Five businesses will be eligible for grants up to $1,999.

WESTFIELD - The city's Community Development Department will offer a sixth round of its Best Retail Practices grant program beginning March 12.

Interested small business owners will be required to attend a free, two-hour workshop, presented by Christine Moynihan, a retail consultant from Retail Visioning based in Cambridge.

The workshop will be offered March 12 from 8 - 10 a.m. at JF Management LLP at 124 Elm St.. Moynihan will share her knowledge and insight on everything from design to marketing and operations. Small businesses interested in applying for grant funding will receive applications at the workshop.

Five businesses located in the downtown eligible census tracts, Elm Street, Main Street and the North Elm/Union Avenue areas will be eligible for grants valued up to $1,999.

Businesses accepted into the program will have individual store consultation and the grants will assist in making changes based on the in-store consultation.

The program has already assisted 30 small businesses in Westfield totaling $97,000 in block grant funding.

Additional information and RSVP for the workshop is available by contacting Diana McLean at d.mclean@cityofwestfield.org or by calling 413-572-6244.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is hailing President Obama's decision to veto legislation to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

BOSTON (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is hailing President Obama's decision to veto legislation to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

The Massachusetts Democrat said vetoing the pipeline is a victory for the climate and common sense.

Markey said the pipeline isn't in America's national interest, and Obama should reject its construction when the full review process is completed.

Obama's veto was his third as president.

Obama didn't indicate whether he'll eventually issue a permit for the pipeline, whose construction has become a flashpoint in the U.S. debate about environmental policy and climate change

Markey said the U.S. shouldn't help what he called some of the dirtiest oil in the world to be funneled through the country so much of it can be exported to foreign nations.

The business at 409 Broadway St. was robbed shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24.

CHICOPEE — Police are investigating an armed robbery at the Copperline Eatery, 409 Broadway St., that was reported shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The suspect was described as a white man who was wearing a dark hoodie and blue jeans. He walked into the restaurant, showed a handgun, then fled with an undetermined amount of cash, said Officer Michael Wilk, public information officer for the Chicopee Police Department.

There were no reported injuries and detectives were still on scene as of 8 p.m. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Detective Bureau at 413-594-1730.

Chicopee police responded to the call at 6:50 p.m., followed by Springfield police at 6:53 p.m. Springfield officers were alerted because the suspect was last seen fleeing on Broadway Street toward the Liberty Heights section of the city, whose border is less than a half-mile from Copperline.

The Boston Bar Association has a history of opposing capital punishment.

BOSTON - The Boston Bar Association on Tuesday urged the U.S. Department of Justice to drop the death penalty and seek a sentence of life in prison without parole in the case of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who is accused of setting a bomb at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon.

"On the eve of final jury selection, the Boston Bar Association respectfully asks the Department of Justice to seek a life sentence without parole instead of the death penalty," the association wrote. "We believe that this can more swiftly close this chapter in our city's history."

The association's statement to the press, a version of which was sent to the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston, was released as jury selection is finishing up for Tsarnaev's trial in U.S. District Court in Boston. Tsarnaev faces 30 federal charges, of which 17 carry the potential for the death penalty. Much of the jury selection process has been focused on finding jurors who are willing to impose a death sentence if it is warranted. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have been quizzing jurors about their biases regarding the death penalty.

Opening arguments are expected to begin next week.

The Boston Bar Association, which represents 12,000 lawyers, released a report a year ago, when federal prosecutors were considering whether to pursue the death penalty against Tsarnaev, saying the association opposed the death penalty.

"Furthermore, even if a defendant enters a guilty plea in exchange for a life sentence, victims still have their day in court, literally," the association wrote. "Each will have the opportunity to face the defendant, look him in the eye, and tell him directly how the crime profoundly changed his or her life forever."

Legal observers have speculated that Tsarnaev could potentially plead guilty, if federal prosecutors were willing to drop the death penalty.

Massachusetts does not have the death penalty, but Tsarnaev is being tried in federal court.

William Williams was found dead when police responded to a house owned by Dana Johnson, Williams' girlfriend.

The brother of Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams was shot to death early Tuesday morning, allegedly by his girlfriend.

William D. Williams, 34, was found dead when police responded to a house owned by Dana L. Johnson, 36, Williams' girlfriend, USA Today reported.

Police responded to Johnson's house a little bit before 3 a.m. following a call to 911 in which the caller said that he believed someone was injured inside the house.

Johnson reportedly fled the area shortly after the shooting. She was located by Pennsylvania State Police and U.S, Marshals about 100 miles away, 40 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

According to MassLive's sister website, Cleveland.com, Cleveland police issued a description of Johnson's car to law enforcement agencies across the region, and it was spotted on Route 376 in Brighton Township, Pennsylvania, around 10 a.m.

Troopers waited until several other patrol cars were in the area before trying to stop Johnson's car. When they finally tried to pull her over, she refused to stop. They then conducted what Cleveland.com called an "induced stop" causing her car to eventually come to rest along the side of the road.

As troopers approached the car, Johnson put a gun to her head and fired once, wounding herself. She was reported in critical condition Tuesday night at Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital.

Johnson was charged in Cleveland Municipal Court with aggravated murder. Circumstances surrounding Williams' death were not immediately clear as police had not indicated a motive.

According to Cleveland.com, Johnson's criminal history contains no convictions related to violence in Cuyahoga or surrounding counties.

Johnson has one felony conviction on her record, Cleveland.com reported. She purposefully misreported her income to the Ohio Department of Family Services during a three-year period between 2005-08, according to court records. She collected an extra $7,362 in food stamps during that time, according to court records.

Johnson eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated theft, a fourth-degree felony. Cuyahoga County Judge Richard McMonagle sentenced her to one year of probation. He later extended probation in the case another year.

According to county records, the Johnson's house was transferred to her in December from the Ryan D. Williams Trust. Three years in back taxes and penalties totaling more than $4,300 are due on it.

Cleveland.com also reported that police responded to at least four incidents of fighting between William Williams and Johnson between 2009 and 2011. According to the website's archives, neither Johnson nor Williams were charged in any of those incidents.

"It doesn't surprise me," Williams' friend and business partner Russell Johnson told Cleveland.com in response to an inquiry. "They had a tumultuous relationship, so I was not surprised."

Cleveland.com's report continues:

Johnson reported in August 2009 that they got into a fight after she broke up with him and threw him out of their home in the 1500 block of East 82nd Street. She told police that Williams broke into a locked bedroom with a hammer.

She told police that Williams struck her in the head with a hammer and bit her hand in order to get the keys to their shared car, according to the reports. He eventually fled in their 1999 Ford Windstar.

Cleveland police officers noted Johnson had no visible head injuries, but did have a bite mark on her hand. The case was referred to domestic violence investigators.

In another incident, Johnson reported in April 2010 that Williams threatened to kill her.

She told police that he wanted to come to the same East 82nd Street home to pick up some of his stuff. She refused to let him into the home. He threatened to kick down the door and break through windows. Johnson eventually left and Williams picked up what he was looking for, police reports said.

Johnson slashed Williams with a steak knife during a 2011 fight at their home in the 9900 block of Somerset Avenue, according to records. Williams told police that Johnson became upset after learning that he was involved with another woman.

Johnson grabbed the knife and cut Williams' forearm, hand and chest. He needed stitches to repair the cuts, police reports said. Williams told police their relationship was "on and off," according to police reports.

Property records show that that home was owned by the chief.

Johnson also complained to police in February 2011 because she believed Williams took a gun from a closet in her home. She told police that she saw Williams walking from her closet as she rushed to South Pointe Hospital for a family death. When she returned the next day, she noticed the gun was gone.

Johnson confronted Williams, who was living next door at the time, about the gun. Williams told Johnson that he had it, police reports say.

Johnson demanded Williams return the gun and called police when Williams turned away without saying anything, according to police reports.

Johnson and William Williams have two children together and William Williams is the father of one other child.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Chief Calvin Williams and his family," Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said in a prepared statement. "I ask that everyone respect their privacy during this difficult time."

Calvin Williams, 50, was named police chief last February after serving about 30 years in the department.

Eddie Ray Routh, 27, has admitted to the killings of the former Navy SEAL Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield, at a gun range in 2013 but pleaded not guilty.

STEPHENVILLE, Texas -- A former Marine was convicted Tuesday in the deaths of the "American Sniper" author and another man at a shooting range two years ago, as jurors rejected defense arguments that he was insane and suffered from psychosis.

The trial of Eddie Ray Routh has drawn intense interest, in part because of the blockbuster film based on former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's memoir about his four tours in Iraq.

Since prosecutors didn't seek the death penalty in the capital murder case, the 27-year-old receives an automatic life sentence without parole in the deaths of Kyle and Kyle's friend, Chad Littlefield.

The prosecution painted Routh as a troubled drug user who knew right from wrong, despite any mental illnesses. While trial testimony and evidence often included Routh making odd statements and referring to insanity, he also confessed several times, apologized for the crimes and tried to evade police.

Criminal law experts said the verdict hinged on whether the defense could prove Routh was insane and did not know the killings were wrong at the time they were committed. Jurors had three options: find Routh guilty of capital murder, find him not guilty, or find him not guilty by reason of insanity. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, the court could have initiated proceedings to have him committed to a state mental hospital.

Kyle and Littlefield had taken Routh to the shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge and Resort on Feb. 2, 2013, after Routh's mother asked Kyle to help her troubled son. Family members say Routh suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in Iraq and in Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

A forensic psychologist testified for prosecutors that Routh was not legally insane and suggested he may have gotten some of his ideas from television. Dr. Randall Price said Routh had a paranoid disorder made worse by his use of alcohol and marijuana, calling his condition "cannabis-induced psychosis."

Defense attorneys noted that Kyle had described Routh as "straight-up nuts" in a text message to Littlefield as they drove to the luxury resort.

Among evidence entered by prosecutors was a recorded phone call between Routh and a reporter from The New Yorker magazine in which Routh said he was annoyed Littlefield wasn't shooting, but instead seemed to be watching him.

"Are you gonna shoot? Are you gonna shoot? It's a shooting sport. You shoot," Routh said in the phone call. "That's what got me all riled up."

Defense attorneys said Routh, who had been prescribed anti-psychotic medication often used for schizophrenia, believed the men planned to kill him.

"I had to take care of business. I took care of business, and then I got in the truck and left," Routh said in the phone call.

A resort employee discovered the bodies of Kyle and Littlefield about 5 p.m.; each had been shot several times. About 45 minutes later, authorities say Routh pulled up to his sister's home in Kyle's truck and told her he had killed two people.

She called police, who later located Routh sitting in front of his home in the truck. A police video shown by prosecutors showed officers trying to coax him from the truck while he makes comments including: "I don't know if I'm going insane" and "Is this about hell walking on earth right now?"

"He told us he'd taken a couple of souls and he had more souls to take," Lancaster police Lt. Michael Smith testified.

Routh later took off and led authorities on a chase before the truck became disabled and he was arrested.

Bracket will be immediately eligible for the 2015 season.

The University of Massachusetts football team officially announced Tuesday the addition of Kelton Brackett, the senior defensive back from the University of Alabama-Birmingham who will be joining the Minutemen as a transfer for 2015.

Brackett, who announced earlier this month his decision to transfer to UMass, was made available for recruiting after being displaced by the controversial decision by UAB in December to cut the school's football program as a way of saving money in the Blazers' athletic department.

Per NCAA ruling, Brackett will be immediately eligible to play and will presumably take part in spring practices beginning next month.

"We are excited to have Kelton join us," coach Mark Whipple said in a press release. "Not only is he a veteran defensive back, but he is a great person and a great student."

The addition of Brackett gives UMass some much-needed depth in the secondary, which was struck by injuries last season and forced to rely on younger players like Jackson Porter who proved to be out of their depth.

Here's some additional background on Brackett via UMass Athletics:

Brackett is a 5-foot-11, 186-pound native of Mobile, Alabama. This past season, he was listed as the No. 2 safety on the Blazers final game depth chart of 2014 and appeared in nine games with three tackles and a pass break-up.

All told at UAB, Brackett played in 32 career games with 10 starts. He totaled 64 tackles, nine pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and an interception in three seasons with the Blazers from 2012-14.

As a sophomore, Brackett started seven games while playing in a total of 11. He finished the season with 31 tackles and had a pair of tackles for loss. His eight pass break-ups led the team and he had one interception and one forced fumble.

That came after a strong true-freshman season in 2012 where he played in all 12 games with three starts. Brackett tallied 30 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. He also earned C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll honors following the season.

Prior to UAB, Brackett was a standout at Blount High School in Mobile, Ala. He was a three-year letterwinner and a three-star recruit rated as the No. 35 overall recruit in the state of Alabama. He was an honorable mention All-Alabama selection by The Birmingham News and the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Brackett led the state Class 6A region with four interceptions in 2011 and was selected to compete at the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Classic. He finished his senior year with 43 tackles, four tackles for loss and 12 pass break-ups.

Follow MassLive.com UMass beat writer @Daniel_Malone on Twitter or reach him via email.

The local fire chief, who was in the area following the report of a smell of gas, was about 50 feet from the unoccupied house, when it suddenly exploded. Watch video

A gas explosion that demolished a New Jersey house, injuring 15 people was all caught on video by a camera located on the dashboard of a police cruiser.

According to MassLive's sister website, NJ.com, Stafford Township police released the video of the explosion.

The video shows calm on Oak Avenue, just before the house is blown to pieces.

The New York Post reported that Fire Chief Jack Johnson was standing outside the home under renovation where residents had reported a strong smell of natural gas.

The rotten-egg smell of the substance added to odorless gas to warn people of a leak hung heavy in the air and was beginning to permeate the Stafford Township homes, the Post reported.

Johnson, fellow firefighters, police officers and gas company workers were going house to house, asking people to evacuate as a precaution while workers looked for the source of the leak.

Johnson was about 50 feet from the unoccupied house, when the house suddenly exploded with a fireball, knocking several people in the area to the ground. Glass, wood and insulation flew into the air, the Post reported.

"It happened so quickly, the explosion, debris all around us coming from nowhere," Johnson said. "It knocked you off your feet, a shock wave, the concussion of it. It's something I never want to experience again."

In addition to Johnson, police and other fire and emergency medical personnel were called to the area shortly before 9 a.m. Workers from New Jersey Natural Gas Co. were on scene when the explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m.

"My windows blew out of my house, and I dropped, and I covered my daughter, because she was next to me," said Stafford Township resident Melissa Lewis told WCAU-TV, NBC10 in Philadelphia. "I stood up, and I heard them screaming outside, and there were people being taken to the ambulance."

Seven utility workers were injured, including two who were in critical condition. Six firefighters and two EMS personnel suffered minor injuries.

The house, which was empty and under renovation, was completely blown apart. The debris field covered a one-quarter mile area and house

"It looks like a war area," Max Von Ness, a plowing contractor who was nearby when the explosion occurred, told the Post. "It's just destruction. There's debris all over the place."

"It was kind of like a mini-earthquake," he said. "You were thinking it was like a bomb."

The exact cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. About 300 homes remained without gas service Tuesday night, according to the Post.

The decision, announced in the waning days of Attorney General Eric Holder's tenure, resolves a case that focused public attention on self-defense laws and became a flashpoint in the national conversation about race two years before the Ferguson, Missouri, police shooting.

By JENNIFER KAY and ERIC TUCKER

MIAMI -- George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Trayvon Martin in a 2012 confrontation with the teenager, will not face federal charges, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

George Zimmerman 

Zimmerman has maintained that he acted in self-defense when he shot the 17-year-old Martin during a confrontation inside a gated community in Sanford, Florida, just outside Orlando. Martin, who was black, was unarmed when he was killed. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.

Once Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder by a state jury in July 2013, Martin's family turned to the federal investigation in final hopes that he would be held accountable for the shooting.

That probe focused on whether Zimmerman could be charged with a federal hate crime in the killing and whether he willfully deprived Martin of his civil rights, a difficult legal standard to meet. Federal investigators, who independently conducted dozens of interviews, ultimately determined there was insufficient evidence to prove Zimmerman killed the teenager on account of his race.

"Our decision not to pursue federal charges does not condone the shooting that resulted in the death of Trayvon Martin and is based solely on the high legal standard applicable to these cases," Vanita Gupta, the Justice Department's top civil rights lawyer, said in a statement announcing the decision.

Zimmerman's attorney, Don West, was on a flight and couldn't immediately comment on the decision. A call to Zimmerman's cellphone went directly to voicemail.

Martin's parents were too distraught after their meeting in Miami with Justice Department officials to speak with reporters, said their attorney Ben Crump, who called the decision a "bitter pill to swallow" even though it was expected.

"What they told his family and I was that because Trayvon wasn't able to tell us his version of events, there was a lack of evidence to bring the charges. That's the tragedy," Crump said.

The February 2012 confrontation began after Zimmerman observed Martin while driving in his neighborhood. Zimmerman called police and got out of his car and approached Martin, who was returning from a store while visiting his father and his father's fiancee at the same townhome complex where Zimmerman lived.

Prosecutors contended that Zimmerman was profiling Martin and perceived him as someone suspicious in the neighborhood; Zimmerman did not testify at his trial, but he earlier told investigators that he feared for his life as Martin straddled him and punched him during the fight.

Federal investigators said they examined the case under multiple civil-rights provisions, including ones that make it illegal to use force against someone based on their race and another that criminalizes race-based interference with a person's federally protected housing rights. They said they conducted roughly 75 witness interviews, examined police reports and reviewed all of the evidence gathered during the state prosecution.

Tamara Rice Lave, a professor of the University of Miami's School of Law, said the Justice Department conclusion was not surprising because there was no direct or circumstantial evidence that Zimmerman's actions were motivated by race.

In a 911 call, as he followed Martin through their Sanford neighborhood, Zimmerman said the teenager "looks black."

"But he doesn't say the things that would make you think it was motivated by race," Lave said. "He doesn't call him the N-word."

Black leaders in Sanford, where Martin was shot, also said they weren't surprised by the decision.

"I was expecting this to happen," said Turner Clayton, a former local leader of the NAACP.

The conclusion in the Zimmerman case comes even though Holder has made civil rights a cornerstone of his tenure. The Justice Department is moving to resolve a separate high-profile civil rights case: the August shooting by a Ferguson police officer of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old. Holder has indicated that he plans to announce a decision in that case, which prompted weeks of protests, before he leaves the Justice Department in the coming weeks. In the Ferguson case, the Justice Department has been investigating whether the officer deprived Brown of his civil rights by using excessive force.

Days after Zimmerman was acquitted, Holder said he considered Martin's death an "unnecessary shooting." In a statement Tuesday, Holder echoed remarks he made in the shooting's aftermath.

"Though a comprehensive investigation found that the high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution cannot be met under the circumstances here, this young man's premature death necessitates that we continue the dialogue and be unafraid of confronting the issues and tensions his passing brought to the surface," Holder said. "We, as a nation, must take concrete steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future."

AP writer Mike Schneider contributed to this report from Orlando, Fla.

On the night of Jan. 26, Charles Floyd, a 28-year-old from Dorchester, was found lying in the road near 8 Shetland St. with multiple stab wounds. He was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

BOSTON — Police have released surveillance photos of a man they want to question in connection with a Roxbury homicide.

Boston police say the man is a "person of interest," not necessarily a suspect, and emphasized that he's "not wanted at this time."

On the night of Jan. 26, Charles Floyd, a 28-year-old from Dorchester, was found lying in the road with multiple stab wounds near 8 Shetland St. in the city's Roxbury neighborhood. He was later pronounced dead at Boston Medical Center, police said.

Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the man in the photos to call the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. Anonymous information can be left on the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS, or by texting the word 'TIP' to CRIME (27463).

The nonprofit status of the organization that raises money for Worthington's volunteer firefighters lapsed several years ago, according to Selectboard Chairman Christopher Powell.

WORTHINGTON — The town's fire chief has resigned amid a probe by the attorney general's office into the use of government equipment by the Worthington Fire Department and the lapsed nonprofit status of its fundraising arm, according to published reports.

The Worthington Selectboard on Tuesday night appointed firefighter Kyle Challet as temporary chief after the resignations of former chief Richard Granger and emergency management director Rick Scott, according to CBS 3 Springfield, media partner of MassLive / The Republican.

Selectboard Chairman Christopher Powell told CBS that residents had raised concerns about seeing more frequent use of military vehicles in town. "They observed a lot of vehicles going through town that were stored here – military vehicles; that type of thing – and they had questions about that," Powell told the TV station.

The nonprofit status of the organization that raises money for Worthington's volunteer firefighters lapsed several years ago, according to Powell, who said further questions about the status of the organization, which isn't under the auspices of the town, triggered a seven-page letter from Scott.

The former emergency management director essentially said it wasn't the Selectboard's "purview to ask questions about what we were asking about," Powell said.

Attorney General Maura Healey's office couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

This developing story will be updated as our reporting continues.

Israel Silva had already undressed and made himself comfortable on a couch in the Springfield Marriott's lobby when police arrived and said management wanted him to leave. He did not take the news well.

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

1) Ex-Springfield College employee gets 8-10 years in prison for child pornography conviction [Fred Contrada] Photo gallery above

2) Springfield truck driver charged with negligent operation in crash that forced trooper to leap over guardrail [Conor Berry]

3) Defendant who told police 'I'll kill you like they killed 2 officers in New York' gets 6 months [Jack Flynn]

4) Boston Celtics notes: Brandon Bass addresses the Kevin Garnett phone-flushing story, Jae Crowder inspires a new word [Jay King]

5) Disabled West Springfield trucker hit with lifetime driving ban for latest drunk driving offense [Jack Flynn]

Robert Crowther, 26, of 43 Cronin Hill Road is under indictment for manslaughter; manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and felony motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol.

NORTHAMPTON — A Hampshire County man charged in connection with the drunken-driving death of his passenger about five months ago is under indictment for motor vehicle homicide.

Robert Crowther, 26, had previously denied District Court charges in connection with the the Sept. 28, 2014, death of Tomas Clark, of Northampton, who was killed after Crowther crashed into a utility pole on Route 9 in Williamsburg.

A January pretrial hearing was rescheduled to March, but Crowther has since been indicted by a Hampshire County grand jury, The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports. That means his case has been kicked up to Hampshire Superior Court, where he is expected to be arraigned soon.

Crowther and Clark were trapped in the wreckage of the crash until they were freed by Williamsburg firefighters. Clark was later pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Crowther, of 43 Cronin Hill Road, Hatfield, was indicted Feb. 17 on charges of manslaughter; manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and felony motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol, according to the Northampton newspaper.

Nearly 100 animals, most of them dogs, were found in unsanitary conditions with no access to food or clean water, according to authorities.

EDEN, Vt. — Dozens of dogs that were living in substandard conditions were rescued from a Lamoille County property on Wednesday, Vermont State Police Sgt. David Robillard said.

As of late Wednesday morning, authorities had already removed 40 dogs and three cats from a residential property on Route 100 in Eden, according to Robillard, who said many more animals had yet to be rescued.

The owner of the property, who's cooperating with police and whose identity wasn't released, is facing possible animal cruelty charges, according to investigators. The State Police probe will continue jointly with the Lamoille County State's Attorneys Office.

A search of the property led to the discovery of close to 100 animals, primarily dogs, living in "appalling conditions," police said. Most of the animals didn't have access to clean water, food or sanitary living conditions, police said.

Law enforcement officials were assisted by the Humane Society of Chittenden County, the Central Vermont Humane Society, the Humane Society of the United States, the North Country Animal League, and Spring Hill Horse Rescue.

"This is a classic case of an overwhelmed rescuer who didn't know where to turn for help," said Anne Ward, director of operations for the Central Vermont Humane Society. "In many ways, (the property owner) was relieved and welcomed the support. I'm glad we could be there to help her and her animals," Ward said.

The owner is cooperating fully and has already released many of the animals for adoption. However, many of the dogs have critical care needs that will need to be addressed before they can be put up for adoption, authorities said.

Rescue team members continued to remove animals from the property throughout the day. The animals were being taken to an undisclosed Chittenden County site for triage, temporary shelter and "rehoming," or getting someone else to take responsibility for an unwanted animal or pet. All of the animals were being evaluated and treated by a team of veterinarians at the temporary shelter site.

In the meantime, donations to help pay for the support and care of the animals may be made to the Humane Society of Chittenden County, Rescue Event, 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, VT 05403. Donations of "goods or services" are also being accepted, officials said. People wishing to donate or lend a helping hand may phone 802 862-0135, ext. 15, or email bestfriends@chittendehumane.org.

As the condition of the animals becomes known, officials from the Central Vermont Humane Society will lead the rehoming effort. Ward can be reached at 802 476-3811, ext. 103, or via email at anne@centralvermonthumane.org.

Pets need extra care during extreme winter conditions.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has released tips for keeping your pet safe during extreme cold, snowy weather.

1. Do not leave your pet outdoors when temperatures drop below freezing. Pets that are mostly indoors need time to adapt to cold temperatures by building a thicker coat and toughening their footpads for ice and snow. Dogs and cats are safer indoors during extreme weather.

2. If your pet walks on salted or chemically treated areas, be sure to wash its paws after your walk.

3. Wind-chill is a threat to pets, even those protected by shelters. Outdoor dogs must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to both sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to retain body heat. The floor should be elevated a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw.

4. Pets that spend a great amount of time outdoors in the winter need more food. Maintaining warmth depletes energy. Check your pet's water dish to ensure the water is fresh and not frozen. Plastic, rather than metal food and water bowls are preferred to keep your pet's tongue from freezing to its bowl.

5. Don't leave your pet locked inside a car during extremely cold weather. Cars can hold cold air in, putting your pet at risk.

6. Be leery of frozen bodies of water. If your pet falls through the ice, call 9-1-1 or go for help.

7. Store anti-freeze away from pets.

8. Checked parked vehicles for small animals which may crawl under the hood seeking warmth.

A construction worker who was able to ride down the building during the collapse was hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries,

A dozing school bus driver thought the end was near Wednesday afternoon when the outer shell of a building being demolished in New York City suddenly collapsed on his vehicle.

While the bus driver escaped injury, a construction worker was injured during the collapse.

New York Fire Department spokesman Brian Norton said the worker was able to ride down the collapse by standing on scaffolding as part of the three-story building fell about 2:30 p.m.

New York City Councilor Helen Rosenthal told the Wall Street Journal that the building partially collapsed between the second and third floors as crews were taking it down.

Workers said the collapse sounded like like an explosion.

While Norton said the construction worker was hospitalized with non-threatening injuries, the bus driver was more fortunate as rubble from the building damaged his bus, but did not harm him.

According to the New York Daily News, Daniel Campbell, 45 of New Jersey was napping when debris from the building at 57th St., near 11th Ave. in Manhattan's Midtown section came raining down on him.''

"I heard badoom, badoom, badooom!" he told the Daily News. "I jumped up and I couldn't believe it."

Campbell said he was on a break waiting to pick up a group of students from an elementary school in Ridgewood, N.J., who were on a field trip to the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.

"It just kept coming down, bricks, wood everything," he said.

Frozen with fear, he waited a few minutes before he tried to climb out of the bus.

"I felt more secure in the bus," he said. "Then I crawled out the back door."

WCBS-TV, Channel 2 in New York reported that the structure was a parking garage.

The television station quoted construction workers at a project across the street who thought they had heard a bomb.

"Like an explosion," described Bill Jures. "It felt like an earthquake because the whole foundation, you felt it shake."

"They must have been using a jackhammer or something," added Rob Hartnett. "It was just like a loud banging sound."

Residents in a high-rise building nearby were also scared.

"I was sitting at my table having lunch, and I heard this really, really loud crash -- this big boom," Thomas Falconer told WCBS. "It freaked me out, so I went and looked out the window, and the corner of what was the West 57th Street garage -- five stories had just collapsed onto the sidewalk."

Crews were sifting through the debris Wednesday evening as they attempted to determine a cause of the collapse.

Many of the windows on the school bus were knocked out, and debris enveloped the front of the vehicle, according to the Daily News.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Dozens of people including state legislators, department heads and city volunteers were invited to attend the state-of-the-city speech.

CHICOPEE — After listing the city's accomplishments over the past year and talking about future projects to enhance the city's downtown area and Memorial Drive corridor, Mayor Richard J. Kos said Wednesday night the city is improving.

"I am pleased to report to you that the state of our city is strong," Kos said.

Flanked by a large number of department heads, members of the City Council, the School Committee and several local state representatives, Kos gave a state of the city address that was far more formal than done in years past (read the complete text of Kos' address at the end of this article).

During the address he talked about the importance of working together and praised the City Councilors, city staff and others for their cooperation that has helped to get work done.

"When I came into office, there were many things not working, and for those that were, they were not working well. Departments were hardly talking, let alone working together," he said. "Tonight I am pleased to report to you that, together, we have made Chicopee better."

In the address, Kos highlighted accomplishments, talked about future plans and discussed problems that still need to be addressed.

He also announced several new economic development projects for the first time, including two initiatives for the downtown area.

"A leading and highly successful housing developer is currently under contract to purchase and develop the former Lyman Mill property on lower Front Street, for the purpose of developing it into 50 market rate live-work loft apartments - real loft residences in our downtown," he said.

The city has also partnered with Massachusetts Office of Information Technology to install and make Wi-Fi available for free downtown. In addition the city has worked with the popular Munich Haus restaurant to help it purchase a long-empty, 50-car parking lot to help the business, Kos said.

At the same time, Kos said he will continue to focus on expanding the commercial opportunities on the Memorial Drive corridor. He mentioned this week's announcement that the retail chain Pet Smart will move into the city and also talked about a University of Massachusetts study that may help the city make aesthetic and traffic improvements on the drive.

He said he also continues to focus on trying to boost the viability of Westover Air Reserve Base, which faces a reduction of half of its planes and a cut of more than 200 full and part-time jobs due to federal budget cuts.

"I thought it was a great speech. It was very specific about what we have accomplished and what we should expect in the future," said City Council Vice President John L. Vieau.

During the address, Kos specifically highlighted some problems the city continues to face.

"We continue to struggle with challenges. One such issue is how to fund the furnishings and programs of our newly built Senior Center," he said.

"Many citizens are unhappy with our cable, so am I. Our options are few and I have not signed a new contract," he said.

He also talked about education accomplishments, highlighting Anna E. Barry School which was named a National Blue Ribbon School this year. At the same time he said he is concerned about the low graduation rate that shows 11 percent of students do not earn a diploma.

"I thought it was a good, it shows a lot of work is being done and we have issues to tackle at the same time," School Committee member Michael J. Pise said.

He said he liked the fact Kos talked about bringing in innovative programs that will engage students and give them new ways to learn.

Police Chief William Jebb said the mayor highlighted just a few of the many initiatives the department has started over the past six months including a strong focus on community policing and a social media campaign that gives residents more information about crime in their neighborhoods and attempts to fight it.

While people hear about robberies and car breaks, they often think crime is increasing, but overall it is down by 2 percent according to department statistics, Jebb said.

"Crime is down. Not by much, but through the commitment of our public safety officials progress was made during this past year," Kos said.

Chicopee Education Association President Charles Clark, who represents the about 700 city teachers said he appreciated being personally invited to attend the speech, especially after a long and sometimes difficult contract negotiation process.

"It is nice to hear he was confident the city is moving forward," he said.

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Westfield police are asking anyone who recognizes the man shown in these photos, a suspect in several vehicle burglaries in January, to call Detective Todd Edwards at 413-642-9389.

WESTFIELD — Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the man shown in these photos, a suspect in several vehicle burglaries in January, to call Detective Todd Edwards at 413-642-9389.

Police said they believe the suspect was using the car shown in the photos, one of which includes an image of a man who was apparently traveling with the suspect. Further details were unavailable.

The Westfield Police Detective Bureau's general line is 413-572-6400. Edwards may also be reached via email at t.edwards@cityofwestfield.org.

Energy stocks rebounded as oil prices broke a five-day slide and climbed back above $50 a barrel.

By ALEX VEIGA

NEW YORK - The Dow Jones industrial average notched its third record high close in a row Wednesday, even as other market indexes ended lower.

Trading was relatively subdued as investors reviewed the latest corporate earnings news. Utilities stocks were among the biggest decliners. Energy stocks rebounded as oil prices broke a five-day slide and climbed back above $50 a barrel.

Wall Street also kept an eye on Federal Reserve Chief Janet Yellen's second appearance before Congress in two days. Her remarks didn't generate any major market-moving news. A day earlier, Yellen suggested that the Fed is not in a hurry to raise interest rates.

"The market is just trying to figure out whether the next move is up or down," said David Lebovitz, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

The Dow ended up 15.38 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,224.57. McDonald's was the biggest gainer in the 30-company index, climbing 3.9 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped 1.62 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,113.86. The Nasdaq shed 1 point, or 0.02 percent, to 4,967.14. The three indexes are all up for the year.

The Dow and S&P 500 closed at record highs on Tuesday after investors were encouraged Yellen's remarks on interest rates. Lower rates make borrowing easier and tend to be a plus for financial markets.

The Fed has kept its benchmark rate near zero since 2008. Most economists anticipate that a rate increase is not likely before June or even later this year.

A key factor in that decision will be inflation. That's one reason investors will be focused on the release of the latest consumer price index on Thursday.

"That should provide a little bit of insight on what the Fed's next move might be and when it may occur," Lebovitz said.

The three indexes opened lower on Wednesday, then veered between small gains and losses through much of the day. In the last hour of trading, the Dow eked out a gain.

Hewlett-Packard and Boston Beer slumped early. Both reported disappointing quarterly results late Tuesday. Hewlett-Packard tumbled 9.9 percent, while the brewer of Samuel Adams beer sank 10.3 percent. Chesapeake Energy and Lumber Liquidators also declined after reporting weak earnings early Wednesday. Chesapeake fell 9.6 percent, while the hardwood floors retailer slid 26.4 percent.

Investors bid up shares in several companies whose latest quarterly earnings fared better.

TJX, the parent company of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, rose 3.3 percent after its profit beat analysts' expectations. The company also said would raise wages for its workers.

Benefitfocus vaulted 47.2 percent, while specialty contracting services company Dycom Industries surged 17 percent. Discount retailer Dollar Tree rose 2.2 percent.

In all, half of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500 moved lower. Utilities stocks fell 1.6 percent and are now down 4 percent this year. Consumer discretionary stocks notched the biggest gain. The sector is up 5.6 percent this year.

The price of oil rose after the Energy Department reported that diesel and gasoline inventories fell more than expected, indicating a pickup in demand. Benchmark U.S. crude rose $1.71 to close at $50.99 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, rose $2.97 to close at $61.63 in London.

In other futures trading on the NYMEX: Wholesale gasoline rose 9.9 cents to close at $1.719 a gallon, while heating oil rose 7.5 cents to close at $2.104 a gallon. Natural gas fell 0.8 cents to close at $2.894 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold rose $4.20 to $1,201.50 an ounce, silver rose 24 cents to $16.43 an ounce and copper rose two cents to $2.66 a pound.

U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 1.97 percent from 1.98 percent late Tuesday.

Baker will now have majority control of the Health Connector board.

Gov. Charlie Baker has asked for and received the resignations of four members of the Massachusetts Health Connector board, including controversial MIT Professor Jonathan Gruber.

A Baker official confirmed that the Republican governor had asked Gruber, George Gonser, John Bertko and Rick Jakious to resign.

The four were appointed under former Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat. Baker will now be able to appoint his own people to the board. That means he will effectively control six seats on the 11-member board. Board Chairman Marylou Sudders, who is the Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services, and board member Kristen Lepore, Secretary of Administration and Finance, were both appointed as cabinet secretaries under Baker.

The shakeup comes days after open enrollment concluded for individuals who want to buy health insurance from the Health Connector for 2015. Baker has been a consistent critic of the state's management of the Health Connector, which suffered from major technological problems last year that have cost the state millions of dollars to fix.

Baker has already hired a new executive director, Louis Gutierrez, to run the state's health insurance exchange.

Gruber made national news for comments he made at public forums saying that the lack of transparency in the national health care reform law "is a huge political advantage" and attributing its passage to "the stupidity of the American voter." He later apologized before a congressional committee. Some Massachusetts Republicans had called on Gruber to resign.

The shakeup was first reported by WBZ reporter Jon Keller.