Colorado police officer Jim Gerhardt, whose state legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2012, has a message for Massachusetts voters and lawmakers weighing whether the Bay State should do the same. Watch video

BOSTON -- Colorado cop Jim Gerhardt, whose state legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2012, has a message for Massachusetts voters and lawmakers weighing whether the Bay State should do the same.

"My message is: Slow down. Study what's going on," he said after speaking with state legislators at the State House.

Gerhardt, an officer in Thornton, Colo., and vice president of the Colorado Drug Investigators Association, said marijuana is the "most highly regulated industry in the entire state" of Colorado.

In Massachusetts, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol hopes to place a measure legalizing marijuana on the November statewide ballot.

While politically popular officials like Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh have come out against the measure, opposition to legalization hasn't coalesced into a solid bloc just yet.

In the last decade, Massachusetts voters signed off on decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana and legalizing medical marijuana. But the state has struggled to implement medical marijuana, leading to high demand as dispensaries have been slowly opening around the state.

The pro-marijuana legalization campaign was dismissive of the Wednesday briefing lawmakers received from law enforcement officials like Gerhardt.

"Getting perspective on marijuana prohibition from these career prohibitionists is like getting perspective on veganism from cattle ranchers," a campaign spokesman said.

And the Marijuana Policy Project, one of the top backers of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said in Colorado the tax revenue from legalization exceeds the cost of regulating the drug. Colorado's system led to more than $135 million in state revenue in 2015, the group said.

A number of Massachusetts legislators and their staffers flocked to Wednesday's briefing, which included Gerhardt and other law enforcement officials. Baker administration staffers and anti-marijuana activists also attended the briefing.

Here are some takeaways from what they heard.

• Gerhardt said alcohol and marijuana can't be compared, because the marijuana plant grows into different sizes and shapes. A seed-to-sale tracking system is hard to attempt. "It becomes very difficult to track down how you are going to account for this inventory," he said.

• Gerhardt said to expect pro-legalization ads with "soccer moms" and retired police officers. In Colorado, "they ran these ads, constantly," he said of legalization proponents.

• Colorado was "really far behind" in efforts to bring together a coalition against legalization when it was on the statewide ballot, Gerhardt said. The governor, John Hickenlooper, was "very quiet" about his feelings on legalization, Gerhardt added.

• Gerhardt pointed to the volume of marijuana products sold in 2014: 148,238 pounds of marijuana flower, and 4.8 million units of edible marijuana products. People have advertised marijuana sales on Craigslist. "Home growers can produce a lot of marijuana and they can certainly sell it for less than the dispensaries," he said.

• Gerhardt sought to paint a dark picture of legalization's effects, saying the products are "getting into the hands of kids, drivers are driving under the influence." There have been pet poisonings, he said, and he highlighted news stories showcasing adverse reactions in which people ingested marijuana and then killed themselves.

• The black market hasn't gone away, Gerhardt added, saying Colombia money has been funneled through the Colorado marijuana dispensary system. "What people don't understand is because the fact that marijuana is so profitable at such small amounts, we have a huge black market problem," he said.

Lawmakers said they still had questions after the briefing. Vinny deMacedo, a Republican state senator from Plymouth, said there is a need for baseline data on the topic.

"Why are we jumping quickly into this?" he said.

State Rep. Hank Naughton, a Democrat who represents Clinton, sounded a note of optimism that the ballot initiative could be defeated.

"I think this can be beat," he said.

"It's not just a business, it's not like a six pack of beer," he said of marijuana legalization. "There's a lot more to it."

Cop: Mass. law enforcement not ready for marijuana legalization

For more than half a century, the unsolved killing of a young schoolteacher and beauty queen who was last seen at church haunted the Texas city of McAllen.

HOUSTON -- For more than half a century, the unsolved killing of a young schoolteacher and beauty queen who was last seen at church haunted the Texas city of McAllen.

But now, nearly 56 years after the bludgeoned body of 25-year-old Irene Garza was pulled from an irrigation canal, police have arrested the man long suspected in her slaying: the former priest who apparently heard her final confession.

Using a walker, a frail-looking John Bernard Feit, now 83, appeared in court Wednesday in Phoenix after being arrested a day earlier at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, on murder charges. He was jailed on $750,000 cash bail while he awaits transfer back to Texas.

"This whole thing makes no sense to me because the crime in question took place in 1960," he said.

Feit's arrest followed other investigations over the years, including a grand jury probe in 2004 that concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

McAllen police would not comment Wednesday on what evidence was gathered or presented to the grand jury that finally brought the charges. Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez did not immediately return a call for comment.

Authorities said Garza visited Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, where Feit was a priest, on April 16, 1960. Garza, who was Miss All South Texas Sweetheart 1958, had planned to go to confession that evening. She never returned home.

Her body was found days later. An autopsy found that she had been raped while unconscious and had been beaten and suffocated.

Feit came under suspicion early on, telling police that he heard Garza's confession -- in the church rectory, not in the confessional -- but denying he killed her. He left the priesthood in 1972, married and went on to work for a Catholic charity in Phoenix.

Among the evidence that pointed to Feit as a suspect over the years: His portable photographic slide viewer was found near Garza's body. Two fellow priests told authorities Feit confessed to them. And one of them said he saw scratches on Feit soon after Garza's disappearance.

Also, Feit had been accused of attacking another young woman in a church in a nearby town just weeks before Garza's death. He eventually pleaded no contest and was fined $500.

Garza's family members and friends had long pushed authorities to reopen the case, and it became an issue in the 2014 district attorney's race. Rodriguez had promised that if elected, he would re-examine the case.

Dale Tacheny, a tax adviser in Oklahoma City who had been a priest at a Missouri monastery where Feit lived in 1963, said that Feit had confessed to him that he had had murdered a young woman. Tacheny said it wasn't until years later that he learned that the woman Feit had described was Garza.

Tacheny said he eventually told authorities around 2002. He said a prosecutor from Hidalgo County visited him to discuss the case last year, but he wasn't called before the 2004 grand jury or the more recent one.

"For me, the right thing is being done," Tacheny, 86, said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "I can't say there is a great deal of satisfaction, but finally something that is right is happening."

In one instance, somebody passed what appeared to be a $100 bill. Both the front and the back, however, were marked "For Motion Picture Use Only."

SPRINGFIELD -- Police are investigating two instances in which counterfeit money was passed at city businesses earlier this week.

In one instance, somebody passed what at first blush appeared to be a $100 bill at a Tower Square convenience store on Monday, Sgt. John Delaney said.

Both the front and the back, however, are clearly marked "For Motion Picture Use Only," Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

On the same day, somebody passed two fake $10 bills at the Domino's Pizza on Liberty Street. Both bills have the same serial number, Delaney said.

Detectives are following leads in both cases, he said.

Those who suspect they have been offered counterfeit bills should not accept them, Delaney said. They should attempt to garner as much descriptive information as possible on the person attempting to pass the bills, along with the license plate of their vehicle.

Ortiz had no license, no learner's permit and no title for the vehicle, which had recently been repainted and had a makeshift key jammed in the ignition, police said.

SPRINGFIELD - Given how poorly it began, the stolen scooter case turned out pretty well for Joseph Smith-Ortiz.

Smith-Ortiz, 21, of Springfield, admitted to receiving stolen property Monday in Springfield District Court, three years after a state trooper pulled him over on Dickinson Street.

Smith-Ortiz had no license, no learner's permit and no title for the scooter, according to the arrest report filed by Sgt. Brendan Shugrue.

"I just bought it three days ago," Smith-Ortiz said, adding the seller lived next door on Keith Street.

The scooter had a makeshift key jammed into the ignition and had recently been painted blue, the trooper noticed.

"The guy next door did it," Smith-Ortiz said, referring to the paint job.

Once a records check showed the scooter was stolen in Springfield, Smith-Ortiz and charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and receiving stolen property over $250.
At state police headquarters, Shugrue asked the suspect how much he paid for the scooter.

"Not that much; it was pretty messed up when I got it," Smith-Ortiz replied, according to the arrest report.

On Oct. 4, 2013, Smith Ortiz pleaded not guilty to the charges in Springfield District Court.

Three years passed and case remained open. Smith-Ortiz, 18 at the time of the arrest, turned 20 and was arrested last winter on drug charges.

On Thursday, Judged Matthew Shea ordered him to pay $1,100 in restitution for the scooter snatching and serve six months probation in the drug case.

The disposition was recommended by prosecution and defense lawyers.

"He's staying out of trouble and doing the things he's supposed to be doing," defense lawyer Dennis Powers said, adding his client has landed a full-time job.

Shea ordered the defendant to pay $200 to the victim by March and meet with probation officials to establish a payment scheduled for the remaining $900.

Workers with Boston Gas Local 12003 USW this week handed the union’s leadership with authorization to strike in a bid to step up the fight with fight National Grid over the hiring of contractors.

In an effort to step up a fight with National Grid over the hiring of contractors and a soon-to-expire contract, workers with Boston Gas Local 12003 USW this week handed the union's leadership with authorization to strike.

The union and the company are locked in collective bargaining negotiations over a contract that expires on Feb. 28.

"Massachusetts relies on our workers to repair dangerous gas leaks and protect and maintain key infrastructure, yet National Grid wants to outsource this work to contractors who often lack the experience and expertise to adequately do it," Joe Kirylo, president of USW Local 12003, said in a statement.

The union says it represents 800 National Grid employees. Most of the employees live on the South Shore and work in Boston, Quincy, Groton, Ayer, Bedford, Norwood and Weston, among other cities and towns.

The union claims National Grid has been "putting profits ahead of safety" by replacing union employees with contractors, leading to "poor site work" and "added safety concerns."

"The safety of our members and our communities is our top priority, and we hope all those concerned about ensuring safe, high quality gas work in Massachusetts will stand with us to prevent these harmful and damaging proposals from moving forward," Kirylo said.

Pushing back, the company said it uses "fully qualified and skilled contractors."

The union also claims that the company is also seeking eliminating a layoff clause in the contract and concessions on wage, benefits, healthcare and overtime.

"The company is committed to bargaining in good faith and looks forward to reaching a fair and equitable contract for all parties," National Grid spokeswoman Mary-Leah Assad said in an email.

"The safety of our employees, customers and communities is our first priority and will continue throughout this process," she added. "National Grid uses fully qualified and skilled contractors to perform certain work. Whether internal or external workers perform these services, our safety standards remain of the highest quality."

"I'm not going to be wading back into presidential politics any time soon," Baker told reporters on Thursday, the day after his first pick, NJ Gov. Chris Christie, dropped out of the race.

Gov. Charlie Baker's endorsement for the GOP nomination for president lasted for all of six days.

Baker threw his support behind New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday, and by Wednesday, the day after Christie's sixth place finish in the New Hampshire primary, Christie had dropped out of the race.

Now, Baker said, he is not in a hurry to jump back into the ring, and he does not plan to make another endorsement any time soon.

"I'm not going to be wading back into presidential politics any time soon," Baker told reporters on Thursday.

Baker endorsed Christie because he believed the New Jersey governor did a good job working across party lines in a Democratic state. Christie also helped Baker get elected, when Christie was chairman of the Republican Governors Association. Baker said he still thinks Christie is "terrific."

"I get probably more than most the fact that voters at the end of the day get to make the call," Baker said.

Baker said he had a brief conversation with Christie.

"I basically said to him to get into a race like that is a personal decision, to get out of one is a personal decision between you and your wife, and I certainly wish him well," Baker said.

Baker did not definitively rule out making another endorsement before Massachusetts' March 1 presidential primary.

ccording to Boston Magazine, the five carat Elite Time & Jewelers ring comes tucked inside a slice of vanilla sponge cake, which itself is nestled in chocolate and gold leaf.

Do you have a partner you're trying to lock down, a sweet tooth and $75,000 burning a hole in your wallet?

If so, you might want to book a reservation at the Boston steakhouse STRIP by Strega.

For one Valentines weekend romantic, restaurateur Nick Varano's swanky Park Plaza dinner spot is offering a $75,000 dessert, diamond ring included.

Here it is, our $75,000 'Ultimate Proposal' dessert for Valentine's Day! Chef Alex Bonnefoi has created a chocolate orb that comes with a 5 carat diamond solitaire from our friends at @elitetime! [?] #valentines #diamondring #engaged #wedding #boston

A photo posted by STRIP by Strega (@stripbystrega) on Feb 10, 2016 at 7:20am PST

According to Boston Magazine, the five carat Elite Time & Jewelers ring comes tucked inside a slice of vanilla sponge cake, which itself is nestled in chocolate and gold leaf.

Only one is available, but it was still unclaimed as of Thursday afternoon, Boston Magazine reported. Interested buyers can reserve the dessert with 24-hours notice, and will be able to customize the ring with the jeweler.

For Valentines dates seeking some Wagyu beef without the five-figure price tag, the restaurant is also open for ring-free dinners this weekend. The porterhouse and lobster for two will set you back $130.

The organization is also claiming the move will result in little long-term cost savings.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Hampden County Bar Association is opposing a proposal to replace the state's 40 court reporters with a new digital recording system, according to a statement issued by the organization.

The association supports the continued use of court reporters to create a record of trials and other proceedings in courtrooms throughout the state.

"The trial court is proposing to eliminate forty (40) court reporters across the Commonwealth and replace them with a new digital recording system that will allegedly cost $5 million to install and, eventually, save approximately $320,000 per year. The proposal raises many serious concerns directly related to the administration of justice, likely will cost more, and save less," the association said.

The association said it supports expanding and applying technology in the courtroom and finding ways to "save" money due to ever-shrinking budgets.

"This proposal, however, risks the fair administration of justice, sacrifices important jobs, costs a lot up front, and only saves a little bit down the road," the statement said.

The state Trial Court has not said if all the positions of the 40 state-funded court reporters will be eliminated. But via their union -- which is negotiating with the state -- court reporters have been told their jobs are not guaranteed after June.

Below is the rest of the association statement:

"First, there are questions about whether a digital recording system will allow a litigant to obtain a complete and accurate transcript. The existence of an accurate record is critical to the integrity of our justice system.

The ability to pursue appropriate post-trial motions and appeals based on the trial proceedings is essential to the protection of the constitutional rights of litigants. If an accurate transcript is not available, a litigant will not be able to effectively engage in the appeal process.

A court reporter's sole responsibility in the courtroom is to prepare a reliable and accurate record of the proceedings.

The transition to a digital recording system shifts the responsibility for an accurate record from the court reporter to the judge and trial court staff that already have a full plate of duties and responsibilities in each proceeding.

It goes without saying that a digital recording system is not foolproof. The system is a machine and software.

Any malfunction in the system could compromise a trial and appellate proceedings. What if the server crashes? Is there a warning system if the recording system malfunctions? How much testimony would be lost before a malfunction is discovered? Will it be too late to restore the record? What options are there for a litigant if a complete and accurate record does not exist? What if someone speaks too softly or mumbles? What if lawyers, judges, and witnesses are talking at the same time? What if a witness answers a question with a nod or shake of the head? How easy is it for a "typist" to distinguish between the voices of a lawyer, witness, or judge?

These questions - and many more - do not have to be answered in courtrooms today because of the service and value of court reporters.

Second, the alleged cost to install the digital recording system is high. The digital recording system is estimated to cost $5 million to install in approximately 455 courtrooms.

The first question raised about the $5 million estimate is whether the $5 million estimate is an "all-in" number. For example, does the $5 million include equipment, installation, and service? In the event that it does not include installation and service, then a revised estimate should be made public.

Regardless, even if it is an "all-in" number, government projects such as the one proposed rarely come in at or under budget due to "unforeseen" issues. For example, many of the approximately 100 courthouses where this technology would be installed are old and antiquated -- like the Hampden County Hall of Justice. Will the age and condition of a courthouse impact the estimated cost of the system?

It is unlikely that the proposal was created by someone visiting each of the 455 courtrooms and 100 courthouses prior to developing the project estimate. In sum, the HCBA questions whether a $5 million budget is reasonable and realistic for this extensive project.

Third, the alleged cost savings by terminating the employment of court reporters may be illusory. The Commonwealth indicates that it will save approximately $320,000 in salaries each year (apparently off-setting the $5 million "investment" more than fifteen years down the road) by eliminating the use of court reporters.

It is unclear, however, if the estimated $320,000 savings considers the addition of salaries or costs for "tape monitors" or "courtroom monitors" that the Commonwealth will need to hire. It is also unclear what the salaries and benefits of the tape monitors will be or if the tape monitors will be the current court reporters. What is clear, however, is that tape monitors will be needed and used in each courtroom to ensure that the systems are recording properly and to handwrite names and unusual terms

In the absence of a courtroom monitor, a third-party "typist" from an unknown company listening to the digital recording at a later date and time would be unable to make a complete and accurate transcript.

The salaries of the tape monitors in each courtroom could significantly reduce the $320,000 estimated savings.

The majority of Massachusetts will get a reprieve from snow Thursday evening and for most of Friday though it feel bitingly cold.

SPRINGFIELD -- The majority of Massachusetts will get a reprieve from snow Thursday evening and for most of Friday though it feel bitingly cold.

The National Weather Service reports Thursday evening will be partly cloudy and cold. The low will be around 5 degrees in Springfield but the wind chill values will be as low as -3. Gusts as high as 26 miles per hour are expected to blow overnight.

The low will also be 5 degrees in Worcester though the wind chill will make it feel a few degrees colder with wind as strong as 29 miles per hour blowing Thursday.

The temperature will be in double digits though the wind chill will make it feel as though it's -4 in Boston Thursday evening.

Unlike most of the state, Berkshire County may see snow overnight. The National Weather Service reports there is a 40 percent chance of scattered snow showers in Pittsfield. The low will be around 4 degrees with wind chill values as low as -10.

Temperatures will increase Friday morning though it will still feel bitterly cold. The high will be near 24 degrees in both Springfield and Boston but the wind chill values are expected to be several degrees below zero.

The high in Worcester will be near 21 degrees with wind chill values as low as -8. A light breeze is expected to blow Friday across the state.

The temperature will be in the teens in Pittsfield Friday though the Berkshires will also feel wind chill as low as -8. 

By texting the keyword HEART to the number 20222 via a cell phone, a donation of $10 will be made to your local United Ways and their programs that help kids.

United Way of Franklin County, United Way of Hampshire County and United Way of Pioneer Valley are collaborating on a new mobile giving campaign, "Show the Love for Kids."

By texting the keyword HEART to the number 20222 via a cell phone, a donation of $10 will be made to your local United Ways and their programs that help kids.

Centered around Valentine's Day, the $10 donation mobile giving campaign runs through the month of February and appears as a charge on a donor's mobile phone bill.

Aimed at technology-savvy donors, United Way's text to give effort allows people to easily and efficiently contribute to programs which impact the lives of children in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties.

Jim Ayres, executive director of United Way of Hampshire County, said, "At Valentine's Day we take the time to show our love. Let's take time to show the love to kids who are struggling and craving support for a positive future. As you get ready to make dinner reservations, buy flowers and pick up chocolates, take the time to send a quick text to make a difference," Ayres said.

"We are pleased to partner with United Way of Franklin County and United Way of Hampshire County on this initiative to build a positive future for kids up and down the valley," said Dora Robinson, president and CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley. She added, "We hope the community will embrace this effortless way to make a difference."

Mayor Frank Jackson on Thursday apologized to the Rice family and said the city filed the claim at the request of the executor of Tamir's estate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city of Cleveland withdrew a claim that Tamir Rice's estate owed it money for driving the 12-year-old boy to the hospital and providing first aid after a city police officer shot him.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson on Thursday apologized to the Rice family and said city lawyers were following procedure. He said officials should have thought better of issuing the claim due to the sensitivity of the case. 

The document filed Tuesday in Cuyahoga County Probate Court notified Tamir's estate that it owes the city $500 for "ambulance advance life support" and mileage expenses for the ambulance ride to the hospital where the boy died.

City lawyers who filed the claim were following procedure, but they didn't account for the sensitive nature of the Tamir case or notify the mayor before it was submitted, Jackson said.

"It was mistake in terms of us not flagging it, but it was not a mistake in terms of the legal process," Jackson said.

Jackson denied that the city was trying to get money from the Rice family.

Now, by withdrawing the claim, the city is agreeing to pay for the portion of Tamir's medical care that Medicaid didn't cover, Jackson said. The bill will be written off as a loss to the city, since there is no account set aside to pay for unpaid EMS and ambulance fees.

Previous: City files claim for Tamir Rice medical care costs

Medicaid agreed to pay about $173 of the EMS and ambulance fees in February 2015, Jackson said. The city determined that it was unlikely that the family could afford to pay the rest of the bills, so it absorbed the remaining $327 and closed the account.

But the account was reopened this week when Douglas Winston, the executor of Tamir's will, sent a letter to the city asking about Tamir's EMS and ambulance bills.

The city was obligated to notify Winston of the medical costs because of Medicaid policies, Jackson said. Medicaid is meant to be used as a last resort. Once the city learned that the estate existed, and that it was a possible alternative to Medicaid, it was required to notify the estate of the unpaid bills.

Subodh Chandra, one of the attorneys representing Tamir's family in a civil lawsuit against the city, the police department and the officers involved in the shooting, wasn't satisfied with Jackson's explanation.

Chandra questioned the city's explanation about the claim against the estate because the city received a portion of the claim from Medicaid, which would have satisfied the cost of the ambulance ride and the medical expenses.

"If the city accepts Medicaid reimbursement, there is no additional amount owed," he said in an email. "That's the basic principle of insurance and Medicaid/Medicare law. They can't hold their hand out for more."

Attempts to reach a representative at the Ohio Department of Medicaid were unsuccessful.

Chandra said the filing was "deeply disturbing" to the Rice family.

"The suggestion that that the estate-administrator sending a routine public-records request to the city about a child's death would then result in the city filing a court claim--particularly when the city's own police officers killed the child and the claim is already time-barred under Ohio law--makes no sense to the Rice family," Chandra said.

Thursday was the second time since Tamir's death that Jackson apologized to the Rice family for a controversial court filing that slipped past him.

The mayor issued a similar apology last March when city lawyers used language in a court filing that said Tamir's death was caused by his own actions.

In that case, officials also said they were following routine procedures.

Mayor Jackson apologizes for insensitive language in Tamir Rice lawsuit response

Tamir was shot by a Cleveland police officer on Nov. 22, 2014 after he was seen playing with a replica gun in a West Side park.

His family sued the city, in part arguing that officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback showed indifference to Tamir by not giving him any first aid after Loehmann shot him twice.

The officers stood around for four minutes, until an FBI agent arrived at the scene and gave the boy first aid.

Watch the entire press conference below.

The parents of a 1-year-old Cambridge girl who died in 2013 after a sudden catastrophic brain bleed filed a wrongful death Thursday against the child's nanny, five months after prosecutors dropped murder charges against her.

A digest of news stories from around New England.

A former Freedom Industries executive was sentenced to one month in federal prison for a chemical spill that fouled the drinking water supply of 300,000 West Virginians.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A former Freedom Industries executive was sentenced Thursday to one month in federal prison for a chemical spill that fouled the drinking water supply of 300,000 West Virginians.

Dennis Farrell also was fined $20,000 in U.S. District Court.

"I'm truly sorry for what happened," Farrell said prior to sentencing on pollution violations. "My hope was, I wish I could go back with the knowledge I now have. I will never forget the lessons I have learned."

The January 2014 spill of a coal-cleaning agent into the Elk River in Charleston got into a water company's intake and prompted a tap-water ban in nine counties for up to 10 days. Residents immediately cleared store shelves of bottled water, and many restaurants were forced to close or cut back services temporarily.

Judge Thomas Johnston noted after environmental regulators intervened and plans were put in place for spill-prevention controls at a facility owned by Freedom in Nitro, about 14 miles west of Charleston, Farrell could have acted to ensure that similar precautions were taken at the Charleston facility.

But Johnston also noted that the misdemeanors Farrell admitted to were "those of careless omission."

Before imposing the sentence, the judge heard a lengthy statement read by a former resident, Maya Nye, who said the spill was "not a victimless crime."

Farrell was a former owner of Freedom and served as its president from October 2001 through December 2013, after which it was sold and he continued to work for the company in a management role.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Wright said there was a "cultural failure" at Freedom, and Farrell "was the one who set that culture."

"His focus was to make money," Wright said. "But you have to do it responsibly."

Four other ex-Freedom officials have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay fines. Ex-company President Gary Southern is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

The company, which filed bankruptcy eight days after the spill, was fined $900,000, although a federal judge said the fine was more symbolic than anything.

All activities in the Holyoke Canal District Winter Festival are free, though donations are accepted.

HOLYOKE -- The Holyoke Canal District Winter Festival will run from Friday to Sunday at Gateway City Arts at 92 Race St. and other downtown spots.

Activities will range from a a dog show and artisan market, to a chili contest, a history of the Connecticut River dams and a "Drag a Palozza" show, organizers said.

All activities are free, though donations are accepted, organizers said.

Schedule of activities, according to the Gateway City Arts website:

FRIDAY FEB. 12:

Noon -- Gateway City Arts (GCA) "Tiny Kitchen" open for lunch.

4 p.m. -- Gather to make Luminaria Parade lamps -- candles stuck in sand stuck in paper bags -- hang out in GCA Winter Courtyard and enjoy traditional hot drinks and food from the grill from around the world.

6 to 7 p.m. -- Opening Ceremony and Luminaria Parade starts in front of GCA, goes over the bridge to the CanalWalk, past the Wauregan Building at 420 Dwight St. and returns to the front of the GCA.

Join the Expandable Brass Band in the Luminaria Parade.

7:30 p.m. -- "Unleash Your Inner Rock Star"

Contestants have the opportunity to unleash their inner Rock Star for 3 minutes! Judging on originality, embodying the song and crowd reaction. Entering the contest is FREE! You can go solo or with a group, each song should be edited to 3 minutes min or DJ will fade it out at 3 minutes.

9 to 11 p.m. -- DJ Dance Party at GCA featuring Martini Productions DJ Lori-B.

SATURDAY FEB. 13:

10 a.m. to noon -- "The 2016 Golden Bowl, Best in Sholyoke" DOG SHOW (9:30 to 9:45 a.m. late registration), held at The Hub, next door to GCA.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- Valentine's Artisan Market at GCA. Up to 20 Artisans selling art, crafts, clothing, jewelry, artisan products, photography, ceramic, natural cosmetic products, local honey, puppets and more.

11 a.m. -- The Greate Falls Dams of the Connecticut River near Holyoke," Holyoke Public Library, Community Room, 250 Chestnut St. Where were the first Connecticut River dams in this area? What happened to the wooden dam of 1848? What is a mill-power? Local historian Leo Labonte answers these questions and more with a slide lecture. For more information, call the Holyoke History Room at (413) 420-8107.

Noon to 10 p.m. -- GCA Tiny Kitchen Open.

Noon to 3 p.m. -- "Holyoke Winter Chili Cook-Off" at GCA. "Contestants from across the Pioneer Valley will compete for the bragging honors of Best Chili and the People's Choice award. All entries will be judged on Color, Taste, Aroma, Consistency, and Aftertaste," according to the event's Facebook page.

3 to 7 p.m. - GCA Tiny Kitchen bar offering winter festival specials.

7 to 9:300 p.m. -- "Drag a Palooza: hosted by ICWMA Inc.: "A family friendly show for all! We are proud to be apart of the Holyoke Canal District Winter Festival!!! See you all Saturday 7 pm at Gateway City Arts!" the event's Facebook page said.

9:30 to 10 p.m. -- The Jips (John Peter) (live music), GCA.

10 to 10:45 p.m. -- From the Woods (live music), GCA.

10:45 p.m. -- Basement Cats (live music), GCA.

SUNDAY FEB. 14:

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- GCA brunch.

Noon to 1 p.m. -- "ConText" Flute and Voice Duo, GCA.

2 to 3 p.m. -- Eric Lee, vocal, guitar, violins, mandolin, electric violin, GCA.

3:30 p.m. -- "Love's Melodious Journey Cabaret": "Love is an abstract that can mend or break one's heart. As we enter love's domain in a cabaret style performance, the pattern of its process emerges and takes us on a musical journey of joy and sorrow. Join the cast of Paper City Performing Arts this Valentine's Day Weekend and enjoy the journey with a compellation of show tunes arranged by the amazing cast and director Axel Cruz..

Nathan Bills will be expanded to include a banquet hall and patio, with the hall named in honor of the late Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan.

SPRINGFIELD - Nathan Bill's Bar & Restaurant in East Forest Park will be expanding to add a banquet hall and outdoor patio, naming the hall in memory of a fallen neighborhood hero, the late Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan, .

The License Commission voted 3-0 on Thursday night to approve the expansion plans, as presented. There was strong neighborhood support for the plans including support from the East Forest Park Civic Association, numerous petitions signed by residents, and several residents speaking before the commission.

"We are trying to keep his memory alive by honoring him this way," said John Sullivan, the business owner and long-time friend of the Sullivan family. "It's something we wanted to do."

The commission approved the expansion of Nathan Bill's to an adjacent storefront in the commercial plaza on Island Pond Road for the new banquet hall. Sullivan said he hopes to have it ready to open by March 17, St. Patrick's Day,

Several residents praised Nathan Bill's for its community involvement and contributions to charitable causes.

Thomas Sullivan, who grew up in East Forest Park, was among five servicemen killed when a gunman opened fire on military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on July 16, 2015, as Sullivan tried to rescue other fellow wounded Marines.

The banquet Hall will be for rental for functions such as parties, closing at 2 a.m., while the patio will close at 10 p.m..

The hall will be 2,100 square feet, and the raised patio will be 900 square feet. The patio will have tables for service of food and drinks, but will not have a bar, under the plans.

The business was represented by lawyer Daniel Kelly.

The city announced in December that it is naming a park on South Branch Parkway in the neighborhood in honor of Sullivan.

A rookie police officer who shot an unarmed man dead in a darkened public housing stairwell was convicted of manslaughter.

NEW YORK (AP) -- A rookie police officer who shot an unarmed man dead in a darkened public housing stairwell was convicted Thursday of manslaughter in a case closely watched by advocates for police accountability.

The courtroom audience gasped and Officer Peter Liang, who had broken into tears as he testified about the 2014 shooting of Akai Gurley, buried his head in his hands as the verdict came after 17 hours of jury deliberations.

The manslaughter charge carries up to 15 years in prison. Liang's sentencing is set for April 14.

The shooting happened in a year of debate nationwide about police killings of black men, and activists have looked to Liang's trial as a counterweight to cases in which grand juries have declined to indict officers, including the cases of Michael Brown in Missouri and Eric Garner in New York. Like Gurley, Brown and Garner were black and unarmed.

Meanwhile, supporters of Liang, who is Chinese-American, have said he has been made a scapegoat for past injustices.

Liang was patrolling in the public housing in Brooklyn with his gun drawn when he fired; he said a sound startled him. The bullet ricocheted off a wall and hit the 28-year-old Gurley on a lower floor.

Prosecutors said Liang handled his gun recklessly, must have realized from the noise that someone was nearby and did almost nothing to help Gurley.

"Instead of shining a light, he pointed his gun and shot Akai Gurley," Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joe Alexis said in his closing argument.

But the defense said the shooting was an accident, not a crime.

The 28-year-old Liang said he had been holding his weapon safely, with his finger on the side and not the trigger, when the sudden sound jarred him and his body tensed.

"I just turned, and the gun went off," he testified.

He said he initially looked with his flashlight, saw no one and didn't immediately report the shot, instead quarreling with his partner about who would call their sergeant. Liang thought he might get fired.

But then, he said, he went to look for the bullet, heard cries and found the wounded Gurley, with his weeping girlfriend trying to tend to him.

Liang then radioed for an ambulance, but he acknowledged not helping Gurley's girlfriend try to revive him. Liang explained he thought it was wiser to wait for professional medical aid.

"I was panicking. I was shocked and in disbelief that someone was hit," said Liang, who said he was so overcome that he needed oxygen as he was taken to a hospital for ringing in his ears.

While Liang's trial unfolded, two other New York police officers, Patrick Espeut and Diara Cruz, were shot and wounded during a similar stairwell patrol in a different public housing complex. The gunman later killed himself. The judge barred any mention of those shootings in Liang's trial.

Charles Conroy, longtime head of the the Doctor Franklin Perkins School, has been approached about conducting an internal review.

GREAT BARRINGTON - Embroiled in a scandal involving members of its staff accused of assaulting special-needs students, officials with the Eagleton School announced Thursday it has fired four employees and hired an outside consultant to conduct a top-to-bottom review of school procedures.

Charles Conroy 

Eagleton announced that four employees, two of whom who are among the five facing criminal charges, have been dismissed, and that Charles Conroy, the former longtime executive director for the Doctor Franklin Perkins School in Lancaster, has agreed to conduct a top-to-bottom review of Eagleton, its administrative systems, treatment protocols and employee training.

Reached at his home Thursday evening, Conroy said he does not know exactly what went wrong at Eagleton but he intends to find out.

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant," he said.

The announcements were made by the school in part, as noted in a media release, to counteract "potentially destabilizing effects and unintended consequences of the current investigations."

School founder and executive director Bruce Bona and Eagleton legal counsel Eric
MacLeish said in a conference call with The Republican that both actions were voluntary and in the best interests of the school.

Bona said Conroy, who was Perkins school executive director for 28 years until his recent retirement, has an excellent reputation and his input can only help Eagleton.

"This is a great opportunity for us," he said.

He is hired on a temporary basis, his job is to review each of the school's systems, from administrative to staff training to direct care, and then to make evaluations and recommendations to the school's board of directors. There is no deadline for a report, Bona said.

MacLeish pointed out several times in the interview that all of the school's actions have been voluntary. No federal or state agencies are directing the school to take any actions, he said.

"It is purely voluntarily. No regulatory actions have been made against us."

Eagleton was founded in 1977 and serves male students ages 9 to 22 that have cognitive and developmental disabilities including autism and Asperger's Syndrome. It has 160 staff.

Conroy said he had been watching the news "from a distance" but had no contact with anyone at the school until MacLeish, whom he has known for years, called him Wednesday morning to offer a consulting appointment. He said they still have to negotiate some things and "put to paper" an outline of his duties and directions.

He said he has never heard of an instance like what happened in Eagleton. He said he felt it was odd that a team of law enforcement showed up to serve a search warrant.

Usually allegations of wrong-doing or misconduct are investigated by licensing agencies like the department of education or Department of Children and Families, not the police. In instances at Doctor Franklin Perkins were allegations of abuse surfaced, Conroy said he has gone to the police department to file the complaint himself.

"What the hell is this?" he said, recalling when he first read of the situation at Eagleton.

"It was so different it got my attention very quickly."

Conroy said that although he has known MacLeish for 25 years, and has had some professional contact with Bona, he has little familiarity with the Eagleton School. He said he cannot recall ever going there, but he knows it from its reputation that it enrolls a similar population as the Doctor Franklin Perkins School.

He said he is not at all interested in serving as window dressing in some Eagleton damage-control exercise. If his review uncovers problems at the school, he will not hesitate to point them out and to propose changes.

"Some of the kids (enrolled) don't have a lot of options," he said. "That's what I'm doing it for."

MacLeish and Bona said the dismissal of the four employees - two administrative staff, and two direct-care staff - is a result of a review of procedures. They declined to disclose their names, saying it was a personnel matter.

All four were assigned to the Upper 23 population, which is the unit of the school for students with "extreme behavioral challenges," said MacLeish.

The decision to dismiss the four came after an internal review discovered existing procedures for handling students were violated. Bona would not disclose specific instances but said "If we have any doubts, for any reason, we're justified (in terminating)."

Two of the four were among the five people facing criminal charges.

Asked why two of those accused of assault were let go, but the remaining three remain on staff, albeit suspended with pay, Bona said reviews are continuing and they may yet be dismissed.

During the warrant search two weeks ago, several school records, files and surveillance video was confiscated. Bona indicated Thursday that not all the materials have been returned, and that may have played a role in not dismissing more staff. "We don't have that information yet," he said.

MacLeish and Bona said the school has been under an intense spotlight, both among regulatory agencies and the media, since the story broke.

MacLeish said the situation at the school has stabilized to some degree. Several agencies, both from the State of Massachusetts and from other states that have students enrolled, have come to the Great Barrington campus to conduct reviews. None has found any further evidence of misconduct or taken any punitive actions.

He said the three students who are alleged to be victims of assault remain enrolled at the school, and the school has is in the final stages of enrolling three additional students.

In addition to hiring Conroy, the school has hired NAPPI International to assess the schools behavioral management needs and to implement new employee training.

NAPPI stands for non-abusive, psychological and physical intervention, and it is a method used by staff in institutional settings to de-escalate potentially violent behavior without resorting to physical violence or use of force.

MacLeish and Bona said that without the scandal, the training would have been required anyway to bring the staff up into compliance with new regulations enacted in January by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state department of early education and care.

If Thursday's session is a harbinger of things to come, Ouimet-Rooke should have an easy go of it at her formal confirmation hearing before the Governor's Council at the Statehouse on Feb. 17.

SPRINGFIELD — It was smooth sailing for potential judge-to-be Michele A. Ouimet-Rooke at a public hearing hosted by Governor's Councilor Michael J. Albano and the Hampden County Bar Association at Springfield City Hall on Thursday evening.

Ouimet-Rooke, a Springfield lawyer and former prosecutor, was nominated by Gov. Charlie Baker to fill a judicial vacancy in Springfield District Court, where she would serve as an associate justice if confirmed for the position.

"There was no opposition," said Albano, standing outside the hearing room at City Hall, where a few dozen people showed up to testify in support of Ouimet-Rooke, a member of the Springfield law firm Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy.

If Thursday's session is a harbinger of things to come, Ouimet-Rooke should have an easy go of it at her formal confirmation hearing before the full Governor's Council on Feb. 17 at the Statehouse in Boston. The confirmation vote itself is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24 and will be chaired by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.

Those speaking in favor of Ouimet-Rooke at Springfield City Hall included Judge Matthew Shea; attorney Liz Dineen, acting director of the YWCA; Terry Shea, administrative assistant at the law firm Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy; attorney Joanne McCarthy, former assistant clerk magistrate at Chicopee District Court; Judge William J. Hadley; attorney Maria Rodriguez, former director of the Victim Witness Unit of the Hampden County District Attorney's Office; Hampden County Clerk Laura S. Gentile; and attorney John J. McCarthy, a partner at Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy.

Ouimet-Rooke, a city native, graduated from Springfield College and Western New England University School of Law. She served as a victim-witness advocate in the Hampden County District Attorney's Office, later becoming an assistant district attorney and chief prosecutor in the office.

She joined Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy in 2002. In private practice, she has handled a variety of litigation, including employment and discrimination law as well as product liability, insurance defense and landlord-tenant cases. She is on the board of directors of the Hampden County Bar Association and a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

"Attorney Ouimet-Rooke is viewed by her peers as a very reasonable and competent lawyer who possesses a firm understanding of procedural, evidentiary and substantive law," said attorney Jeffrey Morneau, president of the Hampden County Bar Association.

"On a personal level," he said, "she has a reputation for being even-tempered, well-liked and respectful of clients, court staff and other lawyers. She will make an outstanding addition to the District Court bench."

The governor said he is confident Ouimet-Rooke will make a good judge.

"Michele Ouimet-Rooke offers the court a great combination of experience in both civil and criminal legal matters drawn from her career in public service and private practice in Western Massachusetts," Baker said. "I am pleased to recommend an individual with such broad experience to the Governor's Council for their consideration."

Thursday's public hearing marked the eighth time a Governor's Council session was held in Western Massachusetts. "This hearing will continue my practice of bringing the Statehouse to Western Massachusetts and allow citizens an opportunity to speak directly on this important position in the judiciary," Albano said.

Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Statewide Judicial Nominating Commission and recommended to the governor. All judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor's Council.

Belinsky Solano denied 12 counts related to an alleged relationship he had with a child he met through Facebook.

SPRINGFIELD - Belinsky Solano, 22, denied Wednesday seven counts of child rape following an alleged sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl he met online.

Solano pleaded not guilty in Hampden Superior Court to those charges plus two charges of indecent assault and battery on a child, and a count each of possession of child pornography, disseminating obscene matter to a minor and posing a child in the nude.

Judge Constance M. Sweeney set bail at $10,000 cash, the same bail that had been set for Solano in District Court.

According to the indictments, most of the crimes happened between Sept. 9 and Dec. 1, 2015.

Solano had denied the charges at his Springfield District Court arraignment in December, but the indictments move the case to Hampden Superior Court.

Facebook postings by Solano and the victim came to the attention of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which notified the Massachusetts State Police, a prosecutor said at his District Court arraignment.

The relationship began when the victim was 13, and was conducted through texts, phone messages, Facebook postings and in person, according to Hampden Assistant District Attorney Katharine Johnston, who said they traded intimate photos at Solano's request.

The Facebook postings indicated they were having unprotected sex and the victim "was possibly pregnant," the prosecutor said.

When confronted by state police, Solano admitted to carrying on a sexual relationship with the girl, who is now 14, Johnston said. State police also searched his home and seized evidence of the relationship, the prosecutor said.

All 9th grade students enrolled in Holyoke Public Schools will attend Holyoke High School for at least their first year of high school if a proposed turnaround plan is approved.

HOLYOKE -- All 9th grade students enrolled in Holyoke Public Schools will attend Holyoke High School for at least their first year of high school if a proposed turnaround plan is approved.

The change was one of several proposed by the Holyoke Secondary Education Redesign Working Group, a mix of educators and members of the business community.

While considering how to improve the high school experience in Holyoke, committee members considered several options, including merging the city's two high schools and closing Dean Technical High School outright.

"We kept coming back to what the commodity it is," Dana Brown said, of Dean. Brown is the principal of Malden High School. He was brought in by the district to help with turnaround efforts.

In the current school year, there are a total of 479 ninth grade students in Holyoke Public Schools, 366 of whom are already enrolled at Holyoke High School.

The proposed 9th grade academy would offer a mix of college preparatory classes and a sampling of career pathway courses to keep students engaged in the classroom during their first year of high school.

If a student does poorly in 9th grade, he or she is more likely to drop out of high school.

"The eighth to ninth grade cliff is a big deal in Holyoke and it has not been done well," Receiver Stephen K. Zrike said Thursday.

After 9th grade, the students could choose to continue at Holyoke High or transfer to a vocational program at Dean.

The class offerings for sophomores, juniors and seniors at Dean Tech will be modified under the current proposed plan.

The amount of classes offered within the school would be trimmed and the vocational school would partner with Holyoke Community College to offer classes taught at the college and others online.

Students will be expected to graduate with a diploma and certifications connected to their future career fields, member of the group Jeff Hayden said. Hayden is the vice president of Business and Community Services for HCC.

"Our goal is for them to have a stack of paper when they graduate and the skills to back up those certifications," he said.

Using a medical pathway as an example, Hayden said a Dean student could complete high school as a certified nursing assistant with a certification in working with dementia patients, in addition to obtaining a high school diploma.

The proposed plans also call for modified schedules for Dean Tech students. The group has suggested several plans, from one week in the classroom and the next working an internship, to starting the school day later.

Dean Tech has struggled with keeping students engaged and in the classroom for years. At the start of the school year, 67 seniors were enrolled in the high school, a figure more than four times smaller than the senior class at Holyoke High. Only 39.5 percent of students in the 2015 Dean cohort graduated.

With fewer students and smaller class offerings at Dean Tech, the turnaround group proposes using the newly emptied classrooms to offer a specialized academy for students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The proposed STEM academy would be open to students starting in sixth grade and would work with them through their second year of college, to provide support after graduation.

Both the 9th grade and STEM academies are reminiscent of ideas proposed by the former district superintendent of schools Sergio Paez. In weeks before state education officials placed Holyoke Public Schools in state receivership, Paez proposed closing vocational programs at Dean to open a 9th grade academy and STEM program within the Main Street campus.

Paez shared the idea with the Holyoke School Committee on April 9. Three weeks later, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education declared Holyoke Public Schools a "chronically underperforming" Level 5 district.

The turnaround group publicly shared the proposals for Dean Tech at a meeting open to the Holyoke school community on Thursday. The finalized proposals will be presented to the Holyoke School Committee at Tuesday's meeting. 

While the district receiver will consider the proposals, his office will have final say on what plans will go forward in Holyoke Public Schools. Zrike said this week he will announce the final plans next month.