It's unclear if the federal panel will vote on Mastroianni's appointment on Thursday, but a hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, according to the US Senate Judiciary Committee's website.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to discuss the federal judgeship nomination of Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni on Thursday at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mastroianni, a former state prosecutor and private attorney who became district attorney in 2011, was nominated in September by President Barack Obama to fill a vacant U.S. District Court position in Springfield. The post was vacated on Aug. 15, 2011, when Judge Michael A. Ponsor, the sitting federal judge, took senior status.

Mastroianni's nomination is now pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which interviewed him on Feb. 11 in Washington. It's unclear what action, if any, the federal panel might take at today's hearing, which is scheduled to be webcast at 10 a.m.

All candidates for federal judicial positions must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The 18-member Senate Judiciary Committee reviews the qualifications of nominees before a full Senate vote is taken.

Hampden Superior Court Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder was first nominated for the federal position in 2011, but he withdrew his name from consideration in March 2013 after waiting 19 months for a hearing before the Senate panel.

Because Masenior teaches in the South Hadley public schools and Punska in Amherst, they turned to Scibak and state Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst, for legislative help.

CHESTERFIELD – Ellia Punska was five years old and battling a strep throat when she woke up one morning with PANDA/PANS. The full name, Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections, cries out for an acronym, just as the rare disease cries out for treatment. Suddenly, the girl was exhibiting signs of attention deficit disorder and other behavioral maladies, along with physical signs that something was wrong.

At first, no one knew what to do, least of all her parents, Jacob Masenior and Heather Punska. It took a couple of months to get Ellia correctly diagnosed. Even then, the nightmare was just starting.

By the time it was over, Masenior and Punska had been up and down the East Coast as far as Florida looking for medical help. They did battle with insurance companies that bridled at paying the bills, going through series after series of denials and appeals. The couple, both teachers, had to pay some $50,000 out of pocket to treat Ellia, forcing them to sell their house in Hatfield. A fellow parent in the small world they occupied, the world of PANDA/PANS, described the disease as a “strep-induced tsunami.”

On the positive side, Ellia is now a healthy third grader, thanks to intravenous immunoglobulin treatments (IVIG), antibiotics and therapy. Her parents, who eventually got reimbursed for some of the medical costs, are now hoping that a bill sponsored by state Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, can spare other parents the torment they’ve suffered.

Scibak’s bill would require insurance companies to pay for PANDA/PANS treatment and mandate further research into treatment options. The Joint Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing on the proposed legislation in the Statehouse on March 5. Masenior and Punska will be there.

“We plan to testify,” Masenior said, adding that they hope to enlist some physicians to speak out for the bill as well.

Protective of their daughter’s privacy, the couple has been reluctant to speak publicly about their ordeal, but Masenior and Punska don’t want to see other parents have to deal with what they went through.

“We basically spent the last couple of years piecing our kid back together,” Masenior said. “She’s in a really good place now.”

As public school teachers, the financial challenge often seemed mountainous. As parents, the disease cast an even bigger shadow.

“It was a deep, dark place for our whole family,” Masenior said.

Because Masenior teaches in the South Hadley public schools and Punska in Amherst, they turned to Scibak and state Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst, for legislative help. Friends, notably fellow teachers, also rallied around the family. The March 5 hearing is just a first step towards enacting a law, and Masenior noted that they are up against a powerful lobby in the insurance industry, but he is cautiously optimistic.

“We’ll see what happens from there,” he said.

Arev Mock, 24, of 33 Euclid Ave., Springfield, was charged with possession of a class B drug after he allegedly drove with his headlights off on North Main Street.

 

EAST LONGMEADOW — A Forest Park resident picked up a drug charge Wednesday night after allegedly driving without headlights, according to East Longmeadow police records.

Arev Serene Mock, 24, of 33 Euclid Ave., Springfield, was charged with possession of a class B drug following a North Main Street traffic stop at about 9:50 p.m. Class B drugs include cocaine, crack, LSD, methadone and other drugs.

Mock was "advised for operating without headlights," the records show.

He was expected to be arraigned on the charge Thursday in Palmer District Court.

Three men were seen walking away from the vehicle, but police were unable to immediately locate them.

 

HOLYOKE — Police found a car on its roof near the corner of Route 5 and Jones Ferry Road early Thursday, but they were unable to locate the driver.

Three men were seen walking away from the crash scene shortly after 2 a.m., but officers who scoured the area could not locate them, according to Holyoke police.

The dark-colored car was heavily damaged in the rollover crash.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them at (413) 536-6431.

Mayor Martin Walsh said Wednesday that he trying to broker a deal with organizers of the parade in Southie that draws an estimated one million spectators every year to allow a group of gay military veterans to march.

BOSTON (AP) --€” Boston's mayor says he will boycott the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade unless gay groups are allowed to participate.

Mayor Martin Walsh said Wednesday that he trying to broker a deal with organizers of the parade in Southie that draws an estimated one million spectators every year to allow a group of gay military veterans to march.

Walsh, the son of Irish immigrants, says that in 2014 allowing gay groups to participate is "long overdue."

Parade organizers, however, appear unwilling to budge.

John "Wacko" Hurley said "it's final" that gay groups will continue to be excluded, pointing to a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1995 that allowed organizers to exclude gay and lesbian groups.

Hurley says Walsh "is not in a position" to overturn the court's decision.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission continues to evaluate applications for the slots parlor license. The commission will issue the single slots license award on Friday, Feb. 28.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission begins its public deliberations on the three applicants for the sole slots parlor license in the state. The commission will issue the single slots license award by Friday, Feb. 28.

For more information on the slots evaluation process, click here. For the full agenda, click here.

Tweets by @MassGamingComm

Nobody was home when the fire was reported by a neighbor just after 8 a.m.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — No injuries were reported in a Thursday morning house fire on 60 Almon Avenue, but firefighters did rescue two dogs and several birds.

Chief William Flaherty said nobody was home at 60 Almon Ave. when the fire was reported by a neighbor just after 8 a.m. Firefighters found heavy flames when they arrived, and the blaze caused significant damage to the rear of the home before firefighters knocked the fire down.

"Now they are just checking for hot spots," Flaherty said of the firefighting effort around 9 a.m.

Former mayor Gregory Neffinger, who lives nearby on Hillcrest Avenue, said he saw flames "coming from the sliding glass door."

Neffinger said the dogs appear to be fine; the birds, he said, were taken to a neighbor's house.

Flaherty said the fire appears to have started at the rear exterior of the home, but no cause has been determined. A state police trooper from the Office of the State Fire Marshal was due to arrive at the scene to aid in the investigation.

Russia sent fighter jets to patrol the border with Ukraine, reportedly gave shelter to the country's fugitive president and pro-Russian gunmen stormed offices of a strategic region, deepening the crisis for Ukraine's new government even as it was being formed.

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia sent fighter jets to patrol the border with Ukraine, reportedly gave shelter to the country's fugitive president and pro-Russian gunmen stormed offices of a strategic region, deepening the crisis for Ukraine's new government even as it was being formed.

The moves pose an immediate challenge to Ukraine's new authorities as they seek to set up an interim government for the country, whose population is divided in loyalties between Russia and the West. Ukraine's new prime minister said the country's future lies in the European Union but with friendly relations with Russia. Some 150,000 Russian soldiers carried out military exercises and fighter jets patrolled the border.

A respected Russian news organization reported that President Viktor Yanukovych, who was driven out of Kiev by a three-month protest movement, was staying in a Kremlin sanatorium just outside Moscow.

"I have to ask Russia to ensure my personal safety from extremists," Yanukovych said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies on Thursday. He said he still considers himself president.

Shortly after, the same three Russian news agencies quoted an unnamed Russian official saying that Yanukovych's request for protection "was satisfied on the territory of Russia."

Oleksandr Turchynov, who stepped in as acting president after Yanukovych's flight, condemned the takeover of government buildings in Crimea as a "crime against the government of Ukraine." He warned that any move by Russian troops off of their base in Crimea "will be considered a military aggression."

"Unidentified people with automatic weapons, explosives and grenades have taken over the governmental buildings and the Parliament building in the autonomous region of Crimea," he said. "I have given orders to the military to use all methods necessary to protect the citizens, punish the criminals, and to free the buildings."

In Kiev, lawmakers chose Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the new prime minister. He will face the hugely complicated task of restoring stability in a country that is not only deeply divided politically but on the verge of financial collapse. The 39-year-old served as economy minister, foreign minister and parliamentary speaker before Yanukovych took office in 2010, and is widely viewed as a technocratic reformer who enjoys the support of the U.S.

Shortly before the lawmakers chose him as the leader of the new Cabinet, Yatsenyuk said Ukraine doesn't want a fight with Russia, but insisted the country wouldn't accept the secession of the southern Crimea region.

He said Crimea "has been and will be a part of Ukraine."

Yanukovych fled after riot police attacked protesters in Kiev's central square, killing more than 80 people, and European and Russian officials intervened. He has not been seen publicly since Saturday, when he said he remained the legitimately elected president — a position that has been backed by Russia.

Russia's respected RBK news organization reported Wednesday evening that Yanukovych was staying at the Barvikha sanatorium, which is run by the presidential administration's property department. The spokesman for this department, Viktor Khrekov, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he has no information about this.

The RBK report was impossible to confirm, but security at the Ukraina Hotel was unusually heavy late Wednesday, with police watching from parked vehicles outside and guards posted throughout the lobby. Some of Yanukovych's allies, also reported to have been at the hotel, may have still been there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman also said he had no information about Yanukovych's reported arrival in Moscow.

In a clear warning to Ukraine, Putin on Wednesday ordered massive military exercises involving most of the military units in western Russia. On Thursday, as part of the exercises, 90 fighter jets were put on combat alert and were patrolling the border with Ukraine, Russian news agencies quoted the Defense Ministry as saying.

The military also announced measures to tighten security at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet on the Crimean peninsula in southeastern Ukraine.

The military maneuvers prompted a sharp rebuke from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who warned Russia that any military intervention in Ukraine would be a "grave mistake."

The Russian Foreign Ministry voiced concern Thursday about the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and vowed to protect their interests. State-owned ITAR-Tass news agency quoted a statement read at a session of the ministry's board on Thursday, saying that Russia "will have a firm and uncompromising response to violations of the rights of compatriots by foreign states."

Russia has accused Ukraine's interim leaders of failing to control radicals who threaten the Russia-speaking population in Ukraine's east and south, which includes the Crimean Peninsula.

Witnesses said the gunmen in Simferopol, the Crimean regional capital, wore unmarked camouflage uniforms and carried rocket-propelled grenades, sniper rifles and other weapons. They raised the Russian flag over the local parliament building.

The men did not immediately voice any demands and threw a flash grenade in response to a journalist's questions. They wore black and orange ribbons, a Russian symbol of the victory in World War II, and put up a sign reading "Crimea is Russia."

Maxim, a pro-Russian activist who refused to give his last name, said he and other activists had camped overnight outside the local parliament in Simferopol when 50-60 heavily armed men wearing flak jackets and carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers and sniper rifles took over the building.

"Our activists were sitting there all night calmly, building the barricades," he said. "At 5 o'clock unknown men turned up and went to the building. They got into the courtyard and put everyone on the ground.

"They were asking who we were. When we said we stand for the Russian language and Russia, they said: 'Don't be afraid. We're with you.' Then they began to storm the building bringing down the doors," he said. "They didn't look like volunteers or amateurs; they were professionals. This was clearly a well-organized operation."

"Who are they?" he added. "Nobody knows."

In a statement, the local government said Crimean Prime Minister Anatoly Mogilyev had tried to negotiate with the gunmen but was told "they were not authorized to negotiate and present demands."

Ukraine's acting interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said on his Facebook page that police were sealing off the area.

"Measures have been taken to counter extremist actions and not allow the situation to escalate into an armed confrontation in the center of the city," he said.

Phone calls to the Crimean legislature rang unanswered, and its website was down.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, dropped further to a new record low of 11.25 to the U.S. dollar, a sign of the country's financial distress.

One of the new government's first tasks will be to seek rescue loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. The finance ministry has pegged the country's needs at $35 billion dollars for this year and next to pay salaries and debts and cover the large budget deficit.

___

Associated Press writers Maria Danilova and Karl Ritter in Kiev and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report.

Police and firefighters responded to a series of Dumpster fires in alleyways located in the South Holyoke neighborhood.

File photo | The Republican 

HOLYOKE — For two nights in a row, police and firefighters responded to reports of Dumpster fires in the South Holyoke neighborhood.

At least two back-to-back fires were reported early Wednesday morning, followed by another incident early Thursday, according to Holyoke police reports.

The incidents mostly seem to be happening in alleyways in the vicinity of S. East Street between roughly Cabot and Sargeant streets.

"It looks like someone just walked along the alley and started lighting Dumpsters on fire," a police officer said Wednesday.

On Thursday, an officer reported a 3:20 a.m. Dumpster fire in an alley behind S. East and S. Bridge streets between Sargeant and Hamilton streets.

The fires were quickly extinguished with no reported damage to nearby buildings.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau at (413) 322-6940.

Vermont State Police and an National Guard helicopter search unsuccessfully for Foster in the area around her home, police said.

RUTLAND, Vermont — Police are continuing their search for Maryann Foster, a 59-year-old Rutland woman who left her home sometime Monday night without taking her cell phone, car keys or winter jacket.

Maryann Foster 

48-year-old Sandra Lucien-Calixte of Stoughton has been charged with neglecting an elderly woman found in an unheated basement bedroom.

Submitted photo 

STOUGHTON — A Massachusetts caregiver has been charged with neglecting an elderly woman found in an unheated basement bedroom.

Forty-eight-year-old Sandra Lucien-Calixte of Stoughton pleaded not guilty on Monday to permitting injury to an elderly person. She has been freed on $25,000 bail.

She was charged Friday, several days after police said they found the 75-year-old woman in Lucien-Calixte's home. Police said heat in the small room was off and a thermostat read 51 degrees. They announced the arrest Thursday.

Stoughton Deputy Police Chief Robert Devine said the alleged victim had severe bed sores and was malnourished and dehydrated. He said she was hospitalized and last reported in intensive care. Devine said it's not clear how long the elderly woman was in the room.

Lucien-Calixte is due back in Stoughton District Court April 14.

Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who maintains an office in Boston, and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker were among those who joined New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at a private dinner reception at a downtown Boston hotel.

By STEVE PEOPLES

BOSTON — His political future clouded by scandal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pressed ahead on a national fundraising tour Thursday, but kept a low profile during a brief Boston appearance that attracted GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and intense criticism from Democrats.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who maintains an office in Boston, and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker were among those who joined Christie at a private dinner reception at a downtown hotel. Neither Baker nor Romney appeared publicly with Christie, although both have expressed support for the New Jersey governor facing dual investigations for his administration's decision to clog traffic along the George Washington Bridge last fall apparently to punish a political adversary.

Democrats aggressively tried to link the New Jersey scandal to Baker's candidacy.

It's the same playbook that Democrats used for Christie's recent trips to Florida, Texas and Illinois, and one they plan to employ for upcoming events in Georgia, Connecticut and Utah as Christie raises money as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

"It's an embarrassment to have Gov. Christie in Massachusetts today," said Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., in a conference call arranged by Democrats before Christie's arrival.

New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell condemned Christie's aggressive travel schedule, which is part of a larger effort to strengthen his political network ahead of a prospective presidential campaign. "Christie's made a big mess and he should be in New Jersey cleaning it up," he said.

Romney's attendance was designed to highlight his support for Christie, whose endorsement during the 2012 campaign helped Romney secure the GOP presidential nomination. But the pair has a complicated relationship.

Many Romney loyalists still resent Christie's embrace of President Barack Obama after Superstorm Sandy devastated the New Jersey coast in the final weeks of the 2012 presidential contest.

And former Romney donors privately report that lingering resentments have been exacerbated by Christie's recent struggles. Establishment-minded donors who initially viewed Christie as the early 2016 frontrunner have become more willing to look elsewhere, although few minds are set with the beginning of the 2016 race still months away.

"There's never been bad blood between the two governors," said former Romney adviser Ron Kaufman. "People around the candidates tend to take these things more personally than the governors themselves."

Organizers announced that Christie would be in Boston Thursday, but refused to disclose the time or location.

Christie's team has limited his interactions with the press since internal documents released in early January tied senior aides to the lane closures. The often-outspoken governor has denied personal involvement, but refused to answer questions during a Washington gathering of governors over the weekend and skipped a Monday press conference hosted the Republican Governors Association.

But he has added to his national travel schedule, which is designed to raise money for the RGA and showcase his continued fundraising appeal. Under Christie's leadership, the RGA raised $6 million in January, $1 million more than the same period last year.

RGA executive director Phil Cox said Christie has another 10 to 12 fundraising trips planned over the next three months.

A car collided with a PVTA bus on Riverdale Street (Route 5) in front of the Hooter's restaurant on Thursday night.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — A car collided with a PVTA bus on Riverdale Street (Route 5) in front of the Hooter's restaurant on Thursday night, injuring the driver of the car and several bus passengers, and prompting a call for multiple ambulances.

In all, eight people were transported to the hospital, said Capt. Thomas Wilkinson of the West Springfield police. Seven of the injured were passengers on the bus.

None of the injuries were serious. He said most were complaining of neck and back soreness.

The accident was reported just after 9 p.m.

Police say the car hit the back of the bus at the intersection of Riverdale Street and Ashley Avenue in the southbound lanes. The accident was reported at about 9 p.m.

Wilkinson said the accident appeared to be weather related. At the time of the crash, there was a heavy wind and snow squalls, and the snow contributed to the concrete road surface becoming slippery.

Traffic was flowing in one lane as police cleared the scene.

The front end of the car sustained serious damage, which the back of the bus appeared undamaged. A tow truck was on scene to haul away the car.

West Springfield firefighters and several ambulances were also on the scene.

City police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Thursday afternoon at the Bay Savings Bank at 378 Burncoat St..

A witness told officers that a man pointed a handgun at a teller shortly after noon and demanded cash, according to a police news release. No one was injured during the incident.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall with a medium build, according to police. The man was wearing a dark winter coat and sunglasses when he entered the bank and approached the counter before producing a handgun and pointing it at a teller, according to police. The teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of money and he fled the bank, according to police.

Another witness told officers that the male suspect was seen running across Burncoat Street and entering a nearby driveway. A short time later, a dark colored SUV pulled out of the driveway and was last seen driving south on Burncoat Street toward the downtown area, according to police.

The Worcester Police Detective Bureau has interviewed witnesses and the department Crime Scene Unit has processed evidence. Investigators are currently working on obtaining video footage from the bank’s security system to see if the suspect image was captured on film.

If anyone has information about this incident they can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web-based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.

Hosting the 2024 summer Olympic Games in Boston would be “feasible” and potentially dovetail well with the state’s long-term infrastructure and housing goals, but would also require a significant investment of public and private capital, a special commission found.

By MATT MURPHY

BOSTON — Hosting the 2024 summer Olympic Games in Boston would be "feasible" and potentially dovetail well with the state's long-term infrastructure and housing goals, but would also require a significant investment of public and private capital, a special commission found.

The 11-member panel, set up by the Legislature and Gov. Deval Patrick to examine the possibility of becoming a host city to the Olympics, wrapped up its work on Thursday after about two-and-a-half months spent examining the infrastructure, venue capacity, security requirements and marketing resources available for a possible host city bid.

The commission voted 8-0 to accept the final report with an amendment including a new paragraph in the body of the report about the Paralympics. Two members were absent and Jonah Beckley, appointed to the commission by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, abstained because he now works for Sen. Stephen Brewer

"I don't think anyone should jump to the conclusion that we're going to be hosting the 2024 Olympics. I think what we have to do we have to undertake a thorough analysis of the costs and benefits that can be produced out of hosting this Olympics. Even that conversation has tremendous currency to all of us as taxpayers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," said John Fish, the CEO of Suffolk Construction who chaired the commission.

While the report found that hosting the Olympics in Greater Boston would be feasible, the panel did not explicitly recommend a bid. Instead, the report calls for the creation of a non-profit that could bring together leaders in the business community and from universities and government to take a closer look at the costs, venue and infrastructure needs and public and private interest in partnering for an Olympic bid.

"I think what we need to do now is bring together a group of people that are interested in putting some money on the table but also willing to have the conversation about the implications of hosting the Olympics in the city of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," Fish said.

Fish said for the effort to be successful the private sector would have to be willing to "put some skin in the game."

"I'd love to be involved. I don't think it's really determined whether I'm going to lead that effort or not. I have a reasonable amount of history with the study so far, but to me this is very, very important," Fish said.

Fish also said any investments in the Olympic games would have to have a "100 percent legacy benefit" to Massachusetts.

Though the panel said it would have been impossible to thoroughly examine the cost of hosting the Olympics without getting into a detailed analysis of needed venues and other projects, the exploration of a possible Olympics bid prompted a few opponents to create a group called No Boston Olympics.

The group estimated a Boston Olympics could cost $10 billion to $20 billion, and circulated a letter from the United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun to potential host city applicants, pegging the baseline operating cost at $3 billion, not including venue construction or other infrastructure.

"In a vacuum, anything is feasible when you're not discussing costs," said No Boston Olympics member Conor Yunits. "It's unfortunate that they didn't address cost given that it was in the legislation and we think there is a baseline established by the Olympic Committee that $3 billion plus infrastructure plus construction is the minimum so we really stand by our estimate that this is going to cost anywhere from $10 billion to $20 billion for the state and we think there are better things to spend our money on."

Already home to multiple professional sports organizations, the commission report noted that Massachusetts already has 14 major soccer stadiums, 10 major arenas, nine major baseball venues, two horse tracks, five basketball venues, 20 "premier" track and field venues and over 235 miles of cycling paths and trails.

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in South Boston could also potentially be used as a media center, according to the report.

The state, however, lacks four of the most elemental venues for hosting a summer Olympics, including an 80,000 seat Olympic stadium, an Olympic village, an Olympic-scale velodrome or an Olympic-scale aquatics center.

"The density and degree of development in downtown Boston make securing 80 to100 acre sites for the Stadium and Village a major challenge (although any major US city would likely face the same challenge)," the report found. "With enough support for the Olympics and collaboration among residents, business, local governments, universities and real estate owners, Boston could likely find a few locations that could accommodate the Stadium and Village."

The panel also suggested that some of the housing or sports venues could be modular so that they could be taken down or repurposed after the games if there is not a need or interest for the facilities after the international athletes are gone.

"This would be a huge undertaking and we need, paramountly, to put forth a very responsible budget and that budget would entail, for the most part, a lot of involvement from the public and more important the private sector, private sector investment," Fish said.

Greater Boston already has 51,000 hotel rooms, more than the 45,000 required by the International Olympic Committee for a host city, and the report argues that the creation of additional athlete housing could link nicely with former Mayor Thomas Menino's plan to create 30,000 additional units of housing in the city by 2020.

Sen. Eileen Donoghue, the Lowell Democrat who filed the legislation that created the commission, called it "an incredible experience" to work on the project and said the final report was both "thorough and complete."

The United States Olympic Committee says it has roughly two years to consider whether to submit a bid for the 2024 games, and could whittle the list of finalist cities by the end of the year. Blackmun said in his letter that New York and Chicago spent upwards of $10 million for the domestic bid process as they sought to host the 2012 and 2016 games, respectively, but that the USOC was trying to move toward a "more efficient process" this time.

The incident occurred at the Stars on Hingham Harbor restaurant on Otis Street shortly before 10 a.m.

Police in Hingham Thursday morning arrested a woman, charging her with reckless endangerment of a child, after she apparently left her baby in the car outside of a restaurant for several minutes while she went inside to get a drink at the bar, according to press reports.

CBS Boston reports that according to police, the woman initially sat at the bar with her baby and tried to order a drink. When the bartender refused, the woman left the bar with the baby. She returned alone a few moments later and tried to order a drink. Bar staff, by this time suspicious, again refused to serve her.

WCVB TV in Boston is reporting the child was two months old. 

The incident occurred at the Stars on Hingham Harbor restaurant on Otis Street shortly before 10 a.m.

According to reports, an off-duty police officer who was in the bar reported in to the station. A patrol car responded to the scene, and officers met the off-duty officer in the parking lot where they spotted the child sitting alone in a locked car. The woman emerged the bar a few moments later. Police asked her for her keys to open the car, and found the child in good condition.

Boston.com is reporting when police found the car, it was locked and the engine was not running. The child was in a child seat, covered in a fleece blanket.

According to Boston.com, police estimate the child was alone in the car for about 20 minutes, and when the mother returned to the car, she smelled of alcohol and her eyes were bloodshot.

The woman, whose name was not disclosed, was charged with reckless endangerment of a child, and disturbing the peace.

When officers tried talking to her in the parking lot, she became loud and created a disturbance, leading to the disturbing the peace charge.

The child was taken by ambulance to South Shore Hospital to be checked out. The state Department of Children and Families were also contacted and dispatched case workers to the hospital

A former bookkeeper was indicted for allegedly embezzling $1 million from Massachusetts Fire Technology of West Springfield

These were the most-read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

1) Holyoke police arrest 3 brothers for beating a guy they said texted photo of his privates to their mom [By Mike Plaisance]

2) Man injured, 4 puppies OK, following rollover on Route 5 in West Springfield [By George Graham]

3) East Longmeadow police: Springfield man arrested on drug charge after driving with headlights off [By Conor Berry]

4) Former bookkeeper indicted for embezzling $1 million from Massachusetts Fire Technology of West Springfield [By Patrick Johnson]

5. Restaurant review: Max's Tavern in Springfield [By Fran Bellamy]

Photos: A slideshow of Boston Red Sox spring training player photos.

With several transportation projects affecting Western Massachusetts in the works, MassLive.com solicited readers' questions related to projects like the rehabilitation of the I-91 viaduct, rail service connecting Springfield to Boston, and more. Readers' questions were then submitted to State Transportation Secretary, who provided his written responses.

With several transportation projects affecting Western Massachusetts in the works, MassLive.com solicited readers' questions related to projects like the rehabilitation of the I-91 viaduct, rail service connecting Springfield to Boston, and more. Readers' questions were then submitted to State Transportation Secretary Richard Davey, who provided his written responses.

The questions gave readers who missed Sec. Davey's visit with the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and the public forum on the I-91 construction project in Springfield a chance to inquire about topics ranging from the construction timeline for the Willimansett Bridge to a possible commuter rail in the Pioneer Valley.

Here are the answers provided by Sec. Davey.

Holyoke City Council: When will construction restart and conclude on the Willimansett Bridge?

Sec. Davey: The Willimansett Bridge project started work in spring 2011. The contract completion was originally scheduled for mid-May 2014.

The project is a rehabilitation of the bridge, first built in 1891, and included the replacement of the deck, which required a complete closure of the bridge.

The original contractor, Pihl, Inc., abandoned the job and declared bankruptcy in September 2013. The bridge project was approximately 45 percent complete at the time. The timing of Pihl, Inc.’s abandonment meant that some critical path work was not finished before the winter shutdown. MassDOT called the bond on the project immediately and negotiations are ongoing with the bonding company (AIG) regarding a takeover agreement.

There is approximately $11 million remaining on the original contract. MassDOT will pay the first $11 million and the bonding company (AIG) will pay the balance if additional costs are incurred as a result of the delay. At this time, AIG has lined up seven potential contractors that will be on hand for a site visit as well as to begin reviewing the bid documents for the remainder of the project. Once a contractor is brought onboard, MassDOT will develop a construction schedule for the remaining work. We’re hopeful that construction can resume this spring.

Former state rep. candidate Marie Angelides of Longmeadow: How will traffic be rerouted during the Springfield I-91 Viaduct project? Are you working with Springfield officials on a secondary north/south corridor?

Sec. Davey: For the deck replacement project for the I-91 viaduct, we are giving strong consideration to a traffic management plan that will maintain two travel lanes in both directions, at all times, throughout construction. We will continue our discussions with officials from the city of Springfield, business leaders, residents, commuters, and the public, to solicit feedback on our plans. The feedback will be incorporated into the final plan so we have an improved traffic management plan that is sensitive to the needs of the city, drivers, businesses, and still allows us to move forward with this important project.

Our plan is to start the deck replacement by targeting the median and left travel lanes in both directions. During this time, traffic would be shifted to the outside two lanes. Once finished, traffic would be shifted on to the new section of the bridge deck, and the outside lanes will be addressed.

In addition to our ongoing discussions about traffic management, we expect to have two more public meetings to solicit additional feedback.

Jim Gillen of Hampden: Regarding the Springfield I-91 Viaduct project, why would the state pay hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate the decks if it plans to fund a rerouting project immediately thereafter? Wouldn't it be much more cost effective to reroute the highway now and skip the rehab?

Sec. Davey: MassDOT is responsible for ensuring that the Commonwealth’s transportation system is safe for all users. Inspections have routinely shown that the bridge deck for the I-91 viaduct is in poor condition. Without the upcoming bridge deck replacement project, the deck will continue to degrade. The result of this will be significant potholes on the roadway and loose debris that could endanger motorists and people below the structure.

Additionally, in its current condition, the bridge deck requires frequent emergency maintenance. While we make every effort to tackle those needs during off-peak travel hours, often times the repairs are severe enough that they need to be addressed immediately, regardless of the possible traffic impacts.

I-91 is the primary north-south route for Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. During an average day, 75,000 vehicles travel through the I-91 corridor; more during the winter and summer months. In light of the high travel volumes and the constant need for emergency maintenance, the deck replacement project will allow us to take a systemic approach to making these critical repairs in a manner that gives us control over their timing. By doing so, we will be able to minimize the effects of any traffic impacts as a result of these repairs, and address an issue that is quickly becoming a public safety hazard.

The other reason behind our decision to move forward with this project is the availability of funding. The need for transportation improvements will always be greater than the funding available. And until now, the I-91 viaduct had historically been neglected and only addressed on an as-needed basis. Over the years, the amount of deterioration has reached a point where we spend more and more of our resources on interim fixes and emergency maintenance that only addresses the problem in the short term. The reason this has continued this way is the availability of funding.

Funding for the deck replacement will become available this upcoming Federal Fiscal Year, which beings on Oct. 1, 2014. However, these funds come with limitations. We must start spending these funds as soon as they become available, and specifically on this project. The deck replacement project will allow us to keep this vital corridor in a serviceable condition in the coming years, while we start planning for the future of this corridor.

Any sort of realignment of I-91 would take between 10 and 15 years of planning and permitting, as well as a significant amount of discussions with members of the community, city officials, business leaders, and other stakeholders about what is actually possible within the financial and environmental constraints. As a parallel effort to the repairs, MassDOT will soon begin a planning study that will engage the community and help understand the needs of the city and region along the I-91 corridor. The study, which we estimate will take approximately 18 months, will identify existing issues and evaluate alternative alignments of I-91, including at-grade and below-grade alternatives for this critical, regional connection.

The study will entail the development and analysis of a full range of alternatives, including interchanges, highway and non-highway improvements, as well as options and design elements that improve mobility for all modes of transportation. Through both of these steps, we will explore and identify goals of a realignment project as well as some of the potential challenges. These include what the traffic demands are now and what they’ll be in the future; any potential impacts to the environmental and sensitive resource areas, impacts to cultural resources, how a new alignment would interact with other utilities or infrastructure such as the railroad crossing over the Connecticut River, and will take into account the city’s future plans for economic development.

The planning study is a pre-cursor to a future vision for I-91 and will guide the project development process.

But the bottom line is, while we look forward to starting the process to develop potential alternatives to I-91 as it exists today, we must continue to keep this corridor in serviceable condition.

Michael Rennick, Vice President of Pioneer Valley Railroad, of Southwick: I deeply appreciate what you did to make the Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP) possible. Right now, the Commonwealth is allocation $3 million a year for IRAP grants to freight railroads, shippers, freight-rail-dependent businesses, and municipal agencies. Would you consider doubling or tripling that annual allotment for the IRAP, or raising the ceiling on individual IRAP grants from $500,000 to $1 million or $1.5 million?

Sec. Davey: In 2012, we created the Industrial Rail Access Program to provide assistance to communities and railroad companies that would benefit by improved access to freight rail. The Massachusetts State Rail Plan recognizes the renewed value of transporting freight by rail and the IRAP seeks to capitalize on that potential.

The IRAP funding that was initially allocated envisioned distributing $9 million to successful applicants over a three-year period. Considering the success we’ve had with providing assistance, we will certainly look to continue this program, if not explore ways to expand upon it.

Daniel Strom of Greenfield: Is it at all likely that the Pioneer Valley will see the implementation of a commuter rail within the next five years?

Sec. Davey: Yes. Work to restore the rail line known as the Knowledge Corridor is ongoing as we speak. Right now, passenger rail service through the Pioneer Valley does so via Palmer, instead of a more direct north-south alignment.

With the help of a $75 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, work to restore 49 track miles will allow passenger rail service to resume along a route that travels through East Northfield at the Vermont border and stops at Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, and Springfield.

The work involves replacing some 95,000 ties, installing new continuously welded rail, new warning signals and other safety enhancements at 23 grade crossings, and a new signal system.

With the progress that has been made, we’re anticipating changing over Amtrak’s Vermonter service by the end of the calendar year. With the upgrades and relocating passenger service to the Knowledge Corridor, we expect trip times to be reduced by approximately 25 minutes.

Bobby Richardson of East Longmeadow: I am originally from Somerville and trek back and forth to visit family and friends often. Also, attend many sporting events for the Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins. As a resident of East Longmeadow now, I was wondering when and if a dedicated train track line to Boston is in the works? Wouldn¹t it open more business development opportunities and provide easier access for people who work in Boston but live in Western Mass. because of the price of housing?

Sec. Davey: Increased passenger rail service is something we are absolutely focused on. With major renovations under way for Union Station in Springfield, our collective goal is to rebuild the station so it meets all of the transportation needs of today. Part of that goal includes increased service to Boston.

Anne (declined to provide last name) of Brimfield: At times, travel between Holyoke and Northampton can be a standstill and drivers do not realize it when getting on I-91. Would MassDOT be willing to install informational signs on I-91 to notify drivers of traffic delays?

Sec. Davey: In July 2012, we unveiled real-time travel information posted on message boards along the heavily congested I-93 between Canton and the New Hampshire border. We’ve since expanded that to points west along the Turnpike, south on Route 3, and on Route 6 on Cape Cod.

This information is also available on our free smart phone app – Ride Wise – providing another way to access important information.

The program has been a complete success and is a major step forward in the way we deliver customer service. Real-time information at long last gives drivers the ability to make informed travel decisions and we are looking to expand the program to other major arteries around the Commonwealth in the near future.

Southwick resident (declined to provide name): Why is the MassDOT not supporting and building the highway extension of Route 57 to the Agawam-Southwick town line? The state purchased properties for this improvement years ago and the need is still there. The intersection in Feeding Hills needs to remove traffic via the extension and Southwick needs the road project to improve access to I-91, Springfield, etc. for economic development purposes.

Sec. Davey: I have recently met with the elected leaders of the Southwick and Agawam areas who have been strong advocates for the Route 57 extension. The meeting provided valuable insight into the economic benefits this project will provide for Agawam, Southwick, and the entire region.

Working with our partners in the Legislature, we are anticipating new revenues from a pending transportation bond bill that will help us fund a list of projects that we spent over two years prioritizing.

That said, we also face uncertainty over a November ballot referendum that would repeal the gas tax index to inflation. This is a critical component of long-term transportation planning as indexing the gas tax protects its future purchasing power and ensures it remains a viable source of revenue.

While we do not have the revenue to finance the full extension of Route 57 right now, we fully understand the regional economic value this project has. With that in mind, we will explore whether there are any smaller, incremental steps we can possibly take in the meantime.

South Hadley resident (declined to provide name): The fares on the MBTA in the Boston area only cover 40 percent of the operating costs and the pension benefits are excessive. Why are we, people of Western Mass., subsidizing people in Boston?

Sec. Davey: As the fifth largest transit agency in the US and providing 1.3 million passenger trips every day, the MBTA provides a clean and sustainable alternative means of transportation for the Commonwealth. Without the MBTA, millions of tons of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants would enter the state’s air every year. The MBTA is one of the most environmentally sustainable elements of the state, and everyone – from the Blue Hills to the Berkshires – benefits from the cleaner air and water that results from the MBTA reducing, by the millions, the number of auto miles traveled on Massachusetts roads and highways.

We estimate that the MBTA removes 3.44 million auto miles on an average week day.

For a little perspective -- that is a little more than seven round trips to the moon every day.

The MBTA removes a little more than a billion auto miles over the course of a year. That is the equivalent of a little more than 2,100 round trips to the moon every year or the equivalent of almost four round trips to Mars every year.

The MBTA's service also saves 2.625 billion pounds per year of greenhouse gases, the compounds that contribute to global climate change.

Questions from MassLive.com:

Can you explain how the alternative alignments of the I-91 viaduct that are being studied by the MassDOT would be more financially beneficial and minimize the highway's environmental impact?

Sec. Davey: There has been a lot of discussion about taking I-91 down to ground level, as well as taking it underground. While we make every effort to solicit feedback on our projects, the fact is, planning for a re-aligned I-91 will require years of planning, environmental review, design, and permitting. It will also require funding. No new alignment is a foregone conclusion and, in fact, this spring, we are beginning a corridor study as mentioned above, to take stock of the existing conditions, uses, and needs of I-91, the city of Springfield’s future plans for development, effects on the environment, and traffic demands. This study is the beginning of the process to develop an overall goal for some type of alignment, but to do so within any funding and physical constraints.

In the context of the I-91 viaduct project, how much political support is there for large-scale transportation projects after the Big Dig?

Sec. Davey: There will always be support for large-scale transportation projects, but as I’ve become accustomed to say, we’re not building any more superhighways. The large-scale transportation projects that we are focusing on now are being done in a way that combines all modes of transportation with a particular emphasis on those modes that are healthier, more efficient, and that produce less greenhouse gases. Union Station in Springfield is a good example of updating an old model of a transportation hub is. As it continues its transformation, Union Station will soon be a major center for buses, trains, cars, bikes, and for walking. To that effect, in 2012, we outlined our mode shift goal of tripling the number of people who travel by rail, walk, or by bicycle. We’re going to meet this goal if we continue to provide the necessary accommodations and infrastructure, and if we continue to synergize multiple modes together in one place, like Union Station.

Old Sturbridge Village is one of the largest living history museums in the nation, celebrating life in early New England from 1790 to 1840.

STURBRIDGE – The Old Sturbridge Village Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to extend the contract of the museum’s president and chief executive officer, James E. Donahue, of Cranston, R.I., through June 2017.

Dick Schulze, chairman of the Old Sturbridge Village Board of Trustees, lauded Donahue’s successful leadership of the organization during his tenure, which began in 2007. “Jim Donahue has been the catalyst for significant performance improvements at the museum including stabilizing attendance, and increasing education field trips and fund-raising during his time here. Jim took over at a challenging point in the Village’s history, yet has led the organization to recent success and has positioned Old Sturbridge Village for an even brighter future,” Schulze said in a statement.

Donahue led the reopening of the Old Sturbridge Inn and Reeder Family Lodges at the village in 2013, expanding the village’s operation to include museum, dining, retail and lodging. The historic 10-room Old Sturbridge Inn, in the Oliver Wight House, is on the National Register of Historic Places and dates to 1789, while the 29-room Reeder Family Lodges offer a more contemporary choice for visitors. This major initiative will allow the growing museum to better serve its diverse range of guests, including leisure and business travelers, wedding parties, corporate retreats and meetings.

Donahue’s leadership and achievements were recognized formally in October 2013 at the 26th annual Massachusetts Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism. Donahue was one of the recipients of the Larry D. Meehan Award, presented by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to individuals who have made major contributions to the expansion and vitality of the state’s tourism industry.

In 2012, Donahue was instrumental in developing a $500,000 partnership with Country Bank, headquartered in Ware, to fund the village’s education programs. More than 65,000 school children annually visit Old Sturbridge Village on field trips, and a majority of school groups augment their visits with hands-on learning in the village's education building, now named The Country Bank Education Center in honor of the contribution.

Other notable achievements during Donahue’s tenure include the creation of the Ken Burns Lifetime Achievement Award, record-breaking days for attendance on multiple occasions, and the launch of a Distinguished Speaker series. Donahue also rebuilt the Collections exhibit program, with a Collectors’ Forum at the beginning of each new exhibit – the most recent being "Delightfully Designed: The Furniture and Life of Nathan Lombard."

With an economics degree from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, Donahue began his career in banking, but switched to education after discovering a passion for teaching. Prior to joining OSV, Donahue was CEO of the Bradford Dunn Institute for Learning Differences in Providence, R.I., and founded Highlander Charter School.

Old Sturbridge Village is one of the largest living history museums in the nation, celebrating life in early New England from 1790 to 1840. For more information, visit www.osv.org

The disabled vehicle in the right-hand travel lane of the southbound side, was reported shortly before 7:30 a.m.

Republican fille photo 

SPRINGFIELD — A disabled vehicle, southbound in the right-hand travel lane of Interstate 91, caused a traffic backup Friday morning.

State police said the incident was reported shortly before 7:30 a.m. and that the scene was soon cleared.