Despite rival Hillary Clinton being deemed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Bernie Sanders, in a Thursday evening online video address, only hinted at soon working together to defeat Republican Donald Trump in the general election.

Despite rival Hillary Clinton being deemed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Bernie Sanders, in a Thursday evening online video address, only hinted at soon working together to defeat Republican Donald Trump in the general election.

Sanders declared that "the political revolution" at the center of his campaign "must continue." The Vermont senator neither conceded the nomination to Clinton nor vowed categorically to take the nomination fight to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next month.

"The major political task that we face in the next five months is to make certain that Donald Trump is defeated and defeated badly. And I personally intend to begin my role in that process in a very short period of time," Sanders said. "But defeating Donald Trump cannot be our only goal. We must continue our grassroots efforts to create the America that we know we can become. And we must take that energy into the Democratic National Convention on July 25 in Philadelphia where we will have more than 1,900 delegates."

Sanders' address came just days after he sat down with Clinton, who was declared the party's presumptive presidential nominee after winning support from more than the 2,383 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

The senator thanked supporters for helping his campaign build a movement, contending that it overcame long political odds to win primaries and garner delegates (according to the Associated Press, Sanders stands at 1,881 delegates).

"Let me conclude by once again thanking everyone who has helped in this campaign in one way or another. We have begun the long and arduous process of transforming America, a fight that will continue tomorrow, next week, next year and into the future," he said.

Watch Sanders' address here:

Following Clinton and Sanders' Tuesday evening Washington, D.C., sit-down, which both campaigns characterized as "positive," the senator backed away from fundraising efforts, as well as from his push to take his White House bid to the floor of the Democratic National Convention – a shift that fueled rumors of the senator's plans to exit the contest.

Sanders' campaign spokesman Michael Briggs said the meeting focused on how to bring more people into the political process and address the threat posed by Trump.

Both Clinton and Sanders, he added, "agreed to continue working to develop a progressive agenda that addresses the needs of working families and the middle class and adopting a progressive platform for the Democratic National Convention."

Briggs, in an email to supporters, further stressed that Sanders' so-called "political revolution" extends beyond the 2016 election.

"In order for the work that we have begun to be long-lasting for years to come, we must continue our political revolution," he said. "And we need you to be a part of it."

Earlier this month, the Vermont senator pledged to take his campaign all the way to the party's nominating convention, even as Clinton was declared the party's expected nominee.

Massachusetts supporters of Sanders expressed mixed support about the idea of possibly backing Clinton in the general election.

Some have spurned calls for party unity – even protesting U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's, D-Mass., endorsement of the former first lady – while others said they expected most Democrats to come together against Trump.

Ben Swan Jr. formally announced his candidacy for state representative in the 11th Hampden District, and pledged to build on his father's work as the district incumbent the past 22 years.

SPRINGFIELD -- Ben Swan Jr. made it official on Thursday night, announcing his candidacy for state representative in the 11th Hampden District as the current office holder, his father Ben Swan Sr., was among those cheering him on.

Family members, friends, and other supporters gathered for the Swan's formal announcement at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 530 St. James Ave.

"I'm proud to be from Springfield, and I am excited to seek the opportunity to fight for Springfield in Boston," Swan said. "I intend to not only continue the good work that my father has established over the last 23 years, but to build upon it."

Swan, 57, of 149 Clarendon St., a lifelong resident, is seeking to take the seat held by his father for 11 two-year terms. He is one of four candidates who qualified for the Democratic Primary ballot for the 11th Hampden race.

He said he is running out of love for his city, his neighbors and his community.

"I believe that they deserve a representative who will not be for sale, who will rise above the status quo, one who will return their call -- a representative that will fight each and every day for them," Swan said.

Both Swan Sr. and Swan Jr. took out nomination papers earlier this year, but Swan Sr., 83, announced on May 24 that he will retire at the end of his term in January. The father and son had said from the beginning that they would not run against each other.

"Make no mistake, I am not a seasoned politician," the younger Swan said. "I've never held a public job. But I am proud of my three decades in the private sector, and my decades as an active participant in the community."

Swan said he will be "100 percent dedicated to the cause of representing every family in the 11th Hampden District."

Swan said constituent service will be his top priority, and his legislative agenda will include special attention to the issue of jobs, community development and education, which he called the "pillars" to build up the community.

More than 150 people attended the campaign kickoff, including Ward 4 City Councilor E. Henry Twiggs, Bishop Talbert W. Swan II, veterans activist Bernard McClusky and representatives of some labor unions.

Swan Sr. said he would have ran for re-election for his seat had not his son chosen to run.

"It is rewarding in many ways," Swan Sr. said, speaking about his son's commitment to the community, volunteer service and helping people. "I've wanted him to be more engaged in politics than he had been. He had tried to avoid elective office."

If his son is elected, "I won't feel bad at all about leaving office," Swan Sr. said., adding that his son will bring

Swan Jr. has worked in the private sector as an information technology systems analyst, including 20 years at Smith & Wesson and over 10 years at MassMutual, according to his campaign website. He is currently a self-employed IT systems consultant, as well as a property owner and manager.

He is chairman of the city Planning Board, and is a past president and current board member of the McKnight Neighborhood Council. In addition, he has served on the advisory board of the ROCA program, as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and as a tutor in the Springfield Public Schools, according to his website.

Others who have qualified for the Democratic ballot in the 11th Hampden District race are Bud L. Williams, Larry Lawson and Ken Barnett.

The 11th Hampden District includes a variety of neighborhoods including Upper Hill, Old Hill, Pine Point, Bay, Six Corners, McKnight and parts of East Forest Park.

Walter Kroll, who has been active in the McKnight Neighborhood Council, praised Swan Jr.

"He's just such a terrific guy, very grounded, extremely ethical, considerate and very fair-minded," Kroll said. "He has been since the day I met him."

Emma Woods was another supporter, praising the Swan family as "truthful and people you can really trust."

"I think if you can put two Bushes in the White House, why not put two Swans in Springfield as a state rep," Woods said.

The City Council has twice rejected local taxes on hotel rooms and meals.

WESTFIELD - The City Council Thursday night approved increasing the local hotel and motel room rental excise tax but referred similar action on a local meals tax to committee for further study.

Twice in recent years the council has overwhelmingly rejected both proposals, first recommended by former Mayor Daniel Knapik and now by Mayor Brian P. Sullivan.

The tax on hotel and motel room rentals will be increased from the current three percent, which all goes to the state, to six percent with that additional three percent going into city coffers. The estimated annual revenue is about $75,000.

The meals tax, if approved will increase from the current 6.25 percent, all to the state, to 7 percent with .75 percent going into the city's treasury. That increase is expected to raise about $425,000 annually.

The room tax increase was approved by an 8 - 3 vote with Councilors David A. Flaherty, Mary L. O'Connell and Andrew Surprise casting the no votes.

After lengthy debate councilors agreed Thursday night to refer the meals tax increase to its Legislative and Ordinance Committee for additional review.

That came after Councilor William Onyski suggested he would like to hear from residents before voting on the tax.

Several councilors including O'Connel, Surprise and Flaherety voiced opposition to the additional tax on meals saying it would pose a burden on residents.

Flaherty said he could support both the room and meals tax if the revenue would be earmarked to reduce outstanding debt but revenue from both will be deposited in the general fund.

Surprise argued that the meals tax will increase on all meals, vending machine purchases and Starbucks coffee.

O'Connell argued that councilors have an obligation to their constituents to reduce, not add to taxes.

Other council members including Steve Dondely and Matthew VanHeynigen argued that the meals tax represents an additional cost of 75 cents on a $100 meal.

Five of the six candidates vying to succeed longtime Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. touted their experience, plans to secure agency funding and offered plans to enhance employee morale, as they squared-off during a Thursday evening candidate forum.

CHICOPEE — Five of the six candidates vying to succeed longtime Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. touted their experience and offered plans to secure agency funding and boost employee morale as they made their cases to corrections union members during a Thursday evening candidate forum.

The National Correctional Employees Union-sponsored event, held at the Chicopee Days Inn, offered candidates the opportunity to share their visions for the future of the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, as well as to directly answer members' questions.

The union, which represents more than 400 Hampden County correctional employees, will use its first-ever sheriff candidate forum to determine whom to endorse in the race, said moderator Stephen Buoniconti, the NCEU government affairs consultant.

All four Democratic Hampden County sheriff candidates participated in the event, including: Michael Albano, a governor's councilor and former Springfield mayor, Tom Ashe, a Springfield city councilor; Nick Cocchi, a Hampden County Sheriff's Department deputy superintendent; and Jack Griffin, a retired addiction specialist with the Connecticut Department of Corrections.

Non-party candidate James Gill, an assistant deputy superintendent with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, also took part in the event.

Focusing on potential budget cuts that could face the agency following the departure of the longtime sheriff, candidates discussed how they would secure state funding for the Hampden County Sheriff's Department if elected.

Cocchi, who contended that he has experience working with the agency's budget, said he would look to secure state dollars by highlighting the department's programs and successes.

"I feel extremely confident going down to Boston on your reputation and the work that we do every day and the statistics that are proving that what we do does work and going down and saying 'We're recognized, Mr. Governor, as one of the best correctional institutions in the commonwealth and for us to continue we've got to have the money," he said.

Gill said he believes it is up to the local legislative delegation to fight for the agency and present what it does, adding that the sheriff only goes down to lobby lawmakers toward the end of the budget process.

Pointing to the anti-politician sentiments that have surfaced in the 2016 presidential race, Ashe raised concerns about some candidates' claims that they could show up in Boston and automatically secure funding similar to that seen under the current sheriff.

Albano expressed doubts, arguing that candidates suggesting they can secure funding on the agency's programming successes alone is "not going to happen."

"If you guys aren't politicians you better turn into politicians real quick," he said. "Because you're going to need someone who knows the ins and outs of the State House to deliver. This is serious business, you guys got a lot at stake ... there's going to be cuts unless you've got somebody who's got the experience down there who knows how to work with the governor."

Griffin, who stressed that he is not a politician, meanwhile, dismissed claims that the sheriff needs to have a political background to fight for funding on Beacon Hill.

"I hear politicians say you need to be political to get in on the ground floor and talk to the governor and Senate president," he said. "I'll go talk to them, look them in the eye and say, 'We need some money.' How's that sound? I don't mean to make light of it, but to be honest with you, I've got the gumption to do it because I'm representing you."

Aside from touting his experience in bringing back funding from Boston, Albano highlighted his 11-point plan "to promote basic fairness in the process and level the collective bargaining playing field," when asked how he would improve employee morale in the sheriff's department.

Contending that the union has "one of the worst" contracts he's seen, Albano said he's prepared to sign off on his plan and address what he called "unfair labor practices" and "astronomical raises" given to supervisors, among other things.

"Some people say I can't do it, I've done it ... these are the things that you want and I'll fight like hell for you at the State House to lift that cap, make sure that you're compensated adequately and make sure no supervisors are going to get those types of increases under my watch," he said. "It's outrageous, it's wrong, it's unfair."

Gill, who said employee morale is the worst he's seen during his 25 years of service at the agency, announced a laundry list of changes he would implement if elected sheriff, including: requiring two armed officers on all transport details, allowing officers to carry personal cell phones on transport details, ensuring bulletproof vests fit employees and guaranteeing employees have a career path, among other things.

Ashe, meanwhile, said he would prioritize raising the staffing level to where it should be, as well as address human resources practices that he called "inherently unfair" and the food.

"Somehow we're going to find the resources to change that," he said. "Until we do, I'm going to sit down and eat that stuff too," he said.

Cocchi offered that he would use his experience and knowledge to address employee morale and create a security management forum to facilitate dialog about how to enhance the facility.

Candidates, meanwhile, all agreed that they would terminate current consulting contracts if elected sheriff.

Albano pledged that such consultants will be ended on day one of his administration, raising concerns that they could be illegally "double dipping" on pay.

Cocchi said he would also immediately terminate all consultant contracts, but would still hire some, saying the ability for the sheriff to bring them in is important.

"I believe the sheriff has not only the right, but needs to have the ability to bring in consultants to help," he said.

Gill, however, contended that there are only a handful of actual consultants in the department and the rest are retirees at the superintendent level that have been brought back.

He pledged to get rid of these "contractors and subcontractors."

Republican John M. Comerford, director of the Eastern Hampden County Veterans' Service District, was also invited, but did not attend.

The four Democrats will square off in the Sept. 8 primary, with the winner facing Comerford and Gill in the Nov. 8 general election.

The forum comes just over a month after five of the candidates discussed their visions for the agency's addiction treatment efforts, budget funding and staff outreach during their first debate hosted by Focus Springfield Community Television.

BusinessWest honored young business and community leaders at the publication's "40 Under Forty" gala held at the Log Cabin and Banquet House on Thursday.

HOLYOKE — BusinessWest honored young business and community leaders at the publication's "40 Under Forty" gala held at the Log Cabin and Banquet House on Thursday.

In its tenth year, the event was a showcase of the young business, civic and political leaders from the four counties in Western Massachusetts.

More than 130 nominations were received for this year's class, with entries scored by a panel of five judges who weighed everything from career accomplishments to involvement in the community, according to BusinessWest. Those with the 40 highest scores made the list.

"This is an outstanding class of honorees," said BusinessWest Editor George O'Brien in a statement. "Together, they show that many ways that one can serve as a leader, and the myriad ways in which individuals can inspire others to become leaders themselves."

Check out photos from the event above, and read the full list of winners below.

• Andrew Anderlonis
• Elizabeth Angelos
• Jesse Belcher-Timme
• Latoya Bosworth
• Nunzio Bruno
• Darleen Buttrick
• Brian Canina
• Katie Chappell
• Ashley Clark
• Michael ClarkLamont Clemons
• Rebecca Connolly
• Adrian Dahlin
• Beth DeGray
• Courtney Doyle-Campbell
• Molly Feinstein
• Elizabeth Fisk
• John Gannon
• Ross Giombetti
• Meghan GodorovAdam Gomez
• Christina Grass
• Robert Kain
• Justin Killeen
• Jenny MacKay
• Angela Mass
• Rebecca Moriarty
• Kate Morneau
• Amanda Moyer
• LaTonia Monroe NaylorWilliam Reichelt
• Kenneth Riley Jr.
• Lidya Rivera-Early
• Shannon Rudder
• Michael Sakey
• Leanne Sedlak
• Elizabeth Staples
• Kara Stevens
• Jeffrey Trask
• Laura Walsh

More than 200 visitors filled the parking lot of the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy as part of the annual Putnam Collision Advisory and Appreciation BBQ on Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD — More than 200 visitors filled the parking lot of the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy as part of the annual Putnam Collision Advisory and Appreciation BBQ on Thursday.

Visitors from the auto body and collision industry took advantage of the informal style dinner to meet with students and staff. According to John Kennedy, department head at the school, the picnic-style dinner is a chance for the students to network with local auto body and collision businesses.

"This (school) has become a resource center for many businesses." Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the students have a virtual reality computer program that, coupled with a special pair of goggles, enables the students to "paint" cars without touching a real vehicle. The school has state-of-the-art equipment for the students to learn on, and that's a huge benefit to employers looking for qualified personnel, he said.

The appreciation BBQ is a joint effort of multiple resources and was designed to bring an awareness of the talented students enrolled in the school program, which presently has an estimated 60-40 ratio between male and female enrolled in the auto program, Kennedy said. The auto collision program presently has a 90 to 95 percent placement rate.

The CIA Director John Brennan said U.S. attacks on ISIS have "not reduced" its capacity for attacking America.

The terrorist organization known as the Islamic State is most likely planning future attacks on the West and the U.S., according to CIA Director John Brennan.

"Unfortunately, despite all our progress against ISIL on the battlefield and in the financial realm, our efforts have not reduced the group's terrorism capability and global reach," said Brennan during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington, on Thursday, according to CNN.

Indeed, despite the fact that multiple media outlets say ISIS has suffered significant losses in territory and leadership over the past several months, the group still seems capable of motivating dangerous people of swearing allegiance to their cause.

The Orlando "shooter," Omar Mateen, allegedly swore allegiance to the group on the day that he entered a gay nightclub and killed 49 people, according to NPR.

The CIA Director also noted that terrorism isn't necessarily an expensive pursuit, making it a fairly durable operation.

"The resources needed for terrorism are very modest," Brennan said, during his statement. "The group would have to suffer even heavier losses of territory, manpower and money for its terrorist capacity to decline significantly."

Brennan also warned that he believed the group would "intensify" its efforts, even as they continue to lose territory and manpower.

"As the pressure mounts on ISIL, we judge that it will intensify its global terror campaign to maintain its dominance of the global terrorism agenda," said Brennan.

Part of the Islamic State's strategy may be to use people already in the West to initiate attacks, according to Brennan.

"We judge that ISIL is training and attempting to deploy operatives for further attacks," Brennan said. "ISIL has a large cadre of Western fighters who could potentially serve as operatives for attacks in the West. And the group is probably exploring a variety of means for infiltrating operatives into the West, including refugee flows, smuggling routes, and legitimate methods of travel."

The twelve-year-old boy from Georgia, Vermont, has been found safe, according to Vermont State Police.

GEORGIA, VT — Owen Foley, the twelve-year-old boy from Georgia, Vermont, who was reported missing early Thursday evening has been located and is safe, according to Vermont State Police.

Foley "appears to be in good health," but he is being taken to be checked by rescue personnel, according to Sgt. Richard Desany of the Vermont State Police.

Foley reportedly disappeared from his residence in the area of Ballard Rd and Rt 7 near exit 18, around noon, on Thursday, according to police.

Police have not yet released details on the circumstances of how and where Foley was found.

Springfield police seized close to 17,000 bags of heroin on Thursday night and arrested 3 men that are believed to be drug dealers.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Police seized thousands of bags of heroin and arrested three people on Thursday morning, after surveillance led authorities to believe the suspects were drug dealers.

16,776 bags of heroin, 7.5 grams of cocaine, 12 grams of marijuana, $11,212, and a loaded firearm were recovered by authorities after a search warrant was executed at 10 Huntington St, in Springfield, according to police.

Jeremy Crespo, 21, of Holyoke, and Moises Silva, 35, and Jereiska Fontanez, 24, both of 10 Huntington St. in Springfield, were arrested on Thursday morning.

Police say that investigation led narcotics detectives to believe that the three were drug dealers and were responsible for delivering hundreds of bags of the narcotics to "street dealers" all over Western Massachusetts.

Springfield narcotics detectives apparently kept 10 Huntington St., under surveillance on Thursday morning, as they believed it to be a "safe-house" for the narcotics operations. At approximately 9:30 a.m., the detectives reportedly observed two of the alleged male dealers leaving the residence in an Acura.

The detectives then followed the dealers as they traveled through a number of neighboring cities, including West Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee. In each of the cities, the alleged dealers made "drops" of the narcotics to "local dealers and customers," according to police.

The detectives followed the suspected dealers back to Springfield and arrested them as they pulled into a gas station parking lot on West Street. During the arrest, the detectives discovered a large number of bags of heroin that had been hidden inside the console of the Acura.

Police say that after the arrest the detectives then executed a search warrant at 10 Huntington Street, where they discovered the large stash of heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. Police say a female drug dealer was also arrested at the apartment.

Crespo, Silva, and Fontanez are all being held without bail, and will appear in district court tomorrow, according to police.

They face a number of charges, including trafficking in heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate narcotics drug laws, possession of a large capacity firearm, and carrying a firearm.

Markey blamed Trump for creating an atmosphere in which someone called the police to report Muslims praying at an MBTA station.

BOSTON -- U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, on Friday blamed Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump for creating an atmosphere in which someone called the police to report two Muslims praying at an MBTA station.

"To say that someone who is practicing their own religion in public is a threat to the public safety and it's a good thing they called police to turn them in is to turn an entire class of three million Americans, Muslims of America, into a suspect criminal class," Markey said. "By doing it, he's engaging in one of the most un-American activities that's ever been engaged in in the history of our country."

The Boston Herald reported Friday that someone called the transit police after spotting two Muslims praying on an MBTA platform in Medford. The MBTA general manager called it a "misunderstanding" and said there was no threat to passengers.

A reporter asked Markey about the incident at a Boston press conference that Markey held to push for stronger gun laws.

Markey responded to the question by talking about Trump, accusing him of "demonizing" Muslims and undermining freedom of religion in the U.S. Trump has called for temporarily shutting the border to Muslims due to terrorism concerns. Markey called Trump's comments "hate speech."

"He's undermining everything that we believe in by saying that people who have different religions or different colors are not worthy of being respected in our country," Markey said. "He says he want to 'make America great again,' but Donald Trump really wants to make America hate again."

There was a moment of silence on the steps of Springfield City Hall to memorialize the one-year anniversary of the church shooting in Charleston, S.C.

SPRINGFIELD -- Bishop Talbert W. Swan II and Mayor Domenic Sarno held a moment of silence on the steps of City Hall to memorialize the one-year anniversary of the shooting that killed nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.

Swan described the anniversary as a moment to reflect on both historical and current racism in the United States, describing the attack on the historic black church as reminiscent of the Birmingham church bombing that killed four girls in 1963.

"The Emanuel tragedy reminded us of the abyss of racial hatred that flows out of America's past," Swan said. "That is a horrendous time in the history of America."

While progress has been made toward racial justice, racism persists and must be confronted, Swan said.

"However, we don't come today to mark a moment in time that is born out of the abyss of America's past," he said. "We unfortunately come today to mark a moment in time that is part of America's racist present."

"As much as we love to come together in celebration it seems at times - and I have to agree with President Obama - when is this stuff going to stop?" Sarno said.

"I think [the church's forgiveness] helped shine a light that there are many more good individuals no matter what creed, color or background than these small percentage of negative individuals," Sarno continued. "I always maintain that good is going to prevail over evil, so although we can't bring those individuals back... it is important that we send a message of prevention."

Sarno and Swan were joined by Pastor Paul Starnes, who read the names of the nine victims of the Charleston shooting, parishioners from Springfield's Bethel AME Church and the Freedom Choir of Springfield.

Dylann Roof, who investigators say published an white supremacist manifesto and endorsed racial segregation, is accused of entering the Emanuel AME Church during a prayer meeting and opening fire.

The victims included pastor and state Sen. Clementa Pinckney and eight others: Rev. Sharonda Singleton, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lee Lance, Cynthia Hurd, Rev. Daniel L. Simmons Sr., Tywanza Sanders, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor and Susie Jackson.

Roof is awaiting trial in federal and state court on allegations that include murder and hate crime charges. He is facing the death penalty and has pleaded not guilty.

The 9:15 a.m. accident closed Route 10 in both directions for more than four hours.

SOUTHAMPTON -- Three people were injured in a two-car collision on Route 10 near Valley Road Friday morning, including a 79-year-old driver and a 15-month-old passenger, Police Chief Michael Goyette said.

The accident, which was reported at about 9:15 a.m., forced the closing of Route 10 in both directions for several hours as the scene was cleared of debris, Goyette said.

Traffic was detoured at North Road in Westfield and Brickyard Road in Southampton. Route 10 was reopened around 1:30 p.m. and traffic was back to normal Friday afternoon.

All three occupants, two drivers and a passenger, were taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center, Goyette said.

The driver of one of the vehicles, Mary Cadigan, 79, of Holyoke, was in critical condition Friday afternoon, according to a Baystate spokesman.

A passenger in Cadigan's vehicle, a 15-month old boy whose identity was not disclosed, and the driver of the other vehicle, Biljana Simikic, 36, of Northampton, suffered what were considered minor injuries.

The child, who is Cadigan's grand nephew, was secured in a car seat at the time of the accident, Goyette said.

The accident occurred at Valley Road and Route 10, roughly a half-mile north of the Westfield line.

The state police Accident Reconstruction Team was called in to assist with the investigation of the crash, Goyette said.

The preliminary investigation shows Cadigan was driving east on Valley Road and Simikic was heading south on Route 10. The front end of Cadigan's 2006 Toyota Corolla appeared to have struck Simikic's 2015 Toyota minivan on the passenger side, he said. The impact sent both vehicles skidding off the road and into the grass on the east side of Route 10, he said.

The accident remains under investigation.

A Framingham probation officer has been accused of exchanging a handgun for sex with a woman, according to The Boston Globe.

FRAMINGHAM — Officials say a Framingham probation officer is alleged to have given a woman a firearm in exchange for sex, according to The Boston Globe.

Paul F. Collins, 62, who is an associate probation officer for the Framingham district court, has been accused of giving a woman a handgun on the condition that she have sex with him.

Police say that the same weapon was later recovered during an investigation into a suspected drug dealer, and that the woman involved with Collins had exchanged the firearm for drugs, according to the paper.

Collins pleaded not guilty to four charges at his arraignment in Framingham district court. The charges included trafficking in firearms, carrying a firearm without a license, conspiracy, and possession of ammunition without a license.

Collins' attorney has allegedly defended his client by saying that "little links him" to the case other than the woman's accusation of his involvement.

Coria Holland, spokeswoman for the Framingham probation department, says Collins has been placed on administrative leave, according to the paper.

Judge Mark D. Mason said jury selection has been difficult, in part because many prospective jurors have prepaid vacations this time of year.

SPRINGFIELD — Jury selection for the Dennis Rosa-Roman murder trial will resume Monday, with fewer than half of the required 16 jurors seated after three days of interviews.

By late Friday afternoon, seven jurors had been selected, Assistant District Attorney Joan O'Brien said, with nine more needed before the trial can begin in Hampden Superior Court.

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

Only 12 jurors will deliberate on a verdict, but 16 are usually selected in case some are excused during the trial or during deliberations.

Following Thursday's session, Judge Mark D. Mason said jury selection has been difficult, in part because many prospective jurors have prepaid vacations this time of year.

The trial is expected to take about three weeks.

Four jurors were seated during Wednesday's session and one on Thursday. Ninety people were called in for Friday's jury pool.

Markey voiced support for Democratic-sponsored bills to create universal background checks and forbid anyone on an FBI terrorist watch list from buying a gun.

BOSTON -- U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, on Friday voiced strong support for Democratic-sponsored bills expanding U.S. gun control laws.

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a variety of gun-related measures Monday, a little over a week after a mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub. While none of the measures are expected to pass, Markey said the votes are a way "to continue to apply the pressure of the American people to the Republican-led House and Senate" and to "break the vise-like control" that the National Rifle Association has on Congress.

Early Sunday morning, Omar Mateen murdered 49 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. Mateen purchased his gun, an AR-15 assault rifle, legally. The FBI had investigated Mateen in 2013 and 2014 as having potential terrorist ties.

The attack has prompted renewed calls for more gun control. On Wednesday night, Senate Democrats conducted a 15-hour filibuster to force a vote on gun control measures.

Nearly 15-hour gun control filibuster in wake of shooting ends after commitment to hold votes

Senate Republicans agreed to hold votes on dueling gun-related measures, although none are expected to pass.

Democrats want universal background checks, in which checks are required for sales conducted over the internet and at gun shows. Democrats have also been pushing for measures to forbid anyone on the federal government's terrorist watch list from buying a gun. Republicans are pushing a measure to add mental health considerations to background checks, Politico reported.

Markey voiced support for banning gun sales to anyone under suspicion of terrorism by the FBI. "If you cannot fly, you should not be able to buy an assault weapon, or any weapon in the United States," Markey said.

Opponents of the bill say law-abiding Americans have ended up on the watch list because they are, for example, family members or acquaintances of a terrorist. There are also concerns that this would impede an investigation by making a suspected terrorist aware of it.

Markey said the presumption should be that a person on the terrorist watch list should not be allowed to buy a gun. "If you can prove you don't deserve to be on that list and provide evidence, you'll be removed," Markey said.

Markey also argued for universal background checks. He said eventually, Congress should reinstate a ban on all assault weapons. The U.S. had a ban on domestic assault weapons until 2004, when it expired. "If someone in America needs an assault weapon to kill a deer, they should probably be a fisherman," Markey said.

Markey, joined by several gun control advocates, held a press conference to call for increased gun control at Fenway Health, a Boston community health center that specializes in health care for gay and lesbian individuals.

John Rosenthal, founder of the Boston-based gun control group Stop Handgun Violence, attacked Congress for giving immunity to gun manufacturers for damage done with their guns and for not requiring background checks for internet or gun show sales. "Congress is to blame for arming criminals and terrorists," Rosenthal said.

Monalisa Smith, founder and president of Moms For Justice and Equality, who lost a family member to gun violence, said Congress needs to protect innocent Americans. "I shouldn't have to go to bed worried about whether my son will come home to me. We deserve better," Smith said.

Dr. William Begg, an emergency room physician who was on duty during the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, said physicians should treat gun violence as a public health problem. "It's because of our collective inaction that we witnessed the worst mass shooting in our country's history this past week," Begg said.

Holyoke rally for Orlando shooting victims, gays and vs. assault weapons

In responding to the Orlando attack, Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has focused on the threat of radical Islam and has renewed his call to temporarily close the borders to Muslims and to immigrants from countries with a history of terrorism. Mateen was an American-born Muslim.

Markey responded that the threat to American safety is "not Aleppo, it's not Fallujah, it's not Mosul." Rather, he said, it is Americans who "self-radicalize" like Mateen or the Tsarnaev brothers, who bombed the Boston Marathon, and it is "people with assault weapons, with guns, who shouldn't have them."

Trump has said he will meet with the National Rifle Association to talk about stopping people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns.

Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton supports stronger gun control laws, including requiring universal background checks and banning assault weapons.

The prosecutor asked for $200,000 bail, citing the large amount of drugs seized along with Silva's criminal record, which includes 17 convictions in drug, assault and motor vehicle cases.

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield man is being held on $100,000 bail after police allegedly seized more than 16,000 packets of heroin and a loaded 9mm pistol during a raid on his apartment.

Moises Silva 

Moises Silva, 35, of 10 Huntington St., pleaded not guilty to trafficking in heroin, possession of cocaine and marijuana, both with intent to distribute, possession of a large capacity firearm and related charges during his arraignment Friday in Springfield District Court.

Silva was the leader of a Springfield-based drug operation that delivered heroin, cocaine and marijuana to lower-level "street dealers" across Western Massachusetts, said Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski.

Following extensive surveillance, Springfield police raided his apartment and seized 16,776 bags of heroin, 7.5 grams of cocaine, 12 grams of marijuana, $11,212 in cash and a loaded 9mm firearm, Szafranski said.

Two others - Jereiska Fontanez, 24, also of 10 Huntington St., and Jeremy Crespo, 21, of Holyoke - also were arrested on Thursday morning.

Szafranksi asked for $200,000 bail for Silva, citing the amount of drugs seized along with his criminal record, which includes 17 convictions in drug, assault and motor vehicle cases.

Springfield police seize over 16,000 bags of heroin, arrest 3 alleged drug dealers

Defense lawyer Jeremy Bramson opposed the request, saying many of his client's convictions were on motor vehicle charges and his last drug case was in 1999.

Based on his reading of the police report, the case could be ripe for a "potential motion to suppress" evidence seized in the raid, Bramson said.

His client also denies living at 10 Huntington St, and claims he lives with his mother in Chicopee, Bramson said.

"These are serious and extensive allegations, but right now they're just allegations," the lawyer said.

Defense lawyer Daniel Bergin asked for Fontanez to be released on $5,000 bail, saying there was no evidence she was involved in selling or using drugs seized from the apartment.

Judge Edward McDonough set bail at $100,000 for Silva and $5,000 for Fontanez. Crespo was arraigned separately and information on his bail was not available late Friday.

A woman is dead after a head-on collision on Page Blvd in Springfield on Friday, according to police.

SPRINGFIELD — A woman has died after a head-on collision between two vehicles that occurred on Page Blvd. in Springfield early Friday morning, according to WWLP-TV.

The woman, who was 31-years-old, was transported to Baystate Medical Center but succumbed to her wounds, according to the news outlet.

The crash, which took place near the corner of Page Blvd. and St. James Blvd. in East Springfield, occurred at approximately 9 a.m. Friday.

The other driver involved in the crash was treated at the scene of the crash, and did not require hospitalization.

The identity of the woman who was killed has not yet been released by authorities, according to WWLP.

The vote to offer Ganem the position was 6 to 1, with School Committee Chairman Peter Salerno dissenting. Salerno later changed his vote to make the vote for Ganem unanimous.

WILBRAHAM - On a 6 to 1 vote, the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee voted Friday night to offer the regional school superintendent position to Albert Ganem.

Ganem is the district manager of professional learning for the Worcester public schools district.

During a telephone call placed by consultant Tracy Novick of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees which helped screen the candidates, Ganem said he accepts the position, pending contract negotiations.

Ganem was selected over Hampden-Wilbraham Assistant Superintendent for Business Beth Regulbuto and Kimberly Merrick, administrator of special education for the Wachusett Regional School District.

School Committee chairman Peter Salerno was the sole dissenting vote for Ganem, voting instead for Regulbuto. Following the 6 to 1 vote, Salerno said he would change his vote to Ganem, to make the decision unanimous.

School Committee member William Bontempi advocated for Ganem.

Bontempi said that in his opinion the school district "needs healing."

Ganem's strength is his personality, Bontempi said, adding that for him a school district "is built on relationships."

School Committee member Michael Mazzuca said that in his opinion Ganem "will guide the district through the middle school issue."

The towns of Wilbraham and Hampden have not been able to come to an agreement on how to consolidate the district's two middle schools. Hampden selectmen say they are opposed to closing Thornton Burgess Middle School in Hampden, which school officials recommended.

School Committee member Lisa Morace of Hampden said, "We need a new set of eyes to come in. We need a burst of energy."

Salerno said he would vote for Assistant Beth Regulbuto for the position, saying she has served the district for more than 10 years as assistant superintendent for business.

"I believe loyalty counts," he said.

Bontempi said there were some concerns expressed by teachers that Regulbuto is not certified as a teacher and has never taught in a public school classroom.

Ganem will replace Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Superintendent M. Martin O'Shea who is leaving July 1 to take the Longmeadow superintendent job.

Bontempi said that Ganem, Regulbuto and the new curriculum director for the school district, Neil Gile, will need to work as a team in the central office.

Lee Kaplan, 51, allegedly fathered two of the children with the eldest of the group, police said.

A Pennsylvania man has been charged with sexual assault and other crimes after police said they found 12 girls, one of whom was the mother of two of the children, inside a Bucks County home this week.

Police on Thursday found the children, ranging in age from six months to 18 years old, at the Lower Southampton Township home of 51-year-old Lee Kaplan, according to a police affidavit. Police were called to the home in the Feasterville section of town "for a complaint regarding the health and safety of the numerous children living there."

Kaplan admitted to police that he had sex with the oldest of the girls when she was 14 years old, according to the affidavit.

The Bucks County Courier Times reported that a former Amish couple gave their 14-year-old daughter to Kaplan to save them from "financial ruin." The couple and Kaplan were arrested on Thursday, the newspaper reported.

The girl, now 18, has two children -- a 3-year-old and a 6-month-old -- with Kaplan, the affidavit said.

Lancaster County couple told police they thought 'gift' of daughter was legal

Kaplan faces charges of statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault on a person younger than 16 years old, corruption of minors and contact with a minor that involved sexual offenses.

Latest on the discovery of 12 Amish girls in Feasterville home + what neighbors saw in the windows: https://t.co/zBpajMgDfq @NBCPhiladelphia

-- Randy Gyllenhaal (@RandyGyllenhaal) June 18, 2016

The Taste of Amherst was held Friday on the Town Common on Friday, June 17, 2016.

AMHERST - The 2016 Taste of Amherst continued on Friday, June 17, on the Town Common. The event features live music, vendors and foods from 20 Amherst area restaurants.

The Taste is presented by Atkins Farms Country Market. The popular "Chow-Down Challenge" continues this year with winners in the qualifying rounds scheduled to face-off on Sunday in the championship round.

The four-day Taste contiunes Saturday, June 18 from noon to 10 p.m. and runs from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 19.