Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce.

Spring is here, meaning it's time for Easthampton's annual downtown cleanup day.

The event will take place Saturday, May 7, rain or shine, starting at 8 a.m. Volunteers are sought, and encouraged to bring rakes, shovels, brush cutters, and gloves.

Cleanup efforts will focus on the downtown area, the Manhan Rail Trail, Cottage Street, municipal parking lots, the banks of the Nashawannuck Pond, and more.

The event is organized by the city's Economic Development and Industrial Commission (EDIC) and the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce.

"We started doing this many years ago," said EDIC chairman Josh Rosenblatt. "It's fun, and it's a great way to show community spirit."

If you go:

What: Downtown Cleanup Day
When: 8 a.m., Saturday, May 7
Where: Meet at the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce; 33 Union St.
Contact: For more information, call the Chamber at (413) 527-9414.

It was a night of glamour, heartwarming stories, and inspiration during the Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts Annual Gala.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — It was a night of glamour, heartwarming stories, and inspiration during the Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts Annual Gala Thursday at the Storrowton Tavern's Carriage House. Hundreds of attendees celebrated the theme of "An Evening of Empowerment" and the impact that the organization has on the region.

Guests enjoyed speakers including former Massachusetts state senator Gale Candaras; Baystate Health Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Vice President Jennifer Endicott; and MassLive President Allison Werder, The evening's emcee was Kait Walsh of WWLP News.

Dress for Success Board Member Jennifer Brown commented that "Dress for Success dresses your mind as well as your body." Her words were echoed in the stories of the participants of the fashion show portion of the evening that featured women who had been helped by the organization.

With the support of its donors, volunteers and community partners, each year Dress for Success serves nearly 70,000 women worldwide.The Common Threads event salutes "Successful Ambassadors" selected to be recognized at the gala based on their achievements since joining Dress for Success and the commitment they've shown to progressing in their careers.

Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts is on a mission to promote the economic independence of all women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. For more information on Dress for Success, visit www.westernmass.dressforsuccess.org.

The heating system never worked well at the school that opened in 2004.

CHICOPEE - The city will replace the heating system at the 12-year-old Chicopee High School after three of the five boilers have failed.

The City Council voted 10-0 to borrow up to $300,000 to replace the five boilers at the high school. The work is expected to be done over the summer.

The heating system has never worked well, even when the school was brand new. Now three of the five boilers are leaking and cannot be repaired, Ronald Simard, the director of school maintenance told the City Council in writing.

"The remaining two boilers that we have are inadequate to heat the whole building for the next heating season," he said.

The boilers were part of a "bad batch." The company was brought to court under a class action lawsuit but a judge ruled in favor of the business so it cannot be forced to replace them, City Councilor William Courchesne said.

The city has records showing the boilers were properly maintained said City Councilor Frank N. Laflamme, who holds a heating systems license and examined them before agreeing to replace them.

"You can't get parts for them," he said.

City Councilor Robert Zygarowski encouraged the City Council to approve the funding as soon as possible.

"I see the urgency of getting this done. Winter will come in no time," he said.

The girl waited three days before reporting the alleged assault, and court officials waited 30 days before issuing a criminal complaint, defense lawyer Erin Boylan said.

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield man promised to give an 18-year-old girl a ride home, but drove to a secluded street and sexually assaulted her instead, a prosecutor said Friday.

Miguel Dones-Tirado, 49, pleaded not guilty to rape, indecent assault and battery, open and gross lewdness and operating a motor vehicle without a license during his arraignment Friday in Springfield District Court.

On March 25, the victim was visiting her half-brother in Springfield and decided to return to West Springfield rather than go with his family to church, Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski said.

She accepted a ride home from Dones-Tirado, a friend of her half-brother's family; about five minutes after leaving the family's Orange Street apartment, the defendant pulled over on a secluded street and sexually assaulted her, the prosecutor said.

The victim, who had only met Dones-Tirado that day, was eventually able to stop the assault by claiming she was 15 years old, the prosecutor said.

The girl was afraid to tell her mother that night, but described the attack to her high school principal two days later, according to the prosecutor.

At police headquarters, the girl picked Dones-Tirado's photo out of an array of nine Hispanic males. "I am 100 percent certain. I am without a doubt," she wrote on a suspect identification form, according to the arrest report.

In addition to the new charges, the defendant has a criminal record and is on probation in two cases for violating restraining orders, Szafranski said.

She asked Judge John Payne to impose cash bail on the sexual assault charges and find probable cause that the defendant violated his probation in the two restraining order cases.

Defense lawyer Erin Boylan said the charges are based solely on the girl's account and not corroborated by witnesses or physical evidence.

The girl waited three days before reporting the alleged assault, and court officials waited 30 days before issuing a criminal complaint, Boylan said.

She also questioned the composition of the photo array, saying several of the men included bore no resemblance to Dones-Tirado.

Boylan requested $1,000 cash bail on the new charges and asked Payne to defer rulings in the probation cases.

Payne set bail at $2,500 on the sexual assault charges, and ordered the defendant to have no contact with the girl and stay away from her home and school.

Dones-Tirado must also report to the Probation Department once a week while the charges are pending, the judge said.

The judge also found probable cause that the defendant violated his probation, but allowed him to remain free until a full violation hearing on May 26.

Police are searching for two men who allegedly jumped the driver of an ATM service van and took off with the vehicle, which contains a safe.

UPDATE: Springfield police located the abandoned van around 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Sycamore and Acorn streets.
________________

SPRINGFIELD - Police are searching for two men who allegedly jumped the driver of an ATM service van and took off with the vehicle, which contains a safe.

Deputy Police Chief Robert Cheetham said the armed robbery and carjacking took place outside the FoodMart at 191 Berkshire Ave. at 11:09 a.m. when the driver stopped to service the ATM in the store.

He told police he was approached by two men, one of whom ordered him out of the van and then hit him on the head with what appeared to be a handgun. The men then jumped into the van and took off, Cheetham said.

The van contains a 2-foot-by-2-foot gray safe, Cheetham said, because the driver of the van brings money to ATMs. Police do not know how much money was in the van at the time.

The driver declined to be treated at a hospital, Cheetham said.

Springfield police asked other departments to be on the lookout for a white 2015 Ford van with a license plate number of 5GPJ30. Cheetham said detectives are searching for the van and also to see whether nearby businesses have security camera footage that could help them identify the two men.

The driver told police they were both black men and the one who hit him was approximately 5 feet 10 inches, thin and wearing a black shirt, khakis and a bandana on his face.

If found, the men will face charges including armed robbery and carjacking, Cheetham said.

The Air Wing of the State Police helped to locate a boy with autism who went missing early Saturday morning.

A 14-year-old child with autism who had gone missing earlier Saturday was located with the help of the State Police Air Wing.

Hubbardston Police contacted State Police at approximately 2:30 p.m. to ask for help in finding the missing adolescent.

The Air Wing – which assists the State Police with many operations, including location of "wanted, missing, or endangered persons" – located him roughly an hour later, at approximately 3:30 p.m – and subsequently guided ground authorities to his location. The unit to find the juvenile was Air 5.

The boy was unharmed.

Patrols from the Athol Barracks, K9, and State Police Underwater Recovery Team also assisted in the search.

A 15-year-old who attempted to rob a man from Pepperell was shot by the man, who is a licensed firearm owner, on Friday afternoon.

BROCKTON — A 15-year-old who attempted armed robbery with a BB gun was shot by the licensed firearm owner he was attempting to rob, on Friday afternoon, according to The Enterprise.

The teen lured a 33-year-old man to a location at Washburn St. in Brockton, under the pretense of buying a used dirt bike.

Authorities revealed that the two had been texting earlier in the day, and that the teen had offered to sell the dirt bike to the man for $700.

Once the man arrived, however, the teen attempted to rob him of his money while brandishing a BB gun. A struggle for the BB gun ensued, after which the man grabbed a 9 millimeter handgun out of his truck and proceeded to shoot at the teen three times.

"They were fighting over the BB gun and, at that point, the victim in the case pulled out a real gun and fired three times," said Brockton Police Lt. Kenneth LeGrice, according to The Enterprise.

The teen was hit once, and then ran a short distance before collapsing from his injury in front of 757 Ash St.

The 15-year-old will be charged with armed robbery while masked, and is expected to survive his injuries. He has not been named by authorities, as he is a juvenile.

The victim of the attempted robbery is from Pepperell, is a licensed gun owner, and has not yet been named.

Berrigan made headlines when he went to North Vietnam in 1968 to bring home the first three U.S. prisoners of war.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Rev. Daniel Berrigan, a poet and peace activist who taught at Le Moyne College and attracted national attention with his protests during the Vietnam War, died Saturday.

Berrigan, a Syracuse native, was 94 years old. He died in New York City.

The Rev. Daniel Berrigan listens to comments regarding activism during a gathering celebrating the 50th anniversary of Le Moyne College in 1996. Michelle Gabel | mgabel@syracuse.com 

Berrigan grew up on a farm near Syracuse and became a Catholic priest. From 1957-1963 he taught theology at Le Moyne College. While there he founded International House, student-run, social advocacy group. He also spent four years at Cornell University as the assistant director of Cornell United Religious Work.

Berrigan made headlines when he went to North Vietnam in 1968 to bring home the first three U.S. prisoners of war.

Later in 1968 Berrigan and his brother Phillip, who was also a priest, attracted national attention as "the Berrigan Brothers." They and seven other Catholic protesters, known as the Catonsville Nine, used homemade napalm to burn draft records they had taken from a Maryland selective service office.

The brothers were later sentenced to several years in prison. Phillip Berrigan reported to prison, but Daniel Berrigan spent four months living underground before he was captured by the FBI.

The brothers also formed an interfaith coalition against the Vietnam War. In the 1980s they began the Plowshares Movement, damaging nuclear warhead nose cones at a GE plant and pouring blood on important documents and records.

The two were featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1971.

Philip Berrigan died in 2002. Another brother, Jerome "Jerry" Berrigan, who was also an activist, died last year at age 95.

A rash of break-ins over the past week have lead Pittsfield police to urge car owners to lock their doors.

PITTSFIELD — Pittsfield Police are warning residents to lock their doors, after 15 vehicles were broken into last week, according to 22News.

Most of the break-ins occurred within the same vicinity, around Williams Street, Holmes Road, Pine Grove Drive, and Cheshire Road. All of the vehicles that were broken into were unlocked, police said.

Authorities believe the suspect may be using a bicycle to facilitate his robberies.

Here are Saturday's winning numbers in the Powerball drawing.

The latest Powerball jackpot offered you somewhere around 314 million reasons why you should have plunked down $2 for a ticket.

Powerball tickets.Inform

Here are Saturday's winning numbers:

03-12-16-32-34, Powerball: 14, PowerPlay: 3X

The estimated jackpot is $314 million. The lump sum payment before taxes will be more than $204.7 million.

Powerball is held in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A $2 ticket gives you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball champions.

The jackpot has been creeping up since March 2, when there was one winning ticket for the $292 million jackpot. In January, Powerball gave away a $1.58 billion jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever.

The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.

Hundreds of protesters turned out to protest Presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday. Trump responded to the protesters over social media on Saturday.

CALIFORNIA — Hundreds of people turned out at a GOP convention in Burlingame, California on Friday to protest the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, according to CNN.

Trump was scheduled to give a kick-off address at the convention, which runs through Sunday and is taking place at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport.

Protesters allegedly clashed with authorities outside the building – throwing eggs at police and breaking down barricades that had been set up – before also trying to stop Trump from entering the hotel where the event was taking place.

One Trump supporter was allegedly harassed as he walked through the crowd, attempting to get to the hotel. Protesters pulled off his Trump hat, called him a racist, and kicked him; he was also supposedly hit in the back of the head, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Five people were arrested as a result of the protests on Friday.

Trump responded on Twitter on Saturday morning by calling the protesters "thugs" and "criminals": "They should be dealt with strongly by law enforcement!" he said.

There were many different political groups present during the protest, including members of Black Lives Matter, Code Pink, and supporters from both the Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns, according to ABC News. Many of the protesters that appeared were allegedly there to protest Trump's "hard stance" on immigration.

No serious injuries were reported as a result of the protests.

Here are a few of Obama's joking remarks Saturday.

President Barack Obama on Saturday evening had plenty to say -- and joke about -- as he attended the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

On at least one night a year Obama and the journalists who cover him try to find something nice, and something funny, to say about each other.

Obama drew plenty of laughs with his barbed remarks to a ballroom filled with journalists, politicians, and movie and television stars. It was his eighth appearance at the event and his last as president. TV host Larry Wilmore provided the professional comedy for the evening.

"If this material works well, I'm going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year," Obama said. "Earn me some serious Tubmans."

Here are a few of Obama's remarks Saturday:

-- "I know I was a little late tonight," Obama said, according to NBC News. "I was running on 'CPT,' which stands for "jokes that white people should not make."

The president was referring to a racially controversial joke by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Hillary Clinton about "C.P. time," which stands for "colored people's time."

-- The president also noted his improved standing in popularity polls: "My approval ratings going up. The last time I was this high I was trying to decide on my major."

-- Obama took several jabs at Donald Trump, the Washington Post reported: "The Republican establishment is incredulous that he is their most likely nominee. They say he lacks foreign-policy experience to be president. In fairness, he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan...." That was a reference to Trump once owning the Miss Universe pageant.

-- Turning his attention to the heavy media coverage of Trump, Obama said, "I think we can all agree that, from the start, he has gotten the appropriate amount of coverage befitting the seriousness of the his candidacy. I hope you are all proud of yourselves."

-- "Eight years ago, I said it was time to change the tone of our politics. In hindsight, I clearly should have been more specific," he said, reported TheUptake.org.

-- Noting Republican candidate Ted Cruz recently called a basketball hoop a ring, Obama said, "and I'm the foreign one."

-- Obama acknowledged that the years had taken their toll. "I'm gray, grizzled ... counting down the days to my death panel."

"Obama out:" President Barack Obama's hilarious final White House correspondents' dinner speech https://t.co/jHVb1RJIgy

-- Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) May 1, 2016

Turning serious at the end of his remarks, the president thanked the White House press corps and praised a free press.

"I just have two more words to say: Obama out." With that, he held out the mic and dropped it.

As usual the Washington Hilton ballroom was a celebrity-spotters dream. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders joined Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and other government officials taking a seat. Also on hand were Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Trump, a regular in recent years, was absent this time, but a son and daughter-in-law, Donald Jr. and Vanessa Trump, were spotted on the red carpet.

Among the film and television performers at the event were Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Jared Leto, "Breaking Bad" actor Bryan Cranston, "Independence Day" stars Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, actress Rachel McAdams, and "Night Manager" miniseries star Tom Hiddleston.

Proceeds from the dinner go toward journalism scholarships and reporting awards. This year's winners:

-- Carol Lee of the Wall Street Journal, winner of the Aldo Beckman Memorial Award for excellence in White House coverage.

-- Matt Viser of the Boston Globe, winner of the Merriman Smith Award for outstanding White House coverage under deadline pressure.

-- Norah O'Donnell of CBS News, winner of the Merriman Smith Award for broadcast journalism.

-- Terrence McCoy of The Washington Post and Neela Banerjee, John Cushman Jr., David Hasemyer and Lisa Song of InsideClimate, winners of the Edgar A. Poe award, which recognizes excellence in coverage of events or investigative topics of regional or national interest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Also, state officials visit the Springfield Innovation Center on Bridge Street.

SPRINGFIELD -- Long known as the home of cookies, cakes and everything great, the former home of Gus & Paul's on Sumner Avenue has been sold.

It's not the only change going on with a local landmark property. Workers are busy rehabbing the Bridge Street site of the future Springfield Innovation Center.

Here are five business stories you might have missed.

1)Former Gus & Paul's building in Springfield's East Forest Park sold, now being renovated

The longtime home of the landmark Gus & Paul's bakery and deli at 1207-1211 Sumner Ave. in the East Forest Park neighborhood has been sold for $190,000 to a Springfield couple with a business in Lawrence and its interior has been gutted.

2) 'Special sauce already here': Top Massachusetts official touts Springfield Innovation Center potential at groundbreaking

Those are the thoughts of Jay Ash, the Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. The facility at 270-280 Bridge Street will be a new home for Valley Venture Mentors, a new Innovation Cafe, office space, a video and recording studio and possibly have a rooftop deck.

3)Westfield Gas & Electric identifies new 'fiberhoods' for high-speed Internet expansion

Who are the people in your fiberhood? They are the people in Westfield lucky enough to have access to really fast internet through Westfield Gas & Electric. Folks in targeted sections of the3 city can save a month's subscription fee if they sign up by May 15.

4)Massachusetts economy grows in first quarter; but some unemployment measures still troubling

Our state is not hurt badly by the downturn in oil prices.

5)Grid operator: New England should have enough power to get through summer of '16

Energy use peaks on hot sunny days when air conditioning works overtime. Good thing those are days when output from the region's growing number of solar farms is high as well.

Joseph Torok, 79, of Norwalk died after he was struck by a car Thursday. Police said he was struck around 11:30 p.m. and was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Dave Canton | dcanton@repub.com 

Norwalk police said Joseph Torok, 79, of Nelson Avenue was apparently walking in the street at about 11:30 p.m. when he was struck by a car and critically injured. The driver stopped and called police.

The Hartford Courant reported that Torok was taken to Norwalk Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Norwalk police at 203-854-3111.

A Strafford man, Clifford Voight, was killed when his car was involved in a chain-reaction crash with two other cars in Trumbull Saturday morning.

Dave Canton | dcanton@repub.com 

Clifford Voight, 61, was fatally injured just after 9:30 a.m. when a car rapidly braked, causing a second car to slam on its brake. Voight's car crashed into the rear of the second car, pushing it into the first, the Hartford Courant reported.

Voight and Jonathan Hernandez, the driver of the first car, were taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, where Voight was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Hernandez was treated and released.

.

Here's a look at the 10 candidates competing for the vacant at-large seat on the Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Council following the April 5 resignation of Jennifer E. Chateauneuf.

Democratic and Republican candidates' paths to their parties' respective nominations got a bit clearer this week, as front-runners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won important primary victories in several east coast states.

Democratic and Republican candidates' paths to their parties' respective nominations got a bit clearer this week, as front-runners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump won important primary victories in several east coast states.

Clinton, who claimed victories in four out of five states, hit the 90 percent threshold for delegates needed to be named the Democratic nominee outright. Trump, likewise, picked up more than 100 delegates in his Tuesday primary sweep, leaving his campaign less than 300 delegates shy of the GOP nomination.

Although the respective front-runners moved closer to the prospect of a general election fight, their opponents remained firm that they will not exit the race.

Ahead of Trump's expected primary victories, Republican White House hopefuls Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz announced a new partnership focused on preventing the businessman from winning the nomination.

Cruz doubled down on this effort Wednesday, where in an unusual primary election move, he announced that former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina would serve as his vice presidential running-mate if he wins the GOP nomination.

On the Democratic side of the race, meanwhile, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and his campaign staff pledged to take his fight all the way through the primaries and floated the potential of a contested convention.

Here's what 2016 presidential candidates did this week:

FILE - In this March 10, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, at the start of a Republican presidential debate sponsored by CNN, Salem Media Group and the Washington Times at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)Wilfredo Lee

Kasich and Cruz announced a strategic partnership to block Trump's path to winning the GOP nomination outright

The Ohio governor and Texas senator announced late-Sunday that they would come together in an alliance to block the GOP front-runner from winning the Republican presidential nomination outright.

Under the new partnership, the two White House hopefuls agreed to split up campaigning duties, with Cruz focusing his efforts on Indiana's May 3 primary and Kasich putting his sights on victories in Oregon's May 17 election and New Mexico's June 7 primary.

Trump blasted his rivals' announced alliance, saying "it is sad that two grown politicians have to collude against one person who has only been a politician for ten months in order to try and stop that person from getting the Republican nomination."

4/25/16-Hartford-Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders appeared at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford, Ct on Monday. (Dave Roback / The Republican)Dave Roback, The Republican

Sanders called on Connecticut voters to join his "political revolution" during a last-minute campaign rally in downtown Hartford

Sanders, speaking to nearly 2,000 supporters who crowded Hartford's Mortensen Riverfront Plaza one day ahead of Connecticut's primary, urged voters to turn out on Election Day.

Despite trailing Clinton in the delegate count, the Vermont senator asked supporters to help him "make history" in Connecticut's primary election.

"Let's have Connecticut have the highest voter turnout in the history of Democratic primaries," he said. "And let's have Connecticut go forward and tell this country and the world that you are ready for a political revolution."

The senator further rejected claims that his vision for America is not attainable.

Jeff Weaver, Sanders' campaign manager, told reporters following the event that the Democratic hopeful "is going all the way to the convention" regardless of how Tuesday's primaries played out.

Bernie Sanders renews call for $15 minimum wage, political revolution at fiery rally in Hartford, Connecticut

Former President Bill Clinton touted his wife Hillary's record and campaign platforms during a pre-primary stop in Hartford, Connecticut on Monday, April 25, 2016.Shannon Young | syoung@repub.com

Former President Bill Clinton campaigned in Hartford, Connecticut for his wife's White House run alongside Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly

Joined by the former Arizona Congresswoman and her husband, Clinton made his case for why voters should back his wife in Tuesday's primary election.

Speaking to supporters who filled the Samuel V. Arroyo Center at Pope Park, he touted the former secretary of state's proposals to provide debt-free higher education, create jobs and overhaul the criminal justice system, among others. The former president also took aim at Sanders' claims that the Affordable Care Act doesn't do enough to overhaul health care.

Giffords, who was critically wounded during a January 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona, said although it's difficult for her to speak in the wake of her injuries, there is one phrase she's looking forward to saying: "Madam President."

Former President Bill Clinton, Gabby Giffords tout Hillary's record, proposals in Hartford

Trump swept all five of the April 26 East Coast primaries, adding more than 100 delegates to his lead

The Republican presidential front-runner picked up a decisive victory in Connecticut and the four other East Coast states where voters hit the polls Tuesday.

Speaking to supporters from Trump Tower in Manhattan, the billionaire businessman called himself the Republican Party's "presumptive nominee."

Trump's campaign had already amassed 845 delegates ahead of the primaries, where a total of 118 GOP delegates were up for grabs, including 28 in Connecticut.

He collected more than 100 delegates in his primary sweep bringing his count to more than 950 -- about 300 shy of the 1,237 needed to win the nomination outright.

Connecticut Primary: Donald Trump wins big over GOP rivals, AP projects

Clinton won four out of the five East Coast primaries, squeezing out a tight victory in Connecticut

The former first lady edged out Sanders late-Tuesday to win Connecticut's Democratic primary.

Clinton's Connecticut win came as she claimed victories in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, increasing her delegate lead over her Democratic rival.

For the former secretary of state, who entered Tuesday's primaries with 1,946 of the 2,382 delegates -- including so-called "superdelegates" -- needed to be named the Democratic Party's nominee, winning Connecticut further helped to solidify her position as the party's front-runner.

With wins in four of the contests, Clinton had at least 90 percent of the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, when factoring in superdelegates, the AP reported.

Connecticut Primary: Hillary Clinton squeaks out win over Bernie Sanders, AP projects

Clinton and Trump came to blows over "women's card" remarks

Firing back at Trump's suggestion that her success in the Democratic race is due to her gender, the former first lady took aim at the billionaire businessman during a primary night speech in Philadelphia.

"Now, the other day, Mr. Trump accused me of playing the, quote, 'woman card.' Well, if fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the 'woman card,' then deal me in," she said.

Trump, meanwhile, stood by his remarks during his own victory speech from Trump Tower in New York.

"Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she'd get 5 percent of the vote. The only thing she's got going is the women's card. And the beautiful thing is, women don't like her," he told supporters.

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump spar over 'women's card' remarks

Trump outlined his foreign policy platform, called the current strategy "a complete and total disaster"

The GOP front-runner in a Wednesday speech before The National Interest Magazine and its parent institution, The Center for the National Interest, pledged to once again make America's foreign policy strategy strong if elected president.

Trump stressed that if sent to the White House he would defeat the so-called Islamic State, rebuild the U.S. military and seek common ground with China an Russia.

"My goal is to establish a foreign policy that will endure for several generations centered on prioritizing America first," he said. "Under a Trump Administration, no American citizen will ever again feel that their needs come second to the citizens of foreign countries."

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright blasted Trump's remarks, saying he "underscored the fact that he is running the most reckless and dangerous presidential campaign in modern history."

"I've listened to a lot of foreign policy speeches over the years, and I've actually given a few myself, and I was hoping to hear something that made sense," she said in a statement released by the Clinton campaign. "But I've got to tell you that I've never seen such a combination of simplistic slogans and contradictions and misstatements in one speech."

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, joined by former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, waves during a rally in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, when Cruz announced he has chosen Fiorina to serve as his running mate. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) 

Cruz names Fiorina as his vice presidential running mate

The Texas senator, who revealed his vice presidential pick during a Wednesday afternoon rally in Indianapolis, said he based his decision to name Fiorina as his VP on several factors, including her experience and character.

Calling Fiorina an "extraordinary leader," Cruz touted her background in the business sector, saying she understands how to produce jobs and raise wages. The businesswoman, he added, also understands personal struggle and has shown she can stand strong despite it.

Fiorina, who joined Cruz for the announcement, said she was honored and humbled to be selected as the senator's running mate.

Contending that the soul of the Republican Party and the future of the nation are at stake in the 2016 election, the businesswoman said she's ready to take on such a fight.

Ted Cruz names Carly Fiorina as VP pick, touts her experience

In this Dec. 11, 2014, file photo, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. A former Cincinnati-area bartender was found not guilty by reason of insanity Monday of threatening to kill the Republican lawmaker. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)Associated Press 

Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner called Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh"

The Ohio Republican, who previously likened Cruz to the devil in mid-March, said the Texas senator who led the failed GOP effort to shut down the government over the Affordable Care Act was the most difficult person he worked with on Capitol Hill.

"I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life," he said.

Boehner, however, painted the other Republican candidates as friends, saying he has golfed with Trump for years and that the two are "texting buddies."

Ex-GOP House Speaker John Boehner: Ted Cruz is 'Lucifer in the flesh'

Police officers form a line in front of protesters outside the hotel where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was speaking to the California Republican Party 2016 convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)Eric Risberg 

Protests erupted outside the California GOP convention ahead of Trump's appearance

Hundreds of demonstrators protested outside the California Republican Convention Friday, blocking the road in front of the GOP front-runner's motorcade, according to CNN.

Trump noted the scene during his speech, saying the entrance was not the easiest he's ever made.

"It felt like I was crossing the border," he reportedly quipped before slamming protestors on Twitter as "thugs and criminals."

The "protesters" in California were thugs and criminals. Many are professionals. They should be dealt with strongly by law enforcement!

-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2016

A kitchen fire in the Kimball Tower at 140 Chestnut St. forced the temporary evacuation of 50 to 60 people.

SPRINGFIELD-- A kitchen fire in a fifth-floor apartment in the Kimball Tower apartment building forced the temporary evacuation of 50 to 60 people just before 5 a.m. Sunday as firefighters cleared heavy smoke from the fourth, fifth and sixth floors.

Dennis Leger, executive aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said unattended cooking in one fifth floor apartment at 140 Chestnut St. started to burn, setting nearby cabinets on fire.

Firefighters were able to douse the blaze quickly but had to contend with heavy smoke that filled the three floors of the eight-story tower. Fans were used to vent smoke from the building, and all residents were eventually able to return to their homes.

A survey of the fire area determined that there was no extension of the fire into the structure of the building.

Leger estimated the total damage to the property at less than $10,000.

The event featured 14 high school debs and gents, presented to society after months of rigorous training in things like etiquette and public speaking.

AGAWAM — As they gracefully walked onto the dance floor wearing tailored suits and escorting their mothers, it was hard to believe these were the same teenagers who just weeks before struggled to learn the steps to a waltz.

"We were definitely forced at first," said one in a group of six high school teenagers in a waiting area before being presented to society at the 7th Biennial Anna E. Hatchett Christian Debutantes and Gentlemen's Cotillion, held at Chez Josef in Agawam Saturday night.

All of the boys agreed that while at first they had no understanding of what a cotillion was or what it would entail, they were all grateful for the many experiences they had from learning the waltz, to attending a men's leadership conference in Boston.

"They taught us how to be men. We talked about going to college and things like that," said Traleck Z. Boyles, a senior at The Springfield Renaissance School.

As for the dancing, they may have learned a new skill, but it wasn't easy.

"We had four hour practice sessions on Sundays. That's the day you're supposed to rest," said Jeric Robert Cichon, jokingly. He is a junior at East Longmeadow High School.

There were also eight young women presented at the cotillion and they were a bit more eager to participate, perhaps for the opportunity to show off their beautiful princess-like white dresses and tiaras, but also for the lessons in public speaking and etiquette training.

"It was nice going through the courses like the etiquette class and the public speaking. You learn a lot of things that you can use later on in life," said Ajeya Rena Clouden, a junior at The Springfield Renaissance School.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us girls here, and we just really are so blessed to be here," said Imani Bea Wiggins, a junior at Hampden Charter School of Science in Chicopee.

A cotillion is a formal presentation of young ladies, and in this case young gentleman, into society.

"Many years ago, the cotillions were done by social clubs in the area, but after awhile they stopped doing it, and one woman, Anne E. Hatchett thought it should be revived," explained Gwen Miller, who co-chairs the Cotillion Ministries at St. John's Congregational Church in Springfield, along with Eddie Lee. In 2004 the first cotillion was held.

The training for the elaborate event is not for the faint of heart. It all begins eight months before the event with an application process and in-person interview with each candidate, Lee said.

The participants are expected to participate in as many activities as possible from a visit to the University of Massachusetts, to a public speaking lesson, an etiquette luncheon, a health workshop to discuss nutrition and sexual health, a community service project with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, delivering over 100 baskets of food to people in need, a dos and don'ts of social networking workshop and more.

Participants are also expected to meet with St. John's senior pastor, the Rev. Calvin J. McFadden.

"Some kids buy into it and pull the parents in, some parents buy into it and drag the kids along," Lee said.

This year's cotillion theme was LIFT (Leadership, Integrity Faith and Tenacity), Miller said.

"Our hope is that from this experience they will take some things they can carry on with them when they get to college, when they enter the workforce, and just help them to be better young adults," Miller said.

Besides dancing with their mothers, or in the debutantes' case, with their fathers, and group dances, each student was presented to the audience of at least 400 people with a list of their accomplishments and their hopes and dreams of becoming a sports medicine doctor, a book editor, a pediatrician and several social justice leaders.

The event, which included dinner, also featured a short presentation. Shane Davis performed a musical number and poet Lynnette Johnson performed a spoken word poem. The Master and Mistress of ceremonies were Dr. Johnny Wright and his wife Attorney Clarissa Wright.

McFadden also spoke at the event.

"It is a joy to see and witness our young people expressing the best of themselves and supporting them to let them know that we are expecting even greater and better things from them," he said.

The 2016 Debutantes and Gentlemen included:

*Aisha Lee Andrews, Springfield Central High School
*Ajeya Rena Clouden, The Springfield Renaissance School
*Talecea Anyeah Crichton, Springfield Central High School
*Bailey Jordan Edmonds, Sabis International Charter School
*Lamara Monique Evans, Minnechaug Regional High School
*Jaida Mariam Ivy Ortiz, The Springfield Renaissance School
*Alexandria Richard, Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield
*Imani Bea Wiggins, Hampden Charter School of Science

* Traleck Z. Boyles, The Springfield Renaissance School
*Jeric Robert Cichon, East Longmeadow High School
*Jahleel Fitzgerald Gabriel, Sabis International Charter School
*Xavier Alexander Hines-Coombs, Sabis International Charter School
*Jordan Holbrook, Springfield Central High School
*Benton Edward Whitley, Minnechaug Regional High School

A CSX freight train derailed in Washington, D.C. Sunday, sending several cars off the tracks and spilling hazardous material from three cars, emergency officials said.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A CSX freight train derailed in Washington, D.C., on Sunday morning, sending several cars off the tracks and spilling hazardous material from three cars, emergency officials said.

No injuries were immediately reported. Doug Buchannan, a spokesman for the D.C fire department, told NBC Washington that as many as nine cars derailed near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station about 7 a.m. Sunday. Emergency responders have not said what substance is leaking.

Chris Nellum said he lives nearby and his window looks directly over the tracks.

"I thought it was like a semi-truck coming toward the building and when I looked out the window, I saw cars piling up," said Nellum, who had just moved in the night before. "So I'm not even used to hearing trains. It was jarring."

Rhode Island Avenue was closed in both directions from 4th to 10th streets in Northeast. Nellum said his girlfriend tried to leave the area and was told to stay put, but she eventually found a way out.

"She's an environmentalist so she is very concerned about whatever is leaking," he said.

The Red Line's Rhode Island Station also is closed. Metro said it would establish bus shuttle service between the NoMa and Brookland stations.

CSX and the D.C. fire department didn't immediately return telephone and email messages from The Associated Press.