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What people are tweeting about the Keene disturbances

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Rioters in Keene, New Hampshire threw bottles and rocks at police,started fires and flipped over at least one car. People are talking about it.

KEENE, NH— The disturbance at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire has set off debate across the country. Here is a sampling of tweets from a variety of people with a variety of perspectives, including comparisons between Ferguson, Missouri and Keene, New Hampshire.


New Ways Ministry's Francis DeBernardo on Vatican synod: 'Silence has ended'

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DeBernardo calls synod "disappointing" for gays, but praises first-time public support for gay rights by some bishops as step forward.


Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the long established, Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBT Catholics and others, has issued a response to the final report of The Vatican's Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, calling the synod both "disappointing," and significant for the support some 62 bishops showed, in their vote, for gay and lesbian Catholics.

+ Vatican synod fails to approve proposals on homosexuals, divorced Catholics

+ Vatican family synod's preliminary report draws both elation, caution on issues like homosexuality

The prelates defeated proposals, by a vote of 118 to 62, from the final document, that urged more acceptance of homosexuals in the Church. Pope Francis, who seeks a more pastoral approach on a number of lifestyle issues, requested that the document, in published form, include the defeated proposals, for discussion at a worldwide synod, in 2015, that will also discuss issues of family.

Francis DeBernardo's response follows:

newways.jpgFrancis DeBernardo 

"The synod’s final report significantly backtracks on LGBT issues from the draft released earlier this week, but the synod’s process and openness to discussion provides hope for further development down the road, particularly at next year’s synod, where the make-up of the participants will be larger and more diverse, including many more pastorally-oriented bishops.

It’s very disappointing that the Synod’s final report did not retain the gracious welcome to lesbian and gay people that the draft of the report included. Instead, the bishops have taken a narrow view of pastoral care by defining it simply as opposition to marriage for same-gender couples. Additionally, their further comment about supposed “international pressure” to accept same-gender marriage selfishly views the hierarchy as the victims, not LGBT people who receive unjust and oppressive treatment by governments, church, families, and society.

Pastoral care should focus on for LGBT people as total human beings, many of whom have suffered significant alienation and personal harm, and not just as sexual beings. Pastoral care should also focus on the gifts that LGBT people bring to the Church, something that the earlier draft highlighted.

One major error the bishops made in the final report was to quote the Vatican’s 2003 document condemning same-gender marriage, which referred to adoption by gay and lesbian couples as a form of “violence” toward the children. Such language is pastorally harmful and destructive to any welcome to lesbian and gay people.

It’s important, however, to keep two things in mind. First, the paragraphs on homosexuality which did not receive the required 2/3rds vote, and which were more welcoming of LGBT people, failed by only a handful of votes, indicating significant support from a majority of bishops. Second, this report is not the final word, but as a Vatican spokesperson explained, it is still a working document which will be discussed in the coming year.

What was good about this two-week long meeting? The real value of this synod is that it has started the discussion among the hierarchy on LGBT issues which has been going on for decades among the lay people and theologians in the Church. The bishops began to catch up, and I don’t think that the discussion will stop here, but will only continue, with more promising outcomes for LGBT people and their families in the future.

It is not surprising that the paragraphs on lesbian and gay people proved to be among the most controversial of the synod’s proceedings. The paragraphs on homosexuality were among those that received the lowest affirmative votes. This result shows that there is still much to be examined and explored on LGBT issues in the Church. Let’s hope and pray that at next year’s synod, the bishops will invite lesbian and gay people and couples to give their personal testimonies, so that the bishops can learn first-hand about their experiences of faith and love.

More importantly, though this synod revealed that there are some strong voices for LGBT equality and for change in church teaching, something which was not known clearly before the meeting. Now that these voices have been bold enough to speak, more bishops who think like them will surely follow their example. The biggest problem in the Church up to this point has not been lack of support among the hierarchy on LGBT issues, but lack of courage for those bishops to speak out what they truly think. The silence has ended. Nothing will be the same.

Between now and next year’s synod, the discussion in the Catholic Church–at all levels–on LGBT issues, as well as other issues of family and sexuality, will be more open and robust than it has ever been. That is a very good thing!"

Cruise ship docks with Ebola-watched health worker, tests negative

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Dallas health worker quarantined on board a cruise ship tests negative for ebola.

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — A cruise ship carrying a Dallas health care worker who was being monitored for Ebola returned to port Sunday after an eventful seven-day trip in which passengers had their vacations briefly disrupted with an infectious disease scare.

A lab supervisor who handled a specimen from a Liberian man who died from Ebola in Dallas showed no symptoms during the cruise but self-quarantined out of caution. Carnival Cruise Lines told passengers the unidentified woman was tested for Ebola but the results were negative.

Vicky Rey, vice president of guest care for Carnival Cruise Lines, said the woman and her husband drove themselves home after arriving in Galveston early Sunday, but offered no further details.

The Ebola scare added some drama to the trip for the hundreds of passengers on the ship.

They learned through a public address system announcement that one of the passengers was being monitored for Ebola. They watched developments about the Ebola outbreak and their ship on the news. The boat was not allowed to dock in Cozumel, depriving passengers of one of the top port destinations. Travelers snapped pictures of a Coast Guard helicopter as it landed to get a blood sample from the passenger.

"We weren't worried. We ended up just hanging out and enjoying the rest of the trip," said Meredith Brooks, a Houston banker who was on her honeymoon during the cruise.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that when the woman left the U.S. on the cruise ship from Galveston, Texas, on Oct. 12 health officials were requiring only self-monitoring. Officials stepped up their response while the cruise was underway and two nurses were diagnosed with Ebola.

Carnival Cruise Lines said in a statement that the woman was "not deemed to be a risk to any guests or crew."

"We are in close contact with the CDC, and at this time it has been determined that the appropriate course of action is to simply keep the guest in isolation on board," the statement said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Petty Officer Andy Kendrick told The Associated Press that a Coast Guard crew flew in a helicopter Saturday to meet the Carnival Magic and retrieved a blood sample from the woman. He said the blood sample was taken to a state lab in Austin for processing.

The ship was refused clearance to dock in Cozumel, Mexico on Friday, a day after Belize refused to let the passenger leave the vessel. There were no restrictions placed on other passengers aboard the ship, officials said.

Passenger James Dinkley of Thelma, Texas, took the cruise to celebrate his one-year wedding anniversary with his wife. He said there was some initial confusion and agitation after they learned of the situation, were delayed in Belize for several hours and had the Cozumel visit cancelled. But he said the cruise line kept everyone informed with regular updates after that.

"There was a lot of confusion, especially when they canceled our Cozumel day," he said.

Carnival gave passengers credit for the missed Cozumel leg.

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Tractor Trailer jackknife in Otis slows Mass Pike traffic

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A tractor trailer truck jackknifed on the Mass Pike in Otis, casing a traffic backup.

OTIS— A tractor trailer truck jackknifed in the west-bound lane of the Mass. Pike in Otis Sunday morning, causing its trailer to catch fire, and slowed traffic.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper George Beaupre, at the Westfield Barracks, said police are not sure why the trailer caught fire, but flames consumed much of the contents, and forced closure of both lanes of the highway for about one hour.

Beaupre said one lane was opened within half an hour of the 10 a.m.accident, allowing some movement. However, police estimate the incident caused a backup of nearly six miles.


Rays of Hope Walk in Springfield brings friends, family, survivors together

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The 21st annual Rays of Hope walk was held in Forest Park Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD — They all live in Feeding Hills, they are all friends and they have all survived breast cancer.

Laurie Kelley, Diane Peters, Ellen Cosimini and Chris Losito have been friends and neighbors for years, they have also supported each other as one after the other was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kelley is a 13 year survivor, Peters is a four year survivor, Cosimini is a 2 year survivor and Losito is an 18 year survivor although she was diagnosed for a second time last year.

" We have all been there for each other," Kelley said. " I can't say enough about Baystate being there for us and helping us. You can't do it without your girlfriends."

Kelley has been participating in the walk since she was first diagnosed 13 years ago. She said the walk and the people who organize it and attend are dear to her heart.

"This gives you hope that there are people out there who will help you. You're never alone," she said.

Teachers Michelle Keating, of Ludlow and Susan Lemeshow, of Greenfield, attended the walk together. Lemeshow was diagnosed a year ago. She went to the doctor after her sister called her and told her she had been diagnosed.

"She called me up and told me I should get tested. I went and the doctor said I was fine, but then he called me back and said they saw a shadow," she said.

keating.jpgSpringfield- Friends Michelle Keating and Susan Lemeshow walk in this year's Rays of Hope walk. 

Since then both Lemeshow and her sister have been through treatment. Both are in remission. Keating, a teacher at the Gerena School in Springfield, came to walk with her students and encouraged Lemeshow to come out for the walk.

" I just couldn't believe it when she first told me, it made it real, this happens to women I know and care about," she said. " I'm so happy to be here walking with her today."

The event, held in Forest Park, attracts thousands of walkers and runners every year. In the past 20 years participants have raised nearly $12 million for cancer research and outreach. The money all remains in Western Massachusetts.

Hampden Bank once again faces proxy battle from unsatisfied investors

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Hampden Bank of Springfield, Massachusetts, once again faces a proxy challenge from dissident shareholders dissatisfied with the returns and calling for the bank to merge or let itself be acquired.

SPRINGFIELD — Hampden Bank once again faces a proxy challenge from dissident shareholders dissatisfied with the returns and calling for the bank to merge or let itself be acquired.

Hedge fund investor Johnny Guerry, 32, of Clover Partners LLC in Dallas, wants a spot on the Hampden Bancorp board of directors for himself and for his associate, a former banking executive named Garold R. Base, 66.

Hampden Bank's annual shareholder meeting, at which the vote will be taken, is Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel.

The bank has nominated President and CEO Glenn S. Welch, economist Stanley Kowalski  Jr. of Wilbraham-based FloDesign and Mary Ellen Scott, CEO of United Personnel in Springfield.

Guerry and Base say, in documents field with the U.S.  Securities and Exchange Commission, that Springfield's slowly growing market limits their return on investment. Guerry's company is the second-largest shareholder, owning about 10 percent of Hampden Bancorp shares, according to the bank.

The argument used by Guerry and Base points to United Bank's $369 million merger with Connecticut's Rockville Bank as an example of what they want to see Hampden Bank do.

The merged bank took the United name, but the headquarters are in Connecticut and the CEO of the merged bank is from the Rockville organization. United recently went through a data conversion and changed customer accounts for the merger, although United 's Free for Life accounts were grandfathered and customers who have them will be able to keep them.

To quote Guerry and Base' documents:

"Therein lies the potential opportunity for Hampden Bancorp's stockholders. Many of the larger and stronger competitors trade at considerably higher multiples of tangible book value than Hampden Bancorp. Those companies should be able to utilize this currency in an acquisition of another company, like Hampden Bancorp (if this were the case, it could result in a substantial premium to Hampden Bancorp's stockholders). Applying the multiple obtained from calculating United Financial's terminal price to tangible book value to Hampden Bancorp suggests a sale price in excess of $20 ( a share)".

Hampden Bancorp's  stock was trading at $16.98 a share Friday afternoon.

In their defense, Hampden Bancorp management says the bank has been doing well.

According to management's filings:

  • This most recent fiscal year had record profitability and earnings per share of 88 cents and a core net income of $4.8 million.
  • Commercial loans grew by 26.5 percent
  • Overall loans grew 12.7 percent
  • $103 million in originated new loans, of which $74 million, or 71 percent, of that was from new borrowers
  • Total average deposit growth of 7.2 percent.

Below are documents from both the Hampden Bank management team and from Guerry:

Johnny Guerry's case for changes at Hampden Bank

Hampden Bank's Annual Report to the Securities Exchange Commission

Toyota adds 247K vehicles to air bag recall tally

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The recall covers the 2003 to 2005 Corolla and Matrix, the 2002 to 2005 Sequoia and the 2003 to 2005 Tundra. Also included is the 2003 to 2005 Pontiac Vibe made by Toyota.

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling 247,000 vehicles in high-humidity areas as an air bag problem that has plagued most of the auto industry continues to widen.

The recall posed Monday by U.S. safety regulators covers the 2003 to 2005 Corolla and Matrix, the 2002 to 2005 Sequoia and the 2003 to 2005 Tundra. Also included is the 2003 to 2005 Pontiac Vibe made by Toyota.

Inflators can rupture in air bags manufactured by parts supplier Takata, causing metal fragments to fly out when bags are inflated in crashes. The problem has caused serious injuries. So far, automakers have recalled about 12 million vehicles worldwide because of the problem.

The recall covers vehicles in South Florida, along the Gulf Coast, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa.

Police investigating cause of death of 21-year-old UMass student, foul play not suspected

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Police do not suspect foul play, according to Northwest District Attorney's office spokeswoman Mary Carey. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, she said.

AMHERST – Police are investigating the cause of death of a 21-year-old University of Massachusetts student who was found in McNamara Hall in the Sylvan Residential Area Sunday night.

Police do not suspect foul play, according to Northwest District Attorney's office spokeswoman Mary Carey. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, she said. Her name is not being released.

According to the Daily Collegian, several marked and unmarked UMass Police Department and State Police vehicles were at the scene for at least three hours Sunday night.

More details will be provided as they become available. 


NBC's Nancy Snyderman faces credibility issues after breaking Ebola quarantine

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An admitted lapse in the quarantine, combined with a curiously imprecise explanation, unleashed a furious response.

DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The quarantine against possible Ebola exposure ends this week for Dr. Nancy Snyderman, but the troubles clearly aren't over for NBC News' chief medical editor.

An admitted lapse in the quarantine, combined with a curiously imprecise explanation, unleashed a furious response. NBC must now decide whether Snyderman's credibility is too damaged for her to continue reporting on Ebola or other medical issues and, if so, for how long. The network would not comment.

Snyderman, a surgeon who spent 17 years as a medical correspondent for ABC News and has been at NBC since 2006, covered the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and worked briefly with Ashoka Mukpo, the cameraman who caught the virus and is now being treated in Nebraska. Upon returning to the United States, Snyderman and her crew voluntarily agreed to quarantine themselves for 21 days, the longest known incubation period for the disease. They have shown no symptoms.

Yet New Jersey health officials ruled that her quarantine should be mandatory after Snyderman and her crew were spotted getting takeout food from a New Jersey restaurant.

NBC won't give details about who actually went into the restaurant, or even how many of its employees are being quarantined. Snyderman issued a statement saying "members of our group" violated their pledge.

More than 1,100 people have subsequently written on Snyderman's Facebook page, many expressing anger. There were suggestions she should be fired or lose her medical license, and some viewers said they wouldn't trust her again. Snyderman's failure to be more specific about the lapse or take greater responsibility was another flashpoint.

Snyderman's "arrogance and dismissiveness" create a huge PR and credibility problem for NBC, said Kelly McBride, an expert on ethics for the journalism think tank the Poynter Institute.

"People are so freaked out about Ebola that the problem NBC has now is that whenever they put her on the air, some news consumers are going to see the woman who put others at risk, rather than the reporter and professional with great experience," McBride said.

McBride suggested that Snyderman "lay low" or take a leave of absence. Certainly she should not report on Ebola anymore for the network, she said.

Susan Dentzer, a longtime health journalist and commentator for National Public Radio and the PBS "NewsHour," said people shouldn't forget that Snyderman put herself at risk to travel to Africa and cover the story. The public is reacting to a fear of Ebola instead of science, she said.

"She and her team clearly should have observed the terms of their quarantine, and she has said clearly that they made a mistake," Dentzer said. "But let's put it in a broader perspective."

Before Snyderman's trip for takeout, ABC News' medical expert arguably had bigger problems. ABC health editor Dr. Richard Besser was in Africa at the same time as Snyderman and did not quarantine himself upon his return. That led ABC News President James Goldston to send his staff a memo explaining that the network was following medical advice.

Still, Besser was disinvited to a speaking engagement at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, he wrote last week in the Washington Post. Some colleagues have avoided him.

"I've been surprised by how many colleagues have waved from across the room and quickly made an exit," Besser wrote. "Others won't enter my office."

NBC could face a competitive disadvantage if Snyderman is taken off medical stories. Robert Bazell, the network's longtime health and science correspondent, left last year to teach at Yale.

An important first step for Snyderman will be to explain to viewers exactly what happened, perhaps on a venue like the "Today" show, said Bill Wheatley, a longtime NBC executive who now teaches journalism at Columbia University.

"If she and the network are more forthcoming about the whole matter, I believe that her credibility can be preserved," Wheatley said.

Springfield police identify man killed in Roosevelt Avenue crash; driver charged with motor vehicle homicide

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The driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

daquanwarrick21.jpgDaquan M. Warrick

SPRINGFIELD — Police have identified the man killed in a single-vehicle crash on Roosevelt Avenue Saturday night as 22-year-old Tayquan Goodman of Fenwick St.

Police arrested the driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Daquan M. Warrick, of 837 State St. and charged him with motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol, as well as a marked lanes violation, Sgt. John Delaney said.

The crash occurred in the area of 1338 Roosevelt Ave. shortly before 11:40 p.m., Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.Two other passengers inside the car were not injured.

Officer Daniel Leon-Resto came upon the crash, which occurred near American International College’s Butova Gym, while on routine patrol

The car was resting on the lawn and Leon-Resto saw passersby lift the 2003 Infinity and pull Goodman out .It was clear to the officer and arriving EMTs that Goodman had died from his injuries.

Warrick, who wasn’t wearing a shirt, approached Leon-Resto, screaming to be arrested because he was responsible for his best friend’s death, Delaney said.

Warrick was obviously intoxicated and kept demanding that police arrest him. Officers attempted to calm him down and when they moved to arrest him he became violent and had to be restrained.

Officers eventually were able to get Warrick in handcuffs after he attempted to flee the scene, Delaney said.

The suspect continue to be violent as he was placed in a cruiser and he kicked at its windows. There was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and the Infinti contained numerous liquor and beer containers.

Investigators determined that Warrick was driving north on Roosevelt Avenue when he lost control, crossed over double-yellow solid lines and struck the utility pole and an American International College sign before coming to a rest on the lawn.

Sgt. Steven Wyszynski and Officer Robert Kalin of the Traffic Division continue to investigate the crash.


Amherst police arrest North Carolina man who wanted to pick a fight outside of Stackers Sunday morning

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Amherst police arrested Todd Huntington of Raleigh North Carolina on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

AMHERST – Police arrested a 42-year-old North Carolina man early Sunday morning after he was standing outside Stackers trying to pick fights.

Police arrested Todd Huntington of Raleigh North Carolina on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after they responded to calls from the the North Pleasant Street bar.

According to a Google search, Huntington is listed as the owner of Oxi Fresh Carpet cleaning in Raleigh.

He was slated to be arraigned Monday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown.

Westfield's annual Charles Morse Rag Shag Parade scheduled Oct. 24

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WESTFIELD - The Westfield/West Springfield Lodge of Elks has renamed its annual Halloween parade in honor of long-time chairman Charles Morse. The Charles Morse Rag Shag Parade will step off from the Franklin Street lodge Friday at 6 p.m. with youngsters and adults marching through the downtown and returning to the lodge home for refreshments and a costume contest. Sponsored...

WESTFIELD - The Westfield/West Springfield Lodge of Elks has renamed its annual Halloween parade in honor of long-time chairman Charles Morse.

The Charles Morse Rag Shag Parade will step off from the Franklin Street lodge Friday at 6 p.m. with youngsters and adults marching through the downtown and returning to the lodge home for refreshments and a costume contest.

Sponsored by the Elks, refreshments will be served and cash prizes will be awarded to those with the best costume in various age groups. A cash prize will also be awarded to an adult for best costume.

Rain date for the parade is Oct. 25.

Westfield State University's Downtown Art Gallery to feature works of area artists

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WESTFIELD - The art work of Connecticut artist Heidi Coutu and Longmeadow sculptor James Rosenthal will be on display at the Westfield State University's Downtown Art Gallery Thursday through Nov. 22. A reception in honor of the two artists is scheduled for Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Numerous paintings by Coutu and sculptures by Rosenthal are on display. The...

WESTFIELD - The art work of Connecticut artist Heidi Coutu and Longmeadow sculptor James Rosenthal will be on display at the Westfield State University's Downtown Art Gallery Thursday through Nov. 22.

A reception in honor of the two artists is scheduled for Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Numerous paintings by Coutu and sculptures by Rosenthal are on display.

The gallery, located at 105 Elm St. is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m. and weekend from 1 to 5 p.m.

Amherst property values up, tax rate to drop, according to assessor David Burgess report to Select Board Monday.

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Amherst Assessor David Burgess is making a presentation to the Select Board Monday night at 6:45 with details from the fiscal 2015 property revaluation.

AMHERST – Property values are up in Amherst and the tax rate will likely fall, however, property owners on average will see a 1.8 percent hike in their tax bills.

Principal Assessor David Burgess is making a presentation to the Select Board Monday night at 6:45 with details from the fiscal 2015 property revaluation. The meeting is in Town Hall.

 The numbers are preliminary, as the state Department of Revenue has not yet certified them, according to his report.

The average single family home will increase in value by 3.8 percent, according to the report. But he pointed out this is an average and some owners will see a greater or lower rate of increase.

The assessed value for an average home will rise from $320,100 in fiscal 2014 to $333,300 in fiscal 2015, he reported.

Also he reported the median sales price was $347,500 and the median assessed value was $329,000.

With the new values, the tax rate will drop form $20.97 to $20.50 per thousand in valuation.

The average bill for a home assessed at $320,100 was $6,712.50 in fiscal 2014 and with the new values and new rate, the bill for a home assessed at $333,300 will be $6,832.65 or 1.8 percent more.These numbers also have to be verified by the revenue department, he reported.  

Federal judge in Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial wants 1,000 jurors summoned

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Tsarnaev is charged with carrying out the April 2013 attack on the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured more than 260.

DENISE LAVOIE, AP Legal Affairs Writer

BOSTON (AP) -- A federal judge says at least 1,000 people will be summoned to pick a jury for the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Tsarnaev is charged with carrying out the April 2013 attack that killed three people and injured more than 260. He has pleaded not guilty and could face the death penalty if convicted.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge George O'Toole Jr. said he expects a pool of 1,000 potential jurors will be called to fill out questionnaires. About 100 will be culled for individual questioning. Twelve jurors and 6 alternates will be picked.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Jan. 5.

Prosecutors say Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, planted two bombs near the marathon finish line. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a shootout with police.


UMass police arrest student in connection with racist messages left last week

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Devin Ayres, 20, was charged with vandalizing property, and property damage to intimidate.

AMHERST – University of Massachusetts police have arrested a 20-year-old student in connection with two incidents involving racist messages left last week on residence hall doors.   

Devin Ayres, 20, was charged with vandalizing property, and property damage to intimidate. The investigation into similar incidents continues, UMass Police said in a press release.

Ayres was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, according to a press release.  

According to a UMass web page, Ayres is a deans list student set to graduate in 2017 with a compute science major. 

Noble Hospital in Westfield to take over parts of Hampden County Physician Associates

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Noble Hospital expects the transaction to be completed by the end of October.

WESTFIELD - Noble Hospital plans to hire seven primary-care doctors along with about 20 support staff from the bankrupt Hampden County Physician Associates, taking on 18,000 to 20,000 patients in an effort to preserve health care in Greater Westfield.

"We are concerned about primary care in the community. We need to keep those services here," said Ronald P. Bryant, president and CEO of Noble Hospital. "This is about access to care for patients."

The move will double the size of Noble's primary care practice, called Noble Medical Group, to 14.

Bryant, speaking in an interview Monday, said he expects the arrangements to be completed by the end of October. Noble is hiring doctors and former Hampden County Physician Associates employees. It's not buying the business.

Noble's new hiring involves doctors and staffers from Hampden County Physician Associates offices in Westfield, Southwick and the Feeding Hills section of Agawam.

Noble Hospital will move the Hampden County Physician Associates  office at 140 Southampton Road in Westfield to new offices at its building at 57 Union St. where Noble Medical Group is now located along with Noble Express Care urgent care center, Bryant said. While he expects the deal to be completed by the end of October he doesn't have a timetable yet on the move.

The office on College Highway in Southwick will remain with a few equipment upgrades, he said.

Bryant said noble is working with the landlord at Hampden County Physician Associates Feeding Hills location, 1158 Springfield St., and he hopes to know more definitively soon.

"I am committed to having a presence in Feeding Hills," he said.

Hampden County Physician Associates filed for bankruptcy early this month saying it 's fiances were crippled when doctors left and it couldn't replace them.

In bankruptcy court, lawyers for Hampden County Physician Associates said the practice was planning a three-way split with most of the practice. Five of 14 locations and representing about half its 27 member physicians will be sold to Sisters of Providence Health System. Allergists plan to split off on their own.

Sisters of Providence has not been able to provide an update on it's portion of the story.

At the time of the bankruptcy filing Hampden County Physician Associates included  a total of about 270  employees including 68 health care providers, a number that includes the 27 doctors and other professionals. Those providers served about  about 55,000 patients.

It was  one of the oldest and largest doctor's practices in the region.

There is a trend toward more hospital-owned medical practices with doctors working as employees, not as owners, Bryant said

More than half  of physician practices in the United States are hospital owned, according to survey data quoted by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Bryant said one  reason is that new models of paying for care stress continuum of care and preventative medicine over fee-for-service. It is easier to run an efficient practice under that model as part of a hospital.

"You need that economy of scale," he said.

The move is not about increasing Noble's market share, he said

"Their patients come here anyway," he said. "That is why we want to keep the primary care in the community."

Both Hampden County Physician Associates and Noble Hospital use the same company for billing. Noble will take control of medical records.

"On the surface, the patients will not see any changes or disruptions," he said.

Noble is growing, he said, but focusing on outpatient care versus inpatient hospital stays. That is a trend in all of health care, he said.

With 612 employees, Noble has 96 licensed beds.

Hadley police charge second suspect, a 19-year-old Montague man, in Mount Warner Road home invasion

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The home invasion occurred shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

HADLEY – Police, with the assistance of Montague police, have arrested a second suspect in a home invasion invasion reported last week on Mount Warner Road.

The home invasion occurred shortly before midnight on Wednesday. It was spurred by a long-standing dispute between the victim and one of the suspects, police said.

That suspect. 18-year-old Kenneth Langdon of Amherst, was arrested by police in that community early Thursday morning.

Alejandro Arean Raines, 19, of Montague, was arrested on a warrant and is slated to be arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown Monday.

The Hadley Police Department announced the second arrest Saturday on its Facebook page.

Officer David Isakson said the two suspects approached the home and knocked on the door. When there was no answer, they broke into the home, Isakson said.

It was not immediately clear from the police report if the victim was injured. Isakson said, however, that the suspects broke a bedroom window and a porch window on the way out.

Langdon was charged with home invasion and vandalism of property. The charges against Raines were not immediately available.

Westfield to launch community campaign to promote downtown

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The Westfield Business Improvement District promoted the downtown for several years before it was dissolved in August.

WESTFIELD - City and business leaders will launch a community campaign Wednesday aimed at promoting downtown beautification and event programming to benefit Westfield on Weekends.

The kick-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Park Square where Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, United Bank Regional President Dena Hall and James R. Adams, city councilor and vice president of Frition-Adams Funeral Home, will announce the initiative.

Adams said Monday the campaign effort is being considered as a replacement for the Westfield Business Improvement District which was dissolved in August.

"We received a refund on our BID membership and have decided to double that and help promote Westfield on Weekends and all it does for our city," said Adams. Frition-Adams has committed $1,500 to help launch to the campaign.

While complete details of the campaign will be announced Wednesday, Knapik said Monday it is the result of "certain members of the business community demonstrating a united commitment to our downtown and city as a whole."

WOW President Robert A. Plasse said "Wednesday's announcement means a lot for the future of our city as a whole, the commitment of Westfield on Weekends and business and city leaders to maintain a vibrant downtown."

Knapik added that "We have made great strides to improve Westfield and its downtown over the years. This campaign means we will not take a huge step backwards but instead commit to our future." The mayor said United Bank and Frition Adams expressed interest in leading the campaign.

The former BID, through membership fees by downtown business, helped maintain and cleanup the downtown and to promote Westfield on Weekends and its numerous public events held each year.

Expansion of bottle bill gets support from former chief park ranger as anti-litter effort

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Rudge adds his voice to supporters expansion of the bottle bill, -- a 5-cent container deposit -- to include water bottles, sports drinks and other on-the-go beverage containers arguing that parks and open spaces are littered with the containers.

BOSTON — Proponents of expanding the bottle bill have tapped former Massachusetts Chief Park Ranger Curt Rudge to urge a "yes" vote on Question 2 in a new video testimonial launched on Monday.

Rudge adds his voice to supporters who want the bottle bill expanded so the 5-cent deposit would be included on water bottles, sports drinks and other on-the-go beverage containers. He argued there is a lingering litter problem even in communities with curbside recycling and a worse issue in those without it.

"Curbside recyling is wonderful, but many cities and towns in Massachusetts," don't have curbside," Rudge says. "There is still so much litter from non-deposit bottles in our parks and open spaces," he continues in the video while holding three water bottles found on a walking trail in Worcester.

In his 39 years working for the state park system, Rudge says he's seen the damage that bottle litter does to forests, rivers and beaches. "I can tell you the bottle bill works," he says.

The "Yes on 2 campaign" says the updated bottle bill will save cities and towns approximately $7 million a year in litter pickup and trash disposal costs and will reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and incinerators.

On Friday, the "Stop Litter: Yes on 2" campaign announced it has the support of the entire Berkshire delegation of elected officials including: Rep. Tricia-Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield; Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru; Rep. Smitty Pignatelli. D-Lenox; Rep. Gail Cariddi, D-North Adams; Sen. Ben Downing, D-Pittsfield; North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright; Pittsfield Mayor Dan Bianchi; Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless, and Berkshire County Sheriff Tom Bowler.

The Berkshire delegation joined a list of supporters including Gov. Deval L. Patrick, the Sierra Club, Mass Audubon, Environmental League of Massachusetts, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, MASSPIRG.

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