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Springfield bishop to announce decision on future of Cathedral High School Monday

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The new bishop first raised concerns about declining enrollment and the financial sustainability of the school last November, sparking a controversy among Cathedral backers who believed a decision to rebuild the school at its Surrey Road location had already been made by former Bishop Timothy McDonnell, who retired last summer.

SPRINGFIELD — Monday is decision day for the future of tornado-damaged Cathedral High School.

After four weeks of reviewing a "draft plan" for the future of Catholic education in the diocese, the Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski will announce his decision about the fate of Cathedral High School during a diocesan press conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday at 65 Elliot St.

The highly anticipated announcement follows a Jan. 23-24 problem-solving workshop held at the Genesis Spiritual Life Center in Westfield where the bishop met with 15 Cathedral stakeholders to discuss the feasibility of rebuilding the Surrey Road school.

At the conclusion of last month's meetings, Rozanski – who characterized the sessions as "optimistic, upbeat and realistic" – said he would need a period of due diligence to determine if an unspecified plan would work.

The workshops, facilitated by Msgr. John Bonzagni and Kathy Bort, were a culmination of a review process begun by the diocese in the fall after Rozanski raised concerns about Cathedral's financial sustainability – including students' ability to pay the $9,300-a-year-tutition.

The new bishop first raised concerns about declining enrollment and the financial sustainability of the school in November, sparking a controversy among Cathedral backers who believed a decision to rebuild the school at its Surrey Road location had already been made by former Bishop Timothy McDonnell, who retired during the summer.

The uncertainty surrounding the fate of the school has triggered a community wide debate with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal urging the diocese to rebuild the school, which has been a fixture in the East Forest Park neighborhood since 1959.

Neal helped secure a $29 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help rebuild the school.

Following the bishop's statement, a grassroots organization – the Committee for Cathedral Action – stepped up its campaign to save the school, holding rallies and fundraisers to support the cause.

The Surrey Road School, originally built for 3,000 students, had about 400 students when the tornado hit.

Since then the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has rented the vacant Memorial School in Wilbraham and enrollment has declined to 217 this year.

Cathedral High has launched a $10 million an Endowment Fund for Tuition Assistance. Last month, the school announced it had raised $3.3 million in the drive.



Alex Duranleau, missing 22-year-old from Vermont, found dead

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The body of a young man from Vermont who was reported missing by his fiancé this week was found on Saturday.

LYDONVILLE, Vermont — The body of a young man from Vermont who was reported missing by his fiance this week was found on Saturday.

Vermont State Police patch

Vermont State Police say Alex Duranleau, 22, was last seen on Thursday by his fiance around 4 p.m. When he didn't report to work or show up for classes at Lyndon State College on Friday, she reported him missing around 2:30 p.m. to Chief Jack Harris of the Lyndonville Police Department.

His vehicle was found at the Lyndon Park and Ride on Center Street and a search of the area by Harris revealed fresh foot tracks in the snow leading to a river. Police say a jacket matching a clothing description provided to law enforcement was found near the footprints and a K-9 was dispatched to help search for Duranleau.

The dog tracked Duranleau's scent to the river and the scene was secured overnight. On Saturday, the State Police Scuba team along with members of the Lyndonville and Sheffield-Wheelock swift water rescue team were deployed and searched under the ice for approximately 45 minutes until his body was found.

Police say that although foul play isn't suspected, an investigation into the disappearance is ongoing while an autopsy is pending.


Photos: Ally Craven crowned Holyoke's 2015 Grand Colleen

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HOLYOKE - The St. Patrick's Committee of Holyoke, Inc. hosted the 61st Annual Grand Colleen Coronation Ball on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House. Ally K. Craven was crowned Holyoke's 2015 Grand Colleen at the event. Colleen finalist and member of the 2015 Grand Colleen court, Casey M. O'Connor was awarded the 2015 Bonnie Baker...

HOLYOKE - The St. Patrick's Committee of Holyoke, Inc. hosted the 61st Annual Grand Colleen Coronation Ball on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House.

Ally K. Craven was crowned Holyoke's 2015 Grand Colleen at the event.

Colleen finalist and member of the 2015 Grand Colleen court, Casey M. O'Connor was awarded the 2015 Bonnie Baker Miss Congeniality Award.

The event leads up to Holyoke's St. Patrick's Day parade in March.

Police file new sexual abuse charges against Becket man

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A 74-year-old Becket man was arraigned on 19 counts of rape of a child.

PITTSFIELD— A part-time Becket resident is being held without the right to bail after he was arraigned on charges he molested several children over the course of years at his houses in New Britain, Conn. and in Beckett.

Arturo Bravo, 74, entered pleas of not guilty to 19 counts of rape of a child with force and one count of assault to rape a child during his arraignment in Central Berkshire District Court Friday. Bravo was also charged in September 2014 with molesting a 14-year-old boy.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that State Police investigators filed affidavits alleging that Bravo recruited 3 boys between the ages of 7 and 13, showed them pornographic materials and offered them paid work on his homes. The abuse took place over the course of several years.

According to one allegedly victim, police said, Bravo abused him on 10 different occasions starting when he was 13 years old. Bravo provided him, beer, the affidavit claims, and offered to pay him for sex. The boy said he refused the last time and escaped Bravo's Arrowhead Lane Cabin in Becket.

Two other boys said they, too, were abused by Bravo when they were 7 and 8 years old at both Bravo's Becket cabin and his New Britain, Connecticut home.

An Assistant District Attorney for the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said it had investigated Bravo in 2004 but was unable to develop sufficient evidence to charge him.

Bravo was taken to the Berkshire County Jail pending a March 13 dangerousness hearing.

Authorities in Connecticut are also investigating alleged incidents of abuse that may have happened in Connecticut.

Winter weather advisory issued as latest snowstorm forecast to dump up to 6 more inches on Western Massachusetts

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It's like déjà vu, all over again. Another week and another snowstorm in New England.

SPRINGFIELD — It's like deja vu, all over again. Another week and another snowstorm in New England.

Ahead of the snow falling on Western Massachusetts Saturday afternoon, another winter weather advisory was issued for much of the region as the latest storm edged toward the Bay State.

Parking bans which had expired from the previous storm were again taking effect. And much like the which hit a week ago, the latest round is expected to continue until early Sunday.

According to Nick Morganelli, meteorologist for CBS 3 Springfield, media partner to The Republican and MassLive, 3-6 inches of accumulation is expected but the exact amount depends on where you are and the elevation.

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"We'll see precipitation begin early this afternoon as snow and continue to accumulate through midnight with 4-5 inches likely," Morganelli said in his forecast on Saturday. "Snow will mix with some sleet and rain after midnight south of the Mt. Holyoke range as temperatures approach 32 but it remains all snow across Franklin county, the Berkshires, and most of Hampshire county where 6 inches is likely."

The storm is expected to give way to warmer temperatures on Sunday, when Springfield is forecast to see a high of 38 degrees.

Out east, the greater Boston area is expected to receive just 2-4 inches of snow but the real concern is how that plays out considering the near-record amounts they've already had this winter. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported on Friday evening that its received 121 reports of collapsed buildings, roofs and buildings at risk of collapse since February 9.

"This additional precipitation will exacerbate the weight on roofs and elevate a risk of future roof collapses, especially those wide span flat roofs that have not been shoveled," the agency warned in its 38th briefing since winter weather dominated the conversation in New England.

MEMA reports that it has received 515 requests for resources since the January blizzard, and supported nearly 150 communities with snow removal.


West Springfield woman was under influence of drugs when she struck three pedestrians, killing one, according to grand jury indictment

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Immediately following the accident, Zemtsova appeared dazed, had an odor of alcohol on her breath and failed three filed sobriety tests, Kemp said.

SPRINGFIELD - A West Springfield woman has been indicted for motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of drugs in the death of a 7-year-old girl killed while crossing State Street in December.

Sandra S. Zemtsova, 48, of Russell St. is scheduled for arraignment Monday on a three-count indictment issued by a Hampden County grand jury.

In addition to the motor vehicle homicide charge, Zemtsova also faces two counts of operating under the influence of drugs while causing serious bodily injury in connection with injuries suffered by the girl's mother and her 8-year old cousin.

The arraignment will be held in Hampden Superior Court.

Zemtsova pleaded innocent to three driving while intoxicated charges during her arraignment in Springfield District Court, one day after she allegedly struck three pedestrians crossing State Street by the Springfield Library.

A witness at a nearby bus stop told police he saw the victims walk to the middle of the westbound lane, slow down and then continue across the street when they were struck by Zemtsova, Assistant District Attorney Christina Kemp said during the arraignment.

Zemtsova was arrested at the scene and police said she was driving 42 in a 30 mph zone before striking the pedestrians. All three victims suffered severe injuries, Kemp said.

When the 7-year-old died the next day, Zemtsova was charged with motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol. The girl was later identified as Destiny Gonzalez of Springfield.

Bail was set at $10,000 for the defendant, a native of Latvia who had no criminal record before the accident, according to her defense lawyers.

Immediately following the accident, the defendant appeared dazed, had an odor of alcohol on her breath and failed three filed sobriety tests, according to Kemp, who said Zemtsova fainted later at police headquarters.

White House says higher wages need to break decades of pay stagnation

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President Barack Obama's top economists say that even as the U.S. has managed to kick start a lasting and growing recovery, modest wage gains are far from making up for decades of paycheck stagnation for middle-class workers.


By JIM KUHNHENN

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's top economists say that even as the U.S. has managed to kick start a lasting and growing recovery, modest wage gains are far from making up for decades of paycheck stagnation for middle-class workers.

The White House, in its annual report to Congress, also warns that despite the nation's relative economic strength, slowdowns abroad still pose dangers at home.

The 400-page "Economic Report of the President" is a largely bullish portrayal of the economy replete with appendices, charts and statistical tables designed to support Obama's policy initiatives

As a political document, the report is likely to find little favor in the Republican-controlled Congress. But as an assessment of the state of the economy, it broadly tracks with Republicans who say lack of significant wage growth is a critical flaw of the current recovery.

The post-recession economy has been growing at an annual rate of 2.8 percent over the last two years, an improvement from 2.1 percent growth during the first three-and-a-half years of recovery.

Middle class income already is emerging as a key economic issue for the 2016 presidential and congressional elections.

The report dates weaknesses in wages back to 1973 when productivity slowed and income inequality between the top 1 percent and the bottom 90 percent expanded. Starting in 1995, fewer Americans began to participate in the labor force, further compounding pressure on wages.

"This is the big-picture challenge that we're trying to overcome as an economy," said Jason Furman, the chairman of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.

The report concludes that if the productivity, income gap and labor participation trend lines that were evident before 1973 had continued, a typical household would have nearly doubled its income by 2013, or an additional $51,000 a year.

The document uses the data to buttress Obama's domestic policy goals, including raising the minimum wage, increasing spending on education, overhauling the business tax system, and expanding international trade. As such, it underscores the difficulties facing Obama over the next 23 months of his presidency.

Republicans, who have majorities in the House and Senate, resist new spending initiatives and minimum wage increases. A majority of Democrats oppose trade deals. And changing the tax system is a heavy lift under any circumstance.

"The White House should focus less on trumpeting the slowest recovery in over 50 years, and more on finally cooperating with Congress to advance opportunity and jobs for the middle class," said Don Stewart, a top aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The White House report also contained cautionary signals.

"The available 2014 indicators suggest that the economies of Japan and our euro-area trading partners are sagging," the report states. "A slowdown abroad not only reduces our exports, but also raises risks of financial and other spillovers to the U.S. economy."

The report also says difficulties for consumers seeking low-interest loans are creating a headwind for the housing sector. It says that mortgage underwriting standards are tight, reducing access to home loans.

Despite efforts by the administration, the report concedes it may be some time before lenders improve access to credit, especially for borrowers with "less-than-pristine credit histories."

Springfield City Council considers zone changes for home construction, business expansion

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Two, two-family houses are proposed at 425 Central St.

SPRINGFIELD - The City Council will consider requests for zone changes and a special permit on Monday night including a proposal for two new houses on Central Street in the Maple High-Six Corners area.

The council meeting is at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

The Springfield Housing Authority is seeking a zone change from Residence B (two-family) to Residence C (multi-family) for 425 Central St. in order to build two, two-family houses on the site.

The property is vacant, but had previously housed an apartment building that was severely damaged in the 2011 tornado and was demolished.

In other action, the council will consider:

  • A zone change request filed by Joseph and Lisa Frigo, for two lots adjacent to Frigo's special foods store on Williams Street in the South End. The zone change from Residence C to Business A will allow Frigo's to construct a building for garage space and apartments. The lots are currently vacant and used for off-street parking.
  • A special permit request, filed by Richard Zarenek for the sale of cars at 466 Main St., in Indian Orchard.


  • John Boyle O'Reilly Club names Stephen O'Shea of Springfield as 'Irish Person of the Year'

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    The Irish Person of the Year has been a member of the John Boyle O'Reilly Club since 1956.

    SPRINGFIELD - The John Boyle O'Reilly Club recently announced its selection of Stephen O'Shea as the club's "Irish Person of the Year."

    O'Shea, a resident of Springfield, has been a member of the John Boyle since 1956, when it was located on Main Street in Springfield.

    A celebration to honor O'Shea is planned Sunday, March 1, at the John Boyle O'Reilly Club, 33 Progress Ave.

    O'Shea served the John Boyle in several different capacities including from January 1, 1980 to January 1982 as the Vice President and from 1982 to 1995 as the Secretary of the Club.

    He also served as a board member and was on the Scholarship Committee. In addition, Steve coached the Girls Celtic Softball team for years.

    Born in Dromolton, Curragh Village, County Kerry, O'Shea immigrated to this country on Sept. 25, 1956.

    He served in the U.S. Army in 1957 and was stationed in France where he was a member of the military police. He worked for Sweet Life for 35 years and retired in 1997.

    Married for 54 years to Kathleen (Ginty) O'Shea, Steve O'Shea is the proud father of six children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

    Coalition for Homeless Individuals calls for Mass. lawmakers to increase funding to combat causes of homelessness

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    A coalition of organizations who work to assist homeless individuals in Massachusetts is calling on state lawmakers to provide additional resources to assist with the mission amid what they describe as increased need and stagnant state funding.

    A coalition of organizations who work to assist homeless individuals in Massachusetts is calling on state lawmakers to provide additional resources to assist with the mission amid what they describe as increased need and stagnant state funding.

    The Coalition for Homeless Individuals announced this week that it will be speaking with state legislators to request an increase of $5.5 million in state funding, which they say will restore the line item to the same allocation as in 2001 when adjusted for inflation.

    "Massachusetts is facing a crisis with the number of individuals who need our help," said John Yazwinski, president and CEO of Father Bill's & MainSpring in Quincy in a statement. "For years, we have been doing as much as we can to provide outreach and services on a limited budget. But this winter has proven that we cannot continue to cut corners in the fight against homelessness."

    The coalition says the closure of the Long Island Bridge displaced more than 400 homeless people in the greater Boston area and that coupled with record snowfall this winter has dramatically increased the need for services for homeless individuals.

    The state budget draws a distinction between two kinds or homelessness- individual homelessness and family homeless. Homeless families have been in the spotlight as the state aims to end the practice of housing them in hotels and apartments, primarily in Gateway Cities. The group says that with an additional $5.5 million, the individual homeless assistance funding would be brought to roughly $48.5 million, compared to the approximately $177 million the state spends on assistance for homeless families.

    The coalition is also calling on the Department of Housing and Community Development to convert 100 returned housing rental vouchers in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program to allow for flexible rental assistance, which would be used by proven shelter providers to move homeless individuals out of emergency shelter into permanent housing.

    Earlier this month, a coalition that supports housing and economic opportunities for the homeless called on the state to coordinate homeless assistance efforts across governmental departments to maximize the benefit of each dollar while minimizing the potential for wasteful spending.


    Related: War on Poverty story detailing the resiliency of the homeless

    Bangladesh ferry with 100 passengers sinks; at least 48 dead

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    A river ferry carrying about 100 passengers capsized in central Bangladesh on Sunday after being hit by a cargo vessel, killing at least 31 people, officials said.

    DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) -- A river ferry carrying up to 140 passengers capsized in central Bangladesh on Sunday after being hit by a cargo vessel, killing at least 48 people, officials said. A rescue operation was underway, but it was not clear how many people were missing.

    The ferry was struck by the cargo vessel at the Daulatdia-Paturia crossing on the Padma River on Sunday afternoon, said fire department official Shahzadi Begum. Rescue teams were deployed and passing boats were helping in the operation, she said.

    The site is 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Dhaka, the capital. Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh, an impoverished South Asian nation that is crisscrossed by more than 130 rivers.

    The ferry, the M.L. Mosta, was submerged at a depth of up to 6 meters (20 feet), said Inspector Zihad Mia, who is overseeing the rescue operation.

    By Sunday evening, at least 48 bodies had been recovered, Mia said.

    He said officials had yet to determine how many passengers were missing. Ferries in Bangladesh usually do not maintain formal passenger lists.

    "We don't have a clear picture about how many were exactly in the ferry when it sank," Mia said. "But I think many have survived."

    Jewel Mia, an official from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told reporters at the scene that up to 140 people were on board when the ferry sank.

    A passenger who survived said many people got trapped inside when the ferry sank. "The passengers who were on the deck have survived, but many who were inside got trapped," Hafizur Rahman Sheikh was quoted as saying by the Prothom Alo newspaper.

    Sheikh said the cargo vessel hit the middle of the ferry.

    Authorities ordered an investigation into the accident and a five-member committee has been asked to submit a report within 15 days, the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.

    The Padma is one of the largest rivers in Bangladesh, where overcrowding and poor safety standards are often blamed for ferry disasters.

    Last August, a ferry with a capacity of 85 passengers was found to be carrying more than 200 when it capsized on the Padma near Dhaka, leaving more than 100 people dead or missing. The ferry's owner was arrested after weeks in hiding on charges of culpable homicide, unauthorized operation and overloading.

    At least five people were killed earlier this month when a ferry sank in southern Bangladesh.

    Obituaries today: John Brennan was clerk magistrate in Springfield District Court

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    Obituaries from The Republican.

     
    022215-john-brennan.jpgJohn Brennan 

    John "Jack" Francis Brennan, 90, passed away on Thursday. He was born in Boston, graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School and received a law degree from Portia Law School, now known as the New England School of Law. He served as a Marine on the island of Tinian in the South Pacific during World War II. He was an adjuster for the Commercial Union Insurance Co. for 22 years. He then opened his own law practice in Southwick before becoming a clerk magistrate at the District Court in Springfield. During his life Jack was devoted to young people, coaching sports and teaching confraternity classes to his church.

    To view all obituaries from The Republican:
    » Click here

    Cathedral High School supporters anxiously await diocese decision

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    The fate of Cathedral High School will be revealed during a diocesan press conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23.


    SPRINGFIELD — Theresa Henle is in her third year at Cathedral High School in Wilbraham. This is not the school she expected to go to.

    "My brothers both went to Cathedral in Springfield. My mom picked it in part because it was close," Henle said.

    She joins the throngs of students, alumni, neighborhood residents and church parishioners who await the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield decision about the fate of the school which was destroyed in the June 1, 2011 tornado.

    "Building a new Cathedral is a worthy investment. If they don't rebuild they are sending a message that Springfield does not need a Catholic high school, which is not the case," Henley said while standing outside Holy Cross Church before Mass Sunday morning.

    Last fall the Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski raised questions about about Cathedral's financial sustainability - including students' ability to pay the $9,300-a-year-tutition. This sparked a controversy among Cathedral backers who believed a decision to rebuild the school at its Surrey Road location had already been made by former Bishop Timothy McDonnell, who retired during the summer.

    Many parishioners at Holy Cross Church on Plumtree Road are in favor of rebuilding.

    A secretary at Springfield Central High School for 25 years Dolores Crinella said she has been following the Cathedral controversy closely.

    "I'm praying that it will be rebuilt. I think a lot more students would attend if it was in Springfield and closer to home," said Crinella, who lives in the neighborhood.

    Henle, who only has one year left at the school, said it is "obnoxious and cumbersome" to travel to Wilbraham every day for school.

    "It makes it more difficult to participate in after school activities and honestly the building is uncomfortable. It was made for elementary school students. We have 6-foot tall guys trying to sit in desks meant for elementary school children," she said.

    Frank Ryan, president of the East Forest Park Civic Association and a parishioner at Holy Cross Church, said many people are eagerly waiting for a decision to be made.

    "This is just as much about the school as it is about the future of Springfield," he said. "There are so many loyal residents and alumni that feel that the connection and the legacy of what Cathedral has meant to the city should remain. If it's not rebuilt it would be devastating to the city and to the parishioners of the diocese."

    After four weeks of reviewing a "draft plan" for the future of Catholic education in the diocese, Rozanski will announce his decision about the fate of Cathedral High School during a diocesan press conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday at 65 Elliot St.

    MBTA restores service ahead of schedule to Braintree portion of Red Line, B line section of Green Line

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    Service restoration efforts on the Red Line and B Line are moving ahead of schedule.

    BOSTON -- "Braintree train, this is a Braintree train" are words that MBTA riders will hear once again now that the troubled public transportation agency has restored service to the southernmost spur of the Red Line.

    Unreliable for weeks, the Braintree branch of the Red Line was fully operational on Sunday, one day ahead of schedule.

    MBTA and Charlie Baker administration officials announced Sunday that service has been fully restored to the B line section of the Green Line, also ahead of schedule.

    Service on the Mattapan High Speed Trolley is scheduled to be restored by Feb. 27.

    Delays and problems appear as though they will continue on the Commuter Rail though an expedited recovery plan is being implemented by the Purple Line's private operator, Keolis. A major obstacle for the sprawling Commuter Rail system has been snow removal and access to maintenance facilities.

    The public transit service has struggled to perform in a satisfactory manner in the aftermath of seven feet of snow and brutal cold. Hundreds of laborers, including convicts, union members and National Guard troops have been deployed around the system in order to remove snow and ice by hand.

    The problems prompted MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott to resign and Gov. Baker to announce the formation of a commission to study the agency's deep systemic problems. A separate review of the system's response to the snow crisis will be conducted in a peer review by other public transit entities.

    St. Paul's in Springfield celebrates traditional Vietnamese New Year

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    Sweet rice and fan dances were a part of the celebration.

    SPRINGFIELD — From traditional fan dances to contemporary music and karaoke, hundreds turned out for the Vietnamese New Year celebration at St. Paul the Apostle Parish this afternoon.

    The annual event rings in the new year with food, music, dancing and a traditional Mass.

    "We want to keep the tradition alive for the younger generation," said the Rev. Ha Dang. The church boasts a large youth congregation with nearly 150 children and teenagers.

    "We do have a very vibrant and active group," said My Dzung Chu who runs the Vietnamese Eucharist Youth Group of St. Paul's.

    Chu helped prepare fun games for the children and their parents.

    "This is really meant to be a family event," she said.

    Kicking things off with a traditional New Year's fan dance half a dozen children fluttered the bright red fans in unison on a small stage.

    "It's very hard to get the kids to do traditional dances so I had to bribe them with some contemporary songs," said Thu Vo laughing. "They are definitely showing the traditional dances, but then we threw some Taylor Swift in there," she said.

    Aside from dancing and singing there was also traditional food cooked by the church elders.

    "They have been gathering for weeks to prepare all of the food including a traditional sweet rice wrapped in banana leaves as well as other dishes," Chu said.

    Pastor Dang said the church community is very active with about 600 families who attend regularly.

    "This is a celebration of our traditions. For some of us it's a time to remember our lives in Vietnam and also a chance to show the younger generation about our traditions," he said.


    Waterbury man killed when ejected from his car as it flew off overpass and crashed on the road below

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    Marc Mulhall was killed Saturday when he was thrown from his car as it careened over a guard rail and crashed onto a street below.

    Connecticut State Police Patch.jpg 
    WATERBURY,CONN.— A Waterbury man was killed when he was ejected from his car, after it became airborne, flew off an overpass and crashed on the road below.

    Police said the body of 24-year-old Marc Francis Mulhall was found approximately two-tenths of a mile from the wreckage of his 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante.

    Connecticut State Police said Mulhall apparently lost control of his car as he traveled north bound near Exit 30 on Route 8 shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday. Troopers said Mulhall's car swerved to the left, collided with a guardrail on an overpass and became airborne. The car crashed onto Nichols Drive below the overpass.

    First responders found the vehicle wreckage, but not the driver. An area search was conducted and Mulhalls body was found inside a fenced in commercial area, two-tenths of a mile from where the car landed. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

    The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody of the remains, police said, and an autopsy will be conducted.

    Ecstasy overdose sends 11 Wesleyan students to hospital

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    At least 11 students at Wesleyan Univeristy were treateed ast a local hospital for overdoses of MDMA Sunday afternoon.

    MIDDLETOWN, CONN.$8212; A total of 11 students at Wesleyan Univeristy were hospitalized with what authorities are calling a mass MDMA overdose on the campus Sunday afternoon. One student is said to be in critical conditon.

    The Hartford Courant is reporting that seven students were transported to Middlesex Hospital with symptoms of drug overdoses of the synthetic drug MDMA, known as either Esctasy or Molly. Four other students walked into the hospital on their own.

    The student in critical condition is a sophomore at the school, campus officials said.

    Campus officials told police that three of the affected students came from the Foss Hill dorms, while four were transported from the Butterfield Dorms. Police said there may be other overdose victims on campus that have yet to be discovered. Authorities did not know if all the affected student took the drug at the same party or in different venues.

    Middletown Police are investigating the incident.


    Are U.S. malls next after al-Qaida group urges Muslims to attack?

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    The threat by al-Shabab came in the final minutes of a more than hourlong video released Saturday

    JOHANNESBURG -- A video purported to be by Somalia's al-Qaida-linked rebel group al-Shabab urged Muslims to attack shopping malls in the U.S., Canada, Britain and other Western countries.

    U.S. authorities said there was "no credible" evidence suggesting a U.S. mall attack was in the works.

    The threat by the al-Qaida affiliate came in the final minutes of a more than hourlong video released Saturday in which the extremists also warned Kenya of more attacks like the September 2013 assault on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in which 67 people were killed.

    The masked narrator concluded by calling on Muslims to attack shopping malls, specifically naming the Mall of America in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, as well as the West Edmonton Mall in Canada and the Westfield mall in Stratford, England. The authenticity of the video could not be immediately verified by The Associated Press.


    The FBI and Department of Homeland Security provided local law enforcement agencies and private sector partners with "relevant information regarding the recent al-Shabab propaganda video," DHS press secretary Marsha Catron said in a statement.

    "However, we are not aware of any specific, credible plot against the Mall of America or any other domestic commercial shopping center," Catron said.

    The Bloomington Police Department said additional security measures had been put in place at the Mall of America, one of the largest malls in the nation.

    Speaking earlier on morning talk shows in the U.S., Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called the video "the new phase" of the global terrorist threat and warned the public to be vigilant.

    "These groups are relying more and more on independent actors to become inspired, drawn to the cause and they'll attack on their own," Johnson said, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union."

    "I am very concerned about serious potential threats of independent actors here in the United States. We've seen this now in Europe, we've seen this in Canada."

    Asked about the specific threat against the Mall of America, Johnson said: "Any time a terrorist organization calls for an attack on a specific place we've got to take that seriously. What we're telling the public is you've got to be vigilant. ... There will be enhanced security there that will be apparent, but public vigilance, public awareness and public caution in situations like this is particularly important."

    In the slickly produced video posted online, a masked man, his face wrapped in a black-and-white kaffiyeh-type scarf and wearing a camouflage jacket, declared: "Westgate was just the beginning." The video included footage from major news organizations showing the assault on the mall and said it was in reprisal for alleged abuses by Kenyan troops against Muslims in Somalia.

    "What if such an attack were to occur in the Mall of America in Minnesota? Or the West Edmonton Mall in Canada? Or in London's Oxford Street?" said the man, who spoke with a British accent and appeared to be of Somali origin.

    The Mall of America said in a statement that it was "aware of a threatening video which includes a mention and images of the mall," and said extra security had been put in place.

    Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton was monitoring the situation and has been in regular contact with the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety which is coordinating with federal and local law enforcement agencies and the Mall of America "to assure the safety of all Minnesotans," said a statement released by the governor's press secretary Matt Swenson.

    Shoppers seemed undeterred Sunday by the threat.

    "I'm more afraid of the cold today than any terrorists," said Mary Lamminen, of St. Paul.

    David Modrynski said he talked with his wife and son about whether to visit the mall after hearing about the video. "But we can't stop living our lives because somebody says they're going to do something," Modrynski said.

    While al-Shabab has carried out attacks in neighboring Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti, which all have troops fighting the extremists as part of the multinational African Union force, the al-Qaida affiliate has never operated outside East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

    Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., has been the target of terror recruiters in the past. Since 2007, more than 22 young Somali men from Minnesota have traveled to Somalia to join al-Shabab, and a handful of Minnesota residents have also traveled to Syria to fight with militant groups within the last year, authorities say. At least one Minnesotan has died while fighting for the Islamic State group.

    On Thursday, a 19-year-old Minneapolis man who was stopped at a New York City airport in November as he and three others were allegedly attempting to travel to Syria was indicted on charges associated with supporting the Islamic State group.

    Last week U.S. Attorney Andy Luger led a Minnesota delegation, including law enforcement officials and Somali community leaders, to a White House summit on countering extremism and radicalization. In his remarks, Vice President Joe Biden held up Minneapolis, Boston and Los Angeles as examples of communities moving ahead with programs to counter extremism locally.

    In Kenya, the government dismissed the al-Shabab video.

    "They're using propaganda to legitimize what cannot be legitimized. When you lead a group to go and attack a shopping mall and kill innocent shoppers that cannot be legitimized, those were not soldiers," Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said.

    "Muslims also died in the Westgate attack. It's in our interest to ensure Somalia is stabilized because the instability affects us. The video is cheap propaganda trying to re-write history and to get more support from those support them."

    Springfield armed robbery nets pizza and cash

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    A pizza delivery driver told police he was robbed as he tried to deliver food to a Patton Street address Sunday.

    SPRINGFIELD— A food delivery driver for a Liberty Street pizza restaurant was robbed at gunpoint Sunday evening as he tried to deliver a pizza to a Patton Street address.

    Springfield Police Capt. Trent Duda said the driver for the Domino's Pizza restaurant at 790 Liberty St. told police he was stopped by an armed and masked man as he brought the food to the Patton Street address. The driver told police the assailant held a black pistol and took a broken iPhone, $50 in cash and the pizza.

    Police are investigating the incident.

    Authorities break up East Windsor cock fighting ring

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    Police seized live and dead birds, as well as over $100,000 in cash at an illegal cock fighting operation in East Windsor.

    EAST WINDSOR,CONN.— A variety of Connecticut law enforcement agencies swooped down on an active cock fight on South Main Street in East Windsor Saturday night and detained 108 people. Troopers from the Connecticut State Police and the State Police Tactical Team, as well as agents from the state departments of Corrections and Agriculture and officers from the East Windsor Police Department seized over $100,000 in cash, both dead and living birds, one gun and records of the event.

    WTNH-TV reports that the task force arrested 40 people at the site, charging each with 54 counts of animal cruelty.and one count of professional gambling. All 54 were processed at the scene and released pending an appearance in Enfield court at a later date.

    Police say they will pursue arrest warrants for the 58 remaining people at the cock fight.

    The state Department of Agriculture took custody of the of 49 live birds and 4 dead ones, as the investigation continues.

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