Irenne is not wanted by police.

NORTHAMPTON - The Police Department is notifying residents that a Level 3 sex offender has moved into the community.

The man is identified as Antwon Irenne, 27, of 43 Center St. He had been convicted of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14, Northampton Police officials said.

Level 3 offenders are those most likely to reoffend and are required to register with the local department every year.

Irenne is not wanted by police. It is also illegal to harass an offender, police said.

Victor Bora was being held on charges of domestic abuse, sexual assault and assault of police officer

RUTLAND, VT - Vermont State Police are investigating the death of a 42-year-old inmate at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility Sunday morning.

Initial investigations show Victor R. Bora, 52, of Brandon, Vermont, hung himself while in his cell. He was found at about 8 a.m., police said.

The man was brought to Rutland Regional Medical Center by ambulance and was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

There is no evidence of foul play. The assistant medical examiner has ordered an autopsy and the official cause of death will determined after the examination, police said.

According to the Rutland Herald, Bora was facing charges of first-degree aggravated domestic assault, sexual assault, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer after being arrested Dec. 11.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

HOLYOKE - Firefighters extinguished a fire in a closet in a fourth-floor apartment Sunday night.

"It was contained to the closet, there was minimal damage," said Holyoke Deputy Fire Chief Mark Fortin.

The sole resident of the apartment may be displaced for the night but all other residents of the sizable apartment building were allowed to return to their homes, he said.

The fire was reported at about 4:40 p.m. on 365 Appleton St. A total of 21 firefighters responded to the call, which was initially reported to be at another location, Fortin said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly. No one was injured, he said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.

The movie brought in a record breaking $283 million over the weekend.

Star Wars fans across Western Massachusetts dressed up and lined up for the premiere showing of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Thursday night.

Over the weekend the movie brought in a record-breaking $283 million. That made it the biggest debut of any movie in North America.

At the Agawam Cinemas, people started lining up nearly two hours early for the 8 p.m. showing of the movie.

A handful of movie patrons dressed as Star Wars characters and storm troopers from the 501st Legion entertained and posed for photographs with the patrons prior to and after the showings.

At the Hadley Cinemark, some fans showed up as early as 10 hours before the start of the film. Fans also dressed up as Wookies, Yodas and Jedi knights to wait for the opening of the film.

Most movie theaters were sold out for the premiere.

Here are some of the things people were Tweeting about the latest Star Wars film.

The alleged shooter turned himself into police about 10 minutes after the shooting.

RUTLAND TOWN, VT - A Pennsylvania man has turned himself into police following a bizarre drive-by shooting that injured a 45-year-old woman in a shopping mall.

Michael Filinuk III, 33, of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania is being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held on $50,000 bail and is to be arraigned on Monday in Rutland Superior Court, Vermont State Police said.

The victim, who lives in Rutland, was leaving the Green Mountain Shopping Plaza at about 8:19 p.m., Saturday, when she was shot in the arm by a passing motorist. She returned to a store where employees and emergency medical personnel helped her, police said.

The woman was treated at the Rutland Regional Medical Center and released.

About 10 minutes after the shooting, Filinuk walked into the Rutland Police Department and confessed to the crime.

Police have no motive for the shooting and do not believe Filinuk and the victim know each other. The crime is under investigation, police said.

The suspect allegedly piled the tablets in a plastic tote and carried them out of the store.

WARE - Police are searching for a Springfield man who is suspected of stealing more than $13,000 in electronics from the Walmart a week ago.

An arrest warrant has been issued for John Echols, 49, of Springfield for the theft, Ware Police Det. Scott Lawrence said.

Police have searched his home but have not located him. Officers are unsure where he is now, Lawrence said.

Echols is a suspect in the theft of more than 80 electronic tablets from the store on Dec. 12, he said.

The man allegedly filled one plastic tote with the tablets, which were unsecured, and carried them to his car. He then returned and piled more tablets in a tote and left the store.

He was recorded on the store video and was identified with the help of information shared by the public, Lawrence said.

Anyone with information on Echols location should call police at (413) 967-3571. People can also email information on the anonymous tip line at Waretipline@townofware.com.

Three suspects showed a gun and demanded money of a victim.

AMHERST - Police are investigating the armed robbery of a man outside an apartment complex Sunday evening.

The victim reported that three men wearing ski masks assaulted him outside the Southpoint Apartment Complex, on Southpoint Road, at about 5 p.m., Amherst Police Lt. William Menard said.

The suspects were armed with a handgun and demanded money. They fled the area on foot, police said.

The victim was not injured. Police did not say what the three suspects took.

The car rolled over onto its side in the about 8:40 p.m. accident.

NORTH ADAMS - A driver was injured in a serious single-car crash Sunday night.

Police are still investigating the accident, that happened at about 8:40 p.m., Sunday at the intersection of Church and Bradley streets, said North Adams Police Officer Ben Austin.

"We believe speed and alcohol were factors. It is still under investigation and charges are pending," Austin said.

Police did not say how the crash happened but said the car rolled over onto its side. The driver was alone in the car at the time, Austin said.

The driver's name was not released. He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center, in Pittsfield, by ambulance, he said.

Massachusetts State Police assisted at the scene. The investigation is being done by the North Adams Police Department's traffic division.

At least one person was killed and dozens more injured when a car plowed into pedestrians Sunday night on the Las Vegas Strip.

LAS VEGAS -- At least one person was killed and dozens more injured when a car plowed into pedestrians Sunday night on the Las Vegas Strip, authorities said.

Sources told KSNV-TV the woman behind the wheel had a 3-year-old child with her, and she drove away from the scene. She turned herself in to security at the Tuscany Suites & Casino, the station said.

Las Vegas Police Lt. Peter Boffelli said the vehicle was in the northbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard near Bellagio Way when the vehicle drove up onto the sidewalk in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino and struck pedestrians, including 37 people who were taken to the hospital.

One person was killed, seven were in critical condition, 26 others injured and four were treated and released, police said

"This is a huge tragedy that has happened on our Strip," Boffelli says.

Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell said the call for help came in at 6:38 p.m. and 70 emergency crew workers were sent to the scene.

Boffelli also says the counter-terrorism unit was at the scene but a motive has not been determined.

"(It's) unknown if it's an intentional act or impairment act," he said.

Las Vegas Police Officer Jesse Roybal said the incident did not appear to be a terrorist act.

Danita Cohen, spokeswoman for University Medical Center in Las Vegas, said 11 crash victims were brought to its trauma center. No conditions were immediately available.

The crash occurred in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino and Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino on South Las Vegas Boulevard, north of Harmon Avenue, KSNV said.

The Miss Universe pageant was being held at the Planet Hollywood at the time of the crash.

Police confirmed the female driver left the scene but that she has since been taken into custody. She is being interviewed and tested for alcohol and controlled substances.

KSNV said the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has closed Las Vegas Boulevard between Harmon and Flamingo Road.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 123 points while the Standard & Poor's 500 index rose nearly 16 and the Nasdaq composite rose nearly 46.

By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK -- Stocks posted moderate gains in a quiet trading day Monday, recovering part of their losses sustained late last week. Energy stocks continued to be a drag on the market, as the price of oil fell once again.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 123.07 points, or 0.7 percent, to 17,251.62. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 15.60 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,021.15 and the Nasdaq composite rose 45.84 points, or 0.9 percent, to 4,968.92.

Investors are still working through the market impact of the Federal Reserve's decision last week to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade. Markets rose in response to the Fed finally ending the uncertainty around its decision last Wednesday, but then fell sharply later in the week when traders sold shares to book profits. The Dow dropped 2.1 percent Friday.

Monday's buying was partly a recovery from last week's drop, a common response to a sharp sell-off.

Crude oil continued to decline, however, nearing levels not seen since the financial crisis. Crude oil fell 25 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $35.81 a barrel. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, was down 53 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $36.35 a barrel.

Energy stocks struggled as a result, making it the worst performing sector in the S&P 500. Newfield Exploration fell $1.19, or 4 percent, to $30.41. ConocoPhillips fell 83 cents, or 2 percent, to $45.10.

Trading volume tends to decrease on Wall Street during the last two weeks of the year, as many investors begin to close their books and go away for the holidays. Markets are closed for the next two Fridays for holidays, and trading closes early on Thursday for Christmas Eve. There is also little in the way of market-moving economic data or company news expected.

"Today's calendar is relatively light, and with liquidity getting thinner over the course of the week, the potential for exaggerated moves is very real," said Chris Beauchamp, senior market analyst at IG. "The default direction is still likely to be up, given past performance."

In other energy trading, heating oil fell a penny to $1.13 a gallon, wholesale gasoline fell five cents to $1.22 a gallon and natural gas jumped 14 cents to $1.91 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell to 2.19 percent from 2.21 percent on Friday. The dollar fell against the euro to $1.09 while the dollar was mostly unchanged against the yen at $121.19.

In metals, gold rose $15.60 to $1,080.60 a troy ounce, silver rose 22 cents to $14.31 a troy ounce and copper rose three cents to $2.14 a pound.

Randall Strong, 62, of Shoreham, Vermont, was arrested Saturday on a charge of first-degree aggravated domestic assault / interference with access to emergency services, Vermont State Police officials said Monday.

SHOREHAM, Vermont — Authorities have apprehended a Vermont man who allegedly attempted to strangle a person during a domestic assault.

Randall Strong, 62, of the Addison County town of Shoreham, was charged Saturday with first-degree aggravated domestic assault / interference with access to emergency services, Vermont State Police officials said Monday.

On Friday, troopers from the New Haven barracks responded to an assault report in Shoreham, where they made contact with the alleged victim. Strong strangled the victim, whose identity was not released, "several times," police said. When the victim tried to call 911, Strong ripped the telephone out of the wall, police said.

Strong fled the scene and hid from police for the night. He was located and arrested on Saturday, according to authorities, who released a mugshot of him smiling with an apparent cut on his left cheek.

Strong was expected to be arraigned Monday in Addison County District Court. Details of the hearing were not immediately available.

Police reported that the children's mother, Vallerie McGrath, had been apprehended.

Two children reported missing from their father's home in Lakeville Sunday evening were reported safe late Monday afternoon.

WCVB-TV reported that Lakeville police announced on their Facebook page that the children had been found and that their mother, Valerie McGrath, 47, had been taken into custody.

Valerie McGrath 

Police said the children's father, who has sole legal custody, reported them missing about 7 p.m. Sunday evening. The father, Steven Carrigan, has said that McGrath took the children, Eden, age 7, and Steven, age 5, at about 1:30 p,m., Sunday afternoon with his permission, but did not return them by 5 p.m. as scheduled.

"Due to the actions and statements made by McGrath in the last few weeks the Police Department has concerns for the safety of the children," police wrote on their Facebook page earlier in the day.

Carrigan told WBZ-TV Monday he had no idea where the three had gone.

"No one knows," Carrigan said Monday afternoon. "Her family doesn't know, I don't know, and that's the scary part about it."

Carrigan told the station that McGrath had taken the children for part of the day to celebrate Steven's birthday.

"I'm just scared for their safety to tell you the truth," Carrigan said, adding "I just want her to bring them back."

The New Bedford Standard-Times reported that police obtained a warrant Monday morning for McGrath in Wareham District Court.

"Currently the Lakeville Police Department and family members have not been able to reach McGrath," police said in the news release early in the day.

Police were searching for a brown or tan 2002 Land Rover Discovery Sport with Massachusetts license plate 847ZZ2.

More details about the location of McGrath and the children were not immediately available.

The Springfield City Council voted 11-0 to approve a casino overlay district in the South End area, that outlines the boundaries of the casino project.

SPRINGFIELD -- The City Council approved a new casino overlay district on Monday that outlines the boundaries of the $950 million MGM Springfield project and allows the company to proceed with some demolition and advance construction work.

The vote was 11-0 in favor of the overlay district, but city officials stressed the vote is limited to zoning, and does not approve any changes in design.

MGM Springfield has proposed changes that include elimination of a 25-story hotel tower and a reduction in the square footage of the casino development.

Those and other significant design changes will be considered by the council during future site plan review hearings in mid- to late-January, Council President Michael Fenton said after Monday's vote.

"It does not bind us in any way, shape of form to one particular design or another," Fenton said.

The council vote Monday is a "good procedural step that allows MGM to do site work in anticipation of the casino," he said.

Councilor Kenneth Shea said it was an important vote to let residents see progress in the three-block casino area. While there has been some advance work, such as utility work, people want to see more, officials said.

"The public will have a lot more confidence," Shea said. "The public wants to see something happen."

Jay Michelman and Jeff Burstein, co-owners of an adjacent property at 1317-1343 East Columbus Ave., said they strongly opposed the zone change, believing it will be harmful to their property.

In other action, the council gave final approval to the Colony Hills Historic District in the Forest Park area.

The new district, which is along the Longmeadow line, is aimed at preserving the historic integrity of the neighborhood, officials said. Any exterior changes to homes in the district need approval from the Springfield Historical Commission.

In other action, the council took informal votes in favor of Fenton continuing to serve as council president in 2016, and for Councilor Orlando Ramos to remain as vice president.

The votes were unanimous.

Formal votes for the two council leadership positions will occur at the first council meeting in January.

House decorating winners will receive gift certificates from Holyoke businesses.

HOLYOKE -- Homes on Central Park Drive, Papineau Street and Taylor Street were declared winners Monday in state Rep. Aaron M. Vega's Christmas house decorating contest.

"It was so fun and heartwarming to see all the great holiday decorations. My family and I truly enjoyed seeing the pride and holiday spirit folks put into their decorations in every neighborhood in the city," said Vega, D-Holyoke.

Vega said the winners were:

• Best Classic Holiday Decorations: Patrick Moskal, 119 Central Park Drive.
• Best Holiday Madness: Laura Colon, 16 Papineau St.
• The People's Choice, Faizul Johnny Sibdhanny, Jr., 65 Taylor St.

Winners will receive gift certificates to local businesses at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Cottage, 1615 Northampton St., Vega said.

"I really want to thank all the businesses who contributed to the prize packages, the judges who gave their time and thoughts and, of course, every contestant," Vega said. "We feel we're building a real holiday tradition here and are looking forward to next year."

Participating businesses were Nick's Nest, Muse Custom Framing, The Cottage, Pizza d'Action, Slainte, Salon 413, Highland Hardware and VegaYoga and Movement Arts, he said.

Chelsea Clinton, the only child of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, announced Monday that she is expecting her second child next summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- There may be one more Clinton on the campaign trail next fall.

Chelsea Clinton, the only child of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, announced Monday that she is expecting her second child next summer.

"Charlotte is going to be a big sister! Feeling very blessed & grateful this holiday season," Chelsea Clinton wrote on Twitter.

Next summer, Charlotte is going to be a big sister! Feeling very blessed & grateful this holiday season. pic.twitter.com/gpCGqcmeCq

-- Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) December 21, 2015

Chelsea Clinton, 35, and her father have largely stayed off the campaign trail since Hillary Clinton launched her Democratic bid for the presidency in April.

Both have said they plan to intensify their public political roles after the New Year in an effort to boost Clinton's campaign just six weeks before the first round of primary voting.

The soon-to-be second-time grandparents tweeted out their congratulations Monday.

"Your dad and I could not be happier for you, Marc, and Charlotte. We're so excited to meet our second grandchild!" wrote Hillary Clinton.

Bill Clinton added: "Christmas comes early! @HillaryClinton and I are thrilled for Chelsea, Marc and Charlotte's growing family in 2016!"

In a September interview on NBC's "Today," Chelsea Clinton said her mom was always game for singing "The Wheels on the Bus" to granddaughter Charlotte and was helping her learn to walk.

The younger Clinton is author of the book "It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!" -- an illustrated guide for young people looking to become involved in political and social causes.

Chelsea Clinton is married to hedge fund manager Marc Mezvinsky, the son of former U.S. congressman Edward Mezvinsky and former U.S. congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky.

The Superior Court judge granted accelerated rehabilitation for Gatti, which allows the charges of misdemeanor breach of peace and criminal trespassing to be dropped.

Former University of Connecticut student Luke Gatti was granted a special form of probation Monday after apologizing to a judge in Vernon for his drunken tirade at the student union over not being served an order macaroni and cheese.

"I got nothing to defend," NBC Connecticut quoted Gatti as telling the judge. "I am entirely ashamed of my actions and that's pretty much it."

The Superior Court judge granted accelerated rehabilitation for Gatti, which allows the charges of misdemeanor breach of peace and criminal trespassing to be dropped, and put him on probation for a year, the Associated Press reported.

Judge John Farley said Gatti, 19, of Bayville, New York, already had paid a high price for his behavior after harassing a food service manager Oct. 4 for not providing him with macaroni in cheese. Gatti's temper tantrum was caught on video, and was subsequently viewed widely on the internet.

According to the Hartford Courant, when a defendant applies for accelerated rehabilitation, his court file is sealed. He will have certain conditions to meet if his application into a program for first-time offenders is accepted. According to Connecticut state law, such conditions could include things like community service or getting counseling,

Farley said he was giving Gatti credit for going to Central American so seek the forgiveness of David Robinson, the food court manager he verbally abused.

The prosecutor objected to probation because Gatti was arrested twice when he was student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst on similar charges.

Gatti is no longer enrolled at UConn, and university officials have refused to say whether he was expelled or left on his own.

NBC Connecticut reported that Gatti will be going to school at SUNY Farmingdale in Long Island.

UMass now (6-5) fell 90-66 to the (12-1) Friars. The Minutemen return home on December 29th to face LIU Brooklyn.

AMHERST - UMass- Amherst Minutemen mens basketball team hosted the Providence at the Mullins Center in Amherst on Monday evening.

UMass now (6-5) fell 90-66 to the (12-1) Friars. The Minutemen return home on December 29th to face LIU Brooklyn.

A Maine high school teacher is complaining that she was forced to remove a small pink Christmas tree festooned with the character Hello Kitty from her classroom.

BANGOR, Maine (AP) -- A Maine high school teacher is complaining that she was forced to remove a small pink Christmas tree festooned with the character Hello Kitty from her classroom.

Catherine Gordon is a math teacher at Bangor High School. She wrote on her Facebook page that "everything offends everyone all the time" and that it "just sucks the joy out of everything."

The news of the pink tree's removal took off on social media Monday. Even Republican congressman Bruce Poliquin weighed in, saying the school went too far in ordering the tree's removal.

WLBZ-TV reports the school superintendent issued a statement saying culture, traditions and holidays must have an educational component and must be tied to curriculum.

Approximately 50 people and 12 city councilors praised Police Sgt. John Delaney for his community service on and off the job.

SPRINGFIELD — The City Council and dozens of residents gathered at City Hall on Monday, giving a commendation and standing ovations to Police Sgt. John Delaney in praise of his efforts to promote the Police Department and city, and to honor fallen officers.

The proclamation and ovations at City Hall were in sharp contrast to recent criticism leveled by city council vice president, Orlando Ramos, who suggested that some comments by Delaney in his role as the Police Department's public information officer in recent years were "dismissive" of crime victims.

All 12 city councilors present for the proclamation took turns praising Delaney personally and professionally for his work on the job and off the job including his personal efforts to raise funds for the Massachusetts Fallen Officer Memorial.

Ramos was the lone absent councilor, leaving the council chambers just before the proclamation was read, and then returning when the event was over to attend the regular meeting.

The proclamation stated that the council "hereby recognizes, honors and commends Sgt. John Delaney for his dedication and constant commitment to the city of Springfield and its citizens and thanks him for his tireless effort."

There was a standing ovation after the proclamation was read, and another standing ovation after he spoke. Approximately 50 family members, friends and supporters attended.

Delaney said he was "very humbled" by the proclamation and believes every officer on the department deserves an accolade.

The lead sponsors of the proclamation were Timothy Rooke, Bud Williams and Kenneth Shea.

The proclamation praised Delaney as the "proud founder and director" of the Springfield Police Department's "Ride to Remember," a `106-mile law enforcement bicycle ride that travels from Springfield to Boston and has raised over $271,000 over the last three years in support of the Fallen Officer Memorial.

Rooke said the timing of the proclamation was not connected to Ramos' Dec. 1 letter to Delaney that was critical of his role. A copy of that letter was also sent to The Republican and MassLive.

The timing of the proclamation was just a case of procrastination, as it was something he was planning to do for quite some time, Rooke said.

The resolution also praised Delaney for his service since becoming a police officer in 1980, working in the Uniform Division, Juvenile Division and for many years with the Narcotics Bureau and academy director.

It cited his efforts both with the Narcotics Bureau and Street Crime Unit with making thousands of arrests and removing large amounts of cash and firearms from the streets.

Ramos, in a letter to sent to Police Commissioner John Barbieri and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, and council President Michael Fenton, said there were several incidents where he felt Ramos either trivialized or insulted victims.

Delaney at the time responded that he was proud of the job he does, and will continue to keep residents well informed about crime and police matters. Barbieri praised Delaney's performance.

Daniel Quirk, owner of two Boston-area car dealerships, has paid $60,000 to the state to resolve campaign donation violations, according to a disposition agreement between Quirk and the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, or OCPF.

Dan QuirkWikipedia 

Braintree-based Daniel J. Quirk Inc. and Quincy Auto Auction Inc. paid the money to the state's general fund to resolve issues stemming from prohibited political contributions to Gov. Charlie Baker and several other candidates, according to a disposition agreement signed by Quirk and OCPF director Michael J. Sullivan.

[Click HERE for full disposition agreement]

From 2013-2015, Quirk's companies contributed $19,500 to Baker and three other candidates by giving the money to Quirk's employees, who then donated it to the candidates' political committees. OCPF spokesman Jason Tait said the employees used funds provided by Quirk's corporations to make 39 total contributions of $500 each.

The candidates and committees were unaware the contributions were made with corporate funds until they were notified by OCPF, according to the disposition agreement. State campaign finance laws prohibit corporate contributions to candidates or disguising the true source of donations.

As a result of the disposition agreement, the candidates' political committees must give up the illegal contributions. The money can be given to the state, a specific Massachusetts city or town, a scholarship fund, or a charity or religious organization.

A disposition agreement is a voluntary written agreement between OCPF and the subject of an OCPF review, in which the subject agrees to take certain specific actions to rectify potential violations of the state's campaign finance law. OCPF is the depository for financial disclosure reports filed by candidates and political committees.

In addition to Baker, candidates who received illegal contributions from Quirk were Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, Quincy City Councilor Brad Croall and Warren Tolman, a former candidate for state attorney general. The prohibited contribution amounts were as follows:

• Baker, $2,500;
• Koch, $7,000;
• Croall, $6,000;
• and Tolman, $4,000.

The case involving Quirk marks the fourth time since July that a Bay State business has been ordered to pay the state for unlawful political donations, State House News Service reports.

Established in 1973, OCPF is an independent agency that administers the state's campaign finance law and the limited public financing program for statewide candidates.