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Gov. Patrick declares emergency ahead of Earl
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency in advance of the approaching storm.
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Coast Guard patrols Boston Harbor ahead of Earl
BOSTON -- The Coast Guard surveyed Boston Harbor on Thursday to get an idea of what's in the water, and what they'll be dealing with once Hurricane Earl creeps closer to the coast.
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Vineyard residents prepare to ride out storm
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – In Martha's Vineyard, the normally busy tourist spot was relatively empty on Thursday night.
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Some stay, some leave Nantucket
NANTUCKET, Mass. -- As night settled in on Nantucket, the folklore of storms past became reality.
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Mortimer accused of killing kin pleads not guilty
WOBURN, Mass. -- A Massachusetts man accused of killing his wife, two children and mother-in-law pleaded not guilty Thursday to four counts of first-degree murder as a prosecutor described how he left two copies of a letter confessing to the slayings.
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7NEWS Latest Headlines

Hurricane Warning in effect for parts of Mass.
BOSTON -- Officials in New England's coastal areas are bracing for high seas, heavy rains and strong winds as Hurricane Earl approaches the region.
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Mandatory evacuations underway in NC
KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. -- As darkness fell on the North Carolina coast, Earl strengthened, bringing with it powerful waves, but also uncertainty.
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Mass. man accused of killing kin pleads not guilty
WOBURN, Mass. -- A Massachusetts man accused of killing his wife, two children and mother-in-law pleaded not guilty Thursday to four counts of first-degree murder as a prosecutor described how he left two letters confessing to the slayings.
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Oil platform explodes off La. coast; oil spreading
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- An oil platform exploded and caught fire Thursday off the Louisiana coast, spreading a mile-long oil sheen into the Gulf of Mexico. All 13 crew members were rescued.
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Discovery Channel hostage-taker hated programming
SILVER SPRING, Md. -- A gunman police shot to death after he took hostages at Discovery Channel's headquarters said he hated the company's shows such as "Kate Plus 8" because they promote population growth and its environmental programming because it did little to save the planet.
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State Emergency Operations Center activated
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Officials activated the State Emergency Operations Center Wednesday to closely track Hurricane Earl.
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Man stabbed to death in Hyde Park
BOSTON -- A pizza delivery man was stabbed to death in Hyde Park early Thursday.
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2 stabbed at Faneuil Hall, police search for suspects
BOSTON -- Boston police are searching for five men involved in a double stabbing in Faneuil Hall.
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Heat forces some school closures
The heat is forcing some schools to close.
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Unemployment claims drop for 2nd straight week
WASHINGTON -- The number of people requesting unemployment benefits declined for the second straight week, suggesting that the slowing economy isn't prompting widespread job cuts.
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