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60-year-old mom studying public policy is the oldest intern at Massachusetts State House

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60-year-old mom studying public policy is the oldest intern at Massachusetts State House


Lorinda Visnick has worn many hats. Mom, coach, Hall of Fame basketball player at Boston University, school committee member, student, and now – she’s the oldest intern at the Massachusetts State House, working alongside five other interns for Sen. Jason Lewis.

“I’m in this office and the other interns are literally still undergraduates in college,” said Visnick. “I’m like, my own children are older than all of you.”

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Interning with Sen. Jason Lewis

At 60 years old, she’s even got a few years on her boss! This prompted office leadership to give her a title of her own.

“We gave her the fellowship title for two reasons,” said Director of Communications Paul Albright. “One, because she is older than the other interns, but really it’s because she’s so much more experienced and is coming in with so much more that we are having her do harder work.”

But – the intern group works well together, researching bills and taking notes at hearings.

“We often hang out together and do homework,” said Visnick.

Following a career in computer science, Visnick ran for school committee in Beverly, giving her the perfect background to work on a bill proposing a statewide cellphone ban in schools.

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“I think that it’s fortuitous that I happen to be here this year while this is happening,” said Visnick.

Working toward PhD in Public Policy

Now, she’s working toward her PhD in Public Policy, and hopes to make an impact on the housing crisis.

“I want to try to help more children get a great public education and close this achievement gap really intersected with housing,” said Visnick.

This internship is giving her more tools in her toolbox to make that dream a reality.

“She’s doing exactly what she was hoping to do – to learn practically how public policy works on a day-to-day and why things don’t work,” said PhD Program Director Christian Weller.

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She’s learned a lot this summer, not only about the legislative process, but also that you’re never too old to start over.

“Maybe it’s because I’m around so many younger people, I don’t think of myself as ‘Oh, I’m old.’”     

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran


Massachusetts families are stuck in the Middle East amid the war in Iran, and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey says the State Department needs to do more to get them home.

The Trump administration is telling Americans to leave the region, and families would love to, but they haven’t been able to get out.

Stacey Schuhwerk of Hingham has been sheltering in place in a Doha hotel since Saturday.

“We hear the missiles outside,” she said. “We can see them.”

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The Hingham mother and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to get home.

“Airspace is shut down. There’s no planes,” said Schuhwerk. “There’s no way to leave.”

Flights between Boston and the Middle East are canceled or delayed as travelers express anxiety over the conflict.

At first, U.S. officials told people to shelter in place and register with the State Department — something Schuhwerk did days ago.

“There’s no help there. The last time we called was 20 minutes ago, and they continue to say that ‘We don’t know anything about any plans for government help to get people out,’” she said.

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Embassies and consulates across the region — including the U.S. Embassy in Israel — have now suspended services, saying they simply can’t get Americans out.

“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families,” Markey said.

The senator says his office is hearing from Massachusetts families, and he’s pressuring the Trump administration to come up with an evacuation plan fast.

“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out,” he said.

Back in Doha, Schuhwerk keeps watching the war outside her window.

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“The talk here is ‘How much defensive ammunition’s left?’ Good question, you know, because the missiles aren’t stopping,” she said. “So how long are we going to be safe here?”

With no clear end to this conflict, she’s worried she could be stuck there for weeks.



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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


Happy Tuesday! While today started off dry, we’re already looking at snow out there across the area. While this event will primarily stay as rain on the Cape and islands, it will be an icy mix of snow, ice and rain for the rest of us.

The rain/snow line will continue to advance from the south to the north as the evening progresses. Before the changeover, there will be a quick coating to 2 inches for most of our area.

The threshold between the snow and rain will feature sleet and freezing rain, leading to that icing.

For the rest of the night, there will primarily be rain with continued pockets of freezing rain, leading to increasing spotty ice accretion. Be extremely careful on roads, especially since switching between rain and freezing rain can wash off any road salt.

The rain and freezing rain will exit by 6 a.m. Wednesday, but temperatures will still be close to freezing during the morning commute, so watch out for some spotty black ice.

The rest of Wednesday will be really nice! Highs will warm up to the mid 50s with the help of ample sun.

Thursday we start off in the mid 20s and top off in the mid 40s. We’ll be partly sunny with another chance for some wintry weather Thursday night. This primarily looks like some rain and freezing rain, rather than the triple threat with snow too. We’ll keep an eye on that for you.

That will continue into Friday morning. The rest of Friday: cloudy with a chance for a spot shower and highs cooler again in the upper 30s. Saturday will be dry, breezy and cloudy but gorgeous near 50 degrees! There’s a chance for some rain showers Saturday night. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you to go bed!

Sunday we start the day mild in the 40s and make it all the way into the upper 50s with more sun. Monday and Tuesday both look bright and in the 60s! Stay tuned.

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Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks

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Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks




Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks – CBS Boston

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Poya Sohrabi hasn’t heard from his family since they took shelter from attacks in Tehran. WBZ-TV’s Mike Sullivan reports.

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