Sister Rachael Dumont was the type of person who was always helping others, especially the elderly and poor. So when Elaine Saragas was told that the 81-year-old nun from was charged with causing a hit-and-run crash, the Heav'nly Donuts owner was shocked.

A digest of news stories from around New England.

Thursday evening into Friday will feel a lot more like winter than we've become accustom to this month.

SPRINGFIELD -- Thursday evening into Friday will feel a lot more like winter than we've become accustom to this month.

The National Weather Service reports it will begin snowing after sunset in Massachusetts. Worcester may see flakes as early as 8 p.m. on Thursday. Snow is expected to begin falling between 2 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Springfield, around 3 a.m. in Boston.

The temperature will drop to the mid-to-low 30s across the state on Thursday evening.

Snow is expected to fall Friday mainly before 10 a.m. in Springfield, noon in Worcester and 1 p.m. in Boston. The precipitation will change to rain on Friday, Western Mass News Meteorologist Jacob Wycoff said. 

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The heaviest snowfall in Western Massachusetts will be in Hampshire County and eastern Hampden County. 

"Places like Brimfield, Wales, Holland, Palmer, and Ware should expect 3-6 inches of snow," Wycoff said. "As we look to the north and west, the snow amounts decrease. Much like the last snow storm, Berkshire and western Franklin County may get shut out from this storm." 

Worcester and Boston are expected to get between 4 to 8 inches of snow. 

Communities in southeastern Massachusetts could also see up to 8 inches of snow accumulation by the start of the weekend.

Thursday: Increasing clouds, Rain developing then changing to snow, moderate at times, east. Lows: 28-32. (1-2" north and west - 3-6" east and south)

Friday: Snow ending early then some sunshine. Highs: 36-40.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs: 36-40.

The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority has committed to removing snow when needed at key bus stops including at bus shelters and when the phone calls come from mobility challenged passengers.

SPRINGFIELD - While the region has basked in mostly mild weather this winter, the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority has a plan in place for clearing key bus stops in Springfield when and if they become snowbound this year.

PVTA officials including Administrator Mary L. MacInnes, told city councilors and advocates for riders on Thursday that it has hired a contractor to clear out dozens of bus stops, targeting the busiest stops where there are PVTA rider shelters and other stops when there are complaints from riders with handicaps and mobility issues.

The issue of snowbound bus stops created significant controversy last winter, with some residents and city councilors saying the condition of the stops was creating safety hazards for bus passengers and keeping many riders from access to public transportation..

There are 55 bus stops in Springfield which have the shelters, known to be the busiest in the city, MacInnes said. Those will be cleared of snow automatically after significant snowstorms, she said.

Another 65 stops are known to be used by passengers with mobility issues, where a bus lift is activated to assist the rider, and the activation is recorded, she said. The PVTA will work with the Mayor's Commission on Disability to clear snow at those stops when snow impasses are found, and will continue to clear that stop at future storms, officials said.

Councilor Bud L. Williams, chairman of the council's State and Federal Relations Committee, meeting with the PVTA, praised the outcome.

"We have come a long way since last year," Williams said. "Everything seems to be going good. We will wait until the first major storm to see if we have to get any other wrinkles out of the city."

Robert Klupa, chairman of the Commission on Disability, said the commission had brought concerns to the PVTA.and its hopes.

"Mary got it worked out," Klupa said. "We got what we asked for."

Many years ago, particularly in the winter, you would see few people in a wheelchair outside, Klupa said. Now, you see more and more people out there all the time as improvements in equipment and access occur, he said.

Last year, Williams and other officials were considering a home rule bill aimed at requiring the PVTA to clear 700 bus stops citywide after each winter storm.

MacInnes convinced the council to give the PVTA time to work out a solution. She stressed that 700 stops were way more than the PVTA could address, and that the sidewalks at the bus stops were not owned by the PVTA, with only the shelters themselves owned by the authorities.

Councilor Kateri Walsh and Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen R. Caulton-Harris joined in praising the PVTA for coming up with a strong solution.

Williams said he believes the Springfield plan could be a model for other public transit authorities.

MacInnes said none of 1the 16 transit authorities in Massachusetts shovel out all bus stops

"PVTA is glad that we are able to do what we are doing and we are really doing over and above what any other transit authority in Massachusetts is doing," MacInnes said. "So that makes us feel good."

The PVTA has begun to review if there should be a reduction in the number of bus stops in Springfield as 700 stops seems too many, MacInnes said. Having too many stops can also be a negative for riders not wanting to make so many stops on a route, she said.

Councilors said they would want to meet with the PVTA on any downsizing of bus stops.

Frederick Pinney is accused of murdering TayClair Moore by strangulation by ligature in Springfield in March of 2014.

SPRINGFIELD - Murder defendant Frederick Pinney told police repeatedly when he got up and left his bedroom on March 23, 2014, he did not see the naked body of TayClair Moore lying on the floor.

Jurors in the trial before Hampden Superior Court Judge Richard J. Carey saw a videotaped interview police did with Pinney on March 23, 2014, after Moore's body was found in his bedroom.

Pinney said he got dressed and walked out of his room.

"I didn't notice her at that time," he said.

He told police he slides to the end of his bed to get out, instead of going out the side.

Pinney, 45, is accused in the killing of the 29-year-old Moore, found dead on March 23, 2014 in Pinney's room at 48 Agnes St., Springfield. Moore died of strangulation by ligature. The ligature was never identified.

Pinney began renting the home in January 2014. Moore and Christopher Podgurski, who had been together 10 years, rented a room from Pinney, whom Podgurski knew through construction work.

In the videotaped police interview March 23 Pinney told Springfield police detective Timothy Kenney, "I wanted to die last night. That's all I wanted to do."

He said he took 10 Lorazepam at 1 a.m., after drinking and doing cocaine with Moore. He said he cut himself in an attempt to kill himself.

When police arrived at the scene after Podgurski saw Moore on Pinney's floor March 23 at about noon, Pinney had cuts on his arms and neck.

Pinney said he passed out at 3:15 a.m. or 3:30 a.m. that day.

He said he had brought a compressor and nail gun into his bedroom "because the knives weren't working" and he planned to shoot himself in the head with a nail gun.

After the police interview, detectives called an ambulance to take Pinney to the hospital for his own safety, Kenney said.

After Kenney testified Assistant District Attorney Matthew W. Green rested the prosecution's case.

Defense lawyer Linda J. Thomas called forensic toxicologist Richard Powers to the stand. He said the toxicology report on Moore showed she had smoked marijuana most probably 10 to 15 minutes before her death.

He said that last time she had cocaine would have been more than four hours, or perhaps as much as eight hours, before her death.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Friday morning.

The 1,000-bed, $120 million dormitory complex at the University of Massachusetts Boston will open in September 2018. It will serve freshmen and transfer students.

BOSTON -- UMass Boston announced plans on Thursday to open its first on-campus dormitories.

University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan, in a prepared statement, called the plans "a major milestone in the history of UMass Boston and a significant accomplishment for the university as a whole."

"UMass Boston is the most diverse campus of its size in New England, and we know there is a direct connection between on-campus housing and academic success," Meehan said.

The 1,000-bed, $120 million dormitory complex will open in September 2018. It will serve freshmen and transfer students.

It will be funded by a public-private partnership. Under the arrangement, the UMass Building Authority will contract with a private developer, Capstone Development, to lease a portion of the campus and build the dorms, which will be operated by a non-profit management group.

UMass Boston Chancellor J. Keith Motley said research has shown that freshmen living in on-campus housing have higher grades and retention rates than those who commute to campus. "On-campus housing provides opportunities that contribute directly to student success," Motley said.

UMass Boston has 17,000 students. But until now, it has not had any housing on campus.

The threats, which began last month and have continued into February, have mostly affected schools in eastern and southeastern Massachusetts, including the Boston area and Cape Cod.

FRAMINGHAM — Federal and state authorities will discuss the recent spate of bomb threats to Bay State schools at a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Massachusetts State Police headquarters, 470 Worcester Rd. (Route 9), Framingham.

Public safety officials will provide updates on the threats, which have continued virtually unabated since last month, and discuss the protocol used by bomb squads to assess and respond to such incidents, the vast majority of which tend to be hoaxes.

Among those slated to attend Friday's session are acting State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey; State Police Deputy Superintendent Francis Hughes; FBI Boston Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Pete Kowenhoven; Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes, president of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs Association and a board member of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; and Paul Andrews, director of government services for the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.

Also, MSP Sgt. William Qualls, a member of the Bomb Squad, will detail how his unit responds to bomb threats.

Beginning last month and continuing through this week, a steady string of threats have been reported at schools across eastern and southeastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Cape Cod. At a minimum, the threats have been disruptive for students, teachers and staff, who in many cases have been evacuated while law enforcement officials search for bombs or other hazardous materials.

Communities affected by the scares have included Arlington, Ayer, Boston, Billerica, Bourne, Falmouth, Groton, Kingston, Mashpee, Milton, Newton, Plymouth, Salisbury, Swampscott, Taunton, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Waltham, Westford and Weymouth, among others.

The estimate cost of materials and labor is around $50,000, according to the campus.

AMHERST - Five employees are on administrative leave, another has resigned and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has launched an investigation into allegations of the misuse of both materials and time by Physical Plant employees while on the clock.

According to a statement by the UMass campus, a preliminary figure for the estimated worth of both materials and time is around $50,000.

The names of the employees, their titles and job descriptions were not available. There was also no mention of what materials were misused or how.

A statement issued by the campus notes that "no conclusions about the conduct of specific employees have been made."

The Physical Plant is the department in charge of maintaining operations at the campus including building maintenance, grounds keeping and infrastructure repair. The department has 600 employees and an annual budget of $42 million.

In a prepared statement issued by the UMass News Office, Andrew Mangels, the vice chancellor for Administration and Finance said "Significant allegations were brought to our attention, and we moved quickly to investigate and take action. UMass is the steward of public dollars and we that that responsibility very seriously."

As a result of the allegations, the Physical Plant is consider a number of steps, including requiring overtime be approved in advance by an assistant director, upgrades to the time-card system to improve the tracking of time and attendance, upgrades in accountability and management of materials at on-campus supply locations, and greater oversight to prevent the use of employee labor on non-university projects.

The 30 Dow Jones industrials rose nearly 80 points to 16,416.

By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks posted modest gains Thursday as investors await Friday's closely watched jobs report, which could offer insight about the U.S. economy and help determine whether the Federal Reserve raises interest rates again next month.

Many believe the likelihood of another rate increase in March has faded because of recent signs of weakness in the global economy. That has sent the dollar lower against other currencies, a welcome change for U.S. exporters whose overseas sales have been hurt by the appreciation of the dollar over the last year and a half.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 79.92 points, or 0.5 percent, to 16,416.58. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 2.92 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,915.45 and the Nasdaq composite rose 5.32 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,509.56.

Stocks oscillated between gains and losses the whole day, and got some traction in the last couple hours of trading. Industrial and materials companies were among the biggest gainers, helped by a weaker dollar.

Investors are getting ready for Friday's payroll numbers. Economists surveyed by FactSet forecast that U.S. employers created 200,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent.

Over the past couple of weeks, investors have scaled back expectations that the Fed will continue raising interest rates amid signs that the global slowdown in growth is beginning to hurt the U.S. economy.

On Wednesday, a private survey found that the U.S. service sector grew in January at the slowest rate in nearly two years. Fed fund futures, a security that allows investors to bet on which way the Fed will move interest rates, are indicating that the next best chance the Fed will raise rates is not until early 2017.

"The market is starting to price in a small chance of recession, not some realistic chance, but enough of a chance to give investors pause and reposition," said Khoa Le, who co-heads a derivatives trading desk at Credit Suisse.

Diminished expectations of a March Fed rate hike have continued to weaken the dollar. The euro rose 0.9 percent to a three-month high of $1.1208 while the dollar fell 1.1 percent against the Japanese yen to 116.79 yen.

Le said the large move in the dollar in recent days is partially related to a great unwinding of positions by both large investors and companies who might hold significant amounts of cash overseas.

Many investors were "buying into this thesis of a strong dollar," Le said. "Now that the Fed is less likely to raise rates, we are seeing clients reposition."

U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.85 percent from 1.89 percent.

In other company news, mobile video camera maker GoPro plunged 93 cents, or 9 percent, to $9.78 after the company reported a wider-than-expected fourth quarter loss. GoPro shares are down 46 percent in 2016.

Viacom rose $1.11, or 2 percent, to $48.68 after the company announced that its 92-year-old majority shareholder, Sumner Redstone, was stepping down as CEO to be replaced by CBS CEO Les Moonves.

It was a usually quiet day for energy commodities, which for several days had experienced wild swings. Benchmark U.S. crude edged down 56 cents to $31.72 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract jumped 8 percent on Wednesday in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oil prices, fell 58 cents to $34.46 a barrel in London.

Other energy commodities were mixed. Heating oil rose less than a penny to $1.081 a gallon, wholesale gasoline rose 1.5 cents to $1.0284 a gallon and natural gas fell 6.6 cents to $1.972 per thousand cubic feet.

In metals, gold rose $16.30 to $1,157.60 an ounce, silver rose 11.6 cents to $14.85 an ounce and copper rose 3.7 cents to $2.1315 a pound.

The jury in the rape trial of former University of Massachusetts Amherst student Patrick Durocher did not return a verdict Thursday after deliberating for just over four hours.

NORTHAMPTON -- The jury in the rape trial of former University of Massachusetts Amherst student Patrick Durocher did not return a verdict Thursday after deliberating for just over four hours. They will continue deliberations Friday at 9 a.m.

Durocher, 20, of Longmeadow, has pleaded not guilty to one count each of aggravated rape, kidnapping and assault and battery.

The jurors sat through six days of evidence in the case, which involves a sexual encounter on the UMass Campus Center lawn in the early hours of Sept. 2, 2013.

The woman testified last week that a strange man attacked and raped her. Durocher maintains the pair met at a party and had consensual sex by the steps of the Campus Center, before being interrupted by students who accused him of raping the woman.

Witnesses have said the woman appeared unconscious on the ground and later, intoxicated and upset.

While the woman said she was not excessively intoxicated, witnesses have testified that she appeared to be unconscious under Durocher and was hardly able to stand immediately after.

During his closing arguments Thursday morning, defense attorney Vincent Bongiorni of Springfield, told the jurors again that the woman initially told police the sex was consensual, but changed her story in the morning when she realized photos of the incident were shared on social media.

Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Jennifer H. Suhl told the jury that whether Durocher raped the woman forcibly or because she was too intoxicated to consent, a rape occurred.

You choose who to believe, attorneys tell jurors in Patrick Durocher rape trial closing arguments

Before the jurors began deliberating, Hampshire Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup instructed them in the law as it pertains to this case. That includes explaining that if they find there is reasonable doubt that rape, assault or kidnapping occurred, they must find Durocher not guilty.

The jury instruction also included that they can consider whether the woman was too incapacitated by alcohol to consent and also whether Durocher was intoxicated.

While he is charged with rape aggravated by serious bodily injury, jurors can decide to find him guilty of the lesser charge of rape, if they are not convinced the woman was significantly injured. She told jurors she was sore and had bruising on her neck from his hand or arm, but some witnesses said the marks resembled hickeys.

To review live coverage of closing arguments, click here.

All stories from the previous six days of the trial and live coverage is available here.

More than 1,800 students are expected to take the CPR compression hands-only program each year in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD - CPR is being added to the ABCs of the Springfield Public School system.

The School Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to add cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and the use of an automated external defibrillator as a new component of the Health I Course for students. The CPR compression "hands only" program will begin in the 2016-17 school year.

With Health I being a requirement for graduation, all students enrolled in Health I will be trained with the lifesaving skills of CPR, school officials said. The program is being provided as part of the school system's Health Education curriculum in collaboration with the American Heart Association.

With the vote, the Springfield public school system will become the largest school district in Massachusetts to have the CPR compression program, said Kate Fenton, chief instructional officer for Springfield schools.

Denise Hurst, chairwoman of the School Committee's Curriculum and Programs Subcommittee, said the program literally provides students with the chance and skills to save a life.

"How great is that," Hurst said. "We talk about wanting to ensure our students are college and career ready. But, in addition to that, there are other skills to have in life such as being about to be trained in CPR."

The CPR training is not a full CPR program, but will include instruction to students during a few classes including a video, educational materials and practice with a manikin, Fenton said. Each year, more than 1,800 students will take CPR as a component of the health curriculum, she said.

Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick said the CPR training is a "great idea for safety."

"This is a wonderful opportunity and I am thrilled we are able to provide it to our students," Warwick said.

Rhonda Hall, a Springfield teacher and advocate for the American Heart Association, was praised during the meeting for taking a lead role in bringing the CPR program to Springfield schools.

"Sudden cardiac arrest could happen at any time, anywhere and to anyone," Hall said, adding that the program in Springfield will put "thousands of qualified lifesavers in our community year after year."

It's a huge victory for us," said Michelle Heim, director of Wellness and Development for the Springfield public schools. "It is really critical that Springfield is doing this."

Kevs Foundation is providing some grant funds for CPR program materials in collaboration with the American Heart Association. The cost of the materials is very low, school officials said.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 326,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year and approximately 90 percent die. CPR, especially if done immediately, can double or triple the victim's chance of survival, the association states.

The School Committee voted 6-0 in favor of the CPR curriculum with member Rosa Perez absent.

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday night at the Bangs Community Center.

AMHERST - The Board of Health on Tuesday night is holding a hearing on the revocation of College Pizza's license to give the restaurant a chance to get its license back.

The food establishment license was revoked Jan. 28 because they violated the conditions of their license, Health Director Julie Federman wrote in an email.

The pizza restaurant is located near the University of Massachusetts.

She wrote that the license was revoked because they had different staff than was stated in its application and staff was not ServeSafe trained.

The state requires that each establishment have one person in charge who is a certified food protection manager.

The hearing is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. in the Bangs Community Center.

The incident occurred Thursday night. in the area of 153 Locust St., police said.

SPRINGFIELD -- A male pedestrian, hit by two vehicles in the Forest Park neighborhood Thursday night, was treated at a city hospital and released.

The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the area of 153 Locust St., police said.

Although initial news reports indicated the victim may have suffered serious injuries, his injuries turned out to be minor, Sgt. John Delaney said.

No charges were filed, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

Friday's storm brought varying amounts of snowfall depending on where one was in the southern New England states of Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island Watch video

Friday's storm brought varying amounts of snowfall depending on where one was in the southern New England states of Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island.

According to the National Weather Service in Taunton, snow accumulation varied from just an inch in like the Massachusetts communities of Natick, Needham, MArshfield, and Clinton to 13.8 inches in Conventry, Conn.

Worcester, with 11 inches, had the most recorded snowfall in Massachusetts and third overall behind just Conventry and Pomfret, Conn. with 11.1.

Around the Greater Springfield area, amounts also varied, from 3 inches in Westfield, to 4.5 inches in Agawam and 7.8 in Hampden, which is a distance of just about 15 miles.

In Springfield, snow fell heavy at times, but cleared up by mid-afternoon. Of greater concern was the wind, which was a steady 10 mph throughout the day with gusting of up 17 mph.

 

The social media company Twitter announced today that it has suspended 125,000 accounts it says are linked to extremism since mid-2015.

The social media company Twitter announced today that it has suspended 125,000 accounts it says are linked to extremism since mid-2015, in a blog post detailing the platform's efforts to combat terrorist recruitment on its platform.

The total is higher than expected given previous estimates of political extremism on Twitter, according to the New York Times, which cited a Brooking Institute study last year that found at least 46,000 accounts being used by supporters of ISIS.

It is the first time that Twitter has disclosed the number of accounts it has suspended, the Times reported.

"We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service," Twitter's blog post said. "As the nature of the terrorist threat has changed, so has our ongoing work in this area. Since the middle of 2015 alone, we've suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts, primarily related to ISIS."

Twitter has also expanded its review team, participated in initiatives to oppose violent extremism and cooperated with law enforcement "when appropriate," the blog post said.

ISIS' recruitment efforts on social media have drawn the worried attention of United States security personnel, according to media reports and statements from top law enforcement officials.

"If you want to talk to a terrorist, they're right there on Twitter direct messaging for you to communicate with," FBI Director Comey said in July, according to Newsweek.

ISIS regularly broadcasts messages on social media, and its recruitment efforts have targeted young adults thousands of miles from combat zones in Syria or Iraq. Last June, the New York Times published the story of a young woman, whose identity was not disclosed, whose online friendship with an ISIS operative transitioned into a lesson in extremist ideology.

Baystate Noble has announced that 293 patients who had colonoscopies at Noble between June 2012 and April 2013 may have been exposed to hepatitis B, C and HIV. Watch video

This story follows: Baystate Health releases internal report on 293 patients potentially exposed to hepatitis, HIV.

WESTFIELD - Two-thirds of the 293 colonoscopy patients who might have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, at Baystate Noble Hospital because a scope was not properly sanitized in 2012 and 2013 have been tested for those infections, hospital officials said Friday.

Baystate Noble officials, including Jennifer Endicot, senior vice president for strategy and for external relations for all of Baystate Health, said it is too early -- patients were notified two weeks ago -- to know if any of those people tested were infected and, if so, how many have tested positive.

They said that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is leading the investigation into what -- if any -- harm the colonoscope issue at Baystate Noble may have caused.

On Friday, Department of Public Health spokesman Scott Zoback would only say that the state investigation is continuing.

Neither Zoback nor Endicott would say Friday if there is a timetable for more information to be released.

Endicott, Baystate Noble Hospital president Ronald Bryant and Dr. Sarah Haessler, an infectious-disease physician and Baystate's head epidemiologist, met with reporters Friday to discuss Baystate's own internal inquiry. A news release detailing that report was issued Friday.

Baystate announced in January of 2016 that 293 patients who had colonoscopies at Noble between June 2012 and April 2013 might have been exposed to blood-borne pathogens during their procedure.

The problem was that one tube of the four channel scope used in the process was not properly sanitized by a machine because the fitting on the sanitizing machine did not connect properly with the scope.

Baystate doctors, including Haessler, have said publicly stated that the risk of infection is low because the uncleaned tube in question was used to pump sterile saline solution into a person's body. It was not used to bring out tissue for analysis.

Employees at Noble, then an independent community hospital, discovered the problem in 2013 and it was rectified. Not much happened until December when a state check found the issue and brought it to light.

Patents are angry they weren't told about the risk of infection back in 2013 when it was discovered.

The reason, Baystate said Friday, is that Noble employees did not inform hospital higher-ups of the issue.

Endicott said the workers and a nursing supervisor learned of the problem and rectified it, but that's when the paperwork trail stops.

"It is very unclear to us how the process broke down," she said.

What should have happened its that the hospital should have done a larger and more through look at the situation, a "root cause analysis" in hospital parlance.

That might have resulted in patients being told back in 2013.

No one at Baystate would say if employees have been disciplined. But some workers involved had already left employment there when the inquiry started.

Baystate Noble has a new chief nursing officer as well.

National attention has come to scopes and the possibility of spreading infection in the past few years, raising issues like this to the forefront, Haessler said.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 50 million Americans undergo colonoscopies each year. The CDC also says more outbreaks have been linked to contaminated endoscopes than to any other medical devices.

In 2015, failure to disinfect endoscopes possibly exposed 281 patients in Hartford to drug-resistant bacteria and was also implicated in the deaths of two patients in California.

The duodenoscope is different than the endoscopes used for routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or colonoscopy, according to the FDA.

In 2013, an Atlanta outpatient surgery center sent letters to 456 colonoscopy clients warning them they may have been exposed to HIV as well as hepatitis B and C. 

That same year, study at five hospitals nationwide finds that three out of 20 endoscopes retained bits of "biological dirt" from past patients, putting people at risk for hepatitis and infection, as reported in the AARP Health Talk website.

Bryant said Friday that as part of Baystate Health, Noble now has more resources to deal with issues such as this colonoscopy incident.

Baystate Noble Press Release

Eddie Saez used a fake ID to quality for MassHealth benefits. Then he hired himself, using his real name, as his own personal care attendant.

The Republican file 

SPRINGFIELD - A Holyoke man was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison for fraud after he admitted to using a fake name to receive $108,000 in Social Security and MassHealth benefits.

Eddie Saez was also sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni to three years probation after his release, and to pay restitution in the amount of $76,288 to the U.S. Social Security Administration, $83,865 to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and $20,573 to the state Department of Unemployment Assistance.

Saez, 56, pleaded guilty in November to three counts of false use of a social security number.

According to prosecutors, Saez used someone else's name and social security number to begin receiving Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation, and payments under the MassHealth Personal Care Attendant Program.

While receiving MassHealth benefits under a fake name, Saez also hired himself under his real name to be his own personal attendant. When that contract was terminated, Saez then used his real name to sign up for unemployment compensation.

The $183.3 million project is estimated to be fully reopened to traffic in the late fall of 2017.

SPRINGFIELD -- Skiers returning home from Vermont and New Hampshire coupled with disruptions related to the ongoing reconstruction of Interstate 91 might lead to Sunday afternoon slowdowns in the next few weeks, MassDOT warned Friday.

Part of Interstate 91 headed south is down to a single lane, the Massachusetts department of transportation said Friday.

MassDOT warns:

"For weeks with Monday holidays, such as Presidents' Day (February 15, 2016), please expect this additional southbound traffic on the holiday afternoon."

MassDOT has coordinated with the Massachusetts State Police to monitor the I-91 viaduct area on Sunday afternoons and early evenings, the release said.

The speed limit in the construction zone is reduced to 40 miles per hour, and 45 miles per hour approaching the zone. A speeding ticket within the work zone comes with a double fine. Public safety is paramount and these restrictions will protect motorists and those working in the construction zone on I-91, MassDOT says.

The $183.3 million project is estimated to be fully reopened to traffic in the late fall of 2017.

The 2.5-mile-long elevated section of the interstate highway was built in the 1960s. The deck showed signs of disrepair in recent years with falling chunks of the structure forcing the closure of parking decks under the road.

A major north-south artery, Interstate 91 carries about 75,000 cars a day through downtown Springfield.

Following Friday's snowstorm, parts of Western Massachusetts were blanketed with just a dusting of snow while others required a ruler to measure the amount covering their community. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- Following Friday's snowstorm, parts of Western Massachusetts were blanketed with just a dusting of snow while others required a ruler to measure the amount covering their community.

Hampden tops the list with the highest snow totals. Western Mass News Meteorologist Jacob Wycoff said Hampden saw 10 inches of snow on Friday.

Eastern Hampden County was hit the hardest in Western Massachusetts. Monson received 8 inches and Wilbraham saw 7 inches.

"This storm was a bit of an overperformer," Wycoff said. "A bulls-eye of 8-10" for eastern Hampden County after consistent moderate to heavy snow bands move through that area."

Further west in Berkshire County, Pittsfield received only an inch of snow.

The fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring in a basement ceiling, a fire official said.

Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

EASTHAMPTON - A basement fire early Friday caused about $15,000 damage to a home on Valley Lane and displaced two residents, according to Fire Chief David A. Mottor.

No one was injured, Mottor said.

The fire was reported at about 1:30 a.m. at 6 Valley Lane. The first firefighters on scene reported seeing moderate smoke throughout the house.

The fire was determined to have been in the ceiling of a finished basement.

Northampton Fire provided assistance at the scene through mutual aid.

The home is uninhabitable until repairs are made. The two residents said they would stay with family members.

The cause was blamed on faulty electrical wires, Mottor said.

Cocchi, a 42-year-old Democrat from Ludlow, is a ranking officer in the Sheriff's Department. He's facing fellow Democrats Jack Griffin and Mike Albano and independent James Gill in the race to become the county's first new sheriff in more than 40 years. The position has been held by Mike Ashe since 1974.

SPRINGFIELD — Hampden County sheriff candidate Nick Cocchi will air a campaign commercial during the Super Bowl on Sunday, according to his political team.

Cocchi, a 42-year-old Democrat from Ludlow, is a ranking officer in the Sheriff's Department. He's facing fellow Democrats Jack Griffin and Mike Albano and independent James Gill in the race to become the county's first new sheriff in more than 40 years. The position has been held by Mike Ashe since 1974.

The Cocchi campaign took to Facebook on Friday to spread the news about the upcoming commercial. The social media site includes a still shot from the advertisement, but no sneak peek of the video itself.

"We just let several thousand people in Hampden County know this will be on. We also are amplifying this on Facebook and other social media," Tony Cignoli, a consultant to the Cocchi team, said Friday.