Take a look at how much Western Massachusetts cities and towns would get under the bill.

BOSTON - The Massachusetts House on Wednesday passed a bill giving cities and towns $200 million for local road repairs.

The so-called "chapter 90" aid was proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, and easily sailed through the Democratic-controlled House on a 155-0 vote. The bill will now go the Senate, where it is also likely to pass.

State Rep. Michael Finn, D-West Springfield, vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, said the money will be used for reconstructing and resurfacing roadways, helping to improve public safety. "This substantial sum of money is reasonable and responsible in light of the many fiscal challenges that lie ahead," Finn said on the House floor. "After a particularly harsh winter, an affirmative vote will provide much needed funding to cities and towns to repair our roadways."

The money is an annual appropriation, which first began in 1973, given by the state to help cities and towns fix their roads. Last year, the Legislature appropriated $300 million, but then-Gov. Deval Patrick only released $200 million, after the Legislature refused to pass the full amount of transportation funding that Patrick requested.

Baker released the remaining $100 million in January and is now asking for an additional $200 million for fiscal year 2016, which begins in July. Early passage of the bill would mean the money will be available for the upcoming construction season. Baker also recently created a $30 million fund dedicated to fixing potholes.

Municipal officials have said the money is badly needed after this winter's historic snowfall damaged local roads.

State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, D-Springfield, said the money is timely and critically important. "The money will go a long way in repairing roads and also potholes through the winter we had," Puppolo said. "It will certainly make roads easier and safer to navigate."

The money is divvied up among cities and towns based on a formula that takes into account their population, road miles and employment. The money must be used for roadway projects.

By far, the biggest single sum would go to Boston, which would get $14.48 million.

Here's a look at how much money some Western Massachusetts cities and towns would get.

Agawam: $813,205

Amherst: $843,875

Chicopee: $1,203,538

East Longmeadow: $588,442

Easthampton: $488,910

Great Barrington: $418,929

Greenfield: $637,551

Holyoke: $1,053,696

Longmeadow: $476,781

Ludlow: $701,753

North Adams: $440,897

Northampton: $1,007,142

Palmer: $483,756

Pittsfield: $1,373,188

South Hadley: $505,914

Springfield: $3,647,523

West Springfield: $858,623

Westfield: $1,227,965

Wilbraham: $549,446

Worcester: $4,100,111

Alben linked his tweet to a Masslive.com story on the arrest of a Springfield man following the fatal overdose of a Ludlow woman last Friday night.

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts State Police superintendent Col. Tim Alben took to Twitter Wednesday morning to call for heroin dealers to be held accountable for fatal overdoses.

"Charging heroin dealers with homicide/manslaughter should become part of any strategy to attack this problem!" Alben tweeted.

The tweet by the Holyoke native and East Longmeadow resident contained a link to a Masslive.com story on the Friday arrest of a Springfield man following the death — apparently by heroin overdose — of a 32-year-old Ludlow woman.

Ludlow detective Alison Metcalfe, the lead investigator in the case, said Wednesday that police are exploring the possibility of filing additional charges against Wojtowicz.

Metcalfe said the arrest may save lives whether or not additional charges are filed.

"If that was the lethal heroin that was the cause of her death, then taking the rest of the heroin off the street hopefully saved some other lives," she said.

The victim, found in her Hubbard Street apartment Friday night, was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield where she died, police said.

Police made contact with the suspect, Dyarel Wojtowicz,, 27, of 13 Spruce St. in Springfield, through the woman's cell phone and made arrangements for a heroin delivery, according to court documents.

Dyarel WojtowiczLudlow police

Wojtowicz was arrested after he allegedly pulled into the woman's driveway with a bundle of heroin bags — each stamped with the word "chocolate."

Empty bags stamps with the same word were found in the victim's pocketbook, police said.

Wojtowicz was charged with of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine during is arraignment.

Metcalfe said the heroin is being analyzed at a state crime lab.

Alben could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

Suspect was victim in 2010 shooting

Wojtowicz was seriously injured by a gunshot to his chest outside a Holyoke bar on November 2010.

The early morning shooting, near the Clover Cafe on High Street, left Wojtowicz in critical condition at an intensive care unit at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Former Holyoke Police Chief Anthony R. Scott said Wojtowicz had been kicked out of the bar several weeks before the shooting after getting into some kind of altercation there, police said.

Scott said Wojtowicz been barred from the bar in the wake of that prior altercation.

It was not immediately clear if any suspects were ever charged with the shooting.

The bill was virtually identical to the plan that Gov. Charlie Baker proposed to trim the state workforce by 4,500 people.

BOSTON - The Massachusetts House passed a bill on Wednesday that would provide an early retirement incentive to state employees.

The incentive was proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, as part of his fiscal year 2016 budget. Baker wants to save the state $179 million a year over the next three years by cutting the state workforce by 4,500 people.

The Democratic-controlled House backed the proposal unanimously, 149-0. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, said it is a way to avoid reducing staff through layoffs. "It was the administration's decision to offer early retirement to capture savings while at the same time helping public employees transition out of the workplace," Dempsey said. "We support that proposal."

The bill now goes to the state Senate. The Senate plans to hold a public hearing next Monday. The House did not hold a public hearing.

The House version of the bill would give employees from April 15 to July 15 to submit an application to retire, with the retirements becoming effective July 31. The bill would save the state $173 million - a slightly lower figure than Baker proposed because it delays the retirements into the 2016 fiscal year, which begins July 1. That number takes into account the costs of paying increased pension benefits and paying for unused sick and vacation time. It also takes into account the cost of allowing the state to spend 20 percent of the salary savings rehiring people to fill the vacated positions.

The incentive would apply to around 13,000 workers who are already eligible to retire, meaning they are over 55 and have worked for the state for 10 years, or they are any age and have worked for the state for 20 years. The incentive would let employees add up to five years of age or years of service to the calculation used to determine their pension benefits, so they will get more money for retiring now than they would otherwise be eligible for.

The retirement incentive would apply only to executive branch agencies. It would not apply, for example, to public colleges or universities, the trial court, the state police, the treasurer's office, the attorney general's office, or independent agencies like the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. It also would only apply to Group 1 employees, who are general office workers. It would not apply to public safety officers or others with hazardous job conditions, who have different eligibility requirements for retirement.

Retired employees would not be able to be rehired for at least 120 days.

Some workers have asked about expanding the incentive, and the Joint Committee on Public Service will hold a hearing to talk about a potential expansion.

State Rep. John Rogers, D-Norwood, proposed but then withdrew an amendment that would have expanded the incentive to all Group 1 state employees, not only those in the executive branch.

"I think we should afford all of our state employees equal protection in the law we want to put on the governor's desk," Rogers said.

Rogers said a similar incentive offered in 2002 applied to all state workers. He worried that the program as proposed will not achieve the $172 million in savings, and people will be laid off.

But Dempsey warned that expanding the program may not achieve any savings. The executive branch, under the proposal, would subject to the 20 percent cap on "backfilling" positions. Other agencies may not be able to abide by that rule. "I'd suggest the trial courts are seeing a significant strain in staffing levels. There's absolutely no way that they would be able to accommodate a 20 percent backfill," Dempsey said.

Kaprielian, who served in former governor Deval Patrick's cabinet, will become a regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Former Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rachel Kaprielian has found a new job working for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Kaprielian will become the regional director for HHS, working with local officials in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. She will be involved with issues relating to local implementation of the Affordable Care Act and other aspects of federal health care policy.

Kaprielian was appointed secretary of Labor and Workforce Development by former Gov. Deval Patrick in January 2014, after previously working as registrar of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Cabinet secretaries work at the will of the governor, and Gov. Charlie Baker replaced Kaprielian with Ronald Walker.

Kaprielian was previously active on health care policy as a state representative representing Watertown and Cambridge for 14 years.

Dartmouth College has confirmed that it extended the suspension of one of its fraternities, Alpha Delta, over allegations of branding - that is, pressing a piece of hot metal into a fraternity pledge's skin.

A digest of news stories from around New England.

A Wednesday morning forum on climate change drew environmental advocates, policy experts and legislators focused on global warming issues.

By Gintautas Dumcius
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MARCH 25, 2015.....Fewer lobsters, but more scup and black sea bass? That's a possibility for Massachusetts's marine fisheries.

"Whether it's caused by climate change or the water temperature rising, we're seeing more and more southern species of fish off of our shores earlier in the year and in more abundance," Fish and Game Commissioner George Peterson said.

Lobster fisheries south of the Cape are "pretty much" disappearing, according to Peterson, a former Republican state representative from Grafton.

"Even though we're landing more lobsters -- last year was a record year for lobster landings in the commonwealth of Massachusetts -- the fisheries are decidedly moving north from some of the traditional areas," the commissioner said.

Peterson added, "I don't know whether we can ever do enough to turn it around, or turn the clock back. But we do need to be prepared on what happens as these situations and as the climate changes."

Peterson attended a Wednesday morning forum on climate change, which drew environmental advocates, policy experts and legislators focused on global warming issues. "I'm assuming most of you are believers," Senate President Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) quipped at the outset.

The forum was hosted by the Senate and House Committees on Global Warming and Climate Change.

Sen. Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat who chairs the Senate global warming committee, said he has filed legislation calling on the state to put in place a "comprehensive adaptation management plan" as well as a "statewide vulnerability analysis."

Pacheco said the state currently is not on track to meet the goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act, passed by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2008, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts.The law seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 2020 to 25 percent below the 1990 levels.

"We knew before (Patrick) left office that we were not on target to meet those goals. Now that's the law, we're supposed to meet those goals," Pacheco said.

Adding that he was "thrilled" to hear Gov. Charlie Baker's energy and environmental affairs secretary Matt Beaton express a commitment to the Global Warming Solutions Act, Pacheco said, "But I want to continue to be one of the people that's going to be yelling from the rooftops across Massachusetts, saying we've got to meet those goals."

Beaton said his secretariat is working with other agencies and fellow secretaries on the effects of climate change, as well as assessing land use and change in land use in the Bay State over the last 25 years.

Renewable energy will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the impacts of past emissions are already apparent, he said, according to a copy of his remarks.

"During this harsh winter, I witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by intense storms exacerbated by the effects of climate change," Beaton said. "I personally visited Scituate, Marshfield, Brewster, Sandwich, Newburyport and Salisbury. The cost of these storms is measured not simply by the hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency services and disaster relief, but in the lives, livelihoods, homes and businesses impacted by these natural disasters."

Beaton pointed to several programs underway, including an initiative that allows coastal communities to apply for up to $350,000 to advance climate change "resiliency."

"In addition to these programs, I would like to start a greater statewide conversation about climate change resiliency and develop a framework for working with municipalities on this issue so we can provide them with the tools they need to make critical infrastructure investments," Beaton said.

Rosenberg told the News Service that he hopes senators will decide after the forum if more work needs to be done on the topic of global warming.

"But I feel a sense of urgency," he said. "I think everything else pales in comparison to this because if we don't solve this problem, a lot of other good work basically becomes meaningless."

Added Peterson, the fish and game commissioner: "What is interesting and what is good is we're getting more and more science and more and more data, so that we can really start to plan for the future, which is going to be critical."

Bile, 21, is the first of four Pittsfield men to stand trial in connection with the October 13, 2012 incident in Pierpont dormitory at UMass Amherst.

NORTHAMPTON - The prosecution in the University of Massachusetts gang rape case rested Wednesday, leaving it pretty much in the hands of defendant Emmanuel T. Bile to determine his own fate as he prepares to take the stand.

Emmanuel T. Bile Jr. 

Defense lawyer David Pixley has told Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder that his client will testify in his own defense Thursday. Both lawyers expect closing arguments to take place that day.

Bile, 21, is the first of four Pittsfield men to stand trial in connection with the October 13, 2012 incident in Pierpont dormitory at UMass Amherst. He will be followed by Justin A. King, 21, Adam T. Liccardi, 20, and Caleb Womack, 20. All are charged with three counts of aggravated rape except for Liccardi, who is also charged with an additional count of rape.

The alleged victim testified Wednesday morning, breaking down continually under direct questioning by prosecutor Jennifer Suhl.

The woman, who now attends college in the Berkshires, described a night of heavy drinking and pot smoking that ended with the four men penetrating her in several places as she phased in and out of consciousness.

Prior to the afternoon session, Pixely asked Kinder to declare a mistrial and find his client not guilty because the woman never specifically said she did not consent to having sex with the men. He also argued that his client could only be charged with one count of aggravated rape because there is no evidence he penetrated the woman in other places. Kinder denied the motion for a mistrial and said there is enough evidence to convict Bile under the joint venturer theory for the actions of the others.

Before resting her case, Suhl called James Meade, the security manager for UMass residence halls, to the stand. She then introduced a dozen videos from security cameras that apparently show the four Pittsfield men moving about Pierpont.

Ludlow veterans services director calls it a step forward.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed to compute the 40-mile distance from a VA medical facility in terms of the drive from a veteran's home, rather than the "shortest distance between two points."

This interpretation is expected to double the number of veterans eligible for non-VA medical care under the Veterans Choice Program. The temporary program was authorized by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.

However, one area director of veterans services, highlighting a rule related to how the VA interprets the act, said the change is unlikely to have much impact locally.

"More people would benefit locally if the change was appointment based versus facility," said Eric Segundo, veterans services director for the Town of Ludlow.

Segundo said he takes several older veterans for the care they need to the VA facility in West Haven, Conn., a distance of some 76 miles, but that they would be ineligible for closer, private care, on the basis of mileage, because there is a VA Medical Hospital in Leeds, a distance of about 30 miles from Ludlow. There is also a VA outpatient clinic in Springfield.

The mileage determination is between a veteran's residence and a VA facility, whether or not that VA facility is where the veteran's appointment is scheduled. The appointment facility may be further than 40 miles, but if there is a VA facility within 40 miles, the veteran cannot qualify for care on the mileage basis. They may qualify on the basis of when an appointment is available.

The choice program is a key component of the act that Congress passed to reform the VA's vast system of health care, including the need to shorten wait times for medical appointments. Some $10 billion, of the $17 billion allocated for the act, was designated for the choice program and allows those eligible to receive government paid care from private physicians. Eligibility for the program is based on whether a veteran lives 40 miles from a VA medical facility, or the VA is unable to schedule a preferred, or medically determined, appointment within a 30 day time period.

Pressure from D.C. legislators and veterans advocates helped bring about the change in how the 40 miles is computed. In February, Robert McDonald, secretary of veterans affairs, had asked the House Veterans Affairs Committee to re-direct some of the choice program money to VA facilities, saying only 24,000 veterans had utilized the program, with some 500,000 calls of inquiry from veterans. The request was denied by lawmakers, some who cited, as a barrier, the way the VA was computing the 40 miles.

In testimony before a Senate panel, Sloan Gibson, deputy VA secretary, said "based on feedback," from both veterans and Congress, the VA felt the "need to change" how the 40 miles is computed. Gibson did refer to the act and seemed to indicate that how the 40 miles has been determined was in the spirit of what Congress wanted. In its Nov. 4th rule on expanded access to non-VA care through the Veterans Choice program, the VA said it would "calculate distance between a veteran's residence and the nearest VA medical facility using a straight-line distance, rather than the driving distance. The Conference Report accompanying the final bill provides strong support for this interpretation, as it states, 'In calculating the distance from a nearest VA medical facility, it is the Conferees' expectation that VA will use geodesic distance, or the shortest distance between two points."

The rule highlights the barrier for more area veterans being eligible for the choice program. The rule states that "a veteran is eligible if the veteran resides more than 40 miles from the VA medical facility that is closest to the veteran's residence. This standard considers the distance between a veteran's residence . . . and any VA medical facility, even if that facility cannot provide the care that the veteran requires."

Still, Segundo, whose office is funded by the state, called the mileage computation change "a step forward for the VA in terms of access to care." It reportedly will be done calculated by Google maps or other similar sites.

Segundo said some veterans would prefer to stay within the VA system, because of their familiarity with it, and may regard it as "better care." He said they may also be willing to wait "to go to a familiar facility" if it is a matter of waiting only a few days beyond a 30-day time frame.

The act includes a $5 billion allocation for the hiring of physicians and nurses. The VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System is in the process of hiring several dozen additional staff, including health care providers, and has said it has sent out recruitment packages to doctors in hopes of expanding hours at its Springfield outpatient clinic. Segundo said younger veterans would appreciate weekend hours at the clinic since they are "often at work or in school during the daytime hours."

Youth are coached by a knowledgeable and skilled team of former football players and volunteers.

HOLYOKE -- Registration for Holyoke Youth Football and Cheerleading for those in grades three to eight is April 2, May 7 and June 4 at the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club, 70 Nick Cosmos Way.

Registration will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on all three days, a press release said.

The cost to register to play football is $80 in April, $90 in May and $100 after, with discounts for multiple children. The cost for cheerleading is $60, the press release said.

"Everyone plays and space is limited so youth should register early," the press release said.

"Youth will learn and play competitive football in a fun and safe environment. From August through October youth get the opportunity to get fit, learn the proper technique, compete in eight games vs. surrounding communities and work in a team environment to accomplish goals," the press release said.

A knowledgeable and skilled team of former football players and volunteers will coach the young people, the press release said.

Practice is held behind the former Lynch School at Northampton and Dwight streets.

For questions about football, contact Mark Lubold at (413) 530-5896 or mlubold@comcast.net. For cheerleading, contact Kelly Curran at (413) 552-6168 or kellycurran@hotmail.com.

The Springfield man was sentenced to 2½ to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

SPRINGFIELD - Daniel Ruiz was sentenced Wednesday to 2½ to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

Hampden Superior Court Judge Tina S. Page accepted the sentence recommendation agreed upon by prosecution and defense for Ruiz, 26, of Springfield.

Defense lawyer Anthony C. Bonavita said Ruiz is due in federal court March 26 for sentencing on a federal probation violation. He said he did not know what sentence Ruiz will get in federal court and whether it will be concurrent with the state court sentence or consecutive to that sentence.

Shawn P. Allyn, who represented Ruiz in U.S. District Court, was in Page's courtroom Wednesday listening to the plea in the state court case.

On March 12, U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni reduced Ruiz to tears during a probation revocation hearing. The judge also rejected a mutual sentencing recommendation by a prosecutor and defense lawyer.

Ruiz appeared before Mastroainni because his arrest for possession of heroin with intent to distribute constituted a violation of his federal probation.

Ruiz was on federal probation after just having been released from prison after a 2008 conviction for cocaine distribution.

Allyn said Ruiz' good intentions after being released deteriorated when he was fired from a warehouse job. Ruiz began dealing drugs out of his mother's house on Calhoun Street, unbeknownst to her.

He had previously betrayed his mother when he was out on bail in the 2008 case, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Grant. She pledged her house as collateral and he defaulted on his bail agreement. She was apparently able to keep her home and was in court on March 12.

Ruiz admitted to the allegations. Lawyers recommended a 30-month prison sentence to run concurrent with the state court sentence. When it was time for Ruiz to speak, he offered a mumbled apology to his probation officer, his mother and sister, and to Mastroianni.

Ruiz sobbed as Mastroianni admonished him and demanded he apologize to his mother.

Mastroianni referred to Ruiz' long criminal record as "ridiculous," telling lawyers in the case that he was rejecting their joint sentencing proposal until after the defendant's sentencing in state court.

Before being elected as Hampden District Attorney in 2010, Mastroianni was a criminal defense lawyer for 15 years. He left his District Attorney post when he was appointed a federal judge.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Bell said on Aug. 14, 2014, city police officers got a search warrant for the second and third floors of 62 Calhoun St. listing Ruiz as the target.

While doing surveillance police saw Ruiz walking to the Calhoun Street home and he ran from them, Bell said. Police saw him throw 50 individual bags of heroin away as he ran.

Inside the home they found four more packets of heroin.

In answer to the standard questions at the start of a guilty plea, Ruiz told Page he went as far as eighth grade in school and has two daughters ages six and seven.

The 5-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house, once the home of Theodor Giesel, is at 74 Fairfield St. And it could be yours for $195,000.

SPRINGFIELD -- The childhood home of Theodor Giesel, better known as children's author Dr. Seuss, is for sale.

The 5-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house at 74 Fairfield St. could be yours for $195,000.

The property is in the Forest Park Heights Historic District. The 2,471 sq. ft. single-family house was built in 1900 and sits on a 6,534 sq. ft. lot.

"Has many built-ins, beautiful natural woodwork and hardwood floors throughout. Large updated kitchen with dining area. Lots of closets and storage space," the listing reads.

A prolific writer, cartoonist and filmmaker, Dr. Seuss was most famous for picture books like "The Cat in the Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

When Geisel was born in 1904, his family lived on Howard Street. They moved to 74 Fairfield St. when he was 2 years old.

Realtor Linda Alston said the current occupants "love the house" and people regularly come to see it, take pictures and ask to come inside.

Click for the full listing at RealEstate.MassLive.com.

The drill will draw more than 275 to UMass April 2.

AMHERST - The University of Massachusetts Medical Reserve and the Emergency Management Office are staging an emergency exercise and workshop April 2 to see how ready they are to provide shelter for Hampshire County residents and their pets during a large-scale emergency.

The staging from 2 to 8 p.m. will be held on the lower concourse of the Campus Center, and will focus on the registration process, as well as testing improvements made following last year's full-scale emergency drill at the Mullins Center, according to Ann Becker, MRC unit coordinator in a press release.

More than 275 volunteers and emergency response partners are expected to participate in the event, which will simulate establishing an emergency shelter during a major winter storm.

The exercise is funded by the Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council and the Western Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps, according to a press-release.

The event also tests the Hampshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee's regional sheltering plan, which has been adapted to meet the needs of the UMass Amherst community. 

The New York City fire department says it's at the scene of a fire and a possible partial building collapse in Manhattan.

Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

CBS New York Live Stream

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York City fire department says it's at the scene of a fire and a possible partial building collapse in Manhattan.

The Fire Department of New York says it has no immediate reports of injuries.
Orange flames and black smoke are billowing from the five-story building near Second Avenue and Seventh Street.

There were some reports of an explosion before the fire. The area was being evacuated.

Further details are not immediately available.

A 9-year-old girl died Thursday morning after she was struck by a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus in Providence.

A digest of news stories from around New England.

Death of skier in Maine is 5th fatality on New England slopes this year [Boston Globe]

Jeb Bush 

Thursday's hearing was far less dramatic but Mastroianni's message to Ruiz was nonetheless clear.

SPRINGFIELD - Daniel Ruiz's final sentencing hearing on a federal probation violation didn't feature any tears or mandatory apologies to his mother, but it did include a stern warning from a judge.

"The next time you're in court, that's going to be it. That's absolutely going to be it," U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni told Ruiz.

The defendant was caught by local police ditching 50 bags of heroin in August, just months after being released from a lengthy federal prison sentence for cocaine dealing. Mastroianni sharply rebuked the defendant during a March 12 hearing, reducing him to tears and forcing him to turn around and apologize to his mother. Thursday's hearing was far less dramatic but Mastroianni's message to Ruiz was nonetheless clear.

"Federal probation can't be a buy one get one free," the judge told Ruiz.

While the defendant was sentenced to 2 1/2 to three years in state prison for possession with intent to distribute in Hampden Superior Court on Wednesday, he still faced a separate sentencing for violating his federal probation by dealing drugs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Grant and defense lawyer Shawn P. Allyn renewed their joint recommendation for Ruiz to serve a 30-month prison sentence concurrent with the state time, but Mastroianni rejected that. Instead, he opted to sentence him to six additional months behind bars, six months in a pre-release program with strict conditions, and 54 months of supervised release with equally strict conditions.

"You're going to be eyeballed from beginning to end of your supervised release, but you have this chance," the judge said.

He ordered that Ruiz earn his general equivalency degree during his pre-release sentence, serve 200 hours of community service, engage in other training and be assigned a mentor.

"You're going to give something back to this community since you've taken so much from it," Mastroianni said, referring to Ruiz' long history of drug dealing.

Allyn told the judge Ruiz was not an addict but had sold drugs to support himself after he lost a warehouse job. During the last, more emotional hearing, Ruiz admitted he would "feel like s***" if someone sold drugs to any of his children.

Unlike the last hearing, when his tepid apology to the judge and his mother incited Mastroianni's ire, Ruiz declined to address the court on Thursday.

The presentation is at 7 p.m. at Ludlow High School.

LUDLOW - Adults are invited to a Monday night presentation at Ludlow High School on "The Secret Life of a Massachusetts Teen."

Police Sgt. Brian Shameklis told selectmen the purpose of the forum is "to open up communication" between adults and teens.

The intent of the forum is "to help you help your children," said Laura Rooney, spokesman for the Ludlow CARES Coalition.

Addressed in the presentation by mental health counselor Jon Mattleman is why teens don't share their fears, how parents can better support teens and innovative techniques for engaging teens.

The presentation, which is set for March 30 at 7 p.m. at Ludlow High School, is free and intended for an adult audience only.

Jon Mattleman is a mental health counselor and trainer with 30 years experience working with youth, parents and families. In 1993 he established Youth/Family Resources, a consulting firm focused on overcoming personal barriers and building healthy relationships. His presentations give participants tools they can implement immediately and strategies that work with children and youth and constructive approaches to communication and problem solving.
The presentation is made possible by donations from local businesses, community members, town departments and civic groups.

Rooney said that parents, grandparents, extended family members and other adults in the community are invited to the presentation.

"Technology can isolate people," Rooney said, adding, "There are repercussions from social media."

School counselors and the school resource officer from the Police Department will attend the meeting.

Rooney added that the battle against drugs in town "is a big battle."

"The Police Department has been making drug arrests," Rooney said. She added, "We need to be vigilant about the drug battle."

Selectman Carmelina Fernandes told Rooney, "Thank you for making the drug battle public."

Besides issues with drug abuse and addiction, suicide and depression are issues in some communities, Shameklis said.

Bowe School MCAS scores went up in every category in English.

CHICOPEE - After years of struggling to see improvements in student achievement, Patrick E. Bowe School finally broke through what seemed like a formidable barrier this year.

"I couldn't be more proud of my staff," Bowe School Principal David T. Drugan said.

Drugan and Janet Reid, principal of Sztetla Early Childhood School last week gave their annual state-of-the-schools presentation to the School Committee, talking about educational initiatives and special events they had to attract parents into the school.

For Drugan the highlight was the results of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems exams the students took in the spring. While children are still below the state average, collectively students in third, fourth and fifth grades jumped from 32 percent proficient or above in English the previous year to 42 percent this year and from 34 percent proficient or above in math in 2013 to 47 percent proficient this year. Science scores increased from 7 percent proficient to 35 percent proficient in 2014.

"In ELA (English) we went up in all categories," he said. "In math we went up in every subgroup."

Students are divided into subgroups such as learning disabled, racial minorities and English language learners. With about 85 percent of all students from Bowe considered low-income, the school is the second poorest in the city.

During the presentation, Drugan talked about a variety of programs held this year that enhanced what students learned and kept them interested. In one of the more popular programs, students learned how to write computer code as part of a national "Day of Coding" event held in thousands of schools across the country.

The school also received eight boxes of books donated through Links to Libraries, children learned the importance of reading with a visit from players of the Springfield Falcons hockey team and Japanese exchange students from Elms College visited so students could learn first-hand about the culture and language of a different country, he said.

A math lesson that helped students learn fractions hands-on through baking was so well received, the school's cook is now trying to expand that to an after-school program, Drugan said.

In a more safety-focused issue, he said he appreciates that the city Department of Public Works Department is assisting in trying to expand and improve the parking lot to prevent backups and other problems at dismissal on Hampden Street, where the school is located.

Reid talked about how important early childhood education is in giving children a boost when they enter elementary school.

But she said children do not learn by sitting at a desk at Szetela School. One teacher showed how children acted out the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill" to teach vocabulary, comprehension and other lessons. One teacher turned the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme into a science lesson about the egg.

"All our lessons are engaging. There is little sitting around," Reid said.

Gary Rome Hyundai has a public hearing Tuesday for a zone change in a bid to put a dealership near JP's Restaurant.

HOLYOKE -- The menu at the location of JP's Restaurant & Sports Bar at 200 Whiting Farms Road might be including used cars along with food and drinks.

"I want to have the option," James P. Lavelle Jr. of the family run business said Thursday (March 26).

Lavelle is seeking a zone change for 200 Whiting Farms Road to Business Highway from the current Business General to allow for the occasional sale of one or two used vehicles at a time at the site, he said.

The City Council Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Lavelle's zone-change petition April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

It's no coincidence that the petition comes as those boards hold a public hearing Tuesday (March 31) on a bid from Gary Rome Hyundai to build a dealership nearby on Whiting Farms Road, Lavelle said.

Rome also has filed a petition to change the zoning designation of nearly 19 acres on Whiting Farms, across from Autumn and Lynch drives, to Business Highway. Such a zone would allow an auto dealership while the current Business General prohibits such a business. Gary Rome Hyundai currently is at 1000 Main St. here.

The traffic of vehicle-shoppers drawn by such a dealership on Whiting Farms Road would help him, Lavelle said.

"I hope Gary Rome gets his zone change ...," said Lavelle, who said JP's Restaurant has been in business for 30 years.

Any zone-change bid faces hurdles in the form of government deliberations. But zone changes on Whiting Farms Road get particular attention, as neighbors have formed a group called HolyokeFirst to oppose Walmart and Lowe's Home Improvement out of a concern such large retailers would diminish the area's quality of life.

Walmart and Lowe's both since 2009 have eyed and backed away from plans to build stores on the same site Gary Rome Hyundai is considering. The company has a deal to buy the vacant 18.7-acre site from the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department (HGE) for $2,050,000.

But the sale is contingent on Rome getting the zone change.

Neighbors and others who belong to HolyokeFirst have said they also oppose an auto dealership on the property on the grounds the street already is busy with traffic and such a business would be too intrusive. The site is up the road from the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside and Barnes & Noble.

HolyokeFirst member Gayle Keith, of Farnum Drive, said in a December interview the group would favor a Planned Unit Development or a use known as "RM-20," a multifamily housing use, for the HGE's nearly 19 acres.

The Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board can make recommendations. But the decision to grant or reject a zone change is the responsibility of the full City Council. Approval of a zone change requires a two-thirds majority, or 10 votes, of the 15-member council.

Such a vote comes only after sometimes months of public hearings and other deliberations.

One report from the scene has a man saying he smelled gas before the explosion.

Fire in manhatanPatrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

CBS New York Live Stream
This is an update to a story posted at 3:57 p.m.

Firefighters in Manhattan are dealing with a major emergency as a six-story building in the East Village caught fire and collapsed Thursday afternoon.

It unclear how many people were injured in the fire, which appears to have been preceded by an explosion. There are reports that it may have been the result of a gas leak.

The Associated Press is reported at least two people were critically injured.

The New York Daily News reports just one person is critically injured, but six others including two firefighters were being treated for injuries at the scene.

There are reports the area around the fire scene at 2nd Avenue and 7th Street is being evacuated.

In all approximately 130 firefighters have been dispatched to the scene.

Orange flames and black smoke are billowing from the facade and roof of the five-story building in Manhattan, near New York University and the Washington Square Park area.

According to the New York Daily News, the East Village was rocked by a major explosion at about 3:20 p.m.

The blast tore through 125 Second Ave. near St. Mark's Place about 3:20 p.m. The bottom two floors of the building were demolished.

"This is being considered a major emergency," an FDNY spokeswoman said.

CBS New York is reporting the explosion may have been the result of a gas leak.

One witness told one of the stations reporters that he could smell gas all day prior to the blast.

According to the Associated Press account, one man who was 1 1/2 blocks away recounted hearing a boom and then feeling his building shake.

Freelance photographer Michael Seto said "I could feel the boom in my apartment, and it short of shook," he said.

He grabbed his camera, ran outside and found a crowd gathering, looking at a brick tenement-style building with a restaurant on the first floor.

"By the second story, the front part of the building, the facade, the first and second stories, it looked like, had collapsed into the street," he said.

Rubble was on the sidewalk, and glass and debris had been flung across an avenue.

As Seto ran up to the building, a fire was starting inside it.

"It spread very quickly and pretty much engulfed the first floor," he said.

Meanwhile, a man was climbing up the fire escape, not down, he said.

"People were calling to him that the building's on fire -- he needs to get down," and he did, Seto said.

He saw one person lying on the ground, being attended to by two to three passers-by who were holding his head still. A woman was sitting on the curb with blood coming down her face, and another woman walked past him with blood on her face.

FBI forensic examiner David McCollam and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Edward S. Knapp testified on Thursday delivered testimony on the explosives used by Dzhokhar and his brother Tamerlan during the week of April 15, 2013.

BOSTON -- Jurors saw just two FBI experts take the stand in the early going of Day 14 in the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

FBI forensic examiner David McCollam and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Edward S. Knapp testified on Thursday delivered testimony on the explosives used by Dzhokhar and his brother Tamerlan during the week of April 15, 2013.

McCollam testified that the explosives were of the low level kind after he inspected the materials found at the scene.

Knapp testified in great detail about how he and FBI agents collected "thousands of little bits and pieces" of evidence from the Boston Marathon bombing scene as evidence. Eventually 1,300 pieces of evidence were submitted for them to go through.

During his testimony Knapp revealed that the FBI built mockups of the pressure cooker bombs after they recovered enough pieces from Boylston Street and Watertown to get an idea of how the bombs were constructed.

Shortly before court broke for lunch, Knapp began comparing the bomb building instructions in the Al-Qaeda sponsored magazine Inspire to what was actually used at the Boston Marathon bombing and in Watertown.

The FBI found six bombs in total (two at the Boylston Street scene and four in Watertown): Three pressure-cooker bombs, two pipe bombs and one three-pound bomb in another container.

Knapp said that investigators found two unexploded pipe bombs, additional wiring, a battery, and a toggle switch in Watertown.

Testimony is expected to continue into the late afternoon.