When police stopped Carlo Romero, they found he had nine car radios in his backpack.

SPRINGFIELD - A 40-year-old city man was arrested just before 3 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Locust Street and charged in connection with nine separate car break-ins, police said.

Carlo RomeroSpringfield police photo 

Springfield police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney said Carlo Romero of 183 Woodside Terrace was charged with nine counts of breaking and entering into a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, trespassing, and possession of heroin.

Police were called to the area of 200 Locust St. after someone called 911 to report witnessing someone break into a minivan. Officers Daniel Huard and Shavonne Lewis responded to the scene and spotted Romero walking near Main and Locust streets.

He was stopped because he matched the description of the suspect provided by the caller, Delaney said.

He was arrested when the officers found several car radios inside his backpack, Delaney said.

After searching the area, Huard and Lewis found the original minivan that had been reported broken into, he said. They also found eight other vehicles at Liquori & Sons Auto Sales, 279 Locust St. that had also been broking into.

"Good work by the officers and our hats off to the great citizen who was paying attention to his neighborhood and dialing 911 to report the crime," Delaney said.

Romero is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Springfield District Court.

Amherst police will be able to watch any blarney activitiy in real time on video.

AMHERST - As the University of Massachusetts, police and officials prepare for the so called Blarney Blowout Saturday, town police have updated their planning statement to report that 14 police departments will be in town to help and video cameras have been installed in the "high liability areas" in town. 

The cameras will feed directly to the police emergency center to allow officials "to view real time activity," according to the latest planning release.

"Personnel and tactical decisions can be based on this information," according to the release from police Chief Scott Livingstone.

Police will be able to use the video "to further all criminal investigations, assist to identify combatants" as well as to be used in evidence in criminal prosecutions.

Also he wrote "video will ensure transparency for all involved participants."

With the implementation of a mutual aid agreement 14 law enforcement agencies will be in town "to ensure the safety of the community, safety of first responders and prevent the destruction of   property.  

Officers from those agencies will be out with town police to "conduct outreach, communicate our concern for the safety of our community and to prevent a disturbance related incident from occurring."

He said police have met with bar and liquor store owners, property managers and owners in preparation as well as student leaders among others. "It is important that these stakeholders understand their role and responsibilities in preventing and preparing for disturbance related activity."

He said they are encouraged by the support they have received.

Six bar owners have agreed to open to 4 p.m. that day instead of 11 a.m.

UMass, meanwhile, has implemented myriad measures to prevent a repeat of last year when thousands gathered in North Amherst and around town. 

Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar and Grill on Boylston Street opened in March 2010 and attracted customers with its rooftop seating that overlooked the park.

BOSTON - Red Sox sportscaster Jerry Remy's restaurant a block away from Fenway Park has shut down, while the other locations will stay in business.

Jerry Remy's Sports Bar and Grill on Boylston Street opened in March 2010 and attracted customers with its rooftop seating that overlooked the park, according to Boston.com.

Boston Restaurant Talk reports the closing is permanent. The landlord apparently chose not to renew the lease.

Three other locations are unaffected: Logan Airport, the Seaport District and Fall River.

No, the moon is not pulling away from its orbit around the Earth – it's just time for Micro moon 2015.

No, the moon is not pulling away from its orbit around the Earth - it's just time for Micro Moon 2015.

The full moon tonight, March 5, will take place when the moon is at its furthest distance from the Earth, or apogee. Because the moon orbits our planet on an elliptical path, it is not always the same distance from us. When its orbit is at its furthest and it's full, astronomers call it an apogee full moon, while people seeking to give it a catchy name (and others who like to write about moons with catchy names) call it a micro moon, or mini moon.

Last year, Earthlings became familiar with the term Supermoon, as there were a couple of whopper full moons in 2014. A Supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth, or perigee. Stay tuned for a super Supermoon coming up on Sept. 27 - it'll also be a Harvest Moon and a Blood Moon (a total lunar eclipse).

When will Micro Moon 2015 appear?

If you're on the East Coast of the United States - in Massachusetts, for example - the precise moment of Micro Moon 2015 occurs at 1:06 p.m., according to timeanddate.com, so we won't actually be able to see it as it happens because the moon won't rise until late afternoon (5:49 p.m. in Boston, 5:52 p.m. in Worcester and 5:55 p.m. in Springfield).

Then there are clouds to contend with, as the forecast calls for cloudy early evening skies until clearing around 9 p.m. - plenty of time to get a glimpse of the smallest moon of the year.

How small is Micro Moon 2015?

It's really not that small. In fact, the moon is the exact same size as it's been for the past 41/2 billion years or so. But being at its furthest from the Earth, it will appear smaller, and look dimmer.

According to UniverseToday.com, Micro Moon 2015 will be 406,385 kilometers (252,515 miles) from the center of the Earth to the center of the moon. By comparison, the upcoming September Supermoon will be only 356,877 kilometers (221,753 miles) from the Earth, according to EarthSky.org.

Fasts about Micro Moon 2015

• According to timeanddate.com, "a micro Moon looks approximately 14 percent smaller, and around 30 percent less bright than a Super Moon."

• The moon's mean distance from Earth is about 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles)

• The March full moon is also known as the Worm moon, or Sap moon, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. Those names were given by Algonquin tribes from here in New England to Lake Superior. Worm moon refers to earthworms beginning to emerge from the thawing ground, while Sap moon refers to sap running and the tapping of maples trees for maple syrup. Mmmmmm, maple syrup ... but I digress.

• According to EarthSky.org:

The mini-moon returns about one month and 18 days later with each passing year, meaning that, in 2016, the year's smallest full moon will come on April 22. In 2017, it'll come June 9. In 2018, the year's smallest full moon will come on July 27.

More about the moon and its phases

Here are some resources for more information about the moon and its monthly orbit around our planet:

"Understanding moon phases" from EarthSky.org >>

"Earth's Moon" from NASA.gov >>

As the Massachusetts Gaming Commission prepares to meet in the Pioneer Valley on Thursday, MGM Springfield officials have set the formal groundbreaking date and are looking for companies interested in working on the first phase of the approximately $800 million development.

SPRINGFIELD — As the Massachusetts Gaming Commission prepares to meet in the Pioneer Valley on Thursday, MGM Springfield officials have set the formal groundbreaking date and are looking for companies interested in working on the first phase of the approximately $800 million development.

On March 24, MGM's groundbreaking is expected to center on the old Zanetti school on Howard Street. Last month, the company solicited contractors interested in demolishing the building and drew 49 responses. MGM reports that some of those contractors are now moving into the next round of discussions for fencing and abatement work at the school.

"Our last bidders call was an enormous success and we believe our inclusive invitations and open-house style is attracting a wide pool of candidates that will reflect the innovation we hope to achieve at MGM Springfield," said Hunter Clayton, executive vice president of MGM Resorts Development in a statement.

An artist rendering of the MGM Springfield casino project slated to break ground in the city on March 24. Robert Rizzuto | rrizzuto@repub.com

And as the company prepares to move into the first phase of construction on the 14.5 acre site in the South End of Springfield, it has set dates for interested contractors to come into its office and learn about the scope of the work and how to participate in the pre-qualification process.

Mass excavation; underground mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP's) and site utilities; as well as foundation and waterproofing services are the focus of the next round of interviews according to Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield President.

"As certain aspects of the construction phase become the next priority we will rollout this meeting process to get the right people for each piece of this design," Mathis said. "Every introductory meeting has the potential to put workers on site and bring new life in the South End of Springfield. We want to have as many conversations as possible."

Interested contractors for the aforementioned services must call the MGM Springfield Community Office at 413-735-3000 to make an appointment to book a 30-minute slot for the following specific dates:

• Mass excavation appointments-Thursday, March 12


• Underground MEPs and site utilities -Thursday, March 19


• Foundations and waterproofing appointments -Thursday, March 26

Additionally, the company has named Brian Packer, who has a decade's worth of experience with MGM, to serve as the vice president of development and construction for the MGM Springfield project.

"I was thrilled to have been asked to come to Springfield on behalf of MGM," Packer said. "Our company has been abuzz about the revolutionary and integrated downtown design, and what we hope to accomplish for the Western Massachusetts region. I look forward to working together with our local partners to achieve this new vision for Springfield."

The project is expected to have a 30-month construction timeline with a grand opening slated for 2017.

The Mass. Gaming Commission meets at 10:30 a.m. at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield to get a formal update from MGM officials about the construction timeline and progress at the site.

The Band-Aid known as cold asphalt patching would be welcome on the potholed-Appleton Street. Watch video

HOLYOKE -- So this is what it would be like trying to drive across a field covered in railroad tracks.

The part of Appleton Street between Race Street and the Police Station, come on down: Holyoke might have a winner for worst road, barely into pothole season.

"These are frustrating and dangerous. The city will need to make it a priority as soon as possible to fix these," said City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain, seen gingerely operating his car over the gutted road Wednesday (March 4).

Cars and SUV's leaving the parking lot at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center banged against the rough-edged crevices a few times each before drivers invariably slowed and tried to maneuver around the worst of the washboard-like sections (see video above).

Potholes gouge roads around this time of year when warmer daytime weather melts snow and ice. The water seeps into roads through cracks and freezes. The freezing causes the pavement to lift, expand and rent cracks into potholes.

Driving becomes treacherous because potholes can fill with water from melting snow and the puddles camouflage the unevenness carved into the road for unsuspecting drivers.

The result is often a teeth-jarring jolt that can puncture a tire and damage tire rims and tie rods, which are attached to the wheel's steering arm, forcing hundreds of dollars in repair costs.

"We can do some patching," said Mayor Alex B. Morse, who also drove across the rough part of Appleton Street Wednesday.

Public works crews can apply a cold asphalt patching to such potholes this time of year, a return to smooth-road operating that is welcome but also temporary. Such cold patching inevitably wears away because the oils that make the cold patch soft enough for such cold-weather application also make the material too soft to be permanent, according to online sources like Alaniz Construction Inc. of San Francisco.

The more permanent fixing that is involved in applying hot patch to the road usually must wait until the cold dissipates and the material can bind with the existing asphalt, according to online sources.

City education leaders will participate in a public discussion of the future of Holyoke Public Schools at a community forum on Thursday.

HOLYOKE -- City education leaders will participate in a public discussion on the future of Holyoke Public Schools at a community forum on Thursday, March 5.

The event was organized by the Holyoke Teachers Association and Reclaim Our Schools, a group that calls themselves "a coalition of Holyoke Teachers Association, Jobs with Justice, Holyoke Para Professionals Association, Mass Teachers Association, Taking it Back, Teachers, Students, Parents, and the larger community."

The group says several leaders have committed to attending or sending a representative, including: state Sen. Don Humason, state Rep. Aaron M. Vega, Mayor Alex Morse, City Council President Kevin Jourdain, Holyoke School Committee Vice Chair Devin Sheehan and Superintendent of Schools Sergio Paez.

The city union and community organizing group behind Thursday's event have been vocally opposed to the possibility of Holyoke Public Schools being placed under state receivership.

The forum will be held 5 p.m. Thursday, March 5 at Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St.

 

n early morning water main break on Maynard Street has closed the road and reportedly flooded the basement of a nearby home.

Cottage Street will be shut down to westbound traffic for much of Wednesday and Thursday while work is done on a water main.File Photo 

AGAWAM - An early morning water main break on Maynard Street has closed the road and reportedly flooded the basement of a nearby home.

Agawam police say Maynard Street is closed while Department of Public Works crews work to repair the main. The work is causing few traffic problems because Maynard Street is a side road without much traffic, police said

Maynard Street is located off North Street.

ABC40 is reporting that the break caused water to flood into the basement of one of the nearby homes. The damage was reported to be minimal and contained to the one house.

On Wednesday, a House committee investigating the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, issued subpoenas for emails from Clinton and others related to Libya.

STEPHEN BRAUN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton's use of a private email address and private computer server for official State Department business heightened security risks to her communications, such as the inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information and the danger from hackers, several information security experts said.

The revelation that Clinton relied exclusively on a private email account for routine exchanges during her four-year stint as secretary of state also raises questions about whether the agency or anyone else in government examined Clinton's private email server and network before it began operating and continued to regularly review it during her tenure. Federal regulations subject the computer systems of some federal contractors and other organizations to federal oversight when they interact with government systems to ensure they are protected.

On Wednesday, a House committee investigating the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, issued subpoenas for emails from Clinton and others related to Libya. The Republican-led Select Committee on Benghazi also instructed technology companies it did not identify to preserve any relevant documents in their possession.

For a second day, Washington seemed preoccupied with Clinton's email practices, which gave Clinton -- who is expected to run for president in the 2016 campaign -- significant control over limiting access to her message archives. But they also complicated the State Department's legal responsibilities in finding and turning over official emails in response to any investigations, lawsuits or public records requests.

Late Wednesday, Clinton urged the State Department to release the emails she wrote from her private account. "I want the public to see my email. I asked State to release them. They said they will review them for release as soon as possible," she said on Twitter.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in response to Clinton's tweet that the department will review for release the emails Clinton provided. Harf said the department will conduct the review as quickly as possible, but said it could take some time to review, given the sheer volume of emails.

Clinton's extensive use of her private account for at least 55,000 emails made it likely that in at least some exchanges, references were made to either classified or sensitive information, said J. William Leonard, who held high-ranking information security posts with the Defense Department and the National Archives.

"I would be exceedingly surprised if there were not situations where at the very least classified or sensitive information was inadvertently released just by the nature of her position and the nature of information that is routinely discussed," said Leonard, who under President George W. Bush was director of the Information Security Oversight Office, which oversees the government-wide security classification system.

Both Clinton's current spokesman and a spokeswoman for the State Department said Clinton's emails contained only unclassified exchanges. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Clinton as Cabinet secretary never used a government email account on the agency's separate network for sharing classified information, which Clinton would have been prohibited from forwarding to her private email account.

"She had other ways of communicating through classified email through her assistants or her staff, with people, when she needed to use a classified setting," Harf said.

On Wednesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, "It's hard for me to assess what sort of vulnerability may have been created by the establishment of a separate network."

The most likely security risk in Clinton's emails was the possibility of what the intelligence community calls "spillage," the inadvertent leakage of classified information in exchanges, paraphrases and shorthand.

"It's what would happen when classified references are unintentionally introduced into an unclassified email system," Leonard said. "That would be an obvious question with Secretary Clinton's network. The sheer volume of those emails would certainly carry that risk."

Steven Aftergood, a government secrecy expert at the Federation of American Scientists, said Clinton's unclassified emails would have been a target for hackers.

"There is lots of State Department information that is not formally classified but is sensitive and advantageous for those who could obtain it," Aftergood said. "They may not want to know what she's eating for lunch, but would gain insight by learning who she was talking to, what her agendas are, where she was traveling."

Aftergood and other experts said that while Clinton may have had direct control over the private server that managed her emails, it almost certainly did not have the same robust defenses of government or large corporate computer systems. It is not known how Clinton protected her private server when she was a Cabinet secretary until 2013, but a later version was reconfigured to use a Denver-based commercial email provider now owned by McAfee Inc., a top Internet security company.

Some experts said if properly protected by firewalls and security systems and regularly monitored and updated, even a small independent server could have been as strong as government networks.

"Depending on the configuration, there's no reason a system like that couldn't be secure, especially since State has been a target of hackers in the past," said Christopher Cummiskey, a former senior Obama administration Homeland Security official who responded to cyber-attacks against government and contractor networks.

The light was recovered at a Charlestown bar. An employee found it outside in the snow and brought it inside.

BOSTON (AP) -- Police have charged a homeless man with stealing an aircraft warning beacon from atop Boston's distinctive Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge.

Authorities allege that early last month, 34-year-old Clifford Beckford Jr. broke through a locked door, climbed a ladder to the top of one of the bridge's towers, and stole the 3-foot tall, 60-pound red light.

The light was recovered from the basement of a Charlestown bar. A bar manager says an employee found it outside in the snow and brought it in.

Beckford was arraigned Wednesday on a number of charges including breaking and entering. He was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

The Joint terrorism Task Force was part of the investigation until it was determined the theft was not terrorism related.

Rebekah Gregory lost her left leg below the knee. But in a bold and defiant statement to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who faces the death penalty if found guilty in his federal trial, Gregory said he did not take her spirit.

In the two years since the Boston Marathon bombing, the slogan "Boston Strong" has stood for resilience and perseverance, a sense of emotional healing and togetherness that people all over the country have embraced. And with it comes a sense of strength and triumph over tragedy.

For one survivor of the attack in April 2013, the recovery is much more complete now that she has testified against the man who admits to killing three people and injuring more than 260 with pressure cooker bombs designed to inflict mass casualties.

Rebekah Gregory of Houston lost her left leg below the knee. But in a bold and defiant statement to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who faces the death penalty if found guilty in his federal trial, Gregory said he did not take her spirit.

"I got to walk into a courtroom and take my place at the witness stand, just a few feet away from where you were sitting. (I was WALKING. Did you get that?) And today I explained all the horrific details, of how you changed my life, to the people that literally hold YOURS in their hands. That's a little scary right?" Gregory wrote Wednesday, the first day of testimony.

"TODAY ... I looked at you right in the face ... and realized I wasn't afraid anymore. And today I realized that sitting across from you was somehow the crazy kind of step forward that I needed all along," the letter continues. "And I think that's the ironic thing that happens when someone intends something for evil. Because somehow, some way, it always ends up good."

She chastised Tsarnaev, calling him a "coward" because he refused to look at her as she described the events of that day and the injuries she sustained, which required almost 20 surgeries and, eventually, amputation.

"So yes ... you did take a part of me. Congratulations you now have a leg up ... literally," Gregory wrote. "But in so many ways, you saved my life. Because now, I am so much more appreciative of every new day I am given. And now, I get to hug my son even tighter than before, blessed that he is THRIVING, despite everything that has happened."

You can read the full letter below.

Strain of the drug resistant CRE.

HARTFORD - Some 281 Hartford Hospital patients are being notified by the hospital that they may have been exposed to E. coli during endoscopic procedures over the last year. The bacteria is a strain of the superbug CRE that has been associated with the recent death of two patients from contaminated scopes at a California hospital. The latest model of these hard-to-clean contaminated scopes used for treatments associated with pancreatic and bile duct cancer have been pulled from use. Area hospitals have said they have been vigilant in following disinfection procedures for such scopes.

There are combinations of antibiotics that can be used for such infections, but superbugs are considered resistant to even the most potent antibiotics.

Dr. Rocco Orlando, chief medical officer of Hartford HealthCare, told NBC Connecticut that the concern is that patients may have been colonized with E. coli. Someone can harbor the bacteria within their body without becoming infected by it.

According to NBC Connecticut, the 281 patients are being asked to be tested for the presence of E.coli and to undergo treatment as a precaution.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Kim Rivera, 49, of 75 Pomona St. plans to run for a Ward 6 seat on the Springfield City Council to help fight crime and create jobs and opportunities for city residents, she said.

Updates story published at 12:20 a.m. Thursday, March 5.

Rivera, who had just come from an evening session of the Springfield Citizens Police Academy, paused before entering her house at 75 Pomona St. to look at the yellow police tape delineating the shooting scene outside her home near the corner of Sumner Avenue.

Rivera, 49, plans to challenge Ward 6 Councilman Ken Shea, and fighting crime and creating jobs are among her top priorities.

"We need to build trust between police and our communities to make the city safer, so people aren't afraid to live in our neighborhoods," said Rivera, sounding like a politician in training. "Some of our elected officials are afraid to come into some of our communities," she said.

"And the thing is, I just came from a police community meeting," she said, pointing to the active police investigation just feet from her front stoop.

A shooting ... it's not what you want to see on your front doorstep when you return home from the Springfield Citizens Police Academy. But that's exactly what Kim Rivera encountered outside her house at 75 Pomona St. when she returned to her Forest Park home after an evening session of the citizens academy. Rivera, whose multiple jobs including working for the Springfield School District, plans to run for City Council, and fighting crime is among her top priorities.CONOR BERRY / THE REPUBLICAN 

She watched detectives search the street and dirty snowbanks for shell casings and other evidence related to the shooting, which sent a gunshot victim to the hospital for emergency treatment.

"This is why I'm running," said Rivera, whose multiple jobs include working for the Springfield School District.

"We need to make sure everyone's involved, including our elected officials, because we have to work together for safe and vibrant communities," she said.

Rivera bemoans the dearth of neighborhood community centers and safe hangout spots for young people &38211; the city residents most susceptible to the violence plaguing some sections of Springfield.

With a little initiative and some strong leadership, Forest Park – among the city's largest and most diverse neighborhoods, with pockets of wealth and poverty often separated by a single block or busy road – could reach its full potential, according to Rivera.

"We're the most diverse area in the whole city of Springfield," she said.

The gold was being transported by armored car from Florida to Attleboro when it was stolen on Sunday from along a North Carolina highway.

WILSON, N.C. (AP) -- Details emerging from the theft of nearly $5 million in gold bars on an interstate highway indicate the heist was carefully planned and raise questions about who was involved other than the three armed robbers.

The robbers pulled up almost immediately after the drivers made an unscheduled stop on a dark stretch of highway in North Carolina, according to a warrant. When the crew got out of the truck, they left their firearms behind in violation of their employer's security rules, the sheriff said. And while the workers told authorities they had to pull over because strong gasoline fumes were making at least one of them sick, a mechanic found no problems with the truck.

The circumstances led one detective to write that the heist on Sunday "could be an inside job," though the sheriff declined to commit to that theory during a news conference Wednesday. One thing was clear, though: The heist was targeted and planned, down to the orange traffic cones the robbers put out while they unloaded 275 pounds of gold worth $4.8 million.

Asked to put the case into context, Wilson County Sheriff Calvin Woodard, who's a native of the area, remarked: "It's different."

"We want to make sure that all the citizens, as well as those who live outside the county, feel safe when they travel that stretch of highway."

On Wednesday, authorities released search warrants for the truck and the drivers' cellphones filed the day after the heist in which detectives wrote of their suspicions.

"The fact that the truck was robbed immediately upon pulling over at an unannounced stop is suspicious in and of itself," the warrants state, adding that the truck had no external markings betraying the cargo. The warrant said the suspects tried to steal the truck but could not get it started, indicating they did not know how to operate a commercial truck.

Woodard said the guards were still considered victims, not suspects, but that all possibilities were being investigated.

Asked to elaborate on the suspicions mentioned in the warrants, the sheriff said they were written in a hurry before the victims, who spoke little English, could be thoroughly interviewed in Spanish.

The strange scene unfolded around dusk Sunday in a rural area about 50 miles east of Raleigh.

View full sizeWilson County Sheriff's Deputies investigate an area near Interstate 95, Monday, March 2, 2015, in Wilson, N.C. Armed robbers hijacked an armored truck, tied up the two guards and disappeared with 275 pounds of gold bars. (AP Photo/The Wilson Times, Brad Coville)Brad Coville 

Earlier in the day, the guards had stopped for gas in Dillon, South Carolina, near the North Carolina line. As they kept driving, one of them started to feel sick and said he smelled gas, Woodard said. A warrant says they pulled over so the man could vomit.

As soon as the guards stopped on the shoulder, three robbers drove up in a cargo van and confronted them at gunpoint, yelling "Policia!" and ordering the crew to lie on the ground.

The guards got out of the tractor-trailer without their guns, according to the sheriff, who said it was a company security violation to leave the truck without their weapons.

The robbers tied their hands behind their backs and marched them into nearby woods, authorities said. Woodard said the robbers cut a padlock, but there were no other security measures to stop them.

He said that after deputies arrived, a mechanic found no problems with the truck.

The heist happened hours after the truck left Miami for a town south of Boston.

Neither guard was injured, according to their employer, Miami-based Transvalue Inc., which specializes in transporting cash, precious metals, gems and jewelry. A Transvalue spokeswoman said she would seek comment from company's executives about the details in the warrants.

The company has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The company says its shipments are insured for up to $100 million.

One warrant says the owner of the cargo was Republic Metals Corp. of Opa-locka, Florida. An attorney for the company did not return a telephone call seeking comment late Wednesday.

After the thieves escaped with the gold, the guards were left stranded along Interstate 95 until they drew the attention of startled motorists. Several called 911 to report seeing uniformed men running into the highway with their hands bound, motioning for help.

"They've got their hands zip-tied behind their backs, and they're out in the road to try to flag people down to call the police," one caller said.

HOLYOKE - The Paper City this morning lost a native son, James J. Tierney, a well-known insurance agent and longtime member of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee. Tierney, who in 1997 was honored by the parade committee as its Rohan Award winner for significant contributions to the parade, was most involved in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Road Race...

This file photo shows James J. Tierney, of Holyoke, in 2011 as he was preparing to retire from the Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing after 40 plus years of service.JOHN SUCHOCKI / THE REPUBLICAN 

HOLYOKE - The Paper City this morning lost a native son, James J. Tierney, a well-known insurance agent and longtime member of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee.

Tierney, who in 1997 was honored by the parade committee as its Rohan Award winner for significant contributions to the parade, was most involved in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Road Race which is marking its 40th running this year.

Tierney retired from the Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing in Westfield in 2011, following 40 years of service.

Tierney grew up in the Highlands neighborhood. He was the son of the late John T. and Barbara (Kennedy) Tierney. He graduated from Sacred Heart Grammar School and Holyoke Catholic High School.

Tierney worked as a sales executive at Dowd Insurance Co. for the past 15 years. Prior to that he worked for 20 years in his uncle Francis' insurance firm, the Tierney Insurance Group.

His civic contributions include service as a state-appointed trustee at the Soldiers' Home.

Tierney was the husband of Dr. Debra Panitch, a prominent surgeon. He also leaves two children, Christopher, a lawyer in Washington, D.C., and Erin Chrusciel, a commercial photographer, of East Longmeadow, several grandchildren, many other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Witnesses told police they heard 4 gunshots.

This is an update of a story originally posted at 12:38 a.m. Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD - The victim in a Wednesday night shooting on Pomona Street in the city's Forest Park neighborhood suffered a serious injury to his torso but the injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said.

The man, whose name was not disclosed to the press, was stuck once in the upper left torso in the 8:40 p.m. shooting at Pomona Street and Sumner Avenue, said police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney.

Police found the victim lying in the driveway at 618 Sumner Ave. surrounded by a large crowd, Delaney said. The home is on the corner of Pomona Street, roughly three blocks east of The X. 

Witnesses said there had apparently been a fight between the victim and another man in a driveway on Pomona Street. The shooter pulled a gun and opened fire. The victim yelled that he had been shot and fell to the ground, and the shooter fled, Delaney said.

The fight was apparently part of an ongoing dispute from earlier in the day. "The dispute resumed and shots were fired," he said.

Witnesses said they heard four shots, Delaney said.

No description of the suspect was available.

Detectives spent much of the night processing the crime scene for evidence. Investigators were seen using metal detectors to search through the snow.

People with information are asked to call the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at (413) 787-6355. Those who wish to remain anonymous may text a tip via a cell phone by addressing a text message to "CRIMES," or "274637," and then beginning the body of the message with the word "SOLVE."

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The new position was approved by the City Council last November.

WESTFIELD - The City Council's Finance Committee has endorsed a $30,000 transfer within the current budget to finance the hiring of the city's first director of facilities.

That new position, authorized by ordinance approved last November, will be responsible for all maintenance and upgrades of city buildings including schools.

City Purchaser Tammy B. Tefft told the Finance Committee Wednesday night that position will allow the city to consolidate and make more effecient maintenance schedules at municipal buildings.

"We should be proactive in maintaining our buildings," Tefft said. "We also need to get away from out sourcing repairs."

Tefft also noted that she expects little savings during the first year of the director's appointment but "as maintenance schedules are prepared, implemented savings will be realized." She did say she expects the salary expense will be covered by maintenance cost savings during the first year of the appointment.

A posting for the position expired March 1 and if the $30,000 is approved for the salary through June 30, city officials are expected to move immediately to hire an individual for the job.

City Councilors Brent B. Bean II, finance chairman, and Robert A. Paul Sr., finance committee member, agreed to recommend the full City Council approve the funding at tonight's regular City Council meeting. Councilor Christopher M. Crean, also a finance member who was not at the meeting, said he also supports the position.

"This is a great plan. I like the idea of placing this post under the mayor's office while we determine the best place to put it," said Paul.

The city, during the past three years, has invested $41 million in renovations to city buildings and schools including the installation of energy conservation equipment and technology.

Boards of trustees authorize letter of intent.

The boards of trustees of Westfield Noble Hospital and Baystate Health have authorized the organizations to sign a letter of intent to explore Noble becoming a member of Baystate Health, according to a release from both institutions.

"Noble's potential affiliation with Baystate Health now enters a period of review and due diligence within the organizations and in partnership with the relevant regulatory and oversight bodies. This work is expected to occur over the next several months. In the meantime it will be operations as usual for both organizations," the release states.

"I believe the brightest future for Noble, our employees, our patients and our community lies in partnership with a high-quality and well-integrated academic health network such as Baystate Health," said Ronald P. Bryant, president and CEO of Noble Health Network, which includes Noble Hospital, Noble Medical Group and Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice. "We look forward to advancing our discussions to determine the best course forward for Noble and for our community."

"We have worked closely with Noble and its team of caregivers for a long time, and we recognize the excellent quality of care and compassion they provide to their patients," said Dr. Mark A. Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, added in the release "Given our common commitments to high-quality and high-value care, I share with our board members a strong belief that this potential partnership would serve the missions of both organizations and the needs of our communities."

Noble has about 750 employees, who would join Baystate Health's team of 11,500 across western Massachusetts.

The Springfield Parking Authority is targeting three garages for repairs, beginning with the Civic Center garage. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Parking Authority has authorized capital improvements to three downtown garages, totaling approximately $4 million, beginning with the Civic Center Garage this summer.

The Civic Center Garage project will proceed first, as the authority's busiest garage and generator of its greatest revenue, along with having more significant need for repairs than other authority garages, said Mary McNally, the authority's executive director.

In addition, the garage provides an important link to downtown venues such as the MassMutual Center located across the street, she said Wednesday.

The garage is bordered by Harrison Avenue, Dwight Street and Court Street.

That garage project would be followed immediately by improvements to the Columbus Center garage and then the Taylor Street garage, McNally said. Each garage will cost well over $1 million for the planned capital improvements, she said.

"The parking authority is finally in a financial position to go forward with these long deferred projects," McNally said.

The authority refinanced its debt in 2013, and took measures to improve its cash flow, she said.

"We reduced our debt service and put us back in a positive cash flow," McNally said. "We want to move forward while we are in position to do so."

The authority will issue bonds over a 10-year period to afford the multiple projects, she said.

As detailed in an engineering report, the Civic Center Garage needs repairs including deteriorated concrete along walls and floors, McNally said. Expansion joints will be repaired throughout the facility, along with fixing cracks, sealing, and water-proofing, McNally said.

There is also a need for improvements to mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, along with the stairs and elevator, she said.

Improvements are also needed to the seldom-used rooftop parking level, McNally said. The authority may not be able to afford the extent of work needed to fully reopen the rooftop level that has not been open on a regular basis for about a decade, she said.

There are 1,000 spaces for parking in the garage, not including the 250 spaces on the rooftop level.

In 2012, there was discussion of possibly demolishing the Civic Center garage and replacing it, at first with a surface parking lot. The authority is committed to repairs and continued use, McNally said.

McNally said she wants design work completed and significant construction work to occur this summer at the garage ahead of the Interstate 91 viaduct deck reconstruction project when parking availability will be a greater challenge. The garage repair work will affect some of the available parking, she said.

All three projects should be completed over the next five to six years, she said.

The Parking Authority is also going out to bid to provide a new roof for the Columbus Center building that houses the authority, office space, and CityStage.

Trading in their combat boots and fatigues for high heels and ball gowns, female rebel fighters who normally fight Ukrainian soldiers took Saturday off to take part in a beauty pageant.

DONETSK, Ukraine -- Trading in their combat boots and fatigues for high heels and ball gowns, female rebel fighters who normally fight Ukrainian soldiers took Saturday off to take part in a beauty pageant.

The event was organized by self-proclaimed authorities in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on the eve of International Women's Day, which is widely celebrated throughout the former Soviet Union.

Women from three main rebel battalions showed off their dinner dresses before they changed back to fatigues to receive prizes and roses.

Most of the women were local residents who followed their husbands or boyfriends to the front while one was a Russian, from the Russian western city of Bryansk. Some of the women used to work in pre-schools, while others were in private business.

"I'm not used to this," said Nataliya, a contestant in a corseted dress who gave her nom de guerre as "Radist." ''There are heels to wear and then the dress is so revealing. We are soldiers after all."