Police believe the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Daneyshkalis "Daney" Davila, of Springfield, may have been accidental. Her 17-year-old boyfriend has been arrested and charged in connection with the crime.

SPRINGFIELD - A 17-year-old who may have accidentally shot his 15-year-old girlfriend on Thursday night punched holes in the walls before fleeing her Plainfield Street home, according to a police spokesman.

Daneyshkalis "Daney" Davila died of a single gunshot wound to her stomach on Friday, after her condition was initially listed as serious, but stable. Police believe the shooting may have been accidental, based on witness accounts.

Sgt. John M. Delaney, spokesman for the police department, said Davila's 13-year-old brother called 911 after witnessing the shooting, which occurred on the third floor of the home. The victim's mother and several other children also were in the house, but not in the room where the gunfire erupted, Delaney said.

"I can tell you there was virtually no crime scene because there wasn't a drop of blood in the room," Delaney said.

Police and an ambulance were summonsed to the house around 2 p.m. on Friday, after Davila's mother became overwrought when she learned her daughter had died, according to Delaney.

A makeshift shrine with dozens of candles, floral bouquets and hand-written messages of sorrow and support dominated the front steps of Davila's home on Saturday. While dozens gathered for a vigil on Friday evening, the house was largely quiet on Saturday morning but for a few friends who came to pay their respects.

"Today an angel got her wings. Beloved by friends and family. Surely missed but never forgotten by friends and family. Strong, she was, kind and quiet too," one sign on the front steps read.

"Daney's world," read another.

The 13-year-old brother told investigators the 17-year-old boyfriend - who has not been named because he is a juvenile - was spinning the loaded chamber of a revolver when the cylinder snapped shut and the gun went off.

Delaney refused to comment on the weapon or whether investigators had recovered the gun.

Police arrested the boy at a family member's home Friday after he ran from the scene, Delaney said, adding that he believed the boy took off in a panic.

The boy was arraigned Friday in Hampden County Juvenile Court and may face additional charges, police said.

It is unclear whether Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni will pursue adult charges against the alleged shooter. Gulluni declined comment on Saturday, citing the ongoing investigation.

In 2013, former Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed a new law that categorized 17-year-olds as juveniles in the criminal courts, as opposed to adults, as the law stood previously.

Massachusetts was the 39th state, along with the federal system and the District of Columbia, to classify defendants younger than 18 as juveniles in the courts.

Police are investigating a reported afternoon shooting that damaged two vehicles near Sargeant and Walnut Streets.

HOLYOKE ‒ Police are investigating a reported afternoon shooting that damaged two vehicles near Sargeant and Walnut Streets.

According to Sgt. Kevin Thomas, police responded to a report of multiple shots fired around 2 p.m.

Two vehicles were allegedly struck by stray bullets during the incident, he said. It is unclear whether they were parked when damaged.

No injuries were reported and there are currently no suspects, Thomas said.

The report of shots fired came just one day after the city celebrated going more than a year without a homicide.

The operator of a motorcycle that reportedly crashed into the back of a car on Sumner Avenue has been sent to a local hospital with serious injuries, According to Springfield Police.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ The operator of a motorcycle that reportedly crashed into the back of a car on Sumner Avenue has been sent to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to Springfield Police.

Officers responded to reports of a two-vehicle crash involving a car and motorcycle around 5 p.m. Saturday, police said.

The driver of the motorcycle, who police did not identify, reportedly sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, according to police.

No injuries were reported for occupants of the car involved in the crash, police said.

Organizers said the goal was to buck stereotypes and talk about other cultures without a sense of fear, exposing people to new ideas from a diverse array of countries like Thailand, Iran and the Philippines.

AMHERST - The UMass Amherst International Students Club held its second annual International Festival on Saturday afternoon at the Amherst Town Common, drawing hundreds to its informational booths, educational demonstrations, and ethnic food and music.

Organizers said the goal was to buck stereotypes and talk about other cultures without a sense of fear, exposing people to new ideas from a diverse array of countries like Thailand, Iran and the Philippines.

Vibrant student-run booths dotted the lawn on a damp and overcast day, with posters, props and costumes showing off the traditions of people from all over the world.

Aye Pwint Phyu and her sister, Aint Myat Noe, both UMass Amherst students from Myanmar, shared cultural facts and anecdotes from the predominantly Buddhist nation. The efforts of their team won the Best Cultural Booth award.

In Myanmar, there are no "first" and "last" names, and the spelling of a baby's name is dictated by the day of the week on which he or she was born. Both sisters were born on a Sunday, so their names start with the letter A. It's a tradition in the largely agricultural country that borders China.

On display were photographs of everyday life in what was once called Burma. An elderly woman with traditional tattoos on her face, a leg-rowing fisherman hauling in his net, a woman speaking with a monk. The monks, said Aye Pwint Phyu, are so revered that impoverished villagers will, without a second thought, donate an entire day's food to them.

Aye Pwint Phyu, a junior majoring in operation and information management, said awareness of Myanmar's culture is low, and only a small handful of people can find it on a map, including those in neighboring China. But those tourists who do make the trip can enjoy attractions like Thingyan, a five-day celebration of the new year. Burmese people drench each other with water to cleanse the negative experiences of the past and enter the new year with a clean slate.

The UMass Arab Student Club, a newly revived organization with about 50 members, acknowledged that large parts of the Arab world are in chaos, but pushed back against the violent stereotypes.

Mokhtar Malas, a senior biology/pre-med major originally from Syria, said many people asked what it means to be Arab, and what similarities the various Middle Eastern nations share. He and Peter Makhoul, a junior biology/pre-med major from Lebanon, described Arab culture as fun and celebratory.

"A lot of times, when you think 'Arab,' you're thinking what you see on the news," said Makhoul. "We want to show that we can be a part of the community just like anybody else, just like any other culture. We can contribute in the same way."

The club organizes trips like a stay in Niagara Falls and a visit to a shisha, or hookah, lounge.

An Asian student choreography group called TASC Force taught festival-goers how to use a Chinese yo-yo, a toy with two sticks connected by a long string that can be used for eye-popping tricks, like launching a bell high in the air and catching it. Freshman Bryan Tam started learning this semester, but looked like a pro, effortlessly showing off tricks like Cat's Cradle and dazzling his newest students.

"I came to this brand new. Never touched one before," said Tam, but "anybody can learn how to do this."

TASC Force's booth was popular with couples and parents with small children, who played with the toy that's also called a Diabolo and laughed whenever the bell tumbled to the wet ground.

"This is an exciting chance for us to get to know people from the community," said Thu Trinh, a senior communications major from Vietnam who helped organize the festival. She said it also helps domestic students learn about foreign countries without leaving "their comfort zone."

On Sunday, April 24, the International Students Club is holding a reception for its graduating seniors. The third annual semi-formal event is free to graduates and their invited guests.

The men's families reported them missing Tuesday after they failed to show up at the Micronesian island of Weno, U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Melissa McKenzie said.

HONOLULU -- Three men who had been missing for three days were rescued from a deserted Pacific island after a U.S. Navy plane spotted the word "help" spelled out in palm leaves on the beach, officials said Saturday.

The men's families reported them missing Tuesday after they failed to show up at the Micronesian island of Weno, U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Melissa McKenzie said.

The men were traveling in a skiff from another Micronesian island when a wave overtook them, she said.

"Fortunately for them, they were all wearing life jackets and were able to swim to the deserted island," McKenzie said.

The men were waving their orange life jackets when the Navy plane spotted them on the small island of Fanadik, several hundred miles north of Papua New Guinea. Two hours later, a small local boat picked them up and took them to a hospital.

McKenzie said she didn't have updated information on the men's condition Saturday.

Two bulk carriers searched a combined 17 hours for the men as part of AMVER, a U.S. Coast Guard voluntary search and rescue program. With AMVER, rescue coordinators can identify participating ships in the area of distress and ask them to help.

In the last two weeks, 15 people have been rescued in the Pacific with the help of 10 AMVER vessels and six aircrews, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Massachusetts Democratic voters and party activists gathered in Springfield and Easthampton Saturday to select congressional district delegates to respectively represent Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at the national convention in Philadelphia.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ Massachusetts Democratic voters and party activists gathered in Springfield and Easthampton Saturday to select congressional district delegates to respectively represent Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at the national convention in Philadelphia.

More than 200 Democrats from across the first congressional district turned out at Springfield's Van Sickle Middle School to select the two male and one female delegates who will represent the district for Clinton at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

A similar crowd, meanwhile, showed up to caucus at White Brook Middle School in Easthampton for two female, one male and one female alternate Sanders delegates.

Voters overwhelmingly selected Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and Springfield School Committee Member Reverend Calvin McFadden, who ran on a slate with former Democratic State Committee Treasurer Nicole LaChappelle, to represent Clinton at the national convention.

Winning a respective 68 and 65 percent of the vote, they beat out fellow Clinton delegate hopefuls Ray Drewnowski and Bruce Adams.

LaChapelle, meanwhile, was selected as the district's female Clinton delegate, winning 51 percent of the vote against Mary Gail Cokkinias and Sharon Jewell.

McFadden said he was "absolutely overjoyed and excited" to represent Massachusetts' first congressional district in Philadelphia this summer.

"We're going to Philly in the summer to make sure we cast our vote for hopefully the candidate Hillary Clinton," he said.

Morse called it an honor to be chosen as a delegate, adding that he decided to run for the position because he believes the 2016 election is "crucial to the future of the United States."

"This election really is a huge decision between moving backwards and continuing moving forward," he said. "Obviously I support Hillary because I'm a Democrat and I believe in those values, but I'm also very scared about the prospect of electing a Republican -- any of the Republicans on the GOP side."

LaChapelle, who said Clinton motivates her unlike any other political candidate, noted that she sought a delegate position, in part, because of the election's historic significance.

"Here, as a delegate, it's a part of history," she said. "You go down and look at some of those very contested conventions and it's folks who understand this system and are looking to build bridges that make the difference for our country and I want to be a part of that."

At the Sanders caucus, Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin and Democratic State Committee member Karen Hansmann, of Chicopee, were selected from a field of 10 to serve as the district's two female delegates for the Vermont senator.

Voters also chose Dorothy Albrecht, of Holyoke, to serve as the female alternate delegate.

Community Against Hate founder Maurice Taylor, of Holyoke, meanwhile, beat out 13 candidates to represent the district as Sanders' sole male delegate.

Valentin said she decided to run for a delegate spot because she believes her experience will benefit Sanders in Philadelphia.

"I feel that my involvement with the campaign has really given me the opportunity to go across many different sectors of the population and I think that's going to be something that I can really use at the convention floor where there's going to be a lot of sealing the deal moments, but also keeping in mind the sense of community," she said. "It's very important for me to be able to represent those things."

Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez, who was unsuccessful in his own delegate bid, praised other candidates looking to represent Sanders, stressing that it's important for supporters of the Vermont senator to remain strong heading into the convention.

"I've met great people here, there's a lot of great candidates that are trying to become delegates also," he said. "There's just a lot of good talk because at the end of the day we're all 'Bernocrats' when it comes today."

The councilor, who noted that the congressional district caucus is the first he's attended, however, raised concerns about the event's location.

"It's not close to a lot of diversity. I come from a neighborhood that's the poorest neighborhood in Springfield, a lot of my constituents walk to vote for myself and it's a burden. Imagine to come all the way to Easthampton -- especially somewhere that's hidden behind a mountain," he said.

Despite Gomez's concerns, State Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, who oversaw the Sanders caucus, said a significant amount of people attended the event and were even at the site about an hour ahead of its start.

"They made sure we had a venue big enough for 200 and I think we're going to get pretty close to capacity today," he said.

Former State Rep. Sean Curran, who led the district's Clinton caucus, also reported high turnout -- something which he credited, in part, to the excitement surrounding the 2016 Democratic primary race.

"I think the crowd here for Hillary is the largest I've ever seen (at a district caucus,) so I think there's a tremendous amount of enthusiasm," he said.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, who oversaw the Clinton event, meanwhile, praised voters' interest in the two Democratic candidates.

"I think it's a very good thing. I'm glad they're coming out," he said of the caucus crowds.

The Massachusetts Democratic Party held afternoon caucuses in each of the nine congressional districts, where, due to the closeness of the March 1 primary, a total of 30 delegates were selected for Clinton and 29 were chosen for Sanders.

The Democratic State Committee will select an additional six female and four male at-large delegates for both Clinton and Sanders, as well as three male and three female Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) delegates per candidate at its May 7 meeting in Newton.

In addition to regular delegates, Massachusetts Democrats will send 25 unpledged, or "super delegates," to the July nominating convention.

More than 1,400 registered runners and walkers braved the chilly morning temperature to participate in the 7th Annual UMass 5K Dash & Dine staged in the Southwest area of the UMass Campus Saturday.

AMHERST - More than 1,400 registered runners and walkers braved the chilly morning temperatures to participate in the 7th Annual UMass Dash & Dine 5K staged in the Southwest area of the UMass Campus Saturday.

Numerous medals and trophies were awarded to the runners as well as a $100 prize for first male and female to cross the finish line and a $100 award for best costume.

Included in Saturday's event was a new Kids Fun Run and a costume contest for the younger participants.

According to Garett DiStefano, director of Residential Dining at UMass, the event is a major fundraiser for the Amherst Survival Center which provides support to Amherst and the surrounding communities.

Organizers estimated 100 volunteers were on hand Saturday to help maximize donations to the Center. DiStefano said many of Saturday's participants were from the UMass Campus.

More than $30,000 has been donated to the Center over the years and organizers hoped to raise $7,000 from Saturday's race.

For complete race results, click here.

See photos of the 2015 Dash & Dine 5k at the link below.

Barbara Anderson, who for 40 years fought to limit property taxes and resist tax-raising efforts within the Massachusetts Legislature, died on Friday after battling leukemia for several months.

By Michael P. Norton
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

APRIL 9, 2016.....Barbara Anderson, who for 40 years fought to limit property taxes and resist tax-raising efforts within the Massachusetts Legislature, died on Friday after battling leukemia for several months. She was 73.

Anderson was one of the authors of Proposition 2 1/2, the state law approved in 1980 that still serves as a check on property tax increases in Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns.

"She was a natural individualist and a libertarian by philosophy," Chip Ford, Anderson's partner of 20 years, said on Saturday. Ford said Anderson stumbled into the top post at CLT in the 1970s and ran with it. "She just got into it and went at it and won," he said.

Anderson led Citizens for Limited Taxation for years, working to preserve property tax relief, reduce the state income tax and oppose a graduated income tax structure.

"Barbara Anderson was funny, smart, and edgy," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement on Saturday. "For decades, she was the most effective taxpayer advocate in the Commonwealth and her tireless work positively impacted public policy at all levels, making government more accountable to the people. I am very sorry to hear of her passing and my thoughts and prayers are with Chip and her family."

When Democrat Michael Dukakis was governor, Anderson co-hosted with Howie Carr and Jerry Williams a weekly radio program called "The Governors" where they served as a foil to the Democrat-controlled legislative and executive branches. Anderson was also a columnist for The Salem News and The Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company.

Through a series of governors, political reporters often turned to Anderson for her perspective when Democrats were pressing to impose new or higher taxes. And she was never shy about offering it, seeming to relish each opportunity to speak for limited taxes on behalf of those who she believed deserved stronger representation.

Anderson in 2015 retired as executive director of CLT, which was founded in 1974 to oppose a graduated income tax plan as it was headed to the 1976 ballot, where it was defeated 68 percent to 24 percent.

But she stayed active, and last year alleged that backers of a constitutional amendment adding a 4 percent surtax on incomes above $1 million are ultimately interested in a graduated tax structure where people in different income brackets pay different income tax rates.

"A graduated income tax is a tool to divide and conquer taxpayers, hiking taxes one bracket at a time," Anderson wrote in a 2014 press release. She continued, "By targeting a single bracket, enough critical mass will never be reached for effective tax resistance. And, without legislative cooperation, a constitutional amendment is forever."

Ford, who ran CLT with Anderson and continues to lead the grassroots group with Chip Faulkner, said Anderson was driven by her beliefs.

"She worked it day and night. It wasn't a job, it was a vocation," Ford said. "There's no on and off switch. You either do this because you love and believe in it or you get a real job that pays."

Anderson also frequently lectured conservative groups, who at times have strained relations with media. "The media isn't the enemy," Ford said, explaining her message to the groups. "The media are working stiffs just like you and me. Talk to them. Be nice to them."

Anderson leaves behind Ford, a son Lance and daughter-in-law Mary of Nevada and their twin teenage children, Aidan and Maria. According to CLT, no services are planned at this time, at Anderson's request.

The Texas senator already had locked up the support of 21 Colorado delegates and visited the state to try to pad his numbers there.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Ted Cruz completed his sweep of Colorado's 34 delegates on Saturday while rival Donald Trump angled for favor a half-continent away in New York's all-important April 19 primary.

Cruz netted 13 more delegates at Colorado's state GOP convention. The Texas senator already had locked up the support of 21 Colorado delegates and visited the state to try to pad his numbers there.

Keeping up his tussle with Trump over values, Cruz told the Colorado crowd earlier that it's easy to talk about making America great again -- "you can even print that on a baseball cap" -- but that the more important question is which candidate understands "the principles and values that made America great in the first place."

Trump left the Colorado convention to his organizers, and spent about a half-hour on Saturday touring the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum in lower Manhattan. His campaign issued a statement describing the site as "symbolic of the strength of our country, and in particular New Yorkers, who have done such an incredible job rebuilding that devastated section of our city."

"This is what 'New York values' are really all about," it added, a not-too-veiled poke at Cruz, who has taken heat for his earlier criticism of "New York values."

Democratic presidential hopefuls, too, were focused on New York's big trove of delegates even as Wyoming gave its nod to Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton.

Sanders got word of his Wyoming win from his wife, Jane, midway through a rally in Queens, part of a four-stop swing through New York City. A raucous cheer went up from the New Yorkers, but the Wyoming vote was a draw from a delegate perspective: Sanders and Clinton each picked up seven.

That means Clinton has 1,287 delegates based on primaries and caucuses to Sanders' 1,037. When including superdelegates, or party officials who can back any candidate, Clinton has 1,756, or 74 percent of the number needed to clinch the nomination. Sanders has 1,068.

Bernie Sanders wins Wyoming Democratic caucus

Sanders, who has now won seven of the last eight state contests, called Wyoming "a beautiful, beautiful state," and told reporters the vote there was part of a shift in support in his direction since the campaign left the Deep South.

"Now that we are in the second half of this campaign, we are going to state after state which I think have a more progressive outlook," Sanders said. "We are in this race to win."

Clinton, at an evening rally before a Latino crowd in Brooklyn, found a rare point of agreement with Trump on the matter of New York values.

"I actually think New York values are really good for America," she said, then launched into an argument for electing Democrats to protect the U.S. economy.

"It's a fact that our economy does better when we have a Democrat in the White House," she said.

Earlier in the day, she made a stop at Junior's restaurant in Brooklyn, where she spoke admiringly of the cheesecake -- but declined to partake.

She urged New Yorkers to help lock up the Democratic nomination so "we can go after the Republicans full time."

On the Republican side, more than 3,000 people at Colorado's Republican state convention picked the remaining 13 delegates. Cruz supporters sported bright orange T-shirts with his slate of delegates printed on the back.

Trump's organizers distributed a slate that listed incorrect information for four of his candidates. His campaign contended the errors were due to changes to the ballot by the state GOP and did not rule out challenging the results.

The complex Colorado process inherently favored Cruz, the Trump campaign charged, and suspicions among supporters mounted after the results were announced Saturday night. The official Colorado Republican Party account tweeted: "We did it! #NeverTrump." Colorado GOP spokesman Kyle Kohli said the tweet was unauthorized and it was swiftly deleted. The party was investigating who wrote the tweet.

Cruz supporters argued that their candidate didn't just have an organizational edge but that the Texas senator was a better fit with the state's socially conservative, libertarian-minded Republicans. "The Donald Trump caustic politics just doesn't resonate in Colorado," said Tom Peterson, an engineer and delegate from rural Elbert County.

Trump supporters were frustrated by Colorado's arcane process, which involved a series of caucuses at different locations before the convention. "It doesn't seem like a real fair system," said George Rosel, 60, an engineer and Trump supporter who came to the convention from the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch. "It seems kind of rigged."

Of the 34 delegates Cruz won, only 30 are technically pledged to his campaign; four are party officials who are unpledged but have promised to support Cruz, and the campaign placed them on its slate.

The results make it more challenging for Trump to accrue the 1,235 delegates needed to clinch the nomination by the end of the primaries on June 7.

Colorado also has three at-large delegates - the state party chairman and the two RNC committee members - who are not pledged to any candidate.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, far behind Trump and Cruz in the delegate race, also was campaigning in New York

Authors, small press publishers, and readers filled the first floor of the renovated mill.

EASTHAMPTON -- Eastworks buzzed with writers and small press publishers Saturday as the city's annual BookFest took over the gleaming first floor hallway of the renovated mill.

The festival celebrates the rich literary life of the Pioneer Valley, and featured readings, workshops and performances in venues throughout the city.

The University of Massachusetts Press displayed dozens of academic and popular titles, including We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War by Doug Bradey and Craig Werner, named the number one best music book of 2015 by Rolling Stone magazine. "It's a fantastic book, and a remarkable honor," said promotions manager Karen Fisk.

Emily Wojcik is managing editor of The Massachusetts Review, a quarterly of literature, arts, and public affairs. The latest issue honors Chinua Achebe, the late Nigerian novelist and critic. Achebe, known for his 1950s novel Things Fall Apart, caused a stir in 1975 with a scathing critique of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. That essay -- which first appeared in The Massachusetts Review -- is now 40 years old, Wojcik said.

"We are honoring Achebe; his essay was so influential; it really launched the discipline of post-colonial studies," she said.

Elizabeth MacDuffie is publisher of the Northampton-based Meat for Tea Press. MacDuffie, known for hosting festive art parties associated with her quarterly literary magazine, was found with her friend Richard Alves, who displayed his chapbook entitled My Father is Voting for Donald Trump: And Other Reasons My Life is Falling Apart.

Gary Metras runs Adastra Press in Easthampton where he practices the antique book arts. His books, chapbooks and broadsides feature the work of poets such as Joseph Langland, Anna Kirwin, and Wally Swist.

"I have a 1921 Chandler & Price Platen letterpress, where I hand-set these broadsides one letter at a time," he said. "Adastra Press is the oldest independent poetry publisher in the Valley."

The herbalist Ellen Evert Hopman showed her new book Secret Medicines from Your Garden Plants for Healing, Spirituality, and Magic. "It has beautiful illustrations, and is a real compendium," she said. "It's published by Healing Arts Press in Rochester, Vermont."

Author Suzanne Strempek Shea and other members of the Straw Dog Writers Guild greeted fans at Eastworks before heading over to White Square Books on Cottage Street to read and conduct workshops.

Forrest Proper, who hosts a weekly poetry open mic at the World War II Club in Northampton -- known colloquially as "The Deuce" -- said people who want to read should come on by. "It's every Tuesday night," he said.

Children and adults took part in a "poemegami" workshop held by the Emily Williston Memorial Library. "We're showing people how to make origami flowers which bloom to reveal a poem inside," said Jonathan Schmidt, who runs the public library's youth department.

A young woman was on hand to represent the MFA program at Western New England University. "I'm a grad student in fiction," said Baylea Jones. "It's a great program."

Gail Ward Olmsted, author of "smart romance" novels such as Guessing At Normal, said it's not enough to be a good writer. "You have to learn how to market yourself," she said.

Longtime reporter and editor G. Michael Dobbs held court, surrounded by his titles. The latest, entitled Fifteen Minutes With ... 40 Years of Interviews draws from his life as a journalist, recounting his talks with celebrities ranging from Leonard Nimoy to Juice Newton.

"I've had a great day so far," said Dobbs. "I sold some books, and met plenty of interesting people."

The BookFest is organized by the Literary Subcommittee of Easthampton City Arts+, a non-profit devoted to supporting and growing the city's growing arts scene.

More than 100 people were killed and nearly 400 injured when a massive fire swept through a Hindu temple in southern India.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AP) - More than 100 people were killed and nearly 400 injured when a massive fire swept through a Hindu temple in southern India during an unauthorized fireworks display early Sunday, officials said.

The fire started when a spark from the fireworks show ignited a separate batch of fireworks that were being stored at the Puttingal temple complex in the Kerala state village of Paravoor, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the state's top elected official.

Thousands of people had been packed into the complex when a big explosion erupted at around 3 a.m., officials said. The blaze then spread quickly through the temple, trapping devotees within.

Chandy said that 102 people died and at least 380 were injured in the disaster.

Most of the deaths occurred when the building where the fireworks were stored collapsed, he told reporters at the temple complex. He said around 60 bodies of the victims had been identified so far.

Krishna Das, a resident of Paravoor, located about 37 miles north of Kerala's state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, said he had started walking away from the temple as the fireworks display was about to end when he heard a deafening explosion followed by a series of blasts.

He said he saw scores of people running away, chased by fire and chunks of concrete and plaster from the temple building. As soon as the first explosion was heard, a power outage hit the complex.

"It was complete chaos," Das said. "People were screaming in the dark. Ambulance sirens went off, and in the darkness no one knew how to find their way out of the complex."

He said that six ambulances had been parked outside the temple complex as a precaution. They were used to rush the injured to hospitals in the nearby cities of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.

Local villagers and police pulled out many of the injured from under slabs of concrete.

Television channels broadcast images of huge clouds of white smoke billowing from the temple, as fireworks were still going off in the night sky. Successive explosions from the building storing the fireworks sent huge chunks of concrete flying as far as a kilometer (half a mile), according to resident Jayashree Harikrishnan.

By around 7 a.m., firefighters had brought the blaze under control, officials said. Rescuers sifted through the wreckage in search of survivors, while backhoes cleared the debris and ambulances drove away the injured.

Thousands of anxious relatives went to the temple in search of their loved ones. Many wept and pressed police officials and rescue workers for information on their family members.

At one of the main hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram, senior physician Thomas Mathew said that judging from injuries, a stampede was also likely to have occurred at the temple.

The temple holds a competitive fireworks display every year, with different groups putting on successive light shows for thousands of devotees gathered for the last day of a seven-day festival honoring the goddess Bhadrakali, a southern Indian incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali.

This year, however, authorities in Kollam district denied temple officials permission to hold the fireworks display, said A. Shainamol, the district's top official.

"They were clearly told that no permission would be given for any kind of fireworks," Shainamol told reporters.

She said permission was denied over fears that the competing sides would try to outdo each other with more and more fireworks, and because the temple gets overcrowded during the festival.

Public displays of fireworks can be conducted only with permission from district officials, Shainamol said.

Chandy, the state chief minister, said that he had appointed a retired judge to investigate the events leading to the fire, and that strict action would be taken against those who had ignored rules.

"We will be investigating how the orders were flouted and who was responsible for the decision to go ahead with the firework display," Chandy said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flew in from New Delhi on Sunday, visited the site and discussed with Chandy and other Kerala leaders measures that could be taken to help the survivors.

Modi was accompanied by a team of doctors and burn specialists from New Delhi who will stay on to help treat the survivors, officials said.

Exit 8 on I-91 north, which leads to 1-291 East will be closed this week.

SPRINGFIELD — The next phase of the I-91 Viaduct project is underway and lane and exit closures will begin Sunday night.

The state Department of Transportation is urging residents to seek alternative routes to access I-291 East since Exit 8 on I-91 north will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. One lane on I-91 north will also be closed at those same times.

Officials said the closures will allow crews to finish installing jersey barriers on the highways as well as the exit ramp.

Drivers looking to access I-291 East and Route 20 East can follow a detour while Exit 8 is closed.

Take Exit 9, keep right for Exit 9A to Route 20A East and Main Street. From there, merge onto Plainfield Street, turn right onto Main then left onto Liberty Street, and then left onto Chestnut Street. Follow the ramp on the right to merge onto I-291 East/Route 20 East, see route here.

Police are warning students to secure their vehicles and belongings after the report of several thefts in Amherst and on the University of Massachusetts campus.

AMHERST — Police in Amherst are working with campus police at the University of Massachusetts to find two suspects involved in thefts in town and at the university.

The campus thefts were reported Friday afternoon, when numerous items were stolen from unattended backpacks left in the Fine Arts Center. During the follow-up investigation UMass police reviewed video surveillance footage and are looking to question two individuals in regards to the thefts, police said on the university's Facebook page.

It was later discovered that these same individuals are also suspects in a breaking and entering to a motor vehicle in the Town of Amherst, where a debit card was stolen and fraudulently used, police said. They are asking residents and students on campus to secure their valuables.

Amherst-Police believe this is a suspect in a string of robberies at UMass and in the Town of Amherst.UMass Amherst Facebook Page 

Anyone who can identify the individuals in the surveillance images is asked to contact investigating Officers Griffin or Chapman by calling UMass Police at (413)545-2121 or via email at tgriffin@umass.edu or wchapman@umass.edu.

Anonymous tips can be called in to (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMass Police anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

The accident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday and police are looking for the vehicle involved, which knocked down a utility pole.

Dave Canton | dcanton@repub.com 

SPRINGFIELD — Police and firefighters are at the scene of a hit-and-run accident near Roosevelt Avenue and Wilbraham Road where they believe a large green vehicle, possibly an SUV, slammed into a utility pole knocking it into the street.

Police have closed down a portion of Wilbraham Road near Berlin Street due to live wires on the ground, officials said.

Police did not find anyone at the scene of the accident.

Eversoure is sending a crew to the scene to shutoff power and remove the damaged utility pole.

No further information is available at this time.

There were no serious injuries in the accident.

LONGMEADOW - An Enfield man was arrested Saturday afternoon for driving while under the influence of narcotics after he allegedly caused a car crash.

Michael McGuane was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and negligent operation, Longmeadow Police said.

Police said they responded to a rear-end collision on Laurel Street near Bliss Road at about 2:45 p.m. There were no serious injuries.

"Officers observed one of the operators was displaying signs consistent with being under the influence of narcotics," police said.

McGuane was also found responsible for the rear-end collision. He is expected to be cited for following too close, police said.

Daryl McNeill was released on $20,000 bail and will be arraigned on April 28.

COLECHESTER, CONN. - Police making a routine traffic stop arrested a West Hartford man on a variety of charges including possession of Oxycodone and marijuana with intent to sell.

Daryl McNeill, 30, of 177 Hillcrest Ave., was released on $20,000 bail after being arrested at about 2:10 a.m., Saturday, on Route 2.

Connecticut State Police troopers initially observed a gray Volvo station wagon swerving outside the marked lanes. After pulling over McNeill, troopers suspected he was under the influence of drugs. He then failed a field sobriety test, police said.

Police took McNeill into custody and searched his car. Troopers said they found 38 pills suspected to be Oxycodone, 3.6 ounces of what is believed to be marijuana, $750 in cash and a variety of drug paraphernalia and packaging materials.

McNeill was charged with possession of a narcotic (Oxycodone); possession with intent to sell (Oxycodone); possession of marijuana less than 4 ounces; possession with intent to sell marijuana; Failure to keep prescription drugs in proper container; possession of drug paraphernalia; operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; operating under suspension and failure to maintain lanes, police said.

He will be arraigned on April 28 in Norwich Superior Court, police said.

A group of thieves known as the Felony Lane Gang is being eyed by police departments across several communities for a series of smash and grabs inside cars where credit cards, checkbooks and other valuables are taken.

A group of thieves known as the Felony Lane Gang is being eyed by police departments across several communities for a series of smash and grabs inside cars where credit cards, checkbooks and other valuables are taken.

Natick Police put out an alert last week about breaks occurring in vehicles. The alert states that several communities were seeing the activity.

"Based upon the nature of these breaks the activity is being attributed to a group referred to as the Felony Lane Gang," the notice said. "This group is made up of over 800 known members who travel to different areas of the country to steal."

The group has been active for several years and is based out of south Florida, according to the Felony Lane Gang Task Force. The group has made millions by stealing.

The group is known to travel to different parts of the country in rental vehicles. They target gyms, parks, daycare centers and sporting events in order to find women and steal purses left inside cars, the task force said.

"They conduct surveillance at these locations and unlawfully enter vehicles through unlocked doors or by using a window punch to break the window of a locked vehicle; and they specifically look for identification such as driver licenses, checks, and debit cards," the Felony Lane Gang Task Force said.

Women who are prostitutes and/or drug addicts are then recruited to assume the identities of the victims in order to cash the stolen checks.

"The suspects normally supply the recruited check cashers with wigs in order to create a physical appearance similar to that of the victims whose identification was stolen," the task force said. "The check cashers normally use the farthest drive through lane from the bank building to conduct the fraudulent transactions, hence the group earning the nickname as the Felony Lane Gang."

The Waltham Police Department issued a similar warning last week. The department said several local law enforcement agencies are working together to identify and arrest members of the gang.

The town joins, Marlborough, Hopkinton, Weston, Natick and other communities where Felony Lane Gang activity is suspected.

In March, the Weston Police Department released a picture of a woman they said is associated with the Felony Lane Gang. The woman, who was identified as a 30-year-old from Pelham, New Hampshire, is suspected of activity in other communities, police said.

"After one of several Weston car breaks in back in January, this female cashed checks belonging to one of our victims in upwards of $6,500," Weston Police said.

Police reminded people to be aware of their surroundings in parking lots and make sure to take all valuables out of cars. Police told people to make sure their cars are locked. Anyone who believes they were victims of the gang are encouraged to call police and should call their banks and credit card companies. 

Obituaries from The Republican.

Norma Berard 

Norma H. (Leonard) Berard, 87, of Ludlow, passed away on Friday. Born in Springfield, she lived in Ludlow for the past 10 years, previously living most of her life in Belchertown. She was a member of the Ludlow Senior Center and enjoyed gardening and most especially spending time with her grandchildren. She previously worked at the former Belchertown State School in direct care. Her survivors include six children, 28 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Full obituary and funeral arrangements for Norma Berard »

the K-9 demonstration was held on the grounds of Bay Path University in Longmeadow and featured dogs trained in narcotics detection and more. Watch video

LONGMEADOW — The crowd gasped as Frankie, the Belgian Malinois, jumped on an "attacker," during a K-9 demonstration at Bay Path University Sunday.

The attacker was actually Springfield Police Officer Maciej Jasinski, who wore a specialized bite suit and was knocked to the ground by the dog's force. Frankie's trainer, State Trooper Dave Stucenski, remained by his side the entire time.

"As the dog is working you see that tail is wagging. This is a dog that is not biting defensively or in an aggressive nature, he is biting because he was taught that this is what his job is, to bite and hold the person for us, " explained Officer Joe Brewer, of Wilbraham.

The police officers were displaying some of the dogs obedience, narcotics and aggression control training, as part of a program organized by Bay Path University's Crime Scene Investigation Club and Tactical Team, in partnership with the Longmeadow Police Department.

Donations received at the event were given to the Massachusetts Police Dog Association.

 

"This was an opportunity for the community to see all of the great work that these police officers and state troopers do with their dogs," said Meghan Richards, co-president of both clubs and a senior at the university.

Aside from the traditional German Shepherd breed most people associate with police dogs there were also bloodhounds at the event including Sage, a 17- month-old dog.

Her handler, Officer Craig Deveneau, said bloodhounds are specifically used for scent discrimination.

"They are very good at picking up on a particular scent out of a large crowd. They can differentiate between scents and help police find a suspect among a large group of people," he said.

The university clubs teamed up with Longmeadow K-9 Officer Amanda Van Buskirk, who coordinated the demonstrations conducted by all of the officers and their dogs.
The event was open to the public.

"It's mostly police officers from Western Massachusetts," Van Buskirk said. "They are here to get to know the community and answering any of their questions about the training we do with our dogs."

Some of the events included where the Miss World Pageant in 1975, Elvis Presley in 1975 and The Worldwide Wrestling Federation in 1971.

SPRINGFIELD - This week Arts & Entertainment Editor Ray Kelly took people on a nostalgic tour of some of the 50 memorable nights held in the Springfield Civic Center since it opened in 1972.

Shortly afterward he had to admit forgetting some after Masslive readers shamed him by forgetting both performances by Queen in 1977.

But plenty of events were listed including sporting matches, political events and tons of music shows.

The first music performance was actually David Cassidy, of the "Partridge Family" fame on 1972. There were a wide variety of music venues ranging from Jethro Tull in 1973, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops in 1975, Elvis Presley, also in 1975, Kenny Rogers in 1981, the Grateful Dead in 1985, Kiss in 1986 and Bruce Springsteen performed three times at the Civic Center.

There were also legendary sporting events such as a Sugar Ray Leonard exposition in 1984, the Worldwide Wrestling Federation in 1991, the University of Massachusetts Minutemen defeating Oklahoma in 1992 and the Los Angeles Lakes facing off against the New Jersey Nets in 1982.

Here are some of the things people were Tweeting about the list and what they would have added to it.