Massachusetts
Cucumber salmonella outbreak is making people in Massachusetts sick. What to know
Fridge hack: Save money by keeping it cold
Keep your fridge as cold as possible for food safety.
A salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers has made people sick in more than 30 states, including nearly a dozen people in Massachusetts.
The CDC and FDA announced Wednesday that two salmonella outbreaks linked to cucumbers earlier this year are now being investigated as one outbreak.
The agencies are continuing to collect data about these outbreaks, which they say are of two different types of salmonella.
“CDC and FDA combined these two outbreak investigations as they shared several similarities, including where and when illnesses occurred, the demographics of ill people and the foods they reported eating before they became sick,” the agencies said.
Where is the salmonella outbreak?
The salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers has affected more than 30 states, including Massachusetts.
CDC data shows 11 people in Massachusetts got sick from the outbreak between March and July, but that number is likely higher as many people with salmonella recover without going to a doctor.
What is causing the salmonella outbreak?
Since first declaring the two salmonella outbreaks in June, the CDC and FDA have investigated the cause and linked it back to cucumbers.
The agencies said data has determined that cucumbers from two growers in Florida — Bedner Growers, Inc. and Thomas Produce Company — were likely the sources of the outbreak.
Products from these farms are no longer on the market, so there is likely no ongoing risk to the public, the CDC and FDA said.
However, the agencies said these growers do not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak, which is why consumers should still be aware.
How to protect yourself from salmonella
The CDC recommends practicing food safety steps to prevent getting sick from salmonella, including washing your hands and surfaces, rinsing fruit and vegetables under running water before eating and keeping raw food away from cooked food.
The agency also recommends using a food thermometer to ensure foods have been cooked to a high enough temperature to kill germs. Perishable food should also be refrigerated within two hours.
Massachusetts
State police say Friday’s storm caused 200 crashes across Massachusetts
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Massachusetts
Dangerousness hearing held for Taunton man in Fall River after Massachusetts, Rhode Island State Police make trafficking arrest involving Bristol, Plymouth, RI counties
A dangerousness hearing was held Friday for a Bristol County man after a drug trafficking investigation led to his arrest.
According to Massachusetts State Police, during May and June of this year, members of the Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team – South initiated an investigation into narcotics trafficking. Intelligence revealed that 33-year-old Jason Hodo of Taunton was distributing trafficking quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in Rhode Island and throughout Plymouth and Bristol Counties in Massachusetts. Investigators completed extensive traditional and covert surveillance, record checks, and intelligence analysis. The investigation led to warrants being sought and granted to search for all controlled substances at all locations related to Hodo.
In June, executing officers followed Hodo in his vehicle after he departed the Rhode Island location and drove to a Taunton gas station. Hodo was detained, searched, and arrested after amounts of fentanyl and cocaine were located. Members then executed the “knock and announce” search warrants without incident at locations in both states.
The searches in Massachusetts led to the seizure of approximately 528 grams of fentanyl, 206 grams of cocaine, and nearly $22,000 from Hodo’s person and vehicle. Hodo was eventually transported to State Police-Middleboro for booking on charges related to Trafficking Class A and Class B Substances.
A simultaneous search of the Rhode Island location by Rhode Island State Police revealed the following: two firearms loaded with high-capacity magazines, approximately 12 grams of fentanyl, nearly $19,000, several high value bars of gold, jewelry, and a diamond/gold chain with receipt for $103,000.
Previously in Fall River Superior Court, Hodo pled not guilty at his arraignment and was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday.
On Friday, also in Fall River Superior Court, dangerousness was taken under advisement with Hodo still held without bail.
His next scheduled court appearance is a pre-trial conference in February.
Massachusetts
Mass. State Lottery winner: Lucky store sold 6 winning tickets Friday
It was the final day of the fall, but for one store in Arlington, it was their luckiest day of the year.
On Friday, Dec. 20, Peter Pan Superette in Arlington sold six winning Keno tickets, each worth $9,600.
While over the course of the year the store has at times sold two winners in one day, Friday was the only time in 2024 the total grew to six.
Overall, at least 565 worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Friday, including six in Springfield, 29 in Worcester and 42 in Boston.
The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.
So far, the largest lottery prize won in Massachusetts this year was worth $1 million a year for life.
The prize was from the lottery’s “Lifetime Millions” scratch ticket game. The winner claimed their prize through a trust on July 10, and opted to receive a one-time payment of $15.4 million.
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