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Rental assistance program needs $100 million more than last year, report shows

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

With non-payment evictions up 68% over last year and federal COVID funds depleted, the state’s emergency rental assistance program will need $100 million than is currently budgeted in order to continue meeting the needs of residents at risk of homelessness, according to a new report.The Rental Assistance for Families in Transition program, or RAFT, was successfully used to help prevent evictions of families during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the program as it is currently designed is hard to access and underfunded, according to the “Building a Better RAFT” report released Thursday.“While the COVID public health emergency has expired, the need for emergency rental assistance continues. Due to a combination of housing cost burden, low savings rates, and employment instability, many renters are still at high risk of falling behind on their rent,” the report reads. “The success of emergency rental assistance programs depends not only on adequate funding, but also on i...

BBQ recipe: Bricia Lopez’s Citrus and Spice Costillitas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

Los Angeles chef-restaurateur Bricia Lopez, the author of “Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling” with food blogger Javier Cabral, says this recipe for Costillitas was inspired by the dried chile and citrus flavor combination found in so many Mexican candies and marinades.“Now you can make your own,” Lopez says. “You can double or quadruple the yield and keep any leftover spice mix — before adding the (liquid) — in a container with a tightly fitting lid in your pantry for later.”Chile-citrus powder is amazing on flanken beef ribs — short ribs cut crosswise across the bone, as you would for Korean kalbi — but it’s also wonderful on potatoes, chicken or pork.Citrus and Spice CostillitasServes 4INGREDIENTS1 teaspoon guajillo chile powder1 teaspoon smoked chipotle powder1 teaspoon ground cumin½ teaspoon onion powder½ teaspoon garlic powder½ teaspoon dried cilantro¼ teaspoon dark brown sugar1 teaspoon soy sauceZest and juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)Zest of ½ large orangeJuice o...

TV review: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s still got it, but, otherwise, Netflix’s ‘FUBAR’ lacks the goods

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

For the first time, Arnold Schwarzenegger is starring in a television series.The longtime action star — and former California governor — hasn’t exactly leaped out of his comfort zone with the one-hour action-comedy “FUBAR,” the eight-episode debut season of which has just dropped on Netflix.According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series created by Nick Santora is “loosely inspired” by “True Lies,” an action-comedy movie from writer-director James Cameron. In that well-received romp, Schwarzenegger portrays Harry Tasker, who hides the fact he is a U.S. spy from his family.In “FUBAR,” Schwarzenegger portrays Luke Brunner, who, well, hides the fact he is a U.S. spy from his family.The “Lies”-like premise isn’t the problem with “FUBAR,” which, in a fun nod to the film, brings in one of Schwarzenegger’s costars, Tom Arnold, for a guest-starring role in the fifth installment.What is the problem? It simply isn’t very good.Let’s be clear about one thing, however: Arnold “I’ll be back” Schw...

BBQ recipe: Marcus Bawdon’s Ember-Cooked Baba Ganoush

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

Marcus Bawdon, a top outdoor cooking expert in England, offers numerous recipes that elevate vegetables via the grill or smoker in “BBQ for All: Year-Round Outdoor Cooking for Meat-Eaters, Vegetarians and Pescatarians.”“Aubergines/eggplants are just made for cooking direct in the embers; their taste and texture totally transform,” he writes. “The soft flesh makes the most wonderful dip for a few crackers or crisp flatbreads. Like all the best things, it is simple and delicious.”Ember-Cooked Baba GanoushServes 2INGREDIENTS1 large eggplant2 tablespoons tahini1 clove garlic, crushedFreshly squeezed juice of ½ lemon1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil1 teaspoon cumin powder1 teaspoon Aleppo chile flakes or hot red pepper flakes1 tablespoon freshly chopped flat-leaf parsleyCoarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSSet up your barbecue for direct cooking in the coals at a moderate heat (around 320 degrees Fahrenheit). Use best-quality lumpwood charcoal or hardwood/fruitwood ...

Two Massachusetts residents indicted for allegedly robbing USPS postal workers in Boston

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

Two Massachusetts residents have been indicted for allegedly robbing United States Postal Service letter carriers in Boston last year, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Myesha Lewis, 22, of Boston, and Kenneth Demosthene, 22, of Stoughton, were indicted by a federal grand jury for the armed robberies on Thursday.USPS has seen a rise in the use of arrow keys to steal mail out of blue USPS collection boxes. These arrow keys are the property of USPS, and it’s a federal offense for an unauthorized person to possess one.Since last July, there have been at least 13 assaults on USPS letter carriers in Boston and in surrounding cities and towns. Of these 13 incidents, at least 10 of them included the suspect trying to rob USPS arrow keys from letter carriers. Also, the suspects in six of the robberies were reportedly armed with a knife, firearm, or both.In Mattapan on Nov. 29, Lewis and Demosthene are accused of following and robbing a USPS letter carrier of an arrow key. ...

Debt ceiling explained: White House, Republicans scramble for deal as default looms

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, LISA MASCARO and COLLEEN LONG (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Thursday that “every hour matters” as his team scrambles to finalize a budget deal with the White House that would enable the government to avoid a potentially catastrophic default. The two sides have to strike a deal in a matter of days before the country runs out of cash to pay its bills. McCarthy’s team visited the White House on Wednesday for what both sides said was a productive session — but it still failed to produce an agreement as time runs out. House Republicans left town ahead of the holiday weekend while waiting for leaders to produce a bill.Republicans are insisting on spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt limit. Biden has come to the negotiating table after balking for months but says the GOP lawmakers will have to back off their “extreme positions.” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the co...

Red Sox notebook: Offense’s disappearing act fueling recent roller coaster run

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

Following the Red Sox over the past two weeks, it’s often felt like you’re watching two different clubs. One is a masher capable of piling on runs and crushing opponents under its boot, and the other a punchless outfit that seemingly can’t hit its way out of a wet paper bag.Unfortunately for Boston, we’ve seen a lot more of the latter lately.Since returning home from Atlanta, the Red Sox have gone 4-8 in their last 12 games, sandwiching a pair of four-game losing streaks around a four-game win streak. Though pitching has been the dominant narrative throughout that stretch — between Kenley Jansen’s uncharacteristic struggles and the intrigue surrounding the future of the starting rotation — the offense has ultimately driven the Red Sox recent success and failure.During Boston’s first four-game losing streak, the Red Sox scored five runs in their last three games, including just one run in their series finale against St. Louis and the following nigh...

DOJ expands anti-profiling rules to cover thousands more who work in justice system

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department issued new guidance Thursday emphasizing that investigations must be free from bias involving race and gender or against people with disabilities. Anti-profiling rules were also expanded to include thousands more people who work in the justice system. The guidelines obtained by The Associated Press are the first updates in nearly a decade and now cover thousands more people than before, including prosecutors, lawyers, analysts and contractors. They already applied to agents for Justice Department agencies such as the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration and local officers who work with them on task forces. Released on the third anniversary of the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, the update also requires, for the first time, more extensive data collection measures that are intended to ensure the guidance is being followed.“We recognize that we have a responsibility to lead by example,” Attorney General Merrick G...

DeSantis pushes past embarrassing campaign start, outlines travel schedule for early state visits

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday sought to push past an embarrassing beginning to his presidential campaign, outlining an aggressive travel schedule as his allies insisted they remain well funded and well positioned for a long Republican primary fight ahead.While DeSantis supporters privately acknowledged the bungled announcement was an unwelcome distraction, there was a broad sense — even among some Republican critics — that it would likely have limited long-term political consequences, if any at all.“Do they wish they could do it over again? Probably,” said David Oman, who managed two top-tier presidential campaigns in Iowa. “Will we be talking about it in 10 days? Probably not.”DeSantis formally launched his campaign Wednesday night during an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. But the audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it difficult for most users to hear the announcement in real time.On Thursday, the Republican governor announced plans ...

Johnston was already set to testify at committee before opposition demanded he appear

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:24 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s foreign interference watchdog David Johnston was already scheduled to testify before opposition MPs demanded his appearance in a letter this week, a parliamentary committee chair said Thursday.Liberal MP Bardish Chagger said at a hearing the House of Commons procedure committee invited Johnston to appear two months ago, and he is already scheduled to appear in less than two weeks. Opposition members of the committee wrote a letter this week demanding Johnston’s testimony after his first report on alleged foreign meddling was published Tuesday. The Conservative, NDP and Bloc Québécois MPs said they want the former governor general to explain why he decided against recommending a public inquiry on foreign meddling.Liberal MPs accused Conservatives of being irresponsible by implying that there was any reluctance on Johnston’s part to talk to the committee. “There is no lengths the opposition will not go to tarnish an individual’s reputati...