The facility -- located on Route 1 roughly 35 miles south of Boston and 18 miles away from Providence, Rhode Island -- is expected to have over 1,200 slot machines.

By MICHAEL NORTON

BOSTON - While acknowledging its historical significance, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday he does not plan to attend next month's opening of the first gaming facility authorized under the 2011 casino law.

Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, which won the sole slot parlor license available under the law signed by Gov. Deval Patrick, plans to open its doors June 24, with state government set to begin reeling in a share of the facility's revenues.

"I don't think I'm going to be there for the opening," Baker said during his monthly "Ask the Governor" segment on WGBH radio.

The facility -- located on Route 1 roughly 35 miles south of Boston and 18 miles away from Providence, Rhode Island -- is expected to have over 1,200 slot machines.

House lawmakers believe the slots parlor will generate $104 million for local aid to cities and towns, including the figure in their fiscal 2016 budget proposal. Baker's budget included a more conservative estimate of around $84 million.

Baker said the facility will employ 600 people. "It's a significant change. It's an historic moment in some respects," Baker said.

With resort casino licenses awarded to Everett developers in eastern Massachusetts and a Springfield venue in western Massachusetts, Baker said he sees continued "uncertainty" in southeastern Massachusetts.

Developers are eyeing potential casinos in Brockton and New Bedford - Brockton voters recently narrowly signed off on hosting a casino and a vote in New Bedford is scheduled for June 23. Aside from the competition before the Gaming Commission for the commercial license the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe wants to build a casino in Taunton, but it has been unable to obtain federal approvals for its tribal casino.

"I really do believe, and I could be wrong about this, that some of the uncertainty in the southeastern market's going to slow down the process anyways, separate and apart from whatever the Gaming Commission does," Baker said.

The governor noted the close vote in Brockton, the presence of the Plainville facility nearby, and the tribe's plans in Taunton.

"There is a lot of activity down there," Baker said.

Baker said he does not play Massachusetts Lottery games, but recalled joining friends eight or 10 years ago for their first trip to Las Vegas to celebrate someone's birthday.

"The people-watching was fun," the governor said. "We went to a bunch of shows. We played a little bit of blackjack . . . Those other games, I just don't understand how they work at all."

Baker said he won $700 one night playing blackjack at the Bellagio, recalling leaving phone messages for his former coworkers at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care "saying I'm not coming back to work, I'm just going to gamble full-time, and then I gave it all back the next day."

An official with Bermuda's Rescue Coordination Center says the Norwegian Dawn ship hit the reef near Bermuda's North Channel.

By DANICA COTO

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A Norwegian cruise ship that departed Boston ran aground Tuesday in Bermuda, officials said.

An official with Bermuda's Rescue Coordination Center says the Norwegian Dawn ship hit the reef near Bermuda's North Channel. The official was not authorized to speak to the media.

He said there are 2,675 passengers and 1,062 crew members still aboard the ship. The official said the ship is in a stable position.

Norwegian Cruise Line said in a brief statement that the ship temporarily lost power and its propulsion was affected. Officials said everyone aboard is safe and that the ship has full power. The company did not return a request for additional comment.

The U.S. Coast Guard declined comment and referred calls to authorities in Bermuda.

Melrose police are asking the public to call 781-665-1212 if they recognize the suspect, who's wanted in connection with a string of recent commercial burglaries.

MELROSE — The Melrose Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect wanted in connection with a recent rash of burglaries.

Since last Tuesday, this Middlesex County city about 10 miles north of Boston has had 11 commercial break-ins, the most recent of which occurred shortly after midnight Sunday. That's when a rapid string of eight break-ins were reported in the Main Street area alone, according to police, who believe all of the incidents are related.

Melrose police posted a series of surveillance videos on YouTube and are hoping that someone will recognize the suspect and call them at 781-665-1212. The videos are from a dry cleaner at the corner of Essex and Main streets.

Police described the suspect as a white man with a heavyset build who's about 6 feet tall, and he was wearing distinctive sneakers – possibly black Jordans with white soles – at the time of the break-ins.

In the videos, the suspect appears to be talking with someone through a microphone in his sleeve, which matches the behavior of a suspect being sought in commercial break-ins in Medford and Boston, according to authorities.

Police believe the suspect my be driving a dark Dodge Intrepid sedan or similar vehicle.

The parts were missing serial numbers.

By DAVE COLLINS

HARTFORD -- Federal authorities are investigating a Connecticut gun maker after agents found nearly 3,000 assault rifle parts missing serial numbers, according to recently filed court documents.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents seized the AR-15 parts from Stag Arms in September following routine inspections, prosecutors said. At the time, the father of Stag Arms owner Mark Malkowski told authorities that the employee who places serial numbers on parts was on vacation.

The New Britain-based gun-maker gained a high profile in the state when Malkowski became a vocal critic of a stricter state gun-control law passed in the wake of the 2012 Newtown school shootings.

The allegations that Stag Arms violated the National Firearms Act came in a forfeiture request by filed by prosecutors May 6 in federal court in Bridgeport. Prosecutors asked a judge to allow the government to keep nearly 110 of the seized assault rifle parts for "the use and benefit of the United States."

Spokesmen for the U.S. attorney's office and the ATF said the investigation of Stag Arms is ongoing. They declined further comment.

Malkowski didn't return phone and email messages seeking comment.

Stag Arms released a statement this week saying it is cooperating with government officials.

"Although the allegations relate primarily to timing and record keeping, and Stag believes public safety was never compromised, the company takes its obligation to comply with all laws very seriously," the statement said. "Stag has made comprehensive changes to ensure that similar problems cannot happen again."

Neither Malkowski nor the company has been charged with criminal wrongdoing. Any violation of the National Firearms Act carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction.

The ATF sought search warrants for Stag Arms manufacturing facilities in New Britain after routine licensure inspections in July and August found the 3,000 AR-15 parts without serial numbers and a lack of required records -- both violations of the National Firearms Act, prosecutors said in court documents. None of the parts was properly registered to Stag Arms, the documents said.

Agents seized nearly 300 rifle parts and several computers. The confiscation was first reported by The Hartford Business Journal on Monday.

Besides Malkowski's father saying the serial number worker was on vacation, another employee told authorities that some parts didn't have serial numbers because they were going to be used to duplicate parts of guns with serial numbers that were damaged, a practice that also violates regulations, prosecutors said.

Malkowski opposed stricter state gun control laws approved by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state lawmakers in April 2013, four months after a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Just days after the gun law passed, Malkowski was among owners of a few Connecticut gun manufactures who said they were considering leaving the state.

Stag Arms employs more than 200 people. Its website says Malkowski founded the company in 2003 with the goal to manufacture reliable, American-made and competitively priced AR-15s.

The improper disposal of a cigarette or other type of smoking materials sparked a mulch fire, which then spread to a deck and the home, which was destroyed in the blaze.

Updates story posted at 2:51 p.m. Tuesday, May 19.

Massachusetts Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Southampton Fire Chief John C. Workman, in a joint statement issued Tuesday evening, said the official cause was "improper disposal of smoking materials in mulch."

"In the past few weeks, we have experienced many fires across the Commonwealth started by the improper disposal of smoking materials in mulch, one of which caused a death." Coan said. "A mulch fire can be well underway before someone notices or is alerted by smoke alarms, as happened with this fire."

Workman said neighbors alerted residents of 30 Helen Drive to the fire, which broke out in a section of bark much before spreading to a deck and the house itself. The family was unaware of the blaze because it had yet to extend into the home and set off smoke detectors, Workman said, calling the neighbors "great heroes."

Contractors had been working on the rear deck earlier in the day when a small mulch fire broke out around 4 p.m. Workers used a garden hose to extinguish the fire. "They thought it was extinguished," Workman said.

However, the fire apparently reignited – or was never fully extinguished – some time before 11:30 p.m. That's when a neighbor spotted 30-foot flames coming from the deck area of the home. The fire quickly spread to the house, reducing much of the 3,000-square-foot structure to charred ruins by daybreak Tuesday.

"I would ask residents to call the fire department, even if they think they have successfully extinguished a fire, and let us check it out to make sure," Workman said. "A fire can smolder inside mulch tunnels under the surface for a long time before breaking out into open flame."

The fire was jointly investigated by the Southampton Fire Department and Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

For safety reasons, fire officials recommend keeping mulch at least two feet away from homes, decks, sheds and other flammable structures. State regulations require mulch to be kept at least 18 inches away from all buildings except for residential buildings with six units or less, according to Jennifer Mieth, a spokesman for the State Fire Marshal's office. "We do recommend that all homeowners follow that good safety practice," she said.

Firefighters from Westhampton, Easthampton and Holyoke provided mutual aid to Southampton firefighters.

Click HERE for a link provided by the state Fire Marshal's Office on how to prevent mulch fires.

Scouts from Unit 454 from Holy Name of Jesus in Chicopee flag the graves of veterans at the Calvary Cemetery in Chicopee in preparation for Memorial Day ceremonies. About a dozen scouts with family members placed flags on 300-400 graves.

Scouts from Unit 454 from Holy Name of Jesus in Chicopee flag the graves of veterans at the Calvary Cemetery in Chicopee in preparation for Memorial Day ceremonies. About a dozen scouts with family members placed flags on 300-400 graves.

Shots rang out shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, on Greenacre Square, a narrow street off Foster Street. The gunfire reportedly fired at a house, but there were no injuries.

SPRINGFIELD — Police were investigating an apparent drive-by shooting in the Six Corners section of the city on Tuesday night.

At about 9:47 p.m., a caller reported gunfire near 40 Greenacre Square, a narrow, U-shaped street off Foster Street near Knox Street Market. A house was reportedly targeted in the shooting, which didn't result in any injuries.

Police found multiple 40-caliber shell casings at the scene. A witness told investigators the shots were fired from a dark-colored Infiniti sport utility vehicle with tinted windows. The newer model SUV had blue license plate lights in the rear and was last seen headed toward Central Street.

The gunman was a passenger in the SUV, which had at least two occupants. Police searched the area for the vehicle but apparently were unable to find it.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Springfield Police Detective Bureau at 413-787-6355.

The house is located on Springfield Street between Rowley Street and Royal Lane, a portion of which was closed to traffic as fire crews battled the blaze.

AGAWAM — Firefighters were battling a blaze that erupted at a house on Springfield Street about 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The home, located in the 300-block of Springfield Street between Rowley Street and Royal Lane, was engulfed with flames when crews arrived, according to Western Mass News, media partner of MassLive / The Republican.

There was no immediate word on any injuries. Another local TV news station described the structure as a "vacant two-story home."

Westfield and West Springfield firefighters were asked to provide mutual aid to Agawam firefighters.

Western Mass News - WGGB/WSHM

Stephen E. Langlois, 68, of Orange, suffered a broken wrist in the crash, which occurred on I-91 south in Guilford, Vermont.

GUILFORD, Vt. — A truck driver from Western Massachusetts was injured after his tractor-trailer jackknifed while trying to avoid another big rig that swerved into his lane late Tuesday morning.

Police said Stephen E. Langlois, 68, of Orange, suffered a broken wrist in the crash, which was reported at 11:43 a.m. on Interstate 91 south in the Windham County town of Guilford, Vermont.

State Police troopers from the Brattleboro Barracks responded to the crash, which temporarily closed the southbound lanes of I-91 near Exit 1. Motorists were rerouted down U.S. Route 5 as tow-truck crews removed the disabled tractor-trailer unit from the scene, police said.

Adam J. Parker, 25, of Albany, Vermont, was southbound in tractor-trailer when a camper van entered the passing lane, cutting off Parker, police said. To avoid a collision, police said, Parker was forced to swerve into another lane, triggering the crash involving Langlois and his tractor-trailer.

As Langlois swerved to avoid Parker's truck, Langlois' tractor-trailer unit began to jackknife, crashing into the median and coming to a rest in the center of I-91 south, police said.

Langlois was taken by ambulance to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for a broken wrist and later released, police said.

A dashcam in Parker's tractor-trailer showed a beige camper, with an unknown registration, enter his lane without signaling, then enter a highway cut-through for a U-turn north on I-91. The camper didn't stop after the crash, according to police, who are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Trooper Dan Bennett at 802-254-2328.

Both young children were taken to Baystate Medical Center for emergency treatment.

LUDLOW — Two young kids were hospitalized after the pickup truck they were riding in was involved in a head-on collision and rollover crash on Center Street on Tuesday afternoon.

Ludlow Police Sgt. David Belanger told Western Mass News, TV partner of MassLive / The Republican, that a small vehicle crossed the center line near Miller Street and collided with the pickup around 3:45 p.m.

The children, whose ages were unavailable, were taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for emergency treatment. An update on their condition wasn't immediately available.

This developing story will be updated as details become available.

Monique Van Zandt, 25, of Springfield, died after being stabbed multiple times at her apartment early Tuesday night.

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) 'So sad it's almost comical,' prosecutor says during Springfield man's sentencing [Jack Flynn]

2) Man shot in head as Mayor Domenic Sarno declares public safety No. 1 priority of his reelection campaign [Conor Berry]

3) 'If we knew, we could have done something,' Springfield murder victim's classmates say [Jack Flynn]

4) Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's mother says U.S. will burn at the hands of Allah [Garrett Quinn]

5) Cape Cod beach, hammered by winter storms, struggles to get ready for summer tourist season Photo gallery above

With the zone change granted, the next steps for Gary Rome Hyundai are site plan review before the Planning Board and a special permit from the City Council.

HOLYOKE -- The City Council voted 14-0 Tuesday (May 19) to grant a zone change to Gary Rome Hyundai for a $10 million dealership planned for Whiting Farms Road.

"I'm very pleased with the support of the City Council," Rome said after the vote at City Hall.

"I believe in Holyoke. I want to stay in Holyoke. Holyoke is looking for a catalyst to get it going and I want to be that catalyst and I believe this is the start of that process. The process was a little challenging. I'm in it for the long run."

Rome's allusion was to the multinight public hearing process that began March 31 and Tuesday's debate in which councilors debated motions to table and reconsider a competing zone-change bid filed by residents who said an auto dealership would be intrusive to the neighborhood.

Ultimately, councilors sided with the pitch Rome has been making. His project will provide 50 new full-time jobs, some part-time jobs, thousands of dollars a years in property tax revenue and an increase in employee payroll to more than $7 million from the current $4.6 million, he said.

His current dealership at 1000 Main St. here will stay open, he said.

"It's going to create jobs. It's good for the city," Councilor at Large Howard B. Greaney said.

"Tonight we have a chance to further the benefit of the city ... At the same time I believe it's the right thing to do," Councilor at Large Joseph M. McGiverin said.

Ward 2 Councilor Anthony Soto said he would vote for the Rome zone change, but he said residents should know their voices are important.

"We hear you," Soto said.

To build an auto dealership, Rome needed a change in the zoning designation of the property he is eying to Business Highway from the current Business General, which prohibits an auto dealership.

Other hurdles remain for Rome. He must put the plan through site plan review with the Planning Board and return to the council later to get a special permit, as the zoning code requires for an auto dealership.

Rome has a deal to buy the nearly 19 acre site on Whiting Farms Road across from Autumn and Lynch drives for $2,050,000 from the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department (HGE), but the deal depended on the zone change being granted.

Mayor Alex B. Morse urged support for Rome's zone-change petition at the March 31 public hearing. After Tuesday's vote, Morse applauded the City Council's support for "this great business."

"The Gary Rome Hyundai expansion will generate tax revenue, create jobs and contribute to overall quality of life for our residents. (Tuesday's) vote demonstrates Holyoke's continued commitment to its economic resurgence," Morse said.

Some residents failed in their attempt to get the City Council to approve a competing zone-change petition for the same site on Whiting Farms Road as Rome has pursued.

Residents, including former councilor Helen F. Norris, Gayle Keith and Terri Laramee, sought a zoning designation for the site known as RM-20, which stands for Multi-Family Residence at 20 units per acre. The uses are generally housing with limited commercial uses like bed and breakfast, funeral home, hospital and nursing home.

"This is an incompatible and unharmonious use," Keith, of Farnum Drive, said of Rome's plan in the public speakout before the meeting.

The residents made a late bid Tuesday against the Rome zone-change petition, and partially succeeded.

They filed a petition protesting Rome's proposal. City officials determined the residents' protest petition was valid because it was signed by owners of 20 percent or more of the land immediately adjacent to and extending 300 feet from the land proposed to be included in the proposed zone change.

Because their protest met those conditions, the threshhold for Rome to get approval from the City Council automatically got tougher. Normally, a zone change requires a two-thirds majority of the 15-member City Council, or 10 votes.

But the protest petition elevated that approval threshhold to a three-quarters majority, or 12 votes.

"That will require 12 votes of the body," council President Kevin A. Jourdain said.

Council approval of the zone change for Rome never really seemed in doubt, no councilors having expressed any misgivings about the plan. In fact, most praised Rome. But the presence of the residents who objected to having a meadow replaced by a field of cars prompted some pause and debate.

Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi, chairwoman of the Ordinance Committee, pushed for the council to let the residents withdraw without prejudice their competing zone-change petition.

That option was preferable to the option that was on the agenda of having the council accept the Ordinance Committee recommendation to deny the residents' zone-change bid, she said.

As Jourdain explained, if the council accepted the committee recommendation to deny the residents' petition, that would mean such a petition was blocked from being refiled for two years.

But by agreeing to let the residents' zone-change petition be withdrawn without prejudice, that permits the petition to be resurrected sooner than two years, he said.

In committee, Lisi's was the no vote as the Ordinance Committee voted 3-1 to recommend against adopting the residents' zone-change petition for the Whiting Farms Road site.

Rome put together a good proposal, Lisi said, but the residents of the neighborhood have been fighting what they believe would be intrusive projects there since Lowe's Home Improvement sought to build in 2009.

"I just really want to state again that I really respect the work of the neighborhood ....I want to commend their citizen service," Lisi said.

Little difference exists between Business Highway, the zone Rome sought to build an auto dealership, and the RM-20 zone favored by residents -- "They are both fairly high intensity uses" --, she said.

"I believe the neighbors favored the RM-20 district mainly because of design features and dimensional regulations that the RM-20 district provides and we can build in a lot of those protections and assurances as we review and refine the city's several commercial districts," Lisi said.

But other councilors said the process has been fair to all parties concerned, the residents and Rome alike.

"Everybody's had the opportunity to debate and be heard," Ward 5 Councilor Linda L. Vacon said.

Ward 3 Councilor David K. Bartley questioned Lisi's contention that the council would be showing disrespect to residents by voting for the committee report, which denied the residents' zone-change bid, instead of giving it leave to withdraw without prejudice.

"When you filed this, did you not know it could be denied," Bartley said.

Bresnahan objected to the time being devoted to the residents' late-filed petition. Rome has followed the city procedures and committee steps have been followed, he said.

"It doesn't make sense. We're drawing out a process that has already been drawn out," Bresnahan said.

The council by a show of hands eventually voted to table the Ordinance Committee report, which, again, consisted of a 3-1 recommendation that the full City Council deny the residents' petition to change the zone of the Whiting Farms Road property to RM-20. Tabling means the item can be addressed at a future meeting.

The council by voice vote accepted the residents' late-filed protest petition, which changed the level of approval needed for the Rome zone-change petition to 12 votes from the normal 10.

The 14-0 vote to approve the zone change Rome sought -- only Councilor at Large James M. Leahy was absent -- was tallied on a quick roll call.

"Thank you," Rome said from his seat in the audience.

"You're very welcome," Jourdain said.

On Feb. 6, the victim told Springfield police she had recovered her memory after working with a therapist, Bongiorni wrote in his motion to produce therapy records for trial.

SPRINGFIELD - A lawyer for a Western New England University student charged with fracturing his girlfriend's skull at an off-campus party is seeking access to the woman's therapy records.

Defense lawyer Vincent A. Bongiorni filed a motion on April 24 for details of the woman's therapy sessions following the alleged assault by John Perry, 21, of Marblehead, in the basement of a Denver Street home on Nov. 16.

In particular, the defense wants information about a treatment "protocol" that allowed the woman to recover her memory of the alleged assault, Bongiorni's motion states.

"In this case, not only the credibility of the complainant, but (her) ability to observe, recount and separate facts from delusion" are crucial for a fair trial, the lawyer wrote.

Perry has pleaded innocent to aggravated assault and battery and is scheduled for trial on June 16. A linebacker on WNEU's football team, he was suspended from school following his arrest and has returned to Marblehead.

During a bail hearing, a prosecutor said the victim suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, facial injuries and a broken front tooth after Perry punched her during an argument over sex.

But Bongiorni said his client left the house before the victim was injured and called 911 as soon as he returned and saw her condition. The woman had been drinking heavily and had no memory of what happened the next morning, Bongiorni said.

The victim, an Arlington resident and junior at WNEU, was unable to testify at Perry's bail hearing. But in a motion filed in late December, Assistant District Attorney Melissa Doran said the victim was regaining her memory and would be able to give a statement to police in the next few weeks.

On Feb. 6, the victim told Springfield police she had recovered her memory after working with a therapist, Bongiorni wrote in his motion to produce therapy records for trial.

In addition to shedding light on the woman's mental health, the records could provide evidence of her ability to "perceive, recollect and report" relevant events, the motion states.

The woman's therapy records could also reveal inconsistent statements to her therapist or other information undermining her credibility, Bongiorni wrote.

"It is imperative that the defendant gain access to the aforementioned records prior to the date of the trial," he added.

Judge Robert Gordon scheduled a pretrial hearing for June 3 to review the defense's request and other motions in the case.

In an earlier ruling, Gordon gave the defense access to the therapist's name and address over the objection of prosecutors.

The upcoming trial is expected to last several days and each side expects to call five or six witnesses, court records show.

Perry was released on condition that he wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, submit to regular alcohol testing, observe a curfew and live at his family's home in Marblehead.

In December, his release conditions were modified to allow him to travel to Springfield to meet with his lawyer, but the Holyoke Mall, the Burlington Mall and the victim's home in Arlington remained off limits.

The combination of multiple snowstorms and persistent cold weather drove up costs for plowing, sanding and salting operations, Cignoli said.

SPRINGFIELD - For the mild winter of 2013, the number dwindled to $358,000.

In the long, snowy winter of 2014, it climbed to $1.8 million.

Like a reverse jackpot, the city's cost for battling the winter of 2015 was announced this week, and it easily exceeded the amount for the two previous years combined.

Appearing before the City Council Monday, Department of Public Works Director Christopher Cignoli said his department spent $2.9 million fending off snow, sleet and ice this winter - or $1.35 million more than budgeted.

At Cignoli's request, councilors voted to transfer $1.25 million from the free cash fund to offset most of the deficit; the remaining $100,000 will come from anticipated savings within the DPW's budget, Cignoli said.

The combination of multiple snowstorms and persistent cold weather drove up cost of plowing, sanding and salting operations, Cignoli said.

The initial winter budget was $1.6 million, the amount typically set aside.

By early February, it was clear that $1.6 million would not be enough.

To plow storms on Feb. 2 and Feb. 7, for example, the city paid out $351,106 and $322,600; sanding and salting operations added as much as $36,000 to the bill, city figures show.

The mother of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Zubediat Tsarnaeva, told a friend via a texting app that she hopes the United States burns in an "eternal and terrifying fire."

BOSTON -- The mother of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is lashing out at the United States in the aftermath of her son's death sentence.

Zubediat Tsarnaeva told a friend via a texting app that she hopes the United States burns in an "eternal and terrifying fire."

"They think that they are killing us and they celebrate this, but we are the ones who will rejoice when Allah grants us the chance to behold them in the flames of an eternal and terrifying fire, an otherworldly flame," said Zubeidat Tsarnaeva in a WhatsApp message to Zarina Kasenova.

Kasenova was identified by Vocativ.com as a supporter of Tsarnaeva. Vocativ.com, a site that has followed Tsarnaeva's comments in the past, said that she has expressed great anger and sadness at the decision by a Boston federal jury to sentence her son to death.

Tsarnaeva's messages were discovered on a pro-Tsarnaev social media group that has helped raise money for his defense.

In April Tsarnaeva told Vocativ.com that America would pay for convicting her son of the Boston Marathon bombing with similarly charged incendiary rhetoric.

The Springfield Preservation Trust held its annual Preservation awards to honor individuals and organizations that help restore and preserve historic places in Springfield. The event was held Wednesday evening at Center Court in Springfield's Tower Square. Notable award winners were the Robert Holbrook Award for Stewardship to Melinda Phelps for 192 Springfield St. Dieter Lutz was presented the Edward Sims...

The Springfield Preservation Trust held its annual Preservation awards to honor individuals and organizations that help restore and preserve historic places in Springfield. The event was held Wednesday evening at Center Court in Springfield's Tower Square.

Notable award winners were the Robert Holbrook Award for Stewardship to Melinda Phelps for 192 Springfield St. Dieter Lutz was presented the Edward Sims Award for Stewardship for 138 Dartmouth Terrace and the George Pooler Award went to Thomas and Sandra Valentine for 400 Maple St in Springfield.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo now backs an independent fiscal and management control board to oversee the operations of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

This story was updated at 9:10 p.m. with a statement from Senate President Stan Rosenberg.

BOSTON -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo now backs an independent fiscal and management control board to oversee the operations of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

DeLeo said in a prepared statement on Wednesday that he has come out in support of Gov. Charlie Baker's plan to salvage the troubled public transportation agency after a catastrophic winter exposed its systemic problems.

"As I have stated consistently the MBTA failures of this winter were completely unacceptable and we must make the changes necessary to fix the system. I am committed to the creation of a control board to help implement much needed reform - just as the House passed Pacheco-reform in its budget last month," said DeLeo in a statement emailed to reporters.

The MBTA is currently governed solely by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and does not have a separate independent governing body.

Baker's proposal once appeared to be on shaky ground on Beacon Hill but DeLeo's backing gives it new life. Senate President Stan Rosenberg has remained skeptical of Baker's proposed reforms for the MBTA. The two legislative bodies have banged heads in recent months over rules changes.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones praised DeLeo's decision to back Baker.

"I welcome Speaker DeLeo's endorsement of Governor Baker's proposal for a control board to oversee the MBTA. As the governor has made clear, if nothing changes at the MBTA, then nothing will change. A control board is essential for focusing on and implementing the reforms needed to provide long-term fiscal stability at the MBTA and to ensure the delivery of safe and reliable services to its riders moving forward. The Speaker recognizes this, and it is my hope that we are now one important step closer to approving a control board to achieve these worthy goals on behalf of the MBTA's users and the state's taxpayers," said Jones in an emailed statement.

Later in the day, Rosenberg's press secretary emailed a statement from the Senate president supporting a joint committee process.

"The Senate agrees with Speaker Deleo that the MBTA reform bill should go through the joint committee process and we are committed to working with the Speaker to deliver a bill to the governor's desk this summer," Rosenberg said. "We understand the urgency to get a bill to the governor so that he will have enough time to ensure that a reliable and efficient public transit system will be in place before next winter. We assume the House will join us in this effort."

Baker's proposal is receiving pushback from government employee unions but has strong backing in the business community and from local mayors.

A group of business advocates and mayors gathered at the Statehouse on Wednesday to push for Baker's MBTA reform plan. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito spoke to the group, stressing the importance of a functioning MBTA to businesses and municipalities.

Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said thousands of commuters were harmed by the MBTA's troubles this winter. "During a snowstorm is when the T should shine. Instead, the T failed us," Fiorentini said.

David Begelfer, CEO of NAIOP Massachusetts, a commercial real estate development association, said businesses lost billions of dollars in revenue and workers lost pay.

"This was a stress test on the system, and it failed," Begelfer said.

Begelfer said he did not want to see a "band-aid fix" but a long-term fix. A control board like the one Baker proposed, he said, is important because it would be able to focus solely on fixing the MBTA.

Shira Schoenberg, a staff writer for The Republican, contributed to this report.

The price of oil rose for the first time in a week after the Energy Department reported a surprisingly large drop in supplies of both crude oil and fuels.

By BERNARD CONDON

NEW YORK -- The stock market showed little life on Wednesday as it closed yet another trading day barely changed from the day before.

Major indexes flitted between tiny gains and losses in the morning, rallied a bit after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its last meeting, then petered out toward the close. The Standard and Poor's 500 ended lower, but barely -- down just 0.09 percent.

It was the fourth day in a row that the index moved less than one-half of one percentage point.

"There's no real reason to rally and no real reason to decline," said Matthew Tuttle, CEO of money manager Tuttle Tactical Management. "It's been really boring."

The S&P 500 closed down 1.98 points to 2,125.85. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 26.99 points, or 0.2 percent, to 18,285.40. The Nasdaq composite rose 1.71 points, less than 0.1 percent, to 5,071.74.

Stocks fell from the opening of trading as investors weighed the latest batch of earnings reports for the first quarter. Etsy plunged 18 percent after its first earnings report as a publicly traded company showed a hefty quarterly loss. Stock in the e-commerce retailer of crafts dropped $3.80 to $17.20.

With most companies out with their results, earnings per share for S&P 500 stocks are expected to have risen 3 percent from a year ago, according to S&P Capital IQ, a data provider. That is better than the drop that financial analysts had been predicted in early March, but still low by recent standards.

More worrisome for markets, analysts have been slashing their forecasts for future quarters, too. At the beginning of 2015, they were expecting a 7 percent jump in S&P 500 earnings for the full year. Now they expect an increase of less than 1 percent.

The tiny move down for the Dow on Wednesday came after four straight gains.

Ernie Cecilia, chief investment officer of Bryn Mawr Trust, said investors have feared missing out on a six-year bull market that never seems to falter.

"Even in the brief sell-offs, it seems investors and money managers are buying on weakness," he said.

The minutes of the Fed's meeting from April showed that policymakers at the central bank generally thought June was too early to raise rates. Stocks have been propelled higher in part by easy money policies at central banks. A rate increase would be the first since the global financial crisis.

Among stocks making moves:

• Staples fell 26 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $16.15 after reporting a sharp drop in first-quarter earnings.
• Lowe's sank 4.6 percent on earnings and revenue that fell short of what analysts were looking for. Stock of the home-improvement retailer fell $3.33 to $68.50.

In Europe, France's CAC 40 rose 0.3 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.2 percent. Germany's DAX was flat.

The price of oil rose for the first time in a week after the Energy Department reported a surprisingly large drop in supplies of both crude oil and fuels. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 99 cents to close at $58.98 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oil used by many U.S. refineries, rose $1.01 to close at $65.03 in London.

In other futures trading on the NYMEX:

1. Wholesale gasoline rose 4.6 cents to close at $2.041 a gallon.
2. Heating oil rose 1.7 cents to close at $1.946 a gallon.
3. Natural gas fell 3.3 cents to close at $2.915 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In currency markets, the dollar strengthened to 121.32 yen from 120.67 yen. The euro declined to $1.1095 from $1.1147.

The price of U.S. government bonds rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.26 percent from 2.30 percent late Tuesday.

Precious and industrial metals prices closed little changed. Gold rose $2 to $1,208.70 an ounce, silver rose four cents to $17.11 an ounce, and copper edged down less than a penny to $2.83 a pound.

Prosecutors said Richard Panepinto intended to kill his son Shawn when he shot him twice on the family driveway as the boy returned from basketball practice in 2012.

BROCKTON -- A Plymouth man has been sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison for shooting and seriously injuring his 15-year-old son, an act prosecutors said was revenge against the man's ex-wife.

Prosecutors said 58-year-old Richard Panepinto intended to kill his son Shawn when he shot him twice on the family driveway as the boy returned from basketball practice in January 2012. Panepinto had been divorced from Janet Panepinto two years earlier.

The defense said Panepinto was insane because of depression after the divorce, and had post-concussion syndrome. He shot himself after he shot the boy.

A jury convicted Panepinto on Wednesday of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and firearms charges.

At his sentencing, statements by Janet and Shawn Panepinto described how they were affected by the attack.

The Springfield Rotary Club held a 100th anniversary celebration Wednesday evening at the Colony Club in Springfield. The club marked the anniversary by awarding ten (10) $1,000 grants to deserving Springfield charitable organizations. Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe and Springfield Rotarian Sujing Yang were also awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. The Paul Harris Award is the highest honor local...

The Springfield Rotary Club held a 100th anniversary celebration Wednesday evening at the Colony Club in Springfield. The club marked the anniversary by awarding ten (10) $1,000 grants to deserving Springfield charitable organizations.

Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe and Springfield Rotarian Sujing Yang were also awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. The Paul Harris Award is the highest honor local rotary clubs can bestow on local Rotarians or community leaders according to a recent Rotary news release.