This is WBZ, Boston's news radio, redefining local news.
The Sun's out twenty six degrees in Boston at eleven o'clock. Good Friday morning. As always, Thanks for Tony, and I'm Sherry Small. Here's what's happening going on right now. A federal judge is hearing arguments this morning on the Trump administration's plans to slash the size of medical research grants. Attorneys for the Commonwealth and other states asking US District Court Judge Angel Kelly to extend the order blocking the cuts.
The Trump administration's plan would limit the National Institutes of Health Research funding. The NIH the largest funder of biomedical research in the nation, and Massachusetts is a top recipient. It's estimated research institutes here in the Bay State could stand to lose at least five hundred and fifty million.
Last week, federal judge temporarily blocked the NIH from implementing the cuts after Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, along with AG's from twenty one other states, all Democrats, sued to stop them. In other news, the man accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson will be back in court this afternoon is Luigi Mangioni's first appearance in a courtroom since pleading not guilty to multiple counts of murder. ABC's Trevor Alt.
With mar Andngioni has garnered a massive wave of popularity this week, issuing his first statement through a website created by his defense team, saying the support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, and donations continue to pour into his defense fund, which has now raised more than half of million dollars.
And lawyers from both sides of the case are expected to provide updates at today's hearing. A judge could even set a trial date. A JETBUU pilot is arrested in taken into custody at Logan Airport, sources telling WBCTV the pilot was arrested on a flight last night from Boston
to Paris. Mass State Police say that US Customs and Border Protection was conducting its standard review of the passenger and crew list when they found an active warrant out of North Carolina for thirty three year old Jeremy Gudorf of Ohio. Mass State Police assisting in the arrest. They have not said, though, what that warrant was for Gudorf was expected to appear in East Boston court today. There is word that Pope Francis is doing a bit better.
This morning, ABC's Marcus Moore has the update from Rome.
Pope Francis continues to receive treatment for pneumonia at Rome's Jamelle Hospital. Sources to ABC News, the Pope is still working and seeing Vatican officials, spending his time between bed and an armchair, also reporting that he's breathing independently. Thursday night, doctors said the Pope's condition has improved and signaled that he's responding well to treatment. It's unclear how long Pope France will remain hospitalized or whether he will lead noon
prayer on Sunday. Marcus Moore, ABC News.
Rome Coming up, the Yankees take a page out of Boston's playbook. Now a quick look at the four day wbz ACU weather forecasts another cold day today, a mix of sun and clouds, highs bumping to thirty three degrees. Real temps are going to remain mainly in the teens, Clear and breezy tonight the lowland the city seventeen ten degrees in those inland area's low twenties on the Cape in the Islands, and then a Saturday starts a warm
up trend. We see a slightly warmer day Saturday with a high of thirty seven, mostly sunny sky, Sundays high near forty, Monday highs forty two to forty six, and as we look ahead Tuesday, looking like we'll be in the mid forties as well. It's just mostly cloudy. Right now in Boston, twenty six degrees at eleven oh four. Well, the Yankees finally reverse a decades long policy governing how they're players groom themselves. We get that from WBC's Jeremy Russ.
Alex Verdugo, Kevin Yuclas, and perhaps the one that hurt the most, Damon hit in the air to.
Right field, check fields back in the corner the wall.
Grand swam Johnny Damon among the players who had to share their glorious beards after joining the New York Yankees. For decades has been one of the Evil Empire's most infamous commandments, nou shalt not have hair on thy face?
May I thought I told you to trim those sideburns.
Go home.
You're off the.
Team for good.
Thank you, mister burns. But now the policy is no longer. The New York Yankees have announced they'll finally let their players keep their beards this season, as long as they're well groomed. Taking a page out of the Red Sox playbook. Are we who can forget the fear of the Beard's campaign of twenty thirteen? That sucks checkers? Let's see if the lucky Locks can bring the Yankees the same fortune In twenty twenty five. Jeremy Russ WBZ, Boston's news radio, all right, we.
Won't soon forget the four nations face off, two nations coming together on Causeway Street, WBC's Drumaholland telling us it was a beautiful thing.
You know what a thing this blossomed into. First the business team Canada wins it in overtime, their captain light in the lamps, Grant Patrick stars. What's come three to the final seaw McDonough on the call for ESPN. But the real winners hockey, the city of Boston. And how about the kids. How you looking Boston so far?
My man? Yeah, just the sights in the great hockey.
That's played here, Canadian after Canadian young and old, just blushing above Boston.
We are enjoying the city very much. You know what, We've really enjoyed our time here so far. Been here a couple of days and it's been a great city.
Seems like new life into the sport a little bit.
Been pretty cool, right.
Oh, it's fascinating hockey, isn't it.
Everybody's loving Boston though so far.
Amazing, awesome place.
Yeah, yeah, Boston makes you feel good, doesn't it. Drew o'holland WZ Boston's news radio.
Lower utility bills are on the horizon. Companies like National Grid, ever Source and others have been ordered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to lower prices for customers by at least five percent for March and April. The DPU, citing a combination of increased supply costs, unusually high delivery charges, and a cold winter for what it's calling unsustainable high prices.
DPU says it will investigate also whether it makes sense to permanently shift gas costs to off peak season all right. National Grid, ever Source, unit to Liberty, and the Berkshire Gas Company have until Monday five pm to file their proposed fee adjustments. A friend of One Direction star Liam Payne, has now been cleared of all charges in the singer's death. Prosecutors originally accused Rogelio Nores of abandoning Pain in his final hours. Here's ABC's Eve a pilgrim with the Tail.
The longtime front of the Star was with Pain just hours before his fatal fall from a third floor balcony in Argentina late last year.
I couldn't have known what was going on in hotel, like I only left for like forty minutes, like a for an hour, and this happened.
The court ruling that Noras did not play a role in getting Pain alcohol or drugs in Argentina, deciding that Noras was not responsible for the singer's death.
And two other people also cleared of charges. But meanwhile, an employee at the hotel where Pain died and a waiter at a local restaurant remain in pre trial detention. You are now in the loop for news updates throughout the day. Listen to WBZ News Radio on the iHeart Radio app. I'm Sherry Small, WBZ Boston's news radio