45+ min ago (311+ words) Meteorological winter begins Monday, and what's better to kick off the season than a budding winter storm holding nor'easter and snow-day potential? All signs point to an evolving storm originating from the deep southeastern part of the country and being carried with the jet stream up the East Coast toward New England by mid- to late Tuesday morning. The blustery storm is expected to make a rather quick exit, with most of New England in the clear by Wednesday morning. There is the potential for this storm to turn into a bona fide nor'easter, but we just don't know yet. The atmosphere is very unsettled, especially with the recent weakening of the polar vortex increasing chances for a winter storm. But should the storm slip over coastal waters, northeast winds off the ocean would then support heavy precipitation across the region....

2+ hour, 2+ min ago (601+ words) Food banks, services that deliver meals to seniors and other U.S. charities typically see a surge in volunteering between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. But there are good reasons to volunteer at any time of the year. Researchers who study human evolution and social psychology say that giving back is deeply rooted in human nature. Volunteers say they feel closer ties to the communities they serve. "When we feel grateful for all we have, that motivates us to do good things for other people who have helped us, and also to do good things for new people," said Sarah Schnitker, a psychologist at Baylor University. "There's a nice upwards reciprocal spiral between gratitude and generosity," often enhanced at holiday times, she said. For many in the U.S., the season most associated with giving, receiving and volunteering runs from Thanksgiving through…...

2+ hour, 30+ min ago (1376+ words) Local governments across Maine have received just over $22 million in opioid settlement funds from pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the overdose epidemic, with nearly $54 million more expected over the next decade and a half. The money is meant to go to prevention and harm reduction efforts, as well as treatment and recovery programs. But oversight is limited, and until recently there were no reporting requirements, meaning it was up to local officials how much they wanted to disclose about their plans. Many municipalities and counties have struggled to determine how those choices should be made, getting caught up in the logistics of how to disburse the funds fairly, ultimately delaying much-needed help for vulnerable communities. That's where a $2.5 million'resource center'comes in: one designed to help the local governments start spending the money appropriately and maintain data on where it's going....

2+ hour, 40+ min ago (292+ words) A historic performance by Jaylen Brown and a career-best game from Neemias Queta were not enough for the Celtics in Saturday's loss to the Timberwolves. Boston erased a 110-98 deficit late in the fourth quarter, tying the score on a 12-0 run with 1:38 remaining, only to have Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley respond and push the Timberwolves to the victory. Brown amassed 41 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals, while Queta matched his pro high with 19 points and grabbed a career-best 18 rebounds -- twice as many as anyone else in uniform. Brown, a four-time All-Star, also produced the only first half with 27 points, five boards, five assists and three steals since the NBA began tracking play-by-play data 28 years ago. Queta continued his breakout season with his best game yet, returning to action six days after spraining his left ankle in a game…...

3+ hour, 38+ min ago (273+ words) RALEIGH, N.C. " Short-yardage quarterback Will Wilson ran for four touchdowns while starter C.J. Bailey threw two scoring passes as N.C. State blew out rival North Carolina, 42-19, on Saturday night, ending NFL icon Bill Belichick's first college season with the Tar Heels. Wilson ran for 54 yards and had a 15-yard dragging-the-pile score in the third quarter for the Wolfpack (7-5, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who scored touchdowns on all four first-half drives to firmly take control of this one. Bailey threw TD passes to Wesley Grimes and Justin Joly in that dominant first half on the way to yet another rivalry win for coach Dave Doeren, who has beaten UNC five straight years. Gio Lopez threw a touchdown pass for the Tar Heels (4-8, 2-6), though he was knocked from the game early in the third quarter when his left leg bent under him awkwardly on a sack....

6+ hour, 42+ min ago (363+ words) PROVIDENCE " Aaron Guckian, a Republican who lost the 2022 lieutenant governor's race, will announce on Monday that he is running for governor in 2026. Attention has been focused on the expected Democratic primary rematch between Governor Daniel J. McKee and former CVS executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes. But Guckian is among a group of Republicans eyeing the 2026 gubernatorial race. Smithfield Republican Elaine Pelino, former publisher of Tigress Magazine, has filed a notice of organization to run for governor. And more high-profile potential candidates include Ashley Kalus, who lost the 2022 governor's race to McKee, and Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican. Guckian, 49, of East Greenwich, plans to make an official announcement at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Brewed Awakenings in Warwick. He said in a press release that his campaign will emphasize the need to "think big," and will focus on "restoring…...

6+ hour, 42+ min ago (993+ words) Doug Hano has struggled for years to find reliable care for his wife, Kirsten, who has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Once a "rock star" in the advertising industry, Kirsten, 58, now needs help with most basic tasks, including dressing, taking a shower, brushing her teeth, and eating. A string of inexperienced or unreliable home care workers, one of whom was present when Kirsten tripped on a curb outside and fell, leaving her requiring stitches, have left Hano frustrated and heartbroken. "Here I am trying to spend extra money for peace of mind or better service," he said, "but it's very clear that the availability of good folks is limited." In a state where barbers, manicurists, and massage therapists must be licensed, home care agencies providing nonmedical support are subject to shockingly little oversight, despite the profound vulnerability of the people who rely…...

9+ hour, 19+ min ago (668+ words) Lane Kiffin left his one-loss Ole Miss team to become the coach at LSU on Sunday, taking over a program that has won national titles under three of its previous four coaches while saying he would have stayed to coach the Rebels in the postseason had he been allowed to. The move comes two days after No. 6 Mississippi's victory over Mississippi State in the annual Egg Bowl rivalry game that all but guaranteed the Rebels a playoff berth when the bracket is announced Dec. 7. "Unfortunately, that means Friday's Egg Bowl was my last game coaching the Rebels," he added. Mississippi promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to succeed Kiffin. A former Ole Miss player, Golding is in his third season on the Rebels' staff after serving five years as a top defensive assistant at Alabama. "Coach Kiffin and I met yesterday,…...

10+ hour, 22+ min ago (180+ words) RFK Jr. is entitled to his opinions on vaccines, even if they are counterfactual. This right is guaranteed by the First Amendment. However, the First Amendment does not protect all false statements. Libel, perjury, fraudulent business claims, incitement, and lies told to FBI agents are instances of speech that are subject to sanctions enforceable by law. The government should be a guarantor of truth when it comes to speech whose falsity may lead to serious harmful consequences, and it should be liable for any harmful consequences that ensue from false statements it makes. Claiming that the scientific consensus regarding autism and vaccines is "not evidence based" is a dangerous falsehood ("CDC now reflects RFK Jr. on autism," A1, Nov. 21). If a parent heeds this revised CDC guidance and fails to vaccinate a child out of fear of autism, and that child…...

11+ hour, 3+ min ago (478+ words) The lawmakers said they did not know whether last week's Washington Post report was true, and some Republicans were skeptical, but they said attacking survivors of an initial missile strike poses serious legal concerns. "This rises to the level of a war crime if it's true," said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, when asked about a follow-up strike aimed at people no long able to fight, said Congress does not have information that happened. He noted that leaders of the Armed Services Committee in both the House and Senate have opened investigations. "Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that that would be an illegal act," Turner said. Turner said there are concerns in Congress about the attacks on vessels that the Trump administration says are transporting drugs, but the allegations regarding…...