Lawrence police found a woman surrounded by a crowd of onlookers after she escaped from the home of her sleeping ex boyfriend, who had allegedly bound, burned and raped her.

Lawrence police found a woman surrounded by a crowd of onlookers after she escaped from the home of her sleeping ex boyfriend, who had allegedly bound, burned and raped her, according to police reports reviewed by WCVB News.

Around 4:13 p.m. on Friday, police responded to reports of a naked woman fleeing a home and saying someone was trying to kill her, WCVB reported. Police found her wearing a borrowed sweatshirt, and she told them a harrowing story of abuse at the hands of her boyfriend Keyvin Gil.

The woman had ligature marks on her hands and said Gil, nicknamed "Ghetto," had pointed a gun at her, raped her, and burned her with a cigarette, according to WCVB.

"She told me that her boyfriend 'Ghetto' tried to kill her and tied her up," a police report reviewed by WCVB said.

The woman told police she had been in a relationship with Gil for about a year, but that abuse escalated last week after Gil accused her of smoking his marijuana and being unfaithful.

Gil allegedly tied her up, but she slipped her bonds and escaped while he was asleep, according to the WCVB report.

Gil was charged with rape, kidnapping, possession of stolen property, possession of a firearm without Firearm Identification, resisting arrest and mayhem and held without bail over the weekend. During his arrest, he was bitten by a police dog and shot with a stun gun, according to the report.

According to the Eagle Tribune, state police assisted with the arrest.

The lawsuit, brought by a former Baylor student, is the third in recent months to claim the school was indifferent to or ignored claims of sexual assault and didn't enforce federal general discrimination protections.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A federal lawsuit filed Monday against Baylor University accuses the nation's largest Baptist school of creating a "hunting ground for sexual predators."

The lawsuit, brought by a former Baylor student, is the third in recent months to claim the school was indifferent to or ignored claims of sexual assault and didn't enforce federal general discrimination protections. Baylor demoted former president and chancellor Ken Staff after an outside law firm found the school had mishandled assault allegations for years.

The latest case, brought by a woman identified only as Jane Doe, says she was drugged and abducted from an off-campus residence known as "The Rugby House" in February 2015. The lawsuit does not name her assailant but said he is not a member of Baylor's rugby club team.

The woman did not file a police report because she was too embarrassed, and it was her mother who called Baylor officials, according to the alleged victim's attorney, Paula Elliott.

The lawsuit said Baylor officials indicated there were reports of as many as five previously reported assaults at the same residence. According to the lawsuit, Baylor officials initially attempted to help identify the attacker, and told her there were two more reported victims with similar experiences at the house.

But school investigators stopped all correspondence with the woman after five weeks and did not schedule an administrative hearing in her case. The woman dropped out of Baylor in summer 2015 and moved home out of state, Elliott said.

The school's own investigation, parts of which were released last month, demonstrated that Baylor ignored rape claims at the cost of safety to its students for years, the lawsuit said, adding that, "Baylor and the Baylor regents had created a hunting ground for sexual predators to freely prey upon innocent, unsuspecting female students, with no concern of reprisal or consequences."

In this Sept. 12, 2015, file photo, Baylor coach Art Briles yells from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Lamar in Waco, Texas. Briles is accusing Baylor of wrongful termination and indicating he has no interest in settling a federal lawsuit filed against him and the university by a woman who was raped by a football player, according to a motion filed Thursday, June 16, 2016, as part of the lawsuit. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Attorneys for the woman who filed Monday's lawsuit say her case demonstrates the problem went far beyond athletics, and that no one had been warned about previous reports at the house where she was attacked.

"(S)exual assault issues at Baylor were not an 'athletic department issue,' but were an institution-wide problem that Baylor and Baylor regents failed to properly address," the lawsuit said.

Baylor is already attempting to settle a lawsuit filed in March by former student Jasmin Hernandez, who was raped by former football player Tevin Elliott, who was later sentenced to 20 years in prison. Hernandez' lawsuit claims Baylor knew Tevin Elliott had a history of assaults, failed to protect her and others who were attacked, and ignored her pleas when she sought help.

The Associated Press generally doesn't identify sexual assault victims, but Hernandez has spoken publicly to draw attention to the case. Another lawsuit was filed last week by three women who were all identified only as Jane Doe.

It was unclear what kind of tenants Frontier Development of Miami, Florida was seeking or whether a fast-food restaurant remained part of the plan as the company tries to convert the former Lynch School in Holyoke into a retail site.

HOLYOKE -- The company that wants to redevelop the former Lynch School has withdrawn a zone-change request for a plan opposed by city councilors and others that featured a CVS pharmacy, and is pursuing another plan.

"They're trying to secure another tenant," Marcos A. Marrero, director of the city Department of Planning and Economic Development, said Monday.

Frontier Development of Miami, Florida is withdrawing its request for a zone change at the property at 1575 Northampton St. that the company needed to build a CVS and a fast-food restaurant.

A letter stating the withdrawal of the zone-change application will be on the City Councils' agenda Tuesday. The letter was from Thomas N. "Toby" Wilson, a local lawyer representing the company. Wilson didn't return messages seeking comment Monday.

It was unclear what kind of tenants Frontier Development was seeking for the former Lynch School at Northampton and Dwight streets and whether a fast-food restaurant remained part of the plan.

"They need an anchor. Fast-food restaurant likely doesn't get them that by itself," Marrero said.

Proponents had said that the redevelopment of the Lynch School site into a CVS and a fast-food restaurant would produce $130,000 a year in property taxes and 40 new jobs, and that concerns about traffic could be addressed without leading to problems.

But concerns about traffic and especially an increase of northbound drivers on Northampton Street trying to make left turns persisted. Also persistent were the lukewarm response to the city getting another CVS and desire of some officials to restore Lynch School as a School Department property, possibly for administrative offices.

Frontier Development's zone-change request withdrawal and pursuit of a new tenant comes after the City Council on June 7 agreed to the company's request to table an item related to the property on that night's agenda.

Tabling let Frontier Development avoid what was likely to be a rejection by the City Council of the zone-change request based on opposition to the CVS-fast-food restaurant plan.

The council's Ordinance Committee had voted 4-1 to recommend the full City Council reject the zone change request and other councilors had spoken against the plan.

Frontier Development needed Lynch School to be rezoned to a highway business zone from the current designation of residential single family to build the retail site. The company plans to buy the property, which was last used as a school in 2008, from the city for $750,000.

The city has CVS stores at 400 Beech St. and 250 Whiting Farms Road. Putting a CVS at Northampton and Dwight streets would have produced three pharmacies at or near that intersection given the existing Walgreens and Rite Aid.

The Springfield City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to move $1 million in surplus funds to a new pension reserve fund to assist the city's efforts to fully fund the pension system by 2034.

SPRINGFIELD — The City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to move $1 million in surplus funds to a new pension reserve fund to assist the city's efforts to fully fund the pension system by 2034.

The vote was 11-0 in favor of creating the pension reserve fund and to allocate the $1 million that was available from the fiscal 2015 free cash surplus. Both votes were recommended by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno in response to concerns raised about the pension liability.

The city's pension fund is 26 percent funded, making it the worst-funded public pension system in the state.

Council President Michael Fenton and Council Finance Committee Chairman Timothy J. Allen praised Sarno and his finance team, including Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Timothy J. Plante, for agreeing to set aside the $1 million as part of an "aggressive" payment strategy in coming years.

"Excellent," Fenton said. "It proves there can be effective collaboration between the mayor and City Council. Certainly, we have a lot of work to do, but we knew from the outset that we wouldn't solve this problem this year and instead our goal was to draw attention to the subject and begin to address it. We have achieved that with the mayor and CAFO's support."

Sarno and his finance team agreed to his suggestion to creation the pension reserve and also pleased that the mayor expanded the amount to be set aside. Sarno initially proposed placing $721,487 in the fund, but some councilors urged a higher amount.

Allen said he was pleased the mayor and finance team took his suggestions for the pension reserve fund, and reached a compromise on how much would be initially set aside in that fund. Allen had initially proposed that $3.2 million be placed in the pension reserve due to the severe shortfall in the pension fund.

Sarno and Plante said the city's current funding formula for the pension liability has gained the approval of both the local and state retirement boards. Sarno said he has full confidence in his finance team to come up with the significant investment needed to fully fund the pension liability in the years ahead.

The balance of the free cash account, approximately $2.3 million, was placed in the city's stabilization "rainy day" reserve fund, bringing that reserve to approximately $42 million. Fenton said he is pleased the stabilization fund is getting stronger.

In other action, the council:

Student athletic fees have been $85 per sport since 2009.

WESTFIELD - Student athletic fees will rise for the 2016-2017 school year.

The School Committee's Finance Committee Monday night endorsed an increase from the current $85 per sport fee to a range of $100 to $400 depending on the sport.

Finance Chairman Kevin J. Sullivan said the recommended increase will be presented to the School Committee for formal adoption at its next meeting. All members of the School Committee were present for debate on the fees Monday night and no member voiced an objection to the increase.

Committee member William Duval did question if the fee could be spread over payments rather than the current lump sum.

Also, Sullivan along with fellow finance members Cindy Sullivan and Ramon Diaz Jr. said no student would be turned away from competitive sports if the fee presents a personal hardship.

The increase in fees is expected to generate about $50,000 in additional revenue to offset the cost of transportation, coaches salaries and officials fees for competitive sports. The current $85 across-the-board fee raised about $94,800 annually.

Diaz noted the School Department spends about $700 annually for each students participating in ice hockey.

The new fee schedule will be $100 per student participating in cross country, tennis, volleyball or fall cheerleading.

The fee will be $125 per student who participated in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, track both indoor and outdoor.

Students participating in football will pay $150 and those involved with junior varsity ice hockey will pay $250.

Participation in varsity hockey will cost students $400 each.

More than 700 high school students participate in the athletics program.

A New Mexico marathon runner was less than 3 miles from the finish line of an organized mountain race when she climbed over a hilltop and saw a black bear charging at her.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- A New Mexico marathon runner was less than 3 miles from the finish line of an organized mountain race when she climbed over a hilltop and saw a black bear charging at her.

The female black bear attacked after Karen Williams unknowingly startled it and at least one of its cubs, which ran up a tree in Valles Caldera National Preserve. The mother bear scratched Williams and bit at her neck and head Saturday before she curled up played dead.

The mauling, considered rare for New Mexico, left Williams with multiple punctures and cuts. She said a "mean left hook" by the bear also fractured her right eye socket and ripped her eyelid, but her injuries miraculously were not life-threatening.

"I tried to look around but was having trouble seeing much," the Los Alamos resident wrote in a Facebook post Monday, which wildlife officials confirmed. "I tried to sit up but was nauseated and my arms didn't seem to work right."

After the bear and its three cubs wandered off, Williams said she lay alone in the wilderness for 30 minutes. Other runners in the Valles Calderas Runs event came along and rushed to her aid: One bolted to the next water station for help while others tended to her until emergency crews arrived.

Williams was airlifted to an Albuquerque hospital, and she was released the next day.

Wildlife officials tracked the bear to an area near the attack and euthanized it Sunday. They said state law requires them to put down any wild animal that attacks or bites a person and test it for rabies.

They searched Monday for the bear's cubs, with plans to take them to a wildlife center if they were found.

"We're trying to be careful about how we capture them," said Lance Cherry, a spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. "We don't want to injure them."

Black bears, the only type in the wild in New Mexico, typically shy away from people but have been known to attack in certain instances -- especially when a female bear senses her cubs are threatened.

This weekend's attack was the first so far this year. There were four bear attacks resulting in injuries in 2015, but none in the previous two years, Cherry said.

"It's a pretty rare occurrence," he said. "Last year was an unusual year."

It's possible that drought -- which can deplete natural food sources and drive bears closer to populated areas -- may have been a factor in the high number of encounters last year, Cherry said. But wildlife officials had not determined an official reason for the attacks, none of which were fatal.

The best way to respond to a bear is to make noise, avoid direct eye contact and back away slowly instead of running, which can trigger a bear's instinct to give chase. Officials also recommend holding out an object like a jacket as a way to appear larger.

In Williams' case, she screamed, initially tried to fight back and stayed aware of her surroundings, Cherry said, calling those steps the right moves. But he does not recommend playing dead like she did.

"It's such a rarity for the person to play dead and for it to work out," Cherry said. "The idea is to be as big as you can."

The Democratic primary is Thursday, Sept. 8. There are two candidates running for the 8th District Governor's Council seat, Mary Hurley and Jeff Morneau.

WILBRAHAM -- The two Democratic 8th District Governor's Council candidates faced off Monday night at a debate held at The Gardens of Wilbraham.

Mary Hurley, 65, a former Springfield mayor and 19-year district court associate judge, said that if she is elected she will fight for more judges from Western Massachusetts.

"We need more Western Massachusetts judges, more minorities and more women," Hurley said. "It's time we got into the 21st century."

Hurley said that judges should support the law as it exists. She added that being a judge "is not a popularity contest."

Jeff Morneau, 45, a partner with the Springfield firm Connor, Morneau and Olin and the president of the Hampden County Bar Association, said that, in vetting judge nominees, he would want to know their "stance on the death penalty, position on a woman's right to choose and position on same-sex marriage."

Hurley and Morneau participated in a forum sponsored by the Wilbraham Democratic Town Committee at the Gardens of Wilbraham. The Governor's Council provides advice and consent on gubernatorial appointments, including judges and clerk magistrates. The panel also considers pardons and commutations for convicted criminals.

Hurley said judges have been doing yeoman's work, but there is a shortage of judges. She said that if she is elected she will encourage people from the area to apply.

Morneau said he understands how important the Governor's Council position is. He said somebody appointed judge at 45 could potentially serve until the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Hurley said judges should be sensitive to domestic relationship issues and opioid issues. She said judges should protect potential victims of repeat drunken drivers and, for example, the victim of a drug abuser who broke into his grandmother's house and beat her up.

Morneau said he is concerned about the judge positions that need to be filled.

Hurley said she has felt the shortage of judges "on a daily basis." She said that if she is elected she will be "an extra voice for Western Massachusetts."

The Democratic primary is Sept. 8. No Republican or third-party candidates have emerged for the Governor's Council position.

In largely party-line votes, senators rejected one proposal from each side to keep extremists from acquiring guns and a second shoring up the government's system of required background checks for many firearms purchases.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A divided Senate blocked rival election-year plans to curb guns Monday, eight days after the horror of Orlando's mass shooting intensified pressure on lawmakers to act but knotted them in gridlock anyway -- even over restricting firearms for terrorists.

In largely party-line votes, senators rejected one proposal from each side to keep extremists from acquiring guns and a second shoring up the government's system of required background checks for many firearms purchases.

With the chamber's visitors' galleries unusually crowded for a Monday evening -- including relatives of victims of past mass shootings and people wearing orange T-shirts saying #ENOUGH gun violence -- each measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to progress. Democrats called the GOP proposals unacceptably weak while Republicans said the Democratic plans were too restrictive.

The stalemate underscored the pressure on each party to stand firm on the emotional gun issue going into November's presidential and congressional elections. It also highlighted the potency of the National Rifle Association, which urged its huge and fiercely loyal membership to lobby senators to oppose the Democratic bills.

"Republicans say, 'Hey look, we tried,'" said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "And all the time, their cheerleaders, the bosses at the NRA, are cheering them."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Orlando shootings -- in which the FBI says the American-born gunman swore allegiance to a Islamic State group leader -- show the best way to prevent extremists' attacks here is to defeat them overseas.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., talks with reporters on Capitol Hill, Monday, June 20, 2016,in Washington. A divided Senate hurtled Monday toward an election-year stalemate over curbing guns. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

That Monday's four roll-call votes occurred at all was testament to the political currents buffeting lawmakers after gunman Omar Mateen's June 12 attack on a gay nightclub. The 49 victims who died made it the largest mass shooting in recent U.S. history, topping a string of such incidents that have punctuated recent years.

The FBI said Mateen -- a focus of two terror investigations that were dropped -- described himself as an Islamic soldier in a 911 call during the shootings. That let gun control advocates add national security and the specter of terrorism to their arguments for firearms curbs.

After the votes, presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton issued a one-word statement, "Enough," followed by the names and ages of Orlando's victims.

On Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," expected GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump said he "absolutely" agrees that people on the government's terror watch list should be barred from owning guns. He did not say if he supported the Republican or Democratic versions of bills rejected Monday.

Only a handful of lawmakers changed positions from votes cast last December on similar proposals, highlighting each party's enduring stances on guns. And there's little sign that the House's GOP leaders will allow votes.

Even so, GOP senators facing re-election this fall in swing states were under extraordinary pressure.

One vulnerable Republican, New Hampshire's Sen. Kelly Ayotte, backed both bills blocking gun sales to terrorists, a switch from when she joined most Republicans in killing a similar Democratic plan last December. She expressed support for a narrower bipartisan plan, like one being crafted by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Collins was trying to fashion a bipartisan bill preventing people on the government's no-fly list from getting guns. She expressed optimism the Senate would vote on her plan, and Cornyn said that according to McConnell, if Collins wants a vote on her proposal, "She'll get one."

Monday's votes came after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., led a near 15-hour filibuster last week demanding a Senate response to the Orlando killings. Murphy entered the Senate shortly after the December 2012 massacre of 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, but that slaughter and others have failed to spur Congress to tighten gun curbs. The last were enacted in 2007, when the background check system was strengthened after that year's mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

That list currently contains around 1 million people -- including fewer than 5,000 Americans or legal permanent residents, according to the latest government figures. The narrower no-fly list has just 81,000 names.

No background checks are required for anyone buying guns privately online or at gun shows.

The GOP response to Feinstein was an NRA-backed plan by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It would let the government deny a sale to a known or suspected terrorist -- but only if prosecutors could convince a judge within three days that the would-be buyer was involved in terrorism.

The Feinstein and Cornyn amendments would require notification of law enforcement officials if people, like Mateen, who'd been under a terrorism investigation within the past five years were seeking to buy firearms.

Republicans said Feinstein's proposal gave the government too much power to deny people's constitutional right to own a gun and noted that the terrorist watch list has mistakenly included some people. Democrats said the three-day window Cornyn's measure gave prosecutors to prove their case made his plan ineffective.

Murphy's rejected proposal would widely expand the requirement for background checks, even to many private gun transactions, leaving few loopholes.

The defeated plan by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, increased money for the background check system. It also revamped language prohibiting some people with mental health issues from buying a gun, which Democrats claimed would reduce current protections.

Monday's votes were 53-47 for Grassley's plan, 44-56 for Murphy's, 53-47 for Cornyn's and 47-53 for Feinstein's -- all short of the 60 needed.

The homeowner, Mellissa Williams, said her family was upstairs when she heard "banging and crashing" outside. Watch video

CHICOPEE - A woman was taken to the hospital after her car slammed into the front porch of the house at 58 Rimmon Ave. Monday night.

The crash at around 9:15 p.m. heavily damaged the front steps of the home and knocked over a fire hydrant. The extent of the driver's injuries is unclear.

The homeowner, Mellissa Williams, said her family was upstairs when she heard "banging and crashing" outside.

"My son started to scream his head off," said Williams.

Williams, a medical assistant, said she checked the driver's pulse and spoke with her briefly before first responders arrived.

The building inspector will take a look at the damage on Tuesday, Williams said, but it looks like everything aside from the stairs was undamaged.

"It could have been so much worse," she said.

Hillary Clinton's search for a running mate is moving into a more intense phase, according to several Democrats, as aides contact a pared-down pool of candidates to ask for reams of personal information and set up interviews with the presumptive Democratic nominee's vetting team.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hillary Clinton's search for a running mate is moving into a more intense phase, according to several Democrats, as aides contact a pared-down pool of candidates to ask for reams of personal information and set up interviews with the presumptive Democratic nominee's vetting team.

Those on the shortlist include Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of progressives who has emerged as a blistering critic of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump; Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a well-liked lawmaker from an important general election battleground state; and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, a rising star in the Democratic Party.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton's toughest primary rival, is not on the shortlist of vice presidential candidates, according to one Democrat.

A small group of Clinton campaign confidants has been sifting through publicly available information about more than two dozen possible contenders for more than a month. But with Democratic primary voting wrapping up last week, the list has been culled significantly and the campaign has begun contacting those under consideration.

Several Democrats described Clinton's vice presidential search process on the condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized by her campaign to publicly discuss it. Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon would not comment.

Clinton was pressing forward on her search for a running mate as her GOP rival struggled with dismal fundraising and major questions about his campaign organization. Trump fired his campaign manager Monday and new fundraising data showed donors gave the businessman's campaign just over $3 million last month.

If Clinton were to tap Warren as her No. 2, she would be choosing one of the Senate's most outspoken liberals and a proponent of tough Wall Street regulation, has long been viewed as a running mate who could help Clinton appeal to Sanders' loyal supporters. She is also relishing taking on Trump, blasting the businessman in speeches and on Twitter as a "thin-skinned, racist bully" -- embracing a running mate's traditionally aggressive role.

While Warren and Clinton do not have a close relationship, they recently met for about an hour in Washington. The senator also gave a pep talk to staff at the Clinton campaign's Brooklyn headquarters last week.

In this Feb. 4, 2016, file photo, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., gives a 'thumbs-up' as he takes his seat at the head table for the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. Hillary Clinton's search for a running mate is moving into a more intense phase. Kaine is one of those on the shortlist. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama thoroughly vetted Kaine as he searched for a running mate in 2008, ultimately passing over the Virginian in favor of then-Delaware Sen. Joe Biden.

Castro, a telegenic 41-year-old Texan, would bring youthful enthusiasm to Clinton's campaign and would be the first Hispanic on a major party ticket. Obama plucked him from his post as San Antonio mayor in 2014 to serve in the Cabinet, a move seen by some Democrats as a way to bolster Castro's national profile for a potential vice presidential run.

In this June 17, 2016, photo, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro addresses the Texas Democratic convention in San Antonio. Hillary Clinton's search for a running mate is moving into a more intense phase, according to several Democrats. Those on the shortlist include Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Castro.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Some advisers believe Clinton should pick a running-mate that would energize Democrats: a woman, a staunch liberal or a minority. Others argue that Trump's deep unpopularity gives Clinton an opportunity to win over a share of independents and Republican-leaning voters with a more centrist pick, such as Kaine.

Clinton is also said to be cognizant about the risks of tapping a senator who would be replaced by a Republican governor if Democrats won in November. That's a particular liability for Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Clinton's campaign is said to have considered both, but it was unclear Monday whether either would be fully vetted for the vice presidential slot.

While Warren's seat would be temporarily filled by an appointee named by Massachusetts' Republican governor, the state would hold a special election for a permanent replacement.

A handful of other Democrats are also said to be under consideration, though the full list is being closely guarded by the Clinton campaign. Longtime Clinton allies John Podesta and Cheryl Mills are overseeing the search and few people beyond them are believed to know the full list of candidates being vetted.

Clinton herself as been vague in describing her thinking about picking a running mate.

"I'm looking broadly and widely and I'm gonna begin to really, you know, dive into thinking hard about this," she told CBS News earlier this month. "I'm gonna be looking, first and foremost, as to who I believe could fulfill the responsibilities of being president and commander in chief."

A Brazilian soldier shot a jaguar dead after the animal escaped its handlers during an Olympic torch ceremony.

A Brazilian soldier shot a jaguar dead after the animal escaped its handlers during an Olympic torch ceremony.

The jaguar had been tranquilized but still approached the soldier during an event ahead of the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Reuters reports. The soldier fired a shot from his pistol, killing the animal.

The killing led to a quick apology from the local Olympic organizing committee, according to Reuters.

"We made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal. This image goes against our beliefs and our values," the local organizing committee Rio 2016 told Reuters in a statement. "We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016."

It also drew condemnation from local animal rights groups, and a local government regulatory agency told Reuters the use of the jaguar was unauthorized and illegal.

The Rio games, which begin on August 5, are already facing questions about financial stability, health and security.

The spread of the Zika virus has led to concern from some athletes and spectators about the risk of contracting the illness in Rio. The state of Rio de Janeiro, which provides transportation and policing for the Olympics, declared a financial emergency last week, according to the BBC. And two Australian Paralympic athletes were robbed at gunpoint over the weekend.

CHICOPEE -- Hampton by Hilton hotels in Chicopee and West Springfield have received a 2016 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award, according to a news release. They are: Now in its sixth year, the achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on the online TripAdvisor site over the past year. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall...

CHICOPEE -- Hampton by Hilton hotels in Chicopee and West Springfield have received a 2016 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award, according to a news release.

They are:

• Hampton Inn Chicopee/Springfield located at 600 Memorial Drive in Chicopee.
• Hampton Inn West Springfield located at 1011 Riverdale St. in West Springfield.

Now in its sixth year, the achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on the online TripAdvisor site over the past year. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

Each Hampton by Hilton property offers amenities including On the House breakfast each morning and Hampton's On the Run Breakfast Bags, available Monday through Friday. Additionally, they provide free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour business center with complimentary printing and a fitness center.

Hampden County sheriff hopeful Jack Griffin pledged Tuesday to modernize how the agency addresses addiction and ensure those in recovery have a seat at the table, if he's elected to succeed outgoing Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.

SPRINGFIELD -- Hampden County sheriff hopeful Jack Griffin pledged Tuesday to modernize how the agency addresses addiction and ensure those in recovery have a seat at the table, if he's elected to succeed outgoing Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.

Griffin, retired addiction specialist with the Connecticut Department of Corrections, highlighted how he would tackle the so-called opioid epidemic and fielded suggestions from those in recovery during an afternoon meeting at the Serenity Club.

Although the Springfield Democrat praised the longtime sheriff's efforts, he argued that they need to be updated, particularly when most of the people entering jail have addiction problems.

"Mike Ashe has done a hell of a job, he put a good foundation in, but it's like I said, this is the 21st Century. Mike's a great guy, but he's a beautiful antique car," he said. "You know what I mean? Let's take it to the 21st Century, let's collectively come and deal with that 85 percent (with addiction issues.)"

The sheriff hopeful said he would look to address morale among jail staff, contending that if the front line workers are motivated and happy, it will trickle down to the inmate level.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring continuity of care and connecting inmates in recovery with long-terms supports like the Serenity Club, as well as holding them accountable for their treatment.

Griffin called on those in recovery to come together as a collective voice and ensure they're heard during the decision-making process, adding that "it just makes so much sense."

"If we can come together as a unit, our voices will be heard loud and clear," he said urging the group to join his grassroots movement. "I've never met an addict or an alcoholic that didn't have a little bit of brains and when we get sober, our brains get better and our passion gets lit because our primary responsibility is to help the one addict, the one alcoholic who still suffers -- that is our goal."

The Democrat said he'd like to involve recovery community in such discussions on a regular basis, contending a lot of the programs and treatment models currently in use at the department aren't working.

Those in recovery, the sheriff hopeful argued, could help come up with ideas on how to better address addictions, as there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

Griffin, who has personally been in recovery for more than 30 years, stressed that his focus in confronting addictions "is bigger than some sheriff's race."

The Hampden County sheriff hopeful, however, added that he if is lucky enough to win the position, he'd bring down recidivism rates, give "true numbers" regarding repeat offenders and hold inmates accountable for their treatment.

"This isn't just about Jack running for Hampden County sheriff, this issue is way bigger than that," he said. "I'd love to get elected sheriff because I'd make a bully pulpit out of that position and really go after this thing."

Griffin, who is among six candidates running for Hampden County sheriff, recently discussed his focus on addressing the opioid epidemic during a forum sponsored by the National Correctional Employees Union.

Hampden County sheriff hopefuls go head-to-head at NCEU candidate forum

He will square off against Democratic rivals Michael Albano, a governor's councilor and former Springfield mayor; Tom Ashe, a Springfield city councilor; and Nick Cocchi, a Hampden County Sheriff's Department deputy superintendent; in a September primary election.

The winner of the Democratic contest will then face Republican John M. Comerford, director of the Eastern Hampden County Veterans' Service District, and non-party candidate James Gill, an assistant deputy superintendent with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, in the November general election.

The recently completed $15-million expansion of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, which adds an additional 26,000 square feet of space on two levels, is designed to provide more comprehensive care delivery and added convenience for patients. In addition to Radiation Oncology services, Medical Oncology offices, physician offices and exam rooms are located on the first floor. Medical Oncology treatment and infusion space, an oncology pharmacy and laboratory space are located on the second floor.

SPRINGFIELD - - The adult children of longtime Mercy Medical Center supporters Arthur and Augusta O'Hara have donated $250,000 to Transforming Cancer Care--The Capital Campaign for the Sister Caritas Cancer Center in memory of their parents. The gift was recently presented by the couple's four children, Christine, Kathleen, Thomas and Lorraine O'Hara.

Arthur "Art" O'Hara served on the Board of Trustees for the Sisters of Providence Health System. In 1989, he was honored for his generous financial support of Mercy Medical Center and the Deliso Conference Center where the O'Hara Room is named in honor of his family. Augusta O'Hara also donated her time to Mercy Medical Center by working in the gift shop for many years, according to a news release from Mercy. Arthur O'Hara passed away in 2014, Augusta O'Hara passed away earlier this year.

"Our parents held a special place in their hearts for Mercy Medical Center and we are pleased to honor their memory with this donation to the Capital Campaign for the expansion of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center," said Thomas O'Hara. "This project is making a significant impact on the delivery of cancer care in the local community and we are certain our parents would want to support it."

The recently completed $15-million expansion of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, which adds an additional 26,000 square feet of space on two levels, is designed to provide more comprehensive care delivery and added convenience for patients. In addition to Radiation Oncology services, Medical Oncology offices, physician offices and exam rooms are located on the first floor. Medical Oncology treatment and infusion space, an oncology pharmacy and laboratory space are located on the second floor.

Allison Gearing-Kalill, Vice President of Fund Development, Sisters of Providence Health System said:

"Through the years, members of the O'Hara family have provided leadership in support of our efforts to serve those who need our healing touch, and once again they have stepped forward to support a critical community need. We are grateful for their ongoing generosity."

Police said the victim was unable to provide a description of the suspect. Investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward.

BOSTON - Police are investigating an indecent assault of a visually impaired woman downtown on Monday morning.

At about 10 a.m., officers with the Boston Police Department's Sexual Assault Unit responded to a call in the area of Beacon and Bowdoin streets. The woman, who was walking with a service dog, said she was inappropriately touched.

Police said she was unable to provide a description of the suspect. Investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward.

If you have any information about the assault, call detectives directly at (617) 343-4400, call CrimeStoppers at (800) 494-TIPS, or text the word "TIP" to CRIME (27463). Police promise to "stringently guard and protect the identities of those who wish to help this investigation anonymously."

A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced former postal worker Venecia McLaren, who stole and attempted to sell 23 sports trading cards through the Internet, including a LeBron James card valued at $25,000, to three years of probation.

BOSTON - A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced former postal worker Venecia McLaren, who stole and attempted to sell 23 sports trading cards through the Internet, including a LeBron James card valued at $25,000, to three years of probation.

"It's probably worth more now," Judge Mark Wolf said about the James card, an apparent reference to the Cleveland Cavaliers' championship win.

The card was a LeBron James Upper Deck Exquisite 3 Color Rookie Patch, according to prosecutors. Seventeen of the 23 cards were recovered.

Earlier this year, McLaren pleaded guilty to stealing the cards -- which carried a total value of over $68,000 -- while she was a clerk at the U.S. Post Office in Jamaica Plain during the harsh winter weather in 2015. Joined in the scheme by her siblings, she sold most of them for a maximum of $200 each, and one card was offered for sale at $300.

Wolf ordered McLaren, 30, to pay a total of $10,964 in restitution as well as a $3,000 fine.

Wolf, who called the sentence "sufficient" for a "serious offense," also ordered her to serve the first four months confined to her home, and the first two months with an electronic monitoring bracelet.

"You had a position of trust at the post office and you abused it," Wolf said.

While working at the Jamaica Plain post office, she was tasked with sorting mail and P.O. box deliveries. She helped deliver mail when the office was short on staff or backed up on mail during the heavy snowfall of 2015.

On Jan. 21, 2015, she was asked to drive to the Roxbury post office. She drove in her own car to the office and with another employee loaded packages into her trunk and brought them back to Jamaica Plain, according to a court filing by her defense attorney.

Two packages ended up getting left in the trunk.

Wolf told McLaren he accepted that the two packages were left accidentally in the trunk, but added that the obvious thing for her to do was give them back to the Post Office.

"I don't find your conduct as innocent as has been presented by your ardent attorney," Wolf said. "You had those for months. You had many opportunities to return them."

Instead, she devised a scheme, and involved her sister and brother, which "turned them into criminals, too," Wolf said.

"Your mother's not happy with you, I don't blame you," Wolf continued. "Now she's got three criminals as children when, by your report, she taught each of you to be hardworking and law-abiding."

But because McLaren has no previous criminal history, Wolf said he believed she had learned her lesson.

The $3,000 fine that she has to pay the government is meant to be punitive, he said, adding that he realizes she doesn't have much money now.

"The desire for money motivated the crime so a monetary penalty is appropriate," he said.

According to McLaren's attorney, at the time of the crime, McLaren was struggling to pay her rent, student loans and bills that were past due.

When it was time for her to speak in court, McLaren rose and spoke softly and quickly. "Your Honor, I am really, really sorry about this," she said.

"Every day I get up and go [to work], I know I messed up my life," McLaren said.

McLaren declined to comment to a reporter on her way out of the courtroom.

Her siblings have already been given a probation sentence of one year.

The prosecutor in the case, William Bloomer, argued for incarcerating McLaren as well as ordering 160 hours of community service, saying the victim spent "countless hours" dealing with the Boston Police Department in an effort to recover the 23 trading cards. The victim declined to offer a statement to the court.

"She exploited a position of trust for her own benefit," Bloomer said, adding that incarceration would deter others from engaging in "government thievery." He acknowledged she "cooperated immediately" with police and wasn't aware of the true value of the cards.

But McLaren's public defense attorney, Cara McNamara, said McLaren feels remorse, and she currently has a job and a stable relationship.

She now lives in New York, working as a clerk in a warehouse, packaging parts for shipment, and earning $10 an hour.

Locking her up for months when she's employed and can start on paying the restitution "doesn't make sense," McNamara told the judge, pressing for the three years of probation McLaren ended up receiving.

"At a young age she made an enormous mistake, one that she fully recognizes has serious consequences," McNamara wrote in a court filing. "She will likely face serious difficulties finding solid employment in the future. She understands that this felony conviction will stay with her forever."

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump hit back against reports of anemic campaign fundraising Tuesday, arguing that he didn't even begin to actively seek contributions until the end of last month.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump hit back against reports of anemic campaign fundraising Tuesday, arguing that he didn't even begin to actively seek contributions until the end of last month.

The billionaire businessman who largely self-funded his presidential primary campaign, ended May with less than $1.3 million in the bank -- far behind the $42 million in cash Democratic rival Hillary Clinton had at the end of the same period, the Washington Post reported.

Trump loaned his campaign $2.2 million in May and collected just $3.1 million in donations, compared to Clinton, who raised more than $28 million in the month, according to the newspaper.

Despite the disparity between the two presumptive nominees, Trump's campaign stressed that the GOP White House hopeful only kicked-off its fundraising efforts on May 25. June, campaign officials contended, will represent the first full month of the its fundraising activity.

"To date, the campaign's fundraising has been incredible and we continue to see a tremendous outpouring of support for Mr. Trump and money to the Republican Party," the campaign said in a statement. "The positive response to our fundraising efforts so far is a further indication that the country does not want yet another corrupt politician like Crooked Hillary."

Trump, meanwhile, added that "if need be, there could be unlimited 'cash on hand'" if he put up his own money like he did in the primaries.

"Our campaign is leaner and more efficient, like our government should be," he said in the joint statement.

Trump finalized a joint fundraising deal with the Republican National Committee last month to help boost his finances in the general election.

Donald Trump, Republican National Committee enter joint fundraising agreements

Despite the deal, which allows individuals to give up to $449,400 to Trump Victory -- far above the $2,700 cap the presumptive Republican nominee's campaign can accept, some party leaders and donors have struggled to get behind Trump.

The businessman said Saturday that most of the money he's collected at his recent fundraisers has gone to the Republican Party and threatened to cut off the GOP if the party's support wavers, NBC News reported.

The 12-pound primate is not a danger to the public, zoo officials said, but the zoo was closed Tuesday as workers attempted to capture him. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- A 12-pound guenon monkey named Dizzy that escaped its enclosure at the Zoo in Forest Park remained at large late Tuesday afternoon outside the zoo's perimeter, but still inside the city park.

An update posted to the zoo's Facebook page just before 6 p.m. reads, in part: "the Zoo has been tirelessly working towards getting Dizzy safely back into his enclosure."

Zoo officials said the monkey was "frightened" due to the presence of "local news media and concerned citizens attempting to get video footage and images."

"We are asking that the public and the media please show some respect and back away from Dizzy," the message reads.

Zoo officials said earlier Tuesday that the monkey "manually twisted the door knob" of his enclosure during a routine cleaning of the space and "let himself out."

The 12-pound primate is not a danger to the public, zoo officials said, but the zoo was closed Tuesday as workers attempted to capture him.

At one point, about 25 to 30 bystanders stood near the zoo's perimeter fence, watching as Dizzy jumped from a tree to the top of the zoo's leopard enclosure. The big cat, in turn, lunged, sparking a simian retreat high into a nearby tree.

On Tuesday evening, many park-goers were surprised, amused and curious about Dizzy's escape, and some expressed concern for his safety, whether or not he's recaptured.

"This is crazy," said Linda Marisol, who was out for a walk near the zoo when Dizzy made a brief appearance in the trees overhead. "He's, like, swinging on the trees! ... Where are the people that are looking for him?"

"I was wondering, why are there so many cops?" said Linda Carrasquillo.

This is a developing story that will be updated after further reporting.

Mining, logging and construction had a strong May.

This story follows: Springfield unemployment at 7.1 percent, labor force falls

SPRINGFIELD -- Employers in the mining, logging and construction and leisure and hospitality industries led hiring in Greater Springfield last month.

Greater Springfield gained 600 jobs from April to May, according to figures released Tuesday by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here are the jobs gains and losses in Greater Springfield last month broken down by sector of the economy. Note, local jobs numbers are not adjusted for seasonal changes in the economy, so summer hiring might have skewed the picture a bit.

Five sectors gained jobs:

• Mining, logging and construction: Gained 800 jobs from April to May, an increase of 7.6 percent. The sector gained 1,000 jobs compared with May 2015.
• Leisure and hospitality: Gained 800 jobs, an increase of 2.8 percent; up 1,000 jobs compared with May 2015.
• Trade, transportation and utilities: Gained 700 jobs, an increase of 1.2 percent; up 500 jobs compared with May 2015.
• Professional, scientific and business services: Gained 100 jobs, an increase of 0.4 percent; down 600 jobs compared with May 2015.
• Other services: Gained 100 jobs, an increase of 0.8 percent; up 100 jobs compared with May 2015.

One sector remained unchanged:

• Financial activities: Neither gained nor lost jobs from April to May 2016; up 200 jobs compared with May 2015.

Four sectors lost jobs:

• Education and health services: Lost 1,400 jobs, a decrease of 1.8 percent; up 600 jobs compared with May 2015.
• Information: Lost 300 jobs, a decrease of 8.8 percent; down 100 jobs compared with May 2015.
• Manufacturing: Lost 100 jobs, a decrease of 0.3 percent; up 200 jobs compared with May 2015.
• Government: Lost 100 jobs, a decrease of 0.2 percent; down 600 jobs compared with May 2015.

From May 2015 to May 2016: 

Five sectors gained jobs:

• Education and health services: Gained 1,300 jobs, an increase of 1.7 percent. The sector gained 3,300 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Professional, scientific and business services: Gained 1,100 jobs, an increase of 4.1 percent. The sector gained 1,000 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Trade, transportation and utilities: Gained 600 jobs, an increase of 1.0 percent. The sector lost 100 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Other services: Gained 300 jobs, an increase of 2.4 percent. The sector gained 100 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Government: Gained 100 jobs, an increase of 0.2 percent. The sector gained 1,100 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.

Five sectors lost jobs:

• Leisure and hospitality: Lost 1,800 jobs, a decrease of 5.7 percent The sector neither gained nor lost jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Manufacturing: down 400 jobs, a decrease of 1.4 percent. The sector lost 500 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Information: down 300 jobs, a decrease of 8.8 percent. The sector lost 300 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Mining, logging and construction: Lost 200 jobs, a decrease of 1.7 percent. The sector gained 700 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.
• Financial activities: Lost 200 jobs, a decrease of 1.1 percent. The sector lost 400 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015.

The monitor allegedly encouraged a 15-year-old from Valley West Day School to send him naked pictures.

CHICOPEE - A bus monitor for an alternative school was held without right to bail Tuesday after being arraigned for possession of child pornography.

Gregory M. Redmond, 27, of Prospect St., was charged with possession of child pornography on Monday after a 15-year-old told his teachers, and eventually police, he had electronically sent the bus monitor naked pictures of himself.

Redmond works for Van Pool and drove a bus route for Valley West Day School, according to court records.

In interviews the teenager said he had been playing games on a PlayStation 3 console with his bus monitor, and communicated with Redmond through the game system and then his tablet for about three months. Then, over the weekend, an adult overheard the monitor asking the 15-year-old for a "belly shot" or a picture of his bare stomach, court records state.

On Monday the boy, whose name was not released, told his teachers that he was getting a Dunkin' Donuts gift card for the picture. School staff then called his mother, the bus company and police, records said.

At first the boy said he only sent pictures from the waist up after Redmond told him about people making money by showing videos of their stomachs on YouTube and the blogging platform Tumblr. He later told police Redmond also encouraged him to send completely naked pictures, court records state.

Police sought and received permission to examine the boy's tablet. There they found conversations and naked photographs, according to court records.

"(The boy) tells him that he has a naked one and Greg tells him to send it. (The boy) sends him a picture... with no shirt on and one of his penis," court records state. "Greg (Redmond) tells him to keep the pictures coming."

According to the documents, the boy then "... sent his photographs of himself in his underwear and one of him naked."

Following the interview with the boy, police interviewed Redmond and placed him under arrest.

At the arrest, police confiscated a cell phone and tablet for evidence. They also sought a search warrant for his home and confiscated his computer and other electronic devices, police said.