within Victorian racing and the sport nationally.”Holland won a Group 1 race last month on a horse called In Secret in the Newmarket Handicap over 1,200 meters at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse. Racing.com liste...

‘The Giz’ brings a go-go version of ‘The Wiz’ to DC’s Lincoln Theatre

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'The Giz' at Lincoln Theatre (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Once you’ve paid your debt to society, you deserve a genuine chance to rehabilitate yourself.Playwright Lovail Long found his creative spark while incarcerated in solitary confinement.“I wrote this stage-play while I was incarcerated,” Long told WTOP. “I wanted to come back to my comm...

Un dragón mecánico se incendia durante un espectáculo en Disneyland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

(CNN) — Un dragón animatrónico se incendió en el parque Disneyland de California el sábado por la noche, según informaron funcionarios de Disney.“Durante la proyección final de ‘Fantasmic’ en el parque Disneyland el sábado por la noche, el dragón se incendió”, dijeron funcionarios de Disney a CNN en un correo electrónico. “Anaheim Fire & Rescue respondió rápidamente y el fuego fue extinguido”.Agregaron que todos los miembros del elenco y los huéspedes fueron evacuados de la Isla Tom Sawyer y las atracciones cercanas a la isla fueron despejadas de huéspedes debido al humo y al viento.Muere una mujer después de caerse de la estructura del estacionamiento de Disneyland, dice la policía“La causa del incendio sigue bajo investigación en este momento”, continúa el comunicado.CNN se puso en contacto con Anaheim Fire & Rescue para obtener más información.“Fantasmic” es un espectáculo nocturno de larga duración de Disn...

EU evacuates diplomatic staff from Sudan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

The EU evacuated its embassy staff in Sudan amid ongoing bloody battles between rival military factions in the African country.Twenty diplomats from the bloc’s mission in Khartoum have been repatriated to Europe, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters Monday on his way into an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.He added: “Many more European Union citizens and others are already out of Sudan. I cannot give you the concrete figure — it is more than 1,000 people for sure.”The EU’s Ambassador Aidan O’Hara, who was assaulted last week in his official residence by armed men wearing military uniforms, left Khartoum but remained in Sudan.“The captain is the last one leaving the ship,” Borrell said.Several European foreign ministers thanked the French government for coordinating the evacuation of foreign citizens from Sudan.French military planes evacuated 388 people to Djibouti, according to a note from the foreign ministry Monday morning.

Driver in deadly Hingham Apple store crash to be arraigned on upgraded charges of assault, second-degree murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

The driver whose SUV crashed into an Apple store in Hingham in November, killing one person and injuring 22 others, will be arraigned on additional charges on Monday.Bradley Rein, 53, of Hingham, will be arraigned in Plymouth Superior Court on additional charges including second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon.Rein was arrested after his 2019 Toyota 4Runner crashed into the store’s front window in Hingham. The victim who died was identified as Kevin Bradley, 65, of New Jersey.7NEWS legal analyst Tom Hoopes says if the case goes to trial, prosecutors will have to prove that Rein acted intentionally, but not necessarily his intent. “The real question I think they’re going to have to deal with is did he just lose control of the car for some reason that you can’t really fault him for,” Hoopes said. Rein told investigators that his foot became stuck on the accelerator and he lost control. Rein’s attorney described the crash as a horrific a...

State police investigating after pedestrian struck, seriously injured in Dorchester

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

State police are investigating after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Gallivan Boulevard and Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester on Sunday night, officials said.Troopers responding to a reported pedestrian crash around 9:35 p.m. found a victim suffering from life-threatening injuries, according to state police.Investigators were focused on a white van that was damaged in the crash. No additional information has been released.

Boston Police sound alarm on new round of scams impacting seniors: ‘Don’t give out your personal information’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

As seasons are changing, scammers are changing with them — as police release another set of warning signs for elderly residents in particular to watch out for.“Spring brings the increased solicitation by international travelers offering residents home improvement work,” Boston Police said in a recent community alert. “In past years, Boston residents have paid tens of thousands of dollars for masonry, driveway, paving, chimney, basement, roofing and fence repair; only to be left with worse damage or little to no improvement.”The “Paving Contractor” or “Home Improvement” scams may look like door-to-door solicitation for building work with classic warning signs — offering unrealistic discounts, putting pressure on buyers and asking for checks to individuals instead of companies. The scams escalate from $1,500 paving or masonry repair to tens of thousands of dollars of “foundational damage,” the BPD notice said.Thes...

Ravens draft preview: Whether it’s safety or slot corner, there are opportunities in the secondary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

The countdown to the NFL draft is underway.The first round begins Thursday in Kansas City, but until then, the Ravens have plenty to figure out. Most notably, their contract stalemate with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has requested a trade while under the $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag. If he gets his wish, the Ravens’ draft could look a lot different.Baltimore owns five picks: Nos. 22 (first round), 86 (third round), 124 (fourth round), 157 (fifth round) and 199 (sixth round). A blockbuster deal for Jackson would significantly increase the size of that haul, but the Ravens are guaranteed at least one additional first-rounder this year if Jackson signs an offer with another team before the draft and Baltimore declines to match it.Ahead of the draft, The Baltimore Sun has examined which players at each position of need (quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, defensive line, edge rusher and offensive line) could be available in the early, middle and late rounds...

China boosts German business optimism, but challenges ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:14:18 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A key measure of German business optimism rose in April for the seventh month in a row amid lower natural gas prices and the reopening of the Chinese economy after COVID-19 restrictions.The Munich-based IFO institute’s confidence index went up to 93.6 from 93.2 in March. Analysts said Monday that the move was positive but did not erase the headwinds facing Europe’s largest economy as it struggles to avoid sliding into recession. Consumers are still holding back due to rampant inflation and energy prices still are high, even after utilities found new sources of gas after Russia cut off most of its supply to Europe after the invasion of Ukraine. “Looking beyond the first quarter and particularly looking into the second half of the year, the German economy will continue its flirtation with recession,” Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING bank, said in an emailed analysis. The International Monetary Fund forecasts a 0.1% decline in gross domestic produc...