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House Democrat becomes 1st 'Squad' member ever defeated in a primary battle

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House Democrat becomes 1st 'Squad' member ever defeated in a primary battle

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Two-term Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York has the dubious honor of becoming the first House member of either party to be defeated by a primary challenger so far in the 2024 election cycle. 

Bowman also becomes the first member of the “Squad,” a progressive group of diverse House Democrats, to be ousted from Congress.

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This after The Associated Press projected that rival George Latimer would defeat Bowman in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in New York’s 16th Congressional District – which covers southern Westchester County, in suburban New York City, and a small portion of The Bronx.

“This race was hard-fought, and hard-won,” Lattimer said in his victory speech.

The primary between Bowman, a former middle school principal who four years ago ousted 16-term Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primaries, and Latimer, a Westchester County executive, had already earned a page in the record books as the most expensive congressional primary in the nation’s history.

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U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), left, greets Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) while he campaigns in the Bronx borough of New York City June 22, 2024. (REUTERS/Joy Malone)

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The contentious battle between a member of the “Squad” and his more moderate challenger spotlighted the Democrats’ deep divisions over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Bowman, who has been outspoken about his support for Palestinians amid the war in Gaza and has charged that Israel has committed genocide, was targeted by roughly $14 million in spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the deep-pocketed pro-Israel group that supported Latimer.

WATCH: THIS HOUSE PRIMARY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY 

Progressive rock stars Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York supported Bowman and teamed up with the besieged lawmaker at a rally Saturday in The Bronx. The event was anything but a PG-rated spectacle, as Bowman repeatedly used profanities.

“We are going to show f—ing AIPAC, the power of the motherf—ing South Bronx!” Bowman said at the rally, which was held outside the congressional district’s boundaries.

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As he conceded on Tuesday night, Bowman made what he called a “public apology” for “sometimes using foul language.”

However, he added that “we should be outraged when a super PAC of dark money can spend $20 million to brainwash people into believing something that isn’t true. We should be outraged about that.”

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Latimer called Bowman’s language “inappropriate. Period.”

Latimer emphasized that “during this campaign I’ve been called a lot of unkind things. I’ve opened up a weekly newspaper in this county and seen myself referred to as genocide George. I’ve had all sorts of claims lobbed at me.”

“I think there’s been a lot of criticism lobbed at me by my opponent that’s unfair and inaccurate,” Latimer argued, “But I don’t think I get it right to use my temper. I don’t think I get the right to curse in public and carry on in a certain way.”

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Westchester County executive George Latimer, the primary challenger of Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York’s 16th Congressional District, speaks after he was endorsed by local clergy leaders on June 24, 2024 in Mount Vernon, New York. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

While the Israel-Hamas war was a top issue in the primary, it was not the only one at play.

Bowman, who grabbed plenty of attention during his four years in Congress for his verbal warfare with Republicans and for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building last year during a vote over government funding, was also hit for voting against President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill and against raising the debt limit.

Latimer argued that Bowman had lost touch with constituents in the district.

While knocking off an incumbent is extremely difficult – and has yet to be accomplished by a challenger so far this cycle – Latimer was well known in the district.

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Latimer, a former state senator, was endorsed by local mayors and council members, multiple Westchester County legislators and by former Sen. Hillary Clinton. The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee lives close to the district, in northern Westchester County.

He spoke with reporters on Monday at an event where he was endorsed by more than half a dozen diverse clergy leaders from the congressional district.

The ads on behalf of Latimer were also a factor. A record $25 million has been spent by outside groups and the two campaigns to run ads in the district, which is located in New York’s pricey media market, according to Adimpact, a well-known national ad tracking firm.

Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) speaks to the crowd while he campaigns in the Bronx borough of New York City on June 22, 2024. (REUTERS/Joy Malone)

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Bowman, speaking at a campaign event on Monday, said “this race has gotten national attention because it is the ultimate many verses the money race, and we are the many, we are the people.”

Additionally, he argued that “we can not let special interest billionaires…buy this congressional seat.”

Age and race were also at play in the primary battle. Bowman is 48 years old, Black and part of a new generation of rising Democratic Party stars. Meanwhile, Latimer is 70 years old, White and is a politician who spotlights his commitment to old-school retail style politics.

Latimer, taking to social media after delivering primary night victory comments, emphasized that “while this race garnered a lot of headlines, tomorrow we turn a new page. We must come together, united to defend our Democratic values from MAGA extremism.”

Fox News’ Sandy Ibrahim and Caroline Elliott contributed to this report.

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Maine

Rangeley Heritage Trust creates Friends of Western Maine Dark Sky

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Rangeley Heritage Trust creates Friends of Western Maine Dark Sky


The ‘Friends of Western Maine Dark Sky’ group meets March 3 at the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust office in Rangeley. They discussed the formation of the group as well as the process for designating the town as a dark sky community. (Quentin Blais/Staff Writer)

Looking up at the night sky in northern and rural Maine, it is a sight to behold, almost unique in today’s lit-up world. The Rangeley region is one of the last areas in the Northeast largely untouched by light pollution.

It is also a draw for many tourists and stargazers who come to the region for the clear view of the night sky.

A new group called Friends of the Western Maine Dark Sky hopes that by limiting the amount of light pollution, those views will be preserved for generations to come.

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The group gathered at the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust on March 3 to talk about ways to educate the community on the importance of dark skies to the region.

One of their primary efforts is to try to designate Rangeley as an official Dark Sky community.

The designation will require a few steps. First, an application will be submitted to DarkSky International expressing an interest. Then, the town of Rangeley will need to adopt a new lighting ordinance at the June town meeting.

A new state law taking effect in October will require publicly funded outdoor lighting across the state to be dimmed at night to protect wildlife and dark skies. This includes using warm, yellow-toned bulbs, dimming or turning off nonessential lights and shielding lights so they don’t shine upward into the sky.

The town ordinance would create guidelines similar to the state laws on the kinds of lights used in town, as well as restrict some signs, such as LED message boards. Existing boards would be allowed to remain in place.

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“The fact that the existing signage is grandfathered in perhaps bodes well for getting an approval of the town meeting,” said Linda Dexter, Dark Sky community certification coordinator at the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, who is leading the effort. “It’s going to impact businesses in the town … right out of the gate, folks will tend to not vote for it.”

Even if an ordinance passes, change would likely be slow. Most of the group’s efforts will be on community education, such as informing seasonal residents to turn off the lights at their camps while they are gone for the winter. Also, the application may not be approved for up to six months after it is submitted, Dexter said.



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Massachusetts

School closings and delays for Massachusetts on Friday, March 6

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School closings and delays for Massachusetts on Friday, March 6


Several school districts in Massachusetts have delayed the start of classes for Friday, March 6 because of a mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow.

Take a look below for the full list of school closings and delays.

The list displays all public schools in alphabetical order, followed by private schools and then colleges and universities.

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Delays on this page are current as of

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New Hampshire

NH National Guard activated in connection with Iran war

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NH National Guard activated in connection with Iran war


The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.

“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.

Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.

“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.

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In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.

Pease Air National Guard KC-46 Pegasus air refueling aircraft in June 2023.

Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.

During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.

“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”

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