Despite acknowledging his narrow path to winning the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders stressed Tuesday that he will remain in the race throughout the the primary contest.

Despite acknowledging his narrow path to winning the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders this week stressed that he will remain in the race throughout the the primary contest.

Sanders, who trails Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton by hundreds of delegates, told NPR's Steve Inskeep Wednesday that it's important to give American voters in remaining primary states a choice as to whom they believe should become president, as well as what kind of agenda they want the party to have.

The senator further dismissed the idea that by staying in the White House race he's threatening his own call for revolution and alienating Democrats from supporting Clinton in a possible general election.

Although the former first lady is less than 200 delegates shy of receiving the 2,383 needed to win the nomination outright -- when including unpledged or so-called "superdelegates" -- Sanders defended his decision to continue fighting, pointing to how far his campaign has come.

"We think we have a path towards victory -- admittedly it is a narrow path, but when I started this campaign we were 60 points behind Secretary Clinton...here in early May we won in Indiana. I think we've got some more good victories coming -- so we are in this race until the very last vote is cast," he told NPR.

The Vermont senator laid out two paths forward for his campaign: winning primaries in remaining states; and wooing superdelegates away from his Democratic rival.

Sanders brushed-off the idea that he would hurt Democrats' general election chances by remaining in the race at the expense of Clinton, contending that it's good for the party and the country to have a vigorous debate and engage people in the political process.

Pointing to polls that give him an edge over presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Sanders argued that he is the best candidate to represent the Democratic Party in November.

"Bernie Sanders does better against Donald Trump than does Hillary Clinton," he said. "So if we want to make sure that we do not have a Donald Trump in the White House, I think that at this point Bernie Sanders is the strongest candidate."

The Vermont senator, meanwhile, remained unclear as to whether he would openly support the former secretary of state if she becomes the Democratic nominee, simply saying he would do everything possible to prevent Trump from becoming president.

Sanders' comments came as the Democratic presidential hopeful prepared to campaign in West Virginia ahead of the state's May 10 primary election.

Kentucky and Oregon voters will hit the polls on May 17, followed by six states on June 7 and Washington D.C. on June 14.

Democrats will select the party's presidential nominee during a convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in late-July.

McMahon has been with the Hampden DA's Office for 15 years.

SPRINGFIELD - Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced Wednesday he has appointed Assistant District Attorney Katherine E. McMahon to the position of chief appeals for his office.

Katherine E. McMahon, seen here in 2008 photoRepublican file photo 

McMahon, a Holyoke native, succeeds Jane Montori who retired earlier this year.

McMahon has been with the Hampden DA's Office since 2001. She celebrates her 15th anniversary with the DA's office on Saturday.

"I proudly announce Kate's promotion to Chief of Appeals. Kate has a long and accomplished history of public service and exemplary appellate work," Gulluni said in a prepared statement. "I am exceedingly confident that Kate will lead our Appeals Unit with great skill and energy. The residents of Hampden County will be well served by Kate in her new role."

In her time as an assistant district attorney, McMahon has specialized in appeals, and has made regular appearances representing the Hampden District Attorney's Office in Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appellate Court and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

McMahon in a prepared statement said "I am deeply honored that District Attorney Gulluni has entrusted me with this position. My team and I will continue to serve the office and the people of Hampden County with honesty, integrity, and a commitment to justice."

According to Gulluni's office, McMahon as head of the appeals unit, will represent the Commonwealth whenever defendants appeal their convictions. She will also oversee all interlocutory appeals, which can be filed by the defense or the prosecution during a trial, and will oppose defendant motions for new trials and postponement of sentencing pending appeals. She will also provide legal support to prosecutors in murder trials and other designated cases.

McMahon graduated with honors from Fairfield University in 1977, and her law degree with honors from Western New England School of Law in 1982. Her 33-year career has been spent in five different district attorney officers, including work as chief of appeals with the Suffolk and Worcester district attorneys.

She is also a former attorney for the Department of Social Services, and an appeals attorney with the clerk's office for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

She has also been an editor of the Massachusetts Law Review since 1997.

The Yellow Cab was involved in a collision with another vehicle on Sumner Avenue and the impact sent it up on the lawn and into the building.

SPRINGFIELD - A two-car accident on Sumner Avenue Thursday morning sent a cab into the side of an office building, and the impact was enough to damage the building's foundation, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said no one was injured in the accident but the city Building Inspector was called to the scene to check out the damage to the building at 603 Sumner Ave.

The Yellow Cab was involved in a collision with another vehicle on Sumner Avenue and the impact sent it up on the lawn and into the building.

The accident was reported just before 9:30 a.m.

Dr. Ruth Potee was recently named medical director of the new Franklin Recovery Center.

CHICOPEE - Alcohol use is dropping among teens and smoking cigarettes is at the lowest it has ever been, but what concerns Dr. Ruth Potee is the dramatic rise in the use of marijuana in high schools.

Many think it is a benign drug. It is an herbal supplement, it is a medicinal tool, it is safer than alcohol are all things she has heard from people.

But for the young, developing brain it can cause damage. The chemical in marijuana, THC, is akin to the natural cannabinoids in the brain that are developing receptors when people are in their teens and early 20s.

"It has a large impact on how the brain develops," she said. The problem is the use of marijuana can interfere with that.

In addition the marijuana smoked in the 70s and 80s had a THC level of 1 to 3 percent. Now those levels are as high as 9 to 16 percent. The other problem is there are really no studies that show exactly how marijuana does affect the brain, even as states are legalizing the drug.

"We do not study marijuana because it is illegal and you cannot study it with federal money," she said, responding to one student in the audience who asked why there are no studies.

There are limited studies done in the United Kingdom and Australia which show people's IQ levels dropped an average of eight points with long-term use and the group generally is dissatisfied with their success in life, she said.

Potee, a Greenfield physician who has done a large amount of research on addiction and has recently named as medical director of the new Franklin Recovery Center, spoke to parents, students and staff on Tuesday about how addiction affects the brain, especially heroin addiction.

She is one of three guest speakers Chicopee school officials have brought in to discuss the heroin epidemic. The last will be on May 11, when police will talk to school staff about the epidemic from the law enforcement perspective, Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr. said.

The heroin epidemic has hit Chicopee hard. Statistics released Monday by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health show 18 people died of unintentional opioid overdoses in the city in 2015, which is more than double the six who died of overdoses in 2014. Nine people died of overdoses in Chicopee 2013 and again in 2012. Only Springfield's rate was higher in 2015 higher with 36 overdose deaths; Holyoke had six opioid overdoses and Westfield had seven.

Potee told the audience the problem with drugs is prolonged use damages the reward center of the brain, which is the area which tells people how to survive.

The brain releases dopamine, which essentially makes people feel good. The average level of dopamine in the body is 100. That can spike to 150 with eating and falling in love and having sex can raise it to 200.

But cocaine can raise that level to 350, heroin increases it to 500 to 900 and methamphetamine to 1,200 to 1,300, she said.

"For a short period of time these drugs make you feel awesome and then it makes you feel terrible," she said.

At first people are chasing the feeling of the first high they got, which does not happen again. Then they are searching for a return to normal, she said.

The drugs raise the dopamine level to such an unnatural high that the body responds by dropping the natural dopamine to levels that can be as low as 40, she said.

"It is hard to get out of bed. It is hard to take care of the kids," she said. "You feel terrible all the time."

Some drugs are more addictive than others. Nicotine is the most addictive while marijuana is one of the least addictive, she said.

There are also three known risk factors to becoming an addict and genetics play one of the biggest roles. Those with parents or grandparents who have addiction problems are 50 percent more likely to become addicts themselves.

The younger people start using drugs the more likely they will become addicted to them; few people who started drinking at 25 become alcoholics. Potee said she often does talks in prisons, where the majority of people have some type of drug or alcohol addiction, and nearly every she asks said they used alcohol, marijuana or nicotine by the age of 12. Some have said they started as young as 6.

Experiencing childhood trauma can also make people vulnerable to addiction, she said.

"I'm urging you to postpone that use to 20, 21 or 22," she told the students in the audience.

She also told parents to tell their children if there is any genetic history of addiction in their family, even if they or their grandparents have been sober for years.

She told parents that she personally put a lock on her liquor cabinet. When her teenager asked why she didn't trust her, Potee explained a teenagers developing brain naturally makes them risk-takers and she did not want to leave anything that tempting available.

"Don't have things lying around the house. Why would you make it easier than it has to be," she said.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday defended his decision to tweet a picture showing himself eating a taco bowl in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday defended his decision to tweet a picture showing himself eating a taco bowl in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

The photo, which included "I love Hispanics!" in the caption, drew criticism from some -- including Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, who noted his calls to deport undocumented immigrants.

Despite this, Trump pointed to the popularity his post enjoyed on social media, telling "Fox and Friends" that "people loved it."

"You know I had -- that was as of yesterday -- 59,000 retweets; 59,000 in a short period of (time,)" he said. "That's like almost gotta be some kind of a record. People loved it."

The billionaire businessman further predicted that he will fare well with Latino voters in the November general election.

.@realDonaldTrump on Cinco de Mayo tweet: "People loved it"https://t.co/YLWT2oQvou

— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) May 6, 2016

"You know what? I'm going to do great with the Hispanics," he said. "I mean, I'm going to do fantastic because I'm bringing jobs back to America. Hillary doesn't know what to do."

A March Gallup poll, however, found that more than three-quarters of Latinos had an unfavorable view of the expected GOP nominee, compared to just over a quarter who had a negative view of Clinton.

Trump has made immigration a major focus of his campaign, pledging to build a wall along the the United States' southern border with Mexico and to deport millions of undocumented workers out of the country.

The businessman is not the first presidential candidate to come under fire for allegedly using food to reach voters.

Clinton was accused of pandering to African-American voters in late-April after telling New York-based radio show "The Breakfast Club" that hot sauce is a purse essential.

Trump called the former first lady's comments "just so phony; it's so pandering; it's so terrible," during an interview on "Fox and Friends," the Hill reported.

Golf course revenue jumped 23 percent, to $623,289 for April 2016, with the operating deficit of $121,570 substantially less than the deficit reported a year earlier.

SOUTH HADLEY -- After its first month operating under new management, the municipally owned Ledges Golf Club has improved it financial margins, though it continued to operate at a loss.

The data compares the club's revenues and expenses for both the golf course and food services for April 2015 versus April of this year.

Golf course revenue jumped 23 percent, to $623,289 this year, with the operating deficit of $121,570 substantially less than the $235,618 deficit reported in 2015.

Although restaurant sales were $7,683 lower this April compared to the same month 2015, the data show that food service turned a $40,549 profit this year, compared to last year's food service profit totaling $11,363 for the first full month of operation.

In January,
a criminal investigation was launched involving what town officials said is $6,308 missing from Ledges Golf Club.

Worker pay showed signs of picking up. Average hourly pay rose 2.5 percent in April from a year earlier, above the sluggish 2 percent annual pace that has been typical for the past six years.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. employers pulled back on hiring in April, adding 160,000 jobs, the fewest in seven months, after a streak of robust monthly gains. The unemployment rate remained at a low 5 percent, roughly where it has been since fall.

Last month's hiring gain marked a drop from the average increase of 200,000 over the past three months. Weak U.S. economic growth may be making some employers more cautious about hiring.

Local numbers for April will not be out for a few more weeks, but Greater Springfield had An unemployment rate of 5.6 percent in March , down from 5.7 percent in February and from 6.2 percent a year ago in March 2015.The statewide average was 4.4 percent for March.

Despite slowness in the April national report, shows positives

Still, the government's report Friday pointed to a U.S. job market that continues to generate steady hiring and to outperform those of most other major countries.

Worker pay also showed signs of picking up. Average hourly pay rose 2.5 percent in April from a year earlier, above the sluggish 2 percent annual pace that has been typical for the past six years.

Patrick O'Keefe, director of economic research at the accounting and advisory firm CohnReznick, suggested that April's slower job growth reflects the broader slump in economic growth. The U.S. economy expanded at just a 1 percent annual rate over the past six months.

"It's not going to set off cheers or jeers," O'Keefe said of the jobs report.

The proportion of adults who either have a job or are looking for one declined in April after four months of increases. The increase in job seekers had been a positive sign because it suggested that many Americans became optimistic enough to resume looking for work amid signs of stronger hiring.

The slowdown in economic growth in the United States and overseas has led to volatility in financial markets and complicated the Federal Reserve's plans to gradually raise interest rates.

Fed policymakers have signaled that they could raise rates twice this year. But a hiring slump, if sustained, could disrupt those plans.

"By adding to signs that economic weakness is lingering into the second quarter, these disappointing numbers greatly reduce the likelihood of the Fed hiking rates this side of the presidential election," Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, wrote in a research note.

In its report Friday, the government also slightly revised down its estimate of job growth for February and March by a combined 19,000, although each month's gain remained at a healthy level above 200,000.

April's slower job growth might not signal a sustained pullback. Hiring slumped as recently as January only to snap back in the following months.

Across industries, job growth fell sharply last month in retail, construction and governments, and remained weak in manufacturing. Retailers shed 3,100 jobs, down from an average gain of 52,500 in the first three months of the year.

Unseasonably cool weather in the Northeast may have delayed shopping for summer clothes, causing stores to cut workers.

Construction job gains slipped to 1,000 from an average of 24,000, and governments shed 11,000 after adding a monthly average of 16,000 in the first quarter.

Manufacturing added a slight 4,000 jobs, after two months of cutbacks.

Job growth in higher-paid industries, such as management consulting and computer systems, picked up from March. Gains in education and health care remained steady, climbing 54,000 last month, above its three-month average of 49,000.

The U.S. job market is still outperforming many of its counterparts overseas. The unemployment rate in the 19 European nations that share the euro currency is more than twice the U.S. rate at 10.3 percent. Some of those countries are faring better, though: Unemployment rates in Germany and the Czech Republic are both below the U.S. rate.

Japan's economy contracted in the final quarter of last year, though its jobless rate is also below the United States'.

China's economy grew 6.9 percent last year, its slowest pace in a quarter-century. But it expanded 6.7 percent from a year ago in the first quarter.

In recent months, slower economies overseas and a stronger dollar have cut into U.S. exports of factory goods. Low oil and gas prices have also caused energy companies to sharply curtail the construction of new rigs, lowering overall business spending.

Consumers have also been cautious. Despite job growth and lower gas prices, many people have stepped up their savings rather than their spending.

Still, there are some signs that the economy could be improving. Auto sales picked up in March, suggesting that Americans are still willing to make large purchases.

And a private survey found that services firms, which include retailers and restaurants as well as professional services such as engineering, expanded in April at the fastest pace this year.

mergency responders are on the scene of a reported two-car rollover accident in Holyoke.

HOLYOKE - Two people were taken to Holyoke Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening after a rollover accident in the city just before 11 a.m.

Holyoke Police Officer Peter Oyer said a car was slowing to make a left turn from South Canal Street onto South Summer Street when a pickup truck traveling behind it attempted to pass it on the left.

The car's front end struck the side of the truck and caused it to rollover, Oyer said. The driver of the truck was cited for improper passing.

Both vehicles were towed away at 11:30 a.m. Oyer said the back of the pickup truck was full of tools, which were scattered all over the road when it rolled.

The bill, which would require a high-visibility orange stripe on imitation firearms sold in Massachusetts, will not pass in this legislative session.

By Colin A. Young
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MAY 6, 2016.....When House Speaker Robert DeLeo met with reporters after his party's caucus on Jan. 27, he had Reps. Dan Cullinane and Harold Naughton in tow to discuss a bill the House planned to pass that afternoon.

Filed by Cullinane, the bill would require a high-visibility orange stripe on imitation firearms sold in Massachusetts. Naughton's Public Safety Committee had held a hearing on the bill, made a few tweaks to it and gave it a favorable report.

But just hours later, the bill that appeared on the precipice of passage was instead steered off to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, which this week included it in a study order, effectively killing the bill for this session.

"While, right now, we may not yet have got it passed the finished line, we have elevated this issue and sparked an important dialogue in this conversation on the dangers and risks of imitation firearms and provided a framework for how to improve on this issue in the Commonwealth," Cullinane said in a statement Wednesday to the News Service. "I will be continuing to work on this issue for the rest of this session and I will absolutely re-file what I hope through further study to be an even stronger bill next session."

The bill, which had the backing of the Boston Police Department, Attorney General Maura Healey, and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh among others, would have required that replica gun manufacturers include a non-removable one-inch orange stripe along the barrel, handle and front of the gun so it can be seen from every angle.

Stop Handgun Violence founder John Rosenthal told the News Service this week he was "surprised and disappointed" to hear that the Cullinane bill won't find its way back onto the House floor this session. The Boston Police Department did not return phone calls or an email from the News Service.

In January, Cullinane told the News Service his bill (H 3476) was referred by the House to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary "to determine once and for all" if the bill complies with a federal law that preempts state laws concerning the sales of airguns.

House Judiciary Chairman John Fernandes said his committee considered only whether Cullinane's bill ran afoul of federal statutes that relate specifically to BB guns and other hobby guns, not the overall value of the bill.

"That bill was not our bill to start with. It was referred to us for one consideration and one consideration only: the scope of preemption of federal law," Fernandes said. "And based upon the legal review, there were significant issues with preemption."

The federal law in question states that "No state shall ... prohibit the sale (other than prohibiting the sale to minors) of traditional B-B, paint ball, or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure."

"There may be some limited space to work in there. Some other states have tried with varying success or lack thereof to find that space," Fernandes said. "But our reaction to the preemption issue is not a statement on the utility or value of the underlying issue of whether there should or should not be additional regulations around the markings and what should and should not be available in the public."

Cullinane said in January he expected the bill would get a swift hearing before the Judiciary Committee and be back before the House for consideration.

On Wednesday, the Dorchester Democrat said he expects the bill's inclusion in a study order will afford its supporters "the sufficient time and opportunity" to make sure the bill language is as effective as possible without leaving open any loopholes.

"The legislature considers over 5,000 bills a session, all of varying complexity, and on certain issues, such as this one, which deal with significant legal questions, such as in this case 'federal preemption,'" he said in his statement. "As a consequence, a bill may sometimes require additional time and examination to ensure the final legislative language is written to withstand any potential legal challenges down the road."

And though his bill did not pass this session, Cullinane said he thinks the debate over it "elevated and productively changed" the conversation on replica guns and drew attention to the manufacturers selling look-alike firearms.

"Through this legislation, I believe we rightly put the spotlight on the big-money, manufacturers and retailers, who make and sell these products which look exactly like bullet firing guns and celebrate in their advertising just how real they look. This industry has escaped responsibility and accountability for too long and their products put their customers and many young people in harm's way," Cullinane said.

The push for the replica gun bill comes after the high-profile 2014 fatal officer-involved shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland. A police officer responding to a report that a man was pointing a gun at people at a local park shot and killed Rice, who allegedly had a replica gun tucked into his waistband.

"Given the authentic look of all these guns, police officers have a real difficult time to distinguish what is real and what's not and our worst case scenario is what happened in Cleveland happening here in Boston," Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told lawmakers in January. "We come upon too many incidents too many times where people have these type of guns, and fortunately my officers have used a tremendous amount of restraint and not used deadly force when it was clearly within their right."

Boston police took 174 replica guns off the streets in 2015, Evans said when he testified in support of the bill, and 179 in 2014. The replica guns are commonly used in commercial robberies, street robberies and other crimes, Evans said.

Hampden County Judge John Ferrara on Friday sentenced Jorge Rodriguez-Nieves to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2014 fatal stabbing of Angel David Morales in Holyoke. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- Hampden County Judge John Ferrara on Friday sentenced Jorge Rodriguez-Nieves to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2014 fatal stabbing of Angel David Morales in Holyoke.

The jury was sent out to deliberate at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday and returned just before 4 p.m. that day with a guilty verdict.

Defense lawyer Alan J. Black, representing Rodriguez-Nieves, said on Friday he plans to appeal.

Rodriguez-Nieves, 42, of Holyoke, was on trial for murder in the fatal stabbing of Morales, 33, near Elm and Appleton streets in Holyoke at about 11:15 a.m. on July 13, 2014.

Morales was stabbed in the neck, cutting major arteries and his windpipe. Trial testimony from a number of witnesses has been that the defendant heard a rumor that Morales was saying Rodriguez-Nieves was spending time with a woman other than his wife.

A total of 21 people testified including police, forensic scientists, a medical examiner and civilian witnesses.

The jury found Rodriguez-Nieves guilty under the theory of extreme atrocity and cruelty, but not the theory of premeditation. Only one theory is needed for the first-degree murder conviction.

"My sympathies to Mr. Morales's family as I hope this favorable verdict brings a sense of justice to the victim's family and friends," District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. "My thanks to the Holyoke Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to my office and Assistant District Attorney Henry Rigali for their thorough investigation and successful prosecution of this matter. I also want to highlight and thank the civilian witnesses whose moral courage, commitment to justice, and cooperation made this conviction possible. For this case, and others to come, it is the partnership between law enforcement and the public that will help to ensure criminal justice and public safety."

It was revealed on Friday that Rodriguez-Nieves was previously convicted of 2nd degree murder in Puerto Rico in 2003. Details of that situation weren't immediately available.

We Chen, 62, of Westfield, escaped a prison sentence for copying classified computer files while working as a contractor for the U.S. Army in Kuwait.

SPRINGFIELD - A Chinese-born former defense contractor will serve six months of house arrest and five years of probation for lifting classified computer files while working overseas for the U.S. Army.

Wei Chen, 62, of Westfield. narrowly missed serving one year in federal prison - the term federal prosecutors were seeking. Under a plea agreement, Chen admitted to two criminal counts: damaging an Army computer and making false statements regarding his prior service with the People's Liberation Army of China.

Chen was working as a computer systems analyst in a war zone in Kuwait in 2013 when he received notice he was set to be transferred to Afghanistan. He copied classified files onto a personal thumb drive for his own convenience. The government was not amused. It launched a full investigation, suspecting Chen may be a Chinese spy.

In the midst of the probe, investigators also discovered Chen had covered up the fact that he spent six years as a member of the Chinese Communist Party's armed forces in the 1970s. A federal prosecutor told U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni that Chen failed two polygraphs and lied about the role he played in that army.

"Initially he disclosed he was just a cook. After, he disclosed he had served in an anti-aircraft unit," said Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Stephanie Siegmann, arguing Chen knew he never would have gotten the "very lucrative" job if he revealed his history on his initial application.

Ultimately, investigators were satisfied Chen was not trying to steal state secrets. His lawyer argued that Chen was merely trying to copy some of his own templates and documents to take with him to his new post in Afghanistan.

"We brought these charges even though we found he's not a Chinese spy," Siegmann told the judge, adding that Chen unplugged a cable and disabled a program that would have alerted others to his use of a thumb drive to copy files, which is expressly prohibited.

"The defendant's actions were not spontaneous. They were not merely mistakes," Siegmann said, imploring Mastroianni to send Chen to prison for a year or risk sending a message that he got "a slap on the wrist."

The prosecutor said that among the files Chen copied from the "SIPRNet," or secret computer network system the government uses to exchange classified information, were two files about troop movements.

Defense lawyer Lori H. Levinson, however, told the judge that Chen and his wife, both naturalized American citizens, are a patriotic couple who love their adopted country.

"I've been to their home. They fly the American flag. They have Fourth of July parties. This is a proud American family." Levinson said. "He does take full responsibility for committing potentially really serious crimes. As it turns out in this case, thank God, he didn't have any malicious intent against the United States."

Levinson said the fallout after Chen's 2015 arrest was total financial ruin for his family. His wife and daughter also lost their jobs, and he is unable to get hired anywhere else.

"You have to wear ski jackets in their house. They couldn't turn the heat on all winter because they have no money," Levinson said.

Chen addressed the court himself, apologizing to the government and the U.S. Army but asking Mastroianni to spare him prison time.

"No words can describe how regretful I am. I would rather trade a limb of mine. It has been a devastating personal and family disaster," Chen said. "Please save limited prison space for violent criminals and terrorists."

Mastroianni said imprisoning Chen for a year would cost the taxpayers $30,000 as opposed to a $4,000 price tag for probation. He also imposed a $4,000 fine.

Hastings is looking for a new location. Watch video

HADLEY - Sarah Hastings and her tiny house will not be able to remain in town.

After a lengthy discussion Thursday night, Town Meeting voters rejected a proposal to amend the town's accessory apartment bylaw to include backyard cottages.

The meeting's strong attendance of 426 -- typical turnout is around 100 --was due in part to the article, Town Clerk Jessica Spanknebel said. Interest was also high in an article, also rejected by voters, that proposed the Hooker School property as a site for a new library. 

The tiny house proposal failed 215 opposed to 102 in favor, while the vote against the library article was 206 to 139.

A two-thirds vote was required to approve the zoning bylaw change.

In an email Friday, Hastings wrote, "1/3 of the attendees voted yes and there were so many passionate comments (from) people who did support it."

She said she felt the effort was worthy and that she was proud to have advanced the bylaw as a possible solution, adding that "... it did make a point and begin an important conversation here."

"Hadley is a tough town when it comes to change and I can only wish the town the best of luck in providing for future needs," she wrote, continuing: "This doesn't feel like a total roadblock to me: By living lightly, I have also learned to have a light heart."

Hastings has been living in her 190-square-foot house on an East Street parcel owned by Ron and Donna Adams since last year. The structure overlooks three-plus acres of farmland.

The Mount Holyoke College graduate built the home while a student in architecture studies.

Some residents had objected to the process because she was living on land in violation of the town bylaw. The Zoning Board allowed her to stay pending the Town Meeting vote.

Building Inspector Timothy Neyhart said he was hoping people would judge the proposal for what it was -- a modification of the town bylaw. But "everybody's throwing in that she's doing this without permits. That should have been separate."

He also criticized Planning Board member Joseph Zgrodnik for saying the dwellings would end up "as student stuffers."

The same concern was raised when the town adopted the accessory use bylaw. Neyhart said since the town adopted that bylaw about a decade ago, fewer than 24 such units have been built.

Hastings, meanwhile, has a day to vacate her home. She was at town offices Friday to provide a notarized letter stating all of her utilities have been disconnected and she will not be living there while she finds a place to move the structure. She is seeking permission to keep the building at the East Street site until she finds a new location for it outside of Hadley. 

Neyhart said he is talking to the Planning Board and town officials to see if they will agree to that proposal. He said anyone in town can have a shed 200 square-feet or less without a permit.

In her email, Hastings wrote "My roots won't grow in Hadley, but I am excited to move on to my next steps in life, wherever they may be!"

The May 9 annual town meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Granite Valley Middle School Auditorium, located on Thompson St.

MONSON — Voters at Monday's annual Town Meeting will act on a request by selectmen to change the town clerk and some other town government positions from an elected office to an appointed office.

 

Selectmen are also seeking to change the status of the board of assessors and highway surveyor from elected to appointed.

The proposals, if approved, would then go before voters at next month's annual election, where residents would make the final decision.

Town Meeting will act on a request to fund town operations for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 at $23,483,456, which represents a 5 percent increase from the current budget.

The proposed school department budget would increase 3.3 percent, to $11,788,990.

The warrant includes a $50,000 request to replace the boiler at Memorial Hall. "If the boiler is not replaced the building will have to be closed and winterized each fall restricting the use of the Memorial Hall and accelerating the deterioration of this exceptional building," the article states.

The annual Town Meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Granite Valley Middle School Auditorium, located on Thompson Street.

Special Town Meeting Warrant May 9, 2016 by MassLive2

In his resignation letter, Adams thanked voters who elected him, expressed his admiration for Northampton and said he looks forward to continue serving the community.

NORTHAMPTON - At-large city councilor Jesse Adams resigned from office effective Friday, citing the demands of his private law practice.

Jesse AdamsRepublican File Photo 

"I put a tremendous amount of thought, effort and hard work into both public office and my law practice but I can no longer do both at the same time," he wrote in a resignation letter. "Resigning from the city council is the best decision for me and my family."

In the letter, he also thanked voters who elected him and said he looks forward to continue serving the community.

"I want to thank the voters for having the confidence in me to re-elect me resoundingly each time I ran. I enjoyed my time in office, am proud of my accomplishments, and am looking forward to serving in new ways," he wrote.

He also expressed his admiration for the city, writing: "I love Northampton."

Adams was first elected to the council in 2009. In 2012, his fellow councilors unanimously elected him to be the council's first vice president.

After 12 years at the helm of Springfield technical Community College, President Ira H. Rubenzahl is preparing to retire. And on Tuesday, faculty, students, business and community leaders gathered to wish him well during an on-campus reception at Scibelli Hall.

SPRINGFIELD -- After 12 years at the helm of Springfield technical Community College, President Ira H. Rubenzahl is preparing to retire.

And on Tuesday, faculty, students, business and community leaders gathered to wish him well during an on-campus reception at Scibelli Hall.

Rubenzahl arrived at STCC, located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory Historic site near the gateway to the Mason Square neighborhood, in 2004 following eight years leading Capital Community College in Hartford a a school with a large African-American student body.

With the help of faculty member Myra Smith, now retired from the college, Rubenzahl launched a diversity speakers and performance series that brought people from the community outside its gates on to the campus where they heard such speakers as civil rights activist Dick Gregory, NPR correspondent Juan Williams and poet and activist Nikki Giovanni.

STCC is now much closer to the ethnic make-up of students in Springfield high schools than it was when Rubenzahl,who holds a doctorate in physics from the Massachusetts Institue of Technology, succeeded Andrew M. Scibelli as president.

Of the 8,787 students enrolled in STCC today, 26 percent are Hispanic compared to 13 percent in 2004; 16 percent are black, compared to 14 percent in 2004; 51 percent are white compared to 62 percent in 2004 and 7 percent are made up of other groups, compared to 11 percent in 2004.

John B. Cook, vice president of academic affairs at Manchester Community College in New Hampshire, was recently recommended by the Springfield Community College Board of Trustees to succeed Rubenzahl as president.

Board members will negotiate with her next week.

AMHERST - The Amherst Select Board has chosen Maria E. Capriola as the next town manager.

She was one of two finalists after William Fraser, the city manager of Montpelier, Vermont withdrew earlier this week.

The other candidate was Paul Bockelman, director of administration and finance for the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

The vote to offer the job to the Mansfield, Connecticut assistant town manager was initially 3 to 2 but quickly amended to a unanimous decision.

Select Board chairwoman Alisa Brewer wrote in an email, "We immediately changed the vote to unanimous because we are all fully in support, unlike some communities that seem to view a split vote as a way to put a new hire on notice. Truly the only way to have a unanimous vote first time out is to break open meeting law or to have only one good finalist."

Brewer said she spoke to Capriola briefly Thursday night.

"We are all genuinely excited," Brewer said, adding that Capriola, 36, will meet with some people either Monday or Wednesday and not just for negotiations.

Andy Steinberg, who initially voted no, said he is very pleased with the choice.

"I'm really happy that we have somebody with so many wonderful qualifications," he said.

He said all three were great candidates and they had a difficult decision with the final two.

"Two of us were slightly tipped in favor of Bockelman. Three slightly slightly tipped in favor of Ms. Capriola," Steinberg said.

Bockelman has worked his entire career in the state and has a vast range of experience as well as connections. He is well versed in municipal law, he said.

But Capriola has related college town experience. Mansfield is home to the University of Connecticut, Storrs campus.

He and member Douglas Slaughter will be negotiating with Capriola next week. They want to send the message "We are in favor of the results and well all look forward to (working) with Ms. Capriola."

During her visit last week, Capriola said she was not looking for a new job but was very interested in the position here because she thought it was a perfect fit.

She could not be reached for comment.

She would become the sixth manager here and the first woman.

In a troubling sign for the health of British democracy, the United Kingdom has declined to name its new polar research vessel Boaty McBoatface, the name which won an online poll in a landslide after the country's Natural Environment Research Council opened up the christening to suggestions on social media. The BBC reports that the $290 million ship will instead...

In a troubling sign for the health of British democracy, the United Kingdom has declined to name its new polar research vessel Boaty McBoatface, the name which won an online poll in a landslide after the country's Natural Environment Research Council opened up the christening to suggestions on social media.

The BBC reports that the $290 million ship will instead be called the RRS Sir David Attenborough, after the naturalist and broadcaster best known in the United States for voicing ambitious nature documentaries like "Planet Earth."

Science Minister Jo Johnson said Boaty McBoatface, which won over 124,000 online votes in the naming competition, was "not suitable" for the vessel, reported the BBC.

"The public provided some truly inspirational and creative names, and while it was a difficult decision I'm delighted that our state-of-the-art polar research ship will be named after one of the nation's most cherished broadcasters and natural scientists," Johnson said, according to the BBC.

Boaty McBoatface will live on in spirit: one of the vessel's remotely operated submarines will be called "Boaty," according to the BBC.

James Hand, the former BBC radio host who suggested "Boaty McBoatface" on Twitter, said in a Twitter post that the "RSS David Attenborough" was a "fitting and excellent choice."

My view on #BoatyMcBoatface living on! Won't be saying anything else, so please contact @NERCscience for more. pic.twitter.com/NtHJyfeMRc

-- James Hand (@JamesHand) May 6, 2016

The research council, in an effort to spark public interest in Arctic and Antarctic research, opened the name of the ship to a public internet vote on March 17. The British public's sense of humor propelled Boaty McBoatface to a massive win; when the poll closed, Boaty McBoatface had 124,109 votes -- more than four times its nearest competition.

While the winning name was absurd, the ship's mission is serious, according to the NERC. In addition to creating hundreds of jobs and boosting the country's ship-building trade, the research vessel will conduct climate and ocean research using state-of-the-art scientific tools while accommodating up to 60 scientists and support staff.

The position is being advertised at $57,316 to $76,421. Applications are being accepted through June 17.

LUDLOW - The town is advertising for a town accountant, responsible for the town's financial affairs.

The position is appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

The position involves interaction with town department heads and staff, including the School Department.

The position is full-time with benefits, and is being advertised on the town website with a salary range of $57,316 to $76,421.

Applications are being accepted through June 17.

James Young has held the position, and questions about when the position will be open were referred to Human Resources Manager Carrie Ribeiro. She could not immediately be reached.

Job responsibilities include keeping accounts and financial records in accordance with applicable laws, reviewing all town expenditures and establishing policies and procedures to ensure fiscal accountability for all departments, reconciliation of town financial records, assistance with budgeting and capital planning and supervision of two full-time staff members.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or a related field, five years experience, knowledge of Massachusetts municipal government procedures, proficient computer skills and knowledge of the Munis software system.

Applicants should hold a Massachusetts Governmental Accounting Certificate or have the ability to obtain such certification within a year of hire date.

Applications are available in the town's Human Resources Department in Town Hall.

With Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz exiting the Republican presidential race this week, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has turned her campaign's attention to presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.

With Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz exiting the Republican presidential race this week, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has turned her campaign's attention to presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.

Clinton, who remains in a primary fight with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, has set her sights on the November general election, focusing recent attacks on Trump's calls to deport undocumented immigrants and temporarily halt Muslims from entering the country, among other things.

Contending that "we can't let Donald Trump become president," the Democratic front-runner took to Twitter Friday to ask Republicans who don't support the businessman to explain why.

Are you a Republican who thinks @realDonaldTrump should not become president?

Tell us why: https://t.co/OvwepPNXoC

-- Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 6, 2016

Clinton further took aim at Trump in a new video, as well as denounced his immigration and other proposals during a scathing speech in California on Thursday.

Calling Trump a "loose cannon," the former secretary of state told supporters that having him in the Oval Office "is a risk we cannot afford."

"Every election is a choice, and just yesterday, Donald Trump doubled down on his plan to create a deportation force to round up millions of people. That's actually what he said," she said. "He has pledged in his first days in office to scrap DACA and DAPA and to finalize a design for a giant wall on the border. Well, the best way to prevent that from happening is to make sure he never gets near the White House."

Clinton urged California voters to support her in the state's upcoming election and to "get geared up again and go to the election in November."

Trump, who no longer faces any primary opponents, has also taken jabs at Clinton in recent days, repeatedly calling her "crooked Hillary."

Crooked Hillary has ZERO leadership ability. As Bernie Sanders says, she has bad judgement. Constantly playing the women's card - it is sad!

-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2016

Unlike crooked Hillary Clinton, who wants to destroy all miners, I want wages to go up in America. We will do so by bringing back jobs!

-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2016

Trump also renewed his call for Sanders to exit the Democratic race and to instead run as an independent candidate.

Bernie Sanders has been treated terribly by the Democratsaboth with delegates & otherwise. He should show them, & run as an Independent.

-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2016

Despite being more than 100 delegates shy of clinching the Democratic Party's nomination -- when including so-called "superdelegates," Clinton's campaign has painted the former secretary of state as the only candidate who can stop Trump from winning the presidency -- a claim which Sanders has repeatedly made for his own bid.

Contending that "it's clearer than ever who will be facing off in the general election," Clinton's campaign this week pointed to the number of votes the former first lady has received compared to Trump and Sanders.

Although Sanders claimed victory in Tuesday's Indiana's primary, Clinton's campaign noted that the Democratic front-runner maintained "her almost-insurmountable pledged delegate lead" over the Vermont senator.

Clinton, who has won 1,683 pledged delegates to Sanders' 1,362, "continues to hold a strong lead in the popular vote as well," her campaign added. A total of 2,382 delegates are needed to be named the Democratic presidential nominee.

The Clinton campaign's post came shortly after Sanders told NPR that he's committed to remaining in the Democratic race throughout the primary process despite facing a narrow path to winning the nomination.

Bernie Sanders vows to stay in Democratic presidential race for rest of primaries

Less than a dozen states have yet to weigh in on the presidential primary contest, including West Virginia, which will cast ballots on May 10; Kentucky and Oregon, which will hit the polls on May 17; and six states on June 7. Washington D.C., meanwhile, will hold its primary on June 14.

Democrats will select their presidential nominee during the party's national convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in late-July.

The Orleans woman whose vehicle struck and killed UMass student Hannah Frilot in 2014 asked a Hampshire Superior Court judge Thursday to dismiss a charge of negligent motor vehicle homicide.

NORTHAMPTON -- The Orleans woman whose vehicle struck and killed UMass student Hannah Frilot in 2014 asked a Hampshire Superior Court judge Thursday to dismiss a charge of negligent motor vehicle homicide.

The attorney for Cynthia May, 65, told Judge Daniel Ford that his client's drifting into the bike lane of North East Street in Amherst on the fateful night does not rise to the level of negligence.

"What we have is a horrible accident, that was an accident and unavoidable," Northampton attorney Harry Miles argued Thursday.

But First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven E. Gagne said that a driver traveling partly in the bike lane and failing to notice something in the vehicle's path is clearly negligent.

"Ms. May had 12 feet of road available to her," he said.

Miles said May was traveling from her home on the Cape to visit friends in Amherst around 11 p.m. July 31, 2014 when she came upon Frilot and her friend walking in the bike lane.

Hannah Frilot (Facebook)
 

Gagne said police determined Frilot was squarely in the bike lane, about 20 inches from the edge of the pavement, when May's car struck and killed her.

Frilot, 20, of Arizona, was an engineering major and about to start her senior year at UMass.

Ford said after hearing the attorneys' arguments Thursday that he would issue a decision at a later date, but he seemed disinclined to accept some of Miles' reasoning and his conclusion that it was an accident without fault.

"It was an accident by a driver driving in the breakdown lane," Ford replied at one point.

Cape Cod woman denies motor vehicle homicide charge in death of UMass student

In addition to arguing that May's driving did not meet the threshold of negligence, Miles said that the prosecution only presented part of the story and sometimes misleading information to the grand jury in order to get an indictment.

Miles said case law has ruled that crossing a line on a street once is not enough to conclude that a driver was negligent, and there is no way to know how long May was traveling partially in the bike lane.

He also said Frilot and her friend were walking on the wrong side of an "essentially unlit country road" and that the white line designating the bike lane is completely worn away on that section of the road. Judge Ford noted that the grand jury minutes include testimony that it is faded, but visible.

Miles said there is no evidence that May was impaired, distracted or drowsy at the time of the crash.

But Gagne told Ford to watch the video of May's interview with police after the accident and decide for himself if she appears tired.

"Our theory is she is drowsy from a four-hour drive," he said. "It's 11 o'clock at night. It's her usual bedtime."

Gagne said that a state trooper who is an expert in accident reconstruction told the grand jury that May should have noticed there was something in her vehicle's path several seconds before impact and at the two-second mark, she should have been able to recognize that they were people.

Miles' argument that the prosecution withheld information from and misled the grand jury focused on his belief that the grand jurors were not told that May was willing to testify before them and that a state trooper used incorrect figures to address May's reaction time.

The trooper testified that May should have recognized the people in the road by two seconds before impact and that a driver's reaction time is usually 1.5 seconds, but her alleged drowsiness may have added a half-second to her reaction time. But Miles argued that 1.5 seconds is a daytime reaction time, when the accident happened at night.

He also said the trooper chose to present certain evidence about the crime scene so grand jurors would conclude that May was traveling fast, instead of presenting all the facts.

Gagne denied that the presentation of evidence to the grand jury was misleading.

Parents of UMass student Hannah Frilot sue insurance company, driver of car that killed her