The vigil is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD - Saying they must once again come together and protect each other, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community will hold a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of Sunday morning's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.

The vigil is scheduled for 6 p.m., Sunday, at the South Congregational Church, 45 Maple St. Organizers expect it to last about two hours.

"It is not the first time LGBT folks have been targeted," said Amaad Rivera, president of Springfield Pride. "There are people who have been attacked in Massachusetts...It (the shooter) was a nut but he felt it was OK to do it to our community."

Early Sunday morning shooter Omar Mateen, 29, opened fire in Pulse Orlando, a gay nightclub in Florida. At least 300 people were inside the club, which was holding a Latin night, and 50 people were killed and another 53 were injured, some seriously.

Mateen, who was later shot and killed by law enforcement, reportedly became enraged when he saw two men kissing in Miami. He also pledged his allegiance to ISIS and mentioned the Tsarnaev brothers, who carried out the Boston marathon bombing, during his rampage. His ex-wife said he was violent and mentally unstable.

"Our work is not done. We have made a lot of progress but these are things we fear," Rivera said.

When hearing about the vigil, a state senator urged the group to contact Springfield Police for their protection. In the six years since Springfield Pride has run dances, movie screenings, lectures and other events and never had to call police, Rivera said.

Springfield Pride is not alone. Similar Pride organizations in Boston and Worcester are also planning candlelight vigils for Orlando victims Sunday, he said.

The vigil was scheduled at the last minute and Rivera said organizers are mostly relying on social media to spread the word.

The shooting comes during Gay Pride month, putting a damper on the celebrations the community has been holding to recognize the progress made for LGBT rights. Just this week state lawmakers approved a bill to protect transgender people from discrimination, Rivera said.

"A disturbing crime occurred in country, and the entire LGBTA community (and) family needs to come together and support one another. Hate has no place in Western Mass., the country or world. No one should feel unwelcome. I encourage you to learn more about the incident and find your own way to stand up and offer support", City Councilor Nelson R. Roman, one of the founding members of Springfield Pride said.

All people are welcome to the vigil, which Rivera said he hopes will join together the LGBT and straight community.

"It is also an opportunity to talk about the reduction of gun violence in the communities where we live. No one is safe from gun violence until we address it," he said.

He pointed out many gay men were banned from giving blood to help the victims of the shootings, but those same men could easily purchase an assault rifle.

A Springfield native is listed as one of the people killed inside the Orlando gay nightclub Sunday, according to the victim's Facebook page.

A Springfield native is listed as one of the people killed inside the Orlando gay nightclub Sunday, according to the victim's Facebook page.

A Facebook page that appears to belong to Stanley Manolo Almodovar III was flooded with messages of shock, sorrow and memories after the mass shooting inside the Pulse Orlando nightclub.

Almodovar's page says he lives in Clermont, Florida, but states Springfield is his hometown. The 23-year-old's page states he attended Lincoln Elementary School in Springfield, Massachusetts.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, he graduated from East Ridge High School in Clermont in 2011 and studied at Anthem College. He was working as a pharmacy technician when he was killed.

His mother, Rosalie Ramos said her son was a happy man with a big heart, according to the Sentinel.

His aunt Yoly described him as "an amazing person with a good soul." She said he had a promising future.

Authorities in Florida said 50 people were killed and another 53 injured during the nightclub shooting. Police killed the shooter who has been identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen.

Mateen, who lives in Florida and was born in New York, made references to the Boston Marathon bombings and pledged allegiance to ISIS during his shooting rampage.

West Springfield High School's 142nd Commencement was held Sunday, June 12, 2016 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - West Springfield High School's 142nd Commencement was held Sunday a the Eastern States Exposition's Coliseum. The school's Valedictorian, Caitlyn Glidden and Salutatorian, Julia Fleury spoke at the graduation.

The school's Principal, Dr. Vito J. Perrone, town's Mayor William Reichelt and Superintendent of School's Michael J. Richard addressed the graduates, friends and families.

Robert Ballentine gave the Commencement Address.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the vandalism has not hurt the shop's business.

SPRINGFIELD - The plate glass windows on the front of the popular La Fiorentina Pastry shop have been broken twice in three days, sparking outrage from the city's mayor.

Springfield Police Capt. Cheryl Clapprood confirmed the shop at 883 Main St. has been vandalized several times. The crime is being investigated and police patrols are being asked to watch the shop in case the vandals return.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said he learned the popular gathering spot for the Italian American community had been vandalized twice and visited Sunday morning to talk to owners Leo and Anna Daniele about the problem.

"The Daniele's are pillars of our community and it is an anchor to the South End area," Sarno said.

The owners could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

The Police Department is following up on leads and also trying to review area cameras to see if the crimes were caught on camera, he said.

"I do not believe this is a random act and the individuals that are behind this should be ashamed of themselves," Sarno said. "The disrespect that is shown here is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated."

Because it happened twice in three days, Sarno said he does not feel the crime is random.

But he said the vandalism has not hurt the business. When he visited Sunday morning the shop was full of customers drinking coffee and buying pastry, Sarno said.

A total of 253 graduates received diplomas at this year's Longmeadow High School graduation.

SPRINGFIELD- Longmeadow High School held its 2016 commencement exercises Sunday at Springfield Symphony Hall. The event showcased the graduates academic achievements and showcased their musical talent.

School Principal Thomas Landers' speech about today's "politically correct" world reminded the 253 graduates to practice as well as protect free speech. He encouraged them to continue to develop their grit, noting that "character is dynamic"and "what we make happen after what happens to us" is key.

A total of 61 graduates received The President's Award for Educational Excellence which recognizes a student's academic success in the classroom. The class had a record number of members of the National Honor Society and 98 percent will be attending college in the fall.

The ceremony included musical offerings by graduates as well as underclassmen. The school Brass Choir performed processional and recessional music as well as the National Anthem. Ravian Wray and Zulfiqar Manzi nailed their version of "Hall of Fame" which had the entire class on their feet. Jeffrey Schmelkin played a moving piece on the piano he composed called "Creation". Samuel Schwartz, Sydney Walt, and Emma Kristoffy provided a rendition of "I hope you dance".

A crowd of Bernie Sanders supporters protested Elizabeth Warren's recent endorsement of Hillary Clinton at Warren's talk at the World War II Club in Northampton on Sunday.

NORTHAMPTON — Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, known as a longtime progressive, has recently made some on the left question her integrity after a controversial decision to endorse Hillary Clinton as the democratic presidential nominee.

Warren, who gave a talk on Sunday addressing income inequality at the WWII Club in Northampton, was greeted by legions of adoring fans, but also a small crowd of protesters who said they were deeply disenchanted with Warren's endorsement.

Outside the club at 50 Conz St., a crowd of "Bern feeling" supporters protested Warren's recent endorsement. The protesters were dressed all in black, to symbolize, they said, the mourning of who they thought Warren was.

As far as the protesters were concerned, Hillary Clinton may have all but clinched the democratic presidential nomination, but if there's one thing she won't secure its love from Sanders supporters like them.

"Never," was the most common response given to the question "Would you ever support Clinton in the general?"

Furthermore, the protesters felt Warren's support of Clinton seems to go against everything they thought she stood for.

"We feel that this is completely not in alignment with everything that she has been preaching her entire career," said Jaime Guerin, who has volunteered for the Sanders campaign and is a staunch believer in the senator's populist messages. "We're never going to have a government for the people as long as corporate interests continue to govern our politics," Guerin said.

Many of the protesters felt betrayed by Warren's endorsement of Clinton.

"For so long Elizabeth Warren has maintained positions that align with Bernie, and now she just seems to have abandoned that in favor of supporting the establishment's candidate," said Gale Brown, 38, a long-time fan of Sanders.

Brown points out that Warren's positions, which have often included critiques of corporate power, campaign finance laws, and income inequality, seem to be at odds with a candidate like Clinton who has formerly accepted generous contributions from banks and who has deep financial ties to a multitude of international corporations. "The positions that she had espoused before were for the people and doing what's right for the people," said Brown. "She was also critical of Hillary in the past, and now she endorses her? It just hard to say what her reasoning and motivation for that are. It calls her integrity into question," she said.

This sense of bafflement seemed to be the underlying feeling for many who were present at the protest.

"I have no idea why she did it," said Amy Bookbinder, 69, who could be seen holding a sign at the rally that said "Dear Elizabeth, Why? Love Amy." Bookbinder, who has been a longtime fan of Warren, says she's confounded by the senator's decision to endorse Clinton.

The crowd of protesters was diverse, and even featured "Moose," a Bernese Mountain Dog sporting a saggy Sanders t-shirt that read "Bernese for Bernie." Supporters assured passerby that he was one of the more enthusiastic fans of the "socialist" senator from Vermont.

Warren, who went on to give a speech that touched upon many of her core progressive positions – including critiques of Wall Street and the decline of incomes and economic opportunity for the American middle class – was able to skirt into the building without facing the crowd of protesters.

During her speech, however, one of the protesters standing in the very back of the room could be seen consistently holding up a "Bernie" sign.

Warren, whose speech reiterated many similar positions to Sanders, still vowed to fight for the American middle class and to "get money out of politics."

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, said the mass shooting at an Orlando, Florida, nightclub, which seems to have targeted the gay community, has hit her hard.

NORTHAMPTON -- Hours after a mass shooting inside an Orlando nightclub took at least 50 lives, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren declined to answer reporters' questions about the 2016 presidential race before speaking to a crowd of supporters in Western Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon.

"We're not going to do politics today," she said, her voice shaking. Warren said she didn't want to comment on a group of Bernie Sanders supporters gathered on a nearby sidewalk who were protesting her recent decision to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. "There will be other chances to talk about politics," she said.

She said the shooting, which seemed to target the gay community, has hit her hard.

"Yesterday I was in Boston for the pride parade," Warren said. "And when I go to the pride parade, I don't march in the pride parade, I dance in the pride parade. It is a celebration. Then wake up this morning to the harsh reminder of the reality that's still out there."

Sanders supporters in Northampton protest Warren's endorsement of Clinton

Warren conveyed the same message inside the World War II Club, where several hundred Democrats gathered to hear her speak.

"This cannot be a moment when we attack each other," Warren said. "This has to be a moment when we say we're going to be a better people, and pull together to make sure we are an America where every person is loved."

Warren then launched into a slideshow about the plight of working families, and started with her own story. "When I was in junior high, my father had a heart attack. And we lost our car, the medical bills piled up, and we were so close to losing our house."

Warren said her mother "saved the family" by getting a minimum-wage job at Sears to pay the mortgage. Such a job today wouldn't even let a mother with a baby rent a one-room apartment, she said.

"For some families, the system has been rigged for decades, so no matter how hard they work, there never will be a way to make ends meet. And none of this will get any better unless we make some fundamental changes in this country."

Warren said Americans are "working harder and harder for less and less money" as corporations report record profits and the stock market booms. She said costs for housing, medical insurance, and childcare have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated.

She spoke up for investments in education, infrastructure, and medical research, a stronger Social Security system, tax law reform, and student loan relief. She said America needs "more cops on Wall Street" and to get big money out of politics. She blasted trade deals that pit American workers against "imprisoned workers and child workers."

"The system is corrupted to serve the wealthy," she said. "Politicians work for the lobbyists. Billions flow to politicians to tilt the laws."

Warren said a majority of Americans support fundamental changes to help ordinary families. "This is not a Democratic or Republican agenda," she said. "This is an American agenda."

A man was escorted from the hall after yelling from the audience a number of times. He could be heard shouting the words "family structure." Warren confronted him directly. "Come on, Bud, enough. You want to rent a hall, go rent a hall! OK, we've got your Trump T-shirt, we've got the whole deal."

Warren rallied the crowd, encouraging them to engage with friends and family members, "including your skeptical Republican uncle, to volunteer for change, and ask hard questions of their elected officials.

"Democracy will not survive on its own," she said. "It needs people to participate."

Activists, ministers and LGBT people from around the Pioneer Valley gathered at South Congregational Church on Maple Street to mourn together.

SPRINGFIELD - Be brave. Be yourself. Don't let them scare you. You are loved.

These were some of the themes of a vigil held Sunday night to remember the 50 people murdered in a gay nightclub in Orlando this weekend. Activists, ministers and LGBT people from around the Pioneer Valley gathered at South Congregational Church on Maple Street to mourn together.

Omar Sateen, 29, shot more than 100 people at Pulse Orlando nightclub in the early morning hours Sunday before dying in a shootout with police. One of those killed was 23-year-old Springfield native Stanley Manolo Almodovar III.

A second person with ties to Western Massachusetts, KJ Morris, was working as a bouncer at Pulse Orlando. In the past, she performed at Diva's nightclub in Northampton as a drag king. Friends prayed she was safe; shortly after the vigil, authorities confirmed she was killed.

In the immediate aftermath, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sent a tweet with a Bible verse that states, "Do not be deceived: God will not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Patrick's office denied there was a connection to the shooting, saying the tweet was scheduled to post automatically. But for some at the Springfield vigil, it was a shameful reminder of the blind hatred directed at the LGBT community.

"We cannot allow people to believe that God supports hatred and division and dehumanization of others," said Eric Elley, deacon at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Longmeadow. "Let us not be deceived. ... God is love."

Amaad Rivera was Springfield's first openly gay city council member and the founder of Springfield Pride. He said it's still socially acceptable to harm people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and that must change.

"In the United States, you can be fired for being LGBT," said Rivera, referring to the majority of states that do not outlaw that kind of discrimination. "That is something we still have to deal with in the 21st century. ... We should have access to every institution in this great country. ... They will not mow us down."

Brian Steele, The Republican 

Many speakers told stories of personal pain. One described years of rape; another said she attempted suicide. Drugs and alcohol, disease, death. Suffering. Ostracism from friends and family. All because of who they are and who they love.

But they find comfort in togetherness.

"We are the one community that gets to choose our family," said Rivera. "And we choose family across race, across class, across religion, across background, across geography. When we bring those people together, we build a deep bond that lets us stand by one another, that brings us through all of these tragedies."

Holyoke City Councilor Nelson Roman said violence and bigotry affect us all, but "we will not allow hate to enter our hearts."

Morris was a beloved dancer and drag performer with strong ties to the LGBT community in Western Massachusetts.

KJ Morris photograph from FacebookFacebook photograph 

Morris was a beloved dancer and drag performer with strong ties to the LGBT community in Western Massachusetts. She was working as a bouncer at Pulse Orlando when Omar Mateen, 29, stormed the building and shot more than 100 people, killing 50 in the deadliest such attack in American history.

Morris was born in Torrington, Connecticut, and spent at least a decade in the Pioneer Valley, according to friend Nelson Roman. She performed at Diva's nightclub in Northampton under the stage name Daddy K.

Roman was driving home from a vigil at South Congregational Church in Springfield on Sunday night when he heard the news. At the vigil, he had prayed that Morris had survived.

"It's so crazy to me," he said. "You just replay those final moments."

He remembered Morris as a "gentle giant. Really funny and quirky. Just genuinely kind." She loved emulating Justin Timberlake onstage. Roman called her a "local icon" in the LGBT community.

The last time they saw each other, Morris said she was moving to Hawaii to manage her own Verizon store. They agreed that they would dance together someday.

Last week, Roman learned she had moved to Florida and was excited to work at Pulse Orlando.

"I was at the vigil tonight about peace and love, but I'm angry," said Roman. "What would make someone want to take 50 lives?"

Springfield native Stanley Manolo Almodovar III was also killed in the shooting. Authorities have not yet identified all the victims publicly.

Gov. Charlie Baker is set to announce his picks for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will unveil the nominations at a press conference on Tuesday.

BOSTON - Gov. Charlie Baker is set to announce his picks for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will unveil the nominations at a press conference on Tuesday, June 14.

The expected retirement of three justices this year - with two more on the way next year - means Baker is getting a rare chance to reshape the state's highest court before he has even finished one term in the Corner Office.

According to the court's website, the body was "established in 1692 and is the oldest appellate court in continuous existence in the Western Hemisphere."

Fernande "Nan" Duffly said earlier this year she plans to retire from the court on July 12, due to her husband's recent surgery. She is the first Asian-American to serve on the seven-member body.

Francis Spina, a Pittsfield native, and Robert Cordy also plan to step down, though they plan to retire in August.

The Boston Globe reported last week that Baker plans to nominate David Lowy to one of the three vacant slots. Lowy is an Essex Superior Court judge and a former official under Gov. William Weld's administration.

The governor's judicial nominees are vetted by the eight-member Governor's Council, an independently elected body.

Two more vacancies are expected in 2017. That's when Justices Margot Botsford and Geraldine Hines turn 70 years old, the mandatory retirement age for judges in Massachusetts.

Rosa-Roman, 24, has been held without bail since his arrest in November 2013 in connection with the death of Plasse in Chicopee in 2011

SPRINGFIELD -- Hampden Superior Court Judge Mark D. Mason is slated Tuesday to take up a defense lawyer's request that certain portions of police interviews with murder defendant Dennis Rosa-Roman not be played for the jury.

Rosa-Roman, 24, has been held without bail since his arrest in November 2013 in connection with the death of Amanda Plasse, 20, who was found stabbed to death on Aug. 26, 2011, in her third floor apartment at 73 School St. in Chicopee.

Jury selection in the murder case begins Wednesday with about 100 prospective jurors ordered to report to the courthouse.

Defense lawyer Donald W. Frank and Assistant District Attorney Karen J. Bell were before Mason all day Monday to discuss pretrial motions. Further discussion on motions will be held Tuesday.

Bell said Monday a medical examiner will testify Plasse, in addition to stab or puncture wounds, also had incised - or slashing - wounds. She said Rosa-Roman's DNA was found underneath Plasse's fingernails.

Rosa-Roman's lawyer worried about getting fair jury

Frank said Monday he will argue police failed to fully investigate the killing and didn't look at other possible suspects closely enough.

Bell said she will argue Rosa-Roman should be convicted under all three theories of first degree murder. Those are murder during the commission of a felony (armed robbery), premeditation and extreme atrocity or cruelty.

A jury only needs to find one of the three theories is proven for a first degree murder conviction, but jurors can find the state has proven two or all three theories.

Bell said Rosa-Roman has given a number of conflicting statements about what happened in Plasse's apartment, but has always said another man killed her.

Rosa-Roman has not named the man he said killed Plasse, but he has given a description that Bell indicated is not very specific except for saying the man had a mole on his face.

In some scenarios, Rosa-Roman said he tried to save Plasse from the killer, Bell said. In one scenario, Rosa-Roman said he heard arguing between a man and Plasse, but when he tried to go in, the man pushed him down the stairs.

Asked by Mason if the prosecution could argue the killing was a joint venture between Rosa-Roman and another unidentified person, Bell said it is possible one theory could be a joint venture crime.

Rosa-Roman was living in Westfield when arrested, but Bell said he lived at 53 Cabot St. in Chicopee when Plasse was killed.

Car batteries and medicine are among items prohibited at Holyoke's household hazardous collection day Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works, 63 Canal St.

Correction posted at 10:16 p.m. on Monday, June 13, 2016: The household hazardous waste collection discussed in this story already occurred on Saturday, June 11.

HOLYOKE -- Residents can bring household hazardous waste like pesticides, antifreeze and fluorescent light tubes to a collection day Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works, 63 Canal St.

"The collection will be free of charge to Holyoke residents with a 10-gallon limit per household," said the event listing on the city website.

To participate in the household hazardous waste collection, residents must register in advance by calling the Department of Public Works (DPW) Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (413) 322-5645, the listing said.

Other items acceptable at the collection include metal polishes, chlordane, brake fluid and other automotive products, mothballs, photo chemicals, rust inhibitors, rechargeable batteries and pool and spa chemicals, the listing said.

"All these products are hazardous to the environment and are illegal to be poured down the drain or put in the trash," the listing said.

Items that will not be accepted include car batteries, asbestos, medicine or other medical waste, smoke detectors, gas cylinders, empty containers or radioactive materials, the listing said.

Veoila Environmental Services of Marlborough has been chosen as the hazardous waste contractor for this event, the listing said.

The Springfield Fire Department responded to the fire Monday at 4:23 p.m. A husband and wife were displaced by the fire, Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger said.

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Fire Department responded to a a cellar fire at 158 Goodwin Street Monday at 4:23 p.m. and found a dryer which had overheated, causing about $10,000 worth of damage to the home.

Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger said the fire caused damage to one apartment in the four-family home, displacing a husband and wife.

The Springfield Red Cross was helping the family to find housing, Leger said. There were no injuries.

The fire burnt through the upstairs floor joints, Leger said.

The fire was caused by an overheated dryer vent, he said, and caused heavy smoke and water damage.

Dryer vents can easily become clogged, and should be cleaned out periodically, Leger said.

It will be sunny across Massachusetts for much of this week.

SPRINGFIELD -- It will be sunny across Massachusetts for much of this week. 

The National Weather Service reports Monday evening will be partly cloudy with lows in the 50s. 

It will be sunny from Boston to the Berkshires throughout the day Tuesday with temperatures to reach the high-70s. 

Western Massachusetts forecast: 

Tonight: A few clouds, breezy and cool. Lows: 48-52.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, pleasant. Highs: 74-78. Winds: NW 5-15 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, warm. Highs: 80-84. Winds: N 5-10 mph.

Recipients in 2016 were from Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Holyoke, Ludlow, Southwick, Springfield, West Springfield and Wilbraham.

SPRINGFIELD -- The 2016 Edward P. Boland Scholarships were recently awarded to 18 college-bound students in the former Massachusetts Second Congressional District, the seat once held by the late U.S. Rep. Edward Boland, D-Springfield, at the scholarship's annual breakfast at the Boland School in Springfield.

This year's scholarship recipients and their hometowns are:

• Springfield: Jasmine Gaskin, Danielle George and Sarah Nwafor
• West Springfield: Julia Fleury, Dillon Garvey and Nicole Meldonian
• Chicopee: Gabryjela Myca and Briana O'Connell
• Holyoke: Melanie Kos and Emma Price
• Wilbraham: Nathaniel Woodward
• Hampden: Sarah Willoughby
• Ludlow: Ciara McCready
• East Longmeadow: Maria Boucher and Ryan Dunn
• Southwick: Dylan Parrow and Kenneth Stratton
• Granville: William Armstrong.

The annual awards are granted up to $2,500 and are intended for undergraduate students based on financial need, academic merit and extracurricular activities. Applicants are required to be a resident of the Massachusetts First Congressional District (the Second District during Boland's tenure) at the time of application and a graduating senior of a high school or other secondary school, or an undergraduate student already in college.

Two additional awards were given to scholarship recipients Julia Fleury, of West Springfield, and Sarah Nwafor, of Springfield). Fleury received the James F. X. Egan, MD Award, named after the late brother of Mary Boland, and Nwafor received the Honorable Daniel M. Keyes, Jr. Award, named after the late judge who was best friend and confidant of Congressman Boland.

The Edward P. Boland Scholarship Fund is named for the late congressman who established it upon his retirement from Congress in 1988 after serving the Western Massachusetts community for more than 50 years. The fund has awarded scholarships each year since 1990 and has distributed more than $600,000 to more than 400 students from the Second District.

The Holyoke City Council will vote on June 14 on a committee recommendation to place a question about whether the city should adopt the Community Preservation Act on the Nov. 8 election ballot.

HOLYOKE -- A committee voted Monday to recommend that the full City Council on June 21 approve the placement of a question on the Nov. 8 election ballot asking voters if they want the city to adopt the state Community Preservation Act.

The council's Development and Government Relations Committee voted 5-0 on that recommendation at City Hall.

Specifically, the question would ask voters if they are agreeable to the city adopting the Community Preservation Act that would impose a surcharge on property taxpayers of 1.5 percent of the tax bill they pay to the city.

The committee previously had voted to recommend the same 1.5 percent surcharge. But councilors referred the item back to committee after objections to how a summary that would accompany the question on the ballot would be worded.

Assistant City Solicitor Kara Cunha proposed wording of the question summary councilors were agreeable to. The addition to the summary is that it will state that the placement of the question on the ballot does not mean the City Council endorses adoption of the CPA.

State law permits adoption of the CPA with a surcharge of 1 percent to 3 percent on a property tax bill. In other words, property owners would be charged an additional 1 percent to 3 percent of the tax bill that they pay to the city to fund the CPA.

But exemptions can reduce the burden such as excluding the first $100,000 of a property's value from the surcharge and providing exclusions for senior citizens and the poor.

CPA supporters said the key is cities and towns that adopt the act get matching money from the state.

The CPA funds raised locally and the state matching money can be used for projects related only to open space, historic restoration or affordable housing.

A more detailed story on this issue will be published as reporting continues.

After a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called for a return to a federal ban on assault weapons. Healey said the ban, which expired in 2004, would reduce the likelihood of attacks like the one on Pulse, the gay nightclub.

BOSTON - After a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called for a return to a federal ban on assault weapons.

Healey, a Democrat, said the ban, which expired in 2004, would reduce the likelihood of attacks like the one on Pulse, a gay nightclub. Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man born in New York, shot 49 people and injured dozens early Sunday morning.

"Whether it's a church in Charleston, South Carolina, or a workplace in San Bernardino, or a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, or a classroom in Newtown, Connecticut, time after time, we have seen these terrible acts perpetrated with a constant in place, and that is the kind of weapon used," Healey said.

Mateen used an AR-15, according to the Miami Herald, which reported that he purchased it legally in the days before the shooting.

"The fact of the matter is, these are weapons that were built for the military, built to kill huge numbers of people in very short order, a limited amount of time," Healey told reporters. "We need to reinstitute the federal assault weapons ban, we need to make these weapons not available, draw the line around these weapons and make them not available to civilians."

Healey added: "It's one thing and appropriate for military and law enforcement to have access to these weapons, but we need to get back to a place where these weapons, which can wreak such horror and damage in seconds, are not available to civilians."

Massachusetts already has an assault weapons ban in place.

Western Mass. Episcopal bishop cites support for victims, assault weapons bill

On Sunday morning, 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire on people inside Pulse nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 and injuring dozens. On Monday night, hundreds gathered outside Boston City Hall to mourn the loss of life.

BOSTON - The day before the shooting in Orlando, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey had marched in the Boston Pride Parade.

"To wake up the next morning, the very next morning, and read about this terrible atrocity and tragedy, it's a real punch in the gut to so many of us, not just members of the LGBT community, but people like this, of goodwill and good intent, they want to see peace in our society," Healey said as she stood outside Boston City Hall, where hundreds of people had converged for a vigil in an offer of solidarity with Orlando.

"We have just seen too many instances, one after the other, of these mass shootings," added Healey, who is the first openly gay attorney general in the United States. "Today is about coming together in solidarity to stand united."

Gay clubs were often viewed sanctuaries for members of the LGBT community, according to Healey.

On Sunday morning, 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire on people inside Pulse nightclub, killing 49 and injuring dozens.

"The LGBT community is strong and will continue to be strong. Americans are strong and will continue to be strong. And now is the time to redouble efforts, to commit to fight for inclusion, to fight for equality, to fight against hate, prejudice, discrimination and the like," Healey said Monday evening. "And that's who we are as Americans. That's what we need to be about."

At the vigil, amid rainbow flags, some held signs such as "more love is ok" and "We Can End Gun Violence."

The vigil was hosted by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. Attendees included Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Boson Police Commissioner William Evans and Boston City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Tito Jackson, among others.

Before the vigil, Walsh announced a condolence book would be available for people to sign through the end of the week. The book will then be sent to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, according to Walsh's office.

Walsh also ordered City Hall to be lit with the colors of the rainbow flag as dusk fell.

After the vigil, as officials headed inside City Hall to sign the condolence book, the crowd started to sing "Amazing Grace."

Folks singing Amazing Grace as the procession heads inside City Hall to sign the condolence book for the victims. pic.twitter.com/tO8xrm2HNj

-- Kyle Scott Clauss (@KyleClauss) June 13, 2016

Attorney General Healey calls for reinstatement of federal assault weapons ban

The Holyoke City Council Monday held a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida that occurred Sunday.

HOLYOKE -- The City Council began its meeting with a moment of silence in honor of the shooting victims from the Sunday violence at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida Monday at City Hall.

"Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims," Council President Kevin A. Jourdain said.

Authorities said that Omar Mateen, 29, carried out the deadliest mass shooting in American history as he shot 49 people to death and injured dozens of others before dying in a shootout with police at Pulse Orlando.

Among the killed were KJ Morris, 37, who was born in Torrington, Connecticut and spent years in the Pioneer Valley, and Springfield native Stanley Manolo Almodovar III, officials said.

Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman said that KJ Morris was well-known in the area and had performed at Diva's nightclub in Northampton under the stage name Daddy K.

Jourdain thanked Ward 4 Councilor Jossie M. Valentin and Roman, who are gay, for their work in reaching out to the community in the wake of the shootings.

"Our prayers and best wishes are with all of them," Jourdain said.

Officials say Mateen called 911 from the nightclub and expressed allegiance to an ISIS leader. He also referred to Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the brothers who committed the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, as his 'homeboys,'" in the 911 call, officials said.

The Tsarnaev brothers killed three people and injured hundreds after they set off bombs at the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013. They also killed Sean Collier, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday Mateen has no real or direct connection with the Tsarnaev brothers.

The City Council meeting was a special session. The board is conducting a line-item-by-line-item review of the $126.2 million budget that Mayor Alex B. Morse has proposed to run the city in the fiscal year that begins July 1. The council's regular meetings are the first and third Tuesday of the month.

Several Springfield city councilors were in attendance, and promised to seek a meeting with Mayor Domenic Sarno about increasing code enforcement funding to battle blight.

SPRINGFIELD - At a massive public meeting Monday night, city and state officials made commitments to meet with activists and discuss avenues for social change.

More than 300 people from religious organizations, labor unions and advocacy groups filled Sacred Heart Church on Chestnut Street for the meeting held by the nonprofit Pioneer Valley Project. Also present were representatives of Springfield's statehouse delegation, candidates for Hampden County sheriff and officials from various city departments.

Topics of a wide-ranging presentation included the need for an equitable opioid overdose prevention strategy, plans for dealing with blighted properties and absentee landlords, and how best to spend the $25 million payment MGM will make to the city every year as part of the casino host community agreement.

Several Springfield city councilors were in attendance, and promised to seek a meeting with Mayor Domenic Sarno about increasing code enforcement funding to battle blight.

"My apartment building has been falling down for more than a year now," said Paul Lumpkin, a PVP board member. He faulted an absentee landlord and banks that do not live up to their legal responsibilities after a foreclosure. "Every family deserves a safe place to live. ... We need to stand up for ourselves and our families."

Ward 8 City Councilor Orlando Ramos touted his proposed "Rental Registration" ordinance, which would require landlords to pay fees for registration and inspection of their apartments. It would also ensure the code enforcement and law departments are properly staffed to "aggressively go after" the problem of absentee landlords.

Gabby Pedraza, a public school student and member of PVP's Youth Committee, described her experience with in-school suspension and the disproportionate impact of such punishments on students of color. She earned a commitment from Assistant Superintendent of Schools Lydia Martinez to sit down and talk about using restorative justice techniques in education.

Speakers also pleaded for criminal justice reforms such as a drug court in Springfield; unfettered access to translation services when non-English speakers interact with the police; and an approach to heroin addiction that emphasizes public health, rather than incarceration.

PVP wants a community discussion about how to spend the $25 million per year the city will receive from MGM Springfield starting in 2018. Darryl Cole, representing New Hope Pentecostal Church, said PVP is not pushing for specific allocations.

"We really just want as much participation as possible," said Cole. "We're just looking for a voice, in the same way we had voting on the casino."