Latest news with #NBCBoston
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Terrified woman, 69, savaged by 'monstrous' raccoon while letting her spaniels into backyard
A Massachusetts woman was savaged by a large raccoon after letting her dogs into her backyard over the weekend. Katharine VanBuskirk, 69, of Somerville, suffered horrific injuries to her arms, legs and face after the ordeal on Saturday morning. She had just let her two dogs, Blue, a three-year-old black cocker spaniel, and Rubi, a one-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, outside when the animal lunged at her. 'I was almost instantaneously leapt on by a raccoon', she recalled in an interview with the Boston Globe. 'It was a giant ball of viciousness. It bit me and scratched me. It attacked relentlessly, from every angle, it was terrifying', she said. She also described it as 'monstrous' to WCVB. VanBuskirk recently underwent shoulder surgery and had one arm in a sling during the attack. She fought the animal off while screaming: 'Help me!' The feral animal scratched her eyelid and cheek so bad that blood started pouring out of her face. Images of her injuries show VanBuskirk with deep gashes on her left cheek, her arms and legs are also covered in similar marks, with bite marks also visible. She managed to free herself and made her way back indoors where she immediately called 911. VanBuskirk was then taken to Mount Auburn Hospital where she was treated with rabies shots and antibiotics. Both of hers dogs escaped unscathed and she is expected to make a full recovery from the attack. She later discovered from a neighbor that they had seen a raccoon with four cubs in the area. VanBuskirk believes the animal was on her back porch looking for food in her compost bin. She has since moved it on to her street. Despite her ordeal, she told NBC Boston that she remains a nature fan, adding: 'I just want other people to be careful. I'm gonna never blame the raccoon.' The animals are found all over the state of Massachusetts, except for Nantucket, and are typically active at night, dawn and dusk. According to the state wildlife site, they can carry a number of diseases including rabies. Nearly all patients who develop a rabies infection die from the disease, which has a death rate of 99.9 percent. Authorities urge anyone bitten by a raccoon to wash the wound before seeking immediate medical care. To limit the risk of contact, homeowners are told to limit the access of food in or near a property. Cayenne pepper is often used as a repellent due to their sensitive noses and a dislike of strong smells.
NBC News
15-07-2025
- NBC News
Victims ID'd in Massachusetts assisted living facility fire that killed 9, cause under investigation
Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire at a Massachusetts assisted living facility that killed nine people and critically injured another. Several of the people killed were identified Monday, including Rui Albernaz, 64; Ronald Codega, 61; Margaret Duddy, 69; Robert King, 78; Kim Mackin, 71; Richard Rochon, 78; and Eleanor Willett, 86. The identities of a 70-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man were being withheld until their families could be notified, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. Holly Mallowes, Willett's granddaughter, told NBC Boston that her grandmother 'was the rock of the family.' 'We're praying she went peacefully from the smoke,' she said. 'That's weighing on us. Was there any suffering?' Rochon's family said he was a sharpshooter in the Army and a Vietnam veteran. 'He loved getting visits from his niece and nephew,' his niece, Breonna Cestodio, said. Mackin's nephew, Austin Mackin, told The Associated Press in an emailed statement that his aunt was a 'gift beyond words.' 'We will all miss Kimmy,' the statement read. 'Beyond being exceptionally kind, few knew that she was a brilliant musician.' The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. Sunday at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence, which houses nearly 70 people. More than 30 people had been taken to local hospitals, officials said. One person was in critical condition. The fire damage was contained to one wing, but there was heavy smoke damage throughout the facility. Dozens of people had to be rescued by a ladder. Lorraine Ferrara told The Associated Press that she woke up to a neighbor pounding on her door. She said she tried to escape through the smoke-filled hallway, but she had to go back to her room because the sprinkler system was shooting hot water onto her back. Ferrara said she opened her window and yelled for help. A firefighter broke the window and carried her down the ladder. 'I really thought I was going to die,' she said. 'I thought there was no way out.' The owner of Gabriel House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey called the fire a 'tragedy' and said a full investigation is underway. 'We are all praying for those who lost loved ones and for the full recovery of those who were injured,' she said in a statement.
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Indian Express
$113,000 worth of rare Pokemon cards stolen from Massachusetts store
A thief broke into a trading card shop in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the early hours of Tuesday and made off with a trove of rare Pokemon cards valued at over $113,000, according to the store's owners, reported The Guardian. Police were called to 1st Edition Collectibles early morning after the suspect reportedly smashed through a courtyard window and forced entry into the shop. Surveillance footage shows a masked and hooded figure crouched over a glass display case, selecting specific items. The stolen collection includes extremely rare and valuable cards, among them a BGS 8.5 Skyridge Crystal Charizard and a BGS 7.5 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise, the owners said in a Facebook post. These are highly sought-after by collectors and no longer in print. 'He knew exactly the items he was taking,' said Felipe Andre, one of the store's three owners, speaking to NBC Boston. 'We don't display pricing in the store at all. The value is determined by recorded sales or auctions. So he had to know what he was looking for.' Andre added that the stolen cards came from sets dating back to 2000–2006, including what he called 'the crown jewel of the entire Pokemon' series, the first edition base set Charizard. He described the shop as a labour of love for its small team. 'We're literally just three guys … This is our passion. This is what we love, since we were children,' he said, as per The Guardian. Following the robbery, the store temporarily closed its doors. In a Facebook update, the team wrote they would use the time to 'reflect, regroup, revamp and come back even better.' Despite the loss, Andre remains hopeful, explaining that each of the stolen cards had been individually graded and serialized by professional services. Photos and serial numbers of the stolen cards have been posted on the store's Instagram and Facebook accounts to help with identification. 'If anyone sees that certificate number, they'll know exactly where it came from, and who it belongs to,' Andre told NBC 10. (With inputs from The Guardian)
NBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
How user-generated videos on social media brought Trump's immigration crackdown to America's screens
By Jason Abbruzzese, Jacob Soboroff and Colin Sheeley The videos of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids emerged just after President Donald Trump was sworn in to his second term. Chaotic and shaky, they spread across social media from all parts of the United States, depicting the new era of immigration following video collected and verified by NBC News represents a small fraction of the videos that have populated timelines across Tiktok, Instagram, X and beyond. Warning: This report includes explicit and disturbing language. This browser does not support the video element. Philadelphia, NBC 10: ICE agents raid Philly car wash, immigration group says This browser does not support the video element. Worcester, NBC Boston: Video shows Worcester police hold girl's face on ground during ICE operation Many of the videos followed a similar pattern: heavily armed authorities with little visible identification and often wearing masks detaining people, sometimes violently, and putting them into vehicles. They spread quickly on social media and racked up thousands of views. This browser does not support the video element. Los Fresnos, TexasFebruary NBC 23: Owners of Abby's Bakery in Los Fresnos charged with harboring illegal migrants This browser does not support the video element. New Bedford, NBC Boston: Woman speaks on ICE smashing car window to arrest her husband This browser does not support the video element. Los Angeles, Calif. June What started as a trickle has become a flood. Many — but not all — of the videos originate in Los video has stoked both outrage against and support for how ICE handles its mandate. Trump and his administration have defended their enforcement efforts. ICE agents have broad powers, including, in some cases, to make arrests without warrants and limited requirements in terms of identifying themselves as law enforcement. This browser does not support the video element. Santa Ana, Credit: santaanaproblems This browser does not support the video element. Los Angeles, Credit: Isaac Torres This browser does not support the video element. San Antonio, Texas May This browser does not support the video element. The Trump administration has stood by its enforcement efforts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt touched on them on June 30. Immigration has remained among Trump's strongest issues, with an NBC News Decision Desk Poll conducted from late May to early June finding 51% of Americans approving of his handling of border security and immigration. Alice Marwick, the director of research at Data & Society, a technology-focused nonprofit, said the situation has reminded her of the videos of police brutality that changed the national conversation around law enforcement and triggered the Black Lives Matter movement. This browser does not support the video element. More recent videos have broken the wall between videographers and their some, bystanders rush to document the situations and even offer advice on how to deal with detainment. Others have demanded that authorities identify themselves. In at least one instance, a person recording a raid was also detained. This browser does not support the video element. Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles: California union leader faces federal charge after immigration protest arrest Credit: Martin Pineda This browser does not support the video element. Los Angeles, KTLA: Street food vendor clings to tree as immigration agents detain her in Ladera Heights Credit: Aleca Le Blanc More from NBC News
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Travel + Leisure
02-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Popular Beaches Across the U.S. Are Closed Due to High Levels of Bacteria—What Travelers Need to Know
A beach visit and cool dip in the ocean are the perfect way to beat the summer heat. But beach-goers throughout the U.S. may want to take caution, as more than 20 beaches have recently closed due to high amounts of bacteria in the water. The closures were published based on a series of data collected from the State of Massachusetts Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, or TOX. The agency publishes the reports in an online dashboard tracker. For example, within the town of Rockport, the Long Beach is temporarily closed due to a level of "10" in the bacteria reading of Enterococci. Other beach closures included Damon Pond Beach in Ashby, Sandy Beach in Danvers, Henry F Collins Beach in Marlborough, Cochituate State Park Beach in Natick, and Shannon Beach in Winchester. Despite the advisories and closures, swimmers and other beach-goers braved the elements and went swimming in the bacteria-filled water, NBC Boston reports. While the list topped 20 different beaches on June 29, the list dropped to 14 beaches at the time of publication. Across the United States, other beaches are also closed due to high bacteria. In King County, Washington—which includes Seattle—Madison Park, Madrona Park, Matthews Beach, and West Green Lake Beach are among those closed due to high bacteria, according to a Seattle government website. Imperial Beach in California, which shares a border with Mexico, was recently ranked as one of the highest and dirtiest beaches in the United States, due to runoff from the Tijuana River which includes sewage, according to a recent advisory. Visitors to Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area between Arizona and Utah are advised to exercise caution when swimming and not ingest the water due to potential sewage or potentially harmful algae, according to a National Park Service advisory. Before heading into the water of a beach, experts advise swimmers to carefully review any signs or placards about the water conditions in their community. "Be aware of any signs indicating the beach is closed or the water is not safe because of bacteria, riptides or other hazards," the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises. "In areas that are not monitored regularly, choose swimming sites in less developed areas with good water circulation, such as beaches at the ocean."The EPA specifically advises against swimming near water polluted by sewage, or cyanobacteria, which can cause algae blooms.
