Subway co-founder Fred DeLuca, who turned a sandwich shop he started as a teenager into the world's largest fast-food chain, died Monday evening. He was 67.

NEW YORK -- Subway co-founder Fred DeLuca, who turned a sandwich shop he started as a teenager into the world's largest fast-food chain, died Monday evening. He was 67.

DeLuca's death came two years after Subway said he had been diagnosed with leukemia and was scaling back on his leadership role at the company. It also came just weeks after the 50th anniversary of Subway, which is known for its "Footlong" sandwiches and says it has more than 44,000 locations around the world.

The company traces its roots to 1965, when DeLuca opened a sandwich shop at the age of 17 to help pay for college. The idea came from a family friend, Peter Buck, who was co-founder and provided the $1,000 to start the business.

"I knew nothing about making sandwiches, nor the food industry," DeLuca later wrote in a book.

DeLuca and Buck opened their first store in Bridgeport, Connecticut under the name "Pete's Super Submarines," with the priciest sub selling for 69 cents. The name was changed to the snappier "Subway" in 1968, and the pair decided to fuel growth by franchising, or letting others open Subway stores in exchange for fees.

By 1988, Subway had 2,000 locations. By 1990, it reached the 5,000-store mark. And by 1994, it had more than 8,000 locations.

Subway, based in Milford, Connecticut, is privately held and doesn't publicly report its financial performance or executive pay packages. But this year, Forbes magazine pegged DeLuca's net worth at $3.5 billion, making him the 259th-richest individual in the United States.

In July 2013, Subway announced that DeLuca had been diagnosed with leukemia. It said DeLuca was in regular contact with his management team, but on a reduced basis as he received treatment. Then earlier this summer, Subway said DeLuca's younger sister, Suzanne Greco, would take over as president and oversee day-to-day operations. DeLuca remained CEO.

The company did not immediately say Tuesday if a successor had been named as CEO.

Subway has been facing some recent challenges in addition to DeLuca's health. The company said this summer that it cut ties with longtime pitchman Jared Fogle, who agreed to plead guilty to allegations he paid for sex acts with minors and received child pornography.

In addition, some feel Subway has overextended itself with its more than 27,000 U.S. locations. Last year, average sales at established U.S. locations fell 3 percent, according to Technomic.

In DeLuca's book "Start Small Finish Big: Fifteen Key Lessons to Start -- and Run -- Your Own Successful Business," DeLuca recalled living in public housing in the Bronx as a child. His father hadn't graduated high school, but his mother had stressed the importance of education while growing up.

After he graduated high school, DeLuca had planned on becoming a doctor. That was why he started the sub shop with Buck -- to support his college education.

"It wasn't intended to support me forever," DeLuca wrote.

DeLuca is survived by his wife, son and sister, according to Subway, which announced his death Tuesday.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Kay M. Higgins 

SOUTHAMPTON - Kay (McDermett) Higgins, 87, passed away on Friday. Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, to the late Gage and Kathryn (Hopper) McDermett, she was a graduate of Wichita Falls High School and Hardin Junior College, both in Wichita Falls, She was an herbalist who owned the Beehive herb shop and display gardens in Southampton and was a member of the Herb Society of America since 1980. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield, a member of the parish council and a member of the Rosary Sodality. She enjoyed quilting, culinary and decorative herbs and creative crafts.

The meeting will begin at 7:15 p.m.

CHICOPEE - The City Council is expected to decide Tuesday if it should spend $425,000 to make a new industrial park shovel ready and more marketable.

The proposal is one of the 38 items on the council's regular meeting agenda. The council will meet at 7:15 p.m. on the fourth-floor of City Hall.

Two weeks ago Mayor Richard J. Kos asked the council to allocate the money to the Western Metropolitan Development Corp. so it can start the about two-year permitting process at Air Park South to meet the standards of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.

The council voted to send it to finance subcommittee so it could find out more details of the project.

The about 100-acre Air Park South was created around 2009 when the city sold Western Metropolitan Development Corp. 57 unused acres of property it owned near the Massachusetts Turnpike for $1.45 million. It later sold an additional about 10 acres,
originally believed to be owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield but later found to be city property, to the development corps for $100,000. That property was combined with 30 adjacent acres that the non-profit agency already owned.

Corporation officials said the $425,000 will be paid back if the property is sold to be developed. The city would also benefit because the city would receive tax revenue from any new business, Kos said.

Also on the agenda is a proposal to allocate $200,000 to improve Dale Street and $185,000 to finish the work on Bonneville Avenue. That money is to be withdrawn from the stabilization account and later reimbursed from highway improvement funds granted by the state.

Masslive will cover the meeting live in the comments section.

Search-and-rescue teams trudged through muddy streambeds Tuesday in a small polygamous town on the Utah-Arizona border, looking for people who were missing after a devastating flash flood that killed at least 12 people.

HILDALE, Utah (AP) -- Search-and-rescue teams trudged through muddy streambeds Tuesday in a small polygamous town on the Utah-Arizona border, looking for people who were missing after a devastating flash flood that killed at least 12 people.

With more rain in the forecast, men in helmets were perched at high points along the route, watching carefully for any more floodwaters that could suspend the search in Hildale, the secluded community that is the home base of Warren Jeffs' polygamist sect.

Only one person was still missing Tuesday afternoon out of 16 people -- three women and 13 children -- who were in two vehicles that got smashed Monday by a wall of water and carried several hundred yards downstream. Authorities had not identified the dead. Three people survived, all of them children.

On Tuesday, the streets were caked in red mud, and earth movers cleared the roads and piled up mounds of dirt. As a helicopter buzzed overhead, crowds of boys in jeans and girls and women in deep-colored prairie dresses watched the rescue effort.

Residents called it the worst flood in memory for the sister towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, which are 315 miles south of Salt Lake City at the foot of picturesque red rock cliffs. It was in this area at Maxwell Canyon where heavy rains sent water down Short Creek and barreling through the towns.

The torrent was so fast, "it was taking concrete pillars and just throwing them down, just moving them like plastic," said Lorin Holm, who called the storm the heaviest in the 58 years he's lived in the community.

The women and children were in an SUV and a van on a gravel road north of the towns. They were returning from a park when they stopped at a flooded crossing and got out to watch the raging waters, Hildale Mayor Philip Barlow said.

What they did not know was that a flash flood was brewing in the canyon above, he said. It came rushing down and engulfed their vehicles.

"We're greatly humbled by this, but we realize that this is an act of God, and this is something we can't control," said Barlow, a Jeffs follower. "We have to take what we receive and do the best we can."

About three hours earlier, the National Weather Service had issued a flood warning for the area, saying: "Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life." It's unknown if the victims were aware of the warning.

The raging torrents are not uncommon in an area prone to flash floods, but the volume and pace of Monday's rain was a "100-year event," said Brian McInerney, hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.

The height of the storm lasted about 30 minutes, pouring 1 1/2 inches of rain into a desert-like landscape with little vegetation and many steep slopes.

Monday's weather event was like a bucket of water being poured onto a rock -- it slid right off and began running downstream, picking up sediment to create the forceful, muddy "chocolate mess" that rushed through the city, McInerney said. Another half-inch of rain came within the hour.

"It just hit the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

Officials say the bodies of two people were recovered in Arizona, one about 5 miles downstream. The bodies of six others were found in Utah.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Tuesday that state officials were offering resources to help with the search-and-rescue effort. Herbert is away on a trade mission in China, but he sent Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox to the town.

Cox called it one of the worst-weather related tragedies in state history and said the Utah National Guard will send troops.

Chris and Lydia Wyler of Hildale said heavy rainfall usually draws spectators who love to splash in it and watch as it surges through creeks.

"People go out on the streets and kids will start playing," Chris Wyler said. "But this storm that hit yesterday, it was just so severe and so sudden."

Wyler's SUV was hemmed in by the floodwaters. She filmed women in braids and long skirts being pulled from a car in the path of a torrent of water.

"It looks like a tsunami went through," said Ross Chatwin, who lives in Colorado City. He and about 500 people joined in the search Monday night.

Wilford "Woody" Williams says the fierce downpour turned the streets in town into rivers. He joined the search effort overnight, holding a flashlight and watching for anything that looked like human remains as crews carefully skimmed off layers of debris. They spotted a nightgown and what appeared to be the fabric lining from the roofs of one of the vans, but no remains.

The search effort temporarily eased the tension between Jeffs followers and others who no longer belong to the sect but still live there. That split between loyalists who still believe Jeffs is a victim of religious persecution and defectors who are embracing government efforts to pull the town into modern society has sharpened in the four years since Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting underage girls he considered brides.

"We were all coming together for a common cause, without any bad feelings," he said.

Policymakers at the U.S. central bank are scheduled to convene a two-day meeting on Wednesday and may decide to raise interest rates for the first time in close to a decade.

By STEVE ROTHWELL

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks rose sharply on Tuesday, a day before the start of a crucial Federal Reserve meeting.

Policymakers at the U.S. central bank are scheduled to convene a two-day meeting on Wednesday and may decide to raise interest rates for the first time in close to a decade.

Opinions are divided among investors and economists as to whether the Fed will, or even should, raise interest rates this month. On the one hand, hiring in the U.S. is continuing to improve and the housing market is recovering. On the other, there are signs that weakness in the global economy could impact the U.S. economy.

Fed policymakers have kept the central bank's benchmark rate close to zero for almost seven years, supporting both the economy and the stock market.

The sharp gains on Tuesday came after some mixed reports that showed weakness in some parts of the economy. While retail sales edged higher last month, factory output fell in the same period as automakers cut back on production. A New York Fed survey showed that factory activity in New York state sank for a second straight month in September.

"It's almost as if the market believes the Fed isn't going to do anything on Thursday. That's why people are bidding it up," said Kevin Mahn, Chief Investment Officer at Hennion & Walsh Asset Management in New Jersey. "However, I do believe (raising rates) would be the right thing for the economy...it's time."

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 228.89 points, or 1.4 percent, to 16,599.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed 25.06 points, or 1.3 percent, to 1,978.09. The Nasdaq composite advanced 54.76 points, or 1.1 percent, to 4,860.52.

The gains were led by industrial stocks. The sector had been among those hit worst by the recent global sell-off as investors worried about the outlook for global demand.

"People have been overly pessimistic on global growth," said Scott Wren, senior global equity strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute. "I think they are going to be surprised....you are going to see a little bit more stability."

The stock market has recovered some of its losses in August and early September, but is still down from its peak of the year as traders and investors fret about the possible impact of slower growth in China and other emerging markets. The S&P 500 has dropped 7.2 percent from its record close set in May.

Despite the bounce Tuesday, some investors believe that the market's slump may yet have some way to run.

Michael Ball, President of Weatherstone Capital Management, is playing it safe by holding more cash. He says that the outlook for stocks is deteriorating against a backdrop of moderately rising interest rates and the prospect of weakening corporate earnings.

"Frankly, we are very concerned about the market," said Ball. "You may get a bounce out of here, but without improving earnings and better global economic growth, it may be short-lived."

Earnings for S&P 500 companies are expected to slump 4.1 percent in the third-quarter, according to S&P Capital IQ.

Energy stocks got a lift on Tuesday as oil prices rose.

The price of oil rose on further signs of declining oil production in the U.S. The price of U.S. oil rose 59 cents to $44.59 a barrel. Brent crude, a benchmark for many international types of oil imported into the U.S., gained 26 cents to $46.63 a barrel.

In government bond trading, prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.29 percent from 2.18 percent on Monday. The dollar rose to 120.42 yen from 120.30 yen late Monday. The euro dropped to $1.1272 from $1.1309.

In metals trading, gold fell $5.10 to $1,102.60 an ounce. Silver fell 4 cents to $14.33 an ounce and copper gained 2 cents to $2.43 a pound.

In other energy futures trading:

1. Wholesale gasoline rose 2.9 cents to $1.333 a gallon
2. Heating oil fell less than a penny to $1.50 a gallon
3. Natural gas slipped 3 cents to $2.728 per 1,000 cubic feet.

There are voting machines for each of the 14 Holyoke precincts and two back-ups.

HOLYOKE -- All 16 of the city voting machines worked well during tests Tuesday (Sept. 15) in anticipation of the Sept. 22 preliminary election, City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee said.

"We had zero issues. Everything went smooth and all machines were put into election mode and are ready to go," Murphy McGee said.

The city has 14 of the electronic Diebold AccuVote machines, one for each of the precincts, and two back-ups. The machines tabulate votes by reading ovals filled in by voters with black markers on paper ballots fed into the machines, which Murphy McGee said are 15 to 20 years old.

Testing is done with a test deck of 50 ballots. The ballots are filled in randomly and hand counted. The hand counted numbers must match each machines totals, she said.

The only race on the preliminary election ballot is a three-way competition for mayor between Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is seeking a third term, Fran O'Connell, founder of the business O'Connell Care at Home, and Anthony Soto, who is in his second term as Ward 2 city councilor.

The top two vote-getters in the preliminary election will move onto the Election Day ballot Nov. 3. Finishing third place means elimination.

About $8.5 million went directly to locally hired cast and crew members, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

BOSTON — "Black Mass," the Whitey Bulger biopic, pumped almost $20 million into Massachusetts' economy, including more than $8.5 million that went to hundreds of local cast and crew members hired for the film, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

The Warner Bros. movie about Bulger, the notorious leader of Boston's Irish mob, made its U.S. premiere Tuesday evening at Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, where local streets near the Harvard Street venue were closed as Johnny Depp and fellow cast members received the red carpet treatment.

"These latest figures make clear what many local workers and businesses already know – the production of 'Black Mass' was a driver for economic activity every day it spent in Massachusetts, and its impact will continue to ripple through and lift local communities," Chris Dodd, the former Connecticut senator who's now chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, said in a statement.

"We're grateful for this opportunity to once again shine a light on how the film and TV industry supports jobs and economic growth, especially as audiences prepare to see what promises to be a thrilling and entertaining movie," Dodd said.

The production of the film also provided a major lift for local businesses and vendors, according to MPAA officials. In particular, the production spent more than $820,000 on car rentals, nearly $560,000 on wardrobe purchases, over $453,000 on food and catering, and some $2.7 million on location fees.

Chris O'Donnell, business manager of Local 481 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, said "Black Mass" directly benefited hundreds of local workers by providing well-paying jobs with benefits.

"As this movie hits theaters, it's important to remember how this production and the entire statewide film industry make it possible for thousands of Massachusetts residents to earn their livelihoods and support their families," O'Donnell said.

The movie was shot in and around Boston, including scenes filmed in South Boston, East Boston, Cambridge, Revere, Quincy and Lynn, among other locales familiar with readers of MassLive. "Black Mass," which is already generating an Oscar buzz for Depp, hits local theaters this Friday, Sept. 18.

"Black Mass" by the numbers (All data provided by MPAA):

• Spent over $19.67 million in Massachusetts;
• hired 662 local cast and crew members, who collectively were paid over $8.5 million;
• spent $823,000 on local car rentals;
• spent $557,000 on local wardrobe purchases;
• spent $453,000 on catering, bakery goods and other food items;
• and spent $2.7 million on location fees.

 

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company has veered away from making a "dislike" button, which could be used to vote down other people's posts.

Facebook may finally be getting a button that lets you quickly express something
beyond a "like."

Mark Zuckerberg 

Speaking at an event at Facebook's Menlo Park, California, headquarters that was streamed live online, Zuckerberg acknowledged that "like" isn't always appropriate for some posts -- about a tragic news event, for example -- when people might want to express empathy.

Zuckerberg said the company, however, has veered away from making a "dislike" button, which could be used to vote down other people's posts. He said the new button is ready to be tested soon and could be rolled out broadly depending on how it does.

Lawyers say the five are among thousands of Boston students unable to attend a public charter school because they lost a lottery for open seats.

By STEVE LeBLANC

BOSTON -- The state's cap on the number of public charter schools is the target of a new lawsuit, which argues that the limit violates the right to an adequate education included in the state constitution.

Lawyers representing five Boston students filed a class action complaint Tuesday in Suffolk Superior Court aimed at lifting the cap, which they describe as an "arbitrary impediment" to students seeking a quality education.

Lawyers say the five are among thousands of Boston students unable to attend a public charter school because they lost a lottery for open seats. The lawsuit asks the court to declare that the cap violates the education clause and declaration of rights of the Massachusetts Constitution.

Gov. Charlie Baker is a supporter of charter schools, as is his Education Secretary James Peyser, who is named as a defendant in the suit. Also named are State Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester; Paul Sagan, the chairman of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; and the individual members of the board.

The state's teachers unions have opposed charter schools, arguing they create a two-tier public education system.

Massachusetts Teachers Association president Barbara Madeloni described the lawsuit as part of what she called a "far-reaching goal of privatizing public education in our commonwealth."

Madeloni argued that charter schools drain tax dollars from traditional public schools and force staff and program cuts while failing to educate those students with the greatest needs.

"The students represented in this legal action definitely deserve a quality education," she said in a statement. "So do their neighbors and friends who attend district public schools."

The lawsuit argues that charter schools, not traditional public schools, have enabled "low-income students to learn and excel and to achieve the same results as children in affluent suburban communities."

The lawsuit -- filed on the five students' behalf by attorneys from three Boston law firms, WilmerHale, Goodwin Procter and Foley Hoag -- is the latest volley in the ongoing charter school debate in Massachusetts.

A proposed ballot question would also expand the number of charter schools.

Backers say the question, which could appear on next year's ballot, would let the state education officials authorize up to 12 new charter schools each year -- giving preference to applications from the state's lowest performing school districts and districts with significant charter school waiting lists.

Baker has said he's encouraged by the question and hopes to file similar legislation.

About 80 charter schools currently operate in Massachusetts. Proponents say the tens of thousands of children on waiting lists are proof that more charter schools are needed.

The majority of charter schools in Massachusetts, known as Commonwealth Charter schools, operate independently of local school districts and union contracts.

The state also has a handful of Horace Mann Charter Schools that operate with approval of the local districts and their teachers' unions.

Some residents cried as they walked through the rubble of their homes while others shared amazing stories of survival as more people returned to their houses Tuesday and surveyed the twisted metal and smoking ruins left behind by a devastating California wildfire.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. -- Some residents cried as they walked through the rubble of their homes while others shared amazing stories of survival as more people returned to their houses Tuesday and surveyed the twisted metal and smoking ruins left behind by a devastating California wildfire.

Gary Herrin sobbed as he walked through what had been his childhood home in Middletown.

"Yep, grew up here, was able to walk to school from here. Many friends lived close by," Herrin recalled, looking around. "There's a lot of good people here, but it's a ghost town now, it's really eerie."

His brother had been living in the home and members of his extended family resided nearby.

"I go to my brother-in-law's house, my niece's house, and there's nothing, nothing, ashes," Herrin said.

A number of people saw the devastation for the first time since the massive flames sped Saturday through rural Lake County, less than 100 miles north of San Francisco.

Aided by drought, it had consumed more than 104 square miles and was 15 percent contained.

Authorities say 585 homes were known to be destroyed, and the number was expected to increase. Another 9,000 structures remained threatened.

During his return, Herrin walked to the charred remains of an old Chevy pickup and gave it an angry kick. The truck was the only possession of his late father that he still had. Other people found nothing but concrete foundations and chimney stacks.

"You've got to look at everybody's, everybody's loss," Herrin said. "It's never going to be about one person. It's about everybody."

The Lake County fire and another blaze about 120 miles to the southeast have displaced 23,000 people and were the worst of a dozen wildfires burning in the state. The Lake County fire spread into northern Napa County, but the region's famous wine valley was not threatened.

Rancher Lisa Comstock said she and her three dogs survived the raging fire in rural Middletown by jumping into a water trough as flames neared her home.

Comstock was also able to keep her horses nearby as the fire burned around them.

"The flames were coming over that mountain and surrounding this place like there was no tomorrow," she said. "I jumped in the water trough with all the dogs, and the horses came up around. Thank God they just stayed here."

At one point she was sure she wasn't going to make it but talking to her animals helped keep her and the animals calm.

"If this is how I go, I'm not leaving these animals. That's all I could think of," she said.

Thousands of utility crew members and firefighters were working diligently to control the blaze and get life back to normal for as many people as possible, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Dave Shaw.

"We're working as hard as possible to try to put out the hotspots in these burned areas so that when people do come back there won't be a risk of them getting burned themselves," he said.

The utility companies were trying to restore power to the area and water was flowing in some areas of town.

One person has been confirmed dead, and others were unaccounted for, but authorities said they could be staying with relatives, on vacation or elsewhere and not impacted by the fire.

The dead woman has been identified as Barbara McWilliams, 72. She told her caretaker she didn't want to leave her home near Middletown. The world traveler and sharp-minded woman with advanced multiple sclerosis said she would be fine.

Her body was found Sunday in her burned-out home after flames kept Lake County sheriff's officials from reaching her.

Scores of people in Lake County were escorted back to their homes Tuesday to check on pets and farm animals. They were allowed to remain for 15 minutes to feed and give water to the animals.

Will Irons was headed to his surviving home in Hidden Valley with his two dogs that escaped the fire with him. He was anxious to see if his two cats, chickens and hamster were still alive.

Lake County has been particularly hard-hit. In late July, a wildfire east of Clear Lake destroyed 43 homes as it spread across more than 100 square miles. Another fire erupted Aug. 9 several miles from the community of Lower Lake.

Throughout the state, more than 6,400 structures remained threatened.

East of Fresno, California's largest wildfire had moved away from the Sierra Nevada's Giant Sequoia trees, some of which are 3,000 years old.

Egyptian forces hunting militants in the country's western desert mistakenly opened fire on several vehicles used by Mexican tourists, killing 12 people on Sunday.

By MARK STEVENSON

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said Tuesday that embassy personnel in Egypt have identified six more bodies as those of Mexican citizens killed in air attack by Egyptian police and military forces.

The deaths of two Mexicans had earlier been confirmed, bringing the total number of Mexicans killed to eight.

Six other Mexicans were wounded in the attack. The department said Tuesday their condition is stable. There were 14 or 15 Mexicans who were traveling on a desert oasis tour at the time.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Tuesday called Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to offer his condolences and reiterate that Egypt will provide all necessary medical assistance for the injured, presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef said in a statement in Cairo.

Egyptian forces hunting militants in the country's western desert mistakenly opened fire on several vehicles used by Mexican tourists, killing 12 people on Sunday.

The other dead are believed to be Egyptians.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said Tuesday evening the government is investigating "the precise details of this tragedy," adding that "the chain of events is still confusing and unclear."

"We still do not know if the convoy was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, or if some error was involved," Shukri said. Egyptian officials initially said on Monday the tourists did not have permission to be in the area.

He didn't mention any new information on the death toll or casualties from the incident.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu called the aerial attack "an unjustified aggression."

The sister of one of the Mexican tourists killed said her brother, Luis Barajas Fernandez, 49, had been visiting Egypt for the first time.

"He had never gone to Egypt before," said Ana Barajas, who lives in the northern Mexico state of Tamaulipas. "It was for pleasure," she said of the trip.

The married 49-year-old had worked as a salesman in hospital and medical supplies.

"It is an unparalleled hurt," she said of his death, adding the Mexican government was going to take care of the response to her brother's death, and the repatriation of his remains.

Two other Mexican dead have been identified by name as Maria de Lourdes Fernandez Rubio and Rafael Bejarano.

The incident, among the deadliest involving tourists in Egypt, comes as the country is trying to revive its vital tourism industry after the turmoil following the 2011 uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt has mainly been battling insurgents in the northern Sinai Peninsula, on the other side of the country, where Islamic militants stepped up attacks on security forces after the military ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013 amid massive protests against his rule.

But in recent months, militants loyal to the Islamic State group have carried out a series of attacks in more central parts of the country, including the bombing of the Italian Consulate in Cairo and the kidnapping and beheading of a Croatian oil surveyor who was working in the capital.

Egyptian officials initially claimed the safari convoy had wandered into a restricted area. The tour company involved "did not have permits and did not inform authorities," Rasha Azazi, a spokeswoman for the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, earlier told The Associated Press, adding that any trips to that area must be cleared by officials. "They were not supposed to be there," she said, without providing further information about the incident.

Egypt's western desert has long been a popular safari destination, with tourists flocking to its verdant oases, unique rock formations and white sand dunes.

In recent years, however, it has been the subject of security concerns because of the long, porous border with Libya. Egypt has been flooded with weapons, mostly from Libya, since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi and plunged that country into turmoil.

Egyptian security forces frequently target smugglers in the western desert, and in July 2014, gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked a border guard post, killing 21 troops.

Which trailer for the film do you like the best? Chime in below in the comments section of MassLive.

BOSTON — The other star of "Black Mass," the one ineligible for an Oscar, is the city of Boston – aka the Hub of the Universe – which looks gritty and authentic in trailers for the new Johnny Depp film opening Friday.

This is an anachronism-free film that will delight audiences conversant in Bostonese. The city and surrounding region look great in the movie, which proved to be a boon for the state's economy.

Depp plays Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger with such chilling ferocity, it's hard to imagine that the old man captured in sunny Santa Monica in June 2011 is the same sociopath who oversaw Boston's underworld for much of his adult life.

Now that Bulger has been immortalized in a Hollywood movie featuring A-list actors, the former scrappy kid from Southie is a shoo-in for the Gangster Hall of Fame.

Below are three trailers from "Black Mass." Which one do you like best? Chime in below in the comments section, if you're so inclined.

My vote: Clip No. 1 – the "steak" scene, which builds with intensity like the screeching El train in the McCluskey and Sollozzo assassination scene in "The Godfather."

Clip No. 1:

Clip No. 2:

Clip No. 3:

And lastly ... the McCluskey and Sollozzo assassination scene in "The Godfather," a classic scene for sure:

Officials were dealing with an open hydrant and a possible water main break in the Bridge Street area between Chestnut and Dwight streets.

SPRINGFIELD — Authorities responded to a report of an open hydrant at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bridge Street area.

A heavy flow of water was apparently leading to street flooding and other problems in the area of Bridge street between Chestnut and Dwight streets.

A subsequent report, dispatched at about 11:10 p.m., indicated the problem may stem from a possible water main break. That information could not immediately be confirmed with Springfield Water & Sewer Commission officials.

This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.

MAP showing approximate location of street flooding:

Springfield police believe the thieves target Honda Fits in particular because their rims and lug nuts fit older Honda and Toyota models that are very popular with street racers right now.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

Updates story posted at 9:10 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD -- Reports of nocturnal thieves jacking up cars - primarily Hondas - and spiriting away all four wheels while their owners sleep a short distance away inside their homes are surfacing throughout the Greater Springfield area.

Street racers, looking to trick out their rides, may be a common thread in the wheel thefts, Sgt. John Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

Two East Longmeadow residents went out to their Honda Fits Tuesday morning only to find them sitting on blocks minus their wheels, police said. A third East Longmeadow Honda Fit owner was similarly hit several weeks ago.

In all three instances, the Fits were parked either in driveways or in front of the owner's home, East Longmeadow Sgt. Denis Sheehan said.

Along with Springfield and East Longmeadow, police in Chicopee, Wilbraham and Easthampton report similar thefts in recent weeks and months.

Delaney said at least four Honda Fit owners have had the wheels stolen off their cars in recent weeks.

Springfield police believe thieves are targeting Honda Fits because their rims and lug nuts fit the older Honda Civic and Toyota Celica models that are very popular with street racers right now, Delaney said.

"These tire rims are very hard to come by and the Honda Fits fit exactly," Delaney said.

The thefts may be far-ranging across the region because the thieves are likely spotting the Fits on area roads and highways and following the owners home to make note of the address.

"Then, they return at night," he said.

Delaney said Fit owners and others can foil wheel thieves by getting locking lug nuts. "They are not that expensive," he said.

Easthampton Police Capt. Robert Alberti said that within the last two weeks, thieves have stolen the wheels off Hondas on East Green, Hendrick and East streets.

"It's bizarre," Alberti said . "Usually these things are localized and not quite the broad scope that these crews are working."

Wilbraham Police Capt. Timothy Kane said a thief or thieves stole the wheels off an Infinti SUV on Circle Drive on July 21. "It was overnight, while people were sleeping," he said.]

On Aug. 19, a Honda Civic on Sterling Drive ended up on blocks minus its wheels, Kane said, "They are taking rocks from garden walls (to block the vehicles)," Kane said. "Sometimes they use concrete."

Kane said he believes the cooler weather will make it harder for the thieves to work undetected because noisy air conditioners will no longer be in use.

"Sooner or later they are going to catch them," Kane said.

Area police departments are joining together as they investigate the thefts, Kane said.

"We are trying to link the commonalities," Sheehan said.

Tickets will be available at the door.

WESTFIELD - Amelia Park Arena will assist in honoring Springfield veteran Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan and help raise funds for a scholarship established in his name at a hockey game Sept. 26.

The game will feature the Springfield Falcons Fan Charity Hockey Club and Cocchi for Sheriff Charity Hockey Team and is sponsored by Savers Bank.

Tickets for the 5 p.m. game are $10 for adults; $5 for fans age 15 and under and free for military with identification and children age 5 and under.

Tickets will be available at the door and a raffle and silent auction are also scheduled to help boost the scholarship fund.

Sullivan, 40, a Springfield native, was one of five military personnel killed by a gunman during an incident July 16 at the Naval Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tn.

Additional information is available by contacting David Wezniak at 413-885-9699.

Fran O'Connell is a business owner competing against Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and City Councilor Anthony Soto in Tuesday's preliminary election.

HOLYOKE -- Fran O'Connell Wednesday (Sept. 16) discussed what his management style would be if elected mayor, saying he would have advisers but he would be "very involved and engaged" running the city.

O'Connell, a business owner, was asked to elaborate after having said he would forego the job's $85,000 yearly salary and try to use the money instead to add to the pay of a strong assistant to handle day-to-day duties of the office.

Here is O'Connell's statement, according to public relations firm Market Mentors of West Springfield:

"It has always been my management style to surround myself with smart, educated and competent people. Any leader whether in business or politics would do the same - they all have advisers. With that said, do not misinterpret my statement about the importance of advisers. They are part of the strategic process, but I want to make it clear that the responsibility and accountability of decisions would be mine as mayor of Holyoke. I will be very involved and engaged with the management of the city. On a daily basis, I will lead the office with a strategic vision and a commitment to transparency the people of Holyoke deserve. In order to do that, I will need to set a tone and guide a team. It's a big job, and we need to bring on good people to build positive momentum."

O'Connell, who founded O'Connell Care at Home in 1987, is running against Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is seeking a third term, and Anthony Soto, the Ward 2 representative on the City Council, in the preliminary election Tuesday. Only the top two finishers in that contest will survive to compete on Election Day Nov. 3.

O'Connell had made remarks about what his management as mayor would look like on a few occasions. One was in an interview with The Republican and MassLive.com May 1 at the Whole Donut at 187 South St.

The other occurred according to Angela Gerhard of Holyoke, a former campaign staffer for O'Connell. She said in an Aug. 12 interview that in strategy sessions with campaign advisers O'Connell discussed putting his business talents to use by spending most of the time if elected mayor running the Department of Planning and Economic Development and giving most or part of his salary to an adviser to do daily mayoral duties.

O'Connell has refused to address comments attributed to him by Gerhard, whom he has said is a disgruntled former employee. The most prominent of such comments were Gerhard relating that O'Connell said, in a June 23 meeting Gerhard attended with O'Connnell and two male advisers at Max's Tavern in Springfield, that he was unable to focus on what a certain female city employee says because of the size of her breasts.

Gerhard, a metal smith and enamel jewelry artist and teacher, said she went to work for O'Connell as a researcher because she believes Morse is a poor mayor and should be replaced. She was employed by the O'Connell campaign from June 23 to July 27 at $300 a week for 15 to 20 hours a week, she said.

Gerhard was informed by email July 27 she was ousted from the O'Connell campaign. The reason given was that policy and research would be done by a professional organization, she said.

O'Connell also declined to address the comments attributed to him by Gerhard about how he would manage as mayor in a Sept. 11 radio debate with Morse and Soto.

"The citizens of Holyoke will be electing a mayor that will be held responsible and accountable for leading the city in a new direction," O'Connell said Wednesday. "As mayor, I will have a team of advisers that will help guide the decision making process, but I will set the tone and lead the team as the ultimate decision maker."

O'Connell said he has been discussing how he plans to manage as mayor with voters as he campaigns.

"These conversations include the importance of tapping local experts in the matters of education, economic development, public safety and the management of our city's government. Most importantly, however, the citizens are frustrated with the lack of leadership by the current administration. They have my word that I will be responsible and accountable for leading Holyoke in a new direction," he said.

A Connecticut father was arrested after police said he left his 3-year-old son in his car overnight.

A digest of news stories from around New England.

East Providence teenager gets 15 years after pleading no contest in prostitution of other teen [Providence Journal]

Jeffrey Mejias 

Connecticut man found not guilty in death of girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter [Hartford Courant]

Joseph Johnson 

Pregnant woman robbed on bike path in Plymouth [Old Colony Memorial]

Johnny Depp 

CYO registrations will be held for boys, girls and co-educational teams in grades kindergarten to eight.

HOLYOKE -- The Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Youth Organization basketball program will hold registrations Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m,. at Sacred Heart gymnasium, 340 Chestnut St.

Registrations for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) games will be for boys, girls and co-educational teams in grades kindergarten to eight, a press release said Wednesday (Sept. 16).

The price is $65 for the first child; $45 for the second: $15 for the third and $125 per family. For more information, call (413) 275-6075 or email helloh@aol.com.

CYO programs have been offering young people access to sports for decades here and in cities like Manchester, N.H., Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland, Ohio, San Antonio, Texas, Indianapolis, Indiana and Oakland, California. Online sources attribute the founding of CYO programs to Bishop Bernard J. Sheil of Chicago in 1930.

MassHealth improperly paid millions for wheelchair and related part repair claims, according to an audit State Auditor Suzanne Bump's office released Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ State Auditor Suzanne Bump is questioning $4 million in MassHealth payments for wheelchairs and related components, citing nearly $3 million spent without proper authorization.

The performance audit of the state's Medicaid agency covered the period of July 2011 to December 2012, according to a Wednesday press release from Bump's office.

Bump acknowledged the complexity of the agency, which has an annual budget of $12.2 billion and serves 1.5 million lower income individuals, but said MassHealth "requires strong and active oversight."

The audit found that the agency paid $2.9 million in repair claims for wheelchairs and component parts without proper authorization. Repair claims that exceed $1,000 must receive prior authorization, according to the auditor's office.

MassHealth also paid nearly $541,000 for improperly authorized, provided or billed wheelchair components as its claims system couldn't detect when limits and restrictions were reached, according to the audit. For example, it identified more than $40,000 in duplicative payments.

The audit further found that the Medicaid agency spent $1 million more than necessary over the 18-month period by failing to pay providers for wheelchairs and related parts at a rate equal to the lowest usual and customary amount accepted from other insurance carriers, the auditor's office said.

It recommended that MassHealth develop policies to ensure it's paying the lowest price for wheelchairs and that prior authorization has been obtained for repairs when the billed amount exceed $1,000, among other things.

According to the auditor's office the agency is implementing new systems and processes to prevent and recover such payments. MassHealth did not respond to requests from The Republican for comment.

"I am pleased that MassHealth plans to address these concerns because it illustrates how our two agencies can collaborate to ensure this vital program delivers the best service to its members and best value to taxpayers of the Commonwealth," Bump said in a statement.

Over the audit period MassHealth made payments totaling nearly $25 million for mobility assistive equipment - 92 percent of which went to wheelchair-related claims, the auditor's office said.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Nancy R. Collins 

SPRINGFIELD - Nancy Ellen (Riley) Collins, 85, died peacefully Sunday at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Born in Hartford to the late Francis and Ellen (Nagle) Riley, she was a lifelong Springfield resident. She was a graduate of St. Joseph's University in West Hartford. A 21-year school teacher in Springfield, Nancy worked at Balliet, Freeman and White Street Schools, until her retirement. A longtime communicant of Holy Cross Church, she was a Eucharistic minister and served on the board for many years. She was a member of the Catholic Women's Club, College Club of Springfield, Black Point Beach Club and St. Joseph University alumni board. She was a devoted volunteer at Mercy Hospital and Baystate Medical Center, City Stage, Hartford Stage and Open Pantry Community Services.