National Interest
Needham Native, Second Astronaut Will Get Return Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Trouble Needham Native, Second Astronaut Will Get Return Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Trouble Needham Native, Second Astronaut Will Get Return Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Trouble
Needham Native, Second Astronaut Will Get Return Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Trouble After spending months in limbo aboard the International Space Station, an astronaut from Massachusetts finally has a return date to Earth. Pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore will abandon Boeing’s troubled Starliner and instead hitch a ride on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025, NASA confirmed Saturday, Aug. 24. The stunning decision capped off 11 weeks of uncertainty after NASA discovered numerous helium leaks and malfunctions with Starliner’s thrusters following its launch from Florida's Space Coast on Wednesday, June 5. Ea…

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by Michael Mashburn
National Interest
Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner
Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner What was supposed to be an eight-day trip to the International Space Station may end up lasting much, much longer for an astronaut from Massachusetts. Two months after the Boeing-built Starliner blasted off from Florida’s Space Coast on its first crewed flight, NASA announced that pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore may not come home until February 2025. In a mission update Wednesday, Aug. 7, NASA and Boeing leaders said they were still figuring out how to safely bring the pair back to Earth and that they may have to ride back on a Sp…

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by Michael Mashburn
National Interest
NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles
NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles Nearly two months after blasting off from Florida’s Space Coast, a pair of NASA astronauts – including a Massachusetts native – still have no idea when they’ll return to Earth. In a mission update Thursday, July 25, NASA and Boeing leaders still could not commit to a return date for Starliner pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore. The pair – serving as guinea pigs of sorts for Starliner’s first crewed mission – remain in limbo aboard the International Space Station after numerous helium leaks and malfunctions with the spacecraft’s thrus…

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by Michael Mashburn
Hamilton Township, NJ
Breaking News
Navy Vet From Trenton, Briana Navarreto, Dies Suddenly In Florida, 27 Navy Vet From Trenton, Briana Navarreto, Dies Suddenly In Florida, 27 Navy Vet From Trenton, Briana Navarreto, Dies Suddenly In Florida, 27
Navy Vet From Trenton, Briana Navarreto, Dies Suddenly In Florida, 27 A highly decorated Navy veteran from New Jersey will be buried with military honors after her sudden death in Florida, according to an obituary published by Brenna Funeral Home.  A lifelong Trenton resident most recently of Tampa, FL, Briana Lee "Beezy" Navarreto died on Saturday, July 6, her obituary said. She was 27 years old. A GoFundMe campaign has been started to bring her body, dog and vehicle back from Florida and cover funeral expenses. Victoria Berrios of Trenton is organizing the fundraiser. "We also need to make arrangements for packing up the home she owned and bringi…

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by Jon Craig
Lakewood, NJ
Breaking News
NJ Navy Vet Who Received Pig Kidney Transplant, Heart Pump Dies After 47 Days NJ Navy Vet Who Received Pig Kidney Transplant, Heart Pump Dies After 47 Days NJ Navy Vet Who Received Pig Kidney Transplant, Heart Pump Dies After 47 Days
NJ Navy Vet Who Received Pig Kidney Transplant, Heart Pump Dies After 47 Days Lisa Pisano, the 54-year-old New Jersey resident and second-ever recipient of a pig kidney and mechanical heart, has died. Pisano received the heart pump on April 4, and eight days later, got the pig's kidney. She lived with it for 47 days, as reported by the New York Times, before her death on Sunday, July 7. Lisa Pisano. NYU Langone Health A U.S. Navy veteran and doting grandmother, Pisano was born in Lakewood but lived in Ocean Gate and Bayville, according to her obituary on the Mastapeter Memorial Home website. Her obituary remembered her as a "hero to the medical communit…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fredericksburg, VA
Breaking News
Navy Vet, Federal Employee Crystal Carnes Of Fredericksburg Dies: 'Put On Some Grateful Dead' Navy Vet, Federal Employee Crystal Carnes Of Fredericksburg Dies: 'Put On Some Grateful Dead' Navy Vet, Federal Employee Crystal Carnes Of Fredericksburg Dies: 'Put On Some Grateful Dead'
Navy Vet, Federal Employee Crystal Carnes Of Fredericksburg Dies: 'Put On Some Grateful Dead' Crystal Carnes, a veteran of the US Navy who recently retired from her a lead position within the Department of Defense, died on Sunday, June 30 after battling a brain tumor, her obituary on the Covenan Funeral Service website says. Crystal, 45, enlisted in the US Navy in 1997 and would go on to graduate form Russian Phase II training in Texas before serving at the Naval Security Group Detachment (NSDG) at Menwith Hill, in the United Kingdom (UK). She served until 2000, after earning the rank of Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 3rd Class (CTI3) and was a recipient of the Natio…

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by Cecilia Levine
Port Chester, NY
Obituaries
Longtime Port Chester Firefighter, Marine, Navy Veteran Dies: 'An Icon' Longtime Port Chester Firefighter, Marine, Navy Veteran Dies: 'An Icon' Longtime Port Chester Firefighter, Marine, Navy Veteran Dies: 'An Icon'
Longtime Port Chester Firefighter, Marine, Navy Veteran Dies: 'An Icon' A beloved firefighter and veteran from Westchester is being remembered for his lifetime of service to others and his legendary clam-shucking skills.  Rye Brook resident Raymond Nethercott, the most senior member of the Port Chester Fire Department's Washington Engine & Hose Co. #4, died on Wednesday, June 26 at the age of 92, according to his obituary.  Born and raised in Port Chester, Nethercott graduated from Port Chester High School before going on to serve in the US Navy between 1951 and 1955. Nethercott also served in the Marines, his obituary said.  Once …

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by Ben Crnic
Chambersburg, PA
Obituaries
Greencastle Police Chief Dies Less Than 1 Month After Promotion Greencastle Police Chief Dies Less Than 1 Month After Promotion Greencastle Police Chief Dies Less Than 1 Month After Promotion
Greencastle Police Chief Dies Less Than 1 Month After Promotion Less than one month after he was sworn in Greencastle Police Department Chief, Keith Russell has died, according to a release by the department on Saturday, June 6. Chief Russell passed away from an "off duty medical death," according to the Greencastle PD. No additional information about his death was available at the time of publishing.  He had only been sworn in as chief on May 6, 2024, the department explained. The promotion came after 23 years of police service. Russell was also a U.S. Navy Gulf War Veteran.  Funeral arrangements have not been released.  "Please …

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by Jillian Pikora
Drexel Hill-Upper Darby, PA
Breaking News
Chester City Cop, US Navy Reservist Dies In 'Non-Combat Related Incident': Officials Chester City Cop, US Navy Reservist Dies In 'Non-Combat Related Incident': Officials Chester City Cop, US Navy Reservist Dies In 'Non-Combat Related Incident': Officials
Chester City Cop, US Navy Reservist Dies In 'Non-Combat Related Incident': Officials Officials are investigating the death of Pennsylvania police officer and US Navy reservist Daniel McCracken.  Chester City police officer Daniel D. McCracken died on May 6, 2024 of a non-combat-related incident while deployed in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy said. CENTCOM's area of responsibility "stretches from Northeast Africa across the Middle East to Central and South Asia," according to defense officials.  Chester city police said McCracken enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1998 and joined the department in 2017. …

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by Mac Bullock
Quincy, MA
Breaking News
Trailblazing Astronaut From Mass Will Be First Woman Aboard A Maiden Crewed Spacecraft Trailblazing Astronaut From Mass Will Be First Woman Aboard A Maiden Crewed Spacecraft Trailblazing Astronaut From Mass Will Be First Woman Aboard A Maiden Crewed Spacecraft
Trailblazing Astronaut From Mass Will Be First Woman Aboard A Maiden Crewed Spacecraft Sunita Williams has held plenty of titles in her life: Astronaut, US Navy officer, former record holder for most spacewalks by a woman (seven), to name a few. Now, the Needham native can add one more to her impressive resume: trailblazer. The 58-year-old Williams is set to become the first woman aboard the maiden flight of a manned spacecraft when NASA and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner launches for the first time from Florida’s Cape Canaveral for the 24-hour journey to the International Space Station. Originally scheduled for takeoff Monday night, May 6, the launch was scrapped “out of an abu…

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by Michael Mashburn
Massapequa, NY
Breaking News
HS Sweethearts Killed In Out-Of-State Crash; Fundraiser Seeks To Transport Remains Back To NY HS Sweethearts Killed In Out-Of-State Crash; Fundraiser Seeks To Transport Remains Back To NY HS Sweethearts Killed In Out-Of-State Crash; Fundraiser Seeks To Transport Remains Back To NY
HS Sweethearts Killed In Out-Of-State Crash; Fundraiser Seeks To Transport Remains Back To NY Sam Cullen and Suzie Kedar were planning on spending the rest of their lives together when tragedy struck. The Long Island natives and Farmingdale High School sweethearts were killed in a car crash in Washington State on Thursday, May 2. Details about the wreck were not immediately available. Their deaths came just two days after the 28-year-old Cullen, a Petty Officer in the US Navy stationed outside of Seattle on Whidbey Island, picked up an engagement ring that he planned on giving to Kedar, according to relatives. “They had plans on Friday morning to look at houses together with a real…

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by Michael Mashburn
Chambersburg, PA
Breaking News
Firefighter, Navy Veteran Gets Jail Time For Multiple PA Arsons: DA Firefighter, Navy Veteran Gets Jail Time For Multiple PA Arsons: DA Firefighter, Navy Veteran Gets Jail Time For Multiple PA Arsons: DA
Firefighter, Navy Veteran Gets Jail Time For Multiple PA Arsons: DA A US Navy Veteran and now-former firefighter has been sentenced for starting four fires, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announced on May 1.  Andrew Bischof, 21 of Arnold, pleaded guilty to all arson charges, including aggravated arson, risking catastrophe, and criminal trespassing on Wednesday, court records show.  He admitted to intentionally setting four separate fires in Arnold and New Kensington in Sept. and Oct. 2023.  Posted by From The Scene Photography on Monday, October 2, 2023 Posted by From The Scene Photography on Satur…

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by Jillian Pikora