A number of town residents were also appointed to various town committees, and it was announced that Bliss Road will be paved tomorrow.

LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Select Board churned through business Monday evening, tacking issues ranging from the education of town youth, to the legality of a group home on Redfern Drive, to leasing land to the federal government so that it can become part of a national wildlife refuge.

 

The board heard a presentation on the future of the kindergarten program at Greenwood Center from Town Manager Stephen Crane.

"In fiscal year '13, they had seven participants. In fiscal year '14 they've had nine ... the break-even number of participants is 13 full-time students for the full year, and obviously we haven't had that. ... In fiscal year '13 the program lost almost $24,000. In fiscal year '14 it's projected to lose less than that, but still projected to lose about $18,000," said Crane. "For fiscal year '15, we're not going to offer the program, primarily due to the low enrollment and the losses."

While board members were largely in agreement on the program's future, some discussion of whether Crane has the authority to close the facility took place -  in similar fashion to what went on at the June 4 meeting - with it ultimately being decided that he does.

The board also discussed the future of 222 Redfern Drive, which has been converted into a group home.

"The group home is allowed... There are a few specific provisions in the law, most predominantly the Dover Amendment, which prohibits the introduction of zoning restrictions for this application of single-family homes as group homes," said Crane. "Generally speaking, a certain number of unrelated people can constitute a family for the purposes of a single-family home... [the law is] basically a cap on the number of unrelated persons, not a definition of what constitutes a family. And that these homes, also somewhat counter-intuitively, qualify as an educational use, which also brings along exemptions to local zoning that are mandated by state law."

"This type of house, and any type of house - the Dover Amendment - my understanding, waives zoning regulations, but it doesn't waive bylaws. And the bylaws need to be followed in regards to this house as well as others, so we cannot discriminate against this house one way or the other," said board member Marie Angelides. "I think we have to start looking at the idea of inspection of yearly rentals, in regards to group homes as well as rentals, to make sure that they are safe homes, that they are being used properly... and make sure that they are still non-profit and that they still qualify (for exemption from property taxes)."

The lease for the property will be reviewed at the board's July 7 meeting. Richard Foster, chairman of the Select Board, left open the possibility of having more open discussion on the issue in the future.

By a 3-2 margin, the board voted to lease town-owned land that is part of the Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for the purpose of piecing together accurate boundaries of the property and continue the title work.

The Friends of Fannie Stebbins, according to Crane, has reached an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to convert the Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge into part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

In other business:

• Candidates were interviewed for a number of open positions on town committees -  Kara Stevens, the current director of the accounting program at Bay Path College, for the Audit Committee; Dr. Robert Rappaport for the Board of Health and Michelle Steiger for the Historic District and Historical commissions.
• A number of town residents were appointed to various town committees. A full list of these appointments is listed below.
• The request for permission to hold the annual block party on Drury Lane was approved unanimously.
• Crane announced that Bliss Road would be paved Tuesday.
• Town treasurer Mary Pequignot announced her retirement.

The next Select Board meeting will be held on July 7 in the meeting room of the Longmeadow Police Station.

Select Board Appointments

Following his strong showing at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention this past weekend, Don Berwick's gubernatorial campaign was endorsed Tuesday by two progressive state senators.

BOSTON — Following his strong showing at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention this past weekend, Don Berwick's gubernatorial campaign was endorsed Tuesday by two progressive state senators.

State Sen. Dan Wolf, D-Harwich, and state Sen. Ken Donnelly, D-Arlington, both announced their support of Berwick at a press conference held at the Englander, Leggett & Chicoine Law Office near the Statehouse in Boston.

Wolf, a one-time gubernatorial candidate himself, said he's proud to support Berwick over the other two Democrats still remaining in the race.

"Don knows what it means to grow an economy consistent with our values and vision, supporting local businesses, creating jobs that make our communities and environment healthy," Wolf said in a statement. "Whether it’s understanding the need to decouple health care from employment, or seeing that casino gambling is the wrong path for our Commonwealth, Don gets it."

Donnelly, a former firefighter, said Berwick's views, including his willingness to explore a single-payer health care system, helped earn his support.

"Don is the candidate with the skills and experience to solve our most pressing issues, including the need for good jobs and an economy that gives everyone the opportunity to thrive, an education system that allows kids from every community to access a better life, and a health care system that is universal and affordable," Donnelly said. "I look forward to working with him as our next Governor."

Berwick finished in third place at the state Democratic Convention in Worcester on Saturday, racking up nomination votes from 972, or 22.1 percent of the Democratic delegates from across the Commonwealth. He finished just behind Attorney General Martha Coakley, who had 1024 votes or 23.3 percent. Treasurer Steve Grossman won with 1,547 votes or 35.2 percent.

"I am grateful for the support of two progressive champions," said Berwick in response to the endorsements. "In the legislature, they have fought for social justice and equal treatment for all. I am confident that together, we will make Massachusetts a beacon for the rest of our nation."

Berwick, Coakley and Grossman will compete in the Democratic Primary on Sept. 9 ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

Over 35 people attended the swearing-in ceremony.

WEST SPRINGFIELD- Brian A. Pomeroy and Jay L. Gearing were officially sworn in as sergeants for the West Springfield Police Department on Tuesday.

Over 35 people attended the ceremony at 26 Central St.

Police Chief Ronald Campurciani said Pomeroy has been an instructor in defensive tactics at the Western Massachusetts Police Academy in Springfield for 7 to 8 years and Gearing has been a detective with the department for seven to eight years as well.

“I’m looking forward to having them on as sergeants to help train and work with the new police officers, who will be coming online very shortly,” said Mayor Edward C. Sullivan.

It is anticipated that there will be nine or 19 new police officers in West Springfield by a year’s time, said Campurciani.

“I’m thrilled to have them as part of our team,” said Sullivan.

“It was a great day for them but it was also a great day for West Springfield. They are certainly deserving of their promotion."

Pomeroy and Gearing will begin their work as sergeants beginning on June 22, he said.

“We’re lucky to have them, both of them,” said Campurciani. “They both give a wide varied background to what they do here.”

The $1.29 million grant will provide a building that provides for the training needs of residents and storage needs for the Bright Nights holiday lighting display.

SPRINGFIELD – The city will use a newly awarded $1.29 million federal grant to build a skills training center at Forest Park to provide technical training in the precision manufacturing and construction trades.

The new facility will be located at, and replace, the old horse stables building at the park off Sumner Avenue.

A key feature is that it will continue to provide storage space for the annual Bright Night holiday lighting display that takes place at Forest Park, officials said. The building will also have restroom facilities for public use.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded the grant to Springfield to provide technical training for residents in the city and region.

The grant was announced Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, who said the administration is “committed to supporting a talented and skilled workforce for today's 21st century jobs." It will help meet the needs of employers in the region, she said.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, joined in praising the federal grant, saying it will “provide space for local unions to train workers to enter and re-enter the local workforce.

“This is an exciting initiative that will specifically address our employment needs in Western Massachusetts” Neal said.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the new center is the result of a unique collaboration that includes the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County and local unions representing carpenters and electricians, along with Springfield Technical Community College and the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy.

“It gets people trained so they can continue on with the workforce,” Sarno said.

The plans call for construction of an 11,400 square foot technical training facility, providing both classroom space and storage space. The city is estimating the new center will lead to 65 new job placements during the first year of operations and over 197 new jobs over a nine-year period, according to the grant announcement.

There is currently a lack of job training program space to serve the most needy neighborhoods, the news release states. Training has been at various sites both inside and outside the region, officials said.

Other groups involved in the partnership are the New England Carpenters Training Fund, the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Tooling and Manufacturing Association, and the Walker Trust.

Patrick Sullivan, the city’s director of facilities, said the new center is designed to fit in with the Forest park environment, and to complement existing buildings in style and size, including a brick front façade.

Sullivan said he is pleased the project, while providing for the training needs of residents, will continue to provide storage space for the extensive Bright Nights display.
He hopes that construction can begin by late sumer.

David Cruise, president and chief executive officer of the Regional Employment Board, said he is “excited” about the program and is optimistic about the employment opportunities it will create. It will particularly target residents in poorer neighborhoods and in high unemployment areas, he said.

Through partnerships, the city will offer educational workshops, employee training courses and programs, and business management seminars, according to the grant announcement.

Local officials praised the efforts of Neal and U.S. Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren in helping to secure the grant.

"This funding for the Springfield Job Creation/Technical Training Facility will help increase access to critically-needed training, education, and employment services for workers in Western Massachusetts," Markey said in a prepared release. "More resources to train and support our Western Massachusetts workers is the best thing we can do to strengthen our economy."

Citing her leadership on the effort to repeal the anti-LGBT Defense of Marriage Act and to protect consumers from illegal foreclosures during the housing market collapse, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich endorsed Maura Healey for attorney general of Massachusetts on Tuesday.

CHARLESTOWN — Citing her leadership on the effort to repeal the anti-LGBT Defense of Marriage Act and to protect consumers from illegal foreclosures during the housing market collapse, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich endorsed Maura Healey for attorney general of Massachusetts on Tuesday.

Reich, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2002, said the aforementioned achievements and Healey's support of repealing the Expanded Gaming Act led to him offering up his support for the Democratic attorney general candidate.

"Maura Healey is the only candidate for Attorney General who believes in repealing the casino law, the only candidate to release her taxes, the only candidate to support a clean election and a real ban on outside spending in the race," Reich said in an email to supporters on Healey's behalf. "She has clear plans on the challenges ahead for Massachusetts, from protecting children to reducing gun violence and combating prescription drug and opiate abuse."

Healey is in a heated Democratic primary campaign against former state legislator Warren Tolman, who supports the state's gaming legislation which allows for the licensing of up to three resort-style casinos in carious regions of the Commonwealth. At the state convention in Worcester this past weekend, Tolman bested Healey by a margin of 160 votes to come out ahead, although both Democrats secured more than the 15 percent of the delegate vote needed to proceed.

The eventual winner of their primary battle will take on Republican construction law attorney John Miller, who won his party's official nomination at its convention in March.

Daniel Shoffner, 47, was charged Tuesday in the death of Birdie Elder, who was in her early 70s.

LAPORTE, Ind. -- An Indiana man was charged Tuesday with murder in the death of a female housemate whose body was found inside a freezer at her northern Indiana home.

Daniel Shoffner, 47, was charged after authorities found the body of Birdie Elder, who was around her early 70s. Court records did not indicate whether he has hired an attorney.

Daniel Shoffner, 47, of LaPorte, Ind., is seen in a police photo.

Court documents show Shoffner told police he was demonstrating "knife moves" and accidentally stabbed the woman in the neck, chest, and also once in the hand when she tried to block him, WSBT-TV reported. His daughter called police after he told her what happened.

A neighbor told the station he was shocked by something so gruesome in their neighborhood.

"I mean, everything is safety for me and my family," Michael Emerson told WSBT. "There's so many crazy people out here that you don't know what's going to go on at any moment or any time and we've never had problems around her until this, now."

LaPorte County Prosecutor Robert Szilagyi said the body will have to be thawed out before an autopsy can be performed. Coroner John Sullivan said the victim  was about 70 years old.

Police said the suspect had been previously arrested, including charges of intimidation and battery.

Three years and many Roger L. Putnam Vocational Academy students and teachers later, a formerly blighted eyesore on Tyler Street is now a refurbished and modernized family home ready for a buyer.

SPRINGFIELD – The transformation of an abandoned and blighted Tyler Street house was the object of a three-year “intensive labor of love” between city officials, educators, students and the volunteers who brought the property back to life.

Tina M. Quagliato, deputy director of neighborhood stabilization for Springfield, said the project, undertaken by the students and teachers of the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, included the initial demolition and building of a new foundation to rewiring of utilities and landscaping the yard.

“It was an incredibly invaluable experience for the students that instilled in them a sense of pride and community,” she said.

On Tuesday, the bank-foreclosed house at 162 Tyler St. was unveiled just four hours before it hit the auction block at a starting bid of $50,000 to once again become a form of tax income for the city.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “This is a win-win for the city; students benefit from the hands on learning experience, while the business community is allotted an opportunity to actively engage a future pool of qualified skilled laborers, and the neighborhood benefits from another home being fully restored, aptly maintained and placed back on the tax rolls."

The city, officials said, will use the auction proceeds to reimburse the school department and Putnam Vocational for all costs associated with the project, which will allow the program to continue on new projects.

While there were about 20 students who took part in the unveiling, Quagliato pointed out that in the three years it has taken to complete the rehabilitation of the two bedroom, one-and-a-half bath house, many other students and teachers who are no longer part of the Putnam community participated in making in an eye-pleasing and modern addition to the neighborhood.

“It was totally uninhabitable,” she said. “The neighbors are pretty excited about it, too, and have been very supportive by helping to look after the property.”

Taking the structure from a squalid mess to a cozy, modernized family home began from the ground-up with the building of a new foundation, expanding its square footage with an addition, replacing all mechanical utilities, reroofing, installing new cabinetry and kitchen and bath fixtures and building new front and back porches, to name a few, said Putnam Carpentry Instructor David Stevens.

“We took off the back third of the house and doubled the footprint of the building so we went from 300 square foot in the front to a total of 600 square foot per floor so it’s a 1,200-square-foot house now,” he said.

While several people were killed immediately, the death toll is expected to rise as at least 15 were critically injured.

By ADAMU ADAMU

DAMATURU, Nigeria — A suicide bomber detonated a tricycle taxi packed with explosives at an outdoor World Cup viewing center in a northeast Nigerian city Tuesday night, and witnesses said several people were killed.

Hospital workers said the death likely will rise with 15 people critically wounded and casualties still coming in to the main hospital at Damaturu, capital of Yobe state.

Police Assistant Superintendent Nathan Cheghan confirmed the explosion but said rescue workers were being careful for fear of secondary explosions. Islamic extremists of the Boko Haram group frequently time secondary explosions to kill people who rush to the scene of a bomb blast.

Cheghan said he had no casualty figures.

There was no immediate claim for the blast witnesses were blaming on Boko Haram fighters who have targeted football viewing centers and sports bars in the past. Two explosions in recent weeks killed at least 40 people in two northern cities.

Witnesses said the tricycle taxi was driven into the outdoor area soon after the Brazil-Mexico match started Tuesday night. All spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

One hospital worker said he saw at least seven bodies. Another said 15 casualties were in intensive care. Both asked that their names not be published because they are not authorized to speak to reporters.

Nigeria's military has promised increased security but appears incapable of halting a stream of attacks by extremists holding more than 250 schoolgirls hostage.

The kidnapping of the girls two months ago and failure of Nigeria's military and government to rescue them has roused international concern. The United States is searching for the girls with drones and has sent experts along with Britain and France to help in counter-terrorism tactics and hostage negotiation.

Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to sell the girls into slavery unless the government agrees to exchange them for detained extremists, but President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will not exchange prisoners. Nigeria's military has said it knows where the girls are but that any military campaign could get them killed.

Boko Haram wants to enforce an Islamic state in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer with a population almost equally divided between Christians and Muslims.

Russian officials expressed indignation over the deaths.

By NATALIYA VASILYEVA

MOSCOW — Two Russian journalists for a Russian state-owned TV channel died Tuesday in eastern Ukraine after being hit by mortar fire, the Rossiya 24 network said.

Correspondent Igor Kornelyuk, 37, died during surgery in a hospital after being wounded while on assignment in Luhansk. The whereabouts of the sound engineer who was with him were unknown throughout the day, but in late evening the network announced that Anton Voloshin had been confirmed dead as well.

Russian officials expressed indignation over the deaths. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the Ukrainian government should be held responsible, while Russia's federal investigative agency announced the opening of a criminal case.

Viktor Denisov, a cameraman working with Kornelyuk, said in a television broadcast that they were filming Ukrainian refugees fleeing the area north of the regional capital when mortar fire began. Denisov was not next to Kornelyuk when he was wounded.

Before the announcement of Voloshin's death, the Paris-based media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said Kornelyuk was the fourth journalist to be killed in Ukraine since the start of the year.

"The violence affecting journalists in Ukraine is reaching unprecedented levels. We again call on the belligerents to do whatever is necessary to protect journalists as required by international law," said Johann Bihr, head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk for the France-based organization.

The deaths of the journalists prompted the divided U.N. Security Council, where Russia holds veto power, to issue its first statement on Ukraine's crisis. The council offered condolences to the families of the journalists killed and called for a thorough investigation into violence against media workers. The statement also noted the deaths of an Italian photojournalist and his Russian interpreter on May 24.

Ukraine's U.N. ambassador, Yuriy Sergeyev said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed condolences to the families of the Russian journalists and ordered an investigation of the circumstances of their deaths.

What is known about the deaths, Sergeyev said, is that Tuesday morning a group of "terrorists" attacked Ukrainian law enforcement troops near Luhansk. He said the troops responded, and in the fighting, 10 "terrorists" were killed and many injured. Only at the hospital was it determined that Kornulyuk was a Russian journalist, the ambassador said.

"It is not clear if he entered Ukraine legally or not, but he didn't follow the instructions to all the journalists to be accredited," to be identified as journalists, and to wear armored vests and helmets, Sergeyev told reporters.

"They didn't follow that so they performed at their own risks," he said.

The deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russia separatist rebels and the government in Kiev has been raging for nearly two months. On Monday, Poroshenko pledged to propose a peace plan this week to bring a cease-fire to the east, but said the porous border with Russia had to be secured first.

Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting the rebels, and the United States and NATO say tanks and other heavy weapons have crossed from Russia into the hands of rebels in Ukraine.

Russia has denied sending any weapons or troops, and the rebels said the few tanks they had were seized from Ukrainian forces.

Cash-strapped Ukraine was due to receive 500 million euros ($680 million) on Tuesday from the European Union to help stabilize the country and shore up its ailing economy. EU Economics Commissioner Olli Rehn said the loan was "a further concrete sign of European solidarity."

The money from the 28-nation bloc is part of a wider EU package aimed at helping Ukraine reform its economy to boost growth and increase jobs.

The EU sent Ukraine 100 million euros ($1.35 million) last month and has another 1 billion euros ($1.35 billion) lined up for it, provided Ukraine meets milestones on economic and financial reforms.

Associated Press writers Juergen Baetz in Brussels, Elaine Ganley in Paris and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

The petition was submitted by Councilors David Flaherty, Mary O'Connell and Dan Allie.

WESTFIELD - City residents will have an opportunity Thursday to weigh in on Mayor Daniel M. Knapik's request for $132 million to finance city operations for fiscal 2015 which begins July 1.

Three City Councilors, in accordance with council rules, petitioned for a public hearing on the proposed city budget before the full council is scheduled to act on the budget Thursday night.

Council President Brent B. Bean II has scheduled the public debate for 6 p.m. Thursday in Council Chambers at City Hall. The budget will then be up for adoption by the full council at 7 p.m..

The petition was submitted by Councilors David A. Flaherty, Mary L. O'Connell and Dan Allie.

"We are asking the public to attend this hearing to express their concerns about tax increases and to speak about the proposed budget," Flaherty said. "This is not unexpected. Nobody has been willing to admit that we have a spending problem and nobody has been willing to do what it takes to live within our means," he said.

Of the hearing request, Bean said "I hope these councilors are doing this to help the public and not hurt the budget process. The public has had ample opportunity to address city financial needs during our Finance Committee budget review sessions during public participation portions of those meetings."

Finance chairman Councilor Christopher Keefe said his committee last week "held more than 12 hours of meetings over three nights to review the budget with department heads. Only four members of the public attended those sessions."

Also, the Finance Committee will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. for its final review before presenting the budget to the full council during a Committee-of-the-Whole session scheduled for budget discussion at 6:30 p.m.

And, Knapik has posted a budget message to residents, including all budget information submitted to the City Council, on the city's website homepage at www.cityofwestfield.org for public inspection.

The COW is being scheduled to consider on any reductions being recommended by council members, Keefe and Bean said.

Flaherty, O'Connell and Allie are encouraging the public to engage in discussion about specific line-item budget cuts since reduction is the only action the full council can take on the budget.

The $132 million request includes $57 million for the School Department. It also includes $14 million needed to finance rev enue-generating departments like ambulance, water and waste water management.

Adoption of the budget, or any reductions, will require seven votes of the full 13-member City Council.

Eight acrobats from the U.S., Brazil, Bulgaria and Ukraine were injured when investigators say a carabiner clip snapped, sending them plummeting about 20 feet to the floor at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show in Providence.

By PHILIP MARCELO

BOSTON — Four circus acrobats seriously injured in a hair-hanging stunt gone awry are planning a lawsuit and are coming to terms with the idea their lives might never be the same, they said Tuesday from the hospital where they're recovering.

"My dream was to be a star performer," Julissa Segrera, a 20-year-old American, said from her wheelchair. "Now my dream is to get up and walk."

A total of eight acrobats from the U.S., Brazil, Bulgaria and Ukraine were injured May 4 when investigators say a carabiner clip snapped, sending them plummeting about 20 feet to the floor at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show in Providence, Rhode Island.

Four of the women spoke Tuesday at a news conference at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where a number are still undergoing physical therapy. For some, it was their first public appearance since the accident.

They declined to detail the extent of their individual injuries, citing the potential legal action, but their lawyers said the performers had collectively experienced about two dozen surgeries.

Viktoriya Medeiros, 34, of Bulgaria, who designed the hair-hanging "human chandelier" act with her husband, said the women know they are lucky to be alive.

"We are all terribly injured. Some of us require many surgeries," she said, wearing a neck brace and seated in a wheelchair. "We are learning to use our arms, hands and necks again (in) hours and hours of daily physical therapy. We are hoping we can (heal) enough that we can live our lives without this pain."

Dayana Costa, a 26-year-old from Brazil, said her family put their lives on hold to be with her during the long recovery. She wore a neck brace, had pins in her arms and was in a motorized chair.

"I don't know what I'd do without them," Costa said through tears.

Clifford Law Offices in Chicago is representing seven of the eight women injured in the accident, including the four that spoke Tuesday. The eighth is being represented by another firm.

The lawyers declined to say who would be the focus of a lawsuit and did not rule out pursuing legal action against the carabiner-maker or even the venue, the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Attorney Michael Krzak said the women want to get to the "root cause" of the accident, as it affects a number of aerial acts.

"They want to make sure this never happens again in another circus act," he said.

Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are also probing the accident.

The women's medical treatment is being covered through workers compensation, Krzak said.

Crews from Berkshire Gas will work around the clock to repair a major gas line break and restore service to 700 customers, including a portion of UMass-Amherst.

UPDATE, 8:15 p.m.: New England Public Radio, including 88.5 WFCR and 640 WNNZ, is back on the air.

UPDATE, 7:55 p.m.: A spokesman for Berkshire Gas said workers might be able to limit the outage to 70 customers instead of the 700 originally projected. The spokesman said the company would know the extent of the outage later Tuesday evening.

Updates a story posted Tuesday at 3:05 p.m.

AMHERST — Crews from Berkshire Gas will work around the clock to repair a major gas line break and restore service to 700 customers, including a portion of UMass-Amherst.

Sections of UMass, including the Southwest residential area and the Whitmore administration building, were evacuated Tuesday afternoon in response to a major gas line break.

Around 1:40 p.m., a contractor hit a Berkshire Gas main near the corner of Commonwealth and Massachusetts avenues, said Jared Sharpe of the university's office of News and Media Relations.

New England Public Radio was off the air as a result. It posted this message on its website:

Due to a gas leak on UMass Amherst campus, our building was evacuated, and we are off-air. Programming will continue as soon as the building is deemed safe.

The contractor was identified as Mass-West by Berkshire Gas spokesman Christopher Farrel. Farrel said the company was doing electrical conduit work and hit a "six-inch coated steel high-pressure gas line."

The line serves portions of UMass and about 700 residential customers in the surrounding Amherst neighborhood, said Farrel. The gas line has been shut down and there is no longer any hazard, Farrel added.

Crews from Berkshire Gas now have a daunting task in front of them, said Farrel. Crews must visit each customer, shut off their gas, and turn off all gas-burning appliances. When the six-inch gas main is repaired and functional, crews must again visit each customer, restore residential service, and turn appliances back on, making sure pilot lights are lit.

Farrel said Berkshire Gas would be assisted Wednesday by crews from Connecticut Natural Gas, and that all workers would have clear identification.

He said he expects full service restoration to the area by the end of the day Wednesday.

UMass spokesman Sharpe said the university acted swiftly after the line was breached.

The contractor immediately notified Berkshire Gas and the UMass police department, said Sharpe. The university's outdoor loud-speaker warning system was activated, and emails and text messages went out to students, faculty and staff.

Residents of the Southwest dormitories were evacuated to parking lots 32 and 33. All staffers and students parked in lot 42 were told to stay away from their cars and not attempt to start them up.

Blogger Larry Kelley reported on Twitter at 2:40 p.m. that the smell of gas was strong in the area.

Mass Ave blockade about 500 yards from gas leak. Smell of gas this far away still strong. pic.twitter.com/tex1o7YxwX

— Larry Kelley (@amherstac) June 17, 2014

The University's Emergency Operations Center was activated, and campus police, fire, and administrators continue to work with Bay State Gas on a coordinated response, said Sharpe.

Gas service to the surrounding area, including residential homes, has been cut off.

Sharpe was not able to say how many individuals were evacuated from the university.

Juan Damiron, under direct examination and cross examination, said he had always told law enforcement he didn't know who shot him because he didn't want to get anyone involved.

Jose Lopez Police photo 

SPRINGFIELD - Shooting victim Juan Damiron on Wednesday pointed to Jose Lopez in Hampden Superior Court as the man who shot him in the legs on March 23, 2013.

Damiron, under direct examination and cross examination, said he had always told law enforcement he didn't know who shot him because he didn't want to get anyone involved.

Lopez, 37, of Springfield, is on trial before Judge Tina S. Page charged with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two illegal firearm counts for the shooting of Damiron and Christopher Lopez on Franklin Street.

Damiron, 21, of Springfield, was shot in the legs and Christoper Lopez had a wound from a bullet grazing the side of his head.

Jurors heard for the first time Wednesday afternoon that Damiron is also charged with armed assault with intent to murder and other charges for shooting Jose Lopez in the same shootout at about 6:30 p.m..

Damiron said he only shot at Jose Lopez after he saw Jose Lopez chasing and shooting at Christoper Lopez - Damiron's friend and the person he rode to the location with that day.

Defense lawyer Jared Olanoff hammered away at Damiron during cross examination, saying Damiron maintained he didn't know who shot him until he signed a cooperation agreement Tuesday saying he would testify at the Jose Lopez trial.

The cooperation ageement said the prosecution in Damiron's case will take into his consideration his testimony in the Lopez trial.

"For 14 months you said 'I didn't see the person who shot me,'" Olanoff said. "Yesterday all of a sudden you decided you were going to say Jose Lopez was the one who shot you?"

When Damiron was brought into the courtroom to first be questioned without the jury, Page told the eight people in the courtroom in support of Lopez, "I don't anticipate any trouble in here. If you don't think you can handle yourselves appropriately leave now."

Security in the courtroom was increased for Damiron's testimony.

Olanoff had asked Page to keep Damiron from identifying Lopez in court as the shooter, because Olanoff had only learned on Tuesday Damiron was going to do that.

Page would not do so, but did say the timing of Damiron's disclosure "is unfortunate."

"Sudden changes of heart are situations the court has had to deal with given the nature of crimes," she said, saying Damiron could be allowed to say he changed his mind about identifying Lopez.

Much of the action in the shootout was recorded on security video from the 415 Franklin St. area. A prosecution witness took the stand late Wednesday and said she knows Lopez and he is the one depicted in the video.

Page had allowed that testimony after a discussion with lawyers outside of the jury's hearing about the change in appearance of Lopez in the video and in the courtroom.

Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett had wanted to have a police detective who spoke to Lopez when he went to the emergency room with his gunshot wound the day of the shooting.

The discussion hinged on the weight gain by Lopez, which Olanoff said wasn't much more than 10 pounds but Bennett said was substantial.

"I don't want to get into numbers regarding someone's weight," Page said, saying the detective could not testify to the matter but the witness who knew Lopez at the time of the shooting could testify it was Lopez in the videos.

When asked what brought about the sale, John Gormally said in a phone interview on Wednesday, "Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted."

This is an update to an article posted at 4:02 p.m. on Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD -- John Gormally, president of Gormally Broadcasting, announced Wednesday afternoon that he signed an agreement to sell WGGB-TV (ABC40 and FOX 6 Springfield) to media company Meredith Corporation.

When asked what brought about the sale, Gormally said in a phone interview on Wednesday, "Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted."

The media entrepreneur said he was interested in purchasing other media outlets, but found it difficult to compete with large broadcasters, and then talks turned to his own business ventures.

Last summer he was one of three groups that said their bids to purchase the Boston Globe were larger than Boston Red Sox owner John Henry’s winning $70 million bid.

"Business is a lot like sports – there are winners and losers," he said, at the time, of that attempted purchase. "And that's the way it should be."

Of the sale of WGGB-TV properties, Gormally believes both sides are winners. "I think it is a positive. Meredith is a top notch broadcasting company."

Meredith is a 104-year-old media company based in Des Moines, Iowa. Though the corporation is best known for their print media brands, including Better Homes and Gardens and Fitness Magazine, in recent months it has been expanding its foothold into broadcast television.

Including the purchase of ABC40/FOX 6, Meredith will own 18 broadcast stations, located from Springfield to Vancouver, Wash.

In December, Meredith bought television stations based in Phoenix and St. Louis from Gannett Co. for $407.5 million, Bloomberg reports.

The corporation told Bloomberg the stations are expected to generate $105 million to $115 million a year in revenue. Meredith expected the purchase of the stations to boost earnings by 16 cents to 18 cents per share. In 2013, Bloomberg reports, Meredith stock climbed 49 percent.

Citing confidentiality agreements regarding the sale Gormally said he couldn't disclose the purchase price of WGGB-TV.

Locally, Meredith already owns WFSB-TV in Hartford and its sister station WSHM-TV, also known as CBS 3 Springfield, the media partner of MassLive.com and The Republican.

In 1984 Gormally founded BusinessWest Magazine. Started as a bi-monthly, the magazine doubled its publishing frequency in 2005. Since then, the brand has gone beyond the print publication, offering readers articles online, networking services and hosting events and fundraisers within the community.

As BusinessWest expanded, so did Gormally's properties. In 2007, he purchased ABC40 and invested significant sums into new equipment and facilities for the station. "We really rebuilt it from the ground up," Gormally said. Soon after, he launched FOX6, the fourth television station in the Springfield market.

During his ownership, the station was named Associated Press News Station of the Year in both 2013 and 2014. ABC40 also won a 2014 AP award for Breaking News Videography for their coverage of a fire on Chase Avenue in Springfield.

Gormally said he is proud of what the station has accomplished under his ownership and that he expects no changes to take place "other than the continued pursuit of excellence in local broadcasting under new ownership."

While the sale agreement has been signed by both parties, the sale is subject to FCC approval, which Gormally expects to be approved this summer.

Next year school officials will decide if their districts will take the MCAS or the PARCC.

SPRINGFIELD — With the first trial of the PARCC exam complete, school committees and superintendents across the state are now deciding if they will continue with the MCAS exam next year or take a leap and have all students try the new test.

Mitchell D. Chester, commissioner of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Wednesday talked about lessons learned from this spring’s trial and the future of the PARCC, which could eventually replace the MCAS.

“We are in the middle of a two-year tryout of the PARCC. You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive,” he said.

This spring, about 80,000 students, from grades three through 10, took a part of the English or math assessment, which tests the national Common Core education standards Massachusetts adopted several years ago. In most schools, a few classes at different grade levels tried a portion of the test, he said.

The state is considering replacing the current Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems exam, which tests the state curriculum frameworks and all students must pass to earn a diploma, with the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers, a nationally created exam which will is aligned with the Common Core standards Massachusetts adopted several years ago.

The Common Core has more focus on in-depth teaching of topics and emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills more. It does not cover as much material as the state standards.

The trial was designed to test individual questions, see if schools had exceptional difficulty in having students take it online and if other problems occurred. Students were also surveyed on a number of issues after trying the PARCC.

No scores have been released to the schools or the students.

“We know we have some items that need revision, that students found them confusing,” Chester said.

The next step is to now have school districts across the state to decide if their students will take the PARCC next year or if they will remain with the MCAS test.

So far 57 percent of districts which have made a choice have selected the PARCC, including Easthampton. Others, including Northampton, Ludlow and Wilbraham, have decided to remain with the MCAS. The majority of school committees in Western Massachusetts have not decided.

State officials are hoping about 50 percent of school districts select PARCC and the other half select the MCAS, Chester said.

“That will give us a robust set of information for comparing and contrasting the new PARCC to the existing MCAS,” he said.

There are some exceptions. All 10th graders will continue to take the MCAS in math, English and science, because those students must pass that exam to graduate. That regulation will last through the Class of 2018 and the state of Elementary and Secondary Education is considering extending it to the Class of 2019, Chester said.

The three largest school districts, Boston, Worcester and Springfield, will also be allowed to have some schools take the MCAS and others take the PARCC, he said.

The superintendents of the 34 struggling Level 4 and four Level 5 schools in the state will not get to automatically select one test over the other. “In the case of the Level 4 and Level 5 we are working with the school districts,” Chester said.

Springfield has 10 schools and Holyoke has one school at Level 4, which are considered chronically underperforming. Holyoke also has one Level 5 school, which are schools that failed to improve and are now under state control.

During the press conference, Revere Superintendent Paul Dakin said his district this year asked to have all students in two elementary schools and one middle school participate in the PARCC trial, instead of a few classes selected. Next year the district will take the PARCC.

The school district has been teaching Common Core standards for two to three years and students are taking more tests online, including the college entrance ACT exam, and will likely take some courses online, so it makes sense to ensure students can handle the technology, Dakin said.

“Urban kids don’t have as much time on a computer. I want them to gain that skill and I want to have that extra practice, especially with no risk,” he said, adding about 80 percent of the student population is poor.

“I don’t want a technological divide contributing to an achievement divide and an educational gap,” he said.

Schools which decide to take the PARCC will not be penalized in the accountability rating, so if students do poorly the state will not apply sanctions such as asking for a turnaround plan, Chester said.

“If you use PARCC you can’t end up worse level. You can improve your standing if you do well at PARCC,” Chester said.

There are other advantages to selecting the MCAS. The state may decide against using the PARCC so those who use the MCAS will not taking a risk, he said.

It will also be easier schools to watch students progress directly if they continue with the MCAS. Chester said the state will create a map that will make it relatively easy to compare students PARCC results to the previous year’s MCAS test.

Computer issues will continue to be an issue with the test, since the goal is to have all students eventually take the exam on a tablet, laptop, desktop or other type of computer device.

“We know not all districts are ready to administer the test online,” he said. “Each school has a different need. Some districts have a long way to go and some are up to speed.”

Plenty of schools do not have enough devices for all the students to use at the same time. There are also a number of rural communities, especially in Western Massachusetts, which do not have the broadband capability to administer the test online, he said.

There is about $2 billion in federal E-Rate funds available to schools across the country to upgrade technology. State legislators are also considering a $38 million bond bill to upgrade technology in schools across the state, Chester said.

While Chester could not say how much it will cost to convert to the PARCC, but said administering the new test is less expensive. It currently costs $46 a student for the math and English exam, while it is expected to cost $30 for the two PARCC exams.

Mary Czajkowski, the superintendent of Barnstable and former superintendent of Agawam, said 340 students in two of her schools piloted the exam this spring. She said she will recommend to her School Committee that all students take the PARCC next year.

“Some thought the test was more difficult but they enjoyed taking it online,” she said.

Chester said the test is more rigorous but is better aligned to the new Common Core standards. The MCAS is now 17-years-old and will have to be upgraded even if the board decides against using the PARCC.

School districts which have aligned the curriculum should have students well-prepared for the PARCC, he said.

“Most school districts have been doing this work. One of our standards is we want a test that maintains or extends our student learning,” he said. “It is not designed to be an easy test.”

The fireworks show is scheduled for June 28 at Szot Park.

CHICOPEE – The city increased the amount it will spend on fireworks mainly to ensure the show will be as good or better as it was last year.

The fireworks show is scheduled for June 28 at Szot Park. It will begin at dusk, which will be around 9 p.m., said Richard Maciolek, acting superintendent for the Parks and Recreation Department.

The department typically raises about $10,000 for the show, but the cost increased this year so it will cost about $12,500. The City Council recently approved a $500 donation from Walmart which is to help support the fireworks.

The prospect of the president sidestepping Congress sets up a potential new clash between the White House and lawmakers.

By JULIE PACE & DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama believes he does not need authorization from Congress for any steps he might take to quell the al-Qaida-inspired insurgency sweeping through Iraq, the Senate's top Republican said after the president briefed senior lawmakers Wednesday.

The prospect of the president sidestepping Congress sets up a potential new clash between the White House and lawmakers, particularly if Obama should launch airstrikes or take other direct U.S. military action in Iraq. Administration officials have said airstrikes have become less a focus of recent deliberations but have also said the president could order such a step if intelligence agencies can identify clear targets on the ground.

Obama huddled in the Oval Office for over an hour to discuss options for responding the crumbling security situation in Iraq with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Speaking to reporters as he returned to the Capitol, McConnell said the president "indicated he didn't feel he had any need for authority from us for steps that he might take."

The White House has publicly dodged questions about whether Obama might seek congressional approval if he decides to take military action. Last summer, Obama did seek approval for possible strikes against Syria, but he scrapped the effort when it became clear that lawmakers would not grant him the authority.

However, administration officials have suggested that the president may be able to act on his own in this case because Iraq's government has requested U.S. military assistance.

"I think it certainly is a distinction and difference worth noting," White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday of the comparisons to the Syrian situation.

In addition, an authorization for the use of military force in Iraq, passed by Congress in 2002, is still on the books and could potentially be used as a rationale for the White House acting without additional approval. Before the outburst of violence in Iraq, Obama had called for that authorization to be repealed.

Some lawmakers were outraged when Obama launched military action in Libya in 2011 with minimal consultation with Congress and no formal authorization from Capitol Hill. More recently, some in Congress have complained that the White House did not consult on final plans for releasing five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in exchange for freeing detained American Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

White House officials offered no timeline Wednesday for how soon Obama might decide on how to respond to the fast-moving militants from the group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, which has seized Mosul, Tikrit and other towns in Iraq as the country's military melted away.

Obama's decision-making on airstrikes has been complicated by intelligence gaps that resulted from the U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq in late 2011, which left the country largely off-limits to American operatives. Intelligence agencies are now trying to close gaps and identify possible targets that include insurgent encampments, training camps, weapons caches and other stationary supplies, according to U.S. officials.

Officials also suggest that the U.S. could more easily identify targets on the ground if Obama would send in additional American trainers to work with Iraqi security forces. Obama is considering that possibility, the officials say, though he has ruled out sending troops for combat missions.

The officials spoke only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to describe classified details and private discussions by name.

Obama is certain to face resistance from congressional Democrats if he launches any manor military response to the crisis in Iraq. Two House Democrats — John Garamendi of California and Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii — said Wednesday they would offer an amendment to the defense spending bill that would require congressional approval before any sustained military action in Iraq.

The House is debating the defense bill and is scheduled to finish it this week.

Beyond airstrikes, the White House has been considering plans to boost Iraq's intelligence about the militants and, more broadly, has been encouraging the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad to become more inclusive.

Iraq's once-dominant Sunni minority has long complained of discrimination by the government and security forces. The Obama administration has said that without long-term political changes, any short-term military solutions would be fleeting.

"The entire enterprise is at risk as long as this political situation is in flux," Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Senate panel Wednesday. He added that some Iraqi security forces had backed down when confronted by the militants because they had "simply lost faith" in the central government in Baghdad.

Republicans continued to insist that Obama bears the blame for allowing the insurgency to strengthen because of his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq in late 2011 after more than eight years of war. Washington and Baghdad failed to reach a security agreement that would have allowed American forces to stay longer.

"What's happening in Iraq is a direct result of the president's misguided decisions," said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., a Marine reservist who served two combat tours in Iraq. "Militarily, the U.S. won in Iraq, but the hard-fought and hard-earned gains of our servicemen and women have been politically squandered by the president and his administration."

Despite withdrawing from Iraq, the U.S. has a range of ground, air and sea troops and assets in the region. There are six warships in the Persian Gulf, including the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and the amphibious transport ship USS Mesa Verde, which is carrying about 550 Marines and five V-22 Osprey hybrid aircraft.

There are about 5,000 U.S. soldiers across the Iraqi border in Kuwait as part of a routine rotational presence, several Air Force aircraft capable of a full range of missions, and intelligence gathering and surveillance assets, including drones, in the region.

___

Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor, Ken Dilanian and Bradley Klapper contributed to this report.

Worcester police have arrested Antwaune Berry on gun charges following a Saturday morning shooting in Great Brook Valley.

MassLive.com photo [file] 

Berry, 18, of 236 Tacoma St. was arrested Wednesday on a warrant related to shots fired around 1 a.m. in Great Brook Valley. According to police, a physical altercation between two women took place and caused other people to became involved. At some point during the fight, a man fired a gun, according to police who reported no injuries.

When police arrived, shell casings were found in the street and a description of the shooter was given out over the radio in the search area, according to court documents. There were crowds of people walking through the area, and identified gang members had run from police, stated police in court documents.

During the investigation, police detained four men — including Berry — at a Shell Gas Station on Plantation Street. Two of the men were suspected Kilby St. gang members or associates, according to police. One of the men was wearing an orange shirt — that was included in a description of the suspected shooter — underneath his jacket, according to court records. The men were eventually released.

Officer Justin Bennes stated in his report that the Great Brook Valley area is rival territory for the gang that is primarily located in the Main South area of Worcester.

"Great Brook Valley is generally friendly territory for the Eastside gang members, who are known to have frequent and several violent encounters with Kilby Gang members," he said in the police report.

While searching the gas station, police located a gun in the trash. Police reviewed surveillance footage from the gas station and saw a man they identified as Berry place a black item they believed to be the gun in the trash can moments before he was detained, according to court records. Police could not locate Berry. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was picked up on Wednesday morning.

Berry was arraigned in Worcester District Court on charges of carrying a firearm without an FID card, carrying a loaded firearm without an FID card, possessing ammunition without an FID card. He was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on June 23.

The name ‘deadline’ is taken from railroad tracks that bordered the community, said Nancy Piccin, one of the reunion organizers whose father was a ‘deadliner’.

WEST SPRINGFIELD- The “Deadline Gang,” a closely knit group of mostly Italian American immigrants who grew up in West Springfield’s Memorial Avenue neighborhood during the 1920's, 1930’s and 1940’s will be holding their last reunion Sunday at the Dante Club. 1198 Memorial Ave., from 2 to 5 p.m.

The name ‘deadline’ is taken from railroad tracks that bordered the community, said Nancy Piccin, one of the reunion organizers whose father was a ‘deadliner’.

“I’m struck by how strong the bonds are between these people who grew up together and how much, honestly, how much they remember,” she said. “They can talk about something that happened in 1935 like it was yesterday.”

There are 112 people anticipated to attend the last Deadline Gang reunion dinner, 80 to 100 of which are original ‘deadliners’ more than 90 years old, with a large portion having traveled to attend the reunion, she said.

“It’s an unusual thing I think; today especially, people are a lot more mobile (and) they don’t tend to live in the same neighborhood forever,” she said.

Mayor Edward C. Sullivan is expected to speak about the deadline group at around 4:30 p.m., she said. Piccin will also serve as master of ceremonies.

A plaque will be placed at the Dante Club to commemorate the Deadline Gang, she said.

One of the Deadline Gang members included Sam A. Pompei, who was a sports editor at the Republican before his retirement in 1974, she said.

Hundreds of pro-gun activists from across the state gathered outside the State House on Wednesday to rally against House Speaker Robert DeLeo's gun control bill.

BOSTON - Hundreds of pro-gun activists from across the state gathered outside the State House on Wednesday to rally against House Speaker Robert DeLeo's gun control bill.

The activists, most organized by the Gun Owners Action League, decried the bill currently making its way through the house for imposing what they said were unnecessary restrictions on law-abiding gun owners.

GOAL's executive director Jim Wallace said the gun laws currently on the books are "destructive" and "convoluted."

"You're not affecting the criminal element by going after us and putting more burdens on us," said Wallace.

Wallace, like other GOAL activists, took issue with language in the bill that severely limits the private sale of guns between licensed owners. The bill in its current form would require gun owners to sell their firearms through licensed brick and mortar gun shops even if they are selling them to another person with a gun permit.

Others at the rally took issue with the bill's expansion of what's known as "may issue" powers to local police chiefs. Current law gives police chiefs the power to deny licenses for unrestricted concealed carry permits, commonly known as a Class A license-to-carry, if they feel an applicant cannot adequately justify why they need one.

The DeLeo bill expands the "may issue" powers of police chiefs to the lowest gun license level known as a firearms identification card. FID cards limit gun ownership to simple rifles and shotguns with a maximum capacity of 10 rounds. Gun activists at the rally said police chiefs do not need to give a reason for denying Class A licenses so any expansion of "may issue" powers would further encroach on the Second Amendment rights of Massachusetts residents.

"Why should I be restricted if I am clearly not a threat to anybody?" said Bettina Romberg, 32, of Lowell.

Romberg said she was recently denied a Class A license by the Lowell Police Department.

"I went to the police chief to get my license and I've never even had a speeding ticket and I was restricted. That's a huge injustice," said Romberg.

Certified NRA instructor Dan Damato, 55, of Ayer, said the expanded may issue powers would give police carte blanche to deny anyone access to gun without providing a reason.

"If the chief doesn't want to give you any type of license he can just do it at his whim. I think it should be made 'shall issue' for all license types," said Damato.

GOAL members said they are supportive of some portions of the bill, particularly the parts that call for the sharing of mental health records and the expansion of penalties for illegal gun crimes like straw purchasing. The bill did stiffen penalties for the improper storage of any firearm.

Gun control activist and real estate magnate John Rosenthal stood off to the side during the rally. He said that he thinks the bill is thoughtful.

"This bill simply requires gun owners like me to go to a gun store to sell my guns so that I know the buyer can pass a background check. That's just common sense," said Rosenthal

DeLeo said during an appearance in Springfield that he is open to tweaking the bill.

The bill advanced out of the Public Safety Committee on June 9 by a 7-6 vote.

According to the State House News Service the bill has not received much attention in either the House or Senate. The deadline for action on the bill is July 31.

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