Paul Hinkel, 57, was convicted in a federal trial after he responded to a Craigslist ad from a fictional mother seeking a man to have sex with her fictional underage daughter.

BOSTON — A 57-year-old man placed a stuffed animal and some sex toys into a bag, then set out to meet a 15-year-old Massachusetts girl for a sexual rendezvous in Watertown.

The reality check for the man: The underage girl was a fairy tale manufactured by federal agents, who promptly arrested the man.

This is the story of Paul R. Hinkel, who was convicted Tuesday of using the Internet to lure a minor to engage in sex following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Boston.

The Chester, Connecticut, resident is facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison when he's sentenced May 5.

Hinkel's legal woes began in February 2014. That's when undercover federal agents placed an advertisement on Craigslist posing as a mother seeking an adult male for a sexual relationship with her daughter. Hinkel responded to the ad and wasn't deterred after learning the daughter was only 15, according to federal prosecutors.

Hinkel subsequently engaged in hundreds of email exchanges with undercover agents, detailing the sexual activities that he planned to engage in with the girl. On March 19, 2014, he traveled to Watertown to meet and have sex with the "fictional minor daughter," but instead was met by agents from Homeland Security Investigations, prosecutors said.

He carried a bag to the door with him, which agents later discovered contained sexual paraphernalia, men's cologne and a stuffed animal, according to U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.

The case was tried by Eve A. Piemonte Stacey and Jordi de Llano, both assistant federal attorneys in Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.

Watertown police, Massachusetts State Police, and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aerial unit assisted with the investigation.

University of Massachusetts and town officials are working to make sure that the non school-sanctioned event does not get out of control again this year.

Soto painted a less rosy picture of the city in terms of problems and goals than the mayor did.

HOLYOKE -- Ward 2 Councilor Anthony Soto is considering runs for mayor and for reelection to the council and will announce plans by April, he said Wednesday.

Soto also declined to comment on whether he will continue living here long-term since he married Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong in November.

"I'll definitely make an announcement by April about what my future plans are," Soto said.

He is in second term as Ward 2 councilor.

Soto's name is often mentioned in discussions about who might challenge Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is in the second year of his second, two-year term. Morse has said he will run for a third term on Election Day Nov. 3.

After Morse gave a state-of-the-city address to the City Council Tuesday, Soto was asked if he will confirm the speculation and run for mayor. Soto, speaking outside City Council Chambers, was noncommittal but said he saw a city that had problems that needed attention.

"At this time, what I'm thinking about is our schools are ready to be taken over by the state, we've hit the tax-levy ceiling and it looks like we're definitely going to be having layoffs," Soto said.

The state is considering taking over the public schools here because of chronically poor student academic results, a continued low, though improving, high school graduation rate, and the inability of most third-graders to read English well, officials have said.

Morse said in the speech to the City Council that while it was impossible to ignore the "overwhelming evidence" that the schools need to improve, a corporate or charter organization taking over the system is unacceptable.

Morse said later that Soto's reading of the current budget situation requiring employee layoffs is wrong.

"He's welcome to his reading, but he's not correct at this time. I have no plans for any layoffs," Morse said.

Morse said Wednesday he was working on goals outlined in his speech and not a Soto candidacy for mayor.

"I look forward to working with Councilor Soto, and all councilors to make these important changes happen," Morse said.

Paul P. Bowes, who lives in Ward 7, is the only resident besides Morse who has taken out nomination papers for a possible run for mayor. Bowes also has taken out papers for possible bids for Ward 7 City Council and City Council at large, according to the city website.

Another possible mayoral candidate, School Committee member John P. Brunelle, said Jan. 19 that people have asked him about running for mayor but that instead he will seek another term as Ward 5 school board member.

If Soto decides against running to keep the Ward 2 council seat, he would be the third incumbent ward councilor who planned to vacate. Ward 6's Todd A. McGee and Gordon P. Alexander of Ward 7 have said they aren't running for reelection.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ordered the retail giant to work with Jacqueline Cote of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

BOSTON -- A federal agency says Wal-Mart discriminated against a lesbian employee who sought health coverage for her ailing wife and has ordered "a just resolution" for violating her civil rights.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ordered the retail giant to work with Jacqueline Cote of New Bedford, Massachusetts, who hopes the determination will help her pay off $100,000 in medical bills.

File 

Cote tried to enroll her partner in Wal-Mart's health plan repeatedly starting in 2008, but coverage was denied and the company didn't provide it until 2014. In 2012, Cote's wife, Diana Smithson, was diagnosed with cancer.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said it expanded its policy in 2014 to include same-sex couples.

"While we disagree with the finding of reasonable cause, we have notified the EEOC of our willingness to meet with them and Miss Cote to discuss resolving the matter," spokesman Randy Hargrove said.

Cote, 52, and Smithson, 63, met while working at a Wal-Mart store in Augusta, Maine, in 1999. They moved to Massachusetts where they continued to work for Wal-Mart and where they married in May 2004, just days after the state legalized same-sex marriage.

Smithson quit in 2007 to take care of Cote's elderly mother. That prompted Cote to try to add Smithson to her health plan the following year.

Cote said she tried to enroll online, but the system wouldn't let her proceed when she indicated her spouse was a woman. When she sought an official explanation, she was told that same-sex spouses were not covered.

Each year thereafter, she tried and failed to enroll Smithson -- including in 2012, when Smithson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

"I was shocked," said Cote, who was working in the company's East Falmouth, Massachusetts, store at the time. She said her colleagues in every Wal-Mart store she has worked in have been supportive of the couple.

In 2013, Cote reached out to Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, which filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC the following year.

"If she was a woman married to a man, she would have been given spousal health benefits," said Allison Wright, an attorney with GLAD who is representing Cote.

Wright said the next step will be attempting settlement negotiations with Wal-Mart.

"We're estimating up to about $100,000 worth of medical expenses and other damages because of Wal-Mart's discriminatory denial," she said.

Cote said the couple paid out of pocket for Smithson's medical expenses in 2012, when Smithson lost her private health coverage, and up until Jan. 1, 2014, when Wal-Mart's expanded policy took effect.

The couple has "an inordinate amount of bills," said Cote, who now works in Wal-Mart's Swansea, Massachusetts, store as an office associate. Smithson was in remission for 18 months but resumed chemotherapy treatments last month.

"I'm not only doing this for me," Cote said. "I'm doing this for other gay and lesbian couples that have been discriminated against as well."

Public works crews now are widening streets to remove snow and get the parking ban lifted.

HOLYOKE -- It was a pretty good night Tuesday (Feb. 17) to be William D. Fuqua, the general superintendent of the Department of Public Works: He left City Hall with praise and $250,000.

The City Council unanimously approved a transfer from the free cash account to the Department of Public Works (DPW) for additional snow-removal costs after councilors said the DPW workers have done well in clearing streets during the season of frequent snow storms.

"Thank you, I appreciate it," Councilor at Large James M. Leahy said.

"We get the calls (from residents about snowy streets) and you've done a fantastic job and we appreciate it," council President Kevin A. Jourdain said.

Mayor Alex B. Morse also began his state-of-the-city address to the City Council by saying he wanted to give "a special shout out to Bill Fuqua and the entire DPW" for snow-removal work.

Holyoke began the fiscal year July 1 with $512,850 for snow removal and overtime for snow-removal employees.

As of Tuesday (Feb. 17), the city has spent $880,000. That consists of the originally budgeted amount along with transfers the City Council approved in recent months from the free cash account to the DPW and requests for additional money that have been in committee, Fuqua said.

The council tabled a separate request on the agenda to permit the DPW to conduct deficit-spending in the snow-removal budget, to accrue bills even if that account is empty, as allowed under state law.

The last time the city did deficit-spending because of large amounts of snow was in 2011, Fuqua said.

"We'll have to look into it between now and the next two weeks," Jourdain said.

Leahy praised the DPW snow-removal efforts. He said he has received fewer phone-call complaints from residents about unplowed streets than in recent years.

Leahy said earlier that when he does get phone calls and emails from residents about unplowed streets, he reminds people the DPW first must clear major streets and hills.

"Side streets get taken care of after major streets like High Street and Main Street and Northampton Street are done. I have been keeping the public appraised of the parking bans via Facebook," Leahy said.

Earlier Tuesday, informed Leahy would be offering the DPW praise during the meeting, Fuqua said it helps to have work noticed.

William D. Fuqua, general superintendent of the Holyoke Department of Public Works, at Tuesday's (Feb. 17) City Council meeting at City Hall.(MIKE PLAISANCE / THE REPUBLICAN) 

"That's great to hear. We certainly appreciate it. It's nice to hear a compliment. We typically get concerns and complaints," Fuqua said.

Fuqua told the City Council the priority now is to continue widening streets to allow for removal of the parking ban that is effect until further notice.

A regular winter parking ban is in effect until further notice. That means parking is prohibited on the odd side of any city street.

Also, Fuqua told Jourdain, the DPW is planning to ensure snow is hauled from the main routes of the March 22 St. Patrick's Parade, on Northampton to Beech Streets and toward downtown.

Councilor at Large Howard B. Greaney asked if all city streets are considered wide enough with the presence of fat snowbanks for public safety vehicles' passage.

"Right now, I would say no, there are still some very narrow streets....We'll continue to prioritize those streets..." Fuqua said.

UMass reversed its position on Iranian nationals Wednesday.

AMHERST - The issue of the University of Massachusetts policy change on Iranian nationals came up Wednesday during the U.S. State Department press briefing.

On Wednesday, UMass reversed its position and said it would again accept Iranian graduate students in the computer science and engineering programs after last week saying it would ban students in those programs from entering.

This was the exchange between a reporter and spokeswoman Jen Psaki in Washington D.C.:

QUESTION: The University of Massachusetts said that they are reversing their original decision to not allow Iranian nationals studying engineering and science into their program, citing discussions with the State Department. Can you talk a little bit about what was discussed or what was conveyed to them regarding the policy?

MS. PSAKI: Well, we had a conversation with UMass-Amherst about their decision and also conveyed that U.S. law does not prohibit qualified Iranian nationals coming to the United States for education in science and engineering. We also would offer to provide the necessary guidance for any school that has questions about this or wants to have discussions about the implementation of relevant laws.

QUESTION: As a follow-up, one of the things that they cite is that the Department of Homeland Security was denying re-entry back in to the United States, and that was one of the reason(s) for some of these Iranian nationals - that was one of the reasons why they were implementing this policy. Is that anything that was discussed on your end or --

MS. PSAKI: I would certainly refer you to the Department of Homeland Security. I can just speak to what is required by law or by the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action.

QUESTION: Jen, a follow-up on this issue. Are you saying that the school's original interpretation of this law was incorrect and this is what led to the reversal?

MS. PSAKI: I would point you to UMass-Amherst for them to speak to their decision to reverse it.

In the press release, UMass officials said they would develop individualized study plans to meet the requirements of federal sanctions law and address the impact on students. The decision to revise the university's approach follows consultation with the State Department and outside counsel, according to the release.

"This approach reflects the university's longstanding commitment to wide access to educational opportunities," said Michael Malone, vice chancellor for research and engagement.

"We have always believed that excluding students from admission conflicts with our institutional values and principles. It is now clear, after further consultation and deliberation, that we can adopt a less restrictive policy."

Plow driver Brian Weeks was able to walk away with minor injuries, the mayor said. Watch video

A snowplow operator who was clearing a road in New Jersey found his vehicle swallowed up by a sinkhole Tuesday morning.

According to WCBS-TV, Channel 2 in New York, the truck sank into a hole in Lopatcong Township, N.J.

WFMZ-TV, Channel 69 in Allentown, Pa., reported that people living on Wordsworth Lane were having problems with water service Monday night.

We "noticed we didn't have water in the house and thought we had frozen pipes," homeowner Craig McCambridge told the station. "So, I checked the house. Everything seemed good, and I thought it was something on the outside."

Another resident, Curtis Vielstich, noticed water pressure was low in his house, MassLive's sister website, LehighValley.com reported. By morning, a large sinkhole opened up right in front of his house.

"We got the call that school was delayed, so we went back to bed," Vielstich said as police and firefighters gathered around the hole, the truck's cab and plow sticking into the air. "Next thing we know, the driver's pounding on our door."

Vielstich said water was gushing under the truck before service was shut off.

A snowplow is seen stuck in a sinkhole that opened up Tuesday morning Lopacong Township, N.J. Tim Wynkoop / LehighValleyLive.com 

The driver, identified as Brian Weeks, was able to walk away from the accident, but had to be treated at a hospital for what authorities said were minor injuries.

It took workers more than two hours to get the truck out of the 20-feet wide by 15-wide deep hole.

"If you look at that truck and the angle it's on, it's a miracle in itself," Lopatcong Mayor Thomas McKay told WFMZ.

McCambridge said he is grateful that no one was seriously hurt, and that the sinkhole didn't open up moments earlier when his wife was driving over it.

"Could have been worse, you know," he said. "It was scary for me."

Juliet Garcia was president of the University of Texas.

NORTHAMPTON— Juliet V. Garcia will deliver the Commencement Address at Smith College in May, school officials have announced.

Garcia is the first Mexican-American woman to lead a U.S. college or university. At the University of Texas at Brownsville Garcia expanded educational opportunities for Hispanic and first-generation students.

For the first time ever, as the result of a student initiative, the ceremony will be translated live, into Spanish and Mandarin. Students identified these two languages as the top priority for translation this year, officials said.

Garcia will receive an honorary degree at commencement along with several other distinguished guests.

Eighteen homes in town are without water because a main that runs under a bridge over the Massachusetts Turnpike is frozen, officials say.

Michael Olen, 60, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Boston to hiding thousands of dollars in business income over a five-year period by intentionally filing false tax returns with the IRS.

BOSTON 𔃀 The owner of a Boston-area roofing company who hid almost $1.2 million from the Internal Revenue Service is facing possible prison time for his crime, according to federal prosecutors.

Michael Olen, 60, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boston to hiding thousands of dollars in business income over a five-year period by intentionally filing false tax returns with the IRS.

Olen is facing up to three years in prison, fines and probation. He's due to be sentenced May 27.

Olen was owner and operator of O'Lyn Contractors Inc., a Norwood-based roofing company that mostly accepted checks from customers. Authorities allege that Olen hid a substantial amount of his business income from his tax preparer, diverting customer payments to his personal accounts. Consequently, the tax preparer unwittingly entered false figures for O'Lyn's business income and personal income, according to prosecutors.

In 2008, prosecutors said, Olen hid 97 payments in this manner, diverting 78 payments to his personal bank accounts and cashing 19 checks at a local check-cashing service. In 2008 alone, he underreported his income from O'Lyn Contractors by $207,567, according to authorities. Olen used the same method to hide income during tax years 2004-2007, officials said.

In addition to possible prison time and a $100,000 fine, a judge could order Olen to pay for the cost of his prosecution and pay restitution to the IRS for the cumulative tax losses.

The case was prosecuted and investigated by the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and the IRS's Criminal Investigation unit in Boston. The case was prosecuted by Andrew E. Lelling, an assistant attorney in Ortiz's Economic Crimes Unit.

An image taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA's Terra satellite shows the northeastern United States completely covered in snow, and a lot of it.

It's not quite the snow- and ice-covered planet Hoth from "Star Wars" or the Klingon penal colony on the frozen asteroid Rura Penthe from "Star Trek," but a satellite photo from the Earthly space agency NASA shows the northeastern United States completely covered in snow, and a lot of it.

The image was taken on Monday by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA's Terra satellite. The photo followed the weekend blizzard dubbed Winter Storm Neptune by The Weather Channel that dumped a foot or more of snow over large swaths of eastern New England.

Temperatures on Monday dropped to as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34deg Celsius) in some New England areas, making our little corner of the planet especially icy when the photo was taken.

If you click on the thumbnail image below to enlarge it, look closely: You can see a white line across southwestern and south central Massachusetts — the path of the 2011 tornado from Springfield to Charlton. NBC Connecticut meteorologist Brad Field sent a tweet about the tornado scar.

View full size 

According to NASA, almost eight feet of snow has fallen on Boston in the past three weeks:

With temperatures persistently below freezing, very little snow has melted. According to National Climatic Data Center statistics the snow depth just south of Boston was roughly 42 inches (107 centimeters). Totals were above 30 inches (76 centimeters) in many locations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

As of Feb. 17, the snow depth near Boston was greater than in all but two reported locations in Alaska. It was significantly higher than the notoriously snowy states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Only Buffalo, New York, had a higher snow pack.

The Dow Jones industrial average slipped about 18 points.

By STEVE ROTHWELL

NEW YORK -- The U.S. stock market edged mostly lower on Wednesday, easing back from its latest all-time highs.

The markets barely budged following the midafternoon release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting. The transcript showed that policymakers were less likely to raise interest rates in June than investors previously thought.

The decline follows two straight days of record closing highs for the Standard & Poor's 500 index.

"The market had really gathered steam around a June tightening date, the minutes seem to have walked that back a bit," said David Lafferty, chief market strategist at Natixis Global Asset Management.

The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 17.73 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,029.85. The S&P 500 eased 0.7 point, or 0.03 percent, to 2,099.68. The index closed at an all-time high of 2,100.34 on Tuesday.

The Nasdaq composite rose 7.10 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,906.36.

Major stock indexes opened lower early Wednesday. Energy stocks declined as the price of oil fell amid speculation that a recent rally in crude was excessive.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude, which had been rising last week, fell $1.39 to $52.14 a barrel Wednesday. The price of oil has jumped 16 percent since bottoming out at the end of January after a seven-month slump.

Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, fell $2 to $60.53 a barrel.

Investors hammered Fossil Group's shares after the retailer issued a disappointing fourth-quarter earnings report and outlook. The stock fell the most among companies in the S&P 500, shedding $15.63, or 15.7 percent, to $83.69.

Stocks continued to drift lower ahead of the release of the meetings from the Fed's January meeting.

But the declines eased after 2 p.m. Eastern time, when the minutes appeared to ease any concerns that the central bank would raise rates anytime soon.

The minutes revealed that officials were concerned about the impact on financial markets of dropping the word "patient" from their communications, when describing how long they were willing to wait before raising rates.

Officials noted that wage growth has remained weak even as the unemployment rate has declined. Inflation remains below the Fed's 2 percent target. The Fed's benchmark interest rate has been at a record low near zero since December 2008.

Government bonds rallied after the release of the Fed's minutes. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, fell to 2.08 percent from 2.14 percent late Tuesday.

All told, four of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500 ended lower. Energy stocks slumped the most, declining 1.5 percent. Utilities notched the biggest gain at 2.4 percent.

The S&P 500 has bounced back after a weak start to the year, as a rebound in the price of oil has boosted energy stocks and returned the index to all-time highs. Strong reports on hiring and company earnings have also encouraged investors. The gains have come, even as a strengthening dollar has curbed overseas earnings for companies in the index.

Most companies in the S&P 500 index have now reported their results for the fourth quarter. Earnings are forecast to rise 7.6 percent after all the results are in, according to S&P Capital IQ. That compares with growth of 9.2 percent in the third quarter and a rate of 4.9 percent in the same period a year earlier.

In metals trading, gold fell $8.40, or 0.7 percent, to $1,199.70 an ounce. Silver fell 11 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $16.27 an ounce and copper rose 3 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $2.61 a pound.

The dollar gained against the euro, pushing the currency down to $1.14. The U.S. currency fell to 118.71 against the Japanese yen.

Investors also had their eye on developments in Greece, where the government is set to ask its European creditors to extend a 240 billion-euro international loan agreement -- but without the deep spending cuts and income reductions from the country's austerity program.

Greece's bailout program expires after Feb. 28 and there are worries that a failure to extend it may force the country out of the euro, and potentially damage the global economy. Investors are optimistic, however, that Greece will reach a compromise with its creditors.

In other energy futures trading, the price of wholesale gasoline fell 2 cents to $1.574 a gallon. Heating oil slipped 2 cents to $1.959 a gallon. Natural gas rose 7 cents to $2.831 per 1,000 cubic feet.

MacLean became an Amherst patrol officer in September 2001 and a detective in July 2008.

Sgt. Richard MacLeanAMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT 

AMHERST — Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone announced Wednesday on the Police Department's blog that Detective Richard P. MacLean has been promoted to the rank of sergeant. The promotion took effect Feb. 11.

MacLean was promoted after an extensive selection process that included a written exam and interviews with Livingstone and Town Manager John P. Musante. The promotion will fill the position left vacant after David Knightly was promoted to lieutenant.

MacLean became an Amherst patrol officer in September 2001 and a detective in July 2008.

As a detective, he obtained extensive specialized training in criminal investigative techniques, including sexual assault and homicide investigations.

MacLean is a member of the department's Bicycle Patrol, Warrant Entry Team, and was a field training officer and ropes course instructor. He's also an academy instructor for the Massachusetts Police Training Committee, a "drug recognition expert instructor" for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and a breath-test operator instructor for the Massachusetts State Police.

A 2002 graduate of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Academy, MacLean was a member of the Agawam academy's 36th Municipal Police Officer Class and received the Physical Fitness Award.

He earned his bachelor's degree with honors from Bridgewater State College, and his master's in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England College.

The man and four others were walking on a path between the Simoni Ice Skating Arena in Cambridge when the snow fell off.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Snow falling off a Boston-area ice rink roof buried a man and pummeled four other people Wednesday as they were walking on a path near the rink, police said.

The man was partially dug out by his brother and a rink employee before firefighters arrived to free him, according to employee Robert Biasella. Two people were taken to the hospital for evaluation but no one was seriously hurt, authorities said.

Police spokesman Jeremy Warnick said the five were walking on a path between the Simoni Ice Skating Arena in Cambridge and sports playing fields when they had the "unfortunate luck" of being in the spot where the snow fell off the roof at about 6:30 p.m.

Deane T. Bates, 17, of Southampton, was uninjured in a Vermont crash, but his pickup truck got banged up pretty good, according to Vermont State Police officials at the Rutland barracks.

KILLINGTON, Vt. — A Western Massachusetts teenager was cited for speeding after a Tuesday night wipeout on a snow-covered road in Rutland County, Vermont.

Deane T. Bates, 17, of Southampton, crashed a pickup truck on West Hill Road in Killington at about 8 p.m., according to Vermont State Police officials at the Rutland barracks. Bates was uninjured, but the 2008 Toyota Tundra sustained "moderate damage to the passenger's side quarter panel, doors, and truck bed," police said.

Bates was southbound on West Hill Road when he lost control of the truck near the intersection of Timberline Drive. The vehicle spun about 180 degrees and crossed into the oncoming lane, crashing into a snow bank and damaging "the entire passenger side of the vehicle," police said.

Speed was determined to be a contributing factor in the crash, police said. Bates was issued a traffic ticket for "traveling too fast for the road conditions, accident resulting," police said.

The Justice Department is expected to stop short of filing charges against Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.

The Justice Department is threatening to sue the Ferguson, Missouri, police department over an alleged pattern of racial discrimination by officers unless the department agrees to make changes on its own, CNN reported Wednesday night, citing unnamed sources.

The Justice Department is expected to stop short of filing charges against Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, CNN said. However, the agency is planning to release a report shortly showing a pattern of discriminary tactics by the Ferguson police.

Among the allegations that could be part of a Justice Department lawsuit are that officers in Ferguson targeted minorities with minor traffic violations, then jailed them if they couldn't pay the fines.

Ferguson police Chief Thomas Jackson told CNN said he had not heard anything new from the Justice Department on its investigation.

"Everything they suggested in the past has been reasonable and we have tried to comply," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Northampton Fire Rescue crew members practiced a simulated emergency call in which a passenger had to be extricated from the Amtrak Vermonter, the train service that recently was restored to Northampton.

NORTHAMPTON — Some local public safety agencies are prepping for mishaps large and small now that passenger rail service has been restored to a handful of Western Massachusetts cities – communities that hadn't seen a train pull into the station for roughly a quarter century.

The addition of high-speed rail service poses potential new challenges for Northampton firefighters, several whom recently had the opportunity to train on one of Amtrak's passenger cars to simulate a victim extrication.

It's been less than two months since the Amtrak Vermonter made stops in Northampton and Greenfield for the first time since 1989, but Northampton firefighters are already training for possible emergencies that may arise from the restored service.

To that end, Northampton Fire Rescue members braved bitter temperatures to practice removing a "victim" from a train car. That exercise involved strapping a training dummy into a rescue sled and lowering it down a ladder that was extended to one of the car's windows, while firefighters stabilized the sled to make sure it didn't slip off the ladder.

The Vermonter runs daily between Washington, D.C., and St. Albans, Vermont. In between, it serves dozens of stops, including New Haven's Union Station, New York's Penn Station and Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, in addition to its local stops here in the Pioneer Valley. Passenger service is expected to be restored to Holyoke sometime this spring.

It took a $120 million state and federal project, $73 million of which came from the federal stimulus program, to return the Vermonter to the Connecticut River Valley.

Vermont spent $53 million in state and federal money rehabbing the tracks in the Green Mountain State, while Connecticut is spending about $450 million on rail improvements in that state.

In addition to the new reporting plan, Park Superintendent Patrick Sullivan said the city will assist the zoo in any way it can in making improvements to the facility with the help of a volunteer grants writer and animal rights activist Sarah Oulton of Agawam. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — In the wake of confusion and misinformation about the deaths of two monkeys at the Forest Park Zoo this winter, the city and the private non-profit operating the zoo are setting up system whereby the zoo will report animal deaths to the city Department of Health and Human Services.

The plan emerged on Thursday during a meeting of the Park Commission to discuss implementation of reporting system when an animal dies at the zoo along with ways in which the zoo's physical plant could be improved.

Under the informal agreement, Zoo Director John Lewis, a city employee who runs the zoo for the Forest Park Zoological Society, will report any future animal deaths to the city's Health Department.

There is no state requirement that the the animal deaths to be reported to the state health department, a zoo official said.

A 19-month-old Marmoset monkey died Dec. 29 as a result of injuries suffered in a fight with other monkeys, Lewis said. Another monkey, a 10-year-old Tamarin, died on Jan. 3 after a circuit breaker tripped, knocking out power and heat to the monkey's shed, he said.

The city didn't learn of the deaths until earlier this month.

The heating problem has since been rectified, Lewis said.

In addition to the new reporting plan, Park Superintendent Patrick Sullivan said the city will assist the zoo in any way it can in making improvements to the facility with the help of a volunteer grants writer and animal rights activist Sarah Oulton, of Agawam.

Outlon, a recent graduate of Western New England University Law School and one of the founders of the Animal Law Association on campus, attended the meeting and offered her services at no cost.

"I've had a lot of experience in grant-writing," she said, "and I want to help."

Michele Rooke, a member of the zoological society's board, said the zoo holds fundraisers and uses gate receipts to fund the zoo. "We could always use more money," she said.

Among the zoo's wish list, Rooke said, are new security system, generators, a new barn and better drainage.

Patrick Sullivan, superintendent of the Park Department, expressed support for the zoo and its staff, saying the property is clean and the animals are well cared for.

Sullivan said the general public may not be aware of all the good work the zoo does with injured animals. Currently the zoo animals include a red fox that was hit by a car; a bobcat that was blinded; and an eagle with a wounded wing.

"The city needs the zoo," Sullivan said. "The story of how the zoo is saving these animals needs to be told."

Lewis said the wounded animals could not survive in the wild, adding that if they hadn't found a home in the zoo they would have been euthanized.

As for the monkeys living at the zoo, Lewis explained that they are part of a breeding program run by a national association that aims to keep the species – such as cotton-top Tamarin – from becoming extinct.

In response to some public calls for the zoo to revert to a "petting zoo," Lewis said the practice is frowned upon now because of fears of the goats and other animals transmitting diseases to humans.

Sullivan said Ouldron's offer is one of the silver linings in the aftermath of the unforeseen deaths.

Faculty and students said UMass' reputation has been harmed because of Iranian policy.

AMHERST - University of Massachusetts Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy apologized to the campus Thursday and said he takes full responsibility for what happened with the policy to first ban Iranian nationals from certain programs then reverse the ban.

He also explained what led to the ban at Thursday's Faculty Senate meeting and answered questions.

Professors, students and others also spoke expressing their anger and concerns about the effect all the attention has brought to the university.   

On Feb. 13, the university notified the campus that that it will no longer admit Iranian national students to specific programs in the College of Engineering and in the College of Natural Sciences effective Feb. 1.

After criticism from students, faculty and staff on campus as the National Iranian American Council among other places, and after consulting with the U.S. State Department, UMass reversed its decision Wednesday.

With the university coming under attack, "we've taken giant steps backwards," he said.

And while the university reversed course he acknowledged, "the damage was done."

He said he wanted to provide the context "not make excuses. I want to talk about the lessons learned as well as move forward."

The intersection between international law and what happens on campus "is something very delicate.

"The campus has never restricted admissions. I'm very proud of that." He said he wouldn't be on campus if the campus weren't open. He is from India.

He said on Dec. 22 a student from Iran had gone home and couldn't renter.

  He said that changed "from what was a simply a hypothetical (situation)" to one more concrete. He said since the campus is part of a system and "central legal office which monitors all compliance issues" got involved and retained outside counsel, which advised the campus to create the policy.

In keeping with "my penchant for doing everything in the open," he wanted the policy known. "A lot of universities are quietly doing things. We thought it was in the best interest our students."

"It's very complex terrain which universities are operating under. We were the first one to say this is how we are grappling with this complex terrain.

 "The lesson we should have done in hindsight perhaps is to suspend the admissions policy ... take more time to establish (it.)" 

He said there was consultation on campus. "I'm not going to say it was extensive."

And he said, "I accept responsibility. I apologize. This is not what anyone wants. 

He said that he would create a task force to look at the issue as it moves forward

In reversing its decision Wednesday, UMass officials said they will develop individualized study plans to meet the requirements of federal sanctions law and address the impact on students. Some are concerned about what that means and whether there will still be discrimination.

Faculty and students told the chancellor they are concerned about what this has done to the university's reputation.

Associate engineering professor Paul Siqueira said he has worked a lot of jobs I his life by "I've ever been as embarrassed about a place I have worked for."

He said the university should have consulted with departments and taken time with the decision "before it became public for all the world to see. We are evaluated by our peers." He said he's concerned about "our ability to attract other students."

"This has been catastrophic for our reputation," Emery Berger, a professor in the School of Computer Science said. He said a New York Times reporter was at the meeting and what happened was costing the university. "Heads need to role. The way it (the message) was delivered was shameless."

 Political Science student Mohsen Jalali said he has felt threatened since the policy was enacted. "We felt betrayed." He and others have concerns about what the new interpretation might be. "We want to be treated like others.

He also said he has read some of the comments posted with stories about the ban and said "They are nasty."  And what happened "It creates more hatred."

Soroush Farzinmoghadam said he left Iran four years ago because the government was repressive and he worried about expressing himself. And now he said, because of what happened "I don't feel safe."

After the meeting, Jalali said "I thought it was brave of the chancellor, he took full responsibility." And he said, he was grateful for all the support.

In Northampton, Warren touted Homeland Security grants for first responders, saying Republicans would imperil public safety to make a point about immigration. Watch video

NORTHAMPTON — Republicans in Congress are holding the Department of Homeland Security hostage in an attempt to block President Obama's executive orders on immigration, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said during a meeting with local officials at Northampton Fire Department headquarters on Thursday.

The Massachusetts Democrat said she wanted to discuss the impact upon local emergency services if Homeland Security funding runs out in 10 days. Funding for the department provided by a 2014 omnibus spending bill is set to run out Feb. 27, said Warren.

"If that happens, it will not only have a direct effect on Homeland Security, but upon the direct personnel who are needed for emergency services," Warren said during her meeting with Mayor David Narkewicz, Fire Chief Brian Duggan and others.

Warren touted the value of Homeland Security grant programs that provide staffing and equipment for emergency workers. Last year, said the senator, Massachusetts first responders benefited from $27 million in grant funding, allowing departments to hire personnel, purchase CPR equipment, provide for basic EMT training and more.

"Funding Homeland Security is essential," said Warren. "Lives depend upon it."

Warren's visit comes as a showdown brews in Washington over President Obama's move to provide deportation protection to more than four million illegal immigrants. Senate Democrats have blocked GOP legislation that would fully fund Homeland Security while at the same time repealing Obama's executive orders.

"(Republicans) want to make Homeland Security the hostage for reversing his executive orders. That's just wrong. It's fundamentally wrong," said Warren.

Duggan said the Northampton Fire Department has received $2 million in federal Homeland Security grants since 2002. A 2013 application for $72,000 for a sprinkler system at the Florence substation is still pending, he said.

In addition to purchasing life-saving equipment, the grants allowed the department to "kick start" an emergency medical service by hiring new staff; the paramedics hired with federal grants are now paid from ambulance receipts, said Duggan.

"It allowed us to think strategically, think long-term, and think regionally," said the fire chief. "It allowed us to have a continuity of operations that, with city budgets, we wouldn't have otherwise. And it protects the quality of life for people in Northampton."

Warren called for fully funding Homeland Security, not simply passing a continuing resolution to keep the department temporarily afloat. A continuing resolution would not include funding for grants, she said, but only provide for the continuation of already-committed funds.

The GOP is targeting Homeland Security because money for enforcement of immigration laws comes through that department, said Warren. She added that Democrats stand ready to debate any immigration bill that Republicans put on the table.

Warren said more money, not less, is needed to fund the fight against domestic terrorism and the needs of first responders across the country.

"These are the people who are willing to run into burning buildings. The least we can do is make sure they have the best equipment," she said.